This Week's Food Plan

Sunday – Tacos
Monday – Ralph's roast chicken, baked sweet potatoes, asparagus.
Tuesday – Baja Fresh for Tyler's school's fundraiser, or out w/ friends depending on our babysitter.
Weds – soup w/ bread (not sure what kind yet)
Thurs – out
Friday – Leftovers, or something from Costco.
Sat. – Adam figures it out w/ kids, I have a Ladybug Music dinner.
Sunday – Superbowl Sunday yumminess. Like I even care about the Superbowl, but I love to eat snacks with the game on! Do you have favorite Superbowl eats? Please pass along.

Also, two sites I'm liking for healthy food ideas:
Oh She Glows
The Gracious Pantry

Sleeping Baby

Is there anything sweeter?

8 Years Ago Today

Having this blog for almost four years, it's fun to look back through my wedding album to find new photos to scan from that day. (Yep - I don't even have a disk of photos, it was that long ago). We've been celebrating since Saturday. Had a sitter over and sneaked out for lunch at one of our favorites, Hugo's. Last night dinner at Katsu-Ya. Tonight, staying in. Yummy dinner and dessert with kids, sending them to bed early. Celebrating this year we've just wanted to spend time together, the small moments we can catch, feeling connected. Already talking about how to celebrate ten years... it's gotta be big!

I feel like Adam and I need to give each other a big ol' high five for making it through all we have (okay, maybe more than a high five, but still). We are the ultimate teammates, best friends and supporters. We are a well-oiled machine, changing diapers and making our way through midnight feedings, Kindergarten and dance class drop-offs. We are believers - dreaming of career aspirations, and our soon-to-be-found new home. We are cheerleaders - helping each other through crazy days (and nights) with kids and jobs, some days easier than others. We are escape artists - squeezing in date nights whenever possible. Experts at grabbing an hour or two for just us. We are in it for the long haul. Good, bad, ugly, better, and best. Eight years ago today was a great beginning. Grateful for each day. Looking toward many more.

Sorta Kinda Smile

Caught a smile!

Then it quickly turns to "camera stare".

Cole has come out of his shell and smiles a ton now. Happy boy.

PS - Meal plan this week: Trader Joe's, Fresh and Easy, Whole Foods, healthy take out, or BUST. Burnt out, maybe I'll feel like cooking by Thursday or Friday.

iToe Fat Cakes

That's the name of this week's new episode of iCarly, starring Adam. Premiered last night. He's the awesome border patrol agent with a mustache (hot!). You can see a tiny bit of him in this promo. Watch the full episode to see him in action (they'll replay it a bunch on Nickeodeon, or find it on line). I think he has three or so good scenes. Also a voice over in the beginning. One of the many ways he works hard for our family in this crazy business.

Things On My Mind This Week

8 year anniversary next week and how to celebrate. Saving to do something BIG for our 10 year.
When to exercise and shower with three kids 5 and under.
Diet Coke and how much I love it.
Pirate birthday parties.
Missing my mom lately, and my sisters.
Valentine's Day, and cousin Clara's birthday package.
Miles is coming to visit!
Looking ahead, wondering if we wanna plan something super-fun for Spring Break.
If the only way to lose baby weight is to sadly, be hungry.
Can I fit in a Forever 21 or H&M run to find some "in-between" clothes?
To call, or not to call, the wonderful Silvia who helps clean my apartment.
How lighting a candle or two makes everything better.
Ladybug Music's Red Collection, (download it on iTunes! It's one of my favorites). I'll start teaching again next week.
How many times can I get spit up on my clothes before they are officially dirty? I'm thinking three.
Too. Much. Laundry.
How long can I hide from the tenants in my apartment building before they find me?
Moving. Neighborhoods (Burbank, Santa Clarita, La Crescenta, Studio City, Toluca Lake, North Hollywood. Ugh!!). School boundaries.

Today is low-key. Enjoying a slow morning, then to the library with Audrey and Cole, and a little grocery shopping, (only one Diet Coke left!). What's on your mind this week?

Menu

Monday - California Chicken Cafe, I love their low-cal Chicken Caesar. Mmmmm.
Tuesday - Sticky Chicken, steamed broccoli (big hit, especially with Tyler).
Wednesday - Black Bean - Mango, Brown Rice Salad with tortillas.
Thursday - Leftovers.
Friday - Leftovers, Trader Joe's or Fresh and Easy, maybe baked tilapia?
Saturday - Out, celebrating our anniversary a few days early. Kids get pizza, hot dogs or mac n cheese.
Sunday - Stuffed Peppers w/ ground turkey and quinoa.

