Baby B's New Gig

Vegetable Stew in the Crockpot

VEGETABLE STEW

Prep: 15 mins
Cook: Low 9 hours, High 4.5
Makes: 5 servings
Slow Cooker: 3.5-4 quart

1 pound potatoes, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 large onion, chopped
2 medium carrots, sliced
1 15-ounce can red kidney beans, rinsed& drained
1 15-ounce can tomato sauce
1 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes with basil, garlic, oregano
1 10-ounce pkg frozen whole kernel corn
2 teaspoons steak sauce
2/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1. Combine potatoes, onion, carrots, beans, tomato sauce, undrained tomatoes, corn, and steak sauce.

2 Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 9-11 hours or on high heat setting for 4.5-5.5 hours. To serve, sprinkle cheese over soup.

NI: 325 calories, 6g fat (3g saturated fat), 16mg chol, 1,219 mg sodium, 60g carbo, 10g fiber, 16g protein.

Daily Values: 154% Vit A, 59% Vit C, 22% Calcium, 25% iron

Source: Better Homes and Gardens

Cold Meds Not for Kids

FDA Officials: Cold Meds Not for Kids

A difficult temptation, especially when we only want to soothe our little ones and help them rest (without gagging on phlegm).

TONIGHT

8 hours to go. (but who's counting;)

Jim dumped Karen. Yesssss.
Pam & Jim finally went on a date!
Ryan is working Jan's job. Interesting.
Love the way he dumped Kelly.
Oscar might play it straight...
And Michael is....well....MICHAEL.

I can't wait.

I Thought I Was 27

Apparently I'm more like a 26 year old, though.

What Age Do YOU Act?

You Are 26 Years Old

Under 12: You are a kid at heart. You still have an optimistic life view - and you look at the world with awe. 13-19: You are a teenager at heart. You question authority and are still trying to find your place in this world. 20-29: You are a twentysomething at heart. You feel excited about what's to come... love, work, and new experiences. 30-39: You are a thirtysomething at heart. You've had a taste of success and true love, but you want more! 40+: You are a mature adult. You've been through most of the ups and downs of life already. Now you get to sit back and relax.

What Age Do You Act?

H/t: The Stump

Do You Believe This About JPII?

Doctor Claims Pope was Euthanized

Menu Plan Monday-September 24, 2007

Yes! It's the last full week of September! I don't know about you, but I love October. Cooler weather is finally here to stay, nature is gorgeous...and the holiday festivities are just around the corner. ;) I welcome October.

This week I attempt, once again, to find my inner-Weight-Watcher. LOL. I let the tiniest bit of stress throw me off program. I always feel crappy as a result, too. (yet I've done this three times now!) So this week has a WW-friendly meal for each dinner. I have got to lose 15 more pounds! That's it! 15 until goal!!
Here is our menu:Monday: Kidney Beans & Corn over Brown Rice
Tuesday:Crockpot Cola Chicken Sandwiches, vegetarian baked beans, raw baby carrots
Wednesday:Vegetable Quesadillas, baked tortilla chips on the side with salsa
Thursday:Cowboy Pot Pie
Friday: Four Bean Enchiladas, tortilla chips if we still have them!

Please visit The Organizing Junkie for more menu plans. Thanks for stopping by, and have a great Monday!

In a Nutshell

Every once in a while, we, as parents, get signs confirming we're doing the right thing. When that happens, I think it is so important to grasp on to that feeling-to that sign that reassured you that you have done what is in your child's best interest. Not knowing when that next wave of reassurance will come, it's significant to hold on to those signs until another shows itself.

I felt that wave of reassurance after catching Oprah's show with Jenny McCarthy discussing her son's autism. I watched her again on 20/20 last night.

Thank God for those signs. Parenting is so much striving for what is right, with so little instant confirmation that we are indeed making the right decision.

In a nutshell, I share these quotes with you:
I'm holding on to this until my next wave of reassurance hits me.

Post #3 on Why My Kid Rocks

Yup. I'm writing about Aidan again.

Despite the trying times filled with tantrums and strong-willed behavior, Aidan can sure spread the love and make you head-over-heels fall for him & all his sweetness.

Why does he rock now?

All this week Brennan was a bit under the weather and fussy. Teething pain, some congestion...everything to make a 5 month old unhappy. And every single day Aidan would go to his brother's side, gently kiss him, and then say to me, "Hope that feels him all better."

He melted his momma's heart taking such care for his brother.
Aidan rocks.

HPV Vaccine--THINK FIRST, Parents!

