words to live by

My baby won't eat--Coxsackie isn't just a town upstate.

(photo from profvrr on flickr)

Today I decided to take the babe to the pediatrician as he suddenly wasn't eating the Smorgasbord of finger foods I had chopped, sliced and diced like an Iron Chef.

After only a few moments of examining him, the doctor asked if I had ever heard of Coxsackie Virus. I'd read the books and hadn't remembered seeing that anywhere. "Hand, food and mouth disease" he corrected.

Oh yeah, I'd read all about that. But S was only mildly fussy and had no fever or copious drooling. After looking at the back of his throat, it was diagnosed that he was on the mend and the 5-day bug was on the way out of his system.

Humph...here's hoping he'll be feeling much better. Wanted to post this in case your baby might not be eating for the same reason. Apparently it's really going around.

Perfect summer baby outfit: FOUND!

(image from carters.com)

I've mentioned before that I love Carters, but here I go again.

Last weekend I bought a couple of these rompers for my tiny little romper and I love them. They're lightweight, sleeveless, are easy to open (can you say SNAPS?!) and are super cute.

This my friends, is the PERFECT summer outfit for little boys. I am obsessed with them and you can check them out at the Carter's site right now during their HUGE sale!

Don't say I didn't warn you...

My baby won't eat!!! My solution: finger foods

Last Friday, I got a call from my son's day care. He only ate his cheese cubes and cheerios and wouldn't eat his breakfast OR his lunch. First of all, why did they wait to call me after he'd skipped TWO meals?

Moving on...

I called my amazing pediatrician who mentioned he'd probably like to feed himself and didn't want the mushy food I'd made the night before. Hmmmm...a new stage? Bring it on.

When he got home that night, I had cut up Kiwis, Muenster cheese, Bananas, turkey, roasted squash and had it ready to roll.

I added a dollop of Labne cheese on his tray (for the fun of eating with his hands) and it was a HUGE success. HUGE.

Of course it was really really REALLY messy, but quite successful. He ate dinner!

After his bath that night I felt like I had won a small battle and was ready for anything!

Online sales...better than in stores? But why?

(gratuitus shot I know, but he's wearing Carter's!)

Last weekend I was in Connecticut visiting my parents and I went to Old Navy and Carter's (two of my FAVORITE stores) to get a few baby summer essentials.

Old Navy always has great sales online and in stores so I peeked at some t-shirts and shorts for me. They were marked down to $7!!!

The exact same stuff is online for $19.50. Now I know that stores have to clear inventory differently than their web counterparts, but come ON. Couldn't they also have huge web clearances and the stores could send their merch to the site?

UPPA Baby vs. City Mini

(image from UPPA Baby site)

I couldn't help it. I was seduced by a stroller.

I was in one of those baby stores that piles their inventory from floor to ceiling and was totally overwhelmed. The City Mini seemed like the sensible choice: it was really light, the baby could sleep totally flat and with one hand, it folded in half. DONE!

Now almost 9.5 months later, I cannot stand it. The basket is teeny and very hard to access, the wheels always squeak (no matter how much WD-40 we use) and I haven't done that sexy one-handed fold since we bought it.

I had imagined myself jumping into a cab at a moment's notice or heading down to the subway with my City Mini in one hand, tiny child in the other....yeah, right.

So, a few weeks ago I went to that same giant baby store and checked out the strollers. A good friend of mine has the UPPA, so I headed there first.

After talking to a NEW sales associate, I was in love (again).

I could add a second seat, I could move the chair to face me OR to face out, the basket was HUGE and easily accessible from front or back, it came with a bassinet and it wasn't that heavy ( I have an elevator in my building anyway).

But with a $679.00 price tag, there was no way I could switch.

I tried to put it out of my mind until last week when one of the Yahoo groups I belong to had a listing for an UPPA.

For about an eighth the price, they were selling their stroller and threw in a Boogie Board, rain cover and travel bag.

Long story long, I left with an UPPA!!!!

The only catch was the small broken part in the basket. I called their customer support and the super chipper Susan, helped me and sent me my part FOR FREE overnight.

