Babyproofing

Babyproofing is one of those words that you mention among parenting peers that always get that sympathetic nod of mutual understanding. Some people take the bull by the horns and babyproof their entire house at the dawning of the third trimester- I don't actually recommend this because that babyproof houdini toilet lock is a pregnant bladder's nememsis. Some people wait and buy all the babyproofing equipment after the first accident occurs which seems to defeat the purpose in my opinion. My husband and I fall into the thirs category 'do what you can when it seems necessary'. At the first sign of imminent crawling we went out and bought everything we could foreseeably need as our daughter gets more mobile. Things like baby gates and outlet covers were added right away. We also bought what I will call 'World's Best Thing Ever' a play yard. Not a play yard like a play pen no this is more like a kennel.

TIP- originally we bought ours at a well known baby speciality store but then I found it for 25 bucks cheaper in the pet section of our equally well known hardware store.

The brand is the name but one sold at the baby store featured a baby on the box whereas cheaper pet one showed a dog- eh when it comes down to it really what is the difference between a dog and a baby? We also bought such essentials like a stove guard and a fridge lock. Right now she is too short to reach either so those are packed away.

Now I am very fortunate in that I have the time to be able to follow my baby around and see what types of things need babyproofing. This is a full time job in and of itself. So I go around seeing all the drawers, cabinets and doors she can open and I put little yellow post-its on them- both as a reminder for me as well as a 'to do' for my husband. Genius me apparently could not predict that Ava would be even more attracted to the drawers, cabinets and doors now that there are bright yellow post-its on them. Now I have a baby covered in post-its and no convenient 'to do' markers for my husband.

Baby proofing fail.

I can't be the only one...

who thinks its weird to take pictures of your food and then post it on the internet, right? It seems everytime I manage to escape my warden.. errr precious precious child and actually go out to eat someone around me is taking pictures of their food! I just don't get it- seriously I don't care how yummy your food is or how picturesque it looks... its just weird.

But since EVERYONE is doing it- like one of my dearest friends see blog- http://thefoodlife-bykaty.tumblr.com/ Ok now 1- She is actually cooking this stuff not just ordering from a restaurant and taking pictures 2- she takes really good pictures. But I digress...

so since everyone is raving about this new thing to do, I am going to put on the Emperor's New Clothes and try it.

OHHHHH Macaroni and Cheese homemade with spinach OOHHHH

Ok actually this one is really good- its fake crabmeat, grapes and French dressing... sounds gross, but surprisingly delicious! AND you gotta admit that picture is pretty darn good.

hmmm I don't really feel any change now that I've shared my gastro-adventures with you

Website of the Week

In pursuit of cooking dinners that are fast, cheap and convenient- Here is my favorite website for this week. http://www.prevention.com/recipefinderlandingpage/ Play around with it a little. You can enter your location and get recipes based on a food group (meat, eggs, veggies etc) and then it tells you what the prices of that item in stores around your location. And its Prevention magazine so the recipes are healthy. AWESOME!

But I'm a new mom.....

I wonder how long "I just had a baby" will last as an excuse.  So far the current record holder is my mother with her "of course Im overweight- I had a baby" nevermind her youngest is approaching 30.... but I digress.  I believe the new mom excuse should be considered a complete pass.  For example- I get my vehicle sticker renewal in the mail. It says clear as day if I pay later than 10-31 I have to pay more... ok so I have like two months.... unfortunately I totally miss the line above also clear as day "expiration 9-30".... reading fail.  Fortunately, there is a DMV where I can handle this particular issue in person which is good because I doubt the cop giving me the ticket for expired plates would accept "but Im a new mom and didn't read the expiration

date"

Another area a complete pass should work is with lawn care. This is more a pass for my husband but hey he's a new dad and god knows I'm not letting him sleep if I can't. yea, I am just THAT mean. (sleep deprivation makes me vengeful) Anyway, in our small town apparently city officials have nothing better to do than take a ruler to our front yard and measure our weeds. So, of course, we are not keeping up on our yard work what with the new monumental task of keeping a newborn alive, so we get a letter from the city "informing" us that we need to cut our weeds as they have exceeded the 8 inch maximum and if we don't by X date they will do it for us. Not as a favor, of course, they would charge us and of course that AIN'T cheap when the city does it. Sigh- I feel it is completely legitimate for my husband to have called them and explained "but I'm a new dad..." I mean hell I gave him a new shirt that says it and everything!

So that's it for today hopefully I'll get a chance to write more tomorrow but of course I'm a new mom...

Thought of the Day

As I sit here wondering where I can get cheesecloth in order to make my own yogurt- I realize that perhaps if one cannot seem to find time to shower one should just get their yogurt as God intended.. in a small container at the store.