Artichoke & Salsa Quiche - Gluten Free

If you like quiche you have to try this recipe. It is delicious!
Thanks to Kristen for sharing this super easy recipe with me.

Definitely not a food photographer...the picture does not do it justice!

Artichoke and Salsa Quiche

½ cup salsa

1 cup artichoke hearts, quartered

¼ cup parmesan cheese, shredded

1 cup Monterey jack cheese, shredded

1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

8 large eggs

1 cup sour cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 10 in quiche dish.

Spread salsa on the bottom of the dish. Distribute the chopped artichokes evenly over the salsa.

Sprinkle the cheeses over the artichokes.  Blend eggs and sour cream until smooth (I used a blender).  Pour the egg mixture over the artichoke/cheeses.

Bake uncovered for 30-40 minutes or until set.

One Month

Sophia,

You are one month old today! (March 28, 2012)

Here are your stats:

Weight: 8 lbs. 3 oz. (25%)

Length: 20 inches (25-50%)

Head: 36.25 cm (25-50%)

You wear newborn diapers, and they are starting to fit properly.

You wear newborn clothes and most are still big on you, but they are starting to fit much better.

You usually eat every three hours during the day and can go up to five hours at night. You are eating about three ounces when you take a bottle. You spit up occasionally, but not at every feeding.

We are still working on a schedule. Some nights are better than others and Mommy just wants to sleep longer in the morning when we don't sleep well at night.

You love to have your hands up by your face and it usually looks like you are posing.

You smile all the time and even laugh in your sleep. I can't wait until you have intentional smiles.

You make so many fun noises and sounds and you have just started to get more purposeful in your sounds.

You are still a challenge to wake up during the day, but you have times that you are so alert. You love to look around and make the cutest expressions. You like to hang out in your swing and look at your mobile and out the window. You tolerate tummy time and do a great job of lifting your head.

You have a few fussy times each day and usually are easily soothed. A pacifier has helped calm you down at night when you get upset.

You are sleeping in the room with us in your pack and play. It makes the middle of the night diaper changes and feedings much easier.

We are so happy that you have joined our family. We can't wait to see what the future brings for you. We love you so much!

Our Little Model

We were very fortunate to have Sophia's photographs taken with Madison Lane Photography. I learned that newborn photography sessions should happen while the baby is 7-10 days old and be scheduled while you are still pregnant. Oops! We were fortunate that Erin had an opening and that even though Sophia was two weeks old that she cooperated fully during the session.

To see more, click on the link below the picture.



Madison Lane Photography

If you live in the Charlotte area, you have to check out this studio for pictures of your little one!

Making Life Easier...

Two things have made life with a new baby MUCH easier at our house.

I introduced a pacifier this week. I did not want to use one, but our little lady is a much happier baby with it. Mommy is also happier with Sophia finding time to sleep instead of scream in the middle of the night. With breastfeeding I was nervous with Sophia getting confused from the pacifier, but thankfully, not a problem!

I do not have an iphone, but I LOVE my droid! I found a free app called iBaby that tracks feeding, diaper changes, and growth. In think it is also on the iPhone, but for a fee. I am not one of those people that does a great job of remembering the time of the last feeding (especially when I am sleep deprived). With iBaby I just tap the screen and it remembers it for me. I was keeping a paper log to track feedings and diaper changes, but it is so much more convenient on my phone since it is usually right next to me.

iBaby

If you have any more tips to make life easier with a little one, please pass them along!

Three Weeks

Sophia met her Nanny and Pap Pap this week. They drove in from Pennsylvania to meet Sophia and spend some time with the family.

Kristen and Tori stopped by to meet Sophia.
Tori is making her "cheese" face...too cute!

Meri stopped by again with a bunch of little girl clothes! Yay!

We got to Skype with Nana and Grandpop again and had a few visitors before Nanny and Pap Pap arrived.

She smiles all the time, but I know they are not intentional yet. We either have one very happy or gassy child. Sometimes it even sounds like she is laughing in her sleep. Sophia has already mastered some animal sounds. She can trumpet like an elephant, whinny like a horse, and snort like a pig. We are very proud parents :).

It is very hard to capture a quick smile on camera - this is the closest I have.
And yes, I have a camera next to me constantly.

