Friday, January 30, 2009
For my mother
Who didn't believe me when I told her Evelyn likes to stand up next to the ottoman and play with her toys. She can't roll over, or sit unaided, or do tummy time, but she can stand and play with her toys. It is soooo cute. She will either hold on to the side of the ottoman or rest her elbows on it, depending on how much she wants to use her hands. I swear, this baby is going to be walking before she can crawl.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
New
The most recent obsession I don't have time for: Amigurumi. It is the Japanese art of knitting or crocheting small stuffed creatures. Here are some sea creatures that are awesome.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Red Velvet Cake
Last night I took out the trash and realized we had more in our recycling bin than in our trash bin. Awesome!
Yesterday I made a red velvet cake for the first time. I've never eaten red velvet cake before so I'm not sure how it is supposed to taste, but Jon assures me it is what it is supposed to be. It tastes like cake, sure, but something about the bright redness of it makes me think it should have a stronger flavor. It is very mild, slightly sweet, hint of chocolate, but mostly a pretty vehicle for the yummy cream cheese frosting! I would make it again, though, because it is so lovely to look at.
I modified the recipe by adding slightly more sugar and cocoa powder, adding corn starch to make the flour more like cake flour, by halving the oil and replacing with applesauce, using two pans instead of three, and modifying the directions to get the chemical reaction between the baking soda and vinegar. The original directions were all wrong. They had you mixing the flour and sugar together, not creaming the sugar with the wet ingredients! Madness. The "at room temperature" part of this recipe is important, particularly the buttermilk. It needs to be at room temperature to work its magic.
Red Velvet Cake Recipe
(Adapted from the Southern Red Velvet cake by Sara Moulton on AllRecipes.com)
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
4 tablespoons corn starch
1 teaspoon salt
1 heaping tablespoon cocoa powder
1 3/4 cups sugar
3/4 cups vegetable oil
3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce, at room temperature
2 large eggs, slightly beaten, at room temperature
1 cup buttermilk, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons red food coloring (1 ounce)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar
Cream Cheese Frosting, recipe follows
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly oil and flour 2 (9 by 1 1/2-inch round) cake pans.
In a large bowl, mix or sift together the flour, cornstarch, salt, and cocoa powder. In another large bowl (not white or plastic...it will stain), cream together the oil, applesauce, and sugar until well combined and smooth. Add the buttermilk, eggs, food coloring, and vanilla. Put the baking soda in a pile on top of the wet mixture and pour the vinegar on top of it. Allow to foam for a few seconds and mix together into wet ingredients.
Mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined and a smooth batter is formed. (There will be a few bubbles from the foaming reaction of the baking soda and vinegar.)
Divide the cake batter evenly among the prepared cake pans. Place the pans in the oven evenly spaced apart. Bake, rotating the pans halfway through the cooking, until the cake pulls away from the side of the pans, and a toothpick inserted in the center of the cakes comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Remove the cakes from the oven and run a knife around the edges to loosen them from the sides of the pans. One at a time, invert the cakes onto a plate and then re-invert them onto a cooling rack, rounded-sides up. Let cool completely.
Frost the cake, using some of the frosting between the two layers. Garnish with crushed pecans, if desired.
Cream Cheese Frosting:
1 8 oz. container regular of low-fat (not NOT non-fat) cream cheese, softened
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. orange zest or orange juice
3 cups powdered sugar
Beat the cream cheese, vanilla and orange together until fluffy. Add the cream cheese and beat until combined and silky. Try not to eat it right out of the bowl.
This made enough to cover my two cakes and the layer inbetween, but just barely. You could make a lot more of this and just spread it on your face or eat it out of the bowl, it is so good.
Yesterday I made a red velvet cake for the first time. I've never eaten red velvet cake before so I'm not sure how it is supposed to taste, but Jon assures me it is what it is supposed to be. It tastes like cake, sure, but something about the bright redness of it makes me think it should have a stronger flavor. It is very mild, slightly sweet, hint of chocolate, but mostly a pretty vehicle for the yummy cream cheese frosting! I would make it again, though, because it is so lovely to look at.
I modified the recipe by adding slightly more sugar and cocoa powder, adding corn starch to make the flour more like cake flour, by halving the oil and replacing with applesauce, using two pans instead of three, and modifying the directions to get the chemical reaction between the baking soda and vinegar. The original directions were all wrong. They had you mixing the flour and sugar together, not creaming the sugar with the wet ingredients! Madness. The "at room temperature" part of this recipe is important, particularly the buttermilk. It needs to be at room temperature to work its magic.
