And she crawls!

Yep, Maggie has made it into the elite group of humans who can move from one place to another without assistance. She's officially crawling!

Last Saturday, at the annual Easter egg hunt, Maggie appeared to have put all the motions together as she made her first tentative movements in sync. She waited a few more days to do it again, and simply rolled her way anywhere she wanted to go. But now, her movements are more precise, on hands and knees. She sets her sights on her goal, and off she goes.

What happened to my baby? She's growing up so fast.

Oh, what a crazy, wonderful, busy, life-altering 7 months it has been!

Mama guilt hit me full force, when I realized that so many of Luke's milestones were documented carefully on our blog. I think I have posted TWICE in the seven months since Miss Maggie joined our family. Boo! That makes me upset that Maggie's adventures have not been as carefully outlined as those of her brother.

But after some thought, I understand that Maggie joined a very different family than Luke did. Maggie was born into a real, true, busy, and happy family. A family that has lots of time to spend together, but not so much time to write about our family life. And that's okay.

I would like to write more often, and I will try to do so at least every week or two. But NO MORE GUILT! I don't want to live that way, and I don't want my kiddos to live under the chains of guilt either.

Maggie will not remember these seven months when she is grown. She will not know that getting the balance right was awfully difficult. She will not remember that she nursed through the night, every night, for all these months. But I think she will understand that two little ones under the age of two was busy for her mama, and she will understand that documenting milestones for her brother was possible because I wasn't busy caring for and playing with her at that time. My blogging time has been funneled to my Maggie time - and I wouldn't have it any other way! What a sweet and happy girl she is! I love to play with her, and watch her grow and explore this world of ours.

So I hope I'm back in the blogosphere, even if my posts are short, and not well-edited.

And as a little treat, check out this face. Way too cute!

My Very Own Best Vegetarian Chili Recipe!

Okay, this is a lame post to make as my first one back in over six months. (I am giving myself a break since we had some major changes in our lives, including the addition of a new family member and a move to a new home!) Anyway, I have been making this chili recipe since Maggie was born in September, and I need it written somewhere on the web so I can pin it. All my favorite recipes are now on Pinterest, and my new menu planning system requires that I be able to easily access my favorite recipes quickly and easily. So here it goes! My very own best vegetarian chili recipe!

Ingredients:
1 onion, diced
1 red pepper, diced
1 green pepper, diced
1 poblano or fresno pepper, finely chopped
3-4 carrots, diced
2-3 stalks celery, diced
1.5 cups kidney beans, rinsed and soaked
1 cup pinto beans, rinsed and soaked
1 cup black beans, rinsed and soaked
1 cup lentils, rinsed (optional)
1 15-ounce can diced and fire roasted tomatoes
1 28-ounce can diced or crushed tomatoes
taco or chili spice mix (more on this... I make my own)

I have also added frozen corn, soaked chickpeas, and red lentils from time to time.... there is no wrong way to do this! One word of caution: While I have used canned beans for this recipe, I usually try to soak my own beans. I do this for several reasons. First, the added sodium in the canned beans takes what can be a very nutritious meal and adds unnecessary health risks. I am already using canned tomatoes, although I do look for an organic, low-sodium option. Second, buying dried beans significantly reduces the cost of this recipe. If you buy your dried beans in the bulk section of your grocery store, you are doing even better for your wallet.

Directions:
Saute veggies in pot. Add tomatoes when carrots soften. Add beans. Cook on med-low heat until beans are tender (about 45 minutes).

Delish! Make a double batch and freeze for a crazy night when you need something cheap, easy, and nutritious.

Happy cooking (and pinning)!

New Blog!

Check out my new blog, Money-Saving Mama at www.money-savingmama.blogspot.com.  It's brand new and I need followers, so hurry on over there!  Thanks!

Welcome to the World!

Margaret Frances Kelly

born September 5, 2011

9 pounds, 5 ounces

...and the reason I have not blogged in two months!

We are in love with our baby girl!

Due Date!

Today is the big day - our due date with our baby.  I don't expect we will be meeting each other today, or even tomorrow, so we decided to mark the special day with a family date.  We went to Collingswood, NJ, for a craft fair and a trip to the kid-friendly Pop Shop diner.  I also got to meet baby Emily, the one-week-old baby of a good friend of mine.  It was a very nice day, with lots of positive baby and family vibes.  So even though we won't be meeting today, it was nice to mark the occasion with some special activities.

Confessions of a blog addict...

I don't know how this happened. I never thought it would happen to me. Yet, here I am, totally addicted to blogs! The blogging part is way fun, and I can't forget that, but the collecting of various blogs and following them is my real love. I love peering in to other people's lives, seeing the things they cook, the way they live, their organizational techniques, their fun crafting ideas. I just can't seem to get enough!

One day, when I have crossed off all the things on my to-do list, I will spend some time highlighting my favorite blogs. However, that list keeps getting longer, as I find more and more things I want to do by finding more great blogs out there. What a dilemma!