So...the word I always thought I always wanted to hear....
Mommy!
Nope....not anymore....especially not at 12:15am....especially not at 12:15am when it's being screamed by a toddler from across the house...especially not at 12:15am by a screaming toddler who has a diaper full of poo and a husband who's so asleep a hurricane wouldn't wake him.
The Toddler, as I'm now going to refer to him - kinda like when you were a teenager and you were so disgusted with your Mom that you'd rile her on purpose by calling her Mooootherrrr *eye roll* - has decided that when anyone else comes to take care of him, he wants to chant "I need my Mommy, NOOOO, I need my MoooOOOOOooooommmMMMMMmmmmyyyYYYYyyy!"
I remember, many moons ago, when The Toddler was a wee lil babe....so cute, so innocent, so sweet smelling. I would gaze into his beautiful blue eyes and dream of the day he'd call me Mommy.
Yea, boy...if I knew then what I know now. I'd have followed through on that promise of freezing him at his adorable, chubby, 9 month old stage.
But no....here we are....The Toddler is three full months into the 2s and it's allllllllllll about his Mommy. I have to say, I love it....sometimes....other times, I'm like, seriously, kid....can't your Daddy give you a bath? Can't your Daddy change your diaper?
I absolutely love that Toddler with all my heart, though.
He's strong willed and he's a natural comedian..
He's a slave to his schedule and he loves to hop like a bunny.
He loves to snuugle and he loves to run wild.
He loves unconditionally and is a climbing daredevil.
He's all that is good and wonderful wrapped up into a mischievious, nudie time loving Toddler.
Mommy - yea, it's a pretty great word to hear screamed from your Toddler's mouth - as long as it's not in the middle of the night or following a huge thump and cry.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Monday, October 17, 2011
Recipe time!! Pasta with Kale and Italian Sausage
I've been through 4 weeks now of Phase I of the South Beach diet. Now, I'm starting to introduce some whole wheat back into my diet and came across this amazing sounding recipe at Kalyn's Kitchen. I had some beautiful organic red kale come in my CSA last week that was begging to be cooked. So...it was time to try my hand at something other than Kale Chips.
Pasta with Kale and Italian Sausage
1 pound sweet Italian sausage
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 Tbs olive oil
1 tsp red pepper flakes
1 bunch kale, stems removed, washed and dried
1 pound whole wheat pasta
1 cup chicken broth
1 small can diced tomatoes, drained
In a large pot, bring well salted water to a boil and cook the pasta until desired doneness. Drain and return to the pot.
While pasta is cooking, warm a skillet over medium heat with olive oil, garlic and red pepper flakes. Once hot, add sausage and cook until no longer pink.
While sausage is cooking, take washed and dried kale and slice it into small slivers.
Add chicken broth to the sausage and then add the kale on top. Cover and allow kale to steam for 5 minutes. Stir kale into the sausage until it is well wilted. Pour sausage and kale mixture over pasta and stir to combine. Heat for a few more minutes while pasta absorbs the chicken broth. Add in a 1/3 cup of parmesan cheese and tomatoes and stir well.
Serve and enjoy!
Pasta with Kale and Italian Sausage
1 pound sweet Italian sausage
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 Tbs olive oil
1 tsp red pepper flakes
1 bunch kale, stems removed, washed and dried
1 pound whole wheat pasta
1 cup chicken broth
1 small can diced tomatoes, drained
In a large pot, bring well salted water to a boil and cook the pasta until desired doneness. Drain and return to the pot.
While pasta is cooking, warm a skillet over medium heat with olive oil, garlic and red pepper flakes. Once hot, add sausage and cook until no longer pink.
While sausage is cooking, take washed and dried kale and slice it into small slivers.
Add chicken broth to the sausage and then add the kale on top. Cover and allow kale to steam for 5 minutes. Stir kale into the sausage until it is well wilted. Pour sausage and kale mixture over pasta and stir to combine. Heat for a few more minutes while pasta absorbs the chicken broth. Add in a 1/3 cup of parmesan cheese and tomatoes and stir well.
Serve and enjoy!
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Today's edition of things that annoy me
Okay...so, I've been dealing with the "crud" that's going around. I was sick two weeks ago before I got my flu shot and then got the shot and then got sick all over again. Then Parker started getting all snotty. Then I noticed that a lot of folks at his daycare were snotty. Well, after a full week of nearly mind blowing headaches, I'm finally back to normal, except for this hacky cough.
Well, guess who's gotten sick now....Shooter. Who, last night before bed, starts in on how bad he feels and oh how he's sooooo sick.
**sidebar - just yesterday, during the day, Shooter's parents and I were having a conversation about how Parker seems to get his flair for the dramatic from him....**
Please, I have been sick for going on three weeks....and worked....and took care of the house, kinda....and cared for our kid....and cooked meals, kinda....
