Yummy New Recipes!

Usually I get frusterated trying new recipes because you never know how they are going to turn out but lately I've been loving it! We've been trying out new vegetarian recipes almost every night and have found a lot of great ones! Here are a few that we've had this past week and our ratings.

Eggplant and Pepper Parmesan Sandwich - 4 stars: I didn't like the original recipe that much but made it again with some modifications and then really enjoyed it!


Sweet Potato Burritos - 4 stars: this has a really unique flavor ... almost curry like. It's so different from anything I've ever had before which is fun.


Roasted Potato and vegetable Enchiladas - 4 stars: Mark liked this one a lot more than me ... it had big chunks of whole mushrooms in it that Mark loved but I like my mushrooms more discreet. I still liked it but I definetly won't leave them whole next time.


Stuffed Bell Peppers - 5 stars: Mark thinks it really deserves 6 stars he loved it so much. It was so easy to make and the flavor was so rich!


Spaghetti Squash - 4 1/2 stars: I had never made spaghetti squash before but it was so easy and a great nutritious alternative for any pasta dish. It doesn't have a strong flavor but it really absorbs the favors you cook with which is nice. I will definetly be cooking with it more often ... the possibilities are endless!

Boston's new favorite thing.

He loves standing. I think sitting up on his own is just an old thrill for him now because he always wants to be standing and he'll hold on to anything to keep him up. His favorite is standing on our bed holding onto the window seal and looking outside. Sometimes he'll even take steps to the side to get to something he wants.

On his throne.

Well I wasn't kidding. Today is day 2 of potty training and so far we are 3 for 3. I still don't know if he's making a connection or it's just miraculous timing. Either way he loves it! He's all smiles and loves clapping with us when he pees. I can't believe how big he's getting.

The pet store.

One of my friends gave me the great idea of taking Boston to the pet store. Of course Boston loves it! We've already gone to three different ones this week! Thanks for the idea Courtney... I wish you and Noah could come with us!

A few updates.

Mark and I just installed new sink fixtures in both of our bathrooms. I was proud of myself for figuring it out on my own. Who knew if I just read the instructions I cound do it myself... with the help of Mark's muscles. The hardest part was just getting the old ones out because they were so rusty. I also bought a new mirror for the master bath, re-painted both vainities and installed new lighting ... another thing I was surprised I could do myself. Of course Mark has to come along and do quality control but I enjoy home improvement projects. Next we are tiling the backsplash in our kitchen and our shower surround. I love the tile we picked out but we go back and forth on how we want to lay it out.

BEFORE


AFTER

Too early to potty train?... maybe not!

My sister-in-law let me borrow her book 'The Baby Whisper' and I skipped straight to the part on potty trainging. She has very unique recomendations. I thought you were suposed to potty-train a child between 2-3 yrs. old. Well this is true in the U.S. where most children complete potty training between 36-48 months but this is very different from the rest of the world. In fact world-wide over 50% of children are toilet trained by one year and 80% between 12-18 months! That was shocking to me! Well her recomendation is to start at 9 months ... sound crazy? I kind of thought so too but we decided to try it anyways. We bought Boston one of those small toilet seats that just attatches to your regular toilet and this afternoon we started.

When he woke up from his morning nap I sat him on the toilet. He got so excited and started peeing and then started claping for himself! Haha!! I couldn't believe it! I had been so doubtful he would do anything so I totally wasn't prepared and it got everywhere! A coincidence?... probably?!

Then about 3 hours later before I layed him down for his aafternoon nap I sat him on the toilet again. This time he didn't pee but he farted and it seemed like he was trying to push something out but nothing happened. Oh well.

When he woke up from his afternoon nap I sat him on the toilet again and low and behold he started peeing. This time I was prepared!

I still can't believe it though. Is he really making a connection or is this all just a crazy coincidence?... I guess time will tell.

A moment of truth...

I love being a mom ... it's far surpassed any expectations I had about what it would be like. But even with that said ... I'M TERRIFIED OF BEING A STAY-AT-HOME MOM! When Boston was born my boss told me I could take 8 weeks off ... I came back 3 weeks later. I didn't like being at home all day. I was just siiting around thinking about work so I figured I might as well go back. Part of that is just because I love my job but another part of me just wonders if I'm really cut out for it.

Right now I work 3 days a week and the other 2 days I'm home with Boston... when I'm at work time seems to fly by and I love knowing that Boston is home with Mark and that they'll be there happy to see me when I get home. On the other hand when I stay home with Boston ... the days just seem to drag on, he sleeps half of the time and I get bored ... I feel like I'm just counting down the time until Mark gets home. It makes me feel so pathetic.

