A girl can dream, right?

In my free time (funny, right?) I have been collecting things in my Amazon wish list. I recently learned, that I can add things from any website, and now I am hooked. 

But I don't think it's necessarily a "bad" thing, because I can never remember what I want when someone asks, or where I found what I planned to buy when I actually manage to have the money for it. So this way, it's all in one place. All in a nice little list. And as long as I don't lose my password, I'll be good-to-go.

So I recommend it. And for those of you who use Google Chrome for a browser, there is a plugin that puts a little Amazon symbol up by the browser bar so whenever you see something you want to add, you just click that little guy, and voila! Added to the wish list.

My wish list is a little funny, because it's a collection of random things. Some thing I know I will probably never have (or be able to afford), and some more realistic things. And it ranges from baby stuff, to camera lenses, to patio umbrellas. Told you it was random. If you would like to take a look, or are feeling generous (again, funny, right?!) this is MY WISHLIST. Now go make yours and share it with me here so I don't feel like such a crazy person. :-P

This is my online version of when I go shopping somewhere in person, and I carry around something that I really want for the entire time I'm shopping, like I'm really gonna buy it, then at the last minute, I put it back because I realize I could never afford it, or maybe I should buy groceries and diapers instead of a new lens for my camera . . . something like that.

And this picture is just cute. Nothing to do with wish lists. Except for maybe part of the reason why I will never have most of what is and will be on mine. Ha.

Things one should not do on a broken night of sleep.

Joshua has been having a terrible time the last few nights. I am guessing it is the two top molars trying to break through. the gums are very swollen and red and sore looking, and I suspect, the culprit to why Joshua has been up screaming for at least an hour in the middle of the night lately.

Last night. Joshua fell asleep around 8:15 or so. I had to clean the floors desperately because Joshua was so disturbed by the dirt and animal hair, he had taken it upon himself to begin cleaning by eating anything he could grab. (Kidding, he does that anyways.) So I went to bed around midnight, I think. Which is late for me. There I am, snuggled in my warm, cozy bed. And the siren named Joshua goes off... around 2am. I looked at the clock, and prayed to the Gods of sleeping babies to make him go back to sleep. But no such luck. So I got up, changed him. Made attempt #1 to put him back to bed. He wasn't having it. So I got back up, did the orajel and tylenol bit. More screaming. Got him a sippy of water... it IS pretty dry in our house, I get thirsty at night... maybe that was it? Nothing. finally I decided I had done all I could do, including a little rocking, and soft singing, all the old bouncing-while-walking-and-spinning a little tricks. So I did the ol' "cry it out." He screamed for 5 minutes, I went in, laid him down avoiding eye contact like he was Medusa or something, and left. More screams. Ten minutes go by, went back in laid him back down, shushed him a little, and walked out. MORE screaming. 15 minutes, 20 minutes... same thing. Then I just turned the monitor down (not that it helps much with such a painful scream coming from the room next door.) After about an hour of solid screaming, he finally went back to sleep. So I'd say, we slept from about 3 or so until a little before 6am. Gross. Especially gross when you are used to having a good sleeper who sleeps through the night with no issues!

So back to the things you should not do after a night such as that.

1. Cut your own hair. It's just a bad idea. But, I don't have money for a haircut, or time to get one, and my bangs needed a trimming. Luckily, I didn't do too bad a job. But I realized, that was probably something that should have been left for a day when I was a little more awake.

2. And this is a biggie. Shopping at Walmart. I had gift cards, and some diapers that were too small for the boss to return. so we went. and this is what happened. In case you can't tell, that's the jumbo sized, bucket-o-cheese balls. I have been resisting them for as long as I've been shopping at BJs. But, Walmart had them today and I had run out of will power for the week. so here we are.

Lucky for me, Joshua is cute. And so are my animals. And they all love each other, and let me take cute pictures of them. So I'm still doing ok. And now, I am going to take a nap while everyone else is before I get myself into more trouble!

Kitty cuddles.

Loves his kitty.

family nap time... yes, he is laying on the cat. Marvin is a good sport. Most of the time.

GoCrib Giveaway!

Baby Half Off.com is having a GoCrib giveaway! 

And seriously, if you are a parent of a small person, and you DON'T want to win this, I think you are nuts :-P So go enter HERE if you'd like! And share with your friends!

And a photo. An oldie, but a goodie.

13 month photos

Here are some new pictures of the little boss. Can't believe he is thirteen months old now! (These photos are unedited, I planned to edit them, but haven't had time, eh well)

peek-a-boo!

deciding what trouble to get in next?

hmmm

his milk sippy 

walking :-)

sharing

balancing :-P

steaaaady

he wants my camera. always.

he was not such a fan of the flash on my camera

mmm chicken patty

happy little man!

