Optical illusion?

Which way is the lady spinning? Clock-wise or counter-clock-wise?


(From:http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.switched.com/media/2007/10/spinningdancer_54.gif)

I see it spin both ways...though more often, I only see it go clock-wise. I would think there was some "trick," except that D ONLY sees it going counter-clock-wise! Supposedly, the way it spins shows which side of your brain is working predominantly...right brain for clock-wise; left brain for counter-clock-wise. So do tell...what do you see?

ETA: D and I were just sitting here trying to change it, and sure enough, at some point, we each could get it reversed. Can I just say...I LOVE the human brain :D

Big Bird and Breasts

Check out this old Sesame Street clip I just found on another blog!



How cool is that? And...she even says "breast" on TV *gasp*!

ETA: It's from 1977...and I think Big Bird is right on..."that's nice!"

$41.39

Beginning October 1, we've been on a kick to eat through the food in our freezer, fridge, and pantry. The only groceries we've bought since then are milk, yogurt, and some veggies and fruit. I have a favorite store, called the Superstition Ranch Market - below you can see today's booty, purchased for the total price of $41.39.

Included:
3 heads of lettuce
3 eggplant
2 heads of cauliflower
4 artichokes
8 zucchini
cilantro
4 red peppers
2 bags of organic grapes
4 heads of broccoli
butternut squash
green onions
6 large yams
bananas
4 lb bag of oranges
golden honeydew
cantaloupe
4 kiwi
4 tomatoes on the vine
6 heirloom tomatoes
8 organic apples
5 other apples

And while I'm at it...

Today is obviously blog-o-rama time, as I'm starting entry #3 now. A little update on our lives...Gma and Gpa J came to town last Thursday night. We all (minus D) drove over to the LA area for Great Gma J's memorial service, which was also a fantastic family reunion of sorts. I saw cousins I haven't seen in over 15 years (one of whom I last saw when I was 7)! E had a blast with her cousin (second cousin, officially) of similar age, C. Baby L was in fine form as always, charming folks left and right. He happily was passed around for hours on end, even falling asleep with various cousins and family members holding him...sadly, I didn't bring my camera, so I'll have to post once I get some electronic pics from others.

The kids traveled very well - over 6 hours each direction (Friday morning to Sunday morning - quick trip). My dad left town for home this morning early; my mom took E over to San Diego until Sunday...so we have two kids only for the next few days. I can tell you already - it's QUIET!

Best husband ever.

Do I really need a caption? He's pulling laundry from the line while wearing the baby, standing in the yard that he mowed. Ah...spoiled me.

Five months

This morning...in the same tub where he was born:

...yet another reason to love IKEA: storage tubs that double as baby tubs!

So at five months, baby L weighs 17 lbs 11oz (dressed - so more like 17lb5oz). He rolls, he laughs, he giggles, he pushes up on his knees, and he's growing some relatively dark hair back finally! He has blue eyes and has recently started sticking his tongue out a lot. He sits in a hook-on chair at the table and enjoys noisy toys and anything that can go directly into his mouth.

Turtles

D's coworker gave us these turtles last week. They're soon to be relocated to Aunt B's pond, so as to better enjoy life. The girls have taken very good care of them all week - feeding, changing the water, and checking up on them.

Oh, their names are Sarah and John.

First horse show

E got to ride in the class 13 "lead liners" competition with Aunt B last night - and she won a blue ribbon!

There was a whole show at this arena in Apache Junction, so we spent our evening at our first-ever horse show. Aunt B did this all growing up, so D was familiar with it. I was not...I look forward to many more evenings of horse competition as the girls get more familiar with horses and riding...

The pictures follow below (as always, click on them to see nice big versions!).

The cowgirls and cowboy at the arena, before competition (please note their fancy new shirts):





Getting ready to show:



The competition:

And the prize:

And my first shot at a slideshow...the whole evening on film:

Call me super-mom

That's Baby L on my back, and my friend's son C on my front. We'll just neglect to mention this was only for a few minutes. C was not so into a strange woman trying to do his mama's job!

Little/Big

Baby L wearing his cashmere Grateful Buns soaker...at four days:


And today, at 19.5 weeks:

Nocturnal visitor

And for once, I don't mean the kids :)

This little guy was hanging out on the dining room window a few nights ago. I put the big window picture in for some element of scale...the lizard was translucent enough to see the "guts" show up, darker. Pretty cool.



In other news, a friend from IC was here on her way through town...she's actually the daughter of our former childcare guy, and it was wonderful to see this sweet, kind young woman! She left us some prickly pear fruit syrup, which is simply gorgeous. I haven't tried it yet...

