Holy sh*t!

How could something so huge and so stinky and so disgustingly gross come out of something so petite, so precious and so wonderfully sweet?

These were my thoughts when my 6-month-old daughter laid this gargantuan (well, gargantuan for an infant) Number Two. This one puts South Park's Christmas Poo to shame. I mean, look at the shape, the sheer size and the multi-colored awesomeness of this poop. "Holy shit!" I said as I opened up Isobel's diaper. Holy shit, indeed.

As you examine the above photo, I know you're cringing in horror, yet strangely intrigued and fascinated at the same time. It's like slowing down on the 405 and rubber-necking the eleven-car pile-up in front of you. You just have to look.

Before we became parents, my husband and I never really gave poop a second thought. But after two kids, you'd be surprised how preoccupied we have become with the subject:

Me: "Wow hon, did you know Izzy pooped three times today?"

Husband: "That's amazing! Were they pretty healthy-sized poops?"

Me: "Yeah, substantial and really smelly."

Husband: "Must be the solids she's eating."

Me: "Uh huh. Our little girl's growing up!"

And we're not the only parents who are poop-obsessed. In fact, if you Google "parent websites about poop" you'll get more than 1.9 million results. You can find information about your child's pooping problems, read about tips for potty training, instant chat about what to do if your toddler is playing with his poop, and read blogs about the kid who pooped on dad's foot or how embarrassing it was for mom to poop on the delivery table (yes, there are sites about this).

So why is the topic of poop so engrossing? For parents, it's hard evidence (sorry, a lame pun) that you're doing your job. It's proof that your child is either being fed well (soft poops) or needs a change in his/her diet (hard poops). Good poops = happy child. (If you've ever witnessed a constipated baby, you know what I'm talking about. So heartbreaking.)

Whatever you call it-- poop, crap, shit, caca, dookie, dump, doo doo, brown trout, brick, baked potato, nugget, lump, loaf, nuclear meltdown, one-wiper, Captain's log, chocolate shark, patty, torpedo, Chalupa, steamer, grumpy (the list goes on and on)-- you have to admit, it's a must-discuss topic.


Illustration via Pinterest.

This week's obsession: blackberry cabernet sorbet

My latest dessert obsession: Ciao Bella blackberry cabernet sorbet.

I found this treasure while perusing the frozen food section at my neighborhood Vons. At first I was a little skeptical. "Hmmm, blackberry and cabernet?" But then I thought about it: my favorites (ice cream and wine) married in a dessert? Genius.

When I got home, I opened the pint and was pleasantly surprised by the smell of cabernet. I scooped a small amount onto my spoon and gave it a try. Mmmmm, the wonderfully sweet taste of blackberries with a hint of fragrant red wine. Man, this stuff is going to be dangerous.

I am eating the rest of it as I write this, and I'm think I'm gonna have to run out to Vons tomorrow and re-stock the freezer...

Hello, Apple

I'm taking a big leap of technological faith and finally joining the 21st century. I'm now the proud owner of a new iPhone 4. Here we go!!!

Courageous woman

Shocking image on this week's cover of Time magazine.

Yes, it's disturbing, but I agree 100 percent with managing editor Richard Stengel, who says, "I felt that the image is a window into the reality of what is happening — and what can happen — in a war that affects and involves all of us. I would rather confront readers with the Taliban's treatment of women than ignore it. I would rather people know that reality as they make up their minds about what the U.S. and its allies should do in Afghanistan."

I'm running to my nearest newsstand in the morning to pick it up and read the article.

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2007238,00.html

Brother Sister

The best part of having two kids? Watching them delight in each other's company.

In this photo, I love how my son Caden relishes his role as protective big brother. And see the intense look on Isobel's face? It's as if she's saying, "Yeah, just try to cross me and my older bro will pounce you."

All Asians look alike... or do they?

A former colleague at the newspaper I used to work at wrote this post on her blog. Apparently, she often gets mistaken for me and is always asked, "How is your baby?" (btw: she's single and doesn't have a baby).

I wrote a column about motherhood while I was at the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin. It was one of the best jobs I've had in journalism and it's nice to know my columns made an impression on readers...

http://www.insidesocal.com/rcnow/2010/07/hows-your-baby-is-a.html