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Rededicated. Again.

Thursday, October 1st, 2009

(Yes, the redundancy was intentional.)

So here we go!  On the cooking wagon, again!  Thanks to my friend Emily who sent me her favorite recipe site: Kraftfoods.com.

October 024

October 025

If you look closely you can see that today was “crock pot.”  And wa-la.

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BBQ Pulled Pork anyone?  Recipe from McCormick.  I mean…I just stuff all the stuff in the crock pot and it is basically COOKING ITSELF.  I’ll probably make some rice.  Or just give the people bread.  Maybe something green? Who knows?

I think my biggest obstacle to cooking has been big grocery shopping.  I hate making lists every time and trying to plan the menu.  So I just went all out.  I made an excel spreadsheet with EVERYTHING ON IT (a work in progress, but mostly done) in different categories.  It’s basically a list of things I need to keep in my kitchen so that I can a) make the meals featured on the lovely magnets and b) make sure everyone has breakfast/lunch/snacks available that they enjoy.  I print it out, stick in on the fridge, and we highlight what we need.  Before I print it out I’ll add a new recipe or two (like the McCormick one) to the side and make sure I have those ingredients, too.  Sure, I end up hauling a list of EVERYTHING IN MY KITCHEN to the grocery store, but I find it’s pretty easy to ignore what’s not highlighted and crossed out.  And it beats making a new list every time!

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Yeah, if you’re thinking about using those carts…don’t.  I think I threw out my back.  One of the more ridiculous inventions ever.  Except that Camper sat and twirled the steering wheel and waved at people like a dignitary for the whole hour and a half that it took me to figure out what a pork shoulder was.  And I never did find the powdery polenta.  I’ll have to try again next time.

Following up with my plea for help (thanks Erin for your comment!) I did actually pick up some couscous to work into the mix.  I’ve also experimented with just giving the Bubbs our dinner.  It works sometimes and not others, but he seems to like ground beef in various incarnations, spaghetti and homemade mac ‘n cheese, and I actually made him a little quesadilla a couple of times this week which he LOVED.  Just whole wheat tortilla, some cheese, slasa and sour cream…maybe a little avocado or beef…and he chomped it down.

Finally- I think the menu is going to stick this time.  Mostly, because I learned I can big shop all on my own.  Also, I added things like “soup and sandwich” (which will probably mean grilled cheese and a can of something) and “chicken fatties and fries” to the mix.  That way I’m not having to do seriously food assembly every night.  But we’re day two, and going strong.

Me: “Do you think it’s going to taste good?”

My Dad: “Does it have meat in it?”

Yeah.  I think it’ll be ok.

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Posted in Day to day | 6 Comments »

What do you feed your child? I really want to know!

Friday, September 25th, 2009

So I’m not a healthy eater.  I am SOMETIMES, but Ramen Noodles or Frozen Pizza are dinner for me more often than I care to admit.  Often enough that I capitalize them, apparently.  For about 3 months or so my Mom and I were GREAT at trading off cooking duties- and husbands and babies benefited greatly.  But then it all went downhill.  I think we’re just going through a fallow season, but regardless of whether or not the adults in the house are cooking good food- the BABY needs good food.  He also eats earlier than we do most days (usually around 4pm, while I’m cooking grownup dinner if I cook) and then has another snack around 6 before bed.

His diet (i.e. things he willingly eats) consists of a few things:

Noodles: (Wheat noodles and WackyMac) He eats them plain.  I put some shake cheese on them once and caused the Great Meltdown of 2009.

Fruit: Bananas, Apples, Pears and Peaches.  Other seasonal things.

Veggies: Carrots and Peas that I mix into pasta.  He used to eat broccoli and cauliflower.

Chicken Nuggets: Its own food group.

Sweet potato french fries.

Toast with various toppings.

Cheese.

Yogurt.

Mac and Cheese.

Tortillas, goldfish crackers, whole wheat crackers, bread, muffins, etc.

Oatmeal.

More noodles.

Uh….yeah.  Sometimes he eats our dinner or lunch food, if he’s in the mood and it’s presented just right.  I probably need to go back to trying things like hummus and avocados (avocados seem out of season now).  He’s had tuna like…once…spread really thinly on bread.  I’ve given him maybe one hot dog total.  I worry about sodium.  Someone once told me scary stuff about carrots that I don’t really remember, but I’ve avoided them ever since I stopped cooking them for his baby pastey food.

So…here’s my question.

What do you feed your kid?  I’m interested in two things:

1) Freezer foods that are actually good for us.  Things that are not deep fried but that I can just buy and have on hand to fix quickly.  Preferably affordable and good for both babies and grownups.

