Did you leap today?
I'm not sure I did, but I certainly am feeling overscheduled and overtired. And I know this is nothing compared to what my life may be like when Jane has her own activities.
It's hot and muggy and gross, which adds to the difficulties.
Shed Spreading
A hormonal shift apparently causes a new mom's hair to start falling out around the baby's third or fourth month. Jane is right there, and my hair has been shedding like crazy for the last couple weeks.
My normal hair loss is probably more than most. I have a lot of hair, and when it's not shaped, cut and thinned by an expert stylist there's more of it to fall out. But the pace at which I'm losing hair is greater than my norm. Although I didn't notice my hair getting thicker during pregnancy it must have.
I'm not scared or upset, probably because I can't really tell that my hair is thinner other than seeing the massive amounts of hair coming out when I comb it -- and falling all over the place. I'm mostly wearing ponytails or buns these days anyway -- that's my preferred hair style in general because it's easy (not necessarily flattering) and Jane's grip is such that when she grabs the hair she's yanking it out, causing strands to twirl around her fingers. Not so fun to un-twine.
Eventually things should stabilize hormonewise and my hair will be back to itself. If it's a little thinner for a while so much the better. I still need to find a good stylist here. Meh.
Something that is NOT postpartum related that is happening to me is some skin shedding. This happened when I was a kid too -- my hands would peel. It's really gross, and I seem to remember not holding hands with other kids because of it. I don't know if it was my choice from embarrassment or theirs because YUCK! I've been using thick hand creams and just did an exfoliating scrub in the hopes to even things out. It's probably a weather thing AND a hands-are-wet-more-often thing (baby baths, more handwashing after diaper changes, hand washing my breast pump almost every day, etc.). Yech, though. I guess I should be glad it's only my hands ... for now!
My normal hair loss is probably more than most. I have a lot of hair, and when it's not shaped, cut and thinned by an expert stylist there's more of it to fall out. But the pace at which I'm losing hair is greater than my norm. Although I didn't notice my hair getting thicker during pregnancy it must have.
I'm not scared or upset, probably because I can't really tell that my hair is thinner other than seeing the massive amounts of hair coming out when I comb it -- and falling all over the place. I'm mostly wearing ponytails or buns these days anyway -- that's my preferred hair style in general because it's easy (not necessarily flattering) and Jane's grip is such that when she grabs the hair she's yanking it out, causing strands to twirl around her fingers. Not so fun to un-twine.
Eventually things should stabilize hormonewise and my hair will be back to itself. If it's a little thinner for a while so much the better. I still need to find a good stylist here. Meh.
Something that is NOT postpartum related that is happening to me is some skin shedding. This happened when I was a kid too -- my hands would peel. It's really gross, and I seem to remember not holding hands with other kids because of it. I don't know if it was my choice from embarrassment or theirs because YUCK! I've been using thick hand creams and just did an exfoliating scrub in the hopes to even things out. It's probably a weather thing AND a hands-are-wet-more-often thing (baby baths, more handwashing after diaper changes, hand washing my breast pump almost every day, etc.). Yech, though. I guess I should be glad it's only my hands ... for now!
TIB TIL: Coffee
Mindy Kaling has a blog, Things I've Bought That I Love, which is funny and led me to at least one purchase. Most of her stuff is higher end than what I am in the market for, but it's still a fun read in my Google Reader.
I buy stuff too though. And I like some of it. With baby gear there's always something that I'm loving (Target diapers, Moby wrap, zip-up PJs, etc.). So I'll try to write about those more -- as a record for myself and to help anyone who might Google such a product.
I'm a big coffee drinker -- or I was until I got pregnant. Then the taste was revolting (but most things were). Now I'm nursing and I can't load up on caffeine like the days of old. Those days will return, this I know, but for now I'm satisfying myself with decaf. And I've found two that I like enough to write about.