Red Velvet Cake Recipe
(Adapted from the Southern Red Velvet cake by Sara Moulton on AllRecipes.com)
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
4 tablespoons corn starch
1 teaspoon salt
1 heaping tablespoon cocoa powder
1 3/4 cups sugar
3/4 cups vegetable oil
3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce, at room temperature
2 large eggs, slightly beaten, at room temperature
1 cup buttermilk, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons red food coloring (1 ounce)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar
Cream Cheese Frosting, recipe follows
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly oil and flour 2 (9 by 1 1/2-inch round) cake pans.
In a large bowl, mix or sift together the flour, cornstarch, salt, and cocoa powder. In another large bowl (not white or plastic...it will stain), cream together the oil, applesauce, and sugar until well combined and smooth. Add the buttermilk, eggs, food coloring, and vanilla. Put the baking soda in a pile on top of the wet mixture and pour the vinegar on top of it. Allow to foam for a few seconds and mix together into wet ingredients.
Mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined and a smooth batter is formed. (There will be a few bubbles from the foaming reaction of the baking soda and vinegar.)
Divide the cake batter evenly among the prepared cake pans. Place the pans in the oven evenly spaced apart. Bake, rotating the pans halfway through the cooking, until the cake pulls away from the side of the pans, and a toothpick inserted in the center of the cakes comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Remove the cakes from the oven and run a knife around the edges to loosen them from the sides of the pans. One at a time, invert the cakes onto a plate and then re-invert them onto a cooling rack, rounded-sides up. Let cool completely.
Frost the cake, using some of the frosting between the two layers. Garnish with crushed pecans, if desired.
Cream Cheese Frosting:
1 8 oz. container regular of low-fat (not NOT non-fat) cream cheese, softened
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. orange zest or orange juice
3 cups powdered sugar
Beat the cream cheese, vanilla and orange together until fluffy. Add the cream cheese and beat until combined and silky. Try not to eat it right out of the bowl.
This made enough to cover my two cakes and the layer inbetween, but just barely. You could make a lot more of this and just spread it on your face or eat it out of the bowl, it is so good.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Better picture
Here is a better picture from yesterday. Look at Evelyn's gorgeous blue eyes. They are a little greyer than when she was born but still super super blue. I know babies' eyes can change anywhere up to two years old, but how crazy would it be if her eyes stay blue?
And a picture of me as a baby. See how enormous I am? I'm not sure of my age in this pic, but Evelyn is certainly taking after her mother... She looks a lot more like Jon as a baby, though. Her head shape, profile, brow, nose -- all Jon. My fair skin and hair and chin. She is so cute!
And a picture of me as a baby. See how enormous I am? I'm not sure of my age in this pic, but Evelyn is certainly taking after her mother... She looks a lot more like Jon as a baby, though. Her head shape, profile, brow, nose -- all Jon. My fair skin and hair and chin. She is so cute!This morning Evelyn was in the best mood ever. I'm working from home, hunkered down avoiding some very slick roads. I am in the back bedroom trying to stay out of the way and focus, but I could hear Evelyn giggling all over the house. Jon walked into my room and Evie just burst into giggles. It is hilarious! It is by far the greatest sound I have ever heard.
I have started knitting Jon a Valentine's day gift. We're not doing expensive gifts or dinners out this year, but a little homemade something seems appropriate. I'm making this very cute owl! At least one, maybe two. I hope mine turns out as cute as this one!
Monday, January 26, 2009
Gung Hay Fat Choi
Happy Chinese New Year! Tonight I will celebrate by giving kisses to my two favorite Chinese people and eating my two favorite Chinese foods. 
I do not have a picture of the latter, my two favorite chinese foods. But really any chinese food is good as far as I'm concerned. I'll probably eat the oh-so-authentic crab cheese wontons and perhaps some chow fun. Yay!
Here is a picture of the former. The quality isn't the best, but I think you can see Evelyn's adorable little outfit, given to us by a friend of Jon's.
I do not have a picture of the latter, my two favorite chinese foods. But really any chinese food is good as far as I'm concerned. I'll probably eat the oh-so-authentic crab cheese wontons and perhaps some chow fun. Yay!Sunday, January 25, 2009
Exersaucers R Us
Before Evelyn was born I had a lot of ideas about child raising that were total crap. One of them went like this: "When I have a baby, I won't buy those huge monstrous toys that overstimulate my baby and take up a ton of room. Babies don't need anything but love..." Something to that effect. Hahaha. Babies need love, but they also need attention. 100% of the time. And your hands. 100% of the time.
Therefore, we bought a huge, monstrous, eye-exploding, toxin-filled plastic exersaucer. We bought it from a consignment store (which is totally the way to go!) and Evelyn seems to love it.
Therefore, we bought a huge, monstrous, eye-exploding, toxin-filled plastic exersaucer. We bought it from a consignment store (which is totally the way to go!) and Evelyn seems to love it.
