Feast or Famine?

So, I'm on a diet. It's an effort to finally get rid of the last few pounds of baby weight and get into some healthier habits. What can I say, I just have to come to terms with the fact that chocolate chip cookie dough is not what you'd call a nutritious and wholesome breakfast. Also, I have a little boy now, and he's watching me eat, and frankly the idea that I could be a role model for anyone is terrifying. SO! Diet!

Now, the diet plan I've chosen (and am doing with my wonderful husband) is Weight Watchers, and we chose it because A: we can do it online, which works best around our crazy schedules, and B: it's really very flexible about what we eat. Basically we can eat anything, so long as we hold ourselves accountable and record it properly. There's also a large number of recipes and articles and tools that can help us keep ourselves on track.

The other thing I've been doing is reading. I've already talked about the toddler book (though I suspect I'm not done with it,) but one of the other books I checked out is called A Homemade Life: Stories and Recipes from My Kitchen Table. So... I'm on a diet and I'm reading what is essentially a travelogue about food instead of places. And last night, somewhere between a first date and French-style lemon yogurt cake I realized something. It's the thing that makes dieting so hard for me. It's not the healthy food- actually I rather love most foods that are considered healthy. It's not the portion sizes since I've never really eaten a ton of food in a sitting. It's the attitude that food is only for stopping the feeling of being hungry. Sure, there are a lot of recipes for those who are slimming that are advertised as 'good tasting' or 'to satisfy your craving' for a particular foodstuff, but none of them say 'take your chocolate cheesecake and make it last for 40 minutes while you chat with a friend (or a romantic interest! Date night!) Or go ahead, have that plate of pasta with cream sauce, but have a rationally adult sized portion of it, and make your meal last for an hour! Longer!

See, there's the thing. In the U.S. food is not viewed as something to savor, an event to be enjoyed. It's viewed as something to do to accomplish a goal, to be plowed through as quickly as possible while doing something else. I need to do more work on finding healthy snacks to graze on during the day, sure. I also need to work on portion size (it's different for me now than it was 10 years ago! Heck, ONE year ago!) But I think more than anything, I need to remember how to savor a meal instead of trying to scarf it down while doing laundry, wrestling my son, and watching Mythbusters.

P.S. I'll review that book I mentioned later. It's pretty delicious.

Baby, oh Baby.

My Darling Son is many things. Clever for sure. Handsome like his daddy. Curious and interested and as fond of exploring as any infant or toddler (he's right on that edge there. Walking can't be very far off- he's already positive he can do it, if only the floor would help him out.) Unfortunately he's also strong willed, determined, and vocal about things he dislikes. Like sleeping alone.

To solve this dilemma, we're working with a sleep consultant to help get The Boy sleeping on his own, in his crib (as opposed to in my bed, attached to me at all times.) Also, I checked out of the library a copy of The Happiest Toddler on the Block by Dr Harvey Karp.

Now, his main thesis seems to be pretty reasonable to me- that a toddler is still developing the physical and cognitive ability to behave in a way that we as a society deem appropriate. Ok, I can totally get behind that- I mean if they were born fully functional then they wouldn't NEED parents, right? So with that in mind Karp divides up the toddler years into stages from very early development to early childhood and labels them as if they were stages of the development of mankind from "Charming Chimp" to Versatile Villagers" and gives his tips for how to communicate with each stage.

Mainly he suggests using what he refers to as 'toddler-ese' which is a language made up of short Tarzan like statements bereft of articles, particles, or words with more than 3 syllables. The other half of his technique is something that is pretty familiar to people who try to 'argue effectively': repeating statements back- what Karp refers to as 'Fast-Food Rule.' HE suggests that when your kid starts to flip his lid, you mirror his level of emotion with your whole body, stamping your feet, gesticulating wildly, and shouting (what you think is) your child's thoughts back to him using the 'toddler-ese.' An example he gives is when he was examining the ears of a child who is protesting

I emphatically proclaim what I think she would say if she were older: "Sophie says 'No ears!! No, no...NO EARS!!! No, NO... NO EARS!!! You stop! You STOP!!!! I don't like it!' "

Now I agree that when a toddler or small child is in the throes of a Chernobyl level meltdown they are not exactly the rational beings we would love to raise. Telling a furious toddler that we have to go now because Dad is waiting isn't going to convince them if they don't want to leave. HOWEVER, I don't think that the extreme that Karp suggests going to linguistically is really quite the way to go. I honestly don't think that the difference between "Daddy wait!" and "Daddy's waiting" is so great, is such an astonishing leap of mental function that your toddler is going to respond to one and not the other. It really, really bothers me when people confuse 'young' with 'stupid.' In the example I quoted, I'd maybe have jumped right to what she was thinking ('You stop') and then maybe later gone to 'stop touching my ears!' Why 'No ears' is in any way useful I don't know. I also probably wouldn't stomp my feet and flail my arms (things Karp suggests doing often) at the same time.

