Our Monday morning began bright and early when Chase started making noises in his nursery at 6 a.m. He’s been waking up earlier and earlier these days and while he used to go right back to sleep for about an hour after a morning nursing session at 6 a.m., he’s been up and ready for playtime every morning by 6:15 a.m. which completely obliterates my morning work time, but I’m trying to learn to roll with it (and also kind of hoping it’s just a little phase).
Once Chase was up and fed, we said goodbye to my mom before she headed off to Raleigh to help my aunt with her recovery after her biceps tendon surgery and set up camp in the backyard with my dad to enjoy coffee and breakfast on the patio. The mornings this week have been slightly cool and absolutely gorgeous so we wanted to take advantage of the chill and eat outside.
Push/Pull Workout
We chatted and played but before too long Chase started to get fussy and I knew he needed a nap. When he wakes up at 6 a.m., he doesn’t last long, so he was back in his crib for a morning nap just before 8 a.m. My dad encouraged me to sneak in a workout while Chase was sleeping, so I took him up on his offer to be on baby monitor duty and drove to Burn Boot Camp for a push/pull strength workout.
Before and after each round, we completed one minute of the following burst:
- 1 push up
- 4 plank shoulder taps
- 8 mountain climbers
It was an upper body scorcher and it felt good to sweat! There’s something about a great workout on a Monday morning that I just adore. It seems to set the tone for the week ahead and kick things off on a healthy, active note.
Monday Happenings
Chase woke up a couple of minutes after I walked through the door, so my dad leashed Sadie up and we all headed out on a 40-minute walk around a local park. By the time our walk was done, Chase was ready for another nap, so we picked up some food for lunch and headed home.
While Chase napped, my dad and I chatted in the kitchen and it was so nice to have some uninterrupted time with him. I also tackled a little food prep and got to work on dinner for the night ahead.
I wanted my dad to try PaleOMG’s spaghetti pie that we’ve been raving about for months since he seemed intrigued by it and cooked a spaghetti squash in the microwave so it would be cool and easy to work with when we were ready for dinner.
After a blog reader mentioned cooking spaghetti squash in the microwave, I did a little Googling because I was very intrigued. I hate slicing into a whole spaghetti squash and fear for my fingers’ safety every time, so anything that makes slicing into a hard squash easier sounded great to me.
I was a little apprehensive about cooking a whole spaghetti squash in the microwave, but it worked SO well! I’ve done it four or five times now with great results! (Disclaimer: I read some online comments that said people had issues with their squash blowing up in the microwave, so proceed with caution and be sure to poke the heck out of your spaghetti squash to vent it if you try this method. If you guys want a brief/easy tutorial, just let me know. It’s totally changed the way I cook spaghetti squash!)
I spent the rest of Chase’s naptime working before he woke up and we were ready for more baby playtime. We lathered ourselves up with sunscreen and piled into the car to head to a local beach for some swimming and fetch with Sadie!
The water felt incredibly refreshing and I had such a nice time at the secluded little beach with my dad, Chase and Sadie. It was a wonderful way to spend an afternoon!
We arrived home around 4 p.m. and spent the next few hours entertaining Chase in the living room and on the swing in the backyard while dinner baked in the oven.
Unfortunately Chase needed to head to bed before Ryan arrived home from work but he definitely had a day full of love from his mom and grandpa!
By the time Ryan made it home, we were ready for dinner and dug into the spaghetti pie on the patio.
My dad gave it rave reviews and said it lived up to the hype!
I am hoping this Tuesday passes by niiiice and slow because it is my dad’s last day here. He is leaving late this evening so I’m off to soak up every last minute I have left of his visit.
Have a great day, my friends!
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My daughter used to get up at 7 now gets up at 530, 6 at the latest. Nothing I do or change makes her sleep in later. Fingers crossed this is just a phase for Chase. It’s so hard not to have a quiet morning even for just a few minutes.
Agreed! Just when you get used to one thing, I swear it changes!
Mitch is an early riser as well, which is difficult with my love for morning workouts. But we adjust and make it work. You’re so lucky to have the extra time with your dad – and perfect timing, too!
Oh man, I love that workout! I can’t wait to give it a try! I also love a good workout on a Monday- definitely lets you know it’s going to be a great week.
https://thedogtribe.com/2016/06/20/100-burpee-shred-workout/
I would love to see a microwave spaghetti squash tutorial! I avoid buying it because I am terrified of cutting all of my fingers off while knife-wresting the squash.
I’ve always cooked spaghetti squash in the microwave, can’t imagine doing it any other way. Just slice in half, set it cut side down and poke the shell a few times. 10 minutes later, it’s good to go.
Aw yay sounds like such a great time with your dad! I dont cook spaghetti squash fully in the microwave but lately ive been softening it before cutting in to it ( i fear for my fingers every time too!). It’s a big help in softening it before cutting in to it. Then ill roast it in the oven.