I love-love-love Starbucks Via decaf Italian roast. Seriously just stir in some just boiled water (from my handy-dandy electric kettle) and it's a deceptively good cup. Unfortunately it's about a buck a cup -- maybe a little less if you can find it on sale. That's sorta steep for an at-home coffee, but still better than a real run to a coffee shop. (Aside: you can get VERY tasty coffee drinks with decaf espresso at almost any coffee shop. I'm partial to decaf lattes with skim milk.)
The regular drip coffee I've found that I love is Dunkin Decaf. It's available at my grocery store, and if I get the proportions of water and coffee right it's super flavorful. I probably drink too much, and I know it's priming me to go back to my life of excess caffeinated coffee. But I'll take it.
Amazon Affiliate links used.
I buy stuff too though. And I like some of it. With baby gear there's always something that I'm loving (Target diapers, Moby wrap, zip-up PJs, etc.). So I'll try to write about those more -- as a record for myself and to help anyone who might Google such a product.
I'm a big coffee drinker -- or I was until I got pregnant. Then the taste was revolting (but most things were). Now I'm nursing and I can't load up on caffeine like the days of old. Those days will return, this I know, but for now I'm satisfying myself with decaf. And I've found two that I like enough to write about.
I love-love-love Starbucks Via decaf Italian roast. Seriously just stir in some just boiled water (from my handy-dandy electric kettle) and it's a deceptively good cup. Unfortunately it's about a buck a cup -- maybe a little less if you can find it on sale. That's sorta steep for an at-home coffee, but still better than a real run to a coffee shop. (Aside: you can get VERY tasty coffee drinks with decaf espresso at almost any coffee shop. I'm partial to decaf lattes with skim milk.)
The regular drip coffee I've found that I love is Dunkin Decaf. It's available at my grocery store, and if I get the proportions of water and coffee right it's super flavorful. I probably drink too much, and I know it's priming me to go back to my life of excess caffeinated coffee. But I'll take it.
Amazon Affiliate links used.
Read: How My Breasts Saved the World
How My Breasts Saved the World: Misadventures of a Nursing Mother by Lisa Wood ShapiroMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Hilarious. I found it while perusing the parenting shelf at my local library. Really glad I picked it up, and I read it within a day. While I couldn't relate to everything, the memoir of nursing really struck a cord. And it's written in such a way that keeps you laughing. I should look and see if she has a blog ...
View all my reviews
One Year Ago
I spent the day filled with glee -- unsure that it could be really real, after trying for so many months. I cooked a lot that day -- had already planned to use my federal holiday to make dinners for the rest of the week and to watch reruns of House.
The morning sickness hadn't set in (that would start around Mardi Gras, which weirdly is today this year), so I was feeling fine.
But nothing, nothing, nothing compares to the way I feel when I get to hold my baby. Waking up with her, going to sleep with her in her crib next to our bed, feeding her, even changing her diapers. It's all the best to me -- even when it's not.
And I wish the other "stuff" -- my doubts and insecurities and second guesses about what I "should" do -- would just melt away.
Drip
Sitting in the sun room that's more of a rain room right now. Its roof needs to be replaced, and there's drip-drip-drip coming from the casing of one of the windows. It's filled two Joe's cups so far not to mention the wet towels surrounding. Soon it will all be fixed though, so no worries. I'll keep on enjoying the rain, even if it does interfere with local parades.
My baby and husband are asleep in the next room. I woke up and couldn't go back to sleep -- on a Saturday when I can actually snooze a bit longer of course -- so I got up and am drinking drip-drip-drip coffee. I'm finding decaf tastes as good to me as regular, although I'm sure after nursing I'll return to high octane stuff.
Baby is stirring, so time for a baby bath and more cuddles. She's becoming quite the little person, and I love her so much. Crazy hair, loud squeals and all!
My baby and husband are asleep in the next room. I woke up and couldn't go back to sleep -- on a Saturday when I can actually snooze a bit longer of course -- so I got up and am drinking drip-drip-drip coffee. I'm finding decaf tastes as good to me as regular, although I'm sure after nursing I'll return to high octane stuff.
