Wednesday, February 26, 2014

3 Months


Where has the time gone? Charlie is already 3 months old!

Charlie is still in size 2 diapers and 3-6 month clothing. I've been buying 6-9 month items in preparation for summer months, but I think he will be in theses for another month or so. He hasn't had a dr appointment this month so I don't know his weight, but I am guessing around 16 lbs. I might weigh him at home just out of curiosity.

He eats about every 3 hours and just started taking 6 oz each feeding. One or two of those bottles each day has some left behind, but he generally finishes them.

We JUST moved him to his crib in his room (last night) and he did well. He started sporadically sleeping through the night so I just went ahead and moved him. It can vary a lot on when he gets up. Sometimes he wakes at 3:30ish to eat. A few times he has gone to 6 and once even 7. Generally he wakes around 5 to eat and I'm OK with that. It is late enough that I don't' feel like he needs to be in my room anymore for me to get to. I mix his bottle as I'm walking through the kitchen to his room.

He naps in his swing. First time mommy-me would have stressed about how that is the only place he would nap and would be trying frantically to get him to nap in his crib. Second time mommy-me...couldn't care less. He is napping. I get stuff done. And he sleeps in his crib at night. Those Luvs commercials are so so true (except I don't use Luvs).

He is a happy baby. Like, ridiculously happy. He is so content and laid back. I might even say lazy... We've been doing more tummy time. He's getting better at trying to hold his head up, but most of the time face plants and fusses because he knows he will get picked up. It is so different from Colin, as at this point Colin was pushing up really well and had even rolled over. But they were also very different in my belly.

During NST with Colin, he would move so much and kick the monitor off and we'd lose his heartbeat. Always having to replace it. He still is in constant motion.

During Charlie's NST he was so chilled and laid back. The tests lasted FOREVER because he would sleep the entire time. They would make me drink juice boxes every time to get some sugar to him. They made me poke him and adjust positions. Once they had me play music on my phone and hold it up to my belly. (Justin Timberlake woke him right up and got him moving that time.)

I say he is a laid back baby, but he is starting to come around and be much more alert. He is chatty and loves to babble. He is getting good about sitting in the excersaucer (propped by a blanket in the front) and is starting to reach and grab at things.

I'm feeling great and back to normal. Most all of my pre-Charlie clothes are starting to fit and I'm getting back into a normal workout routine. Charlie does great in the Y Child Watch and I haven't had to be called out of a class yet. I try to go at the same time everyday so he gets his morning snooze in while I workout which I think helps.

Thursday, February 13, 2014

February So Far

So, I prayed and prayed when I was pregnant that I would get a chilled laid back baby that slept pretty good. And God answered that prayer. Charlie has been doing so good. He doesn't sleep through the night yet, but he can go 6 hours to sometimes 8 hours during his first stretch of sleep. Blessed momma right here. But God is laughing because now my pre-schooler is getting up multiple times a night. I.am.not.kidding.

He is scared of many things right now. And I struggle to figure out if he is really scared or just wants attention or to sleep in my bed. I always put him back in his bed. I am doing my best. But I am exhausted. He is scared of robots the majority of the time. So today I think I am going to take away anything that is "robotic." So, goodbye Transformers toys and clothes. And good by robot Leappad Game. Hello nap time.

I also am not sure if he is just overly tired and that is making his nighttime waking worse. Like he is half asleep with he wakes and "sees" something. He also has gotten an attitude which I'm sure some of it comes from his age, and some of it comes from the lack of sleep since he is up throughout the night. Hoping a nap with be helpful.

We are also trying positive reinforcement. Every night he stays in his bed and doesn't get up, he gets a sticker. Once he fills his sticker chart he gets to go to the Space Center in Huntsville. This kid is all about space right now, so it seems to be a good goal, but doesn't work every night.

Other than all the snow and ice scares we've been having, I've been busy working around the house to get it fixed up. Little projects here or there. I love this house and neighborhood, but sometimes I hate this house. LOL I am pretty sure the previous owners didn't bother to take care of it like they should have. In the short time we have lived here (5 months), we have already replaced the water heater and furnace. Both big purchases which ate into my remodel/redecorate fund. I try to remember that we are lucky to have a house and roof over our heads, but it gets really frustrating to be ready to start on a "fun" project but have to redirect funds to a necessary one.

When we moved in we purchased all new kitchen appliances with the intention of replace the counter tops with granite. I'm excited to say they are being installed next week!! I look forward to being about to paint and finish up the kitchen and have at least one room in the house done.

I've been repainting all of the trim and doors in the house. The old trim color was an off white, which worked well with the old colors in the house (I guess) as they were all kind of darker. But I want lighter and airier colors through the house and they needed a brighter trim color. So there are currently two different trim colors in my house depending on where you are. It is taking me a while to tape and paint with both kids around. I just do a little whenever I can.

Last weekend we started the face lift on our dining room. I got handy and measured and purchased everything I needed to install a chair rail. It looks great and in the next week or two I am going to add that picture frame wainscoting below and paint it all white. I've got my measurements taken and just need a chance to get to the hardware store (preferably alone!) to get my materials. But here is my progress so far.



And to finish up, here are some other photos off of my phone from this month.


This was at the hospital during the ice storm. He is way too big for that. It looks so funny.





I'm mean...and charge Colin for batteries now. I give him a battery allowance at the beginning of each month and he leaves his toys on and they run out. So now he has to buy additional if wants more. Like I said, mean. But I'm over him leaving on his toys and draining batteries.




Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Whole Wheat Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

Colin devours these. So I froze the majority of them so I could pull them out as he wanted one. Recipe was adapted from the one on 100 Days of Real Food blog.

1 1/2 cups white whole wheat flour
1 Tbsp pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 eggs
1/2 cup honey
1/3 cup melted butter
1 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line muffin pan with 12 liners.

Use a whisk to blend the flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Make a well in the middle of the flour mixture and add in the eggs, honey, and melted butter. Mix until well combined. Fold in the pumpkin puree followed by the chocolate chips.

Pour the batter into the prepared muffin pan and bake 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Source

Monday, February 10, 2014

Weekly Meal Plan

I'd like to try and get back to posting my meals plans every week and sharing any new recipes that we enjoy. It may not happen regularly, but I'm going to make an effort!

Breakfast

  • Belvita Breakfast Bars
  • Cereal
  • Egg
  • Oatmeal
  • Yogurt
  • Cereal Bars
Lunch
  • Leftovers
  • Salad
  • PB&J
  • Chicken Tenders
  • Finger Food Plate (for my picky per-schooler!)
Dinner
  • Chicken Enchiladas, saffron rice, homemade re-fried beans (found this on pinterest and it is so easy and good - will post recipe soon!)
  • Roasted mushroom & onion with Gouda grilled cheese, chips, fresh fruit
  • Tilapia, rice, veggies
  • Homemade Calzones
  • Spaghetti with turkey meatballs, greens beans, bread
  • Cobb salad 
  • Paula Dean Baked spaghetti (made meatless), salad, bread
Snacks
  • Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
  • Fruit
  • Cheese & Crackers
  • Pretzels
  • Yogurt

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Photos

These are my favorites of the photos we had done when I visited TN a few weeks ago.