Big Girl

It's such a cliche but they really do "grow up so fast" 'sniff, sniff'!!!! I'm actually really torn because I look back and want her to be small again, but I look forward and want to see the fun, yet challenging, times to come. I guess we could always do it again later, not yet though. We heard this quote and it works perfectly:

Yesterday is History
Tomorrow is a Mystery
Today is a Gift
That is why they call it the Present

The following is a progression of mom remembering a gift from Libby/Jamie hiding up high in Sam's closet.

Our big girl really wants to sit up:)

Monday Meal Plan

Check out other meal planning peeps at Organizing Junkie. Getting back to normal but looking for different ideas for meals. I love looking through the list and getting ideas. I still feel like I'm lacking for excitement in the lunch department but we're working on it.

Monday * - Artichoke; leftovers

Tuesday - Chicken Enchiladas; broccoli

Wednesday *- Spaghetti Squash Casserole (dad can take with him and reheat on plane)

Thursday - Sloppy Joes; lentils; artichokes

Friday - Lemon Pepper Chicken; risotto; Edamame

Saturday *- Potato casserole with leftovers

Sunday *- ???? We'll see

First laughs

We spent the last 4 days in Albuquerque with the family. It was a great time with a few wonderful highlights.We got to spend some time and take pictures with Great Grandma Galluccio!!! She is doing ok considering she just turned 93 on the 25th of December. She is moving to a new home in the new year and we look forward to visiting her at a smaller more intimate place.









Sam began belly laughing in great numbers this week...it all began on December 24th. As she sat on Grams lap AJ was playing with her and she starting laughing at his funny faces. Then I was able to call the Cribley family later that night and have her laugh to them over the phone as we got ready for bed. The best point though was the next day when she was hangin with Poppop and began laughing hestarically at the fan turning over head.....what is it about the fan that is so funny to a 3 month old?? It really is precious to see the changes as they occur.

Not many meals this week

So here is the little bit of planning that I must do this week. I actually stuck to it last week and loved it. Saturday I made frozen food with my mother and sister all afternoon. We each got 10 meals and that should last us for a while.

Monday - Roast in the crock pot; Roasted Rosemary potatoes (using my sisters infused rosemary oil)

Tuesday - Friday - at the in-laws in Albuquerque...Good eats on them!!!!

Saturday - AJ is back to work so I'll probably pull something out of the freezer

Sunday - Baked breaded Fish; rice; Lima beans

Sammie note: Sam took my finger yesterday and put it in her mouth herself. I think that she is beginning to figure out those hands. Plus we are really working on the going to sleep thing. AJ (me if he isn't home) will keep his hand on her chest or head for a little while as she sobs. Hopefully this will lessen with time and she will not fight the going to sleep thing. We did decide that we are blessed because she is a great sleeper. We actually get a good night sleep from 10-8 every night (knock on wood) with one feeding at 4 when we bring her into bed. She is also taking a 2 hour nap most late mornings, apparently this is rare so i feel extremely blessed.

Busy weekend

So, I think that Sam might be fighting off a little sickness. Yesterday and a little bit the day before she would scream out at random, this is very unlike her. She wouldn't sleep very well during the day and had rosy cheeks. We gave her one dose of Tylenol last night just to be on the front of anything, she seemed to be comfortable after that and had a normal, great night sleep. I'll watch her today and see....hopefully it's nothing.
Other things on the new list include mom starting to pump a little milk to try Sam with a bottle. I must say that feeling like a milking cow is weird. There is nothing like looking down and seeing a suction cup pull your nipple away from your body....as AJ put it, I didn't know that human skin would stretch like that. Anyway, it went well and now we just need to see if the bottle will work. The biggest suggestion I received was that I should be nowhere in the house because she knows the boob, including my smell(hopefully not stinky). We'll see how it goes....wish us luck.
As for the weekend, dad is leaving today and comes home just in time for us to go to Albuquerque. I have lots of laundry and other chores to do to get us ready to be gone for the week. I'm looking forward to being spoiled at Grams and Poppops!!! The other part that makes this weekend busy is Mom, Amie, and I are making a ton of meals to freeze. It looks like we are each going to get a lot of food frozen for $45 each!!!! We are making spaghetti sauce, lasagna, beef pasties, sloppy joes, broccoli soup and chicken enchiladas.

Eating well

Second week of trying this, I really think I'm going to like it!!! Right now I'm trying to use up what I have around my house that maybe would get overlooked if I wasn't planning. The best part is not having to ask the question, so what's for dinner and struggling to come up with something. Plus I love looking through others blogs and having fresh ideas for dinner.

