Weigh in

Carter has continuously had weight problems since he's been born and was categorized as "Failure to Thrive" when he was a month old. For those of you who do not know this phrase here is the definition per Wikipedia:

"a medical term which denotes poor weight gain and physical growth failure over an extended period of time in infancy. As used by pediatricians, it covers poor physical growth of any cause and does not imply abnormal intellectual, social, or emotional development. Failure to thrive is weight consistently below the 3rd to the 5th percentile for age, progressive decrease in weight to below the 3rd to the 5th percentile, or a decrease in the percentile rank of 2 major growth parameters in a short period"

So, the poor little fella was not getting enough calories from me just breast feeding him. The doctor asked us to start feeding him a few ounces of formula after he nurses and to consider my milk as "the main course" and the formula as "the dessert". Well, as any child would, he prefers his dessert over the main course. I've continued to nurse Carter, but he has become a very very lazy nurser and falls asleep or gets angry that my milk is not coming out as fast as it does in a bottle. My milk supply has diminished due to this. I have tried to pump since the very beginning, but it does not seem to be very effective. I will pump several times a day after he nurses and just wont get anymore than 2 ounces total in a day. It's been incredibly frustrating, tiring, and heart breaking. So, I enrolled Carter in services through the agency that I work for and he receives consultation for our nutritionist on a weekly basis and gets weighed weekly. He was 8 pounds 13 ounces at birth. At his 1 month check up he weighed a little more than 7 pounds. Yeah.... the little booger wasn't growing! So, now, at 2 months and 2 weeks we have a great weight gain! He has slowly been progressing and weighed in at 10 pounds 12 ounces!! Lil man is no longer failure to thrive!!!! I'm soooo happy! I hate that his nutrition comes from something that is not natural, but I'm gonna have to get over it. I have not stopped nursing and pumping, and plan to continue for as long as I can. I had a small pump that I purchased after he was born, and as I said, it didn't seem to be working well. I mentioned this to our nutritionist and she referred me to a program so I could rent a hospital grade pump. Wow! This sucker is quite the sucker and it's huge! My days of discreet pumping are looooong gone. I used to be able to carry my little pump in a little black bag, but this one is a huge thing that has to be carried in a bright blue hard case. It's ridiculous! But, it's fantastic! This one is a double pump, and my other is a single. It cuts my time down like no other! I've been getting 3 ounces in one sitting and it takes 20 minutes to get things done that took an hour with my single pump. It's great!

Oh, other good news.... my camera was left at my parents house! Yay! I didn't loose it!

Chocolate Dipped Peanut Butter Chip Cookie Dough Balls

I did Chocolate Dipped Andes Mint Chip Cookie Dough for a friend for Christmas and decided to mix it up a bit and do a different type for a friend who is crazy is about the peanut butter/chocolate combination. I think they were even better than the mint kind, but that's just me.

Chocolate Dipped Peanut Butter Chip Cookie Dough

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, softened
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup REESE'S Creamy Peanut Butter
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup REESE'S Peanut Butter Chips
• milk chocolate chips
  

Same concept as the mint stuff. Cream the sugar and butter. Add other ingredients and mix well. Roll into 1 inch balls. Freeze. Remove from pan and dip into melted milk chocolate chips. Place on wax paper lined cookie sheet to harden. Freeze again. Package in air tight container and keep frozen until your ready to eat them. Do not bake.

Simple!

Christmas wrap-up

This Christmas was fantastic. Carter's first Christmas was all I could hope for and more. We had such a good time and got to see a lot of family. I have so many pictures, but I have misplaced my camera... dangit! I hope I didn't leave it at a restaurant we visited!.... eek! We got to see a lot of Paisley and Jacob. It's amazing how much they have grown. They are just getting bigger and bigger as the days go by. My mom got matching PJ's for Paisley and Carter and we got the sweeeetest picture of them in front of the tree. Can't wait to share it all with you. I really tried to focus on the reason for the Christmas season this year. We are usually so incredibly busy bouncing between grandparent's homes that I just forget all about it. But I really made an effort and felt more inner peace and appreciation for everything this Christmas. I can't wait to be able to share the story of the birth of Jesus with Carter and explain to him that it is the reason our family celebrates Christmas. Well, this lady has to get back to work. Thanks for checking on us! Can't wait to share my pics with you!

