Monday, August 31, 2009

What's for dinner?

I know I need to be posting more often. I've been reading alot lately, and it pretty much zaps my drive to do anything but read.
Here I go...
We've been on a grocery budget lately, and I am getting some awesome deals at the store, creating some More Amazing Than The Resturant Meals, and saving lots of money.

Here is what we had for dinner on Monday night. I wish I had a picture, but instead I offer you the following photo and say that what I made was even more beautiful and delicious.


It cost us about $9 to make because the ribs were on sale and we had the rest of the ingredients on hand. We ate them with grilled zucchini and onions. Thank God for a grocery budget!!

Memphis Dry Rub Ribs

Method: Indirect Grilling (which means put the meat over the burners that aren't on and use the grill like an oven!
Serves 4

2 racks baby back ribs (4 to 5 pounds)
For the rub
2 tablespoons paprika
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons salt
1-1/2 teaspoons celery salt
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
For the mop sauce (optional)
2 cups distilled white vinegar
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon salt
2 cups hickory chips or chunks, soaked in cold water
1. Wash the ribs and blot dry. Remove the thin papery skin on the back of each rack of ribs. (Pull it off in a sheet with your fingers, using a corner of a dish towel to gain a secure grip.)
2. Combine the ingredients for the rub (the paprika, black pepper, sugar, salt, celery salt, cayenne, garlic powder, mustard, and cumin) in mixing bowl and stir with your fingers to mix. Rub 2/3 of this mixture on the ribs on both sides. Transfer the ribs to a roasting pan and let marinate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.

3. Set up the grill for indirect grilling and preheat to medium (about 350 degrees). Place a drip pan in the center. If using a gas grill, place all the chips in the smoker box or smoker pouch and preheat the grill to high. When smoke appears, lower the heat to medium. If using a charcoal grill, toss the wood chips on the coals.

4. Place the ribs on the grill over the drip pan and cover the grill. Cook the ribs until cooked, 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 hours. Start basting with mop sauce after 30 minutes, basting every 20 minutes. If using a charcoal grill, replenish the coals after 1 hour. The ribs are done when the meat is very tender and it has shrunk back from the ends of the bones.

5. Transfer the ribs to a cutting board or platter. Mop one final time with mop sauce and sprinkle with the remaining rub. Serve with your favorite barbecue sauce on the side.

Excerpted from BBQ USA: 425 FIERY RECIPES FROM ALL ACROSS AMERICA

After half a million miles on the barbecue trail, America's "Grilling Guru" celebrates our pit masters and pit stops, backyards and back roads in BBQ USA. From Lone Star Brisket to Maryland Grilled Soft Shell Crabs to Hawaiian Huli Huli Chicken, Steven Raichlen offers 425 fiery and fabulous recipes covering all 50 states, Canada and Puerto Rico.

Friday, August 28, 2009

Mostly photos.

Mama and Baby. Dada and Baby. Dada and ghost baby! AND NOW FOR THE TOOTH It's quite hard to take a photograph of a little tooth. He pulls his lip in. There it is!!!!
Two delicious videos for your viewing pleasure.
Peakaboo Dada!

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Following the heart and the way of the caveman

1. I had a dream last night that I follwed my dreams instead of my heart. It was a sad dream in the end. In the beginning, I was dating Tom, but chose to travel and study and save the environment (funny because that was never my actual dream). Tom and I tried long distance dating, but neither of us would/could make the sacrifices and concessions to the other to make our relationship work. In my dream, I cried when neither of us could find the right words to say that would bring us together. Then I woke up.

I have to say that marriage is not the easiset thing in the world, but it is amazing and wonderful to me. When I heard Clark making noise this morning and went in to get him, I had no regrets about the path I've taken. Sometimes I long for the travel and adventure that my dreams had promised, but my family is my real dream and it's come true.

2. The Way of The Caveman
In parenting, I seek information like a greedy person. I read too much, ask too many people their opinions and experiences and beg for memories that are tarnished by lack of sleep and time. I attend meetings, get on blogs, message boards, and groups to ask questions, answer questions and learn from other mothers. All of this results in knowledge, yes, but also doubts about what I'm doing.

Then I remember that 12 year-old drug addicts are having babies and I'm pretty sure they DON'T worry as much as I do. Then I remember that people have been having babies for as long as there have been people. I remember the caveman.

Now we are introducing solid foods to Clark. Even with all of my inquiry and research, I still am a pretty low maintenance lady. I haven't food processed anything, or even bought food in a jar. I've been taking foods that I'm eating and offering them to Clark to put his mouth on. He has come away with bites of banana, peach, apple (juice that he sucked out of the apple), blueberry and tomato. If it is a fresh, avaliable food, in season. If it doesn't need to be cooked for him to mash it in his mouth, its a caveman "first food".

