My baby is six months old!

Six months ago today, Baby B made her entrance into the world. After 35 weeks of praying that I would not deliver her early, she came anyway. My water broke at 2:30 am and after 10 hours of no progress from 3 cm, I endured the Pitocin Poison naturally. Baby B was born at 6:23pm after 3 pushes.

I was hell bent on having a natural delivery. Guess what? That is pretty much impossible in a hospital setting. I was barely allowed to walk around my room, much less the halls. But in the end, I did give birth to her without any pain medication. I was close to asking for it right around 7-8 cm. Real close. But my stubbornness got the best of me.

After she was born, I held her for a few minutes before the nurses took her down to the NICU. Her lungs were still not quite mature and she needed a little bit of help breathing for her first couple of days. The remainder of her 7 day stay was spent learning how to nurse, gaining weight, and losing the jaundice. Thankfully, I was able to stay in a room right outside the NICU the entire time she was there. When I was not with her, I was updating my status on facebook or posting pictures to my blog. Thank goodness for cell phones!

The last six months have been a roller coaster. But everyday I fall more and more in love with this girl. She has the brightest smile and cutest little laugh. I can't believe how big she is getting.

Happy Half-Birthday Baby B! Mama and Daddy love you!!

Erin

Keeping up with SuperMom

SuperMom. I know you know one. The woman with a fabulous job, a constantly booked social schedule, volunteer of the year, and on and on and on. I have a fabulous friend who I consider to be SuperMom. (She probably wouldn't see herself that way, but humility is one of SuperMom's best traits.) I called SuperMom one evening to chat as I lazily lay on my couch watching American Idol. The conversation went something like this:

"Hey, SuperMom, watcha doin'?"

"Not much, I just got the baby to bed, so I decided to make a stockpile of baby food."

Huh?

Yup. SuperMom makes her own baby food. Do I, the stay at home Mom, make my own baby food? Not once in my life. But SuperMom who works a 50-60 hour week does.

What's wrong with this picture?

Well, all that is about to change. The other night I made my own baby food! I received a fabulous baby food maker, the Beaba Babycook, as a gift and I decided to see how it works. It is so EASY! Like easy, easy!

I peeled and diced one sweet potato. With the Babycook, I was able to steam and puree the sweet potato in one processor. The whole process took about 20 minutes, and it was delicious. One medium sized pototo made about 4 servings and I think I paid fifty cents for it. Can you buy 4 baby food jars for 50 cents?

I can't wait to try more foods and then start combining them! I'm also going to use this to make some purees for my Sneaky Chef recipes for Miss H. Nutrition galore!

Just call me SuperMom...

Erin

Do you pray for your children?

A few months ago, someone recommended a book to me to aid in my daily prayer life. It was during a talk about praying for and with your children. I pray for a lot of people, but it immediately struck me that I didn't regularly pray for my children. If they were sick or having a hard time, sure, but it wasn't something I made a regular habit of doing.

The book While they were sleeping, by Gary Harrell and Anne Arkins, is a "prayer guide designed to help moms pray for 12 character traits to be built into a child's life." I received this book as a Christmas gift, per my letter to Santa, and I absolutely love it. There are 5 daily devotions for each character trait with short scripture readings and prayers to say for your children. It takes no more than 5 minutes a day and I normally can do it when I am nursing Baby B first thing in the morning.

Every time I use this book, I inevitably find a golden nugget to take with me through my day. For instance, on Day 2 of "Kindness" one of the Scriptures is Proverbs 15:1 "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." This is a great verse to keep with you especially if you have a feisty 2 year old like I do!

If you are looking for an easy prayer book to guide you through a devotion for your children every day, this is a great one. I highly recommend it, and I was not solicited to review this book by anyone. I did it out of the kindness of my heart!

Erin

My apologies, I have been a bad blogger lately

I find myself feeling guilty. Seriously? Yes, seriously. I started this blog just over a month ago, and I already have 50 followers. I started off strong, blogging consistently, making bloggy friends, and being a fairly committed commenter.

If you have been reading my blog, you know that my Rosebuds have been giving me a hard time lately. I have finally gotten Baby B weaned off of the Swaddler. She is still using the pacifier, but she is able to get it in her mouth on her own. Now, the poor baby is cutting her first two teeth! Miss H is also having a tough time lately, and has been needing some extra attention from Mama.

Because of all this, I have not been able to dedicate the amount of time that I would like to my writing and commenting. And for this, I apologize. I am working on getting a schedule down and am going to try to prepare several posts on Sunday to publish throughout the week.

I enjoy blogging more than I ever thought I would, so I am dedicated to making time for it. And I promise, I will be back to visiting you all soon.

Happy Weekend!

Erin

It's a MAJOR Award!!

First things first: Name the movie that quote is from in the comments below.

Now, seriously - it's a major award! Well, not really. But I won a contest on the radio this morning and I can hardly believe it.

