Menu Monday

The last few weeks have been hectic and we've gotten a little off course.  Hopefully this week will be more successful.

Monday: leftovers (Italian beef*, or tortellini)
Tuesday: chili
Wednesday: leftovers
Thursday: Pulled pork sandwiches
Friday: homemade pizza
Saturday: Chicken pot pie*
Sunday: Pasta ai Quattro Formaggi*

*Indicates new recipe

19 Months

Isabella is on her way to two years old!  She is such a joy.  We are so lucky to have such a wonderful little girl.  She really is looking more like a little girl and less like a baby.



"So, you're saying I'm closer to TWO than ONE? What?!"

"At least I look cute in my new raincoat and boots!"

Age: 19 months

Weight: Not sure
Length: Not sure
Size: Mostly 24m, can wear some 2T. Shoes are size 5.
Hair: Getting longer

Teeth: Still 14, but she's working on her upper canines
Sleeping: Generally sleeping pretty well. She usually sleep for about 11 hours at night and then a 2-3 hour nap.

Eating: She loves bananas, cheese, and applesauce.  Obviously Mama has to be careful about letting her eat too much.  Loves pizza- she ate three adult size slices the other night!

Movement: Still crazy!  I don't expect her to slow down any time soon.  She can now get on and off her little chairs by herself and she's working on somersaults.

Milestones: First inappropriately placed crayon marks:  I found a small scribble on her bedroom door today.  I think she has some crayons hidden somewhere, so I'm sure there will be more.

Favorite toys/activities: Play kitchen, coloring, playing outside, dolls and strollers, books, cars, and her talking puppies (Laugh & Learn and My Pal Violet)

Dislikes: Other children crying and yelling.  I yelled at Audrey today and oh my!  I've never seen such giant tears!  I felt terrible.

Words/sounds: Too many to count!  A few that come to mind: stuck (when she's having trouble getting up), upstairs, and outside.  She's also using more word combinations like "Dada bye-bye" or "baby night-night."

Update: New Years Resolution

Remember my resolution post about making some economic and eco-friendly changes to our lifestyle?  I thought I'd post an update for everyone.  If you remember correctly, I had twelve goals.  I'm sure I won't meet all twelve goals, but I feel like we're making excellent progress!

Completed:
1. Install a programmable thermostat.

2. Buy a steam mop.  Ok, so this one is sort of give and take in the eco-friendly department.  It will eliminate the use of chemicals, but it runs on electricity.  Ultimately, my floors are not getting clean enough so I'm biting the bullet on this one.

In Progress:
1. Be more proactive about recycling.  We already recycle quite a bit and have really cut back on our trash each week, but I think there are still plenty of things winding up in the garbage that could easily be recycled.
- I am the recycling Nazi.

2. Make re-usable refills for my Swiffer duster and sweeper.
- So far I've made one Swiffer duster refill, and I've purchased the microfiber to make sweeper refills.


3. Cut back on paper towels and napkins by converting to "un-paper" towels and cloth napkins.
- We have some un-paper towels on their way!

Coming up:
1. Plant a vegetable/herb garden.
- Our main issue here is figuring out where to plant it. We don't want to take up room inside the fence, but our annoying neighbors let their dogs roam free and we don't want them to disturb it.  We also need to figure out the best spot for light and irrigation.  I also want to do a raised garden bed, so Clint will need to build that for me. 

I feel like we're on our way to a healthier, more frugal life.  :)

Menu

Nope, I didn't forget about Menu Monday.  I really don't have much to post!  Clint was gone last night, and will be gone tonight and tomorrow night (work, work, class).  I am a little ashamed at how unhealthy Isabella nd I are eating: last night was frozen pizza tonight will likely be Kraft mac & cheese (the kind in the bag), tomorrow will likely be randomness from the freezer.  I just don't have the motivation to do anything too complicated when Isabella and I are home during the week.  It takes so much longer to do anything when I'm alone with her, and it's already 5:30 by the time we get home.  She starts to beg for food around 6:00.  Not to mention she's a picky eater and while Clint is fine with leftovers I hate to go to a lot of trouble for a meal for it to be eaten re-heated.  The first taste should be fresh, you know what I mean?

When I do get around to cooking again chicken alfredo and chicken pot pie are on deck.  The chicken pot pie keeps getting pushed back; it just never sounds appetizing when it comes time to actually prepare it.

18 month checkup

We had Isabella's 18 month checkup today and it went really well.  It seems like she was always sick with either a sinus infection or an ear infection for her past few checkups and this time she was in perfect health!  She was very brave and did very well.  Proud mama right here!  In the past she has screamed anytime a staff member came into the exam room and clung to me with all her might.  She was a little iffy about the medical assistant, but did very well with the NP we saw and the nurse who administered her vaccine.  The only thing she didn't like was lyng down on the exam table.  She cried very briefly from the shot, but other than that she did very well!  I told Clint we hit the Elmo trifect today: Elmo poster in the exam room, and Elmo sticker from the front desk, and watching Sesame Street as a reward for being such a big, brave girl!  She loves Elmo right now.

Weight: 21lbs 7oz- 10th% 
Height: 32 inches- 50th%
Head: 47.4 cm- 75th% (Big brain I tell ya, big brain!)

Menu Monday

I'll include last weeks as well since I never got around to posting it.

Last Week:
Sunday- I honestly don't remember
Monday- leftovers
Tuesday- Pot roast with veggies
Wednesday- Homemade mac & cheese
Thursday- leftovers (I had a hair appointment)
Friday- beef and noodles
Saturday- stuffed shells

This week:
Sunday- Chili
Monday- leftovers (We have A LOT!)
Tuesday- parm crusted pork chops
Wednesday- leftovers, or grilled cheese & tomato soup
Thursday- tacos
Friday- pizza
Saturday- meatloaf

18 Months!

Isabella is now 18 months old.  A year and a half!  Wow.  Many of my blogging friends have started using an easy-to-read format for their monthly updates.  I think I'll try it out.

Age: 18 months

Weight: Not sure, but we'll find out at her check-up this week
Length: Again, not sure
Size: 18-24 months, mostly and I think she's about ready for size 5 shoes
Hair: Getting longer
Teeth: 14 and counting
Sleeping: Eh.  She's not a terrible sleeper, but the teething has caused some disruption.

Eating: She's all about pasta, bananas, cheese, crackers, and mandarin oranges.  She still prefers ground meats over all others.  She hasn't been eating her veggies as well lately.  She's getting better about drinking milk.  She is also getting better at using utensils, although sometimes they just slow her down. ;)

Movement: Cuh-razy!  Seriously, she is all over the place.

Milestones:  First peanut butter sandwich!  She loved it.  

Favorite toys/activities: Kitchen, magnets, coloring, reading books, "helping" Mommy, playing ball

Dislikes: Being put down?  She's very clingy lately.  

Words/sounds: A lot.  Cheese, cracker, poo-poo (associates it with the potty and diapers, but doesn't tell me when she's gone yet), bear, banana, chair, Elmo, Mouse (as in Mickey), Peanut (PP), and several more that I'm forgetting.  I swear she uses a new word each day.

I've been awful about taking photos, as usual.  Here are a few I was able scrounge up.


First peanut butter sandwich

 Having a snack at her new table.  We're very serious about nutrition, apparently.

Having a tea party with Peanut.

"Isabella, say cheese."

"CHEESE!"

Such a silly girl!