Hi, remember me? Let's backtrack to October

Hi blogosphere, Remember me - the girl who used to blog?

Well, I don't even know what I've been busy doing, but I have been! And let's be honest, cell phones just make turning the computer on and using that so darn inconvenient. And my awesome canon rebel, ummmm let's say I still have pictures from Italy almost a year ago on that. Whoopsies.

So here are things I need to catch up on, in no particular order. I'll begin with a very special trip a few months ago.

In October I visited my bff Eden, aka Essy, in Philadelphia.

The night I got in, "ma" took us out for dinner.

We had some fun times.



Ummmm what? I didn't eat an entire pint of Ben and Jerrys. Eden totally helped.



Judge away, the lentil soup needed some Israeli pickles sprinkled on.  I bet Jaren understands. Those pickles make everything better. Pregnant or not.

I also left with a new scar:


Falling while walking to meet her after work. And at the end of January, that scar is there to stay. Since I am about 35 weeks pregnant today and have not shaved my legs due to that, I will spare you a pic of the scar.

Essy's birthday was that weekend so we went out a couple of times. Her good friend Rachel couldn't come to her main celebration so we went out the night before.








Okay I totally just screen shotted those from instagram and didn't crop them. Sue me.

We got to see our other sorority sister Katie (no pics, boo), and also got to see my cousin and her baby - Bridget and Ryan. I have pictures. Look how cuteeeeeee!





Ess was in Heaven - she loves babies, and would ya look at that head of hair?






Eeeeeh I can't wait til she visits and she can do that with our baby boy! (And until baby Maddox meets Ryan, who will have 23947394 times more hair on his head at that point).

Me and Bridget:


And the baby!


And now both babies!


Essy and I made some awesome recipes. I doubt I'll post those, so loose instructions are below...until maybe I make those again when I'm back in a routine. Then I can blog real recipes.

We made a "mexican lentil stew" - I cheated and bought pre-cooked lentils from trader jo's.




It didn't thicken up like I wanted (probably because the lentils were precooked, duh) so added quinoa and it thickened it right up. It was super spicy, but yummmmm.


We also made turkey chili,


 and a white bean/tomato/spinach stew:


Typical us:


The night we went to celebrate her birthday with her friends was very fun - it was a dueling piano bar which I hadn't been to in a while! Those are always fun. She did some weird type shot thing for her birthday.


But I wouldn't let her go on stage, 28 is different than 21. Even though we're both 24 still.....
Here are some more pics - make sure to check out the shoes we saw on some lady!

See ya next time Ess!

Quantity vs Quality

I have posted about my friend Dana that I met a few months ago, and her new baby girl Leah. Dana writes a blog that you can find here.

Yesterday Dana wrote such an incredible post that I asked if I could re-post it. So glad she said yes. But before we get to the nitty gritty, here are some very important pictures:

And now onto Dana's brilliant words:

Brian told me a story the other day, one that he heard during one of his many trips this past month. I believe it's an actual study done at some school, somewhere:

There were two groups of college students who were asked to make pots that would be judged at the end of the competition. One group was told the judging criteria would be based on quantity of pots, the other group on quality (at this point in the story I had Brian clarify what they were making... not pot as in weed, pots as in pottery, duh. Although I'm sure that would have made for an interesting competition).

The quantity group got started right away. They made short pots and tall pots and small pots and big pots. They just kept turning them out, one by one. The quality group, however, started by researching pots. They checked out pottery made by ancient Greeks and other cultures that withstood the test of time and beauty. They took months to complete their research and finally, days before the end of the competition, they made their pot. They placed it carefully in the kiln and waited for their perfect piece. Meanwhile, the quantity group just kept making pots.  They made wide pots and narrow pots and deep pots and shallow pots. They made lots and lots of pots. 

When the time came to judge the pots, both groups were told they would be judged not on quantity as one was originally told, but on quality. And wouldn't you know, the quantity group made the better, higher quality pots. You see, in the time the quality group was researching, the quantity group was doing. They were practicing. They were perfecting. 

Now, this story isn't exactly surprising. At some point while Brian was talking, I actually figured out what was going to happen.  While he had to finish telling the story before relating it back to our lives, my mind started doing that somewhere in the middle.

I can read all the books and ask all the questions I want, but I'm not going to learn what works for me or for Leah if I don't start doing (don't get me wrong- I will still read and ask because it's what I do, but I cannot take it as gospel).  Sitting at home in my beloved Kansas sweatpants because I am exhausted, overwhelmed, stressed, and frustrated is not going to help me become acclimated to our new normal nor will it allow me to learn from my experiences at home or in the community (except for maybe what show is on what channel at what time).