2) Foods that I can prepare once and freeze and have for a while.  I can do recipes with like…5 steps.  I’m just trying to keep it real here.  I have a rice cooker, so I can do casseroles now.

Basically, the freezer is my friend.

Also, any favorite canned foods/soups that won’t put my kid on heart medication before kindergarten?

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Posted in All About Baby, Day to day | 2 Comments »

I Heart Passing Out No Crying

Monday, May 11th, 2009

Yesterday was rough, but Camper is back to passing out with a little grin/minimal fussing.  I think that the trip messed him up a wee, but one day of toughing out a little more “cry it out” and he’s back to going to sleep well.  STAYING asleep, now that’s another story.  We’re back to sleepus interruptus, totally fun, and I think a product of not eating enough during the day.  I would give my left pinkie toe to the person who can get my son to eat a full bottle a few times a day, but alas.  We’re just going with the flow.  He LOVES solid food- so much so that I’ve added proteins- starting with pureed chicken.  It takes like poultry paste, but he went ga ga over it, so I’m guessing it’s a good addition.  Other things we’ll work into his diet this month: yogurt, cottage cheese, cheese in general, hummus, beans, meats of all types, tofu (if I can figure that one out) and eventually (last because it’s a big allergy food) eggs…I still refuse to give him juice unless he’s not pooping.  It’s just not necessary, and with his tendency to not drink his formula, I don’t want to waste his fluid on sugar water.  I also put formula powder into his food all day long.  It’s in his oatmeal, in his rice cereal, in his sweet potatoes…I have to get it in while I can.

So I ask you, Moms, do your babies eat their recommended amount of formula each day?  If not, do you worry about it or just give them food like they’re begging for?  I know of at least one mommy blogger who talks about her baby kind of self-weaning, eventually preferring mostly solid food during the day.  I think we’re headed in that direction, Camper.

Today was spent doing laundry, doing pre-packing for baby’s first plane trip.  I’m seriously nervous about how he’ll be (i.e. SLEEP) on the plane.  The ONLY time my kid screams is when he’s overtired and can’t relax.  Airplane + tons of strangers + complete lack of crib might be very very bad for him.  It could be just fine.  Let’s hope for just fine.  In the meantime, I’m trying to “streamline” packing efforts, bringing the exact amount of everything I need, avoiding unessential items, and wondering how much I’ll need my computer while I’m gone.  Would you all miss me?  Would I have time for blogging anyway?  I know what I NEED to fix this problem, but not yet.  Not til our contract is up in September.  Oh yeah, and not until we pay off this trip to Utah that we can’t afford.

Yeah.

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Posted in Adventures, All About Baby, Blogging, Day to day, Family | 1 Comment »

The Food that Gets me Through

Thursday, April 23rd, 2009

So yes.  As of this morning’s weigh in, I’ve officially lost the baby weight.  I am now at the weight I was before I got pregnant.  I’ve decided to keep going and lose some more, but all in all, I feel much better about life.  Thank you, Weight Watchers.  Some people don’t have to deal with losing weight after having children…I’m noticing an increasing amount of people who don’t seem to suffer from it the same way I did.  But the point is, I did, and it’s gone.  In honor of reaching a normal weight for me, I thought I’d post some of my favorite foods, things that I couldn’t live without.  Keep in mind that I do occasionally cook more intense meals, things with more steps that have more groups…but this is a list of daily foods that I can eat QUICKLY and REALLY ENJOY almost as much as the junk food that I love.

1) Boiled Eggs- Now I know this might seem gross to some of you, but a boiled eggwhite is 0 points people.  0 points!  They are high in protein, and I actually think they are yummy.  And Bubbs can eat the yolks, so no waste.

egg2) Kind of Quesadillas- Tortillas, low fat cheese and sour cream, and salsa.  Microwave for 45 seconds, and it’s all set! If you want more a meal and less of a snack…just add chicken or some green veggies, like spinach or chilies.  Yum.

quesadilla

3) English Muffin Pizzas! Whole wheat English Muffin, low fat cheese, and some spaghetti sauce.  If you want a lower point value, use salsa instead of spaghetti sauce.  These actually got me through when the little brother ordered some yummy pizza during my “no cheating” period of the week.

pizza

4) Trust the Gorton’s Fisherman.  I love fish, but hate cooking it and smelling up my house. These grilled fillets are filling, quick and good with some veggies as lunch. PLUS I find them on super sale at the cheap-o supermarket.  If you eat them with only broccoli, they’re only 2 points.  Rice adds a bit more, but makes a good meal.  John told me he’d eat them, too, if I bought him the breaded kind.

