Monday, August 31, 2009
August Fundraising Stats
As of the end of August, HOPE for Ari has raised $5,900 towards its goal of getting Stem Cell Therapy for Ariana (this does not include recent funds raised at Old West Days in Holbrook, which will be accounted for in September's tally). Thank you so much to everyone who's helped. I can't tell you how much we appreciate all you do!
recipe: Oregon Tuna Melts
Here Sarah :)
One 12 oz. can albacore tuna
1/4 cup finely diced red onion
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 Tbs. balsamic vinegar
1 Tbs. minced basil
1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper
salt and freshly ground pepper
4 ciabatta rolls, split
Dijon mustard and mayonnaise, for spreading
Eight 1/4-in. thick lengthwise slices of kosher dill pickle
Eight 1/4 in-thick slices swiss cheese (6 oz)
2 Tbs. unsalted butter, softened
1. In a medium bowl, mis the tuna with the onion, olive oil, vinegar, basil and crushed red pepper. Season with salt and pepper.
2. Heat a panini press or griddle. Spread the cut sides of the rolls with mustard and mayonnaise and top each roll half with a slice of cheese. Spread the tuna salad on the bottoms and cover with the pickles. Close the sandwiches and spread the outsids of the rolls with the butter.
3. Add the sandwiches to the press and cook over moderate heat until the cheese is melted, about 6 minutes. Cut the sandwiches in half and serve.
One 12 oz. can albacore tuna
1/4 cup finely diced red onion
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 Tbs. balsamic vinegar
1 Tbs. minced basil
1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper
salt and freshly ground pepper
4 ciabatta rolls, split
Dijon mustard and mayonnaise, for spreading
Eight 1/4-in. thick lengthwise slices of kosher dill pickle
Eight 1/4 in-thick slices swiss cheese (6 oz)
2 Tbs. unsalted butter, softened
1. In a medium bowl, mis the tuna with the onion, olive oil, vinegar, basil and crushed red pepper. Season with salt and pepper.
2. Heat a panini press or griddle. Spread the cut sides of the rolls with mustard and mayonnaise and top each roll half with a slice of cheese. Spread the tuna salad on the bottoms and cover with the pickles. Close the sandwiches and spread the outsids of the rolls with the butter.
3. Add the sandwiches to the press and cook over moderate heat until the cheese is melted, about 6 minutes. Cut the sandwiches in half and serve.
recipe: Hainan Chicken with Rice & Two Sauces
Here Lisa :)
Chicken & Rice:
One whole fryer chicken (bigger is better)
6 large scallions, charsely chopped
One 3-in. piece of fresh ginger, thinly sliced
2 Tbs. vegetable oil
1.5 cups long grain white rice
2 garlic cloves, minced
2.25 cups chicken stock or broth
salt
1. Set the chicken in a large slow cooker, breast side down, & cover with water. Add the scallions and ginger and salt generously with Kosher salt. Cook for 6 hours on low heat. Flip chicken once, about half-way through.
2. Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, heat the oil. Stir in the rice and garlic and cook over moderately high heat until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the stock and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce the heat to low and cook for about 13 minutes, until the rice is tender and the stock has been absorbed. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff the rice and season with salt to taste. Cover and keep warm.
3. After chicken is cooked, transfer to a work surface. Reserve the stock for another use. Discard the chicken skin and remove the meat from the bones. Slice the chicken into thin strips. Arrange the chicken on a platter and serve with rice, Chile Dipping Sauce, and Scallion Dipping Sauce.
Chile Dipping Sauce
3 medium fresh hot red chiles, seeded and coarsely chopped
1 Tbs. finely grated fresh ginger
1 Tbs. chicken stock or broth
1 garlic clove, smashed or minced
2 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. fresh lime juice
1 tsp. Sriracha chile sauce (Asian section of grocery)
In a mini food processor, combine all ingredients and process until smooth. Transfer the chile dipping sauce to a small bowl and serve.
