Thursday, March 14, 2013

Micah Update

Some of you back in the States have been asking about Micah (or "Bing Bing," the little Taiwanese boy we fostered on the weekends for over a year).  Here's a quick update...

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Tuesday, March 12, 2013

8 Things I Wish I'd Known Before I Had A Baby


Being a mom is the best job I've ever had--the most fun, the most rewarding, the most challenging, the most sanctifying.  I'm only five months into my parenting journey, and have been blessed to learn from the wisdom of family and friends, a couple of helpful books, and my own trial-and-error.  Here are a few practical things I've learned that I wish I'd known before I had a baby.

1. "Start as you mean to go on."
Choose a plan and stick to it.  Don't fall into "accidental parenting." In other words, don't do something just because it's convenient.  For example, if you plan on co-sleeping, great!  It can help you get some extra sleep, especially in those early weeks.  But, if you don't want to co-sleep with a 6-month-old, 12-month-old or 4-year-old, then don't take your baby into your bed just because it's 3 am and you're exhausted.  The things you do with your baby set her expectations for what she thinks life ought to be like. Make sure you start doing things the way you want them to continue.

2. Use common sense; don't always go to the internet for answers.
"He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm" (Proverbs 13:20).  These days there are zillions of "mom advice" websites that anyone can post on.  You have no idea if happymomma73 is a wise counselor or a fool since you can't see her interact with her kids or know the result of her advice in her own children's lives.  Also, she doesn't know your unique child.  Stop, think, and pray.  You know your baby better than anyone.  Usually you can figure out what your baby needs using common sense.  If that fails you, try calling a person you trust (like your mom or an experienced friend) before turning to Google.  This will save you time and anxiety.

3. Expect nursing to be a challenge.
No one really talks about this before you give birth, but nursing does not always come naturally.  It is not emotionally or physically pain-free.  It really hurts for the first week or so (I was in tears), and your baby might have trouble getting the hang of it too.  Sleep-deprivation and raging mama-hormones can make this really stressful, especially if you expected a warm and cuddly experience.  Expect it to be a challenge. Don't freak out or give up when it's hard.  Call someone (in addition to your husband) for support.  Read a book about nursing before giving birth so you know how to troubleshoot common problems before they sneak up and attack you at 4 in the morning.

4. Plan for a long recovery.
Every woman's body recovers differently after giving birth.  I had a friend who hiked up a mountain when her baby was only one week old!   This led to some shock when I couldn't go for a twenty-minute walk until six weeks post-partum. You might not recover right away but you will recover eventually.  In the meantime, rest as much as you can, eat lots of healthy foods, and don't rush back into your normal activities too soon.

5. Consider laundry like breathing.
You must do laundry (nearly) constantly to survive, but it's no big deal.  Make it part of your daily rhythm.

6. Develop a flexible routine for your baby.
Babies thrive on routine.  It helps your baby feel secure (and helps you know why she might be fussy).  Set a simple sequence of events that you repeat throughout each day. For example: eat (30 min), play (30--45 min), sleep (1.5--2 hrs), repeat.  Watch your baby closely for hungry/tired cues and use the clock only as a guide.  And if you think your baby is having a growth spurt, teething, sick, etc., hide all your clocks in the closet and just go with the flow for a few days.

7. Be watchful for signs of overstimulation.
Babies are easily overtired, because their little brains are working so hard all the time!  Including time spent eating, most 6-week-olds can only stay awake 45 minutes at a time.  Not realizing this, I attempted to maintain my pre-baby activity level (which meant being away from home most of the day) and felt confused when Keira would only take 45-minute naps and was inconsolable come bedtime.  Little babies can't handle so many outings, so you need to adjust your schedule (and maybe start some new hobbies you can do at home).  By three months most babies can stay awake for 1-1.5 hours, and by six months they can do 2 hours at a stretch.

8. Stay in the moment and keep your perspective.
Enjoy your baby.  Marvel at the way she is growing.  Cuddle her as much as you want.  Do silly things to make her smile.  Sing to her.  Pray for her.  Kiss the top of her head.  When crazy things happen--your shirt is suddenly soaked with milk, you fail to get a diaper under her in time, you get spit up on for the seventh time and it's not even noon--laugh.  Accept your baby (and the loving sacrifice she requires) as a blessing.

