Teething remedies

As I had stated in my previous post, last week was hard. And I mean so hard that I contemplated just sitting in the bathroom and crying for a few hours. But, alas I could not. I had a baby to comfort and soothe like no other. Silas is getting teeth! woo hoo. I'm sad to see his gummy smile go, but happy that this is finally happening. The kid is 11 months so it's been a constant "when is this going to happen" deal. And what's really funny is that it's his top middle two that are coming in, which if you're and expertise in baby teething you know that it's usually the bottom two that come in first. Anyways, onto the methods that I've been using to help my babe feel comfortable. Now, some doctors out there claim that teething really has no impact on a baby. They are full of shit (in my book). My kid is miserable. And I mean M-I-S-E-R-A-B-L-E. It started a few weeks ago while we were in Michigan and kind of took off from there. The first sign was a constant grab at the mouth that accompanied a very intense whine. Now, imagine this happening for 10 hrs straight. I wanted to run away. Of course, being a new mama I was a frantic basket case because I had no idea what to give him. Tylenol was a big no no for me so I turned to some homeopathic remedies and they really seemed to take the edge off. I've listed them below (with a picture to correlate!) and unfortunately, I included some Tylenol (boo!), but sometimes you just have to do it.

(left to right)

1) A thermometer. Silas had a fever that reached 103 two nights in a row. He was nursing a TON and had normal diapers so I was sure that it was nothing to worry about, however I did call our pediatricians office to talk to a nurse on call just to be sure. If you are ever unsure though, call or take your child in immediately. I am glad that I had this on hand though. I checked his temp about every few hours.

2) Tylenol. Now, I really used this as a last resort. I have been adamant with myself that I would not give him Tylenol unless it was absolutely necessary. I caved and ended up giving it to him twice. Both times were at night and I halved the recommended dose. Also, they now make is DYE free which I found to be an absolute must. Unfortunately, the idiots don't make it flavorless so we had a puke episode due to the disgusting "grape" flavor.

2) Teething tablets. I found that a combination of these and the homeopathic orajel were my savior. Together they did the job. The tablets dissolve quickly and he took them so easily. I usually popped one in and then nursed him.

3) Lavender oil. This is such a soothing scent. I mix it with a bit of coconut oil and give him a nice soothing massage after a bath. I actually do this on the regular, but when he was teething it seemed to calm him some.

4) Orajel. Now, this is homeopathic and not the regular stuff. With babies you want to really stay away from benzocaine which is found in normal and baby orajel. This can be found right next to the regular stuff! A little swipe seemed to be efficient at eliminating some of the pain.

(not pictured)

*Breastfeeding. I can't speak for the bottle thing, but breast feeding was our #1 go to. Silas wanted to nurse almost every hour and I let him. It shot my milk supply up through the roof (and now I have to deal with the side effects; hello leaky boobs!), but it calmed him down and I know it felt good on his gums. And no, he does not bite me.

*Camilia. These little drops can be found at Whole Foods or probably any natural food store. They really helped us out and were so easy for him to take (flavorless!).

*Amber necklace. Unfortunately, we left ours in Michigan. I will vouch for their effectiveness though. I would put it on him as soon as we woke up and it seemed to take the edge off.

* I am not a medical professional and everything you give your baby should be talked about with your doctor. 

Vegan + Gluten free chocolate cake for the win

 Hi! I'm back. Sorry for the intermission (not like I'm thinking a lot of people really care), BUT the past week has been pretty damn rough. My child is teething and it is not going well for us at the Bushong house. 103 temp 3 nights in a row was the cherry on top. Anyways, chocolate cake. I love it. I love chocolate. So, gimme! I also love the thought of allowing my child to indulge in a cupcake, a slice of pie, those yummy gooey brownies every once in a while because he's a kid, and childhood should be full of delicious things. But, lets get real here...I am not about to load him up with sugar and dairy. Two reasons: Sugar for a 1 year old; no. And dairy makes Silas cranky in the most unpleasant way (bless my husband who is usually the one to handle those diapers). I've been racking my brain trying to figure out what I can make my handsome little babe for his first birthday. Ta-da! My lovely cousin post a vegan chocolate cake recipe on her blog. Perfect. All I had was gluten free flour in my house so I subbed out the regular stuff for it and there you have it, a vegan + gluten free chocolate cake. It taste amazing. And yes, it has sugar. You can't win every battle. Enjoy! xo

