tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59267523525406164412024-02-06T21:46:19.122-07:00live inspireda blog about all things inspired. liz song mandellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12859905863939010091noreply@blogger.comBlogger920125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5926752352540616441.post-68260772409016113672018-01-02T22:32:00.004-07:002018-01-02T23:15:15.457-07:002017 Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghexjZJE5QjCetNf5qZGerywWwVbf8wiDrqkqI_dvXahYmrnguh4fjKbwC0uHSiDh5Jk34y9gKhpsdEl105QhNZAnsQtJzvw3oBXUalSp9190sx4lJXO24GtvBPpr0Wwq__lKntiybamw/s1600/IMG_1095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I thought it'd be fun (and simpler) to structure each month with the same three prompts. There's so much to share and to choose from, but a sampling felt good enough, and good enough is good enough. (I know, deep thoughts.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">[Awkward silence]</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Aaaannd, here we go:</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">JANUARY</span></span></div>
<ol class="ol1">
<li class="li1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b></b><span class="s1"><b>As a new mother, I felt really good about</b> keeping my baby alive and not diving off the deep end (too often).</span></span></li>
<li class="li1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b></b><span class="s1"><b>I learned</b> that I need my family and that they come through in times of need. </span></span></li>
<li class="li1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b></b><span class="s1"><b>Something funny: </b>My oldest sister and her family came to visit and she did this thing called “the walk” to get fussy Julien to calm down. It was hilarious and it worked! I tried it, but couldn't do it as emphatically as she could. </span></span></li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheknN3HxWn2i3ZI7kmlCo8ePJQzBwDPsjqMKiwDFe8IrjhgX1hM3mequzfCQguoAFl4nNid0XMDzEBXjAmJVwl-dNMWYnsspE595eomtvIvFwhuiPoofzRc6r8d3n6B_A8ymvg4ebtPQg/s1600/IMG_9260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheknN3HxWn2i3ZI7kmlCo8ePJQzBwDPsjqMKiwDFe8IrjhgX1hM3mequzfCQguoAFl4nNid0XMDzEBXjAmJVwl-dNMWYnsspE595eomtvIvFwhuiPoofzRc6r8d3n6B_A8ymvg4ebtPQg/s640/IMG_9260.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Luke at 4mo and Julien at 1mo - newborns are....how do you say it....so weird looking.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">FEBRUARY</span></div>
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<li class="li1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b></b><span class="s1"><b>As a new mother, I felt really good about</b> contributing the goods to form Julien's rolls (see below).</span></span></li>
<li class="li1"><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>I learned</b> that when I ask for help, help arrives, sometimes from the least expected people. </span></span></li>
<li class="li1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b></b><span class="s1"><b>Something funny:</b> the number of things that were going wrong with my body. Let me remind you with a picture of my balloon face.</span></span></li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0oBA3OHpQQkk0D72InoU09g0anM9OI-_yieC27ToXKT6kpVKyPHxsYb8UigYucJoNI3WRXar6Dsnoj-LKseevM9JZwEyQM-N2KdyXaOEkcNtxNku5je5S4c5YcFhyWvi9tFF7mCJtGI/s1600/IMG_0364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0oBA3OHpQQkk0D72InoU09g0anM9OI-_yieC27ToXKT6kpVKyPHxsYb8UigYucJoNI3WRXar6Dsnoj-LKseevM9JZwEyQM-N2KdyXaOEkcNtxNku5je5S4c5YcFhyWvi9tFF7mCJtGI/s640/IMG_0364.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Very edible.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheDUolx0njbCusWNw_BG93P0lIUv8ielzEba8t8QROmTf81lDs-OmcHtCDZTy3TeTRNUVluRUkj0YbpTTEs44XUTLWjAUBgEXZS1vA1YAAvwm_aHt48ADVG77GatgN7LR1eQz9K2Y_-HM/s1600/IMG_0182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheDUolx0njbCusWNw_BG93P0lIUv8ielzEba8t8QROmTf81lDs-OmcHtCDZTy3TeTRNUVluRUkj0YbpTTEs44XUTLWjAUBgEXZS1vA1YAAvwm_aHt48ADVG77GatgN7LR1eQz9K2Y_-HM/s640/IMG_0182.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Definitely <i>not</i> edible.</span></td></tr>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">MARCH</span></span></div>
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<li class="li1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b></b><span class="s1"><b>As a new mother, I felt really good about </b>trusting my need to go to the bay area and be nurtured by some women in my life. (And meeting Anne Lamott, who signed Julien’s leg.)</span></span></li>
<li class="li1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b></b><span class="s1"><b>I learned </b>tongue tie is no small deal. Get it dealt with early on. The older the child gets, the more traumatizing it is.</span></span></li>
<li class="li1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b></b><span class="s1"><b>Something funny: </b>Julien looking like a minion before his procedure. I was cracking up until they started, and that laugh immediately turned into a look of horror.</span></span></li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiSDwmtecNMRYwszkgTDGL3VFb021zq-S047RRXtr50SNlm1RU1KFrur7v612e202_F3zPGFZwoeKKfBJtkwIlTRfsAzNQyNOdegFBMiVro5vRvWm_oG01BelZwTQDkrFD8JqiKxbdn1I/s1600/IMG_0503.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiSDwmtecNMRYwszkgTDGL3VFb021zq-S047RRXtr50SNlm1RU1KFrur7v612e202_F3zPGFZwoeKKfBJtkwIlTRfsAzNQyNOdegFBMiVro5vRvWm_oG01BelZwTQDkrFD8JqiKxbdn1I/s640/IMG_0503.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This moment reminded me of a glimpse of when I used to be so whimsical and sprightly. I had forgotten about that part of me during my pregnancy and for a lot of his first year. Thank you Annie.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx2eFth_SMo2tLBuUiZf4eZnVGyh3O5pwYpDejMyQIozF1VyS38kpgj095zsYRkf3ZHTlb-m2A1vekloCpyDo6HaQaRz8Aix5CyJmpnU1uWlrXmvccaOOsnuglqhedynA-omllaHZpcsw/s1600/IMG_0473.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx2eFth_SMo2tLBuUiZf4eZnVGyh3O5pwYpDejMyQIozF1VyS38kpgj095zsYRkf3ZHTlb-m2A1vekloCpyDo6HaQaRz8Aix5CyJmpnU1uWlrXmvccaOOsnuglqhedynA-omllaHZpcsw/s640/IMG_0473.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I don't wish this procedure and the one month of "stretching" on any parent. It was horrible.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">APRIL</span></div>
<ol class="ol1">
<li class="li1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b></b><span class="s1"><b>As a new mother, I felt really good about </b>starting to like my son.</span></span></li>
<li class="li1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b></b><span class="s1"><b>I learned </b>how to prune fruit trees. (Now for many more years to go of trial and error.)</span></span></li>
<li class="li1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b></b><span class="s1"><b>Something funny:</b> My diaper cream on my face dayZ.</span></span></li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtib4neRjr7M8Yig_J5PSA5IpNEXqBWjHFW891aDv0zSBKiup3cFnK9XTyNN98sYNvk1BZtGUzQomySyI4fFQxQ8OlQOo1BCYsGo0UPrDPcPxcWZlVfsSYDqm-ZldiUjN6bHS2CuMIOhY/s1600/IMG_1363.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtib4neRjr7M8Yig_J5PSA5IpNEXqBWjHFW891aDv0zSBKiup3cFnK9XTyNN98sYNvk1BZtGUzQomySyI4fFQxQ8OlQOo1BCYsGo0UPrDPcPxcWZlVfsSYDqm-ZldiUjN6bHS2CuMIOhY/s640/IMG_1363.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Love pruning.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghexjZJE5QjCetNf5qZGerywWwVbf8wiDrqkqI_dvXahYmrnguh4fjKbwC0uHSiDh5Jk34y9gKhpsdEl105QhNZAnsQtJzvw3oBXUalSp9190sx4lJXO24GtvBPpr0Wwq__lKntiybamw/s1600/IMG_1095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghexjZJE5QjCetNf5qZGerywWwVbf8wiDrqkqI_dvXahYmrnguh4fjKbwC0uHSiDh5Jk34y9gKhpsdEl105QhNZAnsQtJzvw3oBXUalSp9190sx4lJXO24GtvBPpr0Wwq__lKntiybamw/s640/IMG_1095.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So glad my clown days are over.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">MAY</span></div>
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<li class="li1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b></b><span class="s1"><b>As a new mother, I felt really good about </b>getting outside as much as possible. It may have been short or longer-ish, but we went outside as often as we could.</span></span></li>
<li class="li1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b></b><span class="s1"><b>I learned </b>parents are trying their best with the circumstances they have. (Aka: Sometimes I’m willing to do <i>whatever</i>, to survive the day.) I also learned that I was desperately looking for a sense of connection with others who could relate to my experience(s). </span></span></li>
<li class="li1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b></b><span class="s1"><b>Something funny: </b>When I woke up from being completely knocked out from the flu, I had a new do. It gave me a good laugh despite being painfully ill.</span></span></li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRmEp-yPLHs3GhXKNb1WAQCOACJhqqYLZnov7bubZLLDdcwolu7qVmcj9ntd3l-QXMC8KQUCnfaROAl8XvkTV_zbr-7iueVNcXddnLWXO5hGqNINJLSlELFuh_qUT9hD_8Nr77MyEHEFs/s1600/IMG_1875.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRmEp-yPLHs3GhXKNb1WAQCOACJhqqYLZnov7bubZLLDdcwolu7qVmcj9ntd3l-QXMC8KQUCnfaROAl8XvkTV_zbr-7iueVNcXddnLWXO5hGqNINJLSlELFuh_qUT9hD_8Nr77MyEHEFs/s640/IMG_1875.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Puppy love /therapy/distraction.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibE81loPKeFpxE3JQtwJvQUXyxzym5iZRrJQFgtYzTw3LjdXp0XdTtxPrkEB848wQraH03Wy_vj0oJa0ywXKBGdVX5cqkuv90O8cuU3u16fuvLuuTD-IyaIYN6Jsz5h6cvnWG__3_mAMo/s1600/IMG_1917.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibE81loPKeFpxE3JQtwJvQUXyxzym5iZRrJQFgtYzTw3LjdXp0XdTtxPrkEB848wQraH03Wy_vj0oJa0ywXKBGdVX5cqkuv90O8cuU3u16fuvLuuTD-IyaIYN6Jsz5h6cvnWG__3_mAMo/s640/IMG_1917.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Obviously enjoying the outdoors.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNSjZPSu7tQhoiS0snZPWeYvkJ_VAjD-aGJfGUG4o6tseluX659TB1GzwOndX0X2RsdTWU0llX3Wg_qeKSuTidF6ovWwmLe1q44zM_9DeTj6XWSzFFM631eFdpqnPM61qe_gWV1B66l3g/s1600/IMG_2182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNSjZPSu7tQhoiS0snZPWeYvkJ_VAjD-aGJfGUG4o6tseluX659TB1GzwOndX0X2RsdTWU0llX3Wg_qeKSuTidF6ovWwmLe1q44zM_9DeTj6XWSzFFM631eFdpqnPM61qe_gWV1B66l3g/s640/IMG_2182.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nothing glamorous. Mama and baby.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCueZZxcJDWKvaB7JL5nVKIzreEFpPFbvUiE0Ntt6bUcpL-0oPx_HTqo1HqlFCz-BTef611-hBz5MTWH1plZWC1iHAIpF-27ex-DWK3ho8mRDWSn-z8G_UnVnLUto23z3vsJ7EXvtiIxU/s1600/IMG_2446.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCueZZxcJDWKvaB7JL5nVKIzreEFpPFbvUiE0Ntt6bUcpL-0oPx_HTqo1HqlFCz-BTef611-hBz5MTWH1plZWC1iHAIpF-27ex-DWK3ho8mRDWSn-z8G_UnVnLUto23z3vsJ7EXvtiIxU/s640/IMG_2446.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lovely.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitVcEypvQbgdoX173jcMxp6fjSreVpWmztIbSDNJAIB0myEmoV2MrygUmO0aDzggANZuA_NtHNjXzuxL1MdjP4ReUHDUS6Jk3NsdeiBeoxrQIq-NNJVDVy5YTbVnBVTBsYK7hrtzRqx7E/s1600/IMG_2012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitVcEypvQbgdoX173jcMxp6fjSreVpWmztIbSDNJAIB0myEmoV2MrygUmO0aDzggANZuA_NtHNjXzuxL1MdjP4ReUHDUS6Jk3NsdeiBeoxrQIq-NNJVDVy5YTbVnBVTBsYK7hrtzRqx7E/s640/IMG_2012.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">:)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">JUNE</span></span></div>
<ol class="ol1">
<li class="li1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b></b><span class="s1"><b>As a new mother, I felt really good about </b>really starting to love my boy.</span></span></li>
<li class="li1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b></b><span class="s1"><b>I learned </b>that home renovation is expensive and time-consuming, and it’s really hard to manage with an infant. But, we got our in-law unit up and functioning after a lot of hard work, a fair chunk of money, and of course a few fights. </span></span></li>
<li class="li1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b></b><span class="s1"><b>Something funny: </b>three butts.</span></span></li>
</ol>
<div class="p2">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiinQCHvqFC097jSapIB51VKyUx59PEg9SCBH2L8_bOzUInDjMqZAzpXfJDzRiV4tanzNGH7uSHAKNyikpcyAWQHZ0gwZOFPqsK_x8ZLSWvcAY3ifc3XLfTu1FGmbpxxM68V5I5h5mwTIU/s1600/IMG_20170601_174250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiinQCHvqFC097jSapIB51VKyUx59PEg9SCBH2L8_bOzUInDjMqZAzpXfJDzRiV4tanzNGH7uSHAKNyikpcyAWQHZ0gwZOFPqsK_x8ZLSWvcAY3ifc3XLfTu1FGmbpxxM68V5I5h5mwTIU/s640/IMG_20170601_174250.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I don't think this has ever happened again since, but I passed out with the baby. Don't worry, his face wasn't covered even though it looks like from this angle. (Husband came home and found us like this.)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNnVdYt7nQBKHTX4FQ0YHf6YN0atbwNhFdVSgQ8Z81OdwNe7WQWqBATx8X4bF8hprJyL8uBNQ93gGYOoDiPIzfke-Z5EPQHMgWgjwt0fpnv-MbWqfTy4jo5E_AloBiA-FkYOnh3TcU8kc/s1600/IMG_20170609_132117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNnVdYt7nQBKHTX4FQ0YHf6YN0atbwNhFdVSgQ8Z81OdwNe7WQWqBATx8X4bF8hprJyL8uBNQ93gGYOoDiPIzfke-Z5EPQHMgWgjwt0fpnv-MbWqfTy4jo5E_AloBiA-FkYOnh3TcU8kc/s640/IMG_20170609_132117.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Love my boy. Love hiking. Love being able to do it together.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy4V-wVEL4V7VR0vng4AbR5Xo0ZjUadBjcM_mxSdqISdWXij5GN7UwVO2CACqPT-ztvyLkxTYer4YJ0sUPnXjlyNGxXu2bOHH40nksySzYvG-oXbMubDb7ZzRv6bV3wcQ-qG382M-Tcig/s1600/IMG_20170609_140326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy4V-wVEL4V7VR0vng4AbR5Xo0ZjUadBjcM_mxSdqISdWXij5GN7UwVO2CACqPT-ztvyLkxTYer4YJ0sUPnXjlyNGxXu2bOHH40nksySzYvG-oXbMubDb7ZzRv6bV3wcQ-qG382M-Tcig/s640/IMG_20170609_140326.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We hiked to Holland Lake waterfall. I went there when I was pregnant and it felt significant to be back there with my chunky bubba.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtgiJ5hhZahsWqGd5jjpBr9T8bXQYhiV7y7HjN5rARiNwm16TvQ7qINJWH31cOndUJE2gmmb3VLtNA6CbOUJhyPTg1b7YSAzvMaFr0PogC4n3koCWUzD1YGE5vDJTpVtTkV9WQFn20fFg/s1600/IMG_2640.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtgiJ5hhZahsWqGd5jjpBr9T8bXQYhiV7y7HjN5rARiNwm16TvQ7qINJWH31cOndUJE2gmmb3VLtNA6CbOUJhyPTg1b7YSAzvMaFr0PogC4n3koCWUzD1YGE5vDJTpVtTkV9WQFn20fFg/s640/IMG_2640.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Two butts are exposed, the other is hidden. There's definitely three total.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">JULY</span></span></div>
<ol class="ol1">
<li class="li1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b></b><span class="s1"><b>As a new mother, I felt really good about </b>a couple of firsts: biking together, camping. Also, just walking up to another mom, talking for a bit, and then asking for her number so we could hang out. (We've become good friends since then!)</span></span></li>
<li class="li1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b></b><span class="s1"><b>I learned </b>that I have a choice in who I want to show up as in every circumstance. Needed to hear this reminder badly. It changed the way I was showing up in my marriage - from highly critical to more accepting. (I get super critical under stress and husband gets the brunt of it.)</span></span> </span></li>
<li class="li1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b></b><span class="s1"><b>Something funny: </b>When Julien was practicing his rasberries. (Video posted below.)</span></span></li>
</ol>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipaWVn3st3yFduAxXp8RYyZs0AEHReJLQ3uw4EqKlR8f7EsYHcG_lU3-n93gIazXq11kTocp2WTcKUfw8mTSAEmSRIQxvcaXYCiRK2D7-j3ciaq6k0S0IYwu4YnpDpcZPELSoXQNhDLn4/s1600/IMG_3861.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipaWVn3st3yFduAxXp8RYyZs0AEHReJLQ3uw4EqKlR8f7EsYHcG_lU3-n93gIazXq11kTocp2WTcKUfw8mTSAEmSRIQxvcaXYCiRK2D7-j3ciaq6k0S0IYwu4YnpDpcZPELSoXQNhDLn4/s640/IMG_3861.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">First bike ride!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="p2">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhheg4_-NeE19Qhbp3-l9g9gTBv7YP6kfi2J6Qffi5BnCNpaD0NMBlk2CB3V6Yu1BjoMHrYzD9zngbWfCsNAGYXLp7qN8z5RR6qJ8OOOvcGHfhrQ9lETQYLLBDH2j4v3i-anzNA5qbXJT4/s1600/IMG_4164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhheg4_-NeE19Qhbp3-l9g9gTBv7YP6kfi2J6Qffi5BnCNpaD0NMBlk2CB3V6Yu1BjoMHrYzD9zngbWfCsNAGYXLp7qN8z5RR6qJ8OOOvcGHfhrQ9lETQYLLBDH2j4v3i-anzNA5qbXJT4/s640/IMG_4164.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Baby really likes camping. You can see it from his expression. Also. Dirt. Everywhere.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRSgJaA7mKn7yRt_gwNq9R_G3ftqI5kwRspVmzdn9LgXt2kLsYqfCwoF0zJPSsrF-Tzj5UYMJ4FcmcLqCsh4XhuSVtIuFWix5etyaQwlGCOlpb4X7qhzjve6WoFRC9jD8heEC2XO_YZVk/s1600/IMG_4179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRSgJaA7mKn7yRt_gwNq9R_G3ftqI5kwRspVmzdn9LgXt2kLsYqfCwoF0zJPSsrF-Tzj5UYMJ4FcmcLqCsh4XhuSVtIuFWix5etyaQwlGCOlpb4X7qhzjve6WoFRC9jD8heEC2XO_YZVk/s640/IMG_4179.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He really enjoyed the views at Glacier NP.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxEq6PwBj6RAfsQpPVoEMBTcRRRpL5APQowjxnNk0UiVhNU2tqCFaGn0fQFv_pFONNzauK4_4Ft2FpSQJCCmQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AUGUST</span></span></div>
<ol class="ol1">
<li class="li1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b></b><span class="s1"><b>As a new mother, I felt really good about</b> surviving a month of unhealthy - sometimes hazardous - smoke in the heat of the summer with an infant. (In other words, we were inside a LOT.)</span></span></li>
<li class="li1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b></b><span class="s1"><b>I learned</b> a very simple and delicious dressing that I’ve been making and eating since. So good! (Ingredients: fresh basil, olive oil, rice wine vinegar, mustard, salt and pepper)</span></span></li>
<li class="li1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b></b><span class="s1"><b>Something funny: </b>Julien's face in one particular frame of a video I took of Julien getting all happy about I have no idea what. (See below.)</span></span></li>
</ol>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig-10vlg7mh8y3lBRF_9iOp3dPqwmCEJOVsn88XZYMW1GHD_PeY3qZ6hsSug7_MBYp5X-1RpUQl6qNbTUzpFvuk7VzcQXviSYeb8rIpyzJiCGdekfr-iK1KEAV9UcCRE0wXQEVnbk8FEk/s1600/IMG_4521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig-10vlg7mh8y3lBRF_9iOp3dPqwmCEJOVsn88XZYMW1GHD_PeY3qZ6hsSug7_MBYp5X-1RpUQl6qNbTUzpFvuk7VzcQXviSYeb8rIpyzJiCGdekfr-iK1KEAV9UcCRE0wXQEVnbk8FEk/s640/IMG_4521.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Didn't have an extra shirt. Oh well. But that face. Priceless.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p2">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3gjdZ-vnWSqeJPV0r-mObueDGAFgm5EVa4bluRISiiYmHgDxRMjzO3e8xdYmlJX3UPQcpiWDCDaaBQYuPnsmmIFooOVjr6ejrlKpvdFSMO966YoDE4iApCnHPybHMfUCLtjDPzRBZJSg/s1600/IMG_4699.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1334" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3gjdZ-vnWSqeJPV0r-mObueDGAFgm5EVa4bluRISiiYmHgDxRMjzO3e8xdYmlJX3UPQcpiWDCDaaBQYuPnsmmIFooOVjr6ejrlKpvdFSMO966YoDE4iApCnHPybHMfUCLtjDPzRBZJSg/s640/IMG_4699.PNG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We have gotten a thousand laughs from this video and this exact moment.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">SEPTEMBER</span></div>