The fruit on the plant:
The fruit processed into syrup:

Grandparents J will be here soon. Weather is lovely (highs in the 90s, cooling into low 70s, high 60s).

My sister is getting settled in Jaipur. Her description of the city's smell was this (hope you don't mind, A):

"It smells like dust, sweat, incense, rotting garbage, All Out (mosquito killing plug-in), hot cooking oil, animals (pigs, cows, and dogs), garlic, paan (look it up on Wikipedia!), fruit, beedis, ganja, sometimes cardamom, sometimes jasmine, leather, phenol...Oh, I also forgot urine and petrol fumes..."

Sleep

Here is Baby L's new way of falling asleep:



He's now done it twice - just checking email with mom!
Crazy boy :)
He's also porking up quite nicely...my beautiful, happy, fat baby (if I say so myself...)!

Four months!

...and 16 pounds, 6 ounces!

Have you...

...ever seen Bill Staines in concert? Heard of him? D and I are wondering who of our friends and family are "in the know." :)

I'm a proud *gulp* grandma

Let me introduce you to my daughter Serena (age 18), her daughter Popcorn (1), and their kitty Zappo:



(the world, according to E this morning)

Nurse-out wrap-up

This video is circulating on one of my mama-groups. Thought some of you would enjoy the wrap-up from our Applebees nurse-out.

New trick

...and I'm talking about me, not the kids. With help from Rixa, I figured out how to take, upload, and broadcast a home video all using my digital still camera! So, presented for the first time ever, Baby L in "like-live action."

Nurse-out

The Applebees nurse-out was a great success! Over 100 supporters (moms, babies, dads, and others) converged on a busy intersection in Phoenix, outside an Applebees. News coverage can be seen on local Fox and CBS stations as video, and on AZCentral and the East Valley Tribune papers.

Thanks to MB for the pics!

Applebees Protest

FACT SHEET ON:
PUBLIC PROTESTS APPLEBEE'S RESTAURANTS NATIONWIDE


WHAT : Breastfeeding advocates will gather across the country to protest Applebee's Restaurants standing corporate policy of discrimination against mothers with nursing babies.

WHEN : Saturday, September 8, 2007 at 7:00 pm

WHERE : Applebee's Restaurant

WHO : Sponsored by Birth Without Boundaries, International; and local grassroots organizers

WHY : On June 14, 2007, while Ms. Ryan was breastfeeding her baby discreetly in a corner booth during an anniversary dinner with her family, an Applebee's Manager asked her to cover her baby with a blanket. Ms. Ryan responded by producing a copy of the Kentucky law that states that "no person shall interfere with a woman breastfeeding her child." The manager, after reviewing the statute, continued to insist that she had to "cover the baby with a blanket" if she wanted to breastfeed in the restaurant, and that nursing her child was "indecent." The family left the restaurant in tears before being served their meal.

"When I go to a restaurant, I am not forced to eat under a blanket. I don't understand why my baby isn't given the same respect," said Diane Targovnik, a Phoenix attorney who helped organize the local Applebee's nurse-in. "We are here to normalize breastfeeding. When breastfeeding becomes normalized, then issues like blankets becomes irrelevant and we can then focus on why human breastmilk is the best food for human babies," said Targovnik, who will attend the protest with her seven-month-old exclusively breastfed nursling, LeahHadas Targovnik Jacobs.

In the spirit of the existing diversity and inclusion policy published by Applebee's Restaurants, Birth Without Boundaries, Intl. is asking the corporation to adopt and implement an official breastfeeding friendly policy.

"Because most public breastfeeding laws do not provide a clear remedy for women who are harassed or discriminated against," said Salem Hamilton, Executive Director of Birth Without Boundaries, International, "we are asking for breastfeeding supporters across the country to encourage their legislators to add enforcement provisions to their state's laws that would provide the protection women and babies need."

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Here's how YOU can help!

• Forward this info to your friends & family;
  
• Call your pediatrician and obstetrician to encourage them to come out in support of their clients!;
• Email your state legislators and let them know that the offending company (Thomas and King) owns the Applebee's restaurants in their constituencies, so this could easily happen here!;
  
• Show up on Saturday ready to be loud!

Dream come true

Auntie B got a pony for the girls! We spent yesterday at the Ranch, getting to know Zoui Rose (Zowie, that is). The girls came up with the name thanks to their favorite dinosaur name, Caudipteryx zoui, and their favorite play name, Rose.

At the Western town (part of the ranch):

Comparison with Nikki, who they used to ride (yikes!):

And washing her up after riding:

Wait, who got washed?? Zoui Rose stomped in the puddle created under her, and C got covered! Of course, at 113 degrees it's all the more fun to then wash off herself!

And the little guy, hangin' by the chickens and goat...