Christmas giveaway!

As a follow-up to my last post, Jelby's is doing a great Christmas giveaway. You should stop by and check it out; she has the cutest Christmas tees!

Click here to enter three ways!

Have any other giveaways you know about and want to share? Please leave them in the comments!

Original Christmas gifts

Want original gifts?

Check out Jelby's, a handmade baby burpie/onesie/adorable dress website. I am obsessed with the onesie dresses, like this one.

Please COMMENT and share your favorite original Christmas present websites, gift ideas, or etsy shops that you will be perusing this year!

Christmas deals

There are so many choices and options for creative Christmas presents. We wanted to help with gift suggestions that won't break your budget!

First, I must advertise a budget-friendly blog that I LOVE: Cha-Ching on a Shoestring. I find so many ideas on how to save money, and she updates daily with great coupons and deals.

Here are some recent (time sensitive) deals that I found out about there:

*Free holiday labels at VistaPrint.com

1. Click on "holidays" on the left

2. Choose "labels"

3. Pick your favorite to-from stickers or return address labels (so many cute choices!)

4. Just pay shipping (I got 140 to-from stickers and 140 return address labels for less than $5!)

*$10 off Alphabet Learning Pal, and a lot of other GREAT Target coupons on toys HERE

*Buy Up! and Monsters, Inc on Blu Ray at Target for less than $11! I did it and it worked, find out how here.

Have any deals you are going to take advantage of this Christmas season, please COMMENT and share!

Menu: Pork noodles and Chicken soup

This week has some new favorite recipes of mine. The October issue of Cooking Light was a jackpot of delicious recipes. This week, you will have five meals, with the potential to freeze for later. I will not be posting a menu for next week, as it is the Thanksgiving holiday. However, I will post a couple of favorite holiday recipes, and I encourage you to do the same!

Day One:

Noodles w/ Roast Pork and Almond Sauce

Okay, before you say, "that sounds weird," hear me out. This is a creamy, hearty meal that is a delicious use of pantry staples. I think it would be kid-friendly, just maybe decrease the chili garlic sauce and the ginger. This would work great with peanut butter, but if you have never tried almond butter, you are in for a treat! Cook the entire amount of pork tenderloin to eat half tomorrow, but halve the rest of the recipe since you are only eating it one night.

Recipe changes:

Add 1 T brown sugar to the sauce

Day Two:

Leftover Pork Tenderloin with your favorite dipping sauce (or just by itself)

Wild Rice

"Creamed" Spinach

This is easily one of my new favorite side dishes. A snack staple that we keep in our fridge is Laughing Cow light cheese wedges. This dish uses those and frozen spinach to make a healthy alternative to creamed spinach.

Ingredients:

1 container (12 oz) of frozen spinach (chopped or whole leaf, your preference)

2 Laughing Cow cheese wedges

Salt & pepper to taste

1. Thaw spinach and drain well

2. Sauté spinach in a little bit of olive oil over med-high heat

3. When spinach in warm, melt in the cheese, and season with salt and pepper

Day Three:

Chicken Cacciatore

This dish was delicious. Initially, with my "cook once/eat twice" philosophy, I thought I could cook the chicken ahead of time for tomorrow's soup, but that is not possible. One short cut you can give yourself is to go ahead and thaw/chop an extra 3/4 lbs chicken for tomorrow's soup to store in the fridge. If you need extra meals this week, you could make this entire recipe and eat it two nights in a row, if not, I would halve it because it makes a lot.

Day Four:

Chicken Orzo Soup

Wow. This is a fancier version of chicken noodle, but is totally accessible. I really recommend it; all ages and "pickiness" levels would love it. I did not try doubling it and freezing half, but I bet that would work great.

Ingredient changes:

1 cup of orzo instead of 1/2 cup (keep a really close eye on it, mine burned a little)

1 tea poultry seasoning

1 tea dried oregano

1 clove garlic, minced

1 bay leaf

pinch of red pepper flakes

(Only use the thyme sprig if you have it, don't buy fresh thyme just for this recipe)

Recipe changes:

1. Bring 2 1/2 cups broth to a boil in which to cook the orzo.

2. Sprinkle the chicken with salt, pepper, and poultry seasoning before cooking.

3. Add oregano, garlic, and red pepper flakes to the carrot mixture while cooking.

4. Add bay leaf to broth mixture while it cooks.

Grilled Cheese sandwich

Day Five:

Leftover soup & another grilled cheese sandwich (or some other side dish)

Happy eating!

~Mamacita

Menu: Chicken casserole and Fried Rice

This week is all about reusing ingredients and STOCKING our FREEZERS! With the holiday season coming up, if you are like me, there are so many nights with events that it is hard to plan a cook once/eat twice weekly menu. So, use your trusty freezer to have dinner in a pinch!

Day One:

Chicken Artichoke Casserole

I love this casserole, it's always a hit. It freezes well, so while you are making it this week, make another one to freeze for later! When you double it, do not fully double the milk (it is a little too much). For this week's menu, make another cup of cooked rice to put in the fridge and use for your fried rice if you are cooking for two. If you are cooking for four, make two extra cups.

