I just can't cook...

Over the past year I have been more adventurous in the kitchen.

My new adventures of cooking should make me proud, yet I just haven't mastered the confidence of becoming a great cook!

Before I was married I was very limited in my cooking skills. I could cook things out of a box (macaroni and cheese), boil water to cook pasta and add ragu or prego (which ever one was on sale), and make a mean salad (with the assistance of the George Forman Grill to "cook" my meat). My stove in my town home was occasionally used to bake the occasional per-prepared chocolate chip cookies.  As a matter of fact, when I left a job and my co-workers gave me a going away gift basket it included a cook book that was titled, "The, 'I don't Know How to Cook' book." 


So needless to say, I didn't know anything about cooking - and really had no desire to learn.


When I became involved in a long term relationship we decided that we would start cooking together. At first it was fun, we would just experiment with things and just throw spices and seasonings over some chicken and just see what happens.  Well, there is only so much you can do with McCormick's Montreal Chicken packets!


So, after my son was born, I decided it was definitely time to really learn how to cook. I wasn't fooling around, I wanted to be able to make healthy and yummmy meals for him once he was able to eat table food. Thankfully I was introduced to Pinterest and found that there were some amazingly easy recipes to follow, with the added benefit of having pictures of ingredients, steps to follow, and the finished product. It was also helpful to hear people's reviews on the specific food item.


So, I started saving recipes on Pinterest and trying them out! My first few recipes came out great! My husband gave me praise and actually seemed excited that he was getting a hot, home cooked meal! I slowly started feeling myself get some confidence in the kitchen. I slowly started enjoying the process of cooking. Every 3 recipes we would come across a meal that we didn't particularly like, but we didn't get discouraged, we kept on trying new foods.


Then it came to a several successful recipes and my husband suggested that we start repeating the good ones that we enjoyed, so that I could get some "under my belt." I agreed with his suggestions so I attempted to do the recipes we liked again. Round 2!


Even though I had the recipe in front of me, I must have gotten overly confident in my amateur cooking skills. Instead of measuring I would just "feel it out." I tried to make the recipe my own, too fast. The end result was a not so good meal, borderline disappointing.


So that's why I decided to start this blog. To share my easy recipes, share what I may have done wrong, and possibly get some suggestions on how to make our meals just as good as the first time around!


I'm also hoping that starting a food/cooking blog will motivate me to continue to try new recipes (hey, maybe that's all I should stick to?? New recipes that I concentrate so hard on that it has no choice but to come out right). 


Hoping that if others have made the same foods that they will share their advice on how to "get things right." 


Until the next meal... This Mama Can't Cook!!

Just add a little sunshine...

We had another nice and relaxing weekend! 

Friday I took Alex to the neighborhood park. It's actually a playground at the neighborhood school a few streets up from our house. When we approached the school grounds I saw that there were many kids out playing. As I got closer, I heard some of the pre-teens using language that just wasn't acceptable for me!! As I carried Alex's stroller down the steps I'm thinking in my head how I'm going to shut these bad mouthing kids up so I don't have to hear their nonsense!! Thankfully as I get closer another mother with her 5 year old daughter spoke up and asked them to stop with the language!! I was so glad because I didn't want to be the one to confront these obnoxious kids, but would have if need be...  Note to self, if you want to meet new moms - the park is the place to go... Had a nice conversation with the Mom who ran the bad mouth pre-teens away from the swings!! 


Saturday I took Alex to the mall to get some new clothes! He was having a great time looking all around until he got extremely tired, and extremely fussy. Of course he had to poop so I had to use the public restroom for the first time!! Thankfully our mall has very nice & clean "family lounges" so it made the whole experience much better for me! I took him to the kids area at the mall and he was able to walk around and look at the other kids playing. By the time I had him buckled up and car in drive, Alex was knocked out! Of course he didn't stay knocked out for long so we spent the majority of Saturday outside. This weather is just amazing you can't help but stay outside!! Jason installed a new storm door which gives us so much more sunlight and fresh air!! We cooked out on the grill and I got to drink a little wine!! 

Happy St. PADDY'S Day!

