2... Already?

photo taken by Jennifer

Sweet Baby Jack!  How in the world are you 2 already?  Where did the time go?  Your birthday was July 19th and we celebrated with an Elmo themed party at Grammy and Papa's lake house.  We only did a small family party this year and I think you loved every minute of it!

Family Picture - don't mind the fact that we all look like a hot mess!  That's what 100+ degree Texas heat and humidity will do to you! 

Cake from Delicious Designs Cakes and More

You weren't quite sure what to think about everyone singing Happy Birthday to you, but you tried your hardest to blow out the candles.

You received lots of gifts including books, colors, puzzles, clothes, tricycle, bean bag, 4-wheeler, swimming pool, ball pit, and lots of balls! 

You are growing up way too quickly and becoming more and more of a little boy and less of a baby everyday.  Daddy and I think you are pretty smart!  You can sing your ABC's, you know most of your colors, you are trying to count, you know exactly what you want to eat and don't want to eat and you are becoming more and more strong willed everyday!  You favorite foods are still oatmeal, nutrigrain bars, pinto beans, enchiladas and rice, but we've added lots of new foods to your diet as well.  You LOVE Chick-fil-A and ask for "ickin' and fench fies" almost daily.  You really like pork chops and have tried steelhead trout and really liked it too.  I'm so happy you will at least try new things even if you don't really care for them.  You don't have much of a sweet tooth, but you would eat any entire bag of chips, if I'd let you! HA!

You love playing outside, but were not a fan of the heat this summer.  You took swimming lessons and I found out how much you really LOVE the water.  You are not afraid of water at all and it makes mommy extremely nervous.  You like to jump off the side of the pool, but have not quite figured out how to jump out and not just straight up.  You often jump before someone is ready to catch you!  You are a master at blowing bubbles in the water and love blowing bubbles during bath time.  You are not scared at all if you go underwater unexpectedly.  This scares mommy too!

 I am so proud of the little boy you are growing up to be.  You are so sweet and lovey and give lots of hugs and kisses, but you are 100% ALL BOY too!  If I ask you to play "sweet baby" you will lay your head on my shoulder and snuggle, but only for a second!  You LOVE, LOVE, LOVE sports and watch some sort of sport every night before bed.  You've learned to tackle by watching football on TV and I am almost certain you will grow up to be a pretty good football or baseball player.  You do not like soccer though.  Just this week you started a little sports class at school, so I'm excited to see how much you learn over the next few months.

At your 2-year check-up you weighed 32 pounds and were 36 inches tall. 

You are a healthy, happy, thriving, crazy toddler and I am so happy to be your mommy! 

I love you sweet boy!

Life is Good!

Oh my goodness!  I can hardly believe it's been 2 months since my last post!  Life has been busy lately!  Since I last posted, I went to the Dallas Blogger Meet-Up and had so much fun finally getting to meet some of my favorite bloggers in real life!  I was promoted to a much larger hospital, which has proved to be a lot more work than I anticipated, but I'm loving the challenge.  I closed my Etsy shop for a while, but I'm back open for now.  My sweet, sweet child who loved to sleep is LOST!  I don't know what happened, but he has not gone to sleep in his bed since the beginning of May.  He now sleeps on the couch every night and some nights sneaks into our bed.  I'm not loving this stage.  I'll save the whole story for another post.  And, I guess the biggest thing that happened is my parents bought a lake house!  And, the best part is that it is only an hour and a half from us!!!  We went down there for Memorial Day weekend and then the following weekend.  It's so much fun!  Here are a few pictures from our visits.

View from the back of the house

Aunt Linzi and Jack

Happy as a clam - he LOVES the lake!

He actually loves the life jacket too - thank goodness!  :)

Loves the boat too!  Jack is a pretty good little driver too!

We've added jet ski and boat to Jack's vocabulary.

Randy loves to fish!  I really want to catch a fish too, but so far have had NO LUCK!

Even the gloworm took a dip!  Ran had to fish her out!  HA!

Memaw and Aunt Sherry

Grandad and Mama

And after a LOOONG day at the lake and no naps, I have one tired little boy! 

Sorry for the poor picture quality, a lot are phone pictures or taken from another site.  I'll be back soon to update, in pictures, the past few months. 

LIFE IS GOOD!

Quick Update

Jack and I went to Houston last weekend to meet Baby Brady and celebrate my step-dad's birthday.

