Did you know that you can't get mussels at Whole Foods in Honolulu?

Well, you can't. I know for a fact. And no, we didn't spend Christmas in Hawaii. I wish!

Me, being the food safety freak that I am, started getting a little nervous on Christmas Eve about the status of the mussels I would be preparing on Christmas Day. I've only cooked with mussels once before but this didn't really concern me ... until the last minute of course.

Yes, around 8:30pm on Christmas Eve I decided to take a peek at the bag of mussels I had bought just the day before, the bag that the man behind the fish counter at our Whole Foods assured me would be fine to prepare on Sunday, and found that the majority of the mussels in the bag were gaping open.

Of course I hit Google right away and learned that I was to discard any that were open. But me, being the overthinker that I am, then started to get worried about the wellbeing of the mussels that were still closed and wondered what to do.

I started with my mother, who has zero experience cooking with live mussels. She referred me to our old neighbor who is a caterer. I boldly called her on Christmas Eve and she didn't really know what to tell me. Just told me to do what I read on the Internet. Hmm. I wanted a more authoritative answer than that.

So I decided to call Whole Foods in Seattle, since I figured they would still be open, which they were, for about 9 more minutes. The man at their seafood counter told me that I hadn't stored them properly, should have kept them in a bowl with ice, and of course they were all dying.

After hanging up with him I still felt uneasy about the whole situation, especially because I started questioning my judgement as to "how open is too open"with a mussel shell. What if it's open just a hair? Does that count as closed or open? What if I cook dead mussels and get everyone sick? Matt reminded me that they don't send you home with a magnifying glass when you buy mussels and to stop thinking so hard about it and to stop shoving mussels in his face for his opinion.

Point taken. I got on the phone with Whole Foods Honolulu - wouldn't you have done the same at this point? As I posed my question to their seafood worker I got an astonished "Wait! This can't be possible. We don't sell mussels here. It's against agricultural law." Then I had to confess that I was in Tennessee, a victim of EST on Christmas Eve and that I was sorry to be bothering them on a what might have been a busy evening, but did he have any advice for my remaining mussels and what to do with them and if he thought they were safe to eat? He referred me to his coworker, a "restaurant guy" who might have experience with mussels. And to be honest with you, I can't really remember what he told me other than that after hanging up with him I decided to just go ahead steam the mussels that were still closed, for fear that they would be dead by morning.

End of story? No. After steaming the mussels, I just still didn't feel good about the whole situation and started having terrible visions of food poisoning our Christmas Day dinner guests. In my head I knew they were more than likely totally safe to eat, but I had just spent an hour stressing about them and at that point had lost my appetite for even daring to try them. So I told Matt I wasn't going to eat them on Christmas and he said "Well, you can't serve your guests something you're too scared to eat!"

True. So I didn't throw them away, but didn't plan to serve them either. Until I told the story and everyone wanted to try them! Can you believe it?

So everyone but me and Emery had mussels with their ciopinno. As you can see, Matt even had many.

And would you believe it, no one got sick! Me, I'm still glad I didn't try any and have learned my lesson ... maybe. I'm actually not sure that I have, as I can definitely envision this little drama replicating itself the next time I cook with any unfamiliar fish, bird or beast ... I'll just try not to make it happen on Christmas Eve next time.

If only Santa would bring us some goats

This past weekend we went to a little Christmas gathering at the home of a family from church who happens to have quite a few goats. Needless to say they were a hit with the kids, especially Emery who squealed with delight as she fed them bread and let them tickle her hands with their tongues.

Sadly, the closest thing she'll be getting to a goat this year is a wooden pull toy dog I picked up at Michael's for $2.50.

It's also too bad that in the few days after I purchased this pull toy, her passion for dogs has been waning, while her obsession with cats is on the rise. Go figure!

A Christmas miracle

I joke that that these pictures constitute a Christmas miracle only because had we taken Emery to see the window displays a week earlier, she would have been captive in her stroller. Now, with the newfound freedom that comes with walking, she can fully immerse herself in the all the magic!

