Saturday, March 7, 2009
Milk?
I'm pretty sure Gabriela meant it when she did the sign for milk. She's done it several more times over the past few days. Today she even said MAMA and then did the sign for milk. Genius, I tell you. ;)
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Gabriela's Doctor Visit Today
Last week Gabriela was supposed to go to the doctor for a booster flu shot. We went to the doctor alright, but only because she had a fever the night before. So her booster shot appointment was rescheduled for today.
It was a good thing that we had the appointment because Lane noticed some little white splotches in Gabriela's mouth yesterday and we had to go get them checked out. Gabriela was on her best behavior while we waited one hour for our appointment.
It turns out she has thrush which is a very common yeast-like infection for babies. Gabriela got a prescription for that. As part of the routine check up, the doctor checked her ears to find, not one, but TWO ear infections. I had no idea! I guess I should be grateful that Gabriela doesn't have any symptoms, but it's a little scary not knowing my baby is sick. She's been mostly her happy, playful self. We got a prescription for that too, but the doctor said to wait to fill it, since ear infections can heal by themselves.
We had a nice talk about feeding. I'm actually excited about all of Gabriela's eating. The other night she had basmati rice with dried apricots and tonight I made her oatmeal with fresh mango and nutmeg and flaxseed.
Gabriela had her one shot, and as the nurse was getting prepped, I reminded myself that she would pick up on my anxiety. So I tried to act calm and okay instead of nervous about my baby being caught completely off guard with a huge needle in her leg. Maybe it worked, or maybe Gabriela is just super-baby because she cried for like half a second and was over it.
But the MOST surprising part of the doctor visit adventure was when Gabriela extended her arm and stuck her thumb up and started closing her fist over and over again. I thought she was just conducting another one of her experiments, and did it with her for grins, when it suddenly hit me! This is the sign for milk! We've been doing signs with her - only a few basic ones: milk, eat, more, and up. I don't know if it was just a coincidence, but I immediately fed her, said "milk" and did the sign back.
What an exciting couple of days!
It was a good thing that we had the appointment because Lane noticed some little white splotches in Gabriela's mouth yesterday and we had to go get them checked out. Gabriela was on her best behavior while we waited one hour for our appointment.
It turns out she has thrush which is a very common yeast-like infection for babies. Gabriela got a prescription for that. As part of the routine check up, the doctor checked her ears to find, not one, but TWO ear infections. I had no idea! I guess I should be grateful that Gabriela doesn't have any symptoms, but it's a little scary not knowing my baby is sick. She's been mostly her happy, playful self. We got a prescription for that too, but the doctor said to wait to fill it, since ear infections can heal by themselves.
We had a nice talk about feeding. I'm actually excited about all of Gabriela's eating. The other night she had basmati rice with dried apricots and tonight I made her oatmeal with fresh mango and nutmeg and flaxseed.
Gabriela had her one shot, and as the nurse was getting prepped, I reminded myself that she would pick up on my anxiety. So I tried to act calm and okay instead of nervous about my baby being caught completely off guard with a huge needle in her leg. Maybe it worked, or maybe Gabriela is just super-baby because she cried for like half a second and was over it.
But the MOST surprising part of the doctor visit adventure was when Gabriela extended her arm and stuck her thumb up and started closing her fist over and over again. I thought she was just conducting another one of her experiments, and did it with her for grins, when it suddenly hit me! This is the sign for milk! We've been doing signs with her - only a few basic ones: milk, eat, more, and up. I don't know if it was just a coincidence, but I immediately fed her, said "milk" and did the sign back.
What an exciting couple of days!
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Gabriela Pics
In her cutie-patootie skirt
Our Little Mexican conducting experiments with her tortillas. 
"MMM, I like putting tortillas in my mouth and then spitting them right out!"Gabriela's Newest Developments
Gabriela gives us five and has started to wave.
She also loves to stand up and is so bold as to try to let go. Here are some action photos.
She also loves to stand up and is so bold as to try to let go. Here are some action photos.
Look how proud she is!!
One handed! That little daredevil!
Concentrating
Uh-Oh!Gabriela just melted my heart today when she said MAMA to me. She did it several times today. I'd like to think that she actually meant Mama, and wasn't just practicing her "m" sounds. But when she said it, she said it TO me, right before I'd pick her up. It was just darling. We caught some mamamama on video just for you.
When I called my mom to tell her Gabriela said Mama, she thought Gabriela actually said Nana. Gabriela will have lots of practice saying Nana in two weeks when her Nana comes to visit. We can't wait.