At her doctor's appointment we learned that Sophia is an amazing eater...she gained 11 oz in one week. She surpassed her birth weight and has her next well visit when she is one month old.

Sophia had a photo shoot with Erin from Madison Lane Photography. The poses were so fun and Sophia did a great job of cooperating (not going to the bathroom all over everything and staying asleep). If you are in the Charlotte area, I highly recommend working with Erin for pictures.

Sophia got more fun packages this week. It is safe to say that she is SPOILED well loved but we are not complaining! She also got her social security card in the mail. It was a strange feeling to open the mailbox and find mail addressed to Sophia for the first time.

Dave's favorite outfit so far...thanks Hartkorn family!!
Our little cheerleader will be wearing this on game days.

Days and nights are reversed for Sophia. Some nights are better than others. She also tends to be fussiest at night. From her fussy times I learned that her eyes can produce tears. Friends recommended Happiest Baby on the Block and the techniques in there have definitely helped. I still need a tutorial in swaddling - I'm getting better but Sophia is able to break free so I know I am not doing it tight enough. I would love some suggestions on how to keep an infant awake during the day. Not only is Sophia challenging to wake up, she is also impossible to keep awake once she is up.

Very happy in the middle of the night ;)

These three weeks have flown by! We are getting into more of a routine and I can't wait to see what is in store for us next!

Pardon how pretty I look, I was getting ready for a nap :)

Sophia's Birth Story

I wanted to post this while it is still somewhat fresh in my head. My labor was super quick, so some things are a little jumbled, but here goes...

Monday February 27 was a normal day. I felt great! I went to work and came home to spend time with Dave - who was off for the evening. I went to bed around 10:30 and woke up to cramping around 11:30. I was not sure if this was the start of labor, but I went downstairs to tell Dave that we may be headed to the hospital sooner than we thought. I decided I should put the few things in my hospital bag that still needed to be packed. Contractions started and intensified pretty quickly. Around midnight I spent some time in the bathroom getting sick.
I don't know when my water broke - there was no gush - but I was going to the bathroom more frequently so I am going to guess that my water broke right around 11:30 when I woke up. We started timing contractions around midnight and they were about eight minutes apart. We called the admissions nurse when the contractions were five minutes apart.
This is where things get a little blurry.

After the foggiest car ride ever we got to the hospital at 1:52. For the record - contractions while seated in a car are NOT fun. Dave wanted to drop me off at the entrance but I made him park in the lot next to the entrance. I did not want him to leave me! We walked in to the admissions desk and she called for the nurse. While we waited for what seemed like ten minutes (but was probably two) I had a major contraction and laid across the desk. The nurse walked us back to one of the triage rooms. I stopped to lay against the nurse's station while I had another contraction. I went into the bathroom to put on a gown. The contractions continued and I threw up for the third time. Dave scooped up my clothes and I crawled onto the bed to wait for the midwife. The nurse began my admission and the midwife arrived to check how far I was dilated. She told me that my water had already broken - news to me! As soon as she told me I was nine centimeters I felt the urge to push. The midwife asked if I planned on having a natural childbirth - um, NO! But I realized it was too late to hope for an epidural. They moved my bed to a room and bounced off a few walls along the way.

I was aware that there were a lot of people in the room, but not aware of much else. The nurses were asking if we were having a boy or a girl and got very excited when Dave told them it was a surprise. Dave told them the names we had chosen.
I did not want to push since I knew that the medicine for Strep B was not in my system. Due to the amount that I had thrown up I was dehydrated and they were not able to find a vein. Sophia probably would have arrived a lot sooner if I had not been worried about getting the medicine. Once they found a vein to administer the medicine I felt comfortable to actually push. (I know the meds were not in my system long enough before she was born but it made me feel better knowing that the medicine was in.) I think Sophia arrived after my sixth contraction. We had only been at the hospital for 62 minutes. Dave told the room that our sweet baby was a girl and cut the cord. They put Sophia on my chest and all I could think was how much she looked like Dave.

Holding Sophia Mae for the first time.

After about a half hour they measured and weighed her.

Sorry for the angle - blogger and I are not getting along!

Dave got to hold Sophia for the first time.

The proud papa.

Headed to the nursery for a bath...and returning with her pink hat.

Four hours after we arrived at the hospital they completed my admission and Dave took a nap. I was too excited to sleep :).

