Lil' Lumberjack

I just love how chubby he looks in his snow stuff. And I love his little lumberjack shirt, especially with the snowpants! Doesn't he look like he's about to go chop down some trees? I feel like I should send him out with a thermos and a hard metal lunch box.


Awwwwwwwr! There's my little baby again!

Potty Time!

Arin finally has a potty! I picked out the Baby Bjorn one, and it's nice and sturdy and apparently very comfy. There was the temptation to buy one of those huge wooden thrones, but I erred on the side of practicality. And Arin loves it! As a 'Bumbo for Big Boys'. He thinks its fantastic... as a toy.


He is still a bit young to try to use it as a toilet, obviously. I've put him on it a few times to do his business, but he wasn't grasping the concept... he was more interested in springing up and running about buck nekkid.

He thinks it's great though... one day he brought all his blankies into the bathroom and proceeded to place his potty delicately on top of them, like it needed some pampering so it could take a nap! He also likes to drag it out of the bathroom and bring it to the living room to sit on. And, of course, he loves to put stuff in it! He loves to put stuff in the real toilet too, but that is way off limits. This is easier for him to sneak toys into.

As you can see, my little Bobo is playing mother hen here, laying his eggs on his little potty nest. It's fun to walk into the bathroom and see a colorful rainbow of balls sitting just so in the potty. I think I will move it downstairs for a while until he's more inclined/able to think about using it as a toilet instead of a play toy. :)

Lemming for Greenport Nail Polish

I just came across the funnest thing... Essie is launching a trio of Long Island themed polishes... but not just Long Island, NORTH FORK! I was really lame and excited about this, because hey that's where my grandparents live, I spent my summers there! I came across this epic discovery while reading Scrangie's post which features pretty swatches (she is one of 'the' nail polish bloggers, in case you don't follow such things).


I'm not usually a fan of blue or green nail polish, but I really want Greenport! Just because of all the teenage summers strolling through the shops, the days of pulling up the boat to the pier and eating seafood at Claudio's... so fun! Plus, the color is just so summery and pretty. Even if they don't look anything like the colors of the Sound like the 'inspiration' for the line claims. They should have created much darker blues, have they even ever been to the North Fork? Oh well, I don't care, I just want this color. So, that was my little excitement for the day yesterday. Too bad they didn't have more colors, I really would have loved a Southold! Maybe I'll grab a stately mid-tone blue and just call it Southold. :)

Almost a Year Ago

My sweet little angel at Easter last year. I can't believe how much more chubby and baby-ish he was! Awwr.

This is Arin crawling around outside before he could walk well!

"Bobo Cousteau"

His first standing up was pulling himself up on the side of his pack'n'play and nomming on it.

I love this picture, I think he looks like a little colorful lizard! One of my favs.

Another favorite... Arin loves chocolate now but last Easter he was more enamored with putting everything BUT chocolate in his mouth.

The Conjurer

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

We forgot to make Leprechaun traps. :(
Maybe we'll have green pancakes instead.
And hopefully there'll be a leprechaun movie on! I love those.
(The Disney kind, not the scary horrifying kind...)

Narnia

Morning Snow

I took a few pictures out the window this morning. It was a good thing too, because now the snow is starting to fall. Not from the sky, from all the pine needles and tiny branches. Rather like it's snowing again, but just where trees are.


Notice the basketball hoop at the bottom to show scale:

Hopefully it will all fall off today and then melt before sundown. :)

I guess I will miss snow a tiny bit... by the time next Christmas rolls around.

Snow Day

Yesterday we had about 8 inches of snow. I would like to point out that on the news, our town was listed as the highest snowfall in the entire area by an inch... fantastic.


Not so much. The snow was heavy and wet and we had to shovel it out of the driveway. I did this right before physical therapy, which my therapist found pretty funny (and dumb).

I didn't even get another snow day at school! That was pretty lame, but Lowell didn't get nearly as much snow as we did. Plus, I did get last Monday off and "Spring Break" is next week... but still, I was hoping. :)


Last night was gorgeous though... it was a full moon, and everything - I mean everything - here was coated in thick snow... every branch of every tree and sapling. I almost went out to take pictures but my warm PJs and snuggly Bobosaur kept me safe inside. Driving down the backroads yesterday afternoon was like driving through Narnia right after you leave the wardrobe. Very pretty, but honestly why isn't it summer yet?