I can’t believe how much older Chase is looking in every picture it seems! He is growing up so fast!!
RIGHT!? I feel like he became a toddler overnight!
enjoy your time with your dad! i know that time is so special! 🙂
What a nice day with your dad, definitely must have made his extended Fathers Day so special. I recently made the spaghetti squash pie because I always read about it on your blog and it was delicious! I’ve only kinda liked spaghetti squash, but when it’s baked it was delicious. I have never cooked it in the microwave, but am always worried about losing a finger when slicing! Have a great last day with your Dad.
i tried the spaghetti pie recipe at your recommendation and LOVED it! My husband does too and he does not normally like spaghetti squash.
I am learning that once you think a baby has a schedule, it changes. Our daughter typically wakes up around 6, but has gone through periods when she sleeps until 7-7:30, and there are times when she wakes at 5:45.
My mother in law always recommends microwaving spaghetti squash. I’ll have to try it the next time!
Do you have that spaghetti pie recipe on your blog? It looks delicious!
IT’s actually from PaleOMG.com! It’s SO good. Definitely use HOT Italian sausage if you make it!
I put my spaghetti squash in the crock pot! I poke a couple holes and then put it in on low before I head out to work. Not sure how long it takes to cook because I never do this when I’m home. But it is definitely done after 8 hours.
Sounds like a great day on the lake with Chase and grandpa! I’m intrigued by the idea of microwaving a squash, I also fear for my fingers and it would be so convenient not to heat up my apartment with using the oven for so long in summer.
Yessss to the oven heating up the house! It is KILLER. I swear whenever I turn on the oven, our house gets 10 degrees warmer in the summer.
I have been wanting to try spaghetti squash for so long! I’ll have to pick one up from the grocery store later. Hopefully I don’t fall victim to it exploding in the microwave lol
I noticed that my guy (almost a year!) started getting up earlier as it became daylight earlier. Maybe try some room darkening shades? I was tempted but didn’t bite the bullet. We have been keeping him up a little bit later at night and it has been helping him to sleep in a little bit longer. Hoping that for you it is just a phase!!
I’ve been meaning to look into them! It definitely gets WAY too light very early in Chase’s room these days!
I would gladly welcome a microwave spaghetti squash tutorial 🙂
I would love your tutorial on cooking spaghetti squash in the microwave. I love it but rarely cook it because cutting it is so difficult.
Microwaving spaghetti squash is one of my favorite tricks! I don’t always have the sharpest knives in the world (dorm life), so it makes the whole prep process feel so much safer 🙂 Enjoy your time with your dad!
Weird question: How do you get your baking dishes so clean?!
Sounds like such a wonderful day! Love that you guys always keep busy, but not crazy-can’t-breathe-don’t-have-a-second busy. It’s definitely a great way to live.
Hope you guys have fun on your Tuesday together!
XO, Jessica
http://www.semisweettooth.com
I’m so glad you get to enjoy some quality time with
Your Dad.
Please let me know how to make a spaghetti squash
In the microwave! That sounds wonderful. If you could
Also share the spaghetti squash recipie I would appreciate it. I need all the help I can get when it comes to cooking. Thank you!
I have made that spaghetti squash recipe twice so far and love it!! It is so easy to make and so healthy!
Also, i recently moved to Raleigh from NY and I completely understand the difficulty of living away from family. I just got married in october and am so nervous about having kids away from all of our family!
i’d love details on microwaving the squash!! thank you!
That picture you snap chatted of Chase yesterday plus these photos make him look SO big! OMG so quickly!! Also, been cooking my spaghetti squash in the mic for years and had my first explosion recently. It was not pretty.
I roast mine whole in the oven with a few holes poked. Still the same amount of time roasting as if you cut it but at least its not scary cutting it after 🙂
The workout looks great! Pinned! And your day does look like it was fun 🙂 Love spending time with my dad too!
I couldn’t agree more! Living far away from family is super challenging…especially when your kids are little and change so much so fast! It sounds like you had an amazing visit though! 🙂 I’ve never thought to cook spaghetti squash in the microwave! I’m the queen of things exploding in there though…. 😉
Does Chase not fall asleep in his car seat on your way home to put him down for a nap? My 16 month old has always fallen asleep in his car seat if we are even remotely close to nap time (which always ruins his nap, as he wont transfer to the crib and won’t go back to sleep). It has been very frustrating! I am always so impressed that Chase makes it home for his naps without falling asleep on the way!
It’s so hot or cold! Sometimes he does but then yesterday he stayed up and just screamed the whole way home! Usually, if it’s close to nap time, he’ll fall asleep on the way home and transfer fairly easily to the crib if I nurse him right when we get home. But yesterday was a crap shoot because we were driving home at a weird limbo time — not really nap time OR bed time — and I think that really threw him off.
would LOVE a tutorial!!