Last night we noticed Annabelle tugging at her ear, her tired eyes, and that her skin was hot to the touch. She pointed at her teeth, into her mouth, so I suspected teething, and her dad guessed that it was an ear infection.
It turns out that both mom and dad are right. This afternoon we visited the pediatrician and the verdict is that Annabelle has an ear infection, is in a lot of pain from teething (and that teething may be causing the ear infection and a sore throat, and that her sore throat may be viral. Uggh!Still, there is much to feel grateful for from our past week. Here’s a few things that I am digging right now (even though my sunshine baby is not feeling so good):
1. Carpooling play dates. On Friday, my husband took the day off so that our family could travel an hour north to visit the Baltimore Aquarium. Our good friends Jon and Zander happened to be home, so we coordinated a carpool and made the trip together. Not only did we save gas (good for the environment and our pockets), but the kids got to play together in the backseat. Our carpooling field trip doubled as an adult hangout too. Below is a picture I snapped:
2. Energy Friendly Technology. This week while reading the Vegetarian Times blog, I learned that Iqua offers solar powered tech pieces, including a solar powered Bluetooth headset. Even though I have no immediate plans to upgrade or purchase new technology for my personal use, I am psyched that citizens in California, Connecticut, and D.C. who may no longer drive while holding a cell phone will be able to drive safely and rely on technology that uses a renewable energy source.
3. Greentoys.com! These awesome earth friendly toys are BPA and phthalate free! Not only does Greentoys.com use recycled plastic from milk containers, but they also rely on environmental packaging. If possible, I am going to create a wish list for Annabelle at Greentoys.com because I know she’d love their tea set, sand set, gardening kit, and cookware. What a great idea for repurposing materials that do no harm the second time around!
4. Free gardening advice. Thank you to all of you who commented about my new garden and gardening questions. Also, I received a lot of feedback from fellow gardeners and a few farmers too at this past week’s farmers’ markets. I am looking forward to adding ferns, wildflowers, and other shade loving plants to my garden in the coming months.
5. The W&OD Trail or the Washington & Old Dominion Trail. This 45 mile long trail in Northern Virginia stretches from Arlington to Purcellville. Bikers, runners, walkers, and commuters travel this trail everyday. As the weather warms up, our family is making use of the trail which is just a mile from our home, is easy to bike to, and is easy to travel on (much flatter than other biking routes). Annabelle and I also run on the W&OD and sometimes walk along it to travel to play dates, the library, and the farmers’ market.
So, all and all, life ain’t so bad. Tomorrow is likely another rest day for Annabelle, and I will probably make use of the day by tackling such projects as painting her closet doors and brainstorming ideas for articles. Well, until tomorrow,
A grateful Green Mamma