Sunday, we once again took advantage of the beautiful weather and took a walk early in the morning! Alex must be getting more comfortable walking because he was talking more this time. He just sits back in the stroller and looks around. I point out the different animals and birds and try and imitate their sounds. I think he is more interested in my sounds than he is the actual animal. It was so nice and peaceful - everyone was still asleep and there was very little traffic to worry about! I cooked dinner and did some relaxing! Felt good to have a low key, nothing planned, weekend!! 

Mama it's too early for pictures!

TGIF

So glad it is the weekend!!

We don't have anything planned so I'm happy about that!

Since the weather is nice I'm going to go home, change my clothes and pour a glass of wine!! 

Alex is completely loving this weather!! He has been going outside with his Grandmoms and also is outside with me when I get home from work! Yesterday I cam home and his little face looked red from the sun... Mama just wasn't thinking about safety so I found him some sun block for today's advenure.

He is so funny when he is outside. If he's in his stroller and we are walking he just sits so still and barely moves. I think he's taking everything in and processing all of the different sounds, feelings of the wind, and the sights. He doesn't like when dogs bark at him, but, he likes to watch the cars go by. When we are done with our walk he wiggles in his stroller to get out!! 

Even at 7 months he has no desire to sit still! He loves walking! That's really all he wants to do now adays. We constantly are walking him up and down the driveway or through the grass. A neighbor drove by and stopped me and said, "Your little one is too young to start walking like that!!" I just looked at her, with an expression of, "obviously he's not if he's doing it right now!!" She told me she has raised 3 children and they never "walked" that young. Even my own Dad was shocked at Alex's walking skills. But, that's all he wants to do so even though it strains our back... We are getting our exercise with walking around the house and outside.

It's supposed to be in the 70s all weekend so we have to do some outdoor activities! Going to try and find a park that has baby bucket seat swings! I just hope I can get all of my housework out of the way so I can do some hanging out with the family!! I neglected my housework this week after work because I got all wrapped up in the darn Hunger Games!!! Once Alex went to sleep I neglected all obligations to read!

Oh, I picked up Alex's 6 month pictures yesterday!! Here is a preview of his pictures!!

Alex with his Elmo

My baby boy at 6 months

 

 

 

 

My baby is growing up...

Well, last night was my baby's 2nd attempt at sleeping in his own crib!! I'm sure you are thinking... "What do you mean 2nd attempt??? Alex is almost 7 months old!!" 

What can I say, I never thought I would be a co-sleeper but, my secret is out... Alex slept in our room in arms reach for the first 7 months of his life! He probably would still be sleeping with me if it wasn't for the weight restriction on his pack n' play!! 

I say it was his 2nd attempt because I tried the crib when he was a newborn but each night we tried, there was always an issue.  Well, let me not say that... The first night he slept in it wonderfully!! The second night he kept on moving and still had that moro-reflex so he kept waking himself up.  The third night he had a diaper leak and I was just too tired to clean it up so I stripped the sheets and took him back to his pack n play. 

So, 4 months later we are attempting it again... I cleared out his crib (was full of toys and stuffed animals), took the breathable bumpers off (ugggh, spent over $30 for them and then the next week or so they say that they are unsafe), and got my baby ready for his first night in his own room!!

Despite the severe weather and thunderstorms last night, Alex was his typical self and slept through the night! He actually slept longer in the crib and only woke up (I think) because he leaked his diaper!! Hopefully this won't be a reoccurring event because having to strip the bed in the middle of the night is a pain in the butt!!

Alex looked so little in his crib - yet very peaceful and comfortable. I of course was paranoid and set up a "bed" on the floor in his room! I slept there all night, and will probably be there tonight also! I know he will be alright but of course, our darn video monitor broke on Sunday night and I'm working with the company to get  replacement!


I think that this transition of sleeping in his own room will be more of an adjustment for me than it will be for him. Actually, I know that's the case because he slept like a rock last night even with the thunder, storms, and tornado watch!!


Ending with an article a friend sent me that just made me feel so much better about co-sleeping. 

(Next baby I will probably get the actual co-sleeper so that I don't have to reach down to get baby out. The pack n play served it's purpose but it stinks having to lift Alex out of it when I could just slide him over. Co sleeping isn't for everyone but it definitely worked for us.).


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/claire-mccarthy-md/co-sleeping-with-kids_b_1238970.html