Scallion Dipping Sauce
6 large scallions, finely chopped
2 Tbs. finely grated fresh ginger
2 tsp. kosher salt
1/4 cup vegetable oil
In a medium heatproof bowl, combine the scallions with the ginger and salt. In a small saucepan, heat the vegetable oil until shimmering. Pour the hot oil over the scallions and stir to combine. Serve.
Chicken & Rice:
One whole fryer chicken (bigger is better)
6 large scallions, charsely chopped
One 3-in. piece of fresh ginger, thinly sliced
2 Tbs. vegetable oil
1.5 cups long grain white rice
2 garlic cloves, minced
2.25 cups chicken stock or broth
salt
1. Set the chicken in a large slow cooker, breast side down, & cover with water. Add the scallions and ginger and salt generously with Kosher salt. Cook for 6 hours on low heat. Flip chicken once, about half-way through.
2. Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, heat the oil. Stir in the rice and garlic and cook over moderately high heat until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the stock and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce the heat to low and cook for about 13 minutes, until the rice is tender and the stock has been absorbed. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff the rice and season with salt to taste. Cover and keep warm.
3. After chicken is cooked, transfer to a work surface. Reserve the stock for another use. Discard the chicken skin and remove the meat from the bones. Slice the chicken into thin strips. Arrange the chicken on a platter and serve with rice, Chile Dipping Sauce, and Scallion Dipping Sauce.
Chile Dipping Sauce
3 medium fresh hot red chiles, seeded and coarsely chopped
1 Tbs. finely grated fresh ginger
1 Tbs. chicken stock or broth
1 garlic clove, smashed or minced
2 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. fresh lime juice
1 tsp. Sriracha chile sauce (Asian section of grocery)
In a mini food processor, combine all ingredients and process until smooth. Transfer the chile dipping sauce to a small bowl and serve.
Scallion Dipping Sauce
6 large scallions, finely chopped
2 Tbs. finely grated fresh ginger
2 tsp. kosher salt
1/4 cup vegetable oil
In a medium heatproof bowl, combine the scallions with the ginger and salt. In a small saucepan, heat the vegetable oil until shimmering. Pour the hot oil over the scallions and stir to combine. Serve.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Grammy & Grandpa Visit
Last weekend we enjoyed a really fun, albiet short weekend with Grammy and Grandpa Taylor. This time they came to visit us! They got in late Friday and left early Sunday morning, but the time was well spent. Saturday morning, we all went to Sunsplash and hung out in the lazy river and the wave pool. They took us out to dinner on Saturday night at Chipotle. Everyone (especially the kids) got to enjoy the quality time spent with their grandparents. It was so nice that they came down for no reason other than to hang out with us! It was a bonus that Jake and I even got a date night out of it. Can't wait to see you again soon!
Soapy Mess
On Sunday, when Gabe was in time-out, he managed to get revenge on me for his punishment. Gabe's time-outs are always in the downstairs bathroom, because sitting in a corner never made much sense to him. During this time, Gabe decided to go into the bathroom shower, pump out about a full cup of my Jason liquid body wash, and proceed to massage it all over himself. This was all occurring unbeknownst to me, as I was just happy to get a minute sans his misbehavior and whining. Isabella is known for her sixth sense for finding messes wherever they are, and she crawled over to join him in the shower for their soap-fest. All of this occurred within a five minute window, during which time I was so happy to hear Gabe and Bella giggling and seeming to be playing together nicely. I was reluctant to check on them and ruin the moment. I should have known better. This is what was waiting for me when I returned:
So, naturally, I moved the body wash, feeling smug in a lesson learned. The next day, when Gabe was sent to time-out, I thought surely I was in the clear. I was surprised to hear Isabella shriek soon after she approached the outside of the bathroom door. BUBBLES... yet another form of liquid soap... this time poured all over her head and eyes! I peeked inside the bathroom and the floor was liberally coated in the entirity of a 16 oz. bottle of bubble fluid. Gabe couldn't walk across the floor without slipping and falling with every step. It was just one of those many moments in which I find myself torn between whether to laugh or cry.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Goodbye to our Brooke
As many people already know, Brooke has been our nanny over last year. She has been here at our house, nearly every weekday afternoon since weeks preceding Isabella's birth. What many people may not know is that she has been so much more than just a nanny to us. To us all, Brooke was like a sister.
