Annie and Sammy were in the bathtub together. Just as I was thinking to myself "I'm so glad she hasn't noticed their, uh, 'differences' yet", Annie spoke these words:
"Mama, that's Sambo's belly button. And that's his tail."
It was an epic inner struggle to keep a straight face.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
3 Successes and 1 Fail
I've been trying new recipes lately as we try to reduce our food budget. I had 3 really awesome recipes and 1 that was an epic failure. Let's start with the successes, shall we?
1. Pancakes!
Now, pancakes may seem like Cooking 101 to some of you, but I had not had much success with them in the past. They burn or are doughy or are too tough or too spongy...In any case, these are the best. Make some mix to have on hand, then whip up a batch when you need an easy dinner. Scramble a couple eggs, heat some pre-cooked sausage, and call it good. These pancakes, in my opinion, rival the ultimate pancake: the Perkins pancake. Use a non-stick skillet, and do not put in any butter or oil or cooking spray! This will make perfectly, evenly brown cakes. Use a medium heat setting (number 6 on my fancy stove) and scoop about 2 tablespoons per pancake. Keep them warm in the oven as you cook.
Homemade Instant Pancake Mix (Nigella Lawson, via FoodNetwork)
2. Ginger-Peanut Chicken
As I troll the blogs each morning, I often visit $5 Dinners for interesting and cheap recipes. One day I followed link to a separate blog to find Ginger-Peanut Chicken. This was one of the first times I read a recipe, thought it sounded good, and actually had ALL of the necessary ingredients! Sam and I both thought it was delicious (though more adventurous eaters may want a bit more spice to the sauce...add whatever it is spicy-food-eaters add to their food.)
Ginger-Peanut Chicken
3. Coffee Cake
I love breakfast sweets. Danish, doughnut, bagel; it's all good. However, the only sweet breakfast thing you can really make at home is the coffee cake. I've tried many a recipe, but none have been remarkable. Either the cake is too flat or the topping gets melty and sticky, or it is too sweet (or requires blueberries, which I don't usually have!) Intrigued by the name, I tried Jewish Coffee Cake from AllRecipes.com. We have a winner! Moist, dense cake. Crunchy cinnamon top. Not too sweet. I made it last night and have been eating it all day (seriously, that's what was in my lunch bag today--3 squares of coffee cake) I did not have sour cream to add, but I substituted ricotta cheese, and I think it turned out just fine. If you can tell me what makes it "Jewish" coffee cake, I'll make you one!
Jewish Coffee Cake (AllRecipes.com)
And now, time for the fail.
It was my 2nd failed attempt at roasting a whole chicken. Twice we have received whole chickens from a couple at our church who raise their own birds. And twice I have destroyed these beautiful things with crappy attempts at roasting. I don't know what the problem is--I have successfully roasted a turkey--why not a chicken!?!? I guess I must resign myself to boneless skinless chicken breast. Because, really, I don't want the skin, bones, or dark meat :)
Tell me, have you cooked a chicken whole? What is your secret?
1. Pancakes!
Now, pancakes may seem like Cooking 101 to some of you, but I had not had much success with them in the past. They burn or are doughy or are too tough or too spongy...In any case, these are the best. Make some mix to have on hand, then whip up a batch when you need an easy dinner. Scramble a couple eggs, heat some pre-cooked sausage, and call it good. These pancakes, in my opinion, rival the ultimate pancake: the Perkins pancake. Use a non-stick skillet, and do not put in any butter or oil or cooking spray! This will make perfectly, evenly brown cakes. Use a medium heat setting (number 6 on my fancy stove) and scoop about 2 tablespoons per pancake. Keep them warm in the oven as you cook.
Homemade Instant Pancake Mix (Nigella Lawson, via FoodNetwork)
2. Ginger-Peanut Chicken
As I troll the blogs each morning, I often visit $5 Dinners for interesting and cheap recipes. One day I followed link to a separate blog to find Ginger-Peanut Chicken. This was one of the first times I read a recipe, thought it sounded good, and actually had ALL of the necessary ingredients! Sam and I both thought it was delicious (though more adventurous eaters may want a bit more spice to the sauce...add whatever it is spicy-food-eaters add to their food.)
