Happy, spring

I am so happy we had a late-in-life baby. There is nothing in the entire world sweeter than this 16-pound ball of delight.

But! It turns out that all the old women in the world were right-- babies do not keep.

No more swaddling her in a receiving blanket. No more sweet-smelling newborn poop. She doesn't need her Boppy infant lounger or her bouncy seat. She doesn't sleep in my arms all day long. I don't even need to wear in the Moby while I do my afternoon chores because she's over the afternoon crabbies and content to play happily with kitchen utensils. 

She still doesn't really go anywhere-- although she did roll out of her room the other day. I have only found her on her tummy once after putting her to sleep on her back. Usually she stays in the same place when she sleeps, and she is only just this week able to sleep with her arms unswaddled.

I wish I would have had another baby between Jack and Cooper and that we had been able to have one in the 7 years between Dorothy and Minnie. Babies are my favorite.

So happy to sit on the floor and play with a spoon:

There has never been a more adored baby

Also! I have never adored making baby food so much!

Thank god spring is on the way, and we can resume our afternoon walks. With babies, natch.

Vaccine envy

 Ben and I are eligible to receive vaccines as of yesterday, but we can't find any appointments. We are using our best internet ticket ordering skills, and yet. No shots. Around here, Walgreens is the best bet (besides a county health department lottery), so if anyone has any tips, I am all ears.

I heard more slots were opening this morning, so I got up early and made 8 cups of coffee grounds with only 4 cups of water. I AM SO AWAKE NOW EVERYONE.

We had a lovely day yesterday. Nothing out of the ordinary, but very cozy and delightful, with 5 healthy, happy, bright, and funny kids. I got a surprise gift from an old friend that made me cry-- that's how lovely and delightful it was. We played Cards Against Humanity at dinner, and Minnie slept well all day. What more can you ask for in the time of Covid?

A vaccine.

Things on our minds besides our Oompa Loompa vaccines:

POTY: Still working on it. I take a pretty significant couch nap ala Gary every night, but still, we are working on it.

Fitness goals: BOTH OF US. I KNOW.

Birthday season: Ben and Dorothy celebrate this month, Jack in April, me in May, Harry in June, America in July, Minnie in August, and Cooper in September, SO MANY BIRTHDAYS. Give me all your best virtual birthday party tips.

How fab is this baby jean jacket?  Minnie got it for Christmas from Grandma and Grandpa Jedd, and it is THE BEST.

Dorothy and Cooper shot a movie in this blanket tent yesterday most of the day. They used Cooper's video camera, Jack's Go Pro, and their iPads. I would say I am excited about watching the movie, but for these guys, trust me when I tell you that the process is the most important thing.

February: What I Read

 12. The Year of Less by Cait Flanders: I listened to this, and it was great. Now I want to sell 70% of my belongings and go on a shopping ban. WILL I??? You don't have to be a Magic 8 Ball to guess PROBABLY FREAKING NOT.

11. The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides: Meh. A quick audiobook thriller.

10. A Faint Cold Fear by Karin Slaughter: Another great thriller to listen to while I walk and clean the kitchen.

9. A Promised Land by Barack Obama: Sometimes politician's books are boring. THIS ONE IS NOT.

8. The Lost Man by Jane Harper: I LOVE HER. She has written 4 books, the 2 I read last month, and the two on this list. You should read them-- all wildly entertaining and all SO evocative of place and climate.

7. Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter: OH MY GOODNESS. This is a thriller about some really sick stuff, but it was an EXCELLENT audiobook.

6. The Survivors by Jane Harper: OK. I have now read all 4 of Harper's books, and they're terrific. I listened to the first 3, and the reader is terrific-- I recommend the audio book for sure.

5. Siri, Who Am I? by Sam Tschida: This was a charming and delightful little audiobook, and I am sure it would be a similarly enjoyable read.

4. Before She Disappeared by Lisa Gardner: Not my favorite book of hers, but damn, she's awesome.

3. The Comeback by Ella Berman: Read with Jenna has yet to let me down.

2. Less by Andrew Sean Greer: This is a 2017 Pulitzer, and you can tell. Or at least I could tell after I googled it. But I only googled it because I loved it so much.

1. The 71/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton: This book! It's old, but OH MY GOD is it good! If you somehow missed this one (like I did), YOU NEED TO READ IT. I listened to it, and it was terrific as a read aloud, BTW.

Baby food this week

 Mango puree!

Acorn squash puree!

Carrots with ginger

Pear oatmeal sweetened with dates

Apples with coconut milk

Food this week

 Saturday: Lentil soup and crusty bread, spinach salads

Sunday: BBQ chicken quarters, roasted acorn squash, broccoli, chocolate chip cookie bars

Monday: Grilled chicken salads and baked potatoes, brownies

Tuesday: Steak tacos

Wednesday: Grilled cheese and tomato soup with roasted brussels

Thursday: Spaghetti, meatballs, green beans, salad, garlic bread

Friday: Buffalo chicken wraps, fries, veggies and dip, brownies again

Adequate

 We had a pretty adequate no-school today.

I played 2 rounds of Clue before 8 am and another before Minnie's third nap.

Pictures!

 This is the kids' last day of school for the week, so I am going to ENJOY IT, DAMNIT.

I have a multi-step dinner I have never made before and also work to do for my class and plus also another worky thing. What's that you say? Stop complaining and show you some pictures? Here you go:

The morning Minnie

Jack is THE SWEETEST

She loves all of the foods.

Sbe also loves selfies

Finally, we can just sit her down with some stuff, and she can play

She loves Dorothy's math

I look awful here, but SHE IS HUGGING ME and it is the absolute best.

Dorothy, fully accessorized and wearing her house Uggs

Cutest hat ever.