Cooking with Twins

It's been five months since the bugs were born and my and J's eating habits have completely gone down the tubes. I used to eat so healthfully before (and even during) my pregnancy. Now I'm lucky if I can shove a half of a sandwich and a few chips in my mouth, and wash it down with a Pepsi or coffee, before it's back to caring for the two little monsters in our house. The ones who want our COMPLETE attention - every minute they are awake.
J's been having some issues with his blood sugar control - a lot probably having to do with his stress level and also his erratic eating habits, and I feel awful since I don't think I've eaten a fruit or vegetable in weeks. I feel constantly dehydrated because I don't take the time to drink water either.
I decided the other day that it's got to stop. We need to at least try to be healthy for our children's sake. We're already starting out older than most parents.
But how does one find time to cook a meal, and sit down to eat with multiples?? If you have suggestions please let me know because I am finding this absolutely impossible! Then I had a thought...Crock pot cooking.

So, for those of you out there with multiples (or just one child, or no children but way too many life obligations) who are in the same boat as I am with finding a free minute to cook or eat I thought I'd share this little part of life at our house.
I've scoured the Internet for Crock pot recipes. Found a bunch! One great site is crockpot365.blogspot.com This woman made a different Crock pot recipe every.day.last.year, which I found very impressive. I borrowed books from friends and copied Crock pot recipes. And, I think I'm starting out with a good base of recipes to choose from. Throw in the occasional 30-minute meal, pizza night, and leftovers, and our menu should be planned for the next month.

I started out slowly this week with just one recipe. I'll get into the full swing of things in February with 10 Crock pot meals.
Here's the other night's dinner - which J and I both LOVED! Neither of us have had it since we were kids and the smell and taste brought back warm cozy feelings. Plus it was cold outside and a big warm bowl of soup is a fabulous cure for cold weather. The best part was I threw everything in the Crock pot while the bugs took their morning nap, turned it on, and after putting them to bed that night J and I came back downstairs to the kitchen to a dinner waiting for us, which left us a few extra minutes of being able to sit down and relax for the night.
Please leave me a comment or email if you try and like any of these recipes, or if you have any suggestions of your own for recipes too!

Cabbage and Kielbasa Soup

4c chicken broth,
1 medium head cabbage, chopped,
2 medium onions, chopped,
1lb kielbasa, sliced,1 28oz can crushed tomatoes, salt, pepper, garlic powder

Combine all ingredients in Crock pot. Cook on low for 8-9 hours.

** On another note...I promise more pics of the growing bugs as soon as I can find where the heck I put our camera. I'm sure it's somewhere among the piles of laundry, dishes, and toys...it's been MIA for about a week now.

5 Months

Alex and Landon,

Wow. I can't believe you are 5 months old already! It almost doesn't seem possible. But the days keep flying by, into weeks gone by, into months gone by and here we are at 5 months since you arrived.
So much has happened this past month. You have grown enormously, already causing me to sort through the closet and go shopping for the 6-9 month size clothes we have. I thought for sure I'd have at least another month for that. But you are already outgrowing the 3-6 month clothes and I can't look at your little toes almost poking through your pj's anymore.
You have learned how to roll over. and over. and over.
Alex - you have decided that you would rather sleep on your tummy. So, as soon as I put you down in your crib on your back of course) you flip yourself over. It had me so worried that for the first week of that I would check on you a number of times throughout the night and flip you back over. Then you'd be right back on your tummy within minutes. Finally I asked the pediatrician and hes said it's OK to leave you on your belly if you got there yourself. So, while I still worry about you somehow pressing your face to close to the bumper or face down into the mattress, I have allowed myself to get some sleep and haven't checked on you more than just a few times a night now.
You've also started eating solid food. We started with Rice cereal, which Landon loves and Alex hates. Then we moved onto sweet potatoes, squash, and carrots so far. Landon - you get so excited about dinner time that you open your mouth about as wide as it will go and kick your feet every time you see the spoon coming toward you. You really love your vegetables! And, while I like to think that that will continue I'm sure in a few years I will be fighting with you to eat them.
One other thing that's happened this month is that you've realized how you can reach your stars and moon mobile. So, changing time has become a real treat (it's hooked to the changing table instead of your crib) as you work to bat at the stars and see how many you can hit, while your dad or I try like heck to get the diaper on the right way so we can avoid any pee-pee accidents.

You both are growing up so fast. I'm amazed by how much you learn and grow each day!

Love you.
Mommy

4 Months (Plus some)

The bugs had their 4 month pediatrician appointment last week, although they are now closer to 5 months than 4. But because of J not feeling well one day and my lack of confidence in myself that I can actually leave the house carrying two babies in infant car seats and a snowstorm on another day we had to change their appointment a few times.
Alex is now 16 pounds and 25 inches. Landon is 15 pounds and 24 inches. Not small people is what the Doc said.
We've started solid foods. Rice cereal. The stuff looks like wallpaper paste. Each spoonful I feed them I tell them how delicious and yummy it is. Mmmm, good. Unfortunately, they have already caught on to how terrible a liar their Mom is. Landon eats it - and smiles each time I tell him how good it is. Like he's saying, "Yeah right...but what's the alternative here." Alex...forget it. He makes an awful face and spits it out each time. I struggled with this for a few weeks before I decided that he doesn't need rice cereal. He gets his iron from the formula. So, we made the switch to sweet potatoes. And they can. not.get.enough!
I swear if they keep eating this way J and I will both need second jobs just to feed them when they are teenagers.

They did great with their shots this time too. Only cried for about 2 minutes and that was the end of it. No irritability, no fussing, no extra sleepiness.

We're outgrowing the 3-6 month size clothes too. We'll be packing those up this weekend and shopping for 6-9 months ones now. Growing like weeds.

Over the river and through the woods

I'm such a terrible blogger. I can't believe that it's been so long since I posted anything. I've been meaning to...I always have good intentions but time just seems to slip away from me every.single.day.

We took the bugs on their first road trip for Christmas to celebrate the holiday with the family. Only a two-hour trip but a road trip non the less. They did great! It was J and I who had more of the issues -with packing everything and worrying about upsetting their routine for so many days. Our car was so packed that when we first left I had to turn around and double check that we had put the boys in the car. How do people do it? How do you travel with children? I can't imagine as they get older it will get easier because they will accumulate more stuff to pack and bring with us. And boy did they accumulate stuff over the holiday! Those kids got more gifts than we know what to do with! So, since returning home we've been washing new clothes to wear and figuring out where to put all the new toys.

Here's a few pics from the holiday. I have a bunch of posts in my draft folder and promise I will try to post more often...