Meal Plan-- 02/04

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Better late than never, right?? So far meal planning has helped so much with getting good food on our table every night!


Monday

  • Taco Salad. We have neighbors that live across the pond from us that have workers from Mexico. They play Latin music all day! That + the sound of the water running from one pond to the next makes our backyard feel like a paradise!! I seriously feel like I'm on a cruise. 
Throwback, just for fun! I'd love to go on another cruise {this time with Tommy} but I have a fear of leaving my child.. lol

Tuesday

  • Red beans, rice, sausage, & cornbread This was suppose to be one of those easy, throw it in the crockpot before we leave the house to go to Story Time meals but it wasn't. Let's be real..... We woke up 30 minutes early only for me to try a Pinterest hairstyle that was described as "easy, late for work hair" and at sometime during all of this Tucker throws up. on the carpet. in our bedroom. {did I mention he had milk with his breakfast?} He's fine though in case anyone's wondering. My guess is that he stuck his fingers a little too far in his mouth trying to relieve teething his molars and he gagged himself. So, I cooked it on the stove after we got home. No biggie! 

Wednesday

  • Grilled steaks, homemade fries, & squash packets Some say we are rushing Summer. I say, we just like to grill. I LIVED off these fries when I was pregnant. They were basically the only thing I craved and the only thing I could keep down when I had a killer migraine. I wasn't going to set the squash packets up because last time Tommy didn't cook them..... like at all. {First timer...who knew?} But Tucker picked the baggie of squash up at the store and when a kid asks for veggies, you give them veggies!! 

Thursday

  • Cheesy Chicken and Rice. I use this recipe. It's so good and so easy. In fact, one of my friends had a baby and her husband text me when the baby was like a week old asking me how to make it because she was craving it and it was so easy she knew he could do it. :) It's THAT good! We have Kindermusik that day so, easy is KEY.

Friday

  • Out to eat. It's my MIL's birthday..... it's a tradition. She gets to pick the restaurant.... I guess steakhouse. ;)

Saturday

  • MIL's birthday party. Mexican food...... think taco bar, margaritas, the works! I think I'm more excited than anyone else. I love mexican food!

Sunday

  • Lima Beans & Rice (?) That's what I bought for Sunday anyways. I'm kinda meh about it though so, we might end up eating something else. 

I'm on the lookout for some new, freezer ready type meals that I can either double or half that I can freeze to start a little stockpile. You just never know when you'll need them..... or a friend will! If you have one, I'd love to hear from you!


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Meal Plan week of 01/28

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Do you ever feel like you're rushing to catch up only to fall behind again??? That is SO me right now. I'm hoping I can get caught up.... for GOOD!!!


Here's our dinner menu for the week. I've got a couple of oldie but goodies on here and a couple of new Pinterest recipes I can't wait to try!!!



Monday

Pulled chicken sandwiches, mixed veggies, & onion rings. {We had a couple of extra pieces of chicken from making the chicken salad for my Grandma's housewarming on Sunday so I just pulled them off the bone, added some BBQ sauce and a little apple juice to keep it from drying out, & then warmed it up on the stove... EASY!}

Tuesday

Today is our Story Time day so we'll be out of the house most of the day. Crockpot to the rescue!!!

Roast, potatoes, carrots, & onions with some cornbread on the side

Wednesday

Beef Enchiladas {This is a new Pinterest recipe I can't wait to try!}

Thursday

Spaghetti Bake & Salad. We'll be at Kindermusik most of the morning but, this is so easy to whip up when I get up and SO good!

Friday

The weather has been SO nice lately, I'm on a huge grilled food kick! 

Grilled chicken, veggies, & brown rice

Saturday

Grilled Mahi-Mahi {this will be our first time trying to grill fish!}
Creamed potatoes
Mixed veggies

Sunday

SUPER BOWL DAY!

I have no idea what we're doing but I know it will be ALOT of gameday yumminess!

What's on your menu this week?

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Some things are just plain hard

Thursday, January 24, 2013

I can remember being younger and daydreaming about being a mom. I had these VERY idealized expectations of how it would be. I'm one of those weird girls that can always remember wanting to be a mama, getting married for the husband {not the wedding}, & being a homemaker. When the option to stay at home with Tucker full time came up, I was beyond excited. I had visions of days filled with baking things from scratch, ironing and pressing all of Tommy's work clothes, having a perfectly cleaned house and amazing dinner on the table when he got home, and basically being the perfect 50's housewife. It hasn't gone like that AT ALL.


It all started when I was actually pregnant. I had to go to a fertility specialist to get pregnant but I can always remember having this "feeling" that I would have to do that.... even when I was little. I spent most of my pregnancy in the hospital, at one doctor's office or another, or simply sleeping on our couch. I was so sick the whole time..... I look back on it since I had Tucker and I regret it so much. I had such big plans for pregnancy.... pictures and showers and excitement.

FAIL







I think I might have three pictures of me pregnant TOTAL. 

All of these problems led to Tucker being born prematurely...... by C-section.  

FAIL. FAIL.


I was so scared he was going to be sick from being so early..... but thankfully he wasn't! The C-section was the hardest thing for me. I so badly wanted the experience of being there and actually giving birth to our sweet baby. I'm sad to say I have very little memory of that day at all. I didn't get to hold him until the day after he was born...... {A super big thank you to the nursing staff because they were AMAZING. They only let Tommy hold Tucker..... no one else was allowed until after I got to. That was so special to me.... Tommy too as I see him using it as BRAGGING rights as Tucker gets older ;) }






FAIL. 


