My Little Christmas Miracle...

On December 21, 2009, I found out I was pregnant. I actually knew it before I even took the test...which was weird since I had never been pregnant before. I sensed that I was going to have a baby. I kept the secret to myself for over 24 hours, not even telling my husband. It was...without trying to sound too much like Sally Field in Steel Magnolias...the most precious day of my life. I learned on that day that my maternal instinct kicked in the moment I saw the result of the test, and I already loved this child more than I could describe. He was, at the time, the size of a sesame seed, but I was already planning his future (within reason...or not).

On December 22, 2009, I walked into my husband's office at work with an envelope in my hand. In that envelope was a positive pregnancy test. I acted like I had received a horrible piece of mail that I couldn't even talk about. He wouldn't even open it at first...he later said he was so worried about what was in the envelope, that knowing about it would ruin Christmas. Ha ha...ACTING! He opened it...eyes welled up with tears, and he about squeezed the baby out giving me a hug. On that day, I felt true joy and indescribable elation. Neither of us could stop grinning.

We briefly spoke about when we were going to tell our families. We decided we would tell them on Christmas, but we wanted to hold off on telling the other children until we got the a-okay from the doctor at the end of my first trimester.

On December 25, 2009, we ventured up to Lead, South Dakota, to spend Christmas with my husband's parents, his siblings, and their significant others. Only problem...figuring out how to tell all the adults about our exciting news when we had THREE children in the house. So we not so slyly told the kids to go play downstairs. My husband's sister...immediately figuring out what was about to happen...grabbed her camera. My husband's mother was too distracted picking up wrapping paper to truly appreciate what we were about to announce. So with the children playing downstairs, we sat with family and my husband announced, "We're going to have a baby". My mother-in-law, so beside herself with excitement, almost inhaled the garbage bag she was holding as she brought her hands up to her mouth without letting go of the bag. I don't even remember what everybody was saying...just that there was SO MUCH happiness in the room. Moments later, one of the children downstairs announced "PREGNANT? MY MOM IS HAVING A BABY?" to which her mom quickly told my husband, "Go fix this...I am NOT pregnant". (Sidenote - she's now pregnant...lol).

My husband, decides to tell the children that our DOG was pregnant, and the only reason we asked them to go downstairs when we told everybody else was so the dog could tell them herself when we headed back to Rapid City. Oye...never send a man to do a woman's job. That's the best you could come up with? Several months later, when he would tell my two step-children that I was the pregnant one, my stepson would respond with, "So Bella isn't pregnant? We don't get puppies in the summer?" Classy, hubby...classy.

After spending the day with my husband's family and extended family (who we didn't tell), we ventured back down to Rapid City in a bad snowstorm and ventured over to my older brother's house to tell my parents. We once again made sure the children were occupied with toys and cousins, and it was my turn to announce, "We're pregnant!" My mother became so excited that she gave the world a fist pump better than any castmember of Jersey Shore. Her fist pump also went within INCHES of my father's face...which was equal parts scary and amusing to watch.

Looking back at the grandmothers' reactions, I'm surprised we didn't have to medicate either of them...I've never seen two women so unable to handle exciting news. One chokes on a garbage bag and the other almost commits an unintentional act of domestic violence.

The next few months were a whirlwind of wonderful overeating, shopping for giant shirts and quiet moments of reflection with my hands on my stomach.

Fast forward to March of 2009...the part I don't like remembering much. I woke up one morning just not feeling right. Actually, I felt panicky and knew something was wrong. I ended up at the doctor's office with skyrocketing blood pressure. Simply put - I have never been more terrified in my entire life. This child that I so desperately wanted was at risk. It was too soon for him (well at the time..."it") to be born. But from that fear was born several lessons: 1) My husband is stronger than I will ever know - He was a rock that kept me calm. He freaked out on his own time, but knew I needed somebody to tell me it would be okay, and that I needed to rest and be calm. 2) NEVER underestimate the power of prayer - And I don't mean this because my son ended up just fine. Rather, my faith in God was renewed, and I learned that daily prayer and conversation with God is good for your physical and mental health. I would have a sense of peace wash over me when I prayed, and that in turn, would help my blood pressure. 3) My son is strong - no matter what my blood pressure was at, there was NOTHING indicating it was affecting my son. What a trooper...

So I had to go on medication (no big deal in the long run), and limit what I did at work. It was all completely worth it.

A month later, my mother, mother-in-law, husband and I went to the doctor's office for our first 3D ultrasound which would also tell us if we were having a boy or a girl. Going into the appointment, I was convinced we were having a girl. It wasn't that I wanted a girl more than a boy...especially after what had happened earlier in the pregnancy...I had just sensed it was a girl.