Monday - Leftover Thai, Dad's flight gets in late

Tuesday - Huevos Rancheros

Wednesday - awards banquet for RMRHA (whole family going to deliver the awards)

Thursday - Dad's new turkey burger challenge; veggies from around the house; Quinoa

Friday - Turkey chili for family Chanukkah dinner

Saturday - Fettuccine with chicken and asparagus

Sunday - Leftovers; Dad out flying

I really need ideas for lunch and snacks. I find that there isn't anything around the house that sounds good. Please help!!

Freezing Cold Day

Well, it's maybe made it to the double digits outside and Sam and I are staying inside all day. It really is amazing how much the child changes. I'm trying not to miss any minor change as I see her every day. I've noticed that her head has changed shape again (of course she is as beautiful as ever). She is beginning to find laughter and is playing with us more and more, she is such a flirt!!! She is not eating as much these last few days and is growing into her height again. I'm really trying to schedule 2 nap times during the day when she sleeps for longer periods. Some other babies from our birthing class are having similar struggles with getting a routine down so that mom and dad can have some time as well. That really has been a difficult part of babyhood to manage....mom and dad are still husband and wife. It emphasizes how much work and communication it takes to keep a loving relationship going. I feel extremely blessed that AJ and I think in the same direction and really support one another. We don't always have the most efficient or effective communication but we manage to get it done. We are striving to have a loving family and it is made easier by the loving families and friends that surround us.

Well, I'm off to continue practicing being a SAHM (Stay At Home Mom).
Laundry, going. Meal planning, thinking. Costco list, writing.

Amie's beautiful photos of Sam

It is a very snowy cold day today....a great day to sit by the fire, read a book, and eat soup with the family. Right now Sam is sleeping for her morning nap, dad is shoveling, and I'm in comfy pants. I'm really in the mood to get organized.
Last weekend my sister took some beautiful pictures of Samantha and the Family. It is such a blessing to have a professional photographer in the family. It was really neat how we just found great spots of light in our own house, and did it all on the fly. THANK YOU AMIE!!! Here are a few....

Plus a cold snowy picture of the sweet girl!!!

Menu plan Monday

This is my first attempt to write a meal plan for the week. My mother use to do this and I remember how much easier it was for her to know what to take out of the freezer and how less stressful the grocery shopping was when you have a list. So here goes....i really am working to learn some better ways to be a wife and a mother and I think this is a great addition.

Monday: plans to eat after seeing a friends children in a school play

Tuesday: Honey Chicken Bake, Artichokes

Wednesday: Baked fish (frozen); Parmesan risotto, Asparagus

Thursday: Mom's B'day Fondue

Friday: Chicken and Potato bake; Spaghetti Squash

Saturday: Night out at Indochine (Thia, Vietnamese)

Sunday: Leftovers

Hope to use this carnival a lot and hold myself accountable. My mother, sister, and I are also going to start cooking a month at a time and freezing. Thanks for all the great sites with wonderful women!!

Missing Dad

There is no better way to see the support AJ provides then through the long days he's gone to work. The minutes drag on until his arrival back home. It probably is never said enough the appreciation that we (Sam and I) feel when he brings me coffee in bed so I can catch up on my reading in the morning.....especially since this has become his quality time playing and talking with Sam. They often cook breakfast together while telling jokes and laughing....yes Sam is only 2.5 months but her laugh is very BIG!!! There is also nothing sexier then a husband who really shares in the joy and frustration of raising our daughter....when we communicate (we try to all the time, he he) the support that his words give me is inspiring. The other night we had Sam in her cradle next to our bed. To date she has mainly been sleeping in bed with us but we are trying to have her initially fall asleep in the cradle. She was so exhausted that she was cranky. It breaks my heart when she lies alone and wimpers (not crying, just talking). AJ calmly told me to rock the cradle and let her fall to sleep....it worked wonderfully and it felt impowering for her and me (well I assume her feeling here, but don't we always do that). Needless to say I haven't been able to do that any of the nights that he has been gone....we fall asleep cuddling, not such a bad way to go either!!!

AJ has come such a long way in his comfort with holding a baby.....

Works for Me Wednesday

This is my first attempt at participating in a "blog carnival" here goes....


My mother discovered the best all body, including scalp, natural moisturizer. This especially works for the dry cold winter days here in Colorado. Jojoba Oil. It makes your skin feel and look wonderful. I rotate the days that I use it with my moisturizers. It works better than moisturizer because it does not have any water in it.