Thank You, Fairbanks: A Letter from Student Midwives Hannah & Kluane

I've had the great privilege to work next to Hannah and Kluane many times over the past two years as they completed their midwifery apprenticeships at the Alaska Family Health and Birth Center.  The real bummer about apprenticeships, it turns out, is that they come to an end.  Hannah emailed me this week and asked if I might share this letter she and Kluane penned - INSTEAD OF STUDYING FOR THEIR EXAMS - to help share their deep gratitude to the community of Fairbanks for welcoming them into their families and training them as midwives.  

Please join me in sending them love and the best of luck as they embark on their next chapters!  As you'll read below, they will be holding a fundraiser at AFHBC in July to raise money for their upcoming charitible mission - I hope to see you there.  <3

And now, onto their words.  The following letter is authored by Hannah Brown and Kluane Tozier.  

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To the women and families of the Fairbanks area:

June marks two years since we became student midwives, and also the conclusion of our apprenticeships with Alaska Family Health and Birth Center. Time flies, and all that. While we really should be studying and preparing for the test that will determine if we get to be real, grown-up midwives, we have been talking and can't help but reflect on our time here. Along with this reflection comes a need for us to express our thanks. 

None of this would be possible without you: the women and families of Alaska Family Health and Birth Center. Your willingness, patience, and good humor throughout every phase of our education has been amazing and so very humbling. We were never told that we were too young, or that we couldn't support a woman through labor when we have never personally experienced it. Through these years, we have laughed with you. We have cried with and for you in joy, as well as in sorrow and loss. We have been honored to witness the strength that can only be found in the birth room. We have watched you struggle and wiped your tears as you worked through pain and exhaustion to breastfeed your baby. 

The last few weeks have been emotional ones. We've slowly been collecting my "lasts" at the birth center: the last Monday of clinic with Julie and Kate, the last lunch with the midwives, the last initial prenatal with Manga, the last postpartum visit with Erin. While it's true that we could never have arrived at this point in our training without the women, babies, and families that we have served for the past two years, we are equally indebted to the midwives of Alaska Family Health and Birth Center. 

"Our" midwives. Oh, how I could go on and on about how much we love, admire, and aspire to be like each of them. These women are fearless in their love and support. These women are our heroes. They hold life and death in their strong but gentle hands. We have seen them be unflinching in their care through the dark moments, the painful moments, the moments when it is clear that they are grieving, too. We have heard whispered words of encouragement as a woman is at the end of her strength, as well as words of firm direction when danger is detected. These women have taught us so much, as women and as wives and mothers, as well as midwives. We will forever carry their teachings our my minds and hearts, and someday hope to be half the women and midwives that they are. 

Truly, the last two years have been the most incredible, joyous, and sometimes painful years of our lives. We have grown so much; and while sometimes the growing pains were more than we thought we could take, we have emerged proud of the individuals and midwives we have become.

Thank you so much.

We could never express our gratitude enough. We really never knew that we could grow to love and cherish so many wonderful families in such a short amount of time. 

The next chapter of our lives (and our journeys as midwives) includes a mission trip to the Philippines. We will be having a fundraiser gala at Alaska Family Health & Birth Center on July 2nd from 3pm to 6pm. This fundraiser will in part help us raise funds for our trip to the Philippines through the incredible organization Mercy In Action. Even if you can't give monetarily, we would love to see anyone who we served, for any encouragement or a kind word.

Love,

Hannah and Kluane

Cuban-style Plantains for Breakfast - Fairbanks Documentary Photographer

Plantains are kind of a new thing for me.  As you can imagine, they're not exactly Alaska's most common import.  Fred Meyer will usually have a small display of them between the organic and non-organic bananas, but half the time the miniature sugar bananas or red bananas are mis-identified as the plantains... or there will be none at all.  And when I do find them, it's rare to find green, unripe ones - even if they look green when I grab them, by the next morning they're bright yellow with brown dalmatian spotting.  

Ripe fruit is generally a good thing, though, right?  I would tend to agree, except for the case of the plantain.  Plantains are more like a potato than a banana, and you prepare tostones - those wonderfully smashed-looking savory discs that litter my Instagram feed's enviable plates - with green plantains.  

It's a good thing that ripe plantains can be just as delicious, if more undercelebrated.  It turns out Cuban-style fried plantains are made with only a few ingredients: over-ripe plantains, coconut oil, brown (or coconut) sugar, and salt.  

They're not something we make often, but it sure is fun once and a while.  It's a dish I don't think I would have ever considered making before the scientific findings that 'fat doesn't make you fat' really gained traction - and even then, it took me a while to overcome fat phobia.  (I remember the first time a naturopath told me how nutritious coconut oil was, and prescribed a tablespoon a day.  ...Plain.  Solid fat eaten off a spoon...  I'm pretty sure you could have made a fairly successful meme with the expression on my face.)  Of course, I'm not arguing that these are health food, but neither are they the anathema they once were.

