An ocean of words
Today, amidst my own internal struggles with dental issues, antibiotics, and so on, I realized that I need to write about our journey with all of it. As a breastfeeding mother of an almost 4 year old who has lots of dental hurdles, I feel pretty alone when it comes to knowing others have been here and survived.
Tonight, as I watch my sweet boy sleeping while the antibiotics begin to enter his bloodstream, I am going to begin writing about it, starting from the very beginning. I’m not sure if I will keep it to myself, in my journal to River’s adult-self, or if I will submit it to a magazine so others will feel a little less alone. I just know that I need to write about it, I need to honor and witness the beginning of my lessons as a parent.
a blustery fall day
We have some serious wind going on here. I was up late last night, and the rain was just pouring down. I just love listening to the sound of rain. When we awoke this morning, we found a few potted plants tipped over in the backyard and the trees were dancing wild in the wind.
It isn’t nearly as cold as it looks out, but on windy days, I much prefer to be snuggled up in a warm blanket and knitting or reading. I love the winter, the cold, the rain….but I am not a fan of wind. Maybe part of it stems from my years of wearing contact lenses. I did all I could to avoid the wind in those days. All it took was a tiny piece of dust to get into my eye, and it felt like someone was stabbing my eye with a sharp pair of scissors. Not fun. Oh, I so don’t miss contacts. I am very content with my glasses.
River has been striving to teach me even more life lessons, I assume. It seems like the closer he gets to his third birthday, the more challenging parenting is day to day. He is amazing and brilliant and kind…..but there are days when I want to run away. That is a dramatic statement, and all I can add to that is that I know it is just passing, and each day, he changes and I change. Thankfully. 
I hope to go get us out to a pumpkin patch in the next few days. I promise I will share pictures.
Knitting revival and my photographer
The colder weather really gets my hands anxious to start knitting. I haven’t really done much knitting in the last few months at all, but in the last 2 weeks, I have already finished a pair of felted clogs (slippers) for River, and a hat of sorts for myself. My 3rd project is underway even. The lovely wool makes me want to knit beautiful things for everyone I know. lol!
Here is a photo of the “hat” (headband) that I just finished for myself.
It is the Calorimetry pattern from Knitty, using Nashua Wooly Stripes, Ocean colorway. It was so enjoyable to knit up.
There wasn’t quite enough yarn to finish the pattern properly, so about 3/4 of the way though, I made some improvisations so that I could finish (I just had one ball). This is why it doesn’t look symmetrical, as the pattern intended. It still works, though.
Here is a drawing that River drew of me, “milkies” and all.
And, some photos which River took on his own:
Breastfeeding Is Not Bad For Baby’s Teeth
When will someone tell the dentists themselves this information???
“The scientists concluded that there is no evidence that breastfeeding or its duration are independent risk factors for early childhood tooth decay, severe early childhood caries (tooth decay), or decayed and filled surfaces on primary teeth.”
