Seen and Heard

Leta is 11 weeks old.

2 minutes ago....

Kyle: What's this on her back?

Me: HER BIRTH MARK!!!!!!!!

Meal Plan and New Recipes!

Leta has forgotten what a good nap is. She's doing the whole, sleeping for 45 minutes at a time. If I leave her in there...she'll lay there and be quiet/fuss off and on for an hour, but not go back to sleep. It's not hunger...tried that one today. So we're on to waiting it out. She always gets 15 minutes to go back to sleep. Luke did this for a year. Hopefully she'll wise up. She slept well last night (a little over tired from lack of naps, perhaps???) and didn't wake to eat until 6:45. We'll give it tonight and see how she does. If she does that again, then I'm adding in my 10:30pm feeding and expecting her to sleep all night.

Needless to say, a 2 yr old who hasn't been going down for his naps so well lately, and a 2 month old sleeping in 45 minute increments isn't lending itself to me learning the new Body and Soul routines. Just finished rehearsing again. I can't go too late at night or I won't be able to go to sleep.

Here's the latest meal plan I've been working on. I've got some new recipes and some old 'uns for you.

Poppy Seed Chicken

Chinese
Pesto Chicken French Bread Pizza

Creamy Baked Mostacolli

Asian Wild Rice Salad

Chili Cheese Fries Casserole

Cheesy Salsa Mini Meatloaves

Chili Skillet

Ricotta and Ham Stuffed Chicken

Ravioli Lasagna

Hamburgers

Extra: Granola Bars, Cookies, Granola Balls x2

Poppy Seed Chicken (we got this meal brought to us a couple of times after Leta was born...yummy!)

4 Chicken breasts

1 can cream of chicken soup (Healthy Request)

1 cup reduced fat sour cream

3/4 sleeve reduced fat ritz crackers

Sprinkle poppy seeds over top of all.

Cut chicken into bit size pieces and cook with poultry seasoning and a pinch of red pepper flakes. Mix together with soup and sour cream. Pour into 9X9 pan. Crush Ritz crackers and spread over top. Bake for 30 minutes at 350. Serve with brown rice.

Pesto Chicken French Bread Pizza

1 jar pesto

loaf of french bread

3 chicken breasts

Olives

Mozzarella cheese, shredded

Cut bread in half length ways, and then again to form the size pieces you want. Slice and cook chicken through. Spread 1 T of pesto on each, top with chicken, olives and cheese. Bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes.

Chili Skillet

1lb ground beef, browned

1 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup chopped green pepper

1 tsp minced garlic

1 cup tomato juice

1 can kidney beans, undrained

1/2 cup uncooked long grain rice

4 tsp chili powder

1 tsp dried oregano

1 tsp salt

1 can corn

1/2 cup sliced olives

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

In a large skillet over medium heat sauté onion and pepper. Add beef and rest of the ingredients minus olives and cheese. Cover and simmer for 25 minutes until rice is tender. Stir in olives and top with cheese. Cover and cook until cheese is melted.

Serve with tortilla chips, cheese, jalapeños, sour cream, salsa etc.

Random Thoughts Thursday

I'm eating some pudding right now. Instant pudding is amazing. Powder+milk+a few minutes and you have PUDDING! Oh the wonders of the modern world.

Lately I've been having Luke help me make supper. I keep hearing Rachael Ray say that if you have your children help you in the kitchen, they'll be more likely to try what you've made. I agree. Luke likes to taste every ingredient I'm making something with. He'll eat raw oatmeal. He wants to eat raw chicken. He eats frozen broccoli. He WOULD NOT try the pesto tonight that he help me spread on the french bread. (We made chicken pesto french bread pizza...so yummy by the way. I think I may have to become addicted to pesto)

I've been busy busy busy this week. And through all this business...I don't feel like I'm getting anything done. Frustrating!!! To do list for tomorrow: Put away laundry, gather things for workshop, plan workshop attendance schedule with and around Leta's nursing, make two batches of Peanut Butter Granola Balls.

