Merry Christmas!

from our family to yours  <3

Recipe: Polish Chicken and Dumplings

This time of year, with 2+ feet of snow on the ground and temps that would make a polar bear wish for a tropical vacation, comfort food is usually the main thing on our menu.  A coworker recently shared this with me and I couldn't WAIT to try it!  It instantly became a new favorite, so I'm sharing it with you!  This super simple recipe will not disappoint.

Preheat oven to 350.

1 small box of frozen pierogies (we use Wegmans white or yellow cheddar, because we are cheese-aholics... but any flavor will work).  Flash boil until floating then drain.

2 chicken breasts- baked (or use leftover rotisserie, or heck even boil in the pierogie water if you're feeling super lazy).  Shred cooked chicken.

1 can of cream of chicken soup, mix with 1/2 can of milk, season with garlic salt and pepper.

In buttered/greased glass/casserole dish layer pierogies then shredded chicken on top.  Cover with seasoned cream of chicken soup mixture.

Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes.
 

Kennedy's 16 Month Check In

So I guess I am trying to age my baby faster than she needs to... all week I have been telling everyone that she is 17 months old, and I didn't realize that I am a month ahead until I sat down to write this post.  Oops!  Blame it on the mom brain!  Well... anyhow... Kennedy still isn't feeling 100%, but I am pretty sure we are on the up swing from this yucky bug that has been plaguing our house for the past month.

November has been lots of fun with Thanksgiving and our first real snow of the year.  We enjoyed a walk through Lights on the Lake and some great Black Friday shopping!

 
How Big Is Baby?

• Kennedy is 20 pounds and change.  Her weight gain has tapered off, which is normal as her activity level increases and her appetite slows.
• We are in winter wear now, all size 18 months and up.  Some of the 18-24 month tops/sweaters are a little big, but there is no point to buy any smaller since she will only grow.
• Size 5 and 5/6 shoes.  The 5/6 slippers are a little big, but they are just to wear around the house so it's ok.  Her size 5 TOMS are getting small, but I am going to save the 6s for warmer weather. 
• Full time cloth diapering.  Smalls and one-sizes.  I did break out a few of her mediums, just to try on, but they don't get much use yet.

Development & Milestones

• Running, running, running.  This kid doesn't walk anywhere any more.
• She has been using the potty a lot this month.  She still will not tell us when she has to go, but if we ask her, she will answer.  We have had a few days with very few accidents, but it means putting her on the potty almost every hour.  We are still trying to get her ot tell us when she needs to go.
• Her language development blows me away!  She signs almost 40 words and speaks about 25.  Kevin has done a wonderful job teaching and encouraging her signing and speaking.  She is becomming quite the little chatterbox.
• The tooth count is up to 14 or 16 now.  It's hard to count, but she almost has a full set.  The molars finally broke through, and then a few more followed within a few days.  No wonder why she has been Miss Misery off and on... that's a lot of teeth to cut at once!

Diet/Nursing

• Nursing has been out saving grace this month.  Between the teething and being sick, nursing was the one constant I could count on to comfort her when nothing else worked.  What a wonderful, beautiful thing it is to be able to nurse and soothe your hurting little one.  I am so thankful for our extended nursing relationship.
• The pump is long gone!  I am finally comfortable throughout a 12 hour shift and even up to 18 hours or so if need be.  It's amazing that I can go that long and be fine, then on my days off nurse around the clock if K needs it.  The nursing mama's body is a pretty cool thing.
• K's diet has been so-so this month.  She has really enjoyed frozen fruit more than anything, because it is soothing on her sore gums.  She also loves popcorn (her special treat with daddy on mommy's work nights).

Sleep

• Sleep has been about the same.  She still sleeping about 10 hours/night, but continues to wake once, sometimes 2-3 times/night.  One of these days she will sleep through the night.  Maybe.
• Naps were ok.  She is still consistent with one nap/day, but she has started ot vary the time of that nap... I'm not a fan.  She used to go down somewhere between 11 and 1 for about 2-3 hours... now there are days she is ready to nap by 10am and other days that she has fought and fought and fought until 4pm.  Makes me crazy!  I am hoping to get on a more consistent nap schedule soon.

Mommy & Daddy Check In

• It's hard to believe that we are getting ready to celebrate our second Christmas with our baby girl.  Just wow!
• Finally, after 2 years without (not that I missed her), dear old AF showed up.  We are ready to start working on Baby #2.  :)  I will try to not update the gory details of our TTC journey, but I'm excited to at least cross the starting line and had to share.  :)
• Otherwise... work is work and school is school.  We are both looking forward to planning a much-needed break in the spring.

Any appointments, visitors or outings? Anything else new?

• October 30 15 month check up
• Veteran's Day weekend trip to Pittsburgh
• Lights on the Lake walk through with Lucy
• First snow of the year!  And LOTS of it!
• Thanksgiving
• Black Friday shopping

Product Rave:

• Not to sure this month...

Any upcoming developments, milestones? What's next?

• Next appointment will be 18 months in January

Kennedy's 15 Month Check In

Rolling right along at 15 months.   To say that time is flying would be an understament.  I swear I blink and *bam* another month has gone by.  The 15 month language explosion is in full force and since I wrote the post about Baby Signing, Kennedy has picked up at least 10-12 more words.  It is such a joy to be able to communicate with her and watch her discover her voice.  She did have a nasty bout of Coxsackie virus (hand, foot & mouth) that left her with a fever and blisters all over (her hands, foot and mouth go figure)... but she is feeling much better now.

How Big Is Baby?