My little devil

This outfit just never gets old! I still think its funny every time I put it on him. (And it's sort of true, too...) Unfortunately we've had it since Halloween and the elastic on the pants is starting to stretch out... pretty soon they'll be falling off!



Notice that he is trying to grab something off the counter (probably chocolate) when he knows he should not be up there.


Those little ears and adorable tail do it for me every time. I'm sure he'll love these pics when he's older!

Early Spring?

Today was a beautiful day, for early March anyway... here in our yard it was 60 degrees.. apparently elsewhere in town where it's not an icebox enclosed by trees and a yard full of 2ft of snow it was even warmer and people were walking around in just t-shirts. Oh, the joy. Spring, please stay, we need no more nights of 15 degree arctic displays, thanks.

I didn't bring out my camera, but Arin looked totally adorable. There is this one 'island' of orange pine needles and fallen twigs near the edge of the yard that's free of snow, so I brought Arin over there. Of course, he immediately ran into the snow. It's a good thing I put on his snowboots and mittens, because he kept flopping to the ground and digging into the snow with his hands. Now our yard is criss-crossed by little Bobo boot trails, it's funny. We stayed out for so long that ARIN asked to come inside. He never asks to come inside, he will stay outside until his lips turn blue and extremities freeze off. Guess he was tuckered out from all the snow trudging. :)

It's suppose to stay nice for the next two days at least... hopefully the weather men will be wrong and it will be just as warm as it was today, or warmer. We can dream, right?

Sleepy Angel

Yesterday morning Bobo got up earlier than usual so I guess he was pretty sleepy all morning. He was sitting on my lap at the computer and we were looking at pictures of Chateaux in the Loire Valley and saying a few french words. Arin put both his hands on the desk and leaned his chin on it too to see the pictures more closely, I thought. Then I realized he had stopped chattering, and I leaned over... to discover the little muffin had fallen asleep right there on the desk! So adorable.

Luckily my camera was sitting just above the computer screen and I was able to slide over and grab it and immortalize the cuteness of the moment forever! I don't know why, but I think it's the sweetest thing in the world when Arin falls asleep in funny places, or anywhere that isn't his bed. It doesn't happen very often, so when it does I just melt.

Creamy Rice Puddin'

So yesterday did anyone else notice the turn-of-the-century western (mostly Oklahoma) theme on Turner Classic Movies? I did, and we had it on in the background all day! From Tulsa, to Oklahoma! to the Rainmaker... well basically I was in the mood to churn my own butter by nightfall.

Since I didn't have anything in the house to churn butter from, I turned my attentions to the chinese leftovers in the fridge. After we polished most of them off, I came here to search slashfood for how to deliciously reconstitute my dried to shriveled white rice. Of course, I came across a recipe for rice pudding and got distracted and sucked in.

So rice pudding it was! I didn't take any pictures, but there are leftovers in my fridge and mmm, it is GOOD! I have made rice pudding before but this was like... ambrosia, it was DELICIOUS rice pudding. I made a few little alterations to their recipe.

So I grabbed a pot and added:
About 2 cups of 2 day old chinese white rice
~ half a cup of heavy cream
~ 2.5 cups of milk
half a cup of sugar
2 dashes of salt

I brought this to a boil, and of course, it boiled over and made the biggest, most horrifying burnt milk-everywhere mess in the world on my cooktop. Ugg. This was while I was feeding Arin prunes, and let's just say while I was shrieking and cleaning up the wreckage he got himself the prunes and flung spoonfuls of it all over his freshly-bathed newly PJ'd self. Another disaster, but one at a time...

So I rescued the pudding, and put it on the backburner to simmer. Since I lost so much liquid, I added in a healthy dose of half-n-half since I was now out of heavy cream, and a little bit more sugar. You know, just cause. The recipe says you can keep adding more liquid to make it creamier, and it all depends on how dry your rice was... mine was pretty dry.

Then I added in a few shakes of cinnamon and a teaspoon and a half of vanilla. I let it simmer and absorb for about 40 minutes... until the rice soaked up almost all the liquid and it got all gooey and delicious. It did start to burn on the bottom a tiny bit so I would recommend stirring at more regular intervals than I did (Rainmaker was on and I just had to see Katharine Hepburn's antics! Not to mention clean up a pruney Bobosaur).

