Mission: Toddler Beach Packing List

I have been so good about blogging on a consistent basis so far and now I am getting off track! Things get so hard when you have a toddler and are in your 3rd trimester!
We are so excited to be getting ready for our annual beach trip. We didn't get to go last summer since Charlotte was born at the beginning on June. There wasn't really any time to go beforehand and she was just too young the rest of the summer.
I have a great packing list that I have used for Jason and I for the past few years. I keep it on Google Docs so that I can refer back to it no matter where I am and also update it as needed each year. It's a really great list since it's basically been a work in progress for the last 5 years. This year I added an entire new sheet for Charlotte's items. I will probably still think of items to add, especially after we go and come back and I realize what I was missing!

Most of the items are self-explanatory but I'll go through a few of them.

Kitchen Items
Thank goodness we don't have to take bottles and formula! (That will happen next year though!)
- Cups: We have a separate kind of cup that she uses for milk, hence the two different kinds of cups.
- "Cold freezer things" are so we can take milk and fruit out with us.
- Bottle drying rack: We still use this daily at home to dry her milk cups. I just thought I would really miss it if we didn't have it.

Recreational Items
- Float: She has a great float for the pool that allows her to get out of the sun for a bit and gives our arms a rest from holding her in the pool. It's the Swimways Baby Spring Float Activity Center with Canopy.
- Beach bag: We have a giant beach bag that we use but I have a smaller bag for her that goes inside ours. It keeps her sunscreen, snacks, toys, water shoes, etc. separate and easy to find.
- Beach tent: I have heard from so many other parents that this is a complete must for babies/toddlers/kids at the beach. We even had one when I was little although I don't think it's as nice as the one that we recently purchased. I researched the heck out of these things before we settled on the Coleman Instant RoadTrip Beach Shade. It pops up, kind of like an umbrella, and is therefore set up in a little less than a minute, not including staking it down. It has pockets on the sides for sand to help weigh it down even more. I'll do a more thorough product review of this once we are back but we are really excited about using it.
- Inflatable wading pool: I always remember having one of these at the beach when I was younger... Mostly for my younger brother. He could not stand having sand on himself. So my parents set up this little pool under our beach tent and he could just dip himself in it to rinse off. Also, it will allow little ones to play in the water while being on the beach without having to actually be in the ocean.

Toiletries
- Bath mat and Spout cover: She gets so crazy active in the bathtub now that we feel it is necessary to bring these items!

Clothes
I feel like all of this is pretty obvious!

Technology Items
- DVDs are listed because we have a DVD player in our car and will probably let her watch a couple on the way down.
- Baby monitor: We love our video monitor. It makes it so easy just to see what she's doing in the middle of the night if she makes a noise without having to go in the room and disturb her so we definitely want to have it with us.

Medicine
I really think you should never go on any trips without any of these items.

Toys
- Books: We read 3-4 books a day and especially before bed so these are a must! We'll probably make a trip to the library a couple of days before we leave to pick up some new ones.
- Sand toys: We purchased the Spielstabil Backpack Sand Play Set after I read many glowing reviews of the product. Again, this is another product that I will review myself here once we are home. So far, she has loved wearing the backpack around the house. I haven't let her play with it too much so it will still be new and fun on the beach.
- Car toys: We have been slowly gathering new toys over the past month and setting them aside in a bag for the car. I plan on having enough to pull out something new every 30 minutes if needed. And we, hopefully, won't even need that many since she should nap at least part of the way so we should have enough to get us there and back happily!
- Regular toys: I have also been pulling some of her current toys away for the past month so that when we get down there they will be kind of like "new" toys. I'm not taking a lot just enough to give her a few things to do inside every once in a while.
- Bath toys: Rubber ducks, water squirters, Munchkin Star Fountain (which she loves!)... Just enough to keep her busy while we bathe her and wash her hair. 

Miscellaneous Items
- Stain remover: I'll be upset if we get something on one of my favorite outfits for her and have nothing to treat the stain with! And the Dreft stain remover is amazing. I even use it on my own clothes it works so well.
- Sleep sack: She still wears one at night just to keep her covered in a light blanket. It also helps to prevent her from crawling out of her crib.
- Pack N Play mattress: I couldn't stand the thought of her having to sleep on that hard board at the bottom of the pack n play every day and night for over a week so we bought a fabulous Foldable Playard Mattress Topper from MamaDoo Kids. It makes the pack n play so soft and comfy for sleeping and I love the fact that it folds up. It is also made to fit many different brands of playards.
- Pack N Play sheets: I also purchased the Everlasting Playard Sheet from MamaDoo Kids. The standard sheets would have worked but were just slightly too small and therefore kind of difficult to change. The sheet is great and very soft and it has elastic at the corners so very easy to slip on and off.
- Night light: I'm going to bring her night light that is always in her room just as a familiar source of light.
- Strollers: We are considering taking our larger stroller and also our umbrella stroller but that might change after we start packing the car! I'll update on this!

