Happy Halloween, Matey!

Freddie liked his costume and probably would have been content to just run around in it all evening long.  That was before he discovered candy was involved.

Residents in our building signed up to have trick or treaters visit them between 5.30-8.30 tonight.  We picked up the list of apartments from the doorman and made our way through the building.

Looks a little like trick or treating at the Hilton, doesn't it?

It only took about two doors before Freddie got the "Trick or Treat" call as we knocked. Kinda sounded like "Tee-Teeeeeeet."

He was rather polite and only grabbed only one fistful.  I'm certain this is because he quickly asked for everything to be opened.  "Bite, bite, bite" got us down the hall to the next door. 

We decided 4 floors was probably enough.  Going to all 16 would have been an all night affair.

Finally he was able to really look at all his loot.

And of course he tasted about half.  "Open." "Bite." "Open." "Bite." "Open." "Bite." I think Starburst were is favorite.  He showed Charlie up for even suggesting he wouldn't finish the chewy square.

 Happy boy.  Love that face.

Pumpkin Dump

Ingredients:

• 15 oz can pumpkin
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon (I used pumpkin pie spice)
• 1 cup evaporated milk
• 1 box yellow cake mix
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 1 cup melted butter

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Combine first five ingredients.
3. Pour into 9x13 pan.
4. Sprinkle top boxed cake mix on top of pumpkin mixture.
5. Top with chopped pecans.
6. Drizzle with melted butter.
7. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until golden brown.
8. Serve warm or room temperature.

Feel free to call it "pumpkin crisp" if the "dump" doesn't work for you.  It's yummy, and oh so easy. 

I'm currently trying to figure out how to combine this recipe and smash cake...any suggestions?

20 Months

Motor:

• You've been trying to put on sweaters and shirts by yourself, but without much luck.  I am not sure when you'll be dressing yourself.  It seems pretty involved.
• You're pretty physical.  You like outdoor activity.  You've got good balance and are good at climbing.
• Your overhand throw is getting pretty fierce.  You are like taking turns throwing the ball back and forth and are interested in learning how to catch.
• You're great on the stairs, going up and down on your own.  Usually you'll attempt going off the last stair without holding on while I squint my eyes and hold my breath.  You do pretty well though.
• You're using utensils more and more.
• You have started to show a lot of interest in your puzzles.  You can match the pieces with the pictures but turning the chunky pieces to fit in the spots is still a little tricky.
• You've got great form when holding pencils and pens.  You'll scribble here and there...on paper, thank goodness.  I will probably encourage this more this winter when we're looking for some indoor activities.
• You're jumping.  Sort of.  You exclaim "jump" and your feet leave the ground, but it's still a little awkward looking.
• You really want to pedal your bike.  It would help if your legs were longer.  I really, really, really need to find some blocks for those pedals.

Vocabulary:

• Your vocabulary is probably about 50-70 words right now. 
• You talk all the time.
• You are still telling little babble stories with giggles interjected here and there.
• I have to listen very carefully because there is usually at least one recognizable word in there.
• Some of new words that I can remember from the past few weeks:  train, ghost, bump, jump, bum (your bottom), bridge, baby,
• You will now pick up books and use names or words from the book when flipping through.  

Diet:

• Still loving pizza.  Mama whips up pizza in toaster oven:  English muffin, tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese.
• You still like to eat things you can dip...chips and guacamole, chips and queso, apples and peanut butter, pretzels and peanut butter, french fries and ketchup.
• You're drinking about 8 ounces of milk and 8 ounces of pediasure a day.  You *love* pediasure.
• You ask for lots of bites (bite, bite, bite) but often scrunch your nose and turn your head when the bite hits your lips.
• You typically don't eat anything after nap and before bed.  You suck down the pediausre after nap and you may have a bite or two of something at supper time, but for the most part, all of your calories come before noon.

Appearance:

• Seeing 21.5 on the scale.  Sometimes it's 21 and sometimes 22.  I'd like to get you on a doctor's scale to check that out.
• Your locks are getting long with a few flippy curls in back.  I think I may get brave and give you a trim this week.

