If you like watermelon...

you must make these!


http://www.growingagreenfamily.com/homemade-organic-watermelon-ice-pops/

I didn't use organic watermelon and used store bought orange juice - but these were so good! Simple and easy, and you know exactly what's going into it.

I bought these ice pop molds on Amazon last year and finally got around to using them - they work great (and are the same ones pictured)!

http://www.amazon.com/Tovolo-Groovy-Ice-Molds-Yellow/dp/B000G32H3Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1346444514&sr=8-1&keywords=ice+pop+molds

One comment - I don't think my watermelon was super ripe, so it probably would have benefited from a little bit of agave or honey.

Can't wait to have Nicholas try one of these next summer :)

xoxo

Favorite Things (Mostly) Food Edition

Food!

Caramel Apple Crunch Pak

I stumbled upon these at Market Basket and they’re a great little snack. It’s a pack of pre cut green apple slices and a small bit of caramel. It’s only 80 calories and a great (and half healthy) treat that really hits the spot!

Nature’s Earthly Choice Heritage Grain Blend – 100% Whole Grain Red and Gold Quinoa, Amaranth, Brown Rice, and Wild Rice

This stuff is so good – you have got to try it. I’ve been trying different grains/sides to try and expand what I eat, and this has so many different flavors and textures, I really like it! I typically cook it in chicken broth and then add a few teaspoons of parmesan or feta cheese. A perfect accompaniment to grilled chicken!

Frozen Kiwi Pops

Yep, as simple as it sounds. I saw this on Pinterest and thought – what a great alternative to an ice pop. You just slice a kiwi, insert a lollipop stick, freeze it for a bit (I usually do an hour or so), dip it in chocolate (I use dark ) and then freeze until hard. I usually let it sit out of the freezer for a little while before biting into it, because it gets very hard. But tasty and so easy! I plan on trying homemade watermelon pops soon and will let you know how that goes.

Cooking Light.Com's Banana Bread

I have made this recipe too many times to count - I actually made it a few times in the last few months. Nick and I both love it (I use Whole Wheat Flour instead of white and add dark chocolate chips).

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/classic-banana-bread-10000000549764/

Jason’s Vitamin E Lotion

This stuff is a great moisturizer, inexpensive, and has virtually no scent. I use very little perfume/scented things now that the baby is trying to eat me all the time :)

Bejeweled iPhone App

This one is just plain silly – a great time waster to take my mind off things when I need a break.

xoxo

Just Some Pics

Our little boy is not so little anymore! In one week he sprouted two teeth, sat up, and ate solids (rice cereal) for the first time. I know I've blogged about all of this but it just kind of hit me too! Here are some pics of the recent happenings...

I recently commented about looking at the back of his head while he was sitting up...this is what I was talking about...such a melon!

His first experience sitting in a shopping cart, at Babies R Us - he was so good and really enjoyed looking around at everyone! Of course we bought him a toy because he was so good. Are we suckers or what?

Sitting up with help from Dad

Dexter and the babe already love each other - he'll lick his face, play with him, Nicholas will "fish hook" Dexter and grab his face and squeeze, and Dexter just takes it all.

Dexter's face says it all: When are we getting rid of this guy??

xoxo

It's Baby Food Making Time!

I have been doing a lot of research on first foods for Nicholas and I’m really excited to make my own baby food. I was really disappointed I wasn’t able to breast feed longer, but am happy I was able to do it for the first 6 weeks of his life. I really like to cook, so I’m excited to get started on “real” foods for Nicholas.

His first food will be yellow squash, and I’m going to make a batch this weekend. My good friend Caroline bought me The Baby Bullet as a gift (so excited!) and my friends Lauren, Katy, and Maggie have been incredibly helpful with how to start introducing new foods. The plan is to start with veggies on September 15th, and go from there. I did a list for the first month so I’m planning on making batches of food every few days and to build up a nice supply. I have two books, and this is a mish mash of what I’ve read are the best first foods for the beginning stages. Here’s my list!

Yellow Squash (even I like this vegetable!)

