video

Please excuse the seriously horrible camera work

She is "talking" up a storm these days, I got some om camera, enjoy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDYqqFmK2qs

xoxo
Ashlea

Meal Plans

I always like to hear what others meal plan for the week so I thought I would share mine for a quick post before I take the little one to go visit where I used to work :)

I plan Friday to Thursday because I go to the Farmers Market and grovery shop on Thursdays

Friday- Eat Out
Saturday - hotdogs on the grill, baked beans and coleslaw
Sunday - crock pot pesto ranch chicken thighs (I make my own ranch mix to avoid the preservatives), brown rice and steamed broccoli
Monday -teriyaki bacon wrapped chicken and pineapple skewers with homemade fried rice
Tuesday - talipia marinated with soy sauce, lime juice, garlic, and cilantro, sliced avocado, and sweet potato fries
Wednesday - crockput pulled BBQ pork, cole slaw and side salad
Thursday - roasted veggie pasta

xoxo
Ashlea

2 month picture....for real this time....kinda

Okay so I got some cute 2 month pictures but she still wouldn't let me put her in the head band and romper like I wanted to, so I let her make her own wardrobe choice. She didnt give us a smile but in true form gave us quiet the range of faces.

Love this silly little girl :)

xoxo
Ashlea

Cloth Diapers

  This week we started using cloth diapers. I want to do a more detailed post later but for now here is a picture of Charlotte sporting one of her new dipes :)

 

Way cuter than disposables!

xoxo
Ashlea

Play room

  While I know Nugget is a little young to have a playroom, she is starting to be interested in looking at toys and exploring around her, so of course the teacher in me cant wait to set up a playroom for her to play, explore and learn in.

Its still under construction but I did get a mirror set up at baby level and we tried it out this morning during tummy time - it was a success :)

I particularly am digging her halo of hair with the light coming in from behind.

Happy Friday!

xoxo
Ashlea

Baby carriers

Charlotte loves being in the babby carriers, we have 4 different kinds and she loves each one. Its where she takes most of her naps and the only way I can take her into stores without her crying, not to mention they have saved my arms from not carrying her all the time.

There is a down side to them however, like when you are eating maple brown sugar oatmeal and some falls in her hair......

but its still worth it to be able to eat with 2 hands and she was none the wiser :)

xoxo
Ashlea

2 month picture......kinda

I have tried taking little Miss' 2 month picture for 3 days now and every time this is what I get..........

Im 0 for 3, we shall try again tomorrow :)

She did take an awesome 2 hour nap in her swing this morning which allowed me to finally organize her closet which looked like this.....

 

messy and so disorganized. The closet already had the shelving and I though about buying a new organizing system but didnt want to spend the money. So over the past couple of weeks I have been hoarding boxes in the family room to cover and use on the shelves. I used a linen drop clothe that I already had, hot glued it to the box, wrapped some twine around it, labeled this cute little cards I found at TJMaxx awhile back and put them on with a little clothes pin. I am quiet pleased with the result.

xoxo
Ashlea

happy baby video

It may not look like anything special but after having a baby who did nothing but scream bloody murder every time she was laid down, having Charlotte lay down and play and coo is HUGE!

It makes giving up my beloved cheese worth it :)

xoxo
Ashlea

happy baby photo shoot

finally got a picture of the sweet silly smile!

and of course one with the tongue out :)

xoxo
Ashlea

almost got one!

Miss Charlotte has been smiling for weeks now and I have been trying to catch one on camera but I swear that girl knows what I am up to and stops smiling the minute I get out the camera. This is the closest I have come to capturing one, its not a full smile but she sure does look precious.

xoxo
Ashlea

I think she remembers......

how she used to be in my belly while I bounced on the yoga ball :)

 

Its her favorite thing in the whole world, it can always calm her down.

xoxo
Ashlea

Photo Dump and a video

summer time nautical wear

working on neck control and finding her thumb

finally paci success!!!!!

snuggles

 

6 week growth spurt = fussy baby

sweet dreams

now every time we do tummy time, she is trying to scoot and move and gets mad when she doesn't get anywhere

Thai Noodles

  Since Miss Charlotte has come into our family the cooking in this house has taken a serious hit. Its hard to find an hour to dice, chop, peel and mix together a meal when this tiny human needs you to eat, sleep. cuddle, stay clean and well everything.

So I have been trying some new quick recipes until the little one is old enough to hang out while I cook. The latest winner is a one pot Thai noodle dish - it hits all the marks- one pot, little prep work, healthy and ready in under 15 minutes. I was surprised at how tasty it was and it made enough for both Tony and I to have dinner and lunch the next day.

ONE POT WONDER THAI PEANUT PASTA
12 ounces linguine
4 cups vegetable broth
1/2 cup water
4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
I tablespoon tamarind paste
1 tablespoon soy sauce (and/or fish sauce, if desired)
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 inches of a ginger root, sliced into 1/4 inch slices
1 lime, in 1/4 inch slices
1 large carrot, peeled and cut in 1/4 inch by 2 inch pieces
1 red bell pepper, cut in 1/4 inch by 2 inch pieces
3 green onions, sliced in half lengthwise and then in 2 inch pieces
1 cup roasted salted peanuts
2 tablespoons peanut butter
One small bunch of cilantro (flat leaf parsley will work in a pinch)

Optional garnishes:
Fresh lime juice
Chopped peanuts
Mung bean sprouts

Place all ingredients except garnishes in a large stockpot. Cover pot and bring to a boil. Reduce to a low simmer and keep covered and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring every 2 minutes or so. Cook until pasta is al dente and almost all liquid has evaporated – I left about an inch of liquid in the bottom of the pot – but you can reduce as desired .
Season to taste with salt and pepper , stirring pasta several times to distribute the liquid in the bottom of the pot.
Remove slices of ginger and limes.Dish up the pasta and then sprinkle on garnishes as desired.

ENJOY!!

xoxo
Ashlea

family visits

  These past few days we had Uncle Robert and Aunt Maggie visiting. It was great, we sat around and talked, ate BBQ and fried chicken and of course cuddled and stared at miss Charlotte. She loved her Aunt Maggie, every time she held her she was calm and quiet.

Of course they loved her awesome hair and we discovered that her hair bears a striking resemblance to a certain dictator and childhood toy........

Which one do you think is most similar?

I vote the great leader, hopefully that is were the similarities end :)

xoxo
Ashlea

photo dump

life lately looks like......

lots of wearing her in the carrier,

starting to wear some 0-3 month clothes!,

and me getting to stay up later than her because of some great overnight sleep habits she has developed :)

 xoxo
Ashlea