Don't feed Johnders

Jacqueline is a conduit of human food to Johnders. All toddlers feed dogs, right? Well what happens when Jacqueline has a snack. 

She hands part of it to Johnders. You catch her and you tell her to stop, "Don't feed Johnders." She looks at you and says "Alright." You emphasize "It's your food, not his." She looks you in the eye and very directly says "Okay."

Complimentary Food

Jacqueline started eating some foods at 7 months old.
Banana - first one like Julia - loves it!
Sweet potato - yum!
Pumpkin - another loved orange food
Winter squash - delicious, favorite fall food
Tofu - Jacqueline likes it!
apples & blueberries - tart, some funny faces! : )
Oatmeal - OMG! The girl loves her oats! She really has bulked up eating it.

A girl who likes food almost as much as she likes the breast!

Tomato Watermelon Basil Salad

Delicious! Who knew!
Thanks Jai for making this wonderful combination of foods.
All locally sourced too!
YUMMY!!!!

Mealbaby.com

Subject: Meal Help

OK, Friends & Family –

This is new to me so I apologize if there are any glitches.

I think it’s supposed to be pretty simple.

I’m sending this to many people so thanks for any help with anything!

Cannot hurt, right? All the books say to ask for help!

If you cannot help, no worries! : )

Feel free to forward to anyone else too.

THANKS!

Meal Registry Invitation Link
http://mealbaby.com/viewregistry/11048975

This link allows your registry to be made public.  Anyone who clicks on this link will be asked to login or create an account and will be able to view your registry.

BTW - if you want to keep in touch QUICKLY, email Jai at bmitd67@gmail.com or text him at this number (773-372-1262) (text only, no calling he said).

Love, Tara, Jai & big sister Julia

Self-determination

Three year olds are obviously short versions of the adults they will become.

Julia has expressed herself really well since she was much smaller but today she took it one step further. She said she was hungry (mid-morning snack) and I was apparantly taking too long so without announcement or warning she runs off. About 20 secs later she reappears and says in a very matter-of-fact, matter-of-course way, "Dad, I was in the pantry." "I want rice cake and almond butter." Then she sat back down and continued what she was doing.

It's all very normal, but it's quite amazing to watch up close.

Addition from Tara on 11-5-11:
Today Julia did the same thing with the juice. She took it from the fridge & came back to tell me it was on the counter, again after she'd already asked for it & waited patiently for me to respond & I was taking too long.
She's resourceful & communicative! Kind of like someone else I know! : )

Julia's Food Manifesto

I, Julia, do hereby promise to follow the set of guidelines listed below as they pertain to my food and my eating habits. Obviously, I don't have a lot of control over this for a while to come but still I believe this needs to be said.

1. eat as local as possible as often as possible (farmer's market, CSA, garden)
   
2. eat organic as often as possible (some farms are organic and sustainable without being certified by USDA, all I have to is ask how they deal with bugs and weeds)
   
3. eat independent as often as possible (although I can make a statement by buying from larger companies, I think we should support your local restaurants, grocers and other merchants instead of the huge global companies)
   
4. avoid any foods processed more than standard kitchen cooking methods (I don't think I will be a raw food person so I will always eat food that has been processed to some degree but I don't want to buy stuff that's been cooked in some giant tubed warehouse, frozen, re-hydrated and whatever else they do to food in those giant processing plants)
   
5. read labels on the food I buy in order to ensure I am avoiding dangerous ingredients (if I don't know what it is I will find out before I buy)
6. read labels on the food I buy in order to ensure I am buying products produced as close to me as possible (there can be two similar items on the shelf, I can see that one came from Canada, China or some other foriegn land and one came from the US, I will choose the one that came from the US)
   
7. share what I know with as many people as I can (I will talk about the food I eat, I will write about the places I eat, etc)
   

There will be exceptions to these rules as I grow older - as a well rounded individual I know I will have to try foods that fall outside of these perimeters - but I will always be mindful of where my food comes from and how it was grown, manufactured or cooked. I want to live a long and healthy life and I want to do my part in making the world around me better and these guidelines are simple things I can do which I believe will have a positive impact.

