The End of February...

...finds me trying to recover from two weeks of being sick. I've had it with being sick. I think I had the flu last week, which has since turned into a sinus infection. I just want to go a day without a headache.

I was so fed up, I braved the Dr.'s office this afternoon with both kids in tow. Belalu caused quite the sensation, as she is more and more apt to do when we go places. She was wearing red cowboy boots, which always elicit comments, and people really seem genuinely amazed by her dark hair and eyes in this nordic/germanic region of the country, but I'd be kidding myself if I didn't admit that of course her size was also a big part of her allure. There were several older people standing around as we checked in, and they made quite a fuss over her, so then the women behind the counter had to peer over and look at her, too. One older woman actually said, "Why are you so small?" Someone else said "Oh, she's just a little peanut!" but mostly, they were commenting on her boots or just saying how cute she was. To all comments, I just smiled. I guess because it's still pretty new for me, I feel the need to document these incidents here. And they don't bother me, yet, though as it becomes more common, my reaction may change. I know they don't mean any harm in it, and I still contend that her charm is much more than just her size. I didn't feel the need to provide an explanation.

After that we went to a community drop-in play group for the first time, and I knew several people there and they knew about her condition, but hadn't seen her in a long while. In those cases, people still say "look how big she's getting!" or "wow, she's walking!", but I think it's just what we're conditioned to say when we haven't seen a kid in a while. I don't find it uncomfortable however, probably because I sense the intention is good, and I know it's more about acknowledging the fact that she's older, even if older tends to be associated with bigger at this stage.

Sick

The weekend was good. I didn't make any bread and kept forgetting to get the Earl Grey tea for the chai, but E, Belalu, and I made the blueberry cornmeal cake from The Smitten Kitchen and last night J and I had a delicious meal of chicken curry and mushrooms that tasted as yummy as anything we could get for takeout, if our town actually offered Indian takeout.

Unfortunately, I also saw it necessary to make a batch of the Influenza Rx sorbet from Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams, because the kids and I are sick. I'm hoping it's just a nasty cold and not the flu, but we just got the shot last week, so it could be either.

We had lovely weather Fri and Saturday, so even got out for a couple of walks. Now it's insanely frigid and I just want to hibernate until April. I'm really glad I got ahead on the meal planning this weekend. I hope weather where you are is warmer than here, and your week is going well. Stay healthy!