Intrepid Murmurings

Retirement
I think I am going to retire the food log, for the time being. I will keep it up on the website, but will not add entries, at least for awhile. I feel like we have the food thing down, now, and she is liking more foods than she is disliking. Woo hoo! We currently have a Good Eater (knocking on wood, I know this can change in an instant) and the scale last week at the doctors office (we were in for an ear check) proved it — she was up to 19lbs 4 oz (with clothes), which is more than a pound and a half since her 9 month appointment a month and a half ago. I knew it — all that beans and rice had to be going somewhere! And my arms are getting tired (and more buff), too!

Three
Awhile back, I bought this, on a whim. I was actually buying something else online and added it to my order at the last minute. I wear it all the time, because I am too lazy to take it off. I enjoy that it glows in the dark. Emma stares at it sometimes in the middle of the night. I do too. It is that fascinating!

Then, a few weeks later after I (finally!) discovered Etsy, I bought this. I love it; it is pretty, simple, and (importantly) strong. It keeps me from being pinched and scratched (sometimes)!

The very next day, I got this (ah, the joys of internet shopping!). I totally did not realize it was the same color. I needed something a little more chic to hold back my luscious locks, especially since I am growing out my bangs (flashback to grade 7 - at that time, it was headbands). The hippie in me greatly enjoys the bandana. Makes me yearn to run off and bathe in patchouli.

Did I mention my glasses are turquoise in certain light, as well? So now, sometimes, I am very matchy matchy. My accessories, at least. A bit odd, I know, but it makes me smile.

We're jammin'

Emma & Mama busting out the drum

 

Cookin' it up! (Pumpkin Chicken Curry Recipe included)
Today we had a productive day! In the morning we went over to the UW to participate in a study with the Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences. Emma the science experiment, woohoo! The study was about infants understanding of others actions. After being briefed we went into a room where they taped her watching someone look excited about a toy, and did that a bunch of times to see how long she watched and was interested. Then we went into another room and they did it again in a different way, with two toys. She was totally focused and did great, though probably thought we adults were pretty weird with all the odd interactions and repetitions. Supposedly she reacted the way they expect. It was fun and funny to be a part of it all. At the end she got to take home a toy, which was nice.

Onward, to the food! Later in the day we did some cooking! First I made a quick mango/blueberry puree, since Emma's main preference for fruit is soft and spoonable. And there is only so much applesauce I am willing to give her.

Next, I attempted my first Emma baking project (other than pancakes)! This means no wheat, egg, dairy, or soy. Geesh! I got adventurous and made this pumpkin & fruit bread, though I made a ton of substitutions. I made my own wheat free flour mix, with brown rice flour, amaranth flour, potato starch and xanthum gum. I substituted an egg replacement product for the egg, and added a banana in for good measure instead of the carrot, which I didn't have (bananas are supposedly a good sub for eggs as well). I also used brown sugar instead of white, because I read somewhere it improves texture and moisture in gluten free baked goods. I was pretty surprised when it actually turned out really well! Yum! It was really moist and delicious, kind of like cake, and she ate it up with no complaints whatsoever. I might try next time to use a little less sugar, since I would prefer to fruit sweeten her foods most of the time. But overall, a success. Hurrah!

For dinner, I made a pumpkin chicken curry, with the leftover half a can of pumpkin. I changed up a recipe I found online, and it was delish. Emma loved it as well, and ate all parts of it, even the asparagus!

Kristin's Pumpkin Curry

2 T olive oil
one onion, diced
3 cloves garlic
1 t (or more) fresh grated ginger
2 t (or more) curry powder
half can (about 1/2 cup) of pumpkin puree
one can of light coconut milk
salt to taste
8 or so chicken breast tenders (about 3 breasts worth)
3/4 bag (not sure exact amount) frozen asparagus

In large skillet (or cast iron pan) on medium heat, saute onions and garlic 2-3 min. Add ginger and curry powder, cook until onions are translucent. Add pumpkin puree, coconut milk and salt, stir well & cook until simmering. Add chicken, cook for 10 min or so, until chicken is nearly done. Add asparagus and simmer for another 5 min. Taste and adjust spices. Finished! Serve over pasta or rice.

Note dog head in left bottom corner, hovering much to close for scraps which inevitably get tossed overboard...

