Quiche

The line is still something I struggle with Chipmunk. It's just one of those things. He is a seven-year-old kid, thus he often says rather bluntly his opinions to anyone within listening range.

So I baked a quiche. I spent all morning making a gluten-free crust and baking it to the best of my lacking ability. I'm not much of a cook, so I was a little excited to try something new.

Then came dinner time:

"What is this? A pie?"

"Why is it not sweet?"

"A pie crust should only ever be filled with sweet things. Otherwise it's just wrong."



*Sigh*.

Meal Planning Misery

In college, I had a monthly budget. I used it to pay rent, pay utilities, buy food and anything else I chose to pay for that month. I thought I was pretty good at keeping within my budget, especially when it came to buying food. I cooked and bought food that was at lower cost and I managed to have enough for going out on weekends with friends.

So I've been driving myself nuts as I've been meal planning and writing up grocery lists each week trying to figure out how to keep the costs down…

It dawned upon me that when I was in college, I didn't worry too much about my health…so dinners of cereal? Definitely. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches all the time? Yup, did that. Skip a meal in order to study? Yup, did that, too. Buy 10 packets of ramen for a $1? Isn't that a staple of young adulthood?

Enter kids. Enter the mom complex. It's the battle between the mom-that-I-think-I'm-supposed-to-be and the-mom-that-I-am-in-order-to-make-it-to-the-next-day.

I would love to be the all-organic mom who bakes cookies for the kids upon their return from school, or whose house is uncluttered and free of dust, but in reality anything I bake becomes charcoal and I'm staring at the piles of stuff on the floor hoping they'll "poof" themselves into their proper places.

So my meal planning misery is thus: I write down my plans every week into my online calendar, I make the lists for grocery shopping onto my online lists, but how often do I really follow it? How often have I just given up and called Matt and asked, "Could you pick something up on the way home?"

Today I planned to make ribs. I didn't have to run to the store to buy anything because the meat is in my freezer. The problem being...the meat is in my freezer. It's still in my freezer. It's hard as a rock.

This is my problem with meal planning…I can't plan for things like defrosting meat. Or side dishes. I just realized that we can't just eat ribs, can we? Does this mean I need to put a salad together? I don't have anything for a salad. Plus, the kids have to be somewhere at 6:30 pm, so I don't have time for this! What's the point of having a meal plan if I have to plan to defrost, make side dishes, have stuff for side dishes, and fit it all in before leaving for something else?

Okay. Meal planning rant over. Mac n' cheese it is. Thank God for mac n' cheese.

Pea Harvest

Everyday Bear waters her little garden. She inspects her plants, excitedly points out each flower and pea, and asks repeatedly when she can eat them.

Well, the day arrived. When I told her that it was time to pick some peas she ran to the window so quickly she practically pushed me over. She repeatedly asked if she could pick them herself. Chipmunk stood in the back complaining hoping to join the fun himself. So the four of us (dad was home, too) picked a handful of peas and then I washed a couple and gave them to the kids to eat. The rest I steamed and added to a salad for our dinner.



So now Bear has taken if upon herself to alert whenever she thinks any pea is mature enough for the picking. She then insists on pulling the stem off and eating them before I get a chance to cook them.

I'm glad she's excited about it all. She should be, this is her garden and she is now able to reap the benefits.

Korean food

Driving home from dinner tonight...

Matt: I'm going to have to get a night job or something.

Me: What? Why?

Matt: Have you seen the way our kids eat?

We just spent the hour before gaping at our children as they inhaled bowls of soon du bu, bulgogi, rice, and broiled fish.

I learned that if I want to actually eat some, I need to order two rather than one to share. Bear practically ate a whole stone pot of tofu goodness on her own. Chipmunk? He almost seemed chubbier after dinner if that's possible.

I'm just glad they like Korean food. Bring on the kimchi.



Bear's leftovers: an empty pot, empty bowl and fish bones.

Breakfast (by Chipmunk)

Today, mommy let me eat breakfast on my own. She let me use a spoon and everything. I only got a little bit messy...hee hee.

Hungry?

I just watched Bear finish two hard-boiled eggs, 1 bowl of cereal with milk, and a whole banana and then ask for more. Meanwhile, on the other side of the table Chipmunk ate a whole container of baby yogurt, a quarter cup of oatmeal, one egg yolk and then follow with a whole banana himself. Then he pounded the table asking for more, so I sprinkled the table with Cheerios.

Yes, I do feed them regularly.

