Tuesday update

May 31, 2011

Scarlett woke up this morning with a fever. As much as I hate when she is unhappy, I love that in these moments she is in need of a long embrace and a good long whimpering cry. I embraced her little sweat soaked body, kissed her damp hairline, and asked her if she wanted to watch some T.V. She laid her head on my chest and we sat like this for an hour waiting for the infant Tylenol to work its way through her system. Eventually the sweet, low hum of her discomfort stopped and when I asked her if she wanted a popsicle she shook her head "yes". A couple of cartoons later her head was lifted and she had regained her jovial disposition. Her little hands where searching for breakfast and crayons.

I reluctantly called my mom and told her that I would still be dropping Scarlett off while I went to work and the only thing making that call easier was knowing that this was the only other place I would want Scarlett to be.

There she would be the center of attention. Loved, held, kissed, spoiled and worried over. My mom sent me this video today with a message that read:
"Proof that she will eat"
Getting Scarlett to eat is always a trial, but getting her to eat with a fever and four new teeth pushing their way through uncooperative flesh has proved almost impossible. So good job mom, looks to me like you have done this before.



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Memorial day part one...

Food and drinks...

Even with the outstanding company of family and friends, the food and drinks made my Memorial day. 

Our dear friend Matthew is a master at concocting creative cocktails from things he has "laying around the house".  He offered to supply our feast with a watercress and Japanese cucumber gimlet, and of course no one turned him down. This drink is light, fresh and perfect for a sunny day in the backyard.  Let the kids run through the sprinklers (which we totally did and which made for 1,000 great pictures that will be sure to overwhelm you with cute in another post) and parents soak up some much needed sun.  But, be careful, this is one of those danger drinks that hide the alcohol and leave you wanting more.  

Watercress and Japanese cucumber gimlet

Muddle 3 thin cucumber slices, 2 thin fresh ginger slices, and 5-6 leaves of upland cress, or arugula, or something similar in the bottom of a mixing tin really well. Add the juice of one lime, 3/4 oz. agave syrup (agave thinned over heat with equal part water, simple syrup can substitute), and 2 oz. dry gin to the tin. Fill it up with ice and shake like crazy for about 8 seconds. Strain over ice. Garnished with a shaving of cucumber.

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And lets not forget the awesome food that my sister-in-laws boyfriend (a cook at Haven in Orange) cooked up for us...and by "food" I mean the tonguetasmic ribs and tri-tip.   Holy red meat...I am not a meat eater...but bring on the leftovers. 

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Smile part two...

After making slight fun of Scarlett's over the top smile...I saw this picture and retracted anything that I originally said about it being silly. Apparently she is only mimicking the close eyes, scrunch nose and show teeth smile of her mother. Oh boy!

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This kid is too funny...

Scarlett spent most of the evening climbing in and out of her stroller...the wrong way.

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She would grab something around her, a ball, a piece of tupperware, and then climb into her stroller with the object of choice in her death grips, sit, look around, smile, climb out, search for another object, and start over. Over and over again. She will do this for an hour if we let her.

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This isn't the only thing that she does this crazy obsessive behavior with, she will climb in a chair, climb down the chair, push the chair in, walk around the table,pull the chair out, and then start all over again. She will take a piece of clothing out of the drawer, open another drawer, put the piece of clothing in the (incorrect) drawer, close the drawer, open the (incorrect) drawer, pull the piece of clothing out, open the (correct) drawer, put the piece of clothing away, close the (correct) drawer and start all over again.

I have been watching her do these things lately and wondering how it will manifest itself when she is older. Will she be an attention to detail person, will she enjoy the mundane tasks like folding laundry and filing. What will her hobbies be? How will she transfer over this love of repetition into a future job or a future family? I can sit for five solid minutes reflecting on her future, so interesting and scary at the same time...then I bring myself back to Earth and realize the beauty of who she is now and how I love every minute of her repetitious behavior...but mostly the smiles, laughs, hugs and kisses that usually follow.

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Movie Monday...

May 30, 2011

Our evenings at a glance...




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Friday night fun

May 27, 2011

With a some time to kill before bed Scarlett and I had some fun with photobooth.











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Smile...

This is Scarlett's "smile" face.  Squint the eyes, open lips, show teeth, perfection.  Sad, scary and surprisingly hilarious.  I spend all day asking her to smile and then chuckling at the results. 

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LACMA

Scarlett and I had another LA date with our Museum buddies, Katie and Edith.