Motherhood is one of those adventures that requires us to learn-as-we-go.  Thankfully we're not alone and can glean wisdom from all the mothers who have gone before us.

Moms, what would you add to this list?




Friday, March 8, 2013

Make Your Own Toothpaste

This week's DIY experiment was toothpaste.  

The ingredients and process are simple:



2 Tablespoons coconut oil
3 Tablespoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons salt (natural sea salt would be best, but I just used this "delicious salt" we had on hand. Love those translations!)
15 drops peppermint essential oil

Mix it all together, and you will have a paste that looks like this:


If you prefer a thinner paste, add more coconut oil.

I'll be honest, I think it will take me a few weeks to adjust to the salty coconut flavor of this toothpaste...it's not my favorite.  If you have access to some powdered stevia, I would highly recommend adding some to improve the taste.

I store our toothpaste in a recycled glass jar, and keep a metal baby spoon nearby to apply it to our brushes.


Even though it doesn't taste the greatest, I'm willing to stick with it because of the benefits:

--we will save money
--we will avoid harsh chemicals
--we will avoid those late-night moments when we realize we are out of toothpaste
--we can guarantee that our toothpaste is gluten-free without trying to read obscure ingredient lists in Chinese

That last one doesn't apply to everyone, but maybe it's still worth a try.  :)

Happy teeth-brushing!

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Keira: Five Months Old

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Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Taiwan Might Be Home If...



Taiwan Might Be Home If...

...you consider red bean soup a delicious and perfectly acceptable dessert.
...you can identify bok choy, edamame, and kohlrabi.
...you can distinctly pronounce "shuìjiào" (sleep) and "shuǐjiǎo" (dumplings).
...you're at the movie theater and check the Chinese subtitles to see if you heard that line correctly.
...your favorite fruits include passionfruit and guava.
...you always open Facebook and Google Translate simultaneously.
...you know the names of the people who sell you vegetables.
...you don't hesitate to answer when someone asks you how much you pay for rent.
...you aren't surprised when random strangers take pictures of your child.
...you put on your winter coat when the temperature drops below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
...you're used to the sound of the Buddhist television channel blaring 24/7 in the apartment next door.
...you don't own a car, and don't really miss having one.
...you consider any apartment that has more than two rooms to be huge.
...you think Hong Kong is synonymous with "visa run."
...you find your boss sleeping, head-on-desk, every day after your lunch break.
...you know the chorus of at least one Chinese song when you sing karaoke with your friends.
...you taste the difference between oolong, jasmine, green, and black tea.
...you aren't grossed out by raw meat, whether it's hanging at the market or on your plate in a restaurant.
...your washing machine is located in your bathroom...in your shower.
...your oven is smaller than a microwave.
...you hang your clothes to dry in your living room all winter, because that's where the dehumidifier is.
...you're not sure how you'd pay your bills without 7-11.
...you can walk pretty much everywhere you need to go in less than an hour.
...your rice cooker is an essential kitchen appliance.
...you've set a limit on how many bubble teas you may consume per week.
...you eat 50% less meat than you used to, and 50% more vegetables.
...you never drink cold water anymore.
...you have a Chinese name, or at least a Chinese-sounding version of your English name.
...your local friends' children go to bed later than you do.
...you don't find it strange that the garbage truck sounds like an ice cream truck.
...you pay less for your child's doctor's appointment without health insurance than your co-pay would be in America.
...you really want to learn how to play mah-jong.
...you can only fit three days' worth of food in your refrigerator at one time.
...you inadvertently speak Chinglish: "How cool!"  "Give you." "You said what?"
...your toilet paper doesn't come on a roll.
...you use the towering silhouette of Taipei 101 to find your way when lost.
...you think tofu could be its own food group.
...you keep a pair of plastic shoes in your bathroom to avoid treading on the perpetually wet floor.
...you are seriously considering purchasing a scooter.
...you frequently peek inside passerby's strollers and are shocked to see a dog instead of a baby.
...your rain boots are your most well-worn pair of shoes.
...you've tried acupuncture to treat a sore muscle.
...you ask your mom to bring cheese when she comes to visit.
...you consider paying more than $10 for a restaurant meal exorbitant.
...you walk past at least one bustling temple every day.
...your friends back in America still think you live in Thailand.

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

CNY Vacation 2013

We kicked off vacation with a special Chinese New Year's Eve dinner with our friend Audrey's family.  It was so kind of them to include us in their celebration!  We shared a delicious traditional 12-course meal.  


