What Was For Dinner this Week?

By far the easiest this week has been the Brown sugar baked chicken.  I've made it a couple times already and it's just so easy and fast!  Noah was a great helper grocery shopping and we even bought grandma some flowers for her choir concert.  He helped pick out yogurt flavors for dad and held a lot of frozen food since our cart got way too full by the end of the trip.

 

Of course since Jeff was gone for the week and it was just Noah and I, we made sure we were in matching outfits... you know,  in case we got lost or something. 

So, if there is any recipe you have to try this week, the Pulled Pork Stuffed Sweet Potato was my favorite meal to eat, followed closely by the baked chicken as the easiest recipe ever made. Enjoy!

Monday: Sloppy Joes
Tuesday: Pulled Pork Stuffed Sweet Potato
Wednesday: General Tsos
Thursday: Brown Sugar Baked Chicken + Green Beans
Friday: Spaghetti Pie
Saturday: Leftovers
Sunday: Steak Fajitas

Could it be Spring yet?!

We've been cooped up in the house for like eight months now and it's super starting to wear on everyone I know. You really take the sun for granted until you don't have it for weeks on end. It's been so bad that I've given up on entertaining Noah in the house and gave in on his most disgusting habit. Playing with the cords on the blind.  Can you really blame me? It keeps him occupied for at least fifteen minutes and that's hooouuurrrs in mom time.

What's even more funny, is as I'm walking in my pitch dark bedroom last night before bed and I realize that somehow Noah had tangled the cords on the laundry basket we have right next to the windows... so bad that I couldn't get them to shut.  I had to settle for half shut blinds and hope that today it wouldn't take me an hour to undo what Noah did in just a couple of minutes.  I knew better than let him play with those so I guess that's what I get. 

And I'm seriously looking at the weather forecast today thinking, could we possibly have two days next week that are almost sixty?! This is crazy!  As I've said for literally the last moth, summer really needs to get it's ass in gear 'cause I'm starting to get grumpy.  And it may have finally listened to me. =) So thanks!

Of course after hearing about this weather, I went on a little shopping spree for Noah. I always thought if I had a girl I'd be in trouble shopping wise and I would never have this issue with a boy.  I was sooo wrong. Makes me wonder what kinds of problems I will have if I ever have a girl!
I also couldn't leave without getting a couple of things for myself... so here's some more warm weather inspiration for me and the bear.

one | two | three | four | five | six | seven | eight | nine

By the way, those camo pans rock.  They are super soft and have the cutest zipper details. This will for sure be a staple in my closet during the chilli summer nights I'll be spending sipping some moscato on the porch.

Probably sipping on THIS recipe. Could I make the whole thing and just stick in the the fridge?!  Would I drink it fast enough not to loose it's bubbles?  ....we shall find out!

Noah First Haircut

Noah’s hair was getting ridiculously long.  To the point where I've actually gotten my scissors out to do some trimming in the back and the sides.  That worked out great about two months ago when he wasn't so squirrely.  I attempted to cut his last a couple of days ago and failed miserably the first shot I took.  Obviously a moving child and scissors without outside entertainment is not a good combination for a great cut.  Soo... I finally went to a real salon and got Noah’s haircut.

Here we have his before hair... nice and long... and still looking decent before I decided to take my scissors to it.  Notice also, finally wearing big boy pjs. =) So excited for warmer weather where he can actually wear them to bed!
           

Dino Pjs

So anyway, he did great at the salon.  We were in and out in less than fifteen minutes. Our hairdresser did a great job.  He just sat on my lap and ate some yogurt bites and of course ate some hair while at it... but we got it done.  And now he looks like a little man!  

Sweater | Camo Tee

Of course we took a bizzilion pictures to send daddy while he was away.  We were really happy with the result as you can see.

Week 40 & Our Cheerio Problem

Noah and I had a nice long weekend together. Daddy was at work and we stayed home and played.  Thankfully his third tooth has popped out finally and the grumpiness of the days before subsided.  Lucky for me he's starting to enjoy cuddling a little more.  Even if I do have to distract him with the Real Housewives.