Please join me in living healthy and eating in a sustainable, nutritious way.

Learning it all

I've had a lot of fun objectively watching Julia grow and learn. I never thought it could actually be fun but it is. Well, I never actually thought about it at all until Julia came along.

She's mobile now and more confident in that skill so she takes off down the hall and goes in this room and that one, squats to investigate whatever catches her eye, picks it up, drops it, leaves it, and comes back later to pick it up like its brand new. She smiles when she recognizes things...Johnders still gets the biggest reception in the house. A couple of weeks ago she started pointing. At first it looked like she was just pointing for the sake of pointing or pointing at the things she recognizes. Tara and I slowly started to realize that she was also pointing at things with the intention of learning what they were. She points at photos (Aunt Susie and some of our Christmas cards are her favorites) and moving objects, she points at people and stationary objects (her pointing isn't the most accurate somethings so it is hard to tell what she's after). Sometimes I wonder if I make things too complicated. For example, she pointed at a christmas package over and over so I started telling her more details about it; "it is green" or "it has stars" or whatever instead of repeating "bag" over and over. Who knows what she's actually thinking but she definitely wants information about everything around her. Most recently she started pointing at food especially the food she wants to eat! Again, her fingers aren't too accurate so it takes a lot of quizzing from Tara and me and waiting for Julia to react.

Today I noticed her reaction being a little more insistent than before and the accompanying dialogue (from her point of view) is something like:

"No, daddy. I'm pointing at THAT one." "No, not THAT one. THAT one!"

She's working hard to get the words out but they aren't quite there yet.

Today I saw a smile of accomplishment. Julia is working on the function of a spoon. She took her spoon from me and started digging in one of the cup holders on her high chair. Made sense to me so I put some food on the spoon and guided it to her mouth and at some point while digging for "cheerios" I saw a smile come over her face. It was, to me, a smile of recognition, an "aha" smile. She made the connection between the bowl, the food, the spoon and her mouth. It is those smiles and the moments of concentration when for example she studies the door hinge and then moves the door back and forth when I am dumbstruck with wonder and pride.

Julia, keep up the good work. I'm enjoying watching you do it.

Modified Still Insane Daily Schedule

As with everything with a baby, once I get used to a routine, then the baby changes it! : ) That is hard for me, I like consistency, not a fan of change; however, that is my life now.

Actually I started this post in Sept. and finished it in Nov.
Obviously, my life ran away from me! Work will be busy always and when I get home, the same applies. I want to spend time with Julia & Jai, too. She's lots of fun now - really always! Once she goes to bed, then I get ready for the next day.

Now that Julia eats food, we eat dinner together. Occasionally she stares at our food. We speculate that she wonders when she'll get to eat salad and ground turkey. Julia loves her food - banana is still her favorite & soy yogurt. Now she adores oats! I believe oats are my saving grace - she started sleeping 10-11 hours at night recently. She goes to sleep at 7p & wakes around 6:30am. It's quite lovely!

Again some of this is temporary. Pumping at work ends soon. December 8 is the ONE year end zone - my ultimate goal! If Julia wants to continue to breastfeed, we'll do it when I'm home - hopefully 1-2 times a day.

How's it going?

The question everybody asks when discussing my life as a stay-at-home dad.

My new answer is going to be something like...

I prepare Julia's breakfast, I feed her, I clean her up and I try to get her to sleep. Followed almost immediately by I prepare Julia's lunch, I feed her, I clean her up and I try to get her to sleep. After that I prepare Julia's late lunch, I feed her, I clean her up and I try to get her to sleep. Finally I get to prepare Tara's (and mine) dinner, then I clean the kitchen.

After I get to eat I still have time to prepare Tara's breakfast and lunch, clean the kitchen again and wait to change Julia's diaper before I go to bed.

"Julie & Julia" - the movie

My mom and I saw it last weekend - part of my birthday month celebration. Bonnie picked me up & drove to the theater, paid for my ticket AND let me have the points on my Regal Crown Club card. BONUS! : )

It is the best movie combination - Meryl Streep and food - and I got to see it with my mom! PERFECTION ... like all of the wonderful butter used in Julia Child's recipes. Stanley Tucci plays JC's husband. They are adorable together, just as in "A Devil Wears Prada". Made me want to see "Big Night" again - food & another great Stanley Tucci movie.