Deaths Associated with HPV Vaccine Start Rolling In, Over 3500 Adverse Affects Reported

"Three deaths were related to the vaccine, including one of a 12-year-old. One physician's assistant reported that a female patient "died of a blood clot three hours after getting the Gardasil vaccine." Two other reports, on girls 12 and 19, reported deaths relating to heart problems and/or blood clotting.

As of May 11, 2007, the 1,637 adverse vaccination reactions reported to the FDA via the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) included 371 serious reactions. Of the 42 women who received the vaccine while pregnant, 18 experienced side effects ranging from spontaneous abortion to fetal abnormities.

One of the major complaints by physicians is that the HPV vaccination program has been implemented before adequate testing has been completed. Long-term effects of the vaccine remain unknown. Many are asking why the seemingly reckless rush?" (can you hear me screaming?!)

I wish it came as a surprise. Truth be told, I was expecting this.

ONE MILLION Cribs Recalled

Baby Cribs Recalled After Three Deaths

Three deaths, topped with "Seven other infants have been entrapped in the cribs, according to the CPSC. There have been 55 reports of the cribs' drop sides detaching or the hardware failing to hold the side to the crib."

Apparently the recall is for cribs by Simplicity and Graco.

Scary. And how sad for those babies and parents, especially.

Thank God for co-sleeping. I'm thankful right now that it works for us. I take so much comfort in being able to just open my eyes and physically feel and see that my children are safe and sound. Without ever getting up.

TGIF!

I feel like the cat looks! -->

I am so grateful it's Friday now.
This week, plus all of last week, we've had sick ones in our home. Aidan last week, and the rest of us this week. It's exhausting.

With everyone being off schedule and sick, I've gotten myself off schedule. I haven't menu-planned, stayed on top of laundry, stayed on program with Weight Watchers...it's getting ugly.

Now we're all getting over whatever bug bit us, and it's time to refresh, rejuvenate, and get back on track.

Thank the Lord it is Friday!

I sure hope you all have an enjoyable weekend. I plan to recuperate, clean, and rest.
Rest.
REST.

Queen Crab

Call me QUEEN CRAB.*

I'm irritable.
Grouchy.
In a bad mood.
Not enjoying much about my life today.
Not following Weight Watchers the last 2 days, which always makes me more annoyed.
Yelling at Aidan.
Losing patience.
Stressing.
Missing people.
Annoyed.
Careless attitude.

You get the picture. They say we all have days like this. Is that true? It seems most other people are enjoying life. Good for them. I'm over here being a crab.

Call me Queen Crab.

*(and no, not a womanly cycle thing at all!)

Sick Kid in the House: Round 2

Now that Aidan is better, Brennan is sick.
Lovely.
Oh, and hubby and I are getting it, too.
Great way to welcome Fall, isn't it?!

No Menu Plan Monday this week.
Not staying for my Weight Watchers meeting tonight.
God-willing if we're all better, we can go to our babywearing meeting tomorrow, and Mom&Tot Rosary group on Thursday.

We are so ready for a normal, uneventful weekend!

Backstreet's Back!

Are you excited?


This one goes out for my sister. Here's to you, Sue!

Better Late Than Never! THE NICE MATTERS AWARD

I feel quite complimented that Angie at Many Little Blessings nominated me for this bloggy award. Thanks, Angie! I hadn't even heard of this one before. Her post was actually from September 3rd. I've been a slacker & I'm sorry!




Since I wasn't familiar with this one, let me offer what Angie wrote about the award:


Here is what the Nice Matters Award is all about: “This award is for those bloggers who are nice people; good blog friends and those who inspire good feelings and inspiration. Also for those who are a positive influence on our blogging world. Once you’ve been awarded please pass on to seven others whom you feel are deserving of this award."



I think seven will be difficult to come up with. Not that there aren't at least seven wonderful bloggers, but I recently also listed some of you for the Rockin Blogger Award. I also don't want to leave anyone out!



Here is my best. I nominate:
-Andrea from Andrea's Blog. I'm new to reading her blog, but I've loved it each visit, and she makes me think. I'm impressed with how much Andrea seems to stick with her beliefs and knowing of what is right, even when the world is doing otherwise.

-Crystal from Proud Catholic Mommy. I'm also new to her blog, but a friend recommended it and I am so happy she did. :) I love Crystal's posts, and on top of it all, she's a fellow Weight Watchers member! Not to mention we live close to each other. SOON we will meet irl.

-Sarah from In Light of the Truth. I've been reading Sarah's blog for a while now. She is so patient and thoughtful, and best of all, you can really see the way God works through her in her posts. I am humbled every time I visit. Thank you, Sarah.

