Monday, October 31, 2011

Why I love the Farmer's Market

2 Tomatoes, 2 Sweet Potatoes, 2 Baking Potatoes, 1 head of Cabbage, 1 Spaghetti Squash, and 1 1.25 lbs of greens=$5.95!!
You just can't beat those prices! Not mention the freshness and quality. I was super excited to find out that our market is going to continue through the winter this year. It is a special place for E and I to go after church on Sunday mornings.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

10 Reason why I love my son...



I am taking this idea from one of my sweet mama friends. She was having a challenging morning with her two girls under 2 and decided that rather than melting down herself that she would write 10 things that she loved about each of her daughters. Well, we also had a rough night with E even though we tried our best to keep him entertained by going walking and to a park. By the time we got back to our house, he was in full tantrum mode which followed us through shower time and into bedtime. During that time, I teetered on the verge of negative thoughts like , "He doesn't love me as much as his daddy" or "He hates me because we made him eat dinner." After my freshly bathed son was tucked into bed, I kicked the negativity out of my head and chalked it up to the challenges of toddler hood (for parents and toddlers). I really do love my son with all my heart, trying as it may be at times, I can't imagine a day without him. So in his honor, 10 things I love about my son.

1) I love that his new wake up routine includes snuggling in bed with mama and daddy.

2) I love that he sits in my lap to read books.

3) I love than he has tons of energy and loves to play outside.

4) I love that he drinks milk and says "ah" afterward.

5) I love that he drinks water with citrus fruit.

6) I love the way he sweet voice sounds when he says..."sure".

7) I love that he picks up a new word everyday.

8) I love how his body smells after he has been bathed and had lotion put on.

9) I love that he is a routine baby, if you do something once, that must be the way you should always do it.

10) I love the each morning when he gets up, he is happy and ready to meet the day. (Mama should take this approach)


For all of these reasons and so many more, I love my son with all my heart. I had never really imagined how it would be to have a son given the predominance of women in our lives but it certainly was the best gift I could have ever asked for.

I love you EAK.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Keep on rolling...

A few years ago on Labor Day weekend none the less, my husband and I decided to go out and buy roller blades. We had seen a lot about rollerblading with dogs on the Dog Whisperer and since we had 3 active pit bulls we thought, what the heck? So we went to the store and picked out our blades and I of course invested in some protective gear for my arms, knees, and elbows. Right out of the gate, NK was awesome. It was like riding a bike for him. He was jumping curbs and speeding down hills. For me? Not so much. I coule get the rythm down of rolling but could not get over the fear of going down any type of incline...I mean any. I would feel like I was losing control and move over into the grass.

Fast forward, three years and one baby later...we are back to rollerblading. We went over to a the local jogging path when NK had scoped out the flatest part for me to start practicing. E tooks his place in the jogging stroller. I put on my wrist/hand guards and my elbow pads along with my blades and off we went. It took a few minutes but I really started getting into the groove. I even decided to go up an incline! And you know what? I did it and then turned around and went again. Now this may not be a big feat for some but for me it was huge. We all celebrated and I speed up my pace with the breeze blowing against. It was wonderful until....I hit a patch of gravel and lost my footing! Darn it! There I was tumbled over, knees scraped and bruising. So what did I do? I got up gingerly, let NK help dust me off, squeezed back the tears and kept on rolling!! That's right, I keep on rolling. Isn't that symbolic? How many times in life does something knock us over? We have always have a choice. Let it keep us down or get back up and keep going. I don't know about you but I choose to keep going.

The night ended with a trip to the store to pick up a sweet treat for me and I could tell my hubby was proud of me! He even helped me bandage my knee last night. I may not be out there again today but I promise you will see me "rolling" on again!

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Building a Fortress

I am stregthening my fortress walls this morning. What does this mean? Well for me it means I am working to block out the negativity and/or drama that threatens to invade my life. So rather than allowing myself to get worked up, I am taking a step back, inhaling deeply, and kicking that stuff out the front door! And just to be safe I am going to add a little extra protection in the way of a morning church service.

That being said, I have been having a really great weekend with family and friends! I am using today to refresh and prepare for the work week ahead. Hope you are enjoying your Sunday!

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

What's for dinner...

PIZZA! It would not be a lie if I confessed that today I had pizza from three different vendors. It started with my leftovers from the weekend from Domino's then some of my work staff ordered from Papa John's so I "had" to have another slice and then my husband asked me to pick up a pie at our local favorite. So here I am at the end of the night having consuming 5 slices of pizza in one day.!! Think maybe I am in a bit of a rut?

I know I have been really neglecting this portion of my blog. So I am hoping to get back on track by organizing our menus. Over the next few days I am going to make note cards with our entrees, veggies, and starches, etc. I will also search for a few new recipes. Each week prior to going grocery shopping we will make the menu selections using any combination of these note cards as well as trying to account for lunches on the weekend. I am officially OVER eating out these days and can't wait to eat something other than pizza! ;o)

Finding peace

I joke from time about how I need to settle down and find my "zen". You know the peaceful place where you are able to find joy and calm despite the chaos that surrounds you? At times, my personality conflicts with my desire to find calm. I am not sure my personality can be summed up in a "type" per se because I am a bit of an oxymoron. Fiery one minute, sensitive the next, carefree then worrisome, content and yet controlling. See? I am confusing!