Bye-bye bottles.

Joshua has been officially weaned off of bottles for about a week now I'd say. And I am pretty sure it was harder on me than him. The first day, he was kind of whiny, like he knew something was off, but not quite sure what. 

We didn't cut them out cold turkey. When the doctor told up to wean him off the formula and bottles and make the big swap to big-boy milk, we started cutting bottles out. He was already down to only getting a bottle at bedtime and one for a snack between breakfast and lunch. Then we cut out the snack bottle, which was no big deal for anyone. Then—came the bed-time bottle. 

Our normal bed-time routine for the last, how-ever-many months. Is this. Around 7pm we start getting ready for bed, every other night joshua gets a bath first, then it's time for a book and a bottle, and some wind-down playing to kill the rest of his energy, then it's off to bed he goes. I loved his bed-time bottle, because as he has gotten older, he has gotten increasingly less likely to sit still when I want him to. Mostly because he would rather be crawling or walking and exploring his world. The bed-time bottle was one of the couple times of day where he would cuddle up with me and just sit still.

I miss our cuddle bottle time! But now, he REALLY likes book. Which is great, and usually he really likes only one or two books at a time, which means we re-read the same book about 4,654,347,432 times a day. Now our bed-time bottle has been replaced with a bed-time sippy full of soy milk and a book. It's not exactly the same, because sometimes he just wants to do it himself and sit on the floor. (sad face). But most nights now he will cuddle with me. It's a bit bitter-sweet to have such an independent little man. Most of the time it's great, but not when mama needs cuddle time! 

On a side note. We have discovered that Joshua likes his soy milk just fine. But he will only drink it out of one particular sippy cup. Well, that is not entirely true I guess, he will drink it out of other's but he drinks much more eagerly, and will drink the full amount we give him out of the certain one. The one he likes it in, has a softer nipple than the others, and also handles, maybe it reminds him of having a bottle? Either way, I am just glad he is taking the soy milk now. I am not nearly as stressed about him getting the proper amount of calories or calcium now. I also discovered this awesome yogurt that is dairy-free and made with coconut milk. (pictured below). I found this brand of ice cream when I was on a dairy-free diet for breast feeding, but didn't realize they made yogurt too! Joshua loves it, and so do I! The blueberry is especially yummy.

I recommend you try this, even if not on a dairy-free diet. It's amazing! Especially if you like coconut.

Bye-bye bottles :-( 

I have a 13 month old!

I just now realized today is the 18th, which means Joshua is 13 months old today. Where does time go! He is changing so much every day now. And boy, how he has changed since he was a newborn (obviously). But, really, everyone says how fast the time goes, and it wasn't that I didn't believe them, it's just that I never really notice it until I step out of my own way and see what is happening haha. Here is a summary of my 13 month old.

He is officially walking now. He walks more and more, and better and faster every single day.

He is still a speed demon crawler. Who I trip over often because he sneaks up on me when I am cooking (I have learned to look behind my feet before I step back no matter how far away he was last time I looked)

He is outgrowing (we hope) a milk allergy/intolerance. Which makes it very hard for me to find snacks that he can eat, and things with high enough fat and calcium that are baby friendly.

He loves to eat, and luckily is not very picky. He even likes his soy milk now, he still can't seem to drink as much as he is "supposed" to in a day, but I'm working on it. He likes to feed himself, but needs everything cut tiny, because he does not like chewing food... he prefers to inhale it.

He mimics everything now, which will be trouble, I imagine, when he starts to talk.

He says mama and dada, and he understands a decent amount of words now. He knows, blankie, kitty, doggy, eat, more, milk, book, and of course Fan! (that's all I can think of now)

He can sign "eat" and "more" He knows what eat means, but more I don't think he quite knows yet, he will copy me doing it. And sometimes do it on his own, but I don't think the association is there yet.

He loves waving, and babbling.

Loves the kitty and the doggy, and hugging and squeezing them until they can't take it anymore.

He is now officially weaned off the bottle, and I count my blessings that he accepts change so easily. He gave up bottles and pacifiers (in December) without a fight.

His favorite show is Dinosaur Train (It's the only one that will keep his attention for more than a nano-second at a time, which is why I say that) and his favorite song is anything with a good beat that he can dance to currently. Journey still tops his list though.

I that's all. No monkey picture. I think those are done now that he is over 1 year old. But I'll be sure to take some new pictures to post soon.

