Confessions of a bad mom

I am a bad mom...I am feeding the baby store bought jarred baby food. I fed my older 4 children store bought baby food as well. Occasionally, I would puree something we were eating and I plan to do so again. He just started a few weeks ago (I am a stickler about waiting until 6 months to start solids). We never really use baby food all that long because once they get used to "solids" (are purees really solid, not really I guess?) I just start giving them what we eat. I just do not put a lot of pressure on eating solids. I make sure breastmilk is their primary nutrition the first year and that is my emphasis. My goal is to keep them nursing at least a year and do not worry much about anything else. I do not stress a lot about making sure they "eat" three times a day. Today he ate solids twice, yesterday he had them once. Maybe I should have just started Baby Led Weaning because I seem to do a hybrid of it as it is. I don't know. Here I am, five kids in and I am still unsure of this parenting gig.

Anyway, everyone else seems to be making their own baby food and I feel like sort of a slacker. For what it is worth though, he is thriving and super adorable despite eating Gerber baby food.

At the end of the day I am sure there are tons of other things I *should* be doing (cloth diapering, buying only organic, the list goes on and on) but at the end of the day my kids are healthy, clean, fed and happy. That is all a momma could want.

Prayer request

My friend's husband was diagnosed with a rare cancer in late October. It is terminal. They have four beautiful children and they are just the nicest people. I just feel so heartbroken for them. I just cannot imagine. Anyway, if you have any prayers or positive thoughts to send their way, it would be much appreciated.

If you are on Facebook, you can check out their story HERE.

Freezer Stash

I am trying to build up my freezer stash again. March will be here before we know it and I will be running the kids to track and football 4 and 5 days a week. When the kids are in sports and activities we eat late...at like 8pm. Eek.

I rely on the crockpot quite a bit. I also like to keep some quick meals in the freezer for those nights when the crockpot does not work out (read: on the days I forget to put something in the crockpot). I like to build up a freezer stash of burritos. I like to keep a mix of bean and cheese, chicken (of some sort), and breakfast burritos. Last night I made a bunch of breakfast burritos to freeze. I keep it pretty simple and they are so easy and so yummy. They freeze really well.

Breakfast Burritos
-tortillas
-eggs
-cheese
-potatoes
-green chile*
*Here in the Southwest we eat green chile on EVERYTHING. And I mean EVERYTHING. But, I make a few without green chile. My 12 year old is the only one who does not care for spicy food so I make a few plain burritos for him.

And for the nights I forget the crockpot and there is nothing in the freezer...I take the kids to McDonald's and we eat $1 McDoubles. It happens about once a week. No one will be giving me a Mother of the Year award anytime soon anyway. I am ok with it.

A little late-Project 52 week 4

There is nothing particularly special about this picture. It was a quick snapshot I took yesterday. For the first time in months I decided to attempt scrapbooking. I set up the pack and play with some toys for the baby next to my craft table. I drank coffee while watching Mirror Mirror on the iPad and scrapbooked while the baby played in the pack and play. Later that day, I walked by the pack and play and it sort of struck me that we have baby items all over the house, in every room. I never thought I would have that baby clutter in my home again. And I sort of love having it around. Every little toy, baby sock, blanket, bottle...every little item makes me smile.

How ruin your self esteem

They say that you should do what you love and the money will follow. If it were only that easy. I love crafting and drinking coffee. I am pretty sure no one is going to pay me to make crafts while drinking coffee and being snarky.

So instead of doing what I love (crafting, coffee, and snark), I am applying for jobs. Talk about a hit to the old self esteem. I apply for job after job and have heard nothing. Wait, that is not entirely true. I did hear back from a couple...to tell me that I suck and they are not going to even interview me. Ok, well it was not exactly worded like that but that is how it feels when you read those rejection letters. One employer sent me the same rejection letter for the same position, twice. OK, I get it.

Everyone asks me what kind of job I am looking for. I usually reply with, "One that pays at least $XX amount." People then laugh, they think I am being funny. I am, kind of. I do not want a ton of money but I need to at least cover daycare and still bring in a little something something.

My background is in social services. It is a field I enjoy but one that pays poorly. I would like to get my Masters in Social Work sometime soon but you need $$ to go to school. I am also a few credit hours shy or applying to the College Of Nursing at the nearby University. But again, there is that whole money thing.

They say that money will not buy you happiness. I am here to tell you that, money would indeed buy me happiness these days.

*sigh*

AND to add insult to injury my daughter came home with her high school registration packet today. *sob*

(The above image was found HERE)

He found his voice

...and it is sort of like having a baby Velociraptor in the house.



We also had our well baby check on Monday. Baby Conor is 15 lbs 7 oz and 27 inches long. He is now sitting up unassisted, eating solids, holding his own bottle, and gets cuter EVERYDAY! I am trying to teach him to growl because, well, because I think growling babies are cute.

I love him so much.

Peanut Butter Cheerio Treats- Pinterest Success!

I love Pinterest so much. It feeds my crafty soul. Some of the ideas I have tried to recreate from Pinterest have been a giant fail. Others have been quite successful. But every time I successfully make a craft or recipe that I found on Pinterest I feel so triumphant. Today was one of those days. I made Peanut Butter Cheerio Treats. For once I already had everything on hand.

Peanut Butter Cheerio Treats

-1 c. sugar
-1 c. corn syrup
-1 c. creamy peanut butter
-1 t. vanilla
-5 c. Cheerios

In a large sauce pan, combine sugar and corn syrup and bring to boil over medium heat. Allow mixture to boil for one minute and remove from heat. Add peanut butter and vanilla to mixture and mix until smooth. Add Cheerios and mix until all coated. Drop mixture by spoonful onto waxed paper and allow to cool. Makes approximately 2 dozen.

These were super easy, super yummy and have zero nutritional value (ok, that is not entirely true. The peanut butter has protein. Ha ha). They were a huge hit, my kids loved them.