Five Favorites {3}

Linking up with Hallie.

1. I haven't read a book that isn't about pregnancy, childbirth, breast feeding or infant sleep in over a year. I love a good biography...especially about 80s actors. I found this one at Barnes & Noble for $5.00. There's at least 4 chapters dedicated to his first movie, one of my all time favorites, "The Outsiders". If you are a fan of 80s movies and the crazy life of movie stars, it does not disappoint. And he's just so pretty!

2. Now going in the very opposite direction...I love everything I've read and heard about our new Pope. This is no exception. 

"We need saints without cassocks, without veils - we need saints with jeans and tennis shoes. We need saints that go to the movies that listen to music, that hang out with their friends. We need saints that place God in first place ahead of succeeding in any career. We need saints that look for time to pray every day and who know how to be in love with purity, chastity and all good things. We need saints - saints for the 21st century with, a spirituality, appropriate to our new time. We need saints that have a commitment to helping the poor and to make the needed social change.

We need saints to live in the world, to sanctify the world and to not be afraid of living in the world by their presence in it. We need saints that drink Coca-Cola, that eat hot dogs, that surf the internet and that listen to their iPods. We need saints that love the Eucharist, that are not afraid or embarrassed to eat a pizza or drink a beer with their friends. We need saints who love the movies, dance, sports, theatre. We need saints that are open, sociable, normal, happy companions. We need saints who are in this world and who know how to enjoy the best in this world without being callous or mundane. 

We need saints."   ~Pope Francis, WYD2013

He is so joyful!

3. I just ordered my first Citrus Lane box! They had a TWO FOR ONE promo, so I thought it was a good time to try it out! I should be receiving the July box any day now and the August box at the end of the month!

An example I googled :)

4. My husband's birthday is Monday and we are going on a Birthday Breakfast Bike ride. It will be our first date since Ted was born. I am so excited for some one on one time with my hubby and to get back on my bike! We haven't been on a bike ride since I was 7 months pregnant (don't tell my doctor I rode my bike that long) ;-)

5. This kid is just too much! It overwhelms me how much I love him.

 

three months

My sweet boy is three months old! It is hard to believe it's been 3 months already. It seems like just yesterday we were here. At the same time, I can't remember what life was like without Ted. I'm still exhausted, still feel like I have no idea what I am doing, but somehow loving every minute of it. I could seriously just stare at him all day. It continues to amaze me every day that I get to be his mama.

Amazing how much he's grown!

Three months means time to party!

Isn't it funny how things change? I've always thought I knew so much about children. I've taught for 7 years, have taken countless child development classes and have been surrounded by children (friends and family) my whole life. Yet now that I am a mom and I am responsible for this little soul, I feel completely helpless. I question every single decision we are making. Is he nursing too much? Too little? Do I rock him to sleep? Or do I let him cry it out? Do I follow BabyWise or some other book that seems to think all babies are the same and completely contradict every other book.

I have quickly learned that no two babies are alike and I assumed that just because I have friends whose children slept through the night early that mine would too. What's that saying about when you ASSume? Needless to say, my child is not sleeping through the night. In fact, it seems that every time I say that he is sleeping well we have another long, horrible night like this one. 

So, if anyone asks again, "How is your child sleeping at night?" 

My new response is, "ehh, it could be better."

These snuggles get me through those sleepless nights.

{heart melt}

Ted's learned some new tricks this week! He's rolling over! No more swaddles at night! I put him on his back in his crib and he wakes up on his belly and sideways. We had to go buy some new footed jammies because he didn't have any that fit!

I'm learning to adjust to this new life with Ted. I have a lot of friends who are teachers who are either already back to school or getting to go back. 

Well, guess what? 

I'm not going back to teach! Usually around this time I start having the back to school anxiety dreams. I still have  them...maybe it's sympathy anxiety for my fellow teacher friends. All I know is that it feels AWESOME to not be going back to school! I do love teaching, but I really can't imagine sending Ted to daycare and then teaching other people's kids all day long. I am still working, I will just be doing it from home.

I am really excited and nervous about this new chapter in our family. It means some changes and sacrifices, but just look at this face...

totally worth it, right?

 Starting to love his toys

 Sun's out...guns out!

Loves his playmat

Five Favorites {2}

Linking up with Hallie for my Five Favorites this week.

1. This past weekend, our son was baptized at our church. It was such a special day! He was baptized by our parish priest. He also presided at our wedding and when my husband joined the church earlier this year. I've known him as long as I've lived here, almost 12 years, so it was so special to have him baptize our son! (Check out his sweet ponytail!) Ted's baptism outfit was adorable! I didn't want a three piece suit for an infant and I couldn't find a gown that I really liked that was gender neutral. A friend told me about her son's romper that was Irish linen. I googled it and found this. It was perfect! I love that it is simple and I love the St. Brigid cross on the collar. We will definitely keep this in our family for many years to come.

2. We've been researching cameras and we finally decided to buy this one. We bought it just in time for Ted's baptism. It has been really fun learning how to use it. I love how great the pictures are! Jason is pretty excited about it and likes being artsy with his picture taking. Can you tell?

