This Little Girl Went From Hating Water To Loving It

When Princess was born, a nurse offered to fill the tub for me at the hospital. They had the longest, deepest tub I had ever seen. I could stretch my legs all the way out without bending my knees. I could get in and the water and it could cover me up to my neck. I took a bath a few hours after birth, but I had to get out fast since Princess woke and started crying.

Several times, my nurse offered to fill the tub for me so I could relax with my wee baby and give her, her first bath. At the time, I was very dizzy and tired from high blood pressure. Plus, I had visitors coming and going, so rest was not an easy option. By the time the sun went down, the nurse shift changed. I had a tiny bit more energy and I thought it would be the perfect time for a bath. I asked my new nurse to pour the water for me.

As I climbed in, my legs burned. I could handle it, but it was uncomfortable. I was debating on getting out when the nurse entered with my naked baby girl. I mentioned that the water was too hot. She handed Princess to me and added a few seconds of cold water to the tub. Not feeling it was much cooler I didn’t lie back in the water. The nurse took princess from me and set her on my lap in the water, where Princess immediately began to wail.
“It’s too hot!” I exclaimed anxiously.
I don’t remember what or if she said anything in response, but I do remember being frozen in horror as she roughly and vigorously scrubbed my poor baby girl down with a large amount of soap. Princess screamed and shrieked and I was rooted to the spot, unable to move, unable to determine what to do. Before I could make a decision, she dumped water all over princess to wash off the soap.
“It’s too hot!” I said again, unable to think of anything else to say. Later I would obsess over all of the things I could have said and done to protect my baby. Before I could do anything else, the nurse wrapped her in a towel and brought Princess wailing into the room to diaper and dress her. I stood up and got a towel, unable to bear the heat any longer.

Since that traumatic incident, Princess hated water. She refused baths completely, and would wail for sponge baths. The only way to wash her was to hold her to my chest in the shower and lightly let the water over her back for a few seconds at a time.

Princess was always tiny, especially compared to my other three. I could easily carry her in a sling for her entire first year. She was my little shadow and joined me in every activity. I can remember a day where I stood at the sink, washing dishes, when a little hand reached out towards what I was holding. I was so startled I nearly dropped the dish! Princess was normally silent when she was with me, watching everything with her big blue eyes and taking it all in. Sometimes I would forget that she was there, such as this instance.

I did a little experiment and let Princess play with the sink water. She LOVED it. After that, I encouraged her to play in the sink with me, as I washed dishes. One day, when she was fifteen months old, I discovered her playing with the water in the bathroom sink. After that, she let me put her in the bottom of the shower to play with toys.

Today, my little Princess LOVES water. I have to fight to keep her away from it some days! She hops in every puddle she can find. So when I saw a pair of pink galoshes on sale at Walmart, I knew I had to get them.

The next rainy day, she was thrilled to be able to put her new rain boots to good use. She jumped and splashed till she was a muddy mess. When she was done, she had a nice warm shower and a cuddle with Mom before having a nap.

Moments like these are why I’m so thankful I’m a Mother. My children make everything new again. Every puddle is a fun, new adventure.

Splashing in the mud is fun! Do you let your kids play in the mud?

May 31, 2017

Rainy Day At The Como Zoo Conservatory

Rainy Day At The Como Zoo Conservatory
Over the weekend we took a trip to the Como Zoo Conservatory. I had been wanting to go for awhile, and the fact that it was raining didn’t stop me. I really wanted to visit the conservatory, and a short trip through the Japanese Gardens could easily be done with some umbrellas.

Princess tried to climb into the fountain. She LOVES playing in water. Thankfully we caught her before she jumped in!

There were a lot of prom kids getting portraits taken all over the place. There was also a bride and a groom in the sunken gardens, so we decided to come back so we wouldn’t be in their way.
The sunken gardens are very beautiful. They’re also full of lilies, which I’m allergic to. I had my face mask so I could walk through without getting a migraine, but the smell seemed to bother Cat too. Sadly, I think she might have inherited an allergy from me after all. Thankfully, lilies are one of the easier allergens to avoid. The worst thing is that she’ll have a rough time at funerals. Thankfully, many people have red eyes and runny noses there, so she won’t be out of place.

The North Garden is my favorite. It’s full of edible plants! Depending on the time of year, you might even be able to spot something familiar growing. I love peeking carefully through the leaves to see what treasures they hold. The vanilla seemed to be overtaking the wall by the door. Nate and I were amazed at how big it was! We bought two cuttings of it from the gift shop in hopes of growing our own.
Cupcake was not a fan of this room. She said it smelled like cat pee. To be honest, it does smell a little when you first walk in, but then you get used to it.

We had a lot of fun at the Como Zoo Conservatory. It was a lot more fun than being cooped up inside, at home, in the rain. I kind of wish I had a beautiful indoor garden like the ones at Como, but I bet it takes a very large team and a lot of money to keep it looking as beautiful as it does. I think I’m happy settling for a visit once a year and a few clippings of vanilla to take home with us.

