Too Good Not To Share

Summer Squash or "Patty Pan" Squash

This past Friday, Scott and I had a delicious (!!), seasonal, healthy, gourmet meal brought to us, so (naturally) I asked for the recipe (even though we all know I may or may not ever get around to preparing it). BUT, it was SO yummy and healthy, I had to share with all you great cooks, wifeys, and baby mamas.

I don't know that the recipe has an official name, but the cook called it "Stuffed Patty Pan Squash". This weekend at the Broad Ripple Farmers' Market, I found the squash, and it was simply called "Summer Squash" (Sorry. I forgot to make note of the vendor.). So call it what you will, but let me just tell you, this stuff is the bomb dot com.

Here's what you will need:

• Summer Squash (the number depends on how many people you want to serve and how big the summer squash is)

psst: You can also substitute zuccini for the summer squash.

• Sausage (mild). Again, amount depends on how many squashes you are going to prepare.
• Pine nuts to taste
• White Onion (chopped) to taste
• Mushrooms (chopped) to taste
• Italian seasoning to taste
• White bread crumbs to taste
• Shredded  Lite Mozzarella Cheese
• Light Parmesean Alfredo Sauce

A slice of heaven.

Gut summer squash, removing all seeds and insides. Boil squash until tender. Prepare sausage as directed, mixing in onion, mushrooms, and pine nuts. When sausage preparation is fully cooked, remove from heat and add seasoning and bread crumbs. Mix together. Stuff squash with sausage mixture and sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Serve with heated alfredo sauce drizzled (or dumped!) on top.


Every time I have a dish with squash, I love it, but I never think to make any dishes with squash as the main ingredient. Ok, let's be honest. I never think to make any dishes with anything in it. I don't cook (which is why I LOVE our meal train). But, one thing I want to do as a stay-at-home-mama is cook for my hubby (and eventually my little peanut), so here's to hoping. And here's a link to some yummy squash recipes.

And, just for fun, here is a picture of Grandma and Grandpa pushing the little guy home from the farmers' market.

Shutterfly...is so fly

Retro Blue Baby Shower Invitation

Turn your baby pictures into cute baby invitations.

View the entire collection of cards.

I kind of swear by Shutterfly for all my invitations, announcements, etc., and by embedding my latest project in my blog, I get $10 off my next order. Um, score! Cheers to Baby Buckle!! 

A Saturday Stroll

Broad Ripple Farm Market

One of the great things about living in Broad Ripple is that there are a ton of local shops to explore within walking distance. In my last post, I mentioned that the Monon Trail was one of my favorite "baby treats" because it allows me to get some exercise along with some fresh air. It is also an easy (and safe) way to travel to and from local Broad Ripple shops, allowing Hank and I to avoid motor traffic and bumpy sidewalks.

Has anyone tried the peach shake-up? Sounds so good!

This past weekend, Scott, Hank and I took a short stroll to the Farm Market (yes, it's "Farm" not "Farmer's") on 54th Street. It is literally right off of the Monon, so we didn't have to worry about crossing any busy streets. We (Scott and I) were really looking forward to trying a peach shake-up which the Farm Market proudly advertises in front of their building. Unfortunately, they were out, so we settled for a lemon shake-up, sat in the shade, and spent some QT while enjoying the nice weather.

Hank will be three weeks tomorrow, and I feel like I am slowly becoming more confident going out with him (specifically on walks) by myself. I have yet to drive anywhere with him (without Scott) because we really haven't needed to go anywhere. Don't worry. I have gotten out of the house and had some "mommy" time, and our walks around town are certainly great for my mental health!

Look at all the fresh produce! Yummy!!

I feel like Hank is getting big way too fast. Last night, I was holding him and 'coo-ing' at him, and he got the biggest smile on his face (social or not? who knows?! who cares!?). I instantly lost it, and once again, Scott came to the rescue with some tissue. I am a train wreck. Still! When does this emotional stuff go away?

Looking forward to taking more small adventures with my family and sharing them here! This weekend, Grandma and Grandpa Prentice are headed down from Logansport and we might try walking to the Broad Ripple Farmer's Market (which I'm obsessed with, by the way!).

Pictures of my growing boy coming soon!

UPDATE: Scott and I walked back to the Farm Market tonight (Wednesday) and tried the peach shake-up. Let me just say, it knocked the lemon shake-up out of the park. It was SO good. We also saw some pretty yummy dinner served there. We are thinking of going there for a date night in the (very) near future!

First Three Weeks: What I Can't Live Without

Passed out on Daddy.

