The Littlest Birds

20 years ago I was: I was in middle school and acting somewhat rebellious and yes, Catholic school girls can be extremely rebellious! Just ask Sister Grace, ha!

15 years ago I was: Finishing high school and realizing that Senior year is truly a joke. It was also the year that I got my first car, an old, beat-up VW GTI.

10 years ago I was: Trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life so I joined the Peace Corps and lived in Africa for two years. I came back and I still didn't know what I wanted to do with my life.

5 years ago: I met my soon-to-be husband on a camping trip/white water rafting adventure.

1 year ago: I was working off the weight I had gained from my pregnancy with Ella.

Yesterday: I longed for it to snow. My friends in New England got a ton of it! I wish for Ella and I to play in the snow sometime soon!

5 snacks I enjoy: oranges, dark chocolate, Newman's Oreos, pretzel twists (wheat) and sorbet, yum!

5 songs I know all the words to: Any of those college party songs..."Miss American Pie," Steve Miller tunes, etc. Oh, and I even know all the words to many of the Beastie Boy raps from the 80s!

5 things I would do with a million dollars: live in Europe, donate to a women's shelter and women's health, open up my own restaurant, be very generous with Ella's college savings, pay off my school loans and credit card bills.

5 places I would run away to: Iceland, Switzerland, Scotland, New England or Neverland :)

5 things I would never wear (unless someone was holding a gun to my head... or it was for a show): I wear just about EVERYTHING (from frumpy sweat pants to mushy vegetable stained shirts)...I am a mom and these things just happen!

5 favorite TV programs: Grey's Anatomy, ER, Law & Order, Oprah and The Nature Channel (I love shows about birds!)

5 bad habits: surfing the web, taking naps with Ella (not sure if this is a bad habit but I could be doing chores and such when she is napping!), driving too aggressively (at times), collecting birds and avoiding the phone (scanning my calls).

5 biggest joys: Giving birth to Ella, marrying my husband, traveling to Iceland, volunteering in the Peace Corps, getting into the college of my choice.

5 favourite toys: I love to play with Ella and her toys, my bird feeders, my laptop, my camera and my kitchen supplies (for cooking!).

5 fictional characters I would like to have dinner with: Why Harry Potter and the gang of course!

Stay safe out there, it looks like you all got quite a snow storm!

I wish Ella and I could frolic around in big snow drifts but so far it's been pretty mild and wet, no snow here :(

Ben Franklin, in a letter to his daughter, proposed the turkey as the official United States bird.

In 2003, the average American ate 17.4 pounds of turkey.

The heaviest turkey ever raised was 86 pounds, about the size of a large dog.

A 15 pound turkey usually has about 70 percent white meat and 30 percent dark meat.

The wild turkey is native to Northern Mexico and the Eastern United States.

The male turkey is called a tom.

The female turkey is called a hen.

The turkey was domesticated in Mexico and brought to Europe in the 16th century.

Wild turkeys can fly for short distances up to 55 miles per hour.

Wild turkeys can run 20 miles per hour.

Tom turkeys have beards. This is black, hairlike feathers on their breast. Hens sometimes have beards, too.

Turkeys’ heads change colors when they become excited.

Six hundred seventy-five million pounds of turkey are eaten each Thanksgiving in the United States.

Turkeys can see movement almost a hundred yards away.

Turkeys lived almost ten million years ago.

Turkey feathers were used by Native Americans to stabilize arrows.

Baby turkeys are called poults and are tan and brown.

Most of the turkeys raised for commercial production are White Hollands.

Turkey eggs are tan with brown specks and are larger than chicken eggs.

It takes 75-80 pounds of feed to raise a 30 pound tom turkey.

United States turkey growers raised 270 million turkeys in 2003.

Forty-five million turkeys are eaten each Thanksgiving.

Twenty-two million turkeys are eaten each Christmas.

Nineteen million turkeys are eaten each Easter.

Male turkeys gobble. Hens do not. They make a clicking noise.

Gobbling turkeys can be heard a mile away on a quiet day.