<ol class="ol1">
<li class="li1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b></b><span class="s1"><b>As a new mother, I felt really good about</b> just simply loving my boy. I didn't know I could feel this way towards another human.</span></span></li>
<li class="li1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b></b><span class="s1"><b>I learned</b> how to harvest, process, and make jam with a lot of plums. Also learned how to can tomatoes. </span></span></li>
<li class="li1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b></b><span class="s1"><b>Something funny:</b> When Julien and his cousin were feeding each other water and they were like two drunk babies. (The photo doesn't do it justice.)</span></span></li>
</ol>
<div class="p1">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO_h8tLQ12CAtGi5Yuw-t7Aqcc2S9NXw4Ge1HqVFM5l1L6NvjfWFj4t-GVw0Fx9tLFx97I11Jp0EThAYoU9DpoI8sHPH9OoJohddlxRE2azNIxpCVuWR9h6g0H7RmrZ3-OgJtAeGhWvlw/s1600/IMG_5129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO_h8tLQ12CAtGi5Yuw-t7Aqcc2S9NXw4Ge1HqVFM5l1L6NvjfWFj4t-GVw0Fx9tLFx97I11Jp0EThAYoU9DpoI8sHPH9OoJohddlxRE2azNIxpCVuWR9h6g0H7RmrZ3-OgJtAeGhWvlw/s640/IMG_5129.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This face. Must be one of my all-time favorite photos of Julien.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQTv5g_bzdwgakZbMu_lp-Ly878e1HDNxMYxTJ_zKhoDEpHInwz-uB1gefRTkkbT7Bx48YqCYamLuv3i8VNTu3Kx7lfcbK6hTvqAl6-38iSOWMUtjnmfN4SbYSlbDGXjv1-wbvivcWh08/s1600/IMG_5314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQTv5g_bzdwgakZbMu_lp-Ly878e1HDNxMYxTJ_zKhoDEpHInwz-uB1gefRTkkbT7Bx48YqCYamLuv3i8VNTu3Kx7lfcbK6hTvqAl6-38iSOWMUtjnmfN4SbYSlbDGXjv1-wbvivcWh08/s640/IMG_5314.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Loving him.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjux-kcs9OuBDjcgqzHT61DuKTBYJ8-XgmlqyX4L-3Lnt_qcKPdWcgI-tDoa3PvOHVswJQ0xTbbmgVCQkWXQ9-gK9t082qjc6gbWWv3kzbdpAc8OOoztoh7p26YEBsPNQLkcO11JnCil1M/s1600/IMG_5147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjux-kcs9OuBDjcgqzHT61DuKTBYJ8-XgmlqyX4L-3Lnt_qcKPdWcgI-tDoa3PvOHVswJQ0xTbbmgVCQkWXQ9-gK9t082qjc6gbWWv3kzbdpAc8OOoztoh7p26YEBsPNQLkcO11JnCil1M/s640/IMG_5147.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Harvested about 100lbs of these melt-in-your-mouth plums. So good.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAnQ3FY0654-9Z6pqtuTl0mzXeEbAZEyvWH2YtvqGU7NnJxsT7rzAk0YLTqFfMsKp1Tyh-JWQ9rpYwMdgUnwNGoSlzhLfXSPoIoXit7GwWdc1GsOpSXWaQ8ythbwQlXq6jAvWoOQ1gIsA/s1600/IMG-5380.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAnQ3FY0654-9Z6pqtuTl0mzXeEbAZEyvWH2YtvqGU7NnJxsT7rzAk0YLTqFfMsKp1Tyh-JWQ9rpYwMdgUnwNGoSlzhLfXSPoIoXit7GwWdc1GsOpSXWaQ8ythbwQlXq6jAvWoOQ1gIsA/s640/IMG-5380.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Making of plum jam. Look at the color!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipeEPl1zjx5T6kptjUErCZqj9V445TCGkATd3_oozSrCBp935BFPTjUstWnnE0ABrwwboeVZ2FYJocNoAx0hBon3nP5E-roQR2AlKf9XNhjFwtjyKtzftQxhz3M7T174MHkD7zI9Zi1Pg/s1600/IMG_5638.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipeEPl1zjx5T6kptjUErCZqj9V445TCGkATd3_oozSrCBp935BFPTjUstWnnE0ABrwwboeVZ2FYJocNoAx0hBon3nP5E-roQR2AlKf9XNhjFwtjyKtzftQxhz3M7T174MHkD7zI9Zi1Pg/s640/IMG_5638.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Drink it."<br />"Gross, I'm not drinking whatever's in that orange cup."</span></td></tr>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">OCTOBER</span></span></div>
<ol class="ol1">
<li class="li1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b></b><span class="s1"><b>As a new mother, I felt really good about</b> going on my first trip away from Julien. OMG, it was so awesome!</span></span></li>
<li class="li1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b></b><span class="s1"><b>I learned</b> that I’m <i>really</i> allergic to something inside an all-natural salve I used. Oh my gosh. My face blew up again!</span></span></li>
<li class="li1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b></b><span class="s1"><b>Something funny:</b> When a book becomes real.</span></span></li>
</ol>
<div class="p2">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir6wrGTnalnwNbB5Ul72ro1RcHt2RLgoNbKPUc7Q_AWUzGxFq0Cmw6x_ndp8zN5hx7erMiAQPD0d9j2mGxzqMGTdkQbYjVV1SQD7omM0UkIWSNmvBvkC6JCLhgU8rLnHTEIQl3sY8V1sw/s1600/IMG-5856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir6wrGTnalnwNbB5Ul72ro1RcHt2RLgoNbKPUc7Q_AWUzGxFq0Cmw6x_ndp8zN5hx7erMiAQPD0d9j2mGxzqMGTdkQbYjVV1SQD7omM0UkIWSNmvBvkC6JCLhgU8rLnHTEIQl3sY8V1sw/s640/IMG-5856.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Reunited after my trip.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNcTp05u1FKY0CW5QbyimJIUuIgpI6VSaexbP208JZU_eis4DZTnby9r5QMztzHNb7LTyz01_b0lfHdch8WAAIw2A277dvnrkqqIxcHZovdGkNzzlSIl_GlNC6wzhi85LfTynbRRVf3y8/s1600/IMG_6190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNcTp05u1FKY0CW5QbyimJIUuIgpI6VSaexbP208JZU_eis4DZTnby9r5QMztzHNb7LTyz01_b0lfHdch8WAAIw2A277dvnrkqqIxcHZovdGkNzzlSIl_GlNC6wzhi85LfTynbRRVf3y8/s640/IMG_6190.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You're welcome.</span></td></tr>
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</div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">NOVEMBER</span></span></div>
<ol class="ol1">
<li class="li1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b></b><span class="s1"><b>As a new mother, I felt really good about</b> unfollowing a bunch of people on Instagram who made their version of life (motherhood, their home, their body, their lifestyle, whatever) look “perfect.” I felt really good about unfollowing people who portrayed a overwhelming perception of perfection.</span></span></li>
<li class="li1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b></b><span class="s1"><b>I learned </b>how to make pho in the instant pot and basically #cantstopwontstop.</span></span></li>
<li class="li1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b></b><span class="s1"><b>Something funny: </b>Leg wrestling with the family after Thanksgiving. And when Julien got stuck between the wall and couch.</span></span></li>
<li class="li1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b></b><span class="s1"><b>Noteworthy:</b> Spontaneous date in LA to watch the musical Hamilton. It was absolutely extraordinary!</span></span></li>
</ol>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDrinxAU2N7tl6HN0YJdxk6jzHR2yH75IVneDIR-M54HJ8PCd7MmMxILdQ6T9IOuAcWjMQIobiD1Vh9Eqq85r_bo1kg2l78vBIvc48ZKVi7cO8fBnoqFmaV1iYHvmPb1peb5Fhyphenhyphen4VWkX8/s1600/IMG_6759.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDrinxAU2N7tl6HN0YJdxk6jzHR2yH75IVneDIR-M54HJ8PCd7MmMxILdQ6T9IOuAcWjMQIobiD1Vh9Eqq85r_bo1kg2l78vBIvc48ZKVi7cO8fBnoqFmaV1iYHvmPb1peb5Fhyphenhyphen4VWkX8/s640/IMG_6759.JPG" width="512" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Too good.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO-kgLRnR-ASLwzVHBXgJH_GzcKlPNwQm9U5ugCEHKd0L5o4ipoPUSVeJ-iAL-z311YtqPf8Ku0aWhC2Emtlvl47tXU7j3EeWksfB7TS6-kk-Mh8H1Br0l1DFVtD2iGMhiIOAB1wmDtM8/s1600/IMG_7478.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1203" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO-kgLRnR-ASLwzVHBXgJH_GzcKlPNwQm9U5ugCEHKd0L5o4ipoPUSVeJ-iAL-z311YtqPf8Ku0aWhC2Emtlvl47tXU7j3EeWksfB7TS6-kk-Mh8H1Br0l1DFVtD2iGMhiIOAB1wmDtM8/s640/IMG_7478.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I can't <i>not</i> see that guy in the photo. We are really good at selfies.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">DECEMBER</span></div>
<ol class="ol1">
<li class="li1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b></b><span class="s1"><b>As a new mother, I felt really good about</b> how an educator observed Julien’s secure attachment to me. I think it was especially powerful to hear that because I was grieving how disconnected I felt in the early part of his life and concerned about what kind of impact it would have on him.</span></span></li>
<li class="li1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b></b><span class="s1"><b>I learned</b> to let go of cleanliness and be more accepting of "good enough/clean enough."</span></span></li>
<li class="li1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b></b><span class="s1"><b>Something funny:</b> Julien and I went cross country skiing with a friend and her almost 3yo son. (The boys were in a trailer being hauled behind me for the ski back to the car.) We stopped because one of the kids was crying, and when she opened up the trailer, Julien had stolen her son’s cracker and was eating it like it was no big deal, as the 3yo shed sorrowful tears.</span></span></li>
<li class="li1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Noteworthy:</b> Julien turned one on 12/3/17. We threw a Korean-style birthday party for him in both LA and back home in Missoula which included a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doljanchi" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">doljabi</span></a>. He chose a whisk in LA, and a hammer in Missoula. I'm thinking he might become a maker of sorts, based on his selections. I can only hope...his father and I both lack in those areas. (Ha! Who the heck knows what he'll become. I just hope he lives a life of integrity, works hard/loves hard, and has a great sense of humor.)</span></span></li>
</ol>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2017, you go down in the books as one of the hardest years of my life, but also a year that brought me immense joy. I learned I am stronger than I knew. I learned to care less about what others think. I learned I have a lot of control (over me, and only me). I relearned to let go of all should's/ought to's/obligation. I learned how important family and friends are. Oh, and I'm learning that raising a child will be 100% confounding until the day he or I perish. It will likely be the greatest (and most frustrating) gift for keeping me open and curious.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm sad to say goodbye to this past year because it will always hold so much pain, joy and growth, but the year is over now and I'm also curious about what's next. I'm hoping for a prolific year of creating in 2018.</span></div>
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</style>liz song mandellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12859905863939010091noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5926752352540616441.post-25324917563119922312017-08-08T15:31:00.002-06:002017-08-08T15:38:09.912-06:008-month interview with mama Liz<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. What's up girl? It's been three months since your last post! Where you been?</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well two of those months were spent reno-ing our in-law unit. It consumed me. I hate renos now. Just kidding. I love em AND hate em. Then this last month, I spent a week in Oregon with dear friends, two weeks trying to cool down in this crazy Montana heatwave and deal with all this emotional stuff that surfaced and then a week with my sister and nieces when they came to visit. I'm glad to finally be catching up with this blog. It feels good to be back.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSfj0jrRQjOryV1sQIj8IhFyMg_tt54eYpm35o3DbzVatfyiyEJlo3R7-gxBkGSfi71Xr0YJdQPGw-1jArls10nSw5vM8jjWxFehokzAEsFlpkeH4cLXtSc4V5v18EmivyZ9Co_zMzttM/s1600/IMG_3118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSfj0jrRQjOryV1sQIj8IhFyMg_tt54eYpm35o3DbzVatfyiyEJlo3R7-gxBkGSfi71Xr0YJdQPGw-1jArls10nSw5vM8jjWxFehokzAEsFlpkeH4cLXtSc4V5v18EmivyZ9Co_zMzttM/s640/IMG_3118.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNHCS7IVTWOEk9Sj3KuYgyt0FINtuEs7p10AspDYiCHrQ5c1j4BUoLScOQi9W_HLe42XQwTm7mvX4jkiSBqrrCFmptnu8OpHdUKwMkJ3oEufvpjVNTqGGAyV13wW9RGbRCZ-mIp0UUjAo/s1600/IMG_3411.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNHCS7IVTWOEk9Sj3KuYgyt0FINtuEs7p10AspDYiCHrQ5c1j4BUoLScOQi9W_HLe42XQwTm7mvX4jkiSBqrrCFmptnu8OpHdUKwMkJ3oEufvpjVNTqGGAyV13wW9RGbRCZ-mIp0UUjAo/s640/IMG_3411.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Julien getting changed in the trunk of our rental car. He clung to the trunk like he was going to fall out or something.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhibB2Wh3Q5TnJRSoBaXKsvUsrlnGud-NwUE542NjEHNjoRXR9IGGTOdZH5jQjK3M3w3fF8DMSxLhlgA3vlQJ2F7Rt_ylbqgO06-5OmWvfyi8jvf0BgZ1Rkbu_Che5QfSOHOUDGKGH3HrI/s1600/IMG_3707.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhibB2Wh3Q5TnJRSoBaXKsvUsrlnGud-NwUE542NjEHNjoRXR9IGGTOdZH5jQjK3M3w3fF8DMSxLhlgA3vlQJ2F7Rt_ylbqgO06-5OmWvfyi8jvf0BgZ1Rkbu_Che5QfSOHOUDGKGH3HrI/s640/IMG_3707.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Emotional stuff?</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes. Emotional stuff. Like...the deep juicy stuff of life. Like...the stuff that if you don't deal with it, you're screwing yourself over. I don't feel like getting into the details because I'm still in the thick of it, but there have been many tears shed and hours spent playing Angry Birds Pop (this is me in I-don't-want-to-deal mode). </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. Let's talk about something a little lighter then. What's the story with J? What's new with him?</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*gushing* Listen, I love my little j. And somehow, my love grows exponentially when he is asleep. Can I get an AMEN mamas? :) He has had MANY new firsts. In just this past month alone, his first tooth broke through (OMG). He went camping for the first time - which means I went camping with a baby for the first time. (Trust me, it was not as easy as outdoor ads make it look. Advertising is such bullshit!) He also started crawling for real for real. At first, he did this really funny leg lift every 2-3 leg movements, but now he's straight up crawling on all fours and moving pretty fast. This has made me very aware of all of the wires we have everywhere and how much I hate the cute wool rug we bought to make our home look all matchy-matchy. The wool gets all over him and I'm pretty sure he'll cough up a wool ball and start licking himself any day now. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. So you think he's going to turn into a cat?</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I guess. He already sounds like one. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. The previous question wasn't a very good use of one out of the 10 questions you usually answer. Here's a beefier one: What do you think of motherhood now that you're eight months in? </span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's just not what I had hoped for. In my mind, I thought we would be adventuring together all the time. Bike riding, camping, backpacking, playing outside often, gardening, me having tons of energy to do all these things + more. (I know, I just posted a bunch of pictures that make it look like we're adventuring all the time. Trust me, we're not. It's really quite boring to look at photos of us not doing much.) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Before having kids, I used to think you just choose to live that kind of life; you just <i>make</i> it happen. In some ways, it's true. I think we all have a choice in how we shape our lives. But, we don't really have a choice in what kind of kid we get, how your birth story will affect you or what kind of experience we'll have postpartum. Most of life is simply out of our control. Ha. I understood that to some level pre-kid, but it's really sinking in deep after having j. I think motherhood gives me so many opportunities to truly go with the flow. It makes me step back and stop forcing my will on the situation. Like right now...my dining room has this morning's breakfast still on it, toys strewn around from yesterday, dirty bathroom, baby clothes still sitting in the dryer from two days ago, legs hairs longer than I prefer, and a yard full of weeds and taller-than-I-like grass. There's more, but I'll stop the list there. I think motherhood has made me more aware of myself, my limitations, and my ability to extend further when I don't think I have anything left. It's also made me more clear about my needs and priorities. I know that there's a LOT more I'd <i>like</i> to be doing, but I don't want to sacrifice what I <i>am</i> actually doing with my child or for myself in the moment. Does that even make any sense? I'll stop here because I think I'm rambling now.</span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6. How have you coped with the mismatch of expectations vs reality? </span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By playing Angry Birds Pop. :-P I'm not kidding. Sometimes I like just playing a game on my phone. Please don't judge. On a more productive note, this blog has been helpful to take a moment to reflect. I think <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lizsongmandell/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;">sharing photos</span></a> and the fuller story behind the photo on instagram has been a good outlet too. The overall theme though is just trying to keep it real, not justifying anything but being honest with myself about what's up. (E.g. Instead of saying, "Yeah, it's not what I expected, but it's still all good," it's helpful to admit, "Gosh, this was totally not what I was expecting! That's disappointing.") I think fully expressing myself has opened up pathways to figure out how to make the best of my new reality without dismissing myself.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>7. What are you proud of as a mom?</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*blushing* Well that question makes me a little bashful about answering, but let me give it a try. [pause while I think] I'm proud of trying my best.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>8. I heard you re-started crossfit. Does your body feel different?</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I do something high-impact like running, my body feels every bounce in my knee joints. It feels heavy and the weight distributed all funny. Also, this week, I did some deadlifts and afterward felt a tiny bit of soreness around my cesarean scar. But the neat thing is that I still feel like I have a good amount of strength in me. I didn't lose it all when I was a sick vegetable laying in bed all day during pregnancy and then postpartum! I think it helped to do birthfit prior to rejoining the normal crossfit gym. I probably would've otherwise hurt myself by jumping right back in. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>9. Didn't you used to run a website for beginner backpackers? What ever happened to that?