Grammar ignorance?

Yes, there is a redesign.  I get bored.  Too colorful?  I kind of like it.  It's food related but fun and bright!  Just like baby toys.  Which is a lot of what I'm seeing lately.  At least this blog doesn't play music.  Some of those toys do not shut off until they are good and ready.  It's only just begun.  I know.

Thanksgiving was so wonderful!  Jackson of course couldn't really eat much but he sat at the table with us and he tried Grammie's homemade squash.  He gagged like crazy.  It had to have been the texture.  It wasn't pureed enough.  I added some formula to thin it out but it wasn't enough.  Oh well!  He enjoyed his Thanksgiving meal of formula.

My niece is the sweetest little thing.  She's already such a little mama to Jackson.  She just says "Baby.  Baby." and touches him with such sweetness.  She even held his hand.  One of my favorite moments of the day.

Moving on.  I've decided to use this blog, at times, for a portal for my venting and complaining.  Today is the day for one such post.

Taking classes, working full time, and having a baby at home is very difficult.  It is so hard to find the time to do what you need to to meet the needs of work, home, and school.  Especially when you have a professor that tells you don't know how to write, have bad grammar, and need to utilize the staff at the writing center at the university.  Say what?  I have grammar ignorance?

Um?  I don't know how to write?  Why don't you come and talk to me when you can send out a communication email without a typo?  K?

Can I also point out that this is a baseball course?  It is called Baseball and the American Experience.  Get over yourself, buddy.

I was livid the other day when he gave me a C on my paper.  While to some that might be fine, to me, no way.  I don't get C's.  Sorry to toot my own horn but as an adult learner, we are not getting this education to just get by.

We are here to do well.  He said this is not a grammar course and he's not grading as such.  Except that he was and I called him out on it.  Apparently other students did as well.  He said in the past, if he found five grammatical errors on the first page of a paper, he would stop reading but he will "soften."  Really?  Believe me, I understand being annoyed with incorrect grammar and spelling.  It bothers me to no end and sometimes I refuse to bring my business somewhere if there is a typo on a pamphlet.  I have also been known to find errors in restaurant menus.  So you can see my offense when he tells me I don't know how to write.  One example was he dinged me for ending a sentence with the word "too."  He said you can't end a sentence with a preposition.  Can somebody please tell me when it was made a rule that a sentence cannot end with this word?  How else is this word used?  Can we only say "I too liked it" instead of "I liked it too."  Please.  Example of his comments.

I can also spy a grammatical error or misspelling in about .45 seconds flat.

I think it's more of a writing style preference   I tend to write how I would speak.  Perhaps some of those sentences are not the correct "way" of writing but I'm not writing in slang in a school assignment.  The writing I do here and there are different.  But whatever.  He's a clown and I'm not changing anything.  I have never had an issue with my writing before this guy.  We had the option of sending a draft of our midterm assignment to him for review so I did.  He said "What an improvement!"  Dude, nothing changed.  It stands now as a 92/A-.  I'm not doing anything more on it.  My luck with this guy, the grade would go down.

I digress.

The holidays are coming!  We have lots of things scheduled!  We have office Santa parties, birthdays, breakfasts, and Jackson's dedication service!  Busy, busy.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I just wanted to write a quick post to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving and ensure that everyone has good eats!  We will be feasting on turkey (of course), mashed potatoes, proscuitto asparagus bundles, green bean casserole, stuffing, butternut squash, turnip, pumpkin pie, and apple pie!  Yum.  I can't wait.  Especially since last year I was still so nauseous and couldn't eat much save for desserts.  Yep.  Still had my sweet tooth then.

There is so much to be thankful for this year.  Last year, I was so very thankful for the addition we would be expecting in the year ahead.  This year, I am thankful for the healthy little boy that is now in my and M's arms.  Please remember to give thanks this year and remember that God is good!

Food, Food, Food

Baby is four months already!  Where did that time go?  I thought the first few weeks were never going to end but look where we are.  Now I want things to slow down!

But I am excited for this new food phase of his life.  Time to start solid foods.  I am super excited about this.  I don't even drink the bottles but I'm taste-bored for him!  A couple weeks ago it was seeming like the bottles just weren't cutting it so I reached out to my Mommy friends and they all said bring on the cereal!  The unanimous consensus was to start with oatmeal so that's where we went.  The first time he had it, he thought about it for a bit and looked cross-eyed at the spoon like what in the heck is that thing coming for my face?  Once a good amount of food finally made it into his mouth, he did pretty well!  Every feeding of oatmeal since then, he has eaten more and more and finally finished a whole bowl.  He's turning into a little piggy.  Too bad his weight isn't reflecting that just yet.