Behind

I've never been so behind for Christmas in my life!! We leave today to be with our parents for the rest of the week, bouncing back and forth from Burlington to Durham on a daily basis. Basically, my version of hell. I have yet to wrap the presents for 4 different people, buy for 3 different people, and I haven't packed..... at all. I haven't packed for me. I haven't packed for the baby. We have a laundry room full of clothes that need to be washed so that I have something to wear for the holidays. So, this lady will look like a hobo for Christmas this year in whatever is clean and not on the floor that will fit in my suitcase. But, at least I'll be sporting the new Very Bradley bag that Phillip got me for Christmas. Booyow- that makes me a very happy hobo.

Merry Christmas!!!



-Love,
Sara

Wordless Wednesday

Videos

Andes Mints... gotta love 'em!

Today was Carter's first day at his babysitters. He totally didn't care but it tore his momma up!

Momma really didn't want to let me go!

Can you see the polka dots on my outfit? This is the only way mommy can put me in them and not get in trouble!!

Enough tears. On with the recipes.........
I'm famous for my Andes Mint cookies at work. So, this year I decided to do a little something different with them for one of my friends who loves my cookies. She and I both ate the crap out of some cookie dough when we were pregnant, so I wanted to play on that. I made Chocolate Covered Andes Mint Cookie Dough Balls. Can we say "YUMMMMMMM-OH!" They are so good, and I'm so proud of myself for making up these up! Here's the recipe:

Chocolate Covered Andes Mint Cookie Dough Balls
2 sticks salted butter - softened
3/4 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup white granulated sugar
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 package (10 oz.) Andes Crème de Menthe Baking Chips
2 cups all-purpose flour
Milk Chocolate Chips

Cream the sugars and butter. Add the vanilla and flour to the batter. Then slowly add mint chips. Form into balls 1 inch balls. Freeze on cookie sheet covered well to protect from freezer burn. After the dough is solid, melt milk chocolate chips and cover the batter with the chocolate. Place on wax paper lined cookie sheet. Wrap them well to protect from freezer burn. Refreeze. Store in air tight container. Keep frozen until ready to eat. Remove from freezer and let thaw for 5 minutes before eating.

Sorry about this picture. My flash is a beast, but I wanted you to see the inside of them. Enjoy!!

Santa's Lil Helper

This weekend was so great! I loved being home with little man and "sleeping in" (which means not having to wake up at 6:30... woooot!) and just relaxing around the house. We took Carter to the Luminaries in Dillsboro where Santa was visiting Saturday night. He was pretty pooped and slept through most of the excitement, but I still got some great pictures. A friend of ours gave him 2 sets of Christmas outfits and I could not be happier with them, especially paired up with the shoes my mom got him! Check this one out:

Aren't I cute!!!

This is muh' happy faaace!

Santa Shoes from Grandmuddy!

All snuggled up and ready for Santa!

I met Santa, but I slept right through it!

The family

Katie, Heath, Carter, and mommy

I also made yummy goodies for a present last night and I can't wait to share it with you! I have to give it to that person before I post it though, so you'll see it tomorrow. I'm so proud of myself! I got creative and made a recipe of my own and it turned out sucessful! Yay for me!
Until then, enjoy this recipe of my favorite appetizer that our family does. I made these for breakfast and served it along with grits.... yummy!! It's so fast and simple:



Bacon Wrapped Lil' Smokies:

1 package Lil Smokies
1 pound bacon
toothpicks
Light Brown Sugar

Preheat oven for 350 degrees. Spray baking sheet with non-stick spray. Cut bacon into fourths. Wrap indivdual smokies in bacon fourths. Insert toothpick into Lil Smokie. After wrapping all Smokies, place them on the baking sheet and sprinkle with brown sugar. Bake for 15- 20 minutes.