I got some new yoga pants in the mail yesterday. I've had my others since before Luke was born and I wore them through both pregnancies... they were a BIT stretched out. I was spending more time pulling them up in class than working out. Time for new yoga pants! I think getting new yoga pants might be the equivalent of me saying to Luke, "Guess what, buddy?!?! Christmas comes once a month now!!!!" Anyway, excited to wear them tomorrow and see how they do working out. They'd better be the greatest yoga pants EVER for what I paid for them. I'd better go clip some more coupons.

I can't wait for this summer to be back at the lake. My boating time will be pretty limited with nursing and napping schedules, but it'll still be so much fun. I think my favorite part is the anticipation of thinking of the different people I'd like to have go with us some weekend.

It's late. I'm tired. Nighty night!

SHhhhhed-jew-uls

So, after talking with Audra, I decided that Luke and I need a schedule for our "At home Days" Tuesdays and Thursdays. Audra does her schedule every day. Maybe I'll get a schedule for Body and Soul days, but we're starting small. Baby steps, people! So anyway, an initial conversation with Audra, a follow up phone call, searching the web, and tons of scratch paper later. Here is what I've come up with:

7:30am Leta wakes up, eats, gets dressed
8:00ish Luke up and he and I eat breakfast
8:30 Luke gets dressed (Play with any leftover time)
9:00 Chore Time with Leta (haha...this will be our play time in her room, she'll go down for her nap and Luke isn't allowed in her room with us.)
9:15 Chore Time with Luke (Tues. is upstairs chores, Thurs. downstairs)
(dusting, changing his sheets, making bed, cleaning his bathroom, sweeping under his chair, cleaning his chair, general picking up)
9:30 Mommy chore Time
9:45 Mommy and Luke structured play time (arts and crafts, letter writing, games, learning time)
10:30 Leta eats. Luke has independent play in living room. Not allowed on couch.
11:00 All play
12:00 Luke and I eat lunch
12:30 Bible time (songs, stories, activities, scripture memorization)
1:00 Luke Nap time
1:30 Leta eats
3:30 Luke awake and free play with mommy
4:30 Leta eats. Luke has alone playtime upstairs or outside
5:00 Luke helps make supper
7:00 Daddy and Luke time
7:30 Pick up toys and get ready for bed
8:00 Bedtime!

If you people have any ideas for structured play time, Bible Time etc. let me know in the comments. Except you Michael. I'm sure your comment will be a smart alec one anyway =) I'll let you all know how it goes. I'm starting maybe next Tuesday or maybe in 2 weeks. Our Body and Soul workshop is tomorrow and Saturday so after that and for the next two weeks I have 18 routines to learn...so maybe the schedule will have to wait a while.

Luke is babbling away upstairs. I'd best go get him.

Leta Bo-Beta!

We had Leta's 2 month well baby check up. She is 21 3/4" long (between 10 and 25%), weighs 11 pounds (between 25 and 50%) and her head is 15.25" in circumference (between 25 and 50%). She is 9 weeks old. I checked the blog and Luke was 22" long and 11lbs 4oz so she's just a bit smaller than he was. She got 3 shots and one oral vaccine. She didn't like any of them. She started crying during the oral...and that was before the shots!

Solomon and Amelia Visit!

The Cousins! Amelia, Leta, Luke, Solomon

Audra and the boys

Playing cars

Bath time! Maybe next time Leta will be big enough to join in on the fun.

Girl time!

And they brought Michael and Audra with them.

Michael and Audra arrived Saturday evening around 7:15. My aunt Marjorie had come over earlier in the day and got to spend time with Luke and Leta and then was able to stay for just a bit after they arrived. She was meeting some friends in Norman that night. The boys immediately went wild running around the house, chasing each other and getting very wound up.