Likes:

• You love other kids, especially the bigger kids.  You tend to gravitate to a few of the older boys (2.5 years old) at the playground.  I think it's mostly because they understand the game of chase.  You can give a screech and take off and they know to chase you.  
• You're wanting to sleep in the big boy bed.  For now we're reading books in there.  Mama's not quite ready for you to be out of the crib.  Well, I'm not quite ready for the challenge of getting you to stay in the bed.  I suppose I need to follow your lead and go ahead and make the transition.
• You seem to be pretending...or imitating.  You will put a bag over your shoulder and kiss me goodbye and walk out the door, just like Daddy does.

Dislikes:

• Waiting.  You get whiny and no one likes that.  We've been working on you asking for help rather than falling to pieces.
• After 20 months of it, you still howl when you get your hair rinsed in the tub.

Personality:

• You've gotten much better at sharing.  You are pretty firm with people taking things that you're using but if I ask you to give something up and find something else to do for a while you usually oblige without a fuss.
• You giggle, a lot.
• Although you can be shy, I think overall you are pretty outgoing.  This is a challenge for your shy mama since I usually have to engage with others as well if you want to be in the mix of things.

Sleep:

• Although we've been off schedule a little lately you're getting back to the routine.  
• Still down at 7pm for about 11-12 hours each night.
• Napping for 2 hours in the middle of the day.
• I have noticed you spend more time awake in your crib when I put you down.  Sometimes you lie there for a while "resting" before you finally give in to sleep.
• You've developed some "stall" techniques during our bedtime routine.  You definitely take an extended amount of time when selecting books.  The latest is you tell me you have to poo once you're in the crib.  Even though you're able to squeeze out a little pee if I sit you on the potty I am not falling for it any more!  We go potty before and after nap, my love.  That's the new routine.

Potty:

• You'll indicate you want to sit on the potty every once in a while.  
• You prefer the big potty now.
• I'm wondering if privacy is an issue with using the potty.  You'll tell me bye, close your door, and poop.  Hmmm...
• Standing while peeing is definitely an issue.  
• I don't really ask very often if you want to potty.  But when I do you oblige about 50% of the time and usually squeeze out a bit of pee.
• 
  

Lovin'

• Sunshine
• Uggs
• Requests for "smell good"
• Skyping
• Snuggling
• Planning visits
• Reading books in the "big boy bed"
• Soup recipes
• Corduroy and turtlenecks
• The bit bike on MarioKart
• Mardi Gras beads (yes, so happy to see them all over the house!)
• Halloween stickers on the bathroom wall
• Notes in the mail

Pregnant

They're positive.  Charlie wasn't quite sure but these were from 7am and 8am on Day 27 of my cycle.  Yep, 2 days before a missed period.  How do you like that.  There were 8 more to follow, increasingly more positive over the next 24 hours.

I knew better than to post some "ISO double stroller" status on facebook.  It's ok for some people I suppose, but, not only is it not quite my style, it'd just be asking for trouble.  I did share some giddy squeals with Charlie though.  He's slow and steady, and reminded me to proceed the same.
And as if to snap me back into reality bleeding began on Day 28.

Being able to look back and know I had bleeding with Freddie on Day 28, thinking it was my cycle, and then again a few weeks later, calmed me.  Seeing my baby boy asleep in his crib calmed me as well.  I have a son. I can't really ask for anything more.

The bleeding has subsided.  I'd love to walk into an ob's office and have my hcg levels tracked this week but I have my doubts about getting anyone to see me this early on.  

I am so thankful to be here, again, in this uncertain place, filled with hope... and anxiety.

Lil' Papa

Tight squeeze for Tigey

Freddie's lovie is Tigey.  He's pretty much spent most of his time in the crib and usually only came out in the mornings during family snuggle time.  A few weeks ago Freddie started requesting that Tigey be "tucked in" at night too.  So I give Tigey kisses and position him just right (on his side) and cover him with a blanket.  After that, Freddie gets the same tucking in.