Imagine my surprise when the technician said, "I don't usually say 100% one way or the other, but this is definitely a boy." What I remember the most about that appointment was my husband's face right after the announcement, and my mother-in-law crying as she kept hitting my husband in the shoulder. Later, she'd tell me she didn't remember hitting him, but I remember watching her whack his shoulder multiple times with excitement. My mother was so nervously excited the whole time, that she didn't stop talking. I remember her bouncing up and down. IT WAS A BOY!

And then he started to grow. Boy oh boy...did he start to grow. I could barely fit into most of my clothing when I still had 2 months to go. The summer was ridiculously hot. I couldn't walk well. I either had to eat 100 portions or 1/4 portion, depending on where my son was in comparison to my stomach. It hurt to sit down. It hurt to stand up. I had to get momentum to roll out of bed. I had to give myself a pep talk before attempting more than a few stairs. But it was all so so worth it...

In the beginning of August, 2010, my doctor told me my son was measuring at around 11 pounds, and that I had only a 5% chance of delivering naturally. Given my health risks from earlier in the pregnancy, the fact that my hips weren't as big as they wanted (Yes...finally tiny body parts), the location of my son, as well as the odds, I opted for a scheduled C-section. It was surprising how rude some people were about it. I learned an important lesson during that time - keeping my mouth shut, even when others can't. I had people tell me I had made the wrong choice, and that it was "ridiculous not to even try". I had others say, "So what? I know so and so who had a baby that big naturally". Well...good for your friend and her giant lady-parts. You are not better than me, giant va-jay-jay is not better than me. We are all mothers...let's be happy for one another. Women can be so catty and rude. That was a minor speedbump in an otherwise exciting last few weeks before delivery.

August 12, 2010 - THE DAY - My husband and I left the house early to drive to the hospital and check in. I was so excited, until I changed into the surgery gown. Then I was terrified. What if I'm not numb, and I feel everything? What if I can't walk for awhile? Wait...does this mean I'm going to have a kid in a few hours? HOLD ON! I CAN'T DO THIS! But I did do it. The operation itself was a blur to me...mostly because of the medication. I remember being thrown down onto the table when my body went entirely numb...I remember a lot of pressure and pulling. I remember a HOT resident coming into the room, a nurse asking if that was my husband, and me drowsily saying, "Oh...sure...he will do" to laughter. I remember comparing my position on the table to a lethal injection...more laughter. I even remember telling everybody that one of my friends said that to me...and I didn't want to take credit for the joke (One should never steal another's joke...Dane Cook - write that down). I remember my husband coming in and delicately touching my forehead. Then I remember the cry. My son was here. And the moment I found out I was pregnant was instantly replaced by this moment as the BEST moment of my life.

My son had problems breathing at first (he was a lazy breather), and he ended up in the NICU, which was stressful...but months later...I don't even remember the bad parts of that...all the bad is replaced by good when you have children...yet another lesson I've learned. When I was finally allowed to go see my son in the NICU, he was connected to a bunch of tubes and had an oxygen tent over his head. He looked like Buzz Lightyear. I could have freaked out about that...and maybe I did at the time...but what I remember now is him turning his head towards my voice, and grabbing onto my finger with his tiny hand.

I didn't get to hold him until the next day, and maybe I freaked out about that at the time...but what I remember now is rocking in the chair with him, and he nuzzled into my chest and fell asleep in my arms.

He didn't get to stay with us until the next night...and maybe I freaked out about it at the time...but what I remember now is getting to hold him without tubes and cords, my son going #1, #2 and #4.5 (Google It) all over my husband as he jumped up to change him in the middle of the night. Our first night spent together as a little family. That's what I remember the most...

And now I have this amazing son that is laughing, smiling, talking/yelling, trying to clap, and enriching my life more than I could imagine.

So yes...he wasn't born on Christmas...but my son is my Christmas Miracle. I've been thinking a lot about the last year as Saturday approaches...and I wanted to share a bit of my thoughts with you. Merry Christmas, All! Go have a baby.

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Eating: I had a delicious "fancy English Muffin" from a gift box sent by my aunt and uncle. So delicious. So fancy.

Listening to: The snoring of a tiny Maltese dog...who sounds like she's about 100 pounds when she's sleeping.

Annoyed At: The fact I missed one gift and I need to go out and grab it today...of all days.

Shopping For: Said gift.

Sidenote of the Day: I am so excited for Christmas this year. Even though my son is only 4 1/2 months old...it's his first Christmas. I feel like a kid again.

I'd like to buy the world a Coke...

