Katy is 3 months! (August 26th)

I cannot believe my Katy girl is already 3 months old.  I really meant to write a post for each month – but time – well, time sure does move fast when you’ve got two kids.  I cannot imagine what life must be like with 3 or more!  My girl brings me such great joy! 

3 Month weight: 13 lbs 3.5 ounces

She started smiling and grinning at around 8 weeks.  Those first smiles came when we would touch her nose and her cheeks, but within a week, little girl would smile all on her own.  Since then, it’s been my personal goal to make her smile every chance I get!  Her smiles are contagious and I just cannot even look at her without getting a big grin on my face. 

Kate sits up with assistance, her neck has been so strong since she got home from the hospital, really.  She has been holding her head up since then!  At the beginning it might only be for a few seconds, but now, she does it as long as you have her in the sit position.  She sits up great in the Bumbo seat except that her legs are so chunky in there!  She’s a pro at being “princess.”  Little Kate loves to be walked around while she eats, and she loves her bottle being a little too warm. 

Katy sleeps like a pro.  We only get up once during the night and she’s been this way since she’s been home.  We’ve had a few, maybe 3-4 nights where she was up more than once, but it’s been so minimal that I cannot remember how many.  She goes to bed when we do.  Sometimes that’s 9:30 and sometimes that’s 11.  Usually it’s sometime in the 10pm hour.

I wrote here about how Kate sleeps in a bouncy seat.  Crazy girl.  Since that post, and actually as of last Friday night, the 23^rd, Kate has been sleeping in her crib at night and for all naps.  I feel like she just needed me to write about it and then she’d switch.  She’d slept every night except one in that bouncy seat until last Friday night.  I am SO THANKFUL that she’s sleeping in her crib in her room!   She’d been sleeping in our room since my foot surgery on July 16^th (because I couldn’t easily get up and move around back and forth to her room with the condition of my foot).  Before that she was in her room in the bouncy seat. 

Eating.  This eating thing has been kind of whacko within the last couple of weeks, so I’m going to talk about previous to this first.  Kate would eat between 5-6 oz of  breast milk every 4 hours.  It was like clockwork.  When those 4 hours were up, she’d start fussing for food (except at night when she’d stretch it – from say 8:30 – 2).  Girl was an alarm clock.  The week before I went back to work, she stopped eating as much.  She started sleeping more.  I was worried, and being the freak mama that I am, I took her to the doctor, who said she was fine and that I needed to stop worrying.  Since then, she eats most of her ounces at night.  She still eats between 19-25 ounces per day, it just varies when she eats.  I think she’s trying to adjust to the changes in who is feeding her, etc.  Hopefully she’ll adjust quickly and begin to get on a more regular schedule with feedings during the week again.  Weekends she seems to do fine, but it’s me who feeds her, so she’s used to me……

Cooper loves her, and she is truly the apple of her daddy’s eye.  We are so blessed to have this sweet little girl in our lives.  I am not taking this time with her as a precious little baby for granted.  I treasure every minute of getting up with her at night, changing those poopy diapers, and cleaning the spit-up off of every article of clothing, couches, and floors that we have.  (Yes, Katy baby is a big spit-upper!!)

Since I didn’t get to write posts about the other months, I’m going to include her pictures and weights here.

Newborn weight: 8lbs

1 month weight: 10 lbs

2 month weight: 13 lbs

Here’s the progression:

We love you to pieces Katybug!

Baked Chicken with Green Beans & Potatoes

I’m posting this recipe because I’m making this recipe this week – it’s part of my meal plan.  I haven’t made it before – but have had a few people that I trust make it and say it’s delicious, so I figure it’s worth a try!

This recipe came from one of those recipe postings on Facebook, I’m sure if you have a Facebook account you’ve seen the recipes.  Some look so good it’s hard not to want to make them immediately and gobble them up.  Anyway, here is the recipe and a picture I procured from the posting on FB.