-Mary from Mary's Voice. I first "met" her through the Catholic Mom group we chat on. Next came her blog. I sure hope what follows is meeting in real life! She's an inspiration, raising a large family in today's world, and being such a faithful Catholic.

-Jennifer from The Pfaffl House. Sorry to choose you again, but what can I say?! When you know a person irl, you know how great they are! Friends since the 6th grade, and now our boys are becoming friends, too. I love ya!

-Christina from Confessions of a Hot Carmel Sundae. Another one I've read for some time now. Christina is an exemplary Catholic, and I love reading about her "hypertot" and family life. Not to mention she also writes nicely on matters of faith and current events. ;)

-Steph from Adventures in Babywearing. I know she's been nominated for pretty much every blog award there is, but it's for good reason. She has a wealth of info for us moms, she's down to earth, and hosts awesome contests. ;) Every "mom post" she writes, I nod my head in agreement as I read.

There's my seven. It's not easy picking just seven, I tell ya!

Thank you all for being a part of my blogging circle. Those I know in person, I hope to see you again sooner than later. And those I have yet to meet, I sure hope to meet you one day soon.

WHIRLWIND

It's been a whirlwind of a week! Stress, stress, and oh, more stress! When it rains, it pours, doesn't it?

Tuesday was September 11th. A somber enough day alone from watching the news and memorials of 9/11, it became more realistically sad for me. That afternoon I learned that my sister's mother-in-law passed away. (her obituary is here). Shirley was a riot. I still can't believe she's gone. I feel much sadness for my brother-in-law, who is much more a brother to me than the "in-law" label defines.

I was feeling gloomy from that news, but then went to Weight Watchers and had a good weigh in. I was feeling uplifted. I lost 4 pounds last week, and my weight loss total hit 25.2 pounds. I received my 25 lb award! It feels good to be able to say I've lost 25 pounds.

I was happy coming home. I get home, Aidan is still sick-reality check back to stress. On top of that, my husband tells me my parents called with more sad news. A long-time family friend passed away, too! I've known him since I was born, and he was like an uncle to me. He suffered from lung cancer. He passed away Monday. He was also my father's age, as was Shirley.

So wasn't that enough? Bad news, good news, more bad news, hectic at home with a sick kid, teething baby...Somebody get me a vacation!!!

Later my great friend Alison called me. She is pregnant with their first baby, and she's been on bed rest for about the past month. She called to let me know that they decided to induce her. She's 37 weeks and going in as I type. How exciting! One of my best friends is going to meet her daughter today. :)

More good news to even it out.

*SIGH*

It's been a whirlwind. I feel a bit ADD, not being able to focus much on things. I feel sad for everyone who has lost their loved ones, I feel guilty over not attending either funeral (both out of state for us), I feel happy with my weight loss, etc.

So who is going to offer me a vacation?
Someone?
Anyone?
Please?

A Soul Departed

My sister's mother-in-law passed away this morning.
Shirley, a woman in her late 60's who has suffered much in recent years.

She was mother to two handsome sons, the oldest of which passed away years ago from cancer. Surviving is my sister's husband, Jeff.



Shirley was always sweet to me. She kept pictures of my son. After Aidan was born, when I was going through PPD, Shirley called me on a regular basis to check on me and remind me things would be better. She didn't have to do that, but she did.



I feel the loss of Shirley, but most of all I feel the sadness for my brother-in-law. Please add a prayer or two.

God Bless you, Shirley.

May you rest in peace now.

Pray, and Remember Today

It's been six years, but we all know what 9-11 means.

Today is that day.

We couldn't go long forgetting even if we tried, as the media no doubt reminds us.

I'm not going to offer my own memorial. If you're interested in my count of the day, click here for last year's post.

Today I am interested in offering extra prayers. Today I think of our troops courageously leaving their families & friends behind to serve our country, to protect us and our families.

They need prayers. As we remember why they are there today, please pray. Pray for their safety. Pray in thanksgiving for their courage and strength. Pray for their families suffering their loss, missing them. Pray they can come home soon.

I'm praying for them now. I'm especially praying for two good friends of ours. One is safer now that he is in Germany, but he flies weekly into the battle zones. The other friend, God Bless him, is still in the heart of the war. And he has at least 8 more months to go.

Remember it all. Pray.

Adding THIS to the Book Wish List

It's scheduled to be released in October (next month!). Apparently you can pre-order here.
H/t: Angela at Breastfeeding 123.

NOT America's Favorite Neighbor

The neighborhood Bar & Grill hasn't been so neighborly.


If companies want to market for families to come & eat at their restaurants, provide children's menus, etc, then they better stop bugging mothers to STOP feeding their babies.

