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?