Hello, Spaghetti Monster

Welcome to the wonderful world of spaghetti, Elliot.  We're glad you're here.  May you always find such delight in slurping noodles, smearing sauce, and scooping spaghetti off the table by the fist-fulls.  And, luckily, since your Mama makes the most amazing Ma Geraghty sauce and your Spiritual Guardian happens to be in L-O-V-E with spaghetti, I predict you will.

Look What We Found!

Today was my first day out on a walk with both boys in our new neighborhood.  We set out in search of the park that Andrea had told me was nearby, but instead we found these little feathered friends!  A whole flock on hens came running and clucking up to the fence to say hello to us.

Max loved them.  He chuckled at their clucking and they clucked at his chuckling.  I think this new neighborhood is going to suit us all just fine.

Goodbye Taylor Street

Today was the last day.  We have officially said goodbye to our beautiful first home.  We have many things in life to still say hello to, but, for now... goodbye, goodbye, goodbye.

Goodbye little Fuji apple tree.

Goodbye cowgirl bathroom.

Goodbye beautifully refinished fir floors.

Goodbye brick chimney that Andrea and Bethany exposed themselves.

Goodbye backyard view from the kitchen sink.

Goodbye funny short bathroom (I hope the next owners are as short as we are!).

Goodbye tall tree in the backyard.  

Goodbye cecil brunner rose, planted to remind me of Nana.

Goodbye birthday bed, made especially for me by Andrea, Annika, Hilary and Finch.

Goodbye creepy guy who lives next door.

Goodbye fence with a hula hoop on it.

Goodbye backyard deck.  Thank you for all of the wonderful bar-b-que summer nights.

What a wonderful 4 years it has been.  

Internet Update

We got it!  Yay!!!  Thanks, Andrea.  New Mixed Baby Greens post coming this weekend.  Stay tuned.

Taking Things For Granted

It was moving weekend!  We are all settled into our cozy little apartment, ready to enjoy the summer.  And I have pictures waiting to post to show you all about it, but... we don't have internet yet!??!  I am so used to just plopping down on the couch with the laptop and uploading pictures or checking my email or skyping grandparents or putting new things on the blog.  I came out of Elliot's room after nursing him to sleep and said to Andrea, "the iPhone isn't working.  I couldn't get into my email or check facebook or anything (which is how I keep my sanity while I'm nursing through the night)."  That's when she told me we don't have internet hooked up yet.  What??!?!  I'm just so used to it always being there!  So, I'm sitting here at work (shhhh, don't tell) sending out a quick note to tell you all to not go away--I will be back posting pictures as soon as we're connected at the apartment.  Which, hopefully, will be sooner rather than later.

I Like Fridays

How fun to get to read the I Like List from those of you who left a love note to last week's post.  So... here we go.  In no particular order.  The official Mixed Baby Greens I Like List (thus far):

I like ceiling fans.

I like sunshine.

I like my camera.

I like cherry flavored vitamins.

I like power tools.

I like new crayons.

I like chocolate chips.

I like escaping.

I like fresh sheets.

I like beer.

I like visitors.

I like ranunculus flowers.

I like mirrors.

I like iced coffee on a hot day.

I like reading Jack's journal.

I like climbing.

I like going for a walk.

I like cashmere.

I like things that go "bang" and "boom."

I like Kettle Chips.

I like sunny Saturdays.

I like scented candles.

I like my classroom.

I like throwing sippy cups.

I like fancy cakes.

I like duct tape.

I like the neighbor's Newfoundland dog, Kingsly.

I like peanut butter and chocolate.

I like facebook.

I like yogurt with maple syrup.

I like coffee.

I like when Elliot laughs when he sees a dog.

I like Bella the dog.

I like library books.

 I like playing frisbee.

I like awesome pens.

I like I Like Lists.

I like blog lurking.

Ha ha, a funny way to end.  I like blog lurking, too.  But I've also found out how much I like leaving and receiving comments on blogs, too.  Thanks to all of you who shared your I Like Lists.  I hope your day is filled with all of the things you like.  Don't forget to check out Elliot's 4 new I Like foods and my 4 I Like blogs that I updated on the sidebar today.  Those get changed every Friday.  And for those of you Mixed Baby Greens admirers who didn't leave a love note with your I Like List yet, it's not too late.  Just click below where it says "love note" and share with us.  What's on your I Like List....?

I Am So Thankful For Thursdays

My transition to motherhood was a bit more challenging than I expected.  Hard to adjust to all of the changes in my life.  Things have certainly smoothed out now, but not without many, many thanks to my dear friend Hilary.  For seven months now Hilary has been coming over almost every Thursday to play with me, Elliot and our friend Max.  Weather permitting, we pack everyone up and walk Mt. Tabor, all the while talking, laughing and playing.  She is truly a wonderful friend.  So dedicated, smart, funny, spirited.  She's just wonderful.  And now, with the sale of our house and our move into an apartment, today marked the last Thursday for us to walk Mt. Tabor together.  She'll still be joining us for fun times, but we will have to say goodbye to all of our favorite Tabor routes and Babytown fun.