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups flour (I subbed out same amount of gluten-free all purpose flour)
• 1/4 tsp + 1/8 tsp of xantham gum (only if you are using gluten-free flour. Otherwise, omit this ingredient)
• 3 Tbsp. cocoa (unsweetened)
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp.  salt
• 1 tsp. white vinegar (I used apple cider)
• 1 tsp.  pure vanilla extract
• 5 Tbsp. vegetable oil (I used coconut oil; melted.)
• 1 Cup water 

Directions

Heat oven to 350. Grease your baking pan or cake pan. Mix all ingredients together (you're supposed to mix it all in the dish you bake it in, I went ahead and used a separate bowl). Poor batter into pan and smooth the top. Bake for about 25 minutes. Check a few minutes prior to that time and use a tooth pick to check for doneness (?). Do not over bake! When done, cool on a rack completely before frosting.

Chocolate frosting:

I came up with this on a whim because cake absolutely needs frosting! In a bowl whip together 1 cup of organic (non-gmo!) shortening, 1 smashed ripe banana, 1 tsp vanilla extract, coco powder (however much you like, I like it super chocolatey), and agave (although, I would have preferred to use powdered sugar). Whip until light and fluffy. Taste to make sure it is sweet enough, you should be using unsweetened coco powder.

*original recipe can be found here and my cousins blog can be found here.

I love my city

Portland...is amazing. The other day Nick and I were driving, and there is this one piece of the highway that juts out right on the east side of the waterfront and the view gets me every time. I especially love it at night when the city lights shine, but this day time pass had me. The pink cherry blossoms were bloomed on the west side waterfront and the sky was blue. I looked at Nick and made sure he caught a view of our city.

I've left and come back to Portland twice now. While I might mention a handful of times throughout the year that I would love to try out somewhere new (ahem, Brooklyn), I can't help but feel that that idea might just not make the cut and that Portland is where it's at.

Yesterday was yet another day that brought out that love for my city kinda feelings. Blue skies and a new spot on our agenda to try out. Our current neighborhood is really expanding and along with it are a ton of new places to eat. Enter: Lardo. I've seen this place in two other locations throughout the city and they just put one in down the block form us. It was amazing. And our long walk on that gorgeous day was just as great. Highly recommended, people.

Obligatory -I'm drinking a cocktail and must pretend I'm not getting my photo taken- picture(s)

Number holder which doubled as a toy while we scarfed down our goodness.

Portland, I love you.

p.s. next time I plan on getting the meatball bahn mi and the pork belly gyro. just in case you were wondering.

Time flies

I was overcome with this crazy feeling the other day. The feeling that time was flying and there was just no way to stop it. I think it started with a little birthday party we went to for my girlfriends little babe who was turning the big 1 year. I looked at Silas and thought HOLY crap. You are about to be 1 in a month. And then I couldn't help but think of the day he was born and how insane it is that it has almost been a year. And then later that day I looked at my hubby and thought about the days when we first started dating almost 5 frickin' years ago. 5 years! Mind blown. Also, I moved to Portland coming up on 7 years. And thus was the start of my freak out about how life is just passing by so quickly. How I'm almost 27 and I have a 1 year old. How I've almost been married 2 years and we've been together for 5. It's just really humbling to look at these numbers. And really, I'm proud of them. I'm so proud of the years spent with my man and I am so proud that I have a thriving 1 year old. Obviously, I am shooting for some higher numbers, but where we have made it to is awesome.

