"If you want to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe." - Dr. Carl Sagan

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving! I can't believe it's half-October already!

Last week my mother came to Korea ~ YAY! Both the hubby and I agreed we never thought this day would come. haha! But she's here! We actually asked her to come so that I could go work full time for a few weeks on an annual work project I didn't want to miss out on.

Having my mother in the country is exciting! I get to show her where I live, and the people I'm sharing my life with. I get to teach her about Korea and let her bond with her grandson. But at the same time, let's just say it's interesting living with my mother again. ^.^ Still I'm grateful for this time ~ not only my time with her, but the time for her and the Pumpkin Head to get to know each other!

She arrived last week, and we've yet to do anything touristy or Korean! The morning after she arrived, the husband got food poisoning and spent the day in the ER! I then hurried off to work and left her with the baby alone. On her first day. With no prep. >.< Then our weekend trip to the sea was canceled, but we did enjoy a nice Sunday morning at church and lunch with friends after ~ Western-style lunch at that! We did finally pause for a moment and got a family photo though, so all was not lost!


This week I'm reminded to give thanks. Daily I struggle with stress and worries, and I fear I spend more time on things that haven't happened than what I'm thankful for. So my October resolution (sure, that can be a thing!) is to dwell in thankfulness and not in worry.

Tonight as I sat around our living room with the husband, the Pumpkin Head (not to be confused with the pumpkin pie!), my mother and some good friends I couldn't help but feel fully blessed. I honestly feel like God knows the desires of my heart and provides what I need. And I'm reminded of a verse in Colossions, which says,

"¹⁵Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. ¹⁷And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

As I go back to work this week, with my mother here, and I'm away from my baby, and my body grows weak and tired it will be too easy for me to let the stress sink in, but instead I choose to be thankful this week! The husband has recovered from his sickness, my mother is here and helping and I surely could not ask for a more awesome little boy! And while I'm working, or sitting in a bathroom stall and pumping my milk, or rushing home to spend time with PH, or waking up early and staying up late just to get a few more chores done ~ I will remember I'm doing all this in the name of Jesus and I am thankful! ^.^

because sometimes you really need a moment...

I'm not a fan of allowing babies or even kids to watch TV, but we all need a moment to use the toilet or eat our lunch... so here are some of my fav. distracting videos that keep PH occupied.



#1) Yo Gabba Gabba's Party in My Tummy ~ totally addictive! You'll find yourself singing this around the house. Also PH's favourite!




#2) Wee Hands' Alphabet Song ~ I LOVE this song, and the video is colourful and not too fast, and cam help you learn your sign language alphabet! At 2.5mins, it's good for sneaking a quick potty break when your little one is fussy or experiencing separation anxiety.



#3) More Milk Please! Quick but catchy ~ this one helps you and baby learn the signs for the three words!



And finally, at 10 mins, this one is slow and not ADD-inducing, which is better for when you need more than a minute or two to eat lunch...

Making Baby Jook!

So I decided that my little Pumpkin Head had tested enough store bought baby foods that it was really time for me to make my own. I'd intended to do it from the start, but things are always a little daunting at first. Plus, it's time to make a conscious effort to save money, and provide a healthy start for my little PH!

So yesterday I decided to make some home made Jook (juk/ Korean rice porridge) from what I had around the house. Rice, chemical free carrots, broccoli and squash.

So I began by making up a pot of rice. I then took some of the rice and put it into a pot with extra water to make it softer.

I peeled and chopped chemical-free carrots with my food processor. I then added the chopped bits of carrot to the rice and water. I did the same with broccoli and squash.

Next I added the veggies with rice and water mixture to heat and soften.

I left the mixture to cool, then pureed it adding water until it was a good consistency.

Finally I put the food into sterilized baby-food jars, sealed them, marked them with the date and froze them.

Finally I gave some to PH to try... gotta love his reactions to new things! >.<

the Pumpkin Head in a few years!??!

so I did this picture morphing thing, with two poor pics... and this is what came up...

creepy, eh???

nourishment isn't just for the body

(Koh Samui, Thailand, 2007)

I read all the twilight books. There. I said it. I read them, and what's worse, I liked them!

I like a little "cheese" now and then. I often find myself defending the latest movie, book or TV episode by saying that it's just a bit of junk-food for the mind. No harm, right?

