Iowa Mamas 2010

[smokeylo]

OK, so it's almost April.... who cares? I like having an Iowa thread!

[iris777888]

I was just wondering if we had a 2010 thread and here it is! Thanks. :-)

[kevinsgirl]

And now it is April!

Everyone having a great weekend? Lots of family stuff around here--today was a long drive to see my side of the family and tomorrow it's full of husband's side.

Would you mind introducing yourself a bit? I'm new here. I was on another pgncy board, but the medical mindedness of it all was about to drive me off the deep end!

I'm mom to 3 1/2 (due Labor Day), married to a farmer.

Hope to get to know other IA moms!

[smokeylo]

I'm Lauren, I live in North Liberty (between IC and CR). I'm a grad student and mother to 2, Robin (2 yrs) and Holly (9 weeks). I am on the steering committee of Friends of Iowa Midwives.

[Dmitrizmom]

Jennifer. popping in - in central IA. Subbing to the thread.

I was really bummed that the midwife bill didn't make it this year, but excited that it got as far as it did.

[kevinsgirl]

Hi!

I live in the Quad Cities--I was bummed about the bill too. I can't even tell you how many letters I sent out to my own reps & to tons of ppl across the state asking them to send letters too.

We're planning a homebirth, w/ a CNM, but someday, I want to be a certified midwife. I would love to be able to give that gift to others.

What do you like to do in your free time?

[Dmitrizmom]

hmmm... free time... I like to read, sew, knit, crochet, sing and swim... I'm a very slow knitter and crocheter tho. Mostly, I teach at a tech college in Des Moines part time, and I'm a chiropractor working on getting up and going. I'm soaking up as much time as I can with the kids - try to read to them at least 4 times a week (working our way thru the Harry Potter series).

[blumooned]

Hi Iowa mamas! This is my first tribe post, so I'll introduce myself.

I'm Erin. I live with my DF & wonderful baby boy (who is almost 1!) in Iowa City. I stay home with DS, but worked in Marketing at a natural foods co-op before he was born. I do some advertising sales (from home) for a local food magazine.

I love to cook & bake. I also enjoy reading - although for the past 1.5 years, I've been mostly reading about baby stuff!!

DS & I have been going on lots of walks now that the weather is getting warmer. That plus getting ready for his 1st birthday party are currently keeping us busy!

I look forward to chatting with you all. It is nice to "meet" all of you.

[kevinsgirl]

Hi Erin--welcome to the Iowa tribe :-) Mmmm....I love to bake too. Cooking is more of a on a "has to" basis. You seem to be the girl to go to for food related questions!

I also knit & read. Loved the Harry Potter series--I had to google almost all the English food. I'm so pathetic :-) And Jennifer--I could NOT live w/o my chiro!

It's funny how my what I'm reading changes w/ what season I'm in. Like how you Erin have been reading about babies for the past year 1/2. For a while it's discipline, then birth, then fiction...Right now I'm reading Wide Neighborhoods, an autobiography of a nurse who established Frontier Nursing in the Appalachian mountains...so interesting.

What are you going to school for Lauren?
Hi iris!

Hope everyone is having a great week despite this crazy cold weather--Oh the lovely fickleness of an April day. (William Hamilton Gibson.)

[smokeylo]

I know it was a bummer that our bill didn't get through, but we made incredible progress this year. I feel extremely optimistic about next year. KEEP SENDING LETTERS AND STUFF. That is the only way we get the attention and support of legislators.

I'm in a literacy education PhD program at the U. It's a lovely program with great people!

Erin, did you work for New Pi? My husband worked there for awhile.

Anyone going to the CSA Fair this Saturday? I'm going to try and make it!

[blumooned]

Originally Posted by smokeylo

Erin, did you work for New Pi? My husband worked there for awhile.

Anyone going to the CSA Fair this Saturday? I'm going to try and make it!

I worked for New Pi awhile ago, baking & cooking in the deli. I did Marketing in Ames, though, at Wheatsfield Co-op. Now I get to shop at New Pi.

Where is the CSA Fair?

Kevinsgirl - I loved Harry Potter, too & also wanted to try all the food! I'm especially intrigued by Pumpkin Juice & Butter Beer.

[Katie T]

So excited that there is a Iowa tribe!!!
I live in a tiny town 30 minutes north of Ames. I SAH except every other Sunday when I work at the hospital in Ames.
As much as I hate winter I love Iowa and am super excited about getting my garden going! It is only my second yr of having my own Garden so I have tons to learn but I'm having fun doing it.

I enjoy baking bread and cooking, canning, playing outside, reading, gardening (obviously lol),and spending time with my children can't wait to meet more like minded people in the area!

[smokeylo]

I will be doing some container gardening this year. Have to remember when to start stuff -- last summer I planned to do a lot of gardening but spent all my time pregnant and sick .

