Jack started sitting up last week! These milestones are getting pretty exciting! I had to share in his big accomplishment because, well, I think he’s the cutest kid on the planet, and his expressions are hilarious! I just want to eat his little face!!
He was pretty excited. We were pretty excited. Happy days and happier weekend, friends!
2014 has been a bust thus far. The first ten days of 2014 have consisted of sleeping, sitting on the couch, and lots of tissues, gatorade, and orange juice. Our household has had the flu. But on the positive, I did get homemade chicken noodle soup (maybe you’ll see it on the blog)….
We managed to shower and put on smiles with tickets to The Cotton Bowl, and a Mizzou win.
But then back to bed as the illness took back over; more sleep, coughs, sore throats, and runny noses…. lots of snot around here.
Luckily, it has finally left our household, and we’re enjoying the idea of 2014 again.
Resolutions
1. Invite more people over. It always gets so busy, and easier to meet people out, but I love to entertain and make meals. I need to start doing that more! At least once a month.
2. Four blog posts a month; Jack, House, Food, Misc. GO.
3. Try to finish all of my 33 before 33 (besides traveling to Portland and Europe)! It’s the BIG 33, already!
4. Lasik eye surgery. This makes me super excited and nervous. I want to get the surgery, so I can accessorize with glasses for fun not for need. Plus, the image of not having to poke my eye in the morning on a daily basis sounds phenomenal!
5. Listen to music. My day used to be filled with music at all times of the day. Morning. Noon. Night. Discovering underground bands and just listening to a whole album in one sitting. I would like to get that back.
I hope everyone is having a fabulous 2014!
Look who is 5 months old! Jack turned the ripe old age of 5 months on Sunday, all while battling his first infection, the flu. The flu hit our household while we were visiting family in Missouri and Wisconsin. We rang in the new year with snot-filled noses, ready for 2014. Actually, we all crashed before the actual ball drop, and I do believe this is the first time I didn’t stay up until midnight. Sadly, the bottle of champagne is still in the refrigerator. But I digress. Our baby boy turned 5 months last Sunday, and with the addition of movement and grasping, these pictures are becoming increasingly difficult to take. Both the hubs and I were laughing at Jack the whole session.
But don’t worry, we got a couple good ones…
The little man is oh-so-close to sitting on his own but prefers rolling and grasping objects. He also loves his feet! It seems with every diaper change, he rediscovers them. Otherwise, we’re just loving how 2013 changed our world and looking forward to learning 2014’s plan for us.
Happy New Year, Friends.
It seems like just yesterday I was sitting in the newborn waiting room crying over sore nipples and sleep deprivation, when a cute mom (she clearly had showered AND put on make-up) came into our waiting room claiming her baby was now 4 months, and she was sad that it would be the last time he would be allowed in the newborn waiting room.
She could tell both the hubs and I were much like deer in headlights after one night with our newborn at home. Jack was all but 4 days old, and I couldn’t even conceive him being 4 months someday. She and her baby looked so put together. I, on the other hand, was lucky I remembered the baby. I checked in late, and was just happy he was still breathing.
Now, with the tables turned, I’m the one holding Jack on my lap, as he laughs and smiles. I have showered, gotten eight continuous hours of sleep and am ready for the day and his appointment. In the waiting room with me is a new mom. She looks longingly at Jack, her own newborn sitting in her car seat and she looks sleep deprived. In my little time I had, I tried to give her confidence and encouragement, much like that mother had helped me. That she wasn’t crazy when she felt like she might actually shake the baby and the obligatory – “it gets better” and you will miss those sleep deprived nights.
Okay, I’ll stop talking and show you that little man! Here’s his 4 month goodness!
Jack’s definitely developing a personality! He’s such a sweet baby and gives us a lot of smiles! Besides the rolling over which he started last month, he has added grasping toys, lots of cuddles, and lots of smiles. He’s also been talking and giggling more and more! I love it. This is Jack at about 3 1/2 months talking away, Turk Talk. Anyway, we’re just enjoying the holidays.
When we first moved to our neighborhood, we were greeted by friendly neighbors. One bachelor in particular walked us over fabulous new food for our taste buds. Bacon wrapped jalapeños? What is this! Since then, we have had these delicious appetizers as a fun treat… and the hubs has wanted a big green egg ever since!
