Food! Fried chicken goodness!

The husband has been asking for fried chicken for a while now, and I can honestly say I'm not a big fan of it really. KFC is not one of my regular stops to say the least. So I researched recipes and he wanted me to try out Paula Deens. The recipe was simple, the only different thing I did was brine the chicken for a few hours. Wow! It was deeelicious!! The best! Wow again! Crunchy, juicy, and fully cooked! Ha! I'm so afraid of chicken and being undercooked and bloody-yep it's happened! But not this time! I was so proud of myself, and I enjoyed every bite! 

I used 4 drumsticks and 3 thighs, skin and bone in. Put in a big container and covered with water and added in about 1/4 cup of salt probably. Seems like a lot but there was a lot of water. Let that set in the fridge for a few hours. 

Whisk 3 eggs with 1 cup of franks pepper sauce 

Dip chicken in the mix

Then put 2 cups of self rising flour in a large dish and season with garlic salt and lots of pepper

Dredge chicken in flour and shake off excess

Heat oil in a cast iron skillet ( I used my Dutch oven) to 350 degrees 

Put chicken in very carefully and cook for 15 minutes, turning every few minutes

Continue cooking in batches until all done

I put the chicken on a cooling rack and then put in a 190 degree oven to keep warm. 

Transitions...

Being a mom is rewarding, but definitely hard. I envisioned so many things, but they didn't always turn out exactly as I would have liked.
I was totally all for breastfeeding & when the baby got jaundice, she was so aggravated and did not want to. So I decided to pump. Gee whiz is that a LOT of work. At first, I was pumping every 2 hours. Whatever she needed, I had to provide. It was no big deal when the husband was here, but when he left to go back to work, there were many pumping sessions of the baby laying in my lap or her bed crying b/c I wasn't able to tend to her properly while i was hooked up. Going places was practically torture or rushed b/c I had to be home in order to pump, or I would definitely regret it (b/c of the pain of waiting). At first it wasn't bad b/c she couldn't eat all the milk that I was producing...but then her appetite started to pickup and I just couldn't get that much out.
So, I set a goal that I would pump until she was 6 months old. The task seemed very daunting..needless to say, after many talks and arguments with my husband... I have now stopped pumping. Baby is almost 3 months old, I know many people will be disappointed in me, but 3 months (almost) is better than 3 weeks, or 3 days. I have to know that I gave it my all, but I seriously feel as though I have made the right decision for my daughter. It seemed as though my breastmilk was truly just killing her stomach. If I could have changed my eating habits things might have gotten better, but I can honestly say, that I absolutely can NOT do that. Yes, I probably could make the change for a little while, but without a shadow of a doubt I would cheat and I can't stand the thought of hurting her one bit. So we have switched to formula. Even though I know some may not agree with this, I have to remember that I am her mother, and I have to stand up to my own decisions. the hubs and I have agreed on the decision, and that is what we are sticking to.
She is growing like a weed, and I think she will be just fine! I love her more than anything in this world.

2 Months

2 Months old already.. gee how time flies, before I know it she will be crawling and getting into the dog bowls! ha!
Age: 2 Months (as of Aug 4)
Weight: 9 lbs 1 oz.. FINALLY!!! I was so suprised when I took her to the doctor! it was very exciting to see her gain over a pound.
Height: 22 inches (always growing in length for sure)
Hair/Eye color: hair is still blonde/dirty blonde. Some people say it has a little reddish tint, so a little strawberry blonde as well. Eyes are still are dark blue.
Likes: Taking a bath, sitting in your swing- She is starting to focus on the TV some, and loves the Baby channel.
Dislikes: not a fan of having to wait on a bottle, but other than that there isn't much that really bothers her.
Memorable Moments: I was just so happy when I saw the number on the scale this time around at the doctor! It was definitely a shock and it was so encouraging! had to get her first shot this month- I thought she might take it like a champ, but I have never seen that look on her face, poor baby! But as soon as I picked her up, everything was fine, and she was out like a light the whole car ride home.

Being a Mom.. a real one, to a BABY

Becoming a mother is quite a trip. Things have definitely changed, some for the better, others not so much. Adjustments have been made for sure, and we are figuring it out. I think (i hope) that being a mom has come pretty naturally to me. I feel like I have a handle on it most days, I am human and I fall apart once in a while (mostly just when theres a major diaper blowout and I need some serious help!!) but other than that I'm good. I feel as though my hormones have balanced themselves out--going back to work has put us all on a better schedule, and I feel like that really helps. I am getting plenty of rest, the baby is a fantastic sleeper, we are surely blessed! She is a wonderful, easy going baby! I love her so much. I just knew the first day back at work I would lose it and just cry, but I held it together, and just reminded myself that I would see her in a few hours, and I did just fine. ( i don't think she really noticed that I was gone.. ) It was hard leaving her, but I knew that she was in good hands and things would work out, and they have.
I can't wait to see the growth/changes of my little girl.. will she look like me? like her daddy? what kind of personality will she have? blonde hair? blue eyes? Will she be a daddy's girl? all these things, I just can't hardly wait. I know I know.. cherish her as a baby--and I will, but I'm just excited about the future and I know it will get here too soon.