So lately, I find myself at a crossroads. I am living the life I dreamed of but not HOW I dreamed I'd live it. So it is time to start again on my path to finding the peace and contentment in each day. I fully recognize there are things about my life that present challenges to this goal, like having a sometimes stressful job, living in the metro area and being the mother of a rambunctious toddler. Despite these things, I am determined to go down this path so I can feel good about the way I am living.

Here are my thoughts on how I will do about finding my "zen".

-Set time aside for prayer and meditation
-Spend time falling in love all over again. Stop and enjoy the man I married, put him back towards the top of my priority list
-Continue to stop and enjoy the moment with E
-Keep work frustrations in perspective (AKA Hold my tongue)
-Express gratitude for my blessings
-Enjoy nature by taking walks
-Schedule time for physical fitness
-Watch the things I put into my body
-Practice Yoga
-Plan for the the work week by picking out clothes, planning for lunches
-Stop hitting SNOOZE
-Ask for help
-Pet my pets (2 dogs and 1 kitten)
-Write, draw or paint for no purpose other than my own enjoyment
-Read books that I find interesting, fictional or non-fictional
-De clutter/downsize

I will continue to revisit this topic from time and let you know how it is coming along. The walk down this path really started for me last week. I am finding myself a little more calm already. The work week has started off more smoothly and I am realizing how greatly my sense of peace can impact my home and those that live there.

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Keep on, keeping on...

Do you ever notice that many times in life you are faced with a choice? Quit or keep going? I know it is easier to quit at times, to let circumstances defeat you but when I look back on the joy I have been able to experience from perserverance...the choice is easy. Keep on, keeping on!

Friday, August 5, 2011

Summertime




Why is it that the summer months seem to go by so fast despite the length of the days? It seems like these past few months have flown by in a blink of an eye. Those of you who know me know that this really isn't a problem for me. I love the Fall. I mean REALLY love it. The summer is nice for the few days you spend at the beach and the pool but that's about it. My boy has been keeping himself busy this summer playing outside and helping around the house. Hope you are enjoying your summer and staying cool!










Tuesday, August 2, 2011

A blip on the radar screen....



I promise, I am coming back. I have missed blogging oh so much. I can't believe it has been this long. Just wanted to let you all know, I am still around...feisty as ever. We are just about in the final monht before Emory turns 2 and I am already busy planning out his birthday party. NK is doing good, hair keeps getting longer, and he is enjoying being out riding that motorcycle. The picture above is from our family trip to Atlantic City which I will tell you all about soon!

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Saturday Night

Baby boy peacefully sleeping,
Dishwasher running,
My love strumming his guitar,
Cat snuggling at my feet,
Dogs snoozing,
Mama drinking her chai latte.
Perfection
How are you spending your Saturday night?

Sunday, June 19, 2011

What I know now...

I have been intentionally avoiding this blog for several months. Up until this point, it has been focused mostly on my role as a mother and our son. These days I find it hard to limit myself to those topcis. I feel like once I get the blank space that I need to write my feeling and what I am going through. But then I fear that the content will be too heavy and don't want to make anyone sad but the truth is I am sad..a lot. So if the makes you sad, I am sorry but in order to help me grieve I have to start letting this out.

My life forever changed on March 11, 20011 and I cannot hide that. My (step) father, the only real father I ever had was murdered by someone whose face has not yet been revealed. I am laden with guilt about the separation in our relationship and my failure to ever really express my gratitude for what he did for me. Does that mean he was perfect? Certainly not. But again he was the father who was there for me when my biological father fell through time after time. I find myself longing to have that gruff voice on the other end of the phone just one more time. All of the sayings are so true that you never really know what you have until it is gone. I am still unable to fully express the pain that overwhelms me frequently. It is gut wrenching. I have this sense that my heart has been torn apart. I try so hard to mask this emotion for the benefit of those around me but it is so hard. It is funny how much you understand after the fact and how if you could have just five minutes to talk to your loved one again, it would mean all the world. Here I am on Father's Day, after a day of celebrating with my husband and his family, and I feel fatherless.. Of course, the day was amazing and we enjoyed our visit to the family farm but that has ended and it is night once again. Why is is that night is the hardest?

I ask those of you who read this to please keep my family and I in your prayers. This is not something you move on from, you simply find another way to live and honor that person. Daddy, please know I am trying my hardest each day to do that for you.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Grief

It is amazing how each day turns into the next and most days are filled with joy but then there are other times....other times when I am sitting at home or in the car when the grief hits me. The pain is indescribable and it just sweeps over me. It nearly brings me to my knees and makes me hurt like I never have. On those days, I am lucky to be able to glance to my side and see my love who is there whose is holding my my hand. On those days, I could care less who did what or said what in an arguement. It is on those days where I feel so blessed to have been given someone who can reach down and grab the pain from me. I may never again be able to hear my father's voice or feel his embrace but I am still blessed.

