0 to 80

I often wonder what and how the new baby will add to the mix. Will he/she have similar personality traits to Colin? Will he/she have colic - dear lord, isn't one child enough? Have mercy please. Will Colin teach him/her things...good things? Will Colin suddenly want to do big boy things like use the potty, sleep in a big boy bed, cut his own food, and/or feed himself. I certainly hope all of the latter are true but I honestly worry for my sanity if he/she has the same energy intensity as my redheaded ball of fire.

I know all children are bundles of energy and like to climb, run, and play but do they all do it with such intensity and ALL the time? He and I took what I thought to be a quick jaunt up to the mall this weekend. He refused to ride in his stroller and I've learned to not even take the darn thing because all I'll be doing is pushing it empty while trying to chase him or watching as he tries to escape out the side, tipping the entire thing over. So since he's of monster weight, I told him he'd have to walk.

What was I thinking? Really? We stopped at every mannequin to notice whether or not she had a head, what her hands were doing, how many there were, etc. Then we got to ride the escalator - seriously the highlight of our entire trip. He does surprisingly well on them and stands perfectly still, holding my hand with one hand and the rail with the other. Then we get to the department and I attempt to look around. I tell him to stand close and within 2 seconds, he's gone like a flash. I found him quickly the first 3 times but the next one wasn't so fun. My heart literally sank as I was yelling, "Colin" with no response. I began to feel a cold sweat come over me, as all the millions of terrible scenarios start playing in my head. Finally he appears with a huge grin on his face. I swat his tail (no reaction) and pick him up. He knows exactly what he's done because 2 seconds later he's pleading with me to let him down and he promises not to run away. I've always hated these things:

but now I completely appreciate them! I seriously think that's the only way I'd be able to contain him.

We go on out into the mall where he now refuses to hold my hand. Great, he's only 2 and it's already not cool to hold your mom's hand. We go in William Sonoma, which Colin fondly refers to as the "sample store". I always pretend as if I'm actually looking for something, when in reality all I'm looking for is the sample. He gladly eats whatever it is and then proceeds to pick up everything in site. I think nothing of it because he's within both my site and reach and he hasn't broken anything yet. Little did I know that the nice saleslady who greeted us as we walked in (and I'm sure eyed us all the way to the treat stand) had been watching us the whole time. I told Colin it was time to go. As he pulls the sticks out of a fondue pot, the stalker lady asks as we walk out the door, "Is he always 0 to 80 like this?" I kindly reply, "Yes, all the time." And I thought he was being good?!

Lesson learned here is that shopping that requires any browsing or thought is not for us right now. Perhaps peapod will be a little girl who loves to shop and I can train her right from the get-go! Until then, maybe I'll invest in a "Leash me go!"

Warning!

Just because you're pregnant does not give you the right to eat a pint of ice cream in one sitting! I did manage to put the lid back on before polishing it off but it was a struggle for sure. Keep in mind, I'm not even an ice cream fan. Sure, I'll take it if there's nothing else but I'd never pick it first. So why the sudden change of heart? Let me just show you:

I don't know who this Hannah Teter person is but she's a culinary genius in my book! Thankfully the words read "Limited Edition" around the lid because this could be deadly to my waistline (which is currently nonexistent anyway, thus the rationale to eat the entire thing). It's a perfect marriage of caramel, blondie bits, and maple. Seriously my mouth is watering just thinking about those little bursts of doughy goodness!

I would tell you to rush out and try it but I'm not here to advocate bad behavior. So here's my warning label for you - WARNING: This ice cream may cause severe addiction if not consumed in moderation!

And thanks to my good friend (who was also preggo at the time), A, for turning me on to this. I owe ya one!

All New Low

Thanks to my beloved reality tv, I've stooped to an all new low. It's really nothing new that VH-1 has successfully taken any decency (and there wasn't much) out of reality love shows - For the Love of Ray J, Flavor of Love, and I Love New York to name a few.

But last night as I was flipping during commercials, I came across Rupaul's Drag Race Season 2 (yes, horror of horrors, I managed to miss the first season somehow). This particular episode caught my attention because it was a blatant ripoff of the popular, Project Runway. The queens had to create their own runway attire and present both that and themselves to the judges at the end of the show. The bottom 2 then had to sing for their lives to remain on the show (another ripoff).

