2 Months Old!

This sweet cuddle bug is 2 months old today! How did that happen?!

What's new this month?

• I am still wearing size one diapers, but am almost ready for size two!
• I am wearing 6 month sleepers and almost ready for 3 - 6 months clothing! 
• I am 23 1/4 inches long
• I weigh 11.35 lbs
• I am smiling and laughing! 
• I follow mommy and daddy with my eyes and look for them when I hear their voice
• I love music and my activity mats
• I have reflux, but I am now on medication and I'm feeling SO much better
• I recognize my doggy and she licks my head and toes (it tickles)
• I am sleeping 4 and 5 hour stretches at night ( most of the time - unless I have bad gas - sorry mom and dad)
• I like to try to stand up and love moving my arms and legs
• I can roll from my tummy to my back 
• I roll from my back to my side
• I hold my head up pretty well 
• I love holding on to blankets now

A couple yummy meals

Two quick meals....

I made a roast with veggies in the crock pot the other week (I always add parsnips to my roast and to my mashed potatoes - it gives the flavor more depth) and then had left over roast. Personally, I never feel it looks as appealing the next day. I decided to make a yummy sandwich instead.

 

I just sliced the extra roast beef, put roasted red pepper hummus on ciabatta bread, added a red pepper and feta. It was super yummy :)

Taco Braid

Tacos are yummy and fun, but sometimes I want something a little different. Enter the Taco Braid.

This is a Pampered Chef recipe :) 

 

 Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef 
• 1 package taco seasoning mix
• 1 3/4 cups shredded cheddar cheese (divided- you can also use Mexican cheese)
• 2 tablespoons water (I use 1/3 cup)
• 1 egg white, lightly beaten
•  Toppings to add to the side
• 2 crescent roll packages

What to do..

1. Brown the meat on the stove top
2. Add seasoning mixture and water to browned meat and let simmer for several minutes
3. Take the meat off the stove and add in 1/2 the cheese
4. Roll out crescent dough on baking stone (or pan) and then create slits on either side that you will bring together and twist (or "braid") 

5. Pour meat meat and cheese mixture into the middle of the dough and sprinkle remaining cheese

6. Begin taking each strip of dough and twisting it (connect it to the adjacent piece of dough)

7. Brush dough with egg white

8. Bake at 375 for 20 - 25 minutes

9. Serve with Spanish rice or salad

 

My husband likes this one, as it is easy leftovers for a work lunch (less complicated than taco shells, etc)

Menu Planning . . . .

Some of you asked how I plan my meals and make them with a newborn. First of all, I LOVE to cook and bake. It is therapy for me, so I actually don't mind making dinner at the end of the day (most of the time...).

I go through my cook books and recipe binder (yes, there is a binder - it is great for recipes from magazines or passed down from friends and family). Then, I pick about 8 meals to make, which is about two weeks for us (I am a huge fan of leftovers). We will fill in those meals with sandwiches and salad (and my husband normally chooses cereal over both of those). We only eat out once a week on average for either a lunch or a dinner.

Once I plan my meals for those two weeks, I go grocery shopping and then put the meals up on my chalkboard in the kitchen. I used to assign meals to each day, but life doesn't work that way anymore. :) I just make a giant list and we pick things, as we crave them. 

Another note - I try to only spend $300 a month on groceries, plus $100 - $150 at Costco every two months. We buy most of our meat and snacks at Costco (chicken, hamburger, granola bars).