Monday, May 9, 2011

20 Months and counting...



This year Mother's Day as on the 8th of the month which marks yet another month since the my little one was born. Over the last few weeks, it has become obvious that my little boy is much closer to 2 than 1. It is hard to imagine in just a few months we will again be celebrating his birthday. I love this boy more than words can ever express. Watching him grow up is truly amazing. He has taught me to stop and live in the moment because it will surely pass you by.

Happy Mother's Day

I hope everyone enjoyed their Mother's Day! Oddly enough, my morning started just like any other day off. Getting up with E and doing our morning routine. We spent a lazy day at home until we headed "home" to my parents house for dinner. This year my mom decided to host dinner partially for Mother's Day but also to honor my later father's birthday which was earlier this week. The drive out there takes me about 45 minutes and is now bittersweet. I can't help but think about the day almost two months ago when I made that drive alone, weeping after I received the news my father had died. But I can also remember how many hundreds of times I made that drive in happier times as well. So yesterday I drove slowly up the winding road, tears streaming a sense of peace came over me. This is "home", the place I can come and be with my family sharing our memories. And if I look had enough, I can still see my dad standing knee deep in water cleaning the fish ponds or standing on the back deck grilling mountains of meat for the family. I had never been particularly attached to this house before because I didn't live there too long before leaving for college. But now that has all changed for me now. The picture posted above is of my mom, my sisters, myself and Emory. I can't help but think dad was looking down smiling seeing us all together.

Friday, April 29, 2011

Fabulous Friday













Today was amazing. We ventured down to my husband's family farm with E for the first time. To say he loved it would be an understatement. He sat on a Harley, rode in a golf cart, pet a calf, fed horses, sat on a horse, checked out tractors, sat in antique cars, played with cats/dogs, but the best part...meeting his Great Grandfather. I stayed back while my husband, his father, and my ventured to the log cabin together. From what I heard, that curiousity and big smile softened that tough old man right up. So yes, today was fabulous!




Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Wonderful Wednesday

I have no idea what the deal is today, I have been feeling a little off. I was fine early this morning but then it hit like the clouds that were outside earlier today. So in an effort to combat this, I am posting three wonderful things about today.

1) I am working from home!
2) My baby boy is napping peacefully in nothing but a cloth diaper. ;o)
3) My sweet hubby is singing (loudly) to Pearl Jam from his man cave. I can hear him as I am working.

Goodbye blues...

Friday, April 22, 2011

A Bond like No Other


There are not words that adequately explain the bond between my husband and our son. I feel like this picture summarizes it perfectly. In fact, it nearly bring me to tears. My husband has embraced fatherhood with more dedication, commitment, and affection than I could have ever hoped for. E adores is daddy and mimics him often. It fills my heart with love to see this tiny hand pressed against the window watching his father. The father who was the first to hold him after he entered this world, the father who has sacrificed his career for him, the father who has reinvented himself to be the best for him each day. I feel no jealously over this bond the two of them share, it is what I have prayed for. Thank you Lord for answering my prayer.

Just Add Water...

As I mentioned in my previous post, our family has a lot of fun in our yard. NK and I always dreamed of having a big yard with trees. We both grew up with lots of space, NK on a 200 acre family farm and me on 10 acres. I am still amazed at our lot and how it met all of those requirements. Heck, we even have a creek!

Watching Daddy fill the Pool

Last week we had yet another sporadic Summer like day in the midst of Spring. So we decided to pool out the baby pool for last year and let E go for a swim. He loved it! The whole process took less that 15 minutes including filling up the pool, changing E into a swim diaper, and lathering up with sunscreen. That was much less time that it would have taken to pack our stuff and head to a public pool not too mention cheaper. The only down side was the royal fit he threw when it was time to get out!


Hi mama!




"This pool is too full!"



Saturday, April 16, 2011

19 Months


Another month has come and my boy is now 19 months. I feel like his Daddy and I have lived a lifetime in those 19 months. Emory is such a joy for us both. He keeps us going when we feel we can't, he makes us smile when we are sad, and has bonded us as a family. As I mentioned in a prior post, I lost the father last month. It has been an excruciatingly painful process for me, my husband, my sisters,our mother, as well as extended family and friends. Through it all, this long haired smiling boy has kept me going. I know my dad would want me to waste no time being sad and continuing being a great mom to him. And after looking at that cute face? I think I can handle that.

Loving Home

My how I have missed blogging! It takes some time for me to get in to the groove so sometimes I put it off until I have uninterrupted time. Lately for me, that has been never but slowly but surely things are getting back to "normal" or should I say my "new normal." I have been thinking tonight about how from the outside looking in my life with NK and EAK may seem boring to others. We spend a lot of time here at our house doing regular life things with just us three. Of course, I get together with my playgroup once per month and other mamas, go to family gatherings, etc but we are not a socially active family. And I think for the most part we like it that way! Is that bad? It is bad that we love being in our dream house? Is it bad that rather than being out in the congested metro area we would rather take a walk in our quiet neighborhood and "explore" our 2 acre lot? . It is bad that rather than buying a summer pool pass we fill up the baby pool and stay in the yard? It is bad that we eat mostly home cooked meals? Is it bad that I am content to be with my husband, my son, and my two dogs? I am not saying that we are hermits by any stretch but we really enjoy the comforts of our home. We have worked hard to be here and gosh darn we want to enjoy it! I am not entirely sure how or why we collectively adopted this way of living. I am not sure if it because I commute almost 2 hrs to work or if our single income forces us to cut entertainment or that we despise traffic/congestion but whatever it is I am OK with it. I in no way feel slighted that we don't have events to attend every weekend. In fact being overly busy stresses me out! In the end, I guess what I am trying to say is that I am content with being a "homebody." I feel no need to fill up my time with distractions and busyness. I am perfectly content to go into a weekend with no plan at all. And secretly I know was my child gets older those weekend will be filled with sports and activities. So for now, I am kicking back and enjoying the free time.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Coming back to Normal

