Weekend Recap

Our first weekend of Fall festivities! It was a beautiful weekend, I am loving this cooler Fall weather. On Friday we didn't feel like doing anything after both of us had really hard weeks at work. We picked up dinner and just relaxed. Saturday morning we gave Ethan his first taste of food. We tried out oatmeal first. He didn't hate and he didn't love it.

After eating his oatmeal, we got him dressed and we headed out to go apple picking! I was so excited to bring Ethan for the first time. Last year we had just found out we were pregnant and he was a tiny little guy in my belly. We met up with Rich, Tif, Jacob and Makayla. We went to a new place this year because the place we've gone for the past two years wasn't letting you pick apples this year because they had a poor crop. We went to a small farm called Valley Orchard, it was really nice. We had fun picking apples and then we took some pictures and picked up some apple cider donuts in the store. 

Saturday night we met back up with Rich, Tif and the kids at Flattop for dinner. It was yummy. After dinner we headed home and put Ethan to bed and just relaxed.

On Sunday we got up and went to breakfast and did our grocery shopping for the week. When we got home we gave Ethan his first taste of apples. He seemed to like it better than the oatmeal.

"Do I have something on  my face?"

I'm going to make sweet potatoes for Ethan this week and see how he likes those next. After we fed Ethan, it was nap time and I made a sub sandwich to bring to Rich and Tif's for football Sunday. We headed over there around noon to watch the games and hang out with the kids. Tif had brought Jacob to the Roselle Fire Department and he came home with a helmet. He put it on Ethan and he looked so cute and so did Jacob!

We had lunch, played with the kids and watched lots of football. We left after the afternoon game to get Ethan home for a nap. While Ethan was napping Michael and I peeled and chopped the apples we had picked on Saturday to make some crockpot applesauce (We just pureed apples for Ethan). 

The rest of Sunday, we relaxed, watched some football and I got things ready for the week. It was a great weekend. Next weekend we will be celebrating Michael's 30th birthday, I can't wait! I hope all of you had a great weekend and a good week ahead!

Our week in pictures: 9/9 - 9/15

Sunday, September 9: Look who sat in a high chair like a big boy!

Monday, September 10: Ethan's Halloween bucket came for trick or treating! Ordered here.

Tuesday, September 11: Happy 4 months to my beautiful baby boy!

Wednesday, September 12: Porkchop love!

Thursday, September 13: Winter coat to keep our little man warm!

Friday, September 14: First taste of oatmeal

Saturday, September 15: Apple Picking!

Ethan's first taste of food

Ethan got his first taste of food this weekend. We tried out oatmeal first. He definitely wasn't too sure about it. He pretty much just spit most of it out. We're going to try some fruits and veggies this week and see if he likes those better.

Ethan's World: 4 Month Review

4 months smiley pie! That is your newest nickname because you are all smiles these days! You are becoming so social and just love interacting with everyone and everything around you. You have the cutest little voice and Daddy and I love talking with you when we are in the car. We take turns going back and forth and it is just the cutest thing. You are starting to scream and screech as you figure out how to work those little vocal cords and its so funny when you surprise yourself with the sounds that come out of your mouth! You are meeting so many milestones and every week it seems something is new with you. I love thinking about what you will be doing next month and I can't wait to watch it all happen. We love you so much little man!

Weight:

As of  last week at your doctor's appointment you weigh 17 pounds 1 oz, the 89th percentile.

Height:

You are 28 inches long and the average height of a 1 year old, basically a giant and off the charts!

Clothing Size:

   You are still fitting into 3 months but we are moving into 6 months once the cooler weather hits.

Diapers:

  Pampers size 2, I think you will be in size 3 by 5 months.

Feeding:

You eat on a regular schedule of 5 times a day and 6 oz at each feeding. We are starting food very soon!

Hair/Eyes:

Everyone talks about how cute your hair is and how it grows in its own hairstyle. You still have Daddy's blue eyes too.

Sleep:

You were sleeping great, about 10 hours every night until about 2 weeks ago. I think we hit the 4-month sleep regression time. Hopefully it will only last a little longer. We are also weaning you off of your swaddle right now.

Fun Stuff You Did This Month:

Daycare

You started daycare this month when I went back to work. The first day was pretty hard on both of us and they said they had never seen a 3 month old have seperation anxiety like you did but we all got through it. By the end of the first week you were smiling at all of your teachers. You are doing so well now and you love watching the bigger kids play and sing and dance. All the little girls love to watch over you too. One of the best things about daycare is that they got you to like your swing. You never really liked it and once you started using it there, you started using it at home too. This is your first picture from daycare.

First Haircut

You were starting to get a little baby mullet in the back and Daddy was not having it so we put you in your little chair and Daddy got out his clippers and gave you a trim! I saved your little locks for your baby book.

Rolled over back to front

You totally surprised us one morning when we had you on the floor for playtime and I had to get up for a minute and when I came back you were on your belly! We put you on your back again and you rolled right over onto your stomach again. You still can't figure out how to get your arms out from underneath you, but I'm sure you'll figure it out very soon. You really want to move little man!

Big Boy Carseat
Most babies stay in their infant car seat for a year but you are just so tall that it was time to move you into a bigger one. You were getting so hot and uncomfortable in the infant one we didn't want to have to make you wait any longer. You absolutely love your new seat. Its so much more open and you can look around. You never cry in the car anymore because its so comfy!

Your first year month by month

New Recipe: Parmesan Chicken with Garlic Cheese Sauce



Another amazing recipe from Pinterest! Michael and I were menu planning at breakfast last week and I told him to go thorugh my recipe board on Pinterest and pick something for dinner that week. This is what he chose and it was tasty! It is not the lightest recipe but I'm sure these could be baked and be just as good. The breading is fantastic and I think that because you blend the crumb mixture, that's what makes it so good. I didn't get a picture of the sauce but it was good. I would add some more garlic to it next time, but that's just me!

Ingredients

• 4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
• 1 cup flour
• 2 beaten eggs
• 2 cups breadcrumbs (I used panko breadcrumbs)
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• Oil for frying
• 2 ounces light cream cheese
• a splash of milk
• 1 teaspoon minced fresh garlic or garlic salt
• 1 teaspoon oil
• 1 ounce good quality shredded cheese of choice (I used a white cheddar)

Instructions

1. Cut the chicken into strips. In a blender or food processor, pulse the crumbs and Parmesan until it’s a fine crumb mixture.
2. Put the flour, egg, and crumb mixture in individual shallow bowls. Dust each strip of chicken with flour, dip into the beaten egg, and roll in the crumb mixture. Coat all pieces before you start frying.
3. Pour oil in a large skillet or frying pan until it’s a few inches deep (enough to cover the chicken on one side). Heat over medium low heat until a drop of water sizzles in it. Add the chicken in batches and fry for 1-3 minutes until they reach desired golden-brownness. Make sure to fry long enough to cook each piece all the way through. Remove from oil with tongs and place on a paper towel lined plate to drain the oil. Let cool slightly.
4. For the cheese sauce, melt the cream cheese on the stovetop on med/low heat. Whisk in the milk, garlic, and oil until smooth. When smooth, add the cheese. Melt for another 20-30 seconds and whisk again until totally smooth, adding more milk to thin out the sauce to your desired consistency.
5. Serve chicken with sauce for dipping and enjoy!

Wordless Wednesday: Porkchop Love!