Baked Chicken with Green Beans & Potatoes

4-6 raw chicken breasts

New potatoes

Green beans (fresh or canned)

Italian Dressing Mix

1 stick melted butter

Arrange chicken, green beans and potatoes in a 9x13 baking dish, sprinkle with the package of Italian dressing mix and cover with the stick of melted butter.  Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes.  Take the foil off and bake an additional 10 minutes.

This will be a make ahead dinner, stowing it in the fridge then coming home and throwing it in the oven to bake while we do other things until dinner time.  I cannot wait for tomorrow night to try it!

Meal Plan Monday

Well, we made a meal plan, got it all ready on Saturday, I shopped until I dropped for food and guess what…. We forget to get stuff out of the freezer to fulfill day one of our meal plan for the week.  Soooo, I’m already going to be mixing things up – I sure hope the rest of the week doesn’t turn out this crappy on the food prep front!  Anyway, here goes our meal plan….  Prepare for LOTS of chicken meals this week….

Monday – Salmon, Steamed Broccoli with noodles & parmesan cheese, Salad

Tuesday – Baked Chicken Recipe from Facebook (Posting Recipe in a later post today), Salad

Wednesday – Grilled Chicken, Corn on the Cob, Couscous, Salad and Carrot Cake Cupcakes (Recipe coming soon)

Thursday – Meatloaf, Green Beans, Baked Potatoes

Sunday – Oven Fried Chicken (Posting Recipe in a post sometime this week) Salad, Corn & Potatoes O’Brien

We’re got plans on Friday and Saturday nights, so we won’t need a meal plan for those days, but I wanted to be prepared for Sunday.  Hope you have a great week!

Five on Friday

It’s Friday!  Yay!  I’m linking up with the fine ladies above for 5 on Friday!

1)   I’m nearly halfway finished with my last day of my first week back to work!  That makes me smile.  That means in about 5 hours, I get to see my babies for two whole days straight!

 

2)    I joined Weight Watchers again as I mentioned the other day, and BAM, since Tuesday I’m down 1.5 lbs.  It could be a fluke, but we’ll see how it goes.  I got my starting weight first thing in the morning and weight myself this morning first thing, on the same scale, so there may actually be progress already!  Since Weight Watchers (and a lot of walking/running) are how I lost weight last year, I figured I’d better bite the bullet to get this baby weight off!

3)  These two.  I can hardly believe how much they look alike.  These pictures were taken at almost the same age, Both of them were almost 12 weeks in these pictures.  If you follow me on Instagram, I apologize, you've already seen this picture.

4)   Meal Plan Mondays should be coming back to this blog again shortly.  Tim and I started a meal plan for my first week back at work, and it was successful, so here’s to meal planning consistently!

5)   I’m exhausted. Like completely exhausted.  While I’m thrilled to have made it through the work week, I cannot wait to get some sleep this weekend.  Weekends mean that I can either take a nap or hubby will probably let me sleep in or cross your fingers, BOTH!  I knew it would be tough getting back into the routine with getting up in the middle of the night with the baby, but it’s the nightly chores and the total lack of relaxation that are getting to me!!!  This e-card pretty much sums up how I’m feeling this week.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend and are able to enjoy these last weekends of summer weather, I’m hoping we’ll be able to have a dip in the pool!  Happy Fridays folks!

Back on the Wagon

I am officially back on the “lose weight” wagon. 

Yesterday, I joined weight watchers again.  Since I am breastfeeding, I get a crazy amount of points.  I honestly do not know how in the world I’ll lose weight eating that many points.  I get 46.  Yes, that’s right I said FORTY SIX!   I honestly cannot believe that I get that many.  So now, I get to eat more food than I was anticipating, which isn’t a bad thing considering I love food, however….. I’m honestly not sure that I want to eat that many points on a daily basis.  We’ll see how it goes, I know they give me the number of points that I need based upon the information that I gave them, so as long as that is accurate (which it is) – this should be what I eat.   Does anyone have any experience with weight watchers to tell me if I’m crazy about thinking 46 points is an awful lot?!?

