Recipes: Best & Worst of 2011

Remember this post where I was talking about being in a recipe rut, and how I had added some new links to my blog page of sites that looked like fun? Well, that plus the advent of Pinterest has rocked my recipe world. I have found some really great--and some truly terrible-- recipes this year. So, here I am to be a pal and share the love. Call it a "thanks!" for voting in my hair poll. Before we begin, I must say that I am fully willing to concede that the foods under my "worst" heading may be there because I made a mistake while preparing--or maybe my taste buds are just different from yours; in any case, don't be offended if one of your favorites landed there. I also apologize for lack of pictures. But I'm giving you links to pictures! That's almost as good, right?

Worst First:

1. Simplest Homemade Spaetzle: I LOVE spaetzle. If you've never had it, it's a lovely eggy German noodle dish, often served with a brown gravy or with herbs. When done correctly, this is one of those foods that just hits the spot; it's filling and comforting and all that is joyous. I have attempted to make this several times at home using different boxed foods, and one day found this recipe on Smitten Kitchen. Well. It was terrible. Not a bit better than the awful boxed stuff; wreaked havoc on my kitchen and took forever to make. Good thing Siegfried's is here or I'd never get some decent spaetzle.

2. Sour Cream Enchiladas: People raved about these! I felt they tasted fine but they required a lot of work, and I found the flavor just average. Another recipe that made a mess in my kitchen (Note: when I say this, I am not trying to pass of my negligence in keeping my workspace clean; the spaetzle dripped batter and splashed water everywhere; these enchiladas got grease and other things every where from splattering in the pan).

3. Sliced Baked Potatoes: Again, not a lot of pay off for a lot of work; it was difficult to slice so thin so close to the bottom of the potatoes without cutting all the way through--and in the end, it just tasted like chips. Would have been faster to slice thin sheets with a mandoline, then fry, salt, and pepper.

Now some winners! (in no particular order):

1. Penne a la Betsy: I omit the shrimp because I live inland and therefore in fear of too-fishy fish. But, listen. It's pasta; it's cream; it's tomatoes; it's white wine. It's simple, elegant, and crazy-delicious.

2. Tomato Soup: If you, like me, can't stand Campbell's, this is for you. Savory and simple, it's the perfect mate to your grilled cheese sandwich. Would be lovely if you added some cream and/or cooking sherry.

3. Bran Muffins: With butter and honey, I guarantee these will end up being a favorite. This recipe makes a ton. I make the whole recipe and freeze some in freezer bags and pull them out occasionally so I don't have to do the work for a few months. Also, you know, ahem. They keep you going. Give them to your toddler with something warm to drink.

4. Chocolate Cut-Out Cookies: Maybe they taste so good because they're in the shape of Darth Vader's head and your inner nerd finds endless joy in defeating this most evil of villains. But I'm fairly certain it ALSO has something to do with the fact that they're basically fudge shortbread cookies. Sigh. I think it's time to make these again. It wouldn't be Christmas without doing my part to take down the Empire.

5. Outrageous Brownies: You can use a coffee substitute, or even a coffee-flavored syrup, like the ones Torani makes. You don't actually taste the coffee; it just serves as a chocolate enhancer. To that end, I also recommend hazelnut flavoring in lieu of the coffee. YUM.

6. Easy Chicken Marsala: I'm actually making this--again--for dinner tonight.

7. Chicken Broccoli Supreme: I think her directions are somewhat confusing, but if you've made a casserole before, chances are, you'll be able to navigate this just fine. This one was probably the biggest hit with the hubs.

Poll: Hair Me Out

First thing to know about me as a gal-pal: I can never decide what I want to do with my hair, and generally resort to going around my circle of friends to gather a general opinion. I don't really think I'm vain; I think I'm really bad at imagining things. If I go shopping for home decor or an accessory to a specific outfit, I need to bring along a swatch or picture for guidance; my memory is just not accurate in figuring these kinds of things out. I also lack the ability to stand right in front of a mirror and imagine myself with a different hair cut/color. And so, dear friends, I'm asking you to indulge me--and warning you it's not likely to be the last time. I have provided some photos of the current state of my hair, which I have been trying to grow out for a while now. Going to be adding a few more layers in a couple weeks.

