Sugar

Ok...so it's time to start the dreaded diet and exercise routine to get the baby weight off. Unfortunately, I am not one of those people where the weight just mysteriously falls off in a month or two after I have a baby. NOPE. Complete opposite. I have to work really really hard to get it off. So...new Nikes were purchased. New work out clothes purchased. Updated ipod playlist. Started running/walking 5 times a week. And....drum roll please! Gave up SUGAR for lent. Now I'm not talking about the natural sugars found in food in its original state. I'm talking about refined sugars. Well actually I started a week ago so I gave it up before lent, in hopes to make it more of a lifestyle change and not just a lent thing. This means no pasta, no rice, no potatoes, no packaged food, basically nothing!! Shoot me now.  BUT...actually I have been enjoying the foods I'm eating. We have been roasting fresh veggies every night and I have found a million ways to cook chicken, salmon, pork chops, etc on Pinterest in really tasty and yummy recipes without sugar or carbs.  I already feel a million times better and have so much more energy. Sugar really is a drug. Not to mention the health benefits are just horrible for you. 

It seems like every time I get on my health kicks, we eat so much chicken. I mean, you can only bake chicken in so many different ways. I'm really quite tired of it. It can be so dry. So thanks to pinterest, I am now a big fan of broiled chicken. Its so fast and easy, and the chicken is ten times more moist than when you bake or even grill.  So here's my 2 new favorite ways to cook up some chicken! Don't be scared of some dark meat. I love dark meat. It is so tasty in these recipes. And budget friendly...remember I'm a new stay at home mom. But...you can always use breast too. I have done both and they are equally as tasty.

Dijon Thyme Thighs
2 Tb Dijon Mustard
2 Tsp Dried Thyme
1 Tsp Olive Oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or 4 breast cut in half)


Mix everything in zip lock bag. Roll the chicken around to get it good and coated. Marinate for 30 min in the fridge. Then line a baking sheet with foil. Place chicken on baking sheet. Put under broiler in your oven for 6 minutes, then flip chicken over and do another 6 minutes. Make sure your chicken is about 6 inches from the broiler. And voila, the dijon mustard crusts up on the top and the chicken is super tender and juicy!  And...it only took 12 minutes! 


Lemon Thyme Chicken (notice I like thyme?)

2 Tb Lemon Zest
1/3 cup lemon juice
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 Tsp Thyme
1 Tsp Rosemary
salt and pepper to taste
8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or 4 breast cut in half)


Mix everything in ziplock bag. Roll the chicken around to get it good and coated. Marinate for 2 hrs in fridge. Place chicken on lined baking sheet and broil in oven 6 minutes on each side! Voila...perfectly golden brown chicken. 

I served it up with some roasted asparagus and a mixed green salad last night. Delish!!

My Valentines

We had an awesome Valentines Day! The night before, Brian took his sweet little Valentine on a date. She was so excited! He came home from work and had her candy and flowers, then took her to Rocket City Diner to get her favorite macaroni and cheese! It was so cute and sweet and I was smiling all night just thinking about the conversations they might be having.

On Valentines, Brian came home with bleu cheese stuffed filets from Longhorn, loaded baked potatoes, and salad. We ate together as a family and it was the perfect low key Valentines Day yet! Maggie and Miller got me really sweet cards, and Brian got me flowers and a new purse that I had been wanting!  Plus, my sweet Daddy brought me tulips! I'm a lucky girl!

Also, sweet Maggie made her Daddy a present. Thank you pinterest!

Read my other new post below! 2 posts in one day!! I'm on a roll!

2012 So Far...

January was a low key month adjusting to our new life with Miller. We celebrated Honey's birthday, and opened Christmas presents since we were in Jackson during Christmas. I love this picture of Honey and Maggie. There might even be a little resemblance?

In February, we celebrated my 30th birthday with some friends at Tabella! We enjoyed some much needed adult company and perhaps a few adult beverages!  I was pretty emotional about turning 30. I remember my mom's 30th birthday like it was just a few years ago, and that saddens me to think how fast life goes by. Is it possible that I'm really 30?! Wow...that's so young, yet so old. I don't want the next 30 to go by as fast as the last 30 just did. 

Miller is doing so well. He is smiling all the time. He weighs 10 lbs. 12 oz. He is wearing 3-6 month clothes. He is taking 4 oz. of formula every 3 hours. He is sleeping much better at night, sometimes 5-6 hours at a time. Hallelujah! His oxygen saturations are remaining in the mid 80's, which is good for him. He is taking his medicine like a champ. I guess that's all he has ever known so hopefully he won't give me fits about it like Maggie does!!!

