Stuck At Constipation Station

The baby had a doctor appointment yesterday morning.  I spoke to the doctor about his on going constipation issues.  We had discussed it at the last appointment and talked about trying different things with regard to his diet.  Yesterday we spoke about several other options since dietary adjustments don't seem to be helping much or - at all.  One option was to put him on Miralax.  I have read, this has proven to be successful to treat  (or prevent) constipation in infants, however, from what it I read, the child can end up being on miralax for many months or even years.  The pediatrician confirmed this and said that some parents don't like it as an option for that reason.  I don't know if this is a bad thing necessarily, but I think I would like it to be a last resort for us.  The pediatrician suggested we try giving the baby probiotics.  I was totally on board with that option.  I started feeding Logan Happy Bellies (Happy Baby brand) cereal a couple weeks ago, which contain probiotics.  I thought this might help.  The doc wasn't sure that he would get enough from the cereal and suggested BioGaia Probiotic Drops.  They also come in straws.
It took a few phone calls and a drive to Silverlake, but I found them!    The drops are easy enough to give.  Five drops a day.... that's it.  I put them on a spoon and fed them to the baby, but you can add them to water or other cold drink.  It doesn't change the flavor of the drink. He didn't seem to mind it at all.  So now we wait.  I asked the doc how long it would take to see some effect and she felt that it would take at least a week to see results.  So we anxiously await!

Foods we are staying away from include bananas, apples and rice for the most part.  I will let the baby have puffs every now and then which are made with rice flour, but he doesn't even eat close to a serving size and it doesn't seem to effect him any more negatively when he eats them than when he does not.  The doctor asked if I was feeding him a lot of breads, pasta or dairy and Logan doesn't eat much of any of these items.  If he eats bread or pasta it is a couple bites of what I am eating.  He hasn't yet begun eating cheese or yogurt (although we will be starting yogurt).  I have cautiously moved forward with new foods as I don't want to make matters worse.

Foods that I try to get the baby to eat include prunes, pears, peas, apricots, and peaches. He likes all of them.  Pears seem to be the most helpful in getting things moving although even with pears he seems to have issues.  I push all fruits and vegetables.  I give him fruit with his morning cereal.  I give him veggies for lunch and dinner with fruit for snacks in between.  He enjoys cheerios as well.  Logan doesn't seem too interested in drinking juice anymore, which he used to really like.  He will however drink water, so I let him drink water whenever he wants.  Some people have concerns about giving infants water because (I have heard) the baby is filling up and not getting the nutrients that he needs.  This isn't the case with my son.  He is getting plenty to eat between breast feeding and solid feedings.  He is gaining weight fine and needs to stay hydrated.  I recently got him a sippy cup with a straw and he is having so much fun drinking water from it!

Lets hope we get some relief for the little guy.  It will be a relief for all of us.

A Little Catch Up

Yesterday was so hectic that I didn't even get a chance to post.  I hate it when that happens, however, I forgive myself.

Apple Pie ~

As you know, our Monday Fun Day Activity this week was to make an apple pie!  We did this and it was great fun!  Logan had loads of fun playing with the flour.  He played for quite a while before he tried to eat it.  Once it looked like he was about to snort it I took it away!  The pie was delicious!  

Stroller Tires ~

I also mentioned that we needed to get new tubes for the stroller tires after our trip to the farm.  I ended up ordering tubes online that are thorn resistant so, although I don't think I will make the mistake again, if I do end up riding through a bunch of thorns in the future my tires will most likely not flatten.  

Here is a picture of Logan helping his papa repair the tires last night.  He was the supervisor for the project.  He inspected each tire upon finish to make sure that it was repaired to his standards.  Smart boy!

Tomorrow we can finally go back to Stroller Strides.  Yeah!

Not The Toilet Water!

You think that you have safeguarded as best you can.  You provide constant supervision.  You give directives in a loving manner.  You think you plan for everything and yet the baby still finds a way to create mischief.

The baby is now climbing up on everything.  He follows my husband and I around the house, so if we are in the bathroom, he makes his way in there.  Our door doesn't lock (not that we would lock it anyway) so the little guy pushes the door open when we are in the shower (*side note* I only shower when he is sleeping in his crib or papa is home) or brushing our teeth etc.  We just keep an eye on him as he likes prop up on the bathtub and practice walking. He is not allowed in the bathroom alone.  He loves splashing the water while we get his bath ready.  Recently he has become fascinated with that little knob that covers the screw at the base of the toilet.  Loving that.  Since he has started touching the toilet, we have made sure to keep the lid closed.  He has not figured out how to open it, thank god, but its only a matter of time, so I think we may need to invest in one of those closure goodies. BUT..... I was brushing my teeth and apparently someone forgot to put the lid down,  and as I was brushing my teeth I heard splashing.