Ingredients :

1/2 cup chopped carrot (about 1)

1/2 cup chopped red pepper

1/4 cup sliced green onions (about 2)

1 T butter

1 10 3/4 ounce can low sodium (healthy option) condensed cream of chicken soup

1 9 ounce package frozen artichoke hearts, thawed and cut up

1 1/2 cups chopped cooked chicken (I always use a rotisserie)

1 cup hot cooked rice (white or brown)

1/2 cup shredded mozzarella (I always use a little more)

2/3 cup milk (1% works great)

1 tea garlic powder

1 tea poultry seasoning

1/2 tea salt (more to taste)

1/4 tea fresh cracked black pepper

4 slices crispy, cooked bacon, crumbled

1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

1. In a large skillet (you can also use a wok or soup pot) melt butter over medium high heat. Cook carrot, pepper, and green onions in melted butter until the carrot is crisp-tender. Remove from heat. Stir in the chicken soup, artichoke hearts, chicken, rice, mozzarella cheese, milk, spices, and bacon.

2. Transfer the mixture to a 2 quart rectangular baking dish. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.

3. Bake, covered, in a 350 degree oven for 20 minutes. Uncover, and bake about 20 minutes more or until bubbly. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

Freezer directions: Place doubled casserole in a freezable container (I like foil pans). Let it cool down a little and then put it in the freezer. DO NOT top with parmesan until you thaw it and are ready to cook it.

Tossed Salad

Day Two:

Leftover casserole & tossed salad

Day Three:

Fried Rice w/ Hoisin marinated chicken

If you are cooking this recipe for two, halve it (then you will only use the 1 cup of rice you saved from the casserole) but make FOUR chicken breasts so you can have them for your salad tomorrow.

Recipe changes for the fried rice:

1. I use fish sauce instead of oyster sauce and use little (if any soy sauce) until I serve it at the table.

2. I cook mine in a wok and move the rice to the side and pour in a scrambled egg. Let it cook fully, then combine with the rice mixture.

Hints:

*For great fried rice always use old, cold rice!

*For quicker grilling, pound the chicken a little thinner to make it more even before putting it in the marinade.

Day Four:

Hoisin chicken tossed salad with Asian vinaigrette

Make your favorite salad meal! Suggestions: bib lettuce, bell peppers, mandarin oranges, red or green onions, and peanuts.

OR

A chicken/starch/vegetable meal if you don't want a salad meal (Ex: Leftover chicken, roasted asparagus, and sauteed zucchini/squash.)

Day Five:

Roasted Shrimp with bell peppers

Time to double up and stock the freezer again! Either make the recipe and freeze half of it for 2 two person servings, or double it and freeze an entire recipe for 2 four person servings. Follow the directions from the website about freezing.

Cous-Cous or Orzo

The recipe online says to serve with rice, but we have eaten so much rice this week, let's change it up!

Happy eating!

~Mamacita

Answering those airline travel questions, part 1

If you haven't taken your infant on an airplane yet and are wondering what you need to know before you do, you may be interested in my own experiences flying with my ten-month-old son. I've taken him on three separate round-trip flights between Texas and Illinois: the first when he was four-and-a-half months old, the second when he was six-and-a-half months old, and the most recent when he was eight months old. I've flown two different airlines (American and United) and had both non-stop and one-stop flights.

In this first post, I'll focus on my experiences with checking in for flights, getting through security, and boarding the plane.

Q. Do I need to bring my infant's birth certificate to show at the ticketing booth?

A. When my husband and I were preparing to take the first flight with our son, we did a lot of reading on the American Airlines website to try to find the answer to this question. We did not see anything about it, but just to be cautious, we packed our son's birth certificate anyway. When we got to the ticketing booth, the only thing the American agent asked us about our son was his name and age. I then received a ticket stating I was traveling with an infant. No birth certificate or other form of identification for him was required. When we flew United, I had the same experience (except for United did not even ask for my son's name and age).

So, bottom line, if you're flying domestically on either American or United, I would say you don't have to bring your infant's birth certificate. But since my experience is limited to these two airlines and domestic travel, I can't say for sure that you don't need a birth certificate on a different airline or if you're traveling internationally.



Q. If I'm traveling with my infant, can I use a self-service kiosk to check in for our flight?

A. We tried this on our most recent flight on United, and the kiosk was almost done processing our information when I noticed it hadn't asked me anything about traveling with children. I asked one of the agents about it, and she said that if I had an infant traveling with me that I'd need to check into the flight the traditional way to get the special "traveling with infant" ticket. Then I remembered that for our other flights on American, we had checked in the traditional way. So I would recommend standing in line to check in with an actual agent, just in case the airline you're traveling on is like American or United. You wouldn't want to waste any precious time at the self-service kiosk!


Q. Do I have to check my infant seat and/or stroller with my luggage?

A. No, you do not have to. In fact, if you do this when you are checking in for your flight at the ticketing booth, you may have to pay extra. As I recall, both American and United charge a fee if you want to check your infant seat and/or stroller along with your luggage at the ticketing booth.

There is no charge, however, if you take the infant seat and/or stroller with you to your departure gate and check it there. (This may be more comfortable for your infant, too!) The gate agent will give you special tags for any pieces of baby equipment you want to check. When you board the plane, you leave the equipment in the designated spot on the jetway. Once your plane arrives at its destination, you can pick up the equipment again.