We thought we were out of the woods once he got here and we were all home safe and sound.... WRONG. Tucker had MSPI so my dreams of breastfeeding him for the first year of his life were slowly going down the drain. It took us almost 5 months to figure out exactly what was wrong with him..... which meant spending more time in the hospital.










I guess I would consider that a draw. I did manage to breastfeed him.... just not for the whole year and it was a very meticulous process.


This is basically my round-about way of saying...... just because things are hard and you fail your expectations they can be amazing. Getting pregnant, the pregnancy, and Tucker's first year was a mess for us but I would do it again in a heartbeat for all of these sweet, precious moments.




“Motherhood is a choice you make everyday, to put someone else's happiness and well-being ahead of your own, to teach the hard lessons, to do the right thing even when you're not sure what the right thing is...and to forgive yourself, over and over again, for doing everything wrong.” 
― Donna Ball, At Home on Ladybug Farm
Someone {probably my husband} asked me the other day why I would want to have another baby after everything we've been through. I just can't explain it. In the midst of all of the pain there is so much joy and just plain happiness.

If someone asked you why you wanted another child {Especially if you had health issues}, what would your answer be?


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Why Breakfast Should NEVER be Skipped

Wednesday, January 23, 2013


Before we had Tucker, I always skipped breakfast. {so I could sleep later} But as he's gotten older, breakfast is one of my favorite times with him. He's happy and well rested from a night full of snuggling with mama sleep.


This boy is OBSESSED with blueberries right now. No matter what he gets on his plate.... he ALWAYS reaches for the blueberries first. I thought it would be a "cool mom" thing to make him some fresh blueberry pancakes for breakfast. 


Little did I know this stinker would eat most of them before I even got the first pancake ready!! 


I did manage to salvage enough to make him one blueberry pancake and put a couple in with some raspberries & strawberries to make myself a smoothie. {Ya' know.... part of the whole eat healthier resolution ;) ;) }


Guess who ate all of his breakfast and wanted some {all that was left} of my smoothie...


He might not remember this but I will...... I have to stock up on my cool mom points now before he gets older and thinks differently. ;) 


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Playdates, Lunches, & Kindermusik.... Oh MY!

Last week started the first week of planned activities that Tucker has ever had.... EVVVVVERRRRR. It was interesting to say the least! We are currently doing a storytime playdate on Tuesday and Kindermusik on Thursdays. I'm also *thinking* about adding this Mommy & Me gymnastics class on Wednesdays but I'm not 100% yet. We decided to start these activities because we felt like he needed more of a structure, more socialization, and ways outside of the house to burn energy. We've only gone one week so far but we are loving it.



First time at story time!

After story time, we went into the CUTEST little play area in the back of the library. It's completely toddler friendly and so fun! 



His main goal is to GO OUTSIDE these days.... SO frustrating when it's cold out!


I tend to embarrass him.


....... ALOT


After story time, we went back to our sweet friend's house and had some lunch and more play time. 


=

SINK BATH


Putting Tucker on a schedule has it's advantages! I was able to whip these up for us Monday night and they were YUM!

Thursday was our first Kindermusik class. I was SO nervous about this for some reason. Maybe because we had to pay for it?? 


It was super cold that day..... There was even talk of SNOW


This was as close to snow that we got. :(

Either way, Tucker had to wear his mittens because of how cold it was. This boy LOVES his mittens. They thought it was so cute he was actually wearing them so they took our picture and actually put it up on the website {note to self: Pictures are published PUBLICLY.... don't forget to dress nice!}


I was really upset at first. It was like Tucker wasn't "getting" it. He wasn't sitting in my lap like the other kids with their moms. He was all over the place. But the instructor told me not to worry, each child is different and learns in different ways. So, I'm *trying* to realize him standing in the middle of the circle shaking his booty while everyone else is doing baby massage is a GOOD thing. Seems as though this wallflower mama has a star baby on her hands!

ALWAYS trying to find new friends. 

I love his little heart though. He is just plain the sweetest. He loves to hug and love on other kids. {He also likes to pull hair and bite.... Sorry EJ! We're working on it!} 


After Kindermusik snack time at Starbucks! 

Right now, Tucker's {2nd} main goal is to get Emma Jane to 1. love him. 2. hold his hand. He's devoted to his quest and pretty relentless.


She isn't so thrilled about it though.....




SUCCESS!!!!! :)



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Cookie Monster {Valentine Edition}

Monday, January 21, 2013

I love that Meredith always has these cute little link ups. She's got the CUTEST three boys {my dreammmm!} and this is the perfect activity to do during the weird weather that we're having these days. Cold enough to snow one day {NOT!} and warm enough for shorts the next. 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



This is my first week linking up with her but it was SO fun! I plan on doing it again on a regular basis. :) haha Does that even make sense?? My sweet mother-in-law got us these already baked cookies with all the stuff to decorate so I decided to cheat this week and use the little kit.



{sidebar:} I seriously hate these kits. They are so cute in theory but either a) I use WAY too much stuff to decorate or b) they're really stingy on the extras. Luckily I got a couple of different Valentine's sprinkles from the $1 spot at Target to have on hand. So we used those as well.









I LOVED doing this with him. It was a great way to work on numbers, shapes, and colors..... he didn't even have a clue he was learning haha. 


He just LOVED eating the results. :) 




























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