A Very Merry Thanksgiving {in pictures}

{Izzie's dress: Hanna Andersson,/similar  //  Tights: Target -in store / unavailable online}

 Can you tell that Izzie is completely over the moon for Bear {the doggie}? 

Merry Thanksgiving!! 

XO

Cassie

Due South // Part I

Last week, Isabel and I traveled to Atlanta, Georgia to be with some of our dearest, oldest friends.  

It was such a treat to see everyone {from Sewanee and Mercersburg, school time eras}.

In fact, we had so much fun, that I didn't take as many pictures as I would've liked.  Which is too bad, especially considering that I am way too tired to think, much less write words... 

I did make a couple of observations while in the airport though.  Despite having done some homework on "flying with baby"  {reading lots- including THIS and talking to friends who have done it before}, there were a few things that I sort of miscalculated//learned firsthand//wish I had known. 

One:  taking a stroller/carseat combo through security, by yourself, with a 6 month old, is not preferable {as in, dumb and sweat inducing...because you have to take it apart, take the baby out, collapse it and put it through the scanner....while holding the baby and your carry on... oy. }.  In my paranoia, I was nervous about checking the stroller and carseat at the desk for fear that it would not be waiting in one piece for me at our destination.  If that is even a risk, I would say check a cheapy stroller instead {I don't think the carseat is in grave danger if a suitcase is piled on top of it}.  In order to get all of this stuff through security, I ended up putting Izzie in the Ergo, which is where she stayed for the rest of the trip, while the stroller became wheels for my carry on {which weighed a ton- another mistake//miscalculation}.  Also, with a stroller, you're always having to find the elevators.    Things were so much easier on the way back when I, like a seasoned traveler, had Izzie-belle in the Ergo and checked the stroller//carseat at the desk.  Phew!

Two:  If you're nursing a baby, having a nursing cover is muy importante, but what would have also been great, would have been a bottle of pumped milk {although I'm not clear on the security rules, but I think this is ok to bring a 4 oz bottle}, because my little sweetie is so distractable, nursing her in the airport was not a-happenin', cover or no.  So, we had the privelege of sitting in the handicapped stall of the bathroom for a few minutes, while she had a few measly sips.  Lovely. 

Three:  It became clear to me that Frye and Longchamp have very effectively marketed themselves to college girls.  I mean, I must've seen a dozen college aged girls wearing this combo.   Nothing wrong with it, just an observation.  People watching in airports is one of my fave things to do. {duh}  

So..... I will add to my little listy if I think of any other pertinent observations, once the fog clears  (:

{Izzie's sweater, Baby Gap HERE }

 XO

Cassie

Two Faced

{I'm going to try to explain something that is hard to explain. Please excuse and pardon run on sentences, vagueness, and rambling}

I've been having a problem since I've gone back to work, and have had trouble articulating it// to myself and to anyone else. But today I think helped to solidify the root of this problem.  Today, Isabel stayed home sick from daycare.  So naturally, I stayed home with her. 

The problem was, I have very little leave time available because I used up my stash during "maternity leave" {it's really scoffable that we even call it that when so many of us are just using accrued sick and vacation time to create a puny cobbled couple of months leave after giving birth to another human. whoops sorry. I'll try to lay off the italics, and melodrama ;) }. 

 I was worried because later this week, we have an out of town trip planned, so I'll be taking off a day for that// not to mention the holidays which are starting next week//I'll have to take some days for those too......

SO my point is, staying home today was not part of the plan, and even threw a little wrench into the "plan".  Today, Will and I decided that I would stay home for the first half of the day with Izzie, and then he would come home at lunch time so that I could go to work for the rest of the day.

 Problem was, when he got home, leaving Izzie// and our little nest of tissues, pillows, toys, coughs and sneezes was the absolute last thing I wanted to do.{I do not get paid enough to be motivated to leave that nest// that baby}.  I tried to do it though.  I brushed my hair, put on some work pants, and envisioned going there and putting on my work face for 5 hours or so....