I'll definitely be adding/taking away from this list when we get back. We are so excited to get packing! 

Mission: Charlotte's 14-Month Schedule

We have recently made a huge transition within our 4-hour schedule with Charlotte... We dropped the morning nap! I kept noticing that she wouldn't really sleep while she was upstairs in the morning, she would just play quietly in her crib or just kind of sit there. At her babysitter's house, it was the opposite... She would take her long nap in the morning (2 hours) and then just take a short nap (1 hour) in the afternoon which made her really "pleasant" to be around in the early evening! So I decided she was ready and showing the signs and we have officially dropped the nap.
I have mixed feelings about this and it's kind of bittersweet. On the plus side, it really frees up my mornings for errands and other things but at the same time I don't get that little bit of down time that I used to have! But she will sleep for about 3 hours in the afternoon now so I have an extra long time during that period.
Here is a sample of her current schedule (weekends included as they are slightly different in incorporate Gymboree and church). The reason she gets up a little bit later on Saturday mornings is to just help her make it through her Gymboree class... She starts to kind of lose it towards the end because she is so active and gets tired a little faster. We will probably try to adjust this as she gets a little older or just leave it until she enters the Level 4 class which starts about an hour before her current Level 3 class. I have also included an as needed nap in the morning part of the schedule just in case she is having a rough morning but so far we have not needed this.

Charlotte’s Schedule (14 months old)

Monday – Friday Schedule

7:30am: Wake up

7:45am: Breakfast (4oz. milk)

*10:00am – 11:00am: Nap, if needed

11:45pm: Lunch (4oz. milk)

1:00pm: Nap begins

4:00pm: Wake up

4:15pm: Snack (4oz. milk)

6:45pm: Dinner (4oz. milk)

7:30pm: Bath, brush teeth, story time

7:45pm: Bedtime

Saturday Schedule

8:00am: Wake up

8:15am: Breakfast (4oz. milk)

*9:30am – 10:30am: Nap, if needed

10:40am: Leave for Gymboree

11:10am – 11:55pm: Gymboree class

12:30pm: Lunch (4oz. milk)

1:30pm: Nap begins

4:00pm: Wake up

4:15pm: Snack (4oz. milk)

6:45pm: Dinner (4oz. milk)

7:30pm: Bath, brush teeth, story time

7:45pm: Bedtime

Sunday Schedule

7:30am: Wake up

7:45am: Breakfast (4oz. milk)

8:20am: Leave for church

9:00am – 10:30am: Church

12:00pm: Lunch (4oz. milk)

1:00pm: Nap begins

4:00pm: Wake up

4:15pm: Snack (4oz. milk)

6:45pm: Dinner (4oz. milk)

7:30pm: Bath, brush teeth, story time

7:45pm: Bedtime

Mission: Make Ahead Freezer Meals

When I was pregnant with Charlotte I had every intention of making ahead several freezer meals for Jason and I to eat after she was born... That never happened! Luckily, we had so many friends and neighbors bring dinner to us that we were able to freeze a lot of those and they lasted for several weeks. (I think we had at least 5 lasagnas... One of the reasons I will never take that to new parents!) Another thing to factor into this is that I was having full blown gallbladder attacks at this point and could only eat Saltine crackers and Nilla Wafers. Every now and then I'd splurge and have a reduced fat Fig Newton. I basically had to cut everything out of my diet that contained more than 3g of fat per serving and even then, no guarantees that it wouldn't trigger an attack. So because of that I really didn't eat much but at least Jason benefited from the meals!
It's totally different this time... I don't have a gallbladder any more and we also have another mouth to feed! (I can't see us trying to give Charlotte Ramen noodles!) So I am going to get it together and start getting my make ahead freezer meals in order. I have about 16 weeks left so I figured if I start now then I can make one extra meal to freeze every two weeks or so (more if I'm feeling ambitious) and then I'll have about 8-10 by the time the baby gets here.

I'm going to use the "mold technique" because our freezer is not that large and is pretty packed as it is. Basically, I will make a casserole and divide it in half into two 8x8 dishes instead of one 13x9 (unless it's already meant to be in an 8x8). I'll line the bottoms of the 8x8 dishes with wax paper and plastic wrap (I would use foil but I'm afraid it might stick and tear) and then cover them and stick them in the freezer until they are frozen through. Then I'll pop them out and remove the wax paper and plastic wrap and stick them into two Ziploc freezer bags, removing as much air as possible. I wanted to get one of those Foodsaver machines but Jason said no! LOL! The reason for dividing them in half is so we only have to defrost and cook what we will be eating that night so things don't have to be reheated more than once. Also, I have more space for 8x8 squares than 13x9 rectangles in my freezer.
Since they will be in the "mold" of an 8x8 dish, once they are taken out of the freezer they can simply be placed back in the glass 8x8 dish to be reheated in the oven.

