Sawyer at Month 18

I haven't posted much about Sawyer to track his progress but really not much has changed, other than the fact that he's GROWING LIKE CRAZY! Thankfully we haven't had any food reactions, at least that we are aware of. Eating gluten free does pose some challenges at times, especially when we go out to eat, but we do eat much healthier at home since we can't fill our meals with breads and gluten filled desserts which I am very thankful for!

I'm super excited about all the fun things Sawyer is learning, like saying loads of new words! Every day he astounds me with his expanding vocabulary! His favorite things to point out are buses, construction equipment (which he calls everything a bulldozer, or "bu-bu") balloons, shoes, dog poop, bugs and animals like cows, horses, and goats that we see on the farms by our house. With the whole new set of words has also come a whole new set of babble which can be a challenge when he really wants to tell us something! He's even resorted to making up his own sign language to try to communicate what he needs, it's pretty hilarious!

One thing we have been working on to help Sawyer focus and channel his energy for a few minutes each day is blanket time. It's been a real challenge to get this kid to sit, other than being strapped in a car seat or high chair. But with some practice over the past month, Sawyer now does a 15-20 minute quiet time on his blanket each day. He does need to be corrected several times throughout that time and some days I almost want to throw in the towel because he just won't listen. But I'm anticipating the fruit of my patience in training him to sit quietly, especially when we are at another person's home or somewhere out in public where he can't be running free and stirring up trouble!

 
Another big change is that we are down to one nap!! I've dreaded this day... it's sure been a transition and it's thrown off bedtime for a few weeks but we're slowly adjusting to a new routine. But it has honestly been nice to have more time in the morning to get things done with him and not have to rush home to take a morning nap.

God is good! I'm thankful for the privilege to raise this little crazy monster!

Psalm 127:3- Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.

Snack Time!

I have a snacker on my hands- we can't go anywhere without a stash of raisins or a pack of applesauce. When we're home I've been trying to keep snacks to fruits or veggies and a fun and healthy way we've been snacking is with fermented foods. So far, with the help of my sweet friend Grace, we've successfully made fermented dill pickles, carrots, sweet pickles and salsa.

If you are not familiar with what fermented foods are, here is a great introduction to the basics and benefits! A big reason why I've decided to get into fermenting was the health benefits for Sawyer. After all his little digestive system has gone through, I couldn't help but be sold on the healing they could provide his digestive tract.

Here's a glimpse at how I made the sweet pickles. I used this recipe from The Nourishing Cook.

Lactofermented Sweet Pickles

2 quart size mason jars

7 c. sliced cucumbers (thank you garden!)

1 c. sliced onion

1 c. fresh lemon juice

1/3 c. whey

1 c. honey

3 tbsp. sea salt

1 tbsp. celery seed

2 tsp. turmeric (I omitted)

1 tbsp. mustard seed

Chop the onion and cucumbers and divide between the two mason jars.

Juice the lemon and combine with the remaining ingredients in a small bowl or measuring cup. I used a measuring cup because it was easier to pour the liquid into the jars. (The bottle of honey I used only came out to 3/4 cup but they were still sweet enough.)

Pour the liquid equally over each jar of cucumbers and onions. Use water if there is not enough liquid to cover the veggies to a half inch below the rim. 

Then comes the fermentation! Place the jars in a cupboard and cover with a towel for two days. After two days, remove the jars from the cupboard and store in the refrigerator. 

Here's also a peek at my kombucha brew! Not familiar with kombucha? Here's an intro! Thanks again to Grace for getting me started with my very own scoby last week! 

Ok, one more... A favorite snack for Sawyer and I has been chia seed pudding. If you have texture issues, this one's not for you but chia seeds have amazing health benefits so give it a try! Here's the link to the recipe I've adapted from. 

Chia Seed Pudding

1 c. almond milk (you can use any milk)

3 tbsp. chia seeds

2 tbsp. agave (or other sweetener of choice)

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

pinch of salt

Pour the milk into a small bowl that has a lid. Add the remaining ingredients and cover the bowl. Give it a few shakes to mix it all together and store the bowl in the refrigerator for at least two hours.

The chia seeds will begin to gel and longer you leave it in the refrigerator. I like to leave mine in at least eight hours so it's more pudding like. I do shake the bowl a couple times while it's doing it's thing in the refrigerator because the seeds will settle and the pudding can get lumpy. (Hmm, lumpy is not a good word choice, the consistency will be uneven, maybe?)  

There's lots of chia seed pudding recipes out there so you can play with the flavors if cinnamon is not your favorite. Sawyer definitely digs the pudding though!