I know I want to do something with the color, but cannot decide what. Once I'm all decided I want to go blonde, I remember my lifelong desire to be a brunette as well as the guilty voice in my head for turning my back on my naturally reddish strands. In short, I am overwhelmed by the possibilities. And so, it's up to you, dear, dear, indulgent friends. Please help me decide my next hair direction. It should be noted emphatically that I do not think a hair transformation will make me look like Julianne Moore, Natalie Portman, or one of the Olsen twins. We're just talking color here, folks. Help a girl out! So, here are your options. Please vote in my fancy little poll off to the right, and feel free to add your thoughts to the comments section below.

Option 1: Stay true to my red roots by weaving in a couple shades of reds/auburns into my natural shade.

Option 2: Playing up my natural highlights by weaving in a few shades of blonde.

Option 3: Complete overhaul: Dying hair a medium brown and weaving in a lowlight and a highlight.

Option 4: Leave the color alone; just get a new cut (if this is your vote, I require you to leave a comment letting me know what kind of cut you have in mind.

I certainly appreciate your help!

The Haps, December 2011

I write a lot about motherhood and the kiddos' personal development, but very rarely do I record what we've been up to. And since this blog is the only journal I have time to keep right now, here's what we've done the last several months.

*A trip to Higg & Pop-Pop's in Washington, pre Ada (May?)

*Meeting Sarah Dessen, one of my hero YA writers (April?)

*Meeting my nephew Asher! (May)

*Got a new kitchen table & light fixture over table (don't even remember when)

*Chris & W got to go to a family reunion so W could hang out with the California & Texas Tingeys, whom he rarely sees (July)

*Gave birth to the sweetest baby girl on the planet (July)

*Learned how to comb W's hair so it doesn't stick straight up (spray wax, folks--who'd have thought?)

*Lots of walks to the library (after Ada was born--definitely NOT the type to walk several blocks uphill in July at 8+ months pregnant). W got his first library card (and late fees...).

*Walks to the B Street park to play on the swings (July/August)

*Having some of the foreign exchange students from Chris's classes over for dinner (September)

*Attending the beautiful wedding of my dear, dear friend, Whitney; first time inside Manti temple. (July?)

*Renovating entryway/bathroom (October)

*Hosting Halloween party (October)

*Countless trips to Lowe's, the zoo, and Costco

*Finally, FINALLY deciding on and buying a double stroller (was this process agonizing for anyone else? There is no such thing as the perfect double stroller; I am happy to say, however, that I'm in love with what I got! In many ways I like it better than my single!)

*Going to a new ward since the ward boundaries within the stake were redrawn.

*Lots of visits from my parents and Chris's parents

*Christmas lights at the zoo

Ada, 5 months + Some Pics

I can't believe how quickly time is going by with this tiny girl. She is just about the sweetest little thing you'll ever meet.

I decided that once a month I'm going to sit at the computer and take some pics with the kiddos using the built-in camera. Who is it that's always snapping pics of the family? The Mama. Who remembers to take pictures of the Mama? No one. So just so my children don't think I was never around during their young years, I'm going to plop them down here with me and kiss on them and make silly faces, so that there is SOME kind of documentation of me in their lives. And so there is some documentation of my life, period. So here are Ada's 5 month pics (a couple days late) along with her Mama. It must be said: Not all the pictures turned out this nicely. In about half of them, she is pulling my hair really, really hard and I am wincing in pain. I guess she likes the waves; I hardly have the time to do it this way because I have a ton of hair. But apparently it's a big hit with the under 1 crowd.

(I edited this on picnik.com. They had a seasonal feature called "winterize," which is the effect you see on this photo. Kinda funky, but fun and festive.)

*Tries so hard to sit up and stand (!) on her own

*Hair has turned a bit blonder

*Has accumulated quite the assemblage of nicknames, including: Sweet Cheeks (from Chris), Sweetie/Sweetheart (from me), Sweet Dreams (from W), ladybug, cupcake, lovebug (my nickname as a wee one), Miss Ada (W does not like this one. I say, "Hello, there, Miss Ada!" W says, "That is NOT Miss Ada. That is ADA." Ok, little man, calm down), baby girl, baby sister, etc., etc.

