It Was the Best of Times...

I remember these days... I think.... Well, at least I think I remember these days... 

Just hours old. Not one of us knows what we're really in store for. What came was a baby with severe reflux, food allergies, terrible nurser, triple feedings... but so sweet and so beautiful.

Somehow we manage to survive and thrive though only sleeping for 2-3 hours total a night. And that's not in a row.

Merry Christmas Baby! Nursing pro and sleeping 5 hours straight almost every night. Food allergies have been identified and the mspi diet is in full swing. 

6 months old! So happy. Such a busy baby! 

9 months old. Swinging at the park. And a smile for everyone!

My beautiful boys. 

11 months. Sitting, standing, cruising. Always on a mission. 

And then the big day!

First Birthday! We had a Little Man theme complete with mustaches, bow ties, pretzel cigars, and lots of cake!

Almost everyone liked the cake!

The cake made one little boy a bit nervous...

FOUR generations. How blessed are we!

Granddad and Adam 

Mommy's Little Man

Happy Birthday baby! 

We had such a special day! Andy put together a video capturing Adam's first year. It was so special. We were overwhelmed with family and friends who came to celebrate Adam's first year with us. Adam is loved by so many!

Barefoot, Pregnant, and Enchiladas

On a whim, I decided to make enchiladas for dinner tonight. Easy for the picky husband to eat. And easy for the toddler to gum.

Getting to the kitchen was the most challenging part of the recipe. Said toddler had taken every last tupperware and tupperware lid out of the tupperware cabinet and strewn them about in an almost impossible, genius obstacle course. He is a genius, you know.

Adam had his first year check up with the pediatrician last night. It was the usual weight, length, head check, chit chat, and............ shots.  Adam weighs 21 lbs 5 oz now which is about the 20% for weight on the CDC growth chart. He is about the 70th% for length. 

But his head. 

His genius head. 

92%. Need I say more? 

I tripped over the intricate, deliberate maze that my genius child expertly constructed making sure to put any pieces I disturbed back in place so that Adam's daddy could share in the proud moment.  It was only fair. 

Really, though, this is a post about enchiladas. 

Growing up,  our big family get togethers almost always included a Mexican Enchilada night. The recipe is quite easy and quite delicious. 

You'll need: 

2 T Oil. (I used safflower. Canola, Veg would also work, but not Olive oil.) 

2 T Flour. 

1 - 12oz Can of Tomato Sauce.  

Palmful of Cumin. 

Half Palmful of Chili Powder. 

Garlic Salt.  

1/4 t Oregano.  

Dash of Crushed Red Pepper. 

Whatever other spices you can find in your pantry that sound appealing.  

Tortillas.  

Cheese (Jack, Cheddar, whatever) freshly shredded is best.  

Diced Onion (red is best)

Beef or pulled chicken, or whatever meat you want.

I browned Ground Bison and seasoned it with Kosher salt, pepper, cumin, crushed red pepper, chili powder, garlic powder, etc. Then I set it aside. 

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. 

In a large skillet, heat the oil over med. high heat. Add the flour and whisk until the flour is starting to brown. Pour in the tomato sauce. Use the left over can of tomato sauce to add a can full of water to the pan. Whisk until smooth. Fill the can once more and set to the aside in case the sauce gets too thick. Which it will. 

Add the spices. Taste for seasoning. A TINY dash of cinnamon could be yummy! But don't over do it.

Reduce heat to low and let simmer for 10 min. stirring occasionally. Add some more water as it cooks to thin out slightly. 

If you are married to my husband - skip this next step. In a bowl, combine the freshly shredded cheese and diced onion, reserving a bit to sprinkle on top. 

Butter a couple 9X13 baking dishes. I take a dinner plate and set it near the enchilada sauce. Take a tortilla dip both sides in the sauce then set on the plate. Put the desired meat in the tortilla leaving a little room at each end and sprinkle some cheese/onion mixture. Roll the tortilla up and place seam side down in the dish. Repeat with remaining tortillas. Keep adding water one tablespoon at a time to thin out the sauce as needed to finish the job. I thinned it out after every couple tortillas with just a bit of water. I ended up with 9 or so enchiladas.

Top with remaining sauce (if there is any) and remaining cheese. Cover and bake for 15 minutes. Uncover and crank the oven to 425 and bake for additional 5 minutes or until cheese just starts to brown. Let it rest on the counter for 10 minutes before serving.

They were delicious! Andy said the best ever. He said that AFTER he interrogated me on my use of onions in the recipe. If I wasn't pregnant and wasn't exhausted and was in a good mood, I would have grated some onion or pureed it in the food processor to trick him. As my readers know, I'm not above tricking (lying) to my husband while in the kitchen. We're really in trouble. I heard that tricking your husband into eating foods he thinks he doesn't like is the 4th leading cause of divorce.  You can read about my first trick here. (Click on the word "here".) 