• How old is Noah?:  40 weeks
• Noah is how big?: 23lbs at the doctor last week 30.5 in
• Stats: Size 3-4 diapers |  9 or 12mo clothing | Abs of steel | Stands holding on to objects | Sit to stand | Can finally crawl | throws anything you give him, balls, cups, utensils... |
• Sleep: Sleeping consistently from 7:30pm to 7:30am. Naps three times during the day. A morning, an afternoon (both 1.5-2hrs) and a cat nap (45min)
• Milestones: He's learned a fun to trick to throw cheerios onto the floor any change he gets. And for whatever reason he doesn't throw any other food. Weird child. These things are everywhere and I try to keep up with them and fail miserably.  All the sudden you'll be walking around the kitchen and hear a crunch and the cheerio has broken into a million little pieces.  It's gotten to the point where most of the time I just wont bother to pick it up and keep on going.  After Noah goes to bed I do a good sweep of the floor and call it a day.  My pre-mom self would be ashamed...
• Mom Check-in:  I've been enjoying going to work for a break from Noah but then I sit here and miss him all day long. Anyone else have that problem?
• Best Moment of the Week: Noah and I had lots of laughs this week.  He's so easy to make laugh. Tickles, funny mom noises, being upside down... We've got it down pretty good.
• What I’m excited about/looking forward to: Still excited for the warmer days that pop in here and there.  I'll be spending lots of quality time with Noah this week since I'll be home so I'm excited to get out of the house and take Noah out to run some errands with me.

Finally, because of Noahs new throwing cheerios trick, I did what any good mom would do, and teach the kid how to clean it up himself.

Warm Weather Fun

We have been really lucky to finally have some warmer weather come around.  It was in the 40's a couple of times this week and it's been so nice to enjoy the sun.  It's not summer weather, but we'll take it!  Noah is such a huge fan of being outside too.  I'm pretty sure that's when he's the happiest.  He just sits and waits for a gust of wind and takes it all in. Doesn't move at all.  And then the wind stops and he lets out super loud laughs.  It's hilarious.  We also got the walker out this week and let him go free on the deck.  It was so nice making dinner noise free while Jeff played with him outside. 

This week Noah also had his nine month check up and proved to still be a big healthy boy.  Weighing in around 23 lbs, and 30.5 in.  Also in the 92 percentile in head size... so he must be a smart boy too. =)
Next check up is the one year! Agh!  Really reminds me how I've got to start thinking about this party!

Noah Shenanigans

Jeff and I finally had a nice work free weekend together.  Can I just say how much easier it is to take care of your child when you do it with someone else?  I really have to give credit to single mothers because that is hard work!

Noah's been working hard on his walking this weekend.  Within forty-eight hours Noah when from just standing holding onto furniture to moving all over the living room! We hold his hands and walk with him all over the house and he just loves it so much.  We're really thinking he's going to be walking on his own very soon. Of course, this new mobility has kept up on our toes.  He opens all drawers and cabinets and any chance he gets he's all over the fridge.  Gotta explore new places I suppose.

On another note, Noah has also learned his first super bad habit.  He's always been such an amazing eater that this is really throwing us for a loop.  He starts eating no problem, and them, about half way through his food, you'll put a spoonful on something in his mouth and he literally coughs it up.  At first we though he had something in his mouth he didn't like, but now he just keeps doing it over and over and it gets all over everything!  It's done very purposeful. Our clothes are completely covered with spit up food, the floor around us; it's a giant mess.  We're still trying to figure out how we're going to fix this.  It's not like you can put a nine month old in time out... Any ideas?

Overall, it was a great weekend.  We had a lot of fun playing with Noah, listening to all his new chatter and watching him learn to walk right before our eyes. I especially loved seeing Noah trying to stand.  He does it so slowly.  First he lets go of one hand, then the other... and then really fast he'll lunge over to me not realizing he should move his legs to get closer.  So hilarious.  Now if we could only get him to move his legs after standing on them... soon we will have a walker!