It's been awhile since I've posted...mainly because I've reentered the work force and no longer can time my blog entries around the sleeping patterns of an adorable baby. So now I have to type these around the sleeping patterns of myself, a grouchy man bear and an adorable baby.

Which is why I'm just getting around to posting this...

So how about those Chilean miners? Woo hoo!!

I was still on maternity leave when the miners were rescued from the depths below. At first, I was only going to watch a few rescues...as I figured they would get old after awhile. They didn't. I stayed up way too long during my son's 2am feeding, because I wanted to watch more rescues.

Things I learned about the rescues:
1. Nothing is more beautiful then a child smiling ear to ear at their father.
2. If you cheat on your wife and maintain a long relationship with the mistress, they will find out while you're underground.
3. I think it's cool when people find Jesus in the craziest of places.
4. I love that the news channels all had funny tidbits of info on each miner...it made them all surprisingly real to me.
5. The drill that helped rescue the miners, hysterically named "Plan B," was an American drill.
6. NASA is helpful both on and off this here earth.
7. I'm glad my husband isn't a miner.
8. I hope something like that never happens again, but I loved the heartwarming feeling I got watching each man get rescued.

One of the other things I truly enjoyed about these rescues was how they captivated the world. Between each individual rescue, CNN would cut to people watching the live feed in Japan, Spain, England, etc... The whole world was watching and they were all feeling that happy feeling that I had in my living room. Woot!!

I wish we had more world warming stories like that. It reminded me of that scene in Armageddon where the meteor was destroyed, and everybody started celebrating...except this story was real...and Bruce Willis didn't have to die.

I'm sick of the news always being negative, and of politicians attacking other politicians in a desperate attempt to get votes. For a brief period of time...we all forgot about the crap and focused on something great. We need to do that more.

Peace!!

S

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Eating: I totally had a school kid lunch today, complete with chips in a baggie and a snack pak.

Listening to/Watching: We're about to watch Dexter. Bless you, DVR.

Annoyed at: The Politicians. Yes...all of them.

Shopping for: Come quickly, end of the month...I need money.

Sidenote of the Day: The start of my second week was much easier than the start of my first week back. That being said...I still miss my baby.

Another chapter ends...

On Monday, I go back to work after 9 weeks at home for Maternity Leave.

People weren't kidding when they said that being a parent was the most rewarding, but most difficult, thing I will ever do. The sleepless nights...I don't really even mind them. The ginormously full diapers...I can actually find humor in them.

Don't get me wrong...I am SO excited to return to work. I love my job and I love my colleagues. I miss adult conversations and lunches that don't involve me trying to eat while feeding my son a bottle. That being said, I have been half-joking about getting a discrete baby carrier and placing my son in it to take him to work. He would blend into my suit. He's a very content baby, and rarely cries. He is also highly intelligent, so he probably could develop bond arguments and recite standard sentences at request of the judge. But then EVERYBODY would want to bring their babies to work, and let's all be honest...not all babies are awesome.

All joking aside, my heart is breaking. I have spent the last nine weeks with the most wonderful little man I have ever met. A little man who I have the co-responsibility of raising. I have watched him raise his head, already try to sit up, coo, jabber and smile. I was the first person to see him smile and it was right up there with hearing him cry for the first time the moment he was born.

I'm terrified that I will miss his other firsts. I'm desperately trying to make him laugh all the time because I want to hear that first. I'm probably creeping him out, which is why he stops smiling and gives me judgment face at least a few times a day.

I secretly hope the daycare providers don't tell me if he has a first at daycare (laugh, steps, rolling over, etc).

I am also lucky that my mother and mother-in-law are going to watch him for the first two weeks until his spot at daycare opens up. That way I get over my anxiety about not being around him 24/7 before I have to deal with leaving him with "strangers".

I use the quotation marks, because we take the other two kids to that facility in the summer, so I am familiar with the main people who run the joint. That doesn't make it any easier. Although I do have a calm sense of confidence knowing that the other two have adored everybody there the last two summers.

You would think I would next type "I want to win the lottery so I can afford to quit," but oddly enough that's not the truth. I really think I'm meant to be a working mom in the sense that I work both outside AND inside the home. This doesn't make me better or worse than anybody else in this world. It's just my own personal reality.

So this next chapter of my life is coming to an end. It's been one of my favorite chapters. Right at this moment, I wish the chapter was longer, but yesterday...when I was eating lunch with my good friends/co-workers...I couldn't wait to turn the page. Ahhh...this is heartbreaking.