I made some rice to go along with the enchiladas. (en-chee-la-das) This was another classic recipe that my mom always made during the big family get togethers or special birthday dinners. Also very easy and tasty. 

You'll need: 

2 T. Oil

Diced onion

1 C rice (I used brown basmati) 

Just under 2 C water, broth, or combo. (I used a leftover container of vegetable broth I had in my fridge.) 

2 T hot sauce

salt/pepper

Half palmful of cumin

1 T Chili powder

Garlic powder

In a heavy bottomed sauce pan with a tight fitting lid, heat oil over med. high heat. Add rice and onion and stir while the rice toasts. Add the water or broth or combo, hot sauce, and seasonings. Add a generous sprinkling of garlic powder. Bring to a boil. Cover. Reduce to low. And let it cook according to the package directions. Mine took 50 minutes. Well, that's a lie. My stove sucks. I hate it. And it doesn't know what low means. So mine took way longer because after 50 minutes I realized that my oven thought low meant off. So, if you have a pyscho oven like mine - give yourself some extra time. 

It was a delicious dinner. Even my toddler enjoyed it. He didn't enjoy it enough to swallow his bites. But he did open his mouth wide like a fish and take every bite. He even chewed it. Then he spit it out and looked at me with the strangely familiar twinkle in his right eye. I know that twinkle. It means, "Whatcha gonna do about it, huh mom?" 

But I know better than to mess with him. After all, you can't mess with a genius.

Just when we thought we had it all figured out...

You know, things have been nice lately. We're getting sleep! Like long stretches of uninterrupted sleep! 

We have a nice routine with two naps a day, play time, eat time, clean up time, walks in the stroller, giggle time.

We can even start to see light at the end of the diaper tunnel. 

Food allergies have become a distant memory.

Tantrums are easily dissolved by bursting into random song while dancing like a chicken with its head cut off. 

Things are nice. Predictable (as they can be with a toddler). Smooth sailing. Fun. Always interesting.

Its like Andy and I decided that we were getting too much sleep. Saving too much money. Enjoying too much free time. That's what I thought the first time anyway... 

Well, we did it again!!!

We're expecting Baby Dokulil the Second to arrive in the very beginning of April! We're all thrilled and looking forward to a bit of chaos again! There's a bit of calmness surrounding this pregnancy. I'm not a "rookie" this time as my doctor called me the first time. I will go hours (ok, maybe ONE hour) before dashing to the bathroom where I somehow lose my cookies and then remember that Oh! That's RIGHT! I'm pregnant! AGAIN! 

Things are so different this time around! When I was expecting Adam, Andy would rush in every morning with a chef's coat on and a delicious 3 course breakfast fit for a Queen of a small country.  He rubbed my feet, rubbed my back, he held my hand when I felt a little funny. He would proudly announce to people that "WE" were pregnant. Then he'd get this evil stare from me and soon he started telling people that "I" was pregnant. 

Now, he stands in the door way and tosses me my Zofran and progesterone before he rushes down the hall to pick Adam up from his crib, change his diaper, get him dressed (which is still a major source of contention because Andy lacks fashion sense which I hear is the 3rd leading cause of divorce), get him fed, prepare his oatmeal, and get to work before the office closes for the day. 

So, all alone, I drag myself out of bed and head for the nearest place I can toss my cookies. Splash some water on my face. Gag my way to the oatmeal. Eat a few bites. Make a face at the toddler who thinks me gagging and running from room to room is hilarious. And wave goodbye to Andy as he squeals his tires to freedom. 

Then our day starts! And its non stop and go-go and never a dull moment. No more laying in bed all day. Or being pampered all day. Now its a non stop cycle of diaper duty and chicken dances. 

And I have to say, I love it. 

Don't Rock the Boat, Baby!

Isn't she purty?

My life, My circus

A few weeks ago, OK - like September 3, 2010 - I started planning Adam's first Birthday Party. A Petting Zoo. Clowns, not the scary kind. Happy Clowns. Elephant Rides. Fireworks. Gourmet Chocolate Cake. Tea, in fancy cups. A live orchestra serenading us with Mozart, Chopin, and the occasional children's song.  My list went on and on.

Andy grew tired of talking about the details. I knew this party would only succeed if I took over.

I'm very lucky to have a friend/nanny/former student named Laura who is so talented and creative and great with Adam. She got on the computer and pulled up idea after idea. Blog after blog. She's the real brains behind this circus!

