Menu Planning

In the last several weeks, I've started planning out what we're having for dinner in advance. While some of you might think this is a no-brainer, this has revolutionized life in our house (okay, there is some hyperbole in that sentence, but menu planning has made life easier). When I was working, Chris and I would send e-mails back and forth toward the end of the day trying to figure out what dinner was going to be and who was going to stop at the store. This was not an efficient system. After I stopped working, things were marginally better, but still the question of what we would be eating that night often loomed large. When there isn't a plan, it is very easy to call Lavash for take out of delicious lamb kebab sandwiches and hummus.

So I have started listing out the days of the week, taking into account what nights we have plans and starting from there. Here is the menu last week as a sample:
Monday: baked mahi mahi, roasted brussel sprouts
Tuesday: lentil soup
Wednesday: eggplant curry and brown rice
Thursday: Chipotle
Friday: -
Saturday: pizza night
Sunday: dinner with my parents

As you can see, the menu is a work in progress. I usually make a batch of soup on Tuesday so leftovers can be eaten at lunch through the week. Thursday night is swim night, so we usually pick up dinner on the way home. And by Friday, I typically am out of ideas and don't want to cook.

Having a set menu has saved me from ordering carry out several times. If I know what I am to be cooking and have the ingredients on hand, it seems silly to not prepare the dish. I tend to cook with few ingredients, but getting to the store is sometimes a challenge. I also need to time the grocery trip with when the fresh ingredients need to be used. Monday's dinner last week should have been later in the week and further from the grocery trip because the fish and veggie were both frozen and the prep ingredients were shelf stable.

So this whole menu planning thing is a work in progress, but we're getting there.

Just for the fun of it, here is this week's menu:
Monday - dinner at parents
Tuesday - minestrone soup
Wednesday - crock pot roast with sweet potatoes
Thursday - carry out or leftovers
Friday - stuffed shells
Saturday - pizza night
Sunday - dinner with parents

Now if I can just get to the store...

On Walks

Although I promised myself that Milo and I would continue our daily walks until the sidewalks became impassable with snow and ice, this first real cold snap of the winter has the stroller gathering some dust. Walks have been a great help to me, in a number of ways. Of course there is the exercise aspect. I credit walking with losing that first round of pregnancy weight back in the spring. Walks around our neighborhood, to the grocery store, or for coffee have kept me moving and pushing around 20 pounds of baby up the slight hills of Clintonville have kept those calories burning.

Part of the reason we really like this neighborhood is because it is walkable. The sidewalks actually lead to useful places such as Kroger and Starbucks. It's also fun to just walk up and down the different streets, seeing how the houses are decorated for the holidays or who is renovating. When all else fails, we count cats on our walks.

A quick jaunt around the neighborhood gets us out of the house and the change of scenery is always helpful. I had come to think of our afternoon walks as a reboot for our day. Baby is cranky and won't nap, Mom is losing patience and would like some quiet time? Out with the stroller where we had just enough distance from one another to peacefully make it through the rest of the day. The fresh air lends some perspective I think.

I miss our walks and I am hoping that either the weather warms up or I get brave enough to get out there and walk anyway. Mittens, coats and blankets are made for a purpose, right?

Wanted: Christmas Spirit

Last night we attended Chris' work holiday party. It was a nice night out and a lovely party (apart from the magician). Although I enjoyed myself at the event, I just couldn't wrap my head around the fact that Christmas is coming in 20 odd short days.

While I want to make this first Christmas with Milo a special and memorable one, I also realize that he isn't going to know what is going on. Chris and I bought him only one gift, along with some stocking stuffers. We'll go see the lights at the Zoo and we're still debating a trip to see Santa.

Really, I guess I want this Christmas to be a remarkable one for me. If that is going to happen, I better lighten up, accept that the holiday season is once again upon on, and try to enjoy every moment.

Maybe baking cookies will help.

Late Giving Thanks

I clearly remember last Thanksgiving, sitting on the couch with Chris and Prada watching the parade. My belly was round and I was being kicked by the little guy who had taken up residence inside. The morning was close to perfection, peaceful and loving and comfortable.

This Thanksgiving wasn't quite so peaceful for me since it involved a nine hour drive and a baby who was unable to sleep in a new environment. In the chaos, I also didn't take the time to think about what I was really thankful for this year. So this morning as Milo is happily napping in his crib, I'm taking that time to reclaim the peaceful feeling of a year ago.

