Paleo/Primal Baking

Since having L I've been really motivated to lose the baby weight.  I'm in a wedding in July and I was still holding on to 10 lbs from J when I got pregnant, so I'm eager to get it off.  I'm currently doing the Couch to 5K running plan and it's going well.  Diet wise I try to stick to a mostly paleo/primal diet.  For those are wondering "what?" here's a link (I wouldn't do a good job explaining it and I'm sure I'd piss someone off, so you get a link): http://thepaleodiet.com/ and http://www.marksdailyapple.com/primal-blueprint-101/#axzz2QRrQBqux

Dinners for us are mostly a meat (salmon, chicken, pork, steak, etc.) and veggies.  I try to do 1-2 crock-pot meals a week and 1-2 meatless meals a week.  I also do 1 non-primal meal each week.  This is usually something I can double and freeze, like lasagna rolls, or it's tacos (not gonna lie, it's usually tacos).  I plan out dinners each Sunday then do my grocery shopping based on what I need.  Lunches for me and M are either leftovers of dinner or salads.  I don't typically plan out breakfast.  M doesn't eat it and I'm good with eggs and fruit.  But this weekend I decided to expand my primal horizons and try some paleo/primal baking.

My first attempt was banana bread from this recipe I found on Pinterest: http://robbwolf.com/2011/04/21/recipe-paleo-banana-bread/

It was...different.  The recipe says to bake a loaf pan for 30 minutes.  Mine wasn't ready then.  I ended up baking it for almost an hour then stopped because the edges were going to burn.  It was still rather moist in the middle.  J and I ate some, but we weren't very impressed.  Well, this morning I decided to get it out of the fridge and toast it and see how it was.  Turns out it's much better the next day.  I put some butter on mine and had 2 slices.  J just finished off his 3rd piece, walnuts and all!  Love when that kid gobbles stuff up.  So overall, it's a pretty good substitute for regular banana bread, but next time I make it I'll bake it at night and have it the next morning.

Next up...paleo pancakes!

New Routines

Adjusting to having 2 kids can be tough.  I think I have been very blessed with this transition.  J has taken to being a big brother very easily, and L has been a great baby.  He had jaundice when he came home so much of the first 2-3 weeks of his life were spent sleeping.  Now he's a very portable, easy going baby.  I've also been blessed with 11 weeks of paid maternity leave.  So J continues to go to daycare and I spend the day with L at home.  Now that my maternity leave is nearing a close I'm working on getting everyone into good morning and evening routines so I don't lose my marbles when I start back to work.

Our Morning Routine
I have to be at work at 8:30 am.  Right now I don't have as much to get ready (bottles, work clothes, etc.), but the idea is that this routine will transfer easily once I need all of that stuff.

6 am - I get up.  If L is up I nurse him, if not I shower.
6:30 am - shower or feed L
6:45-7:15 am - get dressed/ready, coffee, breakfast for me
7:15 am - get J up, go potty, brush teeth
7:20-7:45 am - clothes and breakfast for J, get bags packed, get L in car seat
7:50 am - out the door to the car
8 am - off to daycare

Obviously the times don't always line up - things come up (literally, like spit up), or J decides he'd rather run around the front yard than get in his car seat.  But I'm working to keep to this schedule as much as possible.  I'm hoping (rather optimistically) that when I start back work I can get up at 5:30 with M and run on the treadmill.  I used to do this at work on my lunch break, but since I'll be pumping 3x's a day I won't have time.

Our Evening Routine
We currently get home earlier than we will when I'm working since I can leave to get J earlier and avoid traffic.  But times below are what they will be when I'm working.

5:45-6 pm - get home from work/daycare
6-6:20 pm - feed L
6:30 pm - bath time for L; if I am bathing him then M is getting dinner ready and vice versa
7 pm - bed time for L, dinner for the rest of us
7:30 pm - play time with J
8 pm - bath time for J; whoever put L down for bed does dishes while the other one puts J to bed
8:30 - bed time for J
9-10 pm - get everything read for the next day; this includes coffee, lunches, sippy cups, bottles (when I'm working), and packing bags.  I think I'll even be putting bags into the car when I'm back to work.  Getting out the door with a toddler, car seat, toddler back pack and diaper bag is tough now.  Adding a cooler bag, pump bag and purse will be even harder!
10 pm - bed time for me and M!

Again, I don't expect to stick to these exact times.  Even now I'm dealing with L's fussy time all through dinner (he pretty much fusses from 7-10 pm), and J's bedtime gets pushed back past 8 pm a lot.  But if M and I know this is the schedule it will makes things so much easier when I'm trying to get out the door in the morning.

What are your routines?  What kind of time saving tips do you use?