Making a meal stretch

So, we certainly have a lot of blessings in our life but money is not one of those things, haha - and it's fine. We certainly make it work one way or another. A large part of our financial situation has to do with me being a stay-at-home mom and trust me, I rethink the situation at LEAST once a month. Honestly I just fell into it. 

We decided to move to FL the summer of 2012 and basically 2 months before we would be IN Tampa I started applying for jobs. Hubby found work within about 2 months of moving and my mother (who moved down with us) got a job a few months later. I, however, searched for TWO YEARS. Granted since our son was due in December, I stopped applying for the holiday season, but yeah. Two years. At least 3 jobs a month. I emailed, called, applied... and not even a word back from 98% of them. It sucked. 

But after two years I got fed up and asked Jesse what he thought of me just staying at home (I had already been doing that for about a year and a half at that point) and he basically said he thought it sounded fine. He wasn't super enthused, nor was I. 

Now, almost three years into it, neither of us can imagine it differently. I do still look into job openings and think about applying for jobs but until I finish my degree it really just doesn't make much sense. With the cost of daycare what it is I would be making probably under $100 by the end of the month and never see my husband, not to mention hardly seeing my son. Plus we want to have more kids so until I get my degree or can publish my book, etc., it looks like this is what I'll be doing. 

That being said, we definitely have found ways to make things stretch. One of them being meals.

Now, we are fortunate to have a Winn-Dixie nearby. We have a loyalty card there which gets us really great deals, they do have some organic stuff as well as all kinds of baby stuff we use and even has Seventh Generation products which we love. Also, we get fuel rewards points so after a weekly shopping trip, the next time we fill the tank we pay about 20 cents less a gallon or more. So it really pays to shop there.

For me, lunches are the hardest to buy for and plan. I honestly hate the idea of buying food specifically for lunches, I'd rather just eat leftovers. It's not quite as healthy all the time but it certainly helps save money.

If we have tacos for dinner Monday night, I usually make taco omelets (egg, meat, cheese, veggies) Tuesday morning and then taco salads Wednesday for lunch.

Say we have Fettucini Alfredo Thursday night - I will use some of the chicken I made for salads for another night and make chicken alfredo for lunch on Friday. And also I can use another portion of the chicken for a different night and pair it with rice and veggies.

When we buy hot dogs or brats we usually eat them for dinner one night and lunch another day. Often we will grill them for dinner and just boil them for lunch so that mixes the taste up a bit too. 

If I buy stuff for burritos I will usually use any leftover ingredients for breakfast burritos.

Even something like mac and cheese - if we also have leftover hot dogs, we can have mac and cheese for dinner on a night when hubby works and then for lunch I can cut up some hot dogs to go in it as well.

So, if I buy a package of hot dogs, a box of mac and cheese, 2 lbs hamburger, some alfredo sauce (we make our own pasta), tortillas and about 3 or 4 chicken breasts, I usually get more than 7 days of dinners and lunches (with some breakfasts covered as well). And depending on where you buy, that often only adds up to around $30, and for a family of three that's not bad. Now, I also usually buy juice, milk, applesauce, eggs, fruit/veggies and yogurts so that definitely makes the amount go up but for main ingredients it's not bad.

I'm definitely always looking for new ways to use leftovers so it's not the same old boring stuff day after day. And sometimes we don't have leftovers so we have sandwiches or eggs or toast and yogurt or whatever we have in the pantry or fridge. So anyhoo, if you have any other leftover suggestions, let me know!

Hopefully this was a bit interesting and not totally boring, haha! Just wanted to share some of my meal repurposing tips I've learned over the past few years ;)

TTFN <3

11 months!

Holy moly, our little man is almost one whole year old.

