Funny Girl

There are a bunch of funny things that Pippa has been doing lately. She's getting over a cold right now and is a real ba-ba-ba-booger face ba-ba-booger face. She has discovered that if she sucks on her top lip she can taste the snot running from her nose. Apparently its delicious. Not one of her more precious quirks.

She's becoming a real jokester too, which I'm sure she gets from her father. And she's taken to testing her limits, at a far earlier age than I care for, by the way. But lately (and not to share too much personal information) she likes to 'study' me while nursing and thinks it's hilarious to pinch my nipple! You should see the smirky grin she gives me just before she does it. I try hard not to react (and laugh) except to say, 'No, Pippa. Don't pinch. That hurts mama.' Hmph. And so it starts.

She crawling up a storm, too. On all fours. And she's becoming quite good at climbing! Hmph, again. She can get up the two stairs between our kitchen and family room with no problem. Getting down is an entirely different story, though, as she hasn't grasped the concept of height and gravity. And she just figured out how to climb up on the little chair in her room to get to the blinds. She's pretty adventurous and I wouldn't be surprised if she's one of those kids who climbs everything. Here we go with round two of baby proofing. I think its time to get one of those climbing toys for the yard.

Oh boy, I think I'm in for it!

Ode To The Baby Monitor

Dear Baby Monitor,

I want you to know that I love you. I am sorry I have been taking you for granted and I recognize the error of my ways. I promise I will always appreciate you and take good care of you from now on. I will stop clipping you to my shirt so that you fall to the ground whenever I bend over. And I promise I will not leave you or any of your parts at my mother's house ever again. I just miss you so much! I count the hours until your return. Please hurry home.

Yours Truly,

Heather

Jet Setting

I took Pippa on her first plane ride this weekend. It definitely had potential to be a disaster since each flight was during nap time and she has been teething. In fact, she cut her second tooth the day before we left. I am thankful, however, that she cut it the day before and not the day of.

We were flying out of Newark airport so we had about an hour drive to get there. The first challenge came when I had to find the correct lot to park in. I ended up in the 'short term' parking garage and knew it would cost me an arm and a leg, but thought it would be worth it to be under a roof and so close to the gate. (Especially fortuitous since it was pouring rain when I got home today.) Then I slung Pippa in the sling, grabbed the diaper bag, a rolling suitcase, and the car seat. It was the car seat that made it tough to do alone! Luckily there was an abandoned cart in the parking lot that I confiscated.

Check in and security went smoothly and before we knew it we were ready to board. I always thought that passengers with small children got to board first, but that didn't happen. I think I was robbed. But soon we were sitting in our window seat surrounded by freshly sanitized chair arms, window, and tray table. I was grateful when a woman sat down next to us (since I knew I would need to nurse during take off and landing). The look on her face, however, was anything but happy to see a baby. Not that I can blame her. I always felt the same way. Little did she know Pippa is usually an angel and this trip was no different. I nursed during take off and she fell asleep, staying blissfully silent until we started our descent. The trip home was basically the same. I didn't even need to pull out the secret weapon: banana puffs. I don't expect every trip to go so well, but I am very thankful since this was our first time and I was all alone. One thing is for sure, Pippa likes a good adventure!

Don't bite me you toothy girl!

Pippa had the opportunity to meet a good portion of her extended Peers family this past weekend. We shlepped up to Spencerport, NY for our annual Peers Family Picnic. We planned on being gone for 6 days, the longest trip Pippa has taken in both mileage and duration. Packing for something like that is always challenging. I like to travel light and keep things simple, but that is hardly possible any more. We were lucky we were able to see out of the back window of my Outback at all! And to think, I once questioned the necessity of an SUV! Ha!

Of course, Pippa woke up that morning cutting her first tooth. Yup. Ladies and gentleman, we have a tooth! With a second soon to follow. It's her bottom left and so cute. She is always playing and sucking on my fingers, but that kind of thing has obviously stopped. She doesn't yet realize that thing is sharp! I admit I'm a little nervous of being bitten while nursing. So far so good but...

It's too bad she couldn't have arranged for a better time to cut a tooth than on a 6 hour car ride, though. She was grumpy (for her) but all in all handled it pretty well thanks to Sto in the back seat and organic banana puffs! I generally don't like to use food as entertainment...except in the car.

