Enough With The Lemons

It's 10am and I'm sitting in my car in the garage. Both kids are in their car seats - the baby is sleeping and the toddler is watching a movie. 

It's week three of one of our worst reflux flare ups to date - I haven't slept more than two hours at a stretch since it started. Ten minutes after I coaxed the baby down for her first nap, the toddler woke her up again. Twenty more minutes of unsuccessfully trying to get the baby back to sleep and I turned to my last resort sleep weapon - going for a drive. Baby in the car seat, car seat in the car with strategic blanket to block any errant sunshine, toddler in the car in his seat, phone, wallet, run inside to turn off the quinoa in the rice cooker, retrieve the dog from the street after he pushed the door open and ran out, get in the car, notice keys are already in the ignition, and... nothing. 

Call Chris to ask for a jump, the toddler starts crying, run back inside to get the iPad to buy some time, find out that the back door on the car doesn't open if the battery is dead, crawl over the (crying) toddler to dig through the emergency box to find jumper cables, pop the hood, realize that I CANNOT find the exterior latch for the hood. Cry. Use the phone as a flashlight to trace the hood latch to the last place I expect it to be. The baby falls asleep mid-chaos. Try to jumpstart the battery, which proves futile. Send Chris back to work. 

Did I mention that it's only 10am? I've got lemons in spades, my friends. And I'm going to sit in my dead car sipping this new batch of lemonade until the baby wakes up. 

Update: The baby had a sneaky diaper blowout in the car while she was napping. The toddler had a diaper blowout while I was cleaning up the baby.

Update two: Just found a chunk of poop on the carpet, which was followed by a pretty solid ten minutes of semi-hysterical cry-laughing. Welcome to my glamorous life.

Mixed Metaphors

My good intentions keep taking off in some sort of hand basket and I don't dare ask where they've gone... but life continues in a headlong rush of crazy, funny, frustrating, exhausting, perfect happenings. 

Most days I don't feel like I have the time (or focus) to corral my thoughts into anything longer than an Instagram caption, but life is so good and I feel more encouraged lately than I have in a while. Reflux really does a number on my morale, but after yet another medication change it's been under control for a solid month. Not every day is great, but we're in my very favorite baby stage - the six to nine month "sweet spot" where Little Miss is not quite crawling/sitting, but actively participating and interacting with everyone. Watching her and Jr start to play together is pretty much the best thing ever.

Starting to reach!

One of us is not impressed with this adorable polar bear suit.

Checking out my new boot socks...

If you're on the floor, she's in your business!

His current favorite art activity.

My super helpful assistant...

"A child is a curly, dimpled lunatic."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Have A Bite Of...

Taco Stuffed Peppers

Nothing like the stuffed peppers of the 80's, I swear!

Easy, healthy, and flavorful. Did I mention E-A-S-Y? 

These babies are a dream come true on hectic weeknights!

Ingredients:

3 peppers, any color

1 tbs avocado oil

1/2 lb lean ground turkey (or beef)

2 tbs diced onion

1/2 cup water

1 cup cooked quinoa

1 tbs taco seasoning (more or less to preference)

Optional: Cheese

Toppings:

Corn, fresh or frozen

Fresh tomatoes, diced

Black olives, sliced

Green onions, sliced

Yumm sauce

Sour cream

Salsa

1) Wash peppers, slice in half, and remove stem/seeds. Place in baking dish, cut side up, and bake at 400 for 8 minutes*.

2) While the peppers are cooking, heat the avocado oil in a medium skillet and brown the meat. Add diced onion, sauté for an additional 2 minutes. Stir in water, cooked quinoa, and taco seasoning and simmer until liquid has reduced. 

3) Spoon the meat and quinoa mixture into the peppers, top with cheese if desired, and place back in the oven for another 10 minutes.

4) Serve warm with any combination of toppings. My favorites are corn, tomatoes, olives, green onions, and Cafe Yumm sauce. 