I have all but dropped of the face of earth when it comes to "blog land." We lost my father 3 weeks ago on Friday in an unexpected and tragic way. I am still here and slowly working through the grieving process. I am struggling to find out what the new "normal" will be for me and my family. Just wanted to show that there are still signs of life. Take care and God Bless!

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Still Cooking

Despite my lack of posting, we have still been cooking just not a much! And some of the recipes are just repeats but tonight I am cooking.

Meal of the Day:

Pork Tenderloin (Seasoned Puerto Rican Style!)
Homemade Gravy (Using Drippings)
Cuban Style Black Beans
Green Beans
Basmati Rice

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

18 Month Old Rockstar


Here is my little rockstar just a few days before he turned 18 months. Outfited in slim fitted jeans, a Beatles Tee layered over a long sleeve onsie, and of course matching shades. Still rocking the long hair.


The Life of EAK at 18 Months:

-Still happiest in the morning, wakes up bouncing in the crib-Loves the playground near our house, even the BIG slide. He runs and plays like the big kids.
-Tantrums are even more DRAMATIC...like full screaming and red face. They don't usually last long and time out has ensued
-Refuses a pacifier unless it is time to sleep
-Expresses a little interest in Sesame Street
-Claps enthusiatically during Wheel of Fortune
-Knows that "peepa" means tummy in spanish
-Can idenitfy and say nose, eyes, and ears
-Can identify people in pictures
-Continues to be mama and daddy's helper. Great at doing small chores and following 2 step directions
-Enjoys daily reading time
-Taking his first swim class and loves it so far!
-Into everything especially plugs, outlets, and anything electronic
-Daddy is best friend and he is sweet on Mama :o)
-Shoe Size 7W
-Clothing Size 18-24 months. Long legs, torso, and arms like NK
-Height-Will Update after Doctor's Visit
-Weight-Will Update after Doctor's Visit
-Bedtime: 8:00pm, Wake-up for the Day 8:00am, Naptime 12:30/1:00pm (All approximate)
"All You Need is Love"

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Green Goals

With the month of St. Patrick's Day upon us, I have decided to set a few "green" goals for myself. In the last few months I have become connected with various message boards, blogs, and websites that have inspired my to get a little more green. I have to say in my heart of heart I am rather cruncy but like all of us, I have be aclimated to a cultre of convenience and the status quo. So rather than continuing to use that as an excuse I am setting a few goals my myself and our home as I begin to slowly march down the granola trail. Oddly enough, achieving these goals will ultimately help me achieve another goal which is saving more $$$ (Lol, ya know green. Pardon the pun).

1) Rid my home of those delightful smelling, yet toxic plug in air fresheners as well as any other spray fresheners that may be lingering around our home. I will dispose of them in a eco friendly way.
2) Slowly covert to homemade/green/ family friendly cleaning products. I will either dispose of my current products by taking them to the landfill or donating them to my family who may be a little less green minded at this time.
3) Stop buying paper napkins! I would like to invest a little money in some cloth napkin that will serve the same purpose.

I will obviously continue using our cloth diapers/wipes and genuienly make an effort to be more conscious of my energy consumption.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Random Wednesday Mummerings

*I do not like being sick. The only thing worse than being sick is being sick at work.
*Why can't they make adult cold syrup in awesome flavors like grape or bubble gum rather than making it taste like poison?
*Sweet tea is always awesome but super awesome on a sore throat. I hope it counts as "fluids".
*Dear co-workers, please do not ask me about the whereabout of others. I do not keep a tracking device on them.
*Dear Mr. Co-worker, please stop bathing in your cologne. Your cologne descends upon the entire office like an A-bomb.
*I am so proud that I finally learned how to use my Snappi. It had only been sitting in the cubby unopened for at least 3 months.
*I am anxiously awaiting delivering of more fluff!

Happy Hump Day!

Friday, February 25, 2011

My Hero

My husband has jumped on the cloth diapering wagon! I am so happy. He has always been super supportive of me trying it out but never really wanted to take it on himself. I never pushed because he is a super awesome SAHD and it didn't really matter much to me. Last week that all changed when Emory got a rash cause by a little too much milk. We were going through the healing process and it became clear which diapers were softer on E's bum. That would be cloth. So Friday while I was work work, the Papa called me asking how to work the diapers. At the time I had no expectation that it would continue after the rash was gone but just like my kid, my hubby likes to keep me guessing. So there it is...we are a cloth diapering family! Of course we are still using some disposables here and there but our consumption has gone drastically down. good for the earth and good for our pockets. Of course as a result of this change, I had to buy more diapers to prevent me from doing laundry everyday. I have been scouring message boards and sales to find items to add to our stash ( See I said it "our"...ah so cool). Here is what I am adding:

4 Econobum Covers with Pre-folds-BOGO Sale on now until 2/28, $9.95 x 2
3 Alavababy AIO/Pocket Diapers-Less than $16 for three diapers, hope to get them soon
1 BumGenius 3.0, Sized- Closeout sale $9.95, my absolute favorite

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Beyond time

Before I start this, let me make a disclaimer. This meant to be about me, not a judgement of others.