Also in typical VH-1 fashion, each queen has been given a special name, all of which are female of course. Some of my favorites were Jujubee, Tyra, and Jessica Wild. These women, er men, have such sass and style that I found myself getting drawn in. So besides the fact there were really no redeeming qualities of the show, somehow I found it hard to turn it off and go to sleep. It's not going on my dvr list but I'll gladly stop and watch it again if I'm flipping.

Queen or no queen, Ru is one pretty lady!

Weekly Recipe Roundup

Wow, it's been a while since I've gotten to use that title. I'm getting back in the saddle again but I'm trying not to overdo it, so as to not set the bar too high with baby #2 on the way. I don't want to create another expectation for myself to try to uphold with 2 kiddos. I'm sure I'll still do it to myself but it sounds good right now to try to stop it.

Baja Fish Tacos with Mango Salsa - I made fried fish...and it was good! I told a friend that and she said, "And..." I guess it does sound strange that I've never made that before, and I think I have but it wasn't good, but it's something I've always been afraid of. The fact that it's fried in a big pot of oil has something to do with it too but when I saw a recipe in Cooking Light, I thought I'd give it a whirl. The fish turned out perfectly. It had a great taste, a good flake, and just the right amount of batter. The salsa was a nice complement but I would prefer a touch more liquid just to allow the flavors to soak in and meld together better. Other than that, this was a great dish and I'll definitely be making it again. The fish could easily stand on it's own as a main dish.

Baked Macaroni and Cheese - I have a love hate relationship with mac-n-cheese. I love it because it tastes so good but I hate it when I think of all the calories it has (not to mention the missing veggies). Nonetheless, I'm always on the hunt for a lightened version that doesn't taste particularly lightened. I loved this recipe! Wes is not a fan of cottage cheese, so I'm always hesitant to try to sneak it in but this was one I thought I could disguise. Wouldn't you know, 2 bites into it he asks what the little white pieces of cheese were. I thought about making something up but since he had already tried it and liked it, I knew I was safe with the truth. As soon as I said it, he snurled his nose but when I asked if he liked it, he said yes. I would honestly be fine having this once a week!

Millionaire's Bars - I'm still trying to figure out where the name came from and the best I can come up with is that you feel like a million bucks after eating this delicious treat. These are dangerously addictive and taste a lot like a Twix bar. I had a can of what I thought was Dulce de Leche but it was really just condensed milk with a Mexican label. Both taste great but are handled completely different in this recipe. My caramel layer didn't end up quite so much like caramel but rather a silky layer of sweet milk goodness. I don't think you could go wrong either way but the caramel would make for slightly cleaner fingers. Oh and as an added bonus, I used Guittard chocolate for the top and I'm here to tell you that you can taste every penny of quality chocolate!

Banana Sour Cream Pancakes - Ina Garten makes some sinfully delicious-looking dishes on her show but the lady doesn't skimp on butter! Paula Deen has always gotten the bad rap for that but Ina is just as guilty in my book. I came across this recipe on someone's blog and was surprised to see it originated with Ina. I had some leftover sour cream I didn't want to go to waste, so I thought I'd give these a whirl. The cake was sweeter than most but also more cakey. I loved the combination but I do think thinning it out a bit would be better. I'll eat just about any pancake you put in front of me but I definitely have my favorites and know a good one when I find it. This recipe is definitely worth tweaking the next time I have some extra sour cream to use up.

Seeking Motherly Advice

Ah, the terrible two's. Silly me, I thought we had potentially escaped the dreaded phenomenon but alas, I was clearly wrong. I realize this milestone affects each child differently but I can't help but to think some of you may have been in my shoes before and may have some motherly advice for me that perhaps I haven't thought of. Even if you're not a mother, I'll gladly take your advice. Maybe just an outsider can see something I'm missing and I'll gladly take any suggestions you throw my way.

Let me paint the picture for you. It involves a lot of "no" and "I won't" no matter what the question. Just a general defiance but particularly the use of NO. I am so tired of that word, I could scream. I've tried to refrain from using it myself, thinking that kids this age are mocking birds but that hasn't seemed to have an impact. Tonight I thought I would attempt another bargaining power, I pleaded with him that we (daddy, mommy, and him) would all quit saying no and if any of us did, we'd have to go to the "uh-oh" box (timeout). That seemed to have some effect, that is until I told him to go tell Daddy and he said, "Mommy said NO!" Hm, maybe he didn't quite understand.