Baby is stirring, so time for a baby bath and more cuddles. She's becoming quite the little person, and I love her so much. Crazy hair, loud squeals and all!
Read: Next
Next by Michael CrichtonMy rating: 2 of 5 stars
Bought this book for 50 cents at a garage sale down the block. It was an easy read, and there were some typical Crichton plot devices (everything goes to hell all at once). But there were way too many characters to keep straight, and it wasn't evident how they tied together, other than some sort of genetic modification being part of their story. And in the end things didn't get totally wrapped up for all the characters. I still don't know why the genetically modified turtles were in the book.
This book came out in 2006, before the oil spill, so I thought it was funny that one of his genetically modified underwater organisms was a coral that would glow "BP Clean."
View all my reviews
Read: A Visit from the Goon Squad
A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer EganMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
I read this book because it was on the shelf at the library next to The Keep, and I recognized the title as having one the Pulitzer Prize for fiction last year (mainly because Jezebel had done a post about how the media covered her win -- including running a photo of the guy who didn't win with the story instead of a photo of her). Anyway.
The book is basically a collection of short stories that have overlapping characters. It also floats through time or is not linear. It's an interesting construct, although it was confusing at the beginning of some chapters to figure out who was who (especially the narrator) and how people fit in with the characters from other chapters.
I liked it a lot, and I think it would be fun to try to read all of the Pulitzer Prize winning books from the last ~30 years or more. Maybe something to do in my spare time.
View all my reviews
Recipe Reviews: Brown Sugar Chicken & Enchilada Casserole
Another day, another crock pot recipe. I had high hopes for this brown sugar chicken recipe. But it wasn't as great as I was hoping. I used chicken breast tenders, which fell apart. That was OK, since it just looked like shredded chicken. We ate it over rice and it had an OK flavor, but it needed some veggies -- or something.
Shawn made sandwiches with the leftovers for lunch, so I guess that's good to get double duty out of it. But in all likelihood I won't be making it again. It was fun to pour Sprite into the mix and see it bubble!
I made the chicken in one of the plastic slow cooker liners. I am starting to think that might not be wise. Who knows if the plastic is BPA free? If I won't microwave in plastic surely I shouldn't slow cook in it. So the next things I've made in my crock pot were straight in the pot.
The next was enchilada casserole, and it was pretty tasty. I forgot to put in the beans, but that was OK. And the tortillas in the middle kind of disintegrated so it was this tasty corn-mealy texture in that layer. We ate most of it and there was enough for lunch the next day. The beans would have stretched it further and probably added another layer of yumminess plus more fiber and nutrition. Next time.
Shawn made sandwiches with the leftovers for lunch, so I guess that's good to get double duty out of it. But in all likelihood I won't be making it again. It was fun to pour Sprite into the mix and see it bubble!
I made the chicken in one of the plastic slow cooker liners. I am starting to think that might not be wise. Who knows if the plastic is BPA free? If I won't microwave in plastic surely I shouldn't slow cook in it. So the next things I've made in my crock pot were straight in the pot.
The next was enchilada casserole, and it was pretty tasty. I forgot to put in the beans, but that was OK. And the tortillas in the middle kind of disintegrated so it was this tasty corn-mealy texture in that layer. We ate most of it and there was enough for lunch the next day. The beans would have stretched it further and probably added another layer of yumminess plus more fiber and nutrition. Next time.
White House Greetings
Jane got a special card yesterday -- from the White House. I know it's just a mass message that they send, and somewhere an intern's job is to hand address responses to these requests and slip in the printed cards. It's still cool, and I think I will frame the card. The envelope (which I almost posted a picture of until I realized that it includes her full name and address ... d'oh) is a little grungy. Thanks USPS. :)
Want to get your own card from the White House greetings office? These are the instructions I followed (I did the snail mail route):
Once your baby is born, mail your request to:
White House Greetings Office
Room 39
Washington, DC 20500
Alternatively, you can fax your request to 202-456-2461. Include the following information in your request:
* Name and address of the baby
* Exact date of birth
* Your (requestor) name and daytime phone number
* Both parents' names
* Any additional mailing instructions (if other than baby’s residence)
They'll send greetings for other things too. And I think it's v. weird that there's no online form option. Because who uses a fax machine these days?
