Superman!

We've got another one among us!

Feed Me say Finn

Happy Thanksgiving!

Now FEED ME!

Jumping and Bouncing

Finn loves to JUMP and BOUNCE!  Whenever we bounce him he starts singing to make his voice go up and down.  He also does this when I'm burping him...even in the middle of the night.  It's pretty funny.

Walking

Finn and I like to go on lots of walks.  Sometimes 3 a day.  We often bump into cousins Emily and James who live around the corner.  He now loves to look around and quietly observes (very different from his screaming just a few months ago) but sometimes I can hear him joyfully singing...it's so cute!

Stanford vs. Cal

So, I came from a Stanford family, parents, my sister, grandfather's, aunts, uncles and cousins even went there.  I think my grandfather was something important at Stanford at one point.  I was fortunate enough to marry a Stanford man.  My sister did too!  So, yes, we are a Stanford family...except for my brother who went to Cal...but nevermind him at the moment...

On Saturday we took Finn to his first game!  Doesn't he look excited.  (We're not brainwashing him or anything.)

We live so close that I bundled up Finn and threw him into the carrier and walked the 1.5 miles to the Stadium.

Well when we got there Finn FREAKED OUT!  Oh the terror and tears the poor little guy.  I spent most of the time discreetly nursing behind some bushes (he's easily distracted now and needs a dark quiet place.)  Then we had to leave just after half time.

Jared's 3 co-workers (2 Swiss and an Israeli) are Stanford alumns but have never been to an American football game and know nothing about the rules.  It was weird explaining football rules to 3 grown men.  When we arrived I got asked, "Alice, what's a down?"  (I have an older brother so I know these things.)  At one point someone (I won't say which one of the 3) asked, "So what's the quaterback again?  I was dying it was hilarious!

Unfortunately we lost.  Jared and I rushed to find the link on the internet to listen to the rest of the game after Finn was in bed (we don't have cable) after a phone call from my mom in NYC who was still up listening to the game (and probably squealing like I know her to do during any Stanford game.)

In the future we need to warm Finn up to more football. 

Pumpkin/Butternut Squash Soup

Friday evening we had Jared's co-worker over and his wife for dinner.  I made pumpkin/butternut squash soup.  I made it last year...but OH MAN...it was super good this year.  I wanted to top it off with creme fraiche but forgot to grab some at Trader Joe's and it was 3x as much at the store I can walk to.  I happened to have some Icelandic Plain yogurt in the fridge and that really added a kick with it's tang.

We ate it for leftovers the next couple of nights.  We even fed some to Finn and he was delighted!

Alice's Pumpkin/Butternut Squash Soup

1 can of pumpkin (didn't have time to roast one.)

2 small butternut squash (the smaller the better, more concentrated flavor.)

a whole bulb of garlic

2-3 onions (I used yellow)

3-3 apples (I used fuji)

Peel squash and cut into cubes.  Cut up onions (but not too small.)  Peel the individual garlic cloves and leave whole.  Cute up apples into large chunks.  Splash some olive oil, put on large pan (I had to use 2) and roast in the oven on °350 for about 1-1 1/2 hrs or until everything is mushy.

In large pot (oh I wish I owned one of these in yellow) combine roasted contents, some cream, vegetable broth, a few dashes of cumen, salt/pepper and freshly grated nutmeg, grate in fresh ginger.  Just estimate the amounts.  Mine was pretty thick.  Then I blended everything with an emersion blender and simmered on super low heat for about 3 hrs stirring regularly.  Garnish however.  The roasting is key because it really adds flavor. 

A Piano

On Saturday Jared and I got a piano.  Well, a digital one.  (We thought that since we moved so much we'd wait until we settled, if we ever do, to get a real one.)

Lets compare music shall we.

Jared's music.  (Notice Bryan Adams;)  I about died when he started playing "Somewhere Out There" from An American Tail.  He was trying to be cheesy, but I actually LOVE THAT SONG.

And here's my music.

Jared also made a rule that we can't play each others music.  It's mostly because I can play some of his music better then him...well I've had years of lessons.  Besides...he is good...but can't be better then me at EVERYTHING!

We do have this in common.  When we were good friends (before we started dating) Jared bought me the sheet music to REM's Nightswimming.

And we are currently learning Sigur Ros' Hoppipolla.

 

Finn is learning new things!

