Al Parque, Al Parque

In his very precious and very limited spare time (I hesitate to call it that, inbetweenworkandschoolandsleep time is more like it) Thomas tagged along with us to the park. I don't say it enough but I admire his ability to work as hard as he does and still make time to be a great dad to Dylan. I also think that even if I said "Thank you" one million times every day he would never know how much I appreciate him gifting me our son's childhood.

Applauding the birds, or perhaps Daddy for reminding us that Geese belong to the avian super order Neognathae, sub-order Anseriformes.

I'm starting to spice things up in the kitchen once again! Before my pregnancy I cooked twice a day every day. During my first trimester I couldn't stand the smell of anything on the stove so I counted on Amy's burritos from the oven, prepared hummus and fresh fruit and veg to sustain me until Dylan arrived. Since then, I honestly don't know what we've survived on because I certainly haven't been cooking.

I'm here to tell you today is a new day, we're all hungry, and since Dylan eats what we eat (except added sweeteners and salt) the heat is back on.

My current favorite technique is roasting squash whole. Any variety will do but today it was pumpkin.

This was painfully simple. Scrub, rub, bake, and out comes a delectable calabaza with skin so tender it's butter by any other name.

 I wasn't sure what to do with it when it came out so I peeked into our fridge only to find a pot full of lonely, boring, short grain brown rice that was practically begging to be made into risotto. Before you finish that thought, let me just say I know it's not traditional risotto if the rice is pre-cooked and non-arborio. I was just working with what I had and since I was a little over-zealous earlier in the week when I decided to cook two cups of rice instead of one, cheater's risotto is what became of this beautiful meso plant.

What you don't know is that I roasted a butternut squash alongside the pumpkin. Add Maritza's fresh roasted, pumpkin, butternut, cheater's risotto with sage, carmelized onions, and green peas to the list of food and (non-food) items that Dylan devours. And while we're at it add red grapefruit, kiwi, orange and yellow bell pepper, Muchi and other curries, broccoli, yams, and roasted garlic.

So far he's exceeded my expectations. I couldn't ask him for an inch more. He's already a foodie, and cute to boot.

They grow up so fast

It took him 10 months but last week Dylan sprouted his first and second teeth. One on top and one on bottom. It's pretty much impossible to get a photo of his gums but I managed these right before the top tooth broke through:

I know what this looks like but he's not upset at all. He just likes to scrunch up his nose and make like a piglet.

We bought his first tooth brush today. He seems to like it. We'll ask again in 20 years after twice daily brushing and flossing sessions...

His bottom one has surpassed his top the past few days:

Discontent to stay inside

The transition to stay-at-home people has been tough. Our new neighborhood is not condusive to walking and our neighbors aren't very neighborly. I snap on my baby carrier most days and haul Dylan outside in search of any sign of life. I just don't get it. There must be at least one thousand living people amongst us in this complex but I have counted maybe 10 out and about in just under one month.These people seem too willing to stay locked up inside, presumably staring at the tube, all day everyday. It feels like we're living in a ghost town. What gives?

There is a small playground nearby and I have only seen one family use it. Where are all the other stay-at-home moms? We're in the suburbs for crying out loud. Take your babies outside! Anyway, that's my rant for today.

Yesterday I spotted a young mom with a baby who appeared to be about Dylan's age on an adjacent patio; A guestimate, the baby was "cruising" and standing well but not walking on her (his?) own. If you're imagining me peeping out the window with binoculars pressed to my face and a pad and pen in my hands scribbling latitude and longitude feverishly, you're not too far off. I'll admit I thought about marching right over to them with a big goofy, desperate grin and a bribe for friendship. I thought better of it. It's probably best not to sneak up on a mama bear and her cub.

Of course I'm exaggerating, but only a little. Dylan and I have been getting out of the house at least once a week to attend a playgroup so we're not as pathetic as I made it seem. This week we went to his buddy's Mickey Mouse themed 1st birthday party.

(Photo courtesy Julia McAndrew)

(Photo courtesy Julia McAndrew)

Later in the week we were so stir crazy that we decided to tag along with Thomas to the dentist. What fun! Seriously, it wasn't half bad. We each claimed our own LoveSac in the kiddie corner and Dylan played with an activity cube that was bigger than him and even kissed (see also: licked) the penguins that were painted on the wall.

Thomas on the other hand wants nothing more than to spend one full day per week couped up inside. It's astonishing how different our daily lives are right now. He's out in the field mist netting and being pecked by cardinals or monitoring rodent species in deep East Texas while Dylan and I are at home in the Dallas suburbs trying to make sense of Dr. Seuss and fighting pirates in the bath tub. At the end of the day though we've got our eye on the prize and the future we envision doesn't seem too far away.