Until I end up feeling empty. My attitude changes. I start to crave the escape, and dread whats real. I can't be the only one who feels this way.

I feel like our culture today has an emotional and spiritual equivalent of the obesity epidemic. We're cramming crap into our bodies and minds then wondering why we're afflicted with so many physical and mental ills.

Diabetes, heart disease, low endurance, high cholesterol, malnutrition, cancers, attention disorders... mental illness, depression, loneliness, unfaithfulness, divorce, suicides, etc...

What we put in directly affects us. We know this. Yet why is it so easy for me to sit back and watch an episode of Gossip Girl and eat nutella off a spoon (um, not that I've done that before...>.<)??

I feel at times what Peter must have felt at Gethsemane. I hear Jesus calling me to sit with him a little while, but like he says in Matthew 26: 41, "The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."

The good news is that God is not only forgiving, but He also sustaining. He gives strength to the weary and exhausted, increases the power and endurance of the weak (Isaiah 40:28~31). He gives peace and rest to those who go to him when they are tired and burnt out (Matthew 11:28, Hebrews 4:3, John 14:27).

A little junk food is fine now and then, we know that the key with food is moderation ~ and that's the same with our spiritual lives as well. If we're only taking in the junk that our culture has to offer, it will never be enough to fulfill us, we will always feel something is lacking.

Jesus warned us that the world would give us trouble, but he also reminds us that he has overcome the world to give us the peace and fulfillment that our souls crave. My challenge is to remember to draw near to him when I feel burnt out, and leave the Grey's Anatomy reruns for another day...

Jesus said in John 16:33, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

6 months of pumpkin-headed goodness!

Our little PH at 6 months is nearly 9 kilos (nearly 20lbs) and about 70cm (maybe 28inches?). He can sit for a little while before getting distracted, and loves to stand with little help. He's started to pull himself up to sit and stand, and can't stay still! He rolls around constantly and "worms" his way across the floor to get things. He tries to crawl, but can't stay up on his hands and knees yet. >.<


He loves his reflection and always wants to play! He laughs hysterically at daddy (who wouldn't?!? :p~) and is incredibly ticklish! He loves when mommy and daddy sing songs and read books, and he loves to sing or talk along. He can be VERY chatty, and can often be found telling Cooper the dog long stories!


He moves quickly across the floor already and, as his first 2 teeth are coming in, he's always looking for something to chew on! Be it toys, furniture, feet or even the dog! He also loves to eat ~ everything! He often cries when the food is gone ~ but at least is quickly distracted. ^.^ He eats two meals a day now, and the odd rice cracker (which he often shares with the dog!).


He's become besties with Cooper the dog, and watches him intently. When the dog comes into the room he smiles and laughs. He follows him and tries to attack him with petting, and licks! He even likes to share his food... and Cooper has learned that food is often on the floor around PH and tries to lick stuff off his hands and face.

Gosh... time is going by SO quickly!

cloth diapering and holding pee...

OK, so I had started cloth diapering at home...

but with only 2 covers and 10 inserts it hasn't been as consistent as I'd hoped. In addition, the weather has been so poor, that I can't dry anything outside, meaning that the covers take a day to dry... boo! So I've been CDing at night, and some of the day, but not as much as I'd hoped.

All the reading I've done has not helped me as much as I'd hoped, and so I've asked a friend who is coming to Korea from the States to bring me a variety of the diaper covers out there. I've ordered I think four different kinds to try, then I'll better be able to make a decision.

I have decided that the diaper I have that fits him best, I actually don't like! >.< the inside is absorbent bamboo, not the fabric that repels water and can be wiped up. Which means that after a big pee it can't be used again.

Now how does the Pumpkin Head like it? Well, he seems unbothered by the bulk and added time of mummy and daddy trying to figure this out. However, he does NOT like the wet feeling and has started holding his pee for a fresh diaper. >.<

This is the same kid who hasn't peed at night since about two and a half months old, because he didn't even like a wet disposable. He also holds his pee quite often when we go out, and as soon as we get home will have a VERY wet diaper.

Is this something to be concerned about? Is it anxiety? Or does he just not want to sit in a wet diaper? Will he cause some sort of damage or give himself a bladder infection? Or will he be easier to toilet train???

As always, the questions are endless.

I do know that I'm looking forward to my new diaper covers so I can test them out myself ~ then I'll know of which ones I want more.

Plus, shopping is fun!
^.^