Sunday we went to church, grabbed some Qdoba for lunch at came back to the house and ate. Marjorie joined us, but had to leave during nap time. Sunday evening we had popcorn and watched "Americas Funny" according to Luke (America's Funniest Home Videos).

Monday morning Audra and I went to Body and Soul and worked out. We came home to a tired and cranky Luke who was still in his pj's and had been in time out a great portion of the morning. That afternoon Michael and Kyle went and played golf and Audra and I played a fun new game called, "Referee". It's an intense game where you always have to be alert, on your toes and have a high tolerance for loud sounds. It's difficult, because the "pawns" of the game are two two-year-old boys, neither of whom know how to share. After supper the kids had a bath.

Tuesday they left around 11am. We spent the morning playing and getting things lined up for them to leave. Michael wasn't feeling the best. But don't worry. So far his germs have only spread to poor Kyle, who now has yet another cold.

We had so much fun, and I was sad to see them go. However, I am still recovering! I think I'm glad God has given me my babies one at a time! Audra and I spent quite a bit of time discussing schedules and discipline and how to get Solomon to stay in his bed. I dont' think I was any help to her and I don't think she's any closer to a solution! She needs to find one for when we encounter this battle ourselves so she can help me =). Anyway, as a result of our talks I have come up with an "At Home Day" schedule for Luke. That'll be a post that's not too long in coming.

Luke-ism

Tonight at Target:

Luke: Mommy, are you sad?

Me (surprised): No! I'm happy! Are you happy?

Luke: No.

Me: How are you feeling?

Luke: Sad.

Me: Why are you sad?

Luke: Because.

Me: Because why?
Luke: Because Daddy isn't here.

HOW SWEET IS THAT?!?!?!?!

Leta took her first nap in her crib today. So glad to get the Pack-n-Play out of the living room! We had a great time with Michael and Audra. I'll have to post about that later...I'm tired!

Leta has her 2 month well-baby check up tomorrow. It involves shots. So I'll probably be posting again soon.

We've reached a new milestone!

Luke did. Not Leta. Or maybe it's more that I did. I'll let you judge =) It was such a nice day today and I wanted Luke to be able to play outside for a while, but between nursing and making supper he wouldn't've had much time outside. So when I got him fro his nap I very clearly set the parameters and then he got to play outside in the little back yard all by himself. He did a perfect job of staying where I told him. After the first 30 minutes he was really wanting someone out there with him. Leta finished eating then we went outside, too. But when it came time for me to make supper, he still wanted to play outside, but couldn't manage any more alone time, so he finally came in and helped me make supper. Playing outside alone will be a big help to both of us I think, especially while Leta is so little and eating so often.

Prayer

Luke likes to pray every night before supper. And every night he says the same thing.

Dear God. Thank you for the suppers. Jesus Amen.

And every night it is SO precious.

Pass it On

Yesterday and today there was a local consignment sale. I couldn't go yesterday, but went first thing this morning after I nursed Leta (who is down to 7 feedings per day now...7:30am, 10:30, 1:30, 4, 6:30, 8:30 and 1 night time) I spent just under $30. I got 5 sleepers, 1 pair of pants, 2 onsies, 3 dresses and 2 rompers. Considering one of the dresses was my "splurge" at 5$...I did pretty good I'd say. It was pretty picked over since it was the last day and I bought every single sleeper they had in the size I was looking for.

We've started a new system for picking up toys with Luke. It was getting to be a battle and stressful and I decided I didn't want to be stressed out any more during that time. Now he gets 15 minutes and 15 minutes ONLY to pick up his toys at night. We do help him pick up if he's doing a good job at it himself. Any extra time he has when his toys are all put away can be spent "flopping" with Kyle in our room. If time runs out and Kyle or I have to pick up his toys they get put in "time out" for 2 days. Here is a picture after the first day of doing this.