140-what? I mean seriously? When I stepped on the scale to see 143lbs! That is just outrageous. for I have now exceeded my pre-pregnancy weight and the scale is still rising. I am less concerned about the numbers on the scale but rather what they represent. They represent a woman who has become sedentary. A woman who has pushed her health and fitness to the back burner. I am angry at myself for not living up to my own goals. And more importantly, I feel like I have let down my family. I want to be a role model for my son and a healthy/fit wife for my husband.

It is beyond time for me to get back into my regular work out routine. I have become "that" mom that I never wanted to be. You know thet one that sustains on lots of coffee and "doesn't have time" to work out. I am extremely disappointed with the way I have been living lately. How is it that I managed to workout my entire pregnacy but feel of the wagon afterward? I could make excuses about how busy I am..blah, blah, blah. That is BS. I have a gym 3 minutes from my office and the flexiblity to use it at any time. My boss supports us taking time to work out. I could probably take time to comtemplate a list of reasons why I have stopped working out or where I lost motivation but that would only waste more time. I am looking forward not backward.

The good news is I have done much better this month. I have been working out more and hav slowly started re-forming the habit. I will be spending the next few days gathering a plan of attack that is realistic and attainable. Stay tuned...

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

SPAMAZING EXPERIENCE

I had the privilege of taking a girls only afternoon over the weekend. It was "spamazing". It is a local place called Spa World and it was awesome! It is not a traditional spa where you got for services only but a Korean Style spa. It is a place where you can spend the day for a fairly reasonable cost. We opted to go service free and take advantage of the various sauna and pools. We first ventured into the various saunas where we spent some time stretching, relaxing, detoxing, but mostly SWEATING with a bunch of other folks. After our sauna (sweating) experience we headed over to the eateries where we experienced delicious Korean cuisine and boba teas. After filling our bellies we headed over the to the bade pools for more relaxing. The bade pool area was amazing with jetted tubs focusing on different tension points, hot tubs, a steam shower, a dry sauna, and showers. Heaven but with one caveat. The pools area is au naturale. That's right folks...no clothes! Before you freak out too much, let me take a step back and say it is segregated by gender. So you are only walking around nude with other women. I will have to admit, I was a little nervous about having my lady parts out for the world to see. However, I have to say once you get over the initial fear it becomes quite normal. It was actually quite liberating and let's be honest for minute, you are never really going to be the best looking gal in the joint but you most certainly won't be the worst. It is just the law of nature. Afterward, we all felt amazing, our skin felt phenomenal, and had the overall sensation of a limp noodle. But wait! I saved the best part for last! Normally the admission for this glorious place is $35 but the Monday before we each scored a voucher from Groupon for only $15. I would personally say it would be worth every penny at the normal price so it was even better at $15. If given the chance, I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Not that big of a deal...

Have you ever worried about something so much it made you sick? I mean real gut wrenching worry that disturbed your daytime thoughts and maybe even your sleep. You can't see me but I am totally raising my hand. Anxiety of all types is something I really struggle with. It is so hard for me to sit back and just let things play out. In my almost 31 years, I am finally beginning to master that skill. It is through my faith that I am learning to put my trust in the One who knows all. And after it is all said and done, He seems to whisper to me "See, I told you. It was not that big of a deal. I was caring for you all long."

Conspiracy??

I honestly think children have a conspirancy against us parents. I think their motto is "Keep 'em guessing." Has anyone else realized throughout their parenthood experience there seem to be no constants and tons of exceptions. You know like when you learning grammer , your teach explains a "rule" and then goes on to list the ten exceptions to that rule. Confusing, right? I found the same to be true in my mothering of EAK. Here are few examples:

-E was down to one bottle, right? Nope! Right after I posted about him self-weaning, his papa said he went back to having the afternoon bottle that he has been refusing. So back we went to 2 bottles, and now guess what? Yesterday, he only frank about 2 ozs before losing interest. So which is it kid? Do you want one bottle or two? I don't really care either way right now but I'd like to not waste money!

-E had been making great strides in transitioning to milk from toddler formula. His bottle were 90% milk with only a little formula. That has been going on for over a week so I decided for one of his bottles to do just milk...bam! The tummy troubles started which spurred the rash/raw bottom...so back to formula we go!

There are tons of other examples that we have gone through over the past 17 months. So this mama will continue to remind herself that there are no constants in motherhood.

Maybe one day these children will confess to the conspiracy??

