You little lady, you rocked my world 13 years ago.
Finding out Mom was pregnant, well let me tell you… that was just so embarrassing. I remember the day she told me like it was yesterday. “I am pregnant,” she declared, with a smile on her face. Although, there was a definite nervousness too, as if she knew telling me could go one of two ways. Terribly good or terribly bad. I am so sorry to say, it went the latter.
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The weekend is approaching folks! You know what that means… get yo’ food on. Well it does for me anyway. Ahh, I missed my calling… a restaurant critic would have suited me just fine.
If you are like me and the rest of the East Coast, you know it is hot as all get-up. I am opting for a popsicle or two for dinner. Bring on the banana flavored! And, the naturally cold-blooded body of mine is all like, “why are you not shivering and what is this thing you call sweat?”
Therefore, while Baby Lo and I stick to each other the last thing I want to do in the evening is turn on the oven or stand behind a stove. I mean, please! So, I convinced Nathan that one of our favorite appetizers would totally be an acceptable side dish to our BLT’s. Because again, I am not making myself more miserable in this heat and he knows I would be completely okay with a Popsicle for dinner, so he goes along.
Loyal readers, you know me by now. I am a simple girl just trying to get by.
New readers, oh, hello! Thanks for joining my party. I am a new mommy, wife and full-time business professional. Basically, I am just like your wife, your sister, your friend, heck, I am like a lot of woman out there who seem to stack on more and more responsibilities as the years go by, forgetting that our days are not getting longer. Well, in essence they are but we still are dealing with 24 hours, people. Quit adding to your plate!
I am part of a club, a club of really tired Momma’s! The RTM Club. There, I stake claim to the name. So, what I deal with is real life issues such as stress and demand and hungry bellies. See, I can deal with the stress and demand and actually try my very best to remedy a solution but damn you, hungry bellies, you never go away.
So, back to the RTM Club, we like to find ways to eliminate processes without sacrificing quality. Am I right, RTM’s?
This here is a recipe that does just that. I whipped this up while unloading groceries, feeding a baby some sweet potatoes and packing a bag for a little evening pool dip. See? You will love me and this recipe!
Shrimp Salad Sandwich:
Serves 2
As mentioned above, if you can get your market to steam and season your shrimp for you, do it, as it will save you so much time in the kitchen! Peel and chop the shrimp and set aside. Dice two celery stalks and add to bowl. Add 1/4 of a cup of Mayo and then continue to add more Mayo by the spoon if this does not fit your desired consistency and flavor. HERE is where you store the mixture in the refrigerator so you can feed and change your baby and head to the pool. Not down with that? Skip ahead. Add the juice of about a half a lemon and stir. Season the mixture with Old Bay, salt and pepper. To assemble sandwich add a layer of mayo to one side of a croissant, add a spoonful of mixture, a handful of lettuce and the croissant half.
Serve alongside an ear of corn and savor the flavors of sweet summertime!
Seriously, this dish is so easy, I even had time to make a simple strawberry shortcake for dessert. Four ingredients: Strawberries, Honey (for sweetening and to pull the juices), Sara Lee Pound Cake and Cool Whip.
I am not a Saint, nor mother or wife of the year, but I swear my husband wanted to know what alien possessed his wife’s body to make such a dinner from start to finish. Raise your forks, RTM’s, this one is for you. Enjoy!
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Copyright – BackswardsNHighHeels
Cheers to the weekend! You know what I am looking forward to? I am looking forward to napping. I know, I am lame. If you saw my post earlier this week, you know we are transitioning Baby Lo to her crib. Therefore, Momma Bear is just not sleeping. Partly because of worry and partly because Baby Lo needs soothed back to sleep a bit. Is it bad of me to say that I am so looking forward to her morning nap which may produce an extra hour of shut eye for me? I can tell you think I am so very daring and interesting these days.
Here are this week’s top Links. Likes. Loves.
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Transition.
noun
1. movement, passage, or change from one position, state, stage, subject, concept, etc., to another; change:
When I read that definition all I see is the word “change.” Up until lately I feel like I could easily be defined as a person who was adaptable to change. I tended to roll with the punches. That doesn’t mean I always had a smile on my face or didn’t put up a fight but I do believe while I may go through pout stages, I can quickly accept and move forward.
