The Yard

It is out of the dailiness of life that one is driven into the deepest recesses of the self.

Stanley Kunitz

After my Saturday morning Alamo 180 workout (a toughie), we attended Wake Up, Brother Bear!, a theatre performance for very little kids at Pearl then walked over to the farmers' market. She did great at Wake Up, but made it through about two pages of Miss Anastasia's reading of Skippyjon Jones at the Twig bookstore story time.

She has had every size of skinny jean from newborn on, and I bought a pair of 2T today

That night Luke and I watched Jim Gaffigan's special Mr. Universe and laughed and laughed and laughed. I'm waiting anxiously to e-checkout his new book Food: A Love Story.

Josie, from her perch in the bouncer, also thought it was hysterical.

The Quarry farmers' market* moved to Olmos Park (a five minute instead of three minute drive) so we went to support them and procure our weekly spaghetti squash and delicious treat from La Panaderia (this week was a ham and cheese torta and salad. So good). The new venue, The Yard, is a parking lot bounded by train cars converted into retail spaces, like... Oh Yeah Cakes.

*if you're thinking, wow, you do the same thing every weekend, you're right. But it's great in its own way. If I could have this day over and over - time with my family, a little time to myself, some baking, making faces at Josie in the Bumbo, helping Clementine peel her beloved little-c clementines, listening to new music - I would.

Still life featuring the final earthly moments of my banana Nutella cupcake.

I'm a vision in neutrals: here is my new tunic, basically a blanket with faux leather shoulders/back and piping. It's not particularly flattering but I love it.

Looking manly. He married me in those boots.

Chasing C.

While C napped I slipped away to Target and the grocery store. Time alone to shop was wonderful and restorative.

Then for the Sunday meal prep: two types of roasted squash, slow cooker pulled pork, and Weekend Baking Project, Cook's Illustrated Chocolate Crinkle, hands-down my favorite Christmas cookie. These are delicious.

I wasn't going to do any decorations this year (does a women who takes two weeks to unpack a suitcase - a suitcase that sits flung open in the middle of the bedroom -  seem capable or deserving of home decoration when mere orderliness is out of reach? No.) But my friend Annette posted on Facebook how much she likes sitting in the glow of the tree at night and I thought, oh, I do love that. Luke put up my 6' pink tree with pink lights ... and it casts a garish, menacing light. Next year, friends, stockings will be hung with care. 

Take us out with guitar solo, Clementine. Have a great week, everyone!

What's Making Me Happy

A couple of these are from last week and I'm still giggling.

// Hannah's nephew's proposed sleepover schedule posted on her Instagram account had me in stitches. (Thanks for letting me share this Hannah!)

The to-do list reads:

Dress up

Play outside 

Chick-fil-a

TV time

Play outside again

Nap

McDonald's 

TV time again

Buy a toy time 

Dance party 

Story time

Bed

// Luke and I will go weeks without watching the Colbert Report then watch 5 in a row. In this clip, he is reporting Maine's use of junk food as bear bait... start at 2:45

Beware bears! Ask not for whom the Ding Dongs / it Dongs for thee.

I've been laughing about this for days.

// Chris Rock welcomes Jimmy Fallon to the Two Daughter Club (I'm a member)

Weekend by iPhone

This was Wednesday but 1) her little feet off the ground! and 2) this was the first time TV has held her attention for more than 60 seconds.

Now to the weekend.  Another first: the first time Luke wrote 'Dad' - a note before departing for Houston.

Sat: Y and cafe-across-the-foyer-from-Y for lunch.

Helper pushes stroller to library. And, as much as I complain about the summer, the winter in SA is glorious.

Helper then runs amok.

Brown Bear with Daddy.

First time wearing something other than workwear, workout wear, or pajamas (which are usually a sexy combo of work and workout wear) in at least two weeks.

Husband Incognito.

Good eggs.

Backyard troubadour.

Pre-haircut.

Thanks to some late night antics from Josie aka the Ham* aka the Ham Sandwich plus wake-up-screaming from big sis, the week is off to a rough start rest-wise. But onward my friends! Hope it's a great one.

*9 pm SMILES! 10 pm SMILES! 11 pm SMILES! brief nap - screams - 12:00 am finally out

What's making me happy

// New shoes (or as C would say, DOOZ!) for Iron classes at Alamo 180. I have been wearing a pair of Nike running shoes and developed knee pain last week after sessions involving many squats + running. In fact, I was unable to sprint at all due to screamin' knees. My coach suggested a minimalist shoe and off I went to Soler Sports, tried on the first pair offered [Brooks PureConnect 3] and said these are perfect! I have very high arches (at least I think so) and these offer plenty of support to keep my foot from rolling inward and because of the toe-heel alignment (toe is level with heel), I am able to perform squats more easily (toes lifted! butt out!). I just bought them but I love these dooz.