We had a great time at the PFP and she loved meeting various Aunts, Uncles, and cousins. (Darned if I can remember how everyone is related to everyone else, though.) She especially loved watching my cousin Mandy perform a few songs with her guitar. Mesmerized is the right word, I believe. And she LOVES playing with my mother (Nana). She is instantly smiles, squeals, and giggles for her. Its like magic. But I think the best part of the trip was watching my grandfather, Pippa's great grandfather, hang out with her. They delighted each other and Sto and I both feel that its so important for her to soak up her heritage while she can. Family is oh so important...and fun!

Calling Gold St.

This year marks 10 years since I graduated college. This blows my mind. How does that saying go? Time flies? Yes and yes. It seems like just yesterday I was painting my the walls of my room bright green at our house on Gold St.

Ahhh, Gold St. Many a good time was had there. Theme parties. 'Family' dinners. A myriad of drinking games at a huge dining room table. Darts at the Elmwood. Wings at the Distillery. But all of my fondest memories involve the Gold St. Girls, as we referred to ourselves. Laura, Ashley, Jana, and I (and a few transients) lived together for 2 great years.

Most of us recently got together to show off our families and brag about our gorgeous babies. I have a hard time believing that there are 4 kids between us, but its true. Ashley's little Calab is the most recent and Jana's Ben and Sean are the 'big kids'. We oogled over the babies and swapped motherhood war stories. I'm sure Ashley will agree with me when I say Jana is a great mommy example for us. Her boys are truly great and she takes care of them with such grace!

Both of these women are amazing mothers, but this doesn't surprise me in the least. I've always known they are amazing women, as is Laura who unfortunately couldn't make it. I am one lucky chic to have so many beautiful and powerful women in my life! Love you ladies!

!!Caution!!

If you are going to put a cloth diaper on your baby with no cover, in order to let her little bottom breath, then please make sure you check for poop before you pick her up. Otherwise you will end up with poop all over your white T-shirt and dripping down your arm.

Food Club

The first rule of Food Club is that you have to talk about Food Club.

The second rule of Food club is that there is no guilt. You are allowed, and encouraged, to eat anything and everything you want. This includes extra butter on your roll.

The third rule of Food Club is that you have to try something new.

So I met up with my dear friend Laura tonight for dinner in Philadelphia. She recommended we go to this tiny French place in South Philly that has been getting rave reviews called Bibou. It turns out that the chef is La Bec Fin alumni and you can really tell. On Sundays it's a prefixed menu and everything was amazing. So over a bottle of wine and conversation that was mostly not about Pippa, we decided that we needed to get together and try out new restaurants more often. And so, Food Club was born. So for all the foodies reading this (Mary) (Joel) here is what we ordered:

1st Course:

Sweet Corn Soup. I am always a sucker for corn soup.

Appetizers:

Foi Gras with a grilled peach and brandy reduction. It was to die for. I always feel a little guilty eating Foi Gras but luckily there is no guilt in Food Club.

Escargot. In adherence to rule number 3 we were brave and tried the snails. Sto orders them all the time and has never once vomited so we gave it a go. They were good. Not lot of flavor but not slimy or chewy like I expected. From now on I can be all nonchallant and feel superior to everyone else who is grossed out. Excellent.

Entree:

Sword fish on a bed of fennel, fresh peas, capers, and some other yummy stuff. I housed it.

Seared scallops with some yummy stuff. Also very good.

Cheese Plate:

The usual sort of thing with one soft cows milk cheese, one soft goats milk, and astinky blue cheese. I've had better, but then, I also prefer my cheese in the beginning of mymeal.

Desert:

Laura had chocolate cake with creme anglaise sauce and fresh berries and I had the pot de creme. They were both delicious though we were both stuffed by this point. Luckily I save a little space right here (pointing to the side of my belly) had was able to enjoy desert of a cup of French pressed decaf coffee.

I love eating out this way. Sto and I used to do it all the time in Manhattan and I miss that part of city living. Our goal is to have Food Club meet twice a month, though this may seriously debunk my get-in-shape efforts. But there's no guilt in Food Club! That's definitely my favorite rule.