*and now for some cuteness, somewhat unrelated to this post.

Dear Silas, What's wrong?

Something I am very adamant about in my everyday life is communication. I don't care if you want to tell me how pissed you are at me, but you have to say it. Not just beat around the bush and be all passive aggressive (one of my biggest pet peeves) about it. say it. I try and not really let people be in my life who have issues with this type of thing because it just ends badly. Trying to constantly figure out how someone is feeling and why they are doing what they are doing is exhausting. Oh wait, did I just describe parenting? I think I did.

This has to be one of the most exhausting parts of being a mama (to me, at least). Not knowing how your little one is feeling or really why because the communication barrier is so real. Now, babe's get away with this whole communication deal with me because it's obvious that they cannot help it (adults, that is a whole other story...I don't cut them slack). It's a constant guessing game with these little one's. Are they teething? Do they need a diaper change? Are they hungry? A million questions are sorted through when your little one is upset. I swear, we have been on the "he's teething" line every time Silas loses his cool for about 8 months now...and still no teeth!

Nap time boycott. 

I bring this all up because we are in turmoil over nap/bed time here at my house. It's been rough. The hesitation with him to be put down for a nap and the crying for me once he is in the crib is just bonkers right now. Am I ready to transition Silas to a 1 nap a day thing? Absolutely not. I need his morning nap time just as much as I think he does. It's my sanity check and keeps me going. Bed time has been rough as well. We are in the thick of ending our co-sleeping journey by making Silas take all naps and the start of his bed time in his crib. He's still waking every 2-3 hrs for a nursing session though. It's just all a mess I tell yah. And I'm trying to stay consistent and not get frustrated, but I just wish I could ask him what is wrong (I do this, actually) and that I could get a response. "Mom, I'm scared." "Mom, my teeth hurt." Anything. Obviously, this is not going to happen so I am doing my best to read this little man's signs and figure it out on my own. I understand it is probably just as frustrating on his end to not have someone just gets it on the first try. But hey, I am doing my best and I am sure that counts for something. I know we will get this straightened out and I know he will soon learn that his crib and ridiculously expensive mattress are just as comfy, if not more so, than mama and papa's bed. Keeping my fingers crossed! xo

Good weather, great day

 Yesterday was pretty much perfection. The weather...amazing. Blue skies and sunshine really elevates your mood to a whole other level. Silas and I headed to the park after 3 failed nap attempts with the hopes that maybe when we got back we could have a successful fourth attempt (which didn't happen). All of the non-napping aside though our day was easy breezy. My love came home early and we went on a nice stroll to snag some patio beers (beers + patio = patio beers).

On our walk I couldn't help but feel a little nostalgic. I think it was the weather that sort of made me crave for the days when we were carefree, the weather was nice, and we would have probably been on a patio with a group of friends drinking beer until the sun went down. I mean, our patio beer was tasty and all, but I was just missing the social aspect. You don't really get to entertain that part of your life very often as a parent. Regardless of all that, i throughly enjoyed the day with my little family and wouldn't trade it for my wreckless earlier years for anything ;) Cheers to more sunshine (and patio beers!) xo

DIY style

Tumeric dyed duvet cover

I've never been much of an artist. My sister, she is amazing. President of the art club, that girl was. My little brother is an artistic genius as well. While I'm no abstract painting genius, I like to think that my artistic gene's have made their presence known with my DIY projects. I like getting crafty, people. When it came time to move into our new apartment I wrote about how Nick and I got rid of everything (here). I decided to be super selective on what we hung up on the walls and displayed. Since we are living on one income so I can stay at home with the babe, I don't really have the luxury of snagging amazing items from places like urban outfitters or anthropologie (although, the sale stuff is gooooood sometimes).

No filter, this is the awesome color using tumeric. I feel if I soaked it longer it would have been more orange-y. Next time!

This piece of driftwood was free at a rebuilding center. Felt hearts were done completely out of boredom and they add a cheesy flair that I kind of love.