For the most part, she was speechless but mesmerized, though every now and then she would exclaim "a bear!" "a mouse!" "Elmo!" (yes, there was even a teeny tiny Elmo doll in the display)

December doings

December has felt full and fun so far!  Here's a taste of what we've been up to:

Visiting the library, an outing I am beginning to loathe. Despite the fact that the kid's section is loaded with all kinds of puzzles and games fit for a toddler, not to mention books, Emery has discovered that the computers have Elmo games. Problem is, she doesn't know how to play the games, so she just gets excited, then frustrated, then excited as she moves to the next computer to try again, then frustrated, and so on. As you can imagine, tearing her away to help me find a book or to leave because our parking meter has run out is entirely unacceptable and worthy of many loud protests.

Future library trips might be solo, OK Emery?

We also picked out a Christmas tree - our first ever!

 

Last week I got an unexpected blessing - free tri-tip steak from Whole Foods! I think the butcher felt sorry for me after I looked so pitiful upon finding out that the skirt steak, which was on sale, was out. So we had a fabulous, and almost free, fajita bar!

Emery ran (well, rode I should say) with Matt in a short race that was part of a 24-hour festival downtown last weekend - they were both supposed to be in costume, but Emery was quick to rip off her giraffe hood. Matt went as a bobsledder, to my total disbelief. I am stunned that he so willingly obliged to get in costume. Just think what else could be possible!

The festival also included a stunning display of hammocks, which Emery happily played in for a little while.

I'm trying to spend a little more time at home these days, since I'm anticipating this will become the norm once Baby D #2 makes his/her arrival, and I want to get me and Emery used to being more housebound than we might prefer. So this means coming up with fun, new activities for Emery, which now include some water play at her sink.

Yes, I quickly learned that the ottoman would get drenched, as would her shirt (why I thought just putting one of my t-shirts over her would do the job I have no idea), so the next round of water play looked a lot different.

We also had our last Kindermusik class of the year. Emery totally bonded with the teacher, Miss Maria, and often spent more class time in her arms than mine! And it was of course a joyous occasion, given that Emery could finally walk and keep up with the other little tikes as they stomped and danced around.

We still go to the Y almost every morning and after I pick Emery up from the childcare center, we play around on the couches a little. As soon as we sit down, Emery hopefully begins repeating "Mo-yee? Mo-yee? Mo-yee?" This is because our dear friend Molly often meets us on the couches before teaching her dance class. It is always very sad when I have to tell Emery that today "Mo-yee" doesn't teach, but fortunately a little bit of horsing around on the couches alleviates her woes.

What will be even more sad, though, is when Molly moves to Chicago in February and I have to explain to Emery that there will be no more "Mo-yee" on the couches. Any suggestions on how to address this very sensitive issue, Molly?? :)

Yet, the good news is that Auntie Shannon is not moving to Chicago, which means there will still be plenty of fun to be had at her house. Today Emery decked herself out in Shannon's "bling-bling," trooped around the house like a professional walker and even danced to Christmas carols.

Finally, we have been reading ... a LOT. Emery will follow me and Matt around the house, pathetically pleading for "a book? a book? a book?" When you oblige, she happily settles herself in your lap, opens up your hand, puts the book in it and leans back, very satisfied at her success in making you captive to book after book after book after book ... now I know that this is normal behavior with children, but I guess I wasn't expecting it this soon. Talk about laying on the Mommy guilt!  "No Emery, I can't read with you because I have to scrub the kitchen floor?"

Wish I had a picture of us reading, but as you can understand, I'm too busy holding the book and Emery to hold a camera, too!

We threatened her with "the state"

and she got to walking! To back up a little, Emery has been slow to walk independently, as I've mentioned before. Now that she's 20 months old, and I'm about 8 months pregnant, my somewhat laid back attitude about it all has begun to dissipate, and quickly.

When I called her doctor to see what I should do, she said that we would need to meet with someone from Early Intervention, which is a state-run program that helps children with developmental delays. We scheduled a meeting in which someone from Early Intervention would evaluate Emery and determine if she was sufficiently delayed enough to receive physical therapy.

Since Emery has been showing so much potential as of late to walk on her own, my hunch was that Early Intervention would just conclude that she is stubborn and dead set on walking on her timeframe, not mine ... and hopefully provide me with some tips on how to get her timeframe moved up a little.

Nevertheless, we've been joking that "the state" is coming for Emery and she'd better get her act together before Dec. 12 ... or else!

Perhaps this had some effect, because this morning I stepped out of the room and returned to the kitchen a few moments later only to have Emery walking up to me, albeit a bit like a drunken sailor. And she proceeded to do this over and over and over again today, proving to all of us that she is ready, willing and ABLE to walk.

