A happy baby!
We have been practicing smiles, tummy time and crib fun this week. All are going well!
Also I’ve been practicing this overnight oats recipe – extra milk seems to be the key to getting the perrrrrfect consistency for me! I’ve been doing more like half a cup of milk (maybe even slightly more) along with 1/3 cup oats and 1/3 cup yogurt to get a super creamy pumpkin pie consistency. Also included: cinnamon, chia seeds, vanilla, Barney Butter and coconut.
We were extra tired this morning because I spent the whole night with M. More props to those of you who do that every night! With our current sleep schedule, Matt does the evenings so I can get a solid 3-4ish hours of sleep (M gets a pumped bottle then). Last night I went into the night with zero nap so I only got about 4-5 hours total. It wasn’t good, but it wasn’t terrible either. I just had to work extra hard to keep my eyes open during the midnight feeding. And the 2am and the 4am… : )
I’m glad I’m drinking decaf. I imagine caffeine would just make me feel extra jittery.
M and I went to a Le Leche League meeting for our morning activity. It was fun to talk to a few other moms and some breastfeeding experts. We ran into our friends Holly and Finn too!
When we got home, we watched Gossip Girl while M had lunch and then a miracle happened – he slept for a solid 2 hours in his crib!! I think just putting him in there more has helped and doing some of the Baby Whisperer’s shush-pat soothing techniques.
So lunch was extra fun!
Welcome back salads, I have missed you. Not only is lettuce tolerable again, but I am CRAVING salads again. And greens and all the veggies that I left behind when I became pregnant.
I don’t think I’ve put raw veggies on a salad since ….ages ago. I chopped up carrots and peppers – extra to have on hand for future lunch salads this week.
Then I assembled this mountain:
- Baby spinach
- Carrots + peppers
- Gorgonzola
- Cottage cheese
- Leftover sweet potatoes and brussels sprouts
- Cava red pepper hummus
- Raisins
- Pecans
- Cottage cheese
- Olive oil + salt
I picked this up from Whole Foods – tasty!
Served with hot tea – Mother’s Milk kind. It was good!
We went for a 45 minute walk in the afternoon – glorious fall weather!!
I had a date ball for a morning snack and an apple for a late afternoon snack today.
For dinner, Matt surprised me with a bottle of wine, dessert and the urge to cook! Somebody enjoyed his 10 hours of sleep the night before
I fed M downstairs downstairs while I could hear pots banging upstairs.
The plan was to morph the leftover sweet potato + black bean filling into something new, and Matt made fritters with it!
If you wanted to make these from scratch, you could grate a sweet potato and mix with black beans, corn and Mexican spices and then add an egg and form into patties. They didn’t turn out perfectly held together (the pretty 3 made it on my plate) but they tasted awesome! Greek yogurt for garnish!
We had sautéed braising greens from our garden on the side. Greens also taste good again – crazy!
An old favorite winery, a new vintage.
We had put M to bed just a bit earlier, but he just wanted to come out and join the fun!
Dessert was a mini Sweet Potato Pie from Paradox!!
I melted the whipped cream in the oven when I attempted to heat it up, but it actually turned into a really nice frosting. Sweet potato pie!
And then the baby and the grown-ups went to bed.
This post is sponsored by the letter M and M’s new personalized onesie from KERF reader Dana’s Etsy shop, Jacks and Roxanne! Giveaway coming to BERF next week!
Mo says
I love Mazen’s sweet, toothless grin!!
Katie @ Peace Love & Oats says
yay for extra long naps by Maze! And a sweet potato pie sounds delicious!
Morgan says
Those overnight oats are calling my name! I can just imagine how it resembles pumpkin pie filling. Yum. Mazen looks adorable as always 🙂 Enjoy your day!
Claire @ Live and Love to Eat says
That sweet potato pie looks INCREDIBLE. Glad Mom and baby are doing well! 🙂
natalie @ will jog for food says
Mazen is smiling! Yay 🙂
Matt sure seems like a great cook! I would love one of those fritters.
