a lion says ROAR!

sofia's valentine's day party

Sofia's preschool had a Valentine's Day party, where they made cards and frosted cookies. Here are a few pictures!


 
 

Emerson at 7 months

 

emmo-isms

So I keep posting Sofia-isms, but when does Emmo have a turn?

Well, he just started saying "da-da-da!" He is so proud! He loves to play with his voice in all pitches and all volumes. He giggles and smiles and pounds on things. He rolls all over the place. He's sitting up really well - even taking baths with Sofia! He reaches for things in front of him and sits back up, and often gets onto one knee. Not crawling yet, but I bet it's coming pretty soon!

He's eating a lot of food these days, and seems to love it (of course he's nursing around the clock, too). His first foods were rice cereal and avocado. Then he tried banana, sweet potato, carrots, peas (yes, PEAS, Clark!), apples, and acorn squash. I make oatmeal and brown rice for him as well. So far he loves it all!

no singing!

So I was singing a song from one of Sofia's shows this morning, and here was our conversation:

Fia: No, mommy, you can't sing it when we're not watching.
Me: But I like to sing that song.
Fia: But you can't because it's not important to my feelings, and it will make my nose grouchy to you!

(She has a stuffy nose, by the way.)

Junior Symphony Guild

On Monday, February 9th, we went with a few friends to see the Junior Symphony Guild's Tiny Tots concert at Boettcher Concert Hall. It is a concert series they put on every year for children 6 and younger. The musicians all set up in a circle around the stage, and the children sit in the middle. The conductor introduces each piece with a story or description that the children can relate to and enjoy. Sofia had such a great time! We went a few years ago, when she was about 20 months. I think she got more out of it this time! She went wearing the princess crown you see in the pictures, and brought along her magic wand, which was perfect for following the conductor! She moved her wand and her free hand along with his movements. It was really cool! Now I want to take her to a concert when Maryn Alsap (The Denver Sympony's former FEMALE conductor, who is pretty amazing!) is conducting!

tantrum

OK, I could have used this strategy at Target today. At least I would have been able to get my emotions out, even if it had no impact on Sofia. (Once I did throw a tantrum for her, and she started crying...)

We had TWO of the worst tantrums Sofia has EVER had! I am physically, mentally, and utterly exhausted. She has been so good lately, too! I can only think that having two days off from school this week, spaced out in the week (Monday and Thursday) has made her feel out-of-balance from her normal rhythm.

vata calming butternut squash soup

While Kent was in Seattle I made some "vata calming butternut squash" soup. It was delectible! It was such an amazing blend of flavors. I do think it helped me to stay calm while Kent was away, too! (Well, most of the time..) I will have to make it again soon. Here is the recipe for anyone who wants it:

2 T ghee (clarified butter) – you could just use melted butter, I think
1 medium butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1” chunks
1 medium sweet potato or 2 large carrots, peeled and chopped
1 large onion, loosely diced
2 large garlic cloves, smashed
1” knob of fresh ginger, washed and finely chopped
1t ground cinnamon
¼t ground cloves
1t ground cumin
½t turmeric
3c broth or water
1c coconut milk or half-and-half
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Freshly minced parsley to garnish

1. Melt 1T ghee/butter over medium heat in a large, deep sauté pan
2. Add squash, sweet potato, and then onion. Sauté, stirring very little at first, then more frequently, for 7-8 minutes or until all ingredients turn golden brown.
3. 3. Reduce heat to low and add garlic. Continue cooking until vegetables are a rich caramel color, about 10 min. Remove from heat.
4. In a separate soup pot, add 1T ghee/butter, ginger, and the rest of the spices. Sauté until fragrant.
5. Add broth and vegetables to soup pot. Bring to a low boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer 10 min. partially covered, until squash is tender.
6. Purée in a blender until smooth.
7. Return to soup pot. Pour in enough coconut milk so that the mixture flows easily, yet is thick and hearty. Add salt and pepper to taste. Heat through and serve, garnished with parsely.

high tea at the brown palace

On January 25th my bookclub, "radically bookish", went for tea at the Brown Palace for our annual celebration. It was a blast! Our book to discuss was Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. What a timely book to be reading. It truly is one of the greatest books written (in my humble opinion) and is such a journey of the human spirit. The thing that amazed and enraged me was that it seems times have not changed.

fia-isms

"I want the bath water a little bit very hot."

Mom (after the soup bowl was knocked onto the floor for the SECOND time): I'm MAD now!
Sofia (hands to hips): Well, I'm CROSS!
Mom: Where did you learn that word?
Sofia: Old Mother Westwind is cross.

"Boys can't come to my Birthday party because it's a fairy party with no pirates or Peter Pans."

Sofia to her teacher Ms. Jen, after putting 17 dots under the number 10: Well, it's not my fault. It's my mommy's fault because she doesn't know when to tell me to stop."

For the past few months her big number has been 6. She just discovered that 7 is bigger!
"I'm big now, like 7 big!"
"There were a lot, like 7!"
"I'm tall, like 7!"