Moving on…. I started walking yesterday also – I walked a mile during the workday, and I am hoping to walk two miles today.  I plan to start the couch to 5k program next week, as my doctor officially gave me the go ahead as of next Tuesday to start that.  She said my foot is healing nicely, but that I needed to take it easy until then – so a bit of running starting next week should be okay.   I loved the couch to 5k the last time I did it, so I am hoping to like it again. 

Tim and I signed up for a 5k that is in November, so I want to get started training – so that I can do the 3.1 miles in 40 minutes or so.  I’d love to make it in 30, but I’m not in the best shape after not having done any running in a year.  Anything is possible though, and I will give it my best shot, like just about everything that I do. 

I am soon going to start going back on the hunt for some creative healthy dinner options.  And I know my grocery list will be longer than I want it to be from now on – just to keep me satisfied on the good for me food train.  I am hoping to stay with “whole” foods and skip out on most things processed, but I know that this will be more difficult, I love my crunchy snacks.  I have seen people make chips out of turkey pepperonis so I need to look that up.  Now, I’m just rambling, so I’m going to wrap this short post up. 

Have a wonderful hump day!

A little Catsup errr Catch-up

Going through my endless phone pictures today – I realized that I didn’t post about the Indiana State Fair, our recent trip to the Indianapolis Children’s Museum or just about anything all summer, so today, I give you a little of our last couple of weeks.  Not too sure I’ll go back through the entire summer, but we’ll see….

We visited the Indiana State Fair on August 9^th.  Cooper loves him some farm animals.  He calls the fair the “zoo” because of his love for the animals I guess.  No matter how much I correct him, it’s still the zoo to him.  Sometimes that boy belongs in a zoo!  He got to pet a calf and ride on a pony.  He’s been talking about riding on the pony since last year’s fair when he was still too small, so we figured we’d better let him this year.  He did great and I think we need to find another place to take that boy for a horseback ride!  (Tim – I’m thinking a trip to Brown County is in order this fall!!)

Then there’s my girl.  She had the best time in her stroller that day.  Riding along people watching I guess.  She was all smiles most of the day.  This was the first day she got to sit up like a big girl in the stroller, without the use of the pumpkin seat attachment.  She did great!

Andrew went back to school on August 11^th.  This was him before he left – Cooper misses him like crazy already.  Katy was not having a good time during this photo, but we just had to snap a picture of big brother leaving for his SENIOR year of college!  Yay Bobo!!

The children’s museum was last Wednesday, the 14^th.  My mom brought my nephew Layne up and we took the boys to the museum.  They had a blast.  They loved riding the carousel, with the tractor, in the sand, with the lawn mowers, playing in a tree house, and anything else that was made for them.  These boys are so fun when they are together.  They’re definitely the best of friends!

Last week pictures of Kate.  Sitting in her bumbo smiling, sitting in the high chair smiling.  She’s just a happy baby and I kinda like that!

If anyone tries to tell me babies develop personalities as they grow, I’ll probably show them these pictures to prove them wrong.  They have personalities as soon as they are born!  This little girl can only sleep on her left side, in a bouncy seat, with her face half way dug into the seat with her pacifier in.  She falls right to sleep in this position.  I just hope the bouncy seat will hold her awhile longer, because I’m not ready to deal with the fight of moving her to her crib on her back quite yet…….  I took these pictures on Sunday night just so that I could show the babysitter how to get her to take a nap.

Last, but not least, these are my babies from last night.  They really are my heart!

Back to Work

Today is my first day back to work since I had Katy.  It is bittersweet.  Mostly bitter, because I’m leaving her, but there are touches of sweetness. 

So far I have managed to call the sitter only once to check in on my little Katybug.  I have missed her like crazy!  She’s been on my mind every minute of this day!!!  I just know that this will get easier as time goes on, that since having her – I’ve been attached to her and I just miss holding and snuggling my little sweet pea.  I missed Cooper too when I returned to work – but things got easier so I know they will this time as well.

There is at least one nice thing about returning to work.  We will be back on a schedule.  I never really realized how much of a person of “routines” I was – but I believe that I am, and I believe that being on a schedule will really help me adjust to having to leave my babies 5 days a week again. 