Have you been to the Como Zoo Conservatory? What is your favorite part?

May 9, 2017July 3, 2018

52 Project, Week 10: Mother/Daughter

Since this is a mother/daughter* project, it seemed obvious that there should be a mother daughter portrait for one of the challenges. Though this photography project is mostly for Cat and me, I have invited all of the kids with us when we go out on our adventures. Often, the other children get to jump in for a few portraits or get a chance to hold the camera.

The images of Cat and Me were both taken by Cupcake. Cat and I both took portraits with the other kids and took turns being the photographer. I’ve shared a few favorites and funny ones. Life with 4 children is never boring! Hahaha!

Some of these images were taken in my studio as a last photo shoot before closing my in-home studio. The other ones are a walk we took on a warm day after the Sunday meeting. Since it was so warm, there were a lot of other families out enjoying the warmer weather. One family was kind enough to stop and take a portrait of all of us together, a rare treat.

I enjoy taking portraits with my children so that I am not an invisible part of their lives, in pictures anyway. Too often I am the one taking a picture and not in it. I’ve been trying to change this and ask other people to take a picture of me.

As a photographer, I see a lot of Mom’s since they’re the ones bringing the children in for photo shoots. I usually ask the Mothers to jump in for a few portraits. Some Moms are happy to jump in, excited to share in the moment. Most Moms are shy and hesitant, slightly uncomfortable with the idea of being the center of attention. Some Moms outright refuse to be in the portrait.

I’ve heard a lot of excuses over the years. They’re heartbreaking to hear.
“I don’t have any makeup on.”
“I don’t look good.”
“I’m not dressed up.”
“I’m too fat.”
“I’m ugly.”
Usually, these are said with an outright honest and panicked frankness. Some are said with a laugh to diffuse the tension. All are said directly in front of their children.

Years ago I read an article that talked about how self-image was created in children. It mentioned how children’s first role models are their parents. What children hear their Mother’s say about themselves, becomes the inner voice of our children. If we talk negatively about ourselves on a regular basis, our children hear that and internalize it. If we talk positively about ourselves, we set a good example of confidence and self-love.

Our children look at us with love and adoration. They don’t see our imperfections as imperfections. They might or might not notice that our hair is messy, we don’t have makeup on, our clothes might be a size too small or too large or dirty from a hard day’s work. They might or might not see the extra weight or lack of weight. They might or might not see our wrinkles and grey hair. To them, this is all part of a person they love very much. To them, these things are all beautiful and fun. Children see the INNER beauty shine through these beautiful characteristics that make us who we are. Children are not naturally judgemental.

I’ve had my children mention my “imperfections” to me as something they adore.
“Mommy, your tummy is nice and fluffy”
“Mommy, why do you put makeup on? You look prettier without it.”
And my favorite…
“Mommy, I love you!”
They see the extra hugs and cuddles should they have a nightmare. They see the smile when they look over for approval. They hear my encouragement, my teaching, my singing, my laughter, and my love. They see me making them meals and washing their clothes with a positive attitude. They notice the good and not the bad.

Over the years, I’ve made a point to say positive things about myself in front of my children. If I should look in the mirror and not like what I see, I make sure to say something positive out loud. Instead of criticizing myself over my “imperfections”, I say “Look at my beeeautiful body!” I usually say it in a silly voice with a little wiggle. My children laugh and smile. Instead of feeling down about myself, I too feel better and happier with who I am.

Seeing myself in pictures is not always easy. I can see the things that make me look older as glaring reminders that I’m no longer young. I resist the urge to edit these away with my awesome photo editing skills. I don’t want my children to look back and see a perfectly retouched and unrealistic Mom. I want them to see me as I am. Hopefully, someday when they’re older, should they struggle with the same negative thoughts, they might look at a picture of me at their age and see that I’m not perfect either and hopefully it will make them feel better.

Do you hop in portraits with your children? Do you have any pictures of you and your mother?

*Although this is a mother/daughter project, anyone can join in. This can be a father/son, father/daughter, mother/son or other project. If you don’t have a child, you can use your parent. If you are away from your parent or child, you could use this as an opportunity to photograph what the parent/child relationship means to you.

Here are a few silly outtakes of our photo shoot.

Previous Week: 52 Project, Week 9: Ice/Snow/Frost
Next Week: 52 Project, Week 11: Art
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January 27, 2017July 1, 2018

52 Project, Week 2: Cold

52 Project, Week 2: Cold

I love winter. I even love the cold. I would happily take a cold winter day over a humid hot summer day. Once it started snowing, I knew I had to run out with my little Princess for this week’s photography project.

Princess is my little shadow. She loves doing everything with me, sleeping, cuddling, cooking, cleaning, playing. No matter what it is, she’s content to be right by me. Honestly, I could say this about any of my kids. They love to pile around me like little puppies.