I'm not gonna lie - I'm feeling pretty lazy with meals this week, so I wouldn't be surprised if a couple of these are replaced with Adam bringing home something healthy. So far, big hits at our house have been Avocado Smoothie, and smoothie popsicles, Beef Enchiladas. We all loooved spaghetti squash. Super yummy and fun for the kids. (I even made pasta for them, but they preferred the spaghetti squash).

Stats

Two month well-baby check today.
Cole weighs 12 lbs., gained almost five pounds since last visit! My first baby to make it to 50th percentile.
22 inches - he's on the shorter side. Short and fat. Gotta love it.
Still trying to catch his adorable smile on camera. For now, he gives me a good stare.

Pooped out after an emotional morning at the doctor's office - three shots! Audrey was there to hold his hand.

Little man is doing great.

First

Lost tooth!!!

Today I drove with the other two kiddos to pick up Tyler from school. So completely exhausted from a day that started around 6:30am and kept going and going and going (in a good way, but still - exhausted). I think poor little Cole had been in and out of his car seat five or six times by 2pm. (On a side note, Cole and I took our first hike up Fryman Canyon together, and he did great). Thank goodness for Tyler's great news - pepped me right up. He lost his first tooth. It's been wiggling forever. He said it came loose while standing in line for P.E., he kept it in his pocket for safe keeping, but it fell out - no tooth to be found. Tyler was a little bummed the tooth fell out of the pocket, but I reassured him the Tooth Fairy compensates big time for lost teeth. We are writing her a note about it right now. Can't wait to play the part tonight and leave a little something under his pillow. (Writing a note to myself, so I don't forget).

Cole's Blessing

Cole's blessing day, Sunday, January 8th. Also my 9 year anniversary weekend of getting baptized. Kinda like book ends. So much has happened these last nine years since joining the church. Wouldn't change them for the world. I am so grateful for Adam, who gave Cole a fantastic blessing. His parents and brothers, Ryan and Mikey, were able to be there, too.

My wonderful friend Emily came with her kids, which was amazing because she's flying solo - her cinematographer husband, Doug, is in NYC for two months doing movie stuff. So grateful she made it with her crew. When I first met Emily we lived in the same apartment building. I was pregnant with Tyler. She had Sophie and Owen. Now add four more kids on top of that, between the two of us. So happy we are still close. (I think my eyes are almost shut in this photo. It was so bright, and warm out. Gorgeous California day).

Best shot I could get of Cole on his big day. He looks like a line-backer in training in this shot, or a little wrestler. I call him "Chub" - he's my chubbiest baby. Those big cheeks and belly.

A big thank you to everyone, near and far, who were able to be with us (or were thinking of us), on this day. Celebrating our newest Tait. The perfect addition to our family.

This Week's Meals

Doing good on my clean eating. Gotta keep it up so I hit my first lose-baby-weight goal. Exercise will be more of a challenge with Adam working longer hours, but have to fit it in. (I am not one whose baby weight falls right off, like some friends of mine who are in pre-baby jeans just weeks after giving birth. I literally have to work by butt off). Here are meals this week:

Monday - Adam brings home Chick-fil-A (can still eat super healthy with their grilled chicken wrap and fresh fruit).
Tuesday - Cooking Light's Bacon, Butternut, and Kale Pasta with salad and/or fruit.
Wednesday - Leftovers, or baked tilapia with TJ's mango salsa, steamed veggies, and a grain.
Thursday - me and the kids so something super healthy from TJ's.
Friday - same as Thursday.
Saturday - Not sure. Maybe Black Bean and Mango, Brown Rice Salad from last week I never got around to. Maybe this soup? Breakfast for dinner? Maybe out if we don't wanna cook?
Sunday - Spaghetti Squash.

A snack I wanna make with Audrey this week.
A yummy way to fix oatmeal. Maybe with fresh banana on top?
Continue with yummy, healthy smoothies.
I'm a fan of Luna Bars, and this new flavor is sooo good. Peanut Honey Pretzel. So far I've only seen it at Target. Mmmmmm.
Might make some coconut milk brown rice pudding - for dessert or breakfast.
Also subscribed to The Scramble for six months (thanks to a Living Social deal). Hoping for some inspiration there, as well.

Hello Weekend

Not enough photos of baby Cole lately. Here's today. Almost 8 weeks.

Cole is the sweetest boy. If I had to describe him in one word, that's what it would be. Sweet. So, so sweet. He is smiling like crazy (except when I try to get a picture). Starting to coo. I can tell he's growing up, I can engage him and we can "play" (more like have a staring/smiling contest, but I'll take it). He always wants to see who's holding him. He will move his body, twist his head - whatever he has to do to look you in the eye. He loves eye contact, and just wants to look at you - taking you in. We all love him a ton. This is by far the easiest newborn experience I've had. The running around with three kids in tow is a little nuts sometimes (like today when I got to Audrey's dance class and realized I hadn't changed Cole's diaper in a looooong time, but hadn't packed any diapers or wipes. Oops!), but as far as adjusting to a newborn again - it's been great, so much better than I anticipated.

