Things are going pretty smoothly in our little realm.  The boys are great, Liam ate all the sweet potato/carrot food I made him, and also the banana/yogurt mixture.  Next is broccoli/green bean/potato (bought from a local farmer :-).  The first time around he didn't like it, but I'm hopeful.  He didn't like the sweet potatoes the first time around, but then he ate both jars.  I feel so virtuous making my own baby food.  I use the food processor and everything.  The only thing I don't do is make a lot and freeze it in ice cube trays.  That's too much work for me.  

  So we are deep in the middle of summer and I want to wrap my arms around it.  I want to go camping, I want to go to the beach, I want to go to the fair, I want to go blueberry picking.  Is that too much for the five weeks we have left of summer?  

"animal, vegetable, miracle"

I am reading this wonderful book, "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle", by Barbara Kingsolver.  I first read her fiction books ("The Bean Trees" is great) but this is nonfiction... and it's changing the way I think about food!  I'm sure we are all more conscious about what we're eating, how can we not be with all the info in the news about trans fats, poisoned tomatoes, etc.  I buy organic when possible, no hydrogenated oils, and have heart palpitations when my son drinks soda.  Then I started reading this book, and I am inspired to become a locavore.  This is a movement wherein you buy food only from local sources.  If it is trucked, flown, or in any other way freighted in, then it's off the list.  The purpose is to support local producers and local economy, but also to avoid increasing the amount of fuel and greenhouse gases, and wasted energy in order to ship strawberries to NY in January, or to ultra-pasteurize milk to maintain its "freshness" on its 2000 mile journey to [insert big name supermarket here].  The Kingsolver family moved to a farm in VA and began growing their own fruits and veggies, EVERYTHING they ate had to come from a local source.  She even made her own cheese.  I wish I could go that far, but I know I'll never do it.  I can barely work up the will to make baby food (which I did tonight - two jars worth!  Unfortunately my wee gourmand rejected my offering, but that's another blog).  So we are not going to start making our own cheese, pasta, bread, or raising chickens; but I am going to only buy local foods, especially produce.  I try not to think too hard about the lasting trauma I'm causing my son when I make him say "please", "thank you", and "may I be excused", or the numerous other ways in which I could be driving him to future psychotherapy; however I do worry about what I am putting into, and on, his body.  Who knew parabens and phthalates might affect my chances for grandchildren (at the least)?  There's a cool website about all the environmental hazards that could affect children.  Warning: it's not for the easily paranoid.  It's www.safemama.com   It's interesting to read, but only in tidbits.

So I encourage you all to read this book - it's very interesting, and she mixes anecdotes with facts about the science of food, which is both enjoyable and enlightening.

sleepless in santa paula

Our angel, Liam, has decided that sleep is not his thing.  Have I mentioned this before?  I thought I was so smart because he never slept in our bed (unlike his brother who slept with us until he was over a year old); I thought this way Liam will learn to sleep by himself.  This worked like a charm while Liam was in his bassinet, he was sleeping six hours a night when he was a month old.  Then we moved him to his big boy bed, and he knew.  For a while he would "nap" from 8 until 9, then he'd stay up until 11 or 12!  It was craziness.  So it was time to put the hammer down.  Liam is crying it out, and it is hell.  It tears our hearts to hear him crying, and, crying, and crying.  The first night was 55 minutes, tonight it was 50 minutes.  I just hope that what I read is true - that after a week he'll get used to it and learn to put himself to sleep.  I see babies doing it all the time so I know it's possible.  But I can't shake the feeling that I am a bad mommy for not holding him until he falls asleep, and then not holding him all evening long until he finally sleeps.  There is a part of me that feels like I should just hold him.  I really hope I don't regret this later!

lovely summer nights

When I got out of the car tonight, it was the nicest, balmiest summer night.  I love nights like this.  It makes me feel like I live in a small mid-western farm or something.  The crickets are chirping like crazy, there was a big, green grasshopper on the wall, and the stars are out in all their glory.  Tomorrow we are going to set up the tent and camp outside.  Owen asked Loren yesterday if we could camp outside, so we can  have a campfire.  He's such a sweetie, of course we said yes.  We want to go "real" camping this summer so this will be a test run.  We've been camping with Owen, but Liam hasn't braved the great outdoors yet.  We have a new, big tent in which we should all fit, even Liam's travel bed.  I'll keep you all posted.

name dropping

So I forgot to mention that when we went to Las Vegas we saw Tana.  We were there for fun, but she was there for work.  I also have to say that she got me some great things from her trade show, especially a reusable shopping bag that is so big and handy -  I use it all the time.  The best part is that I can fold it up and put it in my purse.  Unfortunately we have no pictures with Tana (I don't know why, except that she was pretty busy so we only got to see her for a couple of dinners).  We love seeing Neenee, and wish she was closer!  

pro pix

Yesterday we took the boys to get their pictures taken.  We don't have a studio picture of the two of them yet so we thought now would be a good time.  Liam is such a smiley baby, we thought this would be a breeze.  Wouldn't you know, we get the boys dressed up, get them in front of the camera... and Liam bursts into tears.  For some reason, Liam didn't like taking pictures with Owen.  It might have been the big fluffy fliffer-fluff that the photographer was waving in his face.  When he saw those colored fluffs coming at him, his bottom lip trembled and you could see the tears starting.  We managed to get really cute individual pictures, but I want "brother pictures".  I'm going to give it a few weeks and try again. The pictures are great though, don't you think? 

poor neglected blog

So much has been going on lately!  We have been on the go-go-go.  Vegas was a blast.  We stayed at the Stratosphere, this is the third time now.  Whenever we go to Vegas, we check in, then hit the Strip after a short rest.  That first day, when we see the other hotels (Mirage, Caesar's Palace) I always vow to stay there the next time.  We walk through the casinos, check out the pools and that's when I realize why we always stay at the Stratosphere - the pool is [basically] empty.  At the Mirage the pool was FULL of people.  It was standing room only, and no kids.  The pool at the "S" is nice with room to swim and play.  Yes, you have to drive when you want to go to the strip, but I think it's worth it.  Besides we are not gamblers or drinkers (not since the boys anyway) so we are happy to swim, visit the white tigers, swim, have dinner on the Strip, then home by 10 or 11.  Boring to some, fun and relaxing for us.  

  We also got some great tickets to a Dodger game.  We invited Erica and had such a good time.  I think good seats make all the difference to my enjoyment of a game.  Here are some pix: