Play-dates, Family Day and our version of the slow food movement

Play Dates

It can be surprisingly difficult to plan a play date for an 8 month old.  Remember how I used to complain that the only way I could get Finley to sleep was to take him out for walk after walk?  Well before I open my big mouth again, I have to remind myself to be careful what I wish for!  Whereas 3 month old Finley was about as portable as could be (not to mention his food source, which was conveniently attached to my torso), we are now fairly house-bound by his schedule.  Between naps and eating "real" food, there is little time to get out for big adventures these days.  Planning a play date is even harder, as all babies seem to have different nap & eating schedules, so you have to try to juggle to needs of more than one little dictator.  It can be tough!

But last week we managed a few social gatherings for Finley.  The first was a play date with his friend Bradley.  Bradley is one month older, and is incredibly mobile.  About 4 months ago I was amazed to see Bradley inch-worm himself across the room in about 10 seconds flat.  For those of you who don't know your baby developmental milestones by rote, inch-worming at 5 months is really advanced!  Now Bradley crawls at break-neck speed, pulls himself to standing and cruises along furniture.  Finley was watching his moves pretty closely & has been braver these last few days.  

I've pretty much got this crawling thing down!

When you've got two busy babies and two hungry mommies in the house, it's hard to take photos.  So I really only snapped this one before Bradley arrived, and none of the actual play date!  

Family Day

Adding a holiday in the middle of February was a super smart thing to do - thank you government of B.C!  I'm not complaining, but you'd think that the provinces could've given each other a quick call to try to coordinate the weekends.  For us BC folk, we just celebrated Family Day.  And what nicer way to celebrate than with our lovely family, and with some great family friends!

Morning faces!

Brunch with 3 babies, one three-year old and 6 adults.  Happy Family Day!

We've had weeks and weeks of unseasonably dry weather - it was actually dusty when we went for a mountain bike ride on the weekend!  But the white stuff arrived yesterday, so we wrapped up Family Day with a lovely family walk.

Cookbook challenge honorable mentions

I have been keeping up with my cooking resolution, but I have not accomplished any new challenges.  I think the following deserve some honourable mentions, though - they were new recipes for me, but the books have already been represented in the cookbook challenge:

• Curried Coconut Chicken Soup from Art of the Slow Cooker by Andrew Schloss.  Delicious and perfect meal for a mid-week play date!
• Potato Frittata with Feta and Scallions (AND BACON) from Smitten Kitchen by Deb Perelman.  If I were the author of this recipe I would have made sure that everyone knew, in no uncertain terms, that this frittata also has bacon in it.  Why would you not spell that out?!  At any rate, it does, and it was well enjoyed at our brunch
• Wok-Stirred Curry-Ginger Beef and Leeks from Simply Ming by Ming Tsai.  I sort of messed up on the instructions of this one (didn't notice that my first ingredient was supposed to cool for a 4 hours or overnight before using it… guess I should have started before 6pm!), but it still tasted good!

Some thoughts on food, or "let's slow down & eat!"

I enjoy cooking, but mostly it's because I enjoy good food.  When I was in university my friend Julie and I met an acquaintance, Dara, for brunch one day.  Dara had just come back from Vietnam and she was telling us all about her travels.  She told us this story of a couple she'd met who were travelling around Southeast Asia on food tour: "Who would travel around the world just to try different foods?!" she asked in disbelief.  Julie and I looked at each other and stared blankly at her.  Who wouldn't!?

I would do that for sure!  When I travel I love to try the local specialities.  This habit has got me into trouble a few times, but mostly it's been a great experience!  Food is so intricately tied to culture, so it's a fabulous way to learn about the place you are visiting.  Most local people like to show off their specialities, so it's a great way to start  conversation and get to know people too.  Even if I am travelling to places who's culture is not that different from my own (a weekend trip to Seattle, a girls' trip to San Francisco), I spent lots of time reading about which are the recommended restaurants & local favourites.

Food experiment gone right: traditional spread at Ryokan in Japan

Italy: where food experiments never go wrong.
Unless you try to eat this entire plate of the best seafood pasta ever cooked

"Food" experiment gone wrong…. 

Vodka in Poland

Eating food together is an important part of any culture.  We live in such a fast-paced world these days, so it's easy to think of eating as just another thing that we have to get done.  With so much going on, it's temping just to grab something quick.  I was lucky to grow up in a house with amazing home-cooked food and quality family dinner time.  We were a busy family, but most nights we would all cram into our tiny kitchen table nook for dinner together.  I hope to do the same in our house, as it's such a great time to sit down as a family to talk & spend time together.  Having friends over for a holiday brunch feels so luxurious and relaxing.  It's rejuvenating to slow things down & just enjoy great food & great company.

Even though Finley is only 8 months old, I believe that in order to enjoy eating, he needs to have some independence in the process.  So I've been encouraging him to enjoy finger foods such as tofu, bread with tahini spread, pieces of fruit.  Sometimes he grabs the spoon to feed himself, and though the food is more likely to get on the table, the floor, or the mommy than in his mouth, I still think it's good to let him try!  So I will have to start wearing a bib myself and have lots of extra spoons around.

