Monday, January 31, 2011

My baby can crawl, and now I'm the cry-baby

OMG the past 7 months have gone by in a huge blur.  Daniel crawled last night, just a little bit.  I'm tearing up as I type this.  He is the sweetest baby in the world, and I'm having trouble seeing him hit his milestones.  I don't want him to grow up!  I do, but . . . he's such a sweet baby.  I hate to lose the precious relationship we have.  I know it will change and get even better and he's gonna love his Mommy like crazy . . . I guess I'm just a little scared.  I'm afraid I'm gonna blink, and he'll be 18 and going to college . . . 30 years old and getting married . . . having his own babies.  I want every minute to last years!  I wish I could have the 10 weeks I was home with him to happen all over again.  I wish I could have him back inside me just 1 more day.  I never want these sweet days to end.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

I miss my Baby Love!

I have been sick for 2 days.  I have gotten to hold my sweet baby love once in 2 days.  I am going through major withdrawals.  I miss my little boy and want to snuggle with him.  I have slept off my phenergan and am no longer running a fever, so there is promise I can do so tonight!

Christmas Confetti Potato Salad

So, with a hubs with many food allergies I have had to alter my recipe book quite a bit.  I used to make my mother's yummy mustard potato salad at family grill time, but now that mustard is off the menu, I make this yummy different one.  Yes, it's pretty different.  Just try it.  I'll convert you

1. 6 medium russett potatoes, large dice
2. 1 cup sour cream
3. 1 cup mayonaisse
4. 1/2 cup roasted red peppers, drained and chopped, reserve a sprinkle for the top
5. 1/2 cup italian parsley, chopped, reserve a sprinkle for the top
6. juice and zest of 1 lemon
7. Salt and pepper to taste
8. Vinegar for sprinkling

Mix ingredients 2-7 and let sit in the fridge while the potatoes cook.  Boil the potatoes in salted water about 15 minutes until tender.  Drain, and sprinkle with a little vinegar while they are hot.  Let them cool slightly.  Mix with the dressing.  Sprinkle extra peppers and parsley on the top before serving.

I, like my grandmother, like potato salad best warm right after it's mixed, but it's good cold too.

Monday, January 24, 2011

New Favorite Baby Food, and it is a vegetable

Daniel likes Gerber Stage 2 Spring Vegetables with Brown Rice.  THANK GOD!!!!  It smells strongly of broccoli, but this little dude will eat every last bit of it up.  He is actually going through a stage where he doesn't like fruit.  I found him some Apples and Cherries a few weeks ago thinking "He he, my daddy's favorite fruit, and my son will like it too!".  Not so much.  The joke on me, literally.  Dan spit it out, all over Mommy.

He is SO freaking cute I can't stand it.

Those are his spider man Baby Legwarmers that his Aunt Laura got him for Christmas.  This was taken right before yesterday's "I'm still hungry, but not for Mixed Fruit" experience.  Mixed fruit on baby, mixed fruit on mommy.  Ha ha ha!  At least his Daddy thought it was funny when he got back from church.

I really love being his mommy.  When he was born, I was so taken with him that I was breathless by the sight of him and couldn't stand that I couldn't hold him very long.  He had some funky labs and had to go right to the NICU after some skin to skin time with me.  I'd had a c-section and couldn't leave my room for 12 hours.  Now I can't stand being away from him for too long.  Can you blame me?

Grandma's Chicken Salad

This is not my grandmother's recipe.  I don't ever call her Grandma.  I'm not sure if Granmother Etta has a chicken salad recipe. It is mine.  But for about 2 years I made it about 1-2 times a month for my grandmother, so that is what I call it.

1. 6-8 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2. 1 cup mayonaisse
3. 1 cup sour cream
4 .1/4 cup craisins, reconsituted in hot water and drained
5. 2 stalk of celery, shaved of strings and chopped small
6. 1 tablespoon minced garlic
7. 1 teaspoon mustard powder
8. 1 teaspoon of cumin
9. Salt and Pepper to taste
10. Chopped Walnuts or Pecans to top (optional)

Boil the chicken until cooked through.  Let cool. 
After you set aside the chicken to cool, mix ingredients 2-9 together.  If you don't like cumin, leave it out and add what you like. Dill is good, and so is fresh parsley.  Let it sit in the fridge while the chicken cools.
Chop up the chicken into small chunks, or shred.  Add the dressing.  Let chill in the fridge overnight.
Top with nuts before you serve.

It is quite yummy.