Going and going and going

This morning at 5:00 the alarm went off and now at 8:25 I am sitting down and having my first moment of alone time. I am so ready for this weekend! This weekend brings family from far away, a BBQ, two date nights, a three day weekend, and hopefully a haircut. VIVA LA FIN DE SEMANA!

And it was Wednesday.

The temperature has dropped and that means the windows are open, the porch is our new hangout spot, and dinners are eaten outside. I find myself running out of work excitedly anticipating our next family adventure. Today our family of five, (the pups totally count as family members), took off for a two mile jaunt around the big lake. 

 We returned home for book time. (Where books are read and sometimes eaten). And finally we settled in for chicken curry (with eggplant, sweet potatoes, onion, and peppers) and carrots for the Pippy.

Today wasn't particularly exciting, but it was wonderfully predictable.The entire nine months I was pregnant I could not imagine what life with Pip would be like and now that she is here I can't remember what we used to do before her arrival. I feel like we used to be always on the run, playing catch up, and planning for the next big event. And now, I am learning this new phase of my life is not about where we are going or who are are seeing or trying to impress. This new stage is going to be filled with stories, giggles, bedtime rituals, family dinners, and family strolls. I think I like this new stage very much. 

Paleo is the new black.

In the past two weeks it seems like everyone everywhere is going Paleo. Sharon, Darby, the girls at my gym... are all giving the Paleolithic diet a try. I have to admit it peaked my interest, so I researched and read and tossed a few more blogs into my reader.

And this weekend I meal planned, grocery shopped the produce aisle, threw on my apron, and entered my kitchen with much excitement.

 On Sunday I made egg cupcakes. Eggs, zucchini, onion, and spinach with bacon. Easy recipe. And the result resembles Sam I Am's green eggs and ham. I like these a lot and have been eating two daily for breakfast. Mr. R. is pretending he doesn't see them when he looks in the fridge.

 I also made ribs on Sunday. I followed John McCain's seasoning rub (garlic, salt, pepper, and lemons) and placed them in the crock for 7 hours. We ate ours with sweet potatoes with butter and honey.

Monday night brought curried chicken salad over romaine. (I loosely followed this recipe from Paula Deen and this recipe from PW. I used one tablespoon of curry, one apple, one pear, 1/3 cup of craisins, and no mayo).

 Tonight I made steak with smashed broccoli. The steak was actually a freezer find from when my in-laws visited in June. It too was made in the crock-pot and seasoned with white wine, A1 steak sauce, and dijon mustard.  I used this recipe from Stephanie O'Dea as a guide. The smashed broccoli comes from the brain of Tyler Florence and it is definitely worth trying. 

I can't say we are full blown Paleo, but I am trying and the benefit of following a high protein, high veg, low carb diet as that I am getting in ALL of my healthy guidelines for weight watchers. Paleo has me eating more often but I am still under my 31 daily weightwatcher points. I have my weekly weigh in on Saturday so I can fill you in on any pounds lost/gained/or maintained later this week. 

WHOOOOOs ready for fall?

Pip received a few knit hats from my favorite girls back when she was just a tiny bean in my belly. We have been waiting and waiting for these hats to make their debut. And now at 5 months her noggin is big enough to sport her first knit hat. 

And I think she is the cutest little owl in town.

All we need is some cooler weather. 

Come on Mother Nature, my little girl has a new hat to wear!

Friday Night Dinner

with a baby who loves to squeal and sing

with Lisa Loeb and Elizabeth Mitchell singing nursery rhymes in the background

with two dogs underfoot

with pureed sweet potatoes being accepted and rejected and smeared and wiped

with fried rice, General Tso's shrimp, and dumplings

with speaker phone conversations with Grandmom & Grandpop Republican

with tummy time & the letter P

  TGIF!

Happy First Halloween! (from Aunt Nicole)

My BFF sent Pip the most adorable package today!

She wanted to make sure Pip's first Halloween was stellar and she DID NOT disappoint.

Pip was most excited about the pop-up book. As I type this, Pip is still holding onto her book, 4 hours after we first opened it! She is also a fan of the teething ring and baby ora-jel. (I am a sucker for advertising and I love that one was labeled "license to drool".)

Nicole lives almost 800 miles away, but we stay in touch through texts and blogging. She wrote me/Pip the sweetest card and mentioned that she had read we were trying to make our own baby food. In an effort to keep Pippy healthy and organic she also included a BABY MAGIC BULLET. 

I am so grateful to my sweet friend! And I promise we will be going to the farmer's market ASAP and making you proud with all of our healthy choices!

We LOVE you and MISS you Nicole!

Someone is 5 months old!

This little girl is a drama queen!

 She is a smiler, a squealer, and a screamer.

She LOVES attention and will flirt, smile, and coo until she gets your FULL attention.

Piper has officially learned to roll over and today she scooted forward across our bed inchworm style.

Her hair is starting to come in lighter and her eyes continue to change from green to brown to grey. 

Piper loves music and dancing. We often have baby dance parties to nursery rhymes and 80s music before bathtime. 

I am back to running and Pip is a willing participant for my 2.5-3 miler. She loves when the wind goes through her hair and even though we aren't going very fast she loves the ride. It also puts her to sleep for about 20 minutes.

This month has been my favorite thus far. Pip is simply amazing. Her smiles make my day each morning and I literally run out work so I can get home to read her stories, play on the mat, and listen to her babble about her day. Parenting is hard and scary and crazy and most days I think I am doing everything wrong, but then, I look at how perfect and amazing she is and I know now matter what it is worth it.