Katie and I signed our little ones up for the NexGen program at LACMA and until the girls turn 18 we can use them for one free adult pass. I see many LA dates in Scarlett and my future.

We started the afternoon with a quick food truck lunch stop and a romp on the grass to let them get a little energy out before subjecting them to hours of art via stroller.

(oh and the first picture on the left...just had to throw that little goodie in...pigtails lasted until we got in the car...but oh so cute while they lasted)
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A couple of hours and few napless afternoon breakdowns later we finally let the girls out of their rides to roam free in the sculpture garden.

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It was a fun day with the girls, and so fun to watch the little ones interact.  Squealing together in the car, copying claps and pastimes,  switching sippy cups and pacifiers.  
Here is to friendship, growing little girls, and art...let the "lets be friends, not only because our moms are making us" outings continue.

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Messy houses...

May 26, 2011

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I have recently decided that I am tired of having a messy house. Messy living room, messy kitchen, messy bedroom, messy dining room. Every room has something on the floor that doesn't belong there. And by "something" I mean, "something of Scarlett's". Clothes, shoes, toys, stuffed animals, played with for a day and the left to gather dust. Everything has a place, but  nothing is put away in the same place twice. So as of this weekend, we are taking a shot at containing the mess to Scarlett's room only. 

I went to Ikea and bought a tiny table and chair set for playing and a brightly colored storage unit to hold "stuff".  I want to make her room her hang out place. She can grab her art supplies and go to work on her tiny table, grab a book from the book basket, climb up to the couch and practice her animal sounds, colors and alphabet, I want this to be her space. The space that I don't worry about messes.  Let her roam free...at least for the next 10 years before I have to start nagging her to make her bed.  

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What to do with big bright toys...

May 25, 2011

While cleaning out Scarlett's room I finally decided this brightly colored hunk of toy needed to find its way back to the garage.  Scarlett found it sitting in the hallway, and I found her sitting in a much too small seat. 

Now every time we enter the garage, she points and whines about this desire for this toy.  "Toy, toy, toy".   I need to find a good hiding place or convince Scarlett she is not 6 months old any more. 

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New summer clothes...

May 24, 2011

This picture came with an email from my mom today. Tuesday updates are always fun. My mom spoiled her today with shopping trips and new summer clothes. Scarlett looks like a big girl in this photo. I have a feeling she will be tall like her dad.



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Movie Monday

May 23, 2011

Scarlett, being Scarlett.

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Beef wellington delight

May 20, 2011

Chris and I went away to Paso Robles with a couple of friends for a wine tasting adventure. It was wonderful. We rented a house in Morro Bay, ate good food, drank good wine and watched crappy T.V.

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The first night we (mostly Chef Erick)  made beef wellington, butternut squash puree and Caprese salad.  Let the mouth watering begin!  (The beef wellington recipe was a Gordon Ramsay recipe)

Ingrediants needed:

Beef Fillet (s)
Cracked pepper
Oil
Mushrooms
Prosciutto (or Parma ham)
English mustard or Dijon mustard
Puff pastry
Eggs
Cling Wrap

Preheat oven to 400.  Prepare fillet(s) with fresh cracked pepper.

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Heat oil in pan and sear the meat on all sides till lightly browned.  Brush with mustard and set aside

Chop mushrooms and cook (most recipes call for mushrooms to be chopped in food processor and turned into a puree...we choose to leave them in bite size pieces) (if you choose to puree you still need to sweat out the extra liquid from the mushrooms)

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On a flat surface lay out a piece of cling wrap that will be big enough to wrap around your filets.
Layer cling wrap with four pieces of prosciutto and mushroom mixture.

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Put the filet in the middle of the ham and roll the ham around the beef using the cling film. Twist the ends of the cling film to tighten the roll, then refrigerate it for 15 minutes to let it set.

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Roll out your puff pastry cut into square big enough to cover filet and then brush the edges with egg wash.
Pull off cling wrap and put filet in middle of pastry and roll the pastry over the beef completely covering it.

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Cut off any excess pieces. Egg wash the top. Put your roll back in the fridge for 5 minutes. Egg wash again and bake for 35-40 minutes. Let it cool for 10 minutes before slicing.

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Easy peasy side dishes -

Butternut squash
Preheat oven to 400. Peel and cut butternut squash in half.  Place in oven safe dish (with sides), fill dish with 1/2 inch of water.  Place squash insides down in dish and roast for 30-40 minutes until soft.
Scrape soft insides into a pan on low setting stove top, mix with brown sugar and cinnamon to taste and enjoy!

