Who's an Animal?

Remember the Muppets? I was shopping at Old Navy and I saw a kids shirt with an image of Animal on it. You remember Kermit and Miss Piggy, but you forgot Animal right?



Animal was the one who was so cute, but so wild that he literally had to be chained to his drum set, so he didn't go beserk. He always had his mouth open and was flinging himself from side to side. Ahhh... now you remember.

Anyways, as soon as I saw that image, I had to smile. I have an Animal. His name is Dean.







Oh, he's cute alright.

But, just let that chain loose and see what he can do...



He can climb a dining room chair like a jungle gym.



He can even get himself stuck like that too!



Most of all, he laughs at the Safety 1st inventors... those smart parents turned researchers who decided the best way to prevent your little one from electrocuting themselves is to put an outlet cover over every electrical socket. Great plan, until your Animal figures out how to pull them out (at age 1, no less!) and turn them into a choking hazard.



"I laugh in the face of danger!"



Our little Deansie... also known as: Deanie Danger and Naughty Cutie!

Meanwhile, back in Obedient Land...



Devon got to make playdough fish all morning and let the hippo gobble them up. This is primetime fun when you are 4 years old!



Devon is growing up so fast. Every time I blink, he has grown another inch. All the sudden, he is sounding so grown up. He is coming up with stuff that I have never heard before. He has attitude. He says stuff like "make sure you don't touch the remote while I'm brushing my teeth because I don't want to miss any of my show!" Hmmm.... Maybe I have two Animals on my hands!

Now, don't think this blog has turned into sappy baby blathering with no mention of food. That would be a real shame. So, here you go...

In food news... the headlines at our house would read: "Mother Recaptures Former Glory." Once upon a time, when I only had one child, that child only ate fresh organic pureed foods. No plastic tubs of Gerber! And when that child grew up, he ate two full servings of fruits or vegetables with every meal. Too bad that was before Dean was born because it sure does sound downright June Cleaver of me!

Well, Dean has eaten his fair share of Gerber and Devon has even learned to beg for "the dinner that comes with the toy." But lately, I have returned to my former glory. And here is the evidence...


Baby breakfast: Fresh pureed strawberries and bananas, mixed with plain Greek yogurt. Does this look the the picture of baby food perfection, or what?


Toddler breakfast: Fresh fruit platter with yogurt.

And for all my hard work, I give myself the reviews... one perfect day of motherhood. Enjoy your 5 minutes of fame!

And so I did.


These are REAL macaroons! Fresh, from Paris. Baked only a few days earlier. Perfectly delightful cookies, with a crunchy merengue exterior and a soft fluffy icing interior. Ideal as a reward, with a steaming cup of vanilla tea!
(Debbie knows that a true friend brings back souvenirs from her travels... delicious food souvenirs! The best kind too! I felt like I tasted Paris for 5 minutes. Mmmmmm!)

So, if you are lucky enough to have an Animal at your house, grab a hot cup of something and sit back and enjoy the show! It's gonna be a wild and crazy ride!