I take on the Parker House Roll

It got the best of me at Christmas. I think I overcooked them, as they were beautiful, but dry and hard. Parker House rolls should be soft and sweet. And I love them. I even looked at the Parker House (where they, and Boston cream pie, were invented) as a wedding venue. It's a wonderful old hotel, and they are the ultimate rolls. So, as an informal resolution, I'm going to practice these until I get them right! It may take pounds of flour and butter, but I think I can do it with enough practice.

24 Weeks

Today is the start of week 24. That means I have at most (assuming baby is 2 weeks late - 18 weeks to go)! Thank goodness. Did you know that elephants are pregnant for approximately 22 months? I don't think I could take it!

That said, I have a few things to do over the next four months.

1. Find a pediatrician

2. Find a part time babysitter to help out during the week

3. Car seat and stroller

4. Nursery furniture and crib bedding

5. Take baby CPR

6. Find a baby journal that can be personalized before baby is born

7. Buy a first aid kit for babies

8. Find the right wind up swing.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg. Let alone figuring out maternity leave, how to feed baby, how to bathe baby, and how to cook and do everything with a baby hanging off me. Maybe I should wish for an elephant length pregnancy to be prepared?

Stroller Derby

To anyone out there who may read this, what are your ideas on strollers? I got a really nice jogger from my mother in law for Christmas, so I'm looking for an every day/sturdy enough for walks and errands, but still light enough for me to fold up if I have to put it in the trunk.

Although I live in LA, I live in a walking friendly neighborhood, with lots of stores/cafes/etc. in walking distance. So, my concerns may be similar to NYC or SF mamas who do a lot of walking. I've heard raves about the Bugaboo Bee as a good compromise that is small enough to maneuvre through stores and restaurants, but is still tough enough to handle a lot of use. This will be my primary set of "wheels" for the first few months, so I'm willing to spend.

What do you think of the Bee?

Good Things

I'm not making New Year's resolutions per se, but I'm trying to come up with good resolutions for parenting. There was an interesting article on the Huffington Post about how to keep resolutions: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gretchen-rubin/12-ways-to-stick-to-your_b_150885.html

I really liked how the article suggested making some fun resolutions, like trying different restaurants, entertaining more, or seeing more movies. So, in that spirit, here are some fun things that I want to incorporate into Baby W's arrival next spring:

1. Going for walks outside with Baby - I like getting out, and I can't believe that sitting inside a stuffy house on a nice LA day could be good for her either.

2. Having one (bite/meal/whatever I have time for) delicious food per day. I know I'll be crazy and stressed, but I am pretty sure that I'm entitled to an excellent latte every day!

3. Find a babysitter to allow for my husband and I to go out to dinner at least once a month. I think I'm going to have to work on this one, but it will be worth it!

4. Even if I get lazy about all my upkeep, wearing lipstick. I will also try to brush (if not wash) my hair every day!

5. Accept that some friendships may not survive Baby's arrival - I mean it's a big change for me, and I'm sure there are some friends out there who just aren't at the same place in life, so I need to accept that and make sure to find new mum friends.

6. Keep my sense of humor at least some of the time!

Pretty and Practical

I found all of these and thought they were lovely, and perfect for those of us whose balance is going a little south these days! I especially love the silver jeweled ones with the maryjane strap. Now, I just need a pedicure this week.

Christmas Recap

(Photos to follow), but I'm just sleepy and lazy right now. It was a cold and rainy Christmas here in LA, but wonderful nonetheless. On Wednesday night we went to dinner with family friends and watched the Christmas truck and carolers go by. Everyone was able to have a lovely time, because I drove. I'm building up lots of designated driver karma!

Thursday, I woke up at 6:30 to wrap presents, and have some quiet time with the cats up by the tree before our guests woke up. Then, we had a delicious breakfast of waffles and leftover tamales. Who knew they went so well together? I also had a DELICIOUS cup of coffee (I'm not drinking it that often now, so every cup tastes so good!). Then, I started working on some of the dinner projects, and snuck out for a walk during a break in the rain. It poured off and on all afternoon.

As for the verdict on the dinner - I still have work to do. The duck recipe from Barefoot Countessa didn't work as well as my old standby from Julia Child, but the potatoes, ratatouille and salad were all delicious. As were the molten chocolate cakes for dessert. They could save ANY dinner! After dinner, we all sat and ate dessert while watching Benjamin Button. I dozed off and on through the movie, but it seemed ok. A little too long, but sort of a nice story. (Kind of like this post!)

I'm off to work tomorrow and Tuesday, before having the rest of the week off. Thank goodness!

Getting Older

As I'm planning out the Christmas menu, I'm also taking notes about what dish cooks at what temperature (and what can be in the oven together) and which baking dish/casserole for everything. I may be getting older, but I am certainly becoming my mother. :) Funny how it just sneaks up on you!