I bet you’re wondering WHY I love the cold. Maybe it’s because I’ve lived in Minnesota my whole life. I can’t tolerate heat very well. My ideal, happy temp range is 15 degrees Fahrenheit to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. I can be comfortable in the 70’s, but the 80’s are uncomfortable. The 90’s are intolerable. You might find me hiding in my igloo, er, house with the air conditioning on full blast.

Did you know that Minnesota is one of the coldest states in America? On average, year-round, Alaska beats us for the coldest temperature. We beat Alaska for the coldest winter season though! Last week Thrillist put out an article where we won the number one most miserable winter. Yet, even if it’s -35, kids still go to school and life functions like normal.

For us, if the weather rises above zero, that’s reason enough to take off a layer or two or leave your jacket open. Once it reaches the 20’s we don’t see the need to wear a warm jacket, a good sweater or a light spring jacket will do. In the 30’s, you’ll find people walking around in shorts and t-shirts. I’m not exaggerating. Although I do make my children bundle up, even though they fight me to strip down like everyone else. We are polar bears and arctic foxes. Our blood is thick and the cold is where we feel happiest.

Not everyone feels this way. You’ll still find a couple of people who would rather be in a warmer state. For me though, Minnesota is my home and I couldn’t be happier anywhere else.

For Cat’s cold challenge, we headed down to the river, looking for inspiration. We found a beautiful field that looked perfect. Cat and I had a lot of fun amongst the soft grasses. I snapped a couple of cute images of her while she was capturing her shots.

How do you feel about the cold? Are you a fan of snow or do you prefer the heat?

Previous Week:Project 52, Week 1, The Bible
Next Week: 52 Project, Week 3: Silence
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June 22, 2015May 18, 2023

Gluten Free Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp Bars

Gluten free strawberry rhubarb crisp bars are one of the best spring and early summer desserts! Strawberries and rhubarb are in season in May and June in Minnesota, so if you’re looking to cook and bake seasonally, this would be a great time to use them!

If you have an abundance of strawberries and rhubarb in your garden, you could always chop them up and put them in ziplock bags in the freezer. Then you can make this later in the season too!

When I saw rhubarb at the farmer’s market this last weekend, I immediately thought of my Grandmother. As a child, I would often snack on rhubarb from her yard. This will be the first year I get my rhubarb from the farmer’s market instead of my Grandparent’s garden, a bittersweet moment.

Last year, my grandparent’s house was sold. This was the place that I grew up in, next to my own home. It was where all of the best childhood memories happened. It was where my Grandparents made me feel like I was someone who mattered.

I know that farmer’s market rhubarb will be just as good as Grandma and Grandpa’s. However, there will be a little part of my heart that will always cry and smile at the same time at any mention of rhubarb.

After I brought the rhubarb home I thought immediately back to my childhood days again. My Father would always make a delicious rhubarb crisp. Unfortunately, my Dad’s recipe was not gluten and oat free. Determined to have one of my favorite childhood desserts, I set about scouring the internet for a decent alternative.

Sadly, I didn’t find any recipe that fit my needs, so I improvised. It turned out great! So great, in fact, that I gobbled up almost the entire thing myself! My kids were not happy with me. Ha!

The next time I make this, I’m going to make 2 at once. Maybe the kids will get a piece or two.

I hope you love my recipe! Let me know if you try it!

Gluten-Free Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp Bars
Serves 12-16
Shortbread Base
2 sticks unsalted butter, room temp
3/4 cup brown sugar or maple syrup
2 cups gluten-free flour mix

Crisp Topping
1/2 cup gluten-free flour mix
3/4 cup brown sugar or maple syrup
1/2 cup almond meal (optional)
6 tbsp unsalted butter(cubed about 1/2 TBSP chunks)

Strawberry Rhubarb Center(Prepared Last)
12 ounces or 2 cups of quartered strawberries
12 ounces or 2 cups of chopped rhubarb
2 tbsp sugar or maple syrup
1/4 cup gluten-free flour mix

Shortbread Base
Preheat over to 325. Grease 9×13 pan, line with parchment paper (optional), grease again. Blend butter and sugar well. Add in flour until smooth. Press dough into a pan. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove from oven. Increase over to 350.

Crisp Topping
Blend flour, brown sugar, and almond meal. Add butter and mix until crumbly. Chill in refrigerator.

Strawberry Rhubarb Center-Make Last
Chop rhubarb into 1/2 inch pieces. Quarter strawberries. Toss with sugar and flour. Immediately spread over shortbread. Use hands to crumble crisp topping over strawberry rhubarb mixture. Bake for 25 minutes. Turn off oven and allow to remain in oven for additional 5 minutes. Remove from oven to cool. Once the pan is cool, you have two options. 1. Refrigerate for more solid bars to transport and display for a party or 2.Eat immediately if you enjoy them warm! Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Enjoy!