Sunday, June 30, 2013

How is He FOUR?!?!

Bear with me friends...I'm still feeling a little sentimental about my baby...

Four years. I can't believe it's been four years. 

This boy made me a mom. 

He holds my heart in his little fist. 

His raspy little lisp melts me.

He solidified our family.

He is the definition of unconditional love.

Four years...



It goes by in a blink.

Happy birthday to you,
happy birthday to you,
happy birthday, dear Trent,
happy birthday to you. 



Thursday, June 27, 2013

Feeling Sentimental

Four years ago today was my due date with Trent. Maybe it's because 2 friends had babies today or maybe it's seeing how big Trent is getting...but I'm just feeling a little melancholy. 

When did my baby boy grow up?

I told myself a long time ago I wouldn't be one of those moms who cried on the first day of kindergarten. I wouldn't wish for my children to stay babies. And while I still believe that...

When did my baby boy grow up?

He is turning into such a little man. 100% potty-trained, {mostly, somewhat} rational, helpful, funny. He's learning to write letters at school and can spell his name and knows our address. He has conversations on the phone, asks almost daily to 'go somewhere', loves school, has friends, and a best friend (Miles). And his imagination! Oh what an imagination.

I love him more than I ever thought possible but for real...

When did my baby boy grow up?



Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Outtakes

For my mom's birthday, my sister and I had a brilliant idea to get a picture of all 5 of the grands together, print it and frame it for her. Easy peasy, right? Um...no.








Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Recipe: Oven Baked Chicken Tacos

As I work on cooking more for our family, I peruse blogs daily trying to develop a decent 'catalog' to pull from for meal planning. I'm creating a word doc with links to all the recipes we deem worth repeating. {I need to get rid of all my dusty, unused cookbooks because I never, EVER pull them out!}

This recipe was one I found awhile back and promptly decided to make, and I'm happy to say it is staying in our rotation!


Ingredients:

  • 1-1 1/2 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breast
  • 1 package taco seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 tablespoon chopped Cilantro
  • 1/2 squeezed lime
  • 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
  • 1 can refried beans
  • shredded cheese
  • taco shells
  • your favorite toppings for Mexican food (salsa, guac, sour cream, etc.)
Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Boil chicken and shred.
  3. In a skillet combine shredded chicken, taco seasoning, cumin, cilantro, lime juice, tomato sauce and refried beans. Mix well and heat ingredients thoroughly.
  4. In a 9X13 arrange taco shells so they are standing. 
  5. Add chicken mixture to each shell.
  6. Top with shredded cheese.
  7. Bake 10-12 minutes.
  8. Top with your favorite garnishes and enjoy.
Notes: I don't think these held up well the next day, so I think next time I'll reserve half the mixture to make a fresh batch for another meal.  I'm curious if the mixture would freeze or not because, really, who needs 18 tacos?


Tuesday, June 18, 2013

A Delicious Dinner

Ingredients:
-Water
-Milk
-Flour
-Powdered Sugar
-Salt and pepper
-EVOO
-Cornstarch

I don't think Trent and I have cooked much since Drew arrived. And yesterday's recipe was a doozie!

He got out the bowl and spoons for Brent and me to have as 'dinner'. Love that kid!



Monday, June 17, 2013

Weekend Recap

We had a pretty uneventful weekend. Drew was sick with her first fever {poor baby}, so we quarantined ourselves at home. Brent watched a lot of the U.S. Open {zzzzzzzzz}, and we tried not to go too stir crazy inside. I held Drew most of the weekend (including naps and bedtime), so I am worn out!

 Not feeling good...
Can you see her heat rash from her fever? Sad baby!

Finally feeling good enough Saturday evening for some lounging in the 'hot tub'.

And this big guy has been sleeping without a diaper!!!

I finally got a picture of her eating her toes!!! Happy day for Mama!


Friday, June 14, 2013

Five on Friday

I've been seeing these pop up on blogs, and I think it's a fun way to share a few things that are floating my boat right now.

