I wanted to look and see when the last time I posted a blog was.  How funny- it was a year ago today.

Christmas break is over......normal life must resume...

So I am definitely not looking forward to going back to work.  Not that I don't like my job- I in fact enjoy it a lot. BUT nothing compares to the time I have with Blake.  The past two weeks have been absolutely amazing in that I have seen so many things develop.  His recognition of numerous things, his vocabulary and conversational understandings and just further development of his personality.   He truly is an amazing gift and I love him to the depths of my heart and soul.

Christmas was tough this year.  The anniversary of the loss of my grandpa and aunt loomed a bit over the holiday.  It was such a blessing to have Blake because his joy helped us make it through a difficult week.  I got to enjoy time with family and friends.  I even got some time to myself.

  Overall, the vacation was good and I got the recharge I needed.

As per tradition, I've contemplated my resolutions to better myself for 2014 (of course, I've also broken- delayed- these already) but here they are:

1.  Drink more water.  I am not a water drinker but need to be.  

2.  Exercise more regularly.  I enjoy going to the gym.  I just need to motivate myself to go.  I feel bad with the amount of time I'm away from Blake. (Now with the play beginning soon that's a bit more time). But if I can resolve myself to go after he's down to sleep because Lord knows I will not be a morning exerciser.... Maybe I will go.  But that throws a wrench into number 3.....

3.  Spend more "us" time with the husband.  Jonathan and I spend time together when little guy goes to bed.  But we need more unplugged time without iPads, cell phones, laptops, etc in the way.  I am honestly more to blame for this but we. Both need to work on it.

4.  Keeping on top of dishes and laundry.   I realize they are never ending chores but I really need to do a better job keeping the never ending from becoming overwhelming.  Too often I have clean clothes piles or dishes left in the dishwasher for longer than a day (ok 3-5 days)...  It gets to the point where I'm swamped and then I get frustrated.

5.  Make time for leisure reading.  Often I put other things ahead of this task that I enjoy.  Also, I need to read to Blake more.  I read to him but I don't feel like it is often enough.

6.  Cook more- keep on top of food shopping.   We make sure Blake has his food for the week but aren't as on with our own food.  I'm not saying we have no food but we often order out which we really cannot afford to do.  So I need to be more on top of ensuring there is food for our needs planned and in the fridge/pantry.

7. Be more financially responsible. Period.

So....that's a pretty healthy list of things but attainable.  They are things I really need to do.  They are things I can do.  

Here's to 2014....

Reading list - 2 Down.

I have a reading list a mile long this summer. Two weeks in and I've read 2 of those books. The first was Dan Brown's Inferno which I thought was great.  I liked the pacing of the book, the plot and the twists.  It is definitely in the top of my favorites by this author.

The second book that I read was: The Daily 5 which fosters literacy independence in the elementary grades.  It is written by Gail Boushey and Joan Moser.  I found it to be very enjoyable and eye opening.    Starting a new grade level, I wanted to retrain my brain as well as refresh my approach.  Thisbook definitely gave me perspective on my current approach and areas that I would like to revise.  I think that I would like to try the Daily 5 in my classroom once the students are to the point where they can do it!

Staycation

So far, I've stayed home and spent lots of time with little guy.  I think in the week I left the house maybe 4 times.  Blake and I had a routine going and the hours just flew by!  I am so fortunate that I have a job which enables me to be home with him in the summer.

This week I may be more productive. I have a professional reading list a mile long and I also have some things that I'd like to do with Blake.

But maybe not- being a recluse with little guy has been fun...... We shall see....

Three Months Already

I cannot believe that my little man is already 3 months old.  That went by so fast!  It is great to see how his personality is developing.  He is such a sweet-natured, happy baby that smiles a lot!  His smile and laugh are both infectious and he definitely makes life so much better.  I am very fortunate to have been blessed with him.  He loves to talk talk talk talk talk talk talk.  He babbles all the time.  He babbles to me, his daddy, family, his "friends" (i.e. his activity gym/bouncer animals), or most recently his hands- it doesn't matter to him as long as he has something to talk to.  Its quite funny really.  It is just amazing seeing him hit his milestones and develop as a person.  The little things that we as adults take for granted- are such amazing accomplishments to him.  I remember seeing his first true smile and hearing his first real laugh.  It is amazing that a baby's brain recognizes social norms like smiling back at someone at such a young age.

