You know you're a mom when....

You know you're a mom (of an 11 month old) when....

....you spend half the day pulling your pants back up while a smaller person uses them to hoist themselves.

....you keep a list of things 'to-do' during nap time such as: clean the bathroom, shower, iron, call people, nap.

....going to the bathroom goes more smoothly if you bring baby toys to entertain your little guest.

....your facial muscles have become toned due to making exaggerated emotional faces all day long (insert high eye browed, wide mouthed, googley face here).

....your Tupperware has found new life in being banged on the floor, filled with ABC blocks and used to make an obstacle course.

....insert any other household item in place of "Tupperware" in the previous statement (i.e. wooden spoons, shoe boxes, empty OJ bottles and hangers).

....you have sung strange songs lately about changing diapers, colors, taking a bath and how yummy baby food is.

...life is dictated by a person less than half your size who is happy, sad, singing , hungry, poopy, and tired all at once (good luck with that, by the way).

....you love your topsy-turvy lifestyle and wouldn't change a thing for any amount of money, because it rules and is the best possible direction your life could have gone.

Your turn!

For reals? So easy!

I've heard over and over again that avocado is a great first baby food.  I've made it for Ro a couple times.  By "made it" I mean: mushed it up and sometimes mushed bananas with it.  Yum?  Ro says yes.  Well tonight, in a moment of sheer brilliance,  I cut open the end of an avocado, scooped it out bit by bit with a baby spoon and straight into the mouth of my waiting babe.  It doesn't get more pure than that!

Breakfast & Napping

Here is my new favorite breakfast!  I love it, it's so yummy and (relatively) good for you too.  Can't beat that, right?  First, I chop up what ever fruit I have on hand.  Today it was strawberries and apples.  I added blueberries too, although I didn't chop those.

Then, I plop on some Greek style yogurt (I think the protein in the yogurt keeps me fuller longer- win!)

And lastly, a pureed mango.  Yum, yum!

I think I like it because I'm a sweets fiend, and with all the fruit it's, well, sweet.

Today I'm gonna try a new angle on napping.  Supposedly babies naturally get sleepy every 90 minutes or so, that's just their sleep cycle.  So the idea is you put them down 90 minutes after each time they wake up and then your kid is well rested and even sleeps more soundly at night.  Double win.  Let the napping begin!

Potage Parmentier

A few weeks ago, walking through the farmer's market with family and friends, my friend Valerie picked up some leeks.  At that moment, I realized I had no idea what to do with a leek.  I saw them there every week, or more accurately, didn't see them there because I had mentally blocked them out as an option for purchase.  So this was my big chance, "What do you so with those?" I asked.  She says they are great for potato leek soup.  Kind of like an onion, she says.  Onions I can handle.  They are like a big 'ol green onion.
Then, more recently I started reading "Julie & Julia" and very early in the book she makes Potage Parmentier.  Which is potato leek soup.  A sign?  I say yes!  So I picked up some leeks, potatoes and well....that's it.  This (supposedly) wonderful soup has only two real ingredients.  I don't count the salt and butter because I already have them at home.

So I cut up the potatoes,

I'm not much for measuring, unless I'm baking, so this is my 1 pound of potatoes....give or take.  In the book she has a meditative experience peeling potatoes, so I tried to hone in on the act of peeling to really get into that cooking zen.  I have to admit that I was more worried about catching my fingers in the peeler than anything and didn't 'get it'.  I did, however, feel quite purposeful while cutting them.  I thought, "This is what people have been doing forever.  Potatoes are like the ultimate back-to-basics food."  A knife cutting through a potato is some how fulfilling.  (Is it obvious my baby was sleeping?  Otherwise I wouldn't have been able to connect to the mighty potato at all).  Next, leeks!  They even smelled a bit oniony when I cut them.  Three cups of leeks to my one pound of potatoes.

Then, 2 quarts of water plus one tablespoon salt.  I have nothing to measure a 'quart' with so I guesstimated.  Oh, and (per a suggestion) I replaced some of the water with broth.  Then it simmers for 45 minutes.

Then you're asked to smoosh it up with a fork.  Or a food processor.  This is when I start to think that measuring would have been a good idea.  There seems to be an extraordinary amount of liquid.  Nothing like the pictures I see online.  Dang it!  So I messed up.  It was still tasty.  The very last request from the recipe is that you stir in a pat of soft butter to your bowl while it's hot and just before you eat it.  For how very few ingredients this recipe has I was super impressed with the taste.  I had my reservations, and I was proven wrong.  

Next time, more measuring!!

Fudge.

I've been fending off feeling emotional about the chaos going on in life around me.  You know what they say, when you stuff your emotions, stuff, stuff, stuff- eventually there is an explosion.  I am on the brink of said explosion.  I can feel my vat of emotions getting dangerously full.  It's like a generously filled martini, don't tip it and pay close attention to it or else suffer a spill.

Ohh, martinis.....quick fix?  Or more stuffing....

Ugh.  I dread crying.  Not the happy, "Oh, my goodness!  She's walking!" kind of crying.  Nope.  I dread the sadness and hopelessness.  I dread the swollen head feeling and boogery nose.  Then, when I go to brush my teeth, I dread seeing myself in the mirror all puffy, blotchy, unrecognizable.

I may be unavailable later on tonight.  I am scheduling a melt down from 10-10:30 and I am setting my timer to make sure I don't get sucked down into the black hole of anguish.  Please don't worry about me.  I just need to get it out of my system.

Holla!

Less than 1 month!

In less than one month our little girl will be a whole entire year old.  Yipes!  To commemorate this almost-milestone, I give you two photos: the first of the day she was born and the second from yesterday.  What a transformation!

Pretty in Pink

Toys'R'Us+Ro Baby+Camera=Good Fun.

Are you sure mom?  I don't wanna get a ticket at such a young age...

Oh, boy!  This is the best!!

I'm gonna cruise the aisles, wind in my hair!

Where's the stereo on this thing?

Honk!  Honk!  Look out!  I can't reach the brake pedals!!

This is the funnest store ever!