</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I sure did/do. It's called <span style="color: #6aa84f;"><a href="http://www.snowqueenandscout.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Snowqueen & Scout</span></a> </span>and I haven't touched that since April of 2016. When I fell ill during pregnancy, I had absolutely no energy to pursue that. I simply didn't care about supporting women to go backpacking. I mean, I cared on a fundamental level, but not enough to spend what little energy I had to create content. I was trying to stay alive. (Sorry ladies!) And after the baby, well....that lack of energy got even worse. I wasn't nauseous and vomiting all day, but I was physically beat up and emotionally wrecked. And now, sometimes I want to pick it back up, but I feel like I'm still just barely staying afloat with all that I have in front of me - namely my baby, husband, friends/family, and the house. I think one day I may pick it back up, but the outdoor industry is so completely saturated with all these things focused on women lately, that I'm feeling turned off by the industry as well. I won't go into that rant here, but I do have some icky feelings I haven't been able to shake about a kind of fad focused on marketing to women and people of color. It feels exploitative. But that's for another day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>10. I don't have anymore questions for you. Will you just post some fun pics to scroll through?</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sure. :) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>liz song mandellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12859905863939010091noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5926752352540616441.post-92013607532317496812017-05-08T16:01:00.000-06:002017-05-08T16:05:58.996-06:005-month interview with mama Liz<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I know. Already 5 months. I can't believe it either. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1. Big question: How is your mental health? </span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Well my mood seems certainly a lot better these days. I was just telling my sister that I feel better than I did even 1.5 months ago, but I still don't feel like my best self. I know this because I find myself still being quite critical and judgmental. I don't like admitting it, but it's the truth. When I'm doing really well, I'm accepting and non-judgmental. I laugh</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> a lot and genuinely enjoy the moment regardless of how it's going. I know I'm not there yet, but I think I'll discover what it means to be a new "best" version of myself as a mom. [Side note: It's still weird to say that I'm a mom. But below is proof, I guess, that this baby is mine. He lets me wear him around and feed him...and munch on him as much as I want.]</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2. How's Julien sleep affecting you these days? </span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He was, amazingly, sleeping around 6:45pm and waking up around 6:45am with one middle of the night feeding for about a week this month. BUT, just this past week, he's waking up three times wanting milk! I think he's going through a growth spurt because he visibly looks longer. I have this feeling I'm going to say that he's going through a growth spurt until he's ... 18. lol. (Look at the way he stares into the camera...it's like he knows I'm watching him.)</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3. What's been an area of challenge for you, parenting-wise?</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At the moment, I think there are three things: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> (a) Wishing he were at a different stage developmentally. ("Gosh, I wish Julien could sit on his own or _____ on his own.") This has more to do with wanting life to be more convenient for me. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> (b) When he's clingy, it can get rather annoying. It's hard to enjoy him when he's complaining about not being held in my arms <i>all</i> day. Again, this has to do with my own convenience.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> (c) Wondering if I'm teaching him enough. Often times, I feel sort of insecure that maybe I'm not doing enough for him so he can learn as much as he can right now. Am I reading enough to him? Am I showing him enough new things? Is he getting enough X, Y, Z...? </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">4. Now that the weather is getting warmer, what do you do with Julien?</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sometimes, actually often times, I spend the morning inside. I try to prioritize Julien's naps, especially in the first part of the day, and frankly, it takes <i>me</i> a while to wake up. So staying indoors helps me get myself together in the morning. After 2pm, it's a shit-show. If I try to put him down, he might just yell at me for long enough that I throw my hands in the air. I surrender. Then I usually take him outside for a </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">stroll or wear him somewhere to give him a catnap. That seems to help his mood until bedtime.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What I'm actually saying: I do anything and everything I can to create a pleasant day for both of us. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Even adorable puppies can't cure a tired child.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">5. I heard you've been on whole30. Why'd you do it anyway? </span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Remember my<span style="color: #6aa84f;"> <a href="http://lizsong.blogspot.com/2017/04/4-month-interview-with-mama-liz.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">diaper cream around my mouth</span></a></span> situation last month? Well, I was so desperate to figure out what was going on with my body that I decided it was time to detox to rule out any foods that could've been irritating my body. The skin flare isn't completely gone yet, but I did do an allergy test and it turns out I'm allergic to soy. That's going to cause a major disruption of the kind of food I eat, especially as a Korean! :-( </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Anyway, whole30 is going pretty well still besides the fact that I still really want to eat a waffle. Ugh, that perfect crispy-fluffiness with maple syrup AND whipped cream. I want to devour it. To my utter surprise, I've been able to abstain. Instead I've been devouring the <a href="http://amzn.to/2qKUg2N" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">mint chocolate Rx bars</span></a>. It's really good and whole30 compliant!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>6. People are wondering if you've lost of ton of weight because of whole30, have you? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hahahaha. (Who are these people?) I think I lose 1/2 a pound every morning after a poop, which I proceed to gain back with that day's meals. TMI? Too bad. ;-) </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm about 6-7 pounds away from my pre-pregnancy weight, but whole30 has not contributed to weight loss...to my surprise. I thought I would lose some weight too, but nada. I do feel less bloated which is nice. To be fair, whole30 was not really about weight loss for me (ok, only a tiny bit secretly). </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">7. A lot of women don't really like their postpartum bodies. Do you fit into that camp? </span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Daaang, you just went there huh? Fine. Well, almost three years ago, I made <a href="http://lizsong.blogspot.com/2014/07/one-of-biggest-commitments-girl-can.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;">a commitment</span></a> to not complain about my body. Hm. Well if you saw me the other morning looking at my phone in video mode (b/c I swiped one too many times to the right on Facebook)...you would've seen me looking at my neck creases and thinking they look like Julien's and wondering what the heck! Or here's a photo of me covering my neck so it wouldn't look so gigantic in a we-just-woke-up family selfie. Taking this photo actually made me laugh at how ridiculous I was being.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To answer your question, I'm not totally digging my body right now because I still look a little pregnant at times. The 6-7 lbs leftover is pure fat, seriously. Not like I had flat abs before pregnancy, but I duno, I guess I don't prefer having a bulge. Who are these women on the internet who bounce back to flat ab bods? Either they're good at hiding it, a miracle happened, or I'm like...what da what?! I don't get it and honestly, it's not the case for <i>most</i> women. Don't let the internet trick you! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>8. I've heard many moms feel lonely. Do you?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sure I do. I try to make it a goal to have at least one social interaction each day. It can be facetime/skype, but ideally there's at least one face-to-face interaction. On Fridays, I go hiking with a gal pal and both our kids, so that's mostly guaranteed. The other weekdays are a toss-up right now and it really depends on if I take the initiative or not. I really need to take more initiative to get to know people better here. I'll say, it's more challenging to make friends as I get older. It seems I'm a bit pickier and that "instant" connection feels like it rarely happens anymore. Maybe it's because I just don't meet as many people as I did when I was younger so there's less chance of those instant connections. I'm not sure. Do you resonate with this? What do you think it is? (This is us on one of our Friday hikes.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>9. Are there any traits of yours that you think Julien has acquired?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He sneezes like me (3-4xs in a row) with intensity. His farts also sound like mine. No kidding. Obviously he has no self-consciousness about tooting so I hear them all. Sometimes I pause and laugh because I can't believe how uncannily similar ours are. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>10. Well, what do they sound like? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Satisfying.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWZ7lmtdX1flGFFEBEBpTQbMVQVYadhS1JZ2nggTZpW-I5HKVNbm57qaXNzNckwl3JazFdvqHp09gEgseYPXVgLdkH81pJVKb0tNDcRd6TZBwDO7g7Qjf5WYGHWHDn1qT_TKxNeWdzSA/s1600/File_000.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWZ7lmtdX1flGFFEBEBpTQbMVQVYadhS1JZ2nggTZpW-I5HKVNbm57qaXNzNckwl3JazFdvqHp09gEgseYPXVgLdkH81pJVKb0tNDcRd6TZBwDO7g7Qjf5WYGHWHDn1qT_TKxNeWdzSA/s640/File_000.jpeg" width="640" /></a>liz song mandellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12859905863939010091noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5926752352540616441.post-9171025024042959222017-04-10T14:48:00.000-06:002017-04-10T14:48:20.193-06:004-month interview with mama Liz<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>1. Have you ever tried to cook and eat your baby?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why yes. Don't tell. He didn't fit in our Instant Pot even though we got the big 8qt one! Hmph.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>2. I heard you might have turned a corner. Is this true? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">YES. It's a small corner, but I feel like something significant shifted inside. I don't feel like I'm drowning anymore...it's more like a treading (which I am horrible at, but I'd rather be struggling to tread than gasping for air).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>3. What do you think contributed to this shift?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have no idea. Maybe because my face isn't a big red itchy balloon anymore (see <a href="http://lizsong.blogspot.com/2017/03/3-month-interview-with-mama-liz.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">3-month interview</span></a> if you want to know what I'm referring to)? Maybe because Julien is sleeping a teeny bit better? Maybe because we have a better grasp on meals? Maybe because we started DAAAAAYYYYYCAAAAAAAARRREEEEEEE!?!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>4. Did you say DAAAAAAAAYYYYYCCAAAAAAAARRRRREEEE????</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I sure did! What the heck, how come I didn't realize how amazing it would be to drop my child off somewhere where they would rock him, hold him, feed him, change his poopy diaper, and entertain him all day? I didn't think I'd need daycare because I was going to work from home and it would be all peaceful and I would be blissed out and you know, I wouldn't need any help! lol. You know that's a joke. It's only two days a week, but having j in daycare has been a great source of freedom for lots of reasons.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>5. What do you do on those days?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, right now I'm learning how fast 9 hours goes. Geez. With pumping multiple times, feeding myself, trying to catch up on a bit of sleep, errands, work, brain-farting, looking at pictures of J...I usually only get a few things crossed off my list.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>6. It sounds like you're trying to be really productive.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yeah, "sounds like" is the operative word here. I feel crazy compelled to be productive, but get overwhelm</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ed with all these to do's because I'm still just freaking tired and trying to catch up with sleep. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had a conversation last week with another mom with older kids and it's got me thinking about why I feel like I need to be uber productive. I realized it's because I believe I've fallen behind for the past year from when I got pregnant and ill, and I need to "catch up" to this person I would've been if I hadn't gotten pregnant and had a child, except...I'll never know what I would have or would </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">not</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> have done if my life headed down that path. I think there's this idealized self I keep comparing myself to as well as feeling like I'm just so behind on life, discounting the fact that I'm raising a human being.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>7. Well if you had no pressure at all to get anything done, what would your ideal daycare day look like?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'd sleep in the most carefree way I could. I'd drink a really good cup of coffee and look out the window and stare at the ducks that have migrated to the pond, then maybe fall back asleep under a cozy blanket. Eat nourishing meals. Enjoy a phone call. Go for a bike ride. I'd meander. I'd miss my little guy too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>8. Are you feeling more connected to j these days? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">YES! Finally. It took about 4 months, but I can say with certainty that I'm really loving the guy. The first few months was really about choosing to love him with my body, providing milk, holding him, caring for him practically. But I did not really like the guy from the get-go. He brought me a lot of pain and suffering and it was hard to reconcile that. But this last month, something really shifted inside of me and I'm so grateful that I finally feel affection towards him. I love my little j! :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(He had fallen asleep on me for two hours. It was very sweet, even though I was stuck on the couch for that time.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>9. Name some things that brought you joy this month!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When j laughed hard for the first time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Putting diaper cream around my mouth. (Really, I laughed pretty hard when I saw it. The sad face is just to show off how I can make my mouth form an upside U.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Learning how to prune fruit trees from Santa. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>10. I heard your postpartum hair loss is....going well.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Seriously. Shouldn't postpartum hair loss include the <i>entire</i> body, and not just my head? Holy cow people. Holy cow. I wish my leg hairs would fall off at the rate my head hairs are...I wouldn't need to epilate anymore! Anyhow, I'll end with a shot of my growing forehead/receding hairline (however you prefer to think of it).</span><br />