*Is really, really (really) interested in trying our food. You should have seen her at our building's Christmas party tonight; she eyed every forkful from Chris's plate to his mouth and tried a few times to intercept it

*Has mostly gotten used to tummy time

*Rolls in all directions

*Scoots/spins around on her back

*Likes to watch SuperWhy with W (I'm a horrible mother; she's 5 months old and already loves TV; cringe)

*You must look at her at all times while she is awake. Lack of staring in her direction will result in tantrums. Tangent: They say babies can not be spoiled. They say babies don't throw tantrums. Well, "they" have never met my children. I'm not saying this is malicious/bad behavior, but both my children as babies have had a deep need to be stared at all the time. I think it has to do with this stage of babyhood. It's like they're thinking, "Hey. I'm stuck here laying on my back all day long. The least you could do is look at me and entertain me." It makes sense. It also makes me a little bit crazy. As soon as W could sit up by himself, he became very independent during his play time (and still is); here's hoping Ada follows the same pattern.

Thankful, "I Celebrate the Day"

I'd had this idea of posting 29 things I am grateful for this year: one blessing for each year I've been alive (say it isn't so). I was excited; it sounded so very thoughtful and poetic.

But last night I was listening to Christmas music while getting Ada ready for bed, taking in her smiles, her softness, her sweetness. The next song came on: I Celebrate the Day, by Reliant K. Now, anyone who's ever seen a chick flick with me (or has read this blog for any length of time) knows I'm not terribly sentimental; I'm practical, probably to a fault. I generally don't cry or get overly emotional about media.

But this song makes me cry--or at least tear up-- every time I hear it. This song captures the moment that we connect the birth of the Christ child with the scope and meaning of His life; that moment when a child was born and this world changed. It's a moment of reflection for all of us: Is this the relationship I want to have with my Savior? How have I improved since last year?

None of this is terribly remarkable as far as Christmas songs go. I am grateful for the yearly opportunity to count His atonement, His example among my most precious blessings. But what gets me every time is thinking about the births of my own children and thinking what their lives have done for mine. I think of sitting in my hospital bed of the maternity ward, staring down into their perfect and trusting newborn faces:

"And the first time

That you opened your eyes,

Did you realize

That you would be my Savior?

(Will)

And the first breath

That left your lips,

Did you know

That it would change this world forever?"

(Ada)

Becoming a mother shook up my world. I'm still reeling from the shock. This job is nothing if not demanding. It will bend you until you break, then break you again. It will insist on more even when you are in an emotional deficit. It will also make you feel like the sole winner of a billion-dollar jackpot. There is no experience to compare with the awe-struck marvel you feel when looking into your child's face. Even when they're being naughty and you're trying to not laugh. Even when your fuse is about to blow.

"The cultivation of Christlike qualities is a demanding and relentless task--it is not for the seasonal worker or for those who will not stretch themselves, again and again." Spencer W. Kimball

So many days I feel like I am on one side of a large field, calling out, "Hey! What happened to you?" to the pre-baby, care-free me on the other side. More often than not, the good days are the days when I turn my back on that girl, realizing my happiness is no longer in that field, but in the obstacle course on the other side. Having children has stretched me. It has made me feel like a stranger to myself.

I am thankful.

These children of mine: do they know this? Do they know that they have changed my life, my character so entirely? Do they know that I love them so much I can never be the same? Do they know what I never would have supposed, that they would save me from myself?

This Thanksgiving-Christmas season, I am thankful that I have lost myself, that I have the opportunity to re-build myself from the ground up. I am thankful for the chance to shake off of me the things I never liked about myself anyway. I am thankful for a husband who understands that I am interested in more than just getting through this job of motherhood; that if motherhood is going to demand something of me, I'm going to demand something from it in return. I am thankful for a 2-year-old boy who increasingly shows affection to his sister and the rest of us. I am thankful for the baby girl who looks up at me with so much love and trust. I am thankful for that baby, that child, that Man born so long ago who made all of these things possible.

Michelle Duggar

I read last night that the Duggars are expecting their 20th. Let the record show that when that child is born, these people will have 10x the number of children I do. Four x the number my parents did. That is a lot of children. Naturally, my opinions jumped to the same ones most people seem to be having. "Twenty children? Are they insane??? That poor woman. How degrading. How irresponsible. What a terrible message to be sending to the children she already has." Shock. Horror. Honestly? Disgust. I slandered her over my lunch out with my mom and sisters while one child slept in her car seat and the other ate his fries quietly.