The invitations have been sent. I really had thought about just doing Evites. But then a conversation with Megan abruptly changed my mind. That conversation MAY have gone something like this:

"I'm thinking of doing Evites for Adam's First Birthday party. That's OK, right?"

"What?!? No! Its absolutely not OK. Only mothers who only half love their children do evites for a FIRST Birthday!"

"Oh. Ok! Well, I'll order some paper ones then."

So, the Evites went out as I was waiting for the paper ones to come in. Then the paper ones came in and went out. And on another note - have you noticed that RSVP has gone completely out the window? You can write RSVP or PLEASE LET ME KNOW - And it just doesn't matter!  I may have food for 60 and only have Andy, Adam and I. Oh well. It'll freeze.

I do have this problem about feeding people. I've convinced myself that all people who enter my home are starving. They come from a land with no food. They may never have had food before. Ever. And its my job to feed them. To nourish them before sending them back to their land of saltless, stale crackers and tepid, moldy water.

A few years ago, I was dating this wonderful, handsome, smart, funny guy. We decided to host a Christmas Party. This wonderful, handsome, smart, funny guy did, in fact, own a home with a kitchen, but it was for looks only as it had never been used. Well, maybe to heat up the occasional pan of frozen taquitos. I think he was thinking a few bags of chips, we'd splurge on a couple dips, some liquor and maybe even a Christmas tree.

Well, unbeknownst to him, I was scouring cookbooks and online recipes coming up with the most fantastic menu ever. And for some reason I was particularly found of shrimp. In fact, listening to me talk about the menu for the party was like watching Forrest Gump. We were going to have Shrimp Cocktail, Hot Shrimp, Pepperoncini Shrimp...

Let's just say I've never heard the end of the time I put 12 lbs. of shrimp into said man's grocery cart.

He married me anyway. And he knew well before the nuptials that I had this problem with feeding people.

Adam will hopefully get a balanced side of the two of us. Hopefully, he'll enjoy feeding people, but also have the brains to realize that 12 lbs. of shrimp is a bit much. I think he's pretty smart. Sometimes he looks and me says, "Mother, must you really insist upon serving every food group at every meal?"

Speaking of Adam, he's this close to walking. He'll can walk about 4 feet on his own without falling. He gets pretty proud of himself at about the 2 feet mark and starts clapping his hands so wildly that it almost causes him to wipe out. If he'd just concentrate... He's like his mother in that regard. Doing two things at once, especially when one of those things is walking, is too challenging and most often results in a dislocated knee or a bruise on the butt.

We just had a scary week here at the Dokulil house. Out of nowhere, Adam spiked a temperature on Monday and we raced off to the pediatrician's office confident we'd come home with some magic concoction and expert advice and he'd be better by Tuesday. Instead, we came home with no prescription, print outs on how combining tylenol and motrin causes toxicity and ER visits, and encouragement on not to freak out because he's got a fever. We also came home with a 104.7 fever.  Of course I did the right thing. I freaked out! I administered tylenol. Cursed terrible words (in my head) at the pediatrician for not sending us home with the magic concoction and checked on Adam every 15 minutes that night and slept with the monitor attached to my ear. The fever went down, and then the crying started. Then mom went down. Then dad came home. Then out of nowhere, Adam shot up from my lap laughing and talking about how much fun his birthday party was going to be and could we make sure there were zebras in the petting zoo.

By Friday, Adam was back to his old self again, starving, and complaining about the all the food groups on his tray.

It was a long week!

Another Mom's Milk.

Goodbye Medela Symphony Pump.

Goodbye Medela Pump in Style.

Its over.

I'll continue to nurse, but I'll have to offer at least 2-3 oz of formula after each nursing session.

ON THE BITTERSWEET SIDE... Let me introduce you to Megan. (Click on Megan to read her story.) Megan is one of my bestest bestest friends in the whole world. We share the same birthday.  We both had blonde hair until I died mine brown, but I've bleached it back - so now we both HAVE blonde hair. We both adore pugs. We both got pregnant at about the same time. We both obsess about breast milk and breast feeding. Megan has twin girls. Two beautiful, healthy, amazing, smart, charming girls. And she nurses them when she can and pumps when she can't.

I won't lie... To listen to Megan talk about how much milk she produces in a day is like being on a strict diet and watching someone eat an entire chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and chocolate curls and chocolate ice cream, and chocolate wonderfulness.

Megan also has a huge heart. She's cheered me on through the trials and tribulations of breast feeding. And is fluent in my saga. (Click here if you want to be too.) Now that her girls are 9 months old, she's producing more milk than her girls need. So, each Wednesday Megan loads up her little cooler with breast milk and hands it over to me to take home. Are you shocked? Another mom's milk?

