Our pantry is packed to the brim with pastas, instant rice, canned vegetables, baking supplies -- basically it's a mini-grocery store on its own. Our freezer will not open with random frozen foods spilling out onto us (darn side-by-side fridge/freezer) and there is absolutely no space left in our refrigerator.
I'm a bit embarrassed by all this, because I try to be frugal and stick to my grocery list, but it's a never-ending battle.
A while back, I wrote about trying to stick to a menu. I made it about half-way through the week and then ordered take-out or decided I wasn't in the mood for the scheduled meal, etc. etc. The Smartest Man Alive has finally declared war on my over-spending habit (and I've had it, too).
Seriously, with just a cursory glance of the fridge, pantry, and freezer, these are all the meals I could make RIGHT NOW with no additional trips to the grocery store. Read it and weep (for my bank account and all the starving children in the world).
1. Spaghetti and Meatballs
2. Burrito Bar (a Rachael Ray fave in our house)
3. Chicken and Dumplings
4. Garlicky Chicken and Shrimp with Tomatoes and Herbs
5. Port Roast with Roasted Potatoes and Carrots
6. Chicken Enchiladas
7. Italian Style-Cod
8. Baked Chicken with Cheesy Rice and Broccoli
9. Rotisserie-Style Chicken with Stuffing and Corn
10. Lasagna
So my new resolution: No more trips to the grocery store for two weeks! We are going to eat what we have in this house. No take-out allowed either. We've got plenty of easy meals to make if we come home tired, etc.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Nine-Month Report Card
This is long over-due. We've finally returned from St. Louis and gotten settled. Grandma's service was beautiful and I truly appreciate all the condolences we have received.
Now, onto my favorite topic: Little Man.
*We went for his nine-month well-baby check-up and he weighs 20 pounds, 1 oz. He feels heavier than this, but that's what the scales at the doctor's office say.
*He's crawling like a mad-man now and is fascinated by the toilet, pantry, and garbage. In other words, he's a boy.
*He's pulling up on furniture and can even take a step while holding onto our hands.
*He knows the word "No," but hardly ever obeys it.
*His favorite food is blueberries.
*He feeds himself some finger foods, like wagon wheels, arrowroot cookies, and cheese puffs. The other foods he smears, drops, or randomly flings all over my kitchen.
*He is destructive -- seriously. He rips apart magazines, throws things, and is constantly "unpacking" anything that is neatly put away. Our living room looks like a war zone.
*His favorite activity is clapping.
*We have finished physical therapy and only need to go once more for a check-up. Yay!
Now, onto my favorite topic: Little Man.
*We went for his nine-month well-baby check-up and he weighs 20 pounds, 1 oz. He feels heavier than this, but that's what the scales at the doctor's office say.
*He's crawling like a mad-man now and is fascinated by the toilet, pantry, and garbage. In other words, he's a boy.
*He's pulling up on furniture and can even take a step while holding onto our hands.
*He knows the word "No," but hardly ever obeys it.
*His favorite food is blueberries.
*He feeds himself some finger foods, like wagon wheels, arrowroot cookies, and cheese puffs. The other foods he smears, drops, or randomly flings all over my kitchen.
*He is destructive -- seriously. He rips apart magazines, throws things, and is constantly "unpacking" anything that is neatly put away. Our living room looks like a war zone.
*His favorite activity is clapping.
*We have finished physical therapy and only need to go once more for a check-up. Yay!
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Grandparents
My grandmother passed away today. I am sad for myself and my family; but I'm not sad for her. I know that she is in a better place, reunited with my grandfather and the family members who have gone before her.
I can remember eating her poached eggs and boogeying around town while Hot Rod Sally played on the radio. She was a hit at my baby shower, where she marveled over the Diaper Genie and Boppy she never had for her 7 children.
I'm glad she had the chance to meet Little Man, even if he was more "monster" than "man."
I can remember eating her poached eggs and boogeying around town while Hot Rod Sally played on the radio. She was a hit at my baby shower, where she marveled over the Diaper Genie and Boppy she never had for her 7 children.
I'm glad she had the chance to meet Little Man, even if he was more "monster" than "man."
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Mommyhood
A rare treat: I had lunch with a friend today at a cozy, beachside restaurant that had absolutely no babies or toddlers in sight. It was nice to have lunch with my friend, even though we talked about our babies pretty much the whole time.
