Summer

Still a little cool for June (not that I'm complaining), but I see many days in the park ahead.

Knee Deep

....In teething.

I can't even think straight because a certain someone is having such a rough time with his two front teeth. He's been a pathetic mess all day and only wants to put his head down on my shoulder or his high chair tray. I feel terrible, but I'm about to go all great-grandmother on his gums with the back of a metal spoon. Okay, not really, but I am being very permissive with the objects that he chooses to gnaw (belt buckles, wooden spoons, shoes, towels, and even plastic bottles).

For the most part he's been a trooper, but today was pretty rough. Even after two doses of ibuprofen, he was frazzled at best. J and I were counting down the minutes until his bedtime this evening (even though I know bedtime for us will not be restful).

A couple of weeks ago, I was the lucky recipient of this book (via a Facebook contest). It's by the same author as the book that Eric & Lea gave us for Christmas, which I have loved. I decided to put one of the recipes to good use. We had some extra watermelon and pineapple in the fridge, so I pureed it up and popped it in the freezer in some ice pop molds. I'm hoping it will be a nice (if messy) treat for the little dude tomorrow. I altered the recipe slightly and eliminated the honey and lime since they've not yet been introduced into his diet. I have to say, I'm not sure they would be necessary, as the pineapple watermelon puree is pretty darn tasty on its own. I'll make sure I post on other recipes from the book as I try them throughout the summer!

Project Birthday

My friend, Elizabeth, arranged a Project Runway themed party for her birthday this weekend. It was brilliant and the most fun I've had in quite a while.

About twelve of us were invited to her place, where we spent the evening competing in PR-style challenges that led up to the final challenge of the night -- remake a hideous Goodwill dress into something that you'd wear today. Everyone was instructed to bring a pair of heels, three of their favorite accessories (to populate the "Bluefly Accessory Wall"), and a tank top/spandex in case we were chosen as models. 

There were five models, five designers, and four judges. At random (and with some trading around) I ended up as a designer and was charged with remaking this dress (well not this exact dress, but something pretty identical) into something more modern. My model, Margaret, and I were charged with making a split-second decision between five equally hideous frocks and opted for this one instead of a leopard print house dress. We had a few minutes to confer and she was sent to the workroom to stake out a table while I visited "Mood" (Elizabeth's guest room) to shop for fabric. I wish I had brought my camera, because there would have been a lot more documentation. 

Once in the workroom, Margaret and I decided on a converting the dress into a short jumpsuit with puffed sleeves and a collar. We paired it with pink pumps and hat from the accessory wall. Elizabeth had a sewing machine on hand, but it was missing a foot petal for about 1/2 of the challenge, so I ended up sewing the sleeves in by hand and safety pinning the dress hem into shorts. Thankfully, Margaret was a natural on the runway and made our outfit look awesome. In the end, we made it to the top three, but the judges were divided on the use of the pink hat. Regardless, it was an amazing party.

I was exhausted when I got home at nearly 1am -- by far the latest I've stayed out while having fun in quite a while.

Personal Chef

Little made an outstanding developmental leap this past weekend. He figured out that there are ways of eating that don't involve his mom and dad shoveling food into his mouth. In other words, we embarked on new mealtime adventures while trying to figure out age-appropriate finger foods so he doesn't develop scurvy from a steady diet of Cheetos and astronaut food (I kid). So, I spent the weekend doing some research online and in the kitchen to re-envision some of his favorite foods. He's not turned into a picky eater, just changed the game overnight, insisting that he selects what he puts into his mouth and when. Fair enough, I suppose, but it would have been nice to get a little warning. After a few meals (and a day of him not eating nearly enough) I think we've found some solutions. 

The little sir now enjoys a variety of nibbles that were prepared with love (and in exasperation) by his mother-turned-personal-chef. It's a job for which I'm entirely under qualified, but heck, I'm taking on all kinds of work beyond my scope, so why not tackle Little's nutrition as well. It certainly beats the stuff that's sold as baby snacks these days -- cheese puffs, sugary fruit snacks and biscuits, and crisps that claim to contain vegetables, but provide no dietary fiber and are of very little nutritional value. I'm sad that we're unable to incorporate yogurt and cottage cheese in his diet anymore, but we're finding new ways to introduce protein and calcium that are even more exciting.

A few things I've learned in my short stint as a nutritional consultant: 1) oatmeal and turkey loaf make wonderful splat noises on the bare hardwood floors 2) my otherwise useless Exxon shareholder reports have done a splendid job of catching rogue grapes and tofu bits 3) the five second rule applies over and over again 4) the sheer happiness on his face makes the frustration worthwhile. 

This Week's Specials:


Turkey loaf:(sounds gross, but quite delicious) made of ground turkey, carrots, applesauce, oat bran, spices, and herbs

Sweet Potato, Eggplant, and Zucchini Cubes: Roasted to creamy perfection with a dash of olive oil
 
Breaded Tofu: Rolled in Cheerio crumbs (easier for little fingers), also comes battered and baked for dinner menu


Oatmeal bites: A breakfast favorite cooked a little longer with applesauce and diced into small cubes. 


Diced fruit: Quartered grapes, cantaloupe, ripe pears, bananas, watermelon, and honeydew.