I turned to find the baby with his hand in the toilet water.  NO NO NO! Not the toilet water! Gross! Luckily, I caught it immediately, washed his hands and put the lid down.  Water is like a magnet for the baby. He races me to the dog bowl, trying to get there to splash in it before I lift it off the floor.  He crawls over to a bowl that is kept outside for the dogs.  He loves to splash! But the toilet?  That was too much.  I should have caught it before it happened.  I felt guilty for not checking the seat as he was coming in- I won't make that mistake again.  It amazes me how quick that kid is.  I literally just turned around to brush my teeth and BAM! he was at the toilet.  So parents..... Never underestimate your little ones.  They will surprise you with their abilities.  Now I am obsessive about it.  I check the toilet lid all the time.  I know I put it down, but continue to check it over and over just to make sure.  I guess you can never be too careful, but I am becoming a little nuts! Better safe than sorry.

Monday Fun Day ~ Making Pie

So we drove out to a ranch to do some apple picking over the weekend, only to find that there were no apples to pick at the ranch we went to.  That specific day they were not letting people pick their own apples because they were a bit cleaned out.  We could have gone to another orchard down the road, but we had so much fun that we ran out of time!  There was so much to do! We picked raspberries, took a wagon ride through the orchard and visited the petting zoo.  Our live and learn experience:  If you are going to take the stroller through the thorn filled raspberry field, prep your wheels.  We flattened all of the tires.  It seems obvious after the fact.  Silly parents.  Now I am tasked with finding new tire tubes for my stroller in order to go to stroller strides.  Geez.  I am hoping I will find them and not have to order them online, but will do whatever it takes.

Though we weren't able to pick apples, we did come home with a bag of pre-picked apples to bake a pie.  So today's Monday Fun Day Activity is Pie Making!  I'll be honest, we have not been able to get around to it yet and it may have to wait until tomorrow, but the plan is to make a pie.  I plan to allow the baby to feel the pie crust dough and smell the scent of the ingredients as they go into the pie filling.  Plus, I keep my baking stuff in a bin that I think will be loads of fun for Logan to dig through. He is very into exploring in the kitchen these days.  He is allowed to play with pots and pans and plastic containers.  I also give him wooden spoons to play with.  He loves going into the drawer that holds the towels and pulling all of them out.  One out of ten times he might put them back.  I don't mind.  It keeps him occupied while I do dishes and cook.  Anyway,  I love making apple pie.  I usually will make one each year and I am so excited to start sharing the experience with my little guy.

When we do go apple picking, and we do plan on going back to go apple picking and to visit the pumpkin patch, I would like to make apple sauce.  I remember making apple sauce when I was a little girl, but certainly have not attempted such as an adult.  Can't wait!

Mom's Night Out Update

Well, I did it!  I went out and had a little mama fun without the babe.  It was the perfect introduction to leaving him.  I left the house about 645pm and was home at about 915pm.  I enjoyed visiting with some lovely ladies, did a little shopping, and had a glass of wine.  It really was a nice evening.  My husband did a great job watching the baby, bathing him and giving him the bottle that I left. As I anticipated, the baby was still awake when I got home and after being excited to see me initially, he had a break down before falling asleep very quickly when I nursed him.  I dont' think that I would be comfortable being gone later in the evening quite yet, but I am proud of myself for getting out, proud of my husband for not feeling the need to call me, and proud of the baby for holding it together (for the most part) so that mama could have a little fun time.  I feel great after getting out of the house for some me time.  I feel refreshed after just two hours.  I was excited to see my family.  I felt more affection towards my husband than I have in a while.  This was good for me.  Perhaps I will do it more often.

Welcome Fall

It's official.  Fall is here!  I grew up in New England where Fall was my favorite season.  I loved watching the trees change colors, welcoming the reds, yellows and purples that Fall had to offer.  I loved the fresh Fall air that brought a break from humidity.  I remember having so much fun raking up piles of leaves to jump in over and over again, rubbing leaves, and picking apples.  Oh, and the smells.  The apple cinnamon, pumpkin spice and roasting winter squash smells.  Beautiful.  Since moving to California, I haven't experienced a Fall season in the same way.  Now that I have a little one, it gives me an excuse to reach back to my roots and search for the Fall that I remember. So....

Tomorrow I am taking the family apple picking!  I can't wait!  We are going to an area that claims to have "scenery like New England".  The orchard is on a farm and in addition to apple picking , the farm offers wagon rides and a petting zoo.  I will let you know how it goes!  I am excited to make apple pie and other apple delights.  September is only the beginning. Yeah Fall!

