On being a mom and an attorney...

While drafting a warranty deed today, I was typing "Lot 114, TRACT D," and I was thinking "Big D, little d, what begins with D? Donuts and a duck-dog, D...d...D."

Mobile

She did it! XM can crawl forward, toward her intended goal. (She's been going backward, away from intended goal for a few weeks).

Here is a video clip posted mostly for the benefit of my mom. Hi mom! *waves* How's Beirut?

You've Been Rickrolled, America!

For those of you who would like to be fluent in geek, study up on this internet meme primer.

(ht: kulturblog)

Six Months Old

Here are some recent pictures of bug. She is now six months old, weighs an intimidating 13 pounds 13 ounces, and measures 26 1/4 inches. Notice her two bottom teeth--she cut those almost a month ago. I gave her carrots for lunch today (for the second time) and she spit out every bite. While she doesn't like carrots (yet), she loves oatmeal. She still won't take a bottle, but she enjoys drinking water from a sippy cup.

Cobbler Recipe?

Hmmmm, Oregon berries. I picked a bucket full of blackberries from the brier in my backyard, so I want to make cobbler tonight. I don't make cobblers very often (I'm not a good cook), so I found an easy recipe online. I'll let you know if it turns out.

Do you have a favorite, tried and true, cobbler recipe? If so, do you mind sharing?

Thanks!

UPDATE:

Here is the recipe I used

1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup milk
1 cup sugar
1 tsp baking powder
2-3 cups fruit

Preheat oven to 350. Melt the butter in an 8x8 pan.
Mix together the flour, milk, 1/2 cup sugar, and baking powder; pour over melted butter.
Put fruit over mixture and sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup sugar over the top.
Bake until golden brown (usually 30-35 minutes).

The cobbler turned out ok. I liked this recipe because I already had all the ingredients on hand. Next time, I want to find a recipe with a crumblier crust (with oats and brown sugar...something like that).

Confessions of a Novice Mama

Reading H’s posts about her sleep troubles with G (here and here) gave me the courage to post my sleep issues with XM in hopes that you, my gentle readers, will offer me your advice.

• Confession number 1: I still swaddle my six month old.

That’s right. Every night I swaddle XM and she loves it. When I put her down on her swaddle blankets, she holds her arms by her sides and lets me wrap her up tight.

• Confession number 2: I rock my baby to sleep every night.

Or more accurately, I bounce her to sleep on the exercise ball. After she is nursed and swaddled, I bounce her for about ten minutes and put her down in her crib fast asleep. She sleeps for seven to ten hours.

• Confession number 3: I put my baby down for naps in her swing.

I can put her in the swing while she’s awake and she’ll fall asleep for 1-2 hours.

Until recently, I’ve had the mentality of “why fix it if it ain’t broke?” XM sleeps through the night and naps well. I pushed the nagging “you’re fostering unhealthy sleep habits” voice to the back of my head.

Well, now I’ve reached a problem. XM is too big for her swing. She can reach up with her long monkey arms and grab the mobile at the top. It’s only a matter of time until she pulls herself out of the harness. So, a few days ago I attempted to put XM down to nap in her crib. I went through our sleep-time ritual and then I put her in the crib (awake) instead of the swing. She didn’t cry, but rather played and talked to herself for about 45 minutes. Then she cried, and I picked her up because the time for napping had passed.

The next day I tried to use the bed-time routine for napping. I nursed her, swaddled her, and then bounced her to sleep before I put her in the crib. She slept for about 10 minutes then woke up and played for about 20 minutes. After that she cried and I went in to her. The time for napping had passed.

I have Spears’ “The Baby Book” and Weissbluth’s “Healthy Sleep Habits: Happy Child.” The two books give the EXACT OPPOSITE advice, almost word for word. Nurse to sleep, don’t nurse to sleep. Let her cry it out to help her self-sooth. Don’t let her cry it out or else she’ll learn I am unresponsive to her needs. Ugh. I see logic in both approaches, but I can’t decide what to do.

How did you get your babies to fall asleep on their own?

XM’s pediatrician said I should work on two things right away: get her out of the swing and put her in the crib awake. He told me to continue to swaddle her until she no longer wanted it. He said to let her cry it out for five minutes. If she doesn’t settle down, then go into her and get her to sleep anyway I can. Eventually, she will fall asleep rather than crying. What do you think? Is that good advice? Both Dr. Spears and Dr. Weissbluth would disagree.

Please share advice, war stories, encouragement and disapproval.

Well done, China!

The opening ceremonies were amazing. They were directed by Zhang Yimou and it appears he had unlimited resources to pull off a beautiful show.

Fu Qi Zhong Guo

(Good Luck China!) Or perhaps it’s hao yun Zhong Guo. I’m not sure.

Anyway, I hope the Beijing Olympics are a success. It has been very fun watching all the coverage of Beijing leading up to the Olympics. I can’t wait to watch the actual games.

As most of you know, Yang and I lived in Beijing from 1999-2000. We had such an amazing time. The city was fascinating, the politics were infuriating, the air was toxic, and the food was sublime! Ohhh, the food. Seriously.

We lived and taught at a school near Bai Yun Guan (a Taoist temple) on the east side of Beijing. When we went back in 2004, our school and street had already been razed in preparation for the games. Apparently, the entire city has received a major facelift. So Chinese. (Ask me about the fake leaves on the trees sometime.)

We purchased bicycles shortly after we arrived in 1999, and that was our primary means of transportation. It was always a shock for the average Beijing commuter to see an American blondie riding a bicycle along side him or her. One time when Yang was riding along Chang’an Daijie, he was approached by a Random Chinese Guy while they were waiting at a red light. RCG asked if Yang was American. Yes. RCG asked if Yang was from Oregon. Yes. RCG then stated that he visited a family in a small Oregon farming community a few years ago. As luck would have it, Yang grew up in that community next door to that family. Weird! The light then turned green and Yang and RCG went their separate ways.

Anyway, enough reminiscing. Go China!

My mom and me on the Great Wall at Mutianyu in 2004.

Yong He Gong Lamasery.

Forbidden City