BREAKFAST HASHBROWN CASSEROLE
Just a note to myself. I like this recipe but it's in a HUGE pdf file I have. This way I can pin it on Pinterest! LOL It's for my DCB by Pampered Chef.
BREAKFAST HASHBROWN CASSEROLE
1 bag of thawed frozen hash browns
1 lb breakfast sausage (can also use bacon or ham)
2 1/2 cups Colby/jack cheese (or cheese of choice)
diced up veggies (whatever you like best)
1 dozen eggs
salt and pepper to taste
Salsa
sour cream
Cook the sausage in 12” Skillet using Mix N Chop. Crumble the hash browns in the bottom of the Deep Covered Baker. Top with
cooked meat and diced veggies, then shredded cheese of choice.
Beat eggs in Classic Batter Bowl and beat with Stainless Whisk, add salt & pepper to taste. Pour over cheese, and add additional ½
cup of cheese on top of eggs. Cover and place in microwave. Cook on high for 13 minutes. Serve with sour cream and salsa if desired.
A Mommies-gotta-brag moment
We were at lunch with friends today and Lucy was playing in the play area. She ran out and told me "Mommy, a girl told me she didn't like my outfit and it made me sad." I told her I was sorry her feelings got hurt and suggested she just stay away from the girl. I followed her back into the playroom to check on Penny (and to eavesdrop of course). I saw Lucy go up to the little girl and say "It hurt my feelings when you said you didn't like my clothes" to which the little girl replied "I'm sorry." Lucy asked her if hey could be friends and they went on playing. They were both wi civilized, it surprised me that a couple 4 year olds could behave that way
That's jazz music!
We are watching "The Princess and the Frog" and it's the scene where Naveen arrives in New Orleans. Lucy says "hey, that's jazz music!" I love this child.
Car Seat Safety
This is an important topic to me. I usually keep my thoughts to myself on controversial topics but on this one I can't keep my mouth shut. It's important to me that every parent/caregiver/driver be aware of the safest way to transport kids. There are lots of car seat choices out there and they all do different things. You need to know your child's height and weight to pick the best seat for you. There are infant seats, booster seats, convertible seats, and so on. Just a small amount of research will guide you in the direction you need. Here is a basic guide to seats, from Healthy Children.
Take a look at this article. It's titled "Car Safety Seat Checkup" and goes over the safety guidelines for seats and tries to ensure you have your child in the best seat for them. As a reminder, NEVER put a child in a seat with an airbag.
What I've recently learned about is "extended rear facing" commonly referred to as ERF. I knew nothing about this when Lucy was younger otherwise she would have been ERF like we are doing with Penny. I believe deep down in my heart that this is the safest and best way for small children (3 and under) to travel. It's a life or death situation. Did you know that the #1 cause of death (as of a 2000 study from HRSA) for ages 1-4 is from car accidents?
Here are some clips from the AAP recomendations:
Many people I know say they think there child will be uncomfortable ERF. Here is an article from Consumer Reports addressing concers about the child's comfort.
Age Group | Type of Seat | General Guidelines |
Rear-facing only seats and rear-facing convertible seats | All infants and toddlers should ride in a Rear-Facing Car Safety Seat until they are 2 years of age or until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their car safety seat's manufacturer. | |
Toddler/preschoolers | Convertible seats and forward-facing seats with harness | All children 2 years or older, or those younger than 2 years who have outgrown the rear-facing weight or height limit for their car safety seat, should use a Forward-Facing Car Safety Seat with a harness for as long as possible, up to the highest weight or height allowed their car safety seat’s manufacturer. |
Booster seats | All children whose weight or height is above the forward-facing limit for their car safety seat should use a Belt-Positioning Booster Seat until the vehicle seat belt fits properly, typically when they have reached 4 feet 9 inches in height and are between 8 and 12 years of age. | |
Seat belts | When children are old enough and large enough to use the vehicle seat belt alone, they should always use Lap and Shoulder Seat Belts for optimal protection. All children younger than 13 years should be restrained in the rear seats of vehicles for optimal protection. |
Take a look at this article. It's titled "Car Safety Seat Checkup" and goes over the safety guidelines for seats and tries to ensure you have your child in the best seat for them. As a reminder, NEVER put a child in a seat with an airbag.
