the monthly: 11 months old!

hey little elegator!

The day you turned 10 months old you finally found an interest in crawling. You started getting up on your hands and knees more, and rocking back and forth. You never actually crawled too much, scooting was faster for you. You also started pulling yourself up onto things. You've been hiding your strength this whole time ;) You pulled yourself up to a standing position in your crib and freaked me out! I saw you on the baby monitor, and during your "nap" you were happily standing, looking out in to your room. Now that you've found a new trick, you like to practice it every chance you get. Most nap times I can be sure to find you hanging on to the crib railing.

You still like to bounce your head back and forth, mainly with music. You've also started singing/humming from time to time, in the bath and when you're eating, and it's the cutest thing. We think you're going to be musically inclined...who knows ;) you didn't get it from your mama (or papa). You like to clap too!

By mid-month you were crawling around quite a bit, and even found the stairs! You scaled the stairs in no time at all, and without help of mama (although, I did stay right behind as the safety net ;). You managed to make it up the stairs twice in one day...what a great workout! We purchased our baby gates that same day. Now we'll teach you how to climb down safely and then we'll be good to go!

You love your sleep, little snoozer ;) Most nights you're out for 12-13 hours! and you have a nap or two during the day. So, you're still sleeping more hours than you're awake...but that's okay, you're a growing little lady!

It's the cutest thing to see you meet an older person and give them a proper handshake. You just smile and laugh. You also like to wave and sometimes mix that with your signing "all done"...when you're finished with a meal, we've been trying to teach you the sign for "all done". We're not sure if you actually know what it means, or if you just like to shake your hands and wave :)

You also really like your books (as seen in the photo). That book, The Grown Up Day, was one of your grandma's books when she was a little girl. You can't read yet, but you sure do like to sort through your books and occasionally give them a little love bite.

"Mama" and "Dada" or "Papa" come out of your mouth on a more regular basis now...but we're still not sure if you actually know what those words mean, or if you just like making noise! :) You are a little talker and you like to sing and hum too.

We are retiring the outfit that you are wearing in this photo. You got a good 5+ months out of it, but now it's a tad too small (Size 6 months). Your big cloth diaper booty makes these shorts a little small...ahh! :) But the outfit was just too cute to stop wearing. Please forgive me ;)

You are one month away from being one year old! And still...no teeth. That's okay :) I like your gummy smile and curly locks of hair :) You're a keeper. Your birthday party plans are in the works...my mind is full of ideas...but I just don't want to get too caught up in it (or stressed) :) We know that you will have a fun time (as long as you catch a snooze beforehand) ;) You are LOVED!

lots of love,
Mama

ps. here are some photos from this past month:

 Bath time in the kitchen sink at Great Grandpa Bockman's house

 Your 1st Easter

 Pool day with Ezra-you refused to get out!

At Piatti's in La Jolla, celebrating Mama's birthday (early)

1 Roasted Chicken, 3 Tasty Meals

A few friends and I were talking about good recipes and we happened to discuss cooking whole chickens. I'd never really given it much thought before. I liked buying rotisserie chickens from Costco ($6) and using the meat for enchiladas or chicken tortilla soup. I'd never really thought of roasting my own chicken and making not one, but THREE meals from it. I think that's pretty resourceful, if I do say so myself :) I thought I'd pass along a great recipe, that I've tried and loved, so that you can ENJOY too!

I am LOVING this new recipe, from the blog 100 Days of Real Food,  found on pinterest. How to cook a whole chicken...in a crock pot. It was amazing! The recipe was easy to follow, simple, and delicious! There weren't any complications or delay in times and the end result...tender chicken full of flavor that just falls off the bone.

Here's how it worked out for us:
I searched pinterest and found a recipe for the crock pot (think: quick, easy, and NO oven heating up the house). I purchased a whole chicken (approx. 5  1/2 lbs.) from Henry's Sprout's for $1.49/lb (great deal!). We already had all of the spices on hand (also purchased in bulk, from Sprout's). Got home, mixed the spices, pulled the whole chicken out of the bag (yuck-definitely the worst part of the whole deal, in my opinion), and rubbed the chicken with the spices. Placed it in the crock pot and put the lid on. I forgot to buy an extra onion to chop and place under the chicken...oh well! The timer was set for 4 hours and I checked the meat 3 1/2 hours in...it was fully cooked and so tasty! There were no added oils or fats, just chicken and spices.