"Chances are your baby has developed an uncanny knack to get a hold of things he shouldn't have and get into places he shouldn't go. If he hasn't already done so, be prepared (with video camera on perpetual standby) for those first few steps as your child makes both physical and verbal strides this month. He loves games — especially those that involve pointing — and his interest in books will grow exponentially as he begins to comprehend more and recognize familiar pictures. A few things not to be concerned about: bowed legs (almost always normal and temporary); parental nudity (he doesn't care if you're naked as a jaybird as long as you're there!); and hitting milestones later than his peers. Remember, every baby is different and they master different skills — like standing and walking — at different ages. Children learn best and build confidence when you let them learn at their own pace, but if you're truly concerned, check with your pediatrician. More things to ask the doc: dietary questions, such as restricting fat and cholesterol in your baby's diet, and the best ways to ensure he gets the nutrients he needs. As for you, Mom, take a hint from your baby and get a move on, whether you're struggling with post-pregnancy weight or not. Regular exercise will not only help you shed pounds, it'll boost your mood and help you sleep better at night. Now who wouldn't want that?"

--whattoexpect.com

He got tired of my photo shoot REAL fast lol

Andrew is crawling on his hands and knees about half the time now (still army crawling the other half), pulling himself up on EVERYTHING and doing the downward dog pose every so often. One of these days that kid is gonna up and walk away and my mind will be blown.

He has 5 teeth now, the 6th one is workin' it's way out. He is taking it in stride though, almost 6 teeth in less than two months and he's been as happy as can be lol.

His meals are getting chunkier! Slices of steamed carrots, cottage cheese, halved blueberries, chunks of salted avocado.... and this just in-- Graham Crackers! He's chompin' away like a pro.

Naptimes have changed a bit, we typically have a meal when he wakes up, a snack two hours later, and then he goes down within an hour of the snack.

....UPDATE... today we did three hours until a snack and then a quick cuddle, diaper change and down for a nap. It worked great and he passed out the second he was in his crib both times!

We're going to hopefully get in some outdoors play time this week, maybe try to go to a park or something for the weekend. We also have tickets to see the Rockettes Holiday show this Saturday! Yay! I've met a Rockette but never seen them perform live, haha!

Other than hangin' out with the little man not much is going on. I've been TERRIBLE at the whole working out thing lately. I worked up the gusto to do yoga on Sunday but that was about it. Gonna try to do some stuff tonight/ do another round of yoga tomorrow morning.

Well, that's about it! Here's some pics :)

TTFN! <3

Gifts are slowly being wrapped.... these are all Andrew's! They all contain clothing haha! Really mostly for me, but I figured he'd like the tissue paper, right? ;)

Hanging out in front of the Christmas tree-- he's been SO good about leaving it alone!

Mama/ baby time :)

Eight Months Old!

Good Lord does time go fast!

"Gone are the days when your baby would stay where you plopped him. Most critters are ready to roll…and scoot, creep, crawl, or cruise (though not crawling yet isn't worrisome as long as your baby is reaching other important milestones).  The typical eight-month-old is off to as many corners of the world as he can reach and playing like a madman once he gets there. (One result may be a pretty messy house, though there are ways to contain the chaos without constraining his spirit.) His vastly improved dexterity, ability to focus, and language skills make playtime more exciting than ever. Expect plenty of baby conversation and possibly a distinct "ma-ma" or "da-da" in the coming weeks. And while his comprehension is still limited, your tiny troublemaker will soon get the meaning of the word "no" as he hears it (a lot) over the next decade or so. Baby signing may help bridge the communication gap between the two of you, so if you're interested, now's a good time to get started. Another exciting discovery around the eight-month mark: the genitals, which seem to provide endless fascination whenever they're available for self-inspection. That's normal, as is utter exhaustion for Mom as you try to cope with action-packed days and (possibly still) sleepless nights. Make sure to take time to recharge your batteries; taking a break and clearing your head is good for you and, therefore, good for your baby."
--whattoexpect.com

...and you can probably guess I have been neglecting housework and therefore neglecting the blog. And you would be right. But I'm back!

