Been busy lately preparing for the holiday!

I have lots of baby-stuff to talk about but saving that for it's own post.

THIS is what happens when you piss off an already super-cranky baby, who is possibly even teething. Oops.

Later today we are leaving for our my in-laws for Thanksgiving and I can't wait! I've almost completely packed for the three of us (four, if you count Tucker, but he's easy...dog food and a his bowl. Ha!) and I just have a little more to do.

I might also make my pumpkin bread today (if I have time) to bring with us. I'm not going to bake my pumpkin pie till I'm at my in-laws.

I'm SO looking forward to relaxing with the family and Hunter's 1st Thanksgiving! I know he's too little to actually EAT any of it but I look forward to building traditions with him, for all the holidays. Every Thanksgiving I wake up and put the Macy's Day Parade on TV, and then make coffee and cinnamon buns for me and Daryl. Then I mostly listen to the parade (and pop in to look) while preparing my turkey. Since this year Daryl's mom is cooking, I'm looking forward to actually watching some of the parade with Hunter.

I'm so thankful for family and friends.

And our sweet baby boy!

So if I don't get a chance to pop back in on you guys I want to wish you all a:

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

P.S. Daryl and I went to see New Moon on Sunday and we both LOVED IT!!! I want to go see it again!

PhotoStory Friday" src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc50/whatworksforus/pfw.jpg" border=0>
Hosted by Cecily and JENNIFER

My baby.

My boy.

The love of my life.

The best thing I've ever done.

Well...I guess his Dad had a hand in that, too. Heh.

We love you, little man!

We pretty much stayed on track for last week's Menu Plan...there was only one day I didn't feel like cooking the pasta I'd planned so we threw a frozen pizza into the oven instead. But otherwise did great utilizing a lot of frozen meats and veggies, so that I didn't really spend much at the grocery store last week!

This week I've got a yummy week in store! If you'd like some more menu plan ideas go check this site out!

Oh and this past week I made a very tasty Pumpkin Bread that I wanted to share the recipe for. I enjoyed it so much that I'm going to make it again very soon. Enjoy!

Monday- Paula Deen's recipe for Bacon Cheeseburger Meatloaf. It looked SO good while she was making it that I salivated all over the TV screen. I'll probably whip up (pun intended!) some mashed potatoes and steamed corn, and Pillsbury crescent rolls, to go along with.

Tuesday- Whole wheat pasta, tomato sauce with sausage, and Texas Toast on the side. And since I always like to have at least one vegetable with dinner, I'll probably steam up some green beans.

Wednesday- A fabulously seasoned and marinated (with fresh garlic from a garlic farm) Pork Loin. Big D bartered with a chef he knows. He cleaned and serviced the guys boiler and in return got three of these yummy pork loins! I'll serve it with a delicious recipe I tried out over the weekend for Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes.

Thursday- Another pork night, which doesn't bother me in the least. I love pork! I think I might try THIS SLOW-COOKER RECIPE but if I don't end up doing it, I'll have Big D grill up the chops. And we'll have it with Spanish rice and peas.

Friday-Free Night! Maybe pizza? I told Big D I really want to try doing a pizza on the grill, maybe with some onions and peppers on it. Ooh, and sausage? That sound delish!

Just chillin' out on a Saturday morning in my drop-dead sexy (just ask Big D) flannel nightgown, listening to the sounds of white noise emitting from Hunter's swing as he rocks and naps.

Aaaaahhhhhh.....

Last night was fun! We had Lorelei over for dinner (this was her first time meeting baby boy!). I had a delicious glass of Merlot and boy did it hit the spot. As did dinner, Daryl grilled a pork loin (that a chef friend had already seasoned and marinated in fresh garlic from a GARLIC FARM. Who knew?) and I tried out a new recipe that was utterly fantastic...TWICE-BAKED SWEET POTATOES. Seriously, if you like (or LOVE, as I do) sweet potatoes? You. Must. Try. This. Recipe. Add in a side of steamed broccoli and you get a fabulously delicious meal.

My mouth is still watering at the thought of those sweet potatoes.

Not much else going on. Big D is out hunting this morning and then maybe we'll hit up BJ's (our friendly neighborhood warehouse store) later on. I'm DYING to go to the movies but since I know the second movie in the Twilight Saga, New Moon, is soon to come out (November 20th to be exact!) I'm saving up my babysitter usage for that night. I already told Big D not to make plans for that night!

Tomorrow will be low-key. I want to make breakfast for me and Big D, something yummy. There is some sweet-smelling maple bacon in the fridge calling my name. And at one, Hunter and I will be meeting with 'Chele at the 'Bucks for one of my all-time seasonal favorites...Gingerbread Lattes!

Daryl is heading out to work in the evening so my Mom may come over for a bit to visit. We'll probably watch a Christmas movie. Yes, you heard me right...is said CHRISTMAS MOVIE. I'm in the spirit, baby. Daryl and I will be going out to get our fresh Christmas tree the weekend of Thanksgiving (we're spending the weekend at his Mom and Step-Dad's but we will come home Saturday so that we can put up our tree that Sunday) and i can't wait! I'm ready to start sloooowly dragging out some of my Christmas decorations to start sprucing up the house.