Keep in mind that you can only bring your infant seat onto the plane if you've paid for an extra seat for it, or if you get lucky and there is an empty seat next to your own on the plane. I've never actually taken my son's infant seat on board a flight, so I don't know if there are restrictions on how it is to be placed in the plane seat (rear facing or front facing, etc.)


Q. What do I need to know about taking my infant through the airport security line?

A. Once you get to the front of the line, you will have to take your baby out of his/her infant seat or stroller and put these items on the conveyor belt to be scanned. The infant seat has to be flipped upside down to fit through the opening of the conveyor. The stroller obviously has to be folded up on the conveyor. A folded umbrella stroller will have no problem fitting through the opening of the conveyor, but a folded standard-size stroller may only fit through the opening if the bigger back set of wheels are on top. (I have a Graco stroller that's part of a travel system, and this has been my experience.)

You will also have to let the security people know if you have formula or breastmilk in any of your bags due to airport restrictions on liquids. It's perfectly fine to have these; the security people just need to be aware of them. They will take the bottles and wave a special pH strip over them to ensure they do not contain anything hazardous.

- J's Mommy

The Best Advice I received...

I would love to start a discussion among those who read the blog about the best piece of advice you received at any point of having a new baby. Please leave a comment, I'm sure we have lots to learn from each others' mothers, sisters, friends, or a great book!

When my daughter went through a really hard napping phase (as in, didn't nap at all), I was at my wit's end. I talk to my mom every day, and she is always giving me great advice, but something she said really stuck with me. She said, "Babies are people, too. They have their days just like anyone- they might be really exhausted, not tired at all, grouchy, or happy, just like you or I get in moods. All I can say is, try to read her mood, and if it's a hard one, pour yourself an extra cup of coffee in the morning, and tomorrow will be a better day!"

My mom is probably reading this trying to remember saying this or why this particular piece of advice stuck with me. However, I found it so liberating. My daughter might just be grouchy. Or tired. Or not tired and wanting to "chat." We all get like that. Although I am so grateful for the many books I have read that help with her schedule or napping, this advice really helped me from overanalyzing or blaming myself for her sleep or mood.

Love you, Mom!

~Mamacita

Please chime in!

15 under $15

You don't have to be rich to have some fantastic baby items!

15 great baby items under $15 (ages 0-9 months):

Smart Shopping Mama says:

• Medela Tender Care Lanolin

This is a MUST in the early days of breastfeeding! I preferred the Medela to other brands because it is not as thick and thus, it is easier (read: less painful!) to apply. Use before and after nursing and showering. I kept one tube in my diaper bag and one in my bathroom for the first month.

• Eddie Bauer Quilted Playpen Sheet
  

These sheets are thick, soft, and durable. I have two sets! They are available in-store at Target.

• Kiddopotamus Tiny Diner Portable Placemat

This is a fabulous product for babies who are eating finger foods. We started using this around 7.5 months. You take it to a restaurant and it suctions to the table so that you don't have to place finger foods directly on the table. It wipes off easily and has a nifty catcher that snags most dropped pieces of food before they become high chair mush. My daughter also likes to chew on it. It rolls up and fits well in a diaper bag.

• Razberry
  

This is my daughter's favorite teething toy (next to Sophie the Giraffe, which is a little pricier at $19). You can find them for around $3 at HEB stores or you can order them online. They are easy for little hands to hold. You can also attach them to a chain of links so that they don't fall on the floor.

• Links

These are wonderful to use to attach toys to an activity mat, stroller, high chair, car seat, etc. You can save them from falling to the floor! My daughter likes to play with the links by themselves as well. This gift set looks great and includes links!

• Mirror

You can use any mirror to entertain your baby, but it is great to have a safe mirror for babies to look at during tummy time or while they are sitting. My daughter and I think it is hilarious to exchange smiles in the mirror! This Sassy mirror looks great and has lots of fun things for baby to play with.

• Stacking Cups

My daughter LOVES stacking cups and NEVER gets tired of playing with them. She is obsessed with knocking towers down. They are great for learning to pick up toys as well as reaching for toys while sitting and working to get toys that are out of reach. She also likes to carry the smallest cup around the house. Any set of cups will do the trick but these are my favorite.

Mamacita says:

• Summer nose suction bulb

She does not scream or cry when we use this one, it really does the trick, and also comes apart for easy cleaning. I have two.

• Mylicon

This really helped with gas when she was 0-3 months old. Buy the off-brand, like Target's, and save major $$.

• EZ wrap swaddler (available in-store at Target)

I consistently give this as a shower present because I could not have lived without it when my munchkin was 0-2 months. It really helped with swaddling during late-night delirium.

• Infantino Loopalooza toy

I call this the "stop the crying" toy because every-time I use it, my daughter gets distracted and engaged. It is a wonderful toy. (Also great to attach to a stroller for a fun time!) Smart Shopping Mama seconds this one! :)

• Baby Einstein music "phone"

Out of all baby toys that make music/noise, this is more than tolerable for parents, it's enjoyable, because of the real classical music.

• Munchkin carrier strap covers

These really keep the straps from cutting in and also don't add too much bulk, so there is no safety concern. I am really glad I have them. I found mine in-store at Walmart.