We've thought perhaps it was the antibiotic he is on, maybe he's tired, hungry, bored, but we've taken almost all of those situations (except the antibiotic) out of the equation and he still barks no at virtually everything. Sometimes are worse than others but in a given 10 minute period, he's bound to say it at least once, 10 times if he's on a roll. We don't laugh, we never has. He doesn't think it's funny either.

Argh, what is he doing and how do I stop it?! Someone please come to the rescue of my sanity and solve this mystery. I know many have crossed this bridge before but I'm at the point where I don't think I can cross the bridge without a life preserver (for me AND Colin!).

Fashionable bump

I honestly enjoy being pregnant, nausea and all. I remember dreaming of being pregnant when I was younger and fearing it both for the obvious pain during labor and the torturous 9 months. It seems everyone is quick to tell you the negative aspects of pregnancy and seldom share the sheer joy of the experience. I know it's not a bed of roses for every mother but I suppose I've been lucky because I look back on my first experience very fondly.

One aspect that this penny-pincher didn't like then and still doesn't like now is maternity clothes. Don't get me wrong, the fashionistas out there have paved the way for many more favorable options but for a practicalist (I realize that's not a word), buying a bunch of clothes that you'll only wear for a couple months is just nonsensical. This doesn't mean that I don't check the various maternity sites frequently but it's hard for me to break down and actually buy something. I'm cheap, yes I know. I'm beginning to enter the transition stage where my regular clothes are getting tighter but I'm trying to stay out of my maternity clothes for as long as I can. As I sit with my pants cutting off the circulation, I find myself looking...a lot.

Here are some of the temptations I've seen lately:

How cute would this be for a wedding or special occasion?!

Perhaps I'm longing for warmer weather with this one but I love Lily and the colors she uses.

Thankfully, there's Old Navy and Target for us cheapskates. Even with those I wait for sales (: I guess I might be waiting a while for a sale on these summer things since it's only January!

White Chicken Chili and Cornbread

It doesn't take me long to get adjusted to a new routine. Not searching for recipes and other new and different meal ideas has given me a much needed break. I must admit that it's kind of nice to come home and not have to run around the kitchen trying to figure out a new recipe in 30 minutes. I still love the idea of new and different menu items but at this point, I'm fine with just one of those a week. Knowing me, I'm sure that 1 will quickly increase to 2, which will turn into 3, etc.

Last week I finally braved chicken again. That has been one thing that I haven't been able to touch since November. I felt like I had conquered the world after cutting it up! I took full advantage and made enough for Chicken Pot Pie and White Chicken Chili.

I'm not sure why but White Chili has been showing up all over the blog world lately. I'm guessing the frigid temperatures might have something to do with it. Nonetheless, it caught my attention and got my craving level up - and you know what they say about pregnant ladies and their cravings! I don't either but I'm sure it's something bad. I read so many recipes but ultimately decided to just take bits and pieces of all of them to create something more suited for our tastes. Here's what I came up with.

White Chicken Chili

by Danielle

1 double chicken breast, cooked and shredded

1/2 cup diced onion

3 garlic cloves

1 T. olive oil

2 (14.5 oz) cans cannelloni beans, rinsed and drained

1 tsp cumin

1/2 tsp oregano

1/2 tsp pepper

1 tsp salt

4 splashes of hot sauce (I prefer Sriracha)

1 (4.5 oz) can diced green chiles

2-3 cups low sodium chicken broth, depending on the thickness you prefer

2 T. cornmeal

1/4 cup sour cream, plus more for garnish

shredded monterey jack cheese for topping

In a dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add onions and garlic and cook until soft and transparent, about 5-7 minutes. Add chicken, beans and next 7 ingredients (thru stock). Simmer 25 minutes. As you stir, try to mash some of the beans with the back of your spoon to thicken the soup. Add cornmeal and mix well. Simmer an additional 10 minutes. Add 1/4 cup sour cream and stir to blend. Serve immediately with additional sour cream and shredded cheese.

Serves 4-6

To go with the soup, I made Art Smith's Cornbread. Art was Oprah's personal chef for years before opening his own restaurant in Chicago. His style is definitely southern comfort so I thought he'd surely know his stuff when it came to cornbread. The recipe was good but I wasn't blown away by it. I thought it could use a touch more sweetness and a little richer flavor (butter). It's a good, solid recipe though and would be great if you were looking to use it for cornbread dressing, cornbread salad, or something else that will later absorb moisture from the dish. I just love that I got to use one of my grandmother's iron skillets to make it!

