Baby Couture: Ralph Lauren Dress

Welcome to the first edition of Baby Couture.  I'm planning on using this label to document some of Sweetpea's extensive and adorable wardrobe.  

Did you now Ralph Lauren had a line for babies?  Well now you do.  

I bought this little dress about three years ago.  Before I was pregnant.  It's the only time I'd ever done something like that.  The little thing hung in my closet, with my much bigger dresses, until I had a little girl with a closet of her own.  

It was because of this little dress that I was positive I'd never have a girl - after all, it seemed like Murphy's Law that I would buy something so impulsively, and without reason, and then never get to use it.  It would just mock me for years in my closet.  

But I had a little girl after all, and she finally fits in this beautiful little dress!   It's a very exciting thing for me!  Really!  

As for the rest of the outfit, well, the long sleeved, collared onesie is from last fall's Gymboree Fox Trot line.  And the ruffly leggings are one of our favorite winter layering items from Naartjie. 

And don't ask me what's so fascinating with whatever might be in the bottom of Daddy's boot... 

Dogs are so funny!!

On Tuesday night we had a very fun, filling Italian potluck dinner at my dad's house.  My grandparents were there, and of course, my dad's two dogs, Simon and Rudy.  Here's a little video of Sweetpea being entertained as my Nan throws a toy, (I think it's a de-stuffed squirrel if you're curious) for the dogs.  As long as Simon gets it first, this game could go on forever.  

And by the way, the food was wonderful!!  I made the appetizer.  Bruschetta, and stuffed lettuce rolls in broth, (from Biba Caggiano's Trattoria Cooking, a really great Italian cookbook!) .  Here's a couple shots of the process and finished rolls, (though no shot of them in broth - you'll have to use your imagination!)  It was pretty fun and easy to do, and the lettuce held up and stretched really well after it was boiled for a few seconds!!  I will make these again for sure.  

My grandparents made yummy little meatballs from the same book, and my dad made a terrific salad and eggplant parmesan.  For dessert we just had a bit of coffee and ice cream.   We had to be rolled out the door, and we probably won't need to eat again for a while, but it was worth it!  

Every Tuesday Morning

On Tuesdays I teach a 6AM yoga class at the rec center down the street.  I wake up around 5AM and feed the baby so she doesn't wake up hungry for my DH.  I put her in bed with my husband so she's sure to sleep a bit longer.  Then I shower and head to class.  

Usually when I get home they're up and playing in the living room.  However sometimes they are still cuddled in bed together. 

This is what I came home to this morning!  

How cute is that?!  The cat is at the end of the bed, so he didn't make it into the picture.  

Valentine's Day and Sunday Dinner

I hope you had as nice a weekend as we did!  And Happy Valentine's Day!

We didn't do much special for V-day, but we spent the whole day hanging out, just the three of us.  It was a very nice day, and we were sure not to clutter it up with any chores.  We started with a good breakfast together.  Breakfast was followed by Sweetpea's new favorite activity: pushing stuff.  

Then we went to the store to get what we needed for our gnocchi dinner we were planning on making.  Here's Sweetpea discovering a fun new veggie at the market!

How do you like her jacket?  That's Target Baby Couture!  

Later we went out to a late lunch with my dad, which was fun and delicious, but ruined us for dinner.  We caught the last hour at the library, where there are lots of fun toys and kids to play with.  


Yesterday we managed to get to many of our chores.  My DH even got some work done out in the garden, and Sweetpea got some fresh air watching him from some blankets on the lawn while I made the gnocchi.  

When she came in she took a tour of the kitchen cupboards and discovered a fun new box.  I turned around from emptying the dishwasher, and there she was with a box of shortbread girl scout cookies emptied out on the floor, one in each hand.  So I had to set her up to eat them properly... (don'tcha just love that jack o' lantern bib in Feb.?)  She sure did her best to fit both cookies, whole, into her mouth at once.  I think maybe she found that box, and now she knows I've been holding out on her.  She's been looking for it in there every time she opens the doors, but I moved it to another cupboard.  

Well, dinner did get made, and our friends came to help us enjoy it!!  Here's a shot of what we do for fun now that there's a baby around!!  

Though once she went to bed, we let them school us in a game of Cranium.  They were our guests after all.  

Serious About Her Grub

Maybe it comes from the wide variety of foods I ate while I was pregnant.... maybe we're just lucky... maybe she'll grow out of it, and give us trouble at mealtimes later... but right now, out little one sure does enjoy her food!!  She ate a great breakfast today.  Scrambled egg yolks, (the baby book gurus all agree, the whites are verboten until they're 1 year or more), has browns, and toast with jelly.  She ate a bunch of her eggs, but then went onto clear her plate of potato and bread before she'd touch the egg again.  She has a tendency towards the carbs, and who can blame her really!?  

Since Mom and Dad skipped dinner, due to late afternoon Costco hotdogs, Baby had a jar of food for dinner, but really enjoyed her dessert of blackberries.  Picking this photo was really tough - they're all so cute!!  I'll update the Picasa site tonight so you can see them all!!  

Taking the Stairs

If we didn't go over to my Nan and Grandpa's every Thursday, Sweetpea wouldn't have much exposure to stairs... I don't think it makes much difference though - it seems like learning to crawl came with knowing how to go up the stairs!!  Here she is going up.  Coming soon: Going Down!!  

Get This Kid a Library Card!!

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!  Sweetpea and I had a pretty good one, but my DH has been under the weather.  

The munchkin and I took a stroll with my dad and his dogs to take advantage of the balmy 60 degree weather on Saturday, and then went out for Mountain Sun burgers.  (The best!!)  

Today we spent the day around the house, me following the little one around as she discovered how much damage she could wreak in every room - in the picture below she pulls all the fictional books from Joyce through London, and from Sagan through Zusak off the shelves and flips through them - good thing one of Mama's favorite pastimes is organizing books!!  We then went over to my mom's to watch the Big Game and eat some footbally food.  The DH stayed home for that too, poor guy.  Hopefully he'll start feeling better soon.  I think he's got the same bug Sweetpea had last week, and that wasn't pleasant for anyone involved!!  

I also subbed two yoga classes this weekend, and tomorrow I take over another teacher's class from 11:30-12:30, so we'll see how Sweetpea handles the rec center daycare on a regular basis.  I'm going to be getting very fit with all this yoga I'm doing, but right now it's just making my body tired!!  Maybe if the little monster can start sleeping through the night again without any help I'll feel a bit better!!  Here's to hoping!!