Smiley Guy <3

I also still cannot get over how much he looks like his daddy!  It is like looking at the same person only 27 years younger. (Though little guy is cuter- sorry Jon!)   Currently, Blake is about 26" and 16 lbs.  He is a big boy!  Definitely does not look like he is 3 months old.  He is wearing clothes between 3 mos and 9 mos.

I look forward to watching him grow and develop more into the person he is to become!  The journey has been amazing thus far and I only expect it to be even more awesome as time goes on.

My sweet Blake <3

Rajun Cajun Chicken Penne Recipe

This is probably my favorite recipe inspired by a dish I had at the Waterway Cafe in Florida-

Waterway Cafe

Cajun Alfredo Chicken Penne

Ingredients:

andouille or hot sausage

onion

red pepper

okra

chicken

penne (or any bite sized pasta)

sauce spices:

½ tsp cayenne pepper

½ tsp chipotle pepper

½ tsp paprika

½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes

2 tbsp chopped garlic

2 tbs butter

2 tbs flour

2 c milk

½ c mixed parmesan and romano cheese

Recipe:

Fill a pot with water to boil.  When boiling, add the pasta.   Cut the chicken and sausage into bite size pieces as well as chop the onion.  Sauté chicken, sausage, and onion in a skillet.  (Add red pepper and okra towards the end when the meat is almost completely cooked throughout, these items are not necessary for the recipe, I prefer it without these)

Once the meat and veggies are cooked take them off the heat and place into a serving bowl or mixing bowl.  Drain pasta.  While pasta is draining, prepare Cajun alfredo sauce in skillet that you used for cooking the chicken, sausage, and veggies.

Cajun Alfredo Sauce:

1. Met butter in pan over medium heat

2.  add/cook garlic

3. making the roux- add flour and mix until fully stirred.  Add milk and stir like crazy until flour mixture breaks down.  Add the spices, mix, and cook for 5 minutes (keep stirring)  Add the cheese and stir to melt.  Let this cook for about 3-4 minutes. 

4. Turn off the heat and combine the pasta, meat/veggies, and top with the sauce.  Toss the mixture together.

My version

Disclaimer- Blake's Birth Story

"In all of creation
All things great and small
You are the one that surpasses them all
More precious than
Any diamond or pearl
They broke the mold
When you came in this world
And I'm trying hard to figure out
Just how I ever did without
The warmth of your smile
The heart of a child
That's deep inside
Leaves me purified"




At 7:30 Thursday January 19, Jonathan and I went to Orange Regional Medical Center for a tour of the maternity ward.  Baby Taub wasn't due to arrive for another 2 weeks and nothing like waiting last minute to tour the place where we would be having the baby.  After the tour, we went to dinner at Fridays, and then went home.  When we got home, I was very tired and did not feel right (which I attributed to eating too much) and so I took a shower.  After my shower, I went to bed... still not feeling right I got up and took another shower.  After sleeping for an hour and a half, I felt like I was going to throw up.  I went to the bathroom and as I threw up, my water broke.  Weirdest feeling...  at first I wasn't sure that it was my water breaking but rather that it was a bathroom incident.  But as soon as I went to lay down, I got a contraction.


Jon of course was freaking out (calmly).... so I made the call to the hospital to alert them I was on the way, we picked up my mom, and on our way we went.  


Let me just say- when your water breaks, its not always just a one and done.... in my case, it just kept coming the whole car ride to the hospital... along with some mild contractions... and let me just say that light gray sweatpants were not a good choice either.... I looked like I could not control my bladder by the time we got there.


When we got to the hospital, the person checking me in made a call for them to come and take me up to labor/delivery but they wanted me to be put in as an outpatient first.  (which makes sense since people come in thinking they're in labor when in fact they're having false labor).... However, I was in fact in labor- that was clearly evident by my sweatpants... and she told them as much.   They sent down someone to fetch me in a wheelchair and up to labor/delivery I went.


When getting up to labor/delivery... I was glad to see my mother's goddaughter- Missy was my nurse.  It made the experience special.  After they got me hooked up to my IV drip and to the fetal monitor, I saw the first doctor of the day-she checked my dilation status which was at 2 cm.  I was having mild contractions- fairly regularly but was not dilating.  They gave me a drug- Nubain- which helped to relax me.  Relaxed me enough that I fell asleep.  When I woke up about 2 hrs later,  they checked to see if I had made any progress, and I was up to 5 cm. 