I thought wanting to stay at home with my kids would just develope naturally when I started having children. What's wrong with me? When I was growing up it seemed like so many of my friends aspired to be a mom while that was the farthest thing from my mind. I aspired to have a career, to be a doctor, and to win a nobel prize for curing cancer or something. I knew I would want to have kids so I hoped I would marry someone who would want to be a stay-at-home dad. Well that part worked out okay... Mark would rather have me work while he stayed home with the kids but we both know that's not what he's suposed to do. I know Mark is suposed to have a career, I know I don't want someone else taking care of our kids so I only see one option left...

So the question remains... if I'm suposed to be a stay-at-home mom then why does the thought of it scare me so much? Why do I have this burning desire to do something different. Why do I crave going back to school and having a career? What's wrong with me?... Has anyone else felt this way?

Know your sunscreen!

More than 1 million people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with skin cancer this year. This number has steadily increased over the past 10 years so sunscreen is more important than ever. Environmental Working Group’s recent Sunscreen Investigation found that of nearly 1,000 namebrand sunscreens, only 1 of 5 provided adequate protection from both UVA & UVB radiation with some ingredients linked to known or suspected health hazards. After 30 years of delay, the government has failed to set mandatory, comprehensive sunscreen safety standards to protect consumers’ health. In August 2007 FDA proposed first-ever UVA standards for sunscreen, but the rules have not yet been finalized or put into effect. In the meantime, companies are making misleading claims about product quality, and ineffective products crowd store shelves.


TOP 10 SUNSCREENS

1. Blue Lizard (anything without oxybenzone)
2. California Baby (anything with SPF 30+)
3. CVS with zinc oxide
4. Jason Natural Cosmetics Sunbrellas Mineral Based Sunblock
5. Kiss My Face “Paraben Free” series
6. Neutrogena Sensitive Skin Sunblock
7. Olay Defense Daily UV Moisturizer (with zinc)
8. SkinCeuticals Physical UV Defense
9. Solar Sense Clear Zinc for Face
10. Walgreens Zinc Oxide for Face, Nose, & Ears


READING THE LABELS

BUY
• SPF 30 or higher for best protection.
• At least 7% zinc oxide or titanium dioxide for broad spectrum protection.
New sunscreen every year.

AVOID
• Oxybenzone or benzophenone-3: skin absorption, allergies, hormone problems
• Spray and powder sunscreens: inhaling sunscreens can pose extra risks
• Fragrance: allergies, reproductive problems
• Sunscreen with added bug repellent: you can get too much of the pesticide in your body
• Coppertone, Neutrogena and Banana Boat: fewer than 5% of their products are recommended as safe and effective

FAMILY...

We have been lucky to live close to Mark's family ever since we've been married. We usually get together about twice a month for Sunday family dinners and sometimes things in between. I'm starting to realize how hard it's going to be to move ... most likely really far away from both our families next year. Ahhhh ... I'm not ready!!

Mark's sister Faith is brave enough to take on two at once. She's SO great with them, which has been wonderful! She is always so willing to watch Boston when we need someone! I think we'll just have to take her with us!


Grandma and Cameron. Pretty soon he'll be on the floor rolling around with them!

Uncle Brandon and Grandma and Grandpa Great.

"CHEESE!" She's very enthusiastic and drawn out about her cheeses!! She's just an enthusiastic child in general ... she's hilarious! I made her that tootoo for Christmas.




Kennedy is quite the entertainer ... she always takes it upon herself to make sure Boston has enough toys and she'll stack 20 toys on him because one is never sufficient. She's also so good at making him laugh by doing the funniest things! I'm so glad they enjoy being together!

A Sheffield weekend...

Mark's best friend David Sheffield, his wife, and cute 4 month old baby boy came to visit this weekend! They live out in San Diego and we try to visit them everytime we go that direction but it was fun to have them here visiting us this time ... although lets be honest, I would have rather been in San Diego. We had fun though, on Friday we went to BYU's annual Business Plan Competition and I thought it was pretty amazing! I just wish I had one of those million dollar ideas myself.

Here's a few shots of the boys.






Even though Boston has had his teeth for over two months now I think this is the first time I got a picture of them.

Creative Genius!

Boston is so funny... he makes me laugh everyday. Lately he's been finding new ways to play with his same old toys...

Exhibit A: climbing up his bouncy chair. He has this death grip and it's hard to pry him off.

Making a fort out of his playmate.


And last but not least... Boston loves his changing table but it's not exactly the safest place to let him play so Mark took the pad off and put it on the ground for him to play with. He likes to hide from us behind it and then when we say "where's Boston" he will expose himself.

Plus one... Equals 4!!

Our little family is growing... We have our second baby on the way. Scheduled to arrive in October.
















April Fools!... I couldn't resist! I LOVE April Fools day ... as long as I'm the one doing the tricks!