Communal dishes are placed on a rotating tabletop, and everyone uses their own chopsticks to help themselves.  And, of course, no Taiwanese celebration would be complete without some karaoke!  


The rest of our week was spent mostly doing this:



Though during nap time, we also did quite a bit of this:

Yes, those are Dominion cards.  Yes, I actually enjoy playing this game now (perhaps because I've started beating my husband?  Ha.)  And yes, we have reached a new level of nerd-dom in the Spencer household.  
Of course, we also did some experimenting in the kitchen.  This is our attempt at traditional Chinese New Year Red Bean Cake (a steamed dessert made of red beans, sugar, and glutinous rice flour).  Despite how it looks, it tasted pretty good.  As I'm typing this, it occurs to me how weird it is that we consider red beans a dessert food now.  Anyway...


One Tuesday, we headed up to the hot springs in XinBeitou.  We enjoyed a nice soak with friends Audrey and Gus, her parents, and their pastor + family.


The pastor and his wife have five sons (quite unusual for a Taiwanese family!)  They have been planting churches in southern Taiwan for many years and it was great to meet them.



Keira provided us with never-ending entertainment (especially as this was the day she started laughing!)  The pastor's wife graciously offered to hold her while we enjoyed a soak.


On Wednesday, some dear friends offered to babysit, so Kalan and I went on a movie date to see Les Miserables.  We highly recommend it!


Throughout the week we also enjoyed several meals with friends, a few play-dates at the park...


...and many walks around the neighborhood.  This man we saw was doing Chinese New Year calligraphy.


Another Taiwanese tradition we experienced this year was hong bao.  During Chinese New Year, children are given red envelopes with "lucky" amounts of money inside.


We were surprised when Keira received several hong bao.  (Guess it's time for a savings account!)  Her first hong bao was from Chang-uh Ayi ("Auntie" Chang, who sells umbrellas in the store downstairs).


Wow, what an awesome week.  We're thankful for this restful "stay-cation"--especially for all the time we spent as a family and the memories made with friends.







Friday, February 15, 2013

Make Your Own Organic Hair Gel for Pennies

This week's DIY experiment was hair gel.  This is my favorite thing I've made so far.  I will never buy hair gel from the store again!

Here's the unbelievably easy, two-ingredient recipe:

Put 1/4 C flaxseeds and 2 cups of water in a pan.  Bring it to a boil, stirring occasionally so the seeds don't stick to the bottom.  Once it starts turning into a thin gel, turn down the heat so it's simmering.  Stir continuously for about 10 minutes, or until the gel is thick.  (When you stop stirring, your seeds will suspend in the gel instead of settling to the bottom.  Then you know it's ready).  


Turn off the heat and immediately pour the gel into a fine mesh strainer over a bowl.  (If you don't have one I think an old nylon would do the trick).  While its straining I recommend washing out your pan right away, because the gel will be hard to get off once it's dried.


Whisk a few drops of lavender oil (or other favorite essential oil) into your gel.  I used lavender because it's supposed to be good for your hair.  Also, it makes the gel smell really good!


Ta-da!  Homemade organic hair gel.  You can save the seeds in the fridge and re-use them for one more batch.

But does it really work?

Yes.

I was really skeptical, especially since my naturally curly hair is rather difficult to tame.  I had been using a lot of mousse every morning and doubted that anything less could work for me.

But...not only did it work...it worked better than the store-bought mousse!  My hair didn't feel crunchy, and my curls were soft and defined even at the end of the day.

In the morning, right after I showered and put the gel on
In the late afternoon, after I had been out walking on a windy day
The only downside I can find with this gel is that you need to keep it in the refrigerator.  I think it will last about 2 weeks in there.

 Is the money saved worth the work?

Yes.  Here's the cost breakdown:

1 bag of organic flaxseeds: $2.71 USD
(The 4 cups in one bag will make about 32 cups of hair gel (since each quarter cup can be used for two batches).  If I use 1 cup of gel per month, this bag will last me almost 3 years!)

A few drops of lavender oil for each cup of gel: $0.32 USD

So the grand total is: $3.03 USD for nearly three years' worth of organic hair gel.

(That means I will save about $60 per year!)

Plus you're avoiding chemicals that can harm your body and plastic containers that harm the environment.

Now that's a good deal!