TMae from Life v. 2.0 claims she’s going to use my shopping list from my iPhone photo post to buy all the ingredients to make these. Which you could, in theory. I’m just impressed anyone can READ that list.

1. Herb Cheese Crusted Salmon (recipe below) served with couscous
2. Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies – Tasty Kitchen (made with butterscotch chips)
3. Drip Beef Sandwiches – The Pioneer Woman
4. Pasta el Pomodoro – The Kitchn (I used canned tomatoes and stretched it to feed four with extra canned sauce)

5. Sour Cream Enchiladas – The Pioneer Woman  (I added shredded chicken)
6. Chicken Bacon Ranch Macaroni and Cheese – Tasty Kitchen (not as good as it sounds)
7. Chicken Crescent Rolls – Tasty Kitchen (DEFINITELY my favorite from the week)
8. Beer Braised Beef with Onions – Tasty Kitchen (also not as good as it sounds)

And on the 8th day, she rested:

Don't be fooled by the picture - this was just my first helping.

Takeout pizza from Engine 6 Pizza Company

It looks like 8 meals but was only 7 because one is cookies. But I also baked the Carrot Apple Muffins this week, so when you put it all together I did a LOT of cooking. I didn’t really have to, because every meal created leftovers that are currently still in the fridge (and will probably be fed to the dog)(Except for the enchilada, I ate those for lunch)(Oh and the spaghetti, we had people over for dinner so it fed 4 easily), so if we were a leftover-eating family we could have had those at least twice. What did you have for dinner this week?

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Herbed Cheese Crusted Salmon

4 6 to 8 oz salmon fillets (skin or no skin, it’s your preference)
2 tablespoon lemon zest
1 5.2 oz container semisoft cheese with garlic and herbs (I use Allouette)
Sea salt or salt
1 cup breadcrumbs
1/3 cup freshly shredded Parmesan cheese
¼ cup butter, melted
2 Tbsp. pine nuts, toasted

1. Rinse fish; pat dry. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.  In a small bowl combine semisoft cheese and lemon peel. Cut each fillet almost in half to make a pocket, but be careful not to cut all the way through. Spoon cheese mixture into pockets. Season fish with salt. Place in a shallow baking pan.

2. In a small bowl combine bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, butter, and pine nuts; sprinkle over fillets, pressing lightly. Bake, uncovered, about 20 minutes or until salmon flakes when tested with a fork.

Breastfeeding baby #2 is a piece of cake compared to the first time around. (Mmmm…cake. I would like some cake. I would like a whole cake and no I don’t want to share because I am SOOOOO HOOONGRAAAY from the nursing.) All the stuff I struggled with during Little Evan’s early days made me an expert on boobs. A Boobspert, if you will. I figured out Caroline’s latch sooner, my engorgement went away sooner, I recognized the thrush and knew how to treat it sooner, we’ve  introduced a bottle sooner, I’m building up a nice little freezer stash of pumped milk sooner. It’s been almost 2 years since I first started nursing and I have FINALLY got the hang of it.

But in the process, I have confused the hell out of my toddler.

Hello, I'd like some more milk please.

Little Evan was exclusively breastfed until he was almost 13 months – and when I say “exclusively” I don’t mean that’s when we switched to milk, I mean that’s when he started eating ANY solids. The first time I ever saw him eat enough food to be considered a meal was his birthday cake. The child hated baby food, threw up Cheerios, screamed at sippy cups and lived entirely on boob power for more than a year.

I don't see what the problem here is, I know you've got milk in there. Do I need to say PLEEEEEEESE?

When I got pregnant the second time, my supply dropped dramatically and he weaned in a matter of weeks, just after he turned 15 months. We started with rice milk and eventually made the switch to organic whole milk. He LOVES his (fancy, expensive) milk and drinks it like it’s going out of style.

Fine, if you're going to be that way I'll just do it MYSELF

Now that he sees Caroline nursing all the time, he’s started to wonder why his milk comes from a cup instead of straight from me. I haven’t had to flat out refuse him yet, but he keeps patting my chest and saying “mama milk”.

Yes yes, put the milk in my belly! Wait, I don't think this is working.

I’m pretty sure he’s going to be OK in the long run, no permanent damage from his cold, withholding mother who won’t nurse him any more. Actually, one day he’s probably going to DIE OF SHAME that I talked about breastfeeding on the internet at all.

Sharing!

Sorry baby. Send me the therapy bill.

This week was B O R I N G. Too much snow made us lazy and housebound, so you get lazy housebound pictures.

Sunday:

I made Thai Chicken Pizza for dinner. It's freakin' delicious. Next time I make it I'll blog it so you can enjoy it too.

Monday:

Sleepng baby enjoys a few minutes of quiet before our crazy day of craziness started

I cleaned out my diaper bag. The pile on the right? All trash. I need to get organized.

Tuesday:

My only picture from the day - nursing baby. That's really all I did, all day.

Wednesday:

Someone was literally bouncing off the couch with energy after four days inside.

Snapped a monthday pic with my iPhone too

Thursday:

Pediatrician's appointment. E got home from work in time to watch Little Evan so it was easy-peasy with just one kid.

Friday:

The antibiotics for my kidney infection gave me thrush (basically a yeast infection on my nipples). I'm treating it with Gentian Violet, which unfortunately dyes everything purple.

Including poor Caroline's face. It fades after a few hours but she's still pretty purple.

Saturday:

I got dressed up (to go to Target and BJ's)(leaving the house is a Big Deal these days) and discovered my hair is ridiculously long. Also, someone explain to E that big belts are fashionable and not stupid.

Did you take camera phone pictures this week? Link up one or a whole bunch below and grab the code for your own linky over at A Good Life Blog.

G is for GOD-DAMN KIDNEY STONES.

(Good news: I have antibiotics. Bad news: “My” urologist never got a referral through my insurance company so they can’t see me until I get one. Good news: I have an appointment to get one. Bad news: On Tuesday. Which is a lot of days from now when one keeps spiking a 103 degree fever. More bad news: I get to take both kids with me to my appointment. Good and bad news: My inlaws, brother-in-law and grandmother-in-law are coming to visit this weekend, which means I need to pull myself together. The good part is at least I have someone to watch the kids if I need E to take me to the emergency room.)

This is his camera face, except usually it involves more squinting.

No, I can NOT put my chalk down while I eat this apple. I'm multi-tasking.

He loves snow through the window but HATES snow touching him. He's definitely my child.

WHY ARE YOU SO CLOSE TO MY FACE?

Baby fist pump!

Tiny panda feet! Adorable onesie courtesy of Emmie Bee.