Banana Money

In our house there is something called "Banana Money".

Banana Money is the money that I earn at my second job, Banana Republic. The wonderful thing about Banana Money is that it is 100% responsibility free. I take my paychecks to the bank and hide the cash until I see something that I really want but usually isn't justified. Sometimes Banana Money buys gifts for Aaron, sometimes awesome household items like overpriced vacuums, or luxuries like fancy running shoes.

Before I get too far, let me clarify one thing... Banana Money is never going to make me rich. It's simply a silly little side job mainly for the discount. At 3-4 hours a week on you can imagine the retail cashier hourly rate - I REALLY have to save for things.

So after my last Banana Money splurge, I came up with a new goal... a bedroom set. Our current set is great and I am so grateful for it, but the bed sort of reminds me of a 12 year old girl (oh yes, because it was a gift for my 12th birthday). And a not-so-matching dresser. My goal is to buy a new bedroom set by the time Isla is out of her crib and ready for a big girl bed, then I'll just had our stuff down to her.

I know, she is only 7 1/2 months old. But like I said, it takes a LONG time to save up those wages.

Did I mention the best part about Banana Money? I get total control of Banana Money purchases. No one can say I don't like that color, or that is ugly! It could even be considered a form of therapy.

And without further ado, here it is in all it's glory. My new dream. The only problem... by the time I save enough money to buy it (about 3X what I was anticipating saving) I don't know if it will even be in production anymore. :(

I hate you Restoration Hardware. No, I don't, I love you. Someday.

Feeding Frenzy

When Isla hit the 6 month mark a couple of weeks ago, we decided it was time to start introducing her to baby food. Like any new parents - this was quite the occasion for us.

High chair - check.
Video camera - check.
Perfect lazy Sunday morning to dedicate to "baby's first feeding" - check.
Organic fancy rice cereal* - check.
*by the way, I am totally not into the whole organic thing usually. well, unless you count shooting your own meat from the mtn range "organic" and growing your own veggies in a garden and canning/bottling them. anyway, it's funny how you get sucked in to feeling like your baby needs organic.

And so it began. We put that adorable little silver spoon up to her mouth and in went a delicious bite of mush. Anticipation builds. And back out it came. Not only did the cereal shoot back out with a force of disgust, but this was followed by the most heartfelt look of horror. She looked at us like "why would you do something like that to me?" It almost broke my heart. Almost.


Thankfully the pediatrician* said this might happen. And to just give it a few days, she will come around.
*by the way, I have an intellectual crush on my pediatrician. he's A.MAZE.ING. funny i used to have harmless crushes on people like pro snowboarder Jeremy Jones or Mark Wahlberg or Jeremy Piven. oh how life changes.

So we tried the next day. Only this time we try to trick her by making the airplane noises and slurping noises and what not. It didn't help. She didn't want to eat. But she did feel like laughing.

Turn up the volume to hear the full giggling effect. Oh, and if you are patient enough to make it to the end, that's the best laughing and a great ending squeal.


When the rice cereal failed its week trial, I decided to try something different. It has always been my dream to be the perfect little mom that makes perfect homemade baby food from the preserved fruits and veggies from my garden. So out came the stock from the freezer. Mooshed up carrots - nope. Pureed sweet potatoes - nope. Whipped squash - nope. Hopeless. She didn't want rice, and she didn't appreciate the intensive labor I had put into her homemade babyfood. We gave in and finally went to the grocery store and bought a plethera of delicous sounding baby foods. Bananas, squash, sweet peas, pears... and so far we haven't tried everything, but she is still not having anything to do with eating. Not only does she not want to try, but she has learned how to clench her jaws closed so you can't even pry the spoon in there. You can't even trick her into smiling and shoving the spoon in anymore, she figured that one out too.

I suppose we will just keep trying and eventually she will have to like something, right? We love this little person!


And these guys too.