I went to the grocery store yesterday and spent $48 for a week of groceries. I know!! $48. I forgot the apples and the pepperoni though. I bought store-brand as much as possible. I bought a huge can of authentic enchilada sauce that inexplicably has a mallard on the front of it. Actually, since all the writing is in Spanish, I don't know - it could very well be explicable. I shouldn't jump to conclusions. If one of you two readers (the one who knows Spanish) could tell me why there is a mallard on the can, I'd appreciate it.
So you see things are going well with my January challenges so far. Except I'm sitting here writing about mallards and enchilada sauce when I should be doing Pilates.
I had a chili dog for lunch. And fries. And yet I'm feeling really snacky today but we don't have any snack food in the house. I'm thinking about throwing a can of black beans, a garlic clove, and lime juice into the food processor to make a black bean spread/dip type thing. But we don't have any chips. I don't think we've ever not had chips. I suppose I could cut up some tortillas and bake them.We have corn tortillas for this week's chicken enchiladas. I only need 6 or so, and they come in a package of 30. Why? Who eats an entire 30-pack of corn tortillas at one time? It's kind of like boxes of spaghetti. Half a box is too little, but the entire box is too much. And how do you measure spaghetti? But back to the corn tortillas. I know there are people who do eat 30 at one time (again, I shouldn't jump to conclusions) but we are not those people. You know what would be a really good way to use up those 24 corn tortillas? To bake them and cut them into wedges and serve them with ho-made black bean dip. Hmm.
I'm still not doing Pilates, by the way.
You see up there that I said "ho-made" instead of "homemade." That's because this one time? Joel and I were driving to Door County and we passed a restaurant that offered Four Ho-Made Soups. We thought, well that's just great for them, but I don't think they should call their chef such names. Do you ever stop and think about all the inside jokes that you have with your partner and where they came from? Sometimes I do. Joel and I call carrots "care-OTTS" because of the Friends episode where Ross is trying to get his new couch into his apartment and he keeps yelling "piv-OTT! Piv-OTT!" That's pretty obscure. And that's one in a gajillion inside jokes we have. You could give yourself a ho-made headache trying to trace back your relationship anthology.
Reid is really good at Pilates. He can lie on his back and hold his legs parallel to the ground for minutes on end. You know who can't do that? Me. You know why? Because I don't do Pilates like I said I was going to.
OK. If either of you is still reading at this point...please excuse me. I have to go do Pilates. I think. I'll try. Probably. We'll see. I'll let you know.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Saturday, January 8, 2011
New Month Resolutions
I'm not big on New Year's Resolutions. Which is kind of weird, because I don't like to start something new in the beginning of the month or week. For example, I've often said "diet starts Sunday!" or "I'll put money into savings on the first of next month." Who am I kidding...I've never put money into savings.
Anyway, you'd think with that attitude, I'd love New Year's Resolutions. January 1st is the ultimate Fresh Start. But they've always been the same thing for me: lose weight. Work out more. Boring. Boring. Boring.
So this year I am trying something new. To keep things interesting, I am coming up with a couple of challenges every month with the hopes of bettering myself and our household. Here are January's:
1. buy store-brand whenever possible. I've always avoided store brand items because I've been a snob.
2. keep the weekly grocery bill under $100. Bonus: Joel says that if I do this, I can keep the difference. Last week I spent $90. That's $10 in my pocket - yay! There are a couple of sub-challenges to this one:
So there you have it. Now if you'll excuse me, I have some non-organic oats to cook. Perhaps I'll mix them with last night's leftovers.
Anyway, you'd think with that attitude, I'd love New Year's Resolutions. January 1st is the ultimate Fresh Start. But they've always been the same thing for me: lose weight. Work out more. Boring. Boring. Boring.
So this year I am trying something new. To keep things interesting, I am coming up with a couple of challenges every month with the hopes of bettering myself and our household. Here are January's:
1. buy store-brand whenever possible. I've always avoided store brand items because I've been a snob.