*This dish will reheat beautifully if the peppers are not overcooked. 8 minutes of pre-baking will result in al dente peppers. Add another 2 minutes to the pre-baking time if you like softer peppers or are not planning for leftovers.

Life Update:

We've stumbled our way into a functioning routine, which is a huge relief after the chaos of the newborn months. I've actually done grocery shopping and Costco with both kids (and no backup), Little Miss is tolerating car rides, and Jr is handling sharing Mama a little better. Sleep is still a precious commodity - naps are short, two night feedings qualifies as a great night, and sometimes the kids sleep in until 7am. 

Little Miss is growing (mostly) steadily and her personality is really starting to show. We're still fighting reflux at times, but things are getting better on the whole. She has learned to roll from back to tummy, started on solid foods, is starting to enjoy bath time, and loves playing peekaboo.

Grumpy snuggles.

Squash!

Houston, we have a roller.

Jr is a talking, dancing, singing machine. He's constantly picking up new words and parroting everything which, after months of focusing on his language skills, is an absolute delight. He knows all of his letters, is always looking for ways to be a helper, and has been determined to start doing things on his own/in his own way. Watching him gleefully run towards big kid independence is equal parts exhausting and amazing.

My grocery assistant was pretty thrilled with our cucumber selection.

I. Love. Christmas.

Finally making progress on the nursery artwork!

"We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures."

Thornton Wilder

Life at Seven Weeks

So much has changed in so little time - quite honestly it kinda feels like we've been to hell and back. Little Miss was diagnosed with reflux, which is just now starting to get under control with medication. It was a couple weeks of an unhappy, screaming, vomiting baby who only napped for 15 minutes at a time and also had a severe diaper rash thanks to the fact that there was a new dirty diaper pretty much every time she blinked, and a toddler who stopped sleeping through the night and couldn't understand why Mommy's hands were always full with the baby.

Two landfills and countless loads of laundry later, it seems like we're finally making progress on those issues. The best diaper rash treatment we've patched together (with pediatrician approval) is a rag and water cleaning, Mylanta applied topically, followed by a layer of Triple Paste, and topped with a layer of extra strength Boudreaux's Butt Paste. Plus a daily application of hydrocortisone cream. At its worst, that entire production was redone every 20 - 30 minutes, but we've graduated to three (or six) diaper changes per waking period. I'll admit right now that Jr watched way more TV than I ever intended during the worst of that transition. #honestparenting #realitycheck

For now, we still don't have a "typical" day. I'm working my basic daily and weekly routines, but sometimes even that doesn't happen. And that's ok, even though it frustrates me. Some days are good, some days I have to call for reinforcements, and every day requires flexibility. Such is life with an infant and a two year old!

It's a good thing he likes to help!

Life At Three Weeks...

Our little miss arrived safe and sound... three weeks ago! And I'm already wondering just how it went by so quickly.

So far, birth and recovery could not have been more different from the first time around. Aside from an initial delay of one day, which to be honest didn't phase me, everything has gone extremely well. My recovery is progressing nicely, little miss has stabilized her weight, and we've avoided nearly all of the major issues that were experienced after Jr's birth. *knocks on wood*

As far as settling into a new routine, we're still working on it, but I'm hopeful that I will get the all-clear for driving and more normal activity levels by the end of the week which should help. In general news: the baby sleeps pretty darn well, Jr hasn't been too disturbed by the new arrival, the house is in somewhat controlled chaos, and we're not surviving exclusively on take-out (thanks to very kind friends/family/neighbors and my predilection for making freezer meals).

Brand spanking new.

Such a snuggler...

First family selfie!

And the compromises begin...
"Yes, you may use your toy truck as an eating utensil."

Apparently happiness expands in direct proportion to the bags and lines under my eyes...

"Walking through the house at night is wonderful to me; a symphony of breath, each person a separate instrument as they collectively breathe in time to the metronome of life itself."