fish

5) And then…of course…Diet Coke.  I tried Coke Zero this week, but it’s a no go for me.  I like the regular old Diet Coke, just as is.  Soda is my weakness, people.  I love regular soda, especially Dr. Pepper.  But I can’t stop myself from drinking too much, so I end up buying the “baby cans” (8 oz.) and limiting myself to 2  a day, if I have any.  I can’t even touch regular soda, because I will drink it all day long.  If I want a “treat” I’ll get a diet Dr. Pepper, which I purposefully don’t keep in the house so that it stays “special.”  I know.  Sad, isn’t it?

cokedietand0

6) Then there’s Jello.  Sugar-free, thank you Bill Cosby.  Just another reason that I love you.

jello

7) Progresso Soups.  Lots of flavors, lots of point options.  My favorites frange anywhere from 0-5 points, and they’re nice when you run out of other quick options.  I do make my own soup at times (I haven’t since we left Utah) and that works well, too.  But it’s nice to have a few of these around for those days when nothing else sounds good.

soup1

I also depend on dried apricots (when I need something sweet), almonds, non-fat cottage cheese and crackers, and if I need a chocolate fix: I just eat chocolate.  Novel, right?  I have some WW chocolates that are nice, but I am still hoarding my Easter Eggs and eating them slowly.  Correction: I have John hide them from me and dole them out when I have extra points at the end of the day.  Nice husband, to play chocolate warden.  Maybe one day I’ll have some self-control.  But in the meantime, I have my quick fix foods, and my husband to keep a moderate amount of chocolate coming.

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Posted in Mommy Upkeep | 3 Comments »

Adjustment

Monday, March 16th, 2009

So last night was the big night.  John worked the night shift, and I stayed home with Bubby.  Luckily he slept pretty well- woke up at 11:30pm, 4am, and then finally 6:30 am.  I’m forgoing my normal morning nap trying to get used to it (honestly, I got about 8 cumulative hours last night, I shouldn’t even be tired).  I missed John.  It was weird not having him next to me all night, but I think I handled it.  Camper did pee out of his PJ’s- twice- which makes me think that it just might be time to up his diaper size again.

In other news, I was weighing in at -3lbs. (I’ll just share the total weight lost, ok?) last night.  That makes me happy for 4 days!  This morning I was at -5, but I think that’s just the difference in time I weighed myself.  A late afternoon weighing is the most accurate, since that’s when I started.  All in all, I want to lose the recommended 2 lbs. a week.  Not crazy, just steady.  Once I get to my goal weight (-18 total) I can just maintain from there.  So far the food has been good.  I’ll have to share some of my recipes and things I’m cooking.  It’s a little difficult to make dinner for everyone and figure out how much of it I can eat, considering I have to measure everything, but figuring it out is the hardest part.  I find the portion sizes to be filling.  I think I’m eating a lot more healthily, too.  I figure in a couple of months I’ll have a collection of recipes that I’ve figured out how to make/adapt for the family and eat what I need to, too.  Tonight it’s WW’s recipe Chicken with Warm Bean Salsa.  It says it makes enough for 4…so I’m going to double it to feed everyone, and hopefully they get full.  I might have to set mine aside so that I can measure it out and make sure I’m not eating too much.  Last night was Chicken and Broccoli Pasta- my own creation.  Twas yummy.  And tomorrow I’m going to figure something out besides chicken ;)

I think I know why some women love to cook so much.  When you realize how much work it is to plan/execute good, healthy meals for your family, you either have to learn to love it and do it well or hate your life in general.  With the planning, shopping, cooking, etc. a SAHM’s job is pretty well planned out for her.  Seriously.  I just hope that I get to the point where I can just make healthy, filling things without so much effort.  I’ve seen it done.  I’m sure I’ll get there.

So now we’re onto our first day minus the Daddy.  Is this what it’s like for people who’s spouses have to go to work?  There’s no running off to Costco or BabiesRUs together, no sneaking some secret chicken nuggets, no watching things on the DVR or going for a drive.  It’s sad!  John seemed to be ok when he got home this morning, cuddled the Bubbs and gave him a bottle, then went up to his lair to sleep for a while.  He officially has his own bedroom now…we put a bed in the office so that he can sleep hopefully undisturbed, and it worked out perfectly for him yesterday afternoon.  It’s the same twin bed that we had in Bubby’s room in Provo, which as I remember is rather comfy.  A blackout curtain in the window, some white noise on the iPod…and I’m hoping we have a relatively well-rested husband/father.  And since I’m sending him to work with 2 different kinds of veggies in his dinner…maybe he’ll be nourished as well.  One can only hope.

