Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Saturday, August 25, 2007
One Hot Tomato!
After years of missing out on all the fun, we finally made it to a nearby farm's annual tomato festival. The big draw, for us, is the chance to taste about 30 different types of tomatoes, including several heirloom varieties. Of course, the year we decide to join in the fun it happens to be 98 degrees out, with 75% humidity. Ugh.
Approximately 10 minutes after we arrived, Tai got hot and grumpy in the stroller. We let him take his sun hat off and we saw that he was rapidly breaking out in heat rash. But who's gonna let a little rash get in the way of tomato tasting? So we pressed on.
Half way through the tomato tasting tent, I noticed a bead of sweat running down Tai's nose. I'd never seen a baby sweat like that before! Now I started getting anxious about Tai's health. Surely, this was one of those days where people under 2 and over 80 are supposed to stay inside. I was worried enough to get pissed off at the folks in front of us who were taking far too long at each plate of tomatoes, but not worried enough to actually leave the tomato tent and get my baby home.
By the time we finished tasting all those delicious tomatoes, Tai's hair was so soaked with sweat that he looked like he had just taken a bath. We walked back through the barn to the front of the farm, where a nice breeze was blowing, and let Tai suck on some cantaloupe samples. That lifted his spirits just enough to make me stop worrying that he was about to die of heat stroke.
Dedicated parents that we are, we then headed home (after about 20 total minutes at the festival). Even though we longed to bring some striped germans or some sungolds home with us, we decided not to subject Tai to waiting the 30 minutes it would have taken us to wait in line to purchase tomatoes.
My brilliant husband suggested we let Tai ride home in just his diaper, and that's when we noticed that the heat rash was all over his chest and back too. Poor kid. Suffering in the name of tomatoes. But after a tepid bath and lots of time playing in the Central AC, he's now in a much better mood.
Approximately 10 minutes after we arrived, Tai got hot and grumpy in the stroller. We let him take his sun hat off and we saw that he was rapidly breaking out in heat rash. But who's gonna let a little rash get in the way of tomato tasting? So we pressed on.
Half way through the tomato tasting tent, I noticed a bead of sweat running down Tai's nose. I'd never seen a baby sweat like that before! Now I started getting anxious about Tai's health. Surely, this was one of those days where people under 2 and over 80 are supposed to stay inside. I was worried enough to get pissed off at the folks in front of us who were taking far too long at each plate of tomatoes, but not worried enough to actually leave the tomato tent and get my baby home.
By the time we finished tasting all those delicious tomatoes, Tai's hair was so soaked with sweat that he looked like he had just taken a bath. We walked back through the barn to the front of the farm, where a nice breeze was blowing, and let Tai suck on some cantaloupe samples. That lifted his spirits just enough to make me stop worrying that he was about to die of heat stroke.
Dedicated parents that we are, we then headed home (after about 20 total minutes at the festival). Even though we longed to bring some striped germans or some sungolds home with us, we decided not to subject Tai to waiting the 30 minutes it would have taken us to wait in line to purchase tomatoes.
My brilliant husband suggested we let Tai ride home in just his diaper, and that's when we noticed that the heat rash was all over his chest and back too. Poor kid. Suffering in the name of tomatoes. But after a tepid bath and lots of time playing in the Central AC, he's now in a much better mood.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Potter Update
Half-way through #3 and still in the dark about any and all plot details of #7. Thanks to all who are restraining themselves for my benefit. I think the worst of the media storm is over now and I am in the clear.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
The Saga Continues....
Minh ran into our Neighborhood Biologist yesterday and she had a funny little story to tell him about our friend the Gray Hot Tub Frog. She and her kids walked about 50 yards into the woods behind their house and let him go near a stream. The next day he was on the window of their house, looking in. Apparently, he is just starved for human companionship. So, they once again marched 50 yards into the woods and let him go by the same stream. And as of yesterday they had not seen him again.
That's because he was making his way back to our hot tub.
Yup, that's right. Early this morning Minh went to get in the tub and there sat our little friend, right on the edge of the tub. Now, I suppose it could just be another Gray Hot Tub Frog--they do all look alike. Maybe the word is out that we have a nice warm spot for froggies to hang out. But since we never saw one in all the time we've lived her until last week, I'm inclined to believe that it's the same little guy. Though I marvel at the fact that he made it all the way back here...having to cross at least one street to do it.
