Gwapes!

I took Gavin to his 18-month check-up yesterday and found out that he is staying true to his growth curve. The boy is tall at 34 inches, which in the 90th percentile for his age! And he's also pretty lanky, with his weight not even hitting 23 pounds yet, which puts him in the 10th percentile. He's like a big head on a stick body! But such a cute head.

I was surprised that Gavin and I actually sat around shooting the breeze, chit-chatting while waiting for Dr. Shana. Sample conversation:

Gavin: Gwapes? (translation: grapes?)

Me: Grapes? I didn't bring any grapes with me, honey.

Gavin: Why not?

Me: Why not? Because I didn't. I don't have any grapes.

Gavin: I want it.

A very mature conversation, indeed! But he reverted right back to babydom by breaking into sobs when the doctor walked into the room. Hey, that kid knows what's up when it comes to getting shots.

Like Father, Like Son

I spent hours yesterday on the phone and in the car trying to track down a specific winter jacket and matching bib overall for Gavin. Earlier this week, I spent hours in different stores and online trying to figure out what the heck a newly-minted toddler should wear to play in the snow. It was so much easier last year when all the boy did was lie in a carrier--zip him into a Bundle Me and you're done.

After much deliberation about buntings, I finally figured out that the warmest and easiest thing to get on my 18-month-old child is just a jacket. A matching bib overall will suffice for walks outside and rolling in the snow. I found what I was looking for at Baby Gap, but of course they were out of Gavin's size throughout Chicagoland, with the exception of one set left at Northbrook Court. So, I braved rain, cold, and a missed nap to nab an outfit my son isn't even that thrilled about wearing. But maybe he'll realize that his jacket looks a lot like Dad's and clamor to wear it.

Doubtful. I realize that this cute matching winter outfit is really for me and I worked darned hard to get it.

Boy at Play

"No Tank Ooo"

I have a very polite son. Sometime in the past two weeks he caught on to the phrase, "Thank you," and has even been using it in appropriate context. He took things up a notch this week and began saying, "No, thank you." Again, surprising us by using it appropriately most of the time.

Of course it sounds adorable to hear a tiny toddler say, "No tank ooo," so Gavin has received a lot of positive affirmation whenever he says it...when he is full, when he doesn't want to be held, when he doesn't want a drink. He's sort of realized that he can politely refuse requests if he utters this magical phrase.

This is all well and good, but "no tank ooo" does not fit every situation, despite what his toddler brain is telling him. We had to help him reign it in a few days ago when I was trying to change his diaper. As soon as Gavin realized it was changing time he started yelling at the top of his lungs, "NO TANK OOO!! NO TANK OOO, MAMA!"

Never let them see you laugh.

Gavin's First Haircut

We took Gavin to get his first haircut yesterday, and boy am I thankful for places like Kid Snips. Kid Snips is a kiddie "salon" that is essentially a toy store that just happens to offer haircuts. In other words, it's a fun experience for kids but you definitely pay for it. I think most parents would say that the price of a haircut and a small toy is better than the alternative of cutting hair at home and having your child end up with either A.) a mullet or B.) a bowl cut. If you're not a professional stylist, put the scissors down.

So the whole cut took a total of ten minutes and included a "ride" in a chair that looked like a race car, bubbles, a Blues Clues video, and various distraction toys. At the end of it all our little guy walked out with a nice haircut, baby curls still intact. The best part? No tears were involved.

Gourmet Magazine Folds After 70 Years

Conde Nast announced today that they are folding Gourmet Magazine after 70 years. What a shame. Millions of food lovers across the country are sad about the demise of this foodie institution that is helmed by editor-in-chief and food writer extrordinaire Ruth Reichl. If you haven't read her books, get on it. They are among some of my favorites.

All I can say is, stupid economy.

Gourmet magazine dies after 70 years
Downturn and ad drought claim longstanding Gourmet magazine. Publisher Cond� Nast announces 3 other closures: Cookie and bridal magazines Elegant Bride and Modern Bride.
By Jessica Dickler, CNNMoney.com staff writer
Last Updated: October 5, 2009: 3:43 PM ET

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Foodies got some sour news Monday.
Gourmet, which has amassed a devoted following over nearly 70 years of publication, will be shut down, publisher Cond� Nast said.

The magazine, introduced in 1940, is expected to close by the end of the year.

"I feel like Linus and somebody has yanked away my security blanket," said Stuart Clifford, 55, who has been a subscriber for 32 years.

For Clifford, the November issue, which may also be its last, holds particular sentimental value. "My brother and I would always grab the November issue and find the featured meal and make a big deal about cooking it. That was our Thanksgiving (meal) year after year after year," he said.

Even though many fans enjoyed flipping through the glossy pages, popular food shows on television and online sites eroded the magazine's advertising revenue.
"The magazine industry is in a difficult position generally speaking, it's losing revenue to online advertising and it's a tough business right now," said Richard Dorfman, managing director of

Richard Alan Inc., a financial advisory and investment company focusing on the media industry.
Gourmet, which has nearly 1 million subscribers, fell victim to a decline in ad sales and followed a companywide review of magazines.

"The review has led us to a number of decisions designed to navigate the company through the economic downturn and to position us to take advantage of coming opportunities," Cond� Nast CEO Chuck Townsend wrote in an e-mail to employees.

In addition to shuttering Gourmet, Cond� Nast said it was also killing parenting magazine Cookie and two wedding magazines, Elegant Bride and Modern Bride.

"In this economic climate it is important to narrow our focus to titles with the greatest prospects for long-term growth," Townsend wrote.

Roughly 180 people were affected by the news of the four titles closing, according to Cond� Nast spokeswoman Maurie Perl.

According to Townsend, Cond� Nast will continue to use the Gourmet brand in book publishing and television programming, and Gourmet recipes will still appear on Epicurious.com. The publisher's other epicurean title, Bon App�tit, will remain intact.

Cond� Nast is also bumping up the frequency of its Brides magazine to monthly to fill some of the void left by the closing of Modern Bride and Elegant Bride.

"These changes, combined with cost and workforce reductions now underway throughout the company, will speed the recovery of our current businesses and enable us to pursue new ventures," Townsend wrote.

Other magazines have also been hit hard during the downturn. Titles including Blender, Vibe, Domino and Portfolio were all lost in the last year.