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Catching Up

I haven't been great about posting my meals this week but don't worry, we are still cooking. In random order (mostly because I don't remember) here are our meals:

Super Bowl Sunday
Chili
Hot Dogs
Veggies, Chips and Dip
Strawberry Cheesecake

Salsbury Steak
Homemade Mashed Potatoes
Brocoli and Cheese

Chicken and Dumplings

Filet Mignon
Baked Potato and Sweet Potato
Asparagus

Oven Fried Chicken
Basmati Rice
Green Beans


Tuesday, February 8, 2011

17 Months


Another month has passed and my sweet boy has now reached 17 months! I worked today but Emory was constantly on my mind. I am so proud of us and the job we have done with him. He is a very active, joyful boy who constantly keeps us constantly on our toes. He is full into toddlerhood with the fits and tantrums that come along with it. Even with the struggles, I would not trade one day for my life before his birth. He has brought us closer together as a family and solidified our eternal bond.
We continue to recognize every 8th of the month. Today, we even made cupcakes to celebrate. E was more than happy to enjoy the batter but they won't be ready until after bedtime :o( Oh well, he can enjoy one tomorrow!
Here are the latest and greatest achievements in the world of the munchkin:

-Drinking milk from a cup
-Paci only at nap time, bedtime and in the car (He actually tosses it back in the crib with his lovely)
-Self -weaned from the second bottle after naptime (Only one more to go! Although I am in no rush to give it up)
-Helping with chores like picking up toys, putting clothes in the hamper, etc.
-Masters all shape sorters and is getting really great at puzzles too
-Continues to be a music baby and can't help but dance when he hears a tune he likes
Can't wait to see what the next month brings!

Friday, February 4, 2011

Meal of the Day

Rotisserrie Chicken (Courtesy of Costco)
Roasted Cauliflower
Orzo

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Meal of the Day -Two for Tuesday!

Here you go:

Monday-French Dip Sandwiches Again!

Tuesday- Beef Burgundy over Egg Noodles

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Thrifty Finds

Today, we ran out to get detergent for his cloth diapers and kill an hour before nap time. I use regular poweder Tide on my diapers and they come out smelling clean and fresh. I am not a big fan of the "non-smelly" cloth diaper detergents and we use other detergents for our normal clothes. Anyway, I don't know about your area but is impossible to find a small box of Tide around here. They are HUGE and expensive. I don't have the space or money to justify buying such a large box even it will last into the next millennium. So I headed to my local Family Dollar store where they have small box for $5.25. I used a $1 off coupon and now I can go back to having clean smelling diapers.
After getting our detergent, we ventured down the local thrift store in the same shopping center. The first area I usually always check out is the boys clothing section to see if I can pick up any good deal on name brand stuff for E. Today was my lucky day! I scored three pairs of overall for $11 buck and change. One pair of jean OshKosh, another pair of jean OshKosh but shorts, and a pair of brown corduroy Arizona Jean Co. (cheaper). So there we have it, my boy will be again sporting overalls since the one we have before had become too small!

I really encourage all mama to try second hand shopping for your rapidly growing babes. I have found great success and am sure you will too. Happy thrifting!

Saturday, January 29, 2011

How do you start your morning??





I start mine with a TJs cereal bar and vanilla soy mik. I also watch a little Sprout!

Early Saturday Morning

Another Saturday Morning
I am up before the sun
the only "one" wake
with a cup of coffee in hand
a pup at my feet
taking some time for me
to be alone and talk to God.

Good Morning everyone! I hope your day is amazing.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Mealof the Day

Wednesday

Saucy Chicken over Rice (Family Recipe)

Thursday
Hamburger Steaks with Onion Gravy
Steamed Broccoli topped with Mild Aged Cheddar
Roasted Mini Yukon Potatoes

I love the library!

Today was a odd day. Last night we had a snowstorm that resulting in a loss of power for lots of home in our area. We lost power at around 8:30 last night and we when we work up this morning, it was still out. Although work was delayed 2 hours, I refused to leave NK at home with E without any power. Plus, let's be honest...my crazy curly haired self did not want to be see at work without a shower. So I quickly developed a plan...breakfast! The roads were clear enough that we could got to breakfast and kill some time. Daddy decided to stay behind bundled underneath the covers. My sweet boy enjoyed a yummy, big breakfast at Cracker Barrel and came back home to see if we had power yet. Still now power, so we played for about an hour in our 56 degree house and that was about allI could stand. I called our local library and much to my suprise...they were open regular hours! So off we went to kill time before E's nap. It was awesome. There was barely anyone there. I checked out a few mamacentric books and they proceeded to the children's are where they have tables, puzzles, and a large busy box. Emory had a lovely time and I conversed with another mama while our children played. We even made a Valentine's Card for Veteran's down at the VA Hospital in Richmond. This was a special event the library was sponsoring this month. As such, the provided all the materials needed. I also swooped up the calendar of events for next month and plan to take Emory to at least one. What more can you ask for and all for free?

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Meal of the Day (Catch Up)

Monday:
BBQ Chicken Breasts, Bone In (TJs Organic or All Natural, can't remember)
Egg Noodles
Sauteed Brussel Sprouts with Toasted Almonds

Tuesday:
Chili
Rice
Corn Bread

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Growing Up


Our baby boy is really growing up! He is making great strides in a lot of areas including eating more table foods.