Friday, January 23, 2009
The other option
The other option for high chairs is the hook-on style. Less plastic, because you are not using a big tray or lots of supports. Considerably less expensive as well. I'm not sure what the pros and cons are of using a stand-alone high chair vs. a hook-on high chair. It seems like it would be easier to have a baby facing you when you are trying to feed them rather than trying to do it at an angle while they face the center of the table. Maybe I'll ask some mom friends. Or anyone with insight please feel free to leave a comment!
Leslie noted that she really didn't start to use a high chair until 7 or 8 months. Until then she just propped her little one on her lap and leaned against a wall or the couch. There isn't any rush on getting this chair, I guess. But I am still thinking about it.
A couple of options:
Zooper
Chair price: $49.99
The materials are a mystery right now (I'll have to do a little more digging), but it has a 4-point safety harness and says it complies with all ASTM and European safety standards. Some reviewers have commented that the long under-table arm thing sometimes won't fit all tables.
Me Too Portable Hook On Chair
Price: $49.99
Made of nylon and aluminum. More portable than the last if I wanted to take it to a restaurant or something. Can't really see myself doing that, though. I don't like how it clips onto the table. Does it seem sturdy enough? It has gotten really good reviews on Target.com and a few other sites.
Leslie noted that she really didn't start to use a high chair until 7 or 8 months. Until then she just propped her little one on her lap and leaned against a wall or the couch. There isn't any rush on getting this chair, I guess. But I am still thinking about it.
A couple of options:
Zooper
Chair price: $49.99
The materials are a mystery right now (I'll have to do a little more digging), but it has a 4-point safety harness and says it complies with all ASTM and European safety standards. Some reviewers have commented that the long under-table arm thing sometimes won't fit all tables.
Me Too Portable Hook On Chair
Price: $49.99
Made of nylon and aluminum. More portable than the last if I wanted to take it to a restaurant or something. Can't really see myself doing that, though. I don't like how it clips onto the table. Does it seem sturdy enough? It has gotten really good reviews on Target.com and a few other sites.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Trying to find an eco-friendly high chair
I am trying to find an eco-friendly high chair for Evelyn to use once she starts eating solid foods. This will be really soon, like next month (!), so I want to get on it. The problem is, eco-friendly often translates to expensive, since they generally do not use any of the cheap phthalate- and bromine-containing plastics. I don't want the cheap plastics around Evelyn at all, but ESPECIALLY on something she'll be eating off of! Sigh. Evie's grandmother offered to buy her high chair as her christmas present but I don't want to stick her with a crazy expensive choice either! I'm hoping I can find a nice wooden high chair with all the necessary safety stuff. Used high chairs often don't have the current safety standards, new ones are all plastic. It is frustrating. Maybe we can find a used version of one of these eco-friendly chairs?
A few I've found.
Stokke Tripp Trapp
Chair Price: $229.99 (*guffaw*)
Cushion Price: $39.99
Both the seat and footrest of this high chair are adjustable so it can be used for kids 6 months of age through adulthood (it holds up to 300 lbs). It's ergonomically designed and made of cultivated beechwood. It meets US and international safety standards and has a five-point safety harness. It's JPMA certified. There are 9 different wood finishes to choose from including nice bright colors. A cushion can be purchased separately and there are 7 color/pattern options. There's a 7-year warranty on all wooden components. A really nice feature of this chair is that it is meant to be pulled up to your dining table so that your child can eat with the rest of the family. But there is no option for a separate tray, which seems like it would lead to more mess. I've read that it is easy to assemble. Overall, it is a very well designed and attractive chair. It is also the most expensive option.
Kuster K2
Chair Price: $175.00
Cushion Price: $24.99
This new high chair from the UK is adjustable and can be used for kids 6 months of age through 6 years old. It's ergonomically designed and has a simple folding mechanism which makes it easy to store. It has a removable tray, a five-point safety harness, a basket for storing things like bibs, self-levelling feet and a completely adjustable tray that is removable and dishwasher safe. The chair comes in 4 different finishes and there are 3 cushion options (purchased separately). This chair is made of sustainable beechwood. I really liked the look and function of this chair. I'm not sure if the tray is made of a safe plastic, but in general Europe has higher safety standards for that sort of thing. I may have to do more research.
Two Svan chairs
Chair Price: $169.99 (Cushion included)
Extra Cushion $39.95
The Svan is a good chair made from sustainably harvested wood. From a design stand-point, this chair is modern and functional. There are many color choices of both wood and cushion and it takes up minimal space, however one review I read said the cushions are pointless and get gunky. Some people get frustrated by the chair because the straps are hard to reach once a child is placed in the seat. You have to dig around to reach them. The chair is made entirely of sustainable wood, except for the tray cover, which is made of phthalate and bisphenol A (BPA)-free plastic. The included chair cushion is made of PBDE-free foam. The tray is removable so it allows us the option of having Evie sit at the table with us or use a tray . It can be used as a high chair or a booster seat (through 5 years old or 50 lbs). This chair has an ergonomic design with an adjustable seat and footrest which provides good support and it folds for easy storage. The tray cover is dishwasher-safe and the chair cushion is machine-washable which should help with cleaning! It comes in 3 different finishes and there are five cushion colors. It meets both US and international safety standards and is JPMA and ASTM certified. I read the Svan chairs are very laborsome to assemble, even with the accompanying DVD.