Avocado

Peas (I’m pretty sure he’ll hate these…just like his Mom..they seriously make me throw up, maybe Nick will have to feed these to him… :)

Banana (I’ve heard this one can cause constipation..thankfully he had no issues with the rice cereal so I’ll keep my fingers crossed he’ll do well with this one too)

Apple (yum!)

Sweet Potato

Zucchini (some friends approved and some didn’t of this one..)

Pear

That’ll get me through mid-October – I can’t wait to start!

Health Update

I had a follow up appointment with my primary doctor yesterday as I wanted to have my blood pressure rechecked. When I went back on birth control it shot back up into the 150’s because estrogen, one of the hormones in the pill, is linked to an increase in blood pressure. Since I was told my pressure went back up, I’ve basically felt like a ticking time bomb (which has been terrible!)

I’m thankful to say my blood pressure was 128/78 and the doc was very happy with this. It was a huge relief for me and I’m much less freaked out now! I’m going to get blood drawn later in the week to make sure my sugar levels are back to normal, because of the gestational diabetes.

Other notes:

1. The doc told me I am in a healthy weight range, but in the “higher end” of the health weight range. I posted recently about trying to get back in shape – I have been going to the gym at least twice a week and often walk at lunch time during the week at work. My diet has been pretty good too, but once in awhile I do go overboard. Telling me my weight is in the “higher” healthy range is definitely a good kick in the pants to push myself harder (gym tonight!! Heehee)

2. I explained the gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and HELLP syndrome that I had while pregnant and I think the doc was a little taken aback at how I explained it so bluntly. (clearly she doesn’t know me well ;) She said “wow, you’ve really removed yourself from the situation, haven’t you? I said honestly, even at the time I wasn’t scared – I was in the best place I could have been (the hospital) and I trusted the doctor’s and nurses that cared for me – and clearly everything turned out just fine. Of course I know I am one lucky lady!

Hope everyone is well!

xoxo

Sitting Up

So I wrote this yesterday but time got away from me, so I'm posting it now :)

So last night, Nick sat on the floor with Nicholas for awhile, laying behind him for support. He sat up pretty well on his own for awhile and would now and again “flop” backwards. We were really thrilled, he hadn’t had too much balance just yet but seems to be getting better every day.


This morning he sat up for a good 15-20 minutes (with me behind him for support). We put a bunch of toys in front of him and sat him on a beautiful blanket that Nick’s cousin’s wife Aisling made. He had a great time and was happy and smiley, occasionally reaching for and chewing on toys. Nick’s college friend Steve sent us a Baby Einstein little piano type toy that he really likes and it keeps him entertained when he’s in that position. It’s going to sound weird, but I really like looking at the back of his head when he is like this…it’s like he’s a mini little person sitting down and hanging out – which he is!

I really can’t believe it – he just amazes me more and more each day.

xoxo

Shutterfly Share Site

I created a Shutterfly Share Site for Nicholas. I need to send you an invitation in order for you to view it, so leave me a comment here with your email address or send me an email at cdristas215@gmail.com if you'd like me to send you the link.

xoxo

Nicholas is 5 Months Old!

Time is just flying! I feel like Nicholas changes and grows every day. He's really starting to get a personality (happy and giggley for the most part), and every day he does something that makes me laugh so hard I almost cry.

No doctor's appointment this month, so I don't have new stats. He's had little dry patches on his belly that don't seem to be going away - we talked to the doc and he didn't think it sounded serious (and it hasn't gotten worse), but we may bring him in for a quick visit just to be safe.

The big milestone this month is that on August 4th we started "solids" (just rice cereal). I originally did not want to start anything but formula until 6 months, but something weird had been happening with him in the morning. He's been sleeping great, from 7 pm-6 am for the most part. But even after all that great sleep, he was still getting tired/crabby after about an hour of being awake, and I began to think that maybe the formula wasn't enough. He does seem a bit better in the morning, and he opens up wide for the rice cereal and really seems to be enjoying this new "spoon to mouth" thing. I plan on waiting to try veggies and fruit until 6 months (which feels so close! again with the time flying!)