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liz song mandellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12859905863939010091noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5926752352540616441.post-72126508097050827062017-03-09T22:30:00.000-07:002017-03-09T22:30:19.122-07:003-month interview with mama Liz<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. How much does Julien weigh now?</b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last I weighed him, he was 15 pounds. That was over week ago...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>2. That's pretty big for a 3-month old. Do you feed him formula or breastmilk?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He gets milk from the boob. So far, he's had my milk, my sister's milk, my friend's milk, and donor milk (from when we were at the hospital the first week). Julien doesn't discriminate. As long as it's milk, he pretty much takes it in any form. As Samuel says, "He loves those chi-chis."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>3. Any notable moments this month?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He's better able to fart on his own. He had his first tears this month. We got him a crib and he slept in it for the first time. He had a friend come over and they sat in bouncy chairs next to each other. I pumped 10oz of milk for the first time! We elected to get J's tongue tie released. I went on my first solo trip with J. We met Winnie for the first time! LOTS of firsts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>4. OK, I'm going to try to steer this interview about you Liz...not all about baby.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Good call. This isn't called "3-month interview with baby Julien." :-P</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>5. What would you say is the main thing you worry about these days?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That J won't ever chill out and he'll always be high maintenance. The second thing I think about (not so much worry), is what kind of work will give me back a sense of creativity and meaning outside of raising baby. I think about what it would be like to go back to work and it really piques my curiosity.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>6. What would you say you are most confident about these days?</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Two things: (1) that my body is producing enough milk to feed my babe (as long as I keep eating food and drinking water); and (2) I'm confident in the women in my life and their willingness and capacity to care for and/or carry me when I can't. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>7. I heard baby cries a LOT. What is that experience like for you? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He certainly cries less than he did a month ago (thank God!), but it is really hard when I'm trying to console him and I'm pooped. Sometimes he won't even let me sit. The moment I start bending to sit down, he lets me know it's not going to happen so I keep bouncing on the yoga ball or walk around holding my heavy sack of potatoes. Sometimes I have nothing in me and he's just wailing, so I put him down, look away, and take a couple breaths before I can pick him back up again. And sometimes I feel so much compassion towards him because I know he's having gas issues and can't control what's happening; he's just in pain/discomfort. All around, baby crying is torture. 99% of the time, I want it to end as soon as it begins, and 100% of the time, I start sweating.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>8. You've been doing this "keeping it real" thing by posting photos of him crying. What's that about? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's totally okay if you someone has a happy content baby. It really is. But it's so tough for <i>me</i> to read about these "perfect" babies who smile and giggle and play by themselves when that has not been my experience. My reaction is almost always, "WTF?! Is that for real?!" Our curated lives on the internet bends towards our best moments, but that sliver of life makes me feel like I'm completely alone in my hardship. My contribution is to try to tell a fuller story of what being is a mom is like so other moms who are having a tough time don't feel so alone and women who might become moms don't have some illusion that babies are easy. Some of them are, but from what I hear, many of them are plain hard.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>9. Speaking of keeping it real, how's your postpartum depression and anxiety?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ugh. I don't know. It's still there. It's like the snow this winter. It won't go away. I'm trying to find things that give me a teeny semblance of myself before I got pregnant. This helps kinda sorta. I'm also doing some good work in therapy, but this won't be a quick fix as much as I wish it were. I've been in some state of depression for almost a year now. :(</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>10. I heard you just went on a solo trip with baby. Tell us all the deets!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I went to see Anne Lamott speak at the Mothers Symposium at Stanford. It was a fairly spontaneous trip that I kept quiet simply because it's hard to see everyone in my old stomping grounds. The trip was so soul-nourishing, but it was hard on my body and mind. It was super tough to solo parent in the chaos of travel. I had so much anxiety in public areas because I didn't want to be a bother to anyone with my crying overstimulated baby, but I needed to be there for me, for my well being, so I made Julien come along for the ride. (Where the chi-chis go, the milk will flow.) I also got to eat a lot of amazing food - sushi, thai, ethiopian, milk tea - and spend time with some great friends. I felt so mothered and nurtured; it was exactly what I needed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Not a very flattering pic of me...but wait till you see the final one below. I look amazing here compared to that one.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>11. Sounds like that self-care trip was much needed. Final question: this interview feels a bit more serious than your previous interviews. What's going on?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm just worn down. It's hard to feel "light" about life when it's heavy. I had so much going on physically that it took a major toll on my spirit. From an extreme allergic eczema reaction, mastitis, sleep deprivation, J's traumatizing tongue tie release procedure, it was/is really hard to find the humor in suffering when I'm barely coming out of the string of fires I had to keep putting out this past month. I'll include a photo of me when my eczema flare was at it's peak because I can't make up this stuff. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And now as I type this, I'm fighting off some head cold. I hope next month is a little easier. Or at least I hope my face doesn't blow up into a pink Korean-shaped balloon. I'll report back in a month.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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liz song mandellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12859905863939010091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5926752352540616441.post-60601227681242031062017-02-02T22:57:00.004-07:002017-02-03T20:10:39.391-07:002-month interview with mama Liz<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.8px;"><b>1. So what's new? </b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.8px;">Oh, a baby. And cleavage. And only sleeping in 2 hour spurts. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.8px;"><b>1.5 Ohh, cleavage huh?</b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.8px;">You care about the cleavage? Really? I just birthed a baby! </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.8px;"><b>2. Okay, tell us allllllll about your baby. </b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.8px;">Well....</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">we had a baby boy on December 3, 2016 at 9:17pm. He was brought into this world after a very painful induced labor and ultimately via an unplanned cesarean. He was 6lbs 5oz and 20" at birth and had a very funny shaped head because he was stuck in my birth canal. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.8px;"><b>3. Does this baby boy have a name? </b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.8px;">Well husband often calls him "baby boy," but he is also known as Julien. Julien Gangsan Mandell. Gangsan (강산) means rivers and mountains in Korean and we loved it right away when my mom presented it as an option. Julien is a derivative of Julius and doesn't hold much inherent meaning. We just knew we wanted a name that started with a J (if we were having a boy) and we liked that Julien was easy to say for the Koreans on my side of the family. We also wanted to represent baby boy's French roots, so we wanted to give him the French spelling with an "e" and not an "a." I'm biased, but I think it's a beautiful name!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.8px;"><b>4. Say, why'd you skip the 1-month interview? Too busy for the internet these days?</b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.8px;">Ha! Some (meaning the husband) might argue I'm on the internet way more than before because what else does one do in the dark in the middle of the night while a tiny human being sucks on your nipple? Internet. (I'm using it in the verb form, btw. #interneting ftw!)</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.8px;"><b>5. Gee, you seem more sarcastic now that you have a baby. Is this true? </b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.8px;">I'm feeling especially spicy right now not necessarily because I have a newborn, but because I detest trump and want to see him suffer. I want to lock him in a small room with no windows and a crying baby for 10 days and watch him shrivel up. So if you sense any sarcasm, its roots lie in my repulsion with our current president.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.8px;"><b>6. Trump aside (since he's evil and disgusting), how have you survived the last two months?</b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.8px;">Minute-by-minute, I have no idea. But on the whole, I've survived because of community. My mama was here for the first seven weeks to cook, clean, and take care of me and Julien while I recovered. My sister Helen came during a pivotal time to help with my transition. She installed blinds, cooked food, set up my house for baby's arrival, woke up in the middle of the night to take Julien, and more! My oldest sister sent me 16 lbs of breast milk overnight when we thought my milk supply wouldn't come in, and then later flew out with her family to visit and showed me her "walk" to get baby to chill out. Hahah! My sister-in-law came and cooked us meals, held Julien when he was crying, and took my mom grocery shopping. We've had local friends bringing us meals. And I've been supported by girlfriends via text/email/social media. I'm so grateful for technology! Ironically, I have felt less alone because of it. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.8px;"><b>7. I've heard the first three months is really like the fourth trimester. Would you rather have baby inside you or outside if our bodies could handle it? </b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.8px;">Odd but intriguing question. Where do you come up with this stuff? I'd rather have baby inside. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.8px;"><b>8. I also heard you're obsessed with something right now. What is it?</b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.8px;">Freezing and storing breast milk. Every bag I can store away makes my eyes glisten with hope. Each bag represents a tiny bit more freedom! I duno, it's just fun too to see my little stash grow. I feel proud of each bag.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.8px;"><b>9. So going back to having a baby boy, were you surprised by his sex? </b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.8px;">Honestly, not really. I had a feeling we were going to have a boy so his sex wasn't surprising. I was probably more surprised that the belly bump that was growing actually <i>did</i> house a baby - not an alien - and that the baby looked like a miniature version of my husband! (Although, he looks a tiny bit like me here...no?)</span></span><br />
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<b style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">10. We all know your pregnancy was rough because you shared a lot about it, but is there anything you miss about being pregnant?</b><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.8px;">This is kind of a sad question. As miserable as I was being pregnant, I can now look back and appreciate it as a special time where literally my body was throwing the greatest magic show EVER. It made a whole new organ that would be the lifeline to a whole new human being. My body made something incredible (like you and me, and every human life out there) out of the miraculous meeting of one sperm and one egg in the most miraculous timing. It was really quite difficult to have this perspective while I was pregnant, but now that I'm not, it's crystal clear how remarkable that time was.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.8px;"><b>11. Miraculous seems like a theme here.</b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.8px;">It is. I have PCOS, so I didn't even think I would get pregnant for a very long time or ever. Then to survive a pregnancy I wanted over within the first couple months was a miracle. Then to survive a very complicated delivery was a miracle. And now, surviving each day seems like a miracle. With all these miracles all over the place, you'd think I'd be a little more joyful! Unfortunately, it's usually hard to see the joys of this little baby because sleep-deprivation is torture and I've been managing postpartum depression since Julien's birth. (It's getting better little by little though. I think seeing him smile every so often gives me a bit of hope.)</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.8px;"><b>12. Well, that's kind of a downer. You really want to end on that note? </b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.8px;">Haha, yeah, I do.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.8px;"><b>13. C'mon, you barely mentioned anything about Julien. Why don't you tell us one thing about him that makes you smile.</b> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.8px;">When I change him, I love seeing the multiple rolls on his thighs. They are GLORIOUS! I don't feel right about posting a pic of his thighs because the only one I have is x-rated, but this pic might make up for it because look at that face!</span></span><br />
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liz song mandellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12859905863939010091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5926752352540616441.post-78970387839052730202016-12-29T22:53:00.001-07:002016-12-29T22:57:04.075-07:00Interview with 9-month pregnant Liz<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Note: I wrote this in late-November, but I'm posting it so I can remember some of what I was thinking as a 9-month pregnant lady.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This image captures how I feel pretty well - standing in between seasons. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1. Seriously, when are you going to have this baby?</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That's what I want to know! The elusive "due date" is December 20th so I'm almost there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>2. How are you feeling in your (I'll say it: LARGE) body?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Exactly that. Large. My low back is tight, my pelvis feels tight all the time and toes are becoming like cute, but disturbing little vienna sausages.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>3. What else is going on physically that's been curious? </b></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Last month, I noticed that I was growing <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acrochordon" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">skin tags</span></a> on my neck when I've never had them before. <i>Strange. </i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Also, my armpits have gotten darker. <i>Strange.</i> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I used to shed a lot of hair, but I realized recently that my hair rarely falls out these days. I lose only 1-2 hairs while I shower and maybe one after I brush my hair. (I used to lose them by the dozens!) <i>Strange.</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> My neck also has two distinct creases from weight gain. <i>Not strange</i> considering I've gained a total of ~30 pounds since pre-pregnancy. </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>4. Any labor scares?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Well, since you mention it. On 11/26, I thought my water broke so I called my midwife and went it to get checked. Turns out I just peed. It felt like that traditional "GUSH," what can I say? I went to the hospital to get a non-stress test (NST) just to be sure. Let's just say it's an expensive way to feel reassured. Worth every penny! ;-P</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVZiYwUi78h_Qaz7ykrj4wwYuGtbpk_dS3gZzv6Gzgbii7RPGm86oFnXK46d_ST6GZOWefp19FHR2yLkL2HlpTVfXEYNBwkIT9oxlAkteoemLyBKH-BS3GoJxFxg2FYXoLwJBkXwGPABY/s1600/NST_liz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVZiYwUi78h_Qaz7ykrj4wwYuGtbpk_dS3gZzv6Gzgbii7RPGm86oFnXK46d_ST6GZOWefp19FHR2yLkL2HlpTVfXEYNBwkIT9oxlAkteoemLyBKH-BS3GoJxFxg2FYXoLwJBkXwGPABY/s640/NST_liz.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Also, on 11/20, I woke up with crazy itchy cheeks/jaws. I didn't think much of it until it started spreading over the next several days. My hands and feet were insanely itchy. I had a midwife appt on that next Tuesday 11/22 so I told her about it. She had me take a blood test to find out if I have cholestasis because my symptoms were so classic of that liver-issue. Test results came back negative which boggled both of us. Another liver test showed I have normal liver function. And now I'm waiting for a third one to come back. I'm also now being monitored twice a week with two different tests to make sure baby is okay. This is precautionary since cholestasis can lead to spontaneous fetal death starting week 38. I'm in week 38, so I have a bit of anxiety as you might imagine. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm including a picture of my hands after I started taking medication to address the itchiness. If you look closely, you can see the remnants of red dots that formed all over. What you can't see is how I'd wake up in the middle of the night with my hands on fire because I was scratching them uncontrollably in my sleep. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg59snj-DMZ3fFdLsOeGiTN9PV6Z8Mqv0ydoqhjOY98bvXu_UsK25oXPT2bwHoKutQvNybHjJOsW4MK8E8hwKsk1dN1LPniKBdBERsll3KFGn7WT58jKc6PkF-ffTdeqZettYHIepPxtIQ/s1600/cholestasishands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: times; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg59snj-DMZ3fFdLsOeGiTN9PV6Z8Mqv0ydoqhjOY98bvXu_UsK25oXPT2bwHoKutQvNybHjJOsW4MK8E8hwKsk1dN1LPniKBdBERsll3KFGn7WT58jKc6PkF-ffTdeqZettYHIepPxtIQ/s640/cholestasishands.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>4. Do you have names picked out yet?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I thought we did, but I suddenly changed my mind about the girl's name, so now we have a list. If we have a girl, I think we'll need to meet her to know. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The boy's name came to us by way of Samuel wanting the name to start with a "J." Deep, huh?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>4.5. Wait, you didn't tell us the name for if you have a boy. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I know, that was intentional. Good catch.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>5. When you visualize what labor will be like, what do you see?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A baby rocket. I hope it shoots out of me swiftly. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>6. Do you have any family coming to help out?