Enjoy!: September 2013

Eleanor Grace is ten months old

>> Wednesday, September 25, 2013 – just Eleanor

Eleanor (pictured here at OMSI yesterday) is ten months old today.

I know that I am supposed to say that I can't believe it. But truthfully, it has felt like ten months. At least.

She is such a joyful, giggly, beautiful baby. She is a light to our lives. But she doesn't really like to sleep. Like, at all. She does like to nurse. Like, all the time.

I know that she will start to sleep eventually (heck, James does now, and I never believed that would happen), and I would not trade the last ten months for anything, even if I won't remember them too clearly.

Here are some quick stats of things I want to remember. Then I'm going to bed:

weight: 22 lbs at 9 months (big girl, note thighs in the last picture)
favorite foods: refuses purees; loves chicken, string cheese, oatmeal, and fruit of all kinds
loves: dogs, dancing, Sophie the giraffe, the Tupperware drawer, fabric play tunnels, big brother, flushing toilets and pulling down toilet paper, eating
ticklish: everywhere, especially armpits and neck
sounds that have meaning: "Mama"; meaning: unknown (possibly "breast milk, now!")
movement: pulling up and shuffling around on everything; extremely fast crawler

That's all I can think of for now.. maybe will update this post when I have had more sleep (5 to 10 years from now)...

Anyway, I love that girl so much it hurts. In a good, exhausting sort of way.

happy weekend

>> Friday, September 20, 2013 – happy weekend, just Eleanor, Just James

Happy weekend!
In the greater-Portland area we are switching out our beautiful sunshine for rain, beginning this evening.

Luckily, we took full advantage of the sunshine this week with bike rides, park trips, and even swimming yesterday.

One day it was so warm that Elle had to take her pants off at the park.

But, Autumn begins tomorrow. I am celebrating by making soup tonight.

Tomorrow we are going to the Farmer's Market and having some friends over for dinner. I hope it's rainy and cozy.

Happy Autumn Eve everyone!

cotija, black bean, and mango casserole

>> Wednesday, September 18, 2013 – gluten free, Main Dishes, south of the border

Lately I have been analyzing- probably over-analyzing- why it is that I blog.

One reason is to document, in words and photos, our life while the kids are young. Since I average about five hours of sleep per night, it will be nice to have reminders of the days I can't remember.
Another reason is the community. I love learning about other people's lives through their blogs, and sharing my life through my own.

Yet another reason I come back to blogging over and over is that this blog serves as a recipe index for me. Just in the past few weeks I have come back to several recipes, including: Vietnamese baguettes, dutch baby pancakes, granola bars and these quesadillas. In fact, I have been craving the quesadillas, but I needed a more family-friendly version.

Quesadillas are not so "family-friendly" because in the midst of filling sippy cups, tearing food into tiny pieces, setting the table, stuffing one large baby into a high chair, making sure little boy hands are washed, and hollering at Lane that dinner is ready, I don't really have time to stand over a stove and cook four individual quesadillas.

With this casserole, all I have to do is assemble the ingredients and let the oven do its magic.

Cotija, black bean, and mango casserole

1 mango, peeled and chopped
1 cup crumbled cotija + another 1/2 more for top
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup red onion, chopped
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
9 corn tortillas
lime wedges
cilantro, for topping
cooking spray

Combine the mango, red onion, sour cream, and 1 cup of the cotija in a bowl. Set aside.
Spray a 2 quart baking dish with cooking spray. Arrange two tortillas side by side on the bottom of the dish, and cut up a third tortilla to fit in the gaps. Spread half the mango mix evenly over the tortillas, then top with another layer of three tortillas. Repeat with the remaining mango mixture and the last three tortillas. Crumble the remainig 1/2 cup cotija over the top layer of tortillas.

Bake at 350 for 12 minutes, or until cotija is beginning to brown over the top. Sprinkle with fresh cilantro and serve with lime wedges. Enjoy.

happy weekend

>> Friday, September 13, 2013 – happy weekend, just Eleanor, Just James

Happy weekend, friends.

We are heading to Corvallis for a family photo shoot tomorrow. I bought the kids long-sleeve shirts to wear, but we may be switching that up since it is supposed to be above ninety degrees tomorrow...

... and then rainy on Sunday, of course.

What is everyone else up to?

summer polenta with bacon

>> Monday, September 9, 2013 – gluten free, Main Dishes

I have never mentioned this, because this is used to be a food blog, but I have some, err, well, undiagnosed stomach... issues...

Anyway, the only reason I have brought this up is because I am experimenting with various elimination diets to attempt to eliminate the issues. Currently, sadly, I am gluten free.

I am trying to be optimistic and looking at this as a new culinary challenge and adventure. I get to experiment with barley, oats, corn products, buckwheat (which, apparently, isn't actually wheat at all), and spelt. (Well, maybe spelt. There is something weird about spelt. Any advice on it is much appreciated.)

All this gluten-free business better help my G.I., because I am sure as heck not giving up cheese.

Summer Polenta with Bacon
polenta recipe from Giada

tsp salt
1 3/4 cups polenta
3 tbsp butter
2 tbsp olive oil
1 zuchinni, chopped
2 large tomatoes, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp pepper
salt
5 pieces cooked bacon, crumbled or chopped up
1 1/2 cups grated pecorino romano
torn pieces of fresh basil

Bring 6 cups water to a boil. Add salt and polenta. Cook until thick, about 10 minutes. Stir in butter.
Meanwhile, heat the olive oil over medium high heat in a large, oven-proof skillet. Add zucchini until beginning to soften up. Add tomatoes and let simmer until veggies are tender and juices are thickened. Add garlic and sautee until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and 1/2 tsp pepper. Add bacon crumbles and polenta. Stir until all veggies are mixed in thoruoughly. Top with grated cheese.
Bake 350 (I did 300 in convection oven) for 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and browning.
Top with fresh basil. Serve hot. Enjoy.

six years ago (yesterday)

>> – Around Oregon, Thoughts

Yesterday was Lane and my six year wedding anniversary.
It was fun, but not too glamorous. We swung by a friends house warming party, then over to Por Que No? for some dinner.

waiting in line:

chips and guac:

It was Eleanor's first Por Que No trip:

pollo asado tacos... mmm:

... Then we went out to ice cream, went home, and went to bed. A typical night on the town for the Lockharts!

I am not into writing gushy mushy stuff, but I will share the Spotify playlist I made for yesterday:

You are the Best Thing by Ray LaMontagne
In My Life by the Beatles
Mirrors by Justin Timberlake (yep, JT, I'm not even embarrassed)
Magic by Leagues (they are coming to Portland in October... who's in?)
Sunday Mornings by Casey Hurt (my fav on this list)
Time After Time by Chet Baker
This Years Love by David Gray (I walked down the aisle to this song)
I Got You by Jack Johnson
Let's Make it Last by Brandon Heath (our first dance at our wedding)
How Sweet it Is by James Taylor
Til Kingdom Come by Coldplay
Young Dumb and In Love by Mat Kearney

... happy anniversary, Lane! I love you!

happy weekend

>> Friday, September 6, 2013 – happy weekend

Hooray! It's Friday! Lane has been gone for a week and a half (okay- that's not entirely true; he was here for long enough Monday to discover Sadie had fleas and help me to entertain twenty three family members) but now he is home!

We will probably venture out to the Farmer's Market tomorrow, then we are watching our friend's kids tomorrow night (five kids under four, should be an adventure).

Sunday we are going to church then a housewarming in Mississippi area... any suggestions for kid-friendly restaurants over there?

Have a wonderful rainy-then-sunny weekend!