Menu Monday

Another Monday just sneaking up on me.  Here's the weekly menu

Monday-Chunky Monkey's Birthday Dinner (Happy 4th, Chunky Monkey)
Tuesday-Baked Seasoned Chicken, Green Bean Casserole, Stuffing
Wednesday-Mummy Dogs, Banana Ghosts, and Pumpkin Veggie Tray
Thursday-Taco Soup and Cornbread
Friday-Chicken Tacos, Grilled Veggies, Brown Rice
Saturday-Poor Man's Beef Stroganoff, Salad, The Bread
Sunday-Dinner @ Mom's

What Doesn't Kill You

I'm a closet Kelly Clarkson fan.  I like this song.  I like to hear it while I'm working out.  It gets me going.  Yes, I admitted it.  Yes, it's embarrassing.

Contrary to popular belief, I do not enjoy pain.  I don't particularly like running 3 miles multiple times a week.  I don't like working my legs or arms until feel like they are going to fall off.  

I like working out for one reason.  The after feeling.  I feel stronger.  I feel revived.  I feel less stressed. I feel better about my body (You know the one that popped out 3 kids). I feel like I made time for me.

Since I know how I feel when the alarm goes off early in the morning, I can identify with the reason why people shy away from doing what's necessary to keep our bodies healthy.  It's really easy to make excuses. It's really easy to talk yourself out of working out.  It's really easy to want results.  What's not easy is taking that first step.

That's where I'd like to encourage you.  I'd like for you to know that you won't regret that first step.  You may hate the pain you feel while working out, but you won't hate how your feel afterward.  In all reality, your pain is your gain.  Like Kelly says, "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger."  It's kinda true.

  I'd like for you to experience the high of doing work. I'd also like to workout with you.  I've talked about my friend, Erica, who began her own business, F.I.T Boot Camp.  She knows how to get you results.  She knows how to encourage.  She cares about your health.  

She offers her classes 3 mornings a week, and her next session begins Monday.  This is your chance to get the change you want.  She also began a Refer-A-Friend Program that I would like to share with you.  By sharing this, I receive absolutely nothing.  This is something that I want to share with you because I have benefited from Erica as a trainer and as a friend.  You won't just be her client.  You'll be her friend.  It's just how she is.  So here's her new program.  Now call her up!

One Of THOSE Days

Yesterday I posted this picture to Facebook...

With this caption...

This stage makes me want a TON more babies.  Such a fun age.

It was such a fun afternoon with the babies.  They are so animated and excitable.  So much of their day involves excitement over the littlest things.  Like Tupperware bowls.  I love just watching them explore.  It is the best.

AND THEN...

It was time to pick Little Man up from school.  It was also time for the babies to take their 2nd nap.  I thought they'd fall asleep on the way to school and continue sleeping while waiting in the carpool line. Nope. The had a screaming match for about 20 minutes.  At this point I'm not sure who won because I've never heard decibels at that level before.  Like ever.  So I'll call it a tie.

Poor babies.  They get the shaft on their sleep sometimes.  I wish I could clone myself sometimes.  One of me could stay at the house and let the babies nap and then the other me could be there for Little Man awaiting his presence in my car ready to fully listen to his day.  Babies could sleep peacefully.  Little Man could have my undivided attention.

The hardest part is Little Man doesn't even care.  He was too worried about the babies screaming, trying to make it all better for them.  It was me with the poor attitude.  I hate that.

What's even worse is Chubby Cheekers never got his nap.  Little Man had a flag football make up game.  He did well all things considered, but my neck muscles were all balled up and my nerves were shot.  Then I thought of the irony involved with what I posted on Facebook.  Uh, NOPE!  I'm good with 3 kids.  I don't need a ton.

We finally arrived home from a very long day and Chubby Cheekers got his bath, booby, and bed.  He konked out so fast.  Deep baby sighs. Hot breath. Fresh baby lotion smell.  All snuggled in.  I loved it.  All of his screaming and fussiness just left me, and I rocked and rocked him.  It was a moment I needed and a moment he needed.  It reminded me of all the reasons why I love being a mom.  I could totally have a ton of babies...I think...

Making Yo' Own Baby Food

I'll admit, as a working mom I brushed off making my own baby's food.  I'm a working mom.  I ain't got no time for no food. With Chubby Cheekers, I have no excuse. He gets homemade.  Now, I'm kicking myself in the booty for NOT doing this with the other two for three reasons.

Reason #1: It's fresher.
Reason #2: I have more choices.
Reason #3: It's too fast and simple.

Here's a bit o' information to get you on the easy baby food makin' train...

What do you need?

• blender, food processor, Baby Bullet, Magic Bullet...something that purees
• fruits and veggies (fresh or frozen)
• breast milk or filtered water
• small containers or jars

What foods do you begin with?

• Banana (I mash this with a fork and breast milk until there are no clumps.  Great for when you head out to eat and need to feed the baby.  Grab a banana and toss it in your purse.  Done!
• Carrots (I buy frozen)
• Peas (I buy frozen)
• Cantaloupe
• Super ripe pear
• Sweet Potato
• Russet Potato
• Avocado (I mash this with a fork)

I encourage you to start with these because these can either be quickly boiled then blended or can be thrown straight into the blender.  For example, I get out 3 pots and boil water.  Then I toss a peeled sweet potato in one, carrots in another, and peas in the third.  While I'm waiting for those to soften, I toss the super ripe, pealed, pear in the blender (no water or breast milk needed).  Empty that out into serving size containers. Rinse the blender.  Toss in the cut up cantaloupe (no water or breast milk needed).  Rinse out the blender. Strain the peas (they don't take long to soften). Toss in the blender. Add breast milk or filtered water for desired consistency. Pour into serving size containers. Rinse blender.  Follow the same steps with carrots and sweet potatoes.  That's it!