1. Nancy Holtzman. She works for Isis Parenting (another things I'm going ga-ga for lately) and tweets awesomeness. They have webinars on Tuesdays {sleep} and Thursdays {breastfeeding}. I've watched a few of the sleep ones and think they are great. You can also tweet her a picture based on that week's webinar, and she might feature your kiddo. But back to Nancy's tweets. She is an RN and an IBCLC, so she just has tons of info about children in general, but she also comes from a more gentle approach to parenting. Point being, she is amazing!


Oh? Who's that starring in his first webinar??

2. Kombucha. Specifically, Buddha's Brew. This may be the drink that helps me kick my chai latte habit to the curb. I am obsessed. And the best part is it's good for you! The bad news is I finished off my jug last night. Boo.

3. Chiropractic care. Something is wrong with my back. I ache, and the pain radiates down my arms at times. I'm worried I have bone cancer because it feels like it is that deep. Dramatic much? In all likelihood, carrying Drew around all day is {I think} the likely culprit. I have my first ever chiropractic appointment on Monday, and I'm so excited!!

4. Amber teething necklace. These are all over the place, but I ordered Drew's from here. I think we've started teething. Trent's first tooth popped through, and I had no clue he'd been teething. Drew is fussing, fussing, fussing. Something isn't quite right. Even if she's not teething yet, it won't hurt to have her necklace wearing days start early!


Won't D be so cute in this?


5. Moscato wine. I think I have finally found a wine that I love every time I drink it. My mom is constantly trying new brands {always of the $6 bottle variety} and each and every one of this is yumm-o!

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Let's Swim!

The calendar might not say it's summer, but it's summer in Texas. I busted out one of our baby pools this weekend to let the kids play. It was Drew's first time 'swimming'. She has 4 bathing suits while I have zero. {Not that I want to get into a bathing suit with this post-partum body!}

Modeling her suit. I wish they made this in my size. Ha!

 She is so enamored with Trent. I love it!
T refused to wear his swim suit.

She may love her bathtub...but she wasn't crazy about the pool.
T refused to get in. Sigh.

We've also started swim lessons with Trent. He told me before we went that he was 'nervous'. So precious. But you never would have known the way he took to his instructor and their activities. He had a blast and was sad when it was time to go. I'm excited to see where he goes and the skills he'll learn before summer is over.

What almost 4 year-old doesn't need flippers?

And a tube to play in {And duh his is green!}

Love this kid

Can you see him adjusting his goggles? So cute!

I foresee a lot of pool time in our future. Even though he was in the water for barely a half hour, he went right to sleep that night!

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

The Beginnings of a Plan...

I have a long post in my head about food and how I WANT to be eating. I am making so many changes in my/our life to overall be healthier and treat our bodies better - from toothpaste to shampoo to detergent, from vitamins and supplements... You get the picture. Where I am failing miserably is probably the most important part - my diet! But it's very hard and overwhelming to try and make a complete 180, so I've decided to take some baby steps, and I want to blog about it, so I'll be accountable! 

My long-term goal (and eventually I want to write my post to explain WHY I want to do all this) is to be eating very little processed food, having fast food and Starbucks be a RARE treat, eating all non-GMO foods (as best I can), eating as much organic as possible and lots more fruits and veggies than I currently eat.

So...for the rest of June, I have the following goals:

1. No fast food for the rest of the month...okay maybe one time. {grin} Make smart choices when eating out.
2. No more than 2 chai lattes/week.
3. Cook dinner 2 times/week every week. {So pathetic that this is a goal.}
4. Eat 2 fruits and 1 vegetable every day. {Going to grow from here! And again...pathetic.}

Monday, June 10, 2013
Friday, June 7, 2013

Randoms


  • Ever since Monday, Drew has been waking up at night at least 3 times. And will only go back to sleep if I nurse her. #zombiemom
  • That also means she is soaking wet in the morning because I'm too lazy to change her diaper at 2 AM. Size 3 tonight?
  • Listening to an Isis Parenting webinar on sleep right now. {grin}
  • Trent's party planning is in full force. How is he 4? The theme is a 'spooky party'. Decorating will be easy - Halloween!!
Inspiration!
  • June is a hodge podge of daycare for Drew. She starts 'school' next month. Kinda stressful but means I'm home a day or two a week with her. I like gentle transitions.
  • Starting my list of everything I need for daycare. Makes me sad.
  • I never shared this picture of Mayer. He had a blowout and I just HAD to loan him this outfit. It says 'My Auntie Loves Me'. Yes, little guy, she does!