Safety 1st High Chair
Chair Price: $99.99
Made in New Zealand, it uses sustainable hardwoods, although there is no information on the plastic used in the tray.
So overall, I don't know. I kinda like the UK model best because it seems the least complicated and the easiest to clean. It folds up and has a washable cotton cushion. Maybe we'll go with that one.
A few I've found.
Stokke Tripp Trapp
Chair Price: $229.99 (*guffaw*)
Cushion Price: $39.99
Both the seat and footrest of this high chair are adjustable so it can be used for kids 6 months of age through adulthood (it holds up to 300 lbs). It's ergonomically designed and made of cultivated beechwood. It meets US and international safety standards and has a five-point safety harness. It's JPMA certified. There are 9 different wood finishes to choose from including nice bright colors. A cushion can be purchased separately and there are 7 color/pattern options. There's a 7-year warranty on all wooden components. A really nice feature of this chair is that it is meant to be pulled up to your dining table so that your child can eat with the rest of the family. But there is no option for a separate tray, which seems like it would lead to more mess. I've read that it is easy to assemble. Overall, it is a very well designed and attractive chair. It is also the most expensive option.
Kuster K2
Chair Price: $175.00
Cushion Price: $24.99
This new high chair from the UK is adjustable and can be used for kids 6 months of age through 6 years old. It's ergonomically designed and has a simple folding mechanism which makes it easy to store. It has a removable tray, a five-point safety harness, a basket for storing things like bibs, self-levelling feet and a completely adjustable tray that is removable and dishwasher safe. The chair comes in 4 different finishes and there are 3 cushion options (purchased separately). This chair is made of sustainable beechwood. I really liked the look and function of this chair. I'm not sure if the tray is made of a safe plastic, but in general Europe has higher safety standards for that sort of thing. I may have to do more research.
Two Svan chairs
Chair Price: $169.99 (Cushion included)
Extra Cushion $39.95
The Svan is a good chair made from sustainably harvested wood. From a design stand-point, this chair is modern and functional. There are many color choices of both wood and cushion and it takes up minimal space, however one review I read said the cushions are pointless and get gunky. Some people get frustrated by the chair because the straps are hard to reach once a child is placed in the seat. You have to dig around to reach them. The chair is made entirely of sustainable wood, except for the tray cover, which is made of phthalate and bisphenol A (BPA)-free plastic. The included chair cushion is made of PBDE-free foam. The tray is removable so it allows us the option of having Evie sit at the table with us or use a tray . It can be used as a high chair or a booster seat (through 5 years old or 50 lbs). This chair has an ergonomic design with an adjustable seat and footrest which provides good support and it folds for easy storage. The tray cover is dishwasher-safe and the chair cushion is machine-washable which should help with cleaning! It comes in 3 different finishes and there are five cushion colors. It meets both US and international safety standards and is JPMA and ASTM certified. I read the Svan chairs are very laborsome to assemble, even with the accompanying DVD.
Safety 1st High Chair
Chair Price: $99.99
Made in New Zealand, it uses sustainable hardwoods, although there is no information on the plastic used in the tray.
So overall, I don't know. I kinda like the UK model best because it seems the least complicated and the easiest to clean. It folds up and has a washable cotton cushion. Maybe we'll go with that one.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Do I have to recognize a city founded when I was in college?
What the...I live in Centennial?!
All this time I thought I was living in Littleton. The house, for 50 years, has been called The Littleton House by my family members. Well, maybe it wasn't called that for the entire 50 years, but for the 15 years I have been privvy to its existence, it has been called The Littleton House. Now I come to find out I'm living not in Littleton, but in Centennial! A city founded in 2001. The residents only voted on a home-rule charter last year! Cut right out of the middle of a bunch of existing cities that I consider real, this fake-out "city" is now my home.
Very odd.
The Centennial House.
It sounds like a place one of Jane Austen's characters would have lived. It would probably be Rory, the scoundrel who steals Emmy's heart before leaving her for the Chatham girl who gets 5,000 pounds a year. Yes, Rory would live at The Centennial House.
The Centennial House.
Guess I need to fix my address on a few things...