Now he's in a tupperware container on my bathroom vanity, waiting to be relocated once again. We may just have to drive him across state lines to be sure we're rid of him.
That's because he was making his way back to our hot tub.
Yup, that's right. Early this morning Minh went to get in the tub and there sat our little friend, right on the edge of the tub. Now, I suppose it could just be another Gray Hot Tub Frog--they do all look alike. Maybe the word is out that we have a nice warm spot for froggies to hang out. But since we never saw one in all the time we've lived her until last week, I'm inclined to believe that it's the same little guy. Though I marvel at the fact that he made it all the way back here...having to cross at least one street to do it.
Now he's in a tupperware container on my bathroom vanity, waiting to be relocated once again. We may just have to drive him across state lines to be sure we're rid of him.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
South Hadley Wildlife Refuge
Apparently our yard is a well known safe haven for amphibians. A couple weeks ago, Minh happened upon a toad living in the giant pile of mulch that had been sitting in our driveway for weeks. His first instinct, of course, was to run and get the camera. So we have a nice photo of the rare species....Toadius Mulchius.
Although Toadius Mulchius really enjoyed living deep inside the pile of mulch, he was easily relocated. He happily jumped out of the wheelbarrow and hopped off into our woods, never to be seen again.
The next little visitor, however, was not so keen on being evicted. Just a few days after our encounter with TM, we met our next little friend (pictured below).
Don't be fooled, he looks somewhat like a Gray Tree Frog, but this one is actually a Gray Hot Tub Frog. I found him just as I was about to climb into the tub. He had crawled up between the tub and the cover and was just hanging out on the edge of the tub--I nearly put my hand right on him as I prepared to climb in. Minh's first instinct? Get the camera. His second instinct? Use a yard stick to shoo the frog away so we could use the hot tub without fear of him hopping in to join us.
Although Toadius Mulchius really enjoyed living deep inside the pile of mulch, he was easily relocated. He happily jumped out of the wheelbarrow and hopped off into our woods, never to be seen again.
The next little visitor, however, was not so keen on being evicted. Just a few days after our encounter with TM, we met our next little friend (pictured below).
Don't be fooled, he looks somewhat like a Gray Tree Frog, but this one is actually a Gray Hot Tub Frog. I found him just as I was about to climb into the tub. He had crawled up between the tub and the cover and was just hanging out on the edge of the tub--I nearly put my hand right on him as I prepared to climb in. Minh's first instinct? Get the camera. His second instinct? Use a yard stick to shoo the frog away so we could use the hot tub without fear of him hopping in to join us.
After shooing the frog away and using the tub, Minh diligently looked this little guy up on line and discovered that it's pretty common for hot tub owners to have "problems" with gray tree frogs. Apparently, they are drawn to the warmth. But if they actually hop into the water they die. Yuck.
The next day.....he was back. Minh shooed him off the tub and then the little guy jumped off the deck and down to the lawn again. The next day....he was back. We decided to try to catch him and then relocate him to the woods. Minh donned gardening gloves and grabbed his trusty yard stick. I was tasked with holding the tupperwear container while Minh encouraged the frog to jump in. No such luck....he was off the deck and in the lawn again.
The next day....he was back AGAIN. This time I was busy with the baby, but Minh managed to catch the frog all by himself. Determined to keep him away from our tub, Minh called the Neighborhood Biologist on the next street over and asked if she or her young kids would be interested is seeing the frog and then releasing him into their woods, far away from our hot tub. She was indeed interested.
Minh arrived at her house, gloves still on and tupperware lid firmly in place. He cautiously lifted the corner of the lid as he said to her, "Be careful, I hope he doesn't jump at you" just as she reached in bare-handed and scooped the little guy up. Like I said, she's a Biologist.
Hot Tub Frog is now living happily (we think) somewhere in the woods one block over from our house. If he manages to make it all the way back to our tub, we may just keep him.
Friday, August 10, 2007
EEK!