The second doctor that I saw- was a little pushy about the drugs... didn't care much for that.  At this point, I was having regular contractions and most of it was back labor.   While clutching the sides of the bed during back labor contractions, the nurse is telling me I'd be more comfortable on my back.  I'm sorry, but I believe I am the one having the contraction and know what is more comfortable for me!  Well, while all this is going on and we are waiting for the process to progress, the doctor came in again to check.  He again mentioned the drugs- Pitocin and the Epidural- he said I wasn't progressing and that if it didn't happen soon he would strongly suggest this route.


Now I've heard about Pitocin- and I did NOT NOT NOT want to go this route.  So I tried my best to relax (between back labor) and I guess I did a good job because the contractions starting coming closer together and between those contractions I fell asleep (to the point of snoring according to my husband and my mother).  Now what I didn't know is while I was sleeping, I was having uterine contractions that were nothing compared to the back labor contractions so I was relaxing during those.   At one point, the back labor became very intense that I asked for the Epidural. They called the doctor to have him see where I was in terms of dilation.  In the meantime, I had told the nurse that I felt the urge to push when I was having the back labor contractions.  Now only about an hour had elapsed at this point, and by the time the doctor came in, I had gone from 5 cm to 9 1/2.  Which in epidural time means too late but I was given the ok to begin pushing.


Now, I know I did not take the classes or anything... but honestly I do not think it would have helped me truly understand the process of pushing.   When you push, you hold the push for about 10-15 seconds and in between pushes you hold the push before you continue to push again.  It took me a while to catch onto this as well as be able to hold a push for 15 seconds.  At one point, I was holding the push for only 7 seconds and the nurse kept telling me that I had to hold it longer.  When I told her that I couldn't, my mom being my mom said, "Oh, we found something you can't do?"  She knew that this would piss me off and get me motivated to prove her wrong. (Which was effective as she knows which buttons to push).  


Now, they tell you to have a focal point as you're pushing.... on the wall there was a painting that for some reason reminded me of The Wizard of Oz... and it was my focus during my pushes (when my eyes were open). (It also was the same piece of artwork in my room in the mother/baby section of the hospital)

 I found that pushing through the back labor contractions made it less painful and then I took a break when they passed.  Apparently, this was not the right choice because the nurse was concerned that my contractions weren't close enough since I was sleeping between back labor contractions while other contractions were going on.  (Yes, this is weird, I know).... Anyways, once I realized I needed to push through all contractions, things really started moving. They called the doctor to come in since I was almost there.  Well he got called for an emergency c-section, so a third doctor was called in.


Well, at Crystal Run there are about 15 ob/gyn- and you really have no control on who delivers so they suggest you rotate to see each doctor.  Well, I saw three because I didn't want to rotate.  And it just so happened that the third doctor was one of the three that I saw.  She made the experience so wonderful.  Between her, the nurse, my mom, and Jonathan... I was so relaxed, encouraged, and supported through the process.  The doctor massaged and helped so they wouldn't have to cut me and I ended up tearing only a little- one stitch.  At one point, the doctor said that she could see his head and I actually was able to feel it.  (weird but cool) The whole labor process lasted from 1:15 am when my water broke and ended at 11:43am when Blake was born.  With no epidural... something I'm proud of.

The actual birth of my son was the most indescribable feeling.  I don't even know how to put it in words.  Physically, I didn't feel anything but I did.  The adrenaline was rushing so much throughout the process that I pushed with gusto because I just wanted to meet him already.  When he came out- again it was the weirdest, coolest feeling and hearing his cry was- there are no words to describe.  They placed him on my chest and all I could think was, "Oh my God, I love him more than anything." And I remember just crying and saying, "He's my baby."   When I looked at his face, the only name that came to mind was- Blake.  My little Blake William.  Those first few moments holding my son were the best moments of my life.

It is now two weeks later... I can't believe how fast time has flown.  He is in my lap sleeping right now and I can't think of a better feeling that being the mother of such a precious, amazing little boy.  I love my Blake with all of my heart, mind, body, and soul.... I thank God every day for choosing me to be this sweet little guy's mommy.