Silas's dream catcher.

These cute little cones were picked up on our trip to Ashland. What started as a holiday decoration has become permanent.

So, I craft. And in the end I usually love the result and the look it gives our space. Also, I find it therapeutic and doing these little projects usually gives me a few minutes of greatly needed alone time :) Happy crafting! xo

Elderberry syrup

I got pummeled with sickness while in Michigan a couple weeks ago. Let me tell yah, having the flu and taking care of/nursing a baby is pretty much the worst. After the flu I was lucky enough to then come down with one of the worst colds I've ever had. It all sucked. Not to mention that as a nursing mother there is not really much you can take. And then I discovered elderberry syrup. While in Michigan a friend who works at a badass health store mentioned that he took it. And it jogged my memory to when I came across this post from a blog I read. And THEN after declaring my sickness on facebook, a girlfriend mentioned that she made elderberry syrup. Obviously, all signs pointed to me taking/making elderberry syrup. And I did. I called two grocery stores and they did not carry these little dried berries. Next, I tried out a herb shop in my neighborhood and not only did they have every single herb known to man (which I will be back to check out), but they had my berries! So here yah go, a recipe to make your very own elixir. The shit in the store is expensive so I highly recommend making your own. My berries cost $2.25/oz. My raw, organic honey ran me $7.99. Everything else I had in my pantry. Cheers! xo

Ingredients:

2/3 cup dried elderberries

3 1/2  cups filtered water

2 T dried (or fresh) ginger

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp clove

1 cup honey (raw, organic, local ----> this is all a must)

Directions:

Bring your elderberries, water, and spices to a boil and then simmer for about 30-40 mins until the liquid is reduced. Turn off and let cool completely. When the liquid is completely cooled add in your honey.

It's recommended to take about 1/2 tsp daily. I would up it to about 1 tsp if you were actively sick. Also, do not give to babies younger than one year as it contains honey.

Cabin fever

Back when Nick and I were young and adventurous the summer was our time to shine. Hiking, camping, we did it all and usually a few times a week. Long hikes to find the perfect secluded camping spot were our specialty. The past two summers we have been unable to indulge in our beloved adventures and I'm missing it bad. This summer though, it's happening. Adventures all around I tell yah. Silas will be a little over a year so I'm thinking he'll be good to go. Plus, the kid loves his hiking backpack so we are so set on that front. I'm finding myself daydreaming of a cabin in the woods with a long hike preceding it. Maybe even a jaunt up to Ecola State Park on the Oregon Coast, which is a favorite of ours. Whatever it is, I can't wait to show my little boy a true Oregon summer filled with lots of roaming the outdoors.

(all photos were pulled off pinterest)

Bare ankles and Iced dirty chai's

I'm not usually one who gets the itch for warm weather. I love the rain and when winter rolls around I am usually ready for it and I can go awhile without the exclamation of "I am dying for summer!". At this very moment though, I am seriously craving sunshine, dresses and shorts, beach time, river time,  and long summer nights. I'm not sure if this is a reaction to the frigid temps we dealt with on our Michigan trip, or if it's the "late night" (5pm) stroll that Nick and I went on to go get a coffee (dirty iced chai for moi). When we stepped outside it was a) somewhat warm out and b) still light out!  It felt like heaven. 10 degrees warmer and I would have been in ecstasy. Anyways, us kids over here can't wait for this summer and all of the iced coffees and long summer night strolls that are surely to accompany it.