This is my list that I'm going to go by of what meals to prepare ahead over the next few months. Most of these will go in the freezer unbaked.
White Chicken Lasagna
Three Cheese Baked Spaghetti
Burritos with beans, rice, cheese and beef filling (individually wrapped in foil, then sealed in a bag)
Spinach Rice Casserole (good side dish for baked chicken)
Easy Lasagna
Old Fashioned Chicken Pot Pie  (I'll make the filling only and then thaw the day before I use it)
Beef Chili with Beans
Award Winning White Chili
Taco Soup
Enchilada Casserole (I need to post that recipe to my BigOven page and then link it here)

I'll have to plan an update post after we have thawed and eaten these meals so I can remember if they froze well or not!

Mission: Cheesy Chicken & Rice Casserole

This chicken casserole was really enjoyed by both Jason and Charlotte and I have already received requests to make it again soon!

Cheesy Chicken & Rice Casserole
 4 boneless, skinless organic chicken breasts, cubed
4 cups cooked rice (white or brown)
1 can cream of celery soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can broccoli and cheese soup
1 cup Velveeta cheese, cubed
2 cups shredded mild cheddar cheese
2 cups broccoli, cooked

Preheat oven to 350.
Saute chicken pieces in a large skillet with your choice of seasonings (I used a garlic and wine seasoning).
Mix together cream of celery, cream of chicken and broccoli and cheese soups in a large mixing bowl. Add in the chicken and broccoli.
Layer cooked rice at the bottom of a 13x9 casserole dish. Sprinkle the cheese cubes on top of the rice layer.
Spoon soup, chicken and broccoli mixture evenly onto the rice layer. Sprinkle the shredded cheddar on top.
Bake at 350 degrees until cheese is melted and browned, approximately 45 minutes. Cover with tin foil if it begins to get too brown on top too quickly.

Mission: Gymboree!

Charlotte had her first Gymboree class this past Saturday and it was wonderful! She really enjoyed herself and participated in all of the activities and I was really impressed with the quality of the program. We went ahead and enrolled her (this first class was a free trial) and she'll start going weekly now. It is a little pricey, in my opinion, but after attending one of the classes I do think it is well worth it. I signed up during a period where they waive the $40 one-time enrollment fee and give you $10 off your first month so our first month will only be $59 instead of the normal $69 and we'll never have to pay that enrollment fee since when you join it's a "lifetime" membership. That includes one class per week and, I think, one Open Gym time per week. Also, you have the option to upgrade to a premium membership which is a one-time fee of $59. That gives you two classes per week, unlimited Open Gym time and your monthly rate drops to $59 per month instead of $69. I think we will probably go ahead and upgrade to this when we go back this coming Saturday. Even if we don't attend the two classes per week, it will still lower our monthly payments and that will pay for itself within 6 months. So, all in all, a little pricey but worth it and they also offer some incentives which helps.
One negative is that it does seem to be geared more towards stay at home moms since most of the classes fall during the week, mornings and afternoons, not a lot of evenings. But they do offer some evening Open Gym times and a Family Play & Learn class one evening of the week that we'll have to check out. But they do offer a few weekend options, just not as many.

Charlotte is in the Play & Learn 3 class (10 months - 16 months). The description for this group is: "Explore two-way communication with your child. Play environments encourage discovery, balance and coordination as parents learn to understand how their infant interacts and communicates with them and the world."
 The class is about 45 minutes long and is divided up into little sets of activities and there is always a theme for each week. This past Saturday our theme was "Big & Little" and was all about distinguishing between things that were small and large. The instructor emphasized how important it was to keep reminding the kids that things they were doing were big and little even if you think they aren't really comprehending because they are learning anyway, even if it doesn't seem that way to you, the parent.
The first activity was basically like a free play but with explaining to them how things around the room were big and little. For instance, there was a large slide and a smaller slide, a large bee puppet and a small one, etc.

If you look at the left side of the above picture you can kind of see the big slide next to a smaller one. Charlotte loved the slides in particular and kept insisting on going up each of them backwards.

One of the structured activities that came next was bouncing big and little. They have a large inflatable kind of thing that we sat the toddlers on and sang a song while we bounced them big and then little. We would sing louder when they were bouncing higher as another reference that one was greater than the other. Charlotte enjoyed this and wanted to do it twice in a row!