Edwin Leap

A Little Peek

At my to do list as of week 36! 26 days to go and I might be freaking out just a little... And quite frankly, I'm just too dang tired to go through the photo editing process to include pictures of our most recent shenanigans this time around.
(hangs head in shame and promptly falls asleep)

Freezer Meals/Foods:

Turkey mini meatballs

Banana muffins

Zucchini bread, sliced

Breakfast burritos
Quinoa taco skillet
Jalapeño turkey burgers x2 (1 batch done)
Waffles (done, but will probably do another batch before Little Miss arrives)

Beef enchiladas (done)
Chicken enchiladas (done)

Chili (done)

Taco soup x2 (done)

Turkey stroganoff (done)

Spaghetti sauce x2 (done)

Baby Prep:

Nursery dresser, repair and paint

Wash pack and play

Organize nursery closet and dresser

Wash and fold 0-3 month laundry

Wash swaddles/blankets

Wash burp rags

Wash Boppy covers

Wash and install infant carseat
Set up swing/bouncer

Sort Jr's old clothes for gender neutral items (done)

Assemble crib (done)

Misc:

Make meal inventory sheet for freezer

Write down Jr's daily schedule and meals for hospital stay

Pack hospital bag

Purchase new toy, book, and puzzle for Jr during hospital stay

Decide on homecoming outfit (done) 
Shower thank you notes (done)

Pregnancy Update

How far along: 36 weeks

Maternity clothes: I'm all about comfort these days... 

Sleep: Reasonable, but still less than I would like. Luckily we are hitting that point where I'm tired enough during the day that I can usually catch a quick nap while Jr is sleeping - if I make it a priority.

Best moment lately: There have been so many wonderful things lately! Finding out during the last ultrasound that Little Miss has hair! The baby shower was beautiful and such a fun afternoon!

Missing anything: Other than just not having a belly "in the way" of everything? It's been a more comfortable pregnancy than the first time around, so while I'm definitely excited to meet our Little Miss, I'm not in a rush for pregnancy to be over.

Movement: So much rolling! Every few days she has a day or two where things are quieter than normal (but still with safe kick counts) and then she gets back to her gymnastics.

Cravings: Not really? I get passing cravings for random things, but they're generally not strong enough to be memorable.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Yes, but I have no idea what it is! I've been having random bouts of nausea, but they're short lived. Heartburn is a big one for making me feel sick, but I've been keeping up on my water intake and antacids so it hasn't been too bad.

Gender: A Girl!

Labor signs: Just the usual Braxton Hicks at this point. Some days are more uncomfortable than others, and they compress my diaphragm a bit so it makes me cough, but nothing out of the ordinary.

Symptoms: T-I-R-E-D! The relaxin is really kicking in, so my hip pops with every step and my pelvis generally feels like jello. Little Miss has dropped pretty far too, so I've been having a bit of trouble with my sciatic nerve getting compressed by her little noggin! A bit of foot swelling here, a bit of heartburn there - it seems like there's a sprinkling of just about everything.

Happy or moody: There's no telling these days! I've cried and laughed over the most random things.
Here's a definite cry though - you're welcome.

Looking forward to: Finishing up the nursery! It seems like no matter how much time I've spent in there I'm really not making much progress.

Baby gear/preparations: We have a few gaps to fill in - mainly with clothes and a few pieces of gear. The main preparation that is still hanging over my head is finishing the dresser so I can get on with organizing the nursery!

Funny moments: My pregnancy cheating is back in full swing! It was one of those had to be there moments, but pregnancy brain + learning a new board game + after 9pm = unintentional cheating GALORE...

"Do it or don't. It's amazing how many things in life are that easy."
Henry Rollins

Have a Bite of...

Easy Beef Stroganoff

Yum!