What Silas eats

 In the beginning of introducing solids to Silas i couldn't help but feel like it was becoming a burden. Getting him to try things, watching him closely to make sure he didn't choke, dealing with the puke episodes that sometimes occurred. It turned me off to the whole thing. I'm happy to report that it's a different story now. I really enjoy thinking of new things that he can try and it's exciting to know that I am giving my child the best nutrition possible. My guidelines for his "meals" are simple: whole foods, organic, no additives (sugar, salt, and if oil; coconut). I love putting together a little plate for his dinner. While we haven't really got the whole chew/swallow thing down, he's learning and experimenting with flavors and that is really all I care to accomplish with  our meal time. And somedays are better than others when it comes to this. There are days where we forgo the solids and that's fine with us. He is still breastfeeding on demand so I am not worried about his calorie consumption when it comes to eating and i think that has made this whole experience less stressful.

steamed carrots - mango - sauteed kale w/ garlic

sauteed spinach in coconut oil - raspberries - peas

Some things I do to make it easier for Silas's dinner time are using frozen organic veggies. This has been a life saver. Add it to a pan with a little water and heat them up and you've got a healthy option for them to eat. I've been experimenting with giving him some cooked greens as well. Cooked greens are a little harder to chew/swallow since he doesn't have any teeth so it's something I monitor closely when he's eating it. 

We haven't really gone the traditional route with introducing solids. We started at around 9 months and I didn't introduce one food at a time for 3 day increments. No purees either. I say go with what you feel is right, don't rush it, and let it happen naturally. If Silas doesn't like something I don't shove it down his throat. I might try it again the next day or even wait a couple weeks. I don't want to raise a picky eater so I am all for experimenting with flavors (we put cinnamon in his oatmeal). I also enjoy picking at his plate and taking bites of it myself. I feel it encourages him to go for it.  

You can read more on Silas's eating here.

A trip to the mitten

It was brought to my attention this week that I always seem to go home for a visit during the winter. After this was said, we recounted my past visits, and yes...they are always during the winter. Never. again. According to the very much respected elders (haha) in my family, this is the worst winter in Michigan since the 50's. I believe them. It was pretty much impossible to step outside for more than a second the whole 12 days we were there due to the negative temps. And the dryness. Ooooommmmgg. I could not stop complaining about it. Oh yeah, did I mention we got the flu? Yup. The flu. Regardless of all of these ridiculously inconveinent things I really cherish my time when I go home and it was even more special this time around because it was Silas's first trip to the Mitten. Sure, we didn't get to play outside or go do some of the things that were on our list, but he met my amazing girlfriends, hung out with my nieces and my brothers, and lounged around with my mom for 12 days. I call that a good trip. I have made the decision that Michigan visits will only be for summer time from here on out.


Let's get to all of those pictures....

I think every parent is scared for what is going to happen on their child's first flight. I was no exception, but this kid rocked it. A flight attendant at the end of our first flight said she didn't even know he was there. On our flight home the people around me told me they were so impressed. Proud mama over here!

This is what he did. The whole time. Well, and try to pull the ladies hair in front of us but that was a one time deal.

Seeing my girlfriends is a major part of my going home. Some of them I have known since elementary school! I feel so grateful and lucky to have a group of girlfriends who know me so well and would be there for me at the drop of a hat, regardless of the distance between us. We get together and it's like no time has passed and I think that is a tell-tale sign of everlasting friendship.

There were a few nights after Silas went to bed where I finally was able to relax. Fire on, shitty reality TV, and a fridge full of beer. It was heaven.

My mothers house makes me swoon. It's an enormous ranch that she and her fiancee renovated. Can I get a dual fireplace in my house please?

Silas was a teething mess during our trip. He is currently getting the top two and bottom two teeth at the same time. His gums are swollen and he was pretty much attached to my hip the entire trip which made the whole thing extremely exhausting. He's pretty cute though so I forgive him ;)

The two seconds that we were able to get this kid out for some air. 

Bundled up and watching Sean (my moms fiancee) shovel 8 inches of ice off the deck.

Ahhhh yes. My love. Iced Cap from Time Horton's is the only way to end a trip to the mitten.

So aside from Silas teething and all of us catching the flu, our time in the Mitten was amazing. I'm missing my loved ones so much already and I can't help but feel so lucky to have them. We are already looking forward to some Michigan Summertime in July!