New leaves

So life is changing for us, in more ways than one.  We are adding to our family, I am officially a stay at home mom, and I am going to start cooking meals.  I am putting this in writing and hoping (praying) that this will keep me accountable.  I hate how often we eat from a can, or out of the freezer.  I don't want my kids growing up on boxed dinners. 

It all started when I stopped working outside the home, and started doing child care.  It became impossible to cook a meal that would have been done at a decent enough hour to eat.  It has frustrated me for far too long, and now that I am no longer doing child care, I am getting my house clean and organized, and I am going to start making home cooked meals again!  This excites me more than you know.  I love to plan meals and than have them turn out delicious and yummy.  Seeing my child regain his appetite would be a major plus too! 

I started my quest my browsing a few blogs and getting some ideas.  I found several that I have bookmarked, and several that just seemed to steal recipes off cooks.com or another similar website.  I found one that did seem to do her own recipe and I hope I have found a new favorite at our house- homemade pop tarts!  Sound great right? I will let you know tomorrow if they are a hit!  Now just getting up before everyone to make them before everyone else scarfs something down! 

We started the day making banana bread, instead of just throwing away the three last bananas that were becoming riper by the minute.  Preston thought it was great to mash up the bananas, he thought he was getting away with murder!  I wish I had taken pictures, but it was too risky that the bananas end up on the floor or in the wrong bowl, so maybe next time. 

Some of the recipes I came across sounded oh-so-good, but seemed too intimidating for me.  I thought maybe I will be ready for them by summer. I am going to stick with this, I feel I have to, for my kid's health, for my family's health.  I don't want my kids growing up on fast food, and boxed dinners.  I told Brandon a couple weeks ago that I wanted to join a CSA, and he responded quickly with "Next year."  I am going to remember that.  I love the idea of getting a week's worth of produce every week all year!  Imagine how diverse our meals could become! 

Dinner this evening was baked potatoes with chilli, cheese and sour cream and a salad.  Preston ate all his salad, and all but two bites of his potato, and all but one section of a mandarin!  He stuffed himself to the brim, it was truely a lot of food.  I would have loved to had more chilli, but this child growing in my belly had other plans that involved taking up as much space in my belly as possible, so I could hardly sit comfortably, let alone eat. 

I have plans for every night this week, plus some.  I look forward to feeding everyone home cooked meals that are satisfying.  We are turning a new leaf in this house, starting today.  No longer will I only cook meals on Christmas morning, and birthdays, if I even cooked on birthdays.  My kids will know that they can go out and play as long as they are back in time for supper.  My dream would be that they would want to be home for supper, but I know that is a dream because I am sure that they will rather eat with their friends! 

So wish me luck, and send me any ideas you have for our new dinners!

Sweet Kisses

I have almost reached the halfway point in this pregnancy.  It is such a huge relief to feel the little flutters and occasional kicks this babe sends out.  It has been a long emotional road to get to this point. 

Preston is excited about being a big brother, and is taking it very seriously.  He has big plans to teach this baby everything he knows, and then some.  He looks forward to feeding and holding the baby, and says that they will have slumber parties all the time.  He hasn't grasped that at first this baby isn't going to be as much fun as his buddies at preschool.  He has started kissing his baby, but is really shy about showing affection to the baby, and doesn't like even Brandon to see him do it.  It is our little secret, and I am working on him being okay with loving the baby.  It melts my heart, and I hope and pray that even though there is such a large gap in their ages, that they will adore each other, and be really close growing up. 

I hope and pray constantly that this child continue to be well and healthy, and continue that way until June (or the end of May.)  I pray that he or she is happy and healthy and thrives in life.  I want nothing but the best for my children. I want nothing more than to see them grow up into adults and have a life that they consider successful, even if I don't.  I want them to love deeply, and live fully.  I want them to get the most out of whatever their crazy lives offer up. 

I look forward to the challenges that two children will bring.  I look forward to the fun of two kids as well, especially the matching outfits, and coordinating Halloweens!  I look forward to the day when they are both old enough to send out in the back yard to play all morning, and then lazy summer afternoons splashing in the pool.  I look forward to the fighting and not wanting to share, and helping them to learn to love one another.  I hope that they have a close relationship as adults, and know that they can depend on each other long after their parents are gone. 

I can't wait to meet this little one, as worried as I am for Preston because this will change the world he knows drastically.  I hope and pray that he takes this in stride, and loves his baby.  I hope that he doesn't resent this baby forever (I know it will be inevitable at times.) I worry that he will feel like he doesn't get enough attention after the baby gets here because he has been numero uno for so long with all of his relatives.  He loves the days that he gets to spend with his granddaddy, and they are quite the pair.  I know those days will be great for him when he is feeling neglected. 

I am working really hard to enjoy this pregnancy, and not worry over every little thing that may or may not mean something is wrong.  My doctor tells me that this may be the last one (not if I have anything to do with it) and that I should soak up the joy of pregnancy.  He obviously doesn't know that I am not a fan of pregnancy, and that I miss running terribly since he found out I was pregnant again.  I look forward to the day that I will feel comfortable enough to leave the baby for an hour, and go for a run. I am counting down the weeks to June, and when this little bug will make its appearance.