And we're off!

We'll be leaving in the wee hours of the morning (before the break of dawn, hopefully) to head out for a long weekend in Sedona, Arizona. It's about a 6.5 hour drive, and hopefully we'll be at least halfway there before Rebecca wakes up! I'm really looking forward to seeing a new and different part of the great Southwest. It's threatening rain some on Saturday, which could be a bummer, but we'll definitely get some outdoor time Friday afternoon and on Sunday.

Snuggling

When I was pregnant, I remember hoping that my baby would be a cuddly, snuggly baby. I certainly got what I wished for! She's always been content to snuggle into my arms. At first, of course, it was because that's how she got the boob, which she believed to be a panacea. Even after she gave up nursing, Rebecca has believed that a good cuddle and kisses can make the world right. (And really, isn't it the truth?) Lately, however, I think Rebecca has become even more affectionate and now asks for snuggle time. In fact, on Monday morning, after she woke up, she lay back on our bed and said with a sleepy smile, "Mama, I want to snuggle." And so snuggle we did. Tuesday night, we were having some snuggle time and she was just about asleep. She leaned over and patted my face and then gave me an eskimo kiss and said, "I love you, Mommy." Then she snuggled up next to me as close as one possibly can (her head was nestled between my jaw and shoulder, reached up and rubbed my earlobe, heaved a contented sigh, and fell asleep.

Could there possibly be anything any sweeter or more precious than those moments?

36 hours without internet

Well, our internet and phone (both powered by Time Warner Cable) went out sometime night before last and was off all day yesterday and last night. Thankfully it got fixed today and we are connected with the world again. Thank goodness we still had cell phones, or I'd have been in panic mode. I don't like feeling disconnected - I get antsy if I realize that I'm driving without my cell phone. In fact, I really need to have my cell phone in my hand. Ridiculous, I know.

On Monday, Rebecca and I met up with Julie and Addie for a little get-together. Yesterday, I did an outpatient neuropsych eval. Luckily, it was a pretty straightforward case. No crazy psych issues to get in the way of just figuring out what's wrong with the brain. I also did a feedback session with a client from a couple of weeks ago. It was one of the best clinical experiences I've ever had. This poor girl had struggled and struggled and had always thought of herself as being defective and it has affected her whole life. Getting validation that she is not dumb, but in fact actually much brighter than average, but that she has been drug down by things that are indeed fixable seemed to change her life right there on the spot. It was a really touching moment for me, and I learned so much from the experience. Today, I had an office/scoring/writing day at Casa Colina and got his whole protocol scored and finished most of the report. I've got to finish that tomorrow, because we're headed out of town this weekend for a little roadtrip, and we have to get the report ready for him to see his doctor next Monday.

No outbreaks of the swine flu anywhere around us, although we're certainly in a prime target location for it, given our proximity to Mexico and the number of people in our area who frequently travel back and forth across the border. Surprisingly, at work, it hasn't been much of an issue yet. It's nice to have access to things like sani-wipes and masks just in case there's total pandemonium and we can't get them!

Festival of Books

We had a wonderful time at the Festival of Books on Saturday. It's a huge event sponsored by UCLA and the LA Times, and we'll definitely go back next year. There were several different stages, where authors do readings from their books or performers do different things, and of course all kinds of book signings all over the place. There's a culinary stage, where chefs do demonstrations. When we were there, they had a big Weber grilling demonstration going and Giada De Laurentiis was there later that afternoon. Of course, there are hundreds and hundreds of booths from all different kinds of publishing companies, book stores, educational toy stores, and other random things. There is no group too obscure to have its own publishing company apparently. And of course, there were all kinds of freebies being given out. Want a free copy of the Qu'ran? You could get one there! Reusable grocery bags? You know it! Pencils, pens, clips, and magnets by the truckload. We skipped the poetry reading stage and didn't even stop to see Bob Barker who was there talking about his autobiography.