1)He is still not sold on veggies but continues to eat his purees, well the orange and yellow ones anyway. He is going through a phase where everything green in the enemy! So we ill keep working on that by continuing to present it to him at meal time. He is also trying to master using a fork and spoon.

2) He is drinking a little whole milk in each bottle (2) and having no tummy issues so far! Keep your fingers crossed. I would really like to stop buying toddler formula soon.

3) He is down to just 2 bottles per day, one early morning and one after nap time.

4) He is starting to use his paci less and less. We are leaving it in the crib in the morning (He tosses it in) and leave it there until naptime. He is allowed to have it if needed in the car so daddy and I don't go bonkers!


Meal of the Day


"French Dip" Sandwiches

-Shaved Roast Beef (TJs, Veg Feed All Natural)
-Provolone Cheese
-Grilled Onions and Red Pepper
-TJs Ciabbatta Rolls
-Spring Mix
-Seasoned Beef Broth

Sunday Football


From August through early February, Sunday afternoons are designated to football. And it is not just because my hubby is a fan. I really like it too! It is very comforting to me and reminds me of time with my family, especially my dad. He has always been a big sports fan. No wonder why I married NK, who is a big sports guy!


Before the game, we went out for a quick trip to Trader Joe's to get our meat for the week as well as some veggies and other odd and ends. Now we are back home, watching the game and ready for a snack. I just made some fresh salsa for us to enjoy while watching the game.


Happy Sunday Everyone!


Saturday, January 22, 2011

Meal of the Day


Filet Mignon (TJs All Natural,Vegetarian Feed)
Diced Oven Roasted Garlic Potatoes
Sugar Snap Peas Lightly Seasoned with Butter and Garlic
Sauteed Onions and Mushrooms

Super Saturday

I made it to Saturday! It was a long week for me and I am so happy the weekend is here. It is super cold here in VA and I am planning to stay close if not at home completely. Unfortunately, Emory picked up a cold so he has been very congested all week. He started a little coughing last night which I am praying is just a result of the draining. He has been doing really well on eating "big people" food and we are just giving him more or less what we eat. His daddy has been working with him to use a spoon and he is going really well.

Here are some of the things on my goal/to-do list for today:

-Laundr= wash, dry, fold, put away
-Pick up pants from the seamstress
-Use 100% Cloth Diapers Today
-Organize my Coupons
-Meal Plan and Make my Grocery List
-General House Clean Up

Have a great one everybody!

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Meal of the Day

Hard Shell Tacos with Ground Beef
Refried Beans

Emory ate tortilla chips and dipped them in refried beans. He also ate cheddar cheese and a little lettuce.

Meal of the Day

Meatloaf (TJ Ground Beef, Sauteed Onions and Carrots, Bread Crumb and Cubes, Misc Seasonings)
Mashed Potatoes (Real Potatoes) with Gravy
Vegetable (TBD)



I am finding great success in expanding E's palate by allowing him to have more control and "dipping". This afternoon's snack was hummus and pita bread that he dippered himself!

Monday, January 17, 2011

16 Months


Has it really been 16 months since you came into our lives and turned it upside down in the best possible way? Oddly enough, it seems like you have been with us forever and I guess in some ways you have been. You are growing, learning, and changing everyday. You are definitely into full blown toddlerhood and it has presented some "unique" challenges lately. You are still happst in the morning and I love going in your room in the morning to see your smiling face. You are a ball of energy. Here are a list of your recent accoomplishments:


- You are able to follow lots of simple directions, like "please put your clothes in the hamper" or "please get your shoes"
-You enjoy coloring with Daddy and even put your crayons back in the cubby when you are done!
-You have learned to "pretend sleep" by mock snoring just like mama does. It is the cutest freakin' think ever.
-You climb everything, every box, chair, or pillow in site.
-You love mama to hold you when she is trying to cook or clean.
-You are OBSSESSED with plugs and outlets which drives us bonkers!
-You can figure out how to change the TV channel using the remote
-You love shaking your booty to all types of music.
-You love drinking lemon water and don't like drinking milk from a cup
-You love being outside and get quite upset if we bring you in too early
-You are learning how to whisper
These are just a few of the things you are doing lately but most importantly you ROCK OUR WORLD! We are amazed by you each day and love you more than ever.

Cloth Diapers, Continued

It is has been several months since I have been CDing on a more regular basis. It took me a little bit to get into my groove and figure out what worked best for us but once I got started there was little turning back. We still use disposables since NK is not keen on the whole cleaning poo issue but our consumption has been greatly reduced which saves money and the environment! My thought process about CDs has greatly evolved. I went from thinking I would only use them at night to using them all day and even going out with them. I just throw a small wetbag in my diaper bag and off I go! Heck I even bring along my cloth wipes! We do spend most of our time here at home because that is who we are but I am no longer afraid of the leaks. I experienced leaks with the Gs and it nearly did me in! Those days are long behind me and I now a CD advocate to other mamas. My current inventory consists of:

4 BumGenius V 3.0 AIO, Sized
2 BumGenuis V4.0 AIO, One Size
1 Smartipants AIO
2 Bummis Whisper Wraps, Medium
1 Bummis Superbrite Wrap, Medium
1 Thirsties Duo Wrap, Size 2
1 Thirstie Wrap, Medium
12 pre-fold diapers
6 hemp inserts

I really love all of my diapers and wraps except for the regular Thirsties Wrap. It is just too big for my narrow boy. He is so active that when he runs it starts slowly sagging down. So my cousin who has a little chunky monkey and I are going to trade her Bummis for my Thirties.