AND I'm very excited. I recently ordered, and had it arrive the other day, Hunter's very first Christmas stocking! I have monogrammed stockings from L.L. Bean for me and Big D so I had to get our boy his own monogrammed stocking! I am so, so excited for Hunter's first Christmas. And the creation of new traditions as a family, as well as the traditions that Big D and I have celebrated the last four years!

'Tis the season for...baking!



Yesterday it hit me. The baking-bug.

I am normally someone who loves baking but through-out my pregnancy I just did not have the energy. And now with a baby in the house, it's hard to fit it in, time wise.

But damn, do I miss it! The recipes, the ingredients, the mixing (ooh, how I love my Kitchen Aid Mixer! I will be eternally grateful to 'Chele!), the warmth and yummy smells that permeate the house.

Yesterday I decided to tackle a Pumpkin Bread. I love anything pumpkin-flavored so I knew this would be a hit. I did alter the recipe a bit. I threw in my favorite staple, chocolate chips (and Daryl, when he heard, said, "Eww, chocolate chips in a pumpkin bread?" to which I responded that "Everything tastes better with chocolate!") and I omitted the cream cheese filling ONLY becuz I didn't have any cream cheese and I wasn't about to run out to the store for one missing ingredient! But don't get me wrong, I would have loved the cream cheese filling! Mmmmmm....

Anyway, despite my hubby's lack of faith, my Pumpkin Bread with chocolate chips came out delish! I decided I will make another one for Thanksgiving (I'm also making pumpkin pie) to bring to Daryl's Mom and Step-Dad's. We'll be spending the holiday with them in NY. I can't wait!

If you are interested you can find the recipe HERE.

I'm a tad sleepy.

My baby boy, Hunter (who had been sleeping through the night EVERY night for like a month and a half now) has taken to waking up a couple of times a night.

And I think it's my fault!

I decided about 4 or 5 days ago that I was going to change Hunter over from his swaddle blanket to a sleep sack. What brought it on is the morning Daryl walked into his nursery to check on him (he normally always woke me up in the morning with his little cries) and found Hunter with the swaddle around his ankles, turned completely around and facing his Mommy Bear, "talking" and giggling away as he waved his arms!

Hunter has been busting free of his swaddle for quite some time now but I was hesitant to stop using it, becuz he goes to sleep so nicely wrapped up all burrito-like. But here he was happy as a lark that morning, sucking on his little fists and fingers.

My other reason for deciding to use the sleep sack instead was due to Hunter's nighttime workouts...he is NEVER in the same position that I've laid him down in the night before. One night i went in to check on him cuz he was squawking a little bit...his poor head was wedged against the slats of the crib! And he was trying so hard to move that he almost completely rolled over to his belly. This wouldn't'have bothered me except for the fact that in the swaddle, he had no use of his arms or legs, and I worried about him smothering himself. (Yes, just call me anal Mommy.)

Anyway, the first night of the sleep sack I put Hunter into his crib with his Mommy Bear on, and his soother, and rubbed his belly. He flailed his free arms around for a bit and fussed but as soon as he realized he was able to stuff them into his mouth, he settled right down.

This might just work! I thought to myself, pleased, as I drifted off to sleep myself a few hours later. And then it began. The middle of the night crying that I'd almost (but not quite!) forgotten about! He'd flail his arms around and wake himself up so I kept going back in and soothing him and popping his pacifier in. And holy crap, was this kid moving all over the crib! I'd put him in the crib at night with his head at one side, then walk in hours later to find him with his head at the other end OR facing the side, right up against the slats again.

So obviously it wasn't going to be a quick adjustment to the sleep sack! Thankfully we are down from 4-5 wakings to only 1 a night, after almost a week. Last night, selfishly wanting sleep, I started to swaddle him back up but guilt took over when I thought about how he'd be cranky not being able to suck on his fists. So I left his little arms free.

And I woke up at 6:30am this morning to the sounds of giggles and cooing...no crying!

Let's hope this keeps up!

Menu Plan Monday is baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!

I fell off the wagon for a while. Now that I am currently job-less, I'm looking for/at ways to cinch up our financial belt. I immediately remembered how much I enjoyed MPM and how it helped me to not only be better organized with my grocery list and in my pantry BUT it helped me to save money by not spending unnecessarily AND to not let food go to waste or spoil (I'm infamous for that).

So I'm welcoming myself back! Organization and savings some $, here I come!

Monday- Shepard's Pie (one of mine and Big D's easy and yummy favorites).

Tuesday- Grilled chicken, steamed veggie mix and Spanish rice & beans

Wednesday- Kielbasa and baked beans

Thursday- Whole wheat pasta with meat sauce, steamed green beans

Friday- I think I will leave Friday as our "free night" since often times we'll just pick at what's in the house. OR sometimes it's pizza night. Even cinching up that belt doesn't mean I can give up my beloved pizza!


Now here's a little treat for you (and me)! A free Dunkin Donuts coffee sample. Yum!