I don't wanna hear it.
Well, guess who's gotten sick now....Shooter. Who, last night before bed, starts in on how bad he feels and oh how he's sooooo sick.
**sidebar - just yesterday, during the day, Shooter's parents and I were having a conversation about how Parker seems to get his flair for the dramatic from him....**
Please, I have been sick for going on three weeks....and worked....and took care of the house, kinda....and cared for our kid....and cooked meals, kinda....
I don't wanna hear it.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Choices
Is it too early to start teaching my child the benefits/consequences to choices?
He turned 2 in mid July.
Well...tonight we tried a lesson in choices...it didn't go well....
I gave Parker a choice - he could keep playing with his toys in his playroom or watch Cars. He said he wanted to keep playing. I explained that his choice meant that he couldn't watch Cars and he said, "Keeep payin with mah toyeeez". Okay, but explained again, that meant no Cars and milk in his room and then bed.
So of course, comes time to clean up and the fit starts. He won't help clean up and fights me tooth and nail the entire time. He then hysterically wants Cars.
I stick with it though, no Cars, baby, time to have our milk in your room then on to bed. Oh, it was one fit to behold...a masterful one...he's getting good at this terrible 2 thing.
I got him settled...we drank some milk...read a couple of stories....then when Mommy says that it's time to brush teeth and go to bed, the waterworks start again.
He cries through the tooth brushing.
He cries through the prayers.
He even asks for Cars as we're putting him in the crib....the kid is nothing but persistent.
In the end I really felt badly for him...his routine was out of whack, but that was really due to a choice he'd made...to play in his playroom rather than watch his movie.
Sometimes choices are hard - sometimes the consequences are harder.
I guess I did the right thing....what kind of child would I be raising if I don't give him the opportunity to choose and then have to live with that choice. I want my child to understand that he has to make his own decisions, that he's empowered to make his own decisions, but that he has to bear responsibility for those decisions.
This parenting gig isn't an easy one...
He turned 2 in mid July.
Well...tonight we tried a lesson in choices...it didn't go well....
I gave Parker a choice - he could keep playing with his toys in his playroom or watch Cars. He said he wanted to keep playing. I explained that his choice meant that he couldn't watch Cars and he said, "Keeep payin with mah toyeeez". Okay, but explained again, that meant no Cars and milk in his room and then bed.
So of course, comes time to clean up and the fit starts. He won't help clean up and fights me tooth and nail the entire time. He then hysterically wants Cars.
I stick with it though, no Cars, baby, time to have our milk in your room then on to bed. Oh, it was one fit to behold...a masterful one...he's getting good at this terrible 2 thing.
I got him settled...we drank some milk...read a couple of stories....then when Mommy says that it's time to brush teeth and go to bed, the waterworks start again.
He cries through the tooth brushing.
He cries through the prayers.
He even asks for Cars as we're putting him in the crib....the kid is nothing but persistent.
In the end I really felt badly for him...his routine was out of whack, but that was really due to a choice he'd made...to play in his playroom rather than watch his movie.
Sometimes choices are hard - sometimes the consequences are harder.
I guess I did the right thing....what kind of child would I be raising if I don't give him the opportunity to choose and then have to live with that choice. I want my child to understand that he has to make his own decisions, that he's empowered to make his own decisions, but that he has to bear responsibility for those decisions.
This parenting gig isn't an easy one...
Friday, October 7, 2011
You have a coupon for that?
So, I was suckered into signing up for a couple of those discount coupon sites and now get a bazillion emails into my mailbox every morning.
Mostly, I'm humored by what services are being offered...sometimes, I really wonder if the service being offered should be purchased through a discount coupon....examples:
Liposuction - Do you REALLY want to be THAT person who walks into the office and presents your coupon for a buy one get one Liposuction???? Do you really want to go to a surgeon who takes said coupon??
Dental Cleaning / Whitening - see above
Fishing Trip - aren't you afraid of getting lost on the river or something?
Infrared Body Wrap - I mean, seriously? That sounds dangerous enough on its own....
Photo-to-Metal print - Why yes, turn my sweet, innocent child into a weapon....as that doesn't happen on a daily basis already.
BYOB Glassblowing Experience - sure....molten glass and blow torches aren't dangerous enough on their own...let's throw alcoholic beverages into the mix.
Facial and Dermaplaning - Dermaplaning? Nuff said.
Frozen Yogurt! - I only mention this because apparently Frozen Yogurt without an exclamation isn't nearly as good. :-)
Mostly, I'm humored by what services are being offered...sometimes, I really wonder if the service being offered should be purchased through a discount coupon....examples:
Liposuction - Do you REALLY want to be THAT person who walks into the office and presents your coupon for a buy one get one Liposuction???? Do you really want to go to a surgeon who takes said coupon??