And then I read this (scroll down a bit for the story). And this.

Michelle Duggar is not the worst mother in the world. She's not even close. She loves her children; she wants her children; she somehow takes care of her children. And weird as the situation is, her children seem to be turning out pretty well. Has this much press been devoted to the horrifying displays on Desperate Housewives or the too-numerous-to-mention reality shows spotlighting overly rich and underly principled housewives? Michelle Duggar is a far cry from the bleached-out, lipo-suctioned, half-plastic, melanoma-laden drunkards and addicts on these shows. And yet she's the one talked about as though she's some crazy, irresponsible, oppressed loon. By what standard is having children (even a LOT of children) more reprehensible than than these horrifying "real housewives?"

I remember watching an episode of Sex & the City (I know, I know) on TBS. They were at lunch, having their enlightened, liberal conversations when the topic turned to abortion. They'd all had at least one. It was just breaths away from becoming a contest over who'd had the most. How very liberated they were. It was sickening. I turned the channel and never turned it back. You want to talk about bad motherhood? There were four prime examples right there. Women who elected to kill their own children just because. They weren't victims of rape or incest or some other horrifying circumstance. I realize they're fictional, but they are also representational.

And let's talk about male oppression here for a sec. Michelle Duggar is having her 20th child with a man she's been married to for years. He stands by her even after her body has undergone the changes of 20 pregnancies, and she wants to have these children. You may not agree with their decision, but as a husband and wife, they agree with each other. Let's look again at these "liberated" real housewives and single glam-bots. They have surgically and otherwise ripped their bodies apart, begging to achieve an ideal for the sake of the men in their lives. They have been convinced that liberation means sexual liberation--meaning they should have sex whenever they want to men who are not committed to them even if they do become pregnant. Tell me which scenario sounds more like the evil machinations of a chauvinistic segment of the male society? Men get all the sex they want and none of the responsibility? They've even managed to convince women that children are an oppression and burden, so they'll never try to convince them to commit for the sake of a child? The abortion would even be the woman's idea?

Maybe a blog isn't the best place for discussing politics and other controversial topics. Maybe you'll never read here again because you're offended by what I have to say. But it needs to be said: When did becoming a woman become so messed up? Why must the standard for the "desired" life be the male standard of a job and a (perceived) lack of responsibility? It's the most sexist untruth out there.

Ada, 4 months

This girl is just too much fun. There aren't enough hours in the day to soak up her extra-special goodness. Stats first:

Length: 25.25 inches (83%!!!)

Weight: 13.5 lbs (46%)

Sweetness: Off the charts

*Had her first (and hopefully last) ear infection last week.

*Daddy's girl

*Has a smile for everyone, even people who aren't looking at her

*Rolls from stomach to back (well, she's done it twice, but I'm counting it!)

*Excellent fine motor skills; grabs at everything

*Acid reflux is mostly under control

*Had her first taste of apple juice today

*Hair at the crown of her head is super long--about 3 inches--and seems to be settling into a color similar to mine

*Loves to "chat"

*Has ticklish sides, neck and thighs (oh, those thighs!)

*Likes playing with Mr. Octopus, Mr. Frog, and watching W do whatever he is doing

*Went swimming for the first time today (and I forgot my camera!)

Can you believe those eyes? Big as big and blue as blue. She's such a sweet little baby.

Will, 2.5

This post is about a month late, but I wanted to document what W's up to at 2 1/2 years.

*Doesn't nap most days; has "quiet time" instead, during which he is supposed to stay and play in his room. He likes to use the drawers (and empty them all out) in his dresser as steps to climb on top, open the shutters, and look out into the city. There probably isn't a 2-year-old in this city with a better view.

*More "famine" than "feast" in his toddler eating habits (though he'd probably eat a lot more if I let him eat sweet things all day. Looks like he got my sweet tooth; seriously, we don't know where he gets his energy from).

*Is going through a funk of not wanting to pray on his own; he will occasionally agree to pray with help.

*Learning which letters make which sounds... sort of. We're working on it; mostly, he's fascinated by identifying letters when he sees them. He loves PBS Kids shows about the alphabet, like Super Why and Word World. He cries every day when WW is over, and loves to sing the "Let's Build a Word!" song for Ada.

*Counts very well.

