Think Family.Net

October 17th, 2008 by Natalia

Here are some pictures from Ashton’s 1st basketball game. (They aren’t great… because I took them with my phone… but - hey it’s better than nothing right?)

Goons- Before the Game

During the game

August 29th, 2008 by Natalia

Last night Ashton and I went to sign up for a cheer leading program that cheers for basketball games. We arrived and filled out the forms, paid, got measured for uniforms, and were ready to head home… UNTIL we saw her friends Sierra and Madison in the Basketball tryout line. We had a little change of heart and decided that basketball would be more fun!

So we got our money back, re-registered for the correct sport, got sized - AGAIN - and had to stand in another line for tryouts. They really look at how much skill and experience each child has and try to make the teams even. Ashton did great! Here is the best picture I could get of her “trying out” with my cell phone, from a distance. She’s so cute.

I think this will be a lot of fun.. I’m honestly glad that she changed her mind. I started playing bball in the 3rd grade and played until high school. I think it will be great exercise for her. And the good news is… the gym is air conditioned. NO sitting out on the hot soccer field while hugely pregnant! Hopefully, the baby will hold off until the games end…. ON MY DUE DATE!

February 21st, 2008 by Natalia

Feeding Jackson has been a struggle from the very start. He wanted the boob and nothing but the boob for the longest time. He would accept no substitutes. No pacifier, no bottle, nothing. I mean we tried every brand on the market and the child wasn’t having it. Little did I know that his picky eating habits would carry over into his toddler life.

I waited until he was close to 6 months to start him on solid food because I have a history of food induced tongue itching and swelling. Some called me over protective, but I didn’t care. I didn’t want my kids to suffer life long throat itching because I wanted to jump the gun and feed him carrots or some other disgustingly smooshy food too early. (While there may be no truth to my fear, it’s still my fear.) Anyways.. he pretty much refused to eat any of the previously mentioned mash that they can and call baby food. He only wanted those puffs and the dried fruit. I sustained his existence for many moons by nursing him at night and drowning him in puffs by day until I discovered his favorite food to date. FROZEN PEAS. Yeah, pull them straight out of freezer and plop them on tray. Baby like!

Now that Jackson has 12 teeth he is eating a few more things but he’s still very picky. I’ve been worried lately that he isn’t getting all the nutrition that he needs because he’s so dang picky. Here’s his current list of foods that are acceptable to place on his tray:

• Vanilla Silk/Soy Milk(since we weaned nearly 1 month ago!)
• Bananas
• Watermelons
• Grapes
• yogurt with fruit in it (he insists that he must feed himself)
• cups of mixed fruit/apples/peaches/pears/mandarin oranges (what ever I happen to have)
• Gobs of multi grain Cheerios
• Mounds of Frozen Peas
• Graham Crackers
• Gold Fish (Changed his mind, doesn’t like anymore)
• Ice Cream
• Bread sticks or bread (Only if we are out to eat)
• Cookies of ANY kind

Notice anything? Where’s the meat? Yeah, I’ve tried on numerous occasions to sneak some chicken or turkey into is mouth. He holds it on his tongue, sticks his tongue out and begins to wail like someone has just fed him poop or something. He then proceeds to scrape it off his tongue and is very upset. It’s the craziest thing.

I’ve done some research and come to find out that he’s not eating all that unhealthy. He’s actually doing a pretty good job getting what he needs. According to the THIS SITE the average toddler the following per day:

• 1300 calories
• Protein-16grams
• Vitamin A-400 ug
• Vitamin C 40mg
• Calcium - 800mg
• Thiamine - .7mg
• Riboflavin - .8mg
• Niacin- 9mg
• Vitamin B6 - 1mg
• Folate - 50ug
• Iron - 10g

He’s getting plenty of protein from his soy milk, yogurt, FROZEN peas, and graham crackers. All the other vitamins he’s getting from the fruits. If you would like to look up the nutritional information on a certain food, the USDA has a great website for that.

Some people have asked me why I worry, when he really eats pretty healthy. I guess I’m not really worried anymore now that I’ve looked this stuff up. BUT… have you ever ate a diet of fruit and fruit and fruit and only fruit? It does a number on his hiney. All the acid or something burns him right on the bottom. I mean, come on kid, eat some more bread and soak it up so your tush isn’t always raw.