I give thanks for my family, for both the little one we are creating here and the one from which I came. They're both special. I especially give thanks for my husband of two years who is my trusted partner in life. I give thanks for our situation that means I have these months to stay home with our little guy and help him grow.

Next year, whatever the circumstances, I will keep in mind the place and spirit of Thanksgiving.

Eight Months

Holy moly we have an actual little person on our hands. One who moves and has opinions on things. One, who I can't wait to fall asleep because, well, he doesn't sleep much, and then when he finally does drift off I miss him.

Even though I ended last month's post promising to get on a schedule, I can't say we are actually there. We're moving that way and most days I pretty much know what to expect, but it's not set in stone yet. Actually I've spent a lot of time this past month sitting in the driveway reading a book and waiting for Milo to wake up. I'm a firm believer in the don't wake a sleeping baby rule and besides when the kid does sleep I figure he needs it.

Milo is also a baby on the move. Not on all fours, mind you, but he has a definite scootch across the room to get items he wants (usually shoes, cell phones or a cat). He gets on all fours and rocks back and forth, but hasn't quite put all the movement together. He is very pleased with his progress; it's fun to watch.

He has all types of babbles which are just adorable. To be honest I'm not sure what they mean and I kind of feel like a bad mother for that. For a week or so I thought he was saying ca ca for kitty. More recently he's getting out H for hi, but this is usually directed at the cat, so again I am not sure what is going on his head. He has da da down, but I haven't noticed this in correlation to Chris. After nursing, Milo usually launches into a long babbling session. I am taking this to mean thank you God for milk, it is so delicious and makes me the happiest baby in the world.

Speaking of happy babies, Milo tends to make friends wherever we go. He smiles and coos at servers, cashiers, random people in line and most of all at cute baby girls. His smile, with still just the two teeth, lightens up a room. People seem to simply love him, but not as much as I do.

A Different Species

For the last couple of months I've been calling Milo a rabid puppy. While I consider this to be a term of endearment, it's probably not the nicest thing a mom has ever called her son. I call him this because when he gets excited and also happens to be congested he really does sound like a large puppy with foam coming out of the mouth. It's funny, heartbreaking and adorable all at once. Actually now that I think about it, we've had much fewer rabid puppy incidents since we have the at-home nebulizer for coughing or wheezing flare-ups. Huh.

Anyway, our little guy has been showing other puppy-like qualities lately. He is obsessed with his Robeez and not for the fashion of them. I have to hide these little leather shoes from him or he gnaws on them until they are slobbery mess. He's even been put down for a nap with a shoe in hand because he wouldn't let go of it.

Today I looked down to find Milo chewing on the leg of a wooden kitchen chair. Chewing. On the chair.

He also needs to be walked at least once a day or we all go a little nuts.

I'm starting to think my baby boy is at least part puppy.

Currently Reading

If you took a peek at my nightstand these days you would see the latest hot novel (although I did find time to race through The Lost Symbol last month) and back copies of Yoga Journal have been covered up with parenting books. Specifically parenting books on sleeping. I've been getting these out of the library because 1) budget reasons, 2) each one is slightly different but has the same general ideas and 3) I don't want these sitting on a shelf in 5 years reminding me of this phase. Interestingly there is always a waiting list at the library for these types of books. It makes me feel good there are other sleep deprived parents out there who are looking for the magic cure for non-sleeping tots.

One parenting type book, although not about sleeping (I needed a break) that I recently read and really enjoyed was Hungry Monkey. It's written by a SAHD (stay at home dad) who loves to cook and is making it a mission to have his little girl love food as much as he does. Much like Julie and Julia, this book falls into the category of I wish I would have thought of it first, but since I didn't I'm so glad I'm along for the ride. Hungry Monkey was light and entertaining with plenty of intrigue for the foodie. I've come to realize that when writing about one's child, no one is going to think they are quite as special as you yourself do, and this was certainly the case for this book, also. However, Iris (the little girl) does seem cute and is an engaging "character" foil for her gungho cooking father. Plus there are some good recipes I want to try.

Chris didn't get a chance to read it before it was due back at the library, so we may just buy this one. I wouldn't mind having it on the shelf in 5 years as I also hope to have an adventurous eater (who by the grace of God and possibly with the help of Ferber is sleeping through the night).