Midweek Brain Dump

I need to start doing these kind of posts. I always have so much to say, but just never sit down and type it out, so this should be fun! I started this blog as a way to journal my thoughts, so maybe I need to get back to blogging more for me and not just or scrapbook. Here are the major things on my mind lately and somewhat of a little catch up post:

1. This working mom gig is tough sometimes and this week is definitely one of those times. Michael and I have both been super busy at work, I've had a cold and laryngitis, and I have a long list of things to do at home that just don't ever seem to get done in the evenings because we are plain exhausted. This is definitely a week where I am on the verge of a meltdown 24/7. If only I had an extra 3 or 4 hours in my day to get the house picked up, laundry put away, and actually spend some quality time with Nicholas. I'm just being real here and I'll say don't let the the freezer meals and Nicholas' strict schedule fool you, I do not have myself together and my life is a mess right now! Is it time for that 3 day weekend yet?

2. School bake sale stress. Daycare is having a week long bake sale for MDA and I'm all about supporting MDA, but our class was to bring in our baked goods on Wednesday. Hello, it's the middle of the week, we are all moms that are away from home 10-12 hours a day, when am I supposed to have time to do that?! Well, I decided to go with my Nana's all time go to quick fix, rice Krispy treats. Um, she obviously did things differently than I do! First, I burned the crap out of my hand trying to press them into the pan & then I quickly realized mine weren't nice and fluffy like hers always were. They were flat and thin. Haha! Oh well, maybe that is what the peanut butter she put in her treats did for them, who knows! Nonetheless, my pitiful little treats went to school this morning sad or not. Ha!

3. My dad is coaching again after being retired from football since 2000! This has been a super exciting time for us and I'll be blogging about it quite a bit this Fall. I'm planning to attend my first game next Friday and I can't wait! I've missed it so much more than I ever thought I would. I was a crazy person last Friday. They played 3 hours away, so obviously we didn't go, but I found a few people & sportscasters to follow on twitter and I was able to keep up with the score that way. They won and i may or may not have jumped around when I heard! Haha! I think Michael was a little scared over how worked up I get over a high school football game. I mean business when it comes to my dad's team! ;-) We are also excited to introduce N to high school football soon! He has been stocked up with lots of green football attire!

4. This is the 2nd week without an episode of Dallas to watch on TNT & I kind of think I'm having withdrawals. I loved sitting down at 9:00 every Wednesday night to get my weekly fix of the Ewings. Is it January yet? I'm ready for a new episode!

5. I made several freezer meals last Wednesday (yes, I know I promised a post about it and it is coming, be patient!) and one of them didn't turn out well at all. I made 2 pans of poppyseed chicken and it was a creamy, fluffy mess. Any suggestions?

6. We have begun to talk about the possibility of expanding our family, but as of right now that is definitely on hold. We are leaning more towards the side of not having any more children and I think part of my heart is mourning that Nicholas will be our only baby. It is a decision that makes the most sense for our family for several reasons. Who knows, we may change our minds, but right now this is how we feel.

7. What would a post be without a couple of pictures of my sweet boy! I think the last one of these pictures speaks volumes about our last couple of weeks; bed head, only one slipper, and eating junk for breakfast! Yep, pretty much sums it up!

Meal Planning Monday on Sunday

This week I'm doing things a little differently.  I'm not doing my usual Sunday meal prep, but instead I'm taking the day off on Wednesday to get some things done around the house and I plan to do 15-20 meals then.  So, there isn't any pictures this week, but here is our weekly meal plan:

Sunday - Grilled lemon pepper salmon, baked potato, corn on the cob

Monday - Crockpot ranch chicken, garlic potatoes, broccoli

Tuesday - Baked cheese ravioli

Wednesday - Crockpot Salisbury Steak (never made before, will post after I try it once), mashed potatoes, carrots 

Thursday - Poppy seed chicken, broccoli, bread

Friday - Pizza Night

Saturday - Mexican Night, (TBD)

Baked Ravioli 

1 bag frozen mini raviolis

1 14oz can tomato sauce

1 can tomato paste

1 14 oz can Italian stewed tomatoes

garlic powder to taste

salt and pepper to taste

8 oz mozzarella cheese

In a blender or food processor mix the tomato products and seasonings.  Layer the frozen raviolis in a 9x9 square pan, pour sauce over pasta, cover with cheese and bake for 25-30 minutes on 425!  

I'll post about my cook-a-thon later this week!  I'm going to do stuffed shells, chicken pot pie mix, chicken tettrazini, swiss stuffing chicken, poppy seed chicken, chicken rolls, some marinated meats, a roast, and a taco soup batch (most of these will do 2-3 meals, so I should have about 20 meals when I get done! Yay!)