Attempting to feed him with a spoon

Decided fingers were more efficient

Just a few days ago, Tigey has begun to be more involved in day to day life around here.  Freddie insisted he come to the playground.  He showed Tigey the planes and the playground equipment.  Tigey gets lots of tight squeezes and even gets fed.  Tigey has also been seen going potty complete with a round of applause.  Good job, Tigey. 

American Museum of Natural History

• Bones
• $16 admission
• 2 hours before lunch
• Field trips and school buses
• Stuffed "specimens"
• Stroller level viewing
• $6.00 grilled cheese
• Railings to hold
• Glass cases to bang
• Space
• Elevator rides
• People watching
• Subway entrance, or was it 5, gift shops
• Tweet, tweet (lots of stuffed birds!)

Dirty Rice

I had some extra veggies and rice leftover from making gumbo and some delicious stock made from the smoked chicken bones.  Perfect start to dirty rice.  I don't mind if you call it rice dressing, but don't call it Cajun Rice.  That's what restaurants who have no business serving Cajun food call it.

Ingredients:

• Some trinity : about 1 large onion, 1 bell pepper, 3 stalks celery, chopped
• 2-3 toes garlic, chopped
• 3 tablespoons fresh flat leaf parsley, chopped
• 2 tablespoons oil
• 2 cups broth
• 4 cups cooked rice
• 1 lb ground beef*
• Salt, pepper, and Tony's to taste

Directions:

1. Saute veggies, including garlic, in oil in a heavy pan.  Cook until onions are translucent and beginning to brown.
2. Add ground meet.  Brown.  *Consider using a combination of ground beef, crumbled sausage, and giblets for some extra yum.
3. After meat is no longer pink, pour in broth.  Simmer for 5-10 minutes until warm.  
4. Add parsley.
5. Shake in some Tony's.  Be careful here though because you don't want to add too much if your broth and rice is already salted.  
6. Turn off heat.
7. Slowly add rice.  The rice will absorb the liquid.  You don't want to add too much rice, so be patient.  I probably used about 3.5 cups cooked rice with 2 cups broth.  I could see a little liquid at the bottom of the pot but after it sat for a few minutes it was perfect.

Protesting?

Touchdown!

As the week went on Freddie was using the potty more and more.  He wanted to get his diaper off at every opportunity and was eager to sit on the pot.  I was hardly asking if he needed to use the potty.  He had taken the reins and was letting me know often enough when he needed on the potty.  He even went over and sat down to pee a few times on his own without even involving me.

On Thursday he asked for his diaper off, sat down, and made the cutest poop ever.  Amazing how cute it looks in the potty.  He was so tickled with himself that as soon as that poop hit the bowl he jumped up to check it out and do the "whoop. whoop" we do for potty success.  We both did plenty of whooping and cheering. 

Friday and Saturday that kid had us whooping quite a bit.  He was making some major potty deposits.  He'd go to the potty, ask for his diaper off, and take a seat. 

Then comes Sunday and nothing.  Not one motion towards the potty.  On Monday I was back to asking if he needed to potty.  He'd respond with a quick "no" and run away from me.  This morning I asked if he needed to potty and if he wanted his diaper off while trying to yank his pants down.  I thought maybe being diaper-less would appeal to him and get him back to the potty.  Nope.  He told me "no" and pulled his pants back up. 

Sigh.

What's going on here? 

Cornbread

Ingredients:

• 1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup Quaker or Aunt Jemima enriched corn meal
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup skim milk
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 egg, beaten

Directions: 

1. Heat oven to 400 F. 
2. Grease 8 or 9 inch cast iron skillet.  Place in oven to heat skillet and oil.
3. Combine dry ingredients. 
4. Stir in milk, oil and egg, mixing just until dry ingredients are moistened. 
5. Pour batter into prepared pan.  You should get a little sizzle as the batter drops in.
6. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown and wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.

Chicken and Andouille Gumbo

Liz was in town.  Yay!  And she cooked.  Yeehaw!