This is a shot overlooking just the culinary stage area!



Of course, of greatest interest to our little group (and to thousands of other people apparently!) was the Children's stage. Like I said, any remote subject or group you could be interested in had a booth. There were several places that had Filipino books for children, but most were in Tagalog. Ramy's family spoke Visayan, and Ramy knows only a bit of it and none at all of Tagalog, so those weren't too useful for us. However, we found a Filipino book publishing company that had books in English about the Philippines for children, and we got a really cute book about a half Filipino girl who learns how to cook Filipino food. So cute!

We also got to talk to Fancy Nancy, and the author signed a book for us. We also got to see a reading of Llama Llama Mad at Mama. We got the book, but we weren't willing to stand in line just to have it autographed by the author.

Eric Carle was there signing the Very Hungry Caterpillar books and stuff. Ramy and Rebecca took a picture with the "patter-tidder" [caterpillar].

Yo Gabba Gabba was performing while we were there, and Rebecca loved dancing to their music. I thought it was funny that Brobee had his own security there with him.


Of course, we also took the opportunity to stroll down Memory Lane with Ramy and check out some of his college haunts. Here's a picture of him in front of Campbell Hall, the bastion of liberality that practically made him a Marxist while he was there. Funny how quickly he moved back to the right after graduating and then how he has become more liberal again since marrying me. Rebecca thought she was a college student too.

Busy weekend

We had such a busy weekend! On Friday, I had to go get my TB test read for DBH. (Good news, I don't have tuburculosis!) I also finished up a long neuropsych report. Apparently we didn't do anything too exciting on Friday evening, because I have no memory of it whatsoever.

On Saturday morning, Ramy got up early to help his sister in Pasadena move. He was home by 11 a.m. and then we were off to UCLA to the Festival of Books. I'll post a separate blog post about that.

After we'd enjoyed the festival, we headed out to West Los Angeles and went to a party held by an old colleage of Ramy's. Ramy shared office space with him when he was in private practice (long before his days as a public defender). He has a really cool yard that is landscaped to the hilt, with a pond with a lot of fish in it, bridges, gazebos, and all kinds of bamboo and trees that form kind of a jungle with dogs and cats running in it. They had a band that was a little bit motown and a little bit reggae. Rebecca really enjoyed dancing to their music. She also enjoyed getting to hang out with some big kids who were there and she was disappointed when they had to leave early. However, she did not enjoy the fact that there was a huge parrot who lives in the jungle area and is free to fly around. It does indeed have a very loud squawk, and it unnerved Rebecca a bit (okay, me too a little)!

Yesterday morning, we were up and at church early. Rebecca was even happy to let me take a picture of her and she wanted to send it to "Aunt Mah-get." We ate at Panera Bread and then headed home and read the paper a bit. Rebecca has been enjoying spending time with Jessica lately, so Ramy took her to visit and she ended up staying over there for awhile. It gave me and Ramy an excellent opportunity to clean the whole house undisturbed by a toddler, and I even got all the ironing done that had been piling up! It certainly was quiet without her there though. When we went to get her, she was only vaguely interested. I think she'd have stayed with Jessica and Slinky (their dachsund) as long as they'd let her. It's nice to see her coming out of her shell a bit in that regard.

All week with no blog?

Has it really been since Monday when I last blogged? I guess it has been a busy week. I changed my schedule up at work this week and it has totally thrown me off my schedule. I worked at Casa Colina on Monday, doing an outpatient assessment. My mom was still here, so she and Rebecca hung out and did art projects and such. Then Tuesday, I was off work, so Rebecca and my mom and I went out to breakfast and did a little shopping. We went to Johnny Rockets (Rebecca's favorite) for dinner that night. On Wednesday, I took my mom to the airport for her flight back to Tennessee. She made it back home safely with an uneventful flight, thankfully.

