Organics and more

I finally got my act and our financial priorities together to order the organic veggie/fruit box again. (From Green Earth Organics, if anyone’s wondering.) It’s been two and a half years – maybe a bit more – since we were receiving that, since we cancelled it while we were saving up for mat leave for Emily. 

Lyr had been agitating and I’d wanted to, but what ultimately pushed me to order it now – middle of winter, when it’s Big Organics mostly coming in the box anyway and not local produce (although they try to buy local where possible) – was Marion Nestle’s What to Eat. I’m really enjoying that book a lot, and learning a lot – and I thought I had a handle on food companies, etc.  Anyways, she said a study on kids in elementary school showed that kids who ate regular produce had 6 times the pesticide levels in their urine than kids who ate organic produce.  We buy organic at the store about 1/3 to a 1/2 the time – it’s so pricey but I do believe with a baby it makes an even bigger difference, plus I like my money to go to that - but I decided to go with getting a whack of it cheaper. We can figure out what to do with the kale. (Actually that’s one of the neat things, for veggies to just arrive and get us out of our ruts.)

When it arrived today I remembered too that there’s no packaging – it all comes in a big rubbermaid bin, that they exchange for a full one every week.  Another bonus for the environment.

Noah was enthralled to get to open it. I had to be a little careful with the spinach and lettuce (the FDA still hasn’t revoked their spinach warning, and this was US greens) but he picked up a pear and toddled around with it proudly, occasionally signing “fruit” or “apple” (which is more his generic fruit).  It was definitely a moment. That’s the kind of fun that gets Lyria giggling for breaths and breaths.

We’ve also been doing some holiday baking – not the usual amount, but some – I daresay enough although after tomorrow’s deadline we must do more so as to have enough to hand out to everyone local, at least.  That’s been good. A little sad, because the last time we did we were pregnant with Emily and it’s rather amazing how getting our hands in the dough really brings up those visceral memories, pregnant bellies in that striped red shirt that was our favourite maternity sweater against the counter getting all floury.  The feel of it. 

But good nonetheless.  I feel like we’re still exhaling that Noah is okay and here, and recovering from all the changes that cascaded the last couple of years.  It makes me grateful for changes that haven’t occured (boss idiotic statements nonetheless) like having somewhat the same work, the same friends, the same partners. 

We’re also getting back on the path to healthier eating and living again.  I’ve been feeding Noah really well but often eating crap myself good PLUS crap) and although I’m still a little under my pre-Emily weight I’m totally not pleased with my body.  I feel ready to get on the wagon again, and the yummy veggie box is a good part of that. So’s What to Eat and also Mindless Eating which is a whole post unto itself.

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Noah is recovering fine from his fall; the gooseegg is still going down.  I took him to get his picture with Santa yesterday (ambivalently, but we did last year so I figured why not) and Noah hated Santa, and freaked out.  He definitely knows whose kid he is not and when Santa tried to touch him he let out a huge shriek.  So I do have a Santa pic (no scanner yet, sorry) with me sitting with Santa (woe; I didn’t plan to be in the picture) holding a crying Noah.  Well, that’s what it was like. It’s looks a little sadistic though so I think I’ll keep most copies to myself.

Today I dared the sidewalk again and he was fine. And very glad to get outside under his own steam again. Then we did dishes (pics later). It was a really good day.

And now, down to work!