The next day I saw my mom & we talked more about the movie. I almost fell over when Bonnie said she wanted to see it again. For Bonnie to see a movie is one thing, much less see a movie TWICE. To SAY it - that is truly amazing!

Yet I agree - I want to see it again, it was funny and poignant.
Lots of yummy food displayed ...
Then there were scenes of Paris, France... oh, I want to live in Europe.

Jai jokes that I'm going to make every recipe in JC's cookbook. NOT going to happen! : ) I'll taste if someone else wants to attempt the incredible looking concoctions. I might dress up like JC as Julie Powell does in the movie! That was fun!

One of the scenes I found amusing was Julie's ignorance about blogs (insert Tara) and then fascination and eventual obsession with the blog following, i.e. comments from readers. I'm not quite like that though I find myself noticing the comments are mostly on Jai's posts. What's that about anyway?!?! : )

Most often I read and write my blog entries while I pump, either at home or work, since there are limits to what I can do while attached to a machine! : ) I find it especially helpful at work so that I don't fall into the trap of reading my work email or doing work stuff and getting stressed. I find it more relaxing to read/edit past blog entries or compose a post.

If you like food, France, Julia Child, Meryl Streep, movies or all of the above, I suspect you will enjoy this film.

Bon Appetit!

What goes in as a solid...

...must come out as a solid.

That's all I'm sayin'

Good Stuff

Good Stuff
Originally uploaded by bmitd67

Do you remember your first taste of yogurt?

Solids

We started feeding Julia solid food last week and she is gangbusters for banana. It took about a week...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to me!

I love my birthday. As a friend said, it is a National Holiday. TOTALLY!

This is also my first birthday as a mom AND the last year I can say "I'm in my 30's!" CRAZY!

I cannot believe I'll be 40 years old next year; more likely when we have another baby I'll be 40 or 41. Also CRAZY!

Gifts
Jai asked, but I didn't have any ideas ... too tired to be creative! I love gifts, but I've mellowed a bit in the past year. Spending time together is more valuable to me now than material gifts. I'm maturing. Also who needs more stuff?!

Then while writing in my Grateful journal one night, the pen died. AGAIN! Another one gone ... happens when you use them I realize, but somehow it surprises me each time. I search my office for a "nice" one and none seem appropriate. I tell Jai "couple of pens, like Jeanie's, they're not too expensive I think, $5-10."

Jai's funny ... "I googled 'Jeanie's pens' but didn't find anything." Jai emailed Jeanie.

Jeanie stopped at GMS the other day (I really miss my friends!) [she looks fabulous, retirement agrees with her!]. She brought my B-day present - 3 "old" pens she was about to toss (she knew I'd prefer she didn't if they still are good) and 4 "new" (in package). They are ALL nice, oh, so nice! Small things excite me now! : )

I got a cool t-shirt from Jai's aunt. It's 100% organic cotton with a neat star and "Happiness" on the front. Well done!

Jai got me 2 tickets to see "Wicked" on September 8. YEAH! I mentioned that idea to him.
I'll ask a friend since Jai is not a fan of musicals ... when we went to Chicago 2 years ago I went to see "Wicked" by myself.

Julia got me a "green" book of Suduko puzzles (recent interest, for YEARS Jai's been telling me I would like it), a cool box of stationary (cotton), and some pens. : )

Great gifts! I had a great birthday! THANKS!

I believe and relish celebrating my birthday ALL month ... I cannot change that tradition!