Mom's Night Out

Tomorrow night I am planning to participate in a 'Mom's night out' event, Mom's night out, meaning no baby.  I am excited but would be lying if I said I weren't a little anxious. It will be my first time leaving the baby during bed time.  I have left him with my husband while I have gone to the market.  I even left him to attend a luncheon one time, but an evening outing? This should be interesting.

I am hoping to have a great time, but I think I am going to feel really weird. It's a gathering at my Stroller Strides instructor's house. A jewelry party- so its not like I am going out to the club until the early morning hours.  Its a couple of hours.  Everything should be fine right?  I think I am concerned because the baby is so boob needy in the evening.  I have been pumping and pumping (because it would be too easy if I were able to pump enough for a whole feeding in one session) so that my husband has a bottle to feed the baby.  The only problem is that the baby hasn't been using a bottle (he is on to sippy cups), so I am not even sure he will want one. I don't think that giving him milk in a sippy cup will have the same effect as breast feeding.  I am the one that puts the baby to sleep every night.  I am the one who cares for him when he wakes throughout the night, so this will be a small challenge for my husband.  I know my husband will be fine.  I have confidence in him. I mean, I know that he can keep the boy safe and comfort him.  I am not confident that he will get him to bed. I should be home by 930 or so, so I figure worst case scenario- the baby is still wide awake, perhaps crying when I get home, and I can get him to bed at that point.

However, if I find that the baby is sound asleep when I get home, Papa is going to be putting the baby to bed MUCH more often! This could be a good thing.... I know its a good thing.  This could be the beginning of something fabulous! I should be able to go out every now and then for a few hours to take time for myself and have some fun.  Anyone want to take a guess at how many times I check my phone for texts and/or missed calls?

Products I Love ~ Kleynimals

Do you find yourself battling your little one for your keys each time you leave the house?  Do you just give in and let him play with your keys?  If so, you're not alone.  I would scoop my baby up in my arms  to leave and as I locked the door he would reach for my keys, having a full on tantrum when I denied him.  At times, I gave in and let him have the keys until we got to the car and then again, tantrum when I needed to take the keys from him.  I know a number of parents who allow their kids to play with their keys.  The thing is, it's not safe or sanitary for the little ones.  

I looked for a decent replacement item that my son would like as much as my keys.  I found a lot of plastic options. Then I found Kleynimals!  Kleynimals are the perfect solution to this dilemma.  Car keys are often made with lead and yucky materials which, I think we would all agree, are not safe for babies.  Kleynimals, on the other hand are made of stainless steel.  They are non toxic. These Kleynimals don't have sharp or pointy edges, so there is less concern about injury.  Another plus - They are made in the U.S. A.! You can even have them engraved.  These would make a fantastic gift! Learn more about this product at kleynimals.com

My son loves his Kleynimals (and so do I) and we no longer have the battle over keys!  I have my keys and he has his! Thank you Kleyminals!

I Want A Do Over

Seriously, If I could start this morning over, everything would be just peachy.  The baby woke me this morning, as per the usual, and it was gloomy out.  Even so, I pulled myself together, fed the baby (who didn't want to eat) and got ready to head out the door.  Heck, I even made hot chocolate to drink on my way to stroller strides.  I was making it happen! I was tight on time and feeling anxious already when everything began to fall apart.

I had five minutes before I had to leave and needed to take the dog out and get the stroller in the truck (as well as the baby and myself).  As luck would have it, the dog actually wanted to go for a walk this morning.  Most mornings he just wants to go hang out outside for a few minutes and then go back to bed.  This morning however, my husband had left without saying goodbye to him (because he was still getting his beauty sleep) and as soon as my husband left, the dog started barking non stop.  So I took him out and he wanted to race to find his papa.  I took him on a short walk, my compromise, and he was somewhat satisfied.

At this point I was thinking that I might be a few minutes late to class, which kills me, but hey, at least I would be there.  I got in the house, put the dog in his cage, got the baby in his carrier (so that I could carry the stroller and diaper bag down the stairs to the truck) and went to grab my keys.  My keys.... where are my keys.... oh S#*@, where are my keys?! I searched high, I searched low. No keys.  I thought about where I might have put them, when I last had them, I looked in every bag, every pair of pants or top with pockets that I have worn.  No keys.  Now I'm getting angry.  No longer anxious about time, just pissed. So what do I do?  I call my husband.  Why? I don't know.  How is that going to help the situation? It's not.  But I wanted to give him a piece of my mind (stupid idea).  I wanted to let him know how he could have helped me this morning.  He could have taken the dog out or put the stroller in the truck, as if this is what held me up this morning.  He must have done something with my keys.  As you can imagine, this didn't go over so well.  I was just taking out my frustration on him.  Why do we feel the need to do this? Is it that we don't want to be alone in the frustrating situation? Do we want to blame someone else? and if that is the case, what's that about?