My children always looked foward to the afternoons when they would get to play and laugh with Brooke. They never had to share her attentions with the duties of daily life like they do their mom and dad. She was there for them alone to enjoy. In addition to being safe and cared for, in Brooke's hands, my children were always happy and being stretched to their fullest potential. But more importantly, with Brooke, my children were being loved. And they loved her in return. As a mother, that is what I valued the most.
To me, Brooke was a trusted confidante, friend, and helper. Having her around was like having a second self (only a calmer version). She helped me bear the burdens and revel in the joys of motherhood on a day-to-day basis.
Brooke loves children more than anything, and she is so wonderful with them. I am so happy for her that she is now expecting her own baby. She deserves it as much as anyone. In accordance with her doctor's recommendation, Brooke will not be working as a nanny anymore, so she can try to stay off her feet and take it easy during the first trimester. This news is, of course, so bittersweet to us. We are excited for her to be moving on to this new chapter in her life, but also sad that she won't be a part of our daily lives anymore. We will definitely be keeping in touch and planning on seeing each other as often as possible, but her absence will still be felt.
We'll miss you Brooke. Thank you for everything.
My children always looked foward to the afternoons when they would get to play and laugh with Brooke. They never had to share her attentions with the duties of daily life like they do their mom and dad. She was there for them alone to enjoy. In addition to being safe and cared for, in Brooke's hands, my children were always happy and being stretched to their fullest potential. But more importantly, with Brooke, my children were being loved. And they loved her in return. As a mother, that is what I valued the most.
To me, Brooke was a trusted confidante, friend, and helper. Having her around was like having a second self (only a calmer version). She helped me bear the burdens and revel in the joys of motherhood on a day-to-day basis.
Brooke loves children more than anything, and she is so wonderful with them. I am so happy for her that she is now expecting her own baby. She deserves it as much as anyone. In accordance with her doctor's recommendation, Brooke will not be working as a nanny anymore, so she can try to stay off her feet and take it easy during the first trimester. This news is, of course, so bittersweet to us. We are excited for her to be moving on to this new chapter in her life, but also sad that she won't be a part of our daily lives anymore. We will definitely be keeping in touch and planning on seeing each other as often as possible, but her absence will still be felt.
We'll miss you Brooke. Thank you for everything.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
My Birthday Soiree
You may recall that I turned 25 last month (July 29). Well, in all honesty, it was kind of a hard birthday for me -- turning a quarter century! So, to make myself feel better, I decided to keep celebrating into the month of August so I can continue to feel like I "just turned" 25. So, Saturday, we corralled some friends together at the last minute and all went out for tapas -- which is very authentic Spanish cuisine -- at Lola Tapas. I had a really great time. Thanks to everyone who came out.
For those who missed this one, that's one great reason to do it again soon. :)
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Baby Clothes & Accessories For Sale!
I'm at it again... selling adorable baby boy and baby girl clothes, accessories, and Halloween costumes on Ebay, that is. Please check out my listings! Not to brag, but my kids tend to have pretty freakin' adorable apparel by anyone's standards (my mom gets all the credit for that). And because of the economy, recently Ebay items have been selling for way below their value, so anyone who bids is pretty much guaranteed a steal. Oh, and ALL proceeds go to HOPE for Ari!
http://shop.ebay.com/merchant/elisamtaylor_W0QQ_nkwZQQ_armrsZ1QQ_fromZQQ_ipgZ
http://shop.ebay.com/merchant/elisamtaylor_W0QQ_nkwZQQ_armrsZ1QQ_fromZQQ_ipgZ
Sunday, August 2, 2009
July Milestones
In July, Gabe & Ari turned 29 months on the 19th, and Isabella turned 10 months on the 27th.