Happy Friday!!


Wednesday, June 5, 2013

First Days Back...


I had so many well wishes on Monday! Texts, emails, blog comments all wishing me good luck on my first day back. It definitely warmed my heart as I was a little apprehensive on how I would do...

Well...so far so good! It almost feels like I never left because it's been so seamless coming back to my work. Of course I miss Drew, but right now my mom is keeping her (until July 1), so that makes it great!

My first 2 days I had to go to Dallas for training at our own training facility/hotel. It is beyond nice, but unfortunately, Drew was invited to stay at the hotel. So she, my mom and I stayed at my aunt's house and I commuted to the training. {Like a legit Starbucks in the facility that is FREE. #allenawasinheaven}

We left Sunday and had about an hour or so detour in West for kolaches and to let Drew stretch out. 
She also gave both of us a present... Can you find it?

I had to take a picture of the directions because my phone wouldn't work. Ha.

Fuzzy pic of Drew's first time in the PNP. She did great on Sunday night.

I didn't have to be at training until 10:00 on Monday so we snuggled for a few hours Monday morning.

First day back outfit!

Drew was great for my mom both days and slept terrible Monday night, so I was exhausted Tuesday. We got back late last night, so I came in late to work today. Drew cried for about 30 minutes on the way home but other than that it was a great re-introduction to the work force!



Sunday, June 2, 2013

Grow Baby Grow {Drew} - 5 Months


Our girl is 5 months old today! Today is also my last day of maternity leave, so it's a big day in our household. I am so thankful to have been able to spend so much time with Drew and can't even think about what comes next... So onto the good stuff!


Stats:
Weight: ~14 pounds
Diapers: size 2, all snaps down on cloth {although I have been very lazy this month with cloth!}
Clothing size: 3 to 6 months in everything, some still big on her!
  • Rolling to sleep on her tummy! Weirdly, the first time she did this was in a pack 'n play for a nap - which is when Trent did it first!

  • Naps!! Score one for the parents! We did a little bit of cry it out (but I am a wimp about it so it wasn't full on) and finally mastered her falling asleep on her own and sleeping past 1 sleep cycle. I still can't stop glowing about this.
  • On average, taking 3 naps/day
  • Wakes about once a night, some nights (like Friday) are a lot more!
  • Everything goes in the mouth
  • Doesn't like to recline much anymore so we've graduated to being in the stroller without the car seat and the duck tub!

  • No teeth...Brother got his first tooth at 4.5 months so curious when hers will pop through. I'm buying an amber teething necklace to see what that does for us...
  • Enjoying the jumper and jumperoo a lot!

  • Much better at grabbing things...and then they go in the mouth!
  • All of the sudden she has stretched out her nursing times. She now consistently goes 3 hours between sessions, so she's nursing about 6 times/day. This sudden change resulted in a couple of clogged ducts for me. Ouch!
  • Loves her feet. She's gotten her toes in her mouth twice, but I haven't been fast enough with the camera. Boo.

  • Really interested in food, watches me eat very intently. Next month, sweet girl!
  • Sucks on her bottom lip, it is precious.
  • When she nurses on my left side, she holds her left ear {her floppy one}, so cute!
  • Very serious, not much of a talker, tough to get her to laugh but Mama and Daddy have figured out a few tricks!
  • LOVES to watch Trent

  • As soon as you put her on her back on the floor, she flips! Makes tummy time super easy!


Our little lady is such a joy. She is so different than Trent was as a baby, so I really can't wait to see what the future brings for her and for us as a family. We are so blessed to be her parents!

It is definitely getting more challenging to pose her. {grin}