Minnesota, North Carolina, Arkansas, Virginia, Missouri and Virginia are the leading producers of turkey in 2003. These states produced 75% of all the turkeys raised in 2003.

Illinois produced 2.9 million turkeys in 2003 and ranked 15th in turkey production in the United States.

A 16 week old turkey is called a fryer. A five to seven month old turkey is called a young roaster and a yearling is a year old. Any turkey 15 months or older is called mature.

The ballroom dance the "turkey trot" was named for the short, jerky steps that turkeys take.

Turkeys don’t really have ears like ours, but they have very good hearing.

Turkeys can see in color.

A large group of turkeys is called a flock.

Turkeys do not see well at night.

2.74 billion pounds of turkey were processed in the United States in 1994.

A domesticated male turkey can reach a weight of 30 pounds within 18 weeks after hatching.

Turkeys are related to pheasants.

Commercially raised turkeys cannot fly.

Turkeys have heart attacks. The United States Air Force was doing test runs and breaking the sound barrier. Nearby turkeys dropped dead with heart attacks.

Wild turkeys spend the night in trees. They especially like oak trees.

Wild turkeys were almost wiped out in the early 1900's. Today there are wild turkeys in every state except Alaska.

In England, 200 years ago, turkeys were walked to market in herds. They wore booties to protect their feet. Turkeys were also walked to market in the United States.

Turkey breeding has caused turkey breasts to grow so large that the turkeys fall over.

June is National Turkey Lover’s Month.

Since 1947, the National Turkey Federation has presented a live turkey and two dressed turkeys to the President. The President does not eat the live turkey. He "pardons" it and allows it to live out its days on a historical farm.

The five most popular ways to serve leftover turkey is as a sandwich, in stew, chili or soup, casseroles and as a burger.

Eating turkey does not cause you to feel sleepy after your Thanksgiving dinner. Carbohydrates in your Thanksgiving dinner are the likely cause of your sleepiness.

50 percent of U.S. consumers eat turkey at least once per week.

According to the 2002 census, there were 8,436 turkey farms in the United States.

Turkey is low in fat and high in protein.

White meat has fewer calories and less fat than dark meat.

For their first meal on the moon, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin ate roast turkey in foil packets.

Turkeys will have 3,500 feathers at maturity.

Turkeys have been bred to have white feathers. White feathers have no spots under the skin when plucked.

Most turkey feathers are composted.

Turkey skins are tanned and used to make cowboy boots and belts.

The costume that "Big Bird" wears on Sesame Street is rumored to be made of turkey feathers.

Israelis eat the most turkeys.....28 pounds per person.

The caruncle is a red-pink fleshy growth on the head and upper neck of the turkey.

Turkeys have a long, red, fleshy area called a snood that grows from the forehead over the bill.

The fleshy growth under a turkey’s throat is called a wattle.

Turkey eggs hatch in 28 days.

Minnesota led the United States in turkey production in 2001. Forty-three million turkeys were produced.

The American Indians hunted wild turkey for its sweet, juicy meat as early as 1000 A.D. Turkey feathers were used to stabilize arrows and adorn ceremonial dress, and the spurs on the legs of wild tom turkeys were used as projectiles on arrowheads.

Turkeys are believed to have first been brought to Britain in 1526 by Yorkshireman William Strickland. He acquired six birds from American Indian traders on his travels and sold them for tuppence each in Bristol.

It's getting dark so early and this time of year makes me depressed. I am considering getting one of those full spectrum, sun lamps in order to soak up the much needed Vitamin E that is now lacking in my system. I envision me and Ella sitting under this strange lamp reading books together. Maybe it will help to elevate her mood, too (although I must admit Ella is pretty much always in good spirits---lucky little girl)!

I am considering sending Ella to a local Montessori school next fall. I have read a few books about the philosophy of this style of teaching/learning. I have had friends tell me they are not sure if it is a great enviornment for learning socialization skills. So many of the children in the classrooms work independently and there is not a lot of group activity. Ella will be three next year and I think this may be a good fit for her. I am going to the open house this coming weekend to investigate. Finding the right pre-school is daunting! I just want to do what's in Ella's best interest. I love her to pieces and my heart is breaking just thinking about letting her go for a few days a week!