Ginger-Peanut Chicken
3. Coffee Cake
I love breakfast sweets. Danish, doughnut, bagel; it's all good. However, the only sweet breakfast thing you can really make at home is the coffee cake. I've tried many a recipe, but none have been remarkable. Either the cake is too flat or the topping gets melty and sticky, or it is too sweet (or requires blueberries, which I don't usually have!) Intrigued by the name, I tried Jewish Coffee Cake from AllRecipes.com. We have a winner! Moist, dense cake. Crunchy cinnamon top. Not too sweet. I made it last night and have been eating it all day (seriously, that's what was in my lunch bag today--3 squares of coffee cake) I did not have sour cream to add, but I substituted ricotta cheese, and I think it turned out just fine. If you can tell me what makes it "Jewish" coffee cake, I'll make you one!
Jewish Coffee Cake (AllRecipes.com)
And now, time for the fail.
It was my 2nd failed attempt at roasting a whole chicken. Twice we have received whole chickens from a couple at our church who raise their own birds. And twice I have destroyed these beautiful things with crappy attempts at roasting. I don't know what the problem is--I have successfully roasted a turkey--why not a chicken!?!? I guess I must resign myself to boneless skinless chicken breast. Because, really, I don't want the skin, bones, or dark meat :)
Tell me, have you cooked a chicken whole? What is your secret?
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Video Fun
Sammy enjoying the Exersaucer yesterday at Oma's. It was his first time.
Feel free to watch it on "mute" to avoid the daycare noise happening in the background. Sammy isn't talking, just smiling.
Learned Behavior
Anytime Anne uses the potty she asks for a book. I don't usually indulge, but apparently Oma does!
This is hilarious to our family because there is a similar picture of me floating around somewhere, except I'm at my grandma's house and I'm reading one of her "Guideposts" magazines. Sophisticated reading for a 4-year-old!
This is hilarious to our family because there is a similar picture of me floating around somewhere, except I'm at my grandma's house and I'm reading one of her "Guideposts" magazines. Sophisticated reading for a 4-year-old!
Monday, January 25, 2010
It's just so exciting!
I know, things have been a little "Sam-heavy" lately, but it is so fun to see him start to do different things (or, rather, just start to do things!)
He slept from 8:30 pm to 5:00 am last night
He took a 2-hour nap yesterday afternoon (that almost NEVER happens)
He almost rolled from back to front last night. He got hung up on his shoulder.
He holds his blankie and sucks his thumb just like Annie. Balls it up by his nose and pops the thumb in.
After the intensity of a newborn, it is fun to see him turn into a regular baby who can interact with other people. He gives lots of smiles and coos to us, and, to quote Annie, "He's so cute!"
He slept from 8:30 pm to 5:00 am last night
He took a 2-hour nap yesterday afternoon (that almost NEVER happens)
He almost rolled from back to front last night. He got hung up on his shoulder.
He holds his blankie and sucks his thumb just like Annie. Balls it up by his nose and pops the thumb in.
After the intensity of a newborn, it is fun to see him turn into a regular baby who can interact with other people. He gives lots of smiles and coos to us, and, to quote Annie, "He's so cute!"
Friday, January 22, 2010
Magical Brain Switch
Sammy is 5 months old today. In the last 48 hours, he has accomplished the following things:
--sleeping through the night twice
--rolling over, front to back, three times
--sitting tripod-style for three seconds
It's like something just magically switched in his brain!
My big boy. The fun is just beginning!
--sleeping through the night twice
--rolling over, front to back, three times
--sitting tripod-style for three seconds
It's like something just magically switched in his brain!
My big boy. The fun is just beginning!
Ha ha!
He did it again! 8:30 pm-5:00 am!
Some of you wouldn't consider a 5 am wake-up as sleeping through the night, but since we are out the door at 7:00 every morning, it isn't too far off. We're up around 5:30 or 6:00 on a normal day. Sammy and I had extra time to snooze and suggle this morning, which was very nice. He's such a happy little guy when he's fed, burped and being cuddled! Then again, who wouldn't be happy in that situation?
