Bananas and Blankets

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ...we sang!!

"Hey mom, I like this blanket!"

Yum for bananas

Taking a break from chewing on the spoon to smile for the camera

Big boy!

Happy Monday! As I was cleaning this morning upstairs in our living room/Matt's studio space/storage, I came across something I had been thinking about for a while now....the ABC blanket that my dear grandmother Cordelia made for me when I was probably Henry's age. Minus a few little stains and spots, it looks great. I immediately put Henry on it and told him all about his great grandmother Cordelia and how wonderful of a person she was. I told him how when I was little I used to teach my "students" the alphabet by pointing (of course using a teacher's pointer!) to the letters on the blanket as I read them aloud. I think he likes his new blanket and I certainly enjoyed seeing something so sacred to me being passed on to my son. I hope he teaches his little friends using it as well. I also came across my childhood collections of little china tea sets and miniature figurines. I don't know how excited Henry will be about those, but you never know! A few more years before I pull those out.

Henry was eyeing me this morning as I sat down to have my coffee and bagel (post-run carbo loading-ha!) so I decided he should eat while I ate. I gave him some yummy banana and before I knew it he was taking the spoon out of my hand and practically feeding himself. He's really into spoons! The banana ended up all over him and his seat but he had fun eating his breakfast and I had fun watching him.

Tomorrow Auntie Lauren arrives. We can't wait! I keep telling Henry that tomorrow "Auntie comes" and he smiles. Auntie is so good to come all the way up here on her vacation...we will have a fun time! Hopefully she won't mind waking up a little on the early side, since Henry has been an early bird lately.

I am a huge fan of Asian anything... I love Chinese, Japanese and Thai food. So, I am sharing my recipe for my homemade Pad Thai..that Matt swears is better than the restaurant version (he's a nice guy!) No picture, but enjoy!

Quick and Light Pad Thai

8 oz. rice-flour noodles

1/4 c reduced sodium fish sauce

3 tbsp. brown sugar

2 1/2 tbsp. reduced sodium soy sauce

juice of 1 lime

1 tbsp. rice wine vinegar

1/2 tsp ground red pepper

1 tbsp. sesame oil, divided

4 oz. firm tofu, cubed

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 egg+2 egg whites, lightly beaten

4 c bean sprouts

4 med scallions including green tops, thinly sliced

1 c. cilantro leaves

(optional 2 tbsp. chopped unsalted peanuts)

Soak noodles and set aside

Whisk together the fish sauce, sugar, soy sauce, lime juice, vinegar, pepper and 1 tbsp.of oil in a small bowl-set aside

Heat remaining 2 tsp. of oil in wok over medium heat. Add tofu and cook, turning once until light brown-add garlic and cook 1 to 2 minutes. Add eggs. When just set, stir and gently push to side of pan.

Add sprouts and stir gently. Stir in drained noodles, scallions, fish sauce mixture and simmer just until liquid thickens slightly-5 to 10 minutes.

Serve garnished with peanuts and cilantro. Enjoy!!