I said I would write

I recently decided to eliminate high fructose corn syrup from my diet. It wasn’t an effort to lose weight or be healthier so much as a realization that that stuff is everywhere – and I want to feel like I choose what I eat. I think the decision was actually spurred by a late-night snack of Wheat Thins and fromage blanc; I read the ingredients on the Wheat Thins and was surprised to find high fructose corn syrup listed.

Quite honestly, though, it’s been remarkably easy to stop eating foods with high fructose corn syrup because it turns out we don’t have many of those foods in our house. The Romgi and I are usually pretty good about buying fresh produce and using it to make home-cooked meals, with the occasional splurge on $1 menu when we’re too tired to make dinner. Getting rid of those splurges wasn’t difficult (and it saved us some of the Romgi’s hard-earned dollars). In fact, the only thing I lament giving up is Yoplait boysenberry yogurt. It’s my favorite flavor, and I could probably eat 2 a day. Unfortunately, it’s sweetened with high fructose corn syrup. I might look for an organic or all-natural yogurt to substitute, but I have this fear of trying new dairy products.

So there’s my report on that adventure.

The Bwun got to be adventurous, too, when I started him on rice cereal this past Friday. So far he’s had a predictable response: meh. I don’t imagine the cereal tastes very good. But he does a good job of eating what I give him, and making a complete mess while he eats. I suppose part of that is my fault – he always seems to move his head right as I’m trying to get a spoonful in, so it ends up all over his face…I just need practice, right?

And now I need your sage advice. I’m taking an independent study class (social psychology) that needs to be finished by October. I do have time to get things done while the Bwun is napping or playing by himself – but I feel like my first obligation is to get the house clean (and keep it clean), and somehow it just never seems to happen. Since the class is on more of a deadline than is perfecting my housekeeping skills, should I use my free time – at least some of it – to work on the class, or continue my vain efforts to not be a slob? (When the Bwun starts crawling I intend to blame all household messes on him, but in the meantime I don’t think that excuse will work.)

Tell me.

Just Average

Before becoming parents, the Romgi and I discussed at length the alarming trend to label children as geniuses for hitting developmental milestones early or for showing some talent in any given sphere. Surely you’re familiar with the Lake Wobegon effect (all the children are above average). We didn’t want to go into parenthood by taking for granted that our children would be exceptional. Of course we knew they’d all be unique and dear to us, but we tried to prepare ourselves for the very real possibility that in most aspects, they might be just average (or even below – but, given how amazing the Romgi and I are, that’s less of a possibility, right?).

Now, having said that, I want to tell you two things the Bwun did this week that nicely balance him out to being average.

First is the genius part. The Bwun really likes the song “The Ants Go Marching,” so I’ve worked out a bouncing rhythm for it – ups and downs on hurrah hurrah, that sort of thing. A few days ago as we were bouncing along, I noticed that the Bwun would give me a huge smile at the same parts in each verse: right as I said “one by one” or “five by five,” which happened to be just before I’d jump him up for hurrah hurrah. What a clever boy, right? Remembering how the song goes and how he gets bounced? Yes, I know. He’s a genius. (Hm.)

And the not-so-genius part…the following day, the Bwun was playing on hus tummy, spit out his pacifier, and gave himself a hickey on his arm.

Thank you, dear Bwun, for tempering my inclination to write a post solely about how clever I think you are.

New Camera

New-to-me, at least: a Sony DSC-F717 that is tons of fun to play with.

Behold:

Baby fox from IKEA is the Bwun's new best friend.

I haven't bothered reading the manual yet so I don't know how to fix the saturation on the camera - just in a photo editing program. And only sort of, even then.

Yes. I know. The Bwun is adorable.

We got some English roses from the Romgi's grandmother last night.

I'm not a fan of roses in general, but English roses are so fragrant and blossomy.

Again, I don't know how to change the saturation and I didn't want to ruin the image by playing with it too much. The Romgi likes this one.