After I dropped Miss H off at preschool, I tuned my XM Radio to Channel 117, the Catholic Channel. As I was driving home, the morning host, Gus Lloyd, began a game of Family Feud. He asked callers to name three of the top five things that people surveyed said that they used every day. I immediately thought, "Toothbrush, hairbrush, and deodorant." As I continued listening to him describe the game, it becomes apparent that NO ONE is calling in. Huh? This is a national radio show on XM and Sirius and not one person is calling in to play his game.

I knew that I had a shot, but I couldn't dial and drive at the same time. By the time I pulled in my driveway, people had begun calling in and some answered correctly, but couldn't get them all. I added 1+1+1, and called in.

I NEVER CALL IN TO RADIO SHOWS. I seriously had butterflies in my stomach.

A man answers on the first ring, "Gus Lloyd Show, name and city, please?"

"Umm, Erin. XXXXXX, South Carolina."

"Hold please."

"Good morning, Erin, How are you today?" asks Gus.

I AM ON THE FREAKING RADIO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"I'm doing very well thank you!"

And I proceed to name the top three answers: "Toothbrush, soap, and car"

You got it!!

What did I win you ask? One of Gus's CD's on Catholic Apologetics (why Catholics believe what they believe.) The one I chose is on The Papacy and Peter. I can't wait to get it!!

I seriously cannot believe that I called in and WON for that matter. It totally made my day!

Erin

I talk a big game

Wow. So none of the objectives I set for myself for last week are even remotely happening. Baby B - still sucking on that pacifier and being swaddled to sleep. I just cannot bear to hear that child cry. But nighttime sleep is just sucking right now (no pun intended.) She makes a lot of noise like she is struggling to get unswaddled, but when I unswaddler her she pulls the paci out and cries. I swear it is a vicious cycle and I am stuck in it. I am so exhausted and all I want to do is cry.

Miss H - still using those diapers. We did have one huge success with her going #2 on the potty. But I have yet to pull out the big girl panties. Tomorrow, I promise.

I think what it all comes down to is fear. I am afraid to let Baby B cry because I am afraid she will keep others that live in this house awake. I am afraid to put Miss H in panties because I am afraid of the mess.

I am seriously sitting here on the couch, about to cry, while watching Miss H have a tea party and listening to the baby monitor afraid that Baby B is not going to have a long enough nap. 

ARGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Sorry. I just needed to vent. I think I have baby burnout...

Erin

Amateur Gourmet Cooking - Roast Chicken (aka Cooking for Dummies)

One of my lovely followers asked me if I ever post recipes on my blog, since I claim to be an "amateur gourmet chef" in the About Me section to the right. The answer to that question is, no, I don't. But I should! What a great idea for a weekly post! Thank you Elizabeth!!

Perhaps a little background of my cooking skills is in order. When I was in high school I was responsible for taking care of my younger brother during the summers, and I got paid to do so. One day he told me he wanted Chef-Boy-R-D Ravioli for lunch. So I took out a bowl and promptly microwaved his meal. Upon hearing the *ding* of the microwave, I removed the extremely hot dish to find THAT I HAD BURNED IT. Seriously? Seriously. PS - When I say, "Cooking for Dummies," clearly I mean me, not you.

In college and in my post-grad years, I subsisted on Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, Lean Cuisines, hot dogs, and the occasional chicken breast. When Mr. Rose and I met, he impressed me one night by cooking lasagna, asparagus, and cucumber salad. Wow. This guy is a keeper. After we got married, he was the primary meal preparer because he was better at it than me he got home first most nights.

All that changed round about the time I became a Stay-at-home Mom. AND I HAD NO IDEA HOW TO MAKE ANYTHING. So, I got out my Mother-in-law's recipes and started going through them, trial and error like. There were some serious duds (my attempts, not the recipes) and some yummy winners. I became obsessed with watching the Food Network, and I actually picked up a bunch of tips and techniques to improve my culinary skills.

Over time, I have developed some favorites, and among those, my favorite favorites are the EASY ones! One that I made last week is a whole roasted chicken. Here's how you make it:

Twenty Garlic Chicken

• Buy whole chicken roaster
• Rinse chicken (remove the giblets), pat dry, and place in a shallow pan. If you have never cooked with chicken before, crawl out from under your rock make sure you wash your hands thoroughly after handling raw chicken.
• Mix together in a small bowl: 1 Tbsp olive oil, some salt, paprika, and black pepper. I don't measure any of the seasonings, just use a 2:2:1 ratio in the order above. Just mix it up until it is a red paste.
• Spread the paste all over the chicken.
• Place enough chicken stock to cover the bottom of the pan.
• Add twenty, unpeeled, garlic cloves in the pan.
• Roast in 350 degree oven 20-25 minutes per pound.
• When it is done, let it sit for a couple of minutes before carving. I normally take this time to make some instant or frozen "Steam N' Mash" potatoes. The really yummy part is to take the roasted garlic from the chicken and mash it up in the potatoes.

This recipe is super easy, yummy, and cheap. The 4 lb chicken I bought last week was less than $4. Add in the mashed potatoes ($2) and frozen veggies ($1), and you've got yourself dinner for 4 for $7. Trying doing that at McDonalds.

