Restricted diets & Crunchy/Granola moms

I have to admit, I used to laugh (and possibly roll my eyes a little) when I would overhear conversations about homemade (fill-in-the-blank).

Whether it was homemade detergent, homemade clothes, homemade granola ... Or ... You get the picture. (The irony is not lost on me - I make my own bread and buns and pizza dough. But I think it tastes better;)) 

Enter my firstborn. Until recently we've let her eat anything. While nursing, she was dairy intolerant, but she seemed to grow out of it around 6 months (she no longer screamed bloody murder when I consumed dairy, much to my sweet relief!) She didn't exhibit the normal signs of food intolerance when she was beginning solids - no rashes or hives, and all that I can remember was her throwing up some oatmeal cereal, but I attributed it to her eating too much (she kept asking, so I kept giving!)

But recently, we've noticed more tummy issues (I'd rather not get into them on the blog, but you can ask me), and we decided, with her Doctor's blessing, to attempt some "elimination diets" - specifically Gluten and Dairy.  The signs of improvement we've seen keep spurring me on!

Although we live in a small town, our choices aren't too limited in the gluten and dairy-free department. There are several options for crackers, breads, etc.  As you can imagine, I am so very thankful!

But, a certain three-year-old who has enjoyed an unlimited diet to this point, is having some struggles with not being allowed to eat what her sister can. And so we've been working on some replacements for her!

I can now chuckle at myself ... I'm becoming one of those crunchy mommas who even has homemade FISH CRACKERS to keep the little miss happy!

Blogging during Stolen Moments

Once upon a time ... Before I had children ... I used to follow a blog, Cooking During Stolen Moments.

Frankly, I didn't get it. I was a university student and then a teacher. I didn't understand how stay-at-home moms and work-at-home moms didn't have oodles of time to spare. After all, they didn't have to leave the house if hey didn't want to, and children amuse themselves and babies sleep all day... Right?

Yup. Slightly delusional. 

Now, momma to three, I have a new appreciation for those Stolen Moments, and moms everywhere, working or not, because growing and shaping a human being is hard work. And multiple little humans? Well, it's like a circus!  "Those moments" can be hard to come by.

If I were to track the number of minutes a day I spend nursing, preparing meals,  changing tiny bottoms, supervising getting dressed, eating meals, cleaning up, etc... I log HOURS. 

So for now, in the midst of the crazy, I'm utilizing my Stolen Moments, or The Fringe Hours, as Jessica Turner coined the usage of the "extra" minutes. So for now, photography (my job), blogging (my vent) and  reading (my adult "conversation" and escape) are how I'm choosing to use them.

In my quest to balance this crazy life, this book has helped me to corral my minutes and be more effective in my day-to-day life!