Bowtastic

 

  

 

I have always been pretty crafted but lately, I have had so many ideas. I love the flower head band (especially for month pictures) but at the store, they weren't as cute as I thought they could be. SO, I decided to give it a try and make some. It super fun. I can't wait to make more. I am actually thinking about making more flower head bands, hair bows and selling them online or at local craft shows. I have so many cute ideas for color scheme and Holiday ideas. Jo-Ann's Fabric and Micheal's are my new found favorite "mom" stores! I can literally spend hours in there, as my mind is over come with crafty ideas! I love having a little girl to try all my creations out on. (Truthfully she isn't the best model, she would NOT let me fix the head band once it was on her head!)

Recipe Sunday

This weeks recipe is: slow cooker saucy meatball recipe from kraftrecipes.com

What you need:

1 pkg. (6 oz.) STOVE TOP Stuffing Mix for Turkey

1-1/2 lb.  lean ground beef

1 egg, lightly beaten

1/2 cup  water

2 cups sliced mushrooms

2 medium  green peppers, sliced (about 2 cups)

4 cups spaghetti sauce

1 pkg.  (1 lb.) spaghetti

1/3 cup KRAFT Grated Parmesan Cheese

Make it:

COMBINE stuffing mix, meat, egg and water. Shape into 1-inch balls. Place in slow cooker; top with mushrooms, peppers and spaghetti sauce. Cover with lid.
COOK on LOW for 6 to 8 hours (or on for HIGH 3 to 4 hours).
COOK spaghetti as directed on package; drain. Serve meatballs with sauce over spaghetti. Sprinkle with cheese.

I made this recipe last Thursday, it was super tasty and oh, so easy! Who doesn't love a good crock-pot recipe! I threw all the ingredients together while Claire was still sleeping in the morning, 10 minutes later I was done. I didn't have to think about dinner until Eric walked in the door but at that point, all I had to do was serve it! Give it a try, I really recommend this recipe!

Pulling Herself Up!

Pulling herself up all by herself 1.25.2010

Are Bug is getting SO big!!

Tastefully Simlpe

Contact me to order any of the delicious products from our Fall-Winter Catalog – from comfort foods to cozy beverages! So delicious and so easy! If you would like me to send you a catalog or order product, please feel free to contact me at any time!
I can’t wait to hear from you!

Megan W.
Your Independent Tastefully Simple Consultant - 96326
Lansing,IL 60438
Meganwid@yahoo.com

PS: If you would like to throw a catalog party, you can earn yourself  free products!
($200 in party sells - gets you $20 in free product...)

Wordless Wednesday

One word - Teething!

Tuesday's Review

This weeks baby item: Bumbo Baby Sitter

We started Claire out with the Bebe Pod. I read all the reviews and every mom raved about the Bebe Pod. When Claire was two months old we started putting her in it; she could barely sit up. She kept sliding and I thought it could be because she didn't have the best upper body strength or head control or I thought it was how she was uncomfortable. I would have to shove a blanket around her to keep her propped up every time she was in it. I didn't mind doing that but as weeks went by and when head control was good and she was gaining a lot of upper body strength, she still slid down when she was placed in the Bebe Pod. I started thinking it was the chair and not so much Claire.

We first were introduced to the Bumbo when we were at our friends house. They decided to pick one up for their son before hanging out with us. We decided to give it a try, we placed Claire in the Bumbo and magically she sat up straight and didn't slide all over the place. It made me think twice about my chair decision!

The Bumbo is made of a rubber material, that is super soft, so your little one can not get hurt on it. It is not slippery like the Bebe Pod, so your little one will be able to sit up straighter and not slide all over. The back is higher too, so even tiny peanut babies like Claire, will be able to sit up in starting at a very young age. I highly recommend a Bumbo. Claire loves to sit in it and watch PBS or play with her toys. If you don't have a high chair, you can always use your Bumbo to feed your baby. You can also purchase a tray that hooks to the top of the Bumbo, so it becomes like a booster seat (I say like because there are no straps to secure your little one into). The Bumbo is well worth the money you will spend on it, plus they come in very fun colors!

Bug chilling in her Bumbo!

Itchy Armpits

Every single time I breastfeed Claire my armpits begin to itch! I know crazy, right? At first I just figured it was all in my head, it was my brain knowing that I wasn't able to scratch anything that itched. Now 6 months postpartum, it still happens immediately following my let down. They itch almost for the entire time I feed Claire.
I don't know why it happens or even how it happens but for one reason or another it does happen. Now that breastfeeding has become second nature, I am pretty good at itching what needs to be itched. Sometimes my loving husband will be so kind to assisted me! Crazy what the body does with all those postpartum hormones!!