More on Our Non-Snow Day
We usually don't bundle Gabriela up like crazy. After all, she goes from the house directly to the car without going outside and we walk like 10 feet from the curb to the daycare's front door. But they hadn't plowed any of her streets so Lane walked half a mile in the snow with Gabriela in the Ergo Carrier under his coat. I bundled her up like crazy. It reminded me of the little boy from that movie The Christmas Story.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Kitchen Experiments
This weekend was full of deliciousness in our kitchen. First, I had some chicken in the fridge and some yogurt and decided I needed to find a recipe for a tandoori chicken marinade. I found one with tumeric and cumin and paprika and cinnamon and all sorts of other spices. I also decided I needed to eat lentils with dried apricots. So I cooked some up in chicken stock with some onion and dried mint and garam masala spice and then I added some fresh cilantro at the end. I don't know what got into me. I never eat Indian food, I've never tried to make Indian inspired food either. I was just inspired, I guess.
I also decided to experiment with puff pastry. I'm always hearing delightful things about the stuff, and I either don't remember to look for it at the grocery store, or when I do remember, I can't find it. Well, last week a box of it was sitting in the frozen food section at Trader Joes, just begging me to take it home. I put some squares of it in muffin pans and let it cook and poof up all delicately and flakily like puff pastry goes. And then I spooned in some chocolate pudding, some cool whip on top and then some chocolate shavings. It was a tasty first attempt at puff pastry. I'm excited to get some more and try different desserts, and even some savory dishes with the puff pastry.
As if there wasn't enough experimenting going on in our kitchen over the weekend, I decided to try making a little recipe for Gabriela. I cooked some lentils and sweet potato chunks in water with a dash of cinnamon until it got all mushy. Then I blended it up, added some breastmilk, and strained it so she has a nice smooth puree to eat. Today she is having this lentil mixture with strained mashed potatoes and a little bitty bit of carrot for lunch.
I am still trying to decide which food to introduce to her next.
I also decided to experiment with puff pastry. I'm always hearing delightful things about the stuff, and I either don't remember to look for it at the grocery store, or when I do remember, I can't find it. Well, last week a box of it was sitting in the frozen food section at Trader Joes, just begging me to take it home. I put some squares of it in muffin pans and let it cook and poof up all delicately and flakily like puff pastry goes. And then I spooned in some chocolate pudding, some cool whip on top and then some chocolate shavings. It was a tasty first attempt at puff pastry. I'm excited to get some more and try different desserts, and even some savory dishes with the puff pastry.
As if there wasn't enough experimenting going on in our kitchen over the weekend, I decided to try making a little recipe for Gabriela. I cooked some lentils and sweet potato chunks in water with a dash of cinnamon until it got all mushy. Then I blended it up, added some breastmilk, and strained it so she has a nice smooth puree to eat. Today she is having this lentil mixture with strained mashed potatoes and a little bitty bit of carrot for lunch.I am still trying to decide which food to introduce to her next.
No Snow Day. Boo Hoo
Ever since I moved out here, I was amazed and excited by the concept of a SNOW DAY. I have been looking forward to one ever since. Who doesn't want a free day off to laze around in a winter wonderland and drink hot cocoa and bake and stay all cozy warm, or even explore the snow for just a little teeny bit?? Can you believe it - almost 4 whole winters and not one single snow day!??
I was SURE we'd have a snow day today. Positive! I mean, the weather guys are talking about this MEGA STORM and everything. I even dreamed about a snow day. In my dream I couldn't find the Red Cross phone number for inclement weather, I was on a shuttle on the way to work when they announced there was no work. Along the side of the road were tons of very tall snow men. It was fabulous.
I woke up really early in the morning to the awful sounds of the snow plows. But that's a good sign for snow days, right? Later in the morning, I looked out the window to find everything covered in snow. It's coming down pretty good still. You can imagine my disappointment to find that there is no snow day today! Curses! Just delayed opening and "unscheduled leave" which basically means you can take the day off if you want, but it counts against your paid time off. Some people need to do that because the schools around here all close down at the drop of a snowflake.
What a bummer. I am debating whether or not I should actually go in to work on time anyway and leave early instead to not chance getting home late to pick up Gabriela.
There go all my baking and house cleaning and hot chocolate drinking plans. Maybe next winter.
I was SURE we'd have a snow day today. Positive! I mean, the weather guys are talking about this MEGA STORM and everything. I even dreamed about a snow day. In my dream I couldn't find the Red Cross phone number for inclement weather, I was on a shuttle on the way to work when they announced there was no work. Along the side of the road were tons of very tall snow men. It was fabulous.
I woke up really early in the morning to the awful sounds of the snow plows. But that's a good sign for snow days, right? Later in the morning, I looked out the window to find everything covered in snow. It's coming down pretty good still. You can imagine my disappointment to find that there is no snow day today! Curses! Just delayed opening and "unscheduled leave" which basically means you can take the day off if you want, but it counts against your paid time off. Some people need to do that because the schools around here all close down at the drop of a snowflake.
What a bummer. I am debating whether or not I should actually go in to work on time anyway and leave early instead to not chance getting home late to pick up Gabriela.
There go all my baking and house cleaning and hot chocolate drinking plans. Maybe next winter.
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