Things don't always go according to plan

I was reading a blog that I typically read about how great her baby slept.  She got tons of questions about how they were able to do that, so she posted what worked for them.  Granted she mentioned that everyone is different and all, but here is partly my experience and opinion.

Owen was a great baby.  He started sleeping through the night (at least 8 hours) at 3 months!  We didn't really ever rock him and he slept in his bed from day one (just as she did with her boy).  Man, this worked out well I thought.  Got him on a schedule and all was great.

When I came home with Quinn, we put her on a schedule too.  We followed the eat, play, sleep of BabyWise.  She slept in her own bed/crib as well.  She didn't consistently sleep through the night until 5 months.  She takes relatively inconsistent naps (even though her feeding and play schedule are pretty consistent). 

My point - I did everything with her that I did with Owen and yet Quinn still wakes up once most nights needing a bit of comfort even though she can put herself to sleep.  Every child (no matter how much we may try as parents) can be different and we need to learn to adapt to that as well. 

Quinn is 8 months!

Quinn is 8 months already!

She is doing pretty well after all that we've been through.  She adjusted great to going back to school and is getting really close to sitting up on her own (right now she'd easily topple over!)  She hasn't really gained much weight but we'll see how she is at her 9 month check up next month!

8 month stats:


Weight - 15.3 lbs (by me)
Height - 26" (by me)
Head circumference - 17" (by me)
Clothing size: 6-9 months  (9-12 and 12-18 months for spring/summer for those wondering :) )
Diaper size: 2 (almost to size 3 - as soon as the rest of the 2's are gone!)
Foods: rice cereal, oatmeal cereal, peaches, pears, apples, bananas, prunes, squash, sweet potatoes, peas, green beans, and carrots. mixed vegetables, sweet potatoes with corn, pineapple, cherries, banana plum grape, apricot.
Teeth: Got our bottom front 2! Hoping the cranky is leading to more of these!

Project 31 - Day #12

What wears you out as a woman?


Warning:  Honesty ahead!

What a great question today to answer - where do I start?  What wears me out the most is people who do not appreciate the work that I put into things - let me explain from each of my "roles"

1.  As a mother, I try very hard to provide for my kids and to make them happy without comprimising their overall well-being.  Owen hasn't exactly been appreciating me trying to get him to try new foods and to eat his vegetables (when he was little he ate anything, now hardly anything!)  This little fight at every meal time is wearing me out.

2.  As a wife, I feel like I do a lot to make my hubby happy.  When he doesn't notice how much I try to do to make him happy and doesn't show me his appreciation, it frustrates me and then makes me feel like that work I did wasn't as worth it and it then begins to just wear me out.

3.  Finally, and most often lately, as a teacher, I like putting in the time to give my students great learning experiences and to challenge their minds.  However, when the students don't put in the work back or whine about the work they have to do (or complain about exam grades), it makes me enjoy it a bit less and that makes it seem more like real work, and thus wears me out.

So each of my roles can wear me out in different ways.  But when people appreciate what you do it makes it a lot easier to keep going.

Project 31 - Day #11

Post a recipe

Here are a couple that I get asked for!

Baked Potato Soup

Ingredients

• 6-8 Baked potatoes
• 1/2 onion, diced
• 4 14oz cans of chicken broth
• 2 cups water
• Salt to taste
• Pepper to taste
• 1 dash of basil
• 1 dash of sugar
• 2 sticks of butter
• 3/4 cup of flour
• 1 1/4 cups heavy cream

Garnish

• 4-6 pieces of cooked bacon, chopped
• 2 cups shredded Monterrey Jack / Cheddar cheese blend.

Directions

Bake the potatoes, peel and set aside to cool some.
In a large soup pot, melt the butter over a low to medium heat, being careful not to burn it.
Add the onion and cook until softened.
Add the flour and stir while it cooks for about 3 minutes.
Slowly add the chicken broth, water, salt, pepper, basil and sugar.
Bring to a boil, stirring often with a wire whisk.
Gradually add the heavy cream until you’ve reached the proper consistency.
Chop the potatoes into bite sized cubes and add to the soup.
Simmer for approximately 5 minutes to bring the potatoes to temperature.
Ladle the soup into individual bowls and garnish with chopped bacon, chives and the cheese blend.

Kool-Aid Cookies

• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup oleo
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 cups flour
• 2 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 package unsweetened koolaid

Cream together oleo, sugar and egg. Add milk and mix.
Stir in dry indregients and mix well. (I add the Koolaid last to ensure that in mixes well).
Drop by teaspoonfuls on lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes (until bottom is lightly brown).

Makes approx 3 dozen, depending on size.

Cool; then frost with powdered sugar frosting with 1/2 package Koolaid mixed in.

Cheesy Potatoes

• 1 package southern hashbrowns (frozen)
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 8 oz sour cream
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 stick oleo, melted
• 1/8 cup milk

    Grease 9 x 13 pan with cooking spray.  Add hashbrowns.  In a bowl, mix together soup, sour cream and milk.  Then mix in cheddar cheese.  Spread on top of hashbrowns.  Top with melted butter.  Bake at 325 for 75-90 minutes until just beginning to brown.

Project 31 - Day #10

Well, I may have gotten off the pattern, but I'm going to keep it going!

Question:  What has God taught you as a mother, wife, woman?

• I have learned to be very empathetic with other people's situations, though I feel like I'm better at doing this with those who aren't living in my house!  I definitely am being taught that I need to do that and my family deserves that!
• Humor - I need to laugh and enjoy life more day to day!  I also am trying to learn to be able to laugh at myself and find the humor in a tough situation.  (For example, finding out that your son pooped in the middle of the night and then sat on the carpet to change his underwear...)
• Patience - for other people, what I want/need, with myself.
• Perseverance - even at times that I feel like giving up on someone or a goal in life, I know that I am a strong capable woman!

Last but most important:

• Love - without this I don't think life would really be worth living.  Giving and receiving love is what keeps me going and I have a great opportunity to share this with all of those around me!