Claire's first " I Do"

 

Recipe Sunday

This weeks recipe: Slow-cooker hearty beef chili from Kraftrecipes.com

I am going to make this recipe this coming week. Who doesn't love a good chili on a cold, winter day!

What You Need!

1-1/2 lb. lean ground beef

1 can  (15 oz.) dark red kidney beans, drained, rinsed

1 can (15 oz.) light red kidney beans, drained, rinsed

1-1/2 cups  TACO BELL® HOME ORIGINALS® Thick 'N Chunky Mild Salsa

1 can (16 oz.) no-salt added tomato sauce

2 Tbsp.  chili powder

1 onion, chopped

1 cup  frozen corn, thawed, drained

1 cup KRAFT Mexican Style Finely Shredded Four Cheese

Make It!

BROWN meat; drain. Add to slow cooker with remaining ingredients except cheese; stir. Cover with lid.
COOK on LOW for 5 to 6 hours (or on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours).
STIR just before serving. Serve topped with the cheese.

Once Upon A Monday

This weeks book is: If You Give a Moose a Muffin by Laura  Numeroff

This "newly classic" kid's book would be a great addition to any kid's bookshelf. It's simply about a Moose that wants a cupcake, but as soon as he asks for a one it reminds him of something else he likes or wants.The story continues in this pattern until it comes back full circle with the Moose remembering that he wants a muffin! With great illustration, this book is great to read and to look at, over and over again!

Claire (6 months) thinks that is a wonderful book. I just got it for Christmas but it's already one of my favorites. Plus, I got a really cute moose stuffed animal to go with it!

Megan and Eric think this is a great book. It's a fun collection to read. Claire has 4 books with 4 stuffed animals to match. All the books are similar but not in the sense where it gets boring to read one right after the next. We think these books are great for kids of all ages. If you haven't given them a try, please do. You will find them quite amusing!

Megan and Eric rating 4 out of 5 stars

Wordless Wednesday

It's hard to believe this was 6 months ago...

Come On Baby Nellie, Today is Your Day!

Today is her day, Natalie from HopeSpringsEternal is in labor!!

Natalie, Josh, and Baby Nellie you three will be in our thoughts and prayers all day. We all know you have waited a very long time for this very moment!! We love you guys!
 
Come on Baby Nellie! We all can't wait to meet you!

Break Through Already

Teething SUCKS, it really really SUCKS!

Please Claire's second tooth that is ready to break through - break through all ready! Please, I am begging you!

Feel our (or Claire's) pain - her symptoms (which I am pretty sure, she is experiencing every single one!):

1. Stuffy nose
2. SUPER DUPER fussiness
3. Not sleeping
4. Rubbing her face all the time
5. Pulling/rubbing her ears
6. Shaking her head
7. Rosie red cheeks
8. Chewing her gum/tongue
9. Lack of appetite

I just pray that she is not like this for every single tooth that comes in!!

Hello Food Processor

Today I started making homemade baby food for Claire! It was super easy! I am so excited to continue making new food for her. Today was just a trail run, that was a success. I used up the last of the mini carrots I had in the fridge, boiled them (because I am still looking for a steamer), put the carrots in the food processor, added nursery water, and blended away until I got the consistency I desired! I still have to get all the necessary items for freezing the baby food I make but for today, I just made two (Gerber) container full of carrots and stuck them in the fridge. They will be good for the next two days.

www.wholesomebabyfood.com
This is the website I follow. It gives great advice on what to feed Claire  4 months (or 6) - 12 months, how to make baby food and store it, great finger food ideas (which we are thinking of starting around 8 1/2- 9 months) etc... I recommend checking it out!

Here are the food tables I am following from Wholesomebabyfood.com

 

Recipe Sunday

 This weeks recipe is: beef and vegetable stir-fry from Kraftrecipes.com

What You Need!

2 cups instant brown rice, uncooked

1/4 cup  lite soy sauce

2 Tbsp. KRAFT Light CATALINA Dressing (I used Asian Sesame Dressing by Kraft)

3/4 tsp.  ground ginger

1 lb. beef flank steak, cut into thin strips

2 tsp.  cornstarch

1 pkg. (16 oz.) frozen stir-fry vegetables, thawed, drained

1/4 cup  PLANTERS Dry Roasted Peanuts

Make It!