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Joshua's new trick

This is the new trick that Great Grammy, who watches him on Thursdays taught Joshua. It's hysterical! On a side note, Joshua has a new tooth (finally) Now we are just waiting for the 5 others that have been bugging him to cut through and maybe he'll be able to chew his food a little easier :-P

Also, how can you not laugh at him giggling like that :-) (Mama was tickling him feet)

My Milk Allergy Education

Since Joshua is dairy-free for the next couple of months—at least. I've been reading up on dairy allergies, and nutritional requirements for toddlers of his age. It's a tricky thing because he's at an age where we are not supposed to limit the amount of fat he gets. Most toddlers get the majority of the fat in their diet from dairy products. Since Joshua is missing that, and he can't chew real hard things well yet (for lack of molars) I am having trouble deciding what to feed him without giving him "bad" fats and high sugar type things.

Even things like white bread, bagels, english muffins, baked goods . . . everything had dairy, or hidden dairy in it. Gah. So far, these are a couple of links I found helpful for any of you who may be curious, or who may encounter this or have encountered this already with your little ones.

Milk Allergies in Babies and Toddlers.

Dairy and Hidden Dairy Ingredient Cheat Sheet. (holy cow.)

Wholesome baby food: Good website for baby feeding info.

Boss can walk!

I don't think this needs any explanation. He can also stand up without help now too! We are in full-on toddler mode!

Dairy free livin'

But can you even call it living when one isn't allowed to eat chocolate, cheese, or ice cream? Hard to tell with a one-year-old.

To back track a bit, since we started Joshua on whole milk and yogurts, and other "big people" foods, he has had a couple hive flare-ups. It seems to be worst when dairy-to-skin contact happens, which is odd. Especially since he's been on a milk based formula (Gerber Good Start- Protect Plus) since he went off the hypoallergenic (expensive) stuff when he had the real bad reaction at around 4 months old. But, every time we give him yogurt, or mix his oatmeal with milk, wherever the milk touches his skin around his mouth he gets little red hive-like bumps. And yesterday, he dribbled milk all down the front of himself and had a pretty bad hive flare up where it was on his chest. That was the first time it has seemed to bother him though. He was pulling on his hair, and arching his back, and screaming. Poor thing. Other than that time, he just keeps going about his day, and the spots go away quickly on their own, so we thought it was a matter of him just adjusting to the new thing. (What do we know, right?)

I decided today was time to call his pediatrician and talk to one of the nurses and see what she thought. I was also unsure how much dairy he was supposed to be getting in the first place since this whole no-mo-formula-or-bottles-or-purees thing is new to me. I called a talked to a super nice and patient nurse, and explained what's been going on to see what she recommended. When we went in for Joshua's one-year checkup, the doctor mentioned that depending how milk wait we may end up back on formula, or soy milk for awhile. The nurse seemed more concerned that I thought she would be, apparently hives, even just little ones that go away quick, are not good. So she took notes and had to go ask the doctor what to do and call me back. So that made me nervous. 

Finally, a couple hours later, she called back and said to make the switch to a dairy-free diet for Joshua. Soy milk and tofu it is for him! And not only does he need to drink soy milk, he needs to drink a larger amount of it because they want us to completely eliminate trace dairy from his diet too... which means, nothing that has ingredients like, whey, casein, milk, butter, cheese...etc... the list goes on forever. (I learned all this while I was dairy free for a bit still trying to breast feed)

The good news is, they don't think this is a "true" allergy. It is fairly common in younger kids to have an intolerance to the proteins in cows milk, and their little bodies have trouble breaking it down to digest causing an allergic type reaction. Something like that anyways. So we are trying out this dairy free bit until he goes in for his 15 month check-up and we will re-evaluate then what we should do.

I hope for his sake, he out grows this, and quickly! Now I REALLY need to go grocery shopping, which I have been putting off forever. 

Going homemade.

I am constantly battling with myself over food. Constantly. I wouldn't say that I am SUPER unhealthy, but I am certainly not the most healthy person I know, by a long-shot.