I know I've got bread in my hair, I'm saving it for later!

Tofu grins!

Photo Challenge: Selfie

This week's photo challenge is selfies.  I take selfies all the time!  I hope that doesn't make me a narcissist!

Here is my most recent selfie, which is actually a collective family selfie.  We go out for breakfast every weekend.  We used to leave Finley in his car seat and just put him on a chair, but lately we've been putting him in a high chair and he much prefers it.  I think he just likes being up at the table, eating while we eat, looking around him, smiling at everyone.

Getting my chef on!

A great start to the weekend!

With the help of my trusty book "Super Baby Food" I've been making homemade baby food for Finley.  I make the food in big batches then I freeze it so that we can have stuff ready when we have a hungry customer.  Which these days, is all the time!  I guess one builds up a great appetite learning to crawl, exploring the world and generally being an awesome little dude.

We were starting to run a bit low on stores, so I did a major baby food cook-a-thon this weekend.  We made some pureed yam and butternut squash.  Organic chicken thighs were on special so I bought a whole bunch and prepped them just the way Finley likes them (you guessed it - pureed!)  I also make home made whole grain cereal with rice, barley and millet, so we whipped up some new flour on Saturday morning. 

There are lots of obvious advantages to making your own baby food.  Easier on the environment, easier on the pocketbook, and with no added chemical junk, it's easier on the conscience.  But here is an advantage I did not anticipate - easier on the eyes!  Just look at the amazing colours of the purple yam & bright orange butternut squash.  I've never seen a jar of baby food look this good!

 Cookbook Challenge #19: Pot Roast from Silver Palate

After my last post I decide I would try the pot roast after all.  The books says it is the "Perfect Sunday supper."  My mom said it was easy.  Well, it's supposed to be a cookbook challenge, not a cookbook cake-walk… So I upped the ante by making the pot roast in this situation:

The stove is very conveniently at arm's reach

Cooking tools share the counter harmoniously with home-renovation tools

It's a good look

Yes, there are two microwaves, two baskets of unfolded laundry and countless other undone tasks in our living room.
Does Zambo look at all worried about it?

Once the pot roast was in the oven and Derek was being a handy-man, Finley and I headed out for some bird-watching.  There are definitely fewer eagles, and we didn't spot any new bird friends today.  It was still a great walk, if not a little chilly!

We came home to find the new microwave installed and a delicious pot-roast dinner.  All in all, we had a great weekend and got our tummies looked after.

Sunday night dinners

Even though life is busy, we manage to eat pretty healthy food in our house.  Not every night - tonight's "fancy ramen" would've been a bad example of our healthy eating!  Our dinners are simpler than they used to be, and we tend to have more repeats than before, but these are necessary adaptations with our busy schedules.

Before I went back to work I looked though every cookbook on my shelf and found every recipe that I knew would be quick, I thought would be quick, or the author promised would be quick.  Then I put them all on a master list along with what book & what page I would find the recipe on.  I then added all those meals that just exist in my head for quick go-to meals - fried rice, dhal, frittata; basically things I can almost cook with my eyes closed.  I call this list "Truly Easy Meals" to differentiated it from what Martha Steward might call easy, but would take me all weekend to prepare.   This is my master list for reference and inspiration every weekend as I plan our menu for the next week.

I make a geeky menu as seen below, make a grocery list and we're off to the store.

I was so busy taking a photo of Finley I failed to notice that Chèvre cheese was on sale!

The other secret to our eating success is that if something can be frozen (and I believe most things can be!), I make a double batch and save some for a rainy day.

Very big pot of Tuscan tomato soup

 In the past month or so, I've been trying to make Sunday night a special meal.  It might be a new recipe, or an old favourite that we haven't had in a while.  Not fancy, but fancier than Tom Soup + GCS (tomato soup with grilled cheese sandwich.)  Most importantly, it is a time for Derek and I to relax together, catch up on the week and have some adult conversation.

Last Sunday I hit up another one of my Jaime Oliver Books for some inspiration and this is what I found:

Cookbook Challenge #18: Tender and Crisp Chicken Legs with Sweet Tomatoes from Jaime's Dinners

An older and wiser Jaime than in my last cookbook challenge!

I've never made a meal that looks this much like the photo!  But my pot is nicer than Jaime's!

I have a inexplicable fear of cooking certain things: roast beef, pot roast, whole chicken, or even chicken that is still on it's bone.  When I read this recipe and it called for chicken legs "dejointed", I almost changed my mind.  I'm not an orthopaedic surgeon, I don't want to de-joint any legs.  But fortunately I was able to buy the legs already dejointed.

This meal came together so easily, and then cooked away slowly in the oven for 90 mins, making the whole house smell like garlic, basil and tomatoes.  I felt like an Italian Nona.  With a loaf of sourdough and a salad it was a very special Sunday night dinner.

I'm not sure what I will make this Sunday, but I will look for my inspiration in my books tomorrow.  Hey, maybe I'll even try a pot roast!

A weekend of great achievements!