All this time I thought I was living in Littleton. The house, for 50 years, has been called The Littleton House by my family members. Well, maybe it wasn't called that for the entire 50 years, but for the 15 years I have been privvy to its existence, it has been called The Littleton House. Now I come to find out I'm living not in Littleton, but in Centennial! A city founded in 2001. The residents only voted on a home-rule charter last year! Cut right out of the middle of a bunch of existing cities that I consider real, this fake-out "city" is now my home.
Very odd.
The Centennial House.
It sounds like a place one of Jane Austen's characters would have lived. It would probably be Rory, the scoundrel who steals Emmy's heart before leaving her for the Chatham girl who gets 5,000 pounds a year. Yes, Rory would live at The Centennial House.
The Centennial House.
Guess I need to fix my address on a few things...
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Witnessing history
Dorky mom moment:
Witnessing history, as best we can from the middle of the country.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Happiness
Things that make me happy:
- Signing up for a beginners sewing class in February
- Sitting in front of our new picture window with my feet in the sun
- Valentine's Day conversation hearts
- Knowing my work is valued by my boss
- My daughter's lopsided smile
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Looking up
Yesterday was a low point, but today is looking up.
First, as you may recall, my car wouldn't start yesterday because we couldn't turn the key in the ignition. I had to borrow my mother-in-law's truck to go to work. At noon I went home to return the truck and continue working since the internet had been connected. The car still wouldn't start, so Jon called a tow truck and had them take it to the dealership down the street, which happens to be the dealership where I bought the car. This is fortuitous because we were planning to take the car to our trusted mechanic but it was farther and we thought the tow would cost more. Anyway, we get to the dealership and they tell us the car is still under warranty! I thought the warranty expired last year. Hooray! The tow is covered by the warranty, as is the new ignition block they had to install. They fixed the car by 6pm and all I had to pay was a reasonable deductible. That was beautiful music to some over-stressed ears.
While waiting for the car, we did a little couch shopping as well and settled on a couch and chair that we think will be quite nice.
We decided to shop at Crate and Barrel because they are starting to do more things with sustainable hardwoods, plant-based foams for cushions, recycled metals for couch springs, and other eco-friendly initiatives. I support that. Therefore, I support Crate and Barrel. Plus...their stuff fits our style. The couch was backordered so it will be delivered in about three weeks. The chair will take 8-10 weeks because we chose a non-stock upholstery to match the couch. I think the blues and greens and greys will look nice together. Now we just need an area rug and the living room will be lovely. That can wait, though.
I've also gotten it into my head that I can sew slipcovers for these two ottomans we use as a coffee table. They are a cream-colored microsuede and after five years they are really showing their age. But they are the perfect height to put your feet up on and they don't have sharp corners when Evelyn starts toddling around. So instead of replacing them I think I'm going to cover them. How hard could it be? I'm almost certain I could do it with fusible interfacing if I can't get my sewing machine to work. I could probably do it HGTV-style with a staple gun and witty banter. But sewing would be better. Alas, a project for a future date.
So the car is working. The furniture has been ordered. The cable and internet are hooked up. The house is slowing taking shape. The biggest thing hanging over us at this point is getting the last car loads worth of stuff out of the old apartment and then...cleaning...I'm afraid. I'd like to have that done by this weekend so our landlord can put the For Rent sign up and get this lease off our hands!
First, as you may recall, my car wouldn't start yesterday because we couldn't turn the key in the ignition. I had to borrow my mother-in-law's truck to go to work. At noon I went home to return the truck and continue working since the internet had been connected. The car still wouldn't start, so Jon called a tow truck and had them take it to the dealership down the street, which happens to be the dealership where I bought the car. This is fortuitous because we were planning to take the car to our trusted mechanic but it was farther and we thought the tow would cost more. Anyway, we get to the dealership and they tell us the car is still under warranty! I thought the warranty expired last year. Hooray! The tow is covered by the warranty, as is the new ignition block they had to install. They fixed the car by 6pm and all I had to pay was a reasonable deductible. That was beautiful music to some over-stressed ears.
While waiting for the car, we did a little couch shopping as well and settled on a couch and chair that we think will be quite nice.
We decided to shop at Crate and Barrel because they are starting to do more things with sustainable hardwoods, plant-based foams for cushions, recycled metals for couch springs, and other eco-friendly initiatives. I support that. Therefore, I support Crate and Barrel. Plus...their stuff fits our style. The couch was backordered so it will be delivered in about three weeks. The chair will take 8-10 weeks because we chose a non-stock upholstery to match the couch. I think the blues and greens and greys will look nice together. Now we just need an area rug and the living room will be lovely. That can wait, though.
I've also gotten it into my head that I can sew slipcovers for these two ottomans we use as a coffee table. They are a cream-colored microsuede and after five years they are really showing their age. But they are the perfect height to put your feet up on and they don't have sharp corners when Evelyn starts toddling around. So instead of replacing them I think I'm going to cover them. How hard could it be? I'm almost certain I could do it with fusible interfacing if I can't get my sewing machine to work. I could probably do it HGTV-style with a staple gun and witty banter. But sewing would be better. Alas, a project for a future date.
