Survivor-- vegetable edition

Umm...this is what I saw today when I opened my composter for the first time in a week.The only thing I think they could be is soybeans-- from the edamame that was boxed, frozen, bought at Costco, probably allowed to defrost (you gotta sit and have a hot dog after a tedious day shopping at Costco), refrozen in my fridge at home, and then microwaved for 3 minutes. After surviving all that, I'd hate to have them die now-- so we're trying to figure out how to transplant them somewhere safer without shocking the heck out of them. Apparently soybeans like coffee as much as I do, They were growing in 3 inches of it.

ETA: Okay, so apparently soybeans CAN'T survive all that-- when I went to dig them up I saw that they were growing out of squash shells. I had forgotten that I threw away some butternut squash guts a couple of weeks ago. Actually that's really exciting, because our family eats butternut squash by the truckload-- so if we can actually manage to grow some fruit before we kill the plants, we'll be all set for the summer (you know, butternut squash-wise) We planted 21 of the plants in our garden, and gave away 40+ more to Jamie, the Bams, and the Grzeckas. Actually, we did more of a run-by-seedling with the Gerckies-- they might not have even wanted them. Hehe. :)

Layla's New Do...

I decided to bob Layla's hair for the summer. (Daddy thinks it's really cute short) I found out from Tasia that some hair donation organizations --like Pantene's Beautiful Lengths-- let you donate only 8" of hair, which Layla BARELY had to give (so it's a little shorter than originally planned) It was a really unique opportunity to teach her about giving, and she let everyone know that she "donated her ponytail to kids that needed some hair." I love her new do, and so does Daddy-- although it makes her look closer to 5 than 2. :( BTW I wasn't just letting myself off the hook... I was ready to donate 8" too, but they don't accept dyed or highlighted hair. *whew!*

Mommy I'm hungry

My new (other) full-time job is feeding my daughter. I can't believe this kid! This is the tally so far...
*A big cup of milk
*2 scrambled eggs and a hunk of cheddar cheese
*A cereal bowl 1/2 full of yogurt and granola
*15 cherry tomatoes
*That same cereal bowl 1/2 full of chunky applesauce
*3/4 can of tuna (mixed up into tuna salad) with AT LEAST 15 wheat crackers
*another big cup of milk
...at this point I cut her off when she asked for more yogurt. :)

.......it's only 11:30am.

**EDITED to add the rest of the day...**
*10 more wheat crackers
* 1/3 zucchini muffin
*1/2 banana
*another bowl of applesauce
*another bowl of yogurt & granola
*1 1/2 pieces of veggie supreme pizza (entire thing, crust included-- with ranch)
*cup of milk

didn't take the time to do a calorie count, but I'm guessing 2,000. Wowsa!!

If laughing really burns so many calories, I should be a lot skinnier

I don’t even know where to start… I learned 3 things today; I drink too much coffee, I go to IKEA too often, and Layla is already smarter than I am.

Let’s see, for number one, we were talking about the names of baby animals. She told me a baby horse was a foal, a baby dog was a puppy, a baby chicken was a chick, a baby sheep was a lamb, and a baby cow was a half-and-half. : )

We got in the car and I told Layla we were going to IKEA, and she said, “Oh! IKEA! It’s the big blue house with giant “lellow” letters... I, E…what’s the other letters mommy?”

As we were driving, born out of the baby animal conversation, we were talking about the difference between things that are alive, and things that aren’t alive. (It started because she asked what a baby house was called) I gave her some examples and told her that things that are alive eat, move, and grow. She quickly got it, and named “alive” things. “People are alive, bushes are alive, horses are alive, trucks are alive…” I corrected her and told her trucks weren’t alive. “Yes they are mommy. That truck is moving. Do you see it moving? It eats gas. It’s alive.”

*Last cute saying today, I promise* Layla was “cooking” in her room, and I asked what she was making. “ I’m just making some food mommy. I’m kind of a good cook.”

5

That's the number of bruises on Paisley's face today. It's not neglectful parenting, it's learning to walk. And possibly some neglectful parenting. Sorry baby. Yesterday she only had two bruises on her right side, and I got some adorable pictures after she pulled up on the coffee table (and before she fell back down again) I had to angle the camera to her left side...and cover her forehead up with her hoodie...but **bragging mommy warning** does it get any cuter than this little girl?

It's here. And it's just a diaper.

In the world of cloth diapering, the name of Goodmama is king. These much-acclaimed $34 dipes are so sought after, that a mama must patiently "stalk" them on hyena cart, and even then is more likely than not to return empty-handed. After reading SO many good things about them, I decided I had to try one. I scored a used one for $28 including shipping, which was an amazing deal considering some mamas are actually charging MORE for their used Goodmamas then they originally paid for them! I (impatiently) waited and waited, and today it came. It was everything I'd read it would be...incredibly soft organic cotton velour, super stretchy, adorable print, fabulously absorbent...but I have to admit I'm still a little let down. I don't know what I expected, but it's just a diaper. A really snuggly soft beautiful diaper--but just a diaper. There's no way I can afford a whole stash of GMs, so I took a photo shoot of Paisley in the most expensive diaper she will ever wear--and I'll most likely resell it.

Her Daddy's Daughter

I'm not one to wonder how things were made or how they work. If everyone were like me, there wouldn't be any fancy-pants inventions like electricity...or automobiles...or indoor plumbing. Not that I don't love those things-- I just never would have thought of them. (but on the upside, the world would be very organized and aesthetically pleasing) Anyway, Layla evidently takes after Daddy, because the other day in the car she asked me, "Mommy, why do bikes and cars both have wheels?" I was impressed. I told her that's how they both move-they roll on wheels. "Oh, like a ball rolls?" she asked. "Just like a ball!" I told her. "But how do they roll?" she wondered. Uh-oh. "Well baby, cars have engines, and they move the, uh, pistons-er-gaskets...I mean, the wheels are on axles that spin on the...umm...I bet Daddy wants to tell you when he gets home from work!" Shoot. She's only 2 1/2, and she's already stumping mommy.