So maybe its not the milk

I don't think Sabine is allergic to dairy -- yesterday I ate a small cheese pizza with no problem, but today had fussing during nursing after I ate ... a slice of chocolate cake.

Yesterday was Arabella's birthday party. Five 4-5 year old girls, and two mothers (including myself) and one grandfather who was mostly useful in sometimes looking after the Bean. It was a princess dress-up party, and the girls spent most of the time princessing their way around the house. I made the ugliest cake ever, but it was tasty, and between that and mini pizzas the girls were fed and ready for more play time. Arabella got dress-up toys, some great books (of course, books are always great) and other great gifts. From mommy and daddy, a My Little Pony that you "color" on with warmth and cold (temp sensitive thing, how odd). I had a hard time deciding on a toy gift, between something I would have loved as a girl (the realistic mare and foal toy, with tack and grooming set) or the pink and blue color change fakey looking pony, and realized that its not about what I would like, but what she would like.

Up until yesterday Arabella was being much better about her toys, and being pretty good about putting her clothes and toys away once in awhile, but that went down the tubes once the birthday party ended, and we have had temper tantrums galore in the past 30 hours. It could be the let-down after the anticipation of birthday and party. This evenings tantrum centered around the personalities of her new fairy dolls (about 3 inches high, selected today and paid for with the birthday money sent by her great grand mother and great aunt), and resulted in being sent to her room for a late nap.

Dad is visiting from Louisiana, and has been more mellow than usual. Maybe its too cold for him to really focus on getting on my nerves. We got all the stuff for Thanksgiving, and since he brought pecans off his trees, I must attempt my first ever pecan pie. So we'll have lots of pie.

The menu is:
13-pound Turkey, unstuffed
Cornbread Dressing, with bacon and cranberries, Mom's recipe
Gravy, Mom's easy recipe
Sauteed Haricot Vert (Green Beans, y'know)
Candies Yams
Jellied Cranberries, straight out of the can
Pumpkin Pie
Pecan Pie
maybe some rolls ... if we feel like it.

For only 3 adults and one newly minted 4 year old, this should be more than enough food. I'm even tempted to attempt a Caramel Pecan Pumpkin Pie recipe I saw.