Ninja frog rats
My DITL is up now! It was fun to do, I think I’ll do it again sometime. Like you guys aren’t sick of seeing a bazillion pictures from me…
Anyway, I thought I would share something that happened the other morning. I was just doing my normal thing, juggling baby and phone and whatnot, when all of a sudden Dill (one of the rats) gets up on his platform and gets very still. He then leaps through the air and grabs the fly that’s been buzzing around (mid-air, mind you…) in his tiny paws and proceeds to EAT IT. I was flabbergasted. Have you ever heard of a ninja frog rat? Well, they exist. Wild. Weird. But one of the coolest things I’d seen in a while.
September 16th:
This is little John. So far he’s been fun to watch. He’s much more needy than Vera, and by the end of the day I’m lucky if I’ve done more than take care of them and maybe clean up in their path. I’m sure I’ll get better with time. It’s already improved enough so that I’m writing this with the two of them playing at my feet. Could be worse, no? I suppose it’s the hardest when I have to hold one of them (usually when Vera nurses), and the other just cries. I feel so bad when that happens, but I know I just have to do what I can. He’s a doll, and I really enjoy all the ways in which the two are different and similar. It’s also made me more aware of Vera’s personality and temperament in a way that I couldn’t see without the contrast. I’m having a good time, and it’s good to be bringing in more income.
Sept. 17th:
I made these delish mini pot pies. They were a hit. I think I’ll make lots of them (different fillings and stuff) and then freeze them for lunches.
Sept. 18th:
I love this town.
Sept. 19th:
We went for a walk and checked out the community gardens. I saw this beautiful patch of kale, and it got me thinking about what I’ve been most happy with this year in my own garden. Kale definitely tops the list this year. It was hearty and delicious (not to mention really really good for you) through the whole summer. It didn’t wilt or get bitter in the heat, and it stands up against the cold. I love it love it love it. I put it in so much! I’m going to be planting lots more of it next year. Beautiful isn’t it?
Sept. 20th:
We went to a family reunion thingy and I put Vera in this sweet lil number. I never thought I’d get all happy to put a little girl in a dress, but here I am. It’s not pink frilly stuff, that stuff gives me a headache, but little jumpers with flowers and stuff make me kinda melt.
Sept. 21st:
Aww.
Sept. 22nd:
I went to a garage sale down the road and saw this great solid oak breadbox. What a find! Especially since I started making bread and we have a mouse, this is perfect so we don’t have to clutter up the fridge with everything a mouse might want (which is a lot). Also, there you can see some of our pears that we put up. 
Sept. 23rd:
Breakfast. Homemade honey cake with maple yogurt and blueberries.
Sept. 24th:
Squash that I need to bake and freeze. I’ve been putting it off because, well, winter squash will just sit there and never go bad. But still, I need to do it.
Sept 25th:
I planted myself a winter herb garden in this planter. I realized that I can’t just settle for dry herbs if I can help it.
Sept. 26th:
In my peripheral. Sweet babies.
Quote of Day:
"In wildness is the preservation of the world." -Henry David Thoreau
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the ninja rat story is awesome…
that is an great first picture of john! and he’s adorable, too… how do they get along with each other? in that last picture, it looks like they’re completely oblivious to the other’s existence!
Haha I still think about it a couple of times a day. So crazy…
They get along great as long as they aren’t pulling each others hair. You’re right, they are kind of oblivious at this point. But they are adorable together.
I love you DitL! Vera with a kitten, Tuula making animal noises (she’s holding the maracas I gave her in the fish face one!), you, your sister, Jeff, Maya… What’s not to love?
Yes! Those maracas are awesome. Both Tuula and Vera adore them. It’s so cute to watch Vera shake them and be completely entertained. You are a master gift-giver.
Rats are so awesome! Especially ninja frog rats!
Loved your DITL!!
Sounds like the two bebe-ness is going pretty well, sucks about the holding/crying thing, is there any way you’d be able to distract the one that isn’t being held for a little bit? to stave off the crying? because that must be so hard! especially for nursing, i can only imagine that nursing is not the quiet peaceful time it used to be.
Thanks! Yeah, I was so surprised and happy that I got second place! SO fun.
It is going well, but he is really clingy. I have tried all sorts of things, he just seems anxious and feels nervous when I’m not holding him. At first I thought that it was just because this is a new place and stuff, but then I asked his mom and she said she has the same issue. She can’t even go to the bathroom without him wailing. So. I’m not sure what the solution is, and I’m not a fan of the “cry it out” method because I think that sometimes it can be something that you aren’t seeing. With him though, I’m almost positive it’s just anxiety because I’ll have done everything to meet his needs, and his crying stops when I hold him and he’s all happy then. If I even start to lower him he cries. However, I fear I will have to let him wail for the time being. I’m starting to practice making him sit beside me for a while. He screams and grabs at my legs and arms but I just replace him in the spot next to me and say “It’s alright John, you’re safe and I’m here for you.” I really hope that it starts to work. My plan is to slowly increase the distance between us and use the same voice and same reassurance so he knows I’m there. I dunno. It’s just ALL DAY and I can’t. Also, yeah, I think Vera has been annoyed. She gets flustered and distracted while nursing because he’s frantic and trying to climb up my legs. I have faith. It might be a few weeks, but I think it’ll get better.
Dang, that sucks, i’ve dealt with anxious babies before, it can be so hard for everyone! You and the bebe’s! I’m not a fan of “cry it out” either, sounds like you are doing the best you can though, and i bet the calming voice will help! Does he like to be slung at all? you could try and be one of those super-mamas slinging two babies.
I think it will get better soon too, but good luck all the same!!
mmmmm sweet babies and mini pot pie with a side of ninja frog rat.
A FEAST OF EXCELLENTNESS.
DELECTABLE!!!
Aww, the potpies are so cute with the lattice tops. I love mini versions of anything.
Haha yeah I remember you talking about your mini cakes. How’d that go? You up for a walk sometime soon?
I am busting a gut thinking about your ninja frog rat. Now I want my own ninja frog rat. And both of the babies are way cute. Yeah, I think I want one of those too. 🙂
Ooh, how did you make the mini pot pies? They look good!
They were super easy! I made a simple pastry dough, and I also made a bunch of filling (basically just potatoes and carrots and meat and whatever in some stock, thickened, until it was how I wanted it), then I cut rounds of the dough with a cup and put it into a muffin tin. Then I filled them with the filling and baked at 350 for like 45 minutes, or until they looked done. I would’ve done tops too, but I ran out of dough so I did those lattice tops. Anyway, I hope that’s enough info for you to make some if you want! They were a big hit with everyone that ate them, so I still hope to make some for easy frozen lunches.
🙂