Ingredients:

• 1 -2 cups Roux*
• Holy trinity:  1-2 large onions, 4 or so stalks celery, 1 bell pepper, chopped**
• 2-3 tablespoons parsley, chopped
• 4 toes garlic, chopped
• Bay leaves
• 1 smoked chicken,***
• 1 lb andouille sausage****
• Season to taste with salt, pepper, Tony's, cayenne, or other Cajun Seasoning.

*  We used about 1 cup "instant roux" from the smokehouse where Liz picked up the meat.  Lucky for us, you can buy it online outside the Big Easy.  You can also use the jarred variety or even make your own.  My grandmother would not have approved of the instant or jarred variations.  She was pretty particular and would want some control over just how dark the roux was.  Most people prefer a peanut butter colored roux, but a good dark roux adds quite a flavor as well.  You just have to be very, very careful not to burn it.  I must say that the instant is an acceptable substitute, so much easier, and helps eliminate some fat (no oil to brown the flour).  You can make your own instant roux by "toasting" some flour spread on cookie sheet in the oven.  To make your own traditional roux, mix equal parts oil and flour in a heavy pan over a low flame...stir, stir, stir until desired shade of brown.

**Holy trinity is the foundation of all good cooking.  Onions, celery, bell pepper go into every New Orleans meal.  In NOLA you can get the prechopped "creole seasoning" which usually includes some parsley an garlic. Always good measure to add more garlic though.  The smokehouse sells a dehydrated seasoning veggie packet which is used, but it isn't enough to stand on its own.

***Liz brought the meat.  The smoked chicken and andouille make all the difference.  You can definitely order online, but the overnight shipping is pricey.  If you can't get to a smokehouse for your meat, use a whole roasted chicken.  Liz recommends maybe browning the meat in a bit of oil after removing it from the bone in this case.

****Of course andouille isn't everywhere, so any good quality smoke sausage can be substituted.  Charlie can gnaw away on a a good andouille link.  And he did, while watching football and wishing he had some cheese t

Directions:

1. Chop all vegetables.  Add "trinity" to a bit of oil in a heavy stockpot and cook down until tender.
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Remove chicken meat from bone.  Rip or cut into bite sized pieces.  Discard bones, but if it is a good smoked chicken, consider using the bones to make stock!
3. Slice andoullie into "half moon" pieces.
4. Add meat to veggies after translucent.  Cook down for a few minutes.
5. Add stock, reserve a few cups.  Liz ended up using about 1 gallon stock and a little water.
6. Allow liquid to warm up.  Simmer for a few minutes.  Add bay leaves.
7. Stir reserved warmed broth/stock into the roux.  Mix thoroughly and make sure there is no clumping of the flour/roux.  Slowly add this to gumbo, stirring and making sure there this no clumping.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
8. Add seasoning.  Depending on how your meat is seasoned this will vary immensely.
9. After gumbo begins to simmer, toss in the chopped parsley and cover for about an hour. 
10. Serve over rice.  And so much yummier the next day.

Lovin'

• Sunshine
• Digging
• Shovels and buckets in the tub
• Tiny bites out of my apple
• Football and nachos
• Children's Motrin
• Little hoodies
• Meal plans
• Walking to the library
• Baking
• Running to the potty
• Unprompted potty deposits more often than "Mess!"
• A new to me phone
• Offerings of little kisses on my bobo
• New yoga pants 

And then he leans in for a kiss

He's covered in pizza sauce. (so are my sunglasses!)

His nose is running down his lip.

And he cranes his neck and tightens up those lips in his variation of a "pucker."  Of course I kissed him.

He's so affectionate lately.  He'll stop in the middle of the playground, scan the sidelines for me, and walk over with that pucker.  After a kiss he's on his way.  Sometimes he'll grab my arms to indicate a hug is called for in addition to the kiss. 

Makes me stop, step back, and count my blessings.