I came to terms with the fact that I was not making it to class this morning and I decided to start some laundry.  As I was sorting clothes, I picked up a pair of my husbands shorts and low and behold.... my keys.  In his pocket.   I know I didn't reach in his pocket and place my keys there.  Well, well, well.... So what did I do?  Why, I called him of course.  In the end, I am glad I called. I was able to express that I wasn't a disorganized disaster as I am sure he thought even if he didn't say it.  We said "I love you" before hanging up. I am now ready to start my day over.  It has been hours since I got up, yet if feels like it has been 30 minutes.  Not fair.  I want a do over.  At least I have my keys now.  I can now do what I want with my day.  I can make this day fantastic and that is exactly what I intend to do. Watch out world, here I come!

Monday Fun Day ~ Reading Corner

Why is it that Mondays are always so..... Monday-ish?  I used to dread Monday coming because it meant going back to work after what was typically a fun filled weekend.  I think this is pretty common, unless you are lucky enough to find your dream job and enjoy going to work no matter what day of the week it is.  I don't mind Mondays, as it feels that my days are all very similar.  However this Monday morning I could tell it was Monday.

What's worse than Monday morning? Why, a Monday morning with plumbing issues.  It could have been so much worse.  I wasn't that impacted, but it was still a pain.  The drain behind my washer became clogged and there were bubbles spilling out of the hose thingy (mama's technical term).  I wasn't even using the washer or running water.  This was simply another one of the joys of living in an apartment built in the thirties.  So I called the manager and she said the maintenance guy would be here in the early afternoon.  When someone says early afternoon, what time comes into your mind?  I think 1pm, maybe 2.  It was 530pm when he got here.  I wouldn't have minded except I really needed to do laundry today as well as go to the market.  I thought, "ok, I will wait until after he comes and then I will take a shower, go to the market, come home then start in on laundry."  Silly me, I thought this would all get done prior to dinner time.  I ended up not taking a shower, going to the market at 530 and starting laundry at 830 (while I cooked dinner).

At least it was taken care of.  At least I got everything completed with one exception.  I wanted to participate in a tele-conference today and had to end it before it really even began because life called and it just didn't work out for me today.  I allowed myself to take a bath tonight since I didn't get a shower and now I feel pretty good.  I had BBQ chicken for dinner with some corn on the cob and roasted potatoes.  Yum! I got the baby to bed and he has not woken up yet. Yay!


Now for the project....
Since we got some new books this weekend, we made today's Monday Fun Day Activity creating a reading corner.  It is not my dream reading corner, but its a temporary solution. It would be ideal if I owned a small book shelf to keep all of the baby's books.  When we move into our own home, I will be buying one, but I want to wait so that I get the perfect shelf for the space.  We set up the space on one corner of the baby's play mat.  For now, I took his books off of the big book shelf that they were housed on and put them along a wall for him to access.  We put a blanket down so that he can snuggle while we read.  He also has a little chair (kind of like a bumbo) that he can sit in.  In addition, there is a spot where we can place the story board when we want to incorporate this into our reading session. The one item that I will be purchasing is a bean bag chair.  After this, our temporary reading corner will be complete.  I can't wait to move.  I can't wait to have a special area in our new home dedicated to reading.  It can't come fast enough.... Logan seems to like his reading corner though.  He already pulls books out to look at.  I made a point to go to him when I saw him pull one out and we read it together.  Another time however, I let him look at the book on his own so that he could explore as he wanted. I love watching him grow, although it seems to be going by so fast.

Book Splurge

Today the baby and I went on a shopping outing.  We ended up at Barnes and Noble and I just couldn't resist buying Logan some new books.  I mean, he needs a few new books because 1. Some of the books I used to read him we have shelved for a while as he only wants to tear the pages and 2. He is really into certain types of books that exercise his brain.  He loves the touch and feel books so we picked up a couple today. I especially like the Usborne touchy-feely books.  We have a couple, including That's Not My Train, and the baby loves it.  At first I would have to show him where to touch the page so that he learned that this is the point of the book.  Now as soon as I turn the page (or he turns the page) he goes straight for the wheels or whatever it is he is supposed to touch.

He is also very into lift the flap books.  Where is baby's belly button, for example, is one of his favorites.  Today we picked up a flap book about animals a book about vehicles.  I kept finding books that I wanted to get and they were relatively inexpensive. Before I knew it my hands were full and we walked away with nine books! In addition to the flap books and touch books, we got a book about words, one about tractors and a book about Fall.  We are set for story time!