Meanwhile, I spent most of the day getting my pre-employment physical done for the county. I had assumed it would consist of a TB test and maybe a drug screen. Not so! It was a full on, take your blood pressure, put on the gown that ties in the back, track my finger with your eyes physical with no option to get your own doctor to do it. Then I had to go to another city to have my drug screen. Plus, I have to go back today to get my first TB screen "read" and then again next week for a second TB test and reading. This is in addition to already doing a background check and getting a security clearance. Really? Is all that necessary for me to work for a year at a community mental health clinic where my clients are just out of jail/state hospital or are psychotic? As a San Bernardino County taxpayer, I'm thinking there might be better usage of our money, like hiring more people to work with all the people who desperately need mental health services! But I digress...

Yesterday, I spent all day practically providing supervision for my internal practicum student supervisees. I did get to meet Julie, who was also in Loma Linda for something, for tea and cookies at Panera Bread in the afternoon, which was the bright spot in that day. When I came home, Ramy had taken Rebecca out and about for a bit. When he came home, he was alone! They had dropped off some recycling at his sister's house for our niece to cash in, and Rebecca was having such a good time playing with Jessica that she didn't want to leave! We went back to get her about a half hour later, and she didn't even glance up at me when I came in, even though she hadn't seen me all day. She was having a great time! Such a far cry from the baby who went into hysterics if she wasn't nestled against me around the clock!

We have a busy weekend ahead of us! Tomorrow, Ramy is helping his sister move in the morning. Then we're heading out to UCLA to go to their Festival of Books. Then in the evening, we're going to a party in West Hollywood (I think). Should be a lot of fun!

Please pray for Ella Brown. She's the 6 year old daughter of a junior high/high school classmate of mine. Ella was critically injured in a tragic freak accident at a mud bog in Lincoln County last Saturday night. Although she's making improvement at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital, it will be a long and difficulty recovery for her.

The mothership

Attention, please. Stop whatever you are doing and make this macaroni and cheese. Tonight. Right now, in fact.

Macaroni and cheese is one of those classic comfort foods that is made a thousand different ways and that everyone prefers in a style similar to the way their grandmother made it. It is also a dish that has been mocked by ridiculous boxed versions that start with some kind of powder and taste like Wite Out. If you're going to make mac-n-cheese that way, just step out of the kitchen and order a pizza instead.

Eternally searching for better and better versions of macaroni and cheese, I recently tried this version from The Pioneer Woman:

It was so good I hoarded it in the refrigerator and tried to pretend there weren't any leftovers. I only made a few very minor changes to Pioneer Woman's recipe:

1) I salted the water in which the pasta was cooked, because it's just the best way to flavor any kind of water and then you don't need to add extra salt at the end.

2) I used half sharp cheddar and half mozzarella. I planned on topping it with some parmesan, but my microplane was in the dishwasher being washed, and I couldn't be bothered to wait.

3) I used freshly cracked pepper, because I think it makes all things better. And I also couldn't be bothered to get out a measuring spoon to measure out the dry mustard, so I have no idea how much I put in.

1st Pool Day

Wow is it hot here in the Inland Empire! It was in the mid-90s today, so we decided it had to be the inaugural day at the pool for the year. Rebecca was definitely on board with that idea. Despite the fact that it was scorching hot outside, the water in the pool felt a little more like there could be icebergs floating in it. Rebecca is not one to be dissuaded by something like that, and even though her teeth were chattering, she insisted that she was "fine" and was having a great time in the pool and did not want to get out of the arctic waters. Surprisingly, she didn't put up too much of a fight when we got her out, and she was happy to be wrapped in her Dora towel. When we got back in the house, she wanted a blanket and then settled down on the couch to watch television. Within a few minutes, our little mermaid was snoozing. It was a great nap!

Here's some video of the splashing!