The thing is most young adults are actually okay, no, great with change. They have to be and they don’t even realize it. Within such a short period of time think about how much change a young adult goes through. There are so many transitions as one weaves their way through schooling, circles of friends or ever changing cliches, career paths, moving out of their parents home, falling in love, moving in with another, marriage and then boom, a baby!
That is where I am today. Looking back, the past 10 years have been full of change. It is now as we settle into adulthood, into norms, into routines that we become scared of change. Maybe it is because we have worked so very hard for what we have that we are afraid to “rock the boat,” as they say. That is also where I am today.
One thing Motherhood is teaching me is that change is inevitable because my baby is growing. This week I have been attempting to transition Baby Lo from our room to her own crib. I have made excuses for weeks as my husband pushed for us to begin a new routine months ago. Part of me wants her beside me for the pure comfort factor we have developed. Another part of me loves the fact that I am able to sleep, actually sleep and well, after so many months of not doing so, and this new set-up takes me back to newborn days when I awoke in a panic to make sure she was okay. Mostly though, I yearn for her closeness. Her being in that bedroom across the hallway is like a dreaded distance. She was not long ago inside me. Where I felt I could protect her. Soon after entering this beautiful yet scary world, she laid on my chest for those early weeks and we bonded. Placing her sweet self beside our bed every night never felt far, because she was an arms length away. But now things are different.
Now a walk stands between me and her. I watch her sleeping face on a monitor versus lifting my head to see hers. The anxiety of this transition may seem odd to most, including my husband who laughs and says, “What? Are you going to allow her to sleep in here until she is 12?”
“Yes!” I jokingly state.
But now as I write this post I am watching her peacefully sleeping from her monitor. Checking on her often. And, when I don’t get what I want from the monitor screen I make my way to her crib and look in on her. I tell her “I love her,” and most likely look so sad as I feel sad and almost sorry for this step of independence I am giving her.
I realize though, this transition is going to be one of many in our lives. I look back on those youthful years I described above. Full of so much change. All I can think about is my bouncy, happy self. I think about the days and how I choreographed my move out of the only home I knew and how much excitement I had as I started a new chapter. The only emotion I remember is happiness. Which leads me to finally realize what my parents went through as they nodded and smiled and slowly let me go. It is the same thing I am feeling. A new panging kind of pain I am beginning to experience for my girl.
Change is inevitable, it is how I choose to react that impacts the most, and in this situation it seems like this Momma, is going to have to for the first time fight back the tears and put a smile on my face. Because looking into this monitor, baby girl is just fine.
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This may be one of the world’s easiest appetizer recipes. An oldie, but a goodie in our home. Pre-baby dinner-in resulted in a highly orchestrated meal. We did it right let me tell you. Multiple appetizers, wine in glasses, music on and general bliss as we talked about our day, joked and cooked dinner together. It was truly an evening affair. Post-baby, goes a little like this: Feed baby dinner, which now-a-days ever since baby has learned the fabulous art of raspberries consists of blowing pretty much half of the food that enters her mouth back out on me; immediately dunk baby in bath to further the destruction of the baby food which is wedged up her nose holes and in her ears; dry and dress baby for bed, which turns into a wrestling match now that baby is rolling and hates clothing after a bath; feed baby bottle and rock baby to bed… who is hungry?
Pretty much any simple recipe I had pre-baby has made the cut… no, survived the new madness. Kind of like us!
Why I like this recipe? You get the salty from the prosciutto, the creaminess from the Mozzarella, the kick from the basil and the sweet from the balsamic and now a blogger who sounds like Giada De Laurentiis.
Prosciutto, Mozzarella & Basil Bites
Serves 2 – 4
Slice the prosciutto slices into long strips and set aside. You will use the strips to wrap the ingredients and hold everything together. Slice the Mozzarella Ball into bite-sized strips. Assemble by gathering a Mozzarella slice and a piece of basil. Wrap the ingredients with the strip of prosciutto. Drizzle your favorite balsamic vinegar across the bites and voilà, there you have it! Enjoy!