But seriously, you heard about the corrupt research about fat (and conspicuously, NOT sugar) that Harvard's been generating for the past FIVE DECADES, right?

This particular morning, I had ripe plantains in the fruit bowl.  And Norah was wearing super cute jammies (I may or may not have squealed aloud upon finding them at Once Upon A Child).  And my camera was nearby.  And so this was breakfast.  :)

Clearly, none of us had had coffee yet.  

Eggs & A Slice of Light - Fairbanks Documentary Photographer

My daughter's preschool teacher recently gifted us a dozen homegrown eggs on what turned out to be a spectacularly sunny (and really chilly!) fall day.  Upon opening them, I saw they were a variety of sweet, muted pastel hues, and I couldn't resist the urge to take a quick photo in the bright sunlight.  That got Norah's interest, though, and as she came over to see what I was doing she began counting them, pointing out the different colors, and asking why they were different...and I "accidentally" made a photo essay about it.  (Hashtag, photographer problems.)  Seriously, though, you couldn't have planned a waldorf-inspired moment better if you'd tried!  We got to count, match, and talk all about chickens.  Every day since then, she's requested "pretty eggs" for breakfast and has painstakingly selected which two eggs she'd like from the pantone array of peach, ecru, pale turquoise, and almost-blue in the cardboard carton.

Picking up my camera and taking the time to indulge in personal work like this - documenting our everyday moments - has been so good for my soul.

A Morning with Kinderwoods Forest School - Fairbanks Childhood Photographer

My middle-little, Norah, scored a spot in Kinderwoods Forest School this fall, and I'm so happy it's been her first preschool experience.  The whole thing is just so neat I feel like pinching myself.  Twice a week I drop her off and watch her and her small heard of 3 - 6 year-olds hike off into the wilderness (in the mildest sense of the word, haha!) for a few hours of adventuring, snacking, tea-drinking, and learning. 

Kinderwoods is "designed to encourage creative play, problem solving skills, adventure, movement, and love of the natural world. The outdoors holds the potential to support these goals as well as promote healthy emotional, physical, social and cognitive development in a way that indoor environments cannot. Children thrive out of doors and their bodies and minds need to be there."  {From the Kinderwoods website.}  

And truly, the story of how it all began is just as fantastic.  Beth, the founder (and current teacher), wanted to enroll her little one in a Forest School-type program.  When she found there wasn't anything like it here in Fairbanks...she opened one herself.  Needless to say, I'm pretty psyched that she's one of my daughter's first role models.  

Beth was kind enough to let me tag along with the class one day near the end of the fall session to make a photo essay on the Day in the Life of a Forest School.  It was so. much. fun. to watch my daughter be her own little adventuring person among all her classmates.  All these tiny kids were absolutely dwarfed by this gigantic forest, and yet each and every one was eminently at home there - completely comfortable playing, eating, drinking (and even peeing!) there.  

Simply adorable.  

Postpartum Freezer Meals Recipe Round-up {Gluten-Free, Allergy-Friendly}

As I started making my list for freezer meals (and baked goods, let's be honest) that I wanted to begin preparing before my third baby arrives, I thought I might as well share here as well in case anyone else in on the hunt for nutritious yet delicious food to nourish yourself and your family during the 4th trimester.  

My family has food allergies and intolerances, and the recipes included here reflect that.  We first began eating this way after my first child starting displaying symptoms of food allergies as a breastfed infant (he's now 6).  We went through an elimination diet with the help of the wonderful lactation consultants at public health and were able to determine that he reacted to cow's milk, wheat, and eggs.  MAJOR DIET CHANGE.  But years later, I can tell you without a doubt that it was worth it.  Our breastfeeding relationship survived and thrived, and we all adapted to our new "limitations."  I for one was surprised to discover that I actually felt a lot better - apparently I had low-lying intolerances to wheat/gluten and dairy as well.  While this won't be the case for everyone who goes through an elimination diet or changes their diet to benefit their nursling (cow's milk, eggs, and wheat are fairly common irritants for newborns, as are caffeine, chocolate, and soy), I am here to attest that with the right support, you won't feel deprived in the slightest.  

BROWNIES | gluten-free, dairy-free

Not normally a nutritious food, right?  Enter Elana's Pantry.  Though these are chocolate, they boast an amazing balance of protein, healthy fat, and carbs that make them (an incredibly satisfying) power food, especially for those middle-of-the-night nursing-induced ravenous hunger attacks.   Made with high-protein almond butter rather than flour, these are my absolute favorite, especially when made with dark cocoa powder and dark chocolate chips.  They also turn out great with flax "eggs," if those are out of your diet.  

PALEO PORRIDGE | gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free

There are a number of "n'oatmeal" (faux oatmeal hot cereals that are grain-free) and paleo porridge recipes out there, and they are surprisingly filling, nutritious, and delicious.  My favorites can be found on The Spunky Coconut blog as well as Elana's Pantry - the recipes are a mix of unsweetened coconut, dates, raisins, seeds, nuts, etc.  Kelly of the Spunky Coconut's new book, Easy Paleo Meals, also has several recipes and tips for preparing your porridge in advance.  Before baby, I like to prep the dry mix and divide it into individual portion sizes in small mason jars that I stick in the freezer until I'm ready to throw them in the blender with boiling water to transform into creamy hot cereal.  