Anyone know where to get fresh eggs in IC/CR?

[Dmitrizmom]

Originally Posted by Katie T

So excited that there is a Iowa tribe!!!
I live in a tiny town 30 minutes north of Ames. I SAH except every other Sunday when I work at the hospital in Ames.

Katie - you're not that far from me. I'm in Boone.

[greenbeanmama]

!

Howdy Mamas! I figured I'd say hello as well.

I'm a stay-at-home-mama to my (almost) 3 1/2 year-old son and seven-month-old daughter. We're about an hour east of Des Moines. My husband is a geek, and I'm pretty much too busy to have any hobbies right now (but I do enjoy baking and cake decorating, crocheting, reading, and pseudo-sewing). We co-sleep (my choice, but not my husband's), cloth diaper, homebirth, babywear, and homeschool.

I just spent most of this past weekend planting a flower garden (I was waaay to optimistic in February when I placed the order!), and soon we'll be getting around to planting the veggies. I don't have much of a green thumb, though, so we'll see how much actually grows. This is my second year gardening, but last year basically was get-the-plants-in-the-ground-and-then-be-way-too-sick-to-even-weed-once-a-week, so we'll call that pre-gardening. This year, I'm not pregnant and more determined!

Last night my husband turned on the PS2 and was getting ready to play a game when my son said, "Daddy, you need to wait until I'm not around to play that. It's not appropriate for me to watch. Maybe we could play Mario Brothers on the Wii instead?" Wow - I guess he listens more than we realize!

Glad to see other crunchy mamas in Iowa!

[jildez]

Hi everyone! it's great to meet you all.

I'm a almost SAHM (i'm doing a little research for my doc, but i am a long way from done) who lives near Coon Rapids, a little town about and hour north west of DSM. I am also new to the area, i moved here from WV in January with my husband of 10 years and our (hopefully) 1st son who is now 9 months old. It was a hard winter but now that spring is here, i am falling in love with Iowa.

I am starting my first full fledged garden- we have been moving and apartment living until now and i have only ever done a few containers or a little patch. We are also pretty crunchy- basically trying to live simply and well on very little. I also love draw, sew and cook vegetarian and vegan foods and read- esoteric stuff for my degree as well as anything else i can get my hands on, although my son just loves to get his hands on books, which can be challenging.

I would love to connect more with more moms with more eclectic points of view- people here have been very welcoming (despite what i was told), but unfortunately, most people in similar situations to me have pretty mainstream views.

[Dmitrizmom]

Originally Posted by jildez

Hi everyone! it's great to meet you all.

I'm a almost SAHM (i'm doing a little research for my doc, but i am a long way from done) who lives near Coon Rapids, a little town about and hour north west of DSM. I am also new to the area, i moved here from WV in January with my husband of 10 years and our (hopefully) 1st son who is now 9 months old. It was a hard winter but now that spring is here, i am falling in love with Iowa.

I am starting my first full fledged garden- we have been moving and apartment living until now and i have only ever done a few containers or a little patch. We are also pretty crunchy- basically trying to live simply and well on very little. I also love draw, sew and cook vegetarian and vegan foods and read- esoteric stuff for my degree as well as anything else i can get my hands on, although my son just loves to get his hands on books, which can be challenging.

I would love to connect more with more moms with more eclectic points of view- people here have been very welcoming (despite what i was told), but unfortunately, most people in similar situations to me have pretty mainstream views.

what are you getting you degree in?

[smokeylo]

Any of you all that hasn't checked out Friends of Iowa Midwives and signed up for your local chapter's yahoo group, I encourage you to do so. It's a great way to meet other crunchy mamas/families and we could use all the homebirth supporters we can get!!

www.friendsofiowamidwives.org

[kevinsgirl]

Where does the phrase 'crunchy' come from? Crunchy granola? Because AP parents eat granola?

We have a big garden, but I have nothing to do with it other than provide the space My dad does the work, with a little help from my hubs. He can't have a garden where he lives--and let me tell you it's great to eat the fruits of his labor! I can't seem to find the stick-to-itiveness to follow through for a whole season. Of course, being pregnant or a nursling every summer topped by allergies may have something to do with it.

Speaking of, I read in Mother Earth News that nettles really help w/ allergies--even better than Zertec--any input there?

Lauren, I'll be in IC on Wednesday to see my midwife, want me to bring you some eggs?

Greenbeanmama--awesome that your boy recognized that game as inappropriate--I LOVE moments like that, when you can see the fruits of your labor!

[smokeylo]

Originally Posted by kevinsgirl

Lauren, I'll be in IC on Wednesday to see my midwife, want me to bring you some eggs?
r

I'd love some but I am in No Liiberty which is about 20 min away. If Kathy is your midwife she can tell you how to get here!!