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My mama! We bought her a one-way ticket, arriving on December <strike>16th</strike>, <strike>2nd</strike>, 9th! I think she might bring another 100+ lbs of food like she did in the spring when she came to take care of me for two weeks when I was so ill and stuck in bed. She'll probably stay with us for 4-6 weeks helping take care of her baby (that would be me) and feeding me </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">a LOT of seaweed soup - a </span><a href="http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/culture/2013/01/319_129458.html" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Korean must for post-partum care</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. And when I say "a LOT," I mean like potentially up to 3xs/day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>7. What do you think you want your first meal to be after you have baby?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sushi? I just had some (don't tell!), so I don't feel like I need it so desperately anymore. I hear that first meal is SOO good, no matter what it is. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>8. What have you heard about labor that scares you?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">First, getting nauseous or throwing up scares me the most. I think I'm still traumatized by how much of that I experienced during pregnancy, so to think I might feel nauseous again scares me. Second, having some major complication that leads to a cesarean birth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>9. Do you think you'll be self-conscious during your birth?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I don't want to be, but yeah. I mean I feel shy if I'm getting a massage and I get the slightest feeling that too much of my butt cheek is exposed to the masseuse. So you can imagine having everything hanging out will bring up some insecurities, not to mention I'll likely poop some while pushing. I mean, <i>I </i>would never judge a woman who poops while pushing out a baby - and I've seen it happen three times. I hope I don't care in the moment or all the moments afterward. It is a pretty natural part of birthing (but just one that people never really talk about). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>10. Are you going to continue these interviews even though you're no longer going to be pregnant?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I don't know. Maybe? I've been enjoying them quite a bit and think it could be fun to do some version when baby is here.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Bonus. Do you think you'll miss being pregnant?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Written on 12/29/16: Yes. As hard as it was, there's nothing quite like it. I will certainly miss being pregnant, building "one unit of baby" (as Samuel would say) and carrying baby so close, under my heart. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaTM0RMA86Nw3reqJmLLrmp-wuehNkNWk6So_6_Am6ENxoQPKLkUUsxxk2f7fTaR3AUH-fFjLZIdrOVJ1gWQx3c36hPydL6OCa9vE5aZL62ZPNustUpxCOW6KBvakYXl4F5OodWPIfprQ/s1600/liz_pregnant_week37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaTM0RMA86Nw3reqJmLLrmp-wuehNkNWk6So_6_Am6ENxoQPKLkUUsxxk2f7fTaR3AUH-fFjLZIdrOVJ1gWQx3c36hPydL6OCa9vE5aZL62ZPNustUpxCOW6KBvakYXl4F5OodWPIfprQ/s640/liz_pregnant_week37.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(I was feeling down one day and Samuel suggested I come downtown and meet him for a little walk and talk during work. We walked around the river for half and hour and chatted about whatever we felt like. What simple and precious moments. I will miss these days.)</span></div>
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liz song mandellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12859905863939010091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5926752352540616441.post-30148320715617678852016-11-07T11:16:00.002-07:002016-11-07T11:37:06.221-07:00Interview with 8-month pregnant Liz<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1. How many weeks do you have left?</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strike>Eternity.</strike> I'm in week 34, which means I have about 6 weeks left before I hit 40 weeks. OMG. How is it possible that 6 weeks needs to lapse before this baby comes out? I feel like I've been pregnant my entire life and others have expressed that too. Haha!</span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2. First things first, are you the same weight as your husband now?</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Well I'm glad you're thinking about how much weight I've gained too. Important things. If this side-by-side is any indicator, you're in luck. This morning, I officially weigh more than husband and I managed to break the 160lb threshold. It's a strange feeling to weigh the most I've ever weighed and to simultaneously feel "eh" about it at the same time.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGfhCD3pizYD1QjcQJfYJFKsg_HwgR1rdAGgM11L4p_UbZxvHz83z_xoBGSfuN53xsIfipM8lRH6oC_q26LHFCoHodzRaRYQibMaC8VAz0Q4t7MbphkpFQODz2xfuHUSkye5KvRn8R2Rw/s1600/WeightComparison.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGfhCD3pizYD1QjcQJfYJFKsg_HwgR1rdAGgM11L4p_UbZxvHz83z_xoBGSfuN53xsIfipM8lRH6oC_q26LHFCoHodzRaRYQibMaC8VAz0Q4t7MbphkpFQODz2xfuHUSkye5KvRn8R2Rw/s1600/WeightComparison.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3. And is your belly button a pancake yet?</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here's the latest. What do you think: Have I achieved pancake status yet? </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAg0HUK886DtDx7L9QjuXQo64lb8UqcGASbsfjmGbh1OZNYevrlNQNvpb4ol_xmnA8TT6KsctRri_aLtNK17mIKr6gc-rZ4NEuQ6GuP-E_lVWtfuJa0iEV_5AQBj5-ccwRtvNcnEWOagA/s1600/LizBelly_8months.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAg0HUK886DtDx7L9QjuXQo64lb8UqcGASbsfjmGbh1OZNYevrlNQNvpb4ol_xmnA8TT6KsctRri_aLtNK17mIKr6gc-rZ4NEuQ6GuP-E_lVWtfuJa0iEV_5AQBj5-ccwRtvNcnEWOagA/s640/LizBelly_8months.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(Yeah, I didn't think so either.) Anyone else notice how round my belly is?! Note to self: Belly selfies really brings out the weird. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>4. Are you still nauseous?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Okay, during a little more than half of this past month, I was still so nauseous. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I even had one day where I was brushing my teeth (I'VE HATED BRUSHING MY TEETH WHILE PREGNANT), and I saw one tiny hair that fell from husband's head onto the toilet seat and seeing it launched me into a gag fest. I keeled over on the bed and proceeded to pass out because that was the only way to make it go away. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">BUT BUT BUT...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I finally started taking Diclegis almost two weeks ago and I've been less nauseous and gaggy and haven't vomited since! Holy Moly. I have enough pills to last me through the rest of my pregnancy and believe me, I will not be missing a single dose. (Shoot, that reminds me...)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>5. What's (only) one annoying thing about pregnancy at this stage?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">First it was having to pee <i>immediately</i> after I was done peeing. Now, it's how my pelvis feels so tight all the time. I now have this transition period from sitting to walking where I'm like, "ow ow." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">6. What strange bodily sensations have you been experiencing?</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A tiny human being hiccuping inside me is quite strange. It's just this metronome-like rhythm from inside my uterus that consistently beats sporadically throughout the day. Baby seems to get them quite frequently! Someone teach it how to hold it's breath and drink amniotic fluid while swimming upside down. Wait. It already does all that.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">7. Any newly arising fears as you approach parenthood?</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This one's been brewing since month six-ish. I fear I'm going to get bored being a parent. There is some part of me that feels like the monotony of feeding, changing, cleaning, sleeping and that relentless cycle of raising a baby is going to get boring in a hurry. Creatively, I also wonder if I'm going to be bored to death. But not just creatively speaking...I often wonder what kind of impact I want to make in this world (still struggling to figure this one out), and if it will be possible with a kid in tow. I know that theoretically the answer is yes, but I think because I've felt the life drained out of me through pregnancy, this fear keeps lingering. I hope I'm <i>wildly</i> wrong.</span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">8. What was your worst meal day this month?</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On Tuesday, October 18th, I consumed the following food:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>Breakfast:</u> Two small pancakes with maple syrup. (Seriously, they were the size of my palm; hardly big enough.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>Elevensies:</u> Leftover stir fry with rice and a lot of sriracha</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>Tea:</u> Ginger tea with way too much sugar</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>Lunch</u>: Costco polish dog plus ketchup, mustard, relish, and onions with some pepsi</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>Snacks to tide me over to dinner:</u> Banana, persimmon, chocolate chip cookie + milk</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>Dinner:</u> Half a frozen pizza with previously frozen tater tots</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>Dinner, part II:</u> Small bowl of salad (Read: redemption)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>Post-dinner eats to hold me over until morning:</u> cereal</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yes, I felt pretty gross at the end of the day. Is this why I'm 160lbs now? :-\ Lessons learned. </span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">9. Do you ever wear high heels?</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I wonder that too. I manage to put on heels on average 0-1x/year. I own one pair that I bought for my wedding three years ago. On October 12th, I decided to wear them for our 3 year anniversary dinner. In fact, I paired it with a dress - the only dress that fits me because it's made out of pure elastic. My feet hurt, but I felt kinda sexy (b/c a dress and heels has that kind of magical effect) even though I was nauseous through the entire 5:30pm dinner. Immediately after dinner, I went to the bathroom and threw up. So yes, I occasionally where high heels. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUq9qVKUJvvutSkx60-4-8of1oFPiRCleld8-9jUj58amAKurFiTMYSHgyu_NeCSf_yqF5SPfklKnVHW-LUkNTIeFMQ4UMDz8Bk961qlhDtLfdv8jSuO29HaqcWkwavSa6xWMkvz2f3nc/s1600/IMG_8223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUq9qVKUJvvutSkx60-4-8of1oFPiRCleld8-9jUj58amAKurFiTMYSHgyu_NeCSf_yqF5SPfklKnVHW-LUkNTIeFMQ4UMDz8Bk961qlhDtLfdv8jSuO29HaqcWkwavSa6xWMkvz2f3nc/s640/IMG_8223.JPG" width="480" /></a></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">10. Got it. Heels = touchy topic. So what's this about a house? </span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To our surprise, we happened upon a house in September and liked it so much we decided to buy it. It's our very first one, built in 1994 with the most annoying <a href="http://www.trim-tex.com/files/cache/c5f7e47e58cf4e933302a26c53403b5a_f827.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">bullnose corners</span></a> someone building a home in the 90s would've chosen. (It's only annoying because it requires special baseboard corners.) It needs work, it's not perfect, but it's ours. We imagine raising our kid(s) here; growing fruit trees, vegetables, and animals; and hosting friends and family to rest and play. We hope you'll come and visit. :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>11. Let's end on a note of gratitude, especially since we don't know the fate of the US after election day. What have you been grateful for this past month?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are so many things. Truly. I've continually felt the love and support of all these women and mamas in my life. From being sent this incredible book of poetry and a handmade quilt, to a massive kimchi mailing (mouth watering!), to women asking me if they can host a mama shower for me, to a patient husband who loves me through all of my ups and downs, to a new home to raise our baby, to elastic dresses and persimmons sent to me with the utmost love. There is a lot to be grateful for. Thanks for being part of my journey.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">xo</span>liz song mandellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12859905863939010091noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5926752352540616441.post-63570564832066243882016-11-03T09:35:00.001-06:002016-11-03T09:36:58.401-06:00How to get Diclegis for cheap<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Listen up all you nauseous pregnant ladies. I have news for you that might blow your mind about DRUGS that'll make your miserable life a tiny bit better while pregnant.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But first, let me say that I had a (imagine saying this Donald Trump style) HUGE mental barrier to taking prescription meds while pregnant. I just kept thinking to myself, "I don't need to do that. Be tough. Just do the over-the-counter stuff. BLAH BLAH." Well, after seven months of being nauseous, gagging, vomiting, and hearing me say how nauseous I've been, my midwife touched my arm and compassionately said to me, "It's time." I nodded and said, send the prescription over mama!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>(Side bar: After I had gotten over the mental barrier to going on prescription meds, I had to get over the financial barrier of paying $14/day for Diclegis. It's $7/pill and it's recommended I take one in the morning and one in the evening.) HOLY MOLY. That's like 4 lattes a day! But I conceded to pay.)</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here's the thing, I'm part of a health share program called <a href="http://samaritanministries.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Samaritan ministries</span></a>, so I pay everything out-of-pocket, and then get reimbursed. I knew I'd get reimbursed for the drugs, but these are real people who are sending real checks to me, and I felt like if I could hold out as long as I possibly could, I wouldn't have to burden all these health share members with my obscene Diclegis bill.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Well, I couldn't take the nausea anymore so I decided to burden them all. No one should have to suffer like that every day. No one.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Anyway, here's what I learned about getting Diclegis for cheap if you do not have traditional insurance or don't have insurance at all. (There's information about how to get a discount if you do have insurance, but I didn't go that route, so that's up to you to figure out.)</span></div>
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<ol><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4EJvmiVquM_P2d5dsW9t3ds98LiDKfVfuFWK6WWN5O8iDaWfC4os7oTgG4zhdKXtCzO1zxMyC71pPsESXgDEzvIx2iHrZ-rCRHJM70iPj2tA6LHl-k4yrgDx61z6Ypq3vr287VxJLuIo/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-11-02+at+8.26.15+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4EJvmiVquM_P2d5dsW9t3ds98LiDKfVfuFWK6WWN5O8iDaWfC4os7oTgG4zhdKXtCzO1zxMyC71pPsESXgDEzvIx2iHrZ-rCRHJM70iPj2tA6LHl-k4yrgDx61z6Ypq3vr287VxJLuIo/s320/Screen+Shot+2016-11-02+at+8.26.15+PM.png" width="159" /></a>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Go to <a href="http://diclegis.com/"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Diclegis.com</span></a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Click in "Savings & Resources"</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Under "I don't have or Diclegis is not covered by my insurance," you'll want to <a href="https://hcp.diclegis.com/pdf/FoundationCare_HowToOrderDiclegis.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">download this form</span></a>, fill it out, and send it to your medical provider to complete it. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Call your medical provider and let them know you're sending the form and ask them to fill it out and mail it in asap. (I did this, so they would have it top-of-mind.)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Once your medical provider submits it, a rep from Foundation Care will call you. Answer it. Verify your address and your identity. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Pay for your pills.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Voila! You'll get in in the mail a few days later. For $90, I got 90 pills!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I've been on Diclegis now for about one week. I take one pill in the morning and one in the evening and the first day, I felt a big difference. The subsequent days were hit and miss. I was gagging less, but just felt my normal pregnancy self = bad. But after about a week, the meds are in my system and I seem to be able to handle the day SO MUCH BETTER. I'm still occasionally nauseous and certain smells or sights will trigger gagging, but it's not nearly as much as before. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Next time I'm pregnant, I'm not even going to think twice about getting on Big-D!</span></div>