KALE TART | gluten-free, dairy-free

This is a recipe included in Elana Amsterdam's book, The Gluten-Free Almond Flour Cookbook.  I highly recommend purchasing this slim volume - I love Elana's recipes because they're simple and easy to prepare, don't require any weird ingredients (no xanthan gums or a million strange flours required), and always turn out.  I really wish we'd discovered it when we first had to go gluten-free!  At any rate, this kale tart is one of my favorite recipes in the book.  It's got both your veggies and protein in one dish, works great as a side or as a vegetarian entree, and have I mentioned that it's delicious?  

BONE BROTH & SOUP

I have to admit, I'm new to an appreciation of bone broth.  I just didn't know what it was until recently!  But since learning about it and experiencing its benefits (and deliciousness) firsthand, it's something I want to always have on hand.  There's nothing better by the mugful when you feel you might have a cold coming on, when you're worn down (...and who would feel that way postpartum?...), or when you feel like you just need a little extra umph in the day's nutritional intake - and, of course, it's the best base for soup there is.  We absolutely love our Instant Pot pressure cooker for quick bone broth - two hours and it's done! - and I love the tutorial on Nom Nom Paleo that details her foolproof method for delicious broth in the Instant Pot.  I believe it's in that same post that she talks about her favored method for storing her broth - she freezes it into "pucks" in silicone muffin molds and then puts them in ziplocks, so she can grab 1/2 cup portions and reheat whenever needed.  

ALMOND BUTTER FREEZER FUDGE | gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free

These are amazing little fat bombs, quick to grab for blood sugar boosts, super refreshing on hot days in particular, and surprisingly delicious in light of their limited ingredients.  Check it out on the Detoxinsta's site.  

SWEET POTATO STUFFING | gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free

This is a dynamite dish for dinner, but in all honesty, it's pretty much my favorite breakfast ever, especially if you throw a few sunny-side up eggs on top...the best.  It's hard to find unsweetened cranberries year-round, so if it's too late to stock up your freezer stash during Thanksgiving season, it is possible to order frozen cranberries from Azure Standard and other online grocers.  We often make it with white sweet potatoes and turkey italian sausage or my husband's homemade caribou sausage.  The recipe is written to make a huge batch, which is fantastic because we make it as written but bake it in two dishes - one for the fridge, and one for the freezer.  Each is a solid week's worth of breakfasts packed full of veggies, protein, and complex carbohydrates.  You can find the recipe on the wonderful food blog Fed & Fit.  

POWER BARS | gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free

Another of my favorites to have on hand, especially for those times when you realize your blood sugar is plummeting but only have one hand free because the other is full of baby.  High in protein, healthy fat, and topped with dark chocolate...they're easy to make, keep well in the freezer as well as the fridge, aaaaand they're amazing.  Check them out on Elana's Pantry.  

That's what I have on my list so far...what are your go-to freezer meals for after baby?  

What I Did on My Summer Vacation (2012)

This past summer went by in a blur, as it always does up here.  We’ve already had our first snow this year (though it didn’t stick, thank goodness), and more is coming soon.  I’m already feeling a bit nostalgic for summer, so when I had a few moments last night I went through my backlog to make sure I had all my personal photos from the summer edited and ready for relatives.  This post is really for them – but in case you want to know some of what we were up to this summer as well, read on!

Some of our featured activities: balloon wars with friends; playgrounds and watering friends’ gardens; painting canvases; berry picking; camping on the Denali Highway; more berry picking; and visiting the critters over at LARS with visiting friends and family.

Summer Means U-Pick Raspberries - Fairbanks Lifestyle Photographer

It’s only November – and the very beginning of November, at that – but I already find myself ready for a bit of a vacation. Some sun, some green, maybe even some flowers. This is, of course, a long way off, but I do have access to virtual, visual vacations by way of revising some summer photographs not yet blogged. Even though I just took a break from writing this to go load the woodstove, it was surprisingly refreshing to spend an hour in early August. It turns out the backlog of personal photos from this summer and fall sitting on my harddrive is not the result of disorganization or too little free time, as I had thought, but rather – a stroke of genius! I may have just enough to keep me in visual vacations all winter long.

Today’s vacation is brought to you by the U-Pick Raspberry farm and the month of August. My friend Jeanine and I met out there with a collective four kids and picked for a solid two hours, resulting in a full gallon of berries each – which, given the kid-wrangling (and kid-snacking) that took place, I thought was pretty impressive! They (the berries) currently reside in my pantry in the form of Raspberry-Cilantro-Jalapeno Jam and Raspberry-Plum-Almond Jam – tastes of summer to last me all winter long.