Now if I was a pessimist, I would end my entry right now and have a good cry about how sad it is that I won't be around my son 24/7 except for vacations and weekends. But I'm an optimist, so I have thought of all the wonderful things that will happen BECAUSE I am going back to work:

• I get to experience the "I'm so excited to see you" smile and coo that I never get...because I'm always around.
• I get to give my son the "I'm so excited to see you" smile and coo that I occassionally give him when he wakes up from a nap without bursting into tears.
• I'm off of bedrest/limited office work which means I'm back in the courtroom...where I love to be.
• My son gets to meet other babies and starts this whole socialization thing so he doesn't end up weird.
• I'm not going to lie - I've been frustrated sometimes trying to get my son to sleep, or to stop crying, so I can get some stuff done around the house. Ha ha...somebody else's turn now. (Sidenote - I'm going to miss it, though)
• I don't have to time lunch around somebody else's feeding and pooping schedule. Hopefully...I do have some co-workers who overshare. I refuse to schedule my lunches around their bathroom breaks.

So am I happy to go back to work? Absolutely!!

Am I sad to leave my son with others? Absolutely!!

Which emotion is stronger? It really depends on when you ask. Right now I wish I had more time with my son. Yesterday it was the opposite. Monday, I will probably be crying as I drive to work...but I'll be smiling when I drive home. Maybe the next day I'll be smiling on the way to work. I'm going to keep an open mind on that. I know it will get easier.

Maybe I will petition our county commissioners to start a daycare at the courthouse. That way I could easily see my son every day. Woot. Problem solved.

S

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Eating: Tastefully Simple Nana's Apple Cake with Caramel Sauce. De-flippin-licious

Listening to/Watching: Detroit 1-8-7. It's good. Darn good.

Annoyed at: The fact that the United States doesn't mandate paid maternity and paternity leave for a significant portion of time like...every other first world country.

Shopping for: I am addicted to www.mamabargains.com and www.diapers.com

Sidenote of the Day: Xzibit is guest starring on Detroit 1-8-7. Fact - one of my father's favorite shows from a few years back was "Pimp My Ride". Yes...my father.

I want to be serious for a moment...

Today I am not going to blog about a recipe, or a parenting lesson complete with humorous links. Rather, I feel the need to talk/vent/discuss the issue of teen suicides and bullying that has been in the news the last few weeks.

I'm not going to list a bunch of videos that celebrities have been making, although many are very powerful. Rather, please click here to watch a bunch of them.

I find it heartbreaking that young people are killing themselves rather than turning to help. That they feel so alone and bullied that they think suicide is the only option. When I started hearing about these stories, my first thought was, "Why didn't they go talk to somebody?"

Reflection on that question led me back to the bullying...and I don't mean the specific act of bullying that occurred immediately before the suicides, but rather the type of bullying that our society is continuing to accept. Bullying isn't always beating somebody up who is weaker, or using words to berate another into feeling inferior.

What do I mean? Something as simple as a news story telling youth that they are inferior. A story saying that the State of California is not allowing gay people to get married. To me, a heterosexual, I see it as a decision...whether right or wrong...as to how that state is going to define marriage. However, if I put myself in the shoes of a confused lesbian teenager...that decision tells me that I am not equal to my neighbor, to my sibling, that I will not have the same happy future as a straight woman.

Now add a layer to that bullying. The same teenager is watching the news story with her mother, who casually states, "I'm glad they outlawed gay marriage in California. I don't agree with that. It's against God." Not only has the mother reenforced the bullying of the decision, she has also closed a door. If that young girl needs to talk to somebody, she can't even talk to her mother. And now she thinks she's going to hell.

Now add another layer - say the same teenager is sitting next to her brother, age 10. He sees the news story and hears his mother also condemn gay people. He hears that they are sinners. He sees by the story that gay people are inferior to him. Fast forward to school - how do you think he will treat an openly gay student if his parents are teaching him that he is better than his fellow student? How will he treat his sister? How will he treat a friend who is bullying a gay student?

You can create these layers of bullying with many examples - and more than just using GLBT victims. I am not writing this blog to tell everybody that they must believe a certain way, or accept all lifestyles as equal. I understand that we all come from different backgrounds. However, using our background as an excuse to bully is inexcusable.

I cannot put myself in the position of the children that killed themselves in the last few weeks. I have never worried about who I should turn to when I have a problem. I have never been bullied into believing that I am inferior to other people because of who I choose to love, or how I choose to live my life. I have never turned on the television to see repeated images and stories reinforcing that I am inferior to those around me. I was raised comfortable in my own skin. I was raised to know that everybody has a right to the same things that I have a right to - education, love, jobs, children, marriage.