All Sorts of Good

So....Did you check it out?  Up All Night... did you see it?  What did you think?  I thought it was funny, although I felt like I had already seen most of the funny parts in the previews.  Therefore, I am looking forward to watching the next episode before deciding whether it lives up to my expectations.

I am having one of the best weeks I have had in a long time and I am not at all taking it for granted.  I am recognizing and appreciating the wonderful moments (gifts) coming my way and know that at some point I am going to have a bad day, but I am enjoying this run while it lasts!

I am still on track with my weekly goals.  I made dinner again last night.  Shrimp / Steak and veggie skewers with rice! Indoor grilling! That's four night in a row folks!  I think that might be a record.  This evening we made something quick as it was late before being able to get dinner, but hey, that's ok because I made dinner 4 nights in a row!!

Not only am I cooking, but I also went to stroller strides for the third time in four days today!  Another record! I plan to go tomorrow too and then my goal will be accomplished.  I am appreciating the other members in my class.  Next Friday we are having a mom's night out and it will be my first time leaving the baby at bed time.  I am a little concerned, but I am also excited.

Last night the baby slept for 6 hours straight.  I can't remember the last night when that happened.  I didn't go to bed when he did, so I didn't get 6 hours of sleep but I certainly got more than I have been getting.  I thought it was going to be a bad night.  I couldn't get the baby to sleep until about 10pm but 6 hours so makes up for the late night. Tonight he went to bed at eight and has been asleep for two hours and counting.

I don't know if it is the welcomed fall weather or just the fact that I am in a good space, but I am having serious shopping cravings.  For clothes I mean.  I want to shop, shop, shop but mama doesn't get a paycheck so mama has to be reasonable and not spend, spend, spend.  I did splurge on some boots for fall and a couple other cute items, but I am seeing all sorts of fashions that I want to take home everyday.  I imagine I will obtain a few more items prior to getting it out of my system.  This happens to me about twice a year and then I am good for a while!  My husband's loving it (sense the sarcasm).

Time to go have a glass of wine prior to retiring for what will hopefully be a good nights sleep.

Little Miss Forgetful

What is wrong with me today? I swear I would lose my head if it weren't attached.  First, I go to the market and, forget about the fact that I forgot my sunglasses, I had to go back to the car, not once, but twice before I could move forward with my shopping trip.  I was a little frazzled because I had to pull into a small spot (it was the only spot) and the person next to me parked over the line meaning they were going to have a hard time getting into their car without rubbing against my vehicle.  All I could hear in my head was my husband's voice questioning why I didn't wait for another spot, anticipating his reaction should the truck get scratched, or worse yet, what if I had to confront the person who was parked so close to me? I know, I'm a little crazy.  Anyway, I left the car, went to the store pulled a cart out from the row (which was no easy task -stuck).  I wiped the cart handle and other areas of the cart that my son would touch, like a good mama, buckled the boy in the seat, set my bags in the cart and then realized that I forgot my phone with my list in the car.  I trekked back across the parking lot, looking again at my parking job and feeling good about it this time.  I left plenty of room on both sides of the truck and let that anxiety go.  I then went back to the store and as I was approaching the carts again, I realized I left my money in the car.  Seriously?  The security guy must have thought me a fool to see me for the third time since I parked.  Geez... By the third trip back to the carts we were finally ready to go shopping.

As if that ordeal wasn't enough, I took the dog for a walk this afternoon and forgot the poop bag.  I had to turn around and come home to get a bag because I am not going to be an irresponsible pet owner that doesn't pick up after their dog.  You would think when the whole point of leaving the house is to let the dog relieve himself I would remember the damn bag but....

Let's hope I make it through the rest of this day with no further mishaps!

Up All Night

Its that time of year again..... time for fall television!  I am quite of fan of fall tv.  I am awaiting the return of my favorite shows such as Grey's Anatomy and Modern Family, but I am also excited for the addition of a couple new programs.  The one show that I am most excited about is Up All Night which premiers tonight on NBC!  My husband and I crack up when we see the commercials for this show as the scenarios mimick our experiences.  I cannot wait to check this out!

Kicking Butt

I am kind of kicking butt this week! I mean, I committed to completing a few tasks this week and I am actually following through!  First, I wanted to cook dinner each night this week.  I had challenged myself previously to cook new items, cook family dinners, more often, however I decided that I should focus simply on getting dinner made.  Forget about trying to push out a vegetarian meal each night, or something super fancy. I put too much pressure on myself sometimes, as is very common with moms, and I am just setting myself up for failure if I expect to be super woman. Yet sometimes I find that when I give myself a break, when I allow myself to work within my comfort zone, amazing, unexpected, things emerge!