Meal #1: Chicken, wild rice and steamed zucchini

Meal #2: Homemade Chicken Tortilla Soup
The next day I pulled the remaining chicken from the bone and added it to a homemade (chicken) tortilla soup from the Pioneer Woman...I love her recipes! Mmmm! We made some fresh tortilla chips, by slicing tortillas and baking in the oven at 400 degrees for about 7 minutes. Yum! I told Ryan that I'll probably make our own chips from now on...they were so good (and simple)! And another bonus?...We have a HUGE pot of soup leftover for lunches and dinner tonight.

Meal #3: Homemade Chicken stock for soup/meals
The chicken carcass (eww) was used with this recipe (also from 100 Days of Real Food blog) to make chicken broth for another large soup or additional meals. I followed the simple recipe and let it sit overnight in the crock pot. Our house smells like chicken broth this morning, but I now have the base for another complete meal (saving us approx. $4...$2/box of chicken broth). Woohoo!

For $8 we were able to make 2 solid meals, plus leftovers, and broth for another meal! I am definitely doing this again (maybe even this week...too soon? haha!). I hope you'll try it out! Stay tuned...I'm working on more blog posts like these, with recipes worth sharing :)

with love,
Meg

the monthly: 10 months old!

dearest Eleanor,

You are ten months old! We took this photo, in your PJs, after we got back from Grandma and Grandpa Bockman's house. You had a long day! We got smart though, and this time we brought the pack-n-play so that you could take a nap during the visit.

You are eating three meals a day, with mama and papa. I am so thankful that you are open to trying lots of foods, and even mama's spicy turkey chili! We welcomed this transition to solid foods because it meant easier food prep (mostly) and more fun for your taste buds! You also take one or two naps a day, depending on your growth spurts or daily activities. You continue to bring so much JOY to us. We love love LOVE you!

You have been so active in your crib at night. It's always fun for your papa and I to put you down to sleep and find you (on the video monitor) in the complete opposite corner of the crib later that night. Other times you sleep solid like a rock. You generally get 12 hours of sleep a night...I don't have any complaints about that! We (mostly mama) like to be stealthy and plant kisses on you when you are sleeping, without waking you up. Most of the time you stay asleep ;)

Scooting is your main form of transportation these days. You still like to keep your right leg raised as your left leg does all the work in pushing and scooting you along. Dad thinks you will be a lefty, just like him :) You get up on your hands and knees and trick us into thinking you'll do a crawl, but you end up just scooting around instead. It seems to be fastest for you. You have definitely been a great help in cleaning our kitchen floors too ;) Who knew they could be so dirty so often?! You just scoot scoot and attract dust to your belly. Next time I'll attach a swiffer to your onesie so we can both be more efficient :)

You love your activity table with all the music, Spanish, and noise! We stand you next to it and you love to close and open the little computer...it's super cute, and sometimes obnoxious at the same time haha. We've been going to the park a few times during the week and you have actually started liking the swings. At first it wasn't really interesting for you. Your eyes would squint because of the sun, and when I pushed you back your face looked as if your stomach dropped...you looked so scared! Now, you giggle! We've even done a "party swing" where you sit with another one of your little friends sitting with you, back to back.

You love to smile :) Almost all of the elderly people we come in contact with try to get your attention or make you smile or do a trick. I love to see their smiles as you look in their direction...so presh!

