Remember the blessings

I must remember all the things I am blessed with this holiday season. Our Christmas was not what we anticipated. I thought Little Man would be so much fun this year being a year older and all. But he came down with a fever on Christmas Eve. It lasted all through the big day. He didn't open his gifts and he slept and was grumpy. It was quite disappointing. Now with some antibiotics hopefully he comes out of this and can enjoy all of his new things.
Blessings to all of you this holiday season.

13" of Snow

Ah to be a kid again. Little Man liked the piles and piles of snow. He even did a face plant...it was quite funny. Check out the video.

His New Love

Little Man has found his new love, Mickey Mouse. This is a video of him getting very excited at watching Mickey on TV.

With Flying Colors

Well friends, I survived surgery. Not that I didn't think I would but you never know. So I am one less...gall bladder that is. I am in recovery and getting stronger everyday. The nurse told me the first 24 hours would be the worst, and they were. But hopefully no more spasms and I can still eat most things. We'll take that one day at a time. Now I just need a complete recovery and I can enjoy this holiday season. I love this time of year.

We're Famous

Okay maybe not so much. But check me and Little Man out on the library homepage:

http://www.rathbun.lioninc.org/

We are in the scroll bar at the top.

So They Say...

...this isn't a big deal. But whenever you have to have surgery, I think it's a big deal. I am having my gall bladder removed Dec. 4th. Lovely, I know. The whole thing is stressing me out. What about Little Man? What about recovery? With Little Man? Fortunately we have wonderful family and they are stepping up. My in-laws will be here for the day of and the weekend. My mom is flying in for the following week. It's just a very inconvienent time with Christmas coming and all. I am trying to get some shopping done pre-Turkey day. Since we will be in Ohio for a week.
Christmas is my favorite holiday and it's quite annoying.
I know, I know. Wah wah wah boo hoo

Little Monkey gone Bananas

Little Man had a fun Halloween night. It was the best part of his day actually. Here's a video and some pictures.

Book Review

I finished Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffeneggar. She wrote The Time Traveler's Wife that they just made into a movie. Which by the way is a great book and movie. How often does that happen.

Any way the book HFS is good. A little slow in the middle but lots of twisties at the end. I enjoyed it. But the end left me wanting, just a tad. Read it and you'll see why.

It's So HARD!

I dropped my little man off at the sitter again this morning. He kicked and screamed and cried. I cried. It's just so hard to walk out with him doing that. I told him all morning that Mommy's going to work and N. is playing at Miss N.'s. He didn't get it until we were in the house and he clung to me.
I seriously wonder if I am damaging his phsyche for later in life. I told my hubby he is going to have abandonment issues.
Tell me I am crazy. Tell me that he will be fine.
And piece of advise to mothers of young childen, leave them early and as often as you can so this doesn't happen to you.
I.T. I.S. H.A.R.D!

Let it snow?

Last time I checked my calendar it was October. So this was the scene out my patio door on October 15th.

Life at 15 months

So day 2 of daycare...today. Day 1 didn't go so well. He had a rough 4 1/2 hours. Today he is there ALL DAY because mommy has a dr's visit. We'll see how it goes. I think he won't be happy with mommy when I pick him up. We'll see. Such a rough age.

Little Man Update

Of course I have to post new pictures of my little boy. He's growing fast and wants to be a big boy...sometimes. Here goes

Ah kids

Life with an active, attention-demanding 1 year-old keeps me pretty busy. So sorry to all my loyal fans (yea right) I have not posted in quite some time. I'll make an effort to do better.

I am still here!

Here is a new video. I have been seriously slacking or...raising my son. An active 14 month old keeps me quite busy.

Fever!

My baby has a fever. His first real fever of his life. It was 100.4 F this morning. I gave him tylonel and it only came down to 100.1 F. I have been trying to put a cold washcloth on him but he doesn't like it. He's been sleeping over 2 1/2 HOURS unheard of for him to nap that long. I am starting to get worried. Poor little man.

The next Beethoven?

Do I have a little genius in my midst? Maybe, maybe not. But he's still cute either way.

Sylvester and Tweety

We have our own little cat-mouse duo on our deck. Watch the video!!! These 2 wrens made a next in our propane tank and have thier little babies in there. The birds land on our deck railing and like to "sing" very loudly. They pick bugs out of the planters. Our cat is much tormented I think. She can't catch them and so must just let them sing in her ear. It reminds of me of Sylvester and Tweety-bird. Ha! Ha!

So Good!

I read this book so fast I didn't even have time to post that I was reading it. I am so glad I finally decided to read this series. It was so captivating. I just wanted to find out what was happening next. I can't hardly wait to read the next one, New Moon. I am waiting to get the copy at the library.
So I would highly recommend this book.

Book Review

I finished The Lost Recipe for Happiness (some time ago actually). I pushed to get through it. I didn't feel the continuity in this book. I have just started reading romance novels and just didn't feel this one. I never drew me in. But I finished.

HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY

Yesterday was Little Man's 1st birthday. I can't believe how this year has flown. I never thought it would go this fast.
Here's to you son. You've changed my life forever and I love you more than you will ever realize.

(this was not his cake, his looked much better)

What month is this?

It's June right? I'm not crazy.
It has seriously been raining, cloudy, foggy for 4, count them 1..2..3..4...DAYS now. The temperature has been on average 7 degrees colder than last year at this same time.
I am so tired of this. Can someone tell Mother Nature that it's June and supposed to be sunny and 70's? Thank you!

So Big!!

Little Man is so big.