Which leads me to a major shout out to my mother. When I was in college, one of my good friends confided in me that he was gay. He came from a very religious home, and was scared to tell his parents. He told me that he was terrified that his family would disown him. He was worried about how he would pay for his college education if his parents cut him off...but he couldn't keep it a secret any longer. I was overwhelmed with his story, and wasn't sure what to do. So I called my mother. I cried into the phone - completely unable to understand what he was going through because I knew I had parents who loved me unconditionally. After I finished talking to my mother, she quietly replied, "You tell him that he will always have a home with us if he feels he doesn't have a home with his parents."

I have never been more proud to be my mother's daughter than during that phone call. What a lesson in unconditional love. In that brief statement, my mother taught me that everybody should be loved - everybody should be accepted - to welcome others with open arms - and above all else to be kind.

What happened to that friend? It was very hard at first. I sat with him when he called his parents. I remember him picking up the phone a few times and putting it down...hands shaking...unable to dial the number. When he finally told his parents, his voice shaking, they hung up on him. What a message to send your child...

But it got better...

Eventually they did pick up the phone again. They will never agree with how he lives his life, but they did let him know that they love him. I think his relationship with his parents will constantly be a work in progress. I have lost touch with that friend, and I wonder how he is doing and how his parents are doing.

I am glad I was there for him. I am forever proud of my mother for letting him know that he would always have a family behind him, no matter how he lives his life. It was a profound life lesson for me, and one that I carry with me to this day.

Now that I am a mother, I already worry about how I will do at raising my son. I pray that I can teach him to accept others, to stand up for those that need a friend and above all else, to be kind.

That's all I want him to be - to be kind to others.

So the moral of the story today:

Do not manipulate the Bible to justify bullying.

Do not manipulate laws to justify bullying.

Do not teach your children to bully.

It's as simple as that. Think before you speak. Ask yourself if what you say will hurt another person. Be kind - you do not know the story of the person that you're next to, even if that person is your child, or your best friend, or your co-worker, or another student in your class.

Be kind.

Slap Ya Mama Crab Spread

No, this is not an appetizer that condones domestic violence. That's just the name of the cajun seasoning that I used. You can really use any cajun seasoning you want...but you can't call it SLAP YA MAMA CRAB SPREAD unless you use some Slap Ya Mama. You'd just have to call it "Cajun Crab Spread". Yawn.

This only takes a few minutes to prepare, but you should chill it for at least a few hours so the flavors will mix. I brought this over to my brother and sister-in-law's house last weekend. I made it in the morning...took less than 10 minutes total, and then threw it in the fridge until we went over to their place for dinner. And then I found $5 (which is what we say in my family when somebody tells a pointless, boring story that isn't very entertaining...because when you find $5, the story suddenly gets exciting).

Slap Ya Mama Crab Spread

4 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese

1/2 cup reduced fat mayonnaise

8 oz imitation crabmeat, chopped

1/4 cup chopped celery

1/4 cup chopped green pepper

1 garlic clove, pressed

1 1/2 - 3 teaspoons of Slap Ya Mama cajun seasoning

1. Place cream cheese in small mixing bowl. Microwave on HIGH for 30 seconds or until softened. Add mayonnaise and whisk until smooth.


2. Chop crab meat. Chop celery and bell pepper. Add ingredients to bowl.


3. Add garlic to bowl and mix everything.


4. Add Slap Ya Mama to taste.


5. Cover and refrigerate spread for at least three hours. Serve with crackers, toasted bread slices or pita chips.

Tips from Sarah

• If you make it as directed, with the low fat ingredients, 2 tablespoons of the dip is only 40 calories.
• I didn't make it with reduced-fat mayo, and the flavors were still good. There are just certain things I don't think you should buy as reduced fat or fat free...like mayo. It's meant to be regular. If you want a reduced fat sandwich, develop a relationship with yellow mustard.
• I served the dip with toasted sea salt pita chips. The chips complimented the dip very well.
• I used a crab/shrimp combo instead of crab only, which was delicious.
• The first time I made this, I only used 1 1/2 teaspoons of Slap Ya Mama cajun seasoning. It had a nice flavor to it, but I like a bit more of a zing. Just remember - with cajun seasoning a little goes a long way.
• If you do purchase Slap Ya Mama Cajun Seasoning, you are required to yell "Uhhhhhh slap ya mama" after each bite.

Enjoy!!

S

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Eating: I just ate a chicken fajita pizza I made for lunch. I'll post that recipe on here when I develop a catchy name.

Annoyed at: Myself, for accidentally snipping my son's finger when I was cutting his nails. I may have cried longer than he did.