I couldn't be happier with my new stroller. Buying that City Mini was only one of many baby purchases I made that didn't work out (will post some more). I thought I knew what I should buy and was convinced I didn't need any of that "cheesy" baby stuff.

Did you ever buy anything for your baby that was a total disaster?

Baby cheesecake

My son loves cheese, LOVES it.

So for dessert the other night, I made him a little something sweet. Baby cheesecake!!!!!

I was watching Dr. Oz and he had mentioned that cottage cheese had a TON of sodium in it so I tried some ricotta from Trader Joe's.

(made this great cheesecake and forgot to take a picture, sorry!)

Baby Cheesecake

2 tablespoons ricotta cheese (I used full fat)

1 Graham cracker, crumbled

1 tablespoon rehydrated, no sulfur blueberries

Stir and smush the cheese and graham crackers. Chop the blueberries (side note: I will use fresh blueberries when they're in season, but now the only options are from Chile or Mexico and have a ton of pesticides. Dried, sulfur-free from Sahadi's is the best option. I just rehydrated them) and stir into cheese and cracker crumble.

Delish...

Did you try it? What did you think?

Oatmeal add ons.

I've always loved how satisfying a good bowl of oatmeal can be.

Before we became parents it was mostly eaten on chilly mornings with a steaming cup of turkish coffee and Bloomberg radio in the background.

So, when it came time to make "baby" oatmeal, I was beyond excited. There's no real secret when it comes to making this dish, and it also means there are no real limits either.

Here's a list of the spices and fruits that are in our son's oatmeal on any given day:

spices

cardamom

cinnamon

nutmeg

allspice

turmeric

fruits

chopped apple

banana

pureed mango

pureed papaya

roasted, chopped mango

roasted, chopped pears

roasted, chopped apples

roasted, chopped peaches

roasted, chopped apricots

chopped sulfur-free raisins

sulfur-free dried blueberries

My recommendation? Try anything, at least once. I think it should be fun to introduce your child to new flavors...have fun with it! Let me know what works, or if you have any oatmeal tips/tricks.

Already working on tomorrow's post....

Adventures in baby feeding.

Creating meals for a 9 month old is no easy feat. They don't spare your feelings when you've given them something they don't like and it can be frustrating finding ways to get them to ingest the vitamins and proteins their growing bodies need. Bottom line--I've had to step up my game.

Committed to making his meals myself, I've decided to post what works (DISCLAIMER: for us, for now).

Great Greens

2 cups frozen spinach, kale, collards, Swiss chard (you can use one of these or all 4)

1 cup shelled Edamame

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

Toss the leafy greens in about an inch of boiling water, just until their color changes to a vibrant green. Add the Edamame and stir for a minute or two. Drain most of the water and pour into a blender/food processor. Mixture should be chunky. Add cheese and blend.

That's it, enjoy!

Already working on tomorrow's recipe...stay tuned.

it's been a while.

I know, I know.

A lot has happened in the time that's passed, (almost 2.5 years!?)

R and I got married, had a baby and might be moving to Israel. It's a lot in such a sort amount of time, no?

Not surprisingly, I've got a lot of opinions and observations when it comes to weddings, pregnancy and parenting so stay tuned...

something I wanted to share

More Israeli Genius

Ok, so maybe you don't like tolls.

But popsicles? you like those? Here in Israel they have these popsicles, called "shlookeem" and I am obsessed with the packaging.

You have a colored plastic tube and a pinched center. when you take it out of the freezer you break it in half and you have two! AND....AND, little kids can eat it without a mess.

Brilliant. Also, it comes sans color, so the kids choose the tube color and there is none to wear, only to eat.

Genius

Ok, so I love Israel. Ain't no surprise.

But I am constantly thrilled by discoveries when I am here. For example, the other day we were driving on highway 6.

For those of you who know, keep quiet.

Instead of "easy pass" and congestion from ill-equipped toll booths, guess what they do here?!

There is only one toll road in all of Israel. To take it, you have to have and "easy pass" like type of device. Because instead of a toll booth, they have the above bridge-like contraption. It scans your pass at whatever speed you are traveling and charges your account. Don't have a pass? They send you a bill.