People are always commenting on my kids' eating habits. Not just about how much they eat, but what they eat. My daughter would rather eat her salad than her slice of pizza. My kids could sit through a whole meal scarfing just broccoli and tofu. So when Bear asks if she can have a little ice cream, I indulge, only because I know it won't curb her regular appetite for things like celery and carrots.

I'm not complaining, especially since I've seen families who run after their kids with spoon in hand forcing them to eat something. It's just that I've noticed how much more I've been purchasing at the grocery stores and how much more often I have to visit these establishments just to keep up with their little bellies. Plus, what goes in, must come out as they say, and I often get the short end of the stick on that one.

One day I'll tell them about what good eaters they were as babes. I'll tell them stories about how strangers at restaurants always commented on how they loved watching them eat or at the amount of greenery that inhabited their plates. I'll tell them about how meals were no problem because they sat the whole time and ate. But I'll also remind them how blessed they were that they could get their fill on a regular basis and how blessed they were for never having to want.

In the meantime, I think I need to go cook. I'm running out of cooked broccoli.

Empty Tank

Chipmunk got his official 6 month weigh in today.

19 pounds, 9 ounces heavy (75%)
28 and a half inches tall (95%)
Working on tooth number 7, 8 and 9

Just as Bear did, Chipmunk has been getting some nice nicknames, too.

"Tank" "Little Linebacker" "Man-child" "Bubba"

He's been night-waking the past couple nights...a lot. The doctor concluded that he just wasn't getting enough to eat. I was just feeding him the proper amount according to the books. She said I needed to double it! So poor kid has been starving and going to sleep on an empty tank.

So when we got home I doubled his meal portion and he gobbled it right up! Now he is happily napping on a full tank.

Yum Yum in the Tum

Avocado is yum. It makes a great face mask, too!

Food, Glorious Food

Here's Chipmunk getting his first few bites of rice cereal.



He's been waiting for this day for a long time.



Ah, finally. Real food at last.

Mommy and Me Time

Since Chipmunk needs to be held a lot, Bear often has to do things on her own. She's a trooper though and doesn't seem to mind too much that I'm always carrying the Chipmunk around. Because of that I've been trying to find some special time for just the two of us to hang out and have fun. There is this span of time in the late afternoon where Chipmunk is sleeping and she's ready and refreshed after her nap that's perfect for some Mommy & Bear activities.

Today's activity was egg dying. She was so excited as I was diluting all the dyes, it was a task keeping her from spilling them. I even pulled out the non-washable crayons for her to color her eggs with. She was so thrilled that she slammed a couple of the eggs on the table and cracked them. Whoops.



Here are her eggs. She's so proud of them and even adorned them with stickers later on.



I tried to get a nice picture of Bear with her eggs, but she developed a "camera smile." You know, the ones kids force when they say "cheese." Unfortunately, her fake smile makes it look like she's in pain in most of her pictures.

Despite the look on her face, I think she had a good time.

Whoa Mama!

I've read that newborns are supposed to gain on average an ounce a day. Sixteen days ago Chipmunk was 8 pounds which was 13 ounces less than his birth weight. Today he weighed in at 9 pounds 8 ounces! That's 24 ounces in 16 days! The doctor took a look at the chart and said "Whoa Mama, what have you been feeding this boy?"

Suffice it to say I'm not too worried about his weight anymore...however I am concerned about his feeding habits. When you're feeding a child every two hours it wears you down after a while. I hope he grows out of this growth spurt soon and slows down the frequency of his feedings. I really do need longer intervals of sleep. I think 20 minutes at a time just isn't healthy.

All About Personality...

Chipmunk had his follow up appointment with the doctor today. As I feared, he hasn't really been gaining any weight. I know, he was 8 pounds 13 ounces when he was born, which is quite sizable, but when we left he weighed just 8 pounds. Babies do lose weight during those first few days...but they're not supposed to lose that much.

So today he weighed 8 pounds...still. I was a little disappointed. I felt that perhaps I wasn't feeding him well enough...

So the doctor asked me a ton of questions...turns out he is eating...he just likes to take his merry, sweet time. For example, last night he ate for about an hour and a half straight. He drank the whole time, just very...very...slowly.

The doctor said that he was alert, well-hydrated and probably gaining weight (assuming he lost some weight after we left the hospital, too)...his personality was just too mellow and easy-going to be a vigorous eater.

Too mellow and easy-going to eat? Too lazy to eat, perhaps. It's so opposite from Bear's first few days who was constantly hungry and ate too quickly.