What else is a caveman first food? Well, we bought a rotisserie chicken on Friday, and I found a perfect Clark sized bone. So, we gave it to him to chew on. It didn't have any meat on it, but perhaps chicken essence. He was pretty cute. This also makes my baby a non-vegan now. Sorry PETA.


Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Pics and Video of the past week or so


I made Clark's baptismal outfit. I'm changing the hat. Who needs a sailor hat to get baptised? Nobody!


We hung out in the garden.

VIDEO CITY!!!

Laughing!

Monday, August 17, 2009

Clark got his first tooth!

Clark has a little white-topped razor sharp thing now jutting from his gums. It's on the bottom. More to follow...we are exhausted....

Sunday, August 16, 2009

The pool!

We went to the pool with Katie and Will today! Will n Clark are 4 days apart!
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Sleep update, Jordan's visit and Clark's mad skills.



As I write this Clark has been sleeping for 2 and a half hours. I know. I hardly believe it myself. Last night he was down for 8. I pray that by writing this I am not cursing myself, condemning myself to a prideful downfall of 2 hour nights again. We started giving him a paci when he wakes up at night. It took two nights of paci/pat on the back every 2 hours, then he slept for 6 hours. Two nights of 6 hours and now one night of 8. I have to tell you, I desperately needed last night. Even if we go back to 2 hour nights tonight, last night was great. I even remembered something Tom forgot! I mean, that's how sharp my brain feels today!

We haven't had to give him the paci besides when he wakes at night. We aren't using it for naps, nor for going down at night. I was hesitant to use one for the first 6 weeks due to exclusive breastfeeding. It seems to cause nipple confusion. I haven't had any issues nursing, nor with my milk supply, so it seems like it was a good call. I wanted to use it for the first 6 weeks, but I really wanted to get nursing off to the best start. After 6 weeks, he settled down and didn't seem to need it. until he was 5 months old. really.

My cousin Jordan came to visit this past week. She came in the grand tradition that started 27 years ago when I was just a baby and Aunt Carla was 16 years old. My Aunt Carla, her mother, came to Texas to help my mother with me. When I was 16, I went to Florida to help Aunt Carla with her two kids, Jordan(4yrs) and Matthew(2). Now, Jordan (15) came to Maryland to help me with Clark.

These are my thoughts on Jordan:
SHE
IS
AWESOME



Whenever we have baby #2, Jordan is on the list of people to come help out. She has 3 little siblings: Kelly (6), Robbie (5), and Bailey (1.5) (all ages approximate) and has NO fear of babies. She is really cuddly and Clark LOVES her!

She is also the easiest house guest we've ever had! (sorry everyone else!) When Clark went to sleep at 8:30 and Tom and I went to bed at 9:15, Jordan didn't complain, she just went into her room and watched TV on her computer! When we packed PNB and Jelly for lunch she didn't mind, and when Tom and I were cranky and hot at the zoo, she took wildlife pictures instead!

This is what we did during her trip:

We went to the Great Falls of the Potomac


We went to the National Geographic Explorer's Hall and Clark got eaten by a Praying Mantis. We met up with Josh and Ashley and John Paul Brumfield and explored with them. We walked down to the white house and over to the Air and Space Museum and then rode the Metro.


We went to the movies and saw Harry Potter #6.

We went to Harper's Ferry (Which I LOVE!) We had a picnic lunch by the Shenandoah River. We discovered that this is a swimming hole and a good place to take kids one day!
Jordan waded.


She helped Clark wade too!



Clark ate at Jefferson Rock.



Jordan and Clark had their first taste of the Appalachian Trail!

They thought it was hilarious!

On Saturday, the whole fam went to the zoo. It took us a while to find parking so Jordan tortured Clark.


it was CRAZY hot at the zoo. Tom and I were cranky. Jordan took awesome pictures. Here is one of a tiger!


On Sunday, we all hung out at home. We went to mass and then to Joe's Crab Shack.
On Monday, Jordan, Clark and I hung out in Georgetown. We went to La Madeleine and to Barnes and Noble. It was very chill and fun. It was a great visit and we hope she comes back next year!!!!!

Here are some of Clark's mad skills.


Thumb sucking!


Kissing!


Sucking on a cup!

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Jr ranger

We had a blast with V's cousin Jordan this week. We hiked a few times, zooed and ate crabs. Here's a fun pic of Clark. More to follow!
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Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Clark sitting up in stroller!

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What happened to my child?

I don't know what to do. Its 6am. I've been up since 4am. The child will not sleep. He went down at 8pm, up at 11:30pm, and 3am. So I got 3.5 hours of sleep if I immediately fell asleep after his 11:30 awakening (which is impossible).
He is pooping at night. What happened?
We tried rice cereal for a few nights and he woke up screaming like he was in pain so I didn't do it last night. and now this.
As I write this he is falling asleep while nursing in the boppy. If I put him down, I'm certain he would wake.
Is this teething?