Too Spicy!

Earlier today I took a nap with Jonathan and Athena on my lap. Jonathan fell asleep nursing, then I did, and then Athena came to snuggle at Jonathan's feet and my elbow. It was very cozy.

Today Jonathan also learned new skills. Now he can climb onto the dishwasher! I turned around for a few seconds and then saw him on top of the thing, busy getting water all over himself and reaching for his sippy cup on the top rack. He also learned to climb stairs today while I was talking with Catherine (and of course climbing with him). He climbed all the way upstairs and was greatly entertained with his accomplishment.

This evening we went for a walk down the Loop. Jonathan enjoyed seeing the cars and lights; we've never really taken him for a stroll at night before. J.D. and I were mildly amused by a woman dancing and singing on the corner of Delmar and Skinker. People we passed whispered: "She's dancing again." Some people always find a way to entertain themselves. We went to Chipotle's because J.D. had a $10 gift card from work for staying late on a Sunday. Our server, guy named Mike, was nice and gave Jonathan a free plate of pork, beans, and guacamole. I went to get drinks while J.D. and Jonathan started to eat. Jonathan tried a bite of the avocado (which he likes plain) but this was spicy! His eyes started watering, his nose running, and he began coughing. He cried a little. He refused a drink of water because he probably thought he was getting more of the same stuff. We learned the cardinal rule of baby dining out. . . always taste it first. Eventually, Jonathan settled down and enjoyed the rest of his dinner. Poor baby.

We strolled home, and he was asleep at 7:00 p.m. So, I just put him to bed. We'll see how it goes. Last night he slept from 8:30 to 6:40... no waking... a miracle.

Weird Ice Cream

Thanks Catherine for the link. For fun J.D. and I ranked where the flavors would be for us, along with some reasoning why.

J.D.'s (1= most likely to order 8 = keep that away from me)

1. Elvis the fat years. "He was fat for a reason; it can't be that bad."
2. Chocolate and sea salt. Supposedly chocolate and salt go well together.
3. P.B. Curry
4. Government cheese. When asked why: "I don't know, I like cheese."
5. Jesus Juice (much less interested in it when we read it was coke and red wine... blah)
6. Carrot mango
7. Secret breakfast -- "Breakfast sounds like crap for ice cream."
8. Hibiscus Beet, dead last choice for J.D.

Mine before reading the actual article:

1. Secret breakfast. This is where my sense of "adventure" would seriously get me in trouble. (Corn flakes ok, but bourbon??? Blah).
2. Chocolate and sea salt. Same reason.
3. Jesus Juice, have to say my curiosity was peaked. I'm sure I'd regret it.
4. Elvis
5. Hibiscus... I guess
6. P.B. curry
7. carrot mango (This might move higher on the list, replacing juice).
8. Gov. cheese, just sounds offensive to all the senses.

Say Cheese... lots of it

A coworker of J.D.'s brought us back a wheel of Wisconsin cheese since J.D. gave her an "Idaho Spud" from our trip over Christmas. Blah, I dislike Spud bars, but hey, I love me some cheese.

Cheese... it's what's for dinner.

Giving thanks

Not much happening here, just Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

J.D. is washing dishes to get ready to prepare Mr. Bird. (No Tofurkey this year). But we found a small turkey at Trader Joe's that was supposedly free-range. Thank you little turkey. I'm reminded of this Gibran passage on Eating and Drinking:

Then an old man, a keeper of an inn, said, 'Speak to us of Eating and Drinking.' And he said: Would that you could live on the fragrance of the earth, and like a plant be sustained by the light. But since you kill to eat, and rob the young of its mother's milk to quench your thirst, let it then be an act of worship. And let your board stand an altar on which the pure and the innocent of forest and plain are sacrificed for that which is pure and innocent in humanity. When you kill a beast say to him in your heart, 'By the same power that slays you, I too am slain; and I too shall be consumed. For the law that delivered you into my hand shall deliver me into a mightier hand. Your blood and my blood is naught but the sap that feeds the tree of heaven.' And when you crush an apple with your teeth, say to it in your heart, 'Your seeds shall live in my body, And the buds of your tomorrow shall blossom in my heart, And your fragrance shall be my breath, And together we shall rejoice through all the seasons.' And in the autumn, when you gather the grapes of your vineyard for the winepress, say in your heart, 'I too am a vineyard, and my fruit shall be gathered for the winepress, And like new wine I shall be kept in eternal vessels.' And in winter, when you draw the wine, let there be in your heart a song for each cup; And let there be in the song a remembrance for the autumn days, and for the vineyard, and for the winepress.