We ate lots of yummy crab legs, shrimp, sausage, corn and potatoes!  So good!  Baby Brady was too sweet.  I can't remember Jack ever being that small, and actually even smaller than Brady.  I was hoping someone would email me more pics from the weekend since I didn't take any, but no such luck!  Jack couldn't care less about the baby he just went about playing and paid no attention to me holding Brady.  Jack would go look at him every once in a while when Brady was sleeping in the pack-n-play.  I can only imagine the trouble those two will get into when they get a little older!  HA!

We're still spending LOTS of time outside and thank goodness because Jack loves to throw is food everywhere when he's sitting in the highchair.  He does much better eating outside and doesn't make nearly the mess.  The Easter bunny came a little early with a new coloring book and crayons, so he's been coloring almost everyday!  And his latest obsession is ICE.  He will stand in front of the fridge screaming until we get him some ice.  Maybe it feels good on his gums?  We're still waiting on a few more eye teeth to come through.

Jack had an Easter Egg hunt at school yesterday.  He came home with too much candy and a lot of eggs! 

He's a smart little guy, after opening eggs at my parents' house last weekend, he knows that all the good stuff is inside!

I can't believe how big he looks in these pictures.  He looked so cute in his Easter shirt yesterday morning, but by the time he made it home from school and played in the mud yesterday evening, he was a MESS!

Today was pajama day at school, so Jack got to be comfy in his PJs.  I ordered him the cutest pair of New Balance tennis shoes and was disappointed yesterday when I tried them on him and they were too small.  I ordered a 7, so apparently NB runs really small.  They would have looked so cute with his jammies!

I hope everyone has a safe and Happy Easter Weekend!

Praise the Lord!

He Has Risen!

Things You Should Know if We're Gonna be BFF

Today's post is all about me!

I'm going to the Dallas Blogger Meet-up in a few weeks and Jenn thought it would be fun for everyone who is going to do a little "Get to Know You" post so we can all get to know each other a little better before heading out to meet in real life!  I'm so excited (and nervous), but it is going to be a fun weekend! 

This pic is from last Easter - I can't seem to find any decent recent pics!

- I grew up in Kilgore, TX home of the World's Richest Acre and the Kilgore College Rangerettes (no, I was not a Rangerette)  Kilgore was typical "small town USA".  I cheered throughout high school, was the yearbook editor and on Student Council - I graduated in 1999 #11 in my class of 204.  Damn English for keeping me out of the Top 10.  I HATE English, but love math and science.

- I went to college at Texas Tech.  I love Red Raider football and college was definitely some of the best years of my life.  I graduated in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science in Restaurant, Hotel and Institutional Management.

- I still work for the same company that gave me a job right out of college.  My title is Director of Food and Nutritional Services - basically I manage the food service for a hospital.  I used to be in corporate dining, but I like the hospital much more.

- Obviously, I'm a mom.  Jack was born on July 19th, 2009.  I used to think I wanted him to be an only child - now I'm not so sure. 

- I'm an only child, but have 2 step-sisters.  Our parents didn't marry until we were grown, so I've never lived with them.

- I don't eat cucumbers, but LOVE pickles.

- I could eat chips and salsa, steak and potatoes EVERYDAY!  Most fruit (including fresh avocado and tomatoes) makes my throat and ears itch.

- I bought a sewing machine last summer because I needed a hobby and I wanted to make a rag quilt.  Little did I know a few short months later I would open an Etsy shop and actually have people buy from me.  I still get excited everytime I sell something!  It's funny to look back at my posts about the first things I made.  I think I've come a long way since then.  HA!

- I wish I was an Extreme Couponer or sale rack shopper, but I'm not.  I do; however, always load e-coupons onto my Kroger card and always search for discount codes before buying online.  (RetailMeNot is my FAVE)

- I prefer shiraz or a beer over fruity cocktails or margaritas. 

- I do not like to shop and when I do shop, I prefer to shop alone.  My mom said when I was born "Oh yay!  Now I have a shopping buddy!"  She could not have been more wrong!

- I rarely listen to music other than country.  If I had to pick only one artist to listen to for the rest of my life, it would be Kenny Chesney.

- I never knew I was such a homebody until I had Jack.

- I could live without a TV and the only show I really watch religiously is Wheel of Fortune.

- I'm a pretty good cook, but I am NOT a baker!

- I am not very out-going.  It takes a few drinks a while for me to warm up to people.

That's all yall!  Anything else you want to know?  Just ask!  I can't wait to meet everyone.  If you are a Dallas area blogger and would like to join the fun, visit the DBM blog for details or Jenn's blog to link-up your "About Me" posts.