Grey

• Freddie's stuffy.  His sleep is restless.  My sleep is minimal.
• Being a mom to a toddler in the winter sucks.  Do you know how long it takes us both to get dressed in the morning and out the door?  Too damn long.  And changing diapers outside after uncovering the diaper beneath all those clothes sucks too.  It's not even winter yet.
• It's been raining for days and days here.  It's cold and wet.  We walk everywhere.  Any time we try to leave the house we get rained on.
• Puddles are unavoidable.  Freddie's pants legs are wet.  His feet are wet.  His lip is quivering.  And then he needs his diaper changed.
• Wet pants, muddy jacket, pee pee rags...and no washing machine.  
• Having a pants-less boy means he has bizarre things dangling from his penis and hienie making their way into every single room.  Today it was cheerios.
• Exercising  = treadmill after Freddie's bedtime.  Yeah, right.  Do you know how exhausting it is being cooped up in this little apartment all day?  
• I'm so tired of being in this apartment I find myself daydreaming there was Chuck E. Cheese and a daiquiri machine in the basement of the building.  A little something for everyone.

Underwear bound

 Checking out his success.  He asked for his diaper off twice this morning 

while we were getting ready to leave and both times he peepeed in the potty!

There have been a few hits and lots of misses.  It's feeling a little like having a puppy.

I am not excecuting my full fledged training plan just yet.  We're still in the getting acquainted period.

What does this getting acquainted look like, you ask?

• No more liquids 2 hours before bed.
• No more sip cup with water at bed time and in the bed.
• Asking if he has to potty first thing in the morning, right after nap, and as soon as we walk in the door.
• Pants-less, for the most part, at home.  

What did the first few days look like?

• "Do you have to pee on the potty?" He runs to the potty and usually nothing.
• Peeing on the floor and being told "Pee goes in the potty" as I bring him to the potty.  Same story for poop.

What's happening now?

• Pee on the floor while he shouts "Mess!" and he runs to the potty after the fact.
• Sitting on the potty on his own, and giving his "I'm pushing face."  He then gets up and poops on the floor a few minutes later....and the howls "Mess!"
• He asks for his diaper off pretty often and then sits on the potty.  After that it's no more diaper for the day.

Successes:

• We've had some peepee deposits.  One was made while he was in the standing position so although it was technically a success because he got to the potty before peeing, it was most definitely a mess.
• We've had a poop deposit.
• He's made the definite connection between the potty and the his urge to poop and pee.  

Wondering about:

• What is the way to handle the whole "boys stand to pee in the potty" thing?
• Will I do night training along with day training?
• Is he really ready for Potty 101?  If not, what exactly will "ready" look like?
• Am I really ready for Potty 101?  It's going to put a kink into things.  I'll be in the house with him for a few days in a row and after that outings will become more difficult.
• When will I actually mark out the dates to set the plan in motion?

Paula's Pork Chops

I am always copying and pasting recipes into draft posts and return to them eventually.  This one I think I scooped up from someone on facebook, but I didn't note the source.  It's on the internet though.

Ingredients:

• 4 to 6 pork chops, bone-in or boneless
• flour
• salt and pepper
• 1/4 cup oil
• 1 large onion, sliced
• 2 cubes or equivalent chicken bouillon granules or base
• 2 cups hot water
• 8 oz. sour cream (fat free is okay)

Directions:

1. Season pork chops to taste and dredge in flour.
2. Lightly brown in oil and place in slow cooker.
3. Top chops with slice onions.
4. Dissolve bouillon in hot water and pour over chops.
5. Cook on low for 7-8 hours.
6. Stir in 2 tablespoons flour into sour cream.
7. Stir mixture into cooking juices.
8. Turn slow cooker on high for 15-30 minutes until liquid slightly thickens.
9. Serve with rice, noodles, or potatoes.

The recipe notes that fat free sour cream is ok...but I opted for light.  I don't do fat free anything.  I did brown the pork chops but didn't use 1/4 cup of oil to do so, nor did I dredge in flour.  I didn't add the flour to the sour cream at the end either.

The liquid reduced quite a bit through the long cooking time and I think this made the sauce a bit salty.

I used thick cut chops as that's what's available at Costco, but I think I'd rather this with thin pork chops.  It reminds me of stroganoff because of the sour cream sauce so I opted to serve it with egg noodles.   If Charlie didn't object to mushrooms I'd certainly add some of those towards the end. 

All in all it was pretty good and extremely easy.