 But Isabel had had a rough couple of nights, and this weekend we had learned that when she is touchy and sicky, she wants mom, and has a very hard time being calmed//comforted by dad. {I truly believe that this is related to her being a baby who loves to nurse, and still does// nursing = comfort. period.} 

SO, I sat there and pictured being at work, away from the sick baby nest// and knew that I would be mostly unproductive, distracted and sad.  I also was not so sure that I would actually be able to put on my work face, nor was I sure that I should.  I just knew that I needed to be there for my sicky bebe. 

My "issue" then, is this:  switching from mommy face to work face is hard, and is not seamless.  My brain tries to make the transition, but is often left feeling displaced// while my thoughts wander {sometimes endlessly} at work, to avoid really accepting the transition to work {because what do you do with the mom feelings? stuff them into a pocket for later I guess..?}. 

At home, with an hour and a half in the evenings to: enjoy Izzie, give her dinner, bathe her, and put her to bed// it's really hard to feel like I've been able to switch gears back to mommy mode// and in a way, I think this is an act of self preservation.... because if I were really feeling, absorbing and switching between these roles daily, I would get lost in the middle.  But aren't I already sort of lost in the middle?  Where does my "self" fit into this mess?  {and the mess includes more than being a mother and an employee-- there's being a wife, a daughter, a niece, a friend...} 

A  partial solution would be to make more of an effort to really be in the moment, whatever that moment may be.  {I need to practice my Ommm}  To not allow myself to escape into thoughts or daydreams, and to push myself to be fully present// in my work and at home.  But this also requires carving out some blocks of time that are "escapes", because really, who can be present and giving all of the time?  
It's a delicate balance, I'm finding.. And I'm clearly still looking for the right balance.
I may never find it {that perfect recipe}, and that's ok, but I can move closer towards finding it.
And in the mean time, I will be trying to merge my different faces {or masks?} into one fluid person, so that these transitions might become less transitional {and icky} and more.... smooth.
Peace and Love and Om. 

{By the way, disclaimer: I realize that this issue is not unique to me, nor is it unique to mothers, but I have only just started to notice it and to feel quite annoyed by it.}

Domestic Goddess - 1st Installment {Lentil Vegetable Soup}

Last week, something possessed me to whip up some food that required more than unwrapping and heating.  {move over, Martha Stewart}

I liked the looks of this recipe because there weren't a million ingredients, and most of the vegetables I had already gotten from the farmer's market.

Of course, I didn't follow the directions to the letter.. No leeks? No problem! I used swiss chard, and it was perf {as in, perfect}.

Definitely though, do not forget the vinegar and parmesan cheese {and be generous with the cheese}.  Those 2 ingredients made the soup special. {I did forget those 2 initially, and they really do make a difference}.

The soup lasted us all week, and it was so nice to have something sitting in the fridge that could be heated up for an easy meal.

The only issue I had with the recipe was all of the vegetable chopping.... There seemed to be a lot of it! But maybe this is the norm for actual cooking.  At least though, I know that I will not try to start making this soup at 9:30 pm on a Monday night again..... Because the prep time + cooking time will take around 2 hours.... 

{Recipe is below and also HERE }

{This is a Barefoot Contessa recipe}  

Ingredients

1 pound French green lentils
4 cups chopped yellow onions (3 large onions)
4 cups chopped leeks, white part only (2 leeks) 

** I omitted the leeks, and added a few cups of chopped swiss chard
1 tablespoon minced garlic (3 cloves)
1/4 cup good olive oil, plus additional for drizzling on top
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme leaves or 1 teaspoon dried
1 teaspoon ground cumin
3 cups medium-diced celery (8 stalks)
3 cups medium-diced carrots (4 to 6 carrots)
3 quarts chicken stock
1/4 cup tomato paste
2 tablespoons red wine or red wine vinegar
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

In a large bowl, cover the lentils with boiling water and allow to sit for 15 minutes. Drain.

In a large stockpot on medium heat, saute the onions, leeks {I skipped the leeks}, and garlic with the olive oil, salt, pepper, thyme, and cumin for 20 minutes, until the vegetables are translucent and very tender. Add the celery and carrots and saute for 10 more minutes {this is where I added swiss chard}. Add the chicken stock, tomato paste, and lentils. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for 1 hour, until the lentils are cooked through. Check the seasonings. Add the red wine and serve hot, drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with grated Parmesan.{and I bet cilantro would be really good too!!}