Food and Baby Thoughts

I don't know what it is...but I've got a thing for sweet potatoes recently. Last night I tried the "chicken and sweet potato stew" and it was great. I thought I'd share pics and the recipe in case anyone else is "into" sweet potatoes too. Surprise, surprise, here's Ben being goofy. :)


Chicken and Sweet Potato Stew

1 1/2 pounds chicken (I used breasts that were frozen and I cut them into strips)
1 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1 T olive oil
3 med sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch chunks
1 medium onion, sliced
1 can (28 oz) diced tomatoes in juice
3 T natural peanut butter (I used reduced fat natural peanut butter)
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (I used a bit more)
2 garlic cloves, peeled (I used diced)
1/4 C packed fresh cilantro leaves, plus some for garnish

1. Rub chicken with cumin and cinnamon; set aside.

2. In nonstick 12 inch skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add sweet potatoes and onion and cook until onion is tender, 12 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Transfer sweet potato mixture to plate.

3. Increase heat to medium high. Add seasoned chicken, and cook 5 minutes or until chicken is lightly browned on both sides.

4. Meanwhile, drain tomatoes, reserving juice. In blender (or food processor) blend tomato juice, peanut butter, salt, crushed red pepper, garlice and 1/4 C of cilantro and blend.

5. Add sweet potato mixture, peanut butter sauce, and chopped tomatoes to skillet with chicken; heat to boiling over high heat. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 25 minutes or until the sweet potatoes are soft. We served over brown rice.

I'm taking a Bible study all about the essentials of discipline. I'm trying to stay ahead of the game a little bit so I can have a plan when stuff happens. Boy, I get so nervous hearing about other children misbehaving. I am realizing more and more how much parents influence their children. It is a huge task that God has given us. There was this one story about how James Dobson said he was in a grocery store with his wife grabbing something quick and he saw a kid throwing a fit over something he wanted. The mother handled it well and James Dobson praised her for being a good mom. I told the class that if I ever was in Aldi's with a kid throwing a fit and I look up to see James Dobson rounding the corner we are running to the exit.

I came home and (Ben's working from home today) was telling him about the study. The topic today was the difference between childish irresponsibility and defiance. I told him "yeah... it's like the difference between when a kid leaves his bike out in the rain and.." and then Ben interjects, "and when he sets his bike on fire." I laughed and said "yeah... I think that's it."

The book "the no cry sleep solution" that I've been reading says that parenting is like a dance. I agree.... two steps forward, one back, one sideways, and then sometimes.... just sometimes... an air guitar solo.

Meal Plan

chicken and sweet potato stew
swedish meatballs with sour cream sauce, egg noodles
hamburger cornbread casserole
goulash
black beans, 3 pepper corn pudding

Let me know if you want a recipe people!

Sleeping Like A Baby II

Just when I boast to everyone that I think we've got the sleep thing figured out I am humbled. I'm writing this down not to rant or feel sorry for myself...but to remember. Gwen has some spectacular nights like the other night when we put her down at 7:45 or so and she didn't wake again until 5:05am! and then went back to sleep and slept until 9:30!! She's never done that before. Then we have last night where she woke every 2 or 3 hours and threw fits to be picked up and refused to go back to sleep. I'm not sure if I'm sending her mixed messages. I told Ben I don't think she's diabolical or anything...but maybe she's smarter than I give her credit for. I'm amazed at how much sway this little person has. I want to be a wise mother and not give in to her every whimper, but I want her to feel safe. Well... as little orphan Annie would say "the sun'll come out tomorrow"... but I may be a little grouchy when it does. :)

Moon Watching

see the little tiny ball of light? That's the moon... OK?


Tonight Ben and I went driving a bit to look at the moon and also just to get out a bit. (with Gwen of course!) The moon is supposed to be the brightest that it will be all year tonight. I don't know about you, but I am a moon watcher. Luner eclipses (my personal favorite), harvest moons, little crescent moons... all thrill me. I just so happened to see Apollo 13 today too, so I had the added awe of knowing people have actually stepped onto the moon. Incredible! It makes me think of that scripture in Psalm 8:

"When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,

what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?"