• Any Baby Einstein book

They almost all say "9+ months." Whatever! My daughter loved them from the moment she started tracking objects and staying focused on one thing for 5+ minutes. I love them because the rhyming is clever, the pictures are bright, and they are educational.

• "100 Essential Classics"

This is the perfect classical music mix, available on itunes for $11.99. If you are like me and want to expose your little one to classical music, but want it to be the "real deal," I LOVE this mix on itunes. I went through and picked the most soothing ones and made a napping mix, but you could also just play it all day long.


Smart Shopping Mama says... and here is #16...

• Leapfrog Fridge Farm Magnets

Okay, so I don't actually have these yet, but this will be my next baby purchase! My daughter loves to venture into the kitchen and I can see these magnets providing lots of entertainment. I will let you know how it goes!

Menu: Pantry "lasagna" and Turkey Chili

This week was all about using things in my pantry because I didn't get to the grocery store until late in the week. So, if you have read my staple list, you can easily make these things, too! I think you will like them a lot, and they are very "family friendly."

Day One

Pantry "Lasagna"

Homemade lasagna is so good, but who has the time that often? I made this from things I always have. I keep ravioli in my freezer, and I didn't even thaw it to make this! You could double this and freeze one, but I honestly think it's just as easy to assemble and make it

that day.

Ingredients:

1 package large cheese (or other flavor) ravioli (No need to thaw or cook!)

1 jar pasta sauce

1 package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry

1 can chopped artichoke hearts, drained

2 garlic cloves, minced (or 2 tea jarred minced garlic)

1 package shredded mozzarella

1/4 cup parmesan

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. In a medium skillet over med-high heat, sauté garlic in olive oil for 2 minutes (do not brown or burn). Add spinach and artichoke hearts and sauté until warmed through. Season well with salt and fresh ground pepper.
3. Layer in a rectangular baking dish: 1/3 of the pasta sauce, 1/2 of the ravioli, 1/2 of the spinach mixture, and 1/3 of the cheese. Repeat, ending with cheese on top, adding parmesan on the top.
4. Bake, covered in foil, for 25 minutes or until bubbly

Tossed Salad

Bread

Day Two:

Leftover Pantry lasagna

Steamed green beans

Bread

Day Three:

Turkey Chili

Every time the weather turns, I make this chili. It is truly one of our favorite meals. I have made it with beef and venison, and it is good with both. I have also made it with chicken broth instead of the beer, and it's fine, but with the beer it's better. Chipotle chilis en adobo are a great ingredient. They are smoked jalapeños, and are not spicy (trust me, I can't handle spicy).

Instead of the can of whole, peeled tomatoes, I use a can of diced tomatoes with their juices. For toppings, I always use: avocados, cilantro, cheese, and tortilla chips.

Cornbread

Day Four:

Leftover turkey chili

Cornbread

Day Five:

Pantry "Minestrone"

I found this recipe in an old Real Simple (such a great magazine) because I was trying to use things I had in my pantry to make a soup. I was pleased with how it turned out. I hope you have these things in your pantry, too! If you make this amount, enjoy some for lunch.

I brought the soup to a boil and added some small pasta for a real minestrone feel and omitted the green beans. I did not add the kidney beans, just the white beans. Remember, every time you use canned beans, rinse and drain them first.

Broiled cheesy bread or grilled cheese

Happy Eating!

~Mamacita

Menu: Slow cooker Asian pork and grilled chicken

Sorry for the delay. I have pink eye. In both eyes. It's my first time to have it and I am not a fan. Fortunately, my little one has not contracted it.

Okay, on to the menu. Since I am late, this will be my last menu of only four days. But, the slow cooker recipes is one of my FAVORITES of all time (not just slow cooker recipes, all recipes). My husband requested it again the next week, and we have already entertained with it to great praise. Enjoy!

This week, we are marinating two times. A marinating tip: poke holes in the meat with a fork or knife to help it soak up the flavor. I always use a zip-top bag for easy cleanup, too. (Also, although we are not using acidic marinades this week, never marinate meat in an acidic marinade for longer than two hours. It will cook the meat.)

Day One:

Slow Cooker Char-Sui Pork Roast

TRY THIS. Even if you have picky eaters, I promise. It is so delicious. Make the entire recipe, we will be using the leftovers later in the week. (Store leftovers with the sauce.)

Brown Rice

You want rice to soak up the YUMMY sauce.

Stir Fry Veggies

1. Use your favorite frozen Asian medley
2. Defrost in the microwave (they will be cooked)
3. Put about 1 T of canola oil in a wok or nonstick skillet over med-high heat
4. Allow pan to get really hot, then add veggies, stirring constantly.
5. Once veggies are crisp, and browned a little, add 2 T Teriyaki sauce and 1 T soy sauce

Day Two:

Lettuce Wraps

Ingredients:

4-8 leaves Boston bibb lettuce

1/4 cup chopped cilantro

1/4 cup shredded carrots

1/4 cup chopped pineapple

1. Warm up leftover pork and sauce
2. Serve in lettuce leaves, topped with cilantro, carrots, and pinepple
3. Squeeze lime over top, if desired

Curry Cous-Cous

1. Make cous-cous according to package directions, but use chicken broth instead of water.
2. Add 1/2 tea curry powder

Lime Black Beans (This is a quick side dish b/c I was pressed for time. Post suggestions if you have them)

1. Rinse and drain one can black beans
2. Warm in microwave with a little water so they don't dry out
3. Squeeze lime juice over the top, season with salt

Day Three:

Marinated Grilled Chicken

Make at least 4 chicken breasts, you will use two tomorrow. Choose your favorite bottled marinade. I love this aisle at the grocery store. If you have ones that you love, please share them with the rest of us! I love a good balsamic one. I have a friend who swears by Italian dressing. Any would work here.