After that they did the Signature Activity for the Level 3 group which was to all line up behind the big inflatable thing and push it together across the mat and then back again. Charlotte kept stopping to clap... She was loving it!
I didn't get too many other pictures since I wanted to participate in the class with her too and not let Jason have all the fun!
Some of the other activities were to sit in a circle around the mat and blow bubbles while singing a bubble song. We got the huge parachute out and they all got under it while the parents raised it up and down. Then they got to sit on the parachute with Gymbo the Clown (a 36" plush clown that is actually pretty cute) while we pulled them around in a circle.
She had a really amazing time and we can't wait to go again this Saturday!

Mission: Beef Penne Pasta Casserole

This is a great family casserole because both Jason and I love it and Charlotte loves it as well! I just cut up her penne noodles into halves or thirds so it's easier for her to eat. It has been a huge hit!

Beef Penne Pasta Casserole
1 lb. penne pasta, cooked and drained
8 oz. lean ground beef
1 small onion, chopped
12 oz. tomato paste
2 cups water
1/3 cup red wine or water
1 Tbsp. instant beef bouillon
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Salt, to taste

Preheat oven to 350. Saute ground beef and onion in large saucepan, stirring occasionally, until beef is no longer pink.
Add water, tomato paste, wine and bouillon; cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 to 15 minutes or until flavors are blended.
Layer ingredients as follows in an ungreased 13x9-inch baking dish: 1/2 pasta, 1/2 sauce and 1/2 cheese. Repeat layers and cover. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until heated through and cheese is melted.

Mission: Organic Milk

We decided when Charlotte turned one that it would be worth the money for us to give her organic milk. I did a considerable amount of research into this subject and really think it will be worth it. Besides, we were already spending $35 a week on formula so milk that is $2-$3 more dollars per gallon is still better than that!

According to Karen Collins, R.D. from MSNBC, milk that is labeled "USDA Organic" must come from cows that have not been treated with bovine growth hormone (BGV) to increase milk production. A second important characteristic of organic milk is that the cows are not treated with antibiotics. The third requirement is is that the cows' feed is grown without pesticides. Some recent USDA reports have shown that nonorganic milk may contain low levels of certain pesticides. And the final requirement is that the cows must be given access to pasture. Some suggest that pasture-fed cows may produce milk that contains more conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a special type of fat that may protect against cancer and other health problems.

The laws governing organic food production are the strictest in our nation, states Melinda Hemmelgarn, M.S., R.D. in her online article "Wake Up America! Benefits of Organic Milk Go Beyond Nutrition". She goes on to list all of the reasons that organic milk is far superior to nonorganic. It's a great article so check it out if you are interested in learning more.

After reading all of this convincing research on why to go organic, I was convinced. But then I started thinking... Are all organic brands created equal? Surely one must be superior over the others? So I started digging into that and found this survey that is done, and continuously updated, by the Cornucopia Institute: Organic Dairy Report.
Turns out that the brand we had been buying, Horizon, gets a 0 Cow Rating, which is the worst! Yikes! Our second go-to brand, Publix Greenwise, received a 2 Cow Rating, which is labeled as "good but questionable long-term commitment to organics". There has to be some better options out there!

There are three options that I have found using the Cornucopia Report that we will be trying over the next few weeks. I am going to update this post each time I purchase one of these options so I can get an adequate price comparison. Right now we are going through about a gallon a week of the Publix Greenwise brand ($5.00 for 1 gallon). The three brands I want to try all received a 4 Cow Rating (there are no 5 Cow Rating brands available that I can find) so they are comparable in quality but I do want to see how the prices/availability measure up to each other. The brands are:

1. Organic Valley ($4.29 for 1/2 gallon at Publix, $4.98 for 1/2 gallon at Ingles)
2. Ingles store brand, Harvest Farms ($3.57 for 1/2 gallon)
3. Whole Foods store brand, 365 Organic

According to their website, Organic Valley is sold at our local Publix store so it would obviously be the most convenient and will hopefully be the least expensive. I am not holding my breath though since I think it is only available in the half gallon size.
I work pretty close to an Ingles so I'll be running by there after work to get a gallon to test at some point.
Whole Foods is going to be the hardest to get to (so hopefully it won't be the cheapest!) and Jason would have to make a special trip over there every week on his way home from work.
I am hoping that Organic Valley is the winner because, after combing through their website, I am really impressed with their co-op of farmers. It even has a page introducing you to your local dairy farmers by region. Meet the Southeast farmers here.

I'll update each time we purchase one of these brands so we can locate the best milk for the best price!

Mission: Strawberries & Cream

In honor of Wimbledon beginning today, this seems like a good treat that Charlotte will enjoy!

