The blog post that changed my outlook

I haven't posted much lately because I have been tired, drained and a bit cranky. I had nothing creative, fun or inspiring to share. I was beginning to feel pretty sorry for myself, actually. I was the poor mom "stuck at home" all day with three needy little ones. This was my attitude.

And then I came across this post entitled "Embracing Neediness" over at Passionate Homemaking. It truly was the kick in the pants that I needed to change my attitude. I have read and re-read this post probably twenty times in the past few days. It is always in the back of my mind while fulfilling my daily mommy duty routines of diapers, teeth brushing, making meals, cleaning up, laundry, etc.

Everything about this post rings so true to me and, if you are ever overwhelmed as a mom, I highly encourage you to read it.

Menu Plan - week of 11/7/11

I have been menu planning lately but the craziness of life with a newborn and two preschoolers (I can no longer say I have a toddler since my little boy turned three years old last week!!) has led me to not really follow my plan too much each week. Thank goodness I still have some of my freezer meals left (but not many!) which have made things a bit easier. So hard to believe my little girl is five weeks old already! While I am in absolutely no hurry for her to grow up any more quickly than she already is, I do look forward to the "normalcy" of life again in a few months when I'm able to cook more, plan more, and just relax a bit more.

Here is the menu for the week:

Breakfasts:
Who am I kidding? Lately my two older kids have been eating cereal bars or dry cereal out of a bag in front of the TV in the mornings. No planning here.

Lunches:
Poor Man's Pizza, orange slices
PB&J, carrots, chips
Creamy Mac and Cheese, apple slices
Chicken strips, cottage cheese, grapes
leftovers

Suppers:
Monday: Ham and Cheese Casserole (from my freezer stash), fruit salad
Tuesday: Slow Cooker Barbeques (or Sloppy Joes...whichever you call them), baked beans, carrots, chips and dip
Wednesday: leftovers
Thursday: Burritos (also from my freezer), chips and salsa
Friday: Lentil Soup, lettuce salad, fruit

This post is linked to Menu Plan Monday at I'm an Organizing Junkie.

Menu Plan - week of 10/17/11

Back to menu planning! Hard to believe my new little baby is 2 weeks old already! I honestly think that was the fastest two weeks of my whole life. Life needs to slow down. My wonderful mom left last Friday after staying nearly three weeks with us, so today is my first day with just me and the three kids solo. So far, so good (with the help of my husband dropping my oldest off at preschool this morning!) But even with a newborn, we still have preschool, doctor appointments, soccer, swim lessons, and general life stuff to juggle so I am very grateful for my stash of ready-made freezer meals that I can pull out this week. Here is our plan for the week:

Breakfasts:
cold cereal and fruit
Pumpkin Spice Granola with yogurt
oatmeal and bagels

Lunches:
Mac and cheese, fruit and carrots
PB&J, cottage cheese, apple slices
Poor Man's Pizza, carrot sticks
Pita chips and hummus, cottage cheese, orange slices
leftovers

Suppers:
Monday: leftover homemade pizza from Sunday night, lettuce salad, fruit salad

Tuesday: Chicken tacos (meat from freezer), chips and salsa, fruit salad

Wednesday: Ham and cheese casserole ( from freezer), lettuce salad

Thursday: out to eat at McDonalds (the older kids have flu shots at 7pm so I am bribing them with the Golden Arches afterwards...)

Friday: leftover buffet

This post is linked to Menu Plan Monday at I'm an Organizing Junkie.

Baby has arrived!

We are now a family of 5.

We welcomed a girl, Kathryn Elise, into our family on Saturday, October 1st at 4:57 a.m. She weighed 8 pounds even and was 21 inches long. We are so blessed to have her. Big brother Christopher and big sister Alison adore her.

It was a quick labor and delivery. I started contractions about 11:30 on Friday night and we made it to the hospital by 2 a.m. Little Kathryn bounced into the world a few hours later. It was quick, intense, and so worth it!

No baby yet...

And I'm getting a bit uncomfortable and cranky. And extremely anxious. And very excited.

Thankfully my mom came up to stay with us on Monday so we have Granny here now to watch the kids while we are at the hospital. That is a load off my mind and I'm so thankful that she is here!

Otherwise, it is business as usual until baby arrives. I made muffins this morning, made a double batch of hummus for lunch, and chili is in the crockpot for supper. Laundry. Errands. A trip to the library. A walk and bike ride with the kids. Soccer tonight. Life goes on as we try to wait patiently for the new addition to our family.

Menu Plan - week of 9/26/11

Baby #3 is due to arrive this week....hopefully. I'm still hanging in there - trying to enjoy my two little kids before I head off to the hospital without them for a couple of days, trying to keep the house clean and laundry done, and still trying to menu plan because the family still needs to eat! Here is what we have planned this week:

Breakfasts:
Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins, melon
Cereal and toast
English muffins and scrambled eggs
Oatmeal Breakfast Bars

Lunches:
Poor Man's Pizza, orange slices
Pita chips, hummus, carrot sticks with ranch dressing
Creamy Mac and Cheese, apple slices, raw broccoli with ranch dressing
PB&J, crackers and apple slices
leftovers


Suppers:
Monday: Slow Cooker Angel Chicken with broccoli, lettuce salad

Tuesday: Slow Cooker Turkey Chili, cornbread, melon

Wednesday: Chicken Wild Rice Soup made with leftover Angel Chicken, cornbread, apple slices

Thursday: leftover buffet

Friday: Hot and Sour Soup, potsickers and eggrolls (store-bought from the freezer), green beans

Please stop by I'm an Organizing Junkie for more menu planning resources!

More nesting

By 10:30 this morning, I have done the following:

- made a double batch of homemade applesauce in the slow cooker
- made ranch dressing mix
- finished two loads of laundry
- played Barbies with my daughter and son
- cleaned out and organized our freezer
- baked a loaf of banana bread
- organized three kitchen cupboards
- finally unpacked and put away our china in the hutch from the move in May

You think I'm nesting, per chance? :-) This is what happens when you wake up at 5:30 a.m. with a contraction, hop out of bed and get ready for the day thinking "this could be it", and then.....nothing else happens. :-)

Have a very happy Saturday!