It isn't exactly pretty (or more accurately, I don't have the skills to make it pretty), but it's pretty delicious! At the almost one year mark, we are branching out on solid foods for Jr. now that he is consistently interested in eating. This was the first real food he would happily eat, and it has been in our daily rotation for the past month! The two things I love about this dish are that it is a one-pot meal, and that it makes a lovely sauce without needing flour.

Easy Beef Stroganoff

adapted from Taste and Tell

2 Tbs olive oil, divided

16 oz mushrooms, sliced

salt and pepper

1 small onion, chopped

1.5 - 2 Tbs garlic paste

1 lb ground beef

2 Tbs paprika

2 Tbs beef base
1 cup hot water

4 cups organic beef broth

12 oz gluten free rotini

1/2 cup sour cream

In large skillet, heat 1 Tbs olive oil. Add the sliced mushrooms and sauté, flipping/stirring the mushrooms after 2 minutes, until just starting to brown. Place mushrooms in bowl, season with salt and pepper, and set aside.

Heat remaining olive oil, add the chopped onion and sauté until translucent. Add garlic paste and stir to combine. Add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking up chunks as you go.

Add paprika, beef base, and hot water. Stir until combined, then add beef broth and rotini. Bring to a boil, cover the pan, reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes.

Remove pan from heat, add the sour cream, and stir until incorporated. Add the cooked mushrooms, stir, and serve! (This makes approximately six dinner servings. I usually get four lunches for myself and eight meals for Jr from one pot.)

More please!

This is Jr's favorite food* and he usually powers through it for two meals a day. Now that we've established his taste for it, I've taken to adding various steamed vegetables* just prior to serving since he doesn't like to eat them plain. So far we've had relatively good luck with green beans, peas, carrots, and corn.
*always cut into age appropriate, bite-sized pieces

May Snapshots

1) View

Berries as far as the eye can see!

2) Happy

Park + Perfect Fetching Stick = Happy Pup!

3) Balance

Am I doing this right, Mommy?

4) Wear

"Cause all the cool kids they seem to get it..."

5) Love

Doesn't everyone sneak around taking pictures of their family?
Just me? Oh, ok...

6) Everyday

He's actually starting to seek out books, with Dear Zoo being his current favorite.

7) Eat

Farm fresh berries dropped off at my door by my thoughtful Dad.

8) Project

Nursery art - finished only 9 months after moving in!

9) Habit

Nice weather means we get to spend more time in the yard!

10) Favorite

Good grief, I love him.

"The best things in life are not only free, they require less assembly."
Robert Brault

And Suddenly It Was May...

I'm not really sure what happened to April.

But moving along: here is a very late set of March snapshots, and a decidedly prompt set of April snapshots. This means we can be friends again, right?

March

1) View

A beautiful day on the farm.

2) Happy

Such a happy bear.

3) Balance

Some days we just need some extra snuggles.

4) Wear

Or in this case, not wearing.

5) Love

He's starting to get the general idea of books.

6) Everyday

Taking my suggestion of playing in the cabinet literally.

7) Eat

Reusable pouches, so handy!

8) Project

Just a little trim around the ears :(

9) Habit

Finally getting back to reading for fun again.

10) Favorite

Mr. Active!

April

1) View

Our first legit hike as a family!

2) Happy

A blankie, a bear, and an empty soda bottle to play with. What more could a kid want?

3) Balance

I picked up a new advertising contract, so Jr and I have been spending more time in the office.
Luckily, he finds looking out the window while perched atop a yoga block quite entertaining.

4) Wear

Superbaby!!

5) Love

That face.

6) Everyday

Hanging with the punkin, who is handling car rides SO much better!

7) Eat

I've been on a tuna salad kick again, but this time there is more fish than pickles.

8) Project

I've been trying to get more done while Jr is awake instead of relying on naps.
So far, so good.

9) Habit

We read together every day. Also, how amazing is it that they have Pantone board books?!

10) Favorite

Weekend snuggles!

"You are the universe, expressing itself as a human for a little while."
Eckhart Tolle