I am continuing down my path of more simple parenting and so far so good.

Meal of the Day

Oven Roasted Chicken (Trader Joe's Natural Split Breasts)
Basmati Rice
Homemade Gravy
Baby Spinach with Garlic and Olive Oil

Emory at the same meal!! What an accomplisment. I had to kind of "hide" the spinach and mix it with rice but it worked. I am working to get him adjusted to a healthy table food diet.

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Meal of the Day

Spaghetti and Meatballs
Garlic Breadsticks

We hosted la familia and still had leftovers!

Meal of the Day

TAKE OUT-Italian Subs and Mozzarella Sticks! Just for the mama and papa! Baby ate something much healthier.

Friday, January 14, 2011

Food

I have to admit that prior to having E and even when he was little, I had some pretty strong conviction about the type and quality of food that he would be permitted to eat. I managed to go quite a long time controlling and limiting his intake to healthy food. I am embarrassed to admit that I have let myself convictions weakened and my will power slide. I really want to change this. I can fully admit that Emory eats thing I would rather him not because either I am eating it or it is easier at the time. It is increasingly challenging as we break away from pureed food and try to transition to table food. My hubby and I are not junk food junkies by any stretch but we do enjoy some junk. I lean towards salty/crunchy and he leans toward sweet. We do not give Emory candy, except for an occasional bit here or there. He does however eat more processed.salty things that I would prefer so guess what??? I am going to work change it and in the process change my ways as well! There are extensive advice columns out there they discuss how small children model eating patterns after their parents. Makes sense right? No kid comes out of the womb craving a chicken nugget. Now I will no sign myself for failure by saying he will never have junk, it just isn't realistic but I can go as far to say it will be limited to one meal once or twice per week. So today is a new day and back to being the food nazi I used to be!

Meal of the Day

Meal of the Deal:

"Salsbury Steak" baked with gravy and onions
Mashed Potatoes
Peas

Meal of the Day

Oven "Fried" Pork Chops
Buttered Macaroni with Parmesean (Our new favorite)
Corn

*Not a lot of color in this meal but pork chops were nice an crispy using Old Autry's seasoning.

Monday, January 10, 2011

Meal of the Day


Meal of the Day:
Seasame Ginger Marinated Chicken Breast topped with Pineapple
Basmati Rice
Steamed Fresh Broccoli

*UPDATE- I ened up changing this up a little. I stir fried the chicken with garlic, yellow pepper, and pineapple. I had all the ingredients here at home and I think it came out nice. Brocoli was TOO PLAIN. But overall a nice meal and I took the leftovers for lunch!

Sunday 1/9/2011

Meal of the Day:
Fried Chicken*
Scalloped Potatoes*
Green Beans
Tomato Wedges with Dressing
Butter Biscuits
Sweet Tea

*These two dishes were made from scratch.

Saturday 1/8/2009

Hooray! Emory is 16 mths old today.

Meal of the Day:
Braised Beef Tenderloin
Brussel Sprouts with Toasted Almonds
Buttered Macaroni with Parmesean Cheese

Sunday, January 9, 2011

My Playroom is Back!!











Ever since we moved into our home in May 2009, we have never had a formal dining room set up. Sure we had the table and chairs but never felt compelled to set it up. On the advice of my MIL, we ended up making it a "playroom/mini nursery" when Emory was born. In fact, it was in complete disarray when we left to go have Emory and when I came home a few days later...poof! It was a done. Sure there was still lots of unrelated stuff in there but as the months progressed, the non-baby stuff moved out and we began setting it up as an official playroom. As Emory grew, the infant items were removed and finally the changing table and pack-n-play were removed. As I stated in an earlier post, we hosted Thanksgiving and a bridal shower here recently. To help accomodate everyone, my husband set up the dining room table...great right? WRONG!! I hated it and after some persuasion the table is again downstairs in storage and my playroom is back!! I even found a table and chairs to add to the room for arts and crafts. It is a Crayola Erasable Table that I scored a great deal on at Bed, Bath, and Beyond. It was only $16.50!!

Friday, January 7, 2011

TGIF


Stuffed Peppers
Mashed Potatoes
Rice Krispie Treats

Thursday (1/6/11)

LEFTOVER NIGHT!!!

Wednesday (1/6/11)


Meal of the Day:

White Chicken Chili garnish with Jack Cheese and Sour Cream
Rice
Corn Bread


Tuesday (1/5/11)

Dinner with the In-laws (Carraba's), YUM-O!!!

Monday (1/4/11)

Mushroom Gravy Pot Roast (Crockpot)
Buttered Macaroni with Parmesean Cheese
Green Beans

Meal of the Day

Country Style BBQ Pork Ribs
Steamed Broccoli
Basmati Rice (You will see this A LOT)
Corn Bread

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Thought for the day

Just because we may do things differently, does not mean either peson is wrong.