Strawberries & Cream
3 cups strawberries
2 cups heavy whipping cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 tablespoons granulated white sugar

Cut the tops off the strawberries and then cut them in half.
Whip the cream until it starts to firm up. After the cream becomes stiff, stir in the vanilla and sugar, then finish whipping the cream until it becomes truly stiff. Spoon the strawberries and cream into serving dishes in alternating layers and enjoy!

Mission: Toddler Meals List

The transition from formula to milk and solids was a tough one for me (and for me only... Charlotte has done great!) because I wasn't sure what to feed her. I wanted it to be healthy but with a full-time job I just don't have the time to always be in the kitchen whipping up gourmet meals and snacks. So I am going to start a list of ideas for meals and snacks and will plan on adding to it over time. Some of these are my own ideas and others have been borrowed from a wealth of great websites and blogs.

Snacks
Morning snack served with water. Afternoon snack served with 4oz. of organic whole milk.

1. Seedless grapes (cut into fourths or halves)
2. Whole grain Goldfish crackers
3. Cheerios with a side of yogurt
4. String cheese
5. Cheez-It crackers
6. Ritz crackers with cheddar cheese slices
7. Hard boiled egg with a few cut grapes
8. Baked sweet potato chips
9. Fig Newtons
10. Banana slices with peanut butter on top
11. Kiwi slices and yogurt
12. Whole wheat toast with jam
13. Yogurt mixed with sliced berries
14. Apple pieces/slices dipped in Vanilla yogurt
15. Shredded cheese with a slice of lunch meat torn up
16. Ants on a log (raisins, celery and peanut butter)
17. Fruit/Yogurt smoothie
18. Frozen grapes
19. Yogurt Popsicles (freeze a cup of yogurt with a Popsicle inserted)
20. Fruit mix (watermelon, pineapple, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries)
21. Crunchy Tofu Bites (crunch up Cheerios in a plastic Ziploc bag, add a dash of cinnamon, toss in pieces of tofu and shake well)
22. Apple pieces/slices with caramel dip
23. Pita bread triangles with spinach artichoke dip
24. Celery sticks with ranch dressing

Breakfast
All breakfasts served with 4oz. of organic whole milk

1. Organic vanilla yogurt, sliced raspberries and blueberries, 1/2 cup Cheerios
2. 3 Eggo Blueberry Pancakes, slice of ham
3. Tangerine slices, side of raisins, handful of Kix cereal
4.  Sliced peached, cottage cheese
5. Baked Oatmeal, side of raisins (3 cups oats, 1 cup milk, 1/2 cup olive oil, 1/2 cup stevia, 1 tsp vanilla, 1 tsp baking powder, 2 eggs, 1 tsp sea salt - mix - bake at 350 for 20 minutes until top is spongy)
6. Whole grain toast with peanut butter, applesauce with oatmeal mixed in
7. Fruit smoothie (berries, whole milk or yogurt), Cheerios
8. 2 or 3 sweet potato pancakes
9. Sliced pineapple, whole wheat toast with strawberry cream cheese
10. Applesauce Pancakes
11. Whole wheat toast with sugar free natural jam, nectarines
12. Blueberry Breakfast Cake
13. Cantaloupe, banana, yogurt, orange juice, honey (after your doctor recommends giving this to your child) and vanilla extract smoothie
14. French toast (whole grain bread, eggs, cinnamon, vanilla and milk) top with frozen berries or low-sugar maple syrup
15.  French toast, side of mixed fruit
16. Whole wheat toast, light cream cheese, turkey sausage
17. Veggie and cheese omelet (try bell peppers, broccoli, mushrooms, etc), fruit cup
18. Buckwheat pancakes (I like Hodgson's Mill Buckwheat Pancake mix), sliced banana
19. Peanut butter and jelly sandwich
20. Whole grain blueberry or cranberry muffin
21. Rice cereal fruit milkshake (whole milk, rice cereal, fruit of choice: blueberries, strawberries, mango, pineapple, raspberries, etc)
22. Banana slices from 1 banana topped with peanut butter, extra 4oz. of whole milk
23. Scrambled egg whites with cheddar cheese, hand full of Cheerios, sliced strawberries