1. Marinate the chicken for at least two hours.
2. Grill in a grill pan or outdoors until cooked through (I usually do 8 minutes/side).

Roasted potatoes

Remember my "go-to" side dish? I seriously make it about every 2-3 weeks.

A green veggie of your choice

I love blanched asparagus. I put asparagus in a pan with about an inch of water, cook with the lid on for about 5 minutes, drain, and season with salt, lemon juice, and butter.

Day Four:

Chicken salad with roasted red pepper dressing

Use lots of veggies from your fridge, bacon, hard-boiled eggs, whatever you like for a good salad meal

Crusty bread

Have you discovered Pillsbury Italian bread? I'm obsessed. So easy and yummy.

Happy Eating!

~Mamacita

Baby Product Reviews: 0-3 Months

Everyone has opinions, especially new moms! This begins a series of posts recommending our favorite baby products for each age range, starting from 0-3 months. For more information on some of the products, click the link.

Favorites: 0-3 months

Aden + Anais Swaddling Blankets

I received one of these as a gift and ordered more right away. You don't need any other receiving blankets at all. These are made of lightweight, breathable muslin and they are huge! I swaddled my daughter until 3 months old and these are the only blankets that were big enough to contain her squirming. Since I stopped swaddling, I have used these as a carrier cover during a nap, as a nursing cover in a pinch, and as a tummy time blanket. She is 8.5 months old, and when it gets colder I plan to start letting her sleep with these blankets in her crib.

You can buy a pack of 4 for approximately $44 on amazon.com. Keep a few for yourself and give some to other new moms!

Activity gym/play mat

This was my daughter's favorite "toy" from 3 weeks to 5 months old. She loved looking at the toys hanging over her head. I gradually watched her progress from looking to batting to reaching to chewing, etc. This makes a great tummy time or back time mat. They are very easy to spot clean and throw in the wash. Even after my daughter could roll around on the mat and sit up unassisted, she still enjoyed playing on the gym. I put it away when she started trying to pull herself up on it around 7 months old. Some of the toys are still in her toy bucket.

Note: I know there are a lot of options out there for play gyms. I recommend one that has plenty of dangling toys, including one that lights up and plays music. I had the Baby Einstein Seek and Discover Deluxe Activity Gym. My daughter loved it, but the company had to send me 4 different stars until we got one that worked well. The first star only lasted a month or so. Their customer service was great, but next time I would buy a different gym to avoid the hassle. I can't be too disappointed though because I only paid $24 for my gym when Target had a big sale. Check amazon.com for reviews before you buy.

I think this looks cool.

Baby Bjorn Babysitter 1-2-3 (Bouncer)

This is one of my very favorite baby purchases. I waited until after my daughter was born to buy this because I didn't know if she would prefer a bouncer or a swing. I borrowed a neighbor's swing for a few days after we came home from the hospital. She hated the motion but loved sleeping in it, so I nixed the idea of a swing and ordered this bouncer instead. It creates the same cuddly space that a swing creates and she will be able to use it as a regular seat even after she is walking. She took many, many naps in this during her newborn days. As she got older, she liked to sit in it and watch the world, play with the toy bar, kick to make herself bounce, and interact with me. I often kept this in my bathroom to use while taking a shower. It was my go-to "bring in the car" item for picnics, trips to the grandparents' houses, etc. She is 8.5 months old and creeps and cruises but still enjoys sitting in it. I love that it is plain and a welcome break from all of the bright baby items that fill the rest of my house. The cover is reversible and washable in the washing machine.

Note: The new version of these bouncers is called the "Bjorn Babysitter Balance". It comes in a bunch of cute colors but is more expensive than the Babysitter 1-2-3 (which got better reviews). I would try to find an online retailer that still carries the 1-2-3, or look on craigslist.org. I ordered mine online but I can't remember the retailer.

Travel System

Most people in this day and age buy a travel system, which is a combination infant car seat/stroller. This was a lifesaver during the first few months when you want to get out of the house. You can transfer a sleeping baby into the car, stroller, house, church, restaurant, etc without interrupting a nap. In the early months, I would plan my outings during a nap. She fell asleep in the car on the way to our destination, and we would run errands and return home where she could finish her nap in the living room. Since the car seat and stroller are meant to fit together, you can shade the baby from light and sun very easily.

Note: I had the Chicco Cortina Travel System in Discovery and I would recommend it. I chose it because it has the highest ratings in Consumer Reports. We used it exclusively until 6.5 months when she switched into a convertible car seat. Unlike some other brands of infant car seats, the Chicco does not fit well over the top of a shopping cart. This was a disappointment at first but then I decided that it wasn't a safe idea to do that anyway. During grocery trips, I either put the carrier in basket part of the shopping cart or used the Baby Bjorn (especially if I was buying a lot of items). The Chicco car seat installation using LATCH is much easier than some other brands. In hindsight, I would not buy a second base for another car because this one is so easy to switch. Save your money for a convertible car seat!