New mom, work, hormones, etc

It's back to work I go.. I'm looking forward to getting on a schedule, I am NOT looking forward to leaving my babe. I suppose it's my fault, but I have not left her with anyone except my husband for more than an hour and 15 minutes.. And now I am going back to work, and will have to go about 4-5 hrs without her the first day. How will she do? Will she cry and miss me? What if she just needs to hear the sound of my voice or the beat of  my heart? She is probably a lot tougher than her ol mom. I know I will get used to it and she will be just fine, but its nerve wrecking! 

I just have to be focused and know and remember that it could be worse, I do get to come home and see her everyday on lunch break so that's a major plus! 

I will definitely treasure and enjoy my last few days at home with her, even tho she probably doesn't know and won't know the difference, for a while anyhow. 

I am looking forward to some adult interaction ha! But then I'm sure I will long for some baby interaction too!! 

1 Month Old

I'm thinking if I don't start talking about food on this here blog, I might want to consider changing the name of it!
Our little miss is now officially 1 month old! wow!! It seems like she should really only be about 2 weeks old, but time sure flies, that is for sure!!
Age: 1 month (as of July 4)
Weight: 7lbs 7 oz, still not quite up to birth weight, but we are getting there ounce by ounce, and the pediatrician is encouraged by how she looks and how much she is eating
Height: 20 1/4 inches (long and lean) just like her daddy
Hair/Eye Color: dirty blonde hair/eyes are a super dark grayish blue still ( i will be curious to see if they change or not)
Likes: loves to take a bath, loves to be outside
Dislikes: hates getting out of the bath, and hates having to get her nose suctioned! (who wouldn't right??)
Memorable moments: having a major blowout at 3 am... and then 2 days later, having another major blowout all over your daddy!
You are certainly growing each and every day! I think your looks are changing and your really getting bigger and bigger every day. Sometimes the only thing that soothes you is being up against Mommy's chest and just being held (and thats always a good spot!). Daddy loves to rub noses with you, and I think you just tolerate it for him (haha). You only cry when your hungry or when your belly is upset, and you always get the hiccups in the middle of the night. Overall, your a very good baby and just go with the flow. Your a wonderful car rider and always do good at the doctors office. We took you to Sam's Club and you slept the entire time, everyone ooh'ed and ahh'ed over you, I was one proud Momma for sure!
I can't wait for you to keep growing and get to that 8lb mark, I know it won't be long!!

Our Little One is here!

June 4, 2013 at 11:50 am, weighing in at 7 lbs 12 oz, and 20 inches long.. Our little Miss Avery arrived via c-section.
C-Section is not what I had anticipated on, but after being checked and then an extra ultrasound showing that baby was Frank breech, this was our safest option. At 38 weeks, my blood pressure was quite elevated and being on bed rest had not helped much- we asked if we could go ahead and schedule the surgery sooner b/c I was measuring a week ahead anyways-and we were pretty sure the baby was big enough! So the dr called down to see what they could schedule, and they told us to come back and we would have her the next day at 7:30 am (and to arrive at the hospital around 5 am!! ) Needless to say, by looking at the time of her arrival (11:50 am) we got pushed back because 2 girls had to have emergency c-sections, so we got to wait! I have NEVER been so thirsty in my life while waiting! I wasn't able to drink/eat anything after midnight the night before, then add not sleeping at all.. when i finally just went ahead and got up about 3:30 am to take a shower and get ready, i was a basketcase full of nerves, even throwing up in the shower! Go me!
But we finally walked back to the surgery room and I got my spinal block (which they allowed my husband to sit in the room and watch--i didn't know they would do that) but the dr was correct in telling me that it would hurt for about 20 seconds and that would be it- she was absolutely right! It seemed like no time had passed and I was crying as they were pulling her out, and then Dad and baby were whisked off to the nursery. We ended up staying in the hospital from Tuesday to Saturday, with my high blood pressure, and then baby's jaundice levels got to high, it was a LOT longer than I had planned on. We finally made it home though and things settled down, somewhat.. well, not really--who am i kidding. The first week home was ROUGH! I just felt super overwhelmed all the time, feeling like I couldn't get anything done, the baby didn't want to nurse so I am now a pumping machine! and I just felt like I was hurting everyone's feelings and yadda yadda yadda.. ya know, all that great hormonal stuff!
Things are getting on track tho-don't get me wrong, we still have rough patches. But I feel confident and at ease being at home with her. I thought driving with her in the car would give me severe anxiety, but I have a mirror so I can see her in the carseat, and she is a great rider, and I haven't had any problems. (the only problem is that its 500 degrees outside, so I never stop sweating, thats a problem lol) The little miss is a great sleeper, most nights she only gets up one time, and yes, she is sleeping in the bed with us, which i said I would NOT do.. but hey, I'm not perfect. And if she's sleeping, then thats just fine with me.
I am looking forward to going back to work, but then again I'm fearful of leaving her. I'm not far from home, and I will see her everyday on my lunch break-and I'm a first time mom, so there's no telling how its really going to go until the day arrives. It will all work out I'm sure. Thousands of women work and have babies- I can do this! Other than that, things are just going day by day, hour by hour.. I think her looks change each and every day, I love her more and more each and every day, my heart gets fuller and fuller each day- I couldn't ask for more. (maybe just a little break in the heat, I can ask for that right?? ha!)