New developments:

• Andrew just recently (literally only for about a day or two) has begun using consonants in his babble which is so fun to listen to! It's really sounds like a little language now rather than cooing! He did indeed say "da-da" a few times at the end of August but has tormented the aforementioned dada by never again uttering those syllables. 
• We decided to never again give him squash. While he didn't have any glaringly obvious reactions, he did have a more rash-y face and and spit up more than usual. Oh an projectile vomited on daddy's jeans. So we figured we'd cut our losses and the squash for a while.
• He likes beets! And looks like some sort of cannibal or vampire after eating them with the juice all over his face. HOWEVER, we are now giving this a two day break like we did the squash because he developed a reaction on his neck and tummy-- which is how the strawberries started out :-S
• Still no crawling but he is MUCH closer. And if you put him on his hands and knees he will try to move forward before falling on his face.... Standing is getting a tad bit more solid. But rolling remains his method of transportation. I set him down and next thing I know he is across the floor on his tummy pulling books down from the shelf-- thank goodness we baby-proofed when we did!
• On that note.... the really awesome gate we purchased for the top of the stairs came out of the wall!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! D-: We need to remember to go to Home Depot to get some stuff to fix that. Sad day.
• Sitting has become very good! He can maintain it for longer periods of time and if when he is reclined or laying down has pillows or something, he can elbow his way up to sitting :)
• Andrew has become very comfortable in the pool which is great! He has learned to splash and has a ton of fun doing that, we also are in the midst of trying to teach him how to blow bubbles and kick his legs. He does not even remotely get it, just stares at us like we're idiots.... but someday! He also enjoys kicking back in his inflatable car and letting us swim him back and forth in the shade.... he even fell asleep last time and slept through daddy carrying him home!
• He definitely enjoys a good mess making at the high chair. He has a white wall next to him that he likes to paint and is even starting to try to get food on his spoon and try to stick it in his own mouth (we give him his own spoon to hold while we feed him to get him used to the idea).

A quick recap of our daily schedule:

9am

Andrew is either fussing, screaming or just chatting away to his stuffed animal friends . We go get him (usually he is on his tummy or sideways or upside down in his crib). Change him from an overnight disposable diaper into a cloth diaper and dress him for the day (he pretty much lives in onesies unless we leave the house).

He gets 8 ounces of hypoallergenic formula and then we play for an hour

10:15am

Oatmeal time!!!!

11am

Andrew is either rubbing his eyes/ getting fussy by now or after another 10 minutes he goes down anyways. We change him and put him down for a nap in his onesie with the mobile on.

1pm

The sleeping baby has awoken!!!! Time for another change. This time we go to the highchair for 7 ounces of formula, a bowl of broccoli, spinach or carrots and as much water as he will take. Then we play. If daddy is home we will often go for a walk or swim around this time as well. 

3pm

Time for another nap!

5pm

Up for a change, 7 ounce sippy cup, veggies, and water. This time we usually are more active-- doing stuff on the floor, reading, going on the patio, etc. Plus occasionally get to say hello to Granny.

7pm

Down for a short nap

8:15pm

Up for some play time/ tummy time

8:35

8 ounce bottle of formula

8:45

Warm cloth all over the baby face/ neck full of crumbs, formula drippage and drool. He just LOVES this part.

9pm

Change into disposable overnight diaper and PJs, kisses, eucerin on his face, and to bed with his stuffed bear and elephant :)

September 1st marked ONE YEAR of life in Florida!! Crazy to think we've been out of the frozen Tundra of MN and into the Palm Tree laden Tampa Bay! We've definitely enjoyed it! Made a few really good friends and still meeting some new ones. 

We are planning a playdate with Plum Mom's Club next week which I am apprehensive about since I am a total loner but am forcing myself to go to because it would be great for Andrew to have some structured time to socialize with other little kiddos. They also have a program called "Stroller Strides" on that site which is a really neat program for soon-to-be moms, new moms, etc! You bring your baby in your stroller, walk little stretches and then stop at checkpoints for exercises! They also do kid-friendly activities. It sounds pretty cool so I am working up the courage to give that a shot too. 