Hank is going to be three weeks this Wednesday (Oh. My. Gawsh.), and Scott and I are still attempting to figure this little guy out. While I don't thrive on structure and order (Scott does), I still would like to get into somewhat of a "routine" with Hank so that I can plan my days accordingly. Wishful thinking, right? From what I have read, it takes a baby six to eight weeks to establish regular sleep patterns (and for him or her to sleep through the night), so I may be wasting energy when I beg and plead with my son to show some consistency. Kidding. I'll be patient. And tired.

All joking aside, I think Hank is on the right track. He sleeps in three to four hour increments and only wakes up once during the night. Because I am pumping and feeding, Scott and I have the power to control how much breast milk Hank is getting, and we may or may not stuff him right before bedtime so that he sleeps longer. Selfish? Yes. Brilliant? I think so, too.

As first-time parents, Scott and I had no idea what to except when we got home from the hospital. We had no clue what baby gadgets we would use (or not use), but I wanted to share a few of our "oh-my-gosh-I-am-so-thankful-we-have-this" items. These guys have definitely been helpful in establishing our makeshift routine, and I honestly don't know what I would do without them.

So without further ado, here are my favorite baby items:

1. Medela Breast Pump: This is by far the most important baby gadget we have. I really wanted to breast feed, but Scott and I noticed early on (after two terrible first nights at home) that Hank was not getting full feedings. I would nurse him, and soon after, he would show signs of hunger (sucking his hands, fussing, etc.). This was so discouraging, and I hated that my baby wasn't getting the nourishment he needed. I didn't want to make the switch to formula quite yet because I knew that breast milk provides the best nutrition for little ones, but I also didn't want Hank to sense the stress and frustration I was experiencing while trying to feed him. So, after chatting with my doctor, Scott and I made the decision to try the next best thing: pump and feed.

According to Hank's pediatrician, the only downside to pumping and feeding is that there is an extra step in the feeding process. While I do have to pump and feed Hank with a bottle, I honestly don't think I am spending that much more time during the feeding process than my nursing friends. I pump for about fifteen to twenty minutes, and Hank sucks down a bottle in about the same time. From my understanding, newborns that nurse will spend about fifteen to twenty minutes on each breast.

This probably comes as no surprise, but I am a milk machine. My hubby has jokingly suggested that I apply for a part-time position at Prairie Farms. Because I do have quite the milk supply, I am able to freeze quite a bit of milk that I can use later or donate to the Indiana Mothers' Milk Bank. So, while I do miss that special bond between mama and baby during the nursing process, I am so thankful I can still provide my son breast milk. The Medela pump is a MUST HAVE for us.

(pssst: I just bought this Easy Expression Bustier (hilarious picture) which will allow me to be hands- free while pumping. I haven't tried it yet, but I will let you know how it works ASAP!)

Hank resting in the Rock N' Play

2. The Fisher-Price Rock N' Play Sleeper: My cousin, Clara, had a sweet little boy in March and swore by this thing. Her mom, my cousin Georgia, bought me ours, and it is seriously a life saver. It is great for Hank to take naps in during the day. It is lightweight, easy to move, and I feel like it is a safe place to rest Hank while I am showering or doing other things around the house. New mamas, future mamas: you MUST get this!

3. The Munchkin Drying Rack: Because I am pumping and bottle feeding, we constantly have bottles and pumping pieces to wash. We have a system to clean all of the pieces in our sink, and the drying rack makes for a very convenient drying apparatus. I don't know that this is necessary for a mom who nurses, but it certainly helpful for us!

What time is it?! Tummy time!!

4. Baby Einstein Neptune Ocean Adventure Gym: In the words of Uncle Alex, "What time is it?! Tummy time!!" This playmat has been really great to put Hank on his tummy so that he can strengthen his neck muscles. I must stay, we have a strong little man on our hands.

5. The Meal Train: Ok, in all honesty, this may be our favorite baby thing! Our church set up a meal train for us (as they do for all families with newborns), and we have yummy dinner brought to us every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday night for a month! This treat is seriously SO helpful. It has been so nice not to have to worry about making dinner on top of trying to adjust to having a newborn.

6. The Diaper Genie: This made the list per Scott's request. He absolutely loves this thing and talks about it frequently. Not surprised? Neither am I. He loves that it is easy to use and conceals diaper smells. He may get a little too excited when it is time to change the bag out. To each his own.