I have made dinner each night this week.  I started with the squash blossoms dish that I told you about on Sunday.  Yesterday, I made chicken teriyaki with mushrooms and carrots.  No, it wasn't vegetarian but I did offer to make tofu along with the chicken.  I didn't end up making tofu because my husband had a late lunch and wasn't hungry.  Today I made a roasted eggplant dish with tomato and basil tossed with pasta.  This is what I am talking about.  All I wanted to do was make dinner.  It could have been simple spaghetti, a frozen dinner even, yet I am on fire with delicious homemade meals! I have plans to make several other dishes this week, but I am not putting pressure on myself.

I also made a goal to attend stroller strides four times this week.  I have been averaging 2-3.  I am already half way there and its tuesday.  I plan to attend on Thursday and Friday.  I am feeling so good about the way things are going this week that I may even hike up runyon canyon with the baby and dog tomorrow.  I might.  Again, no pressure.

I am especially proud of myself for getting these items complete because the baby has not been sleeping well, and mama has been up every two or so hours.  Go me! To reward myself for a job well done, I am going to go have some ice cream with lots of chocolate on top.  It is international chocolate day after all and I deserve to partake in the festivities! Yep, chocolate and wine.  Perfect ending to today.

Monday Fun Day ~ Leaves

The baby loves to pick leaves up off the ground and crumple them up in his hand, well, that is when he isn't trying to put them in his mouth.  This week for our Monday Fun Day Activity we decided to make a leaf picture.  We made a textured leaf picture that the baby was able to assist with.  We went outside and picked up some leaves off the ground.  I printed a picture of a leaf that I found online.

I used a glue stick to cover the leaf with glue. Logan then crushed the leaves and I sprinkled then pressed the leaf pieces onto our print.  That's all there is to it! 

I liked this activity because it was something the baby could be hands on with.  I found myself wishing that we had the beautiful colored leaves that come with fall foliage, but we work with what we've got!

I think this activity would work a little better with regular glue as opposed to a glue stick, but it still worked. 

Sunday's Super Supper

squash blossoms

This evening I tried something new for dinner.  As we usually do on Sunday morning, we ventured out to the farmers market.  This morning I spotted some organic squash blossoms and I simply had to have them.  I decided that I would make Ricotta Filled Squash Blossoms for dinner.  I looked up several recipes prior to deciding how I would make mine.

I cleaned up the squash blossoms and detached the pistol from the center. I then filled each blossom with a filling that consisted of ricotta cheese, basil, parmesan cheese, an egg yolk, salt and pepper.  After filling each blossom, I made a batter to coat them in prior to frying them in oil at 375 degrees. I made a beer batter only because this is what I had on hand.  I mixed flour, more parmesan cheese and beer in a bowl, added a little salt and we had batter.

After coating the blossoms I dropped them in the oil and cooked them for a few seconds, quickly transferring them to a plate lined with paper to soak up excess oil.  I heated up some marinara sauce, adding garlic and squash pieces, to dip the squash blossoms in.

ingredients ready to make the filling

finished product

blossoms filled

They turned out amazing!  My husband enjoyed them as well.  I am very proud of myself! For dessert we had some french vanilla ice cream which I found to be a nice balance paired with the fried blossoms. Originally I thought we were going to need to have pasta or something additional with the squash blossoms, but it really seemed to be plenty on its own, especially since we weren't too hungry.  Yum!

Fantastic Friday

What an incredible day!  This morning the baby woke up nice and quiet and before I could barely open my eyes, his papa took him out of the bedroom so that I could get a few more minutes of shut eye.  How sweet is that?! A short time later I got up and actually had time to make a hot chocolate prior to leaving for my stroller strides class.  Another plus and it wasn't even 830am yet.  What a way to start the day, and it just kept coming.  I got to stroller strides with a few minutes to spare (a rarity) and I took my time getting the baby in his stroller, taking care to ensure I had everything I may need while in class.  There have been more than a few morning where I am just lucky to get the kid in the stroller and down to the meeting place prior to the class beginning. 

Logan slept through much of the class, which is always a plus.  He woke up at the end of the class and got to socialize with the other babies for a few minutes.  One little girl was very interested in Logan today, giving him hugs and even pushed him over!  They were cute.  My baby boy was so happy and healthy today and I couldn't ask for anything more - Yet more kept coming my way! 

He took another nap this afternoon which allowed me to get a few more things completed.  When he woke we played and read books.  I am really enjoying the interaction with him these days.  He communicates with me.  Granted it is a patterned grunt noise, I still know that when he makes that repetitive noise, he is asking for something or telling me something.  For instance, he will sit next to the dog and go "uh, uh, uh, uh" over and over.  I encourage the communication by saying "Yes, dog. That is a dog."  

