Happy Spring!

CiBaby and I ushered in the first day of Spring in our Springy duds and a trip to the Macy's flower show with G-Mama. That is a giant rooster behind us.

After perusing the flowers and running through the aisles - shoes and jewelery were CiBaby's fav (T-Daddy will be so pleased!) we went to lunch at Zelo. It was absolutely fabulous. We split the heirloom grain chopped salad and fettucine with asparagus, and we ate every bite.

What a wonderful way to start Spring.

Spring

First Crocus - by Christine Klocek-Lim

This morning, flowers cracked open
the earth’s brown shell. Spring
leaves spilled everywhere
though winter’s stern hand
could come down again at any moment
to break the delicate yolk
of a new bloom.

The crocus don’t see this as they chatter
beneath a cheerful petal of spring sky.
They ignore the air’s brisk arm
as they peer at their fresh stems, step
on the leftover fragments

of old leaves.

When the night wind twists them to pieces,
they will die like this: laughing,
tossing their brilliant heads
in the bitter air.

Common Link?

Do you know what the common link between the following is?

Treats our furry companions, FuzzyButt and FurryBoy, eat you say? You would be correct, however, you are missing one member of the family...CiBaby.

I have found CiBaby munching away, happy as a clam, on FurryBoy's treats several times in the past few weeks. She'll just nab them away from him and start chomping away. Poor guy just sits with sad eyes watching her down his treat.

Today CiBaby discovered a new bevvie...catmilk. She was innocently playing with the containers, stacking and restacking, when she brought them out to the living room and became deviously silent. You know that silence. I walked out to see what she was up to and there, on her little rocker sat the "drink box," top popped, dribbles on the floor and down her shirt, a nice ring around her smiling mouth and a good quarter of the box gone. Got CatMilk?

Boy, my grocery store list just got a lot shorter. Toddler snacks/pet treats - CHECK!

Amazing growth

Boy, I wish my stock portfolio grew as fast as my baby girl!

Since this past October CiBaby went from 17.5 lbs and 28.5" tall to 25.24 lbs and 32.5" tall!!! That's some darn good fertilizer we've been giving her.

The newest trend in water bottle holders...

Does my girl know dual purposing or what? Not only will these take you for over 2 weeks walking around in China they will also hold your water bottles. Genius!

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On a separate note, I finally found the camera connections so I've added a few new pics to the blog. I've posted the elusive CiBaby abode pics, a swimming pic and the CzaMama/T-Daddy pic under "About Me" when we were looking all snazzy a few weeks ago...aren't we cute?!

Heaven in a teacup

I have a "unique" habit of eating wonderful treats out of teacups at home. I love teacups, I don't use them all that often (when I make tea for myself I usually put it in a "Big Gulp" travel mug so it stays warm), they are a great size and I don't have little dessert cups.

The other day I had it in my head to make homemade vanilla pudding. (I don't think CiBaby is quite ready for chocolate so that will have to wait.) I stumbled upon a pudding recipe on the MS Living website and all I can say is that it's an easy way to heaven! I sliced a little "naNana" into the pudding and T-Daddy swears he saw CiBaby's eyes roll to the back of her head.

Easy peasy and delish!

My Sisters

Do you have sisters? I know I do. My sisters did not come to me through birth or adoption, but through my heart and by my choosing. I have big sisters and little sisters, old sisters and new sisters. My sisters give me sage advice, laugh with and at me and hold my hand when I cry. My sisters always give it to me straight and don't sugar coat the truth. Some of my sisters live close and others live far away, even other countries. No matter the distance or the time between each conversation I know they are there for me and I for them, and they are always always with me in my heart.

I love my sisters, you know who you are.

Wisdom from a Starbucks cup

the way i see it...