2. keep the weekly grocery bill under $100. Bonus: Joel says that if I do this, I can keep the difference. Last week I spent $90. That's $10 in my pocket - yay! There are a couple of sub-challenges to this one:
- buy "whole" food. I admit to also being a processed-food snob in recent years. Processed food is bad for you, your body needs whole foods, blah blah blah. I don't really subscribe to that idea anymore, but here's why I personally will avoid processed food: take cereal for example. I can't stop at one bowl. And it's expensive. I can go through a $4 box of cereal in 2 days, or I could get a canister of oats for $3 and eat that for a month. A box of cereal is one flavor; with a canister of oats, I can make a bunch of different combinations and rarely get tired of it. And there is less waste.
- embrace leftovers. I hate leftovers. They bore me. This is purely mental - obviously if I liked it on Monday, I should like it on Wednesday, right? So next week's menu (already planned, thank you!) includes 3 meals and 3 nights of leftovers. Again, less waste and less money. You can't really argue with that.
- move away from organic food. Yet again, I've been a snob. And kind of a doofy one: I have fallen prey to the marketing geniuses who know that slapping an "organic" label on a box of crackers will get more people like me to buy it. And to pay more for it, even. Yes, there are times when organic is the way to go, but I admit that I am not an informed consumer in that regard. I've assumed that organic always means healthier, and that is not necessarily the case. I will not skimp on meats or dairy, though. Since I have a little one to feed, I think it's important that he gets antibiotic- and hormone-free milk, eggs, and meats.
So there you have it. Now if you'll excuse me, I have some non-organic oats to cook. Perhaps I'll mix them with last night's leftovers.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Because sometimes I'm more than just Reid's Mom
Every day with Reid is fun and usually brings something new, but not everything is all that exciting to write about. For example, all I can think of to say lately is that solid-food poops are super narsty. And I am already sort of in danger of this becoming a Poo Blog. And let's face it. That would just be a wasted effort. HA HA HA HA HA. Get it? WASTEd effort?! Oh, sigh. OK. Moving on.
There are two other things that I do habitually that I've decided to write about. The first is eat. I do this like, at least three times a day. Usually more. I know! It's crazy. No, I'm not going to write about everything I eat, because that would be more boring than poop. But when I do something kind of fun in the kitchen, like I did today, I figure I should share with the masses in case there are masses out there who also forget half the chili ingredients and have to make the choice between going back to the store after swimming at the gym (with frozen hair and in the snow) or flying by the seat of his or her pants.
The other thing I do on a regular basis is work out. This is not exciting in and of itself, but first of all, I've decided to train for my 2nd half marathon using a plan that I am creating myself (by the aforementioned seat of my pants). I'm much more excited about the race now that I'm making my own plan. Second of all, I go to a gym about 5 or so miles from the house, but walking in there is like walking into Jersey Shore...fast-forwarded 30 years. The people-watching there is amazing, orange, and covered in gold chains. For you, I shall report what I see. You're welcome.
So, that said: so far this week, I did 4x800s and a 2.5 mile tempo workout. I'm really pushing my speed limits this time around. I figure most days I have half an hour to work out before separation anxiety sets in and I have to rush back to Reid (who is playing happily with Daddy. It's my separation anxiety, obviously) so I better make those 30 minutes count. I've been really sore, but it feels good to push. Tomorrow is a 5-mile long run. I'm looking forward to building distance again.
Tonight I swam 30 minutes in the pool (mostly freestyle but some kickboard sprints when the goggles started to squeeze my brain). Then I came home and tried to make some kind of dinner. We were supposed to have chili, but I didn't get enough cans of beans and tomatoes. But Christy, you're whispering, you probably could have just halved the recipe. I know! I know!! OK? I know. But instead I did this:
Baked 2 sweet potatoes (425 for 1 hour)
Simmered on the stove: 1 garlic clove, minced, 1 can black beans (drained), 1 can diced tomatoes (drained), 1 small can corn (drained). Added liberal amounts of cayenne, cumin, and chili powder.
