52:17 Meals this Week and Two Front Teeth!

Ok, so I have this goal to make great meals and be more creative right? But it's funny because Jeff is the one to cook most of the recipes. The reason is because Gwen goes to sleep around 7 while nursing, so I start feeding her at 6:30. While I'm feeding her, Jeff starts the meal. There's my secret- my husband.
I do sometimes do prep-work! Like this week I diced onion and cooked and chopped chicken!
Ok, so this week we had salmon with roasted green beans and mashed potatoes (instant). That was an easy one. On Tuesday we had garlic rosemary chicken burgers...sooo good. On Wednesday we tried chicken crescent roll casserole...amazing. Thursday was a frozen meal, and Friday was baked stuffed shrimp (my mom's recipe)! A successful week on easy, low ingredient, recipes. And they were all delicious!
In the Gwen world, she now has her two lower front teeth!! So cute, but she's been very fussy lately. Her napping is slowly getting better: she slept in her crib a few times the last couple days, but still prefers the car, where she takes 2-hour naps! (everywhere else it's 45 minutes) Trying to stay calm and not get stressed out about it!

52:16 Nonsense and such

I'm always late on my weekly blog posts, but I think it's ok because I always manage to write. Better late than never is my motto!

I don't always write because Gwen takes 45 minute naps while nursing or 2- hour naps in the car...not good for writing long, in-depth posts. But oh well...I'm not making excuses.

We just bought a beautiful Nikon d3100 SLR camera. I desperately want to teach myself how to be a great photographer! It's very difficult because there are so many factors: ISO, aperture, shutter speed, lighting, depth, movement, etc...I just bought an app to help me understand it, plus I'm dying to take a photography class, but don't see when I'll have the time.

This week for dinner we're trying chicken burgers, fish, and chicken crescent roll casserole! Stay tuned!

52:15 What is most personal, is most universal

"What is most personal, is most universal." I love this quote, because I always forget how true it really is. Everyone has similar worries, thoughts, and insecurities. We're all different, but most of us want the same things. This is comforting to me...

52:14- Gwen, you are 6 months old!!

On April 8, you turned 6 months old on Easter 2012! You are so much fun right now, because you are getting so much more responsive! Your laugh is the best sound on the planet, and we can't get enough of you!
You weigh about 20 lbs (wearing 12 month clothes!)

You can now roll over from belly to back and back to belly easily, though you prefer to keep rolling to the left.

You can sit up almost independently!

You have eaten these foods successfully: avocado, squash, sweet potato, pears, apples, and bananas.

You popped your first tooth today (4/10/12)!!!!

You reach for everything, and stick out your tongue when you want to drink it.

You are drinking sips of water.

You still sleep about 12 hours a night (except the last 2 nights you woke U in your pack-n-play in Denver, probably because your were teething).

You now prefer to sleep on your belly.
Happy Easter, beautiful girl!

Another note on creativity...

I read this online yesterday and thought how true it really is:
'There are some people in the world that are creative souls. They need -- I need -- an outlet of some sorts. Whether it's graphic design, painting or sewing -- they have the desire to pursue a creative life. Sometimes they get it in their day job-- sometimes they get it in hobbies.'
I agree with this statement. I believe there are many people in the world that need to be creative and strive for it as much as they can. I think it's important to try to create unique things, even if you have little time. Self-motivation is key.

PS: a first today; I used the potty at Olive Garden with baby in arms. Yes, I did. I had to share because I'm very proud of myself. :)
Talk about creativity, right?