Goings on..

1. James has colic and reflux and an ear infection - it has been a long and hard few weeks, so we came home to Maryland to get some help from my parents/aunts/sister (I love my family) and some rest.

2. I forgot to pack breast pads, and I just ran out of the few I had in my diaper bag. The problem is that it's late here, and we're all too tired to go to the store, so I have 2 of James's diapers in my bra - so far so good.

3. I'm searching for a really good chocolate chip cookie recipe, so if anyone has one they would like to share I would be so grateful. Please email it to laurensydneydyer@gmail.com. The recipes I have been using don't cut it, and I need chocolate chip cookies to survive.

Hello Everyone

We hope you're having a good day. I'm hoping our day will be good too - full of napping and void of crying. Please James? I would very much appreciate it.

Today...

My baby is 1 month old.

People keep asking me what it feels like to be a mother... Before I had him everyone told me that my life would never be the same, which is true, but not in the way I expected. I feel a new, intense weight of responsibility. Every thought I have concerns him. I think that's what my Mother meant when she said that I would never be free again - I don't do anything anymore without thinking of him first - anything at all.

I feel overwhelmed with happiness, and tiredness, and sometimes extreme frustration, but also total contentment and fulfillment - and this is just the beginning. I know that I would never have made it through this past month without all the support I have had from family and friends. So, thank you to all of you for the comments, phone calls, emails, visits, meals, gifts, and physical help with the baby. It has meant so much to us.

I find myself looking forward now and not hoping so much that things will stay the same. James is growing fast and is more responsive everyday, and I love watching his progress. You were all right - it has only gotten better.

Panna Cotta with Raspberries

Do you like berries and cream? Mmmm. I love Panna Cotta. It's a sweet cream custard - almost like a brulee, but Italian not French. You can pour it into any glass or ramekin or fun shaped mold to set up.

Ingredients
1 cup whole milk
3 cups whipping cream
1/3 cup honey
1 T unflavored powdered gelatin
2 T sugar
Vanilla Bean split and scraped
Pinch of salt
2 cups fresh berries - any kind you prefer

Method
Pour milk into a bowl and sprinkle the gelatin over the top to let it soften - let stand for 3-5 minutes.
Pour milk into a heavy saucepan and stir over medium heat until the gelatin dissolves, but do not let the milk boil, about 5 minutes.
Add the cream, honey, sugar, vanilla paste, and salt.
Stir until sugar dissolves, about 5-7 minutes - do not let it boil.
Remove from the heat, strain and pour into 6 glasses or molds.
Cool slightly, then refrigerate until set - at least 6 hours.

Valentines Day

I just want to say thank you to my sweet valentine. Thank you for making me feel beautiful everyday. Thank you for taking such good care of me and our baby. Thank you for putting me to bed last night and letting me sleep - it was the best gift you could have given me. I love you. Happy Valentines day.

For everyone else - we are busy baking right now, and tomorrow I will have some yummy dessert recipes to post.

Enchiladas Verdes

Okay. I didn't take a fabulous picture, and I didn't even make the pico and all the other trimmings I usually serve with these enchiladas, but I hope you can see past all that and try these out. These are sour cream chicken enchiladas - my own recipe that I have made a million times. They might be a little different than you're used to, but I promise if you like Mexican food, you'll like these. The three most important things about this recipe:

1.The chicken has to be very finely shredded - into oblivion (almost).
2. You must try them with CORN tortillas - enchilada size
3. You MUST serve them with THICK slices of avocado. The cool buttery texture cuts through the creaminess - oh it's sooo good.

Ingredients
3 1/2 cups finely shredded chicken (I mean finely, and I cook mine by poaching with onions and garlic and lots of salt in the water)
3/4 cup sour cream
4 oz. softened cream cheese
1/3 cup shredded jack cheese + another 1 cup to 1 1/2 cups to top enchiladas
1 small yellow onion - pureed ( should be the consistency of applesauce)
Kosher salt
28 oz can green enchilada sauce (or comprable size)
Corn tortillas - enchilada size, about 15

Method
Mix the chicken, sour cream, cream cheese, jack cheese, onion and a big pinch of salt together in a bowl.
Pour a little sauce into the bottom of your pan for the enchiladas to sit in so they don't stick.
Wet each tortilla and microwave 3 or 4 at a time for 30 seconds. It steams them and makes them pliable enough to roll. They will probably crack a little - don't worry about it, they taste the same.
Fill a line down the middle of the tortilla - about 2 heaping tablespoons. Fold one side over and then the other to close, and place with the seam down in the pan.
Fill the rest, and top with sauce and shredded jack cheese.
Bake in a 350 oven for 25 minutes - until its all bubbling and melted.

I like to serve them with fresh Pico de Gallo, and rice and beans. Try them. I'm almost positive you'll like them.

Bath Time

I just wanted to share another picture. I'll be posting a new recipe later on.

I'm in Trouble

I took my baby for his 2 week check-up yesterday, and everything looks really good. James has gained 2 lbs since leaving the hospital - 1lb over his birth weight. We talked about his sleep habits, and eating habits, and the Doctor told me that I needed to start "tummy time", so he can strengthen his neck, and keep a nice round head.

Well, I had been warned during pregnancy by several Perinatal Specialists that I have an "over-active" baby. I figured as much, because I have an over-active Husband, but it still makes me nervous when I see toddlers running around destroying everything in sight knowing that those kids are probably in the normal range of active.

So, we had "tummy time" for the first time today, but as soon as I put James on his stomach he rolled over onto his back. But, I thought, "He can't have rolled over - that was probably a fluke." So, I turned him back over, and he rolled again! He rolled over every time I put him on his tummy. He's 2 weeks old! I thought the earliest babies roll is at 2 months. So much for tummy time. I've been watching him roll over all day, and we taped it when Shane got home. James is really tired in the video, so please excuse the screaming.

Big Plans

Well, we did try. We all got bundled up to take James on his first walk. But, as soon as we got outside we realized it was too cold, and James and I were too tired. Maybe next time.

His little hands don't even make it down to the opening of the thumb hole in those gloves.