So, all said and done, it came out SO good. I still have a crusty mess on the cooktop that I'll have to scrape off with a razor... but it was so worth it. If you like rice pudding, or any good down-home comfort food... make this! Especially if Oklahoma! or something is on TV.

And here's the link to the original slashfood recipe with more info:
Rice Pudding with Leftover Rice

Ride Along

Arin got this ride-on truck for his first birthday. It was too noisy and intimidating and big though, so he never really approached it. However, after sneaking out onto the porch recently he rediscovered it, and now, six month later, he thinks it's great. Thanks Carl!

Lego Box

Last night I was cooking in the kitchen and Arin decided to join me, but doing his own thing.


Notice he's somehow missing a sock again...

Colbert and Vikings

Well, if you know me you know I love Vikings. And Steven Colbert. Combine the two? BEST EVER. Colbert was at his best tonight. Well, I am hopped up on cold meds waiting for my Benadryl to kick in, but eating chicken off a sword is a surefire way into my heart.

Ok here's the link where you can watch it, it has an ad at the beginning (oh, the Gaul!) so I didn't want to embed it. Tide isn't paying ME any money, after all:

The Swede Hereafter

Sick

I am sick currently, which means that my whole world stops for a little while. I am not one of those people who handle being sick with grace. I whimper and shiver and sniffle obtrusively and sneeze all over. If I'm sick everyone knows it and I want pity.

I can accept this, I know I'm no Jane Austen heroine.

They are demure and modest and yet very delicate in that they are often contracting random illnesses they they accept quietly and without fuss. They just lie about in bed, graciously receiving visitors and eating toast.

I eat toast and complain about wanting to vomit and how snot shoots out of my tear duct when I blow my nose. No lie, it's wicked gross.

But, while I'm talking about Jane Austen, I would like to add a new blog to my list on the side. It's lovely and fantastic and indulges my epic love for all things English and polite and romantic. I've been finding a lot of great historical blogs recently but this one is good even if you aren't hardcore, check it out:

http://janeaustensworld.wordpress.com/

Also, it has tons of info and links to other nifty historical-ish things that are 'excessively diverting' to explore (that's a web award by the way, which this blog has won).

So, I'm going to sit here too sick to read all this socially delicious goodness, and dream of a time when it's spring and I'm well and I can devote hours to reading historical romantic fiction. Perfect.

Yummy Song

Ok, now that I know how to embed youtube videos here y'all are in trouble. Yeah, that's right.

So I really like this song, and forgot about it until I happened to hear it on the radio Thursday night as I was running late for class. The scene: a cold winter night in the dark heart of Lowell with me in a giant SUV driving around the enclosed parking lots of UMASS's administrative buildings, desperately searching for a phantom opening. And of course, getting later and later by the second. I already knew I would have to walk in while my instructor was talking, and I get enough attention from him as it is. Also, there are more people in our class than workstations, so the last people there (usually those caught in traffic) are the ones who have to embarrassingly double up with other people and sit in the aisle. So, you could say at this point I was stressin'. Then this song came on the radio, and all my cares just melted into dust.

Instantly I was transported back to sophmore year of college, listening to John Mayer on the radio as I and three other UNH ladies made an adventurous car trek all the way up to Montreal for a fantastic girl's weekend. I know, Matt Nathanson is NOT John Mayer, mostly because I don't much like the latter, though that song, you know, the one about being in BED... that's a damn sexy song. But not like, dirty porno sexy, you know? So is this song, which is why I'm reminded of those carefree days of my wild youth. So yeah, SEXY YUMMY SONG:




I put up the lyric video instead of his actual video because a.) the sound quality was better and b.) he does some weird wiggly dancing in his video that just FREAKS me out. Sorry.

Also, interestingly, the radio informed me that Mr. Nathanson is actually from Massachusetts! Lexington, to be specific, and according to the announcer the only good thing to come out of the city besides the Minutemen. A joke about pickup lines ensued. Anyway, just thought I'd share my unexpected happy moment from last week.