I love this little boy to pieces, scar and all. He is such a blessing in our lives. So many good things have come out of our situation, but that deserves a blog by itself. You never know how strong you can be until life throws you something like this. I could worry all day long about him, believe me, there is lots to worry about. But I choose not to. I have completely put him in God's hands. For some reason, God chose ME to be his mother. I am forever grateful, honored, and humbled that I have this honor. He has already brought more joy to our family than I could ever imagine.

I love you little buddy.

I have to say what an incredible big sister Maggie is. We have kept her home from Mother's Morning Out since Miller has been home from the hospital. There have been so many viruses and things going around that we felt it best not to expose Maggie or Miller to them. So she has been cooped up in this house with me. She has been an angel. She has not acted out at all. I think she understands Miller is a special little boy. She treats him so tenderly, and loves and kisses on him all day long. She calls him little buddy. She picked that up from me. She wants to help me do everything. She is constantly bringing him his stuffed animals and setting them in his swing or bouncy seat. She also loves to cover him up with his blanket. I am just so thankful for this little girl, and the amount of joy that she is bringing me as well. I am amazed at how much she has grown up since all of this happened. She has the most nurturing spirit. Maybe she will be a nurse one day? Maybe on the cardiac floor? She uses her stethoscope to check Miller's heart several times a day. She understands so much more than I give her credit for.

She will be starting back to school next week. She needs it, and so do I. Please pray we are able to keep germs away from Miller and keep him well!

P.S.  It feels good to be blogging again!

Learning Life with 2

So I could act like supermom when I write this post, and tell you life with 2 is easy breezy, or I could be honest. I'm one diaper change away from checking myself into Pine Grove!  Totally kidding...but I had no idea the difference in life with 1 and life with 2 kids!!  I'm jotting these things down so I can go back and laugh at myself when I'm crying because my kids are going off to college.

I get no sleep. I mean none. If I'm not giving Miller a bottle, I'm putting his paci in his mouth, changing a diaper, or chasing Maggie out of our bedroom.

I reheat my coffee several times each morning. After about the 3rd time, it's just gross and I have to make another cup. And then I am full of guilt bc those dern Keurig pods are SO expensive!

I TRY to shower daily. I TRY to at least shower before Brian gets home. I find it perfectly normal now to shave one leg one day, and the other leg the next day. I never fully understood what a shower with no time limitations meant. All I have to do is lather shampoo in my hair and Miller knows it's time to have a scream fest.

I have never let Maggie watch this much TV in her life! Its horrible...but great!!

I have also never let her eat this many chicken nuggets in her life. Its just gross...but a time saver. This too shall pass Maggie Moo. Mommy will cook again one day.

If I had a dollar for every time I tried to put one of Miller's diapers on Maggie, I would be a millionaire.

If I had a dollar for every time Maggie wakes Miller up from sleeping, I would also be a millionaire.

I should have bought stock in Mylicon long ago. God knows I have given them hundreds of dollars! I have the gassiest babies alive!

My house looks like Hurricane Katrina came through. It's bad...I mean real bad.

My total "me" time comes from adding up all the times I went to pee during the day. Wait, I take that back. Maggie comes too so it isn't really "me" time.

I cannot...for the life of me...get both of them to nap at the same time. I spend the majority of Maggie's nap rocking Miller to sleep, only to have her wake up and immediately come wake him up too.

I have been trying to buy a new pair of running shoes for the last 2 weeks thinking I'm gonna start running. HA! I can't even find time to buy the shoes!! And we are talking on the internet...ridiculous.

Ok, I'll admit it. I had it easier when I was a working mom. All you moms with 3 or 4 kids, you're on medication. Don't lie. Or you wish you were.  I'm totally kidding. This new job staying at home with my two kiddos is the best thing that has ever happened to me. The hardest...but the best. I wouldn't trade these chaotic days for anything else in the world.  Today I got down on the floor with Miller and he smiled and cooed for an hour. And I played Dollhouse with Maggie and we read a ton of books. I am constantly amazed by her love for reading, and learning new things. We played dress up, and she used my kitchen towels for a princess skirt. It's these types of things that make it all worth while!

However, if you see me with my black stretch pants on, no make up, my hair looks like I stuck my finger in a light socket, SURELY you can relate. I bet your house is just as crazy as mine. Or crazier if your name is Amanda or Heather. hehe