How Prepared Are You? ~Disaster Preparedness

Although I live in California, I feel for the people who have experienced the devastation left by hurricane Irene on the East coast.  The damage in Vermont is quite close to my hometown. This week, tropical storm Lee swept through and although the storm was not destructive like Irene, the rain impedes progress towards recovery from the storm.  It has been an awakening of sorts for me.  A reminder that I need to be prepared should disaster strike, especially now that I have a little one to keep safe.

To a certain extent, I have always given disaster preparedness thought.  Part of my responsibility at my last job was to focus on this topic.  This paired with the constant reminder that an earthquake could come at any moment meant that I thought about how prepared I was.  Since my husband and I adventure in the outdoors, we have certain items packed in a bin that would be useful in the wake of disaster.  We have a camping bin that has a stove, propane, a tarp, lantern and other useful items that we would grab.  We also have backpacking gear stored together including a tent, sleeping bags, a first aid kit, water filtration system, and flashlights.  So, if we needed to escape, I know we would be able to camp. Yet, there are certain items that are not pulled together.  Items that I would want to have available and ready to grab quickly.

I think it is important to have the following

• A change of clothes and shoes for each family member- this would especially come in handy if something happened in the middle of the night when people are in their jammies!

Hot House

When the weather gets hot, the hot go shopping!  Really, it's important to keep cool in this hot, hot heat and if you are one of the few like me (without air conditioning) you have to find ways to stay sane - I mean, cool.  Go to the movies, a museum, the Library or the mall.  Do whatever you need to do to keep yourself and your little one safe from this heat.

I don't know about you, but I find that when it is hot, the baby doesn't want to eat as much... certainly not solid foods.  I tried to serve him food that was cold and found that this helped.  I also made sure to give him water to keep him hydrated.  The little guy sweats more than a pro athlete! He kept waking up throughout the night last night and his bed was wet from sweat.  It's really his head that gets sweaty.  So I nursed him each time he woke to make sure he was getting liquids. He fell back to sleep very quickly each time, so although we were up every two hours, I really didn't mind.  I felt so bad for him.  I even contemplated renting a hotel room tonight just to rest comfortably, but then decided I didn't need to spend the money.

I don't usually like to ride around in the car (well, I do like it, but I don't do it) because of gas prices, but today I made an exception.  It was so hot in the house and the baby was just not going down for his nap.  So in the truck we went so that we could get some relief from the heat and the baby could comfortably sleep for a bit.  We actually did this twice today.  For the first trip we left the dog at home (before it got too hot in the house) and  before returning home we did a little shopping for baby.  This afternoon though, I felt even the dog needed some relief from the heat so we all piled in the vehicle again. I am not just a mom to the baby, but also the dog after all, and I don't want him to suffer any more than the rest of us.

We visited The Children's Place outlet store near The Grove in Los Angeles.  Logan was in need of some new T-Shirts as his are getting a little short. They had a fantastic deal on Tees with solid colors for $2.99 and printed Tees for $4.99. I went for the solids and stocked up!  We also walked out with a few other items and I felt it was a great success!

Tomorrow is not supposed to bring much change in temperature.  Oh how I would welcome some clouds right now! We will no doubt be seeking the a/c again tomorrow.  What to do, what to do....

Team Not So Rugged

I thought I would update you on how our Sunday hike went since it was the first big hike with the little guy.  We left the house a little before 7am and I had to move Logan from his crib to his car seat in order to leave.  I didn't bother getting him dressed prior to leaving because we had an hour and a half drive and I knew he would sleep on the way to the trail.  Little did I know, he was not feeling well at all.  He was miserable the whole time.  I mean, he was ok while we were hiking up the mountain, a little fussy but he would fall asleep every so often and seemed content at other times. We stopped after a couple hours (almost four miles in) in I fed and changed the baby.  This is when we noticed that he really wasn't a happy camper.  I was concerned about making it the rest of the way and then back down the mountain.  My husband suggested we detour to a creek and just relax there for a little while, eat some lunch and then head back down.  Sounded good to me! When we got to the creek we unloaded and the baby was able to enjoy himself a little bit.  He especially enjoyed playing in the dirt.  We dipped his feet in the cool water but he didn't like that at all! He wasn't crying, but I could see in his eyes that he was not well.  We felt so bad that he was not well and not having fun.  Once we finished lunch we headed back down the mountain.  I was booking it.  I wanted so bad to be back at the car and on our way home.  We made good time coming down the mountain, but the baby cried quite a bit.  Singing helped.  I was thinking to myself "how many rounds of The Wheels on The Bus can I sing?" but just kept singing to keep him calm.  He fell asleep and woke just as we were in the home stretch.  We made it.