Split sweet potatoes and covered in bean mixture, topped with cheddar and green onions.
This was really, really good. I don't know what it is about sweet potatoes and black beans, but they go together like drool and bibs. And I feel totally stuffed right now, but it was good and healthy (and when I say healthy, I mean vegetably. I do not mean low-cal. I'm over that). Considering my holidays were sponsored by Usinger's and bacon (NOT that I'm complaining), it felt good to get some variety in.
I've also been making veggie purees for Reid. Giving him solid foods is kind of daunting but also really cool. It makes me feel powerful. The pediatrician said that I could give him fruit after he'd tried all the veggies and you know what? I gave him little bits of my banana today. Even though he has not tried all the veggies. I'm a bad mutha. Today we did debut butternut squash, though. It thawed really runny, so I mixed it with some cereal. This combination apparently also goes together like drool and bibs. And speaking of bibs, the little dude loved it so much that he barely even needed one.
If you told me ten years ago that I would be sitting at home on a Friday night, satisfied that I'd made good food for my family, I'd have laughed you into the next county then spouted some misguided feminist rhetoric. And now, if you'll excuse me, those dishes aren't going to wash themselves. I mean, Joel's going to wash them....I'm just finished writing for now.
There are two other things that I do habitually that I've decided to write about. The first is eat. I do this like, at least three times a day. Usually more. I know! It's crazy. No, I'm not going to write about everything I eat, because that would be more boring than poop. But when I do something kind of fun in the kitchen, like I did today, I figure I should share with the masses in case there are masses out there who also forget half the chili ingredients and have to make the choice between going back to the store after swimming at the gym (with frozen hair and in the snow) or flying by the seat of his or her pants.
The other thing I do on a regular basis is work out. This is not exciting in and of itself, but first of all, I've decided to train for my 2nd half marathon using a plan that I am creating myself (by the aforementioned seat of my pants). I'm much more excited about the race now that I'm making my own plan. Second of all, I go to a gym about 5 or so miles from the house, but walking in there is like walking into Jersey Shore...fast-forwarded 30 years. The people-watching there is amazing, orange, and covered in gold chains. For you, I shall report what I see. You're welcome.
So, that said: so far this week, I did 4x800s and a 2.5 mile tempo workout. I'm really pushing my speed limits this time around. I figure most days I have half an hour to work out before separation anxiety sets in and I have to rush back to Reid (who is playing happily with Daddy. It's my separation anxiety, obviously) so I better make those 30 minutes count. I've been really sore, but it feels good to push. Tomorrow is a 5-mile long run. I'm looking forward to building distance again.
Tonight I swam 30 minutes in the pool (mostly freestyle but some kickboard sprints when the goggles started to squeeze my brain). Then I came home and tried to make some kind of dinner. We were supposed to have chili, but I didn't get enough cans of beans and tomatoes. But Christy, you're whispering, you probably could have just halved the recipe. I know! I know!! OK? I know. But instead I did this:
Baked 2 sweet potatoes (425 for 1 hour)
Simmered on the stove: 1 garlic clove, minced, 1 can black beans (drained), 1 can diced tomatoes (drained), 1 small can corn (drained). Added liberal amounts of cayenne, cumin, and chili powder.
Split sweet potatoes and covered in bean mixture, topped with cheddar and green onions.
This was really, really good. I don't know what it is about sweet potatoes and black beans, but they go together like drool and bibs. And I feel totally stuffed right now, but it was good and healthy (and when I say healthy, I mean vegetably. I do not mean low-cal. I'm over that). Considering my holidays were sponsored by Usinger's and bacon (NOT that I'm complaining), it felt good to get some variety in.