Now then, there are a few things I DO agree with- the fundamental idea he promotes: the short sentences, repetition, and repeating the unspoken whatever behind the tantrum back to the kid so they know I understand what they want. I find a lot of what he writes to be interesting, and we'll see pretty soon how helpful it is. The Boy is very close to toddling off like a big boy way too soon for me. My little baby is so big!

Library madness!

Chris and I went to the library the other day and I got to check out a few books. Now this statement is a pretty reasonable one, and really that's where it would end if I wasn't so super excited about this place. I mean wow!

So I had to get a card first, since this is my first visit to a San Jose library. A few moments on one of the computers and I headed to the info desk to show them my ID and proof of address (apparently in CA when you update your drivers license online they don't send you... well... anything. At all.) I took in a Netflix movie we'd just gotten. The librarian who got me all set up was super nice, and talked about all the kids stuff they have there, and made sure I had a flyer of their upcoming storytimes. I really want to take Chris to the Mother Goose storytime, but this week we have to go to his 9 month checkup instead. (I'll bet the storytime would be more fun, but a healthy baby is more important, right?) There's also tai chi, basic computer skills, Chinese/English storytime, ESL groups, and all sorts of lectures and classes.

The kid's book section is HUGE! There's a stage, too, and a couple of computers labeled '0 - 5 years' with spelling games and such on them. Granted I somehow doubt that some of that demographic is into computers yet for anything other than pounding or chewing on, but hey. HUGE windows totally light the place up, and they look out onto the playground and field outside. The library has a PLAYGROUND! (Also, the children's section is where the parenting and childcare books are. Silly me, I was trying to find it where the catalog number should be over in the Grown Up's Books section.) There's also a giant fountain (pond?!) on the other side, with benches to sit on and read if you have that luxury- with a near-toddler I don't.

There's also a couple of large (distinct) sections for several Asian languages, a pretty decent looking DVD section, and a cozy living room like reading area- with a fireplace! And the website is pretty danged handy and full of great info! Score!

The one thing I do miss, though, is having the due date stamped on the back of the books. The bank of self check out machines gave me the option of getting a receipt that has the due date printed on it, but it's just not the same. Handy bookmark though! Also, the library has pretty short hours thanks to budget cuts and oh yeah, more budget cuts. I think that once Chris is a bit older I'll try to volunteer there if I can. Heck, maybe I can get HIM to volunteer in a few years, too! AND I know where I'm taking my books now. Goodwill is out of luck, the library get them! I am definitely looking forward to going back a lot, and I hope that Chris learns to enjoy library books as much as I do. Once he stops trying to eat them, anyway.

I ain't dead.

Just been busy. Our baby was born a bit early, so from September on I've been trying to keep up with our tiny dynamo. We also moved to northern California- more shade and fewer 100+ degree days to destroy my plants! Still been preserving stuff (blueberries! Oh guys, the blueberries!)

On the other hand I've been running on about 1/4 the sleep I really need to be healthy. Also, I've needed a place to, well, vent a bit. It's a frustrating life, trying to do everything I want to do during 2 hours of naptime a day. SO! I hope to be on hereabouts a bit more. It'll be so thrilling for you all to read about diapers and sleep training and kitchen adventures, I'm sure!

The Bug

So as mentioned in my last post, we hit the farmer's market last weekend. The Santa Monica Farmer's Market, to be specific. What a wonderful place- and there are 4 markets a week to choose from! Mostly organic foods everywhere you look, and all pretty dang local! Granted it's a bit pricier than at Ye Olde Big Box Generic Grocery Mart, but man oh man is it ever tastier! The extra couple of bucks spent on fresh plums and peaches are TOTALLY worth it, not to mention the varieties of tomatoes I've never even heard of. (The ones I the photo below are called 'Momotaro' and are super easy to eat just by themselves. And we got to discuss Kamen Rider with the guy who sold them to us. Best produce sale ever.) We also got some honey from hives kept in the Los Angeles National Forest, and some butter and cheese from a cheesemaker in Petaluma. And local eggs, too!