A while back, I noted that we were paying our dog walker a larger hourly wage than our child-care provider. Somehow that seemed a little...off. So we've rectified the situation. Not by slashing our oh-so-valued dog walker's wages, and not by giving our hard-working home-based child care provider a raise. No, no, those simple solutions were not for us. Instead, we opted to enroll Tai in the Extraordinarily Expensive Childcare Center (EECC for short....pronounced "EEK!").
We signed up for EECC's waiting list when I was about 4 months pregnant and were told at the time that they might have a spot, come Fall 2007. That seemed a thousand years away. But then time flies when you are raising a baby and suddenly it was June and they were calling to ask if we wanted a half-time spot that starts the week before Labor Day. Part of me wishes they had never called. Let me explain why:
It's fewer hours of care (20 instead of 27).
It's double the hourly rate.
***BUT***
It's on the way to work.
It's a much nicer, bigger playspace.
It's a center, not someone's living room...which is preferable to me in some intangible way.
The "teachers" are the sweetest women ever.
The incoming "cohort" of infants is very diverse, including several mixed-race children.
So, it was a very difficult decision. Mainly because we are unsure whether this place is worth the money. Yes, it's clearly better than our current situation, but does it really warrant twice the money for fewer hours? In the end, we went for it, trying not to burn any bridges behind us in case we have to go crawling back to our home daycare provider at some point.
Tai starts "school" on August 27th. It really does feel like school. The women who work in the infant room are referred to as "teachers". And I think I've even heard the word "curriculum" thrown around. For those of you who received Minh's holiday letter last December (in which he detailed my pregnancy from conception to third trimester gassiness) should note that EECC is indeed the very place he made fun for taking themselves too seriously. And here we are. Brainwashed again.
Once we enrolled and paid the deposit, EECC encouraged us to bring Tai in for visits over the summer so he could get to know the teachers and become familiar with the space. Last week had a chance to play there and sit on the lap of one of the teachers and watch another baby eat her snack. AND...the infant room "teachers" are even coming to our house on the 20th to get to know Tai better and see him in his home environment. Oh crap, that means I have to clean the house. And we should probably hide all the non-organic baby food and dress him in a hemp onesie.
For the record, our plan is to spend ridiculous amounts of money on EECC through pre-school and then enroll Tai in good old-fashioned (and free!) public school for kindergarten. Part of me worries, though, that by the time Tai is 5 The Crunchies will have complete control over my brain and I will be writing a big fat check to the Montessori School without knowing what I am doing. Someone please stop me from doing that. Thanks.
We signed up for EECC's waiting list when I was about 4 months pregnant and were told at the time that they might have a spot, come Fall 2007. That seemed a thousand years away. But then time flies when you are raising a baby and suddenly it was June and they were calling to ask if we wanted a half-time spot that starts the week before Labor Day. Part of me wishes they had never called. Let me explain why:
It's fewer hours of care (20 instead of 27).
It's double the hourly rate.
***BUT***
It's on the way to work.
It's a much nicer, bigger playspace.
It's a center, not someone's living room...which is preferable to me in some intangible way.
The "teachers" are the sweetest women ever.
The incoming "cohort" of infants is very diverse, including several mixed-race children.
So, it was a very difficult decision. Mainly because we are unsure whether this place is worth the money. Yes, it's clearly better than our current situation, but does it really warrant twice the money for fewer hours? In the end, we went for it, trying not to burn any bridges behind us in case we have to go crawling back to our home daycare provider at some point.
Tai starts "school" on August 27th. It really does feel like school. The women who work in the infant room are referred to as "teachers". And I think I've even heard the word "curriculum" thrown around. For those of you who received Minh's holiday letter last December (in which he detailed my pregnancy from conception to third trimester gassiness) should note that EECC is indeed the very place he made fun for taking themselves too seriously. And here we are. Brainwashed again.
Once we enrolled and paid the deposit, EECC encouraged us to bring Tai in for visits over the summer so he could get to know the teachers and become familiar with the space. Last week had a chance to play there and sit on the lap of one of the teachers and watch another baby eat her snack. AND...the infant room "teachers" are even coming to our house on the 20th to get to know Tai better and see him in his home environment. Oh crap, that means I have to clean the house. And we should probably hide all the non-organic baby food and dress him in a hemp onesie.
For the record, our plan is to spend ridiculous amounts of money on EECC through pre-school and then enroll Tai in good old-fashioned (and free!) public school for kindergarten. Part of me worries, though, that by the time Tai is 5 The Crunchies will have complete control over my brain and I will be writing a big fat check to the Montessori School without knowing what I am doing. Someone please stop me from doing that. Thanks.
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Masquerading as a Hippy
Of course you all know by now that I'm always trying to find a balance between my Inner Hippy and my Other Half, without swinging too far one way or the other. Especially when it comes to Tai. On one hand, there is the Pioneer Valley Crunchy way of life that dictates you do the "very best" for your child, even if it means only buying organic, grain-fed, free-range chicken at $20/lb. On the other hand we have the "TV is the ultimate baby-sitter and a little high fructose corn syrup never hurt anyone" mentality. I do believe I fall somewhere in the middle:
Diapers? Disposable.
Baby food? Store-bought.
High Fructose Corn Syrup? Hell no.
TV? Not yet.
Tai will, of course, eat whatever chicken they happen to sell at Costco.
Yes, we shop at Costco. And Stop & Shop, and Big Y. While The Crunchies are picking their own green beans at the local CSA farm, we are plucking our produce off the shelves of the local supermarket. I never even stop at local farm stands for corn or strawberries anymore. It's really terrible of me.
This week though, we were given a rare look into the inner sanctum of The Crunchies. Our very kind and generous neighbors (who read this blog so I have to say nice things about them) let us take one week of their farm share while they are on vacation. So this past Monday, Minh, Tai and I ventured to the farm for the very first time. What an experience--you could actually smell the Hippies. We felt completely out of our element; I've never felt less crunchy. Upon seeing the crowded room with folks running here and there gathering up their organic vegetables, Minh's brain completely shut down. He busied himself with pushing the stroller around and made it clear I was on my own with the produce. Luckily our wonderful neighbors (who really are very nice, I'm not just saying that) had given us some pointers ahead of time. So I was able to figure out what to do and not look like too much of a Newbie.
We made it home with our organic veggies and promptly began eating them. That night we had a very tasty salad made up of many different types of greens we'd never had before. But being an organic farm, they do not use any chemicals to keep the bugs off the veggies. Our greens had so many bug holes in them they looked like lace. Nothing like the beautiful, hole-free, chemical-laden greens I am so used to getting at Big Y. The salad was tasty and we don't think either of us ingested any bugs.
Now we just have to figure out what to do with Swiss Chard and Beets.
Diapers? Disposable.
Baby food? Store-bought.
High Fructose Corn Syrup? Hell no.
TV? Not yet.
Tai will, of course, eat whatever chicken they happen to sell at Costco.
Yes, we shop at Costco. And Stop & Shop, and Big Y. While The Crunchies are picking their own green beans at the local CSA farm, we are plucking our produce off the shelves of the local supermarket. I never even stop at local farm stands for corn or strawberries anymore. It's really terrible of me.
This week though, we were given a rare look into the inner sanctum of The Crunchies. Our very kind and generous neighbors (who read this blog so I have to say nice things about them) let us take one week of their farm share while they are on vacation. So this past Monday, Minh, Tai and I ventured to the farm for the very first time. What an experience--you could actually smell the Hippies. We felt completely out of our element; I've never felt less crunchy. Upon seeing the crowded room with folks running here and there gathering up their organic vegetables, Minh's brain completely shut down. He busied himself with pushing the stroller around and made it clear I was on my own with the produce. Luckily our wonderful neighbors (who really are very nice, I'm not just saying that) had given us some pointers ahead of time. So I was able to figure out what to do and not look like too much of a Newbie.
We made it home with our organic veggies and promptly began eating them. That night we had a very tasty salad made up of many different types of greens we'd never had before. But being an organic farm, they do not use any chemicals to keep the bugs off the veggies. Our greens had so many bug holes in them they looked like lace. Nothing like the beautiful, hole-free, chemical-laden greens I am so used to getting at Big Y. The salad was tasty and we don't think either of us ingested any bugs.
Now we just have to figure out what to do with Swiss Chard and Beets.
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