Phone Pics (Semi-Wordless Wednesday)

We have been spending A LOT of time outside lately!  Jack loves to climb up in the golf cart when we get home from school.  Thankfully the golf cart has moved over to Uncle Scott's garage, thus making it much easier to get Jack in the house!  HA!

Jack has also been having lots of "picnics" lately.  I think he likes eating outside because he can walk around with his food - inside he has to eat in his high chair.  AND, outside he gets to drink Capri Sun.  They are his special "outside" drinks!  HA!  His new favorite foods are peanuts, pistachios, chicken taquitos and cracker sandwiches (cheese on crackers, stacked 2 high).

Jack has gotten really good at walking/running in flip flops, climbing up on the picnic table and playing in the dirt.  Typical BOY!  Did you notice our new shades hanging in the background?  They are awesome and let us enjoy even more time outside since they keep the sun from beating down on us in the afternoon. 

This little boy plays HARD - look at those dirty hands and feet!  I took these picture Sunday evening after playing outside all day.  He was filthy and so sleepy he climbed up on the table, laid down and said "nite, nite".  Not before a bath, silly boy!

Growing Too FAST!

Jack is growing way too fast!  I think my mom got him this little stool for his birthday last summer and I remember thinking "it'll be forever before he can use that" but low and behold the time has come! 

Jack can now climb up on the stool to brush his teeth and wash his hands.  When Ran took him to wash his hands the other night, I was surprised the stool made him tall enough to reach the sink.  I guess in my mind, no matter how big he gets, he'll always be my baby!

He is actually pretty good at brushing his teeth.  I let him play with the toothbrush for a little bit before I get in there to brush his teeth good, but I think he gives them a pretty good scrubbing.

Of course, playing in the water is his FAVORITE part of the whole thing!  Well, maybe that and putting the lid on the toothpaste.  HA!

My friend, Laurie, came over Sunday afternoon to pick up the birthday outfit I made for her little girl, Zoey, and Jack was so funny.  He stood there with his thumb in his mouth and just looked at her for the longest time.  He finally warmed up to Miss Zoey a little and would give her a little smile.  Those two are too cute!

Zoey's Birthday Outfit

Ladybug Birthday Outfit

Thank you Laura for the awesome tutu tutorial!  I love the way it turned out!  I'm hoping to get a few good pictures of Zoey in her outfit at her party this weekend.  Wish me luck!  Taking pictures of a moving toddler is HARD!  HA!

HAPPY TUESDAY!

Cedar Plank Salmon and Simple Risotto

We rarely eat salmon, but after randomly grabbing a few salmon fillets and cedar planks at Target the other day, we're hooked!  This recipe is so simple and so good!  I'm typically not a salmon fan because it can get a little "fishy" tasting, but not this one!  Nope - it's PERFECT!

Ingredients

salmon fillets, skin on

Adkins BBQ Seasoning (I found it at Kroger)

cedar planks

Soak cedar planks in water according to package directions.  Season salmon with Adkins, let sit at room temp until the grill is ready.  Place salmon on cedar plank, then on grill.  Grill until internal temp reaches 145 degrees.  Do not overcook!

I realize this is a HUGE piece of fish, but it's so good!  I ate almost every bite! :)

Simple Risotto

1 cup arborio rice

1 diced onion

1-2 cloves chopped garlic

1/2 stick butter or 1/4 cup

3 cups chicken  or vegetable broth

1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese

Saute onion and garlic in butter in medium saucepan until translucent (about 5 min), add rice and saute an additional 5 minutes or until rice starts to brown a little.

Add broth and cook over medium heat stirring occassionally until all liquid is absorbed and rice is tender. (I added a little more broth, covered and cooked about 5 more minutes once liquid was absorbed)

Stir in cheese and serve.  Don't add any salt or pepper until the end, if needed.  My risotto was perfect without adding any salt or pepper.

It was so nice yesterday that Jack had dinner outside - a peanut butter sandwich, pineapple and cheese.  His FAVE!

Do you  have a Chop Wizard? 

I'm not big on kitchen gadgets, but when I first tried this one at my sister's house, I had to have it!  It makes cutting vegetables so quick and easy - I can chop a whole onion in about 30 seconds!  I'll spare you the entire infomercial spill, but it really is awesome!  It can be found in the "as seen on tv" section of wal-mart, target or bed, bath and beyond, or you can order on Amazon.

Have a great weekend!