The months are flying by and you are growing so fast! I probably forgot some milestones from this last month (ah well)...you're just so busy! We LOVE you so much!

love you lots,
Mama

ps. notice a few changes around here? :) lots of exciting things happening! I have a friend helping me with graphic design and we are working to get a logo for my little business (you rock Melissa!) I'll keep you posted and let you know when there is an official debut :)

the monthly: nine months old!

oh baby bear,

Today you are 9 months old! You sure have changed in this last month! You scoot and move quite a bit (as evidenced in your monthly photo...ha).We have to keep a close eye on you as you make your way around the house...your favorite spot has been the wall heater...oh no! The bottom of the heater has a convenient little door that you've already successfully opened several times. I know it looks fun, but it's dangerous! We're working on teaching you so that you don't get hurt :) You also like the fireplace and if you're not on the rug, we know where to find you! You sneak behind the recliner chair and tap on the fireplace glass...probably just checking out your reflection ;) cute as a button!

You love to sleep in the corners of your crib, all curled up with your pink blanket. When we go to get you from a nap, you are never found in the same position that we put you down in. You also like to pull on those bumper pads, using them as a little pillow for your head or as a way to boost yourself up to see out of your crib. It's cute. I feel like we just put those up, and now it's time to take them down already!

Your hair has grown a lot this past month. You can (finally) wear bows! I have 2 bows and 1 birdie clip (thanks Joanna!) for your hair. I need to make some more for your cute little hair do ;) Some days you have a little mohawk and look more like your papa. Other days, right after a bath, we can see those little curls like mama. I hope you keep the curls!

A few of your favorite toys, besides the fireplace and heater, are the little purple phone, your little play table with music, the toy house, and any board books we read to you. The musical toys always get you dancing and talking. Papa thinks your first word was "dada" but I don't think you've actually said a real word just yet. You like to mouth vowels, like "Oh" and "Ah". Your little friend Oliver goes by the nickname "O", so it seems like you calling for him from time to time...super cute!

You laugh a lot! It's fun to tickle you and get a reaction...you continue to bring us so much joy! You are such a happy baby and you sleep through the night (praise God!), most every night. The last couple nights though, you've woken up in a panic, crying and there has been no rhyme or reason to it. Perhaps another growth spurt? Teething? Haha...doubtful on the teething. There are no teeth in sight. :) Maybe by the tenth month?

love you lots baby bear!
your Mama bear

new business ventures? :)

I am a full-time employee as mama and wife...so what is this "new business" all about? Well, I may have some ideas up my sleeve (or whispers into my ear) about a few things that I could end up doing for a little extra work...or fun! I love being creative and love people. Enter "new business": photography and sewing baby things (mainly car seat canopies).

Last week I took photos for Sarah and Beau, as they were expecting their first baby boy. Sarah was ready for the baby to be here already...it was his due date after all. He wasn't budging. We took the photos and you can check them out here...Baby Oliver-Due Date Photo Shoot. We had so much fun walking around the neighborhood and taking photos in the nursery. The photos got a lot of positive feedback and compliments. Here are a few of my favorites...

The other business venture...sewing baby things :) Many people have been encouraging me to start-up my own etsy site or sell my handmade car seat canopies. I've been making them for baby shower gifts for friends, but haven't had the extra time (who has that anyways? :) to start-up a shop. If I'm going to do something I want to put my ALL in it :) That means, for now, as full-time mama, I want to make sure I'm putting my ALL in it :) and I think I have thus far. I know the etsy shop would require a LOT of time and energy to make it a success, etc. and that might take away from other responsibilities I already have. I've been sewing gifts thus far because it is handmade with heart (which I love!) and it's less expensive than products sold in the stores. More recently, I saw on The Baby Exchange facebook page, that they sell handmade baby items. I randomly decided to ask if they would sell my car seat canopies, thinking it's a long shot, and it looks like they might do it! :) We are currently discussing it. In the mean time I've already had two people (random strangers) ask me if I would make one for them. I also have some gifts on back order ;) sorry Erin...they are in the works...promise :)

Oliver's little car seat canopy

All that to say...I love my full-time job right now as Eleanor's mama and wife to my husby. I would also love the opportunity to bless others with photographs or baby items, on the side, for fun...but we'll just see how it goes or grows. I'll definitely keep you posted :) I'd love your feedback and prayers!

love, 

Meg

ps. a little preciousness to enjoy...