7QT: 35 Weeks and Scatter-brained

--- 1 ---

I've felt the urge to blog for the past 2 weeks, but after staring at a computer all day at work, I just can't bring myself to type something up. Sigh. I've also been going through some type of sluggish/manic cycle, where I go hours or days too tired to get anything done and then get a wave of energy and knock a bunch of stuff out in the course of a few hours. Is this a pregnancy thing? I'm blaming it, regardless.

--- 2 ---

Speaking of that, I bought some stuff to make some adorable baby headbands and bows that I saw on Pinterest. I'm of course excited to do it . . . I just have to muster up the energy this weekend to bang a few out. Even Cora is excited about this, so I guess I should just suck it up buttercup. (Cora can't really help too much since it's pretty much all hot-glue-gun work.)

Life Unfluffed's tutorial for these puppies

I could probably pin cute hairbows and headbands all day long. I never really did like the ones we put on Cora as a baby (the crochet headbands were just too big for her little head).

--- 3 ---

Another 'manic' thing I've been doing when the energy hits is some freezer meal prepping. I had never really done much of this until my book club friends had a freezer meal swap night back in November. We each made 3 of the same dinner and brought it, then went home with 3 different meals. We also talked about strategies and favorite recipes that night. One gal brought copies of her favorite freezer meal recipes (I think they're from a book), and I've been using some of those, along with this Aldi freezer meal plan from the blogosphere.

It's not much to some people, but that's 4 meals: baked ravioli, mac & cheese, Souvlaki chicken, and alfredo sauce

I'm not sure if these will make it to "new baby" time, but with both of us working, freezer meals really are awesome. B just pulled out the bag of Quesadilla Casserole filling Thursday night (we just assemble it the night of, unlike that recipe I linked), and last night I made a double of the Alfredo sauce from the Aldi plan (one to eat now, one to freeze). We still have enough of the casserole left for at least another dinner.

--- 4 ---

I had a 2014 resolution to kick Cora's picky eating habits. It never happened.

But then.

But then she turned 3 about a month ago. And guess what--someone's picky little tot learned the benefit of 'cause and effect.' I know, I know, I'm not supposed to use sugary foods and desserts to get her to eat her dinner (says all the scientists and child nutrition experts). But goshdarnit, it works!

She also responds to a bribe for her beloved cottage cheese, so all is not lost?

We enjoyed some (fake...microwaved) s'mores for dessert Wednesday night, because I was craving one and she'd eaten all her fish and some veggies.

--- 5 ---

My hometown in Georgia got some snow this week, and I have a lot of friends with school-age kids and even more friends (and family members) who are teachers. Everyone was so jazzed about the snow and school cancellations.

Then Thursday, we had a bit of snow here, and I heard the DJ on the radio say, "Yeah, there's some snow, but amazingly no delays or cancellations today." I'm pretty sure every parent in this city breathed a collective sigh of relief that morning, since they cancel/delay school a lot here.

And that's the difference between Georgia and Indiana. (Not saying one is better than the other, although I wouldn't mind just getting a few inches of snow once a year and being giddy about it . . .)

--- 6 ---

So Lent started last week. For accountability's sake, here are my Lenten resolutions:

1. Go to Stations of the Cross at least once. (Yeah, I haven't been in YEARS and don't even remember what happens at this.)
2. Floss my teeth every night. (Sounds odd, but so does giving up chocolate, right?)
3. Read/pray the daily devo from Blessed Is She. They come straight to my email, and I'm really liking these!

If you want to join the Lenten bandwagon, I found out about this cool website/Twitter account called What to Give Up that gives you a new challenge each day of Lent. I told B he should do it, but not sure if he will.

Fri, Feb 27 - Set a reminder so you go to bed an hour earlier than usual. http://t.co/7e2zn5SfmR
— WhatToGiveUpForLent (@WhatToGiveUp) February 26, 2015

--- 7 ---

Next week I'm going to hang out with awesome people for a day! I'll be attending a Catholic Women's Blogging Conference on the campus of Notre Dame. I'm probably nuts for doing this at 36 weeks, but oh well. I'm a bit intimidated, since I don't live and breathe blogging, nor have plans to ever make any money from it, but hopefully I'll learn something and chat it up with homegirls like Grace and Bonnie and Sarah. (I've actually had dinner with Sarah before, so I'm excited to see her again!)

For more Quick Takes, visit Kelly at This Ain't the Lyceum

Cora's 3rd Birthday

As of 2 weeks ago, I am the proud momma of a 3-year-old!

Obligatory yearly chair-with-elephant photo

Semi-obligatory comparison photo collage
(I would also like to point out that the chair was never in the same place for each of these)

Of course we had a party. It was Minnie-Mouse themed.

Dollar Tree helium balloons for life

Not enough characters to do alliteration like last year, but I just made it work

Pensive birthday girl

A bow-shaped cake (and a mom/baker who needs to invest in a real cakeboard)

She managed to blow out exactly ZERO candles and Mom and Dad had to step in to help

We also did a 'pin the ring on Minnie' game that I found at Party City. We only had a few kids there (we use her birthday as an excuse to have wine and invite B's aunts and uncles over/one of her besties was sick), and I didn't get any pictures of the kids playing it. But she got a princess dress-up kit, and that was a hit.

See? Even her grandma was excited

I decided that 3 years old was a great time to start yearly interviews, and I ended up asking her these questions about once a day for a few days because she basically answered with whatever was in front of her face the first time around. 

Height: 38 ¾" (85th percentile)

Weight: 36 lbs. (90th percentile)

Nicknames: Honeybunch
What is your favorite color? Purple (based on what she wears, it's pink, but she said purple)
What is your favorite animal? butterfly
What is your favorite book? the Jasmine one
What is your favorite TV show/movie? Minnie
What is your favorite song? Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
What is your favorite food? cottage cheese
What is your favorite drink? milk
What is your favorite breakfast food? oatmeal
What is your favorite snack? graham crackers
What is your favorite outfit? heart dress (it's really just a tunic)
What is your favorite game? the Hello Kitty one (she just got it for her birthday)
Who is your best friend? changes between Londyn and Izzy (both daycare friends)
What is your favorite thing to do? "ummmm... I don't know"
What is your favorite thing to do outside? swing
What is your favorite holiday? Christmas (she's still not quite sure what a holiday is)
What do you like to take to bed with you at night? soft kitty
Where is your favorite place to go? daycare, Grandma's house
What do you want to be when you grow up? a doctor
What did you do on your birthday? had a party, blew the candles on the cake
What is your favorite prayer? Thankful Heart (from VeggieTales, but her daycare modified it into a grace before meals)

At her daycare a few weeks back, they had asked all the kids in her class what they want to be when they grow up. Then they taped it on their locker. Her answer has changed since then, thankfully . . .

Aaand one more picture of the birthday girl, for posterity's sake:

Saying "cheese" while eating 'toasty cheese'