So yes, I’m adjusting.  Let’s hope everyone else is, too.

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Posted in All About Baby, Day to day | 3 Comments »

For Shiz I’m Social

Saturday, March 7th, 2009

9:42 on a Saturday night- and I’m WORN OUT.  I just noticed that I haven’t updated in a couple of days (I know?  What?) and it’s because I suddenly grew a life this weekend.  Friday morning I had my first ever play group with Camper.  I was apprehensive as he is my first child, and I am still embarrassed during meltdowns/freakouts, etc.  I really thought that a playgroup during his naptime was probably a bad idea, but distinct need for socialization led me to strap him into the back of the car and go anyway.  It was great.  He just learned to sit up on his own unassisted (for periods of time) and he played with the other babies and chewed on new things and watched the big kids run and play.  PLUS, I got to talk to people who love talking about kids nonstop for hours.  It’s good we keep that kind of stuff in our own circles so as not to bore our friends who have no yet procreated.

The rest of the day Friday was spent wandering around a mall about an hour from our house.  We got Bubby some clothes from H&H and a block/chain link type toy from BabiesRUs.  (When I have more energy I will find out what it’s actually called, “chain link” sounds a wee dangerous.  It is not fencing materials, I assure you.)  I am going to TRY to save them for his Easter Basket, but we will see.

Today we ran around to get things ready for my Mom’s “surprise” B-day party.  She and my Dad spend the night in Albany to celebrate, saw a show (Madeline Peyroux!) I invited some friends over, John made Queso and a chocolate cake, I assembled a fruity angelfood cake, and we just relaxed and had fun.  I am proud to report that Camper slept through most of it.  When John and I were first engaged we visited some of his friends in New Hampshire, and I was WAY impressed that their daughters went to bed and STAYED in bed, even as the grownups were playing games and being loud and laughing.  My ultimate goal is to teach Camper to be a  sturdy sleeper.  Sturdy sleeping is a skill that will serve him into his college years and in case his future spouse suffers from a deviated septum.  Moving on…we put him to bed, and aside from waking up to eat, he’s been sleeping soundly since 6:30pm.  Good, good baby.  Even though I felt a little sad that he was left out.  But he’ll be all the happier for it.

So although I should be folding laundry or looking over the lesson for church tomorrow, I’m sitting here, writing this, and pondering what pattern sling I should get for Bubby.  And then, I’m off to bed.  And THAT is my weekend.  Good one, huh?  (Oh yeah!  And I had a grinder on Friday.  I heart grinders…)

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Posted in All About Baby, Toooo tired to choose a category | 1 Comment »

Makin’ Menus

Tuesday, September 16th, 2008

So I had this idea.  And since I had some time on my hands today I decided to act on this idea of mine.  It is no mystery to anyone who knows me that I am cooking resistant.  I love food, I love eating, and I enjoy thinking about becoming a fabulous cook…but I hate cooking.  Even more than that I hate CHOOSING what to cook.  Not knowing is totally discouraging.  My Mom has this thing in her kitchen at home that says something to the effect of, “I only have a kitchen because it came with the house.”  When I read that it actually resonated with me.  Anyway.  I’ve decided that I need to cook more.  First of all, I’m going to be at home for the next few months.  Second of all, we waste a lot of money on non-nutritious fast food.  Finally, I want to impart actual nutrients through my breast milk to my baby, and not have to wonder why his first words are, “Welcome to McDonald’s, can I take your order?” later in life.  (These being my first words is, by the way, is an ongoing joke in our family.  In reality my Mom is a really good cook, she just had me when she was 19.  And that was in the days before the nuggets were “all white meat.”  One wonders what they were before…)

SO.  THE PLAN.  I sat down to write down 31 things that I can cook.  When I got through all the things I know how to cook, I then had to resort to 29 things I had simply heard of to make the 31.  I figure variety is a huge part of the success of this plan.  I then wrote out an index card for each meal- not with the recipe (because most of them are too simple to require a recipe, to be honest) but with the list of things I need to make it.  THEN I printed out the meals on magnetic paper (John printed them….actually) and cut them into TEENY strips and put them on our whiteboard calendar.  That way we have little magnets that we can move around and use to plan meals, and then the cards to let me know what supplies I need to make them.  Finally- I pulled out the next few cards (through Monday, actually) to bring to the store with me and put them in a little card holder, and get this, I’M PLANNING ON PUTTING COUPONS IN THERE.  TO SAVE MONEY.  (Are you proud of me Robin???)  After I got my little shopping list box together and made all my magnets, I really wanted to find some coupons, but we had thrown them all away.  More will come tomorrow probably.