What I've recently learned about is "extended rear facing" commonly referred to as ERF. I knew nothing about this when Lucy was younger otherwise she would have been ERF like we are doing with Penny. I believe deep down in my heart that this is the safest and best way for small children (3 and under) to travel. It's a life or death situation. Did you know that the #1 cause of death (as of a 2000 study from HRSA) for ages 1-4 is from car accidents?
Here are some clips from the AAP recomendations:
In a new policy published in the April 2011 issue of Pediatrics(published online March 21), the AAP advises parents to keep their toddlers in rear-facing car seats until age 2, or until they reach the maximum height and weight for their seat. It also advises that most children will need to ride in a belt-positioning booster seat until they have reached 4 feet 9 inches tall and are between 8 and 12 years of age.
“A rear-facing child safety seat does a better job of supporting the head, neck and spine of infants and toddlers in a crash, because it distributes the force of the collision over the entire body,” Dr. Durbin said. “For larger children, a forward-facing seat with a harness is safer than a booster, and a belt-positioning booster seat provides better protection than a seat belt alone until the seat belt fits correctly.”From the same article above here is the clip that convinced me to ERF. How can you read this and do otherwise?
New research has found children are safer in rear-facing car seats. A 2007 study in the journal Injury Prevention showed that children under age 2 are 75 percent less likely to die or be severely injured in a crash if they are riding rear-facing.That "severely injured part" gets me. Here's a great report on neck injuries and crash protection. A child's neck is better protected RF than FF at this young age.
Many people I know say they think there child will be uncomfortable ERF. Here is an article from Consumer Reports addressing concers about the child's comfort.
Here is a look at our RF carseat installed in our Honda Element. I'm showing you this because I have to climb inside our car to buckle Penelope in. It's difficult and sometimes painful but I hope this shows how dedicated we are to protecting our children. Not to show off but to show you have important this is to us.My baby's legs are really bent against the seatback.
One of the most common concerns for parents is that their child's legs are bent and appear uncomfortable against the seatback, and in that position are at a higher risk for injury in a crash.First, children are far more flexible than we are and most likely aren't uncomfortable in this position. Second, crash data shows that lower-extremity injuries (such as those to the legs) are rare for children who ride rear-facing and are as likely to happen rear facing as forward-facing. Riding forward-facing does increase the risk of head and spinal injuries however, which are far more serious than a broken leg.I can't reach or see my child to hand him a drink or snack.
Regardless of your child's orientation, passing a snack is a risky move, because drivers tend to turn the steering wheel when they're reaching, which could lead to an accident. Eating in the car is not a 'best practice' in general, since being secured in a separate seat delays your ability to respond, should there be any choking, spilling, etc. Allow time for snacking before you head out, or plan a few minutes to stop during your trip for a bite or drink.My child is eager to turn forward-facing now that he's 'big.'
Though parents may be eager to graduate their children to the next step to mark their growth (and potentially to make things easier for themselves), the fact is that each step forward to the next type of child restraint actually marks a step down in terms of overall safety for the child. For example, for children who could potentially ride either way based on their height, age and weight, forward-facing is less safe overall than rear-facing. Similarly, for slightly older children, using a booster seat is less safe than a forward-facing harness. Be consistent and don't make exceptions—such as "I'll let him sit forward-facing in Grandma's car"—and children are less likely to object.
Here is the side Penny is on
Her seat and the reason why I have to get in the car. I have to put her in from the other side.
So happy, she loves her seat.
We have a walker!
It's official! Penny started walking last night! She's been taking a step or two here and there for a few weeks now but last night she took about 5-6 steps and Daniel was home to watch it! Today she's taken several more steps and she's liking it!
I need to blog more!
Penny has started standing all on her own, without any help. She's taking one or two steps here and there. She'll be walking soon!
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