a letter to my {second} daughter: your first unbirthday

Miss Aleesia -

I have no idea how in the world your first 6 months have flown by so quickly.  It seems impossible, really that just 6 months ago I had one of the most empowering, beautiful experiences of my life bringing you into the world.

And you have been making your mark on our family ever since.   And I am happy to say that even though it has only been 6 months, you fit in like there was never life without you.  It’s magical really, how someone so new and so small can have such a huge impact on the word family and the amount of love a heart can hold.

A really good friend told me never to worry if I would have enough love for both Gianna and you – because your heart just grows to fit the new love in.  She was right.

You are a snuggler with this perfect way you fit right into my shoulder and, more commonly, the crook of my left elbow.  I enjoy just sitting with you, enjoying your sweetness all to myself, even if it is only for a few minutes.  It’s probably the only thing I miss about breastfeeding – but we still get our quiet time in.

We know it’s been a rocky six month start to life – tongue ties, reflux, problems with milk proteins, low/slow weight gain, hospital stays, kidney reflux, daily medicine, so much spit up, breastfeeding problems, colic, nap-cotting, so many tears.  We are still using alimentum, you eat anywhere from 4-6 ounces 4-5x a day and literally, every single day when I get home, you spit up on me.  I like to think it’s because you are so relaxed around me…

But there is a lot more smiling, giggling, cooing, baby talking, playing and more happiness these days.  The best thing is your recognition – when Gianna walks into the room, your face lights up and I am pretty sure your eyes don’t leave her.  When I get home from work? I get the BIGGEST smile from you and so much excitement until I am able to pick you up and get a snuggle in.  And, every time I kiss your cheek, you giggle.  Which I think is so awesome!

You love your toes the most

But also your wubanub, your lovie third and anything that makes a crinkle noise. Aleesia – you are a drool machine at the moment and you LOVE to keep your hands, shirt, my necklace, whatever you can find really in  your mouth.  You roll all over the place and are trying to sit on your own – but usually your toes distract you!  Bath time is your favorite time and you love the pool.

We have tried rice and bananas with no success. We tried peaches this week and you seemed to like them enough to take more than one bite, so that’s progress!

You aren’t a huge nap fan, but you love to be snuggled in for bed.  We either do a one arm swaddle or use a sleep sack – either way, you are comfy and that is all that matters.  And! You just started waking up so happy – it’s fun to come in to your big gummy smile first thing in the morning.

Time flies constantly but I try to soak up the little moments.  The quiet moments.  The snuggles.  The smiles.  You are our peanut with the smile that lights up the room. 

Happy six month unbirthday, peanut!

we love you much!

xoxo

Mommy

Friday Randoms

• Why don't people comment on blog posts? I can see how many page views I get and how little comments I get... I know when I actually take the time to (finally) read I try to comment too.  Hmmmm...
• Speaking of reading - I switched to Feedly and I'm not 100% convinced I love it. Although, I haven't tried the mobile app yet.  Anyone have a new reader they love that you can read online and through a mobile device? Bonus it it lets you get to the content easily so you can leave comments!
• There was a HUGE storm here the other day. And I left my windows down in my car. Because, well, I am a genius obviously.  My car seats are still drying out....
• We are part of a crop share and I LOVE it.  We split it with my sister's family and it is seriously enough food for both of us (and we use everything between the two of us so I don't feel like we are wasting much, if anything). 
• I plan to make some baby food with some of our produce.  Which means I should actually you know, make the food and freeze it for when she's ready for it.
• Related to that - we have tried three times now to start Aleesia on solids because she watches us eat and seems to be interested in the process.  Except when you actually try to feed her - she cries, pushes the spoon away, spits the food out, etc. At first I thought maybe she just doesn't like the cereal, but she was having no part of the bananas we tried last night.  I'm TOTALLY okay with this (feeding a baby is a lot of work!) just surprised! We'll try again after her half birthday in a few weeks.
• How in the WORLD is she going to be 6 months old soon? Sheesh.
• I need to prepare a teaching demo for Tuesday. And I haven't started it yet... I have no idea why I am slacking on this.
• Also slacking on doing anymore research on the PhD program I found.  Have I asked if anyone has experience with Capella University? If you do - can you comment/email me so I can pick your brain?
• Work has been going well and that makes me happy.  Little stress, many opportunities coming up - just the way I like it!
• I have been working out pretty consistently.  I finished the 30 day shred (and saw real results) and am starting the couch 2 5k program (if it ever freaking quits raining here) with some interval workouts on the "off" days.  If I can aim to workout 4 days a week, I think that will fit into my schedule well and won't stress me out too much.  I have a lot more to say on this topic soon! (I hope?!)
• I have been talking to my sister about my niece's first birthday. Again - how in the WORLD can her first birthday be approaching? Nuts!
• What's new with you - anything fun happening?

