Progress in Washington... It's not what you think

It has been a week of big decisions here in DC but the most important one was made yesterday. About eight blocks North of the Supreme Court, in a parking lot, under a grocery store, one man decided to do whatever he possibly could to get my car running, and I am so thankful.
Let's back up to last week when I left my car lights on... oops. When I went to move the car for street sweeping, nothing happened. My car was completely dead. We tried jumping it a couple days later but still no success. Finally, we had it towed to an auto repair shop. They jumped it there and somehow got it running. Ben wanted to make sure it ran for a little while to get the battery charged up so he waited in the car outside while I got Mina dressed and ready for a quick trip to the store.
It was not quick at all. After getting our groceries, we returned to the car and it wouldn't start. We asked several people if they had jumper cables with no success so Ben and Mina went on a walk down to Autozone to buy some. While they were gone I found someone who did have cables. He came over to help, but despite several tries, we could not get the car started. I explained my husband was walking to autozone and could get a new battery so this kind stranger offered to take the old battery out and leave me with tools to put the new one in. I was so grateful. Unfortunately, I didn't call Ben in time to let him know that cables did not help.
When Ben and Mina came back with just the jumper cables, this man drove Ben back to Autozone so he could get a new battery, brought him back, and helped put the new one in. After all that, the car finally worked!
I do not know what we would have done without the kindness of this complete stranger. As we were leaving, he casually mentioned that he was a Christian and he just wanted to share God's love. Wow. What an inspiration. I feel good if I help someone by picking up something they dropped. This stranger spent over an hour at the end of his workday helping two people get their car working again. It is so encouraging to see someone actually sharing Christ's love, when just blocks away others are protesting in His name.
When it comes to truly changing lives, it is these small decisions that really matter - the decisions made by those around us and the decisions we make towards others. Laws will change but God's love is constant. It is love that really determines the course of our lives. I know from experience that major decisions are made in DC each day. They just aren't the ones most people are thinking of.

Good Morning

The car isn't working so we can't make it to church today. Instead, it is the usual morning routine for me. I get up, usually take a shower or have breakfast then get Mina up and feed her. Then Mina gets to hang out in our bed with her Daddy while I get some time to myself. This time usually involves coffee and either washing dishes or doing laundry (the water in our house makes it impossible to do both at the same time). After those chores are out of the way, I usually have about 20 minutes before Mina and Ben come downstairs all to myself. I check my email, facebook, read articles and sometimes write, which is what I'm doing today.
I was thinking about writing about going back to work and some frustrations with working in restaurants but figured I could come up with something more uplifting for the first thing in the morning. So let's revisit the second part of my morning routine - the part where I get Mina up. Sometimes I walk into her room and she is still sleeping peacefully so I give her a few more minutes while I get some time to myself. Other mornings, she is just waking up as I walk in. I say "Good Morning" and I get a beautiful smile. It is the best way to start the day - almost don't need my cup of coffee (almost). But it is a great reminder each day to appreciate the little things and all of Mina's sweet smiles. I try to remember those smiles around 9:00 each night when Mina is tired and cranky but fighting sleep as hard as she can.
I will admit I'm not very good at it. I often go to bed exhausted and wondering how I manage to spend all day taking care of someone so needy. But then the morning comes and Mina's smiles manage to get us through another day. A day during which I will wonder how something could be so precious and wonderful and also question how this little monster managed to steal all my time away from me. Those sweet morning smiles are a reminder that Mina is actually a blessing, not a monster. No matter how much she cries for bo reason, pinches my neck, or pulls on my hair, love will always win out. My love for my baby girl defies all logic. It isn't perfect. I am often frustrated and upset and I don't expect that will ever go away, but still love endures just like her smiles.

A Day in the Life

Today was the first day of summer and the last day of Grandma's visit to DC so it was a very exciting day in the life of little Wilhelmina. After an exhausting day of shopping yesterday, Mina slept in this morning. Hooray! After getting up, she had her usual "Daddy time." We played a bit and then it was time for lunch. Mina got to sit up in her new high chair and get some tastes of solid food (we are just giving her a small portion around lunch to start). Today we went with a storebought concoction of butternut squash, carrots, apples and prunes from Ella's Kitchen. Mina loved it. I loved that it only contained the fruits/veggies and just a little bit of lemon juice and comes in an easy-to-use squeeze pouch.

Hmm... butternut notes... with a hint of apple...

