Meal ideas - for Erin

I have been back in my weekly meal planning mode the past few weeks.  There is something about the fall that makes me want to get back into meal planning, I am not as keen in the summer months.  I make a list of 6 or 7 meals and then shop once a week for them; saves time and a lot of money because I don't make any other runs to the grocery store (where I always spend more than I should!)

Here are some ideas for you Erin!

 - Tonight we had: a dijon and fresh herb rubbed roast chicken with roasted sweet potatoes and potatoes (cut into large pieces with salt, pepper and a bit of oil) served with lightly steamed green beans from the garden.  Tomorrow I will make chicken quesadillas with the left over chicken, some sauteed veggies and aged cheddar cheese.  I often make these with left over roasted chicken.  I have some peach and tomato salsa to serve with these which I made and canned last week with Sabrina's help!!

 - A few nights ago we had a pork tenderloin, also done with dijon and fresh herbs but rolled in a lovely panko mixture.  I served this with steamed broccoli and quinoa.   This is a really quick and easy dinner.

 - Last night Jody and I had fish (Rob was out) served with delicious caramelized onions with balsamic vinegar and fresh thyme - so tasty.  We ate our fish with quinoa and the onions plus a big plate of cut up tomatoes (from the garden) and cucumbers with homemade balsamic vinaigrette.

- I made a simple beef stew in the crock pot with stewing beef, onions and garlic and mushroom soup (a cheater stew but still good!!)  Served with potatoes for Rob and pasta for Loic and I.

- I made a salad compose for Rob and Jody - their favorite - which is just a huge tray of cut up veggies (raw), some cheese (vache qui ri) and salami served with a loaf of french bread and more of my homemade vinaigrette.

- Homemade quick tomato sauce - just cut up and saute tomatoes from the garden with a clove of garlic, a splash of white wine and fresh oregano served on hot pasta.  I also sauteed some zucchini on the side for my self in a bit of oil and hot pepper flakes.  While he will eat it in stuff, Rob is not a giant zucchini fan.

- We are having ground beef, rice and veggie stuffed red peppers this week - these are super easy and the mix I use to stuff them is really versatile.  Healthy too.

Oh.  I also experimented with cookies.  The first batch were awesome - chocolate chip with oatmeal and coconut.  The second batch?  Even better because I added little caramel pieces that I found at a gourmet cooking store!!!!  The last 5 pounds of baby weight are not going anywhere fast if I keep this up :)

Erin - email me if you want any recipes.

- E

Odds and Ends

We have had another busy few weeks here!  First Loic had a cold, then I hurt my back, then Maelle was sick but we are all better now.

Today Linda, Loic, Maelle and I went to the Dentist.  It was Loic's first trip and he did quite well.  He was uncharacteristically nervous but was fine once he heard that there was a treat at the end!!  A big thanks to Linda for being my kid wrangler while I had my teeth cleaned.

We had a scare last week when Maelle woke up at 10:30 pm making terrible rasping noises.  Turns out she had croup and needed a dose of steroids.  The ER doctor was really, really lovely as was the nurse.  They said we were right to bring her in and that when babies make that awful noise when breathing in to bring them in right away.  I am once again thankful for our medical system and for the fact that I didn't have to pay for that ER visit (I know I pay through work etc. but I didn't have to produce cash to see the Doctor at 11:00 pm).

Now for some pictures!!

Loic and his buddy Ezra riding Teepee

Loic and my mom riding Jeff

Maelle taking her first ride in a swing!  She loved it.  I also have a video but sound like a spaz in it so I am not posting it for all to see/hear :)

Baby watching me make dinner.  She likes to sit in her highchair with some toys and she chats away at me while I make dinner

Maelle is almost 6 months old.  She started eating a bit of cereal a few weeks ago but isn't that into it right now so she hasn't had any in a few days.  That is fine with me, she is growing well and is very happy with her all breast milk diet :)  She has started to sleep a bit better this past week - she slept very well for the first 4 months then did a bit of a sleep back slide but we are back to where she was, which is lovely and very easy to deal with.

-E

First cold :(

Maelle has her first cold :(
I am guessing she caught it from Loic, who got sick on Sunday, and I think he must have caught it at preschool.  Oh well, it was bound to happen.
I hate it when little babies are sick because it is tough for them to breast feed and to sleep when their little noses are stuffed up.  I ended up sleeping with Maelle last night all night long and had her slightly propped up in my arms.  That alone would have been fine but I hurt my back/neck/shoulder on the weekend and sleeping like that was agony!  I am hoping she feels better tomorrow, poor little bug.
Loic has taken full advantage of the fact that he has been sick, his mom is really sore AND his little sister isn't well to watch movies on Apple TV :)  He doesn't watch a lot of TV so it has been fine with me!
Linda delivered me a frappucino yesterday and a cookie for Loic which was really nice of her.  My folks are in France so couldn't help out but we are managing ok.  The dogs have been out with our dog walker the past two days so they are fine as well.  We will be better in no time.
I am back in class Friday for my last of 8 BCIT courses!  I am excited to see my classmates again!
- E

Highchair Pics

I was all set to wait until Maelle was 6 months old to introduce her to solid food, like I did with Loic, but she another idea!  For the past week or so, whenever she sat on my lap when I was eating, she has reached out for the spoon or fork and has opened her mouth wide open like a baby bird.  She then watches the fork go back to the plate and follows it with her mouth wide open again!  So, we decided a few days ago to let her try some baby cereal.  She took to it right away!  She has had it about three times now and is now opening her mouth and really grabbing the spoon to get it into her mouth quickly. It is really, really cute.  She is over 5 months old now so I feel like since she has shown us how ready she is, we might as well follow her lead.

