3 months

Audrey turned three months this past Thursday.  We celebrated with getting her Prevnar shot!  She had fun with a slight fever, body aches, and a lovely red rash!  By Saturday she was back to her typical self though.

Not a fan of getting your nails clipped- which Daddy is a pro at.

So what are you up to?
You are getting better control of your head and letting Mommy put you on your tummy more and more.  You have rolled over many times from tummy to back however you have to get yourself in the perfect position to do it.  So we won't consider it mastered yet!

You have a wonderful smile and love to "talk" with people rather then play with your toys.  You have taken an interest in mirrors lately, you are impressed with your own cuteness evidently.

You are still small compared to other 3 monthers, but I don't know your weight.  I am guessing 10 1/2 lbs. For your one disposable a day, you wear a size 1 diaper and it is slightly big (you have a tiny tushy).  In your cloth diapers you have grown out of your preemie prefolds and covers and some of your smallest newborn fitted diapers.  For the most part though you are doing fine in newborn or small cloth diapers. 

In clothes you are primarily wearing 0 to 3 month clothes with some 3 month clothes thrown in.  Mommy is confused by baby clothes though.  The sizing is nuts.  Oh but watch it, Mommy is also getting bored of your 0 to 3 month clothes so she might she move you up anyhow!!

You have started slowly, very, very, very slowly sleeping beside Mommy at night rather then on top of her.  This is awesome.  Maybe you will actualy get to your crib some day.  Next week, Mommy is going to start trying to put you in your crib.  You are rejecting your swing lately and I am not sure why.  Mommy is still only getting a few hours of sleep on most nights, with some hopeful better nights thrown in there!

You have developed some slight stranger awareness when other people hold you.  You also laughed for the first time this month, that was amazing.  You like to be dipped in someones arms up and down, that makes you grin ear to ear.  You took your first trip to Virginia this month and were a very good girl on the way back home, not so much the ride down.  You love to listen to Mom Mom's "La, la, la" singing.  You met your cousin Katie and Emmett on the trip and we also said Goodbye to them.  They are moving even farther away.

You love your big sister and that is very evident but you are also a bit hesitant with her sometimes, I would say that is a good thing!  She means well, but isn't all that gentle...

Okay baby girl..  May your 4th month post read "She is sleeping well and fussing less!"

It is wise not to play into a 3 year old

Yesterday during a big arguement between Celia and I:

"Mommy, do you know what is weird"

"What Celia" (knowing full well after I said it that I really shouldn't have said a word during the fit)

"You"

Okay played right into that one

"That is not acceptable behavior, you do not talk to Mommy like that"

"Do I need to say it louder?"

Said 3 year old lost some privileges

My Valentines Day Whine

Okay- first Happy Valentines Day, it isn't Valentines day with out Valentines Socks

Miss Audrey.  I appreciate the fact that you are absolutely adorable.  Your smile is amazing and the laugh I heard on Friday was awesome.  However... Mommy is fried.  Today has been one of "those" days and she can't take the crying.  You are getting better, but it doesn't seem fast enough!  Mommy just wants to see this little smile at least 50% of the day.

I appreciate the fact that you like to be near me, especialy in my wrap but I am nearing the end of being able to do it 24/7.  Literally my dear, 24/7- in the past few days you will only sleep by yourself in the swing for 30 to 60 min.  That is not okay..  What are we to do when it is time for you to go to Kindergarten.  They make fun of kids strapped to their Mommies.

I appreciate the fact that you hate being on your tummy and you hate being put down but Mommy no longer likes taking showers while listening to you scream in the background.  Daddy won't let Mommy not take showers so that isn't an option- if that is what you are thinking.  I hate having to eat lunch with you in my wrap and my dear, you do get random bits of fod stuck in your hair from the whole process.  Mommy needs a break.  All I am asking for is a simple 30 min. of a baby not strapped to me a day, and that excludes when I take a shower, or go to the bathroom.

See, your toys are awesome!!  You need to bond with them for a bit.  The butterfly is a cool dude, he might have something to say.  Hang out with him for a bit and see what he likes to do.  On your right is a lion hanging around, he seems interesting too.

Oh and see this position, if you just roll some more you would be on your tummy.  If you get the hang of it, you can roll all over the room.  Your sister did that and loved it.  See you wouldn't even need a Mommy transport around the house!

Okay, on to the other one

 Repeat after me, "I am not 13 years old, I am not the boss, I am too young to talk back".  Got that??  No seriously, do you really understand that?  I am so sorry that your life has been turned upside down and you have an extremly demanding younger sister.  It totally isn't fair sweet girl.  But that doesn't mean you take advantage of the situation.  That doesn't mean that because you "can" push Daddy's buttons that you need to.