As we sat and chatted after our meal, in walked an acquaintance looking glamorous in a beachy outfit. She was polite and came over to our table to say hello. She told us that she was having lunch with a friend and going to a pool party. A small part of me twinged with jealousy. After all, the only pool parties I'm getting invited to are the inflatable pool and swimmy diaper variety.
As I drove home I thought about how much my life has changed since Little Man was born. "Sleeping in" now means 7:30 or 8 a.m. and the morning does NOT start with a cup of coffee and bagel. Instead, it's a bottle and oatmeal with cut-up fruit.
Weekend getaways involve a full-size SUV full of baby "necessities," including Pack 'n Play, daipers, food, toys, books, clothes...etc. etc. etc. These getaways are decidely less "adult" and more family-oriented. No poolside drinks or bar-hopping for this mommy.
I've lost touch with old friends and gained new ones.
And you know what? I wouldn't change it for the world. Before Little Man was born, I couldn't imagine this kind of love. Now, I couldn't imagine my life without it.
As we sat and chatted after our meal, in walked an acquaintance looking glamorous in a beachy outfit. She was polite and came over to our table to say hello. She told us that she was having lunch with a friend and going to a pool party. A small part of me twinged with jealousy. After all, the only pool parties I'm getting invited to are the inflatable pool and swimmy diaper variety.
As I drove home I thought about how much my life has changed since Little Man was born. "Sleeping in" now means 7:30 or 8 a.m. and the morning does NOT start with a cup of coffee and bagel. Instead, it's a bottle and oatmeal with cut-up fruit.
Weekend getaways involve a full-size SUV full of baby "necessities," including Pack 'n Play, daipers, food, toys, books, clothes...etc. etc. etc. These getaways are decidely less "adult" and more family-oriented. No poolside drinks or bar-hopping for this mommy.
I've lost touch with old friends and gained new ones.
And you know what? I wouldn't change it for the world. Before Little Man was born, I couldn't imagine this kind of love. Now, I couldn't imagine my life without it.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Cr-Cr-Crawling...
Woo hoo! We've had a busy week. Little Man finally mustered the moves to start crawling and he's now systematically dismantling our house! First up: The bookshelf. Next: The entertainment center.
He's doing an army crawl, which is the cutest thing I've ever seen. He's gotten his chunky little legs underneath him in, but hasn't worked up the courage to move those hands and knees on his own.
He's especially interested in the bookshelf and The Smartest Man Alive's Carl Hiaasen books. He's started up pulling up on furniture and it won't be long before he's cruising.
We're headed to Babies R Us today to get some babyproofing supplies. We know that we will get cabinet locks and outlet plugs, but I was wondering if any you had advice on other can't-live-without babyproofing supplies.
What did you need and what was a waste of money?
He's doing an army crawl, which is the cutest thing I've ever seen. He's gotten his chunky little legs underneath him in, but hasn't worked up the courage to move those hands and knees on his own.
He's especially interested in the bookshelf and The Smartest Man Alive's Carl Hiaasen books. He's started up pulling up on furniture and it won't be long before he's cruising.
We're headed to Babies R Us today to get some babyproofing supplies. We know that we will get cabinet locks and outlet plugs, but I was wondering if any you had advice on other can't-live-without babyproofing supplies.
What did you need and what was a waste of money?
Friday, September 4, 2009
The First Tooth!
Little Man has been tugging on his ears and waking up in the middle of the night for about a week now. He smacks his lips, chews on his fingers (or anything else nearby) and babbles mamamamamamamamama.
He developed a fever last night, and I was so freaked out that he might have an actual illness that I forgot all about Tooth Watch '09.
I gave Little Man Tylenol and called the on-call nurse, who assured me all was well and that we probably didn't even need a trip to the doctor. Other than a little moaning during the night, Little Man slept well and this morning the fever was gone. When I checked out his gums, I discovered a large bump on his gums and, although I'm not sure if the tooth is acutally poking through, I'm counting it as our first.
The Smartest Man Alive predicted on Monday that we would have a tooth by the end of the week. As you might imagine, he's gloating today.
He developed a fever last night, and I was so freaked out that he might have an actual illness that I forgot all about Tooth Watch '09.
I gave Little Man Tylenol and called the on-call nurse, who assured me all was well and that we probably didn't even need a trip to the doctor. Other than a little moaning during the night, Little Man slept well and this morning the fever was gone. When I checked out his gums, I discovered a large bump on his gums and, although I'm not sure if the tooth is acutally poking through, I'm counting it as our first.
The Smartest Man Alive predicted on Monday that we would have a tooth by the end of the week. As you might imagine, he's gloating today.
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