Lunch
All lunches served with 4oz. of organic whole milk

1. Whole wheat Triscuits, cheddar cheese slices, ham and/or roast beef slices, sliced canteloupe
2. Pea Salad (1 bag of frozen peas, 1 cup chopped potato, 1 cup onion, 1 cup celery, 1 cup chopped tomato, 1 cup cheddar cheese, 1/4 cup Hellman's Light Mayo, 1/4 cup plain yogurt, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, 1 tsp. dried mustard - mix everything and cool)
3. Tuna Salad Pita (light mayo, tuna, baby spinach leaves chopped)
4. Grilled peanut butter and banana sandwich
5. Turkey burger patty (no bun) sliced, baked sweet potato fries
6. Peanut butter and jelly sandwich, steamed carrot sticks sliced/chopped
7. Crinkle carrots, sliced peeled cucumbers, spinach and artichoke dip, whole wheat pita bread triangles
8. Grilled American cheese sandwich on whole wheat, Dole mixed 100% fruit cup
9. Sliced pickles, green olives, black olives, cheese cubes, whole wheat pita
10. Spinach ravioli with Parmesan cheese sprinkled on top, side of sliced strawberries
11. Lunch meat slices, cheese slices, whole wheat wrap rolled or torn, veggie medley
12. Cheesy Broccoli-Potato Mash
13. Whole wheat or grain toast, avocado and cream cheese smeared on toast, steamed carrot sticks and dipping sauce
14. Tomato, Cucumber and Onion Salad (Chop/slice veggies, mix with light Italian dressing or red wine vinegar and olive oil), kids chicken nuggets
15. Chopped cooked broccoli with cheddar cheese melted on top, warm whole grain pita
16. Grilled chicken patty seasoned with parsley and LIGHT pepper, baked sweet potato fries
17. Turkey and cheddar cheese sandwich on whole wheat, handful of Goldfish crackers

Dinner
All dinners served with 4oz. of organic whole milk

1. Macaroni and 4 Cheeses 
2. Spinach lasagna
3. Lime Chicken Fajitas - chicken sauteed in lime juice, chopped tortilla torn, shredded Mexican cheese
4. Toddler Meatballs with tomato sauce, cup of steamed broccoli
5. Homemade Hamburger Helper
6. Vegetable Soup - (low sodium beef broth, lean beef or turkey, potatoes, stewed tomatoes, corn, carrots, peas, green beans), sweet potato biscuit
7. Fish sticks, cauliflower steamed and dressed with melted cheddar cheese
8. Sizzling Stir Fry (chicken, broccoli, baby carrots, water chestnuts, yellow bell pepper, low sodium soy sauce, garlic powder, water) with brown rice
9. Rotisserie chicken slices, steamed cabbage slices, whole wheat pita bread
10. Turkey meatloaf, side of corn, brown rice, cinnamon apple slices
11. Turkey, sweet mashed potatoes, roasted broccoli with feta cheese on top
12. 1 grilled chicken tender, quinoa, 2 asparagus spears seasoned with lime juice and garlic
13. Whole wheat grilled cheese sandwich, side of tomato soup for dipping or spoon feeding
14. Almond Crusted Chicken Fingers, mixed veggies (squash, zucchini, carrots) steamed
15. Cheddar Cheese Quesadilla - 1 whole wheat tortilla folded in half, stuffed with cheddar cheese (add veggies for extra fillings)
16. Whole Wheat Pepperoni Pizza with Pumpkin Puree
17. Shredded pork lightly seasoned, steamed chopped carrots with cinnamon and unsalted butter mixed in
18. Lean ground beef or turkey browned and seasoned lightly, black beans, lettuce shreds, shredded Mexican cheese
19. Broccoli and Cheese casserole
20. Turkey burger, whole wheat bun, sliced strawberries, steamed zucchini
21. Whole wheat noodles in unsalted butter, Parmesan cheese and a side of veggies with tomato sauce
22. BBQ Chicken Tender, side of peas, sweet potato crescent roll, handful of sliced grapes
23. Steamed broccoli and asparagus with zesty cheese sauce for dipping and a whole wheat bread option

Mission: Cheesy Broccoli-Potato Mash

1lb yukon Gold potatoes cut into wedges
3/4 pound broccoli crowns chopped
3/4 cup shredded fontina cheese
nonfat milk
teaspoon of sea salt
fresh ground pepper

Place 1 in of water to boil in large pot. Place potatoes in a  steamer basket and steam for 10 minutes. Place broccoli on top, cover and steam until the potatoes and broccoli are tender, 6 to 8 minutes more. Transfer the broccoli to a large bowl and coarsely mash with a potato masher. Add the potatoes, cheese, milk, salt and pepper and continue mashing to desired consistency. Serve immediately.

Mission: Pack 'n Play Review

Before we had Charlotte we decided that it would be a good idea to purchase two pack 'n plays, one for upstairs and one for downstairs. In hindsight this was probably unnecessary but now we have one to loan out to grandparents so it does still get used.
We knew the one downstairs would also be used a great deal as a changing station so we wouldn't have to go up and down all day changing diapers. (This also lead to our first "run out and get it from the store" purchase of a second Diaper Genie the day after coming home from the hospital!) So we selected two very different pack 'n plays. Here they are, along with the reasons that we chose them.