This month, Gabe has been talking so much! He carries on full conversations with complete sentences, and I think he sounds coherent to most people by now. The only time people might not know what he's saying is when he combines some words by slurring them together ("I don't want --> "Iaowant") or when he starts talking about something completely unexpected and at times irrelevant to the conversation taking place :). But it feels kind of strange to finally have someone in the house that replies to me during the day (I'm so used to talking to babies that just make noises). His favorite thing to do lately is memorize movies and books. He pretty much has the entire 'Cars' and 'Air Buddies' movies memorized including sound effects and soundtrack. His mind is like a steel trap, and he just parrots everything we say, which is why I hear him tell me everyday how it's "freaking hot" outside (thanks Daddy!). Don't get me wrong, Gabe definitely still sounds like a toddler sometimes, and I love that too, like when how he calls 'hamburgers' "hangamers" and 'tomato' "ponano" -- I don't discourage that one bit.
Gabe's personality is starting to show so much as he's growing. He is starting to sometimes exhibit shyness when new people are around. He already has an acute awareness of privacy, and he will demand that the door be closed when he's on the potty. If Isabella happens to crawl over to the bathroom and push the door open, he's burst into tears until she's out. And when my sister who will remain nameless was here the last time, she started smacking her butt while dancing. Gabe saw this and got the most embarrassed look on his face. When my sister then tried to apologize to him, he looked away in humiliation and wouldn't make eye contact with her for some time after. Who would've thought a 2 year old would know the difference? He also has periods of bossiness, and he can be a real tattletale at times -- earning him the nickname "hall monitor". More often than not, it actually comes in handy because he saves Isabella from quite a few potential mishaps by eagerly alerting me or taking away her coveted weapon of mass destruction. While I'm in the shower, I'll hear this "No Bella! No eat it! Garbage Bella!" as Gabe proudly trots into the bathroom and disposes of some soggy ripped page from a magazine. Generally though, he's just a really good boy; eager to please, affectionate, inquisitive, and rambunctious.
This month, Gabe has been wanting to be more independent. In particular, he likes to get into and out of his carseat and his booster seat at the table by himself, and he likes to open and close the front door to let people in and out. He gets really frustrated when anyone tries to do these things for him, and he won't relent until he gets his way, shouting "Gabe do it!" over and over and over. He has also been doing great using table utensils to eat as well as using his napkin to wipe his hands and mouth. It's nice to have at least one of my children stay relatively clean by the end of a meal. 
Ariana has been really getting around using her belly crawl this month. Instead of just using her arms (as he was in the video from earlier), she has really been starting to use her legs and knees to kick and help her gain momentum. I love watching her get to where she wants to go, even if she does make a huge mess as soon as she gets there. She loves emptying cabinets and my purse. When I catch her doing it, she gets a huge grin on her face as if she is just delighted to be the one breaking the rules now! 
Speaking of her budding independence, I decided to start introducing Ari to the potty, and she LOVES it. She is ecstatic at the mention of the word 'potty'. We usually only put her on it once a day, at bedtime, but she has been consistently going potty whenever she's on it. There have only been a handful of times when she hasn't gone #1 and #2 in the potty once on it. This is huge, because Ariana has always had problems with constipation, so I was dreading the day she would associate the potty with discomfort. Fortunately, I find that it's been quite the opposite -- I think it's easier for her to go in a seated position, and she feels like such a big girl that I think that motivates her to actually try to go. Not only that, but she's been able to balance quite well sitting on it by herself! If she slouches, I just ask her to sit up and she perks right up again. I will decide to pursue it further when I figure out a way for her to communicate to me when she has to go throughout the day. 
Ariana has also been trying to articulate much more recently. She has been heard jabbering consonants frequently (especially when we let her talk to people on the phone). She likes to say "hi" or "ha" for 'hi', "dadadada" for 'Daddy' and sometimes 'all done', and "ba" for 'bye', 'block', 'ball', and 'book'. I feel like she is actually starting to try to express herself verbally now, which is really half the battle for her.
