Martin is in town this week but has to leave Friday morning and will get back late Sunday night. So, the weekend is my favorite meals. ;)
Sunday- Mushroom pork chops and brussel sprouts
Monday- Philly cheese-steak hamburger helper
Tuesday- Meatloaf and peas
Wednesday- Spaghetti and salad
Thursday- Ribs
Friday- Unstuffed peppers
Saturday- chicken fajitas
Sunday- Wings
Lunches consist of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, grilled cheese and tomato soup, and left overs.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Un-stuffed peppers
I LOVE stuffed peppers, but sometimes I do not like how long it takes to bake. I have found a faster way to do it, although it is a little more hands on. This is one of those recipes that I would eat 2-3 times a week if I could.
Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef
1 green pepper
1 can diced tomatoes (I use tomatoes with chilies)
1 cup of spaghetti sauce
1 pouch instant rice
1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese
Boil rice for ten minutes. Meanwhile, brown the ground beef. Cut green peppers into bite size pieces and add to pan. (I like mine a little crunchy so I add them after I brown the beef, but you can switch the order if you want the peppers fully cooked.) Cover and cook on medium for three minutes. Add tomatoes and sauce, cover and cook for three more minutes. Stir often. Remove from heat and top with cheese. Serve over a bed of rice. Enjoy.
Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef
1 green pepper
1 can diced tomatoes (I use tomatoes with chilies)
1 cup of spaghetti sauce
1 pouch instant rice
1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese
Boil rice for ten minutes. Meanwhile, brown the ground beef. Cut green peppers into bite size pieces and add to pan. (I like mine a little crunchy so I add them after I brown the beef, but you can switch the order if you want the peppers fully cooked.) Cover and cook on medium for three minutes. Add tomatoes and sauce, cover and cook for three more minutes. Stir often. Remove from heat and top with cheese. Serve over a bed of rice. Enjoy.
Monday, September 30, 2013
Breastfeeding Take II
I have been nursing Charlotte for two months now. With Owen nursing started out rocky. We had latch issues and I had to pump first to get him to latch correctly. I fed him with a syringe because I was so worried about nipple confusion. And then the lactation consultant recommended a nipple shield. It worked. I was finally able to get him to latch, even if I had to use the shield. After about a week at home I hated using the shield and would just pump for a few seconds to be able to get Owen to latch. I cried in the hospital because I felt my body was failing me. I was so upset I was unable to nurse and nourish my child. There were many nights after that I cried and cried because I had to use the nipple shield or pump first. I also would cringe a little when he finally did latch. After a few weeks we were finally able to nurse with no help. I tossed out the nipple shields and just nursed. I nursed until almost 5 months but stopped because my diet just was not working and it was stressing both of us out. He would cry for hours on end and it really made it difficult. After cutting out pretty much everything except meat and grain I couldn't do it anymore. I went to the pediatrician and asked about switching to formula. Two days after switching to formula he was such a happy baby.
I was concerned at the beginning of my pregnancy about how nursing would go. However, my body is different than it was and towards the end I knew we would be fine. Day one Charlotte latched on and by time we left the hospital it was as if we had been nursing for weeks. Unfortunately, 11 days into breastfeeding I got some chills, fever, and really bad headaches. I had mastitis. Everything was going so smoothly until then. My breast hurt more than I could ever imagine. I saw the midwife and got some antibiotics. Two days later I finally started feeling better. Everything has been fine since. After I was done taking the antibiotics I started pumping a few times a day. I wanted to relieve engorgement, prevent blocked ducts, and build a freezer supply. In the beginning I was pumping every single time I nursed. I would pump one side while she nursed the other side and then I would pump on the side she nursed on. I had built up a huge stash and have donated a little over 300 ounces so far, and I still have around 200 ounces in my freezer. I honestly have no clue when I would use the milk in the freezer, but want it just in case. I now only pump three times a day, when I first wake up, around 1:30, and again before bed. If I don't pump before bed I get so engorged that Charlotte cannot latch in the middle of the night. I have to pump when I wake up because I am engorged. I know continuing to pump will not stop my body from making milk, but only want to produce more, and I am fine with that. It allows me to have a freezer stash and to be able to donate to other babies in need.
We have also come across an issue with pacifying. Charlotte wants to suckle. I know babies have a desire for sucking on something, which is why pacifiers were created. Charlotte feels the need to use me as her pacifier. One down side to this is I cannot hold her and use me as a pacifier all the time, In addition it causes a let down but she doesn't want to eat, so she spits it out and we both end up wet. Labor day weekend my step mom was able to get Charlotte to suck on a pacifier. It was great to not have her attached to me the whole time. However, after a couple days I noticed we were having latch issues. I took the pacifier away and have not had issues since. So once again I am her pacifier, which I am okay with. We may try the pacifier again in a few weeks, but maybe she is just going to be one of those babies that just doesn't use one.
So far nursing has been great, we had some bumps but nothing we cant handle. Things are going well and my diet does not seem to be an issue for Charlotte. I just hope it stays that way. I love the feeling of being able to nourish my child. For anyone struggling with breastfeeding, keep with it. The first few weeks are tough, but it does get better.