Want to get your own card from the White House greetings office? These are the instructions I followed (I did the snail mail route):
Once your baby is born, mail your request to:
White House Greetings Office
Room 39
Washington, DC 20500
Alternatively, you can fax your request to 202-456-2461. Include the following information in your request:
* Name and address of the baby
* Exact date of birth
* Your (requestor) name and daytime phone number
* Both parents' names
* Any additional mailing instructions (if other than baby’s residence)
They'll send greetings for other things too. And I think it's v. weird that there's no online form option. Because who uses a fax machine these days?
On the Record
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| Advocate Staff Photo |
A reporter and photographer from the Baton Rouge Advocate were there. Our picture was taken, and the reporter spoke to us after the program. The article ran today, and Jane's name was in the paper for the first time.
We're rounding up copies to put in her baby book and send to my Gran. I can't guarantee the link will always be up! I also screen captured the photo so I could keep it digitally.
Maybe in a few more months we'll try to catch one of the real classes that are offered. The words I really want her to know how to sign are "more," "all done," "hungry," "tired," etc.
Read: The Keep
The Keep by Jennifer EganMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
This book got a glowing review on a blog that I read. So when I saw it was on the shelf at my local library I picked it up when I was there for a baby sign language program last week.
I finished it w/in 24 hours of starting it, so it's a quick read, although I tried to slow myself down to try to pay more attention to the language. It's stories within a story and is more than a little bizarre. The hardest part to get used to was the lack of quotation marks in most of the dialogue.
Its cool cover was intriguing to Shawn, but I'm not sure that he'll read it.
View all my reviews
Recipe Review: No-Hurry Vegetable Curry
I made another Woman's Day recipe, this time a no-hurry vegetable curry. (Basically I'm making every single crock pot recipe I can find that sounds good. I'm in trouble because I just found A Year of Slow Cooking and have a window with about 15 tabs open with recipes to try.)
For the curry I couldn't find butternut squash (I looked at two stores so it must not be in season), but otherwise I pretty much followed the recipe. EXCEPT I think I let it cook longer than it needed. That made it a little thicker than I think curry is probably supposed to be, and I probably should have used more curry paste. It had a very mild flavor. It was pleasant, and we ate it happily, especially thinking it's pretty healthy for us -- lots of veggies and some light coconut milk and spice basically. We ate it with basmati rice.
I'm not sure that I'll make it again. It was OK and relatively easy, but it wasn't great. I think I need to start using my slow cooker liners though and see if that can make clean up a little easier. The sweet potato soup I made overflowed a bit into the base of the pot -- I was able to clean it up OK, but the liner would have prevented that/the overflow would have just gone on the counter, which is much easier to clean.
Not sure what I will make next, but maybe I'll start thinking about taking pictures. I just hate to use my big camera on anything other than Jane photos, and I still can't get my small one to connect to my computer.
For the curry I couldn't find butternut squash (I looked at two stores so it must not be in season), but otherwise I pretty much followed the recipe. EXCEPT I think I let it cook longer than it needed. That made it a little thicker than I think curry is probably supposed to be, and I probably should have used more curry paste. It had a very mild flavor. It was pleasant, and we ate it happily, especially thinking it's pretty healthy for us -- lots of veggies and some light coconut milk and spice basically. We ate it with basmati rice.
I'm not sure that I'll make it again. It was OK and relatively easy, but it wasn't great. I think I need to start using my slow cooker liners though and see if that can make clean up a little easier. The sweet potato soup I made overflowed a bit into the base of the pot -- I was able to clean it up OK, but the liner would have prevented that/the overflow would have just gone on the counter, which is much easier to clean.