Mondays and Fridays Cooper and Katy will go to their perspective childcare facilities (Cooper to his preschool/daycare and Katy to the in home sitter Cooper went to) and Tuesday – Thursday, Stephanie is going to watch them and Kampbell at our house!  I honestly am thrilled for both scenarios.  I will miss the travel time with them to and from work Tuesday – Thursday, but am thrilled that they will be watched by their big sister!  Our sitter on Monday/Friday for Katy is AMAZING, and I wouldn’t imagine having anyone else outside family to watch her.  Cooper loves his school, so it’s a win win!

This is a short and somewhat silly post, I realize, but I want to start documenting our lives again, and now that I am back to work, and like I said above starting a routine…. I hope to get blogging back into my life as well as a fitness routine.  I’ll ease my way back for sure, but I miss blogging, and I miss running, so I’ve got to get back to it! J

Have a great Monday everyone!

Who Are YOU? Part Dos….

 

I’m linking up with Kimmy again today for her Who are you series.  Link up and tell us about YOU!

If you could have three wishes, what would you wish for?

• That all of my friends and family and their friends and family and the rest of the world would get to know and believe in Jesus.
• Health and happiness for my entire family and all of my friends.
• To have enough $$ to not worry about the small things and enough so that my kids could attend college without piles of debt.

What is your dream job, and why? –

I have two…..

To be a stay at home mom and to be able to volunteer time to a children’s hospital.  I always wanted to be a SAHM until I had Cooper, then I changed my mind and loved that I worked and was a mom, and now, all I want is to be at home with my kids.  If I could stay at home, I’d also like to volunteer time to a children’s hospital where I could bring some sunshine to children who were having a rough time.

To own and operate our own bakery or diner/bakery.  I love to bake.  It’s one of my favorite pastimes and Tim loves to be a short order cook.  So, we could do just a bakery or a diner/bakery and we’d both have our dream jobs.

What are 5 passions you have?

Jesus
My family
Friends
Baking
Saving $

List 10 people who have influenced you and describe how.

• Jesus – Obviously the greatest influence in my life.  He laid down his life to save all of us.  What greater influence could there ever be?
• My mom – She loves deeply and has shown me the mother I want to be, the person I want to be and what it means to be amazing.
• My dad – He’s one of the smartest people I know.  He has rules for everything (wonder where I got that?  from this guy).  He was a tough dad who expected perfection and showed me what it meant to never give up.
• My husband – He teaches me about life, love and marriage on a daily basis.  Having this man in my life has made me happier than I could have ever expected.
• My grandfather (dad’s dad) – This man has taught me about hard work, about politics, about bowling, about so many things, his work ethic is undeniable and I hope that I can always make him proud.
• My grandmother (mom’s mom) – She has influenced me to want to make the best mac and cheese around, just like her!  No but really – my grandma is the best.  She has always made me feel special.  As a child, she took me shopping for each birthday and she always made sure Christmas’s were special by giving me a special porcelain doll.  I have so much I could say about my grandma.  I love her so much.
• My grandfather (mom’s dad) – My grandpa.  He passed away when I was a senior in high school, but I will never forget him, his teasing or his love of ketchup and donuts.  He was such a special man.  I remember him taking me to feed the calves on his farm when I was little.  He helped cut my hand out of the back of my dad’s truck when I got it stuck as a child.  He taught me about IU basketball and tractors. 
• Erica (my BFF) – Erica has been in my life since my freshman year of college – she is like my sister and has taught me so much about patience.  She’s about as laid back as they come and I’m about as type A as they come – her influence in my life taught me how to chill out and I thank her so much for that.
• Cooper – My little guy influences my life so much.  He makes me want to be a better mom/person on a daily basis.  He is such a sweetie with such a crazy side and I just cannot help wanting to be better because of him.
• Kate – Even though she’s only 10 weeks old, she’s already brought so much joy to my life.  She influences me to calm down and know that I’m not in control.  This little gal takes hours to get all of her burps out after she takes her bottle – with many screams and tears in between (I’ll let you decide who screams and who has the tears, lol).  I’ve learned through her that I just have to take it easy and realize that she’s going to do things on her own time and that I’m not in control.