HOORAY!! HOORAY!! HOORAY!!

(I know news of this nature merits a video, but I wasn't able to get one today. Will try to get one posted soon)

Thanksgiving antics

Learning the etiquette of dipping - "no double dips Emery!"

Riding horsie with Grandpa

Trying out seats ...

Yes, this one is just right!

Time to eat yet?

Peek-a-boo!

 Peek-a-boo again!

Thankfully Emery kept us very entertained while the turkey took longer than anticipated. Her antics were also interspersed with a few mishaps, including one broken serving platter, but I think (and hope!) we will all remember the day as one of fellowship, feasting and definitely more than enough football.

The dish I can't wait to make again, but on a weeknight?  Brussels Sprouts with Fig and Bacon - so simple, and best eaten right away, which didn't exactly happen yesterday. So all the more reason to give it another try soon!

Thankful in all things

For a long time now, I've been trying to practice the discipline of giving thanks in all things, even when circumstances don't make sense or are unpleasant. In things big and small and in between.

Well, I'm tired today and have lots of Thanksgiving tasks in front of me, plus a wiggly, whiny, 20-month who isn't as happy to just watch me cook and putter around the house as she was last year.

This morning I was holding her in the kitchen, along with a container of oats and probably a few other things and boom, there went the oats, all over the kitchen floor. My first reaction was "Ughh, what a pain! I do not feel like cleaning those up."

So I didn't, and I kept getting ready for the day ... while lo and behold Emery fell strangely silent and self-sufficient as she busied herself in the pile of oats for just enough time for me to finish getting ready and get us out the door.

So today I am reminded, again, of why we are to be thankful in all things - in part because much of the time, the things we don't feel grateful for right away, actually wind up being unexpected blessings.

Emery and baby (bump)

Emery is beginning to point to my tummy and say "baby." What that indicates she really understands, who's to say, but it's a start! The scab on her nose is sadly not the result of walking, but of her many dining room chair climbing endeavors.

A "closet" walker?

Many of you know that Emery is 19 months old and still. not. walking. Fear not, we've had progress along the way and things aren't hopeless, at least according to our pediatrician, but nevertheless this mama is ready to get the show on the road. Walk, Emery, walk!

On Friday, she amazed us all with a feat of standing, unsupported, for 48 seconds. Oh the applause, the accolades she received! As if she had actually walked on water or something.

But as Friday turned into Saturday and then Sunday and so on, Emery's interest in standing waned and by this morning, I was met with repeated "No want to's" whenever I asked her if she wanted to practice standing.

Fine. Whatever. I committed to not ask her too much anymore.

Well, fast forward a few hours later and I was picking her up from the Bible study nursery, where I got the report that she was "Great! So happy. She was talking and walking and really having fun."

EXCUSE ME? Walking? I begged them to clarify. Did they mean cruising while holding onto furniture, or standing up in the middle of the room near nothing waist-high or higher and taking steps all by her sweet little self?

They meant the latter and didn't seem surprised in the slightest at her accomplishment of multiple baby steps. As if she's been doing it all along. (Has she???)

So now I'm a little perplexed, wondering if these were Emery's virgin steps or if she's been doing this all along, whenever I'm out of sight?

All I know is that it's time to get real with the YMCA ladies tomorrow who watch Emery every morning while I work out - if she's been walking for them, too, then Emery, you have some explaining to do!

Decisions, decisions

Thank goodness for festive friends like Auntie Shannon who keep me accountable to get in the spirit of whatever holiday is quickly approaching. I don't think I'm exactly a Scrooge, but let's just say I've never put up a Christmas tree because it seemed like too much effort when we wouldn't be in town anyway for Christmas day itself. This year will be different, though, Emery, I promise! You will have a Christmas tree.

This week, Shannon decided it was time to try on Emery's Halloween costume options, of which there are two.

We have last year's giraffe costume.

It's precious, but a little small. Then there's the ballerina costume Henny got Emery a while back.

After a few minutes in her tutu, Emery had made up her mind I think - ballerina it is! (not that we're actually going trick or treating or anything ... so what's this all for Shannon?? :) )

I don't want this costume to go to waste, though, so I think I'll let Emery wear it to the YMCA on Monday as part of an early New Year's resolution to BE. MORE. FESTIVE!

