Kadence's 9th Month of Life

Well, it's official, Baby K has now been out in the world longer than she was in my belly. I know, I know, weird thought, but that's all I could think about when she turned 9 months old on January 11th! This past month has been filled with all kinds of firsts! From crawling, to standing, to teeth, to learning what "no" means & everything in between. I cannot believe I have a 9 month old! That, my friends, is 3/4 of a year old. WHAT?!

We did a lot of new things this past month! Christmas shopping in Virginia, trying new foods, & Kadence's first christmas happened this month which was so much fun! She's a pro (& speedy) crawler now. She has learned to open cabinets (uh oh), & she always wants to stand, even in the bath tub. She weighs about 16 pounds (her 9 month appointment isn't until next week), eats 3 meals per day (& 4 bottles), wears 6-9 month clothes, hates shoes, still loves her paci, sleeps from 730-9am (only waking once), takes 2 naps per day, has 2 teeth (as of this month), can wave (when she feels like it), understands 'no' & loves everyone. Her favorite foods are raspberries, pasta, & enchiladas & she wakes me up in the morning by screaming "MAMAMAMAMAMAMA". She got her first bump on her head this month while trying to bend down & pick something up, but I am pretty sure I was more traumatized than she was!

washing cloth diapers with momma 

Christmas Eve

Christmas Morning

My crazy hair, happy baby

We learned to open cabinets

NYE

First bump on the head :(

yum, plastic

football paci

nom nom nom

cheerleader christmas party, they love baby K

headed to VA to christmas shop

Kadence Eats...Everything

In response to the many questions I have had about what types of food I like to feed Baby K, I figure I would grace y'all with a post detailing it! From top to bottom, stem to stern, soup to nuts if you will.

Basically, to sum it up in a sentence, Baby K eats everything, well everything that I eat that is (with some exceptions because I really like Oreos). I make everything from scratch, with FEW exceptions, & I enjoy making her food homemade. Coming up with cool new foods for her to try really is so much fun. (Apparently when you become a parent, your definition of "fun" changes.)

Right now, Baby K eats 3 meals per day. Her food & bottle schedule goes as follows:

7:00am 6 oz bottle
9:00am breakfast
11:00am 6 oz bottle
1:00pm lunch
3:00pm 6 oz bottle
6:00pm dinner
7:00pm 6 oz bottle

Below you will find the typical "go-to" foods I feed Baby K, make sure to check out links to the recipes/food websites. This is not a complete list of everything she has had, as I randomly give her stuff when we are out to eat or when I make something new. She has tried (and loves) tons of food, in fact I haven't found one that her piggy self doesn't love. As you will notice she does not eat meat or dairy, because of her allergy.

Breakfast

coconut milk yogurt

Vans Blueberry Waffles (microwaved instead of toasted so they are soft)
bananas
blueberries
blackberries
raspberries
kiwi
grapes
apples (peeled)
Tofu Scrambler 
hashbrowns
oatmeal
cheerios
Coconut Milk Yogurt
grits


Lunch/Dinner:
grilled cheese with daiya vegan cheese
pasta with spaghetti sauce or hummus
steamed veggies of any kind

corn on the cob
avocado
Vegan Enchiladas
Ziti
Lentil Loaf
canned pumpkin
mashed potatoes
baked sweet potato fries
black bean & rice burgers
Rising Moon Ravoili
baked zucchini sticks (usually with garlic powder)
Namaste Foods Say Cheez pasta
Boca Chicken Nuggets

Free to message me or leave any questions in the comments below! 

xoxo

K&k

Parenting Lesson: Nothing Stays the Same for Long

Motherhood is hard & it wasn't a subject I ever studied. I never babysat kids below the age of 5, I never  had family members with kids, & I never held a baby below the age of 6 months before they handed Baby K to me in the hospital. Kids freaked me out & it wasn't a secret I wasn't the biggest fan (aside from mine, there are still only a handful of kids I like) It's safe to say, I have kind of had to wing it thus far. However, I have learned a ton. For example: if you have never washed poop off of your kid in a Kmart bathroom & then bought them new clothes because you threw the others away, then you haven't lived properly. Or if you run out of nursery rhymes gangster rap works pretty well. Most of the time parents really love to compare their kids dimensions, & dog food must taste super awesome for the amount of times I have to pry it out of Baby K's fist. However, the number one thing I have learned, while depressing in one breath, is also comforting at 3:30 am while lying on the floor, next to a crib, thinking about how those all nighters in college might have actually taught you something about motherhood. And that little nugget of knowledge goes as follows: Nothing stays the same for long.  