Come little ones, I've got some candy! I certainly hope they come otherwise I'll be eating all this chocolatey goodness by myself (well, maybe I'll share with Ella). The trick-or-treaters probably won't be out until dinner time but again, I'm ready...come and get it! Happy Halloween (the one holiday without absurd, unrealistic, expectations, I love it)!

Overflowing with thoughts, feelings, ideas, and things i feel like sharing right now... doubt i'll get 'em all out and "onto paper." But wow. My mind if flooded with parenting stuff. Being a parent is a full-time endeavor, consuming your entire being, mind, soul, and every ounce of energy you have.

But it's also the most rewarding, most fulfilling, and most beautiful role you'll ever fulfill in your own life and the life of your child. Every single thing you do effects someone else's LIFE. It helps shape them and form their outlook and mold them into the being that they want to be, the being they were born to be.

It is the most important role you'll ever have. and if you take it seriously, it can be very challenging, confusing, and overwhelming. But if you take it seriously, you'll always know that you're doing the very best job that you can do, giving your all, and being the very best parent that you can be. And that makes it all more than worth it.

So much more than worth it. Because an incredible little PERSON is looking up to you and learing from you while being loved by you. It's such an amazing experience. I don't even know how to describe it properly!

Savory Polenta

Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil, plus extra for grilling or sauteing if desired
3/4 cup finely chopped red onion
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
1 quart chicken stock or broth
1 cup coarse ground cornmeal
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 ounces Parmesan, grated
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large, oven-safe saucepan heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the red onion and sweat until the onions begin to turn translucent, approximately 4 to 5 minutes.

Reduce the heat to low, add the garlic, and saute for 1 to 2 minutes, making sure the garlic does not burn.

Turn the heat up to high, add the chicken stock, bring to a boil. Gradually add the cornmeal while continually whisking. Once you have added all of the cornmeal, cover the pot and place it in the oven.

Cook for 35 to 40 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes to prevent lumps.

Once the mixture is creamy, remove from the oven and add the butter, salt, and pepper. Once they are incorporated, gradually add the Parmesan.

Serve as is, or pour the polenta into 9 by 13-inch cake pan lined with parchment paper. Place in the refrigerator to cool completely.

Once set, turn the polenta out onto a cutting board and cut into squares, rounds, or triangles. Brush each side with olive oil and sautee in a nonstick skillet over medium heat, or grill.


Courtesy of Alton Brown - FoodNetwork.com

Today we had a great fall day. We took Ella to a pumpkin patch. We had hoped to find a cute costume there for her but no luck so I'll have to check some other places. She enjoyed climbing around the pumpkins though! After the pumpkin patch we went to a railway museum where we got to ride on one of the trains, we had lunch and toured the barns full of old rail cars. Was a great day but we are all worn out now!

I won't be making Ella's Halloween costume this year. Until now, I'd always felt that a home-sewn costume was the sign of a great mother. *sigh*

But alas here are some easy solutions!

HALLOWEEN HIPPIE
Try this hip Halloween disguise
http://www.sesameworkshop.org/gwr?s=nl&t=75722

DALMATION DRESSUP
Create a costume that's doggone great!
http://www.sesameworkshop.org/gwr?s=nl&t=16811

FAIRY TALE COSTUME
Create a magical world with two easy fairy tale props.
http://www.sesameworkshop.org/gwr?s=nl&t=16888

MONSTER MASKS
Turn an ordinary paper plate into a monster.
http://www.sesameworkshop.org/gwr?s=nl&t=7766

WILD WEST COWGIRL
Rustle up great fun with this easy-to-make cowgirl costume.
http://www.sesameworkshop.org/gwr?s=nl&t=73320

"There is no other closeness in human life like the closeness between a mother and her baby-chronologically, physically, and spiritually they are just a few heartbeats away from being the same person" Susan Cheever, A Woman's Life (1994)