He had his four month checkup earlier this week.  Stats are:

Weight: 13lbs 4oz
Height: 25.5 inches
Head: 42 centimeters

Getting hungry, Mama!  I'm all ready in my businessman bib.

So basically, he's tall and skinny right now.  We'll see how long that lasts after starting baby food.

Because next up is FRUITS!  I am very excited.  I think I'll start with apples or peaches.  I might introduce sweet potatoes in the next few weeks too.  Just in time for Thanksgiving!  Lucky duck. 

I also have a recipe to share!  I know!  It's been a long time.  I had the fam over for dinner a couple weeks ago and made my version of chicken pot pie that is adapted from an Ina Garten recipe.  Using biscuits as the crust gives everyone their own and there is no fighting over the crust!  How bad could that be?  Not bad at all, my friends. 

Chicken Pot Pie

Adapted from Ina Garten

3 chicken breasts, bone in or boneless

3 tablespoons olive oil

Salt and pepper

5 cups chicken stock

1 tsp ground sage

1 tsp dried thyme

12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) butter

2 cups chopped yellow onions (about 2 onions)

3/4 cup flour

1/4 cup heavy cream

2 cups medium-diced carrots (about 4 carrots), blanched for 2 minutes in boiling water

1 10-ounce package frozen peas

1/2 cup minced fresh parsley

1 can refrigerated biscuits
1 egg, beaten

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

Place the chicken breasts on a baking sheet.  Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.  Place in oven and roast for about 45 minutes until cooked through.  Set aside to cool.  Once cool, cut into bite sized chunks.

In a sauce pan, add the chicken stock, ground sage, and thyme.  Heat the stock over medium low heat.

In a large, deep oven safe skillet, melt the butter.  Add the onions and saute until soft.  Add the flour and stir until a nice roux is formed.  Gently pour in the hot chicken stock.  Let the sauce thicken and then add the heavy cream, chicken, carrots, peas, parsley, and season with salt and pepper.  Stir well to combine. Place the pan in the oven and bake for about 15 minutes.

Remove the biscuits from the can and place on a baking sheet.  Place in the oven and pre-bake for about 1/3 of recommended baking time listed on the can.

Remove the chicken mixture from the oven and place the pre-baked biscuits on the top of the mixture.  Brush the tops of the biscuits with the beaten egg.  Put back into the oven and bake for another 15-20 minutes until the biscuits are baked through and golden brown on top.

Serve immediately.

How It's Going

It's been about a month since I started back to work and Baby J started day care. I can't believe that amount of time has gone by already but so far, it's going really well. He seems to be doing really well at day care and the staff are wonderful and truly seem to love him! It makes me sad that he is the first one there and the last one to be picked up at the end of the day but it does give him great one on one time with the teacher. She also feeds him his breakfast in the morning so that takes that off my hands. Which is good considering how traffic has been but that's a whole 'nother story that no one wants to hear.


I am doing well too. I am glad to be back to work. In all honesty, which I feel bad saying, it does make it a little easier. I'm not the one who constantly needs to entertain him or feed him. I know that probably sounds horrible but it's just how I'm feeling. But I love, LOVE, the feeling I get when I pick him up at the end of the day and then spend those few precious hours before bed with him. I think it's making me a better mom to have this time away. We've had some great naps with him on my shoulders and the smile I get when I pick him up is worth it. And he gets tired at the end of the day which is great.

However, I do think we are heading into the four month sleep regression. He does great for the first few hours in the night but then wakes and has trouble going back to sleep. We have also weaned him from the swaddling and he didn't much care for that at first. But he's all over his crib now at night. He's facing a different way than when I put him down, or he's on his side, or just kicking like crazy. So, the swaddling had to stop. I can usually get him back to sleep pretty quickly but we have had some nights that were more difficult and did require a bottle which I was trying to avoid. I don't want him to start relying on a middle of the night feeding again. But, when just won't settle, he is just that hungry and who can deny a baby that?
I am starting to get a little concerned about his head as it does have a significant flat spot. Luckily, we go to the doctor's in two weeks for his four month check so hopefully they can give me some tips other than propping his head to the opposite side during monitored naps, lots of tummy time, and repositioning in the crib. I did get him a new toy that he just loves. It's a seat with a toy tray. Look at him! You hit that ladybug mirror, Little Man!

So, all in all, we are all doing really well. I am certainly tired. But what new mother isn't. It's just the name of the game and I'm battling through. On a side note though I do seem to be losing a significant amount of hair. Post baby phenomenon?

First Day of School!

Baby J had his first day of school!  Really, it was day care but he had a blast!  Look at that face above.  His teacher was holding him and I just had to snap a photo before I left.  Look at the fleece vest.  Baby clothes are so cute!  There were overalls under this vest.  But when I picked him up, he was in a different outfit.  There was a minor explosion.  Way to inaugurate the day care staff to your baby tending needs, Baby J!

