12/52

26 weeks

Charlotte got to see the Easter bunny this past weekend! I wasn't sure how she would do because that bunny is a little creepy, but she did great! I can't believe how big she is getting, she looks like she could just get up and run away. 

So far eating solids is kind of hit and miss. Sometimes she seems really into it, and other times she wants nothing to do with it. I'm just going to keep offering her food and I'm sure soon enough she'll gobble it all up. 

Lexi

11/52

25 weeks

We started Charlotte on solid foods this past week! We gave her a bit of avocado mixed with breast milk. She thought it was....interesting. I think maybe she just wanted to chew on the spoon and was surprised at what was on the spoon. 

Each time we feed her I feel like she likes it more and actually swallows some rather than just spitting it all out. I'm really excited to let her try new things and start to enjoy food as much as I do! She's going to be a foodie just like mama, I know it.

Lexi

10/52

24 weeks

Well after three weeks we are both finally not sick! Charlotte was sick for a week and then I came down with a horrible virus that I had to just ride out for 2 weeks, it was pretty bad.

I've mentioned before that we get a monthly subscription of dog toys/treats called Barkbox, well there is a baby version of that called Citrus Lane. I found a 40% off coupon for your first box and decided to give it a try. Her first box included a little snack container, a wooden block puzzle, baby wash, bubble bath, and a super cute headband! It's really fun getting things in the mail that you may not be able to find locally, so I think I may order a few more boxes. Charlotte obviously approves. 

We're going to start solids this weekend, I'm so excited because I feel like she is ready. The other night Jim and I were standing in the kitchen eating guacamole while I was holding Charlotte on my hip. Oh my goodness she wanted that guacamole so bad, she was reaching as far as she could to get some. We didn't give her any but I'm excited to give her some avocado!

Lexi

9/52 (My baby is sick)

22 weeks

 Well Charlotte officially has her first illness which includes a cold, ear infection & pink eye. There is nothing more pitiful in this world than her little cough. She is being such a trooper though, she isn't very fussy and still smiles often even though I know she's not feeling well. The thing that has changed is her sleep, but I think that's only because her stuffy nose keeps her from sleeping very well. She has been waking up 3-4 times a night for about a week now which has been especially difficult for me because I also have strep throat. I think we are both over the hump though and I can't wait for her (and me) to feel normal again!

This is the current state of my bedside table (it's actually a dresser but it doubles as my bedside table). I'm looking forward to putting all these meds away for good.

Lexi

Things I've learned in the kitchen

This is a roasted chicken, sun dried tomato, arugula and goat cheese panini I recently made.

I've been doing more cooking recently and thought it would be useful for me, and maybe someone else, if I wrote out some tips and tricks I've learned while in the kitchen. Some of these things have been told to me but most of them I've learned by doing the opposite and not liking the outcome.

• Set out all the ingredients before you start cooking. It's easier to remember everything in the recipe and it makes cooking quicker.
• Think about the entire meal before you start cooking anything and make a game plan. Figure out when you need to put the pasta in the water, or put the asparagus in the oven so that all the dishes are finished around the same time.
• I always put the water on to boil or turn the oven on first so that they are ready and waiting on me, not the other way around.
• This is probably Jim's biggest pet peeve that I don't always do, but try to clean as you go. If you have an extra minute while some onions are browning then wash the cheese grater or mixing bowl you just used. 
• Try to start cooking with an empty sink. If you start dirtying dishes when the sink is already full you're just going to be overwhelmed with clean up when the meal is done.
• The difference between a wonderfully savory broth or soup and something that tastes like dirty dish water is salt. Salt is so important in cooking.

Let's talk about lessons in knife safety that I have learned the hard way.

• Wipe your knife down after cutting things like potatoes, garlic, mozzarella or herbs. If I don't get the residue from these ingredients off the knife right after using it they take forever to scrub off later, and I've had a few accidents while vigorously scrubbing a knife which leads me to the next lesson learned...
• When washing a knife, leave it laying flat on the sink bottom and scrub it there rather than holding it in the air with one hand and scrubbing with the other. I have cut my knuckle down to the bone twice (yes twice, the first time I didn't learn my lesson) because I was holding the knife in the air while scrubbing and it slipped. I actually have some numbness in my finger because of it.The look on Jim's face when he came into the kitchen and saw what happened was something I hope not to see again. 
• Put a damp paper towel under the cutting board to keep the board from slipping or moving while cutting on it.
• When chopping something; instead of moving the knife around on the board, use your free hand to feed the ingredient into the knife's path. The knife should pretty much go up and down on the same spot of the board when chopping. 
• You would think that you are more likely to cut yourself with a sharp knife, but actually a dull knife can be more dangerous because it can slip off of the ingredient and onto your hand easier. Always use a sharp knife. 

When I keep these tips in mind my cooking experience and the meals I make are always better.

Lexi