The Espresso Train.

Oh coffee.

How I love you let me count the ways.

Boost me up.

Awaken my brain.

Get my going without delay.

But there is an hidden evil.

I did not see with my glassy eyes that 'Vanilla Latte' contained caffeine times three!

Espresso!!!

For thirty-six hours, you tortured me!

You allowed my 4 wk old to espresso himself in ways I'd rather not know!

No sleep.

Got to bed, no no NO!

Glassy little blue eyes.

Lighting fast little digestive track.

Oh my!

No more, no more riding the Espresso Train.

Oatmeal Cherry Muffins

Came across this recipe and thought YUM! Even my non-breakfast eating child eats them. I'm pretty sure that any 'dried' fruit would work with this. Going to try some dried blueberries in the next couple days mixed with the cherries.

1 c. dry old fashioned oatmeal flakes

1/2 c. applesauce

1/3 cup brw. sugar

1/2 c. skim milk or almond milk

2 eggs, beaten

2 Tbsp. ground flaxseed(didn't put this in)

1/4 c. oil

1 Tbsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg(i didnt put this in}

1 c. whole wheat flour

1/2 c. dried cranberries

1/2 c. dried cherries

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Prepare muffin tin by lining with paper baking cups or cooking spray.

Combine oatmeal, applesauce, milk, eggs, flaxseed and oil in medium bowl. In another bowl combine all dry ingredients including fruit. Make a well in center of the dry ingredients and pour wet ingredients into it. Stir until all ingredients are just combined.

Fill muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake 15 - 20 minutes. Cool on wire rack.

I Feel Like a Trilogy.

Staggering around in our sleep deprivation, Rich and I have coined a few phrases that have left me feeling well....like a series of movie titles define me...

The Fellowship of the Boob. All the people that are trying to keep mommy feed, hydrated and happy so she can return Trent to his happy state of milk coma.

The Two Boobs. Aforementioned, the ridiculously large chest that now enters rooms before me.

Return of the Boob. Referring to Trent waking up JUST as I got back from running errands, lay down to sleep, walk through the room, sit down to dinner...you name it he has the all knowing, all seeing orb somewhere in this house!


Then

There's Trent.....Lord of the Boob. Seriously, he now rules the boobs. They respond only to him and do his bidding.

The Extra Noodles...

It is no secret that Nora is a fanatic about her 'noo noos' but at least twice a week there's a pile of them left over.

What to do with extra noodles...

Pizza Pasta Toss.

2c. cooked noodles
1/2 onion
3/4 c. green pepper.
1 Roma Tomatoe chopped.
1/2c. chopped Turkey pepperoni
1/8c. feta(reduced fat)
2 tsp. grated parmasan
1 tsp. basil.
1/4 tsp. garlic powder

Saute the onion until caramelized in olive oil, add green pepper, basil, and Garlic powder. Cook until green pepper is tender but not mush. Add noodles and stir around until hot. Dump this into a bowl and stir in remaining ingredients. Refridgerate overnight...LUNCH tomorrow!

Note: I've been experimenting with other veggies too. So far, broccoli or olives are pretty good as well.

Sanctuary

All night I stand watch like a motherly church gargoyle perched on the edge of his crib. I find little sleep in between the feedings, diaper changing and random baby sounds that make me open an eye.

Precious, precious twilight hours when thoughts cross my wandering mind.....

Our home is where he will be safe, loved and comforted.

Learn about faith and trust.

Get into mischief with his sister and know the consequences.

Find protection from those that may jeer him in his adolescent years.

Learn to see beauty in everything.

Sanctuary is defined as a sacred place, a place of refuge or protection where things of great value may be kept....what could be a better description of family and home.

Toddler Mischeif While Mommy is Nursing

UGH!!!!!

Seriously, Nora is into everything! Taking apart everything....all because mommy is stuck on the couch with little brother syphoning milk.

Where to begin....

She came down the hall with poop on her fingers. I think Rich and I's response was 'OMG! where is the bigger load?' (note she wasn't wearing a pullup to begin with...potty training and all)

The OCD tooth brushing going on...yep, caught her just scrubbing away and using a 1/4 tube of toothpaste to do it.

Her trying to scale the dresser to feed Foofa(her fish) for the fifteenth time in one day.

Scrubba dub dub....Nora ''washing her hands'' and making a bubble mess, slip and slide out of her bathroom. Literally, bubbles 2-3" off the counter and dripping onto the floor. Glad that hand soap wasn't expensive.

The little princess who decided she needs lipstick and takes it from mommy's makeup drawer. Ear to EAR lipgloss.

The self-sufficient toddler that used a chair to get to the bag of candy corn on the counter...we don't know how many she ate.

Did we discuss the lotion? Let's just say she's good and moisturized into next winter.

Tune in tomorrow for more toddler mayhem.....

Post-partum thoughts...

Just a few musings from my overly tired and disconnected brain.

1. WHY and WHAT is the purpose of those nurses measuring my urine after the birth? I understand, if I couldn't pee at all why they might be concerned, but otherwise why the fuss?

2. Apparently, you can have let down hearing your OLDER child cry as well. AWESOME!!! That was a three shirt day.

3. Post-partum hormones suck! And mine hit bottom about 72 hrs after giving birth. Let the waterworks commence, this time it was about my mom insisting on Nora wearing training pants.

4. If you have a toddler, they will ask you crazy questions. ''Mommy, why you broughted him home?'' ''He's EATING your boob! That's not very nice of him.''

5. Coffee is a necessary evil, even though it might wire the infant for a couple hours.

6. If you sit in a recliner long enough, your tailbone stops hurting and goes numb. Do not attempt standing quickly, just trust me on this.

7. 36H is an obscene bra size, considering I was a 36DD before pregnancy. (The reduction and lift can't come fast enough after kids)

8. Having a kid with blue eyes is freaking me out! My brain goes 'huh?' everytime he opens his eyes.

9. You didn't realize how cold you were keeping the house at night(72 degrees) until you're no longer pregnant. Holy cow, it's COLD!

(More thoughts later after another night of little sleep)