Words
She has three, all of a sudden. The first, which popped up about 4 days ago with enough regularity for us to realize it, was "dog". She doesn't get the g sound on there but its pretty unmistakable. She LOVES dogs, ours and others, in person, in books (this one she adores and actually reads to herself All The Time!), and even on TV (bad mama!), where they appear mostly in quick clips from commercials. Ha.
The other two, in no particular order, are Mama and Daddy. Just "mamama" mostly when she is with Lonnie and wanting me, though I can sometimes prompt her for it, and "da", which sounds a lot like dog, but is definitely used in the right context, like this morning in bed as she rolled over and said good morning to him. Very cute!

Miscilany
Today Yesterday A few days ago, we went to the zoo! No pictures, since it was just me and Emma and I didn't want to lug a camera just to take pictures of animals through glass or fences!

We got there around noon after Emma's morning nap (she has actually taken one, around the same time, in the bed or crib, for the past five days! Gasp!). We wandered through the farm animals first (Emma really liked the goats), saw some birds and ducks, then went to play in the Zoomasium. They have a little baby/toddler area with things to pull up on, a tunnel to go through, and aquarium, some drums, a rock structure to climb, etc (and a nursing area and family bathrooms, woot!). Mostly, Emma liked watching (and talking to and crawling over to maul) the other babies and people.

Then we went across and had some lunch, me a cheeseburger, Emma some o's, peas, and avocado. She takes forever, so we were there awhile, but it was nice, eating outside in the sun. Then we went through some more exhibits, including the rainforest, where Emma liked the waterfall and tanks with water (not sure if she actually saw the snakes and turtles, but oh well). Then we saw some other animals, elephants, gorillas, and the like. I think her favorites were the wild dogs, who were running all over their yard back and forth, jumping up things and down in ravines. She is a sucker for canines, that is for sure.
In other news, she is babbling a lot, saying all sorts of sounds. Yesterday she had the "th" sound down and was very pleased about that. She has been napping better, too, which has been nice. I've found this past week if I get her down around 9:45, she will actually go to sleep without too much of a fuss and nap for about an hour! Unfortunately, a lot of our activities are at 10:00, so that messes with the routine, but on the off days it works. If she doesn't get much of a morning nap, she will often fall asleep in the car on the way home, and since it has been nice out I can leave her in there while I do yardwork or sit on the porch or something. Yesterday she slept in the car for 2.5 hours!!! Holy cow!
She has also taken to crawling everywhere with things in her hand, pushing them along as she goes. She prefers things that slide, like an upside down plastic food container, which she cruises in and out of different rooms, across the wood floors with (though she knows to stop at the rug and pick it up to go over that, funny girl). She has more trouble with things that don't slide (like a rubber block) and finds she has to pick it up with each step, which is clearly annoying to her. Her top favorite is the yellow foam block, with the hole in the middle. Good slider, easy hold, nice for a chew now and then. She just LOVES that block. Not any of the other colors, just the yellow one....

Ebay Ridiculousness
I just found out about this and find it so silly. And annoying. EBay has recently decided that they will no longer sell used cloth diapers, saying that it falls under their rule of "no used underwear". I guess they think it is unsanitary? Geesh, cloth diaper users tend to be obsessively careful about diaper washing and stain removal -- often when they are sold they will tell you exactly what detergants have been used with that particular diaper. If someone does not want buy used diapers, thats fine. But it would sure be nice to give those of us who don't mind the option, for goodness sake!
I have bought almost all of our cloth diaper stash used, either on eBay, craigslist, or from friends. They have always been in wonderful condition, and have so much more life left in them. The fancier cloth diapers, like our pocket diapers (Fuzzi Bunz) or fitted diapers (Kissaluvs, Happy Heinies, FunOrganics, Motherease One Size diapers, and Bella Bottoms) are spendy when bought new, upwards of 20 bucks a diaper in some cases (!), which is an insane price that most people cannot afford. Especially when you have to buy multiple sizes as your child grows! Used is a great option for so many people who would otherwise choose disposable, especially when you are then able to resell them when you are done using them.
This also begs the question of why ebay would allow any used infant clothing, since most of those articles have had poop and spit-up touch them on numerous occasions. Or for that matter silverware and cups or glasses, since they have touched other peoples mouths. Ewwwww. Gross!
Here is a petition that has been set up to protest the new eBay decision. I am not sure if that kind of thing really makes a difference or not, but I signed it, and I hope it makes an impression. It has been mentioned that if Ebay continues this ban, inevitably a new site dedicated to used cloth diaper sales will crop up, similar to TheBabyWearer.com boards, I imagine. That would be cool...