Being A Boy Mom

There are just some questions people like to ask that are just plain rude.  We got married in 2005 and by 2006 the question started coming, "when are you having a baby?"  Our plan was not until our 3rd anniversary and everyone thought that was crazy.  Then when the 3rd anniversary came and went without an announcement, people acted like we had been married for 10 years and were never having children.  That question REALLY got annoying when we were struggling to get pregnant and wondered if we ever would.  Finally right before our 5th anniversary when we started telling people we were pregnant, the next annoying question started, "do you want a boy or girl?"  Um, in case you've forgotten, we have prayed for a HEALTHY baby, not a boy or girl for the past 2 years, we aren't picky!  Following our ultrasound showing a healthy boy, people then changed it to "awwww, well, maybe next time you'll have a girl" or "boys are so sweet and love their mom", as if I was mourning not having a girl.  LET ME TELL YOU THAT WAS NEVER A THOUGHT OF MINE!

I have never, not one time, wished Nicholas had been a girl.  I LOVE having a boy and I am beyond blessed to have HIM!  He was absolutely, without a doubt worth every month and tear of sadness while I was waiting on God to bless us with him.  My heart gets sad every time someone says something about him not being a girl or makes comments about him being "all boy" like it's a bad thing.  Just last week when I was showing off his pictures, I heard a few similar comments.  I wouldn't trade the trucks lined up on my hearth right now, or the collection of pirate dress up clothes or pirate ships we've started accumulating, or the obsession with bugs and dirt for all the Barbies, pink, and dolls in the world!

The Lord knew that a boy was perfect for me.  I LOVE having a tee ball set, multiple balls, and trucks scattered around my yard.  I love how excited and eager he is to run and play.  I LOVE how he plays with his toys, his Daddy, his Pawpaw, and his Granddaddy.  It makes my heart happy!

 My sweet boy may not join Alpha Delta Pi as my legacy one day and he may not be my future shopping partner, but he sure is everything I ever dreamed of...and so much more!  Not one time have I ever wished he was anything but this sweet, loving, precious bundle of energy I love more than anything on this Earth!

I thank God every, single day that he blessed me with this boy.  We may or may not have more children, but if we do, my heart tells me that I would be 100%, completely ok with another boy.  I am excited for the days of camping, baseball, football, hiking, and all the other boy stuff I've never done before.  God knew exactly what He was doing when He gave me this bundle of energy and love 2 years ago, I know that if He decides to bless us with another child in a couple of years, He will give us exactly what we need!

Meal Planning Monday

Sunday - Smoked BBQ, Baked Beans, Vinegar Slaw
Monday - Slow Cooker New Orleans Rice and Beans
Tuesday - BBQ Sandwiches, chips
Wednesday - Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken Wraps
Thursday - Chili Mac
Friday - Pizza Night (girl's night out for Mommy!)
Saturday - Grilled Salmon, Baked Potatoes, Corn on the Cob

Vinegar Slaw
1 head of cabbage, shredded
1 green bell pepper chopped
1 onion chopped
2 carrots chopped or shredded
Shred, chop the veggie and place in a large bowl
Marinade ingredients:
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup vinegar
1 cup cold water
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
Combine the above ingredients in a small bowl and pour over veggies.  Stir well and store in refrigerator for a minimum of 24 hours and serve cold. This picture is right after I mixed and shook it in a tupperware bowl.

New Orleans Rice and Beans

1 pound dry red beans

1 green bell pepper chopped

1 onion chopped

3 garlic cloves, chopped

1/2 pound andouille sausage

3 tablespoons Old Bay seasoning

7 cups water

Cooked Rice

Place first 6 ingredients in a 4-6 qt slow cooker, cover with the 7 cups of water and cook covered on high for 7-8 hours.  Serve over cooked rice.  Fast, easy meal that my entire family loves (especially my baby that LOVES beans!)

Crockpot Salsa Chicken Wraps (a Pinterest inspired meal)

4 boneless chicken breasts

1 cup salsa

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 packet of taco seasoning

1/2 cup sour cream

6 tortillas

Place chicken in crockpot. Cover with taco seasoning and a mixture of soup and salsa.  Cook on low for 7-8 hours.  Shred cooked chicken with a fork and stir in sour cream.  I serve as a wrap by placing in tortillas with rice and black beans.  

2 Year Well Visit

Friday we finally made it in for Nicholas' 2 year old well check at the pediatrician's office.  My mom went with me for backup because sometimes we have to wait awhile at our peds office and it's always nice to have backup during the long wait. :-)  We had a great visit and Nicholas was very good!  We only had to wait about 30 minutes and he was happy to watch Mickey on my phone while we waited.  

Now that he is 2, we weighed on the big boy scale and had our blood pressure checked!  Haha!

Nicholas is still on track to be very tall and skinny, just like his Daddy!  He is off the charts for height at 37 inches! She said that is closer to being on the 3 year old chart! Haha!  He is also 31 pounds and that is only in the 75th percentile.  His head is 19 1/2 inches which is perfect!  I knew his smart little brain was just right! :-) She said he is very healthy and definitely not too heavy for his age.  He is just a healthy, growing boy! :-)  We didn't get a shot and we don't have more until he is FOUR!  YAY!!!!  He did have his finger pricked for an anemia/lead screening.  He passed all of that without any problems and is perfect in every way!  We are beyond thankful and blessed for our healthy boy.  We prayed for him to be healthy for so long and the Lord definitely answered our prayers in so many ways!