Baby's First Year Calendar

I wish I had bought one of these before my daughter was born. With pictures, videos, and my personal blog posts, I have kept track of her changes and milestones and recently began to fill in this calendar for her. It will be a great keepsake. There are stickers to mark important events and accomplishments. I will now plan to write in the calendar whenever I notice something new or have a funny story that I want to remember.

You can buy one on amazon.com for about $12. I bought two in order to take advantage of the super saver shipping (gets me every time!) so now I have one for a future child.

Blackout Curtain

The sun rises in front of our house and shines right into my daughter's room. To make matters worse, the rectangular window is topped by a semicircle. Before she was born, I went to Bed, Bath, and Beyond and bought a double curtain rod, a blackout curtain, and a 95-inch drape that fit the color scheme of her room. It works perfectly! I am convinced that this is the only way she will sleep in until 9 am. The rest of the house is bright and her room is pitch dark. I am sure that it also contributes to her excellent napping during the day.

Baby Bjorn Air Carrier

This front carrier was perfect for me and my husband up until 7 months old. I used it almost every day if my daughter wasn't asleep in her car seat during an outing. Around 20 pounds I bought a new Beco carrier because the Bjorn hurt my shoulders. I am very thankful for both carriers and I don't regret buying this one first. I will definitely use it with my second child. It is a great carrier to use for younger babies. My daughter faced inward until she had good head control and could face out. She loved to be in the Baby Bjorn in the grocery store, on a walk, etc. The Air Carrier is much cooler than the Original Bjorn during the hot Texas summer.

Note: The weight limit is 25 lbs, but your child may outgrow it before then. I tried to use it a few weeks after I ordered my new carrier and I couldn't fasten the top over my daughter's shoulders. She was about 20 pounds and 28-28.5 inches tall. Amazon.com sells this carrier for about $70 compared to $99 in Babies R Us and Target. Check craigslist.org. You can buy a used one in good condition at a fraction of the cost. It is easily washed in the washing machine.


Grandma's Spot Remover

I have a pooper. I can't tell you the number of times I had to wash poop out of clothes, car seats, blankets, etc. I wish I had tried Grandma's spot remover in the beginning! It works very well on new and old stains. You can buy a small bottle at Bed, Bath, and Beyond for $3.99.


Bumbo

This is a great infant seat that helps babies build head and neck control. It allows them to sit assisted and observe the world. I started using this around 2 months old for just a few minutes at a time and then progressed from there. I believe that it helped my daughter build the muscles to help her sit unassisted about a week before she was 5 months old. I used it with a tray to help her learn to pick up toys.

Buy one used on craigslist.org for about half the price


Eurobath Primo Bath Tub

I didn't realize how much I liked my bath tub until my mom started searching for one to keep at her house. It is a bit larger than most baby bath tubs and my mom kept trying tubs that were smaller. The only problem was that my then 8-month-old daughter was getting close to outgrowing them! She ended up taking them all back and purchasing a Eurobath. She will have plenty of room in the Eurobath for a long time. I started using mine as soon as her umbilical cord fell off (2 weeks old). The baby can lay at an incline on one side of the tub and can sit up on the other side. There are many tubs that are created with this idea, but the Eurobath provides more leg room on the sitting side than the rest. I also like that the drain is located in a spot where the baby won't sit on it. It is very easy to clean and blends in with the typical white bath tub.

-Smart Shopper Mama

Here are a few more from Mamacita:

Boppy Travel Swing

My daughter loved this swing from the day she came home from the hospital. I love this swing for several reasons: portability, storage, safety, two incline choices, nice music, and cuteness. She is about to be too big for it, and that will be a sad day! We used this for soothing, independent time, and I used it often for her to sit in while I took a quick shower. Look at this cute gender-neutral one that they have at Target!

Conair Sound Machine

I LOVE this for white noise to help my little one nap. There are 10 white noise choices, and the volume control is great. I found mine at Walmart, but they are available at Target, Amazon, etc. For me, this is a must have!

Boppy Sleep positioner

This is a great, comfortable sleep positioner. It has a slight incline, good bumpers, and "memory foam." I was so grateful for it when my little lady was very congested. I highly recommend it.

Diaper Genie

You've heard of them, but I don't think you realize how wonderful they truly are until your precious brand-new baby is making 10-12 poopies a day! I have a very basic one, but I wish I had this one.

Have favorite 0-3 month products of your own? Leave a comment and share! Stay tuned for a post about breast-feeding essentials!

Menu: Pork Tenderloin Tacos & Greek Shrimp Scampi

This week, we will be cooking three times, but if you are in a pinch, you could even get away with cooking twice. We will make four meals total, but soon I will begin offering menus for five meals.

Day One:

*Pork tenderloin w/dijon-apricot glaze

Ingredients:

1 pork tenderloin (about 2 lbs.- this will feed you twice)

4 T dijon mustard

4 T apricot jam (Don't like or have apricot jam? Try pineapple, blackberry, or raspberry)

2 T brown sugar

sea salt

fresh ground black pepper

*When cooking large pieces of meat in the oven, allow them to come to more room temperature before cooking. DO NOT go straight from the refrigerator or the meat will not cook well.

