12 weeks

My little boy is growing so fast!

This past week we encountered the temper tantrum. When Aidan is too tired or just doesn't like something, he tenses up, closes his eyes, and screams at the top of his lungs. No amount of consoling with make him stop screaming...he just stops when he stops. I noticed that he started to do it when he got overtired. He is so into playing now, that he'll just keep going and then hit a wall where he just can't settle down. I've been trying to put him down before he gets to that place so that he can easily put himself to sleep. It's been working better the last couple of days.

Aidan also is starting to notice his hands more. He tries to grab at toys and he loves sucking on his hands. He sucks on his thumb when he loses his pacifier when napping....it usually falls out though after he goes to sleep.

Yesterday, Aidan gave me a "real" laugh for the first time. I was clapping his hands together and saying "clap your hands" and he just thought it was hilarious. I started laughing at him laughing and he got even more tickled. It was one of the cutest things he's done so far.

Aidan giving Daddy kisses!

Recipe of the Week

I thought it would be fun to share a recipe each week that I have tried and enjoyed. This week I tried making Bierocks. They turned out great even though it took some work to make them.

Bierocks

Ingredients

• 1 cup warm water


• 1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast


• 1/4 cup white sugar (I used honey)


• 2 tablespoons margarine, softened ( I used butter)


• 1 egg


• 1 teaspoon salt


• 3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour (I used 2 cups whole wheat flour and 1 1/4 cups unbleached flour)


•  


• 1/2 pound lean ground beef


• 1/2 cup chopped onion (since I am not eating onions right now, I seasoned with garlic powder)


• 3 cups shredded cabbage (I only used about 1 cup cabbage)


• 1/2 teaspoon salt


• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper


• 1 cup grated mozzarella cheese (I added this to the recipe myself)
  


• 2 tablespoons melted butter

1.   Prepare dough: In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes. Mix in sugar, margarine, egg, salt and 1/2 of the flour. Beat until smooth; add remaining flour until dough pulls together. Place in oiled bowl. Cover with foil and refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight, OR let it rise for 1 hour. ( I refrigerated mine and it worked great)

2.   In a large heavy skillet, brown meat. Add onion, cabbage, salt and simmer 30 minutes. Cool until lukewarm. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C.)    ( I would wait to do this until after the dough has risen again) Coat a cookie sheet with non-stick spray.

3.   Punch down dough and divide into 10 pieces. Spread each piece of dough out on an un-floured surface (I floured mine because I had added less flour) and fill with approximately 2 tablespoons filling. (Add mozzarella cheese to each one)  Fold dough over and seal edges. Place on prepared cookie sheet and let rise for 1 hour.

4.   Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes, or until golden brown. Brush with butter and serve.

Holly Housewife

I sincerely enjoy being a stay at home wife and mother. Yes, I do work part-time as well, but the majority of my time is spent taking care of my two boys. :) Today, while mixing together some bread dough, I started thinking about how wonderfully blessed I am to serve as a wife and mom. I love knowing that when I prepare a meal, clean the bathrooms, or fold laundry, I am doing it to take care of my family. I've always wanted to do this, and even though it's tough at times to have so much responsibility, I truly am fulfilled in it. I love you Seth, husband extraordinaire, and Aidan, sweet precious little one. I am celebrating you both today as I clean and cook.

Baby Mullet

Check out my incredible hair!

First book

Last night, I read to Aidan before bed. He was really into it.

11 weeks

11 weeks of poopy diapers, nursing, pumping, washing bottles, washing out poop stains from clothes,not sleeping, tiptoeing upstairs, comforting, cuddling, kissing little baby cheeks, smiling, listening to every little coo, getting peed on, pooped on, spit-up on, rocking, singing, laughing, loving, and having no regrets.

Aidan is growing more and more every day. This week he has mastered sleeping 8 hours straight...although those 8 hours are not always the most convenient ones for Mommy. He has also started to take at least 2 long naps (2- 2 1/2 hour ones) a day, giving Mommy time to get things done around the house.

Today, he got 2 more shots at the Dr.'s and did great. He cried for a minute and then smiled when I picked him up again. I was entirely surprised with how well he did because it was in the middle of his nap and everything. I have been dreading going to get his shots all week and it ended up not being so bad...although I still don't like them hurting my baby.

We found out today that little Carson Rusack has entered this world. Congratulations friends! Aidan is happy to have a new playmate.

I hope this never happens again

Today, while I was nursing Aidan, a spider crawled down my neck and into my shirt. I calmly tried to kill it/catch it, while still nursing the baby. I couldn't tell if I had been successful, so I set Aidan down and started shaking my shirt. This resulted in a screaming baby and a very anxious mother. The spider fell out and is now in spider heaven. Aidan resumed eating and was happy. The End.

A new life

I've decided to pick up blogging again. I want a way to keep everyone updated on the goings on in the Simmons household as it continues to grow. Just for fun, I will give a quick recap of the last few months.

Our little Seth "Aidan" arrived on April 4, 2008 at 3:18 p.m., weighing 6 lbs. 15 oz. and measuring 18 1/2 inches long. We fell in love right away. He managed to sleep away the first two weeks of life with minimal fussing and we thought it could only get easier. Needless to say, we were much surprised when Aidan found his voice and began to protest about many things in life: baths, naps, sleeping positions, etc... The next 5 weeks put us in survival mode. Aidan had his good days, but his bad days seemed more frequent. However, at 7 weeks old, he suddenly turned into a much more content and aware little being. Now, at 10 1/2 weeks, he is a little charmer. He loves to smile and "talk", he is sleeping through the night (last night was his new record-8 hours straight). He makes every day so special and unique. I love being a mom.

 Aidan, less than 24 hours after birth

and below: Aidan at 2 months