I did good and only called once!  I called at lunchtime and of course, he was doing just great!  He did tummy time, sang songs in circle group, and they talked about favorite colors.  This cracks me up.  As long as he had fun!  He slept for about an hour and a half total there and did full feedings.  The little guy was wiped out. He went down at 8:30 and slept straight through until 6:30.  This is typical.  What is not typical is the no waking up making noises.  Usually he does this once or twice.  I didn't hear a squeak out of him all night.  This was very good.

He is the first one there in the mornings so they did his first feeding so I could just change him and get out the door in the morning.  He gets some great one on one time which I'm happy about.  It makes me sad though he is the last one to be picked up at the end of the day. :(

So day one was a success!  I know it will just get better.

He's also representin' Mama's work.  Boo yeah.

Date Night!

M and I had our first date night since the little guy was born.  It was also our seven year wedding anniversary and it was glorious.  It was so nice to get out, have a glass of wine, and have a nice relaxing dinner that someone else cooked and cleaned up.  I wore a dress and heels even!  M's mom (Nana) came over and looked after Jackson for us.  She fed him and put him to bed even so all we had to do when we got home was get ourselves into bed.   It was wonderful.

We went to one of our favorite places - Cafe Escadrille.  We had reservations for The Gourmet Room and it is always an excellent dining experience.  We have gone to the regular restaurant portion but prefer the atmosphere in this dining room.  There is exceptional, attentive service and the food has never disappointed.  They have some old school dining ideas like preparing salads, some entrees and desserts tableside.  You can watch your food being prepared.  The waitstaff prepares these items and there is even sorbet between appetizers and entree to cleanse your palette. 

Disclaimer: Photos taken with my phone.

Here is what we got:

Rhode Island Style Calamari.  Delicious.

M got a bowl of clam chowder.  One of the best clam chowders.  Ever.

The aforementioned sorbet.  It was lemon.

My entree was a pound of Baked Alaskan King Crab Legs with drawn butter.  A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.  There was not a bite left.

M got the Veal Oscar.  This entree was prepared tableside.  Our server seered the medallions, made the sauce, and put together the entire dish with lobster tail and asparagus.  She cooked the veal to perfection.

Tableside preparation

After this meal, we were stuffed but still wanted dessert.  We got it to go.  M got the Pumpkin Cheesecake and I got the special of a trio of Mini Whoopie Pies.  There was traditional, red velvet, and pumpkin.  The pumpkin was the best.  The others were a little dry to be honest.  The cheesecake was delicious, however.  Sorry, no photo.  We ate these on the couch, in our jammies, when we got home.

And now, I go back to work tomorrow.  It was such a wonderful, amazing summer with my newborn son.

Almost Over

This is the beginning of the last week of my maternity leave.  I am sad but am also looking forward to it.  These weeks have been wonderful and also difficult.  I wrote of the hard times I experienced but they were also weeks of wonderful bonding with my son.  I am going to take this last week and grab hold of everything I can and to take him all in.  And next Tuesday, I am going to look forward to going back to work.

The first five weeks or so seemed like they were never going to be over.  I wanted to rush through them.  They were difficult for many reasons.  All of a sudden, all twelve weeks are almost over.  I look back and remember just how little he was.  He has grown and developed so much and it was amazing to spend this time with him.  There were so many fun times but honestly, some days were boring.

I do not think I could be a stay at home mom.  Once, I thought I could.  Now, I think I need the outlet.  I need my job.  It is something I am confident in and know how to do.  Those first few weeks with my son, I was not confident and had no idea what I was doing.  Some days, I still don't.  At work, I know what needs to be done.

I need a chance to miss my son.  We both need the time away.  I love spending my time with him but when you do tummy time for the umpteenth time in the day you realize that you need something else.  And you need to start enjoying these play times.  When you do them constantly, they do not seem as special.  When I come home from work, I will sit on the floor with him while on tummy time and play and coo right along with him.  It will be good for both me and him.  So I need some time away.

Many people have asked if I will be going back to work or staying home.  I tell them I will be returning to work.  Some have given me a sad look and say "Really?  That's too bad." I find it inappropriate for people to make a mother feel guilty about going back to work and providing support to her family.  We feel sad enough.  But we know that the separation is good and the socialization my son will get at daycare will only benefit him.

This is not to say that dropping him off at day care will be easy.  It won't.  But I know it's good for him.  And I know it's good for me.  They can give him this play time that I have honestly gotten a little bored with these past few weeks.  I need them to be fun for me again.  But for this week, I am going to enjoy them to the fullest.  We will go to story time, we will play on the floor, we will go for walks, and we will snuggle.  Next week, I will begin the next phase of a working mom.