#283

"The most important thing in life is to stop saying "I wish" and start saying "I will." Consider nothing impossible, then treat possibilities as probabilities." - David Copperfield


#258 (this one was interesting and a bit thought provoking - and no, I'm not a conservative)

"Because true conservatives are pessimists, they are happier than liberals, for three reasons. First, pessimists are rarely surprised. Second, when they are wrong they are delighted to be so. Third pessimists do not put their faith in princes - in government. They understand that happiness is a function of fending for oneself. Happiness is an activity; it is inseparable from the pursuit of happiness." - George F. Will - Pulitzer Prize-winning author and columnist.

Another First

We've done first teeth (to us), first crawl, first airplane rides, first steps, and first English words...now we have first amusement rides! (G-mama will be thrilled to have a riding buddy)

T-Daddy and I took CiBaby to our local indoor amusement park (hey, it's March 1 on the Tundra) for a little 20-month birthday adventure. She didn't quite know what to make of the merry-go-round, and almost started a sympathy cry for another little girl, but once the horse started moving and the wind started whipping through her hair she enjoyed it. I would have shown y'all some action shots, but the only clear picture you would have seen is a picture of the arm of the child standing next to me that was waving at her kin...every time they came by.

Simple Joys

As challenged by my good friend Mrs. M, here is my list of 5 simple joys that don't include husbands and children.

1. My wild card. I have a gift card to a local massage joint that I just found out does reflexology...now to pick a date!
2. Quiet time alone to read a book or do one of my many little craft projects.
3. When the sink is empty of dishes to wash (must get crackin' on this one, to make myself happy ;-) and filling another bag/box with crap we just don't need. Too much, too much! *
4. Planning this year's veggie and herb garden.
5. Girlfriend time.

What's on your list?

* I had to stop myself from listing a bunch of cleaning/organizing things as it's a source of joy and also a huge source of frustration right now.

A taste of the harvest

Nothing tastes better than something you've nurtured and grown on your own land (okay, it's a city lot, but still) that you've put up for the winter in order to have wonderfully delectable Sunday dinners that have all hands crying for more. This makes me want to do The Growing Challenge (brought to my attention by my good friend Hippy Goodwife), which wouldn't be too hard since I only grew beets and beans from seed last year, but I won't cop out and only add the obligatory 1 new item...but I digress.

Today I pulled out pumpkin that I grew this summer, baked and froze for the winter. I also had a package of 4 cheese ravioli. Ah ha! I know what I can make...lazy CzaMama's pumpkin ravioli! I'd never made it before, but the image of it was amazing! Sure I've actually made pumpkin/squash ravioli, and let me tell you, it was divine but really, who has time like that with a toddler?! Not I.

So this was my solution. I melted about 3-4 tbsp butter (I said this was good!) in a medium saucepan, added 1 tsp of homegrown, dried sage, browned the butter and added it to my Cuisinart that already contained the 1.5 lb of thawed pumpkin. I then added a dash of freshly grated nutmeg and about 1/4-1/3 cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Completely pureed the pumpkin and while it while it was whirling about I added enough whole milk to make it "saucy," like CzaMama.

I set the sauce on a very low burner, and set to boiling the ravioli (following the package directions). Once the ravioli was cooked, I drained it and tossed in the pumpkin sauce to lightly coat the pillows of loveliness.

Needless to say, CiBaby gobbled up her dinner tonight, which has been a feat lately as she's been pushing a lot away. But this dinner contained her fav 5...cheese, noodles, pumpkin, peas and an apple for dessert.

Nothing says SUCCESS like a bulging belly.

Is that a Baby Ruth in the pool?

Yes, Ladies and Gentlemen, someone pooped in the pool tonight...and it wasn't CiBaby or me! (We checked CiBaby's swim diaper, and I'll tell you if that poop was able to squeeze out of her skivvies it deserved to be let free!)

"EVERYONE OUT OF THE POOL!" yelled the instructors...uhh okay! It's not like I want to hang around a floating turd. A quick "examination" by the lead instructor (she got a net...no hands, no hands) determined that yes indeed class would be canceled.

On our drive home T-Daddy said to me, "I was wondering if it was her since the poop was swirling around your swimming suit." Oh barf. Did I mention that we blew bubbles in the pool tonight too? Double barf.

Off to have a drink...It's medicinal!