Averie @ Averie Cooks says
That mini sweet tater pie with the melty cream, delish. And nice job on the burgers from Matt…love a man who can whip up a good bean burger. Mine still is wondering where the forks are kept after 12 years of marriage 🙂
And LLL meetings and other BF-friendly meetings and groups were the best.things.ever. back then. Loved being around all the energy and women who knew exactly what life was like at that stage right along with me.
Laura says
It sounds like you, Matt, and Mazen are all doing a great job! I slept 4-5 (interrupted) hours the first five and a half months of my daughter’s life–she was a month early and still needed to eat three times a night until she was 12 lbs. (which happened at 5 months). She’s now seven-months old and sleeping through the night! I’m getting a solid six uninterrupted hours, which has been a game changer. The Baby Whisperer saved my life during that time though because I put her on the EASY routine at 9 weeks old and it made everything so easy. I knew when I could take a nap, do chores, cook, etc. Thank heavens for all of the resources out there! I have a feeling your little guy will start sleeping more after he’s six weeks old—keep up the great job, Mama 🙂
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table says
I love the name of that hummus. I thought they’d magically figured out how to make sparkling wine into a dip. 😉
kel says
SO.STINKING.CUTE!
Susan H. @ The Food Allergy Chronicles says
What a sweet smile! Now that is my kind of salad…mountainous! I love a big hearty salad with all the fixins…leftover roasted veggies are the best add ins! I love how creative you both are with your leftovers…dishes seem to taste better the next day. Hope you had a better sleep last night!
Ellie@Fit for the Soul says
hahaha omgsh I love that wide open arm position he’s in! I’m glad you guys take turns so you can rest up! I don’t think a parent would have patience otherwise 😛 Have a great day!
Kaila @healthyhelperblog! says
Love the baby smiles! So cute! Looks like Mazen is developing a sweet little personality!
Sherry says
Kath your little man M is just a doll. I know we’re all looking forward to seeing him grow up!! Wanted to tell you I made your black bean, corn, grated sweet potato filling last night and everyone was crazy about it. NOW you just gave me the perfect thing to do with the leftovers. I also loved the smashed avacado with greek yogurt as a topping. I was one of the lucky recipients of your cookbook and am loving that as well.
KathEats says
Glad! And which cookbook?
ashlynn says
This may be a dumb question, but I don’t have any kids, so I don’t know. But, do you have to practice smiling with babies?
KathEats says
No not really : ) but I do think he’s getting better at them
Angel7 says
How many inches is Mazen? He looks long in his crib.
By the way, I had our baby boy on 9/21/12. Baby & I are doing good, other than the fact that I am a bit sleep-deprived 🙂
KathEats says
He’s 22 inches now, was 20.5 at birth.
Happy for you! Will you be sharing your birth story?
Angel7 says
If I can make time to write a story about his birth, I will 🙂 I am not that great with managing my time. I am trying to get better at that.
KathEats says
You are busy : )
Laura says
What a fun stay at home date night! You are a lucky lady!
Ali says
I’m amazed at how much you get done everyday and still manage to look great and so put together. Really love reading your blog for food and daily baby activity inspiration!
Rebecca @ Blueberry Smiles says
He looks so cozy and cute in his swadle!!
the 3volution of j3nn says
Love the personalized onesie! So cute. Is there anything more heart-melting than a baby’s smile??
Tiffany says
M is so cute!!
your overnight oats looks delicious!
How much pumpkin and chia seeds did you add to the overnight oat mix? Have you added the extra milk even if you don’t add pumpkin? Got to try it! yum!
KathEats says
1/3 cup Pumpkin in half a tablespoon chia seeds
Annette @FitnessPerks says
CUTE onesie!!
And that salad is massive-looks awesomely delicious.
Julie H. of Spinach and Sprinkles says
I was wondering how that tea tasted! I’m going to pick some up the next time I’m out and about for sure!!! ….. I am also loving the decaf being in my life! It made me puke every single time when Jackson was in the tummy!