Also tonight we ran across this street sign. Not quite "mean puppies" Leah, but close. :)

Little Rhymes

Lately Gwen has enjoyed little rhymes such as these:

This little piggy went to market,
this little piggy stayed home,
this little piggy had roast beef,
this little piggy had none,
and this little piggy went wee wee wee all the way home.

Have you ever stopped to think about that? There is just something fundamentally wrong with a pig eating roast beef. Well.. at least it wasn't a pork chop right?

All around the garden,
like a teddy bear,
one step, two step
tickle under there.

This one is done by making circles in the palm of the hand and then on the step part you walk up the arm and tickle under the arm. Ben's mom taught us this one.

I'm looking for more of these types of things that maybe your parents taught you. If anyone knows of any drop a comment would you? THANKS!!

Prudence

What I learned today

Prudence- the ability to govern and discipline oneself by the use of reason

Sleeping Like A Baby

As the mother of any 6 month old out there in the world we are figuring out the sleeping thing. I think we are getting close. As I mentioned earlier, my pediatrician said that if Gwen is waking in the night it's because of habit and not hunger. His suggestion to me was to let her cry it out and not go in there at all. Well... I wasn't satisfied with that and with all due respect he's not living in my house right now so... I've been researching what I feel is the best solution for Gwen. I've got the "No-cry sleep solution" book on the side table beside me and I've also been reading other things and looking online. What I've come to the conclusion of is that every mother must make decisions for her own baby based on her personality and desires and the child's personality. That's number uno reason I think it really helps to be mature when having a baby. I mean, this job is not for the selfish, ya know? (even though I am sometimes) I remember when I was struggling with breastfeeding in the hospital so much and in came a nurse that said "she is the most laid back baby I've ever seen in my life." If looks could have killed she probably wouldn't be around. I mean, who likes hearing something like that when it's not a viable solution to a problem? Anyway, off the subject... these are the things we are doing with little Gwen. (in case anyone is interested)


* I want Gwen to sleep in the crib. I'm not comfortable with her in the bed with me for several reasons.

* I have been watching her carefully and when she seems tired and rubs her eyes I bring her upstairs and lay her down in the crib awake for naps and for bedtime. I cover her, tell her I love her, and leave the room. Many evenings at around 8pm you can find Ben and I cowering outside of her room whispering to one another and waiting for the silence. She sometimes fusses a little, but usually not an all out war cry. She has gotten better about knowing that her crib is for sleeping.

* I didn't realize it before, but Gwen in technically "sleeping through the night" (longer than a 5 hr stretch) even though she wakes anywhere from 1 to 2 times a night. When she wakes I give her a minute to see if she will go back to sleep and if not I go to her and feed her. I figure she may need some comfort food or something. I'm ok with that as long as she goes back to sleep soon afterward. Sometimes she doesn't fall back asleep directly. I have been recently putting her back in her crib and letting her cry a bit and going back in to reassure her of my faithfulness to her. :)

* Gwen sleeps on her stomach. She always has really. I'm ok with that too. She also sleeps with a blanket on her legs. I'm ok with that too.

* Our nightly routine consists of feeding a solid food to her around dinner time and then she watches Ben play Wii fit or something and then we take her up and give her a warm bath and lotion her up. Then Ben reads several books to her and then she nurses. After she gets burped she gets put into the crib and Ben and I crouch outside her door and peek around the door frame at her. The other night Ben walks in because she is all quiet and he notices in the darkness that she has her eyes open. He bolts out of there like he's been burned by a hot poker! Ha!

* So, in conclusion... I think I'm ok for now. Even though she's waking in the night sometimes, it's not too bad and I think I'm giving her ample opportunity to decide to sleep on through if she wants. I think that time will eventually come.