Not sure what I will make next, but maybe I'll start thinking about taking pictures. I just hate to use my big camera on anything other than Jane photos, and I still can't get my small one to connect to my computer.
Read: G Company's War
G Company's War: Two Personal Accounts of the Campaigns in Europe, 1944-1945 by Bruce E. Egger & Lee MacMillan OttsMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
I read this book because my husband bought it for me for Christmas. It was on my Amazon wish list, and I put it there because my grandpa is mentioned in the book.
Gpa Ray was part of the G Company whose WWII work is described in this book. He was wounded in action and lost his right arm. When I was a kid I'd always thought that he'd lost his arm during battle and it was still there on the battlefield -- like if someone had just gone to get it he could have had it reattached. That was just a weird thing I made up in my head and definitely not anything anyone told me. The book explained that he was wounded by shrapnel and his arm was amputated at the hospital later.
So I'm glad to have learned more about my grandpa's experience, although he's really only mentioned briefly in the book everything is positive. I read the entire thing because it was interesting and I like first person, real life narrative. I wouldn't say it's a particularly well written book, but the subject matter is deeply engaging, even for someone who didn't understand half of the military terminology and abbreviations (which weren't always explained).
Also: reading this while taking care of a new baby put things in perspective. If I'm tired I can remind myself that I'm not sleeping on freezing ground and walking miles and miles -- or having to be sick while on the back of a truck that won't stop for bathroom breaks. And my dramatic-to-me decision about working is really nothing in comparison to what these infantrymen went through.
View all my reviews
White & Pink Granny Square for Baby G
This is a granny square baby blanket that I made for Baby G. I used the Christmas blanket granny square that my Gran made for me as a pattern, although I added a few additional rows because I used sport weight yarn and Gran's Christmas one seems to be worsted weight. I'm really happy with the way it turns out. Hope Baby G enjoys!
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| Jane sleeps in front of Baby G's blankie |
Recipe Review: Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Soup
I've been getting into crock pot cooking. So far I've made a killer corn chowder and now this certainly healthier sweet potato soup that's a Woman's Day recipe.
I should have taken pictures, but I wasn't thinking about blogging about it at the time.
I did the recipe slightly differently in that I didn't spring for fresh ginger and I didn't buy the $7 cinnamon sticks and just used the powdered spices I had from the labor cookies (that didn't work).
I did have to buy the curry powder, so I'll be on the lookout for other recipes I can use it in.
Instead of big carrots I used baby carrots so I didn't have to peel them. I just guesstimated and ended up covering the bottom of my crock pot with cut-in-half carrots.
The recipe didn't say to peel the sweet potatoes so I didn't. The peel ended up pureeing into the soup fine, so I am guessing I did that step of the recipe correctly by leaving the peel (and its nutrition) in.
I didn't like the Greek yogurt as a topping, but the almonds are a must. Once the soup is pureed it seems a little baby food-like. The almonds add a great crunch and texture throughout the soup.
The soup's flavor is really great otherwise. And it smelled AWESOME while cooking. I wasn't sure how I was going to be able to puree it because it almost overflowed my crock pot. But my immersion blender worked beautifully and got everything smooth and creamy, even though there isn't any dairy in the recipe.
I don't know if Shawn liked it too much, and of course it made so much that I'll be eating on it for ages. So I decided to freeze about half the recipe to use later, and so I could get my crock pot washed for its next big adventure...
I should have taken pictures, but I wasn't thinking about blogging about it at the time.
I did the recipe slightly differently in that I didn't spring for fresh ginger and I didn't buy the $7 cinnamon sticks and just used the powdered spices I had from the labor cookies (that didn't work).
I did have to buy the curry powder, so I'll be on the lookout for other recipes I can use it in.