• Kennedy is definitely over 20 pounds now, we will find out exactly how much at her appointment tomorrow.
• She is wearing whatever is left of her 12 month, but mostly 18 month clothing and a few 2T items.  T... for TODDLER... WOWZA!
• Size 4 shoes are all too small now, which is a bummer because she had some really cute size 4 shoes.  Time to go shopping! 
• Full time cloth diapering. Size smalls still fit, but we are running out of snaps to move out.  The One sizes have plenty of room left to go.  She has also started peeing on the potty... a lot!  We may very well be out of cloth diapers within the next few months.

Development & Milestones

• She walks and runs very well now.  She has also mastered climbing up and DOWN the stairs gracefully.  Better than me, probably.
• Her language development never ceases to amaze me.  She is up to over 30 words signing and about 10 or so words verbally.  So fun!
• The tooth count is still at 8... still no molars

Diet/Nursing

• We are still nursing and love it!  I just love my sweet snuggles and nightly nursing sessions (when I'm not working) with baby girl.
• Pumping is officially finished.  Not pleasant at first, but my body is getting the hint and the nights I work are getting more bearable.
• Food-wise, Kennedy has definitely developed some favorites... french fries (or anything potato), frozen fruit, fruit snacks and sausage.  Her appetite has been so-so due to a nasty virus, but she still loves her food.

Sleep

• Sleep has been pretty good, despite the yucky bug she fought off.  She is sleeping about 10 hours/night with a short nursing (or water when mommy is at work) break in the middle.  She always wakes up in a great mood with mommy, but when daddy has to wake her up early, she is Captain Cranky Pants.
• Naps are good.  She is down to 1 nap a day and it is consistently between 2-3 hours.  She always wakes up smiling from her nap.  Love it!

Mommy & Daddy Check In

• It's been a rough month for us.  I am fairly certain that there was not one day this month that we were all healthy.  Blah!  I will be thrilled when this funk leaves our house for good!
• In other news, since I have completely cut out pumping, I am hoping my cycle will return soon and we can officially begin TTC #2.  We are excited, nervous and well... nervous., but we can't wait to have a little brother or sister for Kennedy to torture... I mean... play with and love.  :)

Any appointments, visitors or outings? Anything else new?

• We took Kennedy to the Zoo Boo this past Saturday.  She had a BLAST (and a pumpkin full of yummy candy didn't hurt either).  I will post some pictures of her adorable (ahem last minute) Halloween costume when I remember.  We will also be doing Trick-or-Treating at the mall tomorrow.
• Cloth diapering is still going great!!

Product Rave:

• @@@

Any upcoming developments, milestones? What's next?

• Next appointment will be 15 month check up tomorrow!

Roasmond Gifford Zoo Boo... in pictures

Our cute little scarecrow had a blast!  We will definitely be back next year!

 

Mom Review: Baby Sign Language

About a year ago, Kevin and I made the decision to teach Kennedy sign language.  It was a little slow to start and took her a while before she was able to sign back, but we are so glad that we made this decision!  As of right now, she is able to sign almost 20 different signs and understand even more from us.  As she hits her 15 month "Language Explosion", it seems like she is adding a new sign to her vocabulary almost every day.    

We used a combination of books, web resources and Baby Signing Time videos to teach her (and us!).  The videos were, by far, her favorite.  It's pretty exciting to know that Kevin and I are learning another language as well.  We plan to continue with it and maybe take formal ASL (American Sign Language) classes eventually.

Sign language has made communication so much easier and saved us many frustrations (on both sides).  Babies are able to express themselves with sign much sooner than with verbal language, so she is able to tell me what she wants or needs without me having to figure out what her cries and tantrums mean.  Some people are afraid that if their baby learns to sign, it will delay their speaking, but Kennedy talks up a storm.  We encourage Kennedy to sign and speak by signing and speaking ourselves.  She does this with about half of her signs, but the rest will follow soon, I'm sure.  

What a wonderful gift to be able to communicate with and understand your baby!

Here is a video of Kennedy signing

Kennedy's signing vocabulary
(to the best I can remember, in the order she learned them)

1. puppy
2. milk
3. more
4. all done
5. hi and bye
6. please
7. thank you
8. eat
9. bird
10. horse
11. water
12. mama
13. dada
14. bath
15. sleep
16. potty
17. wash hands
18. brush teeth
19. shoes
20. socks

Babywearing Week

Babywearing?  This is a thing?  Umm... yes.  Not in a Lady Gaga meat wearing sense

Eww.  But yes.  I have been wearing Kennedy in various wraps and carriers since she was just a few days old. 

She has always loved it and, truth be told, so have I.  I love feeling her close and it just melts my heart when she falls asleep on my chest or against my back.  I also love having my hands free to cook, clean, shop or... in the case of my oh-my-god-I-have-to-turn-in-this-8-page-paper-TODAY freak out last week, I love being able to pop her in the Ergo on my back and type away.  Sometimes daddy even gets in on the BW fun... usually when I am at work and K is being Captain Cranky Pants, he can put her in a carrier and go about his business while she falls asleep.  Our ring sling has been a lifesaver on vacations and especially in the airport.  It is a breeze to get through security, smushes easily into a diaper bag and enables me to be hands free to deal with all of the paperwork, luggage and other airport hassles.  :)

As you can tell, we are big fans!

So to celebrate Babywearing Week, we will be attending a few events this week and we couldn't be more excited!  Tuesday, we will meet up with some other babywearing mamas at the zoo.  Thursday at the park for a walk and Friday we will be modeling our favorite carrier (Ergo) in a babywearing fashion show.  We are very excited!

If you have any questions about carriers, wraps or babywearing in general... let me know!  I love to spread the word about BW!