Needless to say, our hiking adventure was not what I would call a success.  Team Rugged ended up being not so rugged. We ended up hiking almost 8 miles (instead of the 11-12 we set out to accomplish).  Positive aspects of the trip: I felt pretty good physically.  My back didn't hurt at all (my main concern since I injured it and it had only been a day of feeling better).  My pack was heavy but it was comfortable and the weight didn't bother me.  It wasn't too heavy - about the same amount of weight I carried backpacking with the baby, my water bladder, and supplies.  The dog did a fantastic job! I specifically picked this hike because it is a dog friendly trail, and he was a trooper!  The best thing I took away from the trip was a recording of the babbling brook that I recorded with my phone.  I think I can loop it and make my own recording of running water for the baby to listen to during sleep time.  It's worth a shot.  It will be a fun project at the very least!

Lucky Diaz and The Family Jam Band

This morning after attending Stroller Strides (so happy to be back into the swing of things), Logan and I attended a performance by Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band.  This is a Los Angeles based band made up of quality musicians who know how to put on a show.  I appreciated the enthusiasm shown by the members, especially since the heat was at a debilitating level.  That heat didn't stop us from getting up and dancing to the music though! I was not familiar with the band, but it sounds like the are gaining quite the following.  They mentioned that one of their songs is getting a lot of play on Sirius XM.  They are a fun group worth checking out.

After watching the performance for a while, we decided to continue our mid-day date by getting sushi for lunch!  Yum!  It was one of the most enjoyable restaurant experiences I have had with the baby.  I had his sippy cup and some snacks for him to munch on (and gave him little bits and pieces of what I ate) and he was completely content while I enjoyed my lunch.  We were able to sit outside and continue to watch Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band from our seats at the restaurant.  It doesn't get much better than that!  Except for the heat of course.  If it were just a little cooler it would have been perfect.  I kept dabbing Logan with a wet wash cloth and wet his hair to make sure he stayed cool even though we were in the shade and there was a breeze.  Don't want the little guy to get over heated! 

Monday Fun Day Activity ~ Labor Day Collage

Since it is Labor Day, I thought it would be fun to introduce Logan to different occupations. We are going to make a collage of pictures of people in uniforms and other items associated with occupations! I have a sick baby today so we will not be completing our Monday fun day activity until tomorrow. We have received several magazines with Halloween costumes and pretend play outfits. I thought these would be fun to use for our collage because kids are wearing the uniforms, however we will also be using a few pictures of adults from other magazines. If necessary we may also use clippings from our junk mail or online printables. I would prefer we not create more paper though and simply use what is already available in print (especially since Logan is little). If I were doing this with an older child, there would be more benefit to searching the web. It's never too early to start teaching your kids, so although the baby may not appreciate the activity as much as mom, he will still be learning. We can use the collage for months to come to reinforce the topic!

Oh September

Can you believe it is September already?  I can't! This means that the month after next my son will be one year old!  What?!

Well, I said that with September would come change.  Good Change.  And boy do I intend to live up to my statement! I went to Stroller Strides this morning, aching back and all, and it wasn't so bad.  I mean, yes my back hurt, but I found that running was very comfortable (skipping not so much) and although I had to modify some of the exercises, I completed the workout.  I also got some tips that might help with my back pain.  It feels great to get back into it.  I didn't attend the class enough in August for it to be worth my money and I was bummed about that.  So this month I am making up for it!

The baby woke around 1am and I couldn't get him back in his crib.  I think he started to feel not so hot from the vaccinations he received yesterday.  So I let him sleep in my bed.  When this morning, early morning, came he was crying and very warm so I gave him some Tylenol.  I didn't get discouraged.  I kept my cool and said to myself, "this is not going to ruin my day" and I just rolled with it.  We went about our business, getting ready to leave the house and he was fantastic at Stroller Strides.  Once he was out of the stroller playing with the other kids and toys, he was laughing.  Now he is napping in his swing. My sweet baby boy.

So what does September have in store?  Well, I have not planned my whole calendar (I'm currently working on that), however, I have been wanting to go on a hike for quite some time so this weekend I planned a rather large hike. I am not sure how my back will feel when we are done, but I really miss hiking.  We have only been hiking a couple times since the baby was born and none of the hikes have been even close to the strenuous backpacking type trails that we would previously embark on.  So I am hoping that this hike will prove to be challenging yet do-able.  I am excited about filling up my water bladder and packing a picnic lunch.

I have a Deuter Kid Comfort II backpack to carry the baby.  It will be a challenge just to decide what to bring or not bring on the hike.  We are heading into the wilderness area so I am sure it is a pack in pack out situation (no trash cans to dump items like dirty diapers). I will keep you posted on how it all goes.