 

// Hipster business name generator. As someone who planned but did not launch a food swap called Jar + Spoon, I had to laugh. At myself.

// Josie's hilarious nightly DID YOU THINK I WAS SLEEPING? 'CAUSE I'M NOT smiles. My mom pointed out that she smiles with her eyes and she really does.

This is pretty adorable but going to sleep at 10:45 pm plus a wake-up for a bottle plus Mommy getting up at 4:30 for the aforementioned Iron class... ugh. The midnight to 2 am feeding call is a new thing. In my 22 months of parenting I've come up with three reasons for waking up in the middle of the night: 1) illness 2) growth spurt 3) teething. So I'm going to guess.. growth spurt?

I'm AWAKE! HELLOOOOOOOOOO!

// I wasn't able to be there but I'm so proud of THIS.

Thanksgiving Weekend

First, some exercise before Thanksgiving dinner.

The Browns were kind enough to invite us and 37 pounds of kid and 75 pounds of kid-stuff over for dinner. Thank you Rick and Doris!

Rick with the bird!

Carolyn's pie-norama

Doug and C with a commandeered phone

Doris snapped this pic of Josie and me

 
On Friday J and I made cinnamon rolls...

while Luke rocked the Alamo at the Christmas tree lighting!

Saturday and Sunday were quiet days at home. On Sunday we went to the farmers' market and then to a nearby park. That afternoon I made many healthy meals for the week and a pan of triple chocolate brownies from Extreme Brownies (now the freezer will be full of cinnamon rolls and the 30% of the pan I didn't take to work).

Josie in the shade.

Then I remembered I had a real camera in my purse...

Mid-air.

she loves to jump

Hide and seek.

Bath time with Super Bubbles.

Luke told me this sweet story later that night: As he put C to bed, they rocked and talked about all the things they did that day. He asked, are you ready to go to bed? and she nodded yes. She lied down on her back in the crib and he blew her a kiss. She blew a kiss in return, started sucking her thumb, and closed her eyes.

Thanksgivings 2011 Part I / 2011 Part II / 2012 at sea / 2013  

22/5

Look at this face. 100% pure mischief.

C doesn't have a lovey - she wants a sippy cup or water bottle all the time, including bedtime. A-WA! is the bedtime refrain.

Clem is mastering opening zippers (hide your purse) and opening the fridge. When keeping her at bay with my right hand, opening the oven with my left, saying sternly HOT HOT HOT!, she pursed her lips and blew to cool it off. She's finally adding several words to her spoken vocabulary (the ones I can think of now are down, boot, cold, and bubble). However she understands everything (point to the ceiling! touch the floor! stretch! help me blow a kiss [puts her hand to my mouth, removes with flourish]).

My mom deciphered this: She holds up her index finger and says AH BE RA BA! before darting off. Translation: I'll be right back. (I say this all.the.time.)

Light-switch moment: when you point to a photo of her, or see a reflection, and ask, who's that?! She jabs her chest.

This week she is recovering from her first ear infection, the first sign of which was a gush and I mean gush of thick green pus from her ear. She's a tough cookie.

Josie has two problems in life. One is terrible eczema on her face (she rubs her temples and the abrasions are just awful.) The other is smiling so frequently that her pacifier tumbles out of her mouth.

She rolls over from back to belly, loves the bouncer, and coos a lot. We'll start her on rice cereal any day now.

Laughs with J at 5 months: (luckily forced fake laughs will do)

Luckily Josie is very sturdy.

What's Making Me Happy

// Luke saying as we all arrived home on Friday: 'I have been looking forward to the girls getting home all day.'

// Aaron Copland Rodeo. This popped into my head the other day and it made me think of wrangling the girls out of the door/ the indomitable American spirit/ how steak for dinner sounds delicious. Listen to it and try just try to be in a bad mood.

// Doing puzzles. She's got these all figured out.

// More magazine. I've mentioned it before but how many women's magazines include familiar looking words that you still have to google? I also like the emphasis on work and career, particularly this month's feature on developing a personal brand (can't find a link - Meredith Vieira on cover)

synecdoche?

// Happy Thanksgiving everybody!