This hilarious...

and very determined little guy...

is getting pretty good at sitting up!

***So clumsy me broke the lens on my nice DSLR...so that's the why the photos lately have been poor quality and why I've been posting tons of videos:)  It's getting fixed...but takes a while.

Family Portraits

Wasn't a fan of being all dressed up.  Thanks Emily C. for taking our photos. 

 

~FIN~

Finn's Ugly Doll

Finn received this Ugly Doll from his cousin Royal a few months ago.  Recently I thought I'd throw it in his crib to see if he'd like it.  Well, he LOVES IT.  Ever since I put it in there Finn has woken up happy.  Sometimes he wakes up in the middle of the night and will talk, I kid you not, for 2 HOURS!  He just gabs away.  He's either A. Talking in his sleep (which I've caught him doing sometimes.) or B. Chatting it up with his Ugly Doll (yet to be named.)   It cracks me up.

What keeps Finn busy

An empty bag of raisins.  It kept him occupied for at least 20 mins.  Who needs toys?

Finn Giggles some more

What Finn's been eating lately

Besides his finger, Finn has been eating various solids that I've been making.  I wanted to start out his little body fresh and pure since we have a cancer problem in our family.  Plus making your own baby food is super easy and SO MUCH CHEAPER than those stupid baby food jars!

Here he is eating peas for the first time. 

I think he likes them.

Here's a video of him eating some cereal a couple of weeks ago.

At the end of the day...

...the house is a bit of a mess.  Last night Jared and I were sitting at dinner chatting about life.  I mentioned how I'm really enjoying life right now, and how I've been working on being content with what I have.  Then I got a little teary eyed and looked up at Jared and said, "this is everything I've always wanted, thanks for making it possible."  A loving husband, a wonderful house and to be a mother.  I had looked forward to motherhood every since I could remember.  I can't believe I've actually arrived at my hopes and dreams.  I recognize that I am so fortunate.  Yes, there are a million countries to visit and I would love more time to do some art and cook, and yes I would love it if my arms were skinnier (we're getting there.) But I actually have what I want.  Not a lot of people have that.  Since Jared and I have been married we've broken every single lease (4) we've made, and have yearned for something better (which is why we kept moving.)  Well this is the "better." HOORAY! 

However, once we get too comfortable you know we'll move again, we've already been talking about it.  However, we have vowed to stick to the end of this lease.  Being too comfortable is boring:)

What we've been eating lately

Kale Chips

Kale Chips:
1 bunch of Kale
3 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
Salt

Whisk the salt, vinegar and oil together in a large bowl and toss the kale chips in.  Lay them on parchment paper on a cookie sheet.  Cook at 400° for 15 mins.  Flip each Kale leaf with tongs and cook for another 5-7 minutes.

A Beet and Corn salad I made up in my head while nursing in the middle at midnight last night.

1 large golden beet
2 small pink beets
2 ears of corn
1 bunch of green onions
1 bunch of mint leaves
some fresh mozzerella, y'know that kind that's in that watery stuff
a few dashes of grapefruit olive oil
a few dashes of orange champagne vinegar from Trader Joe's
salt and pepper to taste

Set oven to 400°.  Wrap beets with skins on in foil and add a few dashes of olive oil.  Roast in the oven for about 1-1 1/2 hours...until a fork goes through them easily.  Then remove the skins by just scraping with a knife (it's pretty easy, should just sluff right off.)  Chop into cubes.  Boil corn and cut off the cob.  Find super small mozzerella balls or just dice a large one into cubes.  (I found some medium ones at last minute and cut each in half.) Dice the mint leaves.  Chop up all of the green onions.  Salt/Pepper and add the dashes of olive oil and vinegar.  If you don't have those olive oils I bet squeezing some lime or orange would be tasty.  Then do the obvious...mix and eat.  I think it's best at room temperature.  I ate it after my swim this evening, it was left out on the counter.

Trying to be more mobile

Finn's been really frustrated lately that he's not more mobile.  The other night we just sat around and laughed at...well encouraged him as he tried to do well who knows what...roll back the other way?  Crawl (oh I hope not yet.)  He's a determined little guy.  Today he's really been working on this...getting up on all fours with an angry face.  So far he's just managed to turn 360° on his belly.

Finn and his twin

Which one does he look more like?

Mr. Baldy Man?

or his Dad?