I love you but 5 am is not morning, no matter what anyone tells you- it is not!  That reminds me, Audrey can I also request getting more then 4 hours of sleep total?

You looked amazing in your Valentines Dress this morning and you were very appreciative of your gifts.  Thank you.  But... If you fill one more bag or box up with random items from various locations in the house I am going to scream.  You don't hear Mommy scream that often, but it is coming.  If you would remember where you got all the items and put them back, that would be great, but it doesn't happen.  Oh and the paper thing.  Goodness gracious, putting one line of crayon on a piece of paper and crumbling it up isn't okay with me.  You have literally created dozens of them in a 5 min. time period and I don't understand it at all.  If I had the choice of your pretty, pretty pictures with all the different circles and colors over the crumbled paper with a line on it- I would choose the first.  So please stop wasting paper.

It's Valentines day, I won't gripe about the Big Guy.

Happy Birthday

My nephew turned 4 today!  He celebrated with his Mom Mom in his pajamas this morning.

Happy Birthday Emmett!!

Turkey Time

I will never claim to be a great cook, I can follow a recipe and use my crockpot very effectively.  That said, I make an awesome turkey.  Do you know that I put my turkey in the brine at the beginning of my 3 hour labor with Audrey.  I had her the day before Thanksgiving and I wanted to make sure it was done right!  Granted the contractions at that point were absolutely no big deal but.. still makes for a good story.  Oh why am I talking about turkey? Well my Mom earned a free one and gave it to us, so I needed to use it up!  So we had a superbowl turkey with our neighbors.



So how do I make my Turkey?  Well I do follow a recipe, for the most part.  Through out the years that I have been doing it, I tend to add a bit more herbs then called for and experiment with the ratio of things that go into the brine.  I also add a bit more herbs and broth then called for in the bottom of the turkey pan and make slits in the turkey skin prior to cooking- this I believe adds to more absorption of the flavors.

So here is my attempt at showing you the recipe like on many of the cooking websites.

These are the ingrediants for the Brine.  See recipe below.  I used both regular apple cider and cranberry apple cider.  I add a bit more ginger then suggested and crush my whole allspice with a rolling pin.  I don't have one of those fancy graters that would help with that!

Of course you will need these too!  I used a 14 lb turkey which I think is a great size.  If you get it too big, the turkey really does not cook as well (that said my Thanksgiving turkeys are sometimes very large).

Enlist a helper with a wet head who will ask you many questions like, is that the turkey's hand? (pointing to the ginger) and does the turkey have a butt?  It isn't a real turkey right Momma? 

                                    

Put everything in a big pot and bring to a boil, then cook for 5 min. until the salt and sugar dissolve.  After 5 min, I often turn off the burner and leave it there for about 5 more minutes and the remaining sugar and salt dissolve.

After you have rinsed the turkey, remove all of the lovely items inside and do what you want with them.  You will also need to remove that metal thingy in it.  Be sure to hide the neck part from your little helper as you don't really want to explain what that is just yet.  Stuff 2 oranges into the "butt" of the turkey as my helper said.  I cut my oranges in 1/8ths.  Now you need to get the big guy ready for the brine.  I put him in an oven bag inside of a garbage bag inside of a tall pot (we use a lobster pot).   You need to put in 6 cups of ice.  I surround the turkey with the ice so he sits up a bit.  The last thing you do is pour in the brine after it has cooled (I pour it in warm, but you can actualy make it the night prior and pour it in cold).

This is what it looks like all tied up and ready for your big strong husband to take it downstairs to the refrigerator in the basement.   You need to turn this bad boy a few times during the next 12 to 24 hours (the turkey, not the husband, though if you want to spin your husband around a few times go for it).

When you are ready to make a pie to go with the meal, ask your helper again who will feel that it is neccessary to dress up as a bug and dissapear for a very long time and then get mad at you because you kept making the pumpking pie instead of waiting for her.

I don't have pictures of the next part of the turkey making, just didn't get to that.  But follow the recipe and you should have success.  I used a disposable pan with one of those metal bases at the bottom (doesn't come with the pan, I have one and I don't know what it is called).  I put the broth + an extra 1/4 to 1/2 cup.  I add quite a bit extra of the herbs then is called for and I cut the onion into 1/8ths or slightly smaller pieces.  I then put the mental base thing on top, then follow the directions.  I keep foil on the turkey until the last 15 min. of cooking.  My turkey takes longer then the recipe calls for, a lot longer, so don't be alarmed if that happens to you.