I've also been making veggie purees for Reid. Giving him solid foods is kind of daunting but also really cool. It makes me feel powerful. The pediatrician said that I could give him fruit after he'd tried all the veggies and you know what? I gave him little bits of my banana today. Even though he has not tried all the veggies. I'm a bad mutha. Today we did debut butternut squash, though. It thawed really runny, so I mixed it with some cereal. This combination apparently also goes together like drool and bibs. And speaking of bibs, the little dude loved it so much that he barely even needed one.
If you told me ten years ago that I would be sitting at home on a Friday night, satisfied that I'd made good food for my family, I'd have laughed you into the next county then spouted some misguided feminist rhetoric. And now, if you'll excuse me, those dishes aren't going to wash themselves. I mean, Joel's going to wash them....I'm just finished writing for now.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Boundaries
I guess Reid is getting to be that age where we have to decide what is overindulging him and what is not.
I've been struggling with night weaning in the past few days. You see, "they" tell me that Reid should be sleeping through the night right now and should not need to nurse. So I have tried to rock him to sleep instead of nursing. The result: I'm tired. Really, really tired. Today I came across this and it made me feel much better. Basically it says that if the baby is not responding to weaning, back off and try again later. Something that also made my shoulders unclench a little was the idea that sleeping through the night is a milestone like crawling or walking, and every child will reach it eventually in his or her own time. So "they" can suck it. I'm going to nurse my baby in the middle of the night and we're all going to be fine.
Still, though, I am surprised at how many times a day Reid cries and I have to decide whether I need to immediately relieve him of whatever it is that's causing his displeasure or not. I also have to figure out how to handle his outbursts. For example, if I lie him down on his back and he immediately cries, my general reaction is to sing and dance and wave toys around in his face until he forgets how much he does not want to be on his back. Same with his tummy. Actually, unless I'm sure it is a pretty serious "I am hungry/I need Mama/I'm in danger" cry, I try to talk him out of it before I go and pick him up. I do not want to have a whiny child who is constantly attached to me because he never got a chance to figure things out on his own. OK, I don't want to have a whiny child who never got a chance to figure things out on his own.
But then there are the times when we are having so much fun, and there is a little voice in the back of my head that says "one day this is going to backfire on you so bad. And you are going to wish you had put a stop to it." Like when my sweet, sweet boy grins, takes my face in his hands, and starts sucking on my chin and giggling. I end up covered in drool, but he is grinning at me and I am grinning at him, and my face is clean, and I make sure that I use facial products that are not going to cause him harm. So what's the problem?
I could go to the church Christmas cookie exchange without realizing that I have a giant hickey on my jaw.
That's the problem.
I've been struggling with night weaning in the past few days. You see, "they" tell me that Reid should be sleeping through the night right now and should not need to nurse. So I have tried to rock him to sleep instead of nursing. The result: I'm tired. Really, really tired. Today I came across this and it made me feel much better. Basically it says that if the baby is not responding to weaning, back off and try again later. Something that also made my shoulders unclench a little was the idea that sleeping through the night is a milestone like crawling or walking, and every child will reach it eventually in his or her own time. So "they" can suck it. I'm going to nurse my baby in the middle of the night and we're all going to be fine.
Still, though, I am surprised at how many times a day Reid cries and I have to decide whether I need to immediately relieve him of whatever it is that's causing his displeasure or not. I also have to figure out how to handle his outbursts. For example, if I lie him down on his back and he immediately cries, my general reaction is to sing and dance and wave toys around in his face until he forgets how much he does not want to be on his back. Same with his tummy. Actually, unless I'm sure it is a pretty serious "I am hungry/I need Mama/I'm in danger" cry, I try to talk him out of it before I go and pick him up. I do not want to have a whiny child who is constantly attached to me because he never got a chance to figure things out on his own. OK, I don't want to have a whiny child who never got a chance to figure things out on his own.