LOVE that onesie! Tooooooo cute! 🙂
Hope @ With A Side Of Hope says
Awww…Mazen is adorable. I love his little t-shirt! 🙂
Your dinner looks great. I love when my husband cooks for us.
V says
Looking good Kath! I would argue that you have even more of a glow than when you were pregnant. I mean this in a good way, but your face really shows the weight loss since Mazen was born.
KathEats says
Really?! That’s nice to hear 🙂
Cher @ Weddicted says
I’m the opposite with the salads lately – I am not craving raw veggies at all. All I want lately is sauteed kale.. strange! But at least its still greens I guess?!
Jenica says
How exciting that he’s taken to sleeping in his crib! Hope he keeps it up.
Amanda says
Your skin is so radiant in your posts that it makes me want to have another baby and breastfeed. Ha! Seriously though, you really do have a beautiful complexion!
KathEats says
Thank you 🙂
Emma says
First of all, eeeeeeeee (I-see-something-cute sound), M’s getting hair! Secondly, I keep meaning to say that that video monitor is really cool. We don’t have kids, and neither do most of our friends (or their kids are older now), so I hadn’t seen one before. That must really ease your mind and save some unnecessary trips, too.
Katie @ Talk Less, Say More says
Little M is just so precious. I’m sure he was tired from not sleeping too… 😉
jordan @ thedancingdonut says
mmm all of your eats look absolutely delicious!! i’ve also been loving that pumpkin/coconut combo lately – it seems to be the perfect transition from summer to fall 🙂
Alex @ Raw Recovery says
He’s getting so smiley! I bet that is so nice to see as a mom. My godson is almost four months old and he’s really starting to crack a lot of smiles now. It melts my heart when I hold him and smile at him and he gives me this huge grin right back.
Jessica says
Capitalizing on your small comment on Gossip Girl – how sad are you that it is the last season. That is such a guilty pleasure of mine.
Your dinner is leaving me starving and with a huge desire to drink some wine. 😉
KathEats says
I knooooooow! So sad. I loved that first episode though!
Jessica says
I know, me too.
But *** and *** …REALLY?!?!
KathEats says
I had to edit your comment so as not to spoil anything, but I KNOW!!!! I think that whole storyline is a little unbelievable, but also juicy!
Jessica says
Ha! Of course. 🙂
It is over the top, but that is why I love it.
Jen says
You are glowing – do you wear make-up?
Kath, do you drink organic milk? Just curious your stance on the issue that they are pumping pregnant cows who obviously have high hormone levels which is then passed on to humans.
KathEats says
Thanks, yes,I wear Bare Minerals.
And yes, we buy grass fed organic milk.
Jen says
Cover girl!
lynn @ the actor's diet says
sweet potato pie and smiles. YAY!!!
Chelsea@Ahintofhealthy says
Oh wow, Kath, I totally love sweet potatoes!! I can’t wait to make that–thanks for the link 🙂
Cait says
Oh my gosh I love that picture of Matt and M on the monitor. Too sweet.
And speaking of sweet – that dessert looks to die for!
Kristen @ The Balanced Bowl says
Oh how I love sweet potato pie! That dessert was the perfect size and so cute! 🙂
Jennifer says
What a sweet smile! He’s definitely a happy boy!
Yay….on his sleeping in his crib. It will only get longer and longer stretches now. 🙂
Gina @HealthLoveandChocolate says
Loving the sweet potato theme in all your meals! The pie looks especially delicious. 🙂
Sarah says
Your skin looks amazing – I need to have a baby for that reason alone, stat! 😉
Ellen @ Wannabe Health Nut says
Maze is such a cutie! And I’m definitely trying that overnight oats recipe. I didn’t have any all summer long and now that the temps are dropping, of course that’s the time I decide I need to do it. Ha! I love my hot oats, but being able to make them the night before would really help me some mornings!