A few more things going on this weekend:

Like everyone else it seems, Adam and I are watching Downton Abbey and loving it.

Last weekend before Tyler goes back to school.
LA weather has been gorgeous!
Adam vacuumed up a Christmas toy today. Audrey swallowed one (very tiny). Good times.
Took a lovely walk with Anne today, who's expecting baby girl in May. So exciting!
Prepping for Cole's blessing Sunday. Making a huge batch of chili and cornbread to feed family.

Starting to plan Tyler's 6th birthday party. So far there will be pirates and a treasure hunt.
Losing baby weight is no fun. Well, kinda fun as I do enjoy eating well and getting back to pilates. Just wish results came super fast. But I have my goals and I think they're pretty realistic. Long term goal is back to myself by Audrey's birthday in May.
Today we made this yummy smoothie for breakfast. (As opposed to the peanut butter, banana, spinach, tofu smoothie I made the other day which was not a hit with the fam).

Avocado-Banana Smoothie
1 avocado
1 banana
1 1/2 c. orange juice
1/2 c. plain Greek yogurt
honey to taste (I used a tiny bit of Splenda)
2-3 c. ice

Blend and serve. It was creamy and deeelish. Enjoyed by all. We've also been making smoothie popsicles. The kids love them, and makes it easy for me to serve dessert since I banned candy (at least temporarily) in the New Year.

Happy Weekend.

Blessing

Cole's baby blessing is this Sunday. I got out Tyler's blessing outfit to make sure it looked good, and fit Cole well. Made me dig out these photos from Tyler's baby blessing. He was born long before this blog began, so few photos from his infant days may make the blog book. Here's little Tyler on his blessing day, April 9th, 2006, Encino, CA. He looks so sweet. And check out me and Adam. Young and tired-looking from being first time parents to a newborn, (honestly this time around we are handling sleep-deprivation so much better!). One of us is much blonder, the other has less grays.

Look at all the itty cousins. They're so much bigger now. Carson on the left is getting baptized next month - already 8 years old!

Meal Plan

I'm gonna try to keep a weekly mean plan this year (at least most weeks). Also helps me keep organized with grocery shopping. Might be a weekly post - we'll see how good I am about being that organized. Here are some things on the menu this week:

For dinner we'll be picking from:
Sticky Chicken, brown rice, steamed broccoli.
Black bean-mango- brown rice salad on whole grain tortillas.
Roasted vegetables and couscous.
Sweet potato lentil stew, quinoa, green vegetable.
Light beef enchiladas.
Some sort of baked fish with TJ's mango salsa, grain and vegetable.

A version of summer succotash for lunches, along with Trader Joe's salads, soup and such.

For breakfast, my favorite oatmeal combinations (this looks yummy, too, minus the cream), smoothies like these and this.

Lots of fruits and veggies.

If we go out, or get takeout - it'll be from Hugo's.

I'm cooking more this week because Adam is around to help. Next week will be lower maintenance I'm sure. What are you eating this week? I'd love to know, especially easy and healthy recipes.

Resolve

First day of 2012 and I'm home from church with a baby who has a cold. My pediatrician distinctly told me at Cole's first appointment, "He will get colds sooner because he's #3". Poor thing. His cold is pretty manageable right now, but we're keeping him in, humidifier on, nursing him a little extra to get him healthy. I'm part-cuddling baby, part-cleaning the apartment, saying goodbye to Christmas decorations, making room for Christmas toys, (donated four full bags to Goodwill last week - love the post-holiday purge). Sitting on the couch while little one sleeps, I have a few minutes to think about these. Resolutions 2012:

Me:
Lose baby weight. Eat super clean and stay active.
Drink more water.
Nourish my spiritual self - do the things I know I should to feel the spirit more often.
Be present.

Motherhood:
Play with my kids more. I'm good at taking them on outings, not as good at getting on the floor and playing with toys.
Less TV. Kids watched a little too much because of new baby.

Little to no candy. I feel like there's been a ton of candy in our house since Halloween.
"If I don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all". I figure silence is sometimes better than losing my cool.
Despite the hard moments, try my best to relish this time when the kids are so small.

Financial:
Spend less. Smart budgeting.
Move! Between now and August. Be optimistic about how and where we will find a house. Housing in Los Angeles can be daunting, and it's been easy to get down about finding our home. We will find a great home! One that fits our needs, with more space, in a great neighborhood, with great schools in 2012!

Career stuff:
Say goodbye to one of my jobs, continue to enjoy in the other.

Marriage:
Continue to date Adam!

Random:

Finally order, frame, and hang pictures from our 2011 family photo shoot.
Blog book.

Oh, and no broken bones in 2012!