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Photo taken in Savage Forest, Maryland
This week I curled up on the couch and fell asleep before 9:00 pm, and let me tell you it was glorious. Just glorious I say! Once Baby Lo was tucked in bed for the night I said “Goodnight dishes, see ya tomorrow basket full of a laundry, and, ha ha ha, yeah, I will pay you over the phone, bills,” and I curled myself up in a ball under a blanket and drifted into a beautiful sleep. I think my mind and body needed it and guess what? I did not miss a thing. Everything I said goodnight to waited for me in the morning. Here are this week’s top Links. Likes. Loves.
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Well we successfully completed our first family vacation. I was very hesitant about the whole experience. I know, hesitant over a vacation? Yes. The factors of a young baby (she just turned six months), traveling 10 hours to our destination, gangs of sharks hovering the Carolina Beaches (have you seen the news?), plus, did I mention we vacationed as a FAMILY? One House + Eight Adults + Seven Children (under the age of six… let me repeat, under the age of six) = One nervous Nancy of a Mommy!
However, with what would seem like the cards were stacked against us, our beach vacation actually went pretty swimmingly (pun, so very much intended!).
Keep in mind the groceries tend to be more expensive in heavy vacation locations. You can save some money by buying supplies locally that you need and know will travel well.
Here, Baby Lo successful shows off her 1950’s inspired swimwear and one of the many baby contraptions we could not live without and threw in the back of our pick-up!
Kids have a way of putting things in perspective or maybe just exposing you to a whole new angle. Experiencing our baby dip her little toes in ocean waters for the very first time or sit her little bottom in the sand, made us giggle in joy, walking babies dressed in PJ’s in the wee hours or late evenings when the beach returned to a quiet state, was a great highlight and watching all the little cousins interact meant memories were being made.
Parent’s note: This is when you enjoy an adult drink, or two, or three. Actually just drink as must as you can until a child wakes up! 🙂
Bonus points if you can get multiple kids down at the same time!
I know the feeling Kid, the drive home from vacation is the worse!
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It happened. Just like that I turned my head and my sweet little swaddled baby has now graduated to a squirmy infant. Still sweet, though. Actually the thought of swaddling her now cracks me up as I think of my little Houdini grunting and breaking free from any restrictions. She is officially curious. I adore her and this stage.This morning I could not help but smile as I watched her for a few minutes moving her little fingers in front of her face, in pure amazement of her own hand and the movements she was creating. Her face was in awe as this small motion filled her with a sense of wonder.
When Baby Lo hit the three month mark, I celebrated with This Post. As baby grows, I have learned that so does her and my needs. That is why I want to share with my fellow parent and pregnant friends and followers some of the items that made our life convenient.
Baby Must Haves
1 – Braun Forehead Thermometer and while we are at it, a Digital Rectal Thermometer – Baby Lo had her first real fever and it scared me. Shook me up. The first fever does that to first time parents. I am what some like to refer to as a “worry wart.” So, I am sure it is really no surprise to close friends and family that this would be a top must have and ironically #1 on my list. Poor Baby Lo though, not only was she running a low grade fever, but she probably felt like groceries as I scanned her forehead so often through the night.
2 – Sophie the Giraffe – I registered for Sophie because EVERYONE registers for Sophie. You could say, I joined the Baby Stroller bandwagon. Although, I now can say, I underestimated the power of Sophie. She is a life saver, no, actually a pain saver, as those nasty teeth rear their heads and cause your sweet little baby to turn into a whining, not quite their self creature.Yes, creature. Sophie seems to do the trick though. This is a teething toy I definitely recommend! Come join the Baby Stroller Bandwagon with me.
3 – Brica Day & Night Light Musical Auto Mirror – This may seem minor in the grand ole scheme of things but let me tell you when your child looses it as you are driving home and proceeds to cry so hard for their dropped binkie that they hold their breath, forcing you to abruptly pull over for fear they are not breathing because again, you are a “worry wart,” you will wish you had a mirror. I quickly installed ours and learned it has been so helpful when checking on the baby while driving. Plus, our little miss loves seeing her reflection, so she is much happier on car rides.
4 – Graco DuoDiner LX High Chair – When baby hits the four month mark, most pediatricians will give you the “go” on starting solids. We waited a little longer with Baby Lo, but regardless a high chair is necessary for this next step. I love this Graco version. I truly had no idea just how great it would be when I nervously registered for one, and am so glad this one caught eye. One perk is that this high chair grows with baby and is super easy to clean, which let me warn you, is an absolute must for feedings.