Recipe
Ingredients
4 Jalapeños
Cream cheese
6 – 8 strips of thick bacon
Start by cutting each jalapeño in half and gutting the contents. I took a sushi cooking class the other weekend, and they said seeds or no seeds, the spice is within the pepper… but I remove the seeds juuuust in case. Also, I would suggest wearing gloves, so you don’t get the juices in your nose or eyes! Trust me, it isn’t fun! If this happens use milk to minimize the burn of the spices on your skin. It works.
After everything is hallowed out, put the cream cheese in. I found the easiest way to do this is to put the cream cheese in a zip lock and cut out a corner.
Then, wrap these little guys in bacon. Everything is better with bacon!!
Preheat oven to 425 degrees and bake for 25 minutes on aluminium foil.
These are wonderful appetizers for football games with friends or just relaxing on the weekend! Enjoy!
Happy (belated) Halloween, Friends!
Here’s our little hot dog!
Today, Jack turns three months old!
It is so true what everyone says, enjoy every moment with your little one, because they grow up so fast. I don’t think there is an event or outing where the hubs and I don’t hear parents tell us just that; enjoy them, it goes so fast. They look longingly at Jack, thinking of their own children and maybe their grandchildren, emphasizing how precious and fleeting these moments really are… We try to love Jack as much as we can and enjoy all his discoveries! It isn’t hard with his cute face and all those smiles!
That being said, I still cannot believe he’s mine… and three whole months.
Milestones in Jack’s world have been many. I find it hilarious how excited we get over Jack following objects, noticing colors, grasping at toys, or laughing at the dogs. His squeals of delight are some of the happiest sounds I have ever heard. He has definitely started to develop a personality. Plus, he has this shy smile that turns into a toothless grin, which makes his mom and dad both melt. Jack also started rolling over. Two weeks ago he started rolling from his tummy to back, and just last week he rolled from his back to tummy! Both the hubs and I clapped in amazement with his new tricks! He’s a pretty cool little guy.
Happy Week!
I thought I did the hospital stay right! Didn’t pack too much and used almost everything!
Here’s my list, plus some items I wish I would have packed.
Personal (think classic travel toiletries)
Clothing – The delivery and first day, I just wore what the hospital provided. This was a gown and panties. Considering how much you sweat those first nights, it was nice just to use the hospital items. Each day they would change the sheets, too.
Other – We paid an upgrade fee so our room was a little bigger and included a roll-away bed for the hubs, pillow/sheets for him, stocked refrigerator (water, juice, yogurt), snacks (granola bars, cereal, fruit), mini-shampoo/conditioner/soap, and hair dryer. Think hotel amenities. Check with your hospital to see what they provide to help minimize what you have to bring! Plus we had room services.
Baby Items – Jack was swaddled and in hospital diapers the entire stay. They gave us a pack of diapers, wipes, a zipper swaddle blanket, thermometer, and enema bulb when we went home.
Items that are on most lists that I wouldn’t (don’t need to) bring…
I wish all those mommies-to-be the best of luck!! Remember, you will always have friends, family, and nurses around to get you anything you need or forgot, so don’t worry too much about the packing!! Get all the rest you can and have tissues close, there will be lots of happy tears!
Tina Fey is hilarious. I liked her on Saturday Night Live. And fell in love with her when watching Baby Mama and reading Bossy Pants. She writes for the modern woman and well, she’s hilarious. I have read her book once and listened to her read it another time (while running). It’s been two years since reading it, so maybe I’ll take it out again? Read it, you’ll laugh and maybe relate.
This interview was a couple of months ago, but I can imagine these moments to come with my bambino.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIGFa3mEX2c
Thank you, Tina Fey, for not taking life too seriously! Happy Weekend, Friends.
Here in Dallas, we finally had our first cool day. Which finally felt like fall. The change to fall is always such a welcomed surprise, and I celebrated this with a little fall love. Getting out pumpkins and gourds, buying pumpkin and apple scented candles, dreaming of all the warm food we disregard during the summer heat ,and yes, making pumpkin bread! I got this recipe from a subtle revelry. Next up, pumpkin scones, bread bowl chili, and maybe apple cheese crisp! Yum! Gosh, I love fall!
Ingredients
Recipe
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8×4 loaf pan.
In a medium bowl, mix eggs, sugar, pumpkin, oil, and water.
In another bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, salt, baking powder, and spice.
Add dry ingredients to wet, and stir to blend. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 50 – 55 minutes. Let cool for 15 minutes.
Transfer to cooling rack and enjoy! This is such an easy recipe! And judging that there are only 4 pieces left, delicious too!
Enjoy Friends and Happy, Happy Fall!
spaghetti on bath night 