Meatless Mondays

Aaron and I have decided that we need to start taking better care of ourselves so we are going to start Meatless Mondays. Today I went to Whole Foods and did some research and found some great recipes at skinnytaste.com for a Zucchini Casserole and Black Bean, Avocado, Cucumber and Tomato Salad. Stella, however, will have a meatball and brown rice for dinner because the last time I gave her a vegetable she gagged. And gagged. And gagged.

Aw Nuts! Return of the Mooch

Stella has a new nickname...Moochie Jr. We call my sister Moochie because growing up she would mooch off of everyone. She always wanted whatever everyone else was eating. So this morning when I was eating my peanut butter toast I didn't think it was odd that Moochie Jr asked for a bite. After taking two bites she promptly thanked me by throwing up all over me. I think she was trying to tell me that she doesn't like peanut butter and might be allergic. What a way to start the day! Getting thrown up on is supposed to be good luck right? Like when a bird poops on you...right?

Minted!

For free mommy cards visit my favorite site Minted. Minted is a great website with impeccably designed stationary and cards. Here are some of the cards we've ordered over the last year:

Good News, Bad News

Good News: Stella's blood work came back completely normal. She doesn't have lead poisoning. We are very relieved.

Bad News: My dear friend Uncle Frank passed away today. He was a very special person and he will be missed.

GET THE LEAD OUT

Stella had her one year check up and everything looked good. Then we got a call from her pediatrician saying that she had high levels of lead in her blood. My husband and I are still in shock. Stella barely puts food in her mouth let alone toys. We don't have old paint chips lying around and she's not eating batteries. We are hoping that the other blood tests she had taken show that the screening at the doctor's office were false positives. What I thought was even more shocking is that most of the moms I talked to said their kids have never been tested for lead poisoning.

For more information on lead poisoning visit this link.

For a list of lead recalls for toys visit this link.

One!

Stella turned one today! We celebrated with a ladybug picnic in the park. Stella arrived fashionably late wearing a lovely number from Janie and Jack. The birthday girl delighted the crowd by walking all by herself and squealing with delight when Grammy and Grampy gave her her first bike. Stella also got to show off her dance moves to Tutu and Grandpa who came to the party all the way from North Carolina. Stella is one lucky lady(bug)!

Watch out two...Stella has her sights set on you!

Babies Having Babies

Stella is turning one tomorrow. I can't believe it. Where has the time gone?! My little baby is not a baby any more. In fact my little girl is so grown up that she has decided it's time to start walking by herself. She's also decided that she's old enough to have her own baby(doll). She loves her baby. Stella's voice goes up three octaves when she talks to her "Bay-bee." She loves to walk her baby in her stroller and show her how to clap her hands...adorable!

We went downtown today for brunch with Tutu and Grandpa and Stella saw a woman in a wheelchair being pushed by her husband. She pointed at the woman and looked right us and said, "Bay-beee." I love this kid!

HGTV, We have a problem

Hi, my name is Brooke and I'm an HGTV-aholic. I don't own a home. I don't own a garden. But I do own a TV which is why I can't stop watching you, HGTV. I wish I knew how to quit you. Yes. I know. I just quoted Brokeback Mountain, but trust me...it was a really good Jake Gyllenhaal impression. Maybe I should just quit cold turkey. I'm open to suggestions or a twelve-step program.

Hair Did

Stella's first birthday is just a week away. It's so hard to believe! To commemorate Stella's first year we decided to check another first off of her list. Stella got her first haircut today.* We went to The Yellow Balloon in Studio City. With the help of Yo Gabba Gabba, Stella managed to sit through her first haircut and even let her stylist put a cute little bow in her hair. A feat I have yet to master.



*Confession: It wasn't really her first haircut. A few months ago Aaron decided to trim Stella's bangs. The result: Stella looked like a cross between Mia Farrow and Billy Ray Cyrus.

Who's the Boss

My very well behaved daughter always listens to what I say....