Graco Pack 'n Play Playard - Posie

 I thought it was a fabulous purchase. It had the Newborn Napper Station, lights, music and vibration and also a changing table with diaper stacker on the side. Plus, it came in this pretty flowered design.
Well, we never used the Napper Station... I had the fear of God instilled in me by the hospital nurses that babies must always be laid flat to sleep and I was afraid that the Napper wasn't flat enough and that something would happen to her (total New Mommy Syndrome, I know!). So we just let her sleep in the bassinet part and took the Napper out. She did actually enjoy the vibrating feature and this allowed me to take several showers. She wasn't a good sleeper at first so I honestly didn't even have time for a shower during the day at times without the vibrating bassinet (and then we got a swing, hallelujah!).
The worst part about this pack 'n play is the Changer. Charlotte was 9 lbs. and 21.5 inches the day she was born and she never fit into this changer, she was always too heavy. It is only supported on one side (the right side in the above picture) so it always slanted to the left and made it practically impossible to change her. I complained to Graco a few times about it and basically just got a "Sorry you don't like our product" response from them. I just hated having to deal with this when I had a far superior product that we were using downstairs. Now I'll get to that one!

S1 by Safety 1st Satellite Premier Playard - Pegasus

 Now this is a playard! The storage compartments are fantastic and the hamper is awesome to have downstairs. The changer is supported on both sides so it is extremely stable and Charlotte (all 25 lbs of her!) still uses it to this day.
We used the bassinet part up until she was about 5-6 months old. She was then past the weight limits and had also started crawling. She really liked the music that it played and also liked watching it light up and the bears on the mobile move around.
The difference in quality between this pack 'n play and the Graco are huge. This one is much sturdier and we have really used it to it's fullest potential! The one problem is that is is a little challenging to find pack 'n play sheets that fit it well. We just used the Graco brand sheets and then tucked the excess into the sides but it would be nice to be able to easily find better fitting sheets.

Something I just learned about today was the introduction of a brand new playard by 4moms (maker of the mamaRoo, which we have and I'll review later and also maker of the famous Origami stroller which we can't even come close to affording!). This playard is named the "Breeze" and is expected to come out this August. It is being billed as "the easiest playard ever" and does actually look pretty cool. Watch the demo video here. I hope it's not going to cost over $800 like the Origami does! Maybe I can get them to send me one for free if I do a review on it... I guess that would mean that I actually have to have people that read this blog... Need to start working on that!

Mission: Zucchini & Cheese

This is a recipe that can be used in place of macaroni and cheese if you would like a more healthy option!

Zucchini & Cheese
1 large zucchini
1 cup mild cheddar cheese, grated
1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated
3 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon garlic, minced
*Onion flakes
*Salt & pepper, to taste
*1 jalapeno pepper, finely chopped

*These items are optional if you want to create a "grown up" version for the adults!

Melt butter in a large frying pan. Grate zucchini into pan and cook at a medium temperature until it is soft and mushy. Stirring occasionally.
Add the cheese and stir until melted.
If desired, add the jalapeno, onion flakes and salt and pepper. Cook for about 5 more minutes, stirring often to keep the cheese from sticking to the bottom.

We often experiment with other kinds of cheeses (pepper jack, mozzarella, etc). You can use more or less cheese to suit your tastes and also add many different toppings. We have even added a little sausage!

I have never tried to freeze this and I don't imagine it would do too well. The leftovers, if there are any, can definitely be saved in the refrigerator and eaten the next day but I probably wouldn't try to freeze it.

Mission: Veggie Pancakes

We made these last night after Charlotte had gone to bed so I didn't have a chance to let her try them. But Jason and I had one and thought it was pretty good. I'll post an update after I have given her one of them later. They are in the freezer now and seem to freeze well.

Veggie Pancakes
Adapted from wholesometoddlerfood.com
Hodgson Mill Buckwheat Pancake Mix (found this at Fresh Market, also available to some Publix stores)
Grated carrots
Grated zucchini
Grated cheese (your choice, I used mild cheddar)
Wheat germ

Prepare buckwheat pancake mix as directed on the box (you'll need milk, oil and egg). Add in about 1/4 cup grated carrots and 1/4 cup grated zucchini. Stir. Add in a couple of handfuls of grated cheese and about 2 tablespoons of the wheat germ. Stir again.
Fry gently in olive oil until done on both sides. You could add in many more things... Different veggies, chicken, turkey or ham.

***UPDATE***
We gave one to Charlotte for dinner tonight and she loved it! It was really easy to reheat. I just put a frozen one on a cookie sheet in a 350F oven and placed a piece of tin foil over it to prevent it from burning. I heated it for about 5 minutes on one side and then 5 minutes on the other and it was perfect!