...and a few more pics of the pool fun:

We're having a good time with Grammy here. Grammy has been under the weather - she's been battling bronchitis for about a week now. Nonetheless, we're making the most of our time together and hopefully she's having a nice time with us anyway. We're off to the Pasadena area for dinner tonight.

Friends

On Thursday, we got together with Julie and Adelaide for our weekly lunch and shopping. We were in high spirits because it was Gymbuck redemption time, and we were loving their new monkey line. It was quite a haul for both the girls. In fact, Rebecca was determined that she would indeed haul her shopping bag

.

In honor of all the recent shopping we've done, we had to dress the girls in matching outfits. They are such a cute little pair, because Addie has fair(er) skin and light hair and Rebecca has olive skin and dark hair and eyes. Of course, they're the cutest little girls in existence. Adelaide is becoming increasingly mobile, and she got to experience watching the show from the chairs (which Rebecca thinks were put there for her to push around the store) instead of from her stroller. How cute are they in these outfits?



Rebecca really enjoys seeing Adelaide and getting to be the older girl for once. She loves handing Addie some puffs for her to eat and in trying to make her laugh and smile. Rebecca was playing peek-a-boo and Adelaide thought it was pretty funny.



Julie and I always enjoy having some time to dish on our latest news and indulge each other's shopping habits. It's so sweet to get to see them interacting now, there were also many hugs between the girls.

Airport

It was a happy reunification at LAX yesterday evening. My mom arrived for a visit, and although Rebecca had been sound asleep just moments before and would not rouse, she was excited to see her Grammy. The whole way home it was "My Gammy" this and "My Gammy" that. We had dinner in West LA at Louise's and then headed back east to Chino Hills. Rebecca forgot that Grammy was here overnight, so I got to surprise her with Grammy this morning. We came in the guest room and Rebecca said, "That's my gammy!" So cute.

Easter Sunday

We had a lovely Easter Sunday yesterday. The Easter Bunny doesn't come to our house until after we have gone to Mass, because he wants to be sure that we understand that the real meaning of the day isn't about him, so that's why he waits until he knows we've gone to church already before he leaves gifts. The Easter Bunny also knows that it is a struggle for us to get out the door on time for 7:30 mass anyway and especially so when we need to get there extra early because it will be more crowded than usual and doesn't want little children to be waylaid by stopping to check out the Easter baskets of goodies!

Speaking of the actual reason for Easter, Pope Benedict's Urbi et Orbi message was very beautiful. I thought this quote from it was particularly inspiring:

Indeed, one of the questions that most preoccupies men and women is this: what is there after death? To this mystery today’s solemnity allows us to respond that death does not have the last word, because Life will be victorious at the end. This certainty of ours is based not on simple human reasoning, but on a historical fact of faith: Jesus Christ, crucified and buried, is risen with his glorified body. Jesus is risen so that we too, believing in him, may have eternal life. This proclamation is at the heart of the Gospel message. As Saint Paul vigorously declares: “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.” He goes on to say: “If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all men most to be pitied” (1 Cor 15:14,19). Ever since the dawn of Easter a new Spring of hope has filled the world; from that day forward our resurrection has begun, because Easter does not simply signal a moment in history, but the beginning of a new condition: Jesus is risen not because his memory remains alive in the hearts of his disciples, but because he himself lives in us, and in him we can already savour the joy of eternal life.

Our church adds a second concurrent mass at each of the mass times on Easter, because there are just so many people, plus they add a sunrise mass outside at 6:00 a.m. Even at the 7:30 mass, the areas at the back of the church were filled with people standing, more people were standing out in the narthex, and of course there were a couple thousand in the sanctuary itself. This was just at the 7:30 a.m. mass, so I can only imagine how crowded and hectic things were at the later morning masses. Somehow, we made it! Rebecca was thoroughly uninterested in letting me take pictures of her before church, but she did consent to a few pics as we were leaving mass. She would not, however, take off her sweater for me to get pics without the sweater, but you can see those from her Portrait Innovations pics. She looked beautiful!