Fran@ Broken Cookies Don't Count says
I love the idea of these fritters. I have sweet potatoes and I have black beans cooking in the crock pot at this very moment!! Sounds like a plan! Thanks for the idea, Kath!
Molly @ RDexposed says
Mazen has the cutest outfits. It’s making me want to buy cute baby clothes (and knitted cowboy boots) for my almost-here niece.
Becky B. says
I am in the DC area and Cava is a local Greek mezze restaurant- one in DC and one in the Rockville, MD area- so excited for them that their products have made it so far south! Their other dips are equally awesome. And if you are ever back in this area- not sure if any family are still around DC/Baltimore- you would love their food!
http://www.cavamezze.com/
KathEats says
Oh fun!! I didn’t realize it was a cafe first. They are always sampling at our Whole Foods. I love the olive one too!
Becky B. says
Must try their crazy feta and harrissa- so delish with a loaf of crusty french bread and some kalamata olives and a glass of wine!
Shannan Matthews says
Kath – you have a big strong healthy baby. I had the exact same issues with my son and the crib/sleeping issues. I was told when I left the hospital that I was only allowed to lay him on his back. The first day my Mom visited for a week, she wooshed me off to the shower, layed Tucker down in his crib on his tummy and HE SLEPT FOR THREE HOURS!!! I couldn’t believe it. I told her he can’t sleep like that, he’ll suffocate and she just shook her head at me and gave me a big giant hug and said “trust me”…
Take it for what it’s worth but your crib is nice and clear and he’s totally able to move himself around to get air…………..I would do it all over again. The sleep schedule made a huge difference on him with everything because he was finally getting rest. And I finally stopped wondering why I felt like the worst Mother on earth……….
Enjoy being a Mommy and have a terrific holiday season with your new addition to the family.
Jessie says
I’m a regular reader from DC (love your blog!) and just wanted to say that I was happy to see you tried Cava Mezze hummus – it’s actually from a restaurant in DC! The first one is located a few blocks from my house and they’ve opened a few others in the area now too (including some fast-food type greek places). You should come up and try the original Cava on Capitol Hill – it’s one of my favorite restaurants! You can’t go wrong with anything you try there!
Brit says
Looking at how precious Mazen is, it makes me so sad how people can be so hateful, judgemental, petty, and just negative in general when it comes to how others parent……
Not to bring up the past, but (I have to) I hated reading one comment that someone left you about breastfeeding in public. It made me want to cry and I felt so bad that you had to read that comment from someone. From what I have seen in your blog, you have just kept on being you, matt and Mazen, regardless of what anyone else thinks…..and I love that!!! 🙂 Keep being your family and no one elses! 🙂 Stay true! 😀
It’s inspirational 😀
Everyone is entitled to their ways, beliefs, etc. But I think a boundary has been crossed when new moms are being reprimanded for breastfeeding in public, scolded for using formula (some moms are not able to breastfeed or have other reasons they do not breastfeed), and the list goes on…..
I hope other moms out there do not let negative comments define them!
My friend recently had a baby and initially breastfed but for reasons switched to formula. She is the best mom in the world and I hate that someone could possibly accuse her of not being one because she is using formula. It makes me sick to my stomach. It honestly makes me not want to be a parent sometimes because of all the negative junk that Ive read online, etc. I mean of course I want to be a parent but my gosh, the world needs to lighten up. It would essentially add some peace to the number of new moms terrified to do things the way “they feel is best for their child” or the best way they can, if people would just back off a little and stop judging. But how in the world do you change 6 billion peoples’ minds about things? You dont, so you just live life and be you 🙂
I think parents deserve to enjoy the freedoms of being out and about and also caring for their child at the same time. And also enjoying the freedoms of taking care of their child, the way life allows. Some women are not able to breastfeed and how dare me if I call them bad moms! And babies have every right to eat in public, just as anyone else 🙂
So to all the parents out there…..hang in there! You are awesome!
KathEats says
Well said Brit