Pages

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

29 Weeks = 11 More Diaper-Free Weeks

This pregnancy has just flown by and I can't believe we're closing in on 10 weeks until Baby Rooney #2 is born! I have 11 more diaper/Pull Up-free weeks!! Believe me, I am enjoying every moment of passing up the diaper aisle at Target.

I was mortified at the hospital when Brookey was hooked up to all the machines and she asked to go potty and the nurse said, "Just have her go in her Pull-Up." Excuse me, Lady...Do you know how HARD I to worked to brainwash her into NOT going in her Pull Up and now you're telling me to tell her to do just the opposite?? No way, Jose. I unhooked her from the machines myself each and every time she had to pee or poop. I can't go back to Pull Ups!! And the amazing thing--since she has been in the hospital, she "trained" herself not to pee at night. She's been waking up dry ever since. Not sure what that's all about, but I'm going with the flow on this one.

I'll post some belly pics soon, but take my word for it--I'm getting big!! The Dr. said I am measuring 29 1/2 weeks, so maybe I'll get lucky and have this one early or at least on time!! My last day at work will be March 25th...pending any unforeseen circumstances. :-)

Monday, January 12, 2009

Brookey's Hospital Stay


Early Friday morning, we checked into the most expensive hotel around--the Hospital! When we called the nurse late Thursday night because Brookey was having labored breathing, she advised we take her immediately to the ER. We went in thinking she'd be treated and Scott would be home in time for his 6:00 am conference call. Four days later, we grateful to be home--happy and healthy! Brookey was diagnosed with asthma, apparently triggered by a virus or just a common cold. I always thought asthma was triggered by overexertion or bad air quality, dust, etc. The whole experience was an education and spending 3 days in the pediatric ward of a hospital makes you realize how lucky you are....

Here are some pics of Brookey's hospital adventure! She was such a trooper!!





Saturday, January 3, 2009

Oatmeal Cookie Recipe

1 cup flour

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 3/4 sticks of softened butter

1/2 cup white sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 large egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 1/2 cups of old fashioned oats (NOT the quick cooking kind)

Sea Salt


- Preheat oven to 350 and spray cooking spray on cookie sheets
- Stir flour, baking soda, powder and salt in a medium bowl
- With a mixer, beat butter and sugars at medium speed until combined. Add egg and vanilla and beat until very creamy--about 3-4 minutes.
- Keep running mixer and slowly incorporate dry ingredients, including oats. Dough should be very sticky.
- Divide dough into SMALL balls (they will spread!)--about 2 teaspoons each and drop onto cookie sheet.
- Roll each cookie into a ball and press down SLIGHTLY.
- Sprinkle sea salt onto the top of each cookie.
- Bake on middle rack at 350 until just barely golden around the edges (about 10 minutes in my oven).

ENJOY!!!!!!!!

I Can Bake!

It's a fact: I am not a "baking"-type person ..too time consuming, you have to measure everything exactly--not my style! But this year I decided that having Brooke "make" the Pillsbury "open and bake" cookies was somehow doing a disservice to her. After all, Martha wouldn't be appalled?? Is this really teaching family values?? :-) So when my coworker/baker/mom extraordinaire gave me a "fool proof" recipe for oatmeal cookies, I decided to give it a try. Eureka!!!! Perfectly yummy, round, crispy-on- the-outside, chewy-on-the-inside cookies!!! Okay, it took me two tries but Rome wasn't built in a day. I wanted to share the recipe (above) so if any of you have a "Martha Stewart" moment and decide you want to bake cookies from scratch, you're in luck :-) ENJOY!!! Remember, if I can do it, ANYONE can!

Friday, January 2, 2009

The Two C's of Potty Training

Well, after a year of completely half-assedly "potty training" Brooke, we've finally got down to business. I hope people can learn from our mistakes!! When we first "started," everything I read said if it wasn't going well, just "wait, they're not ready." Well, I have to say that is the WORST advice EVER!!!! Kids are "ready" and different times, but I think anytime after 2, they're ready. It's lazy parents who aren't ready--myself being one of them. Not necessarily LAZY, but not 100% committed and also not having the lifestyle that lends itself to consistency. Those are my two C's of potty training: commitment and consistency.

If you are not a stay at home mom, I strongly suggest, when you start potty training, take a week off work (tough, but gotta do it) and just dedicate that week to potty training. Don't ever depend on daycare to do it. Most daycares want them to be clean and dry for at least 2 days before they will allow them to wear undies all day. Otherwise, they have to wear pull-ups--a huge setback to potty training. If you are a stay at home mom, if you want quick results, don't plan on leaving the house for at least two days (Commitment!!!). But just take them to the potty every 1/2 hour or so (Consistency!!!).

Once you venture out of the house, make sure they go pee before they leave and find the bathroom as soon as you arrive at your destination. On long car trips, we actually take Brookey's small potty and are ready to pull over whenever she says she has to go. This may seem like a pain in the butt, but changing diapers is also a pain!!!

I am happy to report I have not changed a diaper for the past 3 days and it's very liberating :-) We're totally not out of the woods, though. Going #2 is a challenge for Brookey but I am keeping up with my "two C's!!" I know she'll get it soon--i just have to be patient and not expect it all in one week. I also put my foot down at daycare and require that she be allowed to wear undies all day. That is the only way to see progress quickly!

So I guess my advice is not to listen to the advice of people that say, "they're not ready, they'll get it later." As long as your kid can follow directions and YOU have the Commitment and Consistency, it will happen :-)

Thursday, January 1, 2009

New Years Resolutions

I don't want to make any resolutions that set me up for failure (i.e. work out everyday), so I am making a general one....IN GENERAL, just to be more healthy. This includes (but not limited to): less eating out, planning ahead healthy meals, trying new veggies and recipes, attempting to walk/"work out" on weekends and during maternity leave, making my own baby food, using healthier/fresh ingredients....and the big one: no fast food for ONE YEAR! I have already stopped eating fast food for over 2 months, so why stop now?

I think we eat pretty healthy and do all the things I listed above, but there is always room for improvement! HAPPY 2009 everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Quick and Easy Meal Prep for Breakfast + Lunch + Snacks!

Ready for a SUPER quick and easy meal prep?! No joke, it took me longer to find all the lids to these containers than it did it prep my b...