Yup. That would be EVERY.SINGLE.TRAIN. AND TRAIN TRACK that he owns. It was a VERY sad next two days. For both of us =)

My mom made Leta a sampler and it came in the mail this past week. It turned out really well. It looks even better in real life than it does in this picture. It'll go in her room for now and will be passed down to her in her "special tub" later.

Random Thoughts Thursday

There's a blog that I follow and the writer? author? chronicle-er? does a "Random Thoughts Thursday" post nearly every week. And I love them. I only feel the desire to post one of my own after I read hers. But then I don't. What if she thought I was copying her! Well I am.

First off. Do I even have enough random thoughts to merit a blog post? We'll see.

I just stumbled on my new favorite blog. One that I think will actually be a beneficial way to spend my time. I hope to use some time searching through it and reading some different posts. I think it could be helpful.

I've been trying to do my Power Strength DVD one day a week in addition to my MWF Body and Soul classes to try to get back into shape and/or lose these last few lbs that are plaguing my belly that show no signs of leaving. I have several gift cards to spend on new clothes people! And I refuse to go until I look a bit more like my "old" self. I think I'm going to try to talk Kyle into doing the video with me one night to see what he thinks of it.

My living room and kitchen look like a tornado hit it. Why am I sitting here doing nothing when I should be tackling that?

So. I misplaced my Key Word Study Bible a few years ago. I finally went online and bought a new one using a gift card I had received for Christmas. It came yesterday. I KNOW! I didn't order King James. Or at least I KNOW I meant to order the New American Standard Version. So I'll have to return it via mail. And it's a big bible. HEAVY! It's gonna cost a small fortune. Arg. Feeling frustrated with myself.

Body and Soul Spring Workshop is coming up. That means that I'm going to have to start learning the new routines. 16 routines in 2 weeks. AHHHHHH! When am I going to do that when I can't even keep my kitchen unburied?

Ok. Off to start on the kitchen. Luke's nap is about over. Hopefully I'll get interrupted and won't have to finish =P

Catch Up!

Kyle: Kyle has been very busy lately. He has a few really big projects going currently. He is also considering a partnership with Traver on a Timeshare website. His "no compete" clause from selling Vacation Timeshare Rentals expired and so he's now free to do so. However, this is FAR from a done deal, so who knows if it will materialize or not. He is also back into running competitively, which I think I mentioned earlier. He has run in...3? 4? meets now. There are a few upcoming that he plans on running in as well. The next one is in Overland Park, KS. I think it's next weekend. Anyway. That has been keeping him busy, too and he's really enjoying it, although there are many reasons for me telling him that he's old now =) He was plagued with injuries and issues early on, but they seem to be improving and not occurring as frequently. He just completed our gathering information for our taxes today and will take them to the accountant. We are pretty sure it will be bad news and that we'll be paying more than we anticipated. So. Anyone wanna come over for some Ramen Noodles?

Rachel: My update isn't nearly as exciting as anyone elses...so feel free to skip =). I'm still trying to get into the swing of things with two kids and get everyone on a manageable schedule. I think I'm doing pretty well myself. Current schedule (because if I don't write it, there will be nothing else for me to say!) 7:30: Wake up time for Leta 8-8:30 Wake up time for Luke 10:30 Leta's morning snack 11:30 Lunch for Luke and I 12:30 Luke's nap 1:30 Leta's early afternoon snack 3:30 Luke's nap time is over! 4:00 Leta's late afternoon snack 5:30 Supper time for the Fam! 6:30 Leta's early evening snack 8:00 Bed for Luke 8:30 Leta's bedtime snack 10:30 Leta's late night nursing. I'm also back at Body and Soul MWF. It feels so good to exercise again. And with Luke's behavior lately I NEED the stress relief! I tell ya...being pregnant and then taking 5 weeks off postpartum will get you OUT OF SHAPE!!! So I'm working on that. Leta is "pulling a Luke" and staying home with Kyle while Luke and I go to Body and Soul.