I was concerned at the beginning of my pregnancy about how nursing would go. However, my body is different than it was and towards the end I knew we would be fine. Day one Charlotte latched on and by time we left the hospital it was as if we had been nursing for weeks. Unfortunately, 11 days into breastfeeding I got some chills, fever, and really bad headaches. I had mastitis. Everything was going so smoothly until then. My breast hurt more than I could ever imagine. I saw the midwife and got some antibiotics. Two days later I finally started feeling better. Everything has been fine since. After I was done taking the antibiotics I started pumping a few times a day. I wanted to relieve engorgement, prevent blocked ducts, and build a freezer supply. In the beginning I was pumping every single time I nursed. I would pump one side while she nursed the other side and then I would pump on the side she nursed on. I had built up a huge stash and have donated a little over 300 ounces so far, and I still have around 200 ounces in my freezer. I honestly have no clue when I would use the milk in the freezer, but want it just in case. I now only pump three times a day, when I first wake up, around 1:30, and again before bed. If I don't pump before bed I get so engorged that Charlotte cannot latch in the middle of the night. I have to pump when I wake up because I am engorged. I know continuing to pump will not stop my body from making milk, but only want to produce more, and I am fine with that. It allows me to have a freezer stash and to be able to donate to other babies in need.
We have also come across an issue with pacifying. Charlotte wants to suckle. I know babies have a desire for sucking on something, which is why pacifiers were created. Charlotte feels the need to use me as her pacifier. One down side to this is I cannot hold her and use me as a pacifier all the time, In addition it causes a let down but she doesn't want to eat, so she spits it out and we both end up wet. Labor day weekend my step mom was able to get Charlotte to suck on a pacifier. It was great to not have her attached to me the whole time. However, after a couple days I noticed we were having latch issues. I took the pacifier away and have not had issues since. So once again I am her pacifier, which I am okay with. We may try the pacifier again in a few weeks, but maybe she is just going to be one of those babies that just doesn't use one.
So far nursing has been great, we had some bumps but nothing we cant handle. Things are going well and my diet does not seem to be an issue for Charlotte. I just hope it stays that way. I love the feeling of being able to nourish my child. For anyone struggling with breastfeeding, keep with it. The first few weeks are tough, but it does get better.
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Menu 9/22-9/28
Most weeks hubby is out of town and so I tend to not eat full meals for dinner. (I am trying to change this, but cooking for one adult + a toddler is difficult for me) I am going to attempt to have an entire month without repeating meals (although we have our favorites that I could eat over and over, like the un-stuffed peppers).
Sunday-chicken strips and cream spinach
Monday- Un-stuffed peppers and rice
Tuesday- Wings, french fries
Wednesday- Chicken ranch casserole
Thursday- Chicken stir fry
Friday- Pizza
Saturday- Mongolian beef, broccoli, and rice
Sunday-chicken strips and cream spinach
Monday- Un-stuffed peppers and rice
Tuesday- Wings, french fries
Wednesday- Chicken ranch casserole
Thursday- Chicken stir fry
Friday- Pizza
Saturday- Mongolian beef, broccoli, and rice
Saturday, September 28, 2013
Two months!
Charlotte is TWO months!
Friday, September 27, 2013
Menus
I have "googled" and follow many different blogs and most of them are to find recipes and menu plans. I often find myself in a rut, asking what to make for dinner hours before it should be made. I repeat meals frequently and I am just tired of eating the same things over and over. I have come across a few yummy meals and feel I should share them, as well as how I have modified them. I hope that sharing my menus will help me stick with them and not repeat meals. I am going to strive to have one month where no meals are repeated. It is very doable, there are tons of different types of meals to make. However, I have a picky husband and child, so it makes cooking a little difficult.
Every week I am going to post the menu I have planned for that week. I will also share some of the recipes I am using.
Every week I am going to post the menu I have planned for that week. I will also share some of the recipes I am using.
Thursday, September 26, 2013
When did he get so smart
"Charlotte, count with me. 1, 2, 3, 4...." I over heard Owen counting to Charlotte this morning and I am just in awe. He is very smart. Owen can carry on a full conversation (sometimes with himself). He also has developed and show his imagination. I love to watch him play and observe how he behaves and interacts with his toys when he thinks no one is looking.
It is well known that Owen is obsessed with cars and trains. He can spend hours in the toy room building and changing the tracks. When he plays with his cars he makes them stop at red lights and go at green lights. He gets into his cozy coupe and says he is going to the grocery store. He even puts toys (usually hot wheels cars) into the little storage in the back.
He knows many different shapes and he knows his colors. When driving, every stop sign we see he screams "red octagon...Means stop!" We play a game in the car where we point out the road signs and say the shape and color of it. He enjoys it and it helps keep him busy.
However, one thing I have not gotten around to teaching him yet is right and left. I did not know that a two/three year old was expected to know these. When I took him in for his three year check up, they tried to do a vision test and asked which way the arrow was pointing. He was able to respond to up and down, but not left and right. So that is what we are working on currently.
He is getting very good at counting and he sings the alphabet very well. He also can recognize his numbers from 1-10. We have to work on the numbers after that. When he reads the numbers instead of saying 22 he will say two two.
We have things we need to work on, but overall I am amazed. He is so smart and polite. I just love watching him grow and learn.
It is well known that Owen is obsessed with cars and trains. He can spend hours in the toy room building and changing the tracks. When he plays with his cars he makes them stop at red lights and go at green lights. He gets into his cozy coupe and says he is going to the grocery store. He even puts toys (usually hot wheels cars) into the little storage in the back.
He knows many different shapes and he knows his colors. When driving, every stop sign we see he screams "red octagon...Means stop!" We play a game in the car where we point out the road signs and say the shape and color of it. He enjoys it and it helps keep him busy.
However, one thing I have not gotten around to teaching him yet is right and left. I did not know that a two/three year old was expected to know these. When I took him in for his three year check up, they tried to do a vision test and asked which way the arrow was pointing. He was able to respond to up and down, but not left and right. So that is what we are working on currently.
He is getting very good at counting and he sings the alphabet very well. He also can recognize his numbers from 1-10. We have to work on the numbers after that. When he reads the numbers instead of saying 22 he will say two two.
We have things we need to work on, but overall I am amazed. He is so smart and polite. I just love watching him grow and learn.
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