COOK rice as directed on package. Meanwhile, mix soy sauce, dressing and ginger until well blended; set aside. Toss meat with cornstarch.
SPRAY large nonstick skillet with cooking spray; heat on medium-high heat. Add meat mixture; cook and stir 3 min. or until meat is cooked through. Add vegetables and soy sauce mixture; cook and stir 3 min. or until sauce is thickened and vegetables are heated through.
SPOON over rice; top with peanuts.

So yummy, easy, and tastes great as left-overs!!

Claire's 6 Month Check Up

Claire had her 6 month check up today. Eric took her because I still had a fever and was feeling under the weather. Anywho - her appointment went very well!

Claire was 14lbs 7oz (born at 6lbs 7oz) and is 25.25 inches long (20 inches at birth).

She has hit all of her milestones on time (plus some, like sitting all by herself) and has started to get scared and cry when she meets new people. Eric said, Claire started crying as soon as her doctor walked into the room. The doctor did warn us at her 4 month appointment that at her next check up Claire might be scared of her and she was right on!

She got 1 shot today and will get 1 more next week. I am trying to follow the alternative shot schedule, which just is not giving to many shots at one time and pushing the MMR-I vaccination until she is at least 2 or 3 years old. (Check out Dr. Sears's book)We are also thinking about getting her both flu shots - regular and H1N1. Our doctor highly recommends the H1N1 and gave us some literature to read over before making our decision. We are thinking about it for these reasons: we take her out in public a lot, she is exposed to many people of all ages, and we are flying in April. The doctor said a little reach to the flu shots is better then her actually getting either type of flu, espeically at her age!

Claire is officially in full teething mode. The doctor said one of her bottom middle teeth has already broken through (you can feel it when Claire bites down on your finger) and the other one should break through sometime next week. We have been giving her infant Tylenol and baby oral gel when she needs it. We also picked up some infant Motrin (which she can now take because she is 6 months old) to give her in the morning, which we feel will help with her inflamed gums! At least now we know why she has been sleeping so crapply the last couple of weeks!!

Sick Day

The past couple of days, I have been "out sick". It has been so hard not to be a mommy but I really don't want Claire to get what I have. I'm pretty sure I have a "stomach bug". I feel so ichy and just plain blah. Every time I sit or stand up, I feel extremely nausea and dizzy. I have continued to breastfeed but boy is that hard when you feel like "poo" every time you have to sit straight for 5 to 10 minutes. I have been keeping my distance from Claire. I only hold her for feeding. It's hard to hear her cry and know I can't help her but I really don't want to pass this bug on to her. I don't want her to experience what I am.

Now, you may be wondering..."Who is taking care of Claire, while you are down for the count?"

That would be my AMAZINGLY caring, loving hubby. He took all day off yesterday to tend to me and take care of Claire. Today, he went in for a meeting and got home around 10:00am. I don't know what I would do without him because of him I was able to take two sick days! I love him so much, he is truly the best!!

This award is for my hubby, the worlds best hubby!

Tuesday's Review

This weeks baby item is: The "Space Saver High Chair" by Fisher Price.

Eric and I began looking at baby items a few weeks after we found out we were pregnant. We knew we wanted a high chair but we also knew we had no real place to put one. We came to the realization that high chairs are truly one bulky baby item. We had many people tell us to register for one that folds up but even with a fold up high chair we still didn't have any clue where to keep it.

When we were at Babies'R'Us registering for Claire, we came across the Fisher-Price Space Saver High Chair. We both instantly looked at each other and said, "yes" something that we could actually get, and store! We felt that this item was made for our house.

It was one of the first baby items we actually received (Thanks Rando and Rachel!) and put up in our house. It worked out perfect. It fits perfectly on one of our kitchen chairs and takes up barely any space at all. The color is a nice simple tan with a cream colored center, so it will match any kitchen decor!

It is so easy to use. When your baby is younger, there is a recline option that you can use so your infants head won't be flopping around. As they get older, you can raise it up. Claire now sits straight up and loves being in her high chair to eat or play. The buckle is also really easy to use. The straps are adjustable, so as your baby grows, so will your Space Saver High Chair. The tray is very easy to put on and take off of the high chair. I can even do it one handed. The best part about the tray, it is dish washer safe! 

If you are looking for a good quality high chair but you don't have a place to put a full size one. Please take a look at the Fisher Price Space Saver. I would recommend it to anyone!

When Claire first was introduced to her Space Saver High Chair!