He Makes Me Laugh

This is a movie of Ben that I took of him without him knowing (at first anyway). He has a very unique way of reading to Gwen.

32

Well... another year older today. It has been a dramatic year for sure. Here are some of my hopes for this year.

My Faith- to learn more of the heart of God, to share my faith in love with others more, to be thankful to the Lord for every experience- good or bad.

My Relationships- to be slower to speak, to be an attentive wife and mother, to make more friends :) I want to slow down and really soak in memories of Gwen growing up. I know it goes by all too fast.

My Health- to take better care of myself for God's Glory

My Finances- pay off our house, start a college fund for Gwen ('cause she's going or else) :)

My Work/and or Service- get R done

Tonight I used one of my Christmas gifts and made little souffle's in my new ramekins. I've never made a souffle before. They were good, but not so good that you'd want to have one every day. (that's a good thing folks)

Speaking of food...here's the meal plan for the week:

moroccan-style chicken stew
enchilada stuffed shells (made tonight)
Ellie Krieger's shepherd's pie
jamaican-style beef stew
spaghetti
black beans, chicken, and cornbread

Conversations in Our House

Here are some conversations that Ben and I have had within the last few days. I hope Gwen grows up to not be too embarrassed by us.

I have been thinking of how to "train" Gwen to sleep through the night. My doctor says to go "cold turkey" and just let her cry without going to her when she wakes up in the night so she can learn to put herself back to sleep. I'm having a hard time with the cold turkey. I asked Ben the other night why they call it "cold turkey." I mean, where did that come from? He said "cause you know that cold turkeys can get off of drugs much better than hot ones."

He asked me yesterday... you know how you call someone who can't see blind and someone who can't hear deaf? Well... what do you call it when someone can't smell? So we had this conversation about if that is possible to not smell. The jury is still out on that one.

Meal Plan

fiesta potatoes, turkey patties, green beans
chicken soup (made last night)
pressure cooker pork chops, brown rice, peas
tilapia, zucchini or squash
family pleasing sloppy joes, baked sweet potatoes/regular potatoes
curry chicken pot pie

Happy New Year

My New Hero

On the way home from Alabama Ben and I listened to some Focus on the Family broadcasts that my mother downloaded and burned on a CD. This young woman was one of the people being interviewed. I was so struck by her story and so moved. I want her to marry my brother so she can be my sister. People give George W. Bush a hard time, but he is the most pro-life President we've had in present memory. It turns out that the law that George W. Bush passed in 2002 was vetoed twice and almost three times by Bill Clinton. Please join me in praying for this next President, that he will keep this important law and also that abortion would be outlawed. I am not much of a political person...but this issue bothers me to my core. It turns out that Kansas is famous for late term abortions.

Even More Christmas Cheer

In Alabama I took Ben to the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge. I remember it as being very pretty and the weather was so nice I thought we needed to get out. Lo and behold there was a bamboo forest. Ben loves bamboo. His dream is for us to have some bamboo in our backyard. He especially likes the black variety..but this green forest will do. Here is Ben in the bamboo forest.


The two of us in the bamboo.


Ben's "pioneer" pose.



We saw some funky fungi on a log.


They have a section where you can see giant Bald Cyprus trees and they are really beautiful in a spooky sort of way.


Is she beautiful or what?


Gwen's namesake and Aunt... Rebekah (Beki)


Gwen's Uncle Jake. We like to call him crazy Uncle BoBo just for fun. Hasn't everyone got a crazy uncle?


We came home yesterday to find one of our trees lost a limb. The men went out with power tools today and ended up chopping down the entire tree. I was astonished in one way... and not in another. Here they are making their "we are men" faces.

More Christmas Cheer

Here was the fate of the Christmas pinata...








Here is Gwen laughing at the dog. I've never heard her laugh so hard!

Gwen's Dinner

Wonder what Gwen's eating lately? Here it is... sweet potato. I thought it looked like a serpent. :)

She enjoyed it though.