Brine

• 8 cups apple cider

• 2/3 cup kosher salt

• 2/3 cup sugar

• 1 tablespoon black peppercorns, coarsely crushed

• 1 tablespoon whole allspice, coarsely crushed

• 8 (1/8-inch-thick) slices peeled fresh ginger (I use about 10-12)

• 6 whole cloves (I use 10)

• 2 bay leaves

• 1 (12-pound) fresh or frozen turkey, thawed

• 2 oranges, quartered (I cut them in eighths)

• 6 cups ice

To prepare brine, combine first 8 ingredients in a large saucepan; bring to a boil. Cook 5 minutes or until sugar and salt dissolve. Cool completely.

Other Ingredients

• 4 garlic cloves

• 4 sage leaves

• 4 thyme sprigs

• 4 parsley sprigs

• 1 onion, quartered (I use eighths)

• 1 (14-ounce) can fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and divided

• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided

• 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided

Please read under pictures because I alter the above some.
Preheat oven to 500 degrees

Remove turkey from bags, and discard brine, orange quarters, and bags. Rinse turkey with cold water; pat dry. Lift wing tips up and over back; tuck under turkey. Tie legs together with kitchen string. Place garlic, sage, thyme, parsley, onion, and broth in the bottom of a roasting pan. Place roasting rack in pan. Arrange turkey, breast side down, on roasting rack. Brush turkey back with 1 tablespoon butter; sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon pepper and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Bake at 500º for 30 minutes.


Reduce oven temperature to 350º.

Remove turkey from oven. Carefully turn turkey over (breast side up) using tongs. Brush turkey breast with 1 tablespoon butter; sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon pepper and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Bake at 350º for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until a thermometer inserted into meaty part of thigh registers 170º (make sure not to touch bone). (Shield the turkey with foil if it browns too quickly.) Remove turkey from oven; let stand 20 minutes.

Remove giblets and neck from turkey; reserve for Savory Herb Gravy. Rinse turkey with cold water; pat dry. Trim excess fat. Stuff body cavity with orange quarters. Place a turkey-sized oven bag inside a second bag to form a double thickness. Place bags in a large stockpot. Place turkey inside inner bag. Add cider mixture and ice. Secure bags with several twist ties. Refrigerate for 12 to 24 hours, turning occasionally.

Complete Cuteness from My Little Girls

Celias mood on Wednesday!

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

TGIF

This week marked the first week that Celia only has school Mon, Wed, and Friday. Tuesday went well, despite the fact that I was working on 90 min. of sleep. Celia and I did some school work and played. Audrey took some naps and everything worked out- okay. By the end day I was exhausted but we made it. Then came Wednesday, a snow day for Celia. Really it was a rain day, as that is basically what came for part of the day. It was icy in the morning but by 8 am everything was fine. Evidently Celia did not get a great nights sleep and was not in a good mood at all. It is so much fun to have both a 10 week old and a 3 year old screaming while going on only a few hours of sleep, it rocks. But it was just one of those days!!

So today I woke up very tired and just thought, how do stay at home Moms do it when they are getting no sleep with a newborn and have to take care of 2 or more other kids?? They are amazing, or they are on speed.
Today was not bad, Audrey was actually in an okay mood except when she was trying to get herself to sleep. Sleep for Audrey does not come easily, she needs to scream I think to get to sleep. But we have had smiles and cooing and all that good stuff. We haven’t made it to her playmat yet, that will happen tomorrow when Celia is in school. She has spent most of the day in my wrap. I was surpised to see that she was actually awake for half of our trip to Longwood Gardens. We went there this morning and had a good time. I still love our BOB Revolution stroller. For now, I wear Audrey and Celia rides in it. I am going to have to find a double stroller for my long walks with the two girls. I certainly can’t expect Celia to walk 5+ miles and I think that at some point carrying Audrey to exercise in isn’t going to work. But a Bob duallie is outrageously expensive, so that isn’t going to happen. I wish it would!!


After nap time, Celia brought me 3 of her swimuits and said “Mommy, you know in the summer when we went in that sprinkler thing, lets do that”. Hmm… “Okay, Celia, the water will freeze and you will be cold” “Are you sure Mommy?” Hmmm… “Pretty Sure Sealy” “Oh, okay Mommy, then I can just wear my swimsuits”. So she is sporting her pink swimsuit with the ruffled bottom.

Tuesday- working on cutting, and sticking out her tongue because I told her that looked silly

The basic theme of Wednesday

Signs of Spring at Longwood

Soak in the sun Sealy

Celia is skipping spring and going right to summer..

My tiny girl!

Overall, I think that I am going to really enjoy the non school days with Celia more so when I am getting more then 3 or 4 hrs of sleep, at least 4 hours each night without a few 90 min nights thrown in!!  Oh and that includes Celia getting sleep.  She can not handle being tired, at all, that is what her issue was on Wednesday.  Her teacher can vouch for that too!