Instead of big carrots I used baby carrots so I didn't have to peel them. I just guesstimated and ended up covering the bottom of my crock pot with cut-in-half carrots.
The recipe didn't say to peel the sweet potatoes so I didn't. The peel ended up pureeing into the soup fine, so I am guessing I did that step of the recipe correctly by leaving the peel (and its nutrition) in.
I didn't like the Greek yogurt as a topping, but the almonds are a must. Once the soup is pureed it seems a little baby food-like. The almonds add a great crunch and texture throughout the soup.
The soup's flavor is really great otherwise. And it smelled AWESOME while cooking. I wasn't sure how I was going to be able to puree it because it almost overflowed my crock pot. But my immersion blender worked beautifully and got everything smooth and creamy, even though there isn't any dairy in the recipe.
I don't know if Shawn liked it too much, and of course it made so much that I'll be eating on it for ages. So I decided to freeze about half the recipe to use later, and so I could get my crock pot washed for its next big adventure...
Webcamming Wednesdays
They have a whole new meaning. AMLBO!
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| Two-headed Owen Max |
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| Funny headgear |
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| Sunflower baby! |
Weird Stuff: Trendy Top
I went to the gym today (I know, right?), and one of the TVs was on Mob Wives or some other such nonsense (I watch dumb TV but not THAT dumb).
ANYWAY, one of the commercials was for "Trendy Top," or the top that's not. It's basically a belly band being marketed to non-pregos to keep their butt cracks and bellies from showing when they wear clothes that are too small.
Here's an idea: WEAR CLOTHES THAT FIT.
Although I loved my belly band while pregnant for keeping up pants and covering up things when shirts got short I don't think it's the best concept for when you're not pregnant... but what do I know? I'm sure these are selling like hot cakes.
(Also I'm pretty sure you could just cut the top part off an old camisole or something to get the same effect?)
ANYWAY, one of the commercials was for "Trendy Top," or the top that's not. It's basically a belly band being marketed to non-pregos to keep their butt cracks and bellies from showing when they wear clothes that are too small.
Here's an idea: WEAR CLOTHES THAT FIT.
Although I loved my belly band while pregnant for keeping up pants and covering up things when shirts got short I don't think it's the best concept for when you're not pregnant... but what do I know? I'm sure these are selling like hot cakes.
(Also I'm pretty sure you could just cut the top part off an old camisole or something to get the same effect?)
Friday Night
We had some friends over on Friday for tacos. It was mega fun, and their six year old daughter made use of the old digital camera I keep around for Owen to play with. He's taken pictures of things mostly in New York (my favorite being "say cheese, hand" and "say cheese, cup" when he was just a wee one of 4 or so). I'm pretty sure it was my main digital camera when Owen was born, so it's been around a while.
Anyway, she got some great shots -- she's got such a different angle than me, what with being somewhat shorter than me! Here are some of my favorites (although none of the photographer or her brother, since I can't exactly be splashing other people's kids on my blog, right?!):
Anyway, she got some great shots -- she's got such a different angle than me, what with being somewhat shorter than me! Here are some of my favorites (although none of the photographer or her brother, since I can't exactly be splashing other people's kids on my blog, right?!):
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| Monkey PJ bottom |
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| Elephant from Dear Zoo book |
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| Jazz Hands?! |
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| Cuddly Baby |
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| Just kidding, I'm awake Baby |
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| Smirky Baby |
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| Let's take each other's picture! |
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| Sweet Face |
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| Rocker Chair |
Quilt Squares
Close up of the squares from the quilt that Gma Jane made me ~31 years ago. There are 12 squares in total, each one appears twice. The border is this cool yellow flower fabric. Aunt Lee Ann repaired a few places where it was looking rough from years of use. I distinctly remember using it for my dolls growing up too.
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| Croquet playing squirrel |
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| Painting Bunny |
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| Prancing Lamb |
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| Puppy Sawing Logs |
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| Singing Kitty |
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| Swimming Puppy |
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