Applebee’s Cooking Up Breastfeeding Trouble

Sheesh. GET OVER IT, people.

And NO, keeping blankets on hand for nursing mothers is not a solution. Letting them nurse discretely without being badgered is the solution.

Menu Plan Monday-September 10, 2007

Good Morning! It's about time I get back to posting MPM. I was off my weight loss program practically all of August, but managed to not gain more than 2 pounds. Not great, but I'm back on track now. I'm eager to browse all of the other menus out there for new ideas! :)

Thank you for stopping by, and have a great Monday!

Monday: Meatloaf Muffins (2 pts/muffin) with green beans and potatoes (hubby's request-he loves this meal!)

Tuesday: Vegetarian Chili in the Crockpot with corn muffins

Wednesday: Italian Chicken Pizza Bake (4 pts/serving) (new recipe for us), raw carrots on side

Thursday: Oven Ranch Chicken (4-5 pts/chicken) with sliced potatoes, vegetarian baked beans

Friday: Tropical Black Beans and Rice (6pts/serving) (new recipe for us)

Visit The Organizing Junkie for more menu links.

Sick Kiddo in the House

Aidan is sick. :( My poor sweet baby (big) boy.

Don't you feel so helpless when they're sick? I feel horrible. It's so sad.

So far it's sore throat and fever. Nothing horrible, but bad enough.

I guess I'm not surprised. We've been going so much this past month, with lots of exposure to many germs. Weddings, receptions, traveling-plenty of opportunity to grab something icky.

Anyway, it's the mommy guilt here. As moms, we're supposed to protect our babies. And I know it's good for kids' immune systems to get sick every once and a while, but I always want to think there was something else I could've done to protect him. Make him wash his hands more, not let him go to a reception, not let him have some sugar in those darn fruit snacks...endless ways to not protect him well enough.

I know that's not the case, and it could be a lot worse, but when your kid is sick, it's so sad. :(

So anyway, if you want to throw a get-well prayer our way, we'd gladly accept it. ;)

And I'm praying, too, that Brennan doesn't catch any of this. (thankfully he's still breastfed!)

Thanks.

Hopefully tomorrow we'll see some signs of our Aidan again.

*Cringe* ....."Kids who are a little too attached."

As much as I support & even encourage breastfeeding, this makes me cringe.

I know there are health benefits and all, but this girl is going on EIGHT. EIGHT!

Am I just warped to think this is ridiculous?

Maybe it's not. Maybe it's as wonderful as the mother says in the clip. Maybe I'm speaking from the societal view.

Or maybe that is a bit strange and too old...

It'd "Rock" to win this sling!

Always fun to do a play on words...

Steph is hosting another great contest. This contest offers a Rockin' Baby Sling to win! I've only ever heard wonderful things about their slings. I'd love to try one for myself. ;)

So, to enter the contest, click here and it'll take you to Adventures in Babywearing and the post.

Good Luck!

Sanity: Gained :)

It's amazing the difference an hour alone can do!

My wonderful husband came home from work and could (obviously) tell that I was in major need of a break. Between Brennan's fussiness from teething, his lack of sleep, and then Aidan's whining and 3yo tantrums, I had had it today. I was beyond impatient and frustrated. TOTALLY FLABBERGASTED. (I love that word-flabbergasted...hee hee.)
So we ate dinner, cleaned house, got Aidan to bed, nursed Brennan, and then I was off.

I don't know about you other moms, but I always feel weird going out without the kids. Slightly guilty at the time alone, but more naked-feeling, like I've forgotten something.

That quickly subsided, though. Like a dork joining the cool kids, I hopped into my mini-van and smiled broadly as I turned up he radio and headed to Starbucks. (I checked Beaner's first, but no one was in there. I didn't want to be the only customer!)

I first picked up a magazine from Books-A-Million. Then I walked down to Starbucks and ordered myself a nonfat mocha with peppermint added in. It was good. I sat there drinking my coffee, listening to the fun music, and flipping through Us Weekly magazine.

I was completely by myself. Alone. No kids! No whining, I wasn't being spit-up on, diaper duty wasn't calling, and I was enjoying every single minute of it. This momma was recharging her batteries!

I can honestly say there's not much I've been missing in the paparazzi world. I do like Katie Holmes haircut-thinking of something similar for myself (I was before I saw her pic, but that sums it up of what I have in mind). Who knew that Owen Wilson went mental?! Reese Witherspoon might be dating, and I was pleased to see Nicole Richie larger and pregnant. That girl needed to put on some weight!