*Is a great big brother. Makes sure Ada has her pacifier, sings her songs when she's sad, runs into her room when he hears her wake up so he can talk to her, pretends to talk to her on the phone.

*Loves doing whatever we are doing. He loves helping me cook and clean (let's all pray these stick with him, hm?), taking out the trash and/or recycling with Chris, helping with any project that involves any kind of tool. It almost doesn't matter his mood or the activity. If we ask him to help, he wants to help.

*Eyes have turned from crazy blue to a light blue-green-gray color.

*Loves snuggles and hugs.

*Great with compliments. He says, "Nice glasses, Mommy!" "Nice hair, Mommy!" "Nice pants, Mommy!"

*When he wakes up in the morning, he starts yelling, "Beeeeeeeeccaaaaaaa, where aaaaaaaare you? Chriiiiiiiiiiiiis, where aaaaaaaaare you?"

*Loves Costco, Target, grocery shopping; will frequently charm customers by singing songs as loudly as he possibly can. This child needs no amplification assistance.

I'm so grateful for this little man in my life. He has taught me how to love motherhood, a job I am blessed and happy to have. I love his endless smiles, his playfulness, his curiosity, his companionship as we run errands, his attempt to win every battle by "smizing." (Tyra Banks would be so, so proud.) Mostly, I love the rare moments I have him, still, in my arms or on my lap. He's getting way too big way too fast. I do love watching it happen, though. He's the greatest adventure; I'm happy to be along for the ride.

Grammar Meltdown Mistakes, a.k.a Why I Am a Word Snob

As a proofreader/editor, I get a lot of questions from people about the correct way to use words, grammar, and punctuation. I think people are secretly worried that I am editing every word that leaves their mouths (the way that I worry psychologists can secretly see all of my personality flaws); but I am not, truly. I believe that in everyday conversation, it is more important to seek to understand your friend/boss/neighbor than it is to line-by-line edit what they say.

And since I am also a former English major, I'll be the first to say that some rules were made to be broken--as long as they are broken intentionally for an obvious reason. Far be it from me to limit the creativity of innovative novelists and poets and people intelligently expressing their personalities on their blogs. I break grammar/punctuation rules all. the. time.

There are a few rules, however, which--when broken--drive me batty. Batty, I tell you! And for the good of all mankind, I'm here to share them all with you today, and for good reason.

When I worked at the Daily Utah Chronicle, I was the 3rd editor in our assembly line, which on our staff basically meant I was the last line of defense before stories went to press. Mostly, I edited the other editors' work and made sure the hed (headline, to non-news folks) was in working order. One day a front-page story about public health came to my desk. I read through the story, then came back to the top to study the hed. Folks, the "l" was missing. If not for editors, the Chrony would have had a huge, embarrassingly inaccurate headline about pubic health on the front page for all to see and mock. Can you even imagine?

One of my news-ed professors at the U had what he called "meltdown" mistakes. Each time you committed a meltdown error, he deducted a huge chunk of your grade; if you made ten in the course of the semester, I believe he failed you altogether. It was brutal, effective. I can't remember his 10 rules, but I've got my own here for you. These are rules (I have to admit it, however despicable) I judge people by. They are really the only mistakes that bother me enough to make me stop and reiterate the rule in my mind so I do not find myself committing the same error.

1. Confusing "less" and "fewer." Use "less" when describing an unquantifiable amount of something (usually broad and indistinct concepts like love and money). Use "fewer" when you are able to count the item. You have less love and fewer hugs. You have less cash and fewer dollar bills. Frequently, people just use "less." I heard it on one of my favorite TV shows, and it made my heart sad.

2. Making up words. Believe it or not, but "alot" and "alright" are not actually words, ever. "A lot" and "all right" are both correct, as is "already," which means something different from "all ready."

3. Could of/would of/should of. Many people don't stop to think that what they are actually saying is could've/would've/should've, contractions for: could have/would have/should have.

4. Different "than." Should actually be different "from," always. I am different from my next-door neighbor.

5. Good vs. well: I once had a wrong but well-intentioned friend announce to our group once that you never say, "I feel good." She then went on to say that you should always say "I feel well." I cringed. I looked at the floor. I wanted to curl up in the corner and chew my hair. Ultimately, I kept my mouth shut. It is actually acceptable to say that you feel good, if "good" is how you feel. It is incorrect to say "I feel good," however, if what you are trying to say is that your sense of touch is above average. In such a case, you must say, "I feel well" if your word choice is between "good" and "well." I try not to use the word "feel" at all unless it applies to my sense of touch. For an in-depth reason as to why you can answer to someone that you "feel good" or "are good," check out this article by Grammar Girl.