Picking Ella up from daycare is so fun! I sneak in so I can surprise her, and as soon as she sees her Mommy, her eyes light up and she starts bouncing up and down for me to pick her up. She's so happy to see me - it always makes my day! I give her giant hugs and kisses and it's all I can do to let go to put her in her carseat and drive home. She usually falls asleep on the way home, and when we get home, I gently pick her up out of her car seat and she puts her arms around me. She lays her little head on my shoulders, and I carry her in the house. Of course, this lasts for all of 5 seconds because the LOUD BARKING DOGS wake her up every single time. But for those few moments when I have my sleepy baby hugging me tight, I can pretend that she'll stay that way for a while.

"Last summer at the University of Washington in Seattle, research found kids who ate pesticide-free food had levels of chemicals linked to neurological damage, leukemia, and other cancers--six times lower than those in conventional diets."

We try to feed Ella organic food: fruit, vegetables, grains, and meat. But it's expensive, and not always easy to find. If you don't have the budget to buy all organic produce, pick and choose wisely. Here's EWG's list of most contaminated fruit and vegetables:

Fruit
apples
cherries
imported grapes
nectarines
peaches
pears
raspberries
strawberries

Vegetables
bell peppers
celery
potatoes
spinach

Here's a list I've been working on. Feel free to let me know what toys were best for you.

Best toys for multiple stages of development (best use of money):
Plastic, textured, colored links
Spotted handled mirror w/happy face
Baby Mozart block
Textured, colored, multiple shaped building block set
Xylophone
Finger puppets
Tupperware (especially w/wooden spoons)
Nursery rhyme books
Nesting cups
Sidewalk chalk
Whoozit



Best Toys by age:
From birth on:
Spotted, ringed rattle
Simple tacking blocks (about 1 1/2 inch in diameter)
Chewable books
Family picture books
Patterned, freezable teethers
boppy


From six months on:
Shape sorting block
Soft, big (9 or 12 inch diameter) ball
Small wiffle balls
Plush fish acquarium
Flap books
Spinning tops
Big cars
Percussion instruments (tambourine, shaker egg, drums)
Play phones
Play keys
Old remotes
Peak-a-boo books
Textured books
Stand up and push around toy (wagon, mower, dumptruck)
Large colors
Hammer balls into holes game



From twelve months on:
Play a song or make a noise button books
Handle books
Stackable train
Littler cars
Stacking ring tower
Finger paints
Traditional crayons
Duplos
Mom/dad’s socks and shoes
Wooden construction bench
flashcards


From 18 months on:
Clay (playdoh)
Painting with brushes
Flute, simple horn
Simple computer games
Small animal figurines, dolls (farm set)
Basic puzzles
Intermediate legos
Simple plot books
Tri-cycle


From 24 months on:
Tea party
Cooking sets
Jigsaw puzzles
Money exchange games
Barnyard bingo
Remote car/tractor
Hotwheel garage
Shoots and ladders
Internet games (SesameStreet.com, Dora)
Project books (like shape or color sorting)
Joe’s notebook from Blue’s Clues
Dora’s backpack


Pre-School:
legos
Harmonica
An open Word document on the computer
Rollerblades
Scooter
Bike with training wheels
Soccer ball
Action figures
Robots
Themed toys from favorite shows, books, or movies


Toys I wish existed:

Mirror play mat (a 2 foot diameter flexible, reflective mat)
Hanging tree (a wooden post with nobs protruding)

Never did I speculate that the workplace could get so unbearable and chaotic! There have been so many women giving birth this week! Is there a full moon? I've certainly come undone.

Ella has discovered how to open the kitchen cabinets. She has proceeded to take out several metal pots and pans. I think, perhaps, I should give her a wooden spoon and we can make music together. I always knew she'd be a rock n' roll star. A drummer no less!

Must go to work this afternoon. Sometimes I wish I could be a stay-at-home mommy and soak up all the wonderful, glorious days of babyhood. *sigh*