After skimming my trash magazine, I went a few stores down to Gymboree. I'm not a regular shopper there, but they have great sales. Enjoying myself some more, I bought Brennan an outfit. :) Cute striped froggy pants for $2, a matching white onesie shirt with a frog on it for $3, and a pair of non-skid socks (a monkey on them!) for a buck. That's better than Wal-Mart prices, folks!

I am refreshed. It was only an hour, but it felt like 3 days. I left an irritable, tired, frustrated mommy & wife, and I returned a relaxed, refreshed, energized woman. With 2 sleeping kids. :) One hour away was truly priceless.
Next time some of you other blogging mommas ought to join me. ;)

Oh! In closing, I'll share my Starbucks cup "The Way I See It" with you. Always entertaining.

You can learn a lot more from listening than you can from talking.
Find someone with whom you don't agree in the slightest and ask them to
explain themselves at length. Then take a seat, shut your mouth, and don't
argue back. It's physically impossible to listen with your mouth open.
-John More, Radio host and author of Conservatize Me.

The Ins & Outs

Just a note to highlight Jenn's great post on vaccines over at The Natural News.
(especially the exemption info!)

Thanks, Jenn.

So we should sleep in?

:)
The thought alone makes me happy.
Not that I'll be sleeping in any time in the next several years (ha!), but any encouragement to snooze in a bit is welcomed. WITH OPEN ARMS.

Early rising no good for the heart: study

I know it's just a study, and there could easily be inaccuracies, but just let me enjoy this. I am going to sit here (while my kids drive me crazy today), and enjoy the thought that I'd be healthier for sleeping in instead of waking early.

Oh yes, I am enjoying this thought.

While I'm In A Serious Mood

My previous post was on abortion & men's rights, and now I'm touching on something that precedes that in more ways than one.

The birth control pill, again.

Without adding my own ramblings to bore you, I want to mention Crystal's post from Tuesday. An excellent post, Crystal writes about "pill goggles", and the way the artificial hormones in the pill alter our state of being, particularly decision making in regards to the type of man we're attracted to. (Stemming from the article she mentions, Seven Quirky Facts About Chemistry).

Pretty interesting, isn't it?

It's Not Just WOMEN'S Rights

It's hogwash when pro-choicers talk about "women's rights". They opt against different wording because then it equalizes women and men, minimizing their argument that women have a unique choice when it comes to abortion. Every child has a mother and father, required for conception. So in most cases, each parent should have equal say in whether or not the baby is aborted. (I am 100% against abortion, but I worded it that way in making a point).

Funny, isn't it? In a nation when we strive to equalize women and men, the more liberal of our citizens restricts that equalization by taking away rights from men?

We can make them pay child support, pay bills, suffer in all other areas. We can lower their pay scale so as to equal women's, demand they be sensitive for our emotions, yet the moment they do all of that in regards to their unborn baby, we undo it all?!

No. It is hypocrisy and unfair. It's against their rights to parenthood. A woman's body carries the baby, yes. A man's body is involved, too, though. Simply because a woman carries the baby does not take away the man's role or choice for fatherhood and life.

More and more research provides us with the knowledge that men suffer from abortion, too.
So, the prompt for this post was this article: Men Can Suffer a Myriad of Grief Issues Following a Partner's Abortion.

Another worthy link: Men and Abortion and this one.

24 Days to Go!

I'm Counting Down!!!
(Thanks to Greg for sharing this clip with me)

It needs to be a rainy day

Know what I'd love to do today? SLEEP! Offer to watch my kids so I can nap, and I will not turn you down. ;)

Last night was a rough night with Brennan. He had a bit of gas, but most of all, he's cutting a tooth and it'd driving him insane. Poor little guy. I feel bad for him. He's generally a good sleeper, but not last night. :(

I'm exhausted because since July 14th, we've been going nonstop each weekend. Thank God we can slow down now. I need to slow down.

This past weekend we spent 4 days in Michigan because a great friend of ours got married. My husband was in the wedding. We went up Thursday for his bachelor party, Friday was the rehearsal, Saturday the wedding, and Sunday we were there at my in-laws so my husband could change our brakes. Of course we got home and there were no groceries in the house, so we had to run errands. I always find that exhausting, too.

It'd be perfect if today was a calm, rainy day. Instead it's going to be 90 with icky humidity, and sunny. I like the sunshine, but today a rainy day would be most appropriate. Then I'd cuddle inside with Aidan and watch movies when Brennan naps. Without the rain, I feel guilty not getting outside as much.

A rainy day would match my energy level today.

Ahh...it's sunny, though.
Off I go to drink some coffee.