Wednesday, February 29, 2012

19 Months and 37 weeks!

Sounds like a lot, huh?
















Life is so full, busy, take-your-breath-away kind of busy these days, I feel as if this may be my last chance to catch up on things before everything changes.

1. Lizzy is head down and sitting on go this week. We're still 2 weeks and 2 days from our carefully planned c-section, so I hope she's content, although I can't wait to see her precious face and hold her. (oh, and dress her. I still can't believe how adorable little girl clothes are!)

2. Some things I forgot to mention from Jay's 18 month update
-We've ordered new shoes for Spring in a size 9 Wide. He has a little man's foot all of the sudden. It is just crazy.
-We've introduced peanut butter with no issue, so he literally can eat anything and everything now, although it seems that his tolerance of many foods is decreasing instead of increasing.(Ironically, he also tried Salmon patties this week at Dede's and LOVED them. We're on day 3 of leftover Salmon patties, but the kid won't eat mac-n-cheese. Hilarious.)
- He's officially changed daddy's name to "Dally". Dally calls him Dilly, and they are inseparable. We still call Jay Turkey all the time. Thankfully, he'll answer to just about anything.
- We hear a lot of "Uh-oh, I okay!" these days. Anytime he stumbles, trips, falls, or bumps into anything he's shouting "Uh-oh, I okay!" before he really hits the ground. Very entertaining.


3. Potty interest- There really is no rhyme or reason, but some days Jay asks to go to the potty. Actually now he says, "Tee-tee potty candy-candy." I am not actively potty training him nor am I thinking that would be a good idea with our little Lizzy on the way, but when he asks we go sit on the potty and he successfully tee-tees. I bought a clear candy jar, filled with M&Ms and if he goes, he gets candy. Fairly simple. I am not setting timers or asking him, but I did want to reinforce the positive behavior when he shows an interest. That being said, once he goes he will continue to ask every few minutes and go sit on the potty and make himself dribble out a little tinkle just for the candy. I have been letting this go on two or three times then move on to something to distract him. The truth is as pregnant as I am, its really a lot of work to hurry to the potty, undress the bottom half, help him up on the potty, cheer him on, wash hands, give candy, redress and celebrate too many times in a row. It is what it is. :) I hope things remain this positive when training time actually comes (don't ask me when that will be). If Mimi was feeling better, I would go ahead and potty train him now, she's a pro and I do feel like he's pretty much ready; but since she's still sick and won't be here to help I am taking the easy way out and delaying until after we're all set with Lizzy and some sort of "new normal" schedule.

4. I also want to take a moment to remember how lucky we are to have the support of our amazing friends and family these days. To write down just how crazy life has been over the past several months would be altogether overwhelming. For those of you who know us you know we've been through the sale of our home, the move, a quest for the "right" home for our next move and my mom's illness all while preparing to become a family of 4. I cannot say enough about our friends who have been praying with us and for us. I literally have felt God's presence over the last few weeks and have experienced the feeling of being carried through some of these days. There have never been so many unknowns in my life, but I know that all of God's plans are perfect. If you've never been in a situation where God has had to carry you through each day, know that you are blessed beyond measure-but be comforted by the peace of knowing that it really happens, just when you need it and it's a peace that really can't be described.
Speaking of peace, can you believe this little guy?? He looks so full of mischief here. What in the world was he up to?





Thursday, February 16, 2012

17...and 18

SO many changes!
















Jay's 18 month appointment went great!
36" tall
30 pounds





















Can you believe it??

And at 18 months, 2 days Jay graduated to his big boy bed!

















Slept "like a baby" (ha!) all night from the very first night. Jay was SO excited to help Daddio put up the bed with his play-tools and once the mattress was in place climbed right up and said "Bed, Bed, Bed" while bouncing around. We spent most of the afternoon in his room making the bed and climbing up and down while playing toys. I hoped he would be really comfortable for the transition and it worked like a dream.


















His morning naps are going well in the bed, and afternoon naps had become a struggle in the crib anyway. (Maybe the light at that time of day, this time of year? Maybe our schedule being busier? Maybe the fact that he's 18 months old and no longer needs 2-2hour naps every day??) So, some days we take two naps and some days just one. Its been tough to keep on schedule this week because Jay came down with a bad respiratory virus and hasn't been feeling great coupled with a mid-week trip to Nashville for three days/two nights in a hotel.

The most notable change about this age is Jay's vocabulary. Seriously. He blows me away with all of the things he says/tries to say, what he remembers and little sentences he's stringing together. Just today Daddio and I realized he now has full conversations with you, not repeating what you say but answering and asking questions. I can't believe my ears some days.
















His love for trucks, tractors and all things that go Vrrrooom seems to intensify every day. I'm also becoming quite the tractor-spotter myself and have been known to purposely slow down on the interstate so a garbage truck can pass us so Jay can tell me all about it as we ride along. I LOVE IT.

Jay's eating habits have become quite predictable as toddlers go. Lots of chicken nuggets, soup, crackers, goldfish, snack cookies, yogurt, toast and FRUIT FRUIT FRUIT these days. His veggies are down to corn and refried beans mostly, so I promise, once he gets better, we're upping our veggie intake one way or another. While he's been sick I have introduced Fruitables juice boxes because I've been a bit worried about his nutrition this week and trying to cut back on dairy because of the drainage and cough. He still loves water and has enjoyed this little treat of a bit of juice this week. Maybe we'll stick with it, maybe we won't.






















I'm just so proud of our busy, big little Turkey these days. He's really been a trooper with the changes we're going through and is the best little buddy I could dream of.


**I've been terrible about taking pictures. It is what it is. Life is happening all around us and is full to say the least.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Christmas 2011 Recap

Happy New Year!

We celebrated Christmas all month long! Our official family Christmases were spent in Nashville on the 23rd (Opryland Hotel, Charles