Sink Baby

I keep trying to get a photo of his two front pearly teeth, however as much as this kid smiles he seems to always be able to hide them! Boy he is easy to love! 

7 Months Old!

Today was so much fun. Tomorrow Jack will be 7 months old. He is at least 19 pounds and he can't stop moving. I think our photos will start to be a little less in focus pretty soon. We spent Bryan's first father's day together enjoying our new family. We went for a short drive, stuck to our nap schedules and started the task of baby proofing, well sort of. We tended to the fast growing garden, played our new Wii and made dinner. We are gearing up for another week. 
We hope you are enjoying your family. 

Happy Father's Day Bryan!

 

He is:

 

A son, a father, a brother, an uncle.

 

My husband of a little over 1 1/2 years.

 

A lover not a fighter. A giver not a taker.

 

A hard worker with a child like spirit.

 

Tallish. Handsome. Sturdy. Strong.

 

A friend from the very beginning.

 

My favorite person to spend the day with.

 

A excellent father, balancing love and discipline with fun and goofiness. 

 

An avid "wooter", internet researcher and tv watcher.

 

A former triathlete.

 

Very forgiving, patient and kind.

 

Exceedingly generous and self-sacrificial.

 

A lover of talk radio, Seinfeld, Star Trek, The Office, Cash Cab and meat of any kind.

 

A morning person and spreadsheet maker.

 

A polo shirt and short wearer.

 

Obsessed with Sam’s Club, and mall walking (and maybe Costco).

 

A dreamer, a procrastinator, a planner and goal-setter.

 

An outdoorsman, a great griller, a super hero (if you can name which one you get points).

 

Our life at together has been a journey with many highs and some lows. I can’t imagine experiencing these times without you and I love you more each day. Happy Father’s Day Bryan! 

Growing Fast!

Yes, I meant the garden, but he is growing fast too. 

We let him 'cry it out' tonight. He started to show signs of protest going to bed and realizing that he could get us to get him out of bed if he cried. He is pretty good at protesting, especially when he throws his binky across his bed and smacks our hands away when we attempt to give it back to him. Just a couple days ago we could lay him in his bed awake and he would put himself to sleep. Just a few days before that he would fall asleep eating. Yes, he is growing fast...

We love you buddy.

Furry Friends...

I certainly did not have a diaper clad baby in a sling with my camera following a mama duck around our yard tonight with a camera, hoping to help them get back to who knows. That is definitely not our Christmas tree in the backyard next to the old pick up either... I also did not turn on the television over the weekend to distract my six month old so I could cut his nails and then realize he protested when we changed it from cartoons. Nope, not me, not at this Buchanan ranch of furry friends and naked babies. Happy week everyone!

Mirror FuN!

Gotta Love him!

Flowers, pumpkins and Happy Babies

What more could you want? 

Mck inspired recipes

So, it should be a "Not Me Monday" post for those of you who are in the know of the My Charming Kids Blog. I did not decide to follow MckMama and post a couple recipes that follow my diet but are healthy enough, I mean tasty enough to share. (Warning: I do not have a degree or talent in the nutrition field and I do reference recipes, sort of...) (For those of you who are not in the know about the referenced blog, I will finish this post with more information as I do not know how to link her blog to mine, sorry...)

So the menu tonight consisted of Polenta Lasagna and for dessert, Oat Bran Muffins. 

Contrary to how it sounds, they both were actually quite tasty! How do you make them you ask? I know you are awaiting the ingredients to go and prepare dinner tonight! Without further delay here you go:

Polenta Lasagna:

*Inredients: 

1 and 1/2 cups corn meal

1/2 tsp salt (optional)

1 onion chopped

1 red bell pepper chopped

1 package of sliced mushrooms

1 zucchinni sliced

1 yellow squash sliced

1 head of broccoli steamed 

1 can of olives, sliced

1 jar of marinara sauce

In a large baking dish combine 1 and 1/2 cups of polenta (aka corn meal) with 4 cups of water and 1/2 tsp salt (optional). Put in a preheated oven at 350º for 50 min. Once done remove from oven and let cool for an hour or refrigerate overnight if you are making in advance. 

On the stove top combine one onion and a red bell pepper (both chopped) with a little Olive Oil and cook until soft. Add a package of sliced mushrooms, one sliced Zucchinni, and one sliced yellow squash. Cook for another minute and remove from heat. 

Top the cool polenta with marinara sauce of your liking (make sure there is no dairy, wheat, eggs, soy, citrus or nuts to strictly follow my recipe!)

Top this mixture with your steamed broccoli, vegetable mixture and a can of olives. 

Can anyone say FIBER? 

Cover your polenta lasagna and cook in a 350º oven for 30 minutes. Remove cover and cook for another 10 mins.  

Oat Bran Muffins:

Ingredients:

2 and 1/2 cups of oat bran (wheat and soy free of course!)

1 banana mashed

3/4 cup of rice milk

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 cup raisins

1 tsp cinamin

1/2 cup honey

2 tbs vegetable oil (soy free)

Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl, pour equally into 12 muffin cups and bake at 425º for 10 min. Let cool and enjoy! Would be great with butter, but of course that is NOT allowed. 

If you do try either of these recipes and like them please let me know, I might be more inclined to keep trying or just sharing the ones I like!

As for the My Charming Kids blog, it has become my "reality tv" addiction. Instead of keeping up with Jon and Kate plus 8 I started checking blogs. This blog makes me laugh, think and challenges me as a mom of one to wonder what it would be like as a mom of four under the age of 5 years old (no, don't get any ideas, but we all think about the IMPOSSIBLE once in awhile, not that it is impossible, but that would be my preference ). I enjoy listening and watching the journey of this family known as the Mck Family. I highly recommend you looking into this said blog, as soon as possible... Well, I know I said I did not know how to link, but I did link it above and I was really just trying to get you to read the entire post. 

Have a great week, I can't wait to hear rave reviews of the food! 

Em