I need quantity.  I need to remember that it's not going to be perfect every time (or maybe at all) because it's all new for both of us and I need to practice.  I need the opportunity to struggle and fail and troubleshoot.  It's the only way I'm going to learn, and it's the only way Leah is going to learn.  And you know what quantity leads to?  Quality.  I will be a better mom raising a better daughter to have a better life.

So here's to screwing up, not being on schedule, and disastrous trips to Target because we will learn and we will get better.

Welcome to the world, baby Leah!

My friend Sadie who is the Rabbi/Educator at my synagogue introduced me to a girl named Dana about 2 months ago. Dana was pregnant and is our age, and Sadie knows I'm always up for new friends. Well, turns out that not only is Dana from the same town as my one of my bridesmaid's Caroline and knows her family, but she is also an ABA therapist - my first love career! We instantly hit it off.

Last Thursday, October 10th, Leah Francine Aronson was born. Dana was "team green" - aka, no pink or blue til baby was born! I don't know how she did it!!! What an amazing text message to get welcome a baby GIRL!

I quickly programmed this into my sewing machine and got out some pink thread! I couldn't go for a first visit empty handed:

My mom and I went to visit in the hospital last Friday for Leah's 1 day birthday and first Shabbat. Well, I walked into the hospital room and saw Dana laying in the bed with tiny Leah on her chest, and I instantly burst into tears. Ummm, can we say hormonal? But seriously, I guess it's just the first newborn I've seen since I really knew I was going to be bringing one home in March, and it just got to me. So beautiful.

I went to visit on Wednesday to drop off some more goodies and hang out a bit more. I had gone over on Sunday after Sunday School (Dana lives in Henderson, or what we Summerlin-ers like to call the other side of the world). Well, when I came over baby girl was sleeping. Dana told me she was wearing the shirt I made her though! So of course I had to sneak in and get some pictures. Can I just say that going into that room and NOT picking up the baby was probably my best accomplishment this week. Ugh, I just wanted to snuggle wuggle cuddle her.

Little Leah - you are precious! Baby M can't wait to meet you in 20 weeks!

Weekend in LA and greek festival

A few weeks ago I drove to LA to visit one of my bridesmaids Rose, who moved after finishing her residency, and for my good friend Emily's baby "sprinkle". It's her third little one and she doesn't know the sex (I think boy).

I wasn't going to come empty handed for her girls so I made them monogrammed turkey shirts.



I left on a Friday and here was my bump right before :-)



When I arrived Rose was her amazing self and had bought all my craving foods. For 24 hours. What a freaking awesome, sweet, and thoughtful friend I have.


We decided to get Mexican, being in Southern Cali and all. Loved me some guac. I also watched despicable me 2 the night before and wanted one of those sombrero hats made of chips with guacamole in it.

My time with Rose was short but it was so good to see her. Love you, Rosie!

On Saturday I drove over to Agoura Hills for Emily's sprinkle. She has done a belly painting for each pregnancy. Shayna was a pumpkin, Talya was a beach ball, and baby #3 is her world!

We took the obligatory belly pic - I got nothing on this third time mama! 

The spread was gorgeous, healthy, and delicious. 

Salads were catered from CPK. Did not know they catered! They were so yummy. There was a roasted veggie one and a quinoa one - I am definitely keeping them in mind for my next event. Perhaps my shower? I don't mind copying Emily, I would be lucky to be remotely like her.

Look at that barbie in the jello!

Apparently the belly comes out and there's a belly in it. Super creepy, but funny and adorable. Em got it for her little one so explain what is in mommy's belly.

Pink and blue! Which will it be?

Em and her amazing sisters in law. Seriously, I have only met them a handful of times and love them.

And I can't resist a pup-pup. I wish golden retrievers didn't shed and had small poops. Then I'd have like 5.

Emily, my dad, and my Rabbi, are the only people that I don't get upset if they call me Ravit (my first name for those who don't know!). And look how pretty the nail polish color I got was! Jill (her sister in law) painted my nails. Ummm yeah this was like, over two weeks ago and they are still peeling off. Maybe I should get a manicure.

One of the cute games - I won one of them, not that one.

My favorite response. Does Emily wear a thong or briefs?

Did you get that? It "depends". Hehehehe.

After the shower I drove back to the valley area and met Rose for some shopping before going home. I needed to be back that night because of Sunday school the next morning. 

After Sunday school I didn't want the weekend fun to end so I babysat Jaren's girls. Clara and I did a really difficult spiderman puzzle. Seriously, I grew up doing 1000 piece puzzles all the time, and this was HARD.

And then that night Katy and I went to the Greek Festival. It's a huge event that our neighbor chairs. Stuffed our faces, so yummy!

I told you I'd catch up with the blog and I'm already writing a post 2 weeks late. Oh well, better late than never :-)

See you later in the week!