7. The Monon: The Monon is only a block and a half from our house, and it has been so great for my mental health. I have not been super comfortable driving around with Hank (without Scott), so it has been nice to get out and get some fresh air on a nice trail. Hank, Daddy, and I have taken several walks, and I have also been able to walk with friends Ashley and Melissa.

8. 100 Favorite Bible Verses for Mommy & Me: This is a great little devotional book for my current season of life. No explanation needed.

So, there you have it. Our list of newborn must-haves. I am interested to see how the list changes over the next month. Hank is growing so fast! He is already up to 9 lbs. 5 ounces! (That is almost a pound bigger than his birth weight!)

A Letter To My Firstborn

Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from Him –Psalm 127:3

My sweet Hank,

Where do I begin? I have so much to tell you. So much! But how do I organize all of my thoughts in a way that you can comprehend? I know you won’t understand what I am about to tell you right now. You probably won’t even be able to understand ten, fifteen, or twenty years from now. Maybe you’ll ‘get it’ when you become a father? Nonetheless, I have to share my heart with you.

Let’s start with your delivery. Daddy and I went to IU North on a Tuesday evening knowing that there was a high chance of meeting you soon. My doctor, Dr. Karen Gallagher, had agreed to induce me that evening. Daddy and I were incredibly thankful because we were beyond ready to meet you. In my tummy, you were quite the athlete, constantly kicking and punching and flipping. While at first I loved feeling your rather aggressive movements, by the end of my third trimester, I was ready to get you out! Uncomfortable is an understatement. But, you should know, I would experience those sleepless, restless nights a million times over if it meant finally meeting you.

When we got to the hospital around 8p.m., the kind nursing staff started me on my IV and gave me a drug called Pitocin which, from my understanding, helped my body start more consistent labor contractions. I had several “Braxton-Hicks” contractions (false contractions) before I went to the hospital, but they were never painful or frequent. Next, a few hours later, I was given an epidural. This was probably the “worst” part of the delivery, not because it was painful, but because I was scared. Your Daddy and Baba had to leave the room as the anesthesiologist put a needle in my spine to numb the lower half of my body. I remember shaking and sweating because at that point, the reality that I would meet you soon had set in.

At midnight, Dr. Gallagher broke my water. I didn’t feel a thing, but Daddy and Baba said they heard a rush of water. Shortly after, your Baba went home so that during the delivery, it would only be your father, me, and you. We wanted it this way. We wanted time to enjoy you all to ourselves. We wanted to count your fingers and toes and stare at you and fall in love with you. Just us three. And that’s exactly what we did.

Right around 3:00 a.m. (Wednesday morning…only three hours after my water was broken!), I was dilated to ten centimeters which meant it was time to push you out.  Your Daddy was abruptly woken up from his nap and upon standing up, instantly felt nauseous. I could see it in his face. He was pale and sickly looking. He quickly left the room to get something in his tummy before you made your appearance into this world.

When he got back into the room (looking a lot better, by the way), I pushed for about forty-five minutes. I never once was in pain. Rather, I felt pressure that indicated you were moving slowly down the birth canal. I was relaxed and slightly underwhelmed. We asked the nurse if you had any hair, and she said that you did even before you crowned. I imagined you with hair my entire pregnancy, so this made me smile. Soon enough, you made your way into this world, and at that moment you changed my life forever.

You were born, Wednesday, July 25, 2012, at 4:24 a.m. and weighed 8 pounds 7 ounces (big boy!) and were 20.5 inches long.

Grandma and Grandpa Prentice

I had always heard that moms feel an instant love with their newborn, but to be completely honest, I wasn’t convinced I would “feel it”. I never doubted I would love you, but I didn’t trust that my heart would explode with emotion once I saw you. I thought that it would take time and that our love would be established more and more the better I got to know you.

Boy, was I wrong.

I loved you from the instant I saw you. Your dark hair. Your long legs. Your precious face. Even your sweet cry. You had been growing inside me for forty long weeks, and now I finally could see you . Your Daddy was absolutely amazed by you. I know his heart was filled with unexplainable love, too. He took pictures of you and was so proud of his handsome little man. The joy you brought to us in that moment is indescribable. You were our baby, our little Hank, our gift from God.

I wish I could say that post-delivery was as easy as labor. But it was not. Physical and mental exhaustion caught up with me. When we were moved to the room where we would be staying the next few nights, they had to take you out of the room to run a few tests to make sure you were healthy. As they wheeled you out of the room, I lost it. I tried to fight back tears, but I couldn’t.  Sure, my hormones had gotten the best of me, and maybe I was slightly delusional, but I did NOT want anyone taking my baby away from me. I loved you so much already. I had to protect you. So, I did the only thing I could do: cry and give Daddy and Baba swift orders to follow you to the nursery and watch you get your tests. They both were compliant.