At any rate, I'd been struck by a NEED for fresh, local, seasonal fruit for one simple reason. I wanted to take a lot of this:

And turn it into this:

Because I have been, once again bitten by the preserving bug. We have here peach jam (tasted only in the making thus far. But I have Plans. Tasty, delicious plans.) plum jam, which might be my latest addiction, and peach/plum butter. Oh! And I forgot the classic old dill pickles, which really won't be ready till October sometime. (Kindly forgive the mess on my cutting board! I've been making bread today to eat all this lovely stuff on...)

There are also some nectarines that I chucked in the freezer that I can't decide what to do with. I'm ALSO looking forward to the future- I've heard wonderful things about blueberry butter, and I have designs on things like apple butter, several varieties of marmalade, and if I am REALLY lucky I'll start a rumtopf pot or a vin de pamplemousse pot. The benefits of the latter, being of course that the fruit leftover once you've decanted the booze would make for some fine, fine marmalade. Can you just imagine? Oh, my mind reels! Also tomato sauce. Sadly not from my OWN tomatoes this year, since the heat and dryness here in the Valley has left my poor plants looking like this:

Yes, that IS an automatic watering device there in the pot. No, it hasn't helped a bit. It only took one day of 100+ temps and getting dried out to destroy the plant's heat tolerance, and even with some shade on it, that's pretty much what it looks like now. I hope that it'll last long enough for the three or four tomatoes to ripen before it dies completely. Ah well.

But next year! Such plans! Self watering CONTAINER, and some better prep, and I hope to be preserving my OWN tomatoes! Till then, I'll hit up the farmers market for a few pounds of heirloom fruit, and pin my hopes on the eggplants.

Busy busy!

Boy, what a crazy couple of weeks! It all started a few weeks ago when a good friend flew in from all the way across the country to stay with us for a few days of relaxation and calm before the insanity of Comic Con. It was really great to see him, and we got to show off one of our very favorite restaurants, which was very cool. (Also, while there, hey look. It's Fabio! It's funny how living in LA kind of makes you feel less excited about that sort of sighting.)

Comic Con was, as usual, completely insane. This is actually a bit away from the convention center itself, and the crowd has barely thinned at all.

SUPER crowded as always, it took my poor husband almost 2 hours to find parking when we got down there on Thursday.

He'd dropped our friend and me off in front of the Tin Fish in San Diego to minimize my walking (such a good dad-to-be!) so we had some fish and chips while we waited.

And waited.

And started to get a bit worried.

And waited some more. And finally got his food packed into boxes to take with us. Naturally, as soon as we crossed the street towards the convention center, he called to tell us that he would be at the Tin Fish in mere moments to join us. Ah well, it all worked out-he got his tasty fried seafood, we got him back, and in the end I even got a badge! (“Hi, so, my pregnant wife wasn't going to come originally, so she doesn't have a badge. Is there any way I can avoid leaving my pregnant wife all alone while I get my business done in the convention?” It was ballsy, but it worked!)

We got to see a bunch of friends that we somehow only see at cons anymore, bought a couple of books, fought the crowds, and I decided that I was pretty much fried by the end of Friday.

The rest of the weekend was spent away from the convention, seeing friends and finally having lunch with some family at Anthony's, right next to the Star of India.

It's a great place to eat, and a really cool place to wander around and look at the boats. If tall ships aren't your thing, then there are also two submarines! And you can go aboard and check them out, too!

his past week we said goodbye to our friend, and greeted some family who was in town for business.

(If you're looking for a really awesome bag, check out Peasants & Travelers!! We have the diaper bag half packed in anticipation, and we are loving it totally!) She didn't stay long, but

We loved having her here! Hopefully next time she can stay long enough to help me with my current obsession... turning fruits and veggies into tasty, tasty preserves. But I think that might be for another post- this one's getting a bit long...

Some local wildlife!

Boy, it's amazing what you can find on a third floor balcony! For example, we have some regular visitors here- two hooded orioles (a male and a female...)

A whole flock of finches...














a hawk that hangs out in the palm tree right outside our window (although I only got a picture of it perched on the next building over...)















And this morning we saw a tiny little lizard! How he got up here, I have NO idea, but I hope he finds a few nice bugs to eat! Better food for the lizard than a pest on my radishes!















We also have three Anna's hummingbirds that chase each other off the feeder when the orioles aren't hogging it, but man those guys are speedy! I don't have any really good photos of them right now. So many exciting dramas get played out right outside- even my husband who'd live in a cinder block box if it had broadband has gotten excited about it all!