Life of a Vegetarian

Okay, so we decided to try being vegetarian for a week. Not my idea. Totally Logan's idea after reading the book, Born to Run. It inspired him to eat healthier and run more - great goals. Being vegetarian was a fun little experiment and we found some really delicious meals that we love. I don't think we are ready to eliminate meat from our diet just yet (because we "celebrated" the end of vegetarian week with a pork roast), but we are going to limit our intake to maybe 2-3 times a week. Here's what was for dinner:

Spinach Lentil Soup - This was really good. It reminded me of chili, but a healthier version. It was our first time having lentils and they were surprisingly very tasty!

Sweet Potato & Black Bean Burritos - This was different. Sweet potatoes and black beans seem like a bad combo, but it was actually pretty good. I gave Hudson the leftover sweet potatoes and he loved it. Logan, on the other hand, does not like sweet potatoes very much (crazy person) so he wasn't the biggest fan of this meal. Sweet potatoes are so good, even if they are not topped with marshmallows - like this.

Mushroom Burgers - I don't like mushrooms that much, but I ate this up. Really yummy! Logan loved it too; mushrooms are his favorite.

Caramelized Onion & Roasted Veggies Pizza - Delicious! We loved this one so much. We had it TWICE in one week. It was that good. You can also adapt it to fit what veggies you and your family like.

Stuffed Vegetarian Bell Peppers - Not too bad. It would have been better with a little bit of meat, just sayin.

Ranch Pasta Salad - Did not like this. AT ALL. Maybe it would have been better with bacon (most things are), but it was just too bland for our liking. This recipe is our favorite pasta salad ever (minus the sugar).

Potato and Mushroom Chowder - Lots of veggies and tasty! We just added a little too much black pepper, so we couldn't really enjoy it.

So there you have it. We tried a lot of fun vegetarian dishes and will be trying a lot more in the future. I'll post more recipes as we try them. We also bought hummus this week. I forgot how much I love hummus. I ate a lot of hummus in high school (my awesome Journalism buddies loved that stuff), but never bought it for myself. Now, I am trying to learn how to make it - any hummus recipes you all just love? Or, any other vegetarian meals you love? Share them with me!

Hudson = 6 months

How did my baby go from this...

(3 days old) 

to this?

In 6 months, that is how. 

I can't believe he is this old already. 

I loved all the other stages, but 6 months is my absolute favorite so far! 

He is so active and playful right now - I love it. It's so much fun getting to see his face light up with a smile or to see his daddy make him laugh hysterically. 

He is such a happy, easy-going baby. We are so lucky! 

6 month old stats:
Weight: 15 pounds and 4 ounces (11th percentile)
Height: 26 1/2 inches (43rd percentile)

Fun facts about the little man....

• He is eating solids about twice a day. He likes peas, bananas, rice cereal, and sweet potatoes. He LOVES food. I haven't bought a single can of baby food from the store - yay for saving money! It's been fun experimenting in the kitchen and coming up with baby foods. It helps that Hudson is a good eater; the only thing he doesn't like is oatmeal, but no surprise there since I don't like it either. He is his mama's boy, after all :) 
• He is crying it out for naps and bed time. We do this in intervals (5 minutes, check on him, then 10 minutes, etc). He usually falls asleep during the 10-15 minute time period. It was so hard doing this, especially the first couple of days, but it has gotten easier and we all get better sleep (Hudson included). 
• He had his first bottle of formula a week or so ago. It was really hard coming to grips with giving him formula (since I was planning to breastfeed exclusively for a year). But after much thought, prayer, and a few tears I think I am finally okay with it. He is still getting mama's milk, but formula supplements for when we are out and about. I just can't keep up with the pumping and his growing, hungry body. 
• He is army crawling and he is getting fast. So fast that we turned our backs for a second and he fell off our bed. Scariest moment ever. 
• He is starting to open his arms up when he wants to be picked up. It is really endearing to see. 
• He drinks water from a sippy cup. Still working on him getting to hold it, but he's getting there. 
• He sleeps from about 9PM - 6/7AM. 
• He loves to play with his little keyboard. Daddy makes him "practice" every morning for 15 minutes.
• He is so curious. He always wants what is in my hands, which makes it hard to hold him and get things done at the same time. 
• He puts everything (within his reach) in his mouth. EVERYTHING - the remote, his socks, his toes, his toys, the laptop charger, mom's new shoes, etc. 
• He smiles at anyone who will give him attention and will let anyone hold him. 
• He is not a cuddly or chunky baby - two things I really wanted - maybe our next one will be. 