Isabella has decided this month that she doesn't want to be a baby anymore. Somehow, she got the memo that baby food tastes awful (when she used to love it), and she has been turing her nose up at it ever since. Not only does she do that, but she'll slap the spoon, shake her head, scream, and yell "dododododo", which clearly means 'no'. So, she's been eating just regular table food -- whatever we eat -- and almost just as much too. I am so surprised how much and how fast that baby can eat with just 4 teeth (2 top and 2 bottom). Certain foods that even Ariana won't eat now, Bella will devour.
Bella has also started giving closed-mouthed kisses and blowing kisses this month. She gives kisses as she says "um-ma!", which sounds like a big 'ol smooch. She has been waving hi and bye, giving 5, and pointing to things that she wants.
Her words are 'dada', 'mama', 'dO' (no), 'ba' (bye & book), 'baa' (ball), and she has been trying to imitate whatever else we say too. Usually, when we are encouraging Ari to pronouce a word by repeating it over and over, Isabella will tend try and steal her thunder by imitating us first.
Gross motor wise, Bella has started cruising (walking along furniture), and 4-point crawling (up on all fours!), but her preferred method of transportation is still belly crawling. And it's no wonder why, because she is so efficient at it -- really, she looks like a baby crocadile chasing her prey. I, personally, can't wait until she walks, so we don't ruin all of her pretty clothes. Isabella has also started climbing furniture, and she can climb right up our stairs.
Isabella, though still so good-natured, is also getting an attitude. She will let you know when she doesn't like something -- whether it's being put down, if she's bored, if you take away one of the dangerous and/or dirty objects she thinks are her toys, or whatever. She likes to scream and, recently, hit. I don't know where she learned hitting, because not even Gabe does that anymore, but it's become a reality for us. If Gabe or Ari tries to grab a toy from her, she will slap them silly across the face, while yelling "dOdO". It was funny the first time, but she's been getting reprimanded for it, which kind of baffles me. I never had to reprimand or discipline Ari and Gabe until they were about a year and a half. It's just starting kind of early with her (but then again, so is everything else). She's growing up too fast!
This month, Gabe has been talking so much! He carries on full conversations with complete sentences, and I think he sounds coherent to most people by now. The only time people might not know what he's saying is when he combines some words by slurring them together ("I don't want --> "Iaowant") or when he starts talking about something completely unexpected and at times irrelevant to the conversation taking place :). But it feels kind of strange to finally have someone in the house that replies to me during the day (I'm so used to talking to babies that just make noises). His favorite thing to do lately is memorize movies and books. He pretty much has the entire 'Cars' and 'Air Buddies' movies memorized including sound effects and soundtrack. His mind is like a steel trap, and he just parrots everything we say, which is why I hear him tell me everyday how it's "freaking hot" outside (thanks Daddy!). Don't get me wrong, Gabe definitely still sounds like a toddler sometimes, and I love that too, like when how he calls 'hamburgers' "hangamers" and 'tomato' "ponano" -- I don't discourage that one bit.
