Archive for the ‘baby + kids’ Category
June 1, 2010
Shockingly we did nothing exciting for our long weekend. But I took some pictures of the nothing to share:
Cooking from the computer… which is always how I do it these days. Don’t I need an iPad? I do. I could get a nifty stand (or the cheap version) and prop it up on the counter. It would be so modern and lovely.
That’s Sprouted Kitchen I’m using for a variation on her peanut sauce.
We had stir fry
With kind of a Thai-ish peanut sauce. Which was DEEEE-licious. I never make a real sauce, but now I will. Gone are the simple days of soy, white wine, garlic and ginger.
We’re on our second batch of peonies. GAAAAAHHH they are insane. They are way more beautiful when they’re open. Have you seen peonies truly open? They are like 10 inches across and they fade to a pretty cream.
And while I was out back planting our veggies, Brock and Dashiell took a tour of the yard. They were so cute, I had to stage a dirty-handed photoshoot. I mean come on with the little camo hat. It’s from Gap in case you need one.
labels: baby + kids, flowers + greenery, recipes + food
May 28, 2010
3 months, that’s one quarter of his first year, have passed. ONE QUARTER OF HIS FIRST YEAR. He is going to be in preschool (if we get into one), before I’m prepared. I’m quite sure.
Here’s a brief, low-res recap of the first 3 months. I love iPhone for it’s handiness. I’d never changed the wallpaper on mine until I had a baby. Now it changes all the time.
He was so tiny! And had so much hair. Now he’s big and does important things like suck his fists and rollover and screech. And he’s also mostly bald except for that little bit on top. It can either be styled as a combover or a mohawk. The later being preferred though I think it’s slowly, hair by lost hair, getting too thin for even that.
Happy weekending. Perhaps we’ll be back with more frequency next week. We can hope.
labels: baby + kids, our family
May 27, 2010
So some weeks are better in terms of keeping up with the blog. I was in San Diego for a long weekend for my friend Deja’s engagement party and I haven’t exactly gotten back into the swing of things yet. Tis more work that you would think to go out of town with the babe alone. (Brock on the other hand enjoyed a weekend in Palm Springs with his friends for a bachelor party. He owes me. And will begin to repay me by letting me spend the weekend in the backyard planting things. BEGIN.)
Now then. It turns out that babies actually do like that higher pitched kid-friendly music that you associate with mobiles and musical toys and lullabies. And here I was trying to make it through the first year with just slightly more mellow grown up music.
But Michael pointed me in the direction of Rockabye Baby!. Which is a whole collection of lullabye renditions of adult music. Saved! And it’s not that gross synthesized stuff either. Just real percussion instruments doing their thing. Kind of like kindergarten music class, but hip.
So far I just have the Bob Marley album and I have to admit, I kind of love it. We start nap time by doing the baby sway to One Love on the glockenspiel. It’s pretty sweet. Check it out, mamas! You can get the albums on iTunes and Amazon.
labels: baby + kids
May 19, 2010
While we’re on the subject of cute kids apparel currently on sale…
My friend Becca (who is gloriously pregnant with her second little bean) posted a link to See Kai Run‘s sale. I popped over because I find it hard to resist a kids sale these days, and did not leave empty handed. I mean how cute are those little suede shoesies! Dashiell will need shoes in the winter so I am being budget conscious by buying them ahead of time ON SALE. Yes, that’s what I’m telling myself anyway.
Check them out… 50% off, baby.
labels: baby + kids
May 18, 2010
This is like an emergency post so listen up people who have babies, are having babies, or know people who are having babies and need baby presents. Parasols, the boutique I posted about a few months ago with the most cutest handmade clothes ever, is clearing out their merch. Like super cute tees for $5. Impossible not to stock up for upcoming months of babydom.
I bought a bunch of things last night so it’s safe to share now. I very nearly bought one of her super super super cute dress/bloomer sets. The ones I’ve been obsessed with for months. I mean, ONE day we might have a girl? And then I will be prepared? But I resisted. Not because I’m good at restraint… because I don’t know which month she’ll be born so I don’t know which size to buy for summer. WAY over thinking this, obvs.
Go now. Buy cute dresses and bloomers that I cannot. Please. Someone take advantage.
labels: baby + kids
May 14, 2010
Beer traps really do work.
They’re supposed to catch slugs, but in one night I ended up with about 100 earwigs and 1 slug. Earwigs are the bane of my gardening existence. (See the teeny arugula sprouts on the right? Saved!) Also those are eggshells, which are supposed to deter slugs too. Jury still out on that one.
Lentils look like teeny snow peas when they’re on the plant. Cute.
Chioggia beets are delicious, and more so when marinated in rosemary, olive oil, and balsamic and then roasted.
My son is sometimes very serious. Especially when watching the Lakers with his dad. Brock is teaching him to be a sports enthusiast at an early age.
Happy weekend!