But then there are the times when we are having so much fun, and there is a little voice in the back of my head that says "one day this is going to backfire on you so bad. And you are going to wish you had put a stop to it." Like when my sweet, sweet boy grins, takes my face in his hands, and starts sucking on my chin and giggling. I end up covered in drool, but he is grinning at me and I am grinning at him, and my face is clean, and I make sure that I use facial products that are not going to cause him harm. So what's the problem?
I could go to the church Christmas cookie exchange without realizing that I have a giant hickey on my jaw.
That's the problem.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Reincarnate
When someone suddenly leaves your life, and a new person suddenly enters it, I think it may be normal to see traits in the new person that the departed left behind. Maybe it is a way of cushioning the blow of the loss. Maybe it's wishful thinking. Maybe it's my imagination. Maybe I'm crazy.
When Reid is stuck somewhere he doesn't want to be (like his carseat), he lets out what I call his "Boy Are You Mad!" cry. Which, to me, sounds exactly like my dear, sassy, pissed-off cat Maggie (1999-2009) when she would accidentally get locked out of the house or in our roll-top desk.
When Reid is stuck somewhere he doesn't want to be (like his carseat), he lets out what I call his "Boy Are You Mad!" cry. Which, to me, sounds exactly like my dear, sassy, pissed-off cat Maggie (1999-2009) when she would accidentally get locked out of the house or in our roll-top desk.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
I put the Boo in Peek-a-Boo
Today Reid was in his Bumbo chair with the tray attached. I hid behind the ottoman, and when I reappeared, the poor child jumped so high that the tray actually flew off the chair.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
One Month Ago Today
Okay, it wasn't precisely a month ago today, but it was close. That was the last time I posted. I have been trying to think of things to say but I'm just not feeling like a very funny storyteller these days. Not because funny stuff hasn't been going on. But because I'm thinking my audience only wants to hear so many blow-out posts (up to his armpits and down to his feet the other day, by the way. It was something, I tell ya). And also because I'm living the fun instead of writing about it.
So here's a quick recap of the last month.
- Reid has been playing a lot in his exersaucer. This has given me more time to do things around the house. Lately I have chosen to bake cookies. Now I need an exersaucer.
- Reid's been sitting up on his own. He still has his wibbly-wobbly moments, but for the most part he's pretty stable. This means he spits up on his feet a lot. True story.
- We've started solid food. Night one, he didn't know what to make of the stuff. Night two, he was cautiously optimistic. Night three, he was grabbing my hand to get the spoon to his mouth faster. So far it's just rice cereal. Sunday will be either sweet potato or peas, not sure which. I actually tasted the rice cereal tonight. If he's grabbing for more rice cereal, which tastes like stale butt in case you're wondering, I do not know what's going to happen when he has delicious vegetables.
- Reid just took a nap on his tummy and I neither had a heart attack nor flipped him over.
- Saying "woo-woo!" will make him laugh so hard he gets the hiccups. So will throwing his pants over his head during a diaper change.
...I guess that's about it. To my loyal reader, I will try to be better about posting more in the future.
So here's a quick recap of the last month.
- Reid has been playing a lot in his exersaucer. This has given me more time to do things around the house. Lately I have chosen to bake cookies. Now I need an exersaucer.
- Reid's been sitting up on his own. He still has his wibbly-wobbly moments, but for the most part he's pretty stable. This means he spits up on his feet a lot. True story.
- We've started solid food. Night one, he didn't know what to make of the stuff. Night two, he was cautiously optimistic. Night three, he was grabbing my hand to get the spoon to his mouth faster. So far it's just rice cereal. Sunday will be either sweet potato or peas, not sure which. I actually tasted the rice cereal tonight. If he's grabbing for more rice cereal, which tastes like stale butt in case you're wondering, I do not know what's going to happen when he has delicious vegetables.
- Reid just took a nap on his tummy and I neither had a heart attack nor flipped him over.
- Saying "woo-woo!" will make him laugh so hard he gets the hiccups. So will throwing his pants over his head during a diaper change.
...I guess that's about it. To my loyal reader, I will try to be better about posting more in the future.
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