This is what I’ve been up to while I’ve been at home, but I feel like it’s quite a big thing, actually.  I hope I stick to this.  I hope I hope. In that spirit, however, I’d love to hear some of your favorite, nutritious, cost-effective meals.  I’ve got all the obvious stuff…but if you have anything fun and yummy just comment, I’d love to try it!

Here are some pics of my efforts.  I know some might have been more crafty about it…but it works!

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Posted in Day to day | 6 Comments »

Perhaps the Most Ridiculous Day Ever

Monday, August 25th, 2008

So, I was up all night last night and sorely tempted to stay in bed allll daaay long today.  Contrary to this impression, I did get up and go to work, which is where all the ridiculousness started.  I sat down and started updating my spreadsheets, all normal-like, just enjoying a plastic container of blueberries my Mom sent me with.  Then it turned out that we had an interview coming in for my position, which went REALLY well (we ended up hiring her, I start training her tomorrow, but that’s another story), but took half the afternoon.  So afterwards I went back to my desk expecting to get a few things done when I get a phone call- it’s HR.  They inform me- get this- that I’ve been selected for random drug testing.  I get to pee in a cup, yay!  So I waddle down there to find a tall, blonde, frantic woman following me into the bathroom.  The first thing she says to me is, “Are you sure you have to pee?  Because I only have so many cups.”  Ummmm….is it not her job to provide the cups?  Plus, I’m pregnant.  It can feel like Niagara Falls is waiting to be released only to give way to a few measly drops.  Gaging my ability to pee isn’t first priority these days.  Anyway, so I do my business only to have her bang on the door and inform me I only have 4 minutes, and then WALK IN ON ME.  Seriously- I was only in there for like…2…max.  Then she proceeds to chat about how I’m pregnant and should be able to pee on demand, etc. etc. etc.  The BEST part, though, and the part I’m actually going to report to HR tomorrow, is when I told her I was on Prednisone so that if my urine came up all full of drugs she’d know what they were, and she said, “THAT IS A HORRIBLE MEDICATION.”  In front of everyone- as if I’m some kind of horrible woman for taking it.  It was as if the doctor said, “Here, to cure your horrible, uncomfortable mystery disease we have either a) steroids or b) fruit loops and kitten kisses,”  and I said “Bring on the hard stuff.”  Feeling the emotion rise in my everything I turned to her and said, “Thank you very much for judging my medication.”  That is when everyone turned to look at me like, “Uh oh, Erin’s going postal.”  The woman balked and floundering a bit said, “Oh, it’s just that my sister was on it for a long time and it turned out really badly.”  To which I replied, “And amazingly, your second comment worse than your first.  You should just stop.”  Ok- so it’s a sensitive subject to me.  I don’t want to be on medication, and the only other meds I Could take cost almost $300 a month.  And my OBGYN and my GI have said it’s ok, and honestly, I just avoided a colonoscopy, and I’m just sick.  And all of those feelings came to a head on this woman who felt the need to treat me like a criminal and then judge me openly.  So anyway, after that, I went home.

We decided to take my Mom to Applebees for a THANKS MOM dinner treat (because she is so amazing, and takes care of me so well, and deserves some Applebees sometimes) and thus commences weird experience number two.  The waiter comes up and takes our drink orders and follows it up with, “I’m sorry, I’m going to have to look at your rings.”  I immediately felt confused, wondering if there were some new law in place that required me to be married to have a Pepsi.  The waiter then GRABBED MY HAND and stuck his face down close to my rings- apparently he is looking for one for his finance.  But still, he touched me, it was weird.  He was actually a good waiter…but…the only word is weird. He asked my Mom if she didn’t like veggies because she didn’t finish all her millions of broccoli, and she said, “I ate a few trees.”  In all seriousness he turned to her and replied, “In that case, would you like some dessert?”  I about bust a gut.  The crappiest part of it all was that John and I both got endless plates of various things and neither of us could make it through even ONE serving of dinner.  The waiter said “we didn’t prepare.”

So yeah.  It was a weird day with lots of weird feelings.  And I think it’s probably about time to go to bed and just read some stuffs.  And that’s it.  Because I can’t deal with any more full bellies or pee cups or waiters touching me.  I just hope hope hope I can sleep tonight- because I don’t want to be wandering a dark house looking for bagels at 1am again.  Not good for me, yo.

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Posted in Adventures, Day to day, Random unpleasant things | 1 Comment »