Describe your most embarrassing moment.

This is tough for me.  I honestly cannot think of a terribly embarrassing moment.  Maybe that’s because I don’t let things bother me forever.  One time that I can think of that I was embarrassed that Stephanie still teases me about today, is when we were playing Blurt as a family and I couldn’t think of a cow.  She had to literally say “Emily – MOOOOO” before I realized the word I needed to blurt out was cow.  I’m sure there are other embarrassing moments, like the one at my surprise sprinkle when I ran Aly over to get to Holly, but you can read and see that video here…..

Who Are YOU? Part Uno…..

List 20 random facts about yourself.

1. I love peanut butter.  Especially with chocolate.

2. I used to despise the color pink.  Now, I kind of like it.  Like a lot.

3. I have rules.  For everything.  If you don’t follow my rules, known or unknown to you, it drives me crazy. 

4. I LOVE the Indiana State Fair.  I love the 17 days in August when the fair is going on and I itch to go each year. 

5. I do not have a green thumb, therefore the flowers that you’ll see around my house are those that require zero attention.

6. Spreadsheets are my favorite.

7. I Love Jesus.

8. Movie theater popcorn makes me smile.

9. The remnants of chocolate chip pancakes on this face make my world brighter.

10. Couponing used to be one of my favorite hobbies.  I’ve gotten away from it, and I miss it.

11. I have about 10 home projects that are in my head that I need to start on or finish and I just have no motivation/time.

12. I love to shop.

13. We keep our house pretty cool in the summer, just so that we can put blankets on when watching tv.

14. I really dread going back to work, this time off with my babies has been wonderful.

15. Baking is an obsession.  If I could bake everyday I probably would.

16. I cannot stand whining.

17. I have a love/hate relationship with our dishwasher.

18. I never wear sleeveless tops outside my house. 

19. I’m a little biased, but my Cooper is THE smartest almost 4 year old I’ve ever met.

20. A bed that has been made up in a clean room is a beautiful sight to me.

Describe 3 legitimate fears you have and explain how they became fears

1. I am afraid of riding in a truck and falling off of a cliff.  I had a recurring dream when I was a child that I was riding in a truck with my dad and we fell off of a cliff.  It made me deathly afraid of this happening, I’m still afraid of it to this day.

2. My child/children being kidnapped scares the crap out of me.  The constant news of children being taken from their parents is why this became a fear of mine.

3. My house burning down because I’ve left the clothes dryer on when I’m not at home.  This fear originated from my mother as a child, she mentioned it once and I’ve been a little nervous about it since.  Not afraid enough to not let it happen, but it is always in the back of my mind.

Describe your relationship with your spouse.

My relationship with Tim is wonderful.  We communicate well, whether it be good or bad things.  We have fun together, and we help each other.  He makes me laugh.  We take care of each other.  We have our ups and downs, like any other relationship, but we have more ups than downs and it takes work, and its totally worth it.

List 10 things you would tell your 16 year-old self, if you could.

In no particular order…..

• High school boyfriends are really not that important.

• It doesn’t matter what kind of car that you have, at least you have one.

• Brand name clothing doesn’t matter.

• When you are a senior, you’re going to quit all sports and dance – DON’T!

• CHERISH PEOPLE, NOT STUFF.

• Don’t take your parents for granted.  LISTEN to them!

• Spend as much time with your grandparents as you can.  They won’t be around forever.

• Target will still be your favorite store when you are 32, so enjoy working there while you can!

• Get move involved in church!

• Save more and spend less.
  

What are the 5 things that make you most happy right now?

Sticking with “Things” and not people…..

1. Our new refrigerator
2. Our new stove/oven
3. Pandora Radio
4. Brooks Running shoes
5. Mistresses (TV Show)

Whoa!  That’s a long post, I cannot wait to linkup for the rest of these, that was fun!  Happy Friday folks!