6. Misusing "nauseous" and "nauseated." When you feel sick to your stomach, chances are you will let someone know you feel nauseous. Nauseous is the word to describe something that causes you to be sick to your stomach. "The smell of vinegar is nauseous; therefore, I am nauseated." *Note: I posted this about 10 minutes ago; my mom texted to let me know I forgot the word "that" in my third sentence. See? Even editors need editors. One pair of eyes is never enough. Thanks, Mum. :)

7. The unnecessary "s." Forwards, backwards, towards, aways, anyways. There really isn't anything wrong with the "s" at the end of these words. In the print news world, they are unacceptable, because they take up more precious space--and space is money. I lived by this rule for so long that now I can't stand the unnecessary "s." It just doesn't make sense to me.

8. Mixing up further/farther. Use "further" when dealing with an unquantifiable distance; use "farther" when you aren't. I might be farther along in Wuthering Heights than you are, but there's no question that you're further in love with it than I am.

9. Spelling numbers vs. using figures. This is another newspaper style; to be honest, I'm not sure what the rule is in everyday usage, but it doesn't stop me from noticing it every time. According to AP (Associated Press) style, spell out numbers one through nine. Use figures for numbers 10 and greater. There are several smaller caveats to this rule, but only one notable exception: at the beginning of a sentence. Never start a sentence with figures. If 142 guests came to your birthday party, you'd say "One hundred forty-two."

10. Mispronouncing "escape/especially." Warning: I am going to sound like the most elitist, condescending, stuck-up snob you know when I say the following, but I don't shirk the challenge or apologize for my emphasis when I say with the full measure of my 4'11 stature: You have never once "excaped" anywhere, ever. You just as surely have never "expecially" liked something or thought someone was "expecially" rude for correcting you on how you say the words "escape" or "especially." This is the poor-word-usage equivalent of nails on a chalkboard. If you pronounce these words this way in my presence, it might look like I'm just staring back into your eyes; but what I'm actually doing is having an Ally MacBeal-like fantasy of slapping you across the face and watching your head spin round and round. There is no "x" in either of these words, so don't pronounce them as though there are.

Birthday Week 2011

Mine and Chris's birthdays are just five days apart. And for a couple years now--since I discovered the novelty of the birthday freebie--the weeks surrounding our birthdays have become a mega-celebration. Seriously, folks, if you live near any of these businesses, sign up for their email clubs; they e-mail infrequently and you get heaps of freebies around birthday time. Or consider opening a junk account just for these kinds of e-mails. This year some of the free meals/treats we enjoyed were at:

*Benihana

*Baskin-Robbins

*Rodizio Grill

*Noodles & Co.

*Red Robin

But anyway, this post is not a dedication to the birthday freebie. We had such a fun, crazy week, with all the going out and redecorating projects at home. Chris probably felt like his fall break wasn't much of a break, but I think he enjoyed himself all the same. Since he's not big on cake, on his birthday we had celebratory root beer floats:

(W decided to help Chris eat his root beer float.)

(Then he decided to help me eat mine.)

Renovations: Entryway & Front Bathroom

The woman who lived in this condo before we did was old. And she had old tastes, manifested mostly by the fact that almost every room has wallpaper in it. After steaming off all the junk on the entryway and bathroom, I have come to the conclusion that there is no force on this earth powerful enough to persuade me to wallpaper--ever. That was one of the most disgusting and infuriating projects, and only the desire to tear down more wallpaper that is old and hideous (and all over this house) will induce me to undertake the project again.

See what I mean:

(Entryway--no, we did not steam off all the wallpaper with our humidifier. We were just curious...)

(That's fabric, folks--she took the same fabric she made her drapes from and actually had it wallpapered to the wall. Insanity.)

(Bathroom)

After removing, replacing, and tearing apart this particular area, we ended up with this:

Much better. And while the project is by no means perfect (this was, after all, both mine and Chris's first time removing wallpaper, repairing dry wall, and painting), it is by leaps and bounds better than what it was.