Gabe's personality is starting to show so much as he's growing. He is starting to sometimes exhibit shyness when new people are around. He already has an acute awareness of privacy, and he will demand that the door be closed when he's on the potty. If Isabella happens to crawl over to the bathroom and push the door open, he's burst into tears until she's out. And when my sister who will remain nameless was here the last time, she started smacking her butt while dancing. Gabe saw this and got the most embarrassed look on his face. When my sister then tried to apologize to him, he looked away in humiliation and wouldn't make eye contact with her for some time after. Who would've thought a 2 year old would know the difference? He also has periods of bossiness, and he can be a real tattletale at times -- earning him the nickname "hall monitor". More often than not, it actually comes in handy because he saves Isabella from quite a few potential mishaps by eagerly alerting me or taking away her coveted weapon of mass destruction. While I'm in the shower, I'll hear this "No Bella! No eat it! Garbage Bella!" as Gabe proudly trots into the bathroom and disposes of some soggy ripped page from a magazine. Generally though, he's just a really good boy; eager to please, affectionate, inquisitive, and rambunctious.This month, Gabe has been wanting to be more independent. In particular, he likes to get into and out of his carseat and his booster seat at the table by himself, and he likes to open and close the front door to let people in and out. He gets really frustrated when anyone tries to do these things for him, and he won't relent until he gets his way, shouting "Gabe do it!" over and over and over. He has also been doing great using table utensils to eat as well as using his napkin to wipe his hands and mouth. It's nice to have at least one of my children stay relatively clean by the end of a meal. Ariana has been really getting around using her belly crawl this month. Instead of just using her arms (as he was in the video from earlier), she has really been starting to use her legs and knees to kick and help her gain momentum. I love watching her get to where she wants to go, even if she does make a huge mess as soon as she gets there. She loves emptying cabinets and my purse. When I catch her doing it, she gets a huge grin on her face as if she is just delighted to be the one breaking the rules now! Speaking of her budding independence, I decided to start introducing Ari to the potty, and she LOVES it. She is ecstatic at the mention of the word 'potty'. We usually only put her on it once a day, at bedtime, but she has been consistently going potty whenever she's on it. There have only been a handful of times when she hasn't gone #1 and #2 in the potty once on it. This is huge, because Ariana has always had problems with constipation, so I was dreading the day she would associate the potty with discomfort. Fortunately, I find that it's been quite the opposite -- I think it's easier for her to go in a seated position, and she feels like such a big girl that I think that motivates her to actually try to go. Not only that, but she's been able to balance quite well sitting on it by herself! If she slouches, I just ask her to sit up and she perks right up again. I will decide to pursue it further when I figure out a way for her to communicate to me when she has to go throughout the day. Ariana has also been trying to articulate much more recently. She has been heard jabbering consonants frequently (especially when we let her talk to people on the phone). She likes to say "hi" or "ha" for 'hi', "dadadada" for 'Daddy' and sometimes 'all done', and "ba" for 'bye', 'block', 'ball', and 'book'. I feel like she is actually starting to try to express herself verbally now, which is really half the battle for her.Isabella has decided this month that she doesn't want to be a baby anymore. Somehow, she got the memo that baby food tastes awful (when she used to love it), and she has been turing her nose up at it ever since. Not only does she do that, but she'll slap the spoon, shake her head, scream, and yell "dododododo", which clearly means 'no'. So, she's been eating just regular table food -- whatever we eat -- and almost just as much too. I am so surprised how much and how fast that baby can eat with just 4 teeth (2 top and 2 bottom). Certain foods that even Ariana won't eat now, Bella will devour.
Bella has also started giving closed-mouthed kisses and blowing kisses this month. She gives kisses as she says "um-ma!", which sounds like a big 'ol smooch. She has been waving hi and bye, giving 5, and pointing to things that she wants.
Her words are 'dada', 'mama', 'dO' (no), 'ba' (bye & book), 'baa' (ball), and she has been trying to imitate whatever else we say too. Usually, when we are encouraging Ari to pronouce a word by repeating it over and over, Isabella will tend try and steal her thunder by imitating us first.Gross motor wise, Bella has started cruising (walking along furniture), and 4-point crawling (up on all fours!), but her preferred method of transportation is still belly crawling. And it's no wonder why, because she is so efficient at it -- really, she looks like a baby crocadile chasing her prey. I, personally, can't wait until she walks, so we don't ruin all of her pretty clothes. Isabella has also started climbing furniture, and she can climb right up our stairs.
Isabella, though still so good-natured, is also getting an attitude. She will let you know when she doesn't like something -- whether it's being put down, if she's bored, if you take away one of the dangerous and/or dirty objects she thinks are her toys, or whatever. She likes to scream and, recently, hit. I don't know where she learned hitting, because not even Gabe does that anymore, but it's become a reality for us. If Gabe or Ari tries to grab a toy from her, she will slap them silly across the face, while yelling "dOdO". It was funny the first time, but she's been getting reprimanded for it, which kind of baffles me. I never had to reprimand or discipline Ari and Gabe until they were about a year and a half. It's just starting kind of early with her (but then again, so is everything else). She's growing up too fast!
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