Some of you wouldn't consider a 5 am wake-up as sleeping through the night, but since we are out the door at 7:00 every morning, it isn't too far off. We're up around 5:30 or 6:00 on a normal day. Sammy and I had extra time to snooze and suggle this morning, which was very nice. He's such a happy little guy when he's fed, burped and being cuddled! Then again, who wouldn't be happy in that situation?
Thursday, January 21, 2010
The Man of the Hour
My favorite little man, wearing his super-happy grin. He really can be quite a happy, charming little person when he is not howling for food.Gotta love his hockey monkey suit. Only a Minnesota mom can aspire to her son having a black eye and a missing tooth. "Gotta prove you're tough!"
It is probably a fluke...
...but Sammy slept from 9:30 to 6:30 last night! Just enough to let Mommy eliminate the fog from her brain. (Funny--I had been reading before bed about how a 5-month-old is old enough to sleep all night and may need some "help" in doing so. I had decided to "help" Sammy sleep all night, and then he did it on his own!)
I'm sure it won't happen again tonight, but it was nice for a small little break from his nighttime visits.
I'm sure it won't happen again tonight, but it was nice for a small little break from his nighttime visits.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
A Poem
"Thumbs"
by Shel Silverstein
Oh the thumb-sucker's thumb
May look wrinkled and wet
And withered, and white as the snow,
But the taste of a thumb
Is the sweetest taste yet
(As only we thumb-suckers know).
by Shel Silverstein
Oh the thumb-sucker's thumb
May look wrinkled and wet
And withered, and white as the snow,
But the taste of a thumb
Is the sweetest taste yet
(As only we thumb-suckers know).
Annie Update
A few notes about Annie and how she's doing at 2.25 years old:
1. She says the most hilarious/bizarre things. Example: she looked at a barcode on a library book, then looked up at me and said "Nine dollars!?!?" like she was shocked by the price. Another: today I paid cash for our groceries and when I pulled out the money she pointed at it and said "Twenty dollars!" She gets confused when we get gas because it is "in the car" but she can't see it. I just put a whole chicken in the oven and she said "Whoa, that's a big chicken nugget." And if we are out of cheese, she says "We need to buy some more at the store."
2. She can identify the following letters: A, B, C, D, L, M, N, S, and W. Today she was in the car saying "Mmmm, Mmmm, milk!" like she was sounding it out. Too funny.
3. She can use the potty! We started her training after Christmas, and she has been major-accident-free for 2 weeks now. We did the "3 Day" training plan, in which you basically stay home for 3 days and let your kid run around with no pants on, taking them to the bathroom frequently. Our experience was not exactly smooth (I'll spare you the details...there was lots of poop in very odd places), but one day it just "clicked" and she could do it. We are beyond thrilled not to have to change those giant diapers anymore, and Annie is pretty proud of herself. Today we had a few mini-milestones: she made it through a trip to the grocery store and lunch with Daddy without an accident, and she napped without a diaper and woke up dry. I think we were just lucky enough to catch her at a good time and get her going on the potty.
4. She can be stubborn! It has happened twice now that Anne has had a time-out. I know. Pretty rare occurrence in our home. Which is good, because she is a pill when it happens! The rule is that she has to sit on her bed for 2 minutes, then apologize for her behavior. The thing is, she will NOT apologize! Twice now we've had hour-long standoffs, one resulting in an insincere "sorry" and one resulting in Anne going to bed. It cracks me up a little, though, because when I watch her, I am watching myself! The way she's embarrassed to be in trouble, the way she avoids eye contact, the way she huffs and pouts, the way she is NOT going to give in...it is all me! Ah genetics, coming back to bite me :)
So that's what our little Anne-Pan has been up to these days.
1. She says the most hilarious/bizarre things. Example: she looked at a barcode on a library book, then looked up at me and said "Nine dollars!?!?" like she was shocked by the price. Another: today I paid cash for our groceries and when I pulled out the money she pointed at it and said "Twenty dollars!" She gets confused when we get gas because it is "in the car" but she can't see it. I just put a whole chicken in the oven and she said "Whoa, that's a big chicken nugget." And if we are out of cheese, she says "We need to buy some more at the store."
2. She can identify the following letters: A, B, C, D, L, M, N, S, and W. Today she was in the car saying "Mmmm, Mmmm, milk!" like she was sounding it out. Too funny.
