Monday, October 26, 2009

Eating is Our Hobby

Isota's eating habits have been one area of child rearing in which I have been particularly anxious. Not that she has given me any reason to be...just that, even before I had a kid, I have always been a little worried about getting a picky eater. Food looms so large in my life (shopping for it, reading about it, thinking about it, cooking it and of course eating it, duh) that I would definitely be a little sad if my child only wanted the classic "kid foods" like chicken nuggets or turned up her nose at vegetables. Apparently I was the sort of freak child who cheered when she could have seconds on spinach, and I would love love love if Isota could be like that too. I strive to make fresh fruits and veggies and whole, real foods part of her everyday diet so things like seeing green vegetables is just a normal habit.

Now, I realize Isota is still new to the whole eating thing - and of course she is going to change and what applies now may not apply next month or even tomorrow - but so far she is an amazing and fearless eater. Last week's dinners included things like salmon patties (salmon, mashed potatoes, egg yolk), pasta with my very chunky homemade tomato sauce (mushrooms, carrots, olives, celery, onions), chicken, garlic bread, beets, and brussel sprouts. She tries and seems to like everything. And I am not kidding - she cheers when she sees me get out the green beans or especially broccoli. The girl LOVES broccoli. I hope she hangs on to that feeling her whole life.

The last picture here is an apple she grabbed out of my bag and went to town on. Her little teeth were working so hard!






p.s. hi doobs! how is berkeley today?

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Sody Discovers the Kitchen Cabinets

More importantly, she discovers how to *open* the kitchen cabinets. And pull everything out. The kitchen is rapidly becoming her favorite room in which to play. Though maybe it's tied with the bathroom and the enticing toilet she tries to stick her fingers in...


Monday, October 19, 2009

Fall, Finally

So my favorite time of the year is finally here but you wouldn't know it from the weather. We are still regularly logging 70-80 degree days here, ugh. Growing weary of shorts and t-shirts. I want to bust out scarves and boots and knit hats, people! I want stormy weather and hot mugs of chai and the rain beating on the roof as I fall asleep at night! Is it too much to ask?! But I digress. Despite the weather, we are still focusing on fall-like activities around here. This weekend we took Isota to her first pumpkin patch on Saturday, to Apple Hill on Sunday, and I made some Halloween-y donuts last night. October, I love you. Will you last forever, please?


punkins!

watching pony rides! (she was mesmerized)


ma and pa!

worn out!

donuts!

Monday, October 12, 2009

Sody and Her Dad





Well, we have been on a little bit of a hiatus around here because last week I went in to have my gallbladder taken out. It has been a problem ever since Isota was born (turns out pregnancy can cause gallstones to form) so instead of waiting to have more and possibly more serious debilitating and really freaking painful gallbladder attacks, I went for surgery. It was nerveracking because I am more on the hippie-dippy, natural remedy, Eastern medicine side of things rather than elect to get cut open...I mean, I have never even had an IV in my arm before, let alone any surgeries. But now that I am on the other side of it (and it truly was an easy procedure, I have only four tiny incisions) and on the road to recovery I believe it was the right decision.

Needless to say, the weekend was filled with me laying on the couch, popping pain pills and dozing. I am not supposed to be lifting anything heavy, which is not exactly compatible with taking care of a child. So Joe totally took over - meals and cleanups and playtimes and walks and storytimes and most importantly, diaper changes. I didn't touch a dirty diaper for three days! It's hard to not be able to play and cuddle with Isota like usual but on the flipside it is so amazing to watch Joe with her. I can't describe how sweet they are together and the way I catch her looking at him sometimes. The Look of Love, totally. He is the best dad and the best husband and I fully lucked out with this one. Thanks for taking such amazing care of both of us, baby! Not just this weekend but every day. We love you to pieces.

Saturday, October 3, 2009

NugBug is Nine Months





Yesterday marked Nugget's nine-month birthday. She's been out on the planet as long as she was inside bakin' up in my belly. Weird! The cake to mark this milestone is three layer chocolate mint with cream cheese frosting, decorated with Cheerios and Fruity Pebbles. It was almost a disaster when I realized I messed up the recipe as I pulled the cake out of the oven...but luckily I used my Top Chef skills to repair the damage and make it tasty once again. We have way too much cake though, so come on over for a slice, won't you?

Also captured Little One yesterday taking part in her favorite pasttime of playing Computer Whiz. Technically her specialty right now is trying to bust the keys off my computer (she got the shift key - you can imagine that it has become a tad annoying trying to type) but I think she is on her way.