Food In Her Jeans/Genes

Sorry for the craptacular header. I just wanted something Christmas-y and that was the closest photo in the closest folder. It will be remedied soon. :)

Meanwhile...

This little lady:

...has many special talents. One being the amazing ability to be wearing jeans, that are by no means loose fitting, and somehow find a way to amass so much food in the pockets and down the pant legs, that a small third world country could feed for an entire decade! I mean really, how does this happen Mommas?! I'm sitting right there the entire time she's shoving peas and corn into her mouth and making those fabulous little yummy noises. NOT ONCE did I even see her tiny, Magician hands creep under the tray. And yet, she's feeding Ethiopia.

Very happily feeding Ethiopia I might add.

I guess eating and sharing are in her genes - what else could we have expected!

Grammy Dress, Daddy Leggins & Windows.

Me: "Husband, will you put Nells in something more comfy when she wakes up from her nap."

Husband: "Sure."

Sesame wakens. Husband goes upstairs. Sesame comes down in her Sunday dress, bootless, tightless and sockless. She does, however, have striped leggins on that slightly match said dress.

Me: "Um...I thought you were going to change her?"

Husband: "I took her out of those boot things and those constricting tights. The pants were stripey and so was the dress. Do they not match? She looks fine. Why dirty something else? She's fine."

Me: "..."

Husband: "Okay. Fine. I'll change her."

I told him never mind. She was too cute in her kind of matchy leggins and dress. Love.

Besides, with a face like this watching the dog play outside, how could you possibly interrupt her just to change her clothes!?

Ikea.

So...we went to Ikea. :) A day trip with some lovely women - a day trip to blue and gold heaven on earth. [sigh] I found beds and lamps and frames and toys and rugs and fabric and toys and pillows and couches and kitchens and toys and storage and foot stools and toys. I mean, really, what can't you find at Ikea. They even have cinnamon rolls the size of your head. Not a sweet eater?? Just order a side of Swedish meatballs - good Swedish meatballs - the kind the Swedes don't want you to know they have in their country because everyone would flock there for their meatballs - not their super secret banks.

We made a pit stop at Starbucks on the way out because, hello, it was early and their holiday drinks had just returned from the coffee vault. Sadly, one bit the dust on entering the car. :( There were tears. There were no baby wipes to clean it up. There was, however, an awesome-tastic Starbucks barista who re-made the fabulous Venti drink - no charge. They do have faulty lids there. Very drippy. Moving on...

Then we saw the sign. It would disappear behind some signs and cars and then reappear out of nowhere. Like the bat signal shining in all it's Gotham glory, drawing us in. I could have sworn I hear the West Wing theme song announcing the sign. [sigh] I thought of you Katie!

We found AWESOME items (hello 1/2 yard of home decor fabric for FIFTY CENTS!). Tried to discern how some of the items worked (hence Mindy standing on the bed looking on top of the shelves...I PROMISE the lights were magically operated...wireless...and battery-less). Pined away for some items (Casey found a double lofted bed...for $299...and was totally jonesin' for one!). Played with some items (Suzy and Nancy are the BEST photo frame layout people EVER!). After all of the Ikea goodness, we even ate good food...not Swedish...but Asian at PF Changs. Could you ask for a better day!? I think not. :)

Photos. :)

I think the dog walked into the room.

And she did this.

And tensed up and started shaking.

And squealed a squeal that shook the glass in the windows.

And mad her Momma's ears bleed.

And then she giggled and carried on with playtime

aka

banging on the coffee table with a wooden block.

Good thing we have distressed furniture. :)

Here she's triumphant.

Over what?

Maybe she saw succeeded in throwing her num-num at the dog.

Maybe she stole the remote control.

Maybe she ate a magazine while I was taking photos of her and just thought it was cute so I kept taking photos and didn't take the magazine.

Or

she was just happy

because the dog came into the room.

You might not be able to tell

but this is a smile

under the guise of a twisted, scrunchy nosed, teeth-baring, contorted, open mouthed expression.

she's happy I tell you.

I bet Homer walked into the room.

I heart her. :)

Hope this helped Grammy and Grandpa!

We miss you!

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The other day Sesame kept trying to put her num-num in her mouth but started gagging every time she sucked on it. I checked her mouth and didn't see anything. I handed her the num-num. She gagged. She spit. I thought I was going to be vomited on. I tried to sweep out her mouth again. More gagging. No vomit (praise the lord!). I them turned her upside down (You gotta do what you gotta do!) only to find a HAZARD/WARNING sticker on the ROOF OF HER MOUTH! That's right. Sesame successfully peeled the Hazard label off her super coop and put it in her mouth. Dude. She's 10 months. Not to mention the IRONY of her choking on a "warning parts might cause harm to child if played with improperly" label. Only in our house.

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Please be praying for Olive. I've donated a photo shoot to the auction raising money for her family. If you have any kind of service, they could use the help. But mostly, pray for this baby born to missionaries at 28.5 weeks.

It Would Be Awesome...

So I decided to test my mad sewing skills. I successfully made a Christmas present for $1.00 -- and it looks FABULOUS! :) I would totally put photos up...but I'm pretty sure the recipient reads this blog. :) So that will have to wait until after Christmas. This morning I thought it was time to practice sewing on knit fabrics before I made my first Sienna Dress. I don't know why, but I don't want to mess it up...EVEN THOUGH the dress is made from T-shirts I was going to send to Goodwill. ANYWHO - this was my practice run -- a Long-sleeved T for Nells

I traced one of her shirts and used the neckline from the original shirt.