Different personalities? I guess we'll soon find out.

Eat Hot Dog? (by padawanlee)

I wonder when kids actually learn to read. Yesterday we went to Costco to pick up some supplies before baby #2's arrival and as we pulled into the parking lot Bear commented from the backseat "eat dinner, hot dog". Carina and I looked at each other with a befuddled look comprehending what Bear just said. One, we didn't mention hot dogs at all during the car trip and second, the Costco we were at was not the usual one we shop at. So either Baby Bear can read signs now or she had a strange craving for a hot dog... what do you think?

Yogurt

I admit it. I let Bear feed herself most of the time. I realize that it usually means there will be a horrible mess to clean up, but I figure that she's going to have to learn sometime. Although I guess it might have gotten a little out of hand today.



I gave her a bowl of yogurt, a spoon, and a couple of graham crackers. This is what resulted. I'm guessing the yogurt exploded.

Baby Bear and the Giant Nectarine (aka Stop the Carnage) - by Padawanlee

WARNING: Scenes may not be suitable for young eyes or produce.

This story takes place 1 month ago at a dining table far far away...
Once upon a time there was a lonely nectarine named Nenny.
Nenny was happily playing and rolling around with his other fellow Nectarines...
...when suddenly he rolled away and found himself all alone on the dining room table.

As Nenny was rolling across the table to find his friends, he suddenly heard a "oooo..." sound approaching behind him.

Suddenly a great big hand out of nowhere was drawing closer to Nenny.

Just as sudden as the first hand, another one drew near until both hands were around poor Nenny.
Nenny was in the clutches of a Baby Bear.
The massive hands brought Nenny closer to what one person would call a black hole or bottomless pit with 7 menacing pearly whites about to close in on our poor nectarine.
A "Chomp" was suddenly heard with a "smack, smack" sound following. What could be happening to poor Nenny?
One "squishy "chomp" was followed by another and another...
and another... Oh please stop the carnage, somebody!
Until there was almost nothing left of poor Nenny.
Baby Bear's encounter was by happenstance and it was just unfortunate that Baby Bear's curiosity at first innocent turned to a messy and yet delicious treat.
Alternate story line: Momma and Papa Bear were feasting on other goods when they gave the poor nectarine to Baby Bear to play with to pass the time for a few more minutes since she already finished her feast. To their surprise Baby Bear no longer was playing with the round object, but rather decided to try to eat it. Once she broke the skin of the fruit, curiosity turned into an irresistable dessert for Baby Bear (she really likes fruit). And the rest is history (or in the trash).

Phobias

Everyone has a fear of something. I am afraid of heights. I am also afraid of bugs that have hundreds of legs.

We recently discovered that Baby Bear has a phobia. She is afraid of whole avocados. Not sure why, but whenever the avocado came near, she would try with all her might to scoot herself as far as possible. She wouldn't touch the thing, and she started to cry when it got too close.

And I thought my fears were silly.

Perhaps she'll feel better when she watches me gut out the thing and mash it to a pulp.


The offender

Ick! Part 2

As an addendum to my last post...here's Baby Bear actually spitting out the peaches.

Ick!

Here's my Baby Bear eating her lunch today.

Usually when I feed her something new, she makes this face. If she isn't too sure about the taste, she lets it dribble out of her mouth. After a couple more feedings of the same stuff, she tends to accept it as food and includes it in her repertoire.

Today she actually spat the food out. I saw a chunk of it fly towards me.

What did I feed her?

Peaches. Go figure. A couple more tries and she continued to spray out food like I had given her a bad tasting medicine.

Oh well. I guess our little "foodie" can't like it all. She was much better after I cleansed her palate with a spoonful of peas.

Hungry Bear

Padawanlee and I were trying to wait until Baby Bear was 6 months old to start her on solid foods. We heard that it was better because it decreased the chances of allergies arising. Lately, however, she's been getting hungrier and hungrier. At first she was starting to want to eat every 2 hours. Then the time intervals started getting shorter and shorter. Even after eating well, she still seemed hungry. My milk supply was running short and my patience was running short...so we gave in.
I was expecting it to be a difficult affair, just because she's so used to milk being her sole source of nutrition. Despite being extremely messy, she took to it well.
She seemed like she was actually enjoying herself. I would start bringing the spoon to her mouth and she would hungrily attack it. Of course, most of it dribbled down into the black hole supposedly where her neck is...but that is another story altogether.

Korean Food...Yum

My cousin told me to check out this xanga...it's all about Korean Food. Looks so yummy!