We've already been home for a little over two weeks and I feel so lucky to be a mom to Sophia. Dave makes such an amazing Dad and I just feel so blessed.

Two Weeks

Sleepy Sophia in her Daddy's arms.

We just passed the official due date (March 12th) for Sophia. It is hard to believe that she has already been here for two weeks! Time is flying by so quickly.

Here is what we have been up to this week:

Tim and Wiley

Meredith

We had a few visitors come over to love on Sophia.

Amanda

Sophia also met her Uncle Bryan via Skype.

We got quite a few packages - full of little girl items! Dressing Sophia is going to be so much fun. I can't wait to get her a bunch of cute accessories. I am doing my best to avoid those websites (that shall remain nameless) with all of the handmade goodness. We'll see how much longer it lasts.

Her umbilical stump came off. Gross!

Sophia is starting to stretch out. I just love watching her put those little legs straight out.

She continues to be a little noise maker. She doesn't cry much, but watch out when she is hungry (she takes after her mama on that one). She constantly coos, grunts, snorts, sighs...lots of noises and sounds ALL THE TIME. She also hiccups just as much as she did before she was born.

We met with a Lactation Consultant. Our pediatrician  has two Lactation Consultants on staff - one at our office and one fairly close by. I have been very blessed that Sophia knows exactly what to do with little guidance on my part. The LC answered all of my questions and was super helpful with putting me at ease. Sophia ate and they weighed her to see how much she was eating. She got about 2 ounces while we were there, which is perfect! I am planning on meeting with the consultant again before I return to work.

Waiting to see Lia the LC.

We went on our first stroller ride. I love the frame that our carseat connects with. It is lightweight and such a smooth ride.

Yes, we are at Target again :)

We are still struggling a little bit with sleeping and waking up to eat. Some days are better than others.

Today we go for a weigh in. Sophia should be back up to birth weight at this point. After the doctor's appointment Sophia is going to have her pictures taken. I'm so excited to watch the process and see how the photographs turn out!

The gorgeous flowers that have made me smile this week.

One Week

I can't believe that a week has already flown by!
Here is what we have been up to:

We received excellent care at CMC Pineville. My only complaints had to do with not being able to watch NBC in my room and the lack of food that I could eat. Fortunately Dave was able to bring me food. When the hospital called to follow up I mentioned easy things they could add to the menu to make it more friendly to someone on a gluten free diet. Oh, and hospital beds are much more uncomfortable than I ever imagined!

Ashley came to visit us at the hospital and brought us our first girl clothes!

Thursday we came home.

We went to the pediatrician for the first time. Sophia weighed in at 6lbs. I brought the camera with me but forgot to take it out. In the waiting room I breast fed in "public" for the first time. I don't think it counts when you are at the pediatrician, but it needed to be done.

We Skyped with Nana and Grandpop for the first time.

Sunday was our first adventure out of the house to go grocery shopping. I'm training Sophia young on how to get the best deals at the store :) Her carseat is way too big to fit in a cart and still allow for groceries.

Blanket made by Sophia's Great Grandmother - GG.
Cracks me up that newborn clothes are too big for Sophia.
We just roll everything up.

Dave is an awesome Daddy. It makes me smile and brings a tear to my eye to watch him interact with our daughter. He has been so attentive and helpful. Fortunately he has been able to sleep through most of Sophia's middle of the night crying. He had dental work done on Thursday that is causing him some problems. He goes back today to get it looked at. I think he has been in more pain than I have.

Daddy and daughter.

Hunter is getting more comfortable with Sophia. He likes to sniff at her and try to chew on her fuzzy green blanket. He also likes to bark at her when she makes noises - fortunately she is not fazed by his barking yet. Hunter paws at us when he wants attention and his big goofy paws have tried to paw at Sophia.

Hunter barking to get attention.

Kona still sniffs at Sophia and is constantly checking in on her. He likes to steal the onesies and hats she has worn. He is doing much better with trying to constantly give her kisses.

Kona standing guard while Sophia eats.

I am doing really well. I am impressed with how little sleep I need right now. Overall I feel really good. Breastfeeding is a success so far. We go to see the lactation consultant today and I am looking forward to getting some tips and suggestions.

Mommy and Sophia
one week

Getting ready to eat.