Another big milestone - the little guy has two teeth! The two on the bottom front are starting to poke through the gums. They noticed at day care earlier this week and last week and weekend he was a pretty crabby guy. Hopefully he will get some relief soon. He's not a fan of the pacifier, but if I pop it in the freezer for a few minutes it seems to really soothe him.

Sleeping has been pretty good - we get him down by 7 and he usually wakes up by 6. If he wakes up before 6 we try to let him "hang" in his crib until it is 6, and that's been working ok so far. As far as the naps go, we haven't really been able to schedule those, and day care has difficulty getting him to sleep by himself in the crib (I honestly think he's just too stimulated there - I don't think that's a bad thing, but I think it's why they can't get him to sleep.)

He still loves his activity mat but doesn't go on it as much - we have him in the exersaucer more and a lot of tummy time. He's not really rolling over but he enjoys being on his stomach and lifting his arms and legs. He sits well propped up but has not yet mastered sitting on his own. I bought a few fun shaped/different textured balls from Amazon and he LOVES those - passes them from hand to hand, chews on them, etc. He also likes to chew on Sophie the giraffe (a popular teether). He also really enjoys bath time now - earlier this week he was "dancing" and splashing away and I had one of those laugh so hard I cried moments. I still look at him and marvel and say to him - did you know I cooked you in my belly? I feel like I'll be saying that when he's 18 years old :)

xoxo

First Tooth

Guess who popped his first tooth that we noticed today? This guy!

Can you tell how excited he is about it? Also, now we know why he's been a bit of a crab apple these last few days.

xoxo

Weighty Issues

While pregnant, I gained 21 pounds. Within 6 weeks of having Nicholas, I had lost it all. I nursed for as long as I could, and I’m pretty sure that is the reason I lost the weight so quickly. I was unable to work out for some time due to the c-section. The doctor recommended 8 weeks, I didn’t exercise for 10 weeks – I started back up at the same time I returned to work. For a few weeks after I stopped nursing, I continued to eat like I was still nursing and gained about 5-6 pounds back.

To me, it’s not about being thin or looking a certain way in clothes (although of course that is nice too!) Before I got pregnant, I wanted to lose about 20 pounds. I ate really healthy, exercised, and took really good care of myself – but still, I did not lose any weight. I was glad that before I got pregnant, I accepted the way my body was and that it was the size I was meant to be.

Since having the babe, I’ve struggled with the way my body has “repositioned” itself. My stomach is probably my least comfortable area now, but I’m comforted by the fact that my body was strong enough and healthy enough to carry a baby. My health is still a work in progress, as I continue to off and on have blood pressure issues since being pregnant, and I have a follow up with my doctor next week to check things out.

I recently checked my BMI to find out that I am considered to be in the “overweight” range (a BMI of over 25). After I got pregnant, I told myself I would get into the best shape of my life after having the baby. It’s not about just me anymore, and I want to be around to watch my little guy grow for as long as possible. I recently went back to tracking my food and making a commitment to get to the gym at least twice a week. It’s hard to find the time because we see so little of Nicholas, as Nick and I both have to work full time. I’ve been fitting in walks with him when I can, and I’m so thankful that Nick is so supportive of me getting back into shape and feeling better about myself.

It is not easy, but I’m committing myself to a happier, healthier lifestyle, one day at a time.

Furry Friend

So, someone has realized that they have a hairy older brother. The last one kills me, Nicholas is agreeing with all of us that his big brother has some pretty bad breath!