Baba and Hank

Over the next few days in the hospital, you had so many visitors, so many people who loved (and still love) you. Your Baba, your Grandma and Grandpa Prentice, your Grandpa John and Grandma Jenny, your great grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, and even your pastor. You were so popular, and so many people told you how much you look like your Daddy. And you do.

You have his mouth, his chin, his lips, his ears, his head, his legs, his arms. You are his mini me, and he loves you so much. My prayer is that you will get his constitution, too. I pray you are stable and structured. That you are giving and compassionate. That you are helpful and a hard worker. And most importantly, that you love the Lord.

Hank, I have changed SO much in the last week. All because of you. My perspective on life and love is forever transformed. I stare at you and my heart swells with emotion. The Bible tells us that you are a reward from God. And you are. I do not deserve you. I do not deserve your sweet smiles and soft coos. I do not deserve the amazing feeling I get when nobody can calm you down but me. But, because of God’s grace, I have you. I have you to keep and raise and love. And I am so thankful for that. I am so grateful that I get to be your Mommy.

Grandma Jenny and Grandpa John

I must admit to you that there was a point in my life when I swore off children. I did not want to get married, and I couldn’t wrap my mind around the idea of rearing little ones. And then I met your Daddy. And we fell in love. First, with each other and next, with you. I didn’t know it was possible, but because of you, I love your Daddy even more than I already did. I can’t look at you and not see him. Your Daddy is so helpful, and things that he does that used to annoy me are things that I appreciate now.

Your Daddy has a classic case of OCD. He cleans and cleans and cleans. And when he is done cleaning, he cleans some more. Before you, I sometimes found his cleaning habits obnoxious even though he thought he was being helpful. Now, because of you, I find his constant need to do laundry and dishes and sweep and scrub to be a huge blessing. He loves to serve. You have been home over a week , and I can count on one hand how many times I have changed your diaper. Your Daddy has changed the majority of them and has it down to a science. He gets up in the middle of the night with you to feed you, so I can get long hours of sleep. So, in a strange, twisted way, you have caused me to grow in my love for my husband, your father.

You have also softened my heart. Before you, I was indifferent to children. Sure I thought they were sweet and cute, but I didn’t fully grasp their magnificence. But now I see them in a new light. Babies are helpless and innocent, true treasures from the Lord. At your first doctor’s appointment with your pediatrician, Dr. Joe Hanna, a sweet little girl around eight or nine months old came into the waiting area. Half of her head was shaved, and she had hearing aids and glasses. As soon as I saw her, my heart instantly broke, and I began crying uncontrollably. I was bottle feeding you and did not have any free hands, so your Daddy had to constantly wipe my face with a tissue. The tears wouldn’t stop. You have brought out a new level of compassion that I never knew was possible. And for that, I thank you.

One of my favorite memories with you is breastfeeding. I have to admit I didn’t love the idea at first but made the choice to breastfeed because it was the healthiest option for you. After the first few times of feeding you, I felt a connection with you that I can’t put into words. There is just something sweet about the fact that you needed your Mommy, and I got to provide you nourishment. I loved looking into your eyes and feeling your soft skin while you ate. The bond was incredible.

After a few nights, Mommy and Daddy realized that you were not getting full feedings. I would feed you, and after a few short minutes, you would demand more. The process was frustrating and tiring, and I spent many hours crying because I couldn’t meet one of your most basic needs.

So, Daddy and I made the decision that I would pump breast milk and bottle feed you. The decision was tough. Selfishly, I hated giving up that time with you. I hated that I was failing to give you a full belly. However, deep down, I knew that I needed to put my pride aside and choose to make sure you were a healthy, full baby boy. After all, you were still getting my milk.

Since the switch, you have done great. You eat and sleep quite often, but our favorite time with you is “wake time” where we talk and play with you and stare into your big blue (for now) eyes. We take you on walks, have tummy time with you, and shower you with kisses. You are SO precious, and I am so grateful for you.

I can’t wait to get to know you more over the next few weeks, months, and years. I seriously cannot put into words how much I love you. You are my firstborn, my precious Hank.

Thank you, God, for my sweet son. Thank you, Hank, for making my heart smile every time I look at you or think about you.

Love,

Your Mommy

p.s. I cried AT LEAST five times writing this, and that’s something you will probably never understand. It’s a Mommy thing.