Thank you so much, Hilary.  I am blessed to have such a good friend.  Here's to a lifetime "Thursdays" together.  xoxo.

Guess What...

Did you catch that?  Here, let me give you a closer look.

That's right.  Sale pending.  We've sailed through inspection and appraisal and now it's on to closing, which should be in the next week or so (even earlier than expected since everything is moving along so quickly).  And the most amazing part... it only took one day.  That's right, competing offers on the first day.  Oh wow, we are so lucky!

Here's a link to our realtor's posting of the house on her company's blog when it first went on the market.  It gives you a quick peek inside of the house, too.  Pretty, pretty.

Neighborhood Playground

At this point, there are a few things that it seems like we waited a long time to finally do with Elliot.  Like his first time on a park swing last week.  And this recent trip to the playground at our neighborhood school.  He might not looked that thrilled at either of the new experiences, but for the most part he was engaged and interested and it seemed like a good fit developmentally.  And, if you scroll down, you'll see that it wasn't all about Elliot having fun.  Andrea had herself some good, wholesome fun, too.  Such beauties, these two.                          

Zoo Day

Elliot's first trip to the zoo!  I loved showing him the giraffe.  It took him a minute, but he did find it.  However, the oh-so-exotic crow in the tree next to us captured most of his attention.

He definitely saw the monkeys.  Elliot and his Monkey, looking at the monkey.  So cute.

And some underwater time with his Mama.  Elliot loved it down here.  So quiet and cool.

He also had some special time getting to know a dear little friend of mine.  Elliot liked watching the elephants a little bit, but he spent most of his time watching and playing with his new friend.  He is such a people person!

I would say, all in all, this little animal had a great first trip to the zoo.

As a side-note, I thought it was so awesome that I found a spot that was posted with the international breastfeeding symbol.  It was set off to the side near a quiet area with a bench overlooking the elephant enclosure.  Way to go, Oregon Zoo!

I Like Friday

A while back I posted about I Like Lists.  Did you know that every Friday I change my and Elliot's I LIke Lists on the sidebar of this page?  His is usually updated with four new foods that he is especially liking that week.  And mine is four blogs that I especially like and want to share with your readers.  So don't forget to check out the I Like Lists on Fridays for new Mixed Baby Greens tidbits.  


Today's I Like List, in pictures.

(Trips to the neighborhood Asian markets with Elliot; Elliot's new sweet ride--thanks for lending it to us Chifumi, Chris and Noah!; beautiful spring tulips that we pass on our way up Mt. Tabor; Elliot's first time on a swing; when Elliot falls asleep while the sun is still up; Fun Friday homemade pizza tradition)

Now here's what I'm thinking, dear readers.  Number one, I am especially curious who you all are.  In the blogging-world, those of us who look at other people's blogs but don't leave comments are called lurkers, a terrible name, I know.  I like to think of you more as admirers.  So, dear admirers, I love that you take time out of your day to check out the updates on Mixed Baby Greens and I would love even more to know a bit about you.  Which brings me to my second point... I'm curious about what would be on your I Like List.  So, sweet Mixed Baby Greens admirers, tell me what's on your I Like List.  Leave a love note below with your list and next Friday I'll put them all together and make one big Mixed Baby Greens I Like List.  It will be a snapshot of all of us and what we like.


Okay, click on the Love Note link below and leave your I Like List.  I'll go first....

Healthy Baby Cakes

I've been doing some more healthy baking for Elliot.  I modified a Joy of Cooking zucchini bread recipe to make him some yummy, healthy zucchini mini muffins, aka: healthy baby cakes.  And Elliot isn't the only one who enjoys them.  They make great breasfast bites for me and Andrea, too. 

And don't forget, as MamaCakies always says, you must listen to this song whenever making your cakes.  And oh, I couldn't agree more!

Healthy Zucchini Baby Cakes (modified from Joy of Cooking)

In a stand mixer, beat together:
1/4 cup maple syrup
2 eggs
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 a banana, mashed
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon salt
Beat into that:
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
Then beat in:
2 cups shredded zucchini
If you'd like:
add walnuts, raisins, chocolate chips (those are for us, not Elliot!), or any other yummy


Fill a greased mini-muffin tin.  Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.  Refrigerate or freeze when cooled, and enjoy!

Some for Me, And Some For You

I love so much when little ones start pretending to feed you whatever it is that they're eating.  Elliot has just started.  It's such a wonderful, universal sign of engaging with another person--to offer them what you're eating.  This cute little bunny was sharing his Easter eggs with Annika yesterday.  Some for him... then some for her.  He's learning so much every day.  It's just amazing to watch, and even better to be a part of!