Luke: Is still adjusting to having a sister (whom he dearly loves) and learning how to treat her. He's only thrown her once, which I suppose I should consider a success. He is still more stressed out by life than he was pre Leta. One VERY nice change in him is that he is getting back to being a "Daddy's boy". This has happened within the past week. He was very much one before Leta, but after her he became very clingy to me and didn't want to have much to do with Kyle at all. However, that is changing so it makes is much easier for Kyle to help me out by distracting Luke during Leta's early evening sack. He is in a very challenging parenting phase right now and spends a good portion of his day in time out and recovering from getting "swats". He is singing lots of different songs these days. Some that we sing together and some that he learns in bible school. His current favorites are: Peter, James, and John in a Sailboat and Roll the Gospel Chariot. He also likes them to be sung, "Real Fast". He is also picking up on "grammer rules". He will often pluralize in this way, "carses, trainses, cupses etc." He is also very in to telling Kyle that he missed him when he gets back from the gym. It's so sweet to hear. Luke is very much becoming a little boy and not so much of a toddler.

Leta: Leta is 7 weeks old today. She also weighs approximately 11 lbs. and is wearing 0-3 month clothes. She has outgrown one outfit in this size range so far, but I think it was on the smaller side of things. But they are all fitting her, which probably means our 0-3 month days are numbered. So says our scale when I weighed myself first with her and then without. She smiles a lot. She is big into our crown molding and ceiling fan as Luke was. She also likes "The Itsy Bitsy Spider". She is pretty good at rolling over from tummy to back and does it pretty frequently. She is a good night sleeper. I nurse her at 8:30 and then she goes down to bed. I wake her at 10:30 to "top off her tank". She doesn't eat much and I never see her eyes during this feeding. Then she usually wakes up once in the night to eat. Her latest to wake up to date is 5:15am. Then she goes back down until I get her up to "begin her day" at 7:30. She prefers to sleep on her side and likes to be swaddled. She only has 2 blankets large enough to swaddle her in. However, she's getting so strong...or maybe I'm just not that good at swaddling that she escapes those so I had my Grandma Olson make a swaddle pod like in the pictures in the post below. I got the first one in the mail from her the other day and we have a bit of tweaking to do before it's mastered, but they are large enough for her now and she has room to grow. She can track objects with her eyes, bear her weight on her legs (she doesn't do this as much as Luke did) and lift her head pretty well during tummy time. She is also becoming much less of a "bobble head" as Kyle calls it, but you have to be ready because that huge noggin of hers will take an unexpected dive. She is also starting to get baby acne like Luke did. We can also see some new hair growth on the top of her head. We aren't 100% sure, but we think it looks like she will end up with darker hair.

I'm behind in my recipe plans. I know. Too bad. You'll just have to get over it! We had lots of meals brought to us after Leta was born so you only missed 1 or two. Anyway. Here's the current one.

Meal Plan

Chinese

Shepherd's Pie

Chili Corn bread

Crockpot Tomato Basil Chicken

Easy Chicken and Pasta

Poppyseed Chicken

French Toast

Chicken Penne Italiano

Pizza Bread

Chicken Bundles

Extra: Peanut Butter Granola Balls, Granola Bars

Chicken Bundles (we had these brought to us after Leta was born and it was SO yummy. I opted for reduced fat versions, left out 4 T of butter and added poultry seasoning and red pepper flakes)

6oz reduced fat cream cheese

1 1/2 tsp dried chives

2 T milk

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1 tsp poultry seasoning

1 pinch red pepper flakes

4 c cubed chicken, cooked

2 (80z) cans refrigerated reduced fat crescent rolls

Cook chicken in poultry seasoning and red pepper flakes. Mix cream cheese, chives, milk, salt and pepper until smooth. Stir in chicken. Unroll crescent roll dough and separate into 8 rectangles. Press portions together. Spoon about 1/2 cup chicken mixture onto the center of each rectangle. Bring edges together and pinch to seal. Place on baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes at 350.