On the Rebound

It's been awhile since I've seen my chocolate chip cookies. I wish I could say it was going well. But there isn't a night when I don't think about opening the fridge and pulling out the Costco-sized tub of Nestle tollhouse cookie dough for a late-night booty call. And I do mean booty, because that's exactly where it's headed. Once on the lips, forever on the hips.

But in spite of the nightly craving, I'm happy to say I have had only one relapse, and that's because my sister brought some chocolate chip cookies for dessert last week when she came for dinner. I justify. Whatever.

But the truth is, I'm rebounding hardcore. Giving up my one true love was meant to increase the health of my overall eating habits, but I find that what I'm actually doing is trying to find a substitute that hits the spot so very, very well. Cupcakes, cheesecake, ice cream, brownies. You name it, I've probably had a shameful rendezvous with it since forsaking my beloved.

I would LOVE to be one of those people who could take sweets or leave them. The interesting thing is that once I get out of the habit of consuming them regularly, the temptation reduces significantly. If I can just stay away for a week or two, it becomes much easier to not even think about it. Chocolate chip cookies are my gateway drug. They make me feel so good (until I catch a glimpse of my profile in the mirror) that they make me feel invincible. "Eat chocolate chip cookies, drink William-Sonoma hot chocolate, and be merry about it, because tomorrow you'll die--and will it really make a difference?" Such is the dangerous allure of chocolate chip cookies.

Maybe I can do this step by step. Maybe going cold turkey is just setting myself up for failure (Maybe? Um, almost definitely). Maybe I can tell myself that if I refrain all week, I can have chocolate chip cookies on Sunday nights. And the rest will be process of elimination. I'll pick foods to slowly cross off my list. Foods that I eat socially to be polite but don't really care for. Like cake (I say this as 17 chocolate-frosted cupcakes sit on my counter as I await some birthday guests). It really would not be difficult for me to give up cake almost entirely. When I go to some event, I'll just tell myself, "As a rule, I don't eat cake. I don't like it; therefore, it's a major caloric waste." And then once I've gotten used to not eating cake, I can move on to... well, pretty much any cookie that isn't my one true love. Then cheesecake. Then those oatmeal peanut butter bars. Etc.

In the end, it really isn't about giving up sweets for good. It's about self control. Do I think God is going to condemn my love of chocolate chip cookies? Probably not. But He might take issue with my general lack of self discipline regarding my body, my greatest earthly gift. Plus, it feels good to be in control of my body and not the other way around.

See ya later, sweets.

I hope.

If there's anything that could get me excited for winter...

It's this.

Ada, 3 Months

Baby girl was three months yesterday. And since I forgot to do a 2-month update, I'm afraid you're going to have to hear about it all right now. :)

These photos are of Ada in some old jammies of W's. Yes, they are blue, but they are so sweet I just can't help it.

*She is long (23.25 inches at 2-mo. check-up, 80%) and skinny (11.5 lbs at 2-mo., 67%)

*Super smiley

*Eyes are crazy blue

*Hair color depends largely on the lighting. At times auburn, at times blondish, at times brown

*Pushes off on her legs

*LOVES bath time and makes big splashes; last night she soaked through my pants with all her kicking.

*Daddy's girl through and through; though sometimes only Mama will do. :)

*Sleeps like a champ. Sometimes she'll sleep all the way from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m.; if not, she only wakes once at about 4:30.

*Finally got her crib moved into the guest bedroom so she has a real place of her own to sleep, which has helped a lot with getting her into a routine--her evenings are much less fussy since she's getting more sleep during the day.

*Amazing eye-hand-mouth coordination. She's been batting at objects since about 1.5 months, and now reaches out, grabs them, and puts them in her mouth.

*W is far and away the best toy. She'd rather watch his antics (and he loooooooves antics) than do anything else, even eat.

*Doesn't really laugh, but mostly makes a coo/gurgle/squeak noise when she's highly entertained; sometimes she manages a micro-giggle.

*Coos, squeals, and generally chats with me during her waking hours. She loves to communicate. She's going to fit in with me and my sisters/mom just fine.

*Is a very social baby, which is new for me, since W was and still is afraid of pretty much everyone new. We'll get into an elevator; someone else will get on. W will hide behind my legs, while Ada's face lights up with a smile.

I love this girl. She is so much fun to spend time with. She just fits into our little family so sweetly.