Spaghetti Squash

So its been like 3.5 months since I have posted, geez life can get busy!

In honor of a facebook friend and my desire to eat healthier, I'm posting a recipe for one of my favorite veggie loaded favorites. I do not make it exactly the same every time simply because sometimes add different vegetables entice me (like today I added carrots to my usual mix) but in all its a favorite for me, so here it goes, this is the recipe as I made it today. Also, if you make a BIG batch, leftovers defrost and reheat well!

Spaghetti Squash

1 medium-large spaghetti squash
1/2 jar of Prego smooth and simple (Today I substituted with some of papa johns pizza sauce)
1 medium zucchini
1 medium yellow squash
1/2 pack on mushrooms
1/2 medium onion
1/2 green pepper
1/4 package of premium carrots
Garlic powder (or chopped garlic)
1 lb ground turkey (optional)
Colby Jack or other favorite cheese (optional)

1) Dice onions, green pepper, mushrooms, zucchini, yellow squash, and carrots into desired size (tip: cut carrots a bit thinner to allow them to cook quickly).

2) Cut spaghetti squash in half lengthwise, and scoop out strings and seeds. Place face down in a microwave safe container, add 1/4 cup of water, cover with plastic wrap and steam in microwave for 10 minutes.

3) Brown ground turkey with onions, green peppers, mushrooms, and garlic powder until thoroughly cooked. Set aside. In heated pan place carrots, zucchini, and yellow squash, lightly saute for about 1 minute, then turn down heat, cover, and allow them to steam (no added liquid) until thoroughly cooked (approx 5 minutes).

4) The spaghetti squash should be cool enough to handle now. While the zucchini mixture is steaming, use a fork to rake out the strands of the spaghetti squash.
5) Once the zucchini, yellow squash, and carrots are done, mix the turkey mixture and squash mixture in pan and add desired amount of tomato sauce. (If making without turkey: saute onion, green pepper and mushroom then set aside while completing the carrot, zucchini, and yellow squash and mix together when done.) Allow to simmer until warmed and season as desired (I like to add a little crushed red pepper).

6) Once sauce is done, pour in your strands of spaghetti squash and mix it all together (mine resembles a thick chili until scooped out). Serve topped with cheese (if desired).

First appointment

Yesterday we had our first appointment with Dr. Wiley. She was out of the office dealing with a delivery at the hospital, so Joe performed a sonogram. While we waited for him, Dr. Wiley came back and was so excited to see us.

Well, Joe makes me nervous. I had a partial molar pregnancy a few years back and Joe was the one who found it. Let me tell you, it was very relaxing when Joe found our little Embry with an abdominal u/s and it measured 7w 3d making the due date May 11, 2011. Embry's little heart was beating at 143 bpm and we are so excited. Noah did very well considering we were at the office for 3 hours, but I think he needs a babysitter in the future!

Embry 4

Two weeks ago on September 2, 2011, we found out that we are indeed expecting another baby. It is a very exciting time and we are praying that this little one sticks and stays in our lives for a very long time. Noah will be a fabulous big brother.

We started in the nervous side and went in for multiple blood tests until finally being given a progesterone supplement. If this little one keeps growing inside me then the due date should be May 13, 2011 on Mother's Day. It seems so long away but so close at the same time. We plan to tell family after the 1st appointment on September 26th where we will hopefully see Embry's little heart beating away. After that we will make the Facebook announcement after the first trimester is over on Halloween.

It is just a very exciting time when our family is growing! The only hope is that next school year I will find a job so that we can afford things we need like a larger vehicle.

Busy busy busy

Noah went to the doctor yesterday to get his flu shot. He cried from the moment the needle went in until I was buttoning his romper. Then it was as if nothing happened and he was happy as always. He is such a big boy.

His ever changing personality amazes me. A new favorite is walking to the mail box. Once we get there, he turns around and runs up on the lawn. He loves talking with his toys and rearranging everything.

Today I have been looking at job openings and day-care centers. I need to find something to get me out of the house and making some money. Having this time with Noah has been fantastic, and I wouldn't trade it for the world. I will definitely miss it with future children, but you do what you have to. We cannot afford more children if I do not find work.

Day 3

SO I have made it 3 days in my attempts to not post on Facebook. Doing good, and I am quickly finding that my desire to even load Facebook is getting less and less. I mean I've only looked once in the last 24 hours, aside from our closed group of intactivists that is.

Noah is so big, He is learning to consistently kick his ball and cars, trying to climb on toys to reach doorknobs, and snacking on so many things. He had a grilled cheese sandwich for lunch and ate the whole thing. The night was hard he woke up 2 hours into being in bed screaming for someone to get him. After a few minutes I went to pick him up only to find out he had a mystery diaper rash that hadn't existed before he went to bed. It took a while to get him to not make me carry him around. When he finally went to play and spent 2 hours awake. Poor little boy just wanted to see his daddy.