5 – Gerber Graduates Rest Easy Spoons – You have a high chair, now you just need the spoons. Once you move to rice cereal and solids, well, it is quite obvious why you need spoons. I am a fan of this kind because of the built in rest. Baby Lo is a fan of holding and throwing spoons onto the floor from her high chair and I am the sucker who picks the spoon back up and plays this game.
6 – Pacifier Wipes – I am a “worry wart.” Do we have that established yet? With that, add in “germaphobe.” At six months your baby starts to learn cause and effect. Congratulations! This means lots of toys and binkies will be thrown, no chucked, across the room and sometimes land on the floor of a public space. Yuck! These wipes are so helpful for crazy Mommas like me who don’t want to go hunt down the nearest bathroom, yet are not crazy enough like Mommas of two, three or more children who “clean off” the binkie by sticking it in their own mouth before handing it back. I am just being real!
7 – Oball Bounce-O-Bunch Activity Center – Now is the time when baby wants to touch everything and explore their surroundings. An Exersaucer or Activity Center allows for baby to see the world from a new angle, hone in on new skills and allows Momma and DaDa some time to tackle things around the home with free hands.
8 – Baby Bibs – One word… teething! When teething arrives so does the drool. It is water works city and you need to protect your Saint Bernard, I mean, baby! A bib will help minimize chapped skin or rashes that can come from drool. Plus, once you start feeding your baby solids you will quickly learn that more food will make it on your baby’s shirt than in you baby’s mouth, so a bib will protect those pretty little clothes.
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I have an amazing Dad myself. I have told you before. To me he just gets better with time, because as our memories grow, so does my appreciation and love. Although, today, I want to also celebrate my husband, because today is his first Father’s Day. I tell him he is a great Dad, and maybe he knows. One look at our Baby Lo as she grins at him and we all can see her love for her Daddy. While she can’t quite tell him how she feels, if she could, I think it would go like this.
I came into this world like a flurry. I am pretty sure you and Mom were scared, because so was I. All of a sudden the only world I ever knew changed. We had never set eyes on each other before, but I heard your voice so much that when I entered the world and saw those bright shining lights, scary equipment and strangers with masks mumbling, I screamed, no I wailed, until they handed me to you.
I could hear Momma and your voices and I scanned a room full of people looking for you. Wanting to meet you both. When you came to my side while the nurses weighed and cleaned me up, I immediately felt okay. You were the first one I locked eyes with.
Since Momma could not hold me, you were the first one in this world to do so. Others in the hospital room passed me around until the nurses placed me in your arms, it was you who truly, lovingly held me, because I was your own. Soon, you took me to Mom and I could finally place faces to the voices I heard for so many months. You and Momma. I was home.
Thank you, Daddy. You were the first one by my side before I even could comprehend that I needed someone. When they took me from Mom to the nursery, you followed and waited patiently and carefully alongside me. You took me to the window, so proud, and held me up to meet my family, our family. And, when we finally got the okay to go you took me back to really get to meet my Momma and so willingly handed me off for her to cuddle and love, even though I know you equally wanted me in your arms.
You took me on my first car ride, as we left the hospital a few days later to head to our home. I am sure you were nervous as you drove just two people in that car days before. You were patient, gentle, kind and loving as together as a family of three we learned and defined our new world. From my first Christmas, to my first bath, from my first snowstorm to my first laugh.
As your first born, you have become a pro as you learned to feed me, change me, bathe me and put me to sleep. It has been six months since the day I first laid eyes on you and I have not stopped. If my first words, “Da Da” are not enough, it is pretty obvious that I am your girl. Just like the morning when I was born and I searched through strangers to find the face to the voice to whom I belong, to this day, when I hear your voice in a crowded room, I stop and look for you.
Today is your first Father’s Day and I just want to thank you for all the firsts you have given me. You are a caring Daddy and I am a lucky little girl. Since, I can’t really tell you how I feel, please know that my morning smiles and late night snuggles will have to do until the day I can finally say, “I love you,” for the first time.
Happy Father’s Day! Love your, Baby Lo.
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