I LOVE THIS PLACE.

It is so efficient, seriously. No lines, no fumbling for cash. Please save the Big Brother crap for someone who cares. *NEWSFLASH* they are already watching you. Why not skip the line at the toll booth, skip that jerk that will inevitably cut you off at the last minute cause he's in the wrong lane? Come on people....make your life a little easier.

Next post...I'll introduce you to the wonders of "Sponga".

Floating

(a photo from 3 years ago, but you get the general idea...yes?)

After what has been a rather tumultuous few months, I am completely at peace. Things tend to get a little out of your control once in a while, blogs go unwritten, friends' emails unanswered, and for that I apologize.

I am missing a lot, I know. Trader Joe's opened in Brooklyn Heights (sorry Sahadi's), Sarah Palin was interviewed by Katie Couric (some might say horrifically), my least favorite Iranian was at the UN, people in cubicles (no telling where) obsessed over minutia.

I will post more when I can upload all of my photos. Roy and I got back from a road trip to Maine and Nova Scotia not too long ago, so I will start with those.

For today, you'll have to make due with this slightly (read VERY) old photo. Doin' the same stuff, just with slightly shorter hair.

The Javier Bardem of the feline world

This cat makes it so hard to hate him, even though he makes me SNEEZE ALL THE FUCKING TIME.

Wherever I go, he follows me. Mews when I look his way, snuggles up next to me at every opportunity.

This morning, I got back from the gym and he jumped into his new spot behind the couch in the window sill.

I like it when he sits there. It's like he's my bodyguard.

Tour of the Subway?!

They had this really cool thing today in Brooklyn. I should have made a reservation.

They were giving a tour of the Atlantic Avenue Subway tunnel today, and I missed it. How could I have known?

Will have to make a reservation for September, cause I am totally going. LOOK at these pictures!

(image via BHRA site)

(image via BHRA site)
(image via BHRA site)
(image via BHRA site)

top shelf

Spent the day with my lovely friend Cordelia. We were on a mission, ok, I was on a mission.

I rented a ZipCar, and we headed to the new IKEA in Brooklyn. After that, we headed to Fairway Market in Red Hook.

We got a little lost on the way to pick up the car (a BRAND new Subaru Outback --300 miles on it), but it didn't damper our spirit.

At IKEA I needed to pick up a few things (had a list), and we dined on my favorite meatballs with gravy.

Did I mention you can see the STATUE OF LIBERTY from the cafeteria?
At Fairway we got a little lost, but Cordelia was my rock, she helped me stay on task and sane. I am lucky to have her.

When we got back to my apartment to "assemble" some of the pieces I purchased, and we realized that IKEA doesn't include a few of the major parts I needed.

We drove back to IKEA stood in line, negotiated our way through and got what we needed.
Still haven't fully put it all together, perhaps Cordelia will help me this week before Roy returns from Central America.

I could always do it myself.

sure.

Cat in a hot Brooklyn apartment

The cat (Mr. Jack, to his friends) was very hot today and yesterday. He's been laying around like a slug on the kitchen floor.

So I soaked him.

Now, that sounds crazy. Cats hate water, right? WRONG-O.

I held Jack as I gently took cool water in my hand and slowly brought it to his body, gently wetting him on his neck, belly, back of his head and arms and legs. He was stoic and perhaps I may have confused his gracious behavior for enjoyment, when I am sure Roy will say he was being polite and hated every second of it.

I secretly think he loved it. He's so much cooler now. I really think he digged it.

long legs, or short legs?

Went to see Mama Mia yesterday, and spotted some very strange bikes at the bike rack. I normally wouldn't have stopped to check them out, but it takes me so damn long to "tie up" my bike that, well...I had the time.

Here they are, for your viewing pleasure.

Are the riders really tall or really short with a hell of a ladder?

Uncovering more bruises

Yellow and blue...
lovely shades of green and purple...

Maybe it's hard to see the plethora of bruises that have surfaced since my fall Friday, but they're slowly surfacing in all the colors of the rainbow.

Lovely.