So the car is working. The furniture has been ordered. The cable and internet are hooked up. The house is slowing taking shape. The biggest thing hanging over us at this point is getting the last car loads worth of stuff out of the old apartment and then...cleaning...I'm afraid. I'd like to have that done by this weekend so our landlord can put the For Rent sign up and get this lease off our hands!
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Day two, feels like an eternity
The first two days in the new house have not gone especially smoothly. Evelyn has moved away from her awesome sleeping schedule of waking once or zero times at night back to the two or three (or four) wakings she was doing a while ago. I'm sure it is the craziness of moving and being in a new place. We haven't quite figured out the temperature regulation in her room yet either so she is usually pretty warm. But hopefully she'll get back in a nice sleeping rhythm again soon. She has also been little miss crankypants, which is just draining. She will no longer play by herself for even a few minutes. You put her down and she gets upset. You leave her alone for a few minutes and the screaming starts. Exhausting.
Then yesterday I awoke to find it had snowed like 5 inches unexpectedly and I had to go to work. The roads were so bad that I got half-way there and decided to turn around. I had visions of Jon and Evelyn being stuck in the house with no food, or even worse, venturing out to get food and getting stuck in the snow. So I stopped at Safeway, got a few things, and went home, slipping and sliding along the way. I was able to steal someone's wireless long enough to attend a staff meeting, but other than that I wasn't able to work. C'est la vie. I was able to unpack a few more things.
Oh and it gets better. This morning I couldn't start my car! Or, to be more specific, I couldn't turn the key in the ignition. It has been sticking a little but has gotten significantly worse over the past week. Today I just couldn't get it to turn. So Jon's mom let me drive her car to work because Jon had run to our old house because he forgot to bring the cable box home, and the cable guy is coming at 8am today to set up the TV and internet. It took me 40 minutes to get to work, even though I estimate it should only take 15, because of contruction on the main road I took. Yeah, I need a new route. But that is easy to fix. Today is just going to be crazy. As soon as the internet is set up I have to go back home, swap cars with my mother-in-law, help Jon take my car to the shop to get the ignition thingy fixed (oh yay), and then work from home this afternoon and probably tomorrow. My grandparents will also be there doing something to the garage so it will be a lovely full house. Not to mention we still need to go shopping for a couch, the number of unpacked boxes seems to multiply every day, and that our lease in the old place isn't up until APRIL instead of FEBRUARY, the stress is piling up. (Our old landlord has agreed to release us from our lease as soon as she can rent the apartment, but still...if she can't rent it, we're on the hook.) And for some reason my new phone stopped ringing or making noises for anything and I can't figure out why.
The stress of this quickie move and all the things unrelated to it that have happened in the past few days are getting to be overwhelming. I haven't slept well since Friday night and with everything going on I'm just exhausted. So is Jon. But we really like the new house. The space, the storage, the lay-out, the light, the openness, the all-mine washer and dryer. But until things get settled, it is going to be hard to relax.
Then yesterday I awoke to find it had snowed like 5 inches unexpectedly and I had to go to work. The roads were so bad that I got half-way there and decided to turn around. I had visions of Jon and Evelyn being stuck in the house with no food, or even worse, venturing out to get food and getting stuck in the snow. So I stopped at Safeway, got a few things, and went home, slipping and sliding along the way. I was able to steal someone's wireless long enough to attend a staff meeting, but other than that I wasn't able to work. C'est la vie. I was able to unpack a few more things.
Oh and it gets better. This morning I couldn't start my car! Or, to be more specific, I couldn't turn the key in the ignition. It has been sticking a little but has gotten significantly worse over the past week. Today I just couldn't get it to turn. So Jon's mom let me drive her car to work because Jon had run to our old house because he forgot to bring the cable box home, and the cable guy is coming at 8am today to set up the TV and internet. It took me 40 minutes to get to work, even though I estimate it should only take 15, because of contruction on the main road I took. Yeah, I need a new route. But that is easy to fix. Today is just going to be crazy. As soon as the internet is set up I have to go back home, swap cars with my mother-in-law, help Jon take my car to the shop to get the ignition thingy fixed (oh yay), and then work from home this afternoon and probably tomorrow. My grandparents will also be there doing something to the garage so it will be a lovely full house. Not to mention we still need to go shopping for a couch, the number of unpacked boxes seems to multiply every day, and that our lease in the old place isn't up until APRIL instead of FEBRUARY, the stress is piling up. (Our old landlord has agreed to release us from our lease as soon as she can rent the apartment, but still...if she can't rent it, we're on the hook.) And for some reason my new phone stopped ringing or making noises for anything and I can't figure out why.