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Caprese Salad -
Slice tomatoes and mozzarella cheese layer on plate.  Top with fresh basil or spinach leaves. Drizzle with olive oil and a pinch of fresh cracked pepper.

A great weekend was had by all.  Next year, bring on Napa!

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Is it that time....again?

May 18, 2011

The second that I gave birth to Scarlett the "when is number two?" questions started pouring in. Seriously people? Let's just marvel in the fact that I pushed out baby number one without killing the doctor.

I always thought I would want our little ones to be two years apart but that would mean being pregnant again RIGHT NOW!!! WHAT!!! I haven't even forgiven Scarlett for hormones she pushed through my body: swelling boobs, causing my hair to go straight, and giving me serious hip fat that I am stuck with for the rest. of. my. life.

Lately Chris and I have noticed the single child in Scarlett.  Part of it is her age, but I know that the other part of her demanding personality comes from constant attention.  She has the floor ALL OF THE TIME.  With Chris and me, with her grandparents, with her Aunts and Uncles, and at church.  We are so lucky to be surrounded by people that love and help raise our daughter...but I think it is time for Scarlett to brace the harsh reality that she isn't the only human being in the world.  So for those who have incessantly asked since the beginning of Scarlett, Chris and I (emphasis on the "I") think we'll consider the idea of trying for another one soon :)

Now, with this being said and for the sake of full disclosure, I really did not enjoy being pregnant.  I would not go so far as to say "hate", but on the verge of hate, toeing the line with hate.  There is just something about heartburn, nausea, swollen feet, baby bottoms trying to push their way out through my ribs, peeing five times a night, and constant lack of comfort that just didn't sit well with me. And yet,  I know that there are so many women dying for the chance to have their own children and here I am complaining. What is my problem?  It is a miracle to be able to carry and grow another human being INSIDE OF YOU.  A tiny, helpless, soulful creature who God chose for Chris and I to raise.  What a blessing.  So for nine months I will complain, I will eat for two, I will gain 30 pounds, I will waddle, I will smother on stretch cream like there is no tomorrow, I will beg for foot massages every night, I will pop tums like candy corn, just so I can hear that first cry from God's beautiful creation.   


P.S. When I made this decision, I made it hoping that this year would go slower than the last 27...sadly it is already May and Chris constantly reminds me that time isn't slowing down...holy babies...here we go.



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Movie Monday...

May 16, 2011

When I was a youngin' I spent many summer days sliding down the grass hill in front of my parents house on pieces of cardboard. It never got old. On Saturday morning Scarlett was all locked into her car seat and we were ready to leave my parents house, when my dad came running out of the garage with a piece of cardboard in his hands...and the rest of the day is history.




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Strawberries and bananas

May 13, 2011

I had the day off on Thursday so I thought I would make Scarlett a little afternoon treat...got this idea from "I rock so what"

Three bananas and 10-12 strawberries cut and frozen overnight.  Throw in a blender (for a while) and wait until they become the consistency of ice cream.  Enjoy!

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Water baby...

May 11, 2011

Scarlett emerged from her closet a couple of nights ago with her finger paints in her hand, repeating the word "paint" until, one,  it was annoying, and two, I finally gave in.
I stripped her down, opened a giant pad of blank white paper, put it on the wood floor and let her go crazy.  This girl LOVES to paint, but the little dollops of paint that I gave her were not enough to satisfy her paint craving.  So she put her finger tips together and signed "more" until, one, it is annoying, and two, I finally give in.  Within seconds there was paint on the floor, Scarlett's face, my arms, and she was laughing while I chased her down the hall screaming "don't touch the walls", which of course reminded her that there are walls and that was the next thing she must touch.
I swept her in my arms, queuing the inevitable bedtime breakdown.  This is the time of day that Chris and I dread.  The day has been long, I am worn down, Scarlett is worn down and almost nothing can go right.  Within seconds she forgets the fact that I just let her cover the house in paint for twenty minutes (and it was fun), and moves right into toddler freak out mode. Chris says "bath time" which is normally met with a shrill scream of delight and quick stripping of clothes, but this night is different.  So Chris says "pool?" and is met with brief hesitation followed by shrill screams and tripping over her feet to the front door. The girl LOVES the pool.  Must take after her dad.

I see many father/daughter pool play days in their summer fun future.

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