Hope you’re all up to something excellent. I’m getting a facial from Melanie’s friend Juliana. She’s the best. If you’re in west LA, definitely try her next time you’re in need.
labels: baby + kids, urban farming
April 28, 2010
Melt me, why don’t you my little boy. Some mornings are still cold in our house and little man gets bundled up in his chair on the kitchen table while I make (decaf, gaaaaahhh) coffee.
And then Brock shoots mini videos with our Flip. Do you guys have a Flip?
We probably wouldn’t have used it much before we had a baby, we’re just not video people I guess. But now it’s the best. I wasn’t really into in the beginning, but watching Dashiell with hiccups when he was one week old is pretty cute. I can’t imagine how fun it will be to watch these in a year… or a decade.
Highly recommend a Flip for expectant parents who don’t have a big video camera. So handy and so easy to use.
labels: baby + kids, our family, pretty products
April 27, 2010
Now that we’re 8 weeks into this whole parenting adventure, I have some things to share for those of you out there who are expecting. Prepare a bit, would be my advice. As in, read a book or at least a chapter on infant sleep. Just to understand it because it’s really different than grown up sleep. Get a book on breastfeeding, just to have as a reference. I didn’t have any problems in that department to start, but then the diet thing came up and it was great to have, well, a companion. And don’t underestimate the power of the 5 S’s.
Here are 3 books and one DVD that I highly recommend for those following shortly into the land of parenthood.
Your Best Birth.
I actually read this shortly after I found out I was pregnant. It was great. It definitely has an agenda, but I didn’t find it overbearing at all and the authors aren’t shy about admitting their biases. I felt like it told me everything I needed to know in terms of what to expect in a hospital birth. And what to be aware of if you prefer to avoid interventions. It also makes a very compelling case for homebirth and midwifery and the book definitely slants in favor of those options, but I was always planning to have a hospital birth and I still loved this book.
The Nursing Mother’s Companion.
An excellent overall reference for all sorts of things that can come up with breastfeeding.
The Sleep Lady’s Good Night Sleep Tight.
I’m not going to necessarily recommend this book in particular because I’ve only read the parts about infant sleep so far, but I can’t say enough how helpful it would be to at least understand infant sleep before the baby comes. So just get A book on sleep. You can always pick up more as your child gets older or if one method doesn’t work for you. I wouldn’t get all obsessive about it, but at least know some basics… like the length of their sleep cycles, how much they should be sleeping in the day and in general, and how their sleep differs from adults. For instance, babies have light sleep first (for the first 20 minutes) followed by deep sleep. This is the opposite of adults and is good to know because if you wait the full 20 minutes after they fall asleep before you physically put them down, you’ll have a much better chance that they’ll stay asleep.
and of course
The Happiest Baby on the Block.
This is a book, but I’d recommend the DVD. It’s one of those things that you really want to see to believe. Our neighbors, Ruth and David, gave us this at about 3 weeks and when we watched it we just looked at each other with our jaws on the floor. The 5 S’s, man. GOOD TO KNOW. If you can borrow the DVD, even better. You really only need to see it once. I’ve already sent ours off to the next expectant mom.
Other things to note that people don’t emphasize enough:
Babies love water. When they’re super upset, draw them a nice warm bath and you can pretty much guarantee that they’ll calm down. We have the Spa Baby tub and it’s awesome. (The key is to let baby be submerged in the water.) I can’t wait to start mommy and me swimming with Dashiell.
Babies love to be naked! Why doesn’t anyone stress this when talking about newborn care? Diaper free time is just about the best time of every day. Especially when it’s sunny out and baby gets to sunbathe.
I’ll probably look at this list in 2 more months and be like, what was I THINKING?? I feel like I’m in danger of coming across a bit sophomoric, but it’s all I have right now so I’m just going with it.
labels: baby + kids
April 23, 2010
If our child was old enough to enjoy this, we’d be there in two shakes of lamb’s tail. But he’s 8 weeks old, so I think most of this would be lost on him…
Attention So. Cal families: the Ace Hotel (the most popular hotel on the interwebs) is hosting the Art of Exchange, a retreat at the Ace for kids and families, THIS WEEKEND. Which means two days and nights of interactive workshops, activities, projects, movie night and smores, whilst lounging by the pool in perfectly civilized weather. None of this 64 degrees and windy.
How fun is that? Karen Kimmel is the mistress of ceremonies and will be leading projects like potato printing, mini gardens, dioramas, and knitting… just good old fashioned crafts that kids love to do. And parents get to partake in vodka popsicles, poolside BBQ and the like. I’m seriously hoping they host another one of these in the fall when Dashiell is at least sitting up and I can go make all the crafts while pretending that I’m “helping” him. I so loved craft projects in school. I used to rock a mean diorama back in the day.
Someone please go and enjoy and then report back. Very much longing for a weekend of sunshine in the desert.
labels: baby + kids, every trip is a honeymoon
April 13, 2010
An update fom babylandia. Little guy is almost 7 weeks.
He is:
Clearly the next leader of the rebel forces,
Smiling!
And reliably sporting a mohawk any chance he gets.
He is not:
Sleeping.
labels: baby + kids, our family