The stress of this quickie move and all the things unrelated to it that have happened in the past few days are getting to be overwhelming. I haven't slept well since Friday night and with everything going on I'm just exhausted. So is Jon. But we really like the new house. The space, the storage, the lay-out, the light, the openness, the all-mine washer and dryer. But until things get settled, it is going to be hard to relax.
Monday, January 12, 2009
We moved!
Saturday morning I called my grandparents to see if they needed any help clearing out their house or finishing up projects. Sunday night we were all moved into the new house. Saturday morning we had nothing packed yet. Sunday night we had packed everything, rented a truck, found people to help us move, and moved. It was a crazy 36 hours!
There are a few odds and ends at the old house (bicycles, camping gear, refrigerator stuff, misc. other), but that is it. We really moved EVERYTHING. Now we just have to clean the place...
So we are in a new house a little farther south of our old house. If you want out address and I actually know you, leave me a comment and I'll send it to you. We'll be in this new place for at least a few years. It is nice already. Natural sunlight. A pantry. Kitchen counter space. A linen closet! Really a lot more room. Delightful.
The weekend was insane, though, and I'm exhausted. Evelyn is doing well in the new place. The dogs are still a little confused. But all in all everything is great.
Hooray!
There are a few odds and ends at the old house (bicycles, camping gear, refrigerator stuff, misc. other), but that is it. We really moved EVERYTHING. Now we just have to clean the place...
So we are in a new house a little farther south of our old house. If you want out address and I actually know you, leave me a comment and I'll send it to you. We'll be in this new place for at least a few years. It is nice already. Natural sunlight. A pantry. Kitchen counter space. A linen closet! Really a lot more room. Delightful.
The weekend was insane, though, and I'm exhausted. Evelyn is doing well in the new place. The dogs are still a little confused. But all in all everything is great.
Hooray!
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Amazing
The MOST amazing thing happened last night...Evelyn slept through the night! The whole night! 7:30pm to 7:30am. I had to go check on her twice to make sure she was still alive. And then I woke up at 6:30am to express some breastmilk because I was dying. But she slept through the night!
I don't think this is a new thing, more like a one-time thing. She has been fighting a nasty cold and it seems to have moved from her head to her chest so she's been extra tired. But still, one night of solid sleep was fantastic. I was sick myself last night and I really needed to sleep. I feel much better this morning, if not 100%. My sweet little babe!
Matching hats!
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Giant Baby!
It is confirmed: Evelyn is a healthy, growing, enormous baby girl!
As I'm sure you all recall, at her two-month check-up Evelyn weighed in at 11 pounds 5 oz, which was the 60th percentile. Her height was the 50th percentile and her head was 55th. All very average.
Well this month she weighs in at a whopping 15 pounds, 8.5 oz! No wonder my elbows hurt from carrying her around! That is one big baby! She's now in the 95th percentile for weight, but she also got tall, coming in at the 90th percentil for length. Her head is 75th percentile. I guess she's getting enough to eat!
The doc didn't say anything about teething. Evie has a cold but it hasn't moved to her chest so she just has to suffer, or we can pour salt water up her nostrils to clear things out (yeah...I'm sure she'd love that). And we should wait to start her on solid foods until 5.5 months. We also need to get better about tummy time. We've been trying. I don't know why we are such slackers on that one! She is developmentally on track or ahead in everything else but pushing her chest up off the ground when laying on her stomach. That is total parent laziness. But we will get better! Maybe it will be easier once we move, have room to put her down and don't live on the grossest carpets in the world. But we'll do better, starting today!
I just can't believe how big she has gotten. She was less than 6 pounds when we brought her home from the hospital. Now she's almost 16 pounds. That is amazing. What a great baby!
Monday, January 5, 2009
China
Do you know how hard it is to find baby items NOT made in China? I was reading about this book where a woman chronicled her life buying only items made outside China. It included everything from food to clothes to toys and beyond, including items for her kids. Bottom line: it's hard, almost impossible. So I decided to see how hard that experiment would be with one purchase I need to make for Evelyn. She needs a teether, and while I know you can freeze applesauce in a cheesecloth wrapper and stuff like that, it seems awfully messy. So I started to look for a teether with the following requirements:
- Phthalate free (meaning no PVC)
- BPA free
- Non-toxic plastic
- No arsenic, when the information is available
- Not made in China
- The freezy kind you put in the refrigerator, not the rubber kind that is chewed
- Something that looks easy to hold
It took some searching, but I found two: one made in France, the other in Germany. In general Europe has much higher safety standards for toxins included in children's toys. These teethers they are probably twice (or more) as expensive as a comperable American model sold at Target and made in China, but for me the price is worth it. I don't want Little Miss Babypants sucking on something with arsenic in it! Or Phthalates! Seriously, those are terrible toxins, especially for something she'll have in her mouth a lot.