liz song mandellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12859905863939010091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5926752352540616441.post-14157780731502397082016-10-05T16:23:00.000-06:002016-10-05T16:29:40.504-06:00Interview with 7-month pregnant Liz<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghoPr7EYtPvfh2Bc24uabaIwYLYUP0vqxE_TpcHcgGJQNBQkM-QVfzeugInm9jZmaxO0oxLR7BgWbysJ5nAEvEMghatNjBJW5HGcHuk0jXvXThUzG323Ci11kAFEQM7X9dd5rlCIzty3k/s1600/IMG_8126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghoPr7EYtPvfh2Bc24uabaIwYLYUP0vqxE_TpcHcgGJQNBQkM-QVfzeugInm9jZmaxO0oxLR7BgWbysJ5nAEvEMghatNjBJW5HGcHuk0jXvXThUzG323Ci11kAFEQM7X9dd5rlCIzty3k/s640/IMG_8126.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>1. When are you due again?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(I get this question a lot and don't expect anyone to remember even though I am counting each day.) I'm 29 1/2 weeks, which puts me at 7 months and the third trimester. I'm due December 18-22ish.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>2. Do you have a birth plan? </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yes! My plan is to give birth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>3. Are you taking a birthing class?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If I am, I don't know about it yet. [3 minutes later] I literally just signed up for a class at the hospital we're delivering at. This was a good reminder.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>4. How much weight have you gained now? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I've gained 19.2 lbs since I got pregnant. My husband is eagerly waiting for the day we are the same weight. I think his wish will 100% come true in the next month. I think he weighs around 155lbs and I'm at 152.7lbs now.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">5. What? You still have morning sickness?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yup. Also, a rant: I find "morning sickness" to be a fairly dismissive term. I call it "pregnancy illness" because I'm not only sick in the morning and in fact, a lot of women are sick at all hours of the day. In my first trimester, I was sick from the moment I woke up until I went to bed, not to mention depressed and miserable. And now I'm nauseous intermittently throughout the whole day. I usually feel "best" when I wake up before I eat breakfast because I often get nauseous immediately after I eat breakfast. Sadly, I'm still nauseous every day and it seems to have gotten worse after my second trimester.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Nausea is limiting in a way I couldn't have imagined before I got pregnant. Some days I have the energy to just fight through it, but usually I have to submit and take it easy. When I am able to "fight through it," what I mean is that I'm still nauseous, but I just do whatever I need to while feeling bad, gagging, and sometimes vomiting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>6. Do you take any meds for your pregnancy illness?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I've been on unisom+vitamin b6 for five months now. I think it helps, but I'm thinking I need to up my dosage. Some have suggested going on prescription meds, but I have a real mental barrier to that idea, so I'm tolerating what is. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>7. So what's your belly button look like these days?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I wish I took a picture when it actually got bigger before it got smaller. My sister says it'll turn into a pancake! I'll have to report back as I get further along. It's not quite a pancake yet. See. (Whoa, my skin looks super discolored. Did that happen to any of you while pregnant?)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>8. What's been a top priority this month in terms of preparing for baby's arrival?</b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's been getting our house in order. As in, we are in escrow to buy a home and it needs a little work before we can move in. I think when we get new flooring in and move all our stuff, I'll feel a bit more settled. At least I hope to be. We're sort of floating in transition right now and that's been a medium source of stress. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>9. What's your approach to getting baby stuff?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm basically getting a few essentials to survive the first three months and then planning on purchasing things (hopefully mostly used) on an as-needed basis. I've heard from many parents that you don't need a lot of stuff and you don't know what your kid is going to take to or not. Almost everything I've gotten so far (it's not a lot) is used. If you're curious what's informed my thinking, you can read <a href="https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-most-useless-products-that-are-marketed-to-new-parents" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">this</span></a> and <a href="http://vitals.lifehacker.com/all-the-baby-gear-advice-that-doesn-t-matter-1785116395" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">this</span></a>. I also asked some girlfriends to share their "must" list for baby related goods and that's been a helpful gauge.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Let me tell you, it is somewhat tempting to set up the perfect pinterest-worthy nursery, but from what I've gathered from mom experiences I've heard/read about, if something doesn't have to do with pooping, sleeping, or eating...forget about it. So that's what I'm doing: focusing on the stuff that will help me with baby's poop, sleep, and eat cycles.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>10. Do you feel like a pregnant goddess lady? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">OMG. Have you heard that some pregnant women feel like a goddess? I don't know any of these supposed women and they seem as mythical to me as mermaids. Well, I thought AT LEAST the hair on my head would grow faster so I can finally have <a href="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/f3/bc/49/f3bc49b20a63e0c92b29ca98ec9675c6.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Joanna Gaines luscious locks</span></a>, but it's still barely above my shoulders after a major haircut last fall. My hair growth seems to have come to a halt, except for my big toe hairs. They seem to be growing suspiciously long. Ew?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtNfR9XJdhNdFPV5oOZHddsDtExnWy_feG64Jtp3uYAjT86tuRBTXL9oEE4B0w94UjvD-rGIraYimf0vfxrC8GqH-HMWb4_2b0PWdGbMJjzGupQeV9vjPPuO1CIVYWui3nlcqPGZlo1cQ/s1600/IMG_8132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtNfR9XJdhNdFPV5oOZHddsDtExnWy_feG64Jtp3uYAjT86tuRBTXL9oEE4B0w94UjvD-rGIraYimf0vfxrC8GqH-HMWb4_2b0PWdGbMJjzGupQeV9vjPPuO1CIVYWui3nlcqPGZlo1cQ/s640/IMG_8132.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>10.5. Did you really have to post such a large picture of your toe hairs?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Uh, yeah. How else would you believe me?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>11. Speaking of...any unusual cravings?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I want SUSHI and KOREAN food every day. I guess this isn't unusual. <i>Confession:</i> This is totally pathetic, but when I wake up in the morning, I'm usually starving. But instead of fixing myself a meal, I'll look through my instagram feed and scroll through pictures of delicious foods primarily consisting of sushi, korean, breads/cakes (with puppies and babies sprinkled in between) until I can't handle it anymore and I have to rush to eat. Sadly, I just stuff some whatever I can into my mouth and then sit there nauseous for a while. I don't know why I torture myself like this. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>12. Any "whoa this is really happening" moments this month?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I think I had one, but I'm too nauseous to remember. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>13. What normal activities are getting harder to do?</b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Leaning over to put on socks and shoes or scrubbing my feet in the shower. I finally realized today (10/5/16) that when I lean over/bend down, I get super nauseous and start gagging. I don't know why it took me so long to realize this, but now that I know...time to ask husband to help me put on my shoes and scrub my feet.</span></div>
liz song mandellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12859905863939010091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5926752352540616441.post-84690179387813432502016-09-02T12:36:00.001-06:002016-10-05T16:26:25.830-06:00Interview with 6-month pregnant Liz<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">First, ramblings.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I just noticed that my last post was January of 2016. It's <strike>August 31</strike>, <strike>September 1</strike>, September 2, 2016 today. Clearly I haven't been "writing inspired" or perhaps "living inspired" lately. Okay, that's not fair. A lot's transpired since January of this past year. For instance, I'm 6 months pregnant now and this</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> is the first time I've actually wanted - and had the energy and motivation - to write a post in a while. The first trimester was a grueling time of my life. I was depressed and sick as a dog bed-ridden for months. I could've never known how horrible I would feel. If you want to know a bit more, I wrote a short piece <a href="https://hikeitbaby.com/pregnancy-not-always-walk-park/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">here</span></a>.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Anyway, I was in France for a couple weeks visiting my husband's family, napping, eating, enjoying the sunsets and trying to stay cool. (I swear, trying to stay cool as a pregnant woman is a full-time job.) While in France, I had this idea of conducting a monthly self-interview of my last few months of being pregnant. It's more for me than anything so I can remember what was happening to me during this period of my life, but if it amuses you too, I'll consider that a huge victory. I'll take any victory these days, like even taking a shower. VICTORY. Cooking a fresh meal. VICTORY. Going for a short walk. VICTORY.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">Second, FAQ's.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>1. Do you feel the baby moving?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">YES! It's graduated from light flutters (that feel like bubbles) to distinct kicks/punches. I like to imagine the baby is HI-YAing me and doing lots of flips like a penguin. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>2. Do you know what you're having?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A human baby! During the first four months, I was 100% sure I was having a dragon-alien in the shape of a bunny, but my most recent ultrasound confirmed I'm having a human. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>3. Are you going to find out the gender?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yes! When the baby is born. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>4. How many weeks are you?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm in my 24th week. This means, I'm still in my 2nd trimester. I still have 16 more weeks to go.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>5. When are you due? </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mid to late December 2016.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">Finally, the real interview.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>6. </b></span><b>What's been the easiest part of pregnancy?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Uhh, not much. Wait. Being present. When I'm feeling nauseous, I'm right there. Being present to pain/suffering has come quite easily.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">7. </span>What's surprised me in pregnancy?</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Three things: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">a) How destroyed I would feel</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">b) How <i>vast</i> the spectrum of pregnancy experiences are and</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">c) How pregnancy and entering motherhood connects me to a huge line of mothers who have come before me and who will come after me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>8. What did you hear about pregnancy symptoms that's been true for you?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I heard about constipation and thought..."no way, not me." Well, "yes way, yes me." My BM's have gone from fast and easy to slow and labored. It's starting to change now that I'm eating more vegetables and less cheez-its. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>9. Any other notable side effects? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I never really broke out even as a teenager, but my forehead is now covered in those small annoying pimples you can scratch and/or squeeze. Also, my white hair count has doubled. (Note: Believe me, this forehead selfie really does not do the pimples and white hairs justice.) </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Oh, and I am hot all the time now. Even as I type, 60 degrees outside, windows open...I am sweating, especially between the boobs and belly and my pits. Dear pits. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>10. If you could get rid of one pregnancy symptom, what would it be? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">NAUSEA. Hands down. Even though I don't like vomiting, if the vomiting wasn't married to the nausea, I would take vomit over nausea. But feeling nauseous every day now for 6 months is just plain torture. I mean, vomiting sucks too...but which is the lesser evil? Vomit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>11. Do you mind if people touch your belly?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nope! I actually feel like it's a way people bless me and the baby. There's something intriguing about making that physical connection with someone. I've noticed that women of color are more prone to just going for it, but most white women have been quite hesitant to touch my belly. I'll often have to give permission. I know some pregnant women can't stand having their belly touched, but I'm really enjoying it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>12. Would you want to go through all this again? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Oddly, yes. When I was barely crawling out of the first trimester, I remember I was showering (which didn't happen very often mind you), and I had a thought float through my mind that I'd want to be pregnant again. I was completely surprised that I would even think that when I was still feeling miserable.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />13. How many times a night do you get up to pee?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1-2xs/night. It just started becoming 2xs/night. Pre-pregnancy: I would sleep 8 hours straight without waking up ever. I don't think I'll experience that sleep bliss for many years to come...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">14. </span>How do you feel about your body?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Big question for any woman! </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I've always struggled with my body and feeling comfortable in it without pregnancy as part of the equation. I read about how women finally accepting their bodies during pregnancy, but I don't think that's happened for me necessarily. I think my focus/attention is just redirected by the wonders of my changing body </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">like the dark line forming down the center of my belly or the kicks I feel, or the shape of this growing bump. But overall, it just feels like it is what it is. I don't ever really feel sexy, sometimes I feel cute, but mostly I feel kinda frumpy and just plain big. In my better moments, I try to appreciate that I still have some muscle tone despite my lack of physical movement. :) Yesterday I wore earrings and let my hair down (for as long as I could tolerate before tying it back up again), to try switching things up. I felt cuter than normal and that was nice, but honestly, I couldn't wait to get back home, take off the earrings and slip into comfortable shorts. Ahhh...so nice.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>15. Any wisdom you've gained from pregnancy you'd like to share?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nausea cures me of all the cares of this world (even one as scary as Trump). Haha. For real, I've learned that 1) we <i>really</i> need each other to get through suffering and 2) when we ask for help, it comes.</span></div>
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liz song mandellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12859905863939010091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5926752352540616441.post-5414689030995316782016-01-13T15:52:00.002-07:002016-01-13T15:52:33.830-07:00Quote | To Bless What Is<div style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"To bless whatever there is, and for no other reason but simply because it is—that is our raison d’etre; that is what we are made for as human beings. This singular command is engraved in our heart. Whether we understand this or not matters little. Whether we agree or disagree makes no difference. And in our heart of hearts we know it."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Br. David Steindl-Rast</b></span></div>