Listening to/Watching: America's Next Top Model

Shopping for: Nada

Sidenote of the Day: My son is wearing a camo outfit. Thinking back to high school and college...never thought I'd have a child wearing camo.

This or that...

So I knew going into this whole parenting thing that I would have to reprioritize my life, make different choices and possibly give some things up...all for the benefit of my son. Who rocks. Hard.

When I came to this realization, I thought it would mostly involve things like:

• purchasing more reasonably priced shoes instead of fancy designer shoes
• eating at Fuddrucker's instead of Outback
• a night out involves taking your child to the home of another couple with a young child, where the children will sit in one room and the adults will drink in another room while playing a semi-inappropriate board game

For those of you that are contemplating having children, you will have to make these changes. However, what nobody told me is that you also have to make the following choices:

• Your son will be asleep for less than 1/2 hour. Do you take a shower, or eat something besides a Nutrigrain bar?
• Your son is in a good mood. Do you run errands knowing he won't start crying in the store, or do you play with him in your living room, even though you're sick of the inside of your home?
• Your dogs have not been outside since last night and are still locked up downstairs. Your son is screaming because he's starving. Do you feed your child and ignore your dogs, or do you run down and let the dogs out and let your son wait an extra 30 seconds to eat?
• It's 2am and your son just woke up to eat. You REALLY have to go to the bathroom. Do you let him cry for a bit longer and go to the bathroom, do you feed him first while you uncomfortably move around, or do you pick him up, manage to go to the bathroom while holding him and then feed him?

Fact - In the last two months, I have had to choose one of the above options to every fact pattern presented.

Additional fact - I've chosen EVERY answer to each fact pattern (except the last set of questions...since there are three options...and I'm not telling you if I did the last thing or not).

The reality is that these are issues that come up daily.

Having to choose between the lesser of two evils led me to the next questions - What would a good mom do? Am I choosing the right or wrong answer?

The reality is that a good mom would answer either way, and neither answer is the wrong answer.

I've quickly come to the realization that being a good mom isn't about finding the right answer...it's about getting through the day...making sure your child is fed, dry, happy and involved. My son has reached all his milestones so far. He has smiled at me almost every day since he started smiling. He stops crying within a minute or two of starting.

What does that mean? Well to me that means I've chosen the correct answer each time. The correct answer changes daily, and will never remain the only option.

Moral of the story - go with the flow and don't stress about the small stuff. Some days you need to stay dirty a little bit longer because gosh darn it...you deserve the eggs and bacon.

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Eating: I had a sausage and mushroom egg white omelette with wheat toast. I still haven't showered. I feel divine!

Listening to/Watching: Regis and Kelly. Meh.

Annoyed at: Kelly Ripa's body.

Shopping for: A diet/exercise plan that can make me look like Kelly Ripa.

Sidenote of the Day: It took me a good day and a half to type this blog entry.

Taco Lasagna

I'm all about fusion foods. I was a huge fan of Chino Latino before it was crazy packed all the time. So I bring to you a Midwest Italian Mexican easy to make masterpiece. Mexican, because of the flavoring. Italian, because of the pasta. Midwest, because of the cheese and sour cream.

This is definitely what I would call a "weekend recipe," because it has to go into the oven for 1 1/2 hours. That being said, the preparation portion is extremely easy and will not take that much time.

Taco Lasagna

1 lb. ground beef
1 cup water
Package of Taco Seasoning (1 1/4 oz)
12 uncooked lasagna noodles
2 1/2 cups water
2 1/2 cups salsa or picante sauce
2 cups sour cream
1 (2.2 oz) can sliced black olives
1 medium tomato, chopped
1/2 - 3/4 green onions, chopped
1 - 1 1/2 cups shredded cheese

1. Brown ground beef and drain fat. Add taco seasoning and 1 cup of water. Simmer for 10-15 minutes.
2. Place four uncooked lasagna noodles in bottom of 9x13 pan. spread half of beef mixture over the strips. Place four more noodles on top of the mixture and then spread the remaining half of the beef mixture over the strips. Top the remaining mixture with the last four noodles.
3. Combine salsa/picante sauce with the 2 1/2 cups of water. Pour mixture over top of casserole. Cover tightly with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 1 1/2 hours.
4. Combine sour cream, onions, olives and tomatos in small mixing bowl. Spoon over the top of the casserole after it's done baking. Top with the shredded cheese and return the pan to the oven for 5 - 10 minutes, or until cheese is melted.