Happy Half-Birthday!
We love you, Hudson Bear! 

We celebrated with a walk to the library and brownies.
 Hudson enjoyed being outside and we enjoyed the brownies for him :)

crazy week

Life has been a little out of whack in our house. We've been busy. It's gotten crazy. And yes, we're a little stressed out over here. But, once this week is over it should be smooth sailing for awhile (or so we hope). Here's what this week entailed/entails:

1 eye exam - check
1 doctor's appointment - check
3 shots, plus 1 flu shot - check
1 half-birthday celebration - check (post on this to come)
1 Praxis test  - check
3 walks/runs outside
1 baby shower to plan - check
1 church talk to prepare
2 siblings coming to visit
4 loads of laundry - check
7 home-cooked vegetarian dinners
1 graduate school application - check
1 student teaching application - check
1 group project - check
3 days of 60 degree weather
1 pink eye
1 runny nose
2 trips to the library - check

But even with 1 tired mom, 1 stressed dad we still have 1 happy baby and that makes all the difference :)

Happy Wednesday from our crazy home to yours! 

photo booth fun

Just organizing some pictures on the MacBook and found these...

I love my silly boys. 

tonight

After attending a information session about this graduate program at N.C. State...

Logan: So, are you with me?

Abby: I'm always with you. But this time I even agree with you!

Logan: ha ha ha ha ha 

Bottom Line: I am with him and do very much agree (after little persuading) with this decision.

He will be applying.  

Here's to both of us (potentially) being in graduate school at the SAME time. 

Yikes.

Bring on those student loans! 

New Year, New Start

I typically always welcome a new year, but 2012 has been hard to welcome because I feel like 2011 was quite possibly my best year yet - filled with milestones, lots of changes, and so much love. I remember one year my dad grew a beard for the last few months of the year (my siblings and I hated it) and then miraculously he woke each of us kids up on New Years Day with a clean shaven look. I looked at him a little startled and asked, "why did you shave?" Dad answered with "It is a new year. Time for a new start." And, that has always stuck with me. 

So, here is to a new year and a new start even though I am trying to hold onto 2011 with all my might. I am letting go in the hopes that 2012 will be just as good. My mother-in-law has this thing where she chooses one word to live by for the entire year. I've never been really good at sticking to my resolutions, even though I make them every year so I decided to simplify a bit and pick just one word to be my motto for the year. You ready?

My 2012 word is:

FOCUS

"If life and its rushed pace and many stresses have made it difficult for you to feel like rejoicing, then perhaps now is a good time to refocus on what matters most."
-Dieter F. Uchtdorf

In all the chaos, events, trials, and daily life that surround me I've realized that I need to slow down and really "focus" on what is most important - of things that matter most to me:

-My relationship with God

-My family

-My education/career

-My health

I know that seems like a lot of things to "focus" on, but part of my goal is to really "focus" and be in tune with each one. I've realized that I can't divide my attention to different things at a time (no matter how hard I try to fold laundry and play with Hudson at the same time - it can't happen). And, because multi-tasking doesn't really work for me or for anyone else (see here).

Each thing I do requires my full, focused attention. I hope that as I focus my life on the things that do matter the most, I will be able to focus inward and really get to know who I am - my strengths, my capabilities, and the type of person God wants me to be.