Speaking of food....

A local mommy message board I am on, from here on out referred to as the ADMers, has lots of awesome bloggers like her, her, her & her - the fearless leader of this adventure.  We are doing a blog hop, and no, I do not know what that means really - but you can play too by clicking on the mcklinky down there. And, leave some love to all the other awesome participants.

This weeks topic: What is your child's favorite and least favorite foods? Are you Happy about it? What do you do to promote a diverse palate?

Fitting huh? I didn't even know this was going to be the topic when I wrote this post. Am that good, clearly.

Favorite food of G - fruit. carbs. puffs.  she is a freaking puff-a-holic. But for real, she lurves her some fruit. All fruit. Am pleased.

Least favorite food of G - veggies.  In fact, she dislikes veggies so much at the current moment that I can't even hide them in other food (like french fries...) because she will magically eat everything in her mouth BUT the veggie, stick her tongue out with it on there and then gag. Yes. I am serious.  I think this talent is genetic as I her aunts did the same thing growing up..... 

I am totally happy about her choice to love all things fruit. I am not happy about her dislike of veggies, clearly.

We try to just give her some of everything at every meal.  I don't force food on her, but I do make her try everything even if she spit it out the last time we had it.  As we have discussed, I want her to have a more diverse palate and open to any and all suggestions on how to make this a succes!

Now, don't forget to join us each week (add the mcklinky to your page!) ) And visit Paige to join in all the fun. (and for way better directions on how to play)

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

I think I have told you before how my husband rocks and is taking the whole stay-at-home-dad gig pretty well. 

Am lucky.

He has been making dinner and having it ready almost every single night

(am really lucky because I am not the biggest fan of cooking)

(also, am not really good at it as was evident by the pasta disaster of December 2009)

Also, I think I have mentioned that we eat a pretty diverse diet. You know, including chicken, grilled cheese, potato in all forms and I lurve me some fruit.  Not so excellent for the baby girl, we are aware.

Tonight I came home to Oat Burgers. 

(I know, it sounds a little unique but hear me out)

They were so freaking good! So good I even tweeted about them! And, at the request of Danifred I am posting the delicious (easy) receipt here.

(I know what you are thinking, how would I know they were easy since I was busy making the baby laugh while the cooking was going on. But I could just tell. So there.)

Ingredients:

1c grated cheddar cheese (we used parmesan)

1/2c green pepper, finely chopped

1 tomato, finely chopped (we  used tomato sauce!)

1 small onion, finely chopped

1 c oats

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1/3c plain flour

oil for frying

directions:

1. In medium bowl combine cheese, pepper, tomato, onion, oats, eggs & flour.  mix well. divide into 6 small portions and shape into patties
2. heat oil in frying pan, add oat burgers
3. cook like a hamburger….

Now, go on and be healthy!

what's for dinner

It has been brought to my attention that I am no Betty Crocker.

Duh.

My husband does most of the cooking in our house. I am not complaining.

Here's the problem - we eat the same rotation of food all the time. And that isn't saying much. We are two of the pickiest eaters you will ever ever meet.

Considering we have a fresh little mouth to feed, who will eat anything you stick in front her, we need to change up the rotation. Add some pinch hitters into the line up.....

(enough with the baseball analogies. i don't really even like baseball.... anyway)

A few of the other mommies and wives that I know meal plan. I always thought it looked like a lot of work, so I didn't do it. Am lazy. But now, I feel like it is a lot of work to think of something to make for dinner every single day and figure out if we have whatever I need to make said dinner. Cereal it is.....

I would like for the peanut to try everything, and hopefully like it too. Then she won't live the life of a picky eater like her parents. (is a pain in the arse) I have been enjoying trying things with her, and, surprise! I like (some) of it. Except green beans, still not a fan.

Back to this idea of meal planning. I have gotten some ideas of where to go for good, healthy, EASY recipes. But how do I know they will taste good?