I might try this "Not Made in China" thing a bit more...
Ho ho ho...I'm exhausted
I need a vacation to recover from my vacation. Oy. Now here's the long post.
Don't get me wrong, the holidays are great. But this year in particular they were just exhausting. I love seeing my family, and even though we didn't travel anywhere but around town, it was SO MUCH HARDER with a four-month old in tow. It was scheduling around her naps and feedings and bedtime. When can we go to dinner if Evie needs be home around 7pm to start her bedtime routine? Where can we go to dinner since Evie is kind of crankypants tonight? Sorry I can't go see a movie because Evelyn is not a nap-and-be-still kind of baby. Worst of all, really, was that we could not invite anyone to our house. It is tiny and overstuffed and dirty and not at all a place capable of entertaining. So we'd have to pack up the baby and all the baby stuff and trek over to my aunt's house to spend time with the family. I guess I didn't anticipate how much harder all that would be with an infant on board. With all the travel and disruption of her normal schedule, Evelyn was not her bright shining self, either. She was cranky and crazy for much of the holiday.
Don't get me wrong, the holidays are great. But this year in particular they were just exhausting. I love seeing my family, and even though we didn't travel anywhere but around town, it was SO MUCH HARDER with a four-month old in tow. It was scheduling around her naps and feedings and bedtime. When can we go to dinner if Evie needs be home around 7pm to start her bedtime routine? Where can we go to dinner since Evie is kind of crankypants tonight? Sorry I can't go see a movie because Evelyn is not a nap-and-be-still kind of baby. Worst of all, really, was that we could not invite anyone to our house. It is tiny and overstuffed and dirty and not at all a place capable of entertaining. So we'd have to pack up the baby and all the baby stuff and trek over to my aunt's house to spend time with the family. I guess I didn't anticipate how much harder all that would be with an infant on board. With all the travel and disruption of her normal schedule, Evelyn was not her bright shining self, either. She was cranky and crazy for much of the holiday.
But, that said, the holidays were infinitely more fun with a baby! I only got pictures from christmas morning with Jon's mom and sister because Jon's mom took them. I was such a slacker with the camera. It never even occured to me to take it out of the diaper bag. I was on auto-pilot throughout the holidays.
In this picture we are in the sun, but you can see Evelyn's AWESOME new stuffed dog on the couch (it's as big as she is) and you can kind of tell she is eating a little penguin toy. She really really REALLY started to put everything in her mouth over the last couple weeks... more on that later.
Here is Jon showing Evelyn her new bath mitt from his favorite new store, Gimme Gimme Pillow Toast. They import crazy asian pop culture things, particularly from Japan.
And then the lovely family photo in front of the little tree. I like this picture because it looks like Evelyn is really happy, but she is in fact screaming her head off. Good times...
Christmas Eve and Christmas morning we spent with Jon's family doing traditional things. Pink and White Sandwiches with his mom and aunt on Christmas Eve Day, seafood dinner on Christmas eve night with his whole family together, and opening gifts Christmas morning. Evelyn tried to eat all the wrapping paper. She has been drooly drooly drooly the past couple weeks and started putting everything in her mouth. My mom is convinced she is teething already. I am hoping that isn't so. She also has developed a cold in the last two days, which my mom says is what happened the few days before every tooth I had came in. Yikes. I'll report in a few days if we have a new tooth!
Our families gave us such thoughtful gifts. And they spoiled Evelyn. She is so loved...
The other big news of the holidays, and what added to the stress and craziness of everything, is that my grandparents asked Jon and I if we'd like live in their house for a couple years while they sell a different house and move in with their daughter. I guess for tax reasons you can only sell one house every two years or else you get severely penalized by the IRS. So we started helping them move out of a house they have lived in on-and-off for 50 years. It is a chore, and not one that is very pleasant. But it must be done, and they need a lot of help. Plus, our lease is up at the end of February so we kinda have to get the ball rolling. Craig was Mr. Helpful getting most of the really big stuff out of their house before he went back to California. I ended up taking one extra vacation day to paint the bedrooms. (They kindly offered to let us paint if we wanted to freshen things up and make it our own.) There are three bedrooms. Ours is a lovely light lavender-grey color, Evelyn's is a soft peachy-pink, and the guest room/office is a light butter yellow. It took a lot of work to paint them, but it will be so nice to move in to rooms that are OURS. We've both rented for so long that the idea of painting got us all excited.
So to recap, the holidays were lovely but exhausting, Evelyn might be teething, we'll be moving into a new house in a month or less, and it was wonderful to see all of our family members, especially those that came in from out-of-town.
We also opened a college savings 529 plan for Evelyn! How adult are we?
I hope everyone had a lovely and relaxing holiday. Happy new year to all!
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