8/1 I planned to rest & relax & have lunch at Jerusalem restaurant (they have a great buffet I heard). However, Julia took a LONG nap during lunch time. Plan B was take-out from Dee's BBQ (yum-o) for dinner and Gigi's Cupcakes (double yum-o) and we watched 2 episodes of "Entourage." FUN!
8/8 I'm going to the POTATO consignment sale alone
8/15 not sure, maybe lunch with a friend ... at Jerusalem?!?!
8/22 see movie "Julie & Julia" with my mom (she LOVES Meryl Streep)
8/29 not sure, maybe walk with a friend

Our Wedding Anniversary

We had a wonderful time at dinner at a local Asian restaurant in our neighborhood, Watanabe in Riverside Village. It was great to be alone, first meal without Julia. We actually talked about a few topics other than Julia! : )

We got to eat at a leisurely pace (anything is slower than the "shovel it in fast" method!) from appetizers, soup & salad, rolls and dessert. We got the combo tempura, miso soup and seaweed salad, and unique & attractive Firefly & Spider sushi rolls. Dessert was a beautiful fried ice cream concoction that we got to go because we knew our time was limited (that was something to eat there).

It was all yummy!

Thanks, Rose Mary, for watching Julia for us. We know it was a mutually beneficial arrangement, but it is greatly appreciated!

It was nice to celebrate 4 years of marriage and 6 months of parenthood - lots of happiness!

Nesting

Jai says people ask him whether I'm "nesting." His answer amuses me; actually the question amuses Jai because he asserts that I am always nesting in terms of organizing and cleaning. The role of cleaner for the most part is being played/performed by Jai the last month or so. I cannot get down there and clean stuff! It already takes me so much energy to take a shower, much less wield a mop.

Anyway, other than organizing stuff in the nursery which has been on-going as we acquired items, lately it has been "Kitchen Nesting." In particular the week of Thanksgiving when I was off from work (THANK GOODNESS!), I cooked up a storm. A serious storm! Ironically I didn't cook anything for Thanksgiving - I let Jai take that responsibility this year.

However, I cooked a ton of dishes to freeze. The title of week 38's "What To Expect" email was "Freeze It" and I did. I prepared penne pasta with marinara sauce, vegie lasagna, macaroni & cheese, tuna casserole, beefaroni, chicken pot pie, 2 soups (one with chicken, one vegetarian) and 3 desserts (banana bread, pumpkin bread and brownies).

We quickly ran out of room in our kitchen freezer so I sent Jai downstairs to the basement freezer with containers of food. On a funny note, he returned from the basement and said "there are a ton of bananas in that freezer." I forgot I had them - I put ripe bananas in the freezer and use them to make banana bread. Recently I couldn't believe I had run out, but there were no more in the kitchen freezer. This is really unusual because between co-workers who only like green bananas (slight exaggeration) and Bonnie, I always have lots of ripe ones and they make the best bread. Jai said "we'll run out of containers [for the many dishes I've created] before we run out of bananas!"

: )

Anyway, I exhausted myself which isn't good since I need more rest, not less, but somehow that seems to be part of the nesting phenomenon. Also all of the cooking really frustrated Jai - he kept asking "when do we get to eat all of this food?!" ... such a man comment. : ) I say "when the baby is here and we're too tired to get to the store and/or cook food." It is ready, take it from the freezer and throw it in the oven or a pot to heat. He'll thank me later!

I think I'm done with kitchen nesting. It really took a lot of energy and I need to conserve, especially since I don't sleep very well at night. I have enjoyed being pregnant for the most part, not many issues and complications, but I look forward to having my body back. The baby will control other parts of my body, but at least it will be different. Hopefully I won't have to go to the bathroom constantly or have persistent heartburn and I can sleep on my back ... I know, I know ... when I get sleep.

Jai did his own share of nesting last weekend. The mini-crib, crib mattress and changing pad arrived from Babyearth.com (company that uses organic cotton materials and eco-friendly & sustainable/renewable wood in their products). I discovered the mini-crib is available on Target's website so I'm a little sick that I used money instead of the plethora of Target gift cards we have. Anyway, he assembled the crib and it fits perfectly in the designated space in the nursery. He also secured the changing pad to the dresser so it is ready for diaper changing.

I put the crib sheets on the mattress and hung the two BEAUTIFUL knitted or crocheted blanklets we've received on the sides of the crib. It is a rockin' one (it can also be locked into a stationary position) which is really cool. Also the crib is light making it easy to move next to our bed which should be helpful and convenient with breastfeeding, especially in the middle of the night.

It really is looking like a nursery!