I have been breast feeding her before we eat dinner then letting her have her cereal while we eat dinner so tonight we brought out Loic's high chair for her to sit in.  She loved sitting in it while we ate dinner!  And she polished off a tablespoon or two so of baby cereal too.  Adorable.  She then had a bit more breast milk and fell asleep :)

Have I said how quickly she seems to be growing up?  She was a tiny baby 5 and a bit months ago and now she seems so big and her personality (laid back, happy, loves to watch her brother and the dogs to everything) is really coming through loud and clear.  She is quick to smile at anyone and everyone who looks at her and she loves watching her big brother - he can make her laugh just by looking at her!

The pics are just iphone ones, we need to take out the camera for some really clear shots soon.

So so so CUTE!!

Blurry but still adorable.

Ahhhhh!!!!

Give me that spoon!!

Yummm!!

In other news, Loic loves preschool.  When I went to pick him up last week he asked to stay longer.  

The dogs are all doing well too.  Tonight Jody and I took them up Dempsey for a hike in the woods but we saw a bear on our way only a few blocks away from the start of our hike and he wasn't scared of people at all so we kind of freaked ourselves out and shortened our walk!  Funny since just last night we took the dogs to the same spot and didn't worry about bears - even though we know they are there.  I guess it took seeing such a confident one nearby that worried us (plus I heard something in the bushes - probably a squirrel).  I am not convinced the dogs would do much to warn us of a bear nearby or I worry that they might attract one to us and then proceed to not defend us :)

-E

First day of preschool

Loic is going to preschool two mornings a week from 8:30-11:30.  This week is gradual entry week in case kids are upset or don't want to stay without their parents but I am thinking it won't be an issue because today he got there and immediately said, while rushing in the door: "Where do I put my pack pack (backpack)?  Where is my cubby?" and I had to call him back to me to say goodbye!!

I spied on him when I went to pick him up and he was eating his snack at the table with the other kids, chatting away.  I think he will be fine.  I, on the other hand, had a bit of a moment when I dropped him off.  He is growing up so very quickly.

He is so very funny and chatty and kind.  He also listens very selectively but is getting better about that (slowly, very slowly).   Yesterday at the park his friend was scared on the slide and he stopped and said: "I will help you, give me your hand, don't worry".  I almost cried it was so nice.  But I didn't, because that would have been odd and the other park parents would have wondered about me :)

Our before preschool photo moment.

I should have written in down but when asked he says he wants to be either a paleontologist (yes he says that specifically) or a policeman when he grows up

Cutie pie during afternoon tummy time :)

She can go quickly from her back to her tummy and then stays there chatting and grabbing toys

The best of many shots of the two of them.  Maelle really, really loves her big brother and laughs and laughs and laughs at him

Preschool day two is tomorrow, I think he will be fine.  I, on the other hand, think he is growing up far too quickly but I am really proud of my nice boy.

-E

Baby is 5 months old

How on earth is she 5 months old tomorrow?
Still the nicest, happiest, cutest baby.  She nurses so well and so efficiently - her brother would nurse off and on all day (and night) but she is down to business this girl.  Sometimes at night she just wants a quick cuddle and won't even latch on - so unlike her brother in this regard!  He would never turn down an opportunity to nurse that boy :)
She is obviously eating well because she has now more than doubled her birthweight at 5 months old.  We are still just breast feeding; I am not in a hurry to start her on solid food and will give it a go in a month or so.  I find it so very satisfying to be able to make and feed my babies what they need in the first 6 months of their lives myself.  And talk about convenience - nothing like not having to bring anything with us to feed the baby except, well, me.  She hasn't had a bottle and at this point I figure why bother?  I hate pumping and actually can't pump well at all.  We have even gone out to a late movie and left her at home (she slept the whole time we were out).  While Loic and I had a rough start breast feeding, Maelle has been a pure pleasure to feed.  He was a joy to feed too but in a different way because we were more worried about his lack of weight gain and feeding him wasn't so carefree feeling.

 Maelle's first trip to the PNE

(This the the 9th year that Rob and I have gone together (!))

 Content after eating (no skin showing :))

Isn't she adorable?!

 This is Loic as a baby, probably closer to 8 months old but they are starting to look more alike

 She has amazing big blue eyes this girl

And she is so quick to smile!

We had a good time at the PNE this year.  Loic missed his nap to go see a kid's group with Rob (who is an awesome Dad I should add) and my mom, Maelle and I joined them later in the afternoon.  We also had a great long weekend in Whistler last week.  

Rob is taking Loic camping next weekend and is leaving us girls at home but we will meet them for dinner one night.  Loic is already excited!

E