3. I've never been a dieter. We try to eat healthy, but I could never adopt a diet like Paleo. Mostly because I LOVE grilled cheese sandwiches. I'm pretty sure no bread and cheese allowed. I did come across this delicious recipe. I'd call it "Zucchini Bruschetta". It was delicious and super easy to make. Slice zucchini in a pan. Put sliced tomatoes on top. I drizzled it with balsalmic, olive oil and minced garlic. Add mozzarella or parmesan and bake for 30-40 minutes. Seriously amazing!

4. Some of my favorite girls from Iowa and I started a traveling journal about 10 years ago. Sadly, our first one got lost in the mail. :( We started a new one about 6 months ago and it FINALLY made it's way to me! When we started it, we were all in different states I think. Iowa, Oregon, Illinois, Minnesota, Arizona and maybe New York? Now, four are in Iowa, one in Minnesota and one in Arizona. I am so excited to start writing in this! I keep hearing the music from the Sisterhood of Traveling Pants in my head. I love that we do this and it's just one more way we try to stay connected.

5. This little guy has had a cold for the past few days. The cold is obviously not a favorite, but these snuggles are for sure!

Happy Friday everyone!

Five Favorites

This is my first link up...saw the idea on Anna Kate's blog and linked up to Camp Patton.

This should be fun! :)

1. So, when I was pregnant I spent all my time reading about child birth and forgot to read about when the baby actually is here. Needless to say we had a very rough start. I scoured the interwebs for help, but EVERYONE has contradicting views. I came across this book at a used book store. I had never heard of it, but I LOVE it! Combine what it says about baby having 90 minute wake cycles and what this book says about putting baby on a schedule...I think we have a winner! After 4 days of following baby's cues and a feeding schedule, Ted slept 8 hours last night! Of course, I didn't because I kept waking up expecting him to wake up!

2. I don't know if it's being on a schedule or because he's almost 3 months old...Ted is getting to be so fun! He laughs and "talks" all the time now! I discovered this awesome play mat from a friend. Ted loves it! When he kicks it he plays music and he loves looking in the little mirror.

3. I just discovered this coffee creamer. It is so yummy! Coffee at home that now tastes like an iced mocha?! Yes, please!

4. Ted is so fun now...he enjoys reading/eating books! I love watching him try to grip things.

5. We took Ted to his first baseball game this week and he loved it! He looked like a little old man watching the game. He was even on the jumbotron! I am so bummed I missed a picture of it, but we took plenty of our own.

This little man is 3 months tomorrow and he is getting baptized on Sunday! We are ready for a great weekend!

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Lactation Cookies

These cookies are delicious.

I don't really think I have a problem with my milk supply. I mean...do these cheeks look deprived?

A friend of mine sent me this recipe so I thought I would try it. I love cookies, especially if I can pass them off as "healthy cookies". 

I asked Delia from Delia's Kitchen to help me change the recipe up so it would be a little more healthy. She has some really scrumptious recipes that I have tried and they have all been a hit.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Lactation Cookies from Food.com

Ingredients (substitutions in parenthesis)
1 cup butter (organic)
1 cup sugar (1/2 cup organic cane sugar)
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar (1/2 cup sucanat)**
4 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons flax seed meal
2 eggs (organic)
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups flour (1 cup whole wheat, 1 cup regular)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups oats (organic)
1 cup chocolate chips2 -4 tablespoons brewer's yeast

(2 tablespoons chia seeds)

I love chia seeds...I try adding them to everything!

**This time I did not have any Sucanat, so I did 1/4 cup dark brown sugar and 1 ripe banana**
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Mix the flaxseed meal and water and let sit for 3-5 minutes.
3. Beat butter, sugar and brown sugar well.
4. Add eggs and mix well.
5. Add flaxseed mix and vanilla and mix well.
6. Sift together flour, brewer's yeast, baking soda and salt (and chia seeds).
7. Add flour mix to butter mix.
8. Stir in oats and chips.
9. Scoop onto baking sheet.
10. Bake for 12 minutes. ***
11. Let set for several minutes, then remove from tray.

***I only baked mine for 9 minutes.***

Yields about 4 1/2 dozen cookies.

Hope you enjoy!!

Have you ever made any lactation treats?

Anamosa Adventure

For the past five years, some of my friends and I have gathered in Anamosa, IA
 at my friend John and Mandy's house. 
It has all the makings for a great annual event. 

And if you know me, you know I love a good annual event! We put up tents in their big back yard, have a homemade drink contest, serenading by the guitar around a campfire, enjoy delicious food and treats (SMORES are my favorite!), and even better...the company of these lovely ladies and gents.

So this was the fifth year and we decided to have shirts made. 

Even better, we decided to all wear our shirts on the same day...

 and walk to the local bowling alley.

We were the only ones there.

I seriously can't get over how hilarious this was. I adore all of these wonderful people so much! They are some of the reasons I am so torn about living so far away and a reason I try to make it back as often as possible.

Five years ago there were only two littles in our group. Now there are 10 with one on the way in December!

It is such a fun weekend and I look forward to it every summer! It is by far the best weekend of the entire summer (4th of July in San Diego might be a tie).

 Love the backyard full of tents!

 Afternoon sing-a-long

 My Goddaugther Mary and Ted with their mustaches

 Can't handle the cuteness!

And for some reason, we love reenacting Senior Picture poses...

This is one of my all time favorites now...love these ladies so much :)

 Everyone loved meeting Ted!

 This was from a few years ago. A few new additions since then!

As always a fabulous weekend with fabulous people. 
Ted was exhausted from so much fun!