On a side note, I am starting to think that seeing Auntie Shannon is the equivalent of Christmas for Emery, seeing as how Emery saved her major meltdowns for after Shannon left the other day ... after all, what can top a fabulous friend who is always so excited to see you, doesn't have to enforce any rules, really, almost always has fun jewelry (or "bling bling" as the two of them call it) on, is always up for a dance party, reading books or just about anything else Emery can charm her way into making happen. 

When Shannon leaves, it's like the day after Christmas, when that holiday high sinks like an elevator to the bottom floor and you're forced to face real life again.

Not sure what the solution to all of this is, since we don't have a spare room for "Shanu" to move into ... unless, Shannon, you're up for bunking with Emery? Let us know! :)

This is what happens

when you don't prick a few holes in your baked potato.

One last time

in my childhood home in Annapolis this weekend, which has finally sold. Ahhh ... it's all too sad and nostalgic to think about very hard, so I'm choosing not to think about it much at all and just enjoy all the memories that have been made here, especially this weekend!

 We celebrated cousin Molly's first birthday and she was ALL smiles ...

Emery was never far from cousin Tucker and repeatedly attacked him with hugs and cuddles, which thankfully didn't seem to bother him in the slightest.

The birthday celebration continued ...

 Uncle Austin was very nice to read with Emery ... one last story on the family room couch (sniffle).

An attempt at a decent family photo in front of the blue house.

Catching some sun on the front stoop ... let's not start thinking about how it was just yesterday that it was ME in little overalls sitting on the front stoop. (sniffle)

 Here is Emery in one of my favorite childhood spots on the side of our house - I'll always remember going to sit on this box when I got bent out of shape about something not going my way while playing outside. It's actually the neighbor's box, but I think he's going to give it to me!

Emery checking out the stove that used to heat our house. (sniffle)

Just being cute at the front door. Good thing these smiles will keep me from sniffling too much tomorrow when we leave for good.

Aretha Frankenstein's ... without the 2 hour wait!

For those of you who don't live in Chattanooga, Aretha Frankenstein's is a breakfast joint famous (or perhaps notorious) for its insanely long wait on weekend mornings, as well as its insanely outstanding pancakes and waffles.

Well, this weekend we got to enjoy the aforementioned waffles right in our own dining room, thanks to this recipe I found Food52.

Now I generally try to make my waffles a little healthy and go more for the multigrain, not too much oil, etc. route when I'm making them at home, but these were well worth making an exception. I doubled the recipe and did wind up cutting back on the oil a bit and that didn't seem to do them any harm.

The secret ingredient? Cornstarch! It makes them perfectly soft, chewy and moist on the inside, and just crispy enough on the outside to make you think you might be eating at a restaurant and not in your own home where you have to put away the syrup and butter, face the mound of dishes in the sink and get a paint scraper to deal with the waffle batter that's now permanently adhered to the kitchen counter.

Worth it, though? YES.

Emery at 18 months

Every day it seems Emery is getting more grownup, revealing new likes, dislikes, abilities, etc. so I figured I'd better record some history here and now before it becomes just that - history!

Favorite food: hands down bananas (or "mee-nee" for some strange reason)

Favorite song: "If You're Happy and You Know It" You know she wants to sing it when she opens and closes her hands and repeats "happy? happy? happy?" And once is of course never enough ... we sing it endless times in a row.

Favorite toy: Um, me? Emery doesn't have much attachment to her toys and is generally more interested in doing what I'm doing than anything else. I realize this is a phase, but if I had the energy, I'd move all of her toys out of the house for the time being to enjoy a little less clutter!

Favorite activities: Emery loves listening and dancing to music (You know she's ready for the next song when she whines "ee-mee?") playing outside, chasing the neighbor's cat, ogling at doggies, emptying my nightstand, climbing on the furniture, Skype, going to the library, to the pedestrian bridge downtown, and to the grocery store, of course. :) Her interest in dolls is beginning to develop, thanks to valiant efforts from her Henny to cultivate an appreciation for this activity.


Oh, and she also is quite intent on fitting herself into spaces that are clearly too small for a toddler.

Thankfully Emery keeps us all laughing, even on days that are hard and long, and we can't wait to see how the rest of her second year unfolds!