October 5th we are going tailgating! My mother works at USF and they have a tailgating party for alumni, students, staff and families so we're going to go have some food/ meet some people and then you get to watch the Bulls game! Time to shop-- Andrew just NEEDS a tiny Bulls jersey! Muahahaha ;-P

....On that note. Online shopping is DANGEROUS. I have placed 5 orders in the past few days. Granted, one was very cheap and something Jesse and I both needed, 3 were necessary to start our dance classes (Oh yeah BTW we are doing adult ballet classes starting this month with a friend Jesse works with!)-- it could have been one but we forgot some stuff and then an item got cancelled... bleh. And the last was a major moment of weakness. Old Navy's last day of the baby sale (30% off) and an additional 15% off at checkout. I am weak, what can I say? But how can you turn down this, or these, or these????? I have a problem. Oh hey by the way, Old Navy has a 20% off sale now until September 18th! Go check it out!! Seriously, Old Navy has upped their game and I like it!!!!

We were hunting for a three bedroom the past week, and ended up deciding to stay at our community but the only available 3 bedrooms were lower level, and they all felt claustrophobic-- we've been spoiled with vaulted ceilings. So, we are staying in our 2 bedroom until November 2014. Hopefully then we can move into something more practical for our needs. 

Lastly, I don't know about y'all but I am in major Autumn mode. It sucks big time that there is no evidence of fall outside, but oh well. Gotta make up for it inside, right??? Haha! Hubby is not too crazy about the whole decoration thing so we only do some colored leaf garlands, pumpkins and pine cones scattered around. We also get the appropriate candles for the season, haha! Right now though we only have apple cider so this weekend I am planning on hunting now another candle or two. And perhaps a bit more decoration, shhhhh. Hubby works overnights all weekend so maybe if I put them up while he sleeping he won't notice. Tee hee :)

...Also darn Starbucks and their deliciousness. I am craving a Pumpkin Spice Latte. BAD.

Welcome, seven months

7 MONTHS!

"Babies this age love predictability (it makes them feel powerful and secure), so be prepared to croon "Itsy Bitsy Spider" a couple thousand times over the next several weeks. Seven-month-olds also love to explore, so expect some serious efforts (or attempts at least) by your little one to get around independently. That means it's time for a thorough babyproofing if you haven't already, and time to stay extra-vigilant about what your mini octopus can get his tentacles on.

By now, your baby might also be able to wave bye-bye, play patty-cake, or blow kisses. Along with new skills and burgeoning independence comes a whole new attitude: I want to be in charge of me! Don't be surprised if this shift results in some major meltdowns with Mommy (perhaps the first but certainly not the last!) especially during transition times, e.g., when you walk in the door from work. (Not to worry — there are several strategies to smooth your reentry.) Baby's appetite is on the uptick, so snacking now plays a supporting role to the three-meals-a-day plan. And while snacking in moderation is good, grazing (snacking all day with no real meals) is not suggested for a host of reasons, including the fact that grazing interferes with play, sociability, and proper nutrition. Finally, some moms may be wondering about weaning and that's fine. But if breastfeeding still works for you and your baby, keep it up!"

-What to Expect

Check out weebabyschmitt's TWITTER page!

Andrew is doing great, and we are so thankful everyday that he is a healthy, happy, growin'-like-a-weed baby boy!
The Broccoli is being eaten, not always happily, but daddy began eating bits of it and Andrew of course is mesmerized and eats it like a pro then haha! Such a daddy's little man :)
We tried Benadryl today-- SO glad we found time to give it a try pre-plane. Rather than helping him pass out, it made me squeal-y and hyper haha! Also on that note, we took A to the doctor today because he has been pulling on his ear a lot. First tests showed some fluid in the ear he was pulling and a TON of fluid in the other. Further testing... there is a tiny bit of fluid in the other but none in the one he is pulling on, whew! So nothing needed, just gotta keep an eye on it.

Beginning the packing tomorrow as we leave in just 3 days! Really looking forward to seeing friends and family AND to spend eight days straight with baby and hubby :-D

Ta ta for now! <3