Because I'm a TOTAL sewing novice - I accidentally cut through the sleeve ends. whoops! BUT out of that mistake - these ADORABLE ribboned sleeve cuffs were born! :)

I was so stoked. It was looking really cute. Better than I had envisioned. So I thought I'd try it on Nells.

And then her arms wouldn't go through the sleeves.

I thought she was being difficult so I tried harder.

And then...

I realized I sewed the arm holes shut. Nice.

This shirt would be awesome if it had sleeves an arm could go into.

Score

Sewing machine: 1 Emily: 0

I Have No Title...

No matter how hard I tried...

...I just couldn't seem to steer myself away from...

...monotone edits at the park.

Oh and I tried. Believe me I tried allllll kinds of color tricks...

But this 10 month babe just would not have it.

:) Coming soon...Ikea...A poo story...recent photo shoots...a devotion...a sewing update...more Nells photos (in Grammy dresses!!!)...

Good gravy there just isn't enough time! :)

Button Pushing

My baby just turned on the TV in the office. She promptly grinned, announced "nah nah own own Momma." I think she might have said "Nelli Nelli, on on, Momma." Not that she really did and not that she really knew. But that's what it sounded like. I'm just waiting for her to turn the computer off. It has a tantilizing blue power button. It's only a matter of time. :)

Alien Squashes...

Go make this.

Make it now.

It's so amazing you'll want to consume this food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. And guess what - you'll have enough leftover to do just that! :)

Spaghetti Squash with Lemons and Capers

• 2 large spaghetti squash (aka one GINORMOUS genetically enhanced squash the size of two large ones will also work well. Not that I would know. (: )
• 4 T. EVOO (Or you can just eyeball it - I'm not generally a huge fan of exact measurements...which is why I'm not a baker.)
• Kosher or Sea salt and Fresh cracked pepper (I'm a believer in coarse salts and peppercorns. They are so much more flavorful - I PROMISE!)
• 8 T. butter (or less - I did 6 T. and it was fabulouso!)
• 2 T. capers
• 1/4 c. diced zucchini (I added more)
• 1/4 diced red bell pepper (Again...I added more)
• 2 chopped garlic cloves (Not in the original recipe...but how can garlic possibly destroy a recipe?!)
• 4 T. fresh lemon juice (I also zested the lemon)
• 4 T. chopped parsley
• 1/4 julienne tomato concasse (I had to look this one up...)
• freshly grated pecorino romano cheese (again...I added this one!)

Preheat oven to 400.

Cut squash in 1/2 lengthwise and remove the innards. (Easier said then done - I was literally hacking at my toy-poodle sized squash with my newly sharpened Wustof knife. It took For-Ev-Ver -- name that movie) Slick down the squash halves with evoo, salt and pepper. After that you can give yourself a nice little exfoliate - evoo and salt! :)

Place halves face down on a baking sheet and cover with foil. (OR you could totally disregard the foil instructions and just bake the suckers!) Cook until the rind gives way slightly to the touch or feels a little soft - 20 minutes (NOT. At least a half hour here.) When they are done, scrape out the meat with a fork. Be amazed that the flesh falls out just like spaghetti -- the squash GROWS that way -- HOW COOL! I always thought the fork made it look like spaghetti -- boy did I get a surprise!

In a hot skillet melt the butter and cook until dark brown. Add capers, zucchini, bell pepper and garlic. Cook until tender. Add lemon juice and parsley. Season with sale and pepper - because you just can't add enough! :)

Mix squash, butter sauce and tomatoes together. Place in a GINORMOUS dish, sprinkle with cheese and garnish with parsley. ta-da. You're done! :)

Tiny Hands

There's just something about tiny hands exploring the world around them. Those pudgy little fingers with razor-like nails. The unexpected grasping and turning and inspecting that occurs between thumb and forefinger.

Nells has a petite quality to her hands. They already remind me of mine. My mom's. My Pawpaw's. Her folds and creases are deep. I envision them turning into road maps for her grandchildren to traces with their rolly-polly pointer. I can hear her tell her daughter "I don't mind. It's developing their fine motor skills."

For now, she crunches leaves and twirls twigs and discovers sights and sounds between the planes of her fingerprints. She giggles. She laughs. She squeals with delight because her hands are teaching her.

This darling babe of mine will be grown someday--

but for now I will stroke and squeeze and cuddle and hold those

tiny hands

of hers.

Sometimes you just need to snuggle and cuddle with your favorite blankie. :)

Styrofoam.

Last night as we sat down for dinner I stepped on something under the table. 'Stupid dog toys' I thought to myself. Imagine my shock and dismay when I picked up a styrofoam plate with three bite shaped chunks missing. "Conrad," I inquired, "Do these look like dog bites or people bites?" We looked at Homer and then to the midget in the high chair.

She promptly scrunched her nose and bared her half grown-in 6 teeth, screeching "Gia!" and raising her hands in victory.

It appears she won and eluded our my notice all afternoon with her styrofoam crunching. I think the three missing pieces to the plate might have something to do with her lack of appetite yesterday. She refused food - but man did she suck down those bottles! :)

Pack away your plates when we come visiting people -- and poison control be ready -- I have a sneaky feeling your number will be embedded in our memories and on your caller ID!

A Penguin Lives Here...

To Tricksters and Treaters

And Penguins Galore

I hope you had

A Halloween without gore

We giggled and goofed

and road to all of three houses

But didn't see many kids

at least ones dressed as mouses.

But Nonnie and Pawpaw

and Great Uncle and Aunt

All said "Please sit down"

and we said "Oh, we just can't..."

"...there are things to do

for our penguin you see..."

"...like take out her pigtails

and wash behind her knees!"

And so our first Halloween

Ended with a bang

As our hair we did wash

And lullabies we sang.