All of that work will produce 1 full month of food for your baby.  Total time invested is about 30 minutes.  Total money spent is roughly $15.  I freeze it all until it's ready for use.  All the above items will freeze well except bananas.  I haven't tried those because I haven't needed to.

Other foods I have done:

• Butternut Squash*
• Pumpkin*
• Zucchini
• Summer Squash
• Mashed Black Beans
• Apples
• Kiwi

*These items are super easy, but it does take a longer to roast. All roasting consists of is filling the bottom of a pan with water, cutting the squash or pumpkin in half, removing the seeds and 'stuff', placing it face down in the water and bake it at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.  Scrape out the inside and toss it in the blender with a bit of breast milk or water. I did half of a pumpkin and this is what I got from it.  Heck, I didn't even use the whole thing because I ran out of containers.

Now, all you other baby food making mamas, what am I missing?  What other foods should I do now that Chubby Cheekers is increasing his solids intake?

Menu Monday

It's hard to get back into the routine after such a relaxing and enjoyable Fall Break.  I forgot how easy life was when there were no demands or timed constraints.  It hit me this morning after I returned home from the run.  Rush, rush, rush.  Don't forget your lunch.  Rush, rush, rush.  Little Miss, get your shoes on.  Rush, rush, rush.  Little Man, do you have your binder?  Rush, rush, rush.  Chubby Cheekers, don't lick the toliet!!!  Rush, rush, rush.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

It's so much sometimes.  Our Fall Break went more like this.  PJ's til 10:00am.  Baking.  Playtime. Outdoor movie.  Wake when you want.  More playtime.  Picnic lunches. Art projects.

It was awesome.  It is gone.  Back to the norm.  Here's the menu...

Monday-Pizza Night (Gooooo CHICAGO BEARS!!!)
Tuesday-Dinner at Rene and Lindsay's
Wednesday-Zucchini Parmesan (zucchini on sale at Aldi 3/$.99), Salad, The Bread
Thursday-Mock Beef Stroganoff, Green Beans, Crescents
Friday-Enchiladas (freezer meal), Seasoned Brown Rice, Salad
Saturday-Dinner on a Stick, Buttered Bread
Sunday-Baked Chicken, Stuffing, Green Bean Casserole

My Brilliant Idea

Little Miss and Little Man have birthdays 3 weeks apart.  It makes planning a bit difficult. I have to start planning both parties early to ensure both kids feel important and special.  In years passed, we've invited our closest friends to both parties.  As Little Miss has grown up, she's developed friendships outside of her brother's friends.  Well, actually, she's stolen one of her brother's friends.

My friend from high school has two girls.  One Little Man's age and the other girls is Little Miss' age.  When planning LM's party I thought doing something super girly with her two girlfriends would be her party.  What is more girly than getting your nails and toes painted.  I found a place in our area that had kid chairs and were more than willing to accommodate these 3 cutie pies for the afternoon.

Watching these little ladies soak their tootsie, get their nails filed, painted, and dried was so cute.  After getting their mani/pedis, we headed back to our house where Little Miss thought she was going to play with her friends while I threw some cupcakes together.  Instead she walked in to this...

  

She was so excited to walk in the entry way filled with balloons and family.  She had the best time and watching her little smile as she tried to figure out what was going on was priceless!  It took her a few minutes.  Then she was down to party.

The best part of this party was the set up.  The only things I did a few days before was make her #4 and the balloon bouquet (we hid it in the laundry room).  Everything else (i.e. the house cleaning, baking, setting up) was left to the hubbie.  Yes, this was my most brilliant idea yet.

Now onto Little Man's party. I have also devised another brilliant plan of being a spectator.  It's a Football Training Camp Party.  And guess who knows a whole lot about football???  Steven.  Another party falls on his shoulders.  Muh-hahahah...(that's my evil laugh)

Chubby Cheekers

I know, I know.  All you lovely ladies logged on today to get Mommy's menu.  Well, guess what?  You get me today!  It's my eight month birthday, and I'm doing big things.  Doing big things, makin' lots of noise.  

In just a week's time, I have two more teeth.  I've got a big pearly white popping out upstairs and one more downstairs.  That is a total for four teeth. I'm looking so fine.  This has allowed me to dine on the finer foods.  Like Cheerios.  

In addition to my teeth growing, I have mastered pulling up on any surface and then walking around to get where I want to go. I've almost given up my speedy army crawl for the full on crawl and bear crawl.  I've come to realize that army crawling wrinkles my shirt.  I don't like wrinkles just like Daddy.  He's a wrinkle freak!  Plus, I look more grown up to the ladies by getting up on all fours.  I've found they are impressed by my skills.

My verbal skills are developing as well.  I now can chase Mommy around and say, "Ma, ma, ma, ma," when I want her.  This is in addition to da-da, blowing bubbles, raspberries, and ba-ba-ba-ba.  You know all the languages of looooove.  I've also discovered my temper.  I can clench my fist and screech really loud to communicate my frustrations.  What is super funny about that you ask?  Mommy and Daddy do not find this amusing at all.  They give me the 'business face', and the 'business face' is NOT something you want to get.  It's u-g-l-y!

I guess this is long enough for now.  I'm a growing boy and I need my rest.  Plus, I'm trying to convince Mommy to come in my room for a little snack at 12:45am again.  She's not digging that.  I fooled her two times, but I don't think she's going to come in tonight.  She said something about no more milk twins until morning.  Geez!  What's a boy to do?

{Me. 8 Months. Trying To Reach the Dang Ball.}

Love,

Chubby Cheekers