New Look

I was looking at new blog templates, and found this one. I really like it! It is very seasonal, which is what I was looking for. So I applied it to my blog, but then I noticed something. It says Happy Thanksgiving! So dont think I'm trying to get ahead of things. I'm not. But Thanksgiving will be here sooner than we know!

Adventures in Potty Training

Adah has been growing leaps and bounds in the last few months. I am amazed even looking at her birthday pictures at how much she has changed. She is such a little talker these days.

A few months ago, I weaned Adah. It was difficult, but I knew it needed to be done; for a few reasons. She was waking up sometimes up to 4 times a night to nurse. It got to be that night time was the only time I was nursing her. She had really never slept through the night. Then the week of my grandpa's funeral I really had no choice but to wean her. I was not getting much sleep at all, and the added pressure of nursing was just too much.

So it happened in about a week. It was more traumatic on me physically, than her. But within a week she was sleeping 12+ hour stretches at night. It was the most amazing feeling to sleep at night long with out having to go nurse the baby. One night she slept from 8:15pm to 9:45am!!! It was glorious! There have been a few nights (when she has been teething) that she has woken up, but all she wants is to be held for a few minutes, but as little as she likes to be held, I don't mind one bit.

Another thing Adah has been doing is displaying signs of being ready to be potty trained. I know your thinking she is too young, I have felt the same way, but it is obvious sings she is ready. She has been taking off her diaper, so I got her pull-up (they are soooo big on her) and have had her in only the pull-ups during the day. She has been telling me "potty," before she goes in her diaper. She even told me she needed to go "poo poo," then she went in the potty.

When I first got out her princess potty that I had gotten as a gift for my baby shower, she was so excited! I got it out the night before, and when she woke up the next morning she saw it and thought it was a new toy. I took off her diaper and had her sit on the potty naked, and I turned on the water in the bathroom to get her going. Well, she started going and as soon as the liquid it the potty bowl, the little song came on, and Adah got so scared, she ran off mid stream. TMI, I'm sorry.

I am taking the whole process really slow, but she is doing so well, we will just keep it up until she is completely potty trained.

LoveLee Baby Things...

I LOVE baby things! It's not just because I have a baby (well, not so much a baby anymore) but because of the creativity that takes place when you have a baby. It forces you to be creative.

Whenever I have a baby shower to go to, I start thinking about what I can make for the baby. I was recently invited to a baby shower for a dear friend that I could not attend, but I went ahead and made a few things for here.

Tell me what you think...

The Car Seat Canopy

The Nursing Cover

Yes, I used my sister as a model.

My friend is having a boy, but I couldn't help putting ruffles on it.

Introducing... Shadow!

This is Shadow, the newest member of the Lee family. Shadow is a pure bred Golden Retriever. I'm sure most of you saw on Facebook that Jon surprised me (on the day of my grandpa's funeral) with a puppy. Well, we got Emma (Shadow's litter mate) a about two weeks, but ended up trading her for Shadow, it's a long story. I was really having a hard time, but I LOVE Shadow, and he is going to be a great dog!

And yes, that is mischief written all over his face!

Cheesecake Factory's Louisiana Chicken Pasta

One of our favorite restaurants to go to as a family is the Cheesecake Factory! I went there for the first time at fashion island in Newport for my 15th birthday. I don't remember much about that day but I do remember being seated next to the window on a beautiful clear day. If you have ever been to that particular spot, you know you can see the ocean and sometimes as far as a neighboring islands.

It quickly became one of our favorite restaurants, and place we would go for a date or celebratory dinner. Jon and I were thrilled when we found out that one was going in here in Riverside a few years back!

I don't tend to stick with one thing I like to try new things on the menu. But Jon LOVES the Louisiana Chicken Pasta, he orders that EVERY time we go. I have tried and tried to get the recipe for it with no avail, until this week.

I just randomly googled it as I have in the past, but this time I found a recipe that looked like it could fit the bill, and I think it did! So, here it is...

I got the recipe from recipesecret.com from one of their forums.

For the pan fried chicken:

4 tablespoons vegetable oil
6 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
3/4 cup breadcrumbs
1/4 cup parmesan cheese (grated)
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons flour

For the Cajun Sauce

1 tablespoon butter
1 small yellow pepper (chopped)
1 small red bell pepper (chopped)
3/4 small red onion (chopped)
3 whole garlic cloves (minced)
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1-1/4 pints whipping cream
1 cup low sodium chicken broth
4 tablespoons fresh basil (thinly sliced)
1 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 (12 ounce) package bow tie pasta
1 cup mushroom (sliced)

Melt butter in large skillet over medium heat.

Add yellow and red bell peppers, mushrooms, and onion to same skillet,until
crisp-tender, about 4 minute.

Add garlic and crushed red pepper to skillet and saute 3 minutes.

Add whipping cream and chicken stock.

Simmer until sauce re-heats and thickens slightly, about 5 minutes. (I let it "hang out" longer. It gave the sauce its signature color)

Add basil (I didn't have any. oops)and 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese to sauce, stirring to
incorporate.

Season sauce to taste with salt and pepper.(This is important because the cheese adds the salty flavor by itself, and you run the risk of over salting if you salt before the cheese) Reduce heat to low, simmer;
sauce will reduce and thicken.

Start the water for the bow-tie pasta

Cook bow-tie pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until
tender but still firm to bite.

Drain and return to pot.

Wash and drain chicken breasts.

Pound until very thin (the thinner the chicken breasts the better).

Mix breadcrumbs, flour, and Parmesan cheese together.

Place milk in dish for dipping.

Dip chicken in breadcrumb mixture and then in milk and then back in
breadcrumbs.

Place in fry pan that the oil has been heated and fry at medium high
temperature until golden crisp and cooked through.

Add more oil as needed.

Remove and drain chicken; keep warm.

Add sauce to the pasta and toss to coat.

Place pasta with sauce on plate, and top with chicken breast.

Serve, passing additional Parmesan separately.

Serves 5 to 7

Enjoy!

Oh, and isn't the cheesecake factory's website freaky??? Yes- I do look at the links before I post them... <3>