Erin

Bloggy Love - My first award!

Sometimes I wonder why I am so obsessed with blogging. I love to work on my blog layout and write about what is going on in my life, but most of all, I love to "meet" other Mom bloggers. Sometimes it makes me sad that we are scattered all over the country/world. I feel like I have made some wonderful friends just by reading their blogs and leaving comments, and vice-versa.

One of my new bloggy friends, Shell from Things I Can't Say, awarded me the Lemonade Stand Award. The Lemonade Stand Award is awarded for being a blogger who shows great attitude and gratitude.

Really?

That is so cool! Thanks, Shell. I am really truly grateful - get it?

Now I get to pass the love along, and award this to 10 bloggers that I think show great attitude and gratitude.

• Marketing Mama @ Motherhood in the Industry
• Jess @ A 'Fritos' Kinda Life
• April @ Thoughts in My Tumultous Brain
• Polly @ The 5th Sister
• Carrie @ Making Lemonade
• Katherine Anne @ Medical School Mrs.
• Elizabeth @ Confessions From A Working Mom
• Stephanie @ A Pocket Full of Buttons
• Annissa Rae @ A Page In My Book
• Jessica @ Two Shades of Pink

The fine print for keeping the Lemonade Stand Award torch lit:
- Put the Lemonade logo on your blog or within your post .
- Nominate at least 10 blogs with great attitude or gratitude.
- Link the nominees within your post.
- Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
- Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award.

Have a great week girls!

Erin

Potty Training Boot Camp

Let me tell you something about my oldest child, Miss H. As the product of Mr. Rose and I, Miss H is quite possibly the most stubborn child ever born. She is nearly three years old and has only successfully used the potty once or twice, and only because I asked her to sit on it and not because she told me she needed to pee.

I know she is ready. She hides from me to make #2. I see her run behind the recliner or in another room, and when she returns, STINK-O!

I have tried positive reinforcement. I have tried bribery. The child is just not cooperating! She will sit there if I beg her and bribe her with candy, but nothing happens. Ugh. I am so tired of changing her diapers, which is a battle in itself.

I am down to my last resort.

Sorry honey, but you are getting big girl panties this weekend. You are going to learn that when you go to the bathroom in your pants, it is uncomfortable and yucky, and that the place to do that is in the potty. 

Lord, give me the grace to get through this weekend!

Erin

Which goes first, the Paci or the Swaddler?

Dear Baby B,

You are my high-needs child. You require many things to go to sleep and stay asleep including your pacifier, a tight swaddle, and rocking.

You are five months old my dear. It is time to grow up. It is time to learn how to fall asleep without these things because I am tired, tired, tired of sticking that pacifier back in your mouth over, and over, and over again through the night. And Lord help me if that swaddle isn't tight enough and you manage to get your arms out. Then you will grab the pacifier with your fingers and pull it out of your mouth.

So which goes first, the Paci or the Swaddler?

Today in the car you fell asleep without the pacifier in your mouth. You cried for about 10 minutes and then you did your little humming/grunting thing and fell asleep. Mama thinks it is time to let you cry it out. As much as it breaks my heart, I must get some sleep dear. And I know you can do it. You have on occasion gotten yourself back to sleep without the pacifier.

That's it. Tonight we will have 30 minutes of quiet time in your room before bed. I will get you settled and swaddled. I will even rock you for a bit. But you are going down in your bed, drowsy but awake, and if you must cry, you must.

BUT YOU ARE NOT GETTING THAT PACIFIER.

Love,

Mommy

PS - We'll work on the Swaddler next week.

New Year's Resolution: Balance and Flexibility

I have been reading a lot of people's New Year's Resolutions, and they all tend to be goals people want to accomplish. I am right there with all of you. I have things I want to do and learn this year. I have things that I want to start doing that I think will make me a better person and a better Mom. But then I start thinking about ALL the things I want to do, and I start to feel overwhelmed.

When I do something, I tend to devote all my waking moments to it. If I am reading a book, that is all I do in my spare time until I have finished the book. If I am working on a craft project, again, that's all I do until it's done. Etc., etc., etc.

Here are some of my goals:

• Run a 5K by my birthday (March 30)
• Learn how to use my new sewing machine
• Make something with my new sewing skills
• Read one book for leisure per month
• Spend more time studying Sacred Scripture and in quiet prayer
• Make homemade baby food for Baby B
• Increase my presence in the blogosphere

How in the world am I going to get all that done? The answer, my friends, is by channeling my inner Shawn Johnson, my inner gymnast. Balance. Flexibility. These are the things that make gymnasts great; these are the things that I need most in my life.

I need to figure out when I am going to run, read, sew, pray. But I desperately need to remember that my job, my most important goal of the year is raising my children and being the best wife I can be to my husband.

So I resolve to be the best that I can be, while being balanced and flexible. We'll see how I do....

Happy New Year! It's going to be a great one!!

Erin