3. She can use the potty! We started her training after Christmas, and she has been major-accident-free for 2 weeks now. We did the "3 Day" training plan, in which you basically stay home for 3 days and let your kid run around with no pants on, taking them to the bathroom frequently. Our experience was not exactly smooth (I'll spare you the details...there was lots of poop in very odd places), but one day it just "clicked" and she could do it. We are beyond thrilled not to have to change those giant diapers anymore, and Annie is pretty proud of herself. Today we had a few mini-milestones: she made it through a trip to the grocery store and lunch with Daddy without an accident, and she napped without a diaper and woke up dry. I think we were just lucky enough to catch her at a good time and get her going on the potty.
4. She can be stubborn! It has happened twice now that Anne has had a time-out. I know. Pretty rare occurrence in our home. Which is good, because she is a pill when it happens! The rule is that she has to sit on her bed for 2 minutes, then apologize for her behavior. The thing is, she will NOT apologize! Twice now we've had hour-long standoffs, one resulting in an insincere "sorry" and one resulting in Anne going to bed. It cracks me up a little, though, because when I watch her, I am watching myself! The way she's embarrassed to be in trouble, the way she avoids eye contact, the way she huffs and pouts, the way she is NOT going to give in...it is all me! Ah genetics, coming back to bite me :)
So that's what our little Anne-Pan has been up to these days.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
A Nursery Rhyme
I didn't know Annie even knew this one until I heard her reciting it to herself. She's a super genius!
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Randoms
Sam Roman on the changing table
The boy loves his hands. As Mr. Burns would say, "Excellent."
Papa and kiddos. Could little Sam look more excited to be a part of this group?
A little sibling love. Displays of affection do not seem to get easier with age...just my observation...
The boy loves his hands. As Mr. Burns would say, "Excellent."
Papa and kiddos. Could little Sam look more excited to be a part of this group?
A little sibling love. Displays of affection do not seem to get easier with age...just my observation...
4-month look-alikes
Maybe I'm imagining it, but I see a lot of similarities. Fuzz for hair, chubby cheeks, big saucer eyes, straight-line eyebrows (those are from Mom!) and overall cuteness.P.S. Sammy's shirt says "Uncle Will (heart) me" Erin made some custom onesies for Sammy's Christmas gift. Too cute!
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Sammers!
The boy ate an entire container of sweet potatoes last night. He was just ravenous! He kept grabbing at my hands and the spoon, and I couldn't get the stuff in there fast enough. It was pretty hilarious to see him chomping away. We'll have to do some video soon.
You can see I'm not being the "good mom" and starting with the green-vegetable baby food. Sorry, but those baby green beans are disgusting! Bananas, sweet potatoes, next up is applesauce. He'll eat his vegetables eventually.
You can see I'm not being the "good mom" and starting with the green-vegetable baby food. Sorry, but those baby green beans are disgusting! Bananas, sweet potatoes, next up is applesauce. He'll eat his vegetables eventually.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Overlooked again...
Sammy had his 4-month check-up last week. It came and went without a blog mention, so here are his stats:
Weight: 14 lbs, 2 oz (Annie was 12 lbs, 8 oz)
Height: 25 inches (Annie was 24.75)
Head: Normal size (Anne=enormous)
All in all he was the picture of an average, healthy baby boy. He did have a little bit of a pink-eye thing going on, and in the Odd Ailments category, he actually had a little piece of cord still stuck in his belly button. It has since been extracted (Sam thought he was just dirty...I bathe him better than that!)
Sammy also ate his first baby food over the weekend, consuming an entire jar of baby bananas with gusto.
Now, if we could just get him sleeping on his own.... :)
Weight: 14 lbs, 2 oz (Annie was 12 lbs, 8 oz)
Height: 25 inches (Annie was 24.75)
Head: Normal size (Anne=enormous)
All in all he was the picture of an average, healthy baby boy. He did have a little bit of a pink-eye thing going on, and in the Odd Ailments category, he actually had a little piece of cord still stuck in his belly button. It has since been extracted (Sam thought he was just dirty...I bathe him better than that!)
Sammy also ate his first baby food over the weekend, consuming an entire jar of baby bananas with gusto.
Now, if we could just get him sleeping on his own.... :)
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