Something else I came to realize in my research is that ALL of our food is saturated in sodium and sugar. Maybe… that’s the culprit for the sore hiney and not the poor innocent fruit… I don’t know. I’ll have to work on eliminating some of his salt and sugar intake and see. I’ll let you know.

I found this interesting site, Toddler Dish, with great recipes for picky eaters. I’m going to try some of the recipes soon.

Gosh that was long… I can’t believe you are still reading….

February 5th, 2008 by Natalia

We are taking a family vacation in May. We are going to Mexico. I can fit into my bikini right now, though I have rolls in some places where I would rather have curves. I really would like to shed about 10-15 lbs by May and tone up areas so that I don’t look like I just had a baby. I’ve been using that excuse for too long now. Come on, 17 months? It’s time to shed that excuse and get my body back, dang it!

The bikini situation is only part of the reason for this. Recently, my pores have let Acne take over and I’m freakin tired all the time. My grandma says it’s my darn colon’s fault. And it probably is..

So…. here is what I have decided to do… (God Help Me)

I purchased this All NATURAL total body detox and cleanse kit. (It’s a whole bunch of herbs and vitamins, not an enema, thank you!)I have already ingested 4 of these horse pills and so far so good. I have to take 4 of them with every meal. (I HATE taking pills) I waited until I was no longer Jax’s source of nutrition to do this. I’d hate to give him all my toxins.

Now, I realize that taking these alone won’t do me much good, so I am also going to commit to 30 minutes of exercise daily. This morning I power buggy pushed Jax for 2 whole miles. That’s a lot when you are used to calling a trip to Wal-Mart exercise. I’m proud of me!

And… There’s more… Lent begins tomorrow. Now, I am not Catholic, but I married into a great Catholic family. So everyone around me is giving something up for God for the next 40 days… Kevin is giving up fast food and beef. That makes it hard for me since I’m the cooker around here! ha. So I’m going to go without fast food and beef as well. I’m also cutting sodas and fried foods out of my diet. (I really don’t eat them that much anyways) We generally eat pretty healthy around here. I bake and grill most of our food. I’m going to try to add a salad into our weekly menu as well. Not a side salad, but a salad as our entree, maybe with some chicken on it or something. Now there is a much longer list of things recommended to me to skip while on this program, but I’ll just say I’ll cut them back. In case you want to know they are:

1. Aspertame - I don’t willingly ingest it anyways
2. Tap Water - Don’t like it
3. Milk and Dairy Products - Cheese might be my downfall
4. Sugar
5. White Processed Flour - I already avoid if possible
6. Margarine - we eat Butter
7. Microwaves? - Come on… I’m busy… can’t I just zap a few things?

So what does that leave us? Um… I guess we are going on Jax’s diet of fruit, fruit, and more fruit? Kevin will be thrilled! I love you honey!!!

So wish me luck with my self-experiment. I will keep you posted. In the event that the horse pills do me in, I’ve asked Kevin to continue this blog in my honor.

Peace.

January 31st, 2008 by Natalia

This is a great low carb meal. I’ve adapted it from one of George Stella’s (had to give him some credit) recipes.

Marinade:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus 3 tablespoons
• 1/8 cup finely chopped red onion
• 1 1/2 tablespoons ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon chopped garlic
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 dashes cayenne pepper (less than 1/8 teaspoon)
• 1/4 teaspoon granulated garlic
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro leaves

• 1 pound (2 large half breasts) boneless skinless chicken breast; sliced completely in half making 4 pieces
• 1-ounce tequila
• 4 ounces shredded Colby Jack cheese

Optional Garnish:

• 1 tub fresh pico de gallo
• Sour cream

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a bowl, place 2 tablespoons olive oil, all marinade ingredients, and chicken, and mix thoroughly.

In a large saute pan, heat 3 tablespoons olive oil over medium-high to high heat. Place the coated chicken breasts in the hot pan and sear on one side until golden brown for about 1 minute. Turn and sear the other side for a few seconds more, and sizzle with the tequila.

Transfer seared chicken breasts to a lightly greased sheet pan and bake in oven for about 10 minutes until fully cooked.

Remove chicken from oven and top with the shredded cheese. Place back in the oven for just a minute to melt the cheese and remove. Serve and enjoy!

Top it off!
Before serving, top with sour cream and fresh pico.

Tequila Chicken tastes better when eating in the presence of the ones you love. So fire up the oven and call your family. It’s tequila chicken night!