Tips from Sarah

• I used whole wheat pasta, and you couldn't tell the taste difference. I hid the pasta box and my husband never even mentioned anything. Yes, I have to hide healthy substitutes from him, or he swears the food doesn't taste as good.
• If you're not super noodley (I just created that word), you can omit the last layer of noodles.
• The shredded cheese can really be whatever type of cheese you enjoy, but I used a Mexican mix.
• It will look like you don't have enough meat when you spread it on the noodles, but it evens out.
• I used light sour cream and could not tell.

ENJOY!!!!

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Eating: Cinnamon rolls. Woot for Sunday!

Listening to/Watching: America's Next Top Model marathon. Tyra Banks is so ridiculously overdramatic. Loves it.

Annoyed at: Nada.

Shopping for: I still need that perfect pair of shoes.

Sidenote of the Day: My son smiled at me this morning. I never realized that something so simple could make me so over the moon excited.

Wait? I said I'd never do that...

When I was just a wee lass...and completely judgmental on The Peg's parenting techniques...I made a promise to myself that I would NEVER do things my mother did. Well, I've already broken several of those promises:

• Using overdramatic facial expressions to make my point.
• Obnoxious singing to make my child forget why he's crying, and instead focus on mom.
• Licking my finger and then wiping something off of my son's face.
• Continually singing the same song to my child when I'm changing him or rocking him. Peg's song of choice - Camptown Races. My song of choice - Bad Romance.

Things that The Peg has done that I will STILL never do*:

• Give my son a bucket of water and a paintbrush and tell him to go paint the entire driveway. Yes, she did this...to Chris.
• Dressing my children in replica Little House on the Prairie outfits (No, it was not in style, Mom)
• Leash my child. Yes, she did this to me...and apparently I deserved it.
• Enter my son into baby cage fighting matches. Okay, so Peg didn't do that with Chris, but I wanted to Google "baby cage fight". I also wanted to Google "Angry Hitler Baby". And "dramatic prairie dog". Finally, I wanted to google "Nunchuck Fail". You're welcome.

So to wrap it up...

Yes, the lists are somewhat in jest, but you get my point. It's amazing how similar my parenting behavior is to that of my parents. Moral of the story - there are way more circles than the circle of violence or the circle of abuse. There can also be the Circle of Nurturing or the Circle of Crazy in a Good Way. My Circle of Crazy in a Good Way has given me tons of fun stories, but also prepared me to be a good parent and to raise a good kid. Acknowledge your circle. Break it if it sucks, but walk it if it rocks. I'm walking my circle.

S

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Eating: The hubby was off work today, so we ate like old people - Tomato Soup with Grilled Ham and Cheese Sandwiches

Watching/Listening to: The dishwasher running and a husband that has said, "He sleeps a lot" about 10 times in the last hour.

Annoyed at: My son, for sleeping most of the day, thus tricking my husband into believing that I have tons of free time on my hands when he's at work.

Shopping for: Free housekeeping

Sidenote of the Day: I had to return my 6-Layer Dip to the grocery store this morning because it had mold on it. (Sidenote on the Sidenote: Seriously? Seriously!) Such a disappointment. Now I have chips and no dip.

* For now

Caramel Apple Pizza

(actual photo of Sarah's Caramel Apple Pizza...holler!!)

I made this dessert pizza a few nights ago. It was very easy to make, and INCREDIBLY delicious. I took the photo moments before my husband and I attacked the pizza like it was our job.

Caramel Apple Pizza

1 package (16-18 oz) refrigerated sugar cookie dough

1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 cup creamy peanut butter

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

2 medium Granny Smith apples

1/4 cup caramel ice cream topping

1/2 cup nuts (peanuts or walnuts), chopped

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Shape cookie dough into a ball and place in center of a large round pizza stone; flatten slightly. Using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll dough into a circle about 1/4 inches thick. Bake 16-18 minutes or until light golden brown. Remove from oven and cool for 10 minutes. Carefully loosen cookie from baking stone using a large bread knife. Cool completely on baking stone.


2. Combine cream cheese, brown sugar, peanut butter and vanilla in a small mixing bowl; mix well. Spread cream cheese mixture evenly over cooled cookie.


3. Peel, core and slice apples. Cut apple slices in half and arrange evenly over cream cheese mixture.


4. Microwave ice cream topping on HIGH 30-45 seconds or until warm; drizzle evenly over apples. Chop nuts and sprinkle over apples. Cut pie into wedges.

Yield: 16 servings (yeah right)

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Bake Time: 16-18 minutes

Cool Time: About an hour

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Tips from Sarah:

• Don't roll the cookie dough out to the edge of the baking stone. I rolled it out until about 1/4 inch away from the edge, and I had pieces of the cookie drop off and go to the bottom of the oven. That smelled good. Roll the circle out to about 1/2 inch from the edge of the stone.


