Saturday, April 23, 2011

Too easy to keep to myself

This fast, easy bread recipe is too good--I had to share it. 

1 cup self-rising flour
1/2 cup mayonnaise (I've used regular, olive oil mayo and reduced fat and they all work)
~ 1/4 cup milk or buttermilk

This makes 1 dozen basic rolls, then add flavor as you like...
Spray muffin tin. Bake at 350 for 12 minutes. I'm really not sure how long, but just eyeball it. 

I added salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika and shredded sharp cheddar to the dough, topped with a few more shreds of cheese and made these--

I've also melted a few tablespoons of butter in a ramekin, added brown sugar, white sugar and cinnamon and swirled into the dough for a very quick breakfast. The possibilities are endless really-herbs, boursin cheese, chocolate chips, raisins and cinnamon, berries, etc.

Enjoy!

Friday, April 22, 2011

9 Months





I am in complete disbelief that our little Turkey is NINE months old already. Time is flying by at warp speed these days and our little Turkey is changing every. single. second. Taking the 9 months photos was a real challenge, so I'm adding some fun ones from Jay playing with his 9 month birthday gift.



Diapers- Size 4. Clothes- mostly 18 months, but they should last a while (we hope!). Shoes 4.5 wide (we went to be measured and bought our very first of white dressy shoes last week.).

Schedule: High chair breakfast, bottle at 10, nap from 10:15-12, high chair lunch at 1, nap (sans bottle!) from 4-5:45ish, high chair dinner, bottle at 7:30, bed around 8.


Jay is crawling and pulling up all the time. He has been found sitting up in his bed recently and today pulled up to standing in the bed for the very first time. He loves to walk while holding onto your fingers--I think we will be posting about first steps before our 10 month post.


Discovering his birthday present! The 9th month gift was a Little Tikes Little Champs 3-n-1.  Jay LOVES it!

Johnny Jump-Up continues to provide quality entertainment while Mommy and Daddio do things like eat dinner or unload the dishwasher. Too bad we passed the weight limit this month so we are preparing for our last jump this week. We will all be a little sad about this because Mommy and Daddio LOVE to watch Jay jump and listen to his giggles and shrieks while jumping.

Jay is clapping mostly on command and waving and saying bye-bye when someone leaves the room. or when he leaves the room. Or when someone comes into the room. Or when he comes into the room. Or when a door opens. Or he sees the dogs. Or when we pass a mirror. Or the entire time we're in the car. Or when he first wakes up and as he goes to sleep, anytime he sees the painting over his bed, a car goes by, a person goes by--i think you get the point--he has mastered waving and bye-bye, now we must work on putting it in the proper context. Up next? Nose, ear, eye. Wish us luck.


Dadadadadadadada is also often heard as Jay is waking up or going to sleep. No Ma-Mas. Not that I'm bitter. I know he will start saying it and say it millions of times once he does, so we're okay with it.

He is still affectionately known as Turkey, Turkles, Turc-u-les,  Turks, Mr. T, Captain Fuss-Fuss, and occasionally Jay or jaywest.

He LOVES an audience, but mostly at home. If we see our neighbors or friends he is very quiet and studies them carefully, often "mean-mugging" them. But, bring any of those folks in our house and he is a show-off and will go to anyone. I think this is a great way for him to be since there are often guests, family or friends here and I suppose its best that he's a fan of a crowd.


With 7 teeth, he is eating lots of Cheerios these days. If he isn't in the jump and someone is eating, he wants to eat too. So it is best to eat while he is still in the high chair, in the jump or hide from Jay. If none of those are possible, you should have a stash of Cheerios to dole out one at a time. Heed my advice.

What's most important to note is that Jay is such a sweet and happy child. We very rarely see any tears. (KNOCK ON WOOD) He loves to jabber and play and love on his family and our friends. He keeps a close schedule and is a little fussy at bottle time, but 99% of the time is happy and mellow. He is truly a joy to be around. We are so very blessed.







Mohawk Friday!


Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Great Explorations

I feel like most of our time these days is spent discovering and exploring...not that we're doing anything out-of-the-ordinary or adventurous, but just that Jay is really experiencing everything and a student of everyone. Here are just a few quick photos. Its hard to remember to grab the camera so often when you are chasing a very quick crawler!

Food fun--we've moved to the stage 3 baby food which is chunkier. Jay was protesting adjusting all week, so we had to try a variety of tactics in the High Chair Wars...in the end Mommy won, well, we're all winners here.
The armory-dinner, empty bowl to play with and the remote. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse was super helpful. 




 Jay's 1st Barons game and Weston's 7th Birthday and some quality time with his best girl, Sophie the giraffe.








Friday, April 8, 2011

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

First Haircut!

Before.....


During.....



After!



Jay was SO good for his first real haircut today. (Mommy has held him while Daddio has trimmed over the ears, but today was the real thing.) He sat in the chair on a booster and was mostly still and so sweet to Brandi who cut his hair! Everyone in the place loved watching him, it was definitely a hit!

Monday, April 4, 2011

....couldn't be any more fun!

I am really loving our 8th month with Jay! We really couldn't be having any more fun these days if we tried. Here are some highlights...

Jay wanted to tell Aunt Kar-Kar Happy Birthday, so we made a "card". Then we tried to eat it.





Photos with Miriam--this was from my camera since Jay's thing lately is smile right after the flash on mommy's camera. It would have been a good way to get him to smile for Miriam, if it would have worked.



I am LOVING this outfit from SheSheMade. Get ready to see lots of photos this spring featuring the Turkey clad in this ensemble.

We had some post-picture fun with the doggies and Daddio....



A quick trip to Nashville was warranted. Checkin' in to the hotel....



We tried going to Kar-Kar's surprise party as a family. It was too much for Jay--but didn't he look like he was ready for a good time in his party pants?

Off to Mimi's for some fun! (Mimi babysat for a few hours while Mommy and Daddio visited with Nashville folks and celebrated with Kar-Kar.)


Jay's first trip to PUMC and a very very windy family photo in front of the church where we were wed.
Fun with Kelsey and CJ, then back home. We visited the Stovalls too, but were photo-forgetful, but Jay had a fun time!

Notice anything different about Jay? Yep, 4 teeth on top. You can see one here. All 4 came in last week!

On the way home we were talking about Jay's birthday party and I actually teared up. I love being Jay's mommy and love everything about life right now. I am almost a little sad to think about this first year being over. Luckily Daddio snapped me out of it reminding me that after Jay turns 1 we will still love everything and that, too, will be better than we could have imagined. Daddio is wise. :)


We're so fortunate to have a happy, healthy family and so much love! I'm so thankful for all we're blessed with and even Jay's little red cheeks from all of the kisses and snuggles he got from ALL of his family in Nashville this weekend.