Super Easy Turtles

Somehow during my first pregnancy I became known as the "treat lady" and was expected to bring one each and every visit. My sister works at the office and she had a little influence on me. I'm not sure if it was the treats or my sister but I'm certainly not complaining about the great attention I received during my entire stint at their office. That's one place you want to make friends, so treats seemed like the least I could do. I honestly never would have even thought of bringing a treat to any medical office until my sister informed me people did it all the time, especially at Christmas.

Since I set the standard the first time around, I feel obligated to continue the tradition with this pregnancy and office visits. Admittedly, I don't have quite the amount of free time I had the first go round but I'm making do thus far (there's only been 2). I found this recipe long ago and decided to save it for this very occasion. Seriously, this has to be the easiest and tastiest little treat you could make.

Easy Turtles

1 bag small pretzels

1 bag individually wrapped Rolo candies

1 bag halved pecans

Preheat oven to 220. Spread pretzels in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Unwrap Rolos and place one on each pretzel. Pop them in the oven for 2 minutes. They may not seem like they've melted enough but they'll continue to melt on the warm cookie sheet. Take a pecan half and press onto the Rolo, squishing it down a bit. Remove from the warm cookie sheet to your serving platter. That's it!

The baby, through Colin's eyes

Wes and I told Colin fairly soon after we found out I was pregnant that he was going to be a big brother. I should have expected his nonchalant response but there was a little part of me that hoped he'd prove me wrong and jump up and down with excitement. No, he just looked at me, said, "oh" and moved on to the next topic, which I'm sure was either food or books.

Since then I've used him to tell my mom, dad, and some friends that Mommy had a baby in her belly. I thought it was a cute way to spread the news and it didn't involve me getting all nervous and sweaty. He often gets asked if he wants a brother and sister and his reply has always been, "both." Hmm, not so much this time around but I guess that's what we get for asking.

Wes and I have both tried to actively talk about the baby to Colin and I've certainly used it multiple times to try to encourage him to a) sleep in a big boy bed, b) use the big boy potty, and most recently c) eat like a big boy. I'm not too proud to use a little psychological bribery to get the end result I want. None of them have worked thus far but this relentless, nagging mother hasn't given up the good fight yet.

Now for some funnies courtesy of Colin. I overheard him one night ask Wes if he had a baby in his belly. Then he wanted to know if he, Colin, had a baby in his belly. Wes explained to him that only mommies have babies. He was quiet for moment while he took that in but that seemed to appease him.

Tonight Wes asked him what he thought we should name his brother or sister and he first reassured us he wanted 2 and then decided "super babies" would be an appropriate name (that's a Dora reference). He also asked if he could show the baby his room. I think he's starting to get the hint that this is real and there really is a baby coming to live with us. I'm anxious to see and hear what he says once my belly really starts getting big. Note: it's already big, just not REALLY big yet!

Cravings and Gingerbread Waffles

While the gender of our little bean is still unknown, there are a few differences I've experienced between this pregnancy and the one with Colin. First and foremost is the unfortunate arrival of nausea. Unfortunately, it's not morning sickness where I get sick in the morning and that's it. No, I'm lucky enough to get to deal with it all day. I now realize how blessed I was to not have to experience one iota of sickness with Colin. You know what they say, boys are nice to their mommies, while girls take all the beauty. Whatever the gender ends up being (one more month until we find out), I'm hopeful the few nausea-free days I had last week will soon become the norm rather than the exception.

During that short window of hope last week, I delved into my recipe collection and ceased the opportunity to get back in the kitchen. I know most people would appreciate the excuse to stay out of the kitchen but it's a passion of mine and I feel like part of me has been missing since early November. I have a couple of recipes and posts in the pipelines but first up is a great recipe for Gingerbread Waffles. I first found this on A's blog and wanted to make it right away. I did, several months ago, but I omitted the molasses and quickly realized that was a mistake and that molasses is a key component of gingerbread. Not wanting to make the same mistake twice, I vowed to try them again after I got some molasses. Wow, have I been missing out or what?! These were great and although A modified the recipe a bit to satisfy her family, I kept it as written and thought it was perfect. These would be perfect for a weekend breakfast or part of breakfast for dinner, as we did.