BIG boy

For the first time ever, Noah knocked with a closed fist. The lawn guys were cutting the backyard and Noah went to the window and started knocking to get attention. He also showed how much he loves Disney's poetry shorts. He was looking out at the backyard and the intro music came up. As soon as he heard it, he came running around the sofa clapping. He has a knack for climbing and loves to climb on the chairs when I am sitting in them.

He is growing up so quickly, I don't know what I will do with myself.

Dentist

Noah's dentist appointment went VERY well. I like his dentist very much. Noah got his teeth counted and brushed. They all look healthy and Noah even got a Thomas the train sticker!

Noah is a fantastic little handful. His new gripe, not wanting to ride in his car seat. What can I do if he wants to be free? He has to toughen up and deal, because I am not going to let my 12 (nearly 13) month old tell me how to do things!

All in all it is fun watching my little man grow up way too quickly!

Moving on

So apparently, my words come across as super judgmental. You know what, I don't care. I do what is best for my boy and just state the facts we received from the pediatricians office (the same office that I appear to be judging against). Same pediatrician as another friend. I'm about to get judgmental up in this piece now... How can you trash my saying that 6 ounces is the recommended daily limit of juice and then turn around and say you give your kids Capri-Sun. Yes, we pay our pediatricians for their medical knowledge and understand that SOMETIMES it will go against the recommendations, but to jump on me and label my comments as google search... BITE ME!

Okay, I'm glad I got that out. I don't want to comment on FB because of my self-imposed hiatus. I will just remember that I continue to do what is best for my baby and what other people do for their own is their business alone.

Noah is continuing to amaze me. This morning I was folding laundry and he wanted to help. He started by handing me clothes from the basket when they were high enough to reach and continued by handing me clothes I had already folded. What a silly boy. We ran around his play area chasing each other before breakfast and are looking forward to lunch with daddy this afternoon. Time for Noah to enjoy some more Popeye's chicken breast (breading removed of course). I also need to start a list of the words he uses. There are so many I don't know I will remember them all since his use is inconsistent. Last weekend he said "diaper" a few times and I haven't heard it again since. The words I hear all the time are "go," "dada," "daddy," and lately "dog." Anyway, breakfast is nearly done, his plum is running out and his patience for plain cheerios runs thin. Will post again after the dentist appointment this afternoon.

Crazy Life

I am taking a hiatus from Facebook and decided that I will post my thoughts on here. I'm just tired of thinking that I have friends in this world when really, no one pays attention to me or my little boy at all. Last week he got hurt at a children's play area and none of the people we thought were friends even bothered to check up on him. So I am DONE. I have been through enough in my life and the last thing I need is to waste my energy on people who don't deserve it.

Today has been one of those days. Noah is getting so big. He decided that instead of chasing the ball while mommy and daddy were throwing or kicking it around, he wanted to kick it too. He did very well and had fun kicking, picking up, and even tackling the ball at various times. He now can see over and reach things on the dining table, so occasionally he will put toys or his cup on the table just because. He has also learned to climb on the dining chairs so they now have to be kept out of Noah's play area because he can tip them too easily.

Tomorrow is his first dentist appointment. I am nervous and excited for my little man, because it is a big step. His 4 little teeth will be observed by a professional instead of just mommy and daddy.

Noah is really becoming a big boy and I am starting to miss my baby, I guess that means it is time to get ready for the next one!

Mystery Shopping

So I have done it. I have become a mystery shopper. I have completed 2 shops already and I am signed up for 6 more. I have a separate email account set up for it and I stay on top of them as often as possible. Who could believe that I can get paid to pick up lunch, get a haircut, or do my grocery shopping. I mean, yes, I have to pay a little more attention, but since I have been shopping with a baby I am extra attentive.

I am just excited to be doing something. It doesn't pay a lot and sometimes I am not reimbursed fully, but if I am going to get a haircut anyway, it is nice to get part of that money back.

If you want to join me, I can always send you a referral. Send me an email and I will hook you up!

Next goal: Setting up my CBR mommy code website (M0359). They pay quite a bit for referrals so it is time to recoup the cost of the service!

Until next time!

Baby clothes on the cheap

So this weekend we took advantage of the Carters clearance sale. We ended up buying enough sleepers between the Carters sale and a previous Babies-r-us sales (40% of clearance stacked with a $10 off of $50).

Noah now has 43 sleepers in sizes up to 5T . For those we spent a total of $157.95 on 41 of the sleepers, meaning that including taxes each sleeper averaged $3.85. These are sleepers whose MSRP w/tax would be $21.65. We SAVED 82.2% per sleeper. Now, normally you can find these sleepers on sale for $10.83 and therefore have saved 64.5%, either way you look at it though, it is a significant amount of savings.

Here is the breakdown of sizes Noah has now.

18M : 10
24M : 6
2T : 10
3T : 7
4T : 4
5T : 6

Obviously, we are not done forever, but it will really be quite some time before we are out looking for sleepwear. Next big sale we will be on the lookout for is daytime clothes. Those are so much harder though because we do not know what the weather will be when he fits a certain size. Got to love a bargain!