Give me your favorite's!

And, if you meal plan, how do you do it? Weekly? Every two weeks? Based on grocery store adds? Coupons?

Do you have a separate calender? I use google calendars, but I know I won't look at it enough to use it for this. I need these things in my face. Or I will eat cereal. Again.

Pour on the ideas/tips/tricks etc. I promise to share with the group.

annnndddd go!

Adventures

My SEVEN month old little peanut has been seriously busy, learning all kinds of new tricks

Like how to peek over her bumpers after naptime. And how to stand up in her crib....

Since she is such a tall girl, we had to move her crib all the way down.
She will even push herself to stand sometimes - then she looks really confused and tries to crawl over you!
She's been busy with the crawling too. Still in army mode, but sometimes she'll sneak in a belly off the floor move.
We even tried her on some table food. She's in LOVE! She misses her mouth 9.5x/10 but hey, she's learning.
And clearly, she is WAY too busy looking cute modeling her baby legs...But, she is still enjoys a good snuggle with her daddy.

Snipits

• I have about 6lbs to go until I hit my first "goal" weight. Thanks in part to some awesome girls and a Weight Loss Challenge we are doing. Accountability and Motivation all wrapped into one.
• I made some more baby food - sweet potatoes - for roughly $1.50 (2 potatoes), I made 46(!) servings - $.03/serving. I want to do a few more fruits - any suggestions on this??
• My least favorite part about going back to school - my Stats class. I really dislike statistics.
• Husband graduates from broadcasting school in 2 weeks! That brings about a whole lot of excitement. And apprehension. More on this later. (He is totally awesome at what he does though, best decision ever.)
• Because I am *this close* to my "goal" weight - WHY don't my prepregnancy clothes (pants) fit?? Also - how do I get rid of the flabby stomach... I know, crutches and such. Can you add a few more hours in the day so I can get on that? Or provide me a treadmill? That would be sufficient.
• The weather in Ohio has turned cold. FAST. And I hate it.
• We never really eat "dinner" we just find whatever we want in the kitchen and eat it. This will not fly much longer, as in, when little miss gets to table food. Any ideas on quick/easy recipes?
• In desperate need of a night out with the girls. Or a night in. Just some gossip, wine & laughter would be sufficient.
• I'm in a wedding next month, lets hope I make it to this "goal" & don't look like a jackass in my dress.
• I have some new followers - HI!! Nice to see you :)
• Also, check out over there -----> I am listed on momblogs.com. now. cool! (I realize, anyone can be listed, but still!)

P is for........

Peas!! And Pears!!

Last week I decided to start the baby-food making adventure.

Because, in case you weren't aware, baby food is expensive. Nothing against Gerber but DANG now that I know what it takes to make the stuff, they are making a KILLING!!

It was suprisingly easier and faster than I anticipated.

Want to know how I did it? Too bad, because I am telling you anyway!

You need:

Food

A blender (or food processor or whatever)

Ice Cube Trays [these were the HARDEST things to find!]

Saran Wrap

Freezer Bags

I bought these @ Target for $1.06.

I boiled them until they were cooked (mushy).

I used my blender to do the pureeing and it worked awesome*.

So - I added the peas.

Then used the water they cooked in and added to just cover the peas.

**Note, DO NOT overfill whatever chopping device you use!! I blended in 2 batches**

I pureed until smooth.

Poored into ice cube trays.
Covered w/ saran wrap & frooze.

Once frozen solid, pop out of trays and store in freezer bags.

Label bags with food and date made!

For $1.06, I made 24 servings.

That's $.04/serving.

Need I say more?

Then I made pears. $.79/lb (I used 2 medium sized pears)

Skin the pears, chop and boil until soft.
Blend until smooth.
Portion out.
Freeze.
Etc.
For $.79 I made 14 servings.
$.06 per serving.

This adventure was TOTALLY worth it (for the cost and of course the benefit of knowing what my princess is eating....). I absolutely intend on doing much more.
I think next on our list will be sweet potatoes and squash.
I reference Wholesome Baby Food a lot (as recommended by a few bloggers as well) which gives great tips, reciepes and ideas.
I has babymaking SKILLZ people!

And, the baby liked it too.....

*I know some people do not have such great luck with a blender, but I wanted to try it before buying another kitchen gadget. Glad I saved the $$!