Mission: Book Review - Your Baby's First Year Week by Week

Your Baby's First Year Week by Week
by Glade B. Curtis and Judith Schuler

I faithfully read this book every Thursday night for the past year while not really following much of the "advice". I did like reading some of the milestones even though Charlotte seemed to be far past them each week.

I did have some major discrepancies with the book such as letting a baby cry it out, when to start solids, how many naps per day they should be taking, etc. Also I found that a lot of the information directly contradicted what the AAP recommends which is something that I definitely do not take lightly and so for that reason alone I really cannot recommend this book to anyone. I just don't want some people to read it and take that advice to heart.

One other major thing it recommends is weaning your baby from breastfeeding at 16 weeks. While I did not breastfeed I do think that it's a major accomplishment for those that do and I know that it is recommended until your baby is at least 12 months old. So I'm not really sure why the book would make such a recommendation.

I have read several other books this past year and will try to do separate reviews on all of them at some point. My favorites were Baby 411 by Denise Fields and Ari Brown, M.D., What to Expect the First Year by Heidi Murkoff, Happiest Baby on the Block by Harvey Karp and, of course, On Becoming Babywise by Gary Ezzo and Robert Buckman, M.D.

Mission: Toddler Meatballs

Eating meat has been a bit of a challenge for us in that there's just not a lot that she has liked so far. That's probably because I found it really hard to make meat baby food myself. It always turned out like some sort of gross paste. Now that she is eating table and finger foods it has become much easier.
This is a good recipe for meatballs because they freeze well and reheat really quickly.

Toddler Meatballs
Adapted from wholesometoddlerfood.com
1 pound ground turkey*
Bread crumbs
Wheat germ
1 egg
Spices such as garlic, pepper, basil, thyme, oregano and parsley

*Ground beef can also be used but I prefer the ground turkey.
Mix the ground turkey with approximately 1 cup of bread crumbs, 1/4 cup wheat germ, 1 egg and the spices that you have chosen. Vary the measurements as you blend the ingredients, you may require more or less bread crumbs.
Roll into balls (about the size of a golf ball or a little smaller), bake at 375F until golden or for about 25-30 minutes. Do not allow these to burn. Cover the pan with tin foil for the first 20 minutes or so to prevent this.
Use a small baking pan so you can shake and roll the meatballs around - helps to even the cooking.
Cool completely then toss all in a plastic freezer bag, making sure to get as much air out as possible, then freeze.
To reheat, I simply pulled a couple directly out of the freezer and stuck them in the microwave for about 30 seconds and they were good to go.

Mission: Applesauce Pancakes

Now that Charlotte is off the bottle and drinking whole milk exclusively,  I have been trying to come up with wholesome meals for her to eat every day without spending every waking minute cooking for her. She has been drinking 4 oz. of organic whole milk four times a day and doing great. I really think she likes how cold the milk is straight from the refrigerator. She loves waffles and pancakes for breakfast and her current favorite food is whole wheat toast! Since she loves bread so much I decided to try out some applesauce pancakes. These have been a big hit and, the best part about them, they freeze really well! So we can grab one from the freezer, pop it in the toaster and voila!

Applesauce Pancakes
Adapted from wholesometoddlerfood.com
 1 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 tablespoon melted butter
1/2 cup whole milk
1 beaten egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups applesauce*

*I made my own homemade applesauce for this but I think jarred would be fine as well. I used the Baby Beaba and three Fuji Apples. I peeled the apples, cut them into chunks and then steamed them in the Beaba using water level 2. Then I ground them and added in a few dashes of cinnamon along with all of the cooking water. It made about 2 cups worth of applesauce. Plenty for the pancakes and some leftovers for later!

Sift flour, salt and baking powder into a medium mixing bowl. Combine butter, milk and egg.  Stir into dry ingredients. Add vanilla and applesauce; mix well. Spoon batter into a hot, well-greased griddle or frying pan. Make pancakes as large or small as you like.

Once these were done and completely cooled, I wrapped each pancake in wax paper and then put them all in a gallon sized freezer bag. They are ready to go for meals or snacks and have been a big hit with Charlotte!

Mission: Start A Blog!

So I've decided to start a blog, mainly for myself, to keep track of the many things "Mommy Related" that are going on in my life currently. I almost wish I had started when I was pregnant with Charlotte but I think I would have been too overwhelmed at that point!
I really wanted to be able to keep track of the things that worked or didn't work and also that she ate or didn't eat, etc. So this will probably be a lot of product reviews, recipes (both for baby and toddler and beyond!), tiny pieces of advice, book reviews and just general thoughts about being a wife and mommy to a precious little girl and soon-to-be little boy!