This stuff is DELICIOUS!

After lunch we went out to Eastern market to do some shopping for Mina. She got some new books and an adorable 4th of July outfit from Grandma. Mina is considering buying some movie-star style shades as she can't go anywhere without being stopped and told how cute she is. 

When we returned home, Mina had an evening swim in her whale-of-a-tub. She got to try out her new "Wilma the Whale" swim diaper and hat - so cute. She loved splashing in the water and playing with her dinosaur bath toys.

This is the life

Our first day of summer ended up being a little too exciting so Mina is now enjoying a pre-bedtime nap.  But it looks like it is going to be a great summer!

Time for Real Food

Most pediatricians and the AAP agree solid foods can be started between 4-6 months. Before Mina arrived, I read many articles on the nutritional benefits of breastmilk and how exclusively breastfeeding should be done for six months or even longer. I decided not to start our baby on solids until at least six months since that would clearly be better for her. Then Mina actually arrived. Even without any major difficulties, breastfeeding is hard work. I read babies need to eat less often as they grow older and was really looking forward to that. But since cutting out Mina's middle of the night feeding around eight weeks, she hasn't slowed down. Lately, she has been wanting to eat even more often. She also acts hungry whenever we eat, regardless of when she was last fed and watches us like a hawk. When we went to her 4-month check-up and her pediatrician gave the go-ahead for solid food, I was so ready.

We decided to start with fruits and veggies rather than rice cereal or oatmeal. First food: avocados. I blended them with a little milk, then froze small portions in an ice cube tray. Mina gets one small portion per day. As of day three, it seems like she still isn't really sure what to do with the avocado but she is swallowing more than she is spitting out. It is an exciting time in Mina world. 

Oh How She Grows

Yesterday, marked Mina's four month birthday. I have put together a series of collages from each month of Mina's life so we could see how much she has grown together.

Month 1

Month 2

Month 3

Month 4

She started out spending most of her time asleep or eating. Now my baby girl like rolling herself from her back to her tummy and trying to scooch herself around the playmat. This usually ends in frustration as she isn't very good at turning herself back over. She is much better at sitting up and loves bouncing. A little tooth is poking its way up. She is all smiles and is laughing more each week.

Ch-Ch-Cha-Changes

You may have noticed the blog has a new look... I was sick of the blocks. I want to update it and make it more personal to me and my family so it is going to get a new name too. I never liked "Becoming a Mom" to begin with, but I had to have a name in order to start posting. I have finally decided it is time to change it. I wanted to reflect the balance I am trying to find between my career in pastry and my love of being a mom. Lately, the mom part has been winning out but it is slowly shifting. So I came up with a few ideas and have decided to put it to you guys in the form of a poll. Some things are more comical than serious, but I like giving a few laughs too. So please help me come up with a new name. Participate in the poll to the right or suggest your own ideas in the comments. Thanks!

When I spend hours making a dessert tray of macaroons and chocolate-dipped fruit for a party, it might be time to go back to work.

When the World Stopped Turning

Less than a month ago, I posted something about how I couldn't believe Mina was already three months old and how she was growing up so fast. Well, time played a cruel trick on me. She should have reached 4 months about a year ago. Technically, this month has actually been longer than two of her previous months (30 days past September.... I can never remember the rest but think April has 30 and February has 28). We are still 8 days away from the 4 month mark and I am going a little crazy. Maybe this is the universe telling me it is time to go back to work.
I'm guessing part of the reason this month has gone on for so long is Mina's decision not to take naps. I wish she would talk to her mom before making these big life changes, but we're working on that. Anyway, it seems (fingers crossed) the naps are back! The downside is that she only naps in her crib which is upstairs and it is a sauna up there during the day since we don't have ac. I feel a little bad for her but she is sleeping happily which is better than downstairs, unhappy and not sleeping.
Today I have no great pieces of advice to offer, no newfound wisdom, not even any cute pictures of Mina. I am just tired and so relieved Mina is sleeping. Once I get caught up on dishes, laundry and yardwork (if it ever cools down), I might be able to do some fun projects again... or maybe I will just find myself a good book. If I'm really ambitious I might even finish Zelda: Skyward Sword on the Wii but that is a massive undertaking (me + video games = comically inept). For now, you can find me sitting in front of the fan debating whether to tackle dishes or laundry first... it's a big decision and the fan feels so nice. Though getting stuff done might actually help this month go by faster so... dishes here I come!