For awhile though, I've been working out at the gym with an amazing trainer, and going to some of the group classes she attends with a lot of other ladies who are all in to-die-for shape. And I've decided, it's stupid for me to work out so much, if I'm not going to make an honest effort to really take that next step, and make that life change towards healthier eating. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a junk food junkie now or anything, but I do enjoy a nice burger and fries every now and again. But I have a tendency to get lazy. And I'm sure it sounds stupid to some people, but by the time I'm done making food for everyone else in my house, and feeding and tending to the animals, and working, I could care less about what I'm eating. And half of the time, I'll make a great dinner for everyone else, and I'm so sick of looking at it by the time I am done I'd rather not eat, or eat ice cream for dinner, than eat what I've made. Maybe it's because I know if I eat it, that's one more plate I'll need to wash . . . who knows. Whatever the reason, I am stopping it now. Mark my words. From now on, I am going to attempt to make as many homemade snacks and meals as possible (and actually eat them). Probably I will need to plan a day to go to the grocery store, and a day following that to be a baking/prepping day. I am hoping that if I take out the stress, and negativeness of doing all of this on a daily basis, I will be more likely to enjoy it, and stick to the routine. 

I think part of the problem is, My brain hasn't caught up to my current life. It is still in college (which was pretty long ago....sadly), where I walked everywhere, played softball for the college team, and was on my feet so much I hardy had time to eat! Fast forward to now, I sit at a desk at work, play with a one-year-old, my workouts have to work around the rest of my day instead of my day revolving around a workout. I never had to think about food before! 

Another motivation, which I sort of mentioned in an earlier post, is, of course, Joshua. He is growing, and eating more of the things we eat. He learns new things every day and mimics our every move. I want him to grow up with good associations to healthy eating. Have it be a part of who he is, and part of what he wants to eat. And that won't work if I am not doing the same things as he is. Even now, if we are both eating, he wants what is on our plate, not his. He wants to eat if we are eating. I want to be able to share my plate with him and not feel guilty because of what is ON my plate.

So, that said, this is the first new recipe I found that I am going to try. We eat a fair amount of granola bars. So I'm going to make my own. Sounds easy enough, and probably cheaper than the boxed brands . . . I'll update with how they come out once I make it to the grocery store for supplies.

Wish me luck! And, if you see me eating garbage, or wanting to eat garbage, please slap my wrist, or hand me an apple or something. Thanks! :)

(this is from the blog posted in the link above... yummy, right!?)

When the heck did Joshua become a toddler!?

And what the heck are toddlers supposed to eat?!

Apparently we have entered toddler land. A few weeks ago. No one ever told me, or asked me if this was OK! Somehow, I just came to this realization as I was reading articles about what to feed a one year-old. I've been having a mini-panic attack ever since Joshua's one-year check-up because his doctor told me that he doesn't need formula anymore, to work him off the bottles and just give him cow's milk in a sippy cup, and that he doesn't need to eat the purees anymore, he can eat whatever we are eating now (with the exception of the high-allergen foods he has to wait until he is two to try.) Yikes! 

Now, it's easy when they are just drinking formula, and eating jars of baby food. You know they are getting the right amount, they aren't hungry, and it's generally good for them. NOW all of the sudden, I need to re-examine MY eating habits, and lifestyle so I can be sure we are teaching Joshua good food habits from an early age. I don't consider myself Terribly unhealthy, but I certainly could do a lot better. Especially lately. I've been so busy, I usually make supper, but I don't eat it, I end up eating a PB&J at 10 pm when I realize I haven't eaten all day long. Now I am going to need to make sure I am feeding a small person AND my husband AND myself, wholesome, nutritions foods in good variety... all the time! And how much do I feed him?! I know they say babies (toddlers) won't overeat unless you force them, they stop when they are not hungry and all, but for as long as I've known Joshua... I am pretty sure he has never, not been hungry. I mean, this kid will eat me out of house and home before he is two if I let him I think! Yikes!

Yesterday Joshua had cow's milk for the first time. I gave him 4 oz. with his snack, eliminating one of the 2 bottles he was still taking. He drank it like he's been drinking it his whole life. Not even a funny face, a flinch... nothing. Which is a good thing, don't get me wrong. After I gave it to him I watched him, and his skin, like a hawk until it was time for him to eat again. He did great with that one, no hives, no funky reactions. But, later in the day, I gave him milk again, with his supper, and he broke out in hives (sigh). I am hoping it was just a matter of too much, too soon with the milk. So I think I will stick to one time a day for now, and give him baby yogurt and cheeses to fill in the missing dairy, he has not have a problem with either of those things. but no matter the issue, there is no feeling worse, than watching your baby break out in hives, especially when you don't know exactly why it is happening. He never seems bothered by the hives, just turns all red and looks itchy. Poor little man.

So that is that. Guess I'd better go make a shopping list and head to the grocery store so the kid and I will have more than ramen noodles to eat this week! 

On a side note. Joshua is beginning to walk! He has taken steps without holding on to anything the past couple days, but no more than a few steps at a time. I'll keep you posted. 