1. Preheat the oven to 425.

2. Place the pork in a foil-lined glass pan & season liberally with salt and pepper.

3. Stir half of the dijon, apricot jam, and brown sugar in one bowl. Stir the other half in another bowl. You will use one bowl for basting and the other for a dipping sauce.

4. Baste the pork liberally with the glaze and place in oven.

5. Bake for 20-30 minutes, basting with the glaze at least one more time during the cooking process. For pink pork, a meat thermometer should read 160, but I like mine at 170. The pork will still cook itself a little once removed. (Use a meat thermometer, so you don't have to cut into the pork and risk losing the juices.)

6. Allow pork to sit for 10 minutes before slicing. While pork sits, heat the other bowl of glaze in the microwave for a dipping sauce.

* Toasted Sesame Balsamic Asparagus

* Wild Rice/Any other grain (Feeling ambitious? Try Israeli cous-cous with pine nuts!)

Day Two:

* Pork Tacos w/ pineapple (serves 2)

Ingredients:

Leftover pork, cubed

1 small can of chopped pineapple

1/4 cup yellow onion, chopped

4 corn tortillas

chopped cilantro, for garnish

lime wedges, for garnish

1 T olive oil

1. Heat oil in nonstick skillet over med-high heat.

2. Add onion, sautéeing for about 1 minute.

3. Add pork and pineapple, sautée until heated through

4. Fill tortillas with pork mixture, top with cilantro, and squeeze lime juice over top

* Fiesta Rice

Halve the recipe (then it serves 4), leftovers make a great vegetarian lunch

Day Three:

* Greek-style shrimp scampi (Use the leftovers for day 4)

I LOVE this recipe. A few changes: either use more shrimp than called for, or a little less pasta, the ratio seemed off to me. Also, I love olives, so I add extra. Don't like olives? Use sun-dried tomatoes instead. You could also wilt in some fresh spinach for a punch of color and extra nutrients.

* Tossed Side Salad

* Crusty Bread w/roasted garlic

Have you ever roasted garlic? Oh, so yummy.

Roasted Garlic:

1. Preheat oven to 400

2. Cut the top off of a whole garlic bulb.

3. Liberally pour olive oil over the garlic.

4. Cover in foil. (It should look like a foil ball.)

5. Roast for about 25-30 minutes, or until you can squeeze the garlic with tongs and it has some give.

6. Scoop out the cloves and spread over the bread instead of butter.

Day Four:

* Repeat Day Three exactly. (Is that boring? Then, make two new sides, such as blanched green beans, steamed broccoli, or roasted brussel sprouts.)

PLEASE COMMENT if you have QUESTIONS or FEEDBACK.

Have a WEEK-LONG MENU of your own? Email it to me typed exactly how you want it posted at newmoms09@yahoo.com, and I might post it to share and try myself!

Happy Eating!

~Mamacita

Resources we love

Mamacita loves:

On Becoming Babywise by Gary Ezzo

This book gives good, clear ideas for establishing a healthy eat/wake/sleep routine for your child. You have to take some of it with a grain of salt and not get too extreme, but I am convinced this is why my little munchkin slept through the night starting at 8.5 weeks. We will discuss this book and schedules/sleeping in depth later, but give this one a read!

Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Mark Weissbluth

This is an excellent resource for ALL of your sleeping/napping questions. I especially like that it goes into toddler years. He discusses sleep patterns and gives suggestions based on medical research as well as parent insight.

Babycenter.com

I started using this website when I was pregnant. I love their weekly email updates. I continue to get them now and find them very helpful in tracking the development of my baby. I also love their tips and ideas for wake time with your baby, their experts who share about baby health questions, and their realistic suggestions and articles.

What to Expect the First Year

I loved What to Expect when I was pregnant, and I love it now, too. It is the most exhaustive resource I have found, and I know I can open it up and find something relating to most all questions that I have.

Menu: Fish tacos & Olive Chicken

This week, we will be making fish two ways and a delicious crock-pot recipe. Have I mentioned how much I love my crock-pot?! You will see that I use it at least every other week. Below, I have posted the menu breakdown day by day and links to the recipes. Below the links, I will write any changes or additions I made. Post your comments/questions and enjoy!

Day One:

Blackened Tilapia

Cook 2 fillets for dinner tonight, and at least 2 extra for tacos later in the week.

Sautéed Spinach

Ingredients:

Spinach Buy fresh (you will need at least 16 oz for 2 people), or buy a package of whole frozen

Lemon

Salt & Pepper

Dash of nutmeg (optional)

Crumbled, cooked bacon (optional)

1. Heat a small amount of olive oil in a skillet on med-high heat

2. Add the spinach, a squeeze of half a lemon, and salt, pepper, & nutmeg to taste

3. Stir to wilt the spinach (covering the pan helps speed this along)- about 2-4 minutes

4. Serve with crumbled bacon/turkey bacon on top and extra lemon, if desired.

Roasted Potatoes

This is one of my "go to" side dishes.

Ingredients:

6-10 red or yellow potatoes, halved

4-6 cloves of garlic, peeled (depends on how much garlic you enjoy)

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Kosher salt & pepper

1. Preheat the oven to 400

2. Place halved potatoes and garlic cloves in a baking pan (metal works better than glass, nonstick is fine)

3. Drizzle liberally with olive oil and season with salt & pepper to taste

4. Bake for 20 minutes, or until potatoes are crispy on the outside and you can pierce them with a fork. (You are NOT trying to make home fries, so don't over cook them.)