Baby K's mouth has been exploding with teeth as of late & it has been a nightmare (scratch that, for there to be a nightmare I would have actually had to sleep). 3:30 - 5am is now party time & my good sleeper is now singing opera for the whole apartment complex most of the night, but I digress. I must have missed this part in the brochure. But as I said, at least nothing stays the same for long.

That's right folks, the tiny newborn who sleeps 18 hours a day will soon turn into the tiny human who wants to party the night away in celebration of their first tooth cutting through. And for my sake, the latter will soon pass too & she will eventually sleep again. (However, I may need to tattoo that on my eyelids so I have a constant reminder.) These little people won't always want to be rocked to sleep, and probably one day won't want us to hold their hand. That's the sad part of this lesson though, that without fail, our kids will grow up. But right now, this is beautiful beautiful knowledge. By the way, is it nap time yet?

xoxo
K&k

In this New Year...

Can you believe in 2 days it will be 2013? I am in shock & awe over it, this past year has been insane! I would have never believed I would be sitting here doing what I am doing right now, living where I am living, and being as happy with myself & as strong in my decisions. I am 1000% proud of myself, & I am pleased to say that as 2012 comes to a close.

I have been thinking about my new years resolutions for the past few days. I make some every year & for the most part they never come to pass, either because I don't remember them or because I don't commit myself to them. SO, this is me fixing both of those problems. Below you will find my awesome & partially crazy resolutions for 2013!

• Go on at least 3 trips. Doesn't matter where or for how long, but just go places, meet new people, experience new things, travel a bit. I don't want to give up that dream just because I have a mini me. If possible, I would like to go somewhere really really awesome for one of them, maybe out of the country if I can swing it.
• Complete something on my bucket list. There are many things to pick from on this list. I will keep you updated.
• Go back to school.  I found a great program I want to get into at Appalachian State that is completely online.
• Become AACCA certified & take some coaching classes. I love coaching cheerleading. I want to become certified to do it. 
• Throw Kadence an awesome 1st Birthday. I really should start brainstorming on this, it will catch up to me SOON. 
• Get my body to where I want to be. (BEFORE SUMMER) This is more of a springtime goal that I want to get completed before summer rolls around & I have NO time to do anything. 
• Teach Kadence to swim. I think it's imperative. 
• Get my car re-financed. My interest rate is out of this world & I need to put on my big girl panties and fix that mess. or just get a new one would be nice.
• Do big things with It Works! I really want to start making some good money off of this, even if that means taking it on the road with my friend, Michelle who also sells. I'm looking for distributors & customers, so if you're interested 2013 could be your year too! 
• Get organized. ASAP. I want to be one of those mothers that really has her stuff together. 
• Be able to do a split. Weird goal, I know, but it's something I have always wanted to do. '

Those are some; I am sure I could sit here and brainstorm about 50 more things I want to accomplish this new year, but I'm a busy mother & I don't have that kind of time. I hope you guys will stick with me in 2013 and support me like you have in 2012! I am so thankful for all of you & everything that has happened this year, good or bad! 

Happy New Year 

xoxo

A Single Mom Christmas

I remember the time I spent Christmas day working at Hooter's because I needed to make rent. The only inclination you would have had to it being Christmas at all were the Santa hats we wore. Because I don't have a huge family, once the childhood magic of the holidays wavered, Christmas was just another day. I have always longed to one day have a huge family, tons of people all around, & a Christmas Eve party with just enough dysfunction to make it funny, but that's just been a dream. Maybe someday I will have people to bake a million cupcakes for, but I digress.

Kadence doesn't understand Christmas this year & probably won't next year either, so I have some time to adjust before I pull out all the stops on the Santa thing. When that time rolls around I plan on going all out, like my parents did (though I didn't get to believe in Santa for very long at all). I'll even be that annoying mom making her believe when she's 15 because I will threaten her with no presents. It's going to be a blast.

However, this year was relaxed. Of course, I put up a tree & lights all over the front of my apartment (and the upstairs neighbors). I wrapped presents & went to christmas shindigs. Christmas eve was spent eating chocolate and watching Netflix with my roommate, wondering aloud if this was what happens Christmas Eve when you become an adult.