Last Holiday

Last Holiday - I love this movie, I LOVE it. It just came on tv again tonight and that makes me so happy. If you are a female then go out and watch this movie, it is fun, uplifting, sweet, funny and how can you not love Queen Latifah?

So its cheesy and the plot line isn't deep and literary, but it's entertaining and just makes me want to go out and live life. Do something exciting, get out of the house, you know. It's elevating.

Not to mention I adore 'travel' movies, ones that are like taking a mini-vacation in your living room. Without the packing and plane fare. Anyway, just trust me, you'll like this go watch it.

Duct Tape

Well, the day has finally come...



Yes, I went THERE. I accidentally ripped the tab off Arin's Pampers, which pretty much hasn't happened since he was 3 days old (at which time I just threw away the offending diaper, since I changed about 15 a day anyway). This time though, I decided to bring out the duct tape as I had read in many 'baby advice' articles back when I was still pregnant.

No need to waste a good diaper, right? Especially since I had to change FOUR poopie diapers so far today. Uck.

Life's a Treat with Shaun the Sheep

Julie and/or Lauren, I'm not exactly sure who is responsible, got Arin into Shaun the Sheep. Well, the theme song to it. He LOVES to watch it on YouTube over and over! It's alright to hear once or twice, the lyrics aren't bad but after the third time you kind of want to strangle Shaun the Sheep.




And here is the X-Factor version that he originally got hooked on, its a spin off of the UK's American Idol auditions I guess.

You can't compete with Shaun the Sheep!

Firstborn Son

Today it occurred to me...

Arin is the firstborn son of a firstborn son and a firstborn daughter.

Doesn't that sound like the start of a great prophecy?

Here's the little son of prophecy during his very first nap.

Chocolate Ninja

I don't know how this keeps happening... my Bobosaur is a NINJA. A chocolate ninja.

I was in the kitchen washing dishes earlier, and when I finished I realized Arin hadn't eaten anything (he wasn't hungry for breakfast), and I felt like a bad mommy so I grabbed a nutri-grain bar figuring at least he would have something in his stomach.

I walk into the living room to give him the tasty snack and was shocked to discover that my sweet boy, who had been playing so nice and quietly so I could clean up, had somehow snuck into the kitchen (the gate had been up all weekend to prevent him from getting Valentine's treats), grabbed a big box of turtle chocolates and snuck back into the living room stealthily, where he helped himself to a chocolate coma!



He just looked up at me with this glazed-over expression, and held up his hand for me to clean off! He was literally drunk off chocolate. You can see it in his face here, he was just laid out, barely able to suck the chocolate off his fingers. I think he only had one, but I guess they are strong... Oh, and of course he had spit out all the nuts all over himself and the floor. They get in the way of chocolate, you know.

So much for the Nutri-grain bar.

Superbowl Day

Arin had a nice little football shirt for the Superbowl, not that he watched much of it, he was busy making messes.

Valentine's Oreo Truffles

Instead of buying people chocolates this year I made some Oreo truffles, after seeing them on Bakerella's website. They looked SO good I had to make them. I kind of winged the recipe, and since I was crushing the cookies by hand ended up adding some heavy cream to make them easier to crush, which I wouldn't do again they came out kind of mushy.

Here is what I came up with after mushing up about 3/4 a package of Oreos, a big pour of heavy cream and four ounces of cream cheese with a potato masher. They're shiny because they're gooey and damp, just like you dipped your Oreo cookies in milk. Mmm, oreos and milk...


Then I melted various types of chocolate and had one heck of a time dipping and dripping, in the end they came out lumpy and messy but that makes them more fun to eat, right?

Arin loved them, as you can see he was the one eating these while I assembled the little festive boxes. He managed to snag two, the peanut butter one and a dark chocolate one.

I added some heavy cream to the dark chocolate and the peanut butter when I was melting them, so the coating is a bit mousse-like, which made them easier to 'frost' and more light and fluffy. The milk chocolate ones came out with a traditional hard-shell coating.

This is what Arin has looked like this for the past three days, I swear. No chocolate is safe.

And here is the updated Valentine's table with just SOME of our assorted goodies on it. Minus the strawberries which are chilling on the porch, and a bunch of delicious from-scractch chocolate cupcakes. Those cupcakes there are Julie's attempt to make red-velvet. :)