Ergo Love

Have you seen Ergo baby carriers?  Every generation of kids seems to have different set of cool, must-have gear, and this era is no exception.  From Baby Legs to Pack'n'Play to Exersaucers and Bob strollers and even Nose Frieda, there are so many items, good and silly, to tempt parents.  The Ergo is one of those items that is really actually worth the hype.  The virtually all cloth baby carrier somehow manages to be hugely more comfortable for parental backs than anything else I've ever tried.  On a recent outing I forgot my Ergo, and had to use my old Bjorn for a 1.5 mile walk.  The difference in my neck and shoulders was instantly apparent.  I think the $80 price tag will be easily met (I like to pay $1 or less per use on baby gear) by the hundreds of uses we'll get our of ours.

Five Month Update

The baby has discovered her feet! And also her voice.  She's now five months old, and the progression of new skills is amazing.  All this new awake time (down to 3-4 naps per day) means she can grab her toes, play with toys, and yell, yell, yell.  She's full of zest and energy and chubby-cheeked smiles, so everybody wants to stop and chat.  She's a wonderful companion, and if she would just let me have a little bit more sleep at night, life would be good.

House Hunting Again

Now that the baby is getting a little older, we've decided to get back into the house hunting game.  We still want a new house for the same reasons as last year, mainly space, but  now it's especially important.  We are feeling the realities of having another person (and all her stuff) in the same area.  We know we could make do with the house we have.  I know that I was raised in a much smaller house than the one we have now.  We know that this is a first world problem.  Nevertheless, if we can afford something that suits us better than our current place, shouldn't we go for it?

Since we're open to a wide range of locations and house types, it seems like we shouldn't have too much trouble finding something.  However, the same problems that plagued us last year are now even worse!  Namely, the low inventory available in our price range, and our allergy to anything needing serious work.  The agent says the number of homes on the market today is 30% less than it was at this time last year.  It is certainly turning out to be a sellers market.  Low, low interest rates are the only thing keeping this a worthwhile prospect.

Therefore, we head out again and again, to see houses that never seem quite right.  We find lots in great locations, but the actual home is awful.  We find lovely homes located on ultra-busy streets (or directly behind the fire station!).  Shared driveways, impossible garages, sharp hills, no sidewalks, and eyesore neighbors all plague us on the outside.  Dark rooms, musty basements, ancient bathrooms, and cracker box kitchens seem to await us on the inside.  One day we hope to find one place, just one place, that doesn't have anything major wrong with it.  But I'm not bitter. Much.

Vaccinate Now!

A few months ago, I wrote about my support for vaccinations especially in regard to the pertussis outbreak in our state.  Washington and Oregon have two of the highest rates of unvaccinated children perhaps due to the large numbers who follow "alternative" lifestyles.  These are people who believe vaccinations cause more problems than they prevent.  Of course there are also simply the lazy people who just can't be bothered to protect their children.  Both groups have always driven me up the wall since they are relying on the immunity of the rest of us.  Now this issue is brought into stark relief for me by a recent experience.

A regular part of our weekly schedule is a visit to a certain shopping area which includes a grocery store and a Starbucks.  We often grab bread or eggs before meeting a friend for coffee.  Imagine my dismay when I read in our local paper that there had been a case of measles reported in our town.  When I went to look at the dates and locations of exposure, I found that our one regular stop was the main focus of concern.  Even the times of day lined up.  The rest of us are fine, but since my baby is too young to be vaccinated, she is at real risk for this illness.  We had three whole weeks to wait before we were in the clear.  I am happy to report that she is fine, but that is a matter of luck and nothing more.

A baby or child who catches measles is in for several weeks of recuperation and a host of unpleasant symptoms.  Most children, however, do recover without permanent harm.  Pregnant women are a whole other issue.  If they are expose to measles their babies risk blindness, deafness, and even occasionally death.  This is not about some vague desire to be "natural" or "have less chemicals" or "avoid autism."  Science, the best information we have available, does not support these concerns.  It is about protecting the lives and health of my baby and yours.

Cooking Fail!

Confession time.  My Valentine menu did not go quite as planned.  I posted my plans, but things went a bit awry.  First of all, I did not even attempt the stuffed peppers.  The night before, the baby did not sleep much so neither did I.  When I went to cook that night, I knew I was too tired to attempt the whole thing.  Instead I opted for beet and asparagus salad, mushroom tart, and dessert from the store.  Trimming things back just seemed the smart thing to do.  It turns out that it wasn't enough.

On my husband's advice (he's a much better cook than me) I added some dried mushrooms to the fresh ones I diced for the tart.  I reconstituted them just like the package directed, but they were still completely rubbery and tough.  We ended up having a not wonderful rubberband tart for our family Valentine dinner.  The only good part was the beets cut with heart cookie cutters which tickled the fancy of our toddler chef.  Next time, I will be grinding the dried mushrooms in the spice mill if I want to add extra flavor.  Live and learn, and don't try new recipes on important nights!

Valentine '13

It's now been ten years since M and I first met, and I still think he's the proverbial cat's pajamas.  Therefore, here is a list of ten reasons to love him (in no particular order):

10. Cool under pressure
9. Smart, smart, smart (alec?)
8. Reads (novels even!)
7. Hilarious
6. Produces beautiful babies
5. Takes care of beautiful babies
4. Endlessly patient with beautiful babies
3. Fabulous cook
2. Perfect travelling companion
1. Puts up with me!

Valentines with Kids

The sweetie and I have always had a pact not to go out to restaurants on really busy holidays.  It's always packed, you never get very good service, and the food is usually over or under done due to the rush.  Thus was born the Valentine's dinner at home followed by a date night at some later time.  Now that we have little kids, this is even more appropriate.  This year Delphinium has done all the decorations and the menu will be as follows:

-Beet and goat cheese salad (we'll use a heart cutter on the beets)
-Puff pastry (heart-shaped of course) filled with creamed mushrooms
-Stuffed red peppers filled with tomatoes and rice
-Chocolate cake (baked in my heart pan of course) with whipped cream (dyed with a tiny drop of beet juice)