The youngest and the oldest members of our family had a banner weekend, both achieving amazing physical feats!

First, many many hearty congrats to Finley's Great Grandpa Jaring, who set two new world records this  weekend: first person in the 105-109 age category to complete the 50m backstroke and 50m freestyle in  competition.  He already has many world records to his name, but these are something special to add to his trophy shelf.  It is a huge inspiration to meet Jaring, to see his passion for life, and to see the enthusiasm he brings to everything he does.  Imagine living to 105… Now imagine setting new world records in swimming at 105.  Hard to imagine, isn't it?  He's truly amazing.

Here is a video of him completing his swim for the 50m freestyle world record:

Meanwhile, back at our house, Finley's been working on something for a while.  It started with some yoga move: the plank & downward dog.  Then he progressed to rocking back and forth on all fours.  Around Christmas he tried to propel himself forward with his legs, but unfortunately his arms did not get the memo and he crashed face first into my parents' hardwood floor.  But he kept persevering.  This week he started to crawl backwards… then sideways… and today he crawled for the first time!  Yes, little boy, the world is your oyster now.  And now it's time to baby proof this house already!

My achievements were much more modest in scope, but today I did my first "real" mountain bike ride since Finley was born.  I climbed up a new trail "Fifty Shades of Green", and downhill on one of my favs, Credit Line.  It's been a very balmy weekend out west - 12c!!! - so it was a glorious day for a ride.  

Derek did the same ride too, but as most parents of babies will relate to, we did not do it together!  

After such a great achievement Finley had a big nap & was early to bed.  I think I might follow his lead and hit the hay.

And finally, I resolve to have fun blogging!

Welcome to the last day in my blogging blitz!  In the past 5 days I've presented the last of my new year's resolutions: the hobbies I plan to foster this year.  I've got lots of other fun things I hope to do this year - get back into running, mountain biking, some travel, hanging out with my amazing husband & son, visiting friends and family - but I wanted to give a special shout-out to a few of my hobbies.

Why these ones?

Birding: because it's a new hobby, it's a chance to learn more about the natural world around me, and it's something I can teach Finley.

Cooking: because it's easy to incorporate into a busy life (we have to eat!), it will help me learn new and healthy recipes to feed myself and my family.

Reading: because it's one of my oldest hobbies.  I've always loved reading; I even remember the first "book" I read by myself - "Freckle Juice" by Judy Blume.  Yet when I get busy I often let the reading drop.  It's easy to read a few pages before bed, and relaxing too.

Skiing: because it's hard to incorporate into my current schedule, so I need to put a special effort into doing it.  Because no matter how busy I get as a mom, a wife, a doctor, etc, I need to have a little time that is dedicated to something that gets me revved up!  And skiing does that.

And today the last hobby is revealed - blogging!  Yes, I resolve to keep up with my blog.  But why blog??? It's a good question.

I started blogging almost one year ago.  I thought long & hard about starting a blog, and what my goals would be.  I couldn't think of a theme, I couldn't imagine why anyone would want to read about my life, and it took me a bear's age to decide on a name.  But when I was pregnant, I really felt like I wanted to share some of my experiences, and blogging seemed like a great way to do just that.  Now that Finley is here, I have even more I want to share.  Since I'm not on Facebook or other social media outlets, a blog was a way of communicating with everyone.  I never had the intent of creating a high traffic blog; I just wanted a place that I could post some stories & pictures for the entertainment of my family & friends.

I have to say, though, that it has turned into something more for me.  I've always enjoyed writing as a creative outlet, so I really have enjoyed doing the blog.  I like to think about different topics or ideas I might  blog about, I like taking the photos that will go along with the story.  And while it's not exactly a journal, the blog postings about my pregnant and our growing family will become a type of memoir to look back upon.

And lastly, I touched upon communicating.  This is my final resolution that I'm going to throw out there.  I know I can do better, and this year I will.  The blog is one way, but I know I need to pull up my socks when it comes to answering phone calls, emails, and even good ol' fashion letters.  In a world where it's so easy to send a quick hello to someone, I don't really have any excuses!

I resolve to have fun skiing!

I will have fun, even if Mother Nature insists on snubbing ski enthusiasts of the south coast of BC.  After a crumby start to the season, Whistler-Blackcomb received a ridiculous amount of snow last weekend - 60cm in two days.  Hooray, the season is saved!  Not so fast… with an inversion set up over the hill for the next several days, temperatures at the peak could reach 11 degrees Celsius.  Bye bye piddly base.  Boo hiss!

Last year I managed a pretty good ski year for a preggo, and this year I'm hoping to make it up a few times even despite my busy schedule & a little bud too small to take up the hill yet.  Luckily my awesome hubby supports my ski habit, so I should be able to sneak up for a run here and there!

Selfie on top of Blackcomb today

There's a little too much of this around: Ice moguls of death

Just for giggles, I peered down False Face into Sudan Couloir… Definitely not ready for prime time!

Pretty light over Musical Bumps

Lots of smiles, because even with a lousy base, ice moguls and death-defying entrances to runs, skiing is so fun!