Memories and Quotes

Today we took some photos of Gwen. These are my favorites...but it was hard to choose! She is so beautiful! (thanks Barry)

Sometimes you just don't feel like getting your picture made ya know?

Favorite quotes from the past few days:

"it's sunny, windy, with no percipitation" - Chloe, age 6

"Joe Biden looks like an opossum grinning"- Dad

"you gave me the gift and then you broke it"- Clay to Preston because he shook the present and heard something rattling, age 6

"I'm going to be higher than Cooter Brown"- mom after taking cough syrup

"who exactly is Cooter Brown?"- Me

"We'd like to meet Cooter"- Stephanie

We also smashed up our Christmas pinata today and took a movie of Gwen laughing her head off at Bonnie, the dog. Those are to come.

Christmas 08

Merry Christmas everyone! This year has been especially meaningful for me as it's the first Christmas being a mother. I have found myself thinking of Mary this year and I can only imagine what she went through and had to ponder in her heart. There I sat last night in the Christmas Eve service at my parent's church and she was reaching for my face and smiling... so sweet... and then I realized she had a poopy diaper. :)

Before we left for Alabama we had Christmas with Ben's mom, Pam. Here's Gwen with a snow globe that she got. By the way... Gwen did remarkably well for the 12 hour drive to my parent's place. It was so cold when we left... 4 degrees! Here in Bama it's almost 70 during the day. What a difference! I told my mom I felt like putting on my bathing suit and rolling in the grass.

Here I am looking at the new cookbook Ben gave to me. Check out the slippers... I felt like gumby or something.

this is a family shot right before we left for the Christmas eve service.

Gwen woke up this morning at 5am. We had a nice quiet breakfast together. Notice it's dark outside!

Gwen looks really upset to spend time with the family doesn't she?

Here we are about to open presents.

the little elves passing out the presents.

Gwen playing with her new bongos.

The kitchen... where the magic happens. Here Gwen is learning how to make cornbread stuffing.

Eat your heart out... I know we did. Does anyone else feel a diet coming on?

Abbreviated Meal Plan

Chicken soup
spaghetti and salad
black bean quesadillas, salad, Leah's saltine bark stuff (my friends are coming to church with us and then coming home for lunch- yippee!)

*special- Sunday morning I am singing in the church choir. We are going to three services, and I have to be at all of them. Therefore we are all bringing breakfast items. I'm signed up to bring cheesy garlic grits and country ham.

*The Truman's Ozark Pudding rocked our world this week. That Truman... I know he ordered the A bomb and all...but he knew his desserts.

*This meal plan is abbreviated because we are getting in the car and heading off to Alabama for Christmas. You think Gwen will sleep for the entire 12 hour drive??? HA!

Gwen- Six Months

Our baby is six months today! I am seeing more and more of her little personality as the days go by. It's amazing to me how change happens... it's so constant. I read a book recently that had a wonderful description of what being a mother is in my opinion. She wrote that she feels blessed and bound. My heart swells with pride when I look at her accomplishing and growing...but it aches too for the exact same reason. Today she had shots so my heart really DOES ache for her. She was 17 lbs and 26 in long.

Here are a few shots in the snow yesterday. We had to hurry- it was so cold!


If you look closely you can see her two new teeth.



Just yesterday she was able to go up on all fours. I thought you needed to see the picture AND the video.

You Can't Fix Stupid

My Uncle Bob sent me these and I just had to share them. Enjoy! posted by Ben.


One to tape to your medicine cabinet


Does this mean I'm still a teen too?


When there is absolutely no other news to report....


Our tax dollars at work.


Now that's just plain mean


Look closely - it says "We had no idea anyone was buried there"


I can just picture Abe Lincoln in a state-of-the-art civil war plane right now.


Now THAT's a good artist


A self-fulfilling prophecy?


As if lawyers don't have enough people to sue already.