This guy

We got this guy home from dinner with friends and he was a cranky little boy. I changed his diaper, put him in a sleep sack, laid him down, and he started screaming bloody murder. But...about 5 minutes later, I checked on him, told him I loved him and patted his head...came downstairs, and this happened:

Honestly, he's been doing great and I couldn't be happier!

xoxo

Basement Redo

I wish I had some "before pictures", but we're redoing our basement and it is coming out great. The previous owner basically closed off half the basement and "finished" it, turning it into a long yellow room with pale blue trim...that wasn't even remotely attractive. Nick knocked out the wall and pulled up the half carpet, and enclosed the washer, dryer, hot water heater, and boiler. The carpet went in today and here's what we're looking at right now :)

The furniture, TV, and whatever else Nick has ordered (heehee) will be coming in soon and I'll post more pics. Dexter is OBSESSED with carpet and we took him down there and he lost his mind. It's going to be a great fun playroom for him and the babe in the near future :)

Date Night for Mom and Dad

Nick and I had a quick date night this past Sunday and Nick's family was nice enough to watch Nicholas so we could relax a bit (of course, still finished our dinner within the hour...I think we're just used to eating super fast now :)

I've mentioned it before, but the iPhone is great for letting me snap one picture after the other, and very quickly. Here are some great shots I took before we left and once we got back from dinner.

Crazy Uncle Dan love (yes that's what we'll call him..:)

Auntie Love

Auntie love times 2!

Kills me!

Yes...I know I'm cute

Wait...make sure you get none of Nana and ALL of me

Papou and me!

Mama Love!

Close up on Mama Love!

Hi Nana!

More Nana love!

xoxo

Sleep Training the babe

I hate to jinx it, but sleep training the babe has been going pretty well so far.

Nicholas is WIPED OUT by a little after 6 pm each night, sometimes even earlier. It’s kind of a bummer because we don’t get to see him all day. He also isn’t on a schedule at day care, I think they start doing “group” naps when he is around 6 months old – which actually isn’t that far off. Whenever we are with him all day, he really seems to be more of a cat napper, sometimes sleeping 40 minutes, sometimes 2 hours, throughout the day. I’ve been tracking his sleep patterns for the last week +, and there is no rhyme or reason to it. The only set thing is that he’s in bed by 7 ish and up by 6 ish – he’s almost always up before 6 though if he doesn’t wake up for a middle of the night feeding.

Here’s what we’ve been doing at night:

A few weeks ago, we started a routine of “bath, bottle, and bed” As soon as he starts to get a bit cranky, we bring him upstairs, turn the lights down low, and start the white noise machine. The white noise machine is supposed to trigger his "calming reflex", and it really seems to do the trick. Since he’s not mobile yet, a bath really doesn’t take very long, maybe 10 minutes max. He usually starts to get upset after the bath though, so I quickly diaper him and rub some lotion on him (I’m hoping he eventually enjoys this, but right now he just becomes a crabby arse!) Then we bring him downstairs for his bottle. He typically falls asleep half way through the bottle and we rouse him awake to get him to finish it. Then we hold him for a little while, make sure that he burps, and then lay him down.

The first night was a NIGHTMARE. He had burped, but apparently needed to burp more. I could tell right away that he was uncomfortable so I picked him up, patted him for awhile, and then he burped again and we laid him back down. I gave him 5 minutes to try and settle himself and it didn’t work. I went to him, kissed him and patted his head, told him I loved him, offered him a pacifier (which he always rejects), and then left him again. I repeated this for almost an hour. He was so worked up that I re - swaddled his arms – that did the trick and he settled himself and went to sleep. It was a rough hour, but I was so thrilled when he finally settled himself on his own. I hated to let him cry even for a minute or two (because I did NOT want to do this), but I realize that it is for the best and I wasn’t “abandoning” him, just trying to get him to realize that he CAN do it on his own (and needs to learn that).

After that first night, it has gotten so much better. I had to do it twice the next night but he was settled within 10 minutes. Last night when I put him down he SCREAMED bloody murder..but only 3 minutes went by, he settled himself, and then was sleeping within 15 minutes.

I haven’t tried to schedule naps yet (because of his cat napping ways) but if he wakes up for night feedings (and he usuall does) he has also been able to settle himself within 5-10 minutes, so I take that as a good sign and a step in the right direction.

This morning was pretty cool to watch – he woke up around 4 am and had completely turned himself around in the crib. He rolls on his side, back, around, it is pretty amazing at how much he is starting to get around!

xoxo