Week 3

I've been slacking on the Cook Yourself Thin recipes. Sorry. I've been making them just not posting them. But I will recommend these.
Pasta Bake with Sausage, Broccoli and Beans
Deep Dark Chocolate Cake
Healthy Potato Skins
I want to try this:
Skinny Down-Home Chicken Pot Pie
Tonight we are having this:
Chicken Tetrazzini (I can't find the recipe. I don't think they've made it online.)

I'm addicted

I have been looking for used outdoor toys for Little Man. So I am now addicted to Craigslist. I am picking up some stuff today and tomorrow. NOT outdoor toys but other toys. I just can't pass up a good deal. Although I am driving 45 minutes to get the one thing (it's actually 3 toys sold together). I'll make a trip out of it and go by Once Upon a Child to see if they have any good stuff for him.
This is the one of three that I'm getting. Cool, right?

Hallelujah!!

Two weeks shy of Little Man's 1st Birthday and I can wear my pre-pregnancy capris. Yaahoo!!!
That's not me above.

I'm there!

I am finally at the point where I want to read Twilight by Stephanie Meyer. I thought ew, vampires at first but I've heard it's not focused on that and I am curious. I'll read the book before I see the movie. That way I can be really disappointed by the movie. Ha! The book is always better.

Testing

I am trying the video feature. Hope it works. This is Little Man a few weeks ago when he just started walking.

Seriously!

Not only is food getting more expensive with the rising cost of EVERYTHING! But they are now making the containers SMALLER! I realized last summer that Edy Ice Cream container was smaller. The new Trop 50 with 50% less sugar is only 59 oz instead of 64 oz and today the Kraft Mozzarella cheese is 7 oz! Are you kidding me? Will you charge me less? No. It's the same freakin' price as the other 8 oz bags of all their other varities. It will only be time when they are all reduced to 7 oz. I would think it would cost more to change all their processes but I suppose with all the computer automation now it's just a quick program retype and wa-la, new smaller sizes same crappy prices.

Did you know?

A dog's gestational period is only 9 weeks!! I can't even imagaine what that would be like. Most women don't know they are even pregnant until week 4 or later.

Can't Wait

Army Wives Season 3 starts on Sunday June 7th at 10pm ET. I can't wait.
Tune in on Lifetime.

Finished!

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet: A Novel by Jamie Ford

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this book. I didn't know what direction the author was taking it so it left some surprises. It's one that could have continued in my opinion. It's sometimes disappointing when the book ends with the climax. But I did enjoy the book immensely.


View all my reviews.

Week 2

Chicken and Bean Burritos with Pineapple Salsa (can serve with brown rice)(Actually made these already. VERY GOOD!!! Highly recommend)
Steak with Cauli-Mashed Potatoes (Potatoes were very good. Couldn't even taste the cauliflower)
Chicken Enchiladas
Spaghetti Carbonara (Also good. Not great but hits the spot without the cal/fat)
Chicken Parmesan with Zucchini "Pasta"
Turkey Burger with Sweet Potato Fries
Dessert: Chocolate and Cranberry Biscotti (I made these already sans cranberries, wonderful. Very nice. And easy.)

(I have to add the links later sorry but you can go to "Cook Yourself Thin" recipes

Eval: Week 1

So I have to admit I didn't stick to my recipes exactly. I didn't make it to the store to get all the ingredients so I used what I had on hand.
Lasagna: Made as directed (except I halved the recipe and made an 8x8 pan, and cooked the old style noodles b/c that's what I already had) and I thought it was pretty good. I'd make it again.
Risotto: I liked this. Very good.
Roast Chicken: I grilled this whole. I drizzled with oil and sprinkled with the dry herbs, squirted lemon juice inside and crushed garlic. But it was very good. For the veg I did sliced red potato and carrots tossed with oil, S&P and herbs, wrapped in foil and grilled too. Now that it's summer I like to grill a lot.
Sesame Noodles: I didn't have all the ingredients for this but used what I had and it was good. I didn't love it but it was good.
Sausage and Cornbread: I actually grilled the sausage. I added the garlic and lemon to the sauteed spinach. The cornbread was good but I didn't think it was flavorful enough. We ended up adding a pat of butter. (*gasp*)
Peanut Butter Bars: Didn't make. Forgot the cream cheese. Plus I can't find just plain 'ol chocolate wafers.

I actually thought this would be really easy to follow and I am findng it isn't so much. But I'll keep trying the recipes.
My goal is to start a food journal to keep track of what I am actually eating.

So it begins

My Little Man is walking at just shy of 11 months. I can't believe he is this old already. It's amazing how far babies come from birth but yet how far they have yet to go to be a full functioning adult. Amazing!

Cook Yourself Thin

This is a new series on Lifetime I've been watching. I would love to lose the baby pouch but I look at this as a way to cook healthier. So in order to stay focused I will be posting a weekly menu with links to the recipes. So give it a try and tell me what you think.

LOVE It!!!

I love Shop-At-Home website. It's a site you can earn cash back on online purchases, get discount coupon codes and even print grocery coupons. I've been using it since December and have already saved over $50. So if you are an online shopper, check it out. It's super easy. I have posted a link at the left. And if you use this link and sign up and make a purchase, I get cashback and so do you. Win! Win!

I Have Arrived!

Welcome to my blog. Or should I say welcome to the blogging world. I have wanted to start this for a while now but have just put it off. Hopefully I can update it often and keep it interesting. So thanks for checking in and come back to see how I'm doing. I would love to hear from you too, so leave me comments.