• I used walnuts instead of peanuts, mainly because I thought I had peanuts and I didn't. I liked the walnuts.


• I used apple slices and chopped up pieces of apple. I had a lot of apple slices left over and I didn't want to overlap too much on the pizza. When I make it again, I may try chopping up all the apple slices.


• Remember to refrigerate any leftovers. (Duh)


• The leftovers don't keep all that well...on the second day, the cookie had gotten somewhat soggy because of the juice from the apples and the cream cheese mixture. That being said, it was still flipping delicious...just not as pretty as a piece of the pizza on the first day.

ENJOY!!!

(Recipe adapted from Pampered Chef Taffy Apple Pizza)

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Eating: Crap...I forgot to eat breakfast...again. No wonder some moms lose weight. Before I had a baby, I never forgot to eat a meal.

Watching/Listening To: The Today Show...1/2 hour until Hoda and Kathie Lee...who are exactly like the SNL impersonations.

Annoyed At: Political Ads on both sides in this State and all others. I wish we had more than two major parties in this country...then maybe candidates would focus on the issues instead of focusing on attacking the other side. If there were more options in each race, maybe we would actually learn what the candidate would do if elected, rather than what the other person did/does/would do in a negative light. Not all candidates are running negative campaigns, so snaps to those candidates.

Shopping for: Mama needs a new pair of shoes.

Sidenote of the Day: The Hoff got the first boot on Dancing With the Stars. What a blow to his giant ego! Germany is crying right now. Hasselhoff is drunkenly mourning his loss over a delicious cheeseburger. Nom nom nom.

Look what I've become...

So when I found out I was pregnant, I contemplated starting up my blog again. Yes, again.

About six years ago, I started a blog on this website (originally called the "Blog of Skog"). The blog was random, and definitely written by a single woman. It was about my social life, my friends, my thoughts and my feelings. The blog, in its entirety, was a lot like me. It was random and quirky. At times it was funny, and at other times it was very serious. Hopefully, the reborn blog, now entitled "Anti Mom Jeans" will still be random and quirky, and will range from funny to serious. But hopefully it will have also evolved much like how I've evolved. I don't want to define how that will be...I will just have to keep you posted.

How have I evolved? Well now I'm a happily married mother of three - two wonderful stepchildren and one new baby boy. I have been at the same job for almost five years, and I absolutely adore my job and my co-workers. I'm older, wiser and hopefully a bit more mature. That being said, I will always be me...no matter what age. Maturity does not mean laughter stops...it just gets a bit more appropriate (at times). Fart noise. What?

So this blog will be different, but it will still be created by me.

Therefore, I want to give a nod back to the Blog of Skog and present you with a list...a list of similarities and differences between the Blog of Skog and Anti Mom Jeans. A list full of ridiculous links, again a nod back to the Blog of Skog:
1. Similarity - Both blogs will continue my love of the random links. What will I be staring at if I click this word? What about this word?
2. Difference - The Blog of Skog discussed where I went to dinner with friends, because that's what we did all the time. Anti Mom Jeans will share recipes and dinner ideas that I've tried at home.
3. Similarity - I will still try to make readers laugh by poking fun at myself and some of my friends.
4. Difference - Anti Mom Jeans will not devote an entire entry into mocking Joey Lore. Oh who am I kidding?
5. Similarity - I will always end each entry with a list of what I'm doing and how I'm feeling.
6. Difference - I won't be sharing pictures of my family on here, as Facebook has now created a perfect venue for sharing those...and I can control the security level much easier than on blogspot.
7. Similarity - it will still be a Blog by Skog
8. Difference - Skog got married

So enjoy Anti Mom Jeans. And remember...if you're wearing mom jeans with or without a seasonal vest, you may not enjoy reading this blog as much as others.

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Eating: I just ate a delicious Turkey Bacon Sandwich with chips and grapes on the side. The meal was very school lunch.

Watching or Listening to: I'm currently watching the Rachel Zoe Project on Bravo. I can't believe I haven't watched this until now. I love people who are caricatures of themselves. I love how she over uses the word "major".

Annoyed at: My Maltese, who is still depressed about the new baby...six weeks after his birth.
Not only does the dog mope around the house, but she doesn't care about her appearance anymore. She looks like the canine version of Courtney Love.

Shopping for: Jeans that will fit perfectly and hopefully shrink with me as I lose this baby weight.
Sidenote of the Day: I hope The Situation gets booted off Dancing With the Stars. He's beyond annoying. I need to develop a new word to describe how annoying he is. The word: majorshankle