How Does Your Garden Grow?

In an old pair of boots!
Coco has taken an interest to gardening so we thought we'd plant some flowers just for her. I had this old pair of rubber boots in the basement that were torn but that I hated to throw out (they should be recyclable!) and we thought it would be a fun way to decorate the sandbox area. I planted marigolds and bee balm (also known as monarda, bergamot...) because they both have the reputation of deterring mosquitos (I believe the marigolds are also an ant deterrent). I'd probably need a huge patch of these plants to really be effective but maybe every bit helps? Anyway, I thought the result was cute and playful and Coco is tickled pink to have her own plants to water. Now if I could only teach her to weed the flower beds...

The Pacifier Plight (or Mommy-Guilt)

Who knew that becoming a parent involved so much self-induced guilt? Yesterday, I gave Baby E a soother.  My "fall asleep anywhere loves her nap more than anything" baby has become impossible to put down to sleep. She's as happy as a clam in my arms, plugged on the boob, but as soon as I try to take her off to put her down she wakes up and gets mad... really mad. Now maybe there's a solution I haven't thought of, but when you have an almost 2 year old who is also clamouring for attention (and who, by the way, has never watched tv so putting her in front of a movie isn't an option), you can't just drop everything and spend your days nursing.

Sometimes I think I may actually lose my mind; I'm sure all parents with young kids can relate. The thing I found the hardest when Baby E arrived was juggling 2 crying babies (I know Coco was officially a toddler but, really, toddlers are just bigger babies who can occasionally be reasoned with if you're lucky). I seemed to always be running between them trying to soothe both at once. Who do you go to first? The oldest because she'll feel pushed aside if you don't? The youngest because she's so new? The loudest to preserve your sanity?

Things had gotten easier. We're lucky to have a very reasonable little girl (as toddlers go) and an easy-going baby. But lately, Baby E doesn't want to suck her fingers or her fist like she used to... all she wants is me (and she's always been big on sucking for comfort). And Coco, my independent "Daddy's girl", is suddenly all about Mommy. She wants to be "babied", comforted and held in a way she never has before and she is competing for my attention like you wouldn't believe.

So yesterday, in a fit of desperation (after several such desperate days), I dug out a soother I had received as a shower gift for Coco that we hadn't used (we'd tried half-heartedly once or twice but she wouldn't take it). I don't know much about them, but I suspect this one is too small (labelled 0-3 months and tiny... Baby E is almost 6 months *Gasp!*) but I figured it was worth a try. Lo and behold, she took it and went promptly to sleep... in her play-pen! I think I heard harps and bells.

Then the guilt set in.

I'm not exactly sure why... Logically, I think it's a wonderful solution. Baby E found something other than me to suck and comfort her to sleep and I was able to give Coco an hour of my undivided attention. So why do I feel bad about it? Is it because I'm faced with the "ugly truth" that I can't be everything for everyone all the time.? "Super Mom" is human too... Or that my sister (mother of 4), someone I admire greatly, never used one? Maybe the fear, after the uphill battle to breastfeed Coco, that it will somehow affect my milk supply? I'm not sure,  but I think I'm going to "admit defeat" on this one and go with what works.

Crustless Tomato Zucchini Quiche

Ever since missing out on my in-law's quiche at Easter brunch, I've been hankering for some. I've discovered that it's easier to search Paleo recipes rather than googling "dairy, soy & gluten free" and we may yet manage to create a new recipe roster. I came a across a recipe that seemed promising on Grok Grub for Sun-Dried Tomato Quiche. Here's my version of the recipe (mine doesn't meet the Paleo criteria):

Ingredients

1. 5 eggs
2. 1 medium zucchini, shredded
3. 1 onion, chopped
4. 1 tomato, quartered & sliced thin
5. 1/2 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes (mine were in oil so I drained first)
6. 5 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled (I used turkey bacon because that's what we had)
7. 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
8. oil or margarine (to sauté and grease dish)
9. salt & pepper

Instructions

1. Sauté zucchini and onion on medium in a skillet until translucent (I used coconut oil). 
2. Beat eggs. Mix in sun dried tomatoes, zucchini & onions.
3. Fold in bacon and nutritional yeast. Salt & pepper to taste.
4. Pour into greased pie plate. Top with tomato slices.
5. Cook at 350F for 50 minutes or until firm.
6. Serve warm.

It was delicious! The nutritional yeast gives it a cheesy hint. We had it for supper with salad and I thought there'd be enough leftovers for a second night but there was only one small piece left. Next time, I'm definitively doubling the recipe and making 2!

*You can cook the zucchini and onions ahead of time and then it's ready to whip together in a jiffy an hour before supper.