Like a Lamb: Notes at the End of March

1. Last week we (well, a few of us, see above) played outside in the backyard WITHOUT COATS OR HATS. And it was just so dang exciting I almost couldn't stand it.


More evidence of children without hats. Please pay no mind to Harry's dirty face. The boy loves a good mud pie.

It's been a looooong winter folks. I know you've heard about this a few times. Even though it rained pretty much all weekend, it's pretty clear that spring is on da way. Friday on the way to picking Ellie up from school I saw the first little insistent purple crocuses of the season. In other words: Hope in a flower.



2. I've started cooking dinner again. Nothing fancy but a bit more complicated on weeknights than cereal or ordering Chinese takeout. And of course my children eat none of it and only eat, like four things between them (but none of the same four things). Anyway. I get a strange thrill from cooking with what's already in the pantry (for the grownups)--as well as trying new recipes. I forgot how much I love cooking.

 Last week I made:

Quinoa, zucchini and corn enchiladas

"Steak" quesadillas: (made with leftover cote de boeuf from a fancy dinner out--I assure you this is not exactly a usual staple at our house), sautéed red peppers, cilantro and cheddar cheese, served with homemade guacamole (I make mine with diced onions, fresh garlic, lime juice (I only had lemon but lime is better), cherry tomatoes and fresh cilantro.

Stir fry vegetables: (broccoli, carrots, zucchini, spinach), and capellini noodles, served with tofu and the peanut sauce from here (pictured above), topped with fresh cilantro.

Shells and vegetables: Sauteed vegetables (zucchini, cherry tomatoes, fresh spinach), Italian sausage and (pasta) shells with parmesan (OF COURSE). Served with a side of roasted Brussels sprouts (my absolute fave way to prepare them: drizzled with olive oil and parmesan cheese).

Quinoa, vegetables and Italian sausage: Sauteed zucchini (are you sensing a theme?), broccoli, fresh spinach, Italian sausage and tossed with quinoa. This was a little too much like the meal from the night before but I defrosted a bunch of sausage and had to cook it.

I haven't really started "meal planning." I basically just go to this fruit and vegetable market that is crazy cheap and sells crazy fresh produce and I buy a ton of different stuff and just throw things together. And I alternate every few weeks with groceries/dairy products/pantry staples/dry goods from Costco, Trader Joe's and Target.


Fresh herbs (basil) are also helpful.


A few weeks ago I made this two bean (white and kidney) chili with corn, cherry tomatoes and ground turkey. It made a great lunch for almost a whole week (for me--again, no children would eat--sigh). You know what I don't miss? Spending money on lunch!

3. More evidence we may have overdosed on "Frozen." On the way to picking Ellie up from school last week, Harry saw a man wearing a white sweatshirt and exclaimed, "OLAF!" (Yes, we OWN the dvd now--the kids actually gasped when I showed them the box). Then yesterday at a birthday party, "Let it Go" started playing and Leo actually had to stop eating his pizza, stand up and sing. And of course there were the requisite hand gestures and footwork.


Leo's "Frozen" world: (left to right) Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Sven and Kristoff


4. Lucy's favorite: When she wakes up before Harry (afternoon nap) and we sneak downstairs. I let her sit on the counter once while I made her a Nutella sandwich. Now she wants to do it every time.

Cribs and Books and Big Plans for the Food Processor

I’m a little late on notes from the weekend it being Wednesday already. Really, where does the time go? Here are some bullets:

-We moved the crib into the guest room which is now I guess heretofore “Ellie’s room.” I am afraid to even put this in writing for fear I will jinx things but each night she was in there, things got better. And last night, drumroll please…she slept from 9:30pm to 5:45 am. Straight through. Yes it’s true. Of course I woke up multiple times because I have been doing this since I was six months pregnant, but that should pass soon, right? Oh happy day! Keep up the good work Ellie! This morning when I went to get her she was awake in her crib, sitting up and smiling and yes, reading a book. It was freaking adorable. Monday morning, the morning after the first night that she slept so well I went into her room singing Kelly Clarkson's "Miss Independance." I don't know what came over me but it just seemed appropriate.

-This may be too much information but I am really struggling with the pumping (OK this is not really a weekend subject but it’s on my mind). It’s not that I want to wean Ellie—I don’t mind nursing at all since I am pretty much only doing it twice a day now (once in the morning and once before bed). It’s that when I pump I get hardly anything. I went from being able to produce almost three bottles to two and now I’m lucky if I get one. Her one year birthday is two months away. I tell myself it doesn’t matter what I get as long as it’s something—a little breast milk is better than no breast milk (I can still hear Leo’s NICU nurses with their sage advice). OK, I will press on and not worry how much I get. Plus I’m afraid if I stop pumping altogether I won’t be able to nurse and then how the heck will I get Ellie to sleep?

-Books. I finished Road Map to Holland in like three days which is good for me (since I am a slow reader and also only get to read during the commute to work.) Next up is The Book of Dahlia which I heard about when the author was interviewed on Fresh Air. Wow. The first chapter blew me away. It’s about a slacker who finds out she has brain cancer. One of the reviews summed it up nicely: “Should we mourn a wasted life?” Quite a departure from the Holland book. I’m really enjoying reading books again. I feel like this new found thing called sleep is helping me return to the person I was once was. With interests! I have even been daydreaming about all the things I want to cook and bake. That is not so unusual except I’m hoping that not being so exhausted will allow me to actually make some of them (lemon bars, pumpkin bread and pesto, gazpacho, salsa). Can you tell that someone has a new food processor?

-In Leo and Ellie notes, Leo has moved on from telling the dog to go “Away” to now telling Ellie to go “Away!” He does it a lot in the car and he can get pretty loud and mean sounding. He’s caused her to burst into tears several times. I hate yelling at him, but I also hate seeing Ellie cry. I know that he has some hostility towards her (understandably) but it’s also my responsibility to make her feel safe. I am probably over thinking this.

Meanwhile, Ellie is cruising everywhere. I find it ironic to think about how all I wanted was for Leo to walk and with Ellie I am just appreciating each day that she doesn’t walk. She loves to have her hands held while you walk with her. She finds it hilarious and grins the biggest smile you’ve ever seen. She has taken to looking up at me and grinning when I walk with her, which makes it difficult for her to walk.

-The Bouncy Chair and Infant swing have been retired (and as mentioned earlier, the crib is now out of our bedroom). It is bittersweet to see my little baby growing up, to see this end of infancy. I know, I know. She hasn’t gotten her own apartment. Yet.

Pictured above, Leo and Ellie test drive the new locale of the crib. Please don't call Child Services on us. We think Leo got that mark on his chest from some sort of unfortunate encounter with the carpet at daycare.