Christmas day was a relaxing one. In the future little fists will beat me awake at 6am, I am sure, but this year we made it til 9am. Hooray. My dad came over & we opened up presents. Kadence sat in her high chair probably wondering "WTF is going on & where's my breakfast, woman?!" while I tried to get her to rip paper off of boxes.

She got spoiled (as always) with an under the sea activity table from me; stacking rings, footie pajamas, clothes, sparkly baby boots, socks & a rattle from G-Ma; a huge stuffed ride on zebra & a stocking full of pacifiers from G-Pa, a soothing under the sea turtle & a huge story book from her Grandma Bunny, a bunch of clothes from Not-the-momma (my roommate), & even a super cute outfit from my roommates family. She is one lucky little girl with all the people that thought of her. (I seriously could not be more thankful!) I even got some good stuff. A north face jacket, yoga pants, 2 victoria secret bras, a sports bra, a charm bracelet, sparkly boots that match kadences, 2 board games, 2 pairs of leggings, a juicy couture charm, & a pair of AWESOME new nikes. 

After presents  Kadence napped & then we went to my dad's (G-pa's) for Christmas lunch/dinner, which consisted of tons of steamed veggies (much to Kadence's liking), mashed potatoes, some vegan "chicken", rolls, & vegan cheese dip. It was awesome & all good for you, so no regrets about food for at least a few minutes (which is a first). 

We hung out at my dads for a few hours, Kadence & I both took a nap & then we came home, took a bath & Kadence went to bed. I spent Christmas night at my apartment with my roommate, and 2 friends, and then went to bed at a decent hour. Nothing fancy, but I cherished the reasonable bed time more than anything. 

So there ya have it folks, Christmas for the single mom. Next Christmas will be a whole different story, as Kadence will be with her dad, but this one was successful & fun. I will admit Christmas is 
more fun with Kadence, especially all the cute pictures I get to take, all the cute clothes I get to wear, & the fact that we now have a sweet elf living on our shelf named Dimitri. 

Merry Christmas

Just a quick post to say Merry Christmas to all the wonderful people who follow my life! I hope you all have a wonderful day with your families & if you are apart from the people you love I hope that you spend the day with people who make you happy!

Christmas 2011

Christmas 2012

Kadence and I have had a great morning so far! Details, pictures, & a video of it all to come in the days ahead! For now I check off to go get ready to go to my dad's to spend some time this afternoon!

xoxo
K&k

my thoughts & prayers are with those who cannot have their loved ones with them today for whatever reason. Especially the families of the Sandy Hook Elementary tragedy & those who are deployed or who have a loved one deployed this holiday season.

Easy (Vegan) Crock Pot Enchiladas Recipe

SO yesterday at the grocery store I got this crazy idea to throw together some enchiladas. I figured, I could make a lot, they were relatively soft so Kadence could eat them too, & they were easy & cheap. Because these are all really awesome things, I figured I would share my recipe with you.

I didn't even think to take pictures, but oh well. Also, I don't ever use exact measurements so bear with me!

Ingredients:

1 can of black beans (drained & washed, I do this on all canned veggies to get rid of some of the salt!)
1 can of pinto beans (drained & washed)
1/2 an onion (chopped)
1 mini red pepper (chopped)
1 mini yellow pepper (chopped)
1 mini green pepper (chopped)
1 cup full of fresh assorted spicy peppers (chopped)
1 package of yellow rice (cooked)
1/2 bag of frozen corn
1 can of diced tomatoes with chiles (drained & washed)
1/2 block of diaya dairy free cheese (grated)
1 package of 8 flour tortillas
2 jars of salsa
1 jar of enchilada sauce

• Cook the rice while chopping the veggies
• Drain & rinse all canned veggies
• Combine all ingredients, except cheese, tortillas, salsa & enchilada sauce, in a bowl & mix
• In a crock pot pour 1/2 of a jar of salsa & some enchilada sauce along the bottom
• Spoon mix into tortillas & layer into crock pot, pouring enchilada sauce & salsa over each layer. Top each layer with cheese. 
• Cook on high for 2-4 hours. 

*alternatively you can bake in the oven, covered, for 20 minutes & then uncovered for 10. 

* you can pretty much add ANYTHING you want to these to suit what you & your family likes! 

Let me know if you like them :) 

xoxo