Blah Blah Babycakes

Resolute

It's that time of year again.  The time when you make promises about the gym, about smoking, about eating healthy, about being less of a drunk...  It's the time of year for a new version of you. 

I fared pretty well with last year's resolutions, but this year I'm keeping them private.  They're mostly about some ugly things inside me and If I showed you my list you might not want to be friends anymore. 

If 2006 was about holding on, (I went to New York seven out of 11 months) then 2007 will be about letting go and moving on. It will be about better hair and better conversation.  It will be about Henry sleeping in his own bed.

We're heading to Chicago, where we'll meet up with my sister, to celebrate New Year's eve at the House of Blues.  Henry is very excited for the plane and train ride.  He doesn't really care for midnight.

So cheers to you and cheers to 2007.  May it be a healthy and wonderful year.

Get Gorgeous in 2007.  Republic of Tea.

The Henry Show - Christmas Special

Merry Christmas

From all of us at Blah Blah Babycakes

Last Minute Philanthropy

Gift Ideas for the person who has everything:

Truly Inspired Charity Gift Ideas

Instead of a sweater, buy a llama in your uncle's name and have it sent to Peru. 

The Encyclopedia of Everything Nasty

When the nurse from Henry's school called me to tell me that Henry had barfed exorcist style and that I needed to pick him up immediately, my first thought was, "thank goodness he was at school and not with me."  Nice, huh?  My second thought was, "oh my poor baby, I better have Nick pick him up!"

Without grossing you out too much, I'll tell you that by 3:00 a.m the next morning, Nick was sleeping on the air mattress in the kitchen, Henry was sleeping on the only couch cushion that wasn't soiled and I was sleeping on the bathroom floor.  It was a disaster.  I almost called my mother in the middle of the night to beg for help.

I think everyone is recovered now.  I've been steaming, disinfecting and laundering the hell out of our loft and hopefully, when I open the front door, the UPS man won't be blown over by the smell of vomit when he delivers the last of my Christmas shopping later this afternoon.

Positive Thing About Minneapolis #3

You can see the annual Holidazzle parade every Wednesday thru Sunday from Thanksgiving to Christmas on Nicollet Mall in Downtown Minneapolis. 

Most nights I thought it was too cold to take Henry, but the parade is canceled only if it reaches -25 below zero.  We ended up going on a particularly balmy evening and Henry loved it.  I think he did anyway.  He becomes so serious and focused when experiencing something really exciting, like parades and trick-or-treating.  He asked for "more, more!" as the floats went by and he clapped dutifully when it was over.

I imagine him on a first date, "you can't tell by the look on my face, but I'm having a really great time".

They're Not Strangers, They're Angels

I think the 9th Annual Family Fondue may have been the best yet.  Of course, doubling the guest list added to the fun, but my sister flew in, as a surprise and having her here made the evening absolutely perfect.  Although it wasn't a total surprise when she showed up. People were acting weird all day and I had major suspicions.  There's no surprising me.  I can't be fooled.

From the pre-party with oysters and champagne, to the after party at the local VFW, it was an evening to remember. Or not remember, if you're me and drank too much wine.

Now the New Yorkers are gone, the house is clean and I have a mild case of post-party blues. 

Maybe next year we'll actually have a place for people to sit

Thank you to all that celebrated with us and especially those that came from far away.  It meant so much to me and I've not felt so happy in a long time.

My Favorite Day

Fondue day has arrived. Beth, Arlon and Humphrey are arriving from NY this afternoon.  Imagine coming all the way to Minneapolis for a dinner party?! 

These people love cheese.

Big Boy Beds Are For Losers

Apparently.

Henry and I stood in the linen aisle at Target and I held up two sets of sheets.  "Which one do you prefer, Henry?", "Little Mermaid or Cars?"

"Ummmm", Henry contemplated,  He pointed to the lady with the fins.  "Are you sure?", I asked. 

"No, Cars!"  Okay then, Cars it is !

We left with a Dora pillow, Cars sheets and the softest blue blanket in the whole entire world.  It's melty soft. I can't imagine not wanting to be underneath it. After Target it was on to the big boy bed store.  We checked out a few mattresses and picked out the one with the best jumping qualities.

Guess what? He hates his big boy bed. He hates the softest blue blanket in the world.

Henry asleep on the couch

I think he'd rather sleep just about anywhere other than his new bed.  Except, of course, for his crib.

I'm so frustrated and so very tired.

Edit:  After some time on my knees this morning, praying to the gods of sleep, Henry just now fell asleep in his bed, all by himself.

Basil Ice Cream

Nick and I had a small dinner party this weekend and I was in charge of dessert.  I bravely attempted making ice cream for the first time and went for gold with this Basil Ice Cream recipe inspired by JoJo's in Manhattan.

Served over warm, fudge brownies (out of a box) the ice cream was eaten up so quickly I didn't even get to take a picture of it. 

Basil Ice Cream
2 cups whole milk
3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
1/2 cup sugar
4 large egg yolks
1/2 cup well-chilled heavy cream

Special equipment:  an instant-read thermometer; an ice cream maker

Bring milk, basil, 1/4 cup sugar, and a pinch of salt to a boil in a 2-quart heavy saucepan, stirring, then remove from heat and let steep 30 minutes. Transfer to a blender (reserve saucepan) and blend until basil is finely ground, about 1 minute.

Beat together yolks and remaining 1/4 cup sugar in a medium bowl with an electric mixer until thick and pale, about 1 minute. Add milk mixture in a stream, beating until combined well. Pour mixture into reserved saucepan and cook over moderate heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until mixture coats back of spoon and registers 175°F on thermometer (do not let boil). Immediately remove from heat and pour through a fine-mesh sieve into a metal bowl. Set bowl in a larger bowl of ice water and stir until cold, 10 to 15 minutes.

Stir in cream and freeze in ice cream maker. Transfer ice cream to an airtight container and put in freezer to harden, at least 2 hours.

 

Help

When Henry was 4.5 months I used the controversial cry-it-out method of sleep training.  At that time I was meeting weekly with a group of moms in DUMBO, all with babies around the same age.  One by one we succumbed to the method, after another mom would show up at playgroup, looking perky, proclaiming the wonders of a baby that slept through the night.

I desperately wanted to be perky.

It took 3 days of training and the longest Henry ever cried was 23 minutes. 

For the next 23 months, without a fuss,  I was able to put Henry to bed at 8pm and we'd see him in the morning.  For 23 months life was pretty good.

It happened without warning and all of a sudden Henry refuses to sleep in his room. When it's time to sleep he grabs his things (cow, blanket, pacifier) and heads for my bed.   If I put him in his crib, he'll cry until he barfs.  It's not pretty and I don't know what to do.  I don't have my mommy friends in DUMBO, I only have you.

Back in the good old days

Henry Health Update

Henry had surgery this morning to insert tubes in his ears and we're back at home recovering. 

It went smoothly and Henry was incredibly brave, although he didn't like getting his blood pressure taken.

He didn't much like it when he was a baby either.