Day Two:

Olive Chicken

Make the entire recipe, you will eat the leftovers. I used boneless, skinless chicken breasts, but if you had thighs, they would be good. I added the capers at the end.

Steamed Green Beans

Buy a bag of frozen green beans, steam in microwave, and season with butter, salt, pepper, and lemon juice.

Cheesy Orzo

This is one of my FAVORITE side dishes of all time. Make the entire recipe for delicious leftovers.

Day Three:

Fish Tacos with leftover fish: with lime-cilantro crema OR with cabbage slaw

Both are delicious, try the other recipe another time!

Black beans & rice

Ingredients:

1 can of black beans, drained and rinsed

1 bag of instant white rice, cooked (do not over cook!)

1 lime

1 handful of cilantro, chopped

1 T butter

1/2 T olive oil

1/2 t cumin

Salt & pepper

1. Heat a nonstick skillet over med-high heat, add butter and olive oil.

2. When butter has melted and is hot, add cooked rice, cumin, and salt/pepper to taste.

3. Warm rice through, stirring well (some might get brown or crispy).

4. Add black beans and lime juice, stir until heated through.

5. Top with lime juice, and taste for salt before serving.

*Don't have time? Just microwave the black beans, mix with the cooked rice, throw in cilantro, lime, and salt/pepper!

Mexican Tossed Salad

Ingredients:

Salad greens

1 Avocado, sliced

1-2 T Sunflower or pumpkin seeds

1 Tomato, chopped

1 Cucumber, chopped

1 Carrot, chopped or peeled

1. Toss ingredients together and serve with your favorite vinaigrette. (I will include recipes for my favorites in a later post.)

Day Four:

Leftover Olive Chicken & Orzo

Tossed salad (use up your veggies!)

Happy eating!

~Mamacita

Cooking with a new baby is not impossible

Every Friday or Saturday, look for my post of a menu for meals for the following week. When I have time, I might also post a shopping list. Plan on the menu providing at least four delicious, home-cooked meals, with you only cooking 2-3 nights a week. My favorite resources are Cooking Light magazine, the Food network, and my family's/my recipes.

Before you read on, there are a few things you should know:

1. I love to cook. I learned from my parents (who are both excellent cooks) as well as the fabulous stars of the Food Network. I only started cooking regularly less than five years ago when I was a newlywed. Although you are reading from the perspective of someone who loves to be in the kitchen, these meals are accessible to anyone willing to try.

2. I love food- all kinds, all flavors! I like making and trying unique flavors as well as cooking classics. (See lists below for things you might need before I post my menus.)

3. With a new baby, I have learned that you have to be resourceful with your time. Thus, my "cook once, eat twice" philosophy was born! Every week, we will either eat the exact same meal twice, use the leftovers to make something easy and different, or freeze it for another time.

Here are some of my pantry staples that might help:

• red/yellow onions
• garlic
• low-sodium chicken broth
• canned tomatoes (plain and Italian flavored)
• tomato paste
• pasta sauce (Newman's Own roasted garlic is my favorite)
• canned beans (black, kidney, and garbanzo)
• pasta (spaghetti, fettuccine, penne, and orzo)
• rice (brown, white, and basmati)
• cous-cous (plain and pine nut & garlic are my favorites to keep around)
• white wine (small bottles, so no waste)
• sea and kosher salt
• many varieties of vinegar: balsamic, apple cider, white wine, and rice wine
• good extra virgin olive oil

Here are some of my fridge staples that might help:

• cilantro and flat-leaf parsley
• lemons and limes
• Dijon mustard
• Feta and parmesan cheese (I always keep these because they have a really long life)
• pre-minced garlic and ginger
• low-sodium soy sauce (stored in fridge once opened)
• Hoisin, Teriaki, and Fish sauce (stored in fridge once opened)
• capers, black/green olives, and roasted red peppers

Here are some of my freezer staples that might help:

• Meat: boneless, skinless chicken breasts, pork tenderloin, pot roast, and pork roast (I buy them on special and freeze a lot at a time, but I also cook them fresh too.)
• Fish: white, flaky fish (i.e. tilapia), salmon, and shrimp (I buy them fresh so that this is the first time they have been frozen.)
• chopped and whole spinach
• artichoke hearts
• green beans
• asian stir-fry medleys

I am so excited that you dropped by, and I hope my posts about cooking and food are helpful, fun, and get a delicious meal on your table at least four times a week! See you Friday with the menu for next week.

~Mamacita

What we're about...

We do not have all the answers, but we have a blast being moms. We've learned from our mothers, each other, and friends, so we want to share our trials and triumphs with you. So, be on the lookout for posts about:

*baby toy and product "reviews"

*advice on nursing, scheduling, and sleeping

*books to read or not to read

*traveling with baby

*activities with baby

*a weekly menu of meals for mom and dad to make life easier

*guest posts from our friends and readers on various topics!

If you ever have questions for us, ask them as a comment and we will post an answer as soon as we can. Thanks for stopping by, look forward to sharing motherhood with you!