Week 38 & Nine Months

Three more days and Noah will have been out of my tummy longer that inside.  Somehow, pregnancy just goes by so much faster.  Being pregnant the first time you don't really realize how great you have it when your baby is inside.  Free time, sleep, freedom.... those were the days.  I'm finally just starting to really enjoy Noah.  He's so much easier than the first couple of months.  I'm excited to see what the next nine months holds for him.  He's changed so much since he was born - makes me excited to see the change the next nine months brings.

I of course tried to take our usual laying down picture but after shooting at least twenty pictures of Noahs side, back, butt, etc. I decided I might have to retire the laying down and settle for a sitting picture.  The kids just moves all over the place and is never still.  I constantly have to bribe him with my phone just to get him to look in my direction long enough to take a picture. 

• How old is Noah?:  38 weeks
• Noah is how big?: 24ish lbs
• Stats: Size 3-4 diapers |  9 or 12mo clothing | Abs of steel | Stands holding on to objects | Sit to stand | Can finally crawl | throws anything you give him, balls, cups, utensils... |
• Sleep: Sleeping consistently from 7:30pm to 7:30am. Naps three times during the day. A morning, an afternoon (both 1.5-2hrs) and a cat nap (45min)
• Milestones: Nothing really super new.  His second tooth has made his way up so both are about half way to the finish.  He seems to have stopped the sniffling which has been great.  His crawling is getting longer and faster.
• Mom Check-in:  I could really use some alone time with the hubster, but work is great and I got a ton of cleaning and laundry done this week which always puts me in a better mood. 
• Best Moment of the Week: Yikes... I don't know.  Pretty much a normal week around here. 
• What I’m excited about/looking forward to: Working on booking a child free, adults only all inclusive resort in May. That's going to be an amazing time.  Also, we're looking at a little warmer weather around here. Above freezing so I'll take it!

This week Jeff had the great idea to bring the snow in the house since it's way to cold to bring Noah out.  I'm not sure it was his favorite.  He really questioned if his hands should even be touching the snow.  Of course it's not winter without eating snow so we showed Noah how to do it.  Again, I don't think it was his favorite thing, but now he can't say he didn't try it!

Swimming in the Pool & Looking Forward to Spring

I'm already looking forward to spring time and warmer weather. Especially after yesterday.  Jeff and I took Noah to the pool for the first time. On the way over I of course was convinced he would have a major freak out the moment his feet touched the water and I wouldn't even get a chance to get in.  But I was wrong. Great for Noah, but not so great for me.  I had to suck it up and wear a bathing suit for the first time since giving birth.  You'd think nine months would be plenty, but it's not.  Physically, not that bad, but mentally, it's hard to wrap your mind around, "you used to be 25 pounds heavier but I don't look like that anymore".  It stung for a hot minute, and then I got over it. I snapped a couple of pictures and in to the water we all went!

He loved it so much and splashed and kicked the whole time.  And then the swim team started practicing and Noah was just trying to keep up. Future swimmer in the making.  Or at least a triathloner like daddy. Is that even a word? ...now it is.

So anyway, then I got thinking how fun it's gonna be to get Noah outside with the warmer weather and thank goodness he doesn't freak out when he sees water.  Although Lake Michigan will be a lot colder due to all the snow still about six feet tall on our driveway...  Regardless, we'll be able to take walks, and play in the backyard, and he can help me with the garden and eat all my tomatoes... I see it already and I love it. 

Best part for me though, other than seeing the sun finally and getting rid of this cabin fever, is all the great clothes to wear in the spring.  It's the time for shorts with sweatshirts, cozy sweaters with flip flops, and lots of pastels and pretty pinks!  I've already started my clothing watch list full of tons of crazy prints which I'm sure Jeff will question me about.

| scarf | sweater | pants | shoes | jacket |

Here's to warmer weather! (currently 15, feels like 4) Ugh