Seven months

Rigby turned 7 months old on Thanksgiving Day.  Rather than delay the monthly photo session until we travelled back home, we snapped a few (hundred) photos of him on the trip and I opted to use those for this post since they were just so good.

With each month, Rigby seems to just grow cuter and cuter and certainly more interactive.  He is such a happy baby and is quite the social butterfly, giving nearly everyone who looks in his direction and big drooly, gummy smile.  And, I swear that something magical happens when he smiles, his blue eyes light up and sparkle and his sweet attitude spreads to others like a really good infection.  And, the talking is quite something these days!  He tries very hard to mimic our sounds and will carry on a conversation with himself or with us for minutes at a time.  It is so precious to listen to, especially when I am listening in on the monitor while he is waking up and greeting the day.

Read More
the FamilyStephanie LamarRigby Joseph, 7 months old Comment
Travel: Vancouver Island (Victoria to Nanoose Bay)

We spent the long Thanksgiving weekend in Vancouver Island, a destination we have talked and even planned of visiting for years yet never seemed to carve out the time it takes to travel there.  I am so glad we made the time for this holiday adventure.  Not only was it a special time to spend with our dear friends from residency, it was also great to see this amazingly beautiful part of the globe.

Read More
the AdventuresStephanie LamarVancouver Island, Canada, Victoria BC, Nanoose Bay, Thanksgiving, FriendsgivingComment
Tofu and Corn Tacos

We love all Mexican inspired food around here and not a week goes by when tacos and/or quesadillas are not on our dinner menu.  I am always searching for a new twist to these dishes as my go to protein is nearly always beans.

I am not a big fan of many meat substitutes, I would rather just go without, but tofu is a family pleaser, so I decided to try my hand at using tofu in tacos.  If you are not familiar cooking with tofu, you should know that it easily takes on any flavor that you cook with it.  In other words, do not be afraid to use seasoning...tofu does not have to be boring!

These tacos are very tasty and easy to prepare.  We had leftover tofu filling and it reheated nicely the next day for a yummy lunch.  I am pretty sure this recipe is going into our dinner rotation.  

Read More
the FoodStephanie LamarTacos, Vegetarian, TofuComment
Food Tracking

Did you see the New York Times interactive article, "Diary of a Food Tracker," which was published last Monday?  It is a fascinating account of one person's weight loss story using the Lose It app to track food intake and exercise.  It is well known through multiple published studies that self-monitoring is the most effective way to lose weight, but what is very rarely depicted is just how difficult self-monitoring can be for the long haul.

The interactive article highlights the ups and downs of Mr. Lochner's very successful weight loss journey (he lost over 100 pounds) and accurately illustrates just how difficult it can be to maintain your efforts despite seen success.  I applaud the NY Times as well as Mr. Lochner for this piece.  Eating healthy and losing weight are difficult jobs and it's nice to see a portrayal like this one rather than a glamorous weight loss story that features a slender woman and a trendy diet.

Read More
the FoodStephanie LamarNutrition, Food Tracking, Weight Loss, AppsComment