We quickly changed out of her dupioni silk dress before Easter brunch! She loves this little ruffled skirt and the bunny top Grammy made her. She particularly likes spinning around in the skirt so it flares out a little.



After brunch, it was finally time to see what the Easter Bunny brought her. Of all the things she got (a couple of which were replacements of things she'd used up, broken or lost), she was most taken with a 99 cent M&M dispenser. What can you do? After eating all the M&Ms from him, she was finally able to look at some of the other things, including her yellow chickie, church rabbits, some art supplies, some outdoors stuff, and some Dora things. Nonetheless, she still walked around holding onto the M&M dispenser most of the afternoon and took a nap with him. That was her Easter present to us actually - a family nap!

Dyeing Easter eggs

Rebecca thought that dyeing Easter eggs was a very interesting process. She liked pointing out and naming each of the colors and choosing which color we were going to dye the next egg (the pink and blue were her faves, probably because they were the most vibrant). She was not so interested in actually participating in the dipping of the eggs into the dye water, despite the fact that I had stripped her naked to do so. Rebecca seems to prefer taking a supervisory role, instructing me when it was time to check the eggs and then proclaiming them "pitty!" or "nah...more!". After I had dipped my finger into the green dye trying to get the egg out of the paper cup, she also informed me that the dye on my finger was "ewwww...ca-ca [yucky]!".

Here are some pics from our egg dyeing experience.

Easter Egg Hunt

After leaving the breakfast, we hurried on over to the community Easter Eggstravaganza to attend the Easter egg hunt. Rebecca was in the 2 and under crowd, so hers was the first hunt. There were so many kids that they had it broken up into several different fields! Rebecca had a good hunt and found many eggs. It kind of stinks because they only use the plastic eggs and you can't bring your own Easter basket. It's so painful to a Mommy soul to have her cute little girl toting around a paper sack for egg hunting, when she has a really cute bunny basket with her name embroidered on it sitting at home! After finding her eggs, Rebecca was even more excited to open them up ("Mommy! HOLP! Open!") The community park where it was held was very nice, and they had a lot of fun things going on to do there in addition to the egg hunt. Rebecca spied the Easter bunny (who, surprisingly, looked a bit different than he did when we saw him at the breakfast just a few minutes before) and thought that since they'd already become aquainted, she shouldn't have to wait in line to see him, then decided that it wasn't worth standing in line just to see him again.

Breakfast with the Easter Bunny

We began our Holy Saturday by arising quite early (for a Saturday, for us, anyway) so that we could head out to the Breakfast with the Easter Bunny event. As soon as we went in, we were instructed to have Rebecca's picture taken with The Bunny. Rebecca doesn't do well in situations where she is forced into something like that when she hasn't had time to warm up and gauge the situation. The little girl ahead of us must have felt the same way, because she ended up having her picture taken with her parents and the EB. So we followed suit and had a family picture with the bunny person. This ended up much better than a similar attempt at the breastfast with Santa, where we got a keepsake picture that looked like "Ramy Visits Santa...with a little girl who is only half in the picture."


Then we enjoyed pancakes, sausage, chocolate milk, and juice for breakfast, and Rebecca got to do a coloring activity book while we waited.


Next, they announced that the kids could return for another visit with the EB if parents wanted to take their own pics. As if on cue, Rebecca strode over to the Easter Bunny and smiled and waved at him. She then climbed up on the bench next to him and was quite happy to sit next to him and smile. She still didn't want to sit in his lap, but we got some nice pics nonetheless.


They also had a lot of activities and crafts for the kids to do, including making an Easter bracelet, coloring rabbit and bunny magnets, counting the candy in a jar, and a bunny hopscotch game. They actually also had face painting, but mommy wasn't so keen on that idea, so Rebecca never knew it was there (I don't think she'd have wanted it anyway!).



We had a great morning having breakfast with the Easter Bunny!