Teething is NOT Fun

Jack has been in teething mode the past few days, and it is NOT FUN!  I know most experts say teething causes only mild discomfort, and up to this point I agreed, but oh my goodness these teeth must be awful.  It all started Sunday when he was extremely fussy, running fever and wouldn't eat.  It could have been a cold or something, but he wasn't acting like he was "sick" but rather just uncomfortable.

I found this blanket when I was cleaning out a basket to put all my fabric scraps in and he LOVED it!  My friend Ashley gave it to me before he was born and honestly I'd forgotten about it.  It is such a soft, cuddly blanket and provided just the comfort he needed while he wasn't feeling well.  I'm kinda scared though because I carried a blanket for forever and wouldn't go anywhere without it!  HA!  I'm going to try to limit his blankie time to bed and naps only.  We'll see how that works out. 

This picture was taken Monday night.  I had a time getting Jack to bed.  He would just scream and cry every time I'd lay him down,  finally he just laid on the couch with Randy for a little bit to calm down.

As you can see, that didn't last very long!  Then it was time to try to put him back in his bed.  Everytime I'd lay him down, he just cried.  Finally Daddy's singing and whistling calmed him down enough to go to sleep.

Yesterday was much better and he only cried a little at bedtime.  He's still not eating much, but at least now he's eating some.  He even walked for us yesterday.  He took about 10 steps in a row and would walk from Randy to me and back.  He's doing really well, but he gets so excited and starts going fast, then falls.

Jack only got up once last night after I put him to bed and seems to be feeling much better this morning, so hopefully the worst of the teething is over.  

And a little sneak peek of my newest sewing project. 

I am a little A.D.D. when it come to projects and find it hard to finish one before I start another, but this one is close to being finished, so I can go back to the blue/green project. 

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Today is the LAST DAY  to enter my GIVEAWAY! 

Click HERE to enter!

The Sweetest Little Boy

My favorite time of day with Jack is right after I give him a bath.  I love how his wet hair and his sweet little eyes look when he's all wrapped up in his towel.

Every night when I lay him on the changing table to dry him off he rolls over, towel wrapped around him and all, and looks up at me with the sweetest little face.

Then he'll lay his little head down, look in the mirror, suck his thumb and get ready for night night.  Sometimes I just let him lay there for awhile taking it all in.

He is the. sweetest. little. boy. I know!

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Giveaway entry ends WEDNESDAY at 11:59pm CST. 

Click HERE to enter.

Sack Lunch and a Sneak Peak

***If you are visiting from a Friday Blog Hop - WELCOME to Jumping Jack!  Please do not feel obligated to follow, but do leave a comment!  I love to see who all visits and want a chance to visit your blog as well.  Also, I am giving away a Rag Quilt next week - Click HERE to enter!***

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My little boy is growing up too fast!

I had to make him a sack lunch for school today because it is "Picnic Day" and the school wanted the babies to have sack lunches just like the big kids. 

He took a grilled cheese sandwich, mandarin oranges and nilla wafers.  Of course I wanted to make it cute because it is his very first sack lunch!  I already had circle scrapbook paper cut from making his birthday banner, so I grabbed a couple and put his name on one and a little note on the other.  I hope the teachers read him the note.  HA! 

How cute is he "walking" into his classroom holding his lunch?!?  He looks so proud!

And, now for a sneak peak of my latest sewing project. 

This one is going to take a while, but it will be SOOO worth it in the end.  HA!  I LOVE the fabrics.

I know you do not know what the finished product will look like, but what do you think so far??
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I'm participating in the following Blog Hops today.

Sew What! {and a GIVEAWAY!}

I've never really had a hobby, sew what!  At least not a hobby that I've continued through the years or was really passionate about, but we bought a new sewing machine this weekend and I have been sewing ever since.  (I know it's only been a few days, but still.)  Now I am no seamstress, but I think my first few projects have turned out pretty good.  Especially if you take into account the fact that I haven't sewn since high school! 

My first project was a rag quilt.  I have wanted one of these cutesy quilts for a while now, but could never justify the price.  Well, now I'm the proud owner of what I think is the cutest rag quilt EVER!  And, to top it off, it was hand-made with love by ME!  HA!

What do you think?  Pretty good for my first time, huh?!

It was really easy and fun to make.  Cutting the fabric was a little time consuming and I took the "easy" route and didn't change out the thread everytime I started a different colored square, but I didn't think it mattered until I saw the finished product.  I'll definitely pay more attention to detail next time around. 

My next little project was a burp cloth.  It turned out really cute and I cannot wait to make a few for a couple of sweet friends who have brand new babies!  I didn't get a picture of the burp cloth, but it was made with cotton fabric and chenille backing.  (I stole the idea from my BFF Heather.)  Super cute!

Our, I say our because Randy helped with this one, next project was bedroom curtains.  Our bedroom has had a blue sheet hanging over the window for almost 3 years, so it was definitely time for some "real" curtains. 

Hideous, I know!

The previous owner went crazy with holes around the window, so now there are holes everywhere.  They'll be patched and painted soon!  Right now, curtains were our main priority!  HA!

I have been looking for curtains for our room for a while, but it is hard to find curtains longer than 82" and we needed at least 102" so we could cover the entire window.  So this is what we ended up with...

I think we did a good job on them.  Randy was a huge help with measuring and cutting and he even sewed all the tabs.  So funny to see him sitting behind a sewing machine!  (The next day, he even sewed a little curtain for his office/man room!  HA!)  I still need to make one more panel out of striped material that will hang between the two black ones, just to break it up a little, plus I think it will look really good when the curtains are open. 

Now on to the important business!

I'm hosting my VERY FIRST GIVEAWAY and I will be giving away a rag quilt or burp cloths & matching lovey, made by me. 