liz song mandellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12859905863939010091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5926752352540616441.post-32363968082038006892016-01-02T21:21:00.002-07:002016-01-02T23:14:26.820-07:002015 Review<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2015 was a particularly big & full year. This is to help me remember moments that shaped who I am today.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">JANUARY</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I launched <a href="http://www.snowqueenandscout.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Snowqueen & Scout</span></a> - It was in its infancy still, but I finally put out into the world something I'd dedicated a lot of time and energy towards</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Started supper club - Weekly(-ish) dinner with neighbors</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Hosted</b>: The Kims - So much fun to have family visit during the winter to partake in all things wonderfully cold and snowy. It really deepened our relationship with the Kim family. (Ps. This is my middle sister.)</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">FEBURARY</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Started my <a href="https://aeriemedicine.com/course/wilderness-emt" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Wilderness EMT</span></a> course with Aerie - I invested $2500 in taking this course and learning a huge deal about wilderness emergency scenarios.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Began reaching out and meeting women in the outdoor industry - Met <a href="https://shoestringadventures.com/story" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Alyx</span></a> of Shoestring Adventures which eventually lead to creating Wild Sage Summit with her (see September)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Began working on freelance graphic design projects for HopeLab and Humanity United</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Hosted</b>: Michael & Meredith</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">MARCH</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.motherssymposium.org/our-12th-symposium/our-2015-speaker" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Mothers Symposium's</span></a> first artist. Created <a href="https://vimeo.com/126864079" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">this video</span></a> for the event and realized I love the challenge and energy by creating creative and emotional experiences for people</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Started the process for going on Discovery's Naked & Afraid</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spent 24 hours in the Emergency Department at St. Pat's as one of my clinicals for getting WEMT certification. Helped bag someone who died; saw someone stabbed.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">APRIL</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lots of new conversations that lead to future experiences: Roe from <a href="http://ywcaofmissoula.org/services/girls-empowerment-guts/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">YWCA GUTS!</span></a>, Niki of <a href="http://www.boldbetties.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Bold Betties</span></a>, Korrin of <span style="color: #6aa84f;"><a href="http://wildwildernesswomen.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Wild Wilderness Women</span></a> </span>to name a few.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Studied studied studied.</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">MAY</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Created <a href="http://www.frankslittlefarm.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Frank's Little Farm</span></a> website</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Took and passed my WEMT certification test</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Met <a href="http://www.alitedesigns.com/our-story" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Tae Kim of Alite</span></a> who gave me very helpful insights/advice/feedback</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Celebrated Pat - who has influenced me what leadership can look like.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Special time with Sheri in SF </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Reconnected with old college friend Chanell over some amazing shrimp & grits</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Quicky bike tour from Idaho to Spokane and back with Samuel</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Conducted user research for Snowqueen & Scout</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Backpacking in <a href="https://www.theoutbound.com/montana/backpacking/backpack-the-sweeney-creek-trail" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Sweeney Creek</span></a> (Bitterroots) with Samuel and Vlad</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Hosted</b>: Vas & Al</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">JUNE</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Participated as a patient in my first MCI (Mass Casualty Incident) with Aerie; idea planted for possibly teaching with them</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Teaching collaboration with YWCA's GUTS! program: Taught young high school girls how to build proper fires and demoed how to make friction fire using a bow drill </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Collaboration with Bold Betties: Took a group of women on their <a href="http://www.snowqueenandscout.com/journal/2015/7/5/100daysofwilderness-days-39-indian-peaks-wilderness-day-1" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">first backpacking trip</span></a> in the Indian Peaks Wilderness in Colorado</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Traveled to LA to visit family</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Hosted</b>: Sophie, Lucas, & Alice</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">JULY</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Traveled to LA to visit my mom</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Went camping at Glacier National Park with the Ongs</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spent two days in Ennis at <a href="http://9t9ranch.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">9T9 Ranch</span></a> with Ongs and Kims</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fly fished for the first time ever on the Madison River</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Amber & Sam in town?!?! A huge surprise to see these two!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Got to celebrate Sage turning 8 years old in Montana</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Hosted</b>: The Kims</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Hosted</b>: The Ongs</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Hosted</b>: Nate & Sarah</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AUGUST</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Road trip to Canada with Ongs + AMAZING CHINESE FOOD in Calgary</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bike tour from Jasper to Calgary </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Backpack the Wonderland Trail in Washington; trail magic from April and her entire family.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I let myself get LIVID and ANGRY and YELL. Wow. I rarely ever lose my cool these days and I let it all hang out. Lizzy was a very messy Lizzy this month. </span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SEPTEMBER</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hosted <a href="http://www.wildsagesummit.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Wild Sage Summit</span></a> with Alyx - Met amazing ladies Jaymie, Korrin, and Steph for the first time!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stayed at the the <a href="http://www.reserveamerica.com/camping/morgancase-homestead/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=72366" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Morgan Case Cabin</span></a> with the Jarvis'</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Caught my first brown trout (and ate it)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Solo 24h backpacking trip where I realized I just wanted to be back home with Samuel!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Hosted</b>: Matt, Wild Sage Summit ladies</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">OCTOBER</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cut my really short for the first time in 10 years!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Attended <a href="http://outdoorbloggersummit.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Outdoor Blogger Summit</span></a> / <a href="http://shiftjh.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">ShiftJH</span></a> conference in Jackson, Wyoming; Met <a href="http://www.kenjiconsults.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Kenji</span></a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Celebrated my 2nd anniversary sitting on a flight to LA</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hosted my first giveaway on Snowqueen & Scout. Learned how to organize and promote a giveaway (from overseas, at that). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Went to Korea with Samuel, my mom, the Choi's</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Introduced Samuel to my great grandfather, who's a wax figurine at the Independence Hall. He was one of the founding members of the Korean provisional government. (See pic below with the circle around a face.)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Found my favorite new shirt. Can't stop wearing it. </span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">NOVEMBER</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Still in Korea!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Went to Atlanta to present at the <a href="http://www.aore.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">AORE</span></a> conference with <a href="http://trailmavens.com/about/our-founder/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Sasha</span></a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/essentlexplorer" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Kristina</span></a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stayed in a dry tiny cabin with Michael & Meredith in Georgia. First time experience. I was amazed at how few resources they use. Amazing.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Coordinated the meal for our first all-family Thanksgiving gathering in 10 years! What a gift to be with family. I've missed them all quite a bit, and I realized I've changed a lot too. Not as awkward and insecure as I used to be. Haha :-P </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Skyped with <a href="http://www.torearodriguez.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Torea</span></a> and was totally energized by our conversation!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh, I turned 33</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Reconnected with my oldest childhood friend Annette, visited her mom in the hospital. Remembered the gift of old friendships.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Persimmon picking. It was heaven. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Hosted by</b>: the Kim's, the Choi's, my mom, my aunt, </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">DECEMEBER</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Annual photoshoot with Joanne & Conor</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Got super into <a href="http://www.cnbcprime.com/shark-tank/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Shark Tank</span></a> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally got into Taylor Swift! She's wowow.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gained more clarity on where I want to take Snowqueen & Scout.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Watched Star Wars Episode 4 for the first time (I think)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Started <i>Strength Swap</i> - an exchange of strengths with my sweetheart Samuel. (Didn't mean for so much alliteration in that last sentence.) I'm good with ideation, and he's good with structure and systems. We decided to start giving feedback on our ideas/plans/execution. So helpful!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Started Konmari</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I reflect on this past year, I have <i>so</i> many people/things/experiences to be grateful for. And at the same time, I've finished out this year feeling like it was a bit too full and a bit too rushed. This year, I've felt the sting of not living close to family after getting a taste of what it might be like to live closer to them during the month of November.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also, I've become more clear that I have no idea what I'm doing in life. Wow. I haven't felt that as sharply as I did in 2015. And yet, I feel more comfortable in who I am than I ever have before. How is that possible? I</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">s this just what happens with age?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well....I'll leave it at this: <b>Thank you.</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you to everyone who touched and shaped my life this past year. I am who I am because of every person who crossed my path and reflected back to me ways I need to grow and ways I am loved.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2016. You scare me. But here you are. Let's get it on. </span></div>
liz song mandellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12859905863939010091noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5926752352540616441.post-4806691749306856652015-11-12T17:28:00.000-07:002015-11-12T17:28:58.195-07:00Want to, Need to | Issue 3<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">To Savor</span></b><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/81466.A_A_Milne" target="_blank">The Wisdom of Winnie-the-Pooh</a></span></li>
<li><a href="http://resistanceandrenewal.net/2014/01/26/bono-on-the-difference-between-grace-and-karma/" target="_blank">The difference between Grace and Karma</a></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>To Read</b></span></span><br />
<ul><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
<li><a href="http://www.onbeing.org/blog/a-passion-for-place/7761" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">A Passion for Place</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2015/07/the-captivity-of-motherhood/398525/?utm_source=SFFB" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The Captivity of Motherhood</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.newyorker.com/news/sporting-scene/what-we-think-about-when-we-run" style="line-height: 20.8px;" target="_blank">What We Think About When We Run</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/nov/19/children-lose-contact-with-nature" target="_blank">If children lose touch with nature they won't fight for it</a></li>
<li><a href="https://medium.com/tech-diversity-files/thought-on-diversity-part-2-why-diversity-is-difficult-3dfd552fa1f7" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Thoughts on Diversity, Part II : Why Diversity is Difficult</span></a></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://swombat.com/2014/1/10/money-and-wealth" target="_blank">Money and Wealth</a></span></li>
<li><a href="http://www.onbeing.org/blog/the-bridge-of-well-being-the-journey-from-suffering-to-wholeness/8066" target="_blank">The Journey from Suffering to Wholeness</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.raptitude.com/2015/07/out-of-sight/" target="_blank">Out of Sight</a></li>
<li><a href="https://experiencelife.com/article/overcome-your-upper-limits/" target="_blank">Overcome Your Upper Limit</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.vox.com/2015/10/28/9622920/housing-adult-friendship" target="_blank">How are housing choices make adult friendship more difficult</a></li>
<li><a href="http://time.com/4087935/cancer-meat-bacon/" target="_blank">The Science Behind How Bacon Causes Cancer</a></li>
</span></span></ul>
<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span></span><br />
<div>
<b style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">To Listen</span></b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 20.8px;"><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fresh-air/id214089682?mt=2&i=356463716" target="_blank">Fresh Air</a></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/seth-godins-startup-school/id566985370?mt=2" target="_blank">Seth Godin's Start-up School</a></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div style="background-color: white;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;">
<div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;">
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">To Explore</span></b></div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;">
<ul>
<li><a href="http://moz.com/" style="line-height: 20.8px;">Moz.com</a></li>
<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
<li><a href="http://www.libertypuzzles.com/" style="line-height: 20.8px;" target="_blank">Liberty Puzzles</a></li>
</span></span></ul>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;">
<div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">To Believe</span></b></div>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 20.8px;"><a href="http://www.thelittleyes.com/blog/2015/10/15/your-dreams-are-more-real-than-your-fears?utm_content=buffer306e3&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer" target="_blank">Your Dreams Are More Real Than Your Fears</a></span></span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;">
<div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To Do</span></b></div>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px;"><a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001691814001577" target="_blank">Keep working out</a></span></span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
</div>
</div>
liz song mandellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12859905863939010091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5926752352540616441.post-51790548584390438702015-11-07T07:00:00.000-07:002015-11-07T07:00:02.463-07:00poetry | enough by david whyte<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<b>ENOUGH</b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
Enough. </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
These few words are enough.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
If not these words, this breath.<br />If not this breath, this sitting here.<br />This opening to life<br />we have refused<br />again and again<br />until now.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
Until now.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
...</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
‘Enough’ From Where Many Rivers Meet</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
David Whyte and Many Rivers Press</div>
liz song mandellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12859905863939010091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5926752352540616441.post-27130381252470444692015-11-06T10:01:00.000-07:002015-11-06T10:01:24.162-07:00Quote | Where we are<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">"God comes to us not where we </span><em style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">should have been </em><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">if we had made all the right choices in life; not where we </span><em style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">could have been </em><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">if we had taken every opportunity that God has offered us; not where we </span><em style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">wish we were </em><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">if we didn’t have to be in the place where we find ourselves; not where we </span><em style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">think we are</em><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">because our minds are out of sync with our hearts; not where </span><em style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">other people</em><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">think we are or think we ought to be when they are attending to their own agendas. God meets us </span><em style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">where we really are."</em><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;"><b>Margaret Silf</b></span>liz song mandellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12859905863939010091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5926752352540616441.post-78701240294708376012015-08-04T10:56:00.001-06:002015-08-04T10:56:13.039-06:00Gold by James Vincent McMorrow<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/r4qNGtE50Rw?rel=0&controls=0" width="640"></iframe>liz song mandellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12859905863939010091noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5926752352540616441.post-88023094300174061952015-07-27T10:44:00.000-06:002015-07-27T10:44:06.229-06:00Quote | Embrace it all<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I now know myself to be a person of weakness and strength, liability and giftedness, darkness and light. I now know that to be whole means to reject none of it but to embrace all of it. Some may say that this embrace is narcissistic, an obsession with self at the expense of others, but that is not how I experience it. When I ignored my own truth on behalf of a distorted ego and ethic, I led a false life that caused others pain—for which I can only ask forgiveness. When I started attending to my own truth, more of that truth became available in my work and my relationships. I now know that anything one can do on behalf of true self is done ultimately in the service of others."</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Parker Palmer</span></b></span>liz song mandellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12859905863939010091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5926752352540616441.post-14651529547944918652015-07-08T11:30:00.000-06:002015-07-08T11:30:15.460-06:00Quote | Ina Garten<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wonderful encouragement from Ina Garten (aka: The Barefoot Contessa) in <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/natalierobehmed/2015/06/10/ina-garten-on-how-to-run-a-business-and-do-what-you-love/" target="_blank">this article</a> by Forbes. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Do what you love. If it’s fun, you’ll be really good at it. And don’t worry so much.”</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">YES, I'll go ahead and do that Ina. Thank you! </span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