Dental Cleaning / Whitening - see above
Fishing Trip - aren't you afraid of getting lost on the river or something?
Infrared Body Wrap - I mean, seriously? That sounds dangerous enough on its own....
Photo-to-Metal print - Why yes, turn my sweet, innocent child into a weapon....as that doesn't happen on a daily basis already.
BYOB Glassblowing Experience - sure....molten glass and blow torches aren't dangerous enough on their own...let's throw alcoholic beverages into the mix.
Facial and Dermaplaning - Dermaplaning? Nuff said.
Frozen Yogurt! - I only mention this because apparently Frozen Yogurt without an exclamation isn't nearly as good. :-)
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Just call me Iron Chef!
So, I have started up participation in a CSA at my office. I'm quite excited about it because I get a goodie grab bag of produce and then get to figure out how to cretively use it! It's kinda like Chopped...or Top Chef! Okay...so not really, but in my eyes it is.
So, this week I got a glorious basket of produce including:
Red Kale
Bibb lettuce
Cabbage
Pie Pumpkin
Yellow Delicous Apples
Sweet potatoes
Celery
Sweet Basil
Juicing oranges
Brussell Sprouts
Bananas
I mean, seriously....how awesome is all that?!?!?!
One of my coworkers got the fully organic basket and it had rainbow carrotts and chard and butternut squash. OH YUM!!!!
I have to say, I'm going to really enjoy getting these baskets. We are set for a delivery every two weeks and once we transition into spring and summer...yippee!!
So, this week I got a glorious basket of produce including:
Red Kale
Bibb lettuce
Cabbage
Pie Pumpkin
Yellow Delicous Apples
Sweet potatoes
Celery
Sweet Basil
Juicing oranges
Brussell Sprouts
Bananas
I mean, seriously....how awesome is all that?!?!?!
One of my coworkers got the fully organic basket and it had rainbow carrotts and chard and butternut squash. OH YUM!!!!
I have to say, I'm going to really enjoy getting these baskets. We are set for a delivery every two weeks and once we transition into spring and summer...yippee!!
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Today's installment of things that annoy me
So, today on my Facebook news feed, I saw an ad from Huggies for their Christmas themed diapers.....
Really? I do not let my child just run around in his diapers....these things therefore annoy me....but not as badly as these do....
Every time I go to Wal-mart I cringe when I see these diapers.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Recipe time!!! Cuban Ropa Vieja
Okay....I'm usually pretty good about taking pictures of my recipes....but this week Shooter is working late so it was me and a hungry toddler to feed....so the camera got pushed aside. But here's a good representation of what the delicousness looked like:
This is a really great, tasty recipe that simmers away in the slow cooker all day and waits for you to come home and eat it up!
Cuban Ropa Vieja
1.5 pounds flank steak
1.5 cups beef broth
1/2 cup white vinegar
1/2 cup tomato sauce
3 oz tomato paste
1 medium onion, halved and sliced
1 tablespoon cumin
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon olive oil
chopped cilantro
In your slow cooker, mix together the beef broth, vinegar, tomato sauce, tomato paste, onions, cumin, garlic powder and olive oil until well mixed. Place the flank steak in the mixture and submerge. Cook on low for 8 hours.
NOTE: Flank steak can be added frozen, I did that and it turned out fine. When I got home, I had a lot of thin sauce so I took out the meat and poured the sauce out into a pot and boiled it for about 15 min until reduced and good bit. I then added in a corn starch slurry to thicken a little more (1 tablespoon corn starch with enough water to dissolve). I then added back the shredded meat and a decent handful of cilantro. I served with shredded cheese, tortillas sour cream and more cilantro. I am on the South Beach diet so no rice for me, but it would be delicious with some rice to soak up the delicious sauce.
This is a really great, tasty recipe that simmers away in the slow cooker all day and waits for you to come home and eat it up!
Cuban Ropa Vieja
1.5 pounds flank steak
1.5 cups beef broth
1/2 cup white vinegar
1/2 cup tomato sauce
3 oz tomato paste
1 medium onion, halved and sliced
1 tablespoon cumin
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon olive oil
chopped cilantro
In your slow cooker, mix together the beef broth, vinegar, tomato sauce, tomato paste, onions, cumin, garlic powder and olive oil until well mixed. Place the flank steak in the mixture and submerge. Cook on low for 8 hours.
NOTE: Flank steak can be added frozen, I did that and it turned out fine. When I got home, I had a lot of thin sauce so I took out the meat and poured the sauce out into a pot and boiled it for about 15 min until reduced and good bit. I then added in a corn starch slurry to thicken a little more (1 tablespoon corn starch with enough water to dissolve). I then added back the shredded meat and a decent handful of cilantro. I served with shredded cheese, tortillas sour cream and more cilantro. I am on the South Beach diet so no rice for me, but it would be delicious with some rice to soak up the delicious sauce.
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