Rules are as follows:
Entry deadline is Wednesday, June 30 at 11:59pm CST

Please leave an email address in your entry.

Winner will be contacted via email and will have 48 hours to respond, or another winner will be chosen.

Winner will be determined by random.org

Giveaway offered to US Residents only. 

Mandatory Entry

Leave a comment on this blog and let me know what you would like to win: quilt or burpies pack

Extra Entries - Please leave a separate comment for each entry

1 extra entry - Grab my button and post on your blog.  Don't forget to leave me the link.

1 extra entry - post about this giveaway on Facebook

1 extra entry - follow this blog (if you already follow, let me know that as well!)

1 extra entry per day - click the "We're on the Fence" button

1 extra entry per day - click the "I'm a Top Mommy Blogger" button

Good Luck!

Jack's First Coloring Book

I've been wanting to get Jack a coloring book for a while now, but never think about it while I'm at the store - I don't typically go down the toy/coloring book isle.  Well, last night I ran to the grocery store to pick up a few things for dinner and someone had knocked over the display of coloring books, so I picked one up.  

Jack's First Coloring Book

I'll let the pictures (and Jack) tell the rest of the story...

"Thanks Mom!  This is pretty fun!"

"I like my new colors!"

"Mama took the colors away because I wouldn't quit eating them."

"Yay!  She gave one back, see?"

"Thanks for giving me back my colors."

"Mama told me not to put them in my mouth..."

"So she took them away again and I am NOT HAPPY!"

I realize he is pretty young to understand not to put crayons in his mouth, so next time I'm at the store I'll have to get him some of the little ball shaped crayons that are more age appropriate.  The ones we used today came with the coloring book.  I taped the coloring sheet to the high chair so Jack wouldn't be tempted to eat it too and he did really good!  I think the fit came more from being tired than from me taking the crayons away, because soon after the little fit I laid him in bed and he was OUT!

Happy Father's Day!

We celebrated Father's Day with my family last weekend.  My mom was in town and my grandparents, aunts and cousin all came to our house for a cook-out and a little birthday party for my little cousin.

Grandad and Jack

Grandad with his girls

(from left to right - my mom, Aunt Sherry and Aunt Deb)

Daddy and Jack

Happy Father's Day!

Thanks everyone for coming!  

We enjoyed it and we'll see you in July!

Happy 11 Months Little Man!

Official 11 Month Picture

(This was the best I could get.)

Oh my goodness, I cannot believe another month has already passed and in a few short weeks you'll be ONE YEAR OLD!  You are such a cute, funny little boy. Your daddy and I are constantly laughing at the noises and faces you make.  You are also so smart!  We are amazed sometimes at the things you can figure out.  Like when you learned how to turn your train after running into something so that you could continue walking behind it, or how you can remember which of your books make sounds, or how you learned how to open the gate and crawl through if we didn't close it completely. 

You also blow kisses now.  It's so sweet how you say "Muah".  You are getting so close to walking.  You can take a few steps at a time, but are not fully walking yet.  You have been swimming a few times and I think you really like the water.  You just splash and kick and splash some more!  You are so ticklish on your neck and we get the best belly laughs out of you when we tickle you there.  It's so funny! 

You love to play peek-a-boo and will hold almost anything in front of your face and wait for us to say "peek-a-boo, where's Jack" then you'll uncover your face and reveal the biggest grin and laugh.  You are too funny!! 

You had a peanut butter sandwich the other day and you must have really liked it because you didn't even drop one bite!  HA!  Your favorite foods are grilled cheese sandwiches, bananas, vanilla wafers, fruity applesauce, green beans and all crackers.  We're still trying more fruits and veggies, but you are not a fan. 

You babble up a storm, but aren't saying many real words.  You do say "mama," "dada," "bye bye" and sometimes "more."  You clap your hands to the music when we sing songs or play with your farm. 

Happy 11 Months Little Man!
We Love You so much!

Jack's Stats:
weight: 25.8 lbs
height: 29 inches (the 31 inches last month was wrong)
clothes: 18-24 months, some 2T
1 - 2 hour nap
Sleeps from 7:00pm - 7:30am
Eats 32oz formula and 4 meals
4 top teeth, 2 bottom teeth with 2 more bottom one coming through

*Sorry these pictures are not the best - apparently the lens was dirty.  Ugh!

Queso Flameado

I do not mention work on here too often, but today I have to tell you about the Queso Flameado we made the other day.  My regional director gave us the challenge to come up with a new "exhibition" station idea.  Something that would be cooked right in front of the guests, something quick and easy, yet tasty and cost-effective.  My idea, Queso Flameado, translated flaming queso.  (Although, this isn't a completely "new" idea, it is new to my cafe.)  My chef cooked the dish right in front of our guests and filled soft flour tortillas with the ewey-gooey cheese mixture.  YUMMY!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 C meat (fajita chicken, beef, shrimp or chorizo)
• 1/4 C veggies (grilled peppers, onions and mushrooms)
• 1/2 C shredded asadero cheese (can substitute monterey jack)
• 1 tbsp liquor (to create flame)
• 2 flour tortillas

Method:

• Saute meat and veggies in 6" saute pan
• Add cheese, stir and let melt
• Add liquor (we used brandy, but everclear works best)
• Light liquor with candle lighter (flame should extinguish after 10-15 seconds)
• Serve in flour tortillas with chips, salsa and guacamole

Finished Product:

Recipe can also be prepared in the oven if cooking for a large group of people.  Just layer meat, veggies and cheese, meat, veggies and cheese.  Bake for about 30 minutes at 350 degrees or until bubbly.  Once out of the oven, you can add liquor on top and light with a candle lighter for a little show!  Enjoy!