On another side note. Joshua is getting too tall. He can reach the top of the kitchen table at the edges. Note to self: Do not leave bowls of snacks on the edge of the kitchen table any more, or this will be the end result.

uht-oh! Cheerios!

Sometimes - a mom just needs chocolate.

This, my friends, is a review of Cafe Fleuri's Chocolate buffet, in Boston, MA.

A couple of years ago, the chocolate buffet was discovered, and myself, and some cousins decided we needed to try it. Obviously.

Since then, we decided it also needed to be an annual event. So this year was the second annual chocolate day! For those of you who have never heard of such a thing. A chocolate buffet, if an all you can eat buffet. Of chocolate. It is located in Cafe Fleuri at the Langham hotel in Boston, MA. And to sum it up in one word. Amazing! It is a chocolate lovers dream. Literally. Anything you could ever want to eat that is made out of chocolate, they probably have. Chocolate martinis, make your own candy bar, sundae bar, chocolate fountain, chocolate crepes custom made to your order. . . etc.

As a self-proclaimed chocoholic. I give it an A+. Even though there isn't any "real" food. We managed to convince ourselves we were having a balanced meal. Strawberries are a fruit, so what if they are covered in chocolate or wrapped in a chocolate crepe? Pretzels are kind healthy... drenched in chocolate fountain sauce, right? Riiiight. Anyways. If you have never been here. You MUST go. I think this is something everyone needs to experience at least once in their life (of once a year, whichever)

The only bad words I have about this place, and maybe this particular trip is this. There was a DJ there... which was OK, a little odd for the venue, but ok. Until a group of about 25 tween girls came in for a birthday party and started requesting very loud obnoxious songs, and hanging out the DJ, and dancing, and singing... in the room the chocolate was in. I would have enjoyed a nice jazz band better. haha. Or anything really. That, and the day did not have enough hours! I actually headed back to NH before much of the group to pick up Joshua, and ended up needing to drive to Hollis to pick up my husband too. Next time, we will need to pick a day when Jay is home to play with Joshua, and when I have more money so we can spend ALLL day in Boston and eat and shop to our heart's content!

What could be better than a day filled with laughs, fun, amazing friends and family, amazing chocolate, and Boston. Not a whole lot. Especially when you are a mama and it's one of your few baby free days that you are not at work all day, like me! That's all I've got. I'd write more, but I'm still recovering from my chocolate hangover. Here are some pictures from the day to entice you to go eat your body weight in chocolate.

I thought this was a regular creme puff. NOPE... filled with chocolate cream.

The first trip to the bar's leftovers.

I don't know what this one was, but it was pretty. 

One of the many tables at the bar.

Chocolate sculpture

My Miracle.

I must preface this post by saying, I am not much of a Celine fan. BUT I love the lyrics to this song. It's so sweet. And now that Joshua's ditching his bottles for sippy cups, and his formula for whole milk, I am feeling sappy and sentimental. It's a little of that, and a little bit the fact that I only have gotten maybe 5 hours of sleep in the past two nights combined. I now recall what having a newborn was like. haha. So, I thought you should all share in my sappy "mom" moment. 

Enjoy. :-)

My miracle. All together now, *Awweeee*

One year checkup

Today Joshua went in for his one year checkup after we met up with a friend for breakfast at the airport diner. He is one healthy little boy!

He now weighs 22.6 lbs and is 30 inches long. He is just above average for height now and exactly at the 50th percentile for weight and head circumference.

We were told it's time to get rid of the bottles! Which scares, and excites me all at the same time! I will miss that cuddle time with his bottle right before he goes to bed I think. But at the same time, it will be nice to be able to get him on the same eating schedule as us more or less. I am told that he can eat whatever we are eating, though this scares me a lot because Joshua is such a pig! she said to keep an eye on him and only put a couple bites in front of him at a time and he should do fine. I am ALSO nervous about the switch to whole milk! Those of you who know about the hives and milk allergy fiasco that happened when he was about four months old, know why. But his doc. assured me that since he has been doing just fine on regular formula for awhile now, which is milk based, he should be fine, and most likely it was not a true allergy... just a weird baby intolerance. She said he seems right on track with his standing and babbling, and not to worry about him not walking on his own yet. (I am not worried yet, just impatient)

I think that's everything new. Hopefully all of the new changes will go over well and we'll be off of bottles, and onto whole milk and all real food in no time! 

My little boy is growing up! I feel like this is the official end of him being a baby... now he is a little boy *sniffle*

my little boy!! *tear* :-P