liz song mandellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12859905863939010091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5926752352540616441.post-42963260247416639952015-07-07T16:16:00.000-06:002015-07-07T16:16:14.953-06:00Quote | Response to a Call<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Contemplation is the response to a call: a call from [the one] who has no voice, and yet who speaks in everything that is, and who, most of all, speaks in the depths of our own being: for we ourselves are words of his…. Contemplation is this echo. It is a deep resonance in the inmost center of our spirit in which our very life loses its separate voice and re-sounds with the majesty and the mercy of the Hidden and Living One.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Thomas Merton</b></span>liz song mandellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12859905863939010091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5926752352540616441.post-23709083707551415832015-06-18T18:17:00.000-06:002015-06-18T18:17:20.708-06:00Want To, Need To | Issue 2<b>To Listen</b><br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://onbeing.com/program/maria-popova-cartographer-of-meaning-in-a-digital-age/7580" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Cartographer of Meaning in a Digital Age</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.brainpickings.org/2015/06/12/elizabeth-gilbert-nypl/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Elizabeth Gilbert Interview on NYPL</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.onbeing.org/blog/the-beauty-of-shared-silence/7540" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">The Beauty of Shared Silence</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.npr.org/event/music/397696708/death-cab-for-cutie-tiny-desk-concert" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Death Cab for Cutie: NPR Tiny Desk Concert</span></a></li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>To Read</b></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2015/05/south-sudan-man-catastrophe-150525120843494.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">South Sudan: A Man-made Catastrophe</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.brainpickings.org/2014/11/10/pico-iyer-the-art-of-stillness/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Pico Iyer on the Art of Stillness</span></a></li>
<li><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><a href="https://attachment.fbsbx.com/file_download.php?id=902229799849001&eid=ASt_mQrVHRpnqh2d-fvi4mQGUTReias-tgL2CpneGy0dW-iUJw1RjSjoa5Mc_13qUII&inline=1&ext=1432696284&hash=ASvOaZ3qP5vGF8nK" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Debunking the Myths</span></a> </span></li>
<li><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/29/pagan-island-marines-military_n_7342168.html?utm_hp_ref=hawaii&ir=Hawaii" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Pentagon Wants to Bomb the Hell Out of this Tiny Pacific Island</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://theroadtocharacter.com/the-conversation-blog/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">The Road to Character Blog</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.offgridquest.com/life-stories/75-year-old-woodsman-thrived-deep-in-the" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">30 Years Alone in the Alaskan Wilderness</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/06/happily-ever-after/372573/#ixzz3ctWUteeT" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Masters of Love</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.uvm.edu/rsenr/rm240/cronin.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">The Trouble With Wilderness</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/29/opinion/david-brooks-the-small-happy-life.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">The Small and Happy Life</span></a></li>
</ul>
<div>
<b>To Explore</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://humanthology.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Humanthology</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://cycleroute.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Cycle Route</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.awwwards.com/100-greatest-free-fonts-collection-for-2015.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">100 Fonts of 2015</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fusionplate.com/5315/40-amazing-free-fonts-for-commercial-use-april-2015-edition/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Great set of 40 free fonts</span></a></li>
</ul>
<div>
<b>To Make</b></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.prevention.com/food/stuffed-avocado-recipes" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Stuffed avocados</span></a></li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
</div>
liz song mandellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12859905863939010091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5926752352540616441.post-81377997069158761202015-06-18T08:56:00.001-06:002015-06-18T08:56:59.207-06:00Being a healthy Seven<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Today, build on your strength as a Seven. Healthy Sevens are not satisfied with merely being a consumer. They know that their primary enjoyment of life comes from contributing something to the world. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">The Wisdom of the Enneagram, 283</span>liz song mandellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12859905863939010091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5926752352540616441.post-717994019917428512015-05-21T15:25:00.000-06:002015-05-30T22:06:49.117-06:00Want To, Need To | Issue 1<br />
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm one of those people who have at least 30 tabs open at a given time. It's annoying!</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The intentions are good: "This looks like a really thoughtful post about hope...Oh, that looks really easy and tasty!" </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But the action is poor: Case in point (this is just one of many)</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtu3SUkG5Prnv4Hzfi4bsSudWNN3m0s8Zew82fXTd_TAqVAZjcEeh9-PIF8kceFNUCInn37NYYZ2eLy4nankqEQJ9-SZFEwmcgEmbkOqN8Z6j4IIYQdf9sEd1VZxeYMEjj0sknra0T9Jo/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-05-21+at+2.47.16+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="20" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtu3SUkG5Prnv4Hzfi4bsSudWNN3m0s8Zew82fXTd_TAqVAZjcEeh9-PIF8kceFNUCInn37NYYZ2eLy4nankqEQJ9-SZFEwmcgEmbkOqN8Z6j4IIYQdf9sEd1VZxeYMEjj0sknra0T9Jo/s640/Screen+Shot+2015-05-21+at+2.47.16+PM.png" width="640" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm trying something new here. It's my <b>Want To, Need To</b> list. I'll post it every time my tabs get too plentiful. (Translation: it's going to be sporadic)</span></div>
<br />
<div class="p3">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To read</span></b></div>
<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li4"><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/16/opinion/nicholas-kristof-starving-for-wisdom.html?smid=tw-share&_r=1"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Starving for Wisdom</span></a></li>
<li class="li4"><a href="http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/05/05/opinion/david-brooks-what-is-your-purpose.html?emc=edit_th_20150505&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=57013527&_r=1&referrer"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What is Your Purpose?</span></a></li>
<li class="li4"><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/12/opinion/sunday/david-brooks-the-moral-bucket-list.html?_r=3"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Moral Bucket List</span></a></li>
<li class="li4"><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/21/opinion/nicholas-kristof-the-power-of-hope-is-real.html?smid=tw-share&_r=0"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Power of Hope is Real</span></a></li>
</ul>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To make</span></b></div>
<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li4"><a href="http://www.spoonforkbacon.com/2015/05/lemongrass-beef-banh-mi/"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lemongrass Beef Bahn Mi</span></a></li>
<li class="li4"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://joythebaker.com/2015/05/strawberry-cookies-and-cream-cake/"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Strawberry Cookies and Cream Cake</span></a> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Update: SO GOOD. MAKE IT!)</span></li>
<li class="li4"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://joythebaker.com/2013/02/buttermilk-beignets/"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Buttermilk Beignets</span></a> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Update: YUM! I would add some more salt to the dough, but otherwise delicious!)</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="p3">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b></b><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To explore</span></b></div>
<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li4"><a href="http://montana.sierraclub.org/outings-activities"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Montana's Sierra Club outings</span></a></li>
<li class="li4"><a href="http://missoulian.com/lifestyles/recreation/um-wilderness-institute-seeks-citizen-volunteers-for-backpacking-excursions/article_4f54c208-321f-516b-b458-7c6d52407e72.html"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Summer Trail Volunteer Trip</span></a></li>
<li class="li4"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.backpackingchef.com/backpacking-meals.html">Backpacking Meals</a></span></li>
<li class="li4"><a href="https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B9Fz_vc-zml_d1JIUGtpbzJ1aXM&usp=sharing#list" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">JMT Detailed Reports</span></a></li>
</ul>
<div class="p1">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To buy</span></b></div>
<ul class="ul1">
<li><a href="https://www.restockyourkit.com/"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Emergency Kit Supplies</span></a></li>
<li class="li4"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.eathomas.com/2015/05/21/good-to-go/"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Good-to-Go Backcountry Meals</span></a> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Update: Thai Curry is fantastic. Can't wait to try other flavors this summer on the trails.)</span></li>
</ul>
liz song mandellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12859905863939010091noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5926752352540616441.post-23357294236556901592015-05-18T12:52:00.000-06:002015-05-18T17:09:52.614-06:001:15pm MSO to LAX / Why I'm not taking my flight today<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At 1:15pm, I have an all-expense paid trip to LA for the final round before getting accepted to go on an extreme reality TV show...and I'm not going to take it. Instead, I'm going to sip my coffee and sit in front of my computer. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few months ago, I was approached by this primitive survival show. They asked if I'd be interested in pursuing it and I shut it down pretty quickly. "No way, I don't really have any primitive survival skills...It's too much exposure." (Nudity would be involved.) But there was a part of the offer that kept tickling me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then I synchronistically met <a href="http://www.trentontateharper.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Trenton</span></a> and got a burst of energy around the show. He's a survivalist and teacher, and I thought, "This was meant to be!" This newfound energy lead to reinitiating the process with the casting company and learning the skills I'd need to prepare for something new and epic! Trenton taught me how to make fire using a bow drill! And build a shelter! -- all out of nothing but the resources around me in the woods. I was stoked to successfully learn skills that always felt elusive and mysterious, and secretly grew in excitement about the potential to have my moment in the public eye. (aka: Becoming famous!)</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZHyBMc8lZXKrf1a2KWlHPrY-WEj_UqBYj0n68hjuV-u5_pc_jKYFC3Ja0IZHPS7OQ2U4nyie6BE7j8J27HkbbUM5xUrNkg_MnxSap14yoZ0vRthQbhLpyTXxJnL9EPIy3RZ-T5ie0qVU/s640/IMG_6193.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">Tools used for some backyard fire shenanigans. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">My first solo primitive friction fire.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdE4-KvOirH-XulvxsHNysTjB8j_5kNhBWM7BR9zzlbsPK29LXaHGbQ5NN-8ebEqCvUqPoWr2krDe-fIMJmA3yGkkORPL68KOxxuV1IYunITe82_YO2EkOBHByToafLboWi7p83k0aHgE/s640/IMG_6254.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">This is a lean-to primitive shelter. It's not complete in this picture, but getting there.</span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">Two major things were driving my pursuit of this show:</b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. I've wanted to be famous ever since reality shows became a thing during my lifetime. From American Gladiators to Kelly Clarkson to YouTube sensations...it seems like so many people make it big and live some glamorous spotlight life. (K, I'm not sure the American Gladiators are living it up per say, but I loved that show as a kid and felt compelled to mention them!) And as much as I know about how fame does not equal being truly known....fame was/is still my siren's call. I'd even dare to say that Millenials are just needy in this way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. I am like a moth to a flame and my flame is literally anything new, exciting, and adventurous. It gets me almost every time. I love this part of me because I've lived the life I have and am now here in Montana because of this curiosity, this insatiable part that needs to explore. So this primitive survival challenge was<i> incredibly </i>enticing. "I mean, when would I ever get a chance to do something as extreme as this?!" I wanted to know badly what would happen if I took on this challenge. This desire to know, to experience, to go and try is unbelievably strong inside of me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The desire for fame isn't a great reason to go do something, but that desire to try new things is good, isn't it? So why not go for it?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I mean, I still have some time before I could catch my flight. And believe me, I'm tempted...even if just for a new experience of going through the final stages of casting. But deeper than my desire for new experiences is this desire to focus and <i>be right here</i>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In an age of major FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) and what seems like the perfect adventurous life publicized on Instagram, I can feel a bounding desire to have a grander and more epic life. But why? Because what I have isn't good enough? Sometimes my actions can convey that. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I'm here in my home office on this beautiful and windy morning, drinking the delicious coffee I make myself every morning, after a workout I have every Monday morning, looking at the computer screen I look at almost every day....choosing this moment. As hard as it is to imagine me flying to LA for an entirely new experience, I'm choosing this one. As mundane as it may seem in contrast to the path I just said no to, I'm choosing to feel content today, to feel grateful for what I have, and to remember that I don't need that new exciting "toy" - if you will - to have a satisfying well-lived life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm choosing this:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>liz song mandellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12859905863939010091noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5926752352540616441.post-41833035822776065022015-04-30T10:48:00.000-06:002015-04-30T10:49:19.871-06:00Old Favs, New Music<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've been feeling a little deprived of new music where I feel that heart-leaping connection. It's a rare gift to find. This week, I've noticed some of my old favs released some new music. Very nice.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
William Fitzsimmons - I Had To Carry her (Virginia's Song)</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gregory Alan Isakov - All Shades of Blue</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Jose Gonzalez - Every Age</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Third song in his NPR Tiny Desk Concert</span><br />
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liz song mandellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12859905863939010091noreply@blogger.com0