I guess some people would be weirded out by it. And while everyone is entitled to their own opinion and reaction - I challenge you to think like a parent and not a pervert... What if there was no formula? Remember that? Remember when there was no formula? Probably not. It was a LONG, LONG time ago. But its a true story! (There also used to be no running water or electricity too... but I digress!!!) Moms who found themselves in situations like mine found themselves a wet nurse. Someone to nurse their baby because they couldn't. Breast milk is best. There's no denying that. Formula is fine. I've had to use it from day one. But breast milk is alive with enzymes and immunoglobulins and all sorts of specific nutrients that a baby needs that can only come from the breast.

So, when Megan offered her breast milk for Adam, I humbly accepted it with so much gratitude. I know Megan well. I even seen her medicine cabinet! :-) She's a non smoker. A non drinker. Her worse offense is a serious sweets addiction. I think Adam is enjoying the sweeter milk!

I decided to write about it because I'm proud to be giving her milk to Adam. I'm not ashamed of it. I don't think its weird. I don't think its perverse. I made the decision carefully and deliberately. And I thought, just maybe.... someone out there needed to hear that.

Birthday Buddies!

Megan: Andy and I are very grateful and thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We love you!

Me, my family, my mountains!

Back in June, we loaded up the car  - Wait. Let's start over. We crammed everything we possibly could into our Honda Pilot. Toys, Baby Food Cooler, Baby Supply Crate, Toy Bag, Pack and Play, Stroller, 2 Large Suitcases, 2 Diaper Bags, Portable High Chair, Mother-In-Law and said Mother-In-Law's 2 very small bags.

Off we went! Estes Park - HERE WE COME!

Heidi, my mother-in-law was assigned with the most difficult task of all. Keep that baby entertained for the duration of the car ride! We split up the trip on the way there and stayed in North Platte. Adam did great in the car. And did OK for the overnight in a strange hotel in a strange bed.

We stopped in Loveland, CO to hit up the Coach Outlet and the Gymboree Outlet. My partner in crime, Megan, had a special request to be filled at the Coach store. And so did I! A special thanks to Heidi, who bought part of my new Coach bag as a birthday present!

My Mountains

Finally, we arrived in Estes and met my Father-in-Law, Lyle! I love the mountains. I love them so much that I call them MY mountains. I don't think they mind.

We checked in at our cabin and received a great surprise! The one bedroom cabin we had originally reserved was under construction. Would Andy and I mind switching to the three bedroom, two bath cabin with washer and dryer instead? Um, NO PROBLEM!

We walked up and down the streets of Estes, buying souvenirs, chocolate,  and popcorn.      We took a day trip up Trail Ridge Road. Andy and Lyle held their breaths around the sharp turns. They would look down the side of the mountain, thinking the worst, talking about how dangerous this road is. Adam and I sat in the back seat rolling our eyes and smiling! (We were very glad that WE didn't have to the driving!) There was so much snow at the very top! In fact, there was so much snow that they had JUST opened Trial Ridge Road for the season. (A full week late!)

ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK!

We tried to hike around Bear Lake as it has a paved path around the entire lake making it great for a stroller, but the lake was still partially frozen and the path still snow packed. A park ranger stopped me and said, "Don't take that baby in there." We didn't argue!

Instead, we headed over to Sprague Lake! Sprague Lake is GORGEOUS! The views around the lake are majestic and breathtaking!

Growing up, Andy and his family came to Estes Park each year! Everywhere we went was another story! Remember the time when Jon and I hiked around this mountain and found this resort. Remember the time, I got to ride the trolley into town all by myself from the cabin? Remember the time, Hannah would ride the horses every year even though years later she would admit how much she hated it! Remember the time Dad said he would climb that mountain? Remember the time... Much has changed in Estes since the original Dokulil Family started going. But still, much hasn't. Laura's Fudge shop is still there. Everyone went home with pounds of chocolate in the car and in their tummies!

One Night, Andy and I went on a date night! Lyle and Heidi took care of Adam while Andy and I went out to dinner at the Dunn Raven Inn and saw a movie, The Hangover II. Our first movie in over a year. Where has the time gone?!?

We took loads and loads of pictures. For all the pictures, go to http://keepingupthedokulils.shutterfly.com.

It was a wonderful trip. Every time we're there, we start scheming ways we could stay up there forever. But reality set in and it was time to cram everything back in the car to head home. This time, Heidi rode home with Lyle. With no one in the backseat to entertain Adam, we were sure nervous that it would be a terribly LONG trip home. We made plans to stay the night again half way to make it easier. But Adam had other plans. He took a long nap and entertained himself so nicely that we decided to do the whole 9 hour trip in one day. He. Did. Great!

Grandpa Lyle and Adam

We are looking forward to making Estes Park a yearly thing just as it was for Andy in his childhood.