Food

I just wanted to update you that the "baby lasagna" was and is a hit. It freezes beautifully and reheats better than the original. Seriously, it is a great idea.  Also, the chicken nuggets were a hit as well. I knew they would be, given than the Cuddler loves chicken, but apparently fried is even better.

 

He had his monthly visit with the CW last week and I'm starting to plan for him to go home just before Christmas. The hints she was dropping gave me the idea that this was likely. I trying to put all the doom and gloom out of my mind and remain positive. Of course, I do have this "non-specific anxiety issue"... which means whenver anything goes wrong I immediately think it's the end of the world. As long as I don't think too far into the future or ponder the fact that apparently, I'm meant to live in uncertainty, it's ok.

 

 

The Zoo!

Today the Cuddler and I went to the Zoo. He's a little too young, but the weather is gorgeous and it's a holiday weekend... so why not. Most of the animals weren't all that exciting to the Cuddler, but he did really like the underwater viewing of the beluga whale. It kept swimming in circles that included a rub of the window we stood at. And someone got over his dislike of grass enough to play on the big lawn for a while.

The area we live in is fairly rural. The zoo is a bit of drive away, but really not that bad. Heck, I commuted longer when I lived in NY. Sadly, most of my students have never left this area. They've never been a mall full of stores - our local "mall" (and I use that term loosely) is nearly empty. They've never been to a zoo, museum or seen a ballet. Although he's only 10 months old, the Cuddler has visited the zoo. We've been to the mall (he wasn't impressed). I think, however, we'll wait another month or so before hitting a museum. A few more years before the ballet.

Baby Lasagna

The other day I found a great baby vegitarian lasagna recipe... and it claimed to freeze well. Since The Cuddler isn't quite up to eating the same thing as me, I'm always wondering what to feed him for dinner. Plus he loves pasta.

 

The lasagna is made in a muffin tin. No lasagna noodles (does that mean it's not really a lasagna?), but there is the layering of foods. I used tiny seashell pasta and layered it with the sauce. The sauce was pretty basic. Tomato paste, chicken broth with grated carrot and zuchini. Even at baby stage we're sneaking those extra vegis in. Plus the zuchini was from garden last year, so I'm nearly self-sufficient! The sauce is layer with the past and some full-milk ricotta and mozzarella.

 

It was a little bland for me, but judging from the amount of sauce in the Cuddler's hair, it was a success. Tonight we'll be thawing out a frozen "cupcake"'s worth to try it from the freezer.

Adoption Homestudy

My prediction of getting the adoption homestudy done sometime in 2010 might just be true. I received an email today letting me know that it's possible that we may just get started in June.

At this point, I'm really hoping that this will be done before I my fingerprints expire- We're down to 10 months left on those expiring little suckers. Sadly, while the card may expire, my "porey" hard to get fingerprints won't actually change. Seriously, wouldn't it make more sense to dispense with the 12 month rule (saving the state millions) and instead have a computer flag a foster parent's liscense if they're convicted of a crime? Maybe alert the liscensor?

To Tell or Not To Tell

This Sunday, the Cuddler and I sat next to someone we hadn't met before... she remarked on how cute he was and how beautiful his eyes were and then said "he looks just like his mom!" For a moment I was a bit taken aback... because he does look his mom, who is not me. For about 15 seconds I was thinking "oh crap! did she recognize him? Is there going to be a scene?" before realizing that she was talking about me. Then I tried not to laugh because seriously, the Cuddler doesn't look a thing like me other than skin color - we're both pasty white. Then again, given that we live in an area where the sun shines less than a third of the year, almost everyone is pale and pasty.

I haven't told anyone at the church that the Cuddler isn't "my" child. I haven't been attending there for very long and when I walked in with him, many just made assumptions. I'm pretty sure that many believe I have a husband at home as well (a "church avoider"). No one ever asked and while there are people who do know, I'm guessing they're not gossipers.

How do you broach the subject with people who are aquaintences, but not really "friends"? Really it's none of their business and I don't want to breach the Cuddler's confidentiality by labeling him, especially if I do end up adopting him. Then again, am I "hiding" this information like it's something to be ashamed of... ?

Another funny story... I was talking to someone at the daycare about the Cuddler's huge feet. Like clown feet, is this kid. The consensus was that he's going to be very tall. Then her significant other asked "how tall is his dad?" as I was leaving and before I even thought about it I replied "couldn't tell ya" and walked out the door. Yah. I'm thinking someone went home scratching his head.

Food

The Cuddler is well into solid foods. In fact, he's almost refusing to eat babyfood... at least if someone else is trying to feed it too him. He's just starting to use a spoon - without much dexterity - but won't use a plate or bowl. They end up on the floor rather quickly.  The daycare has also reported that he often "feeds the dog" at lunch time (dropping food off the highchair tray and watching for the dog to eat it). At least at home, there actually is a dog so my mess is less.

 

Now that we're fully into the solid food stage, every night is a conundrum to figure out what to serve without too much crazieness or work. For myself, I'm a haphazard cook. I rarely see the meal as worth the dishes to complete it and sans child pretty much stick to frozen meals or random snacks. But I am trying to change that. Someone in my family has to have good eating habits and it might as well be the Cuddler.

 

I signed up for e-mealz just see if that would help. Basically, every week I download a new weekly menu with a shopping list. It's supposed to help with meal planning and food budgeting. While I don't follow it every day, it has made meal planning a little easier. As for the budget part, well some weeks are really cheap and others, not so much.

 

Last night was "spicy sloppy joes". I cooked the meat without the spices for the baby, but did leave the onions in for him. He also had his favorite (not!) green beans. Or rather, the dog had green beans. The dog's health is great by the way.

 

Tonight is home-made chicken nuggets with carrots. The cuddler does like carrots and loves chicken, so the dog might just have to settle for dog food.

10 Months Old

Tomorrow the cuddler will be 10 months old. He's standing up and squating down quite well, but still no walking. He's fully satisfied to walk on his knees or crawl where ever he needs to be. This has already caused him some consternation as one does have to touch the grass to crawl across it. You have to laugh when watching him balance on his hienny while desperately trying not to let any skin come into contact with the dreaded green stuff.

I also cannot convince him to drink out of a sippy cup for love or money. (ok, I never offered him money...) He's much more interested in dumping it out all over the place. He doesn't care about juice, water or even formula. He's also not that interested in drinking out of cups... I'm just dreading as to what is going to happen when the "ba-bas" have to go in a couple of months. Any ideas?

Another Month Gone By

Just another Saturday - that makes 25 months on the slow boat to China.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, it's raining again. We had a week of really gorgeous weather. It was so warm that I actually wore just a sweater to work, instead of the usual lon-johns-and-turtleneck-plus-a-coat-just-case outfit. Yes, it's really that cold almost all year 'round. Luckily, I stocked up warmer clothes for the cuddler. Otherwise he'd be freezing in sleeveless t-shirts and shorts... because that's all the stores are carrying. (and what is up with the fact that there are NO nice baby clothes for boys? No boy under the age of 4 needs anything but a onesie and jeans? Seriously wrong).

The cuddler won't be going anywhere soon. Apparently there aren't any relative placements in the works currently. So our vacation plans are off and running again. We'll be heading someplace warm (and get to wear those shorts!) and I'm literally counting down the days. It's also looking like there will be no summer school this year, so I'll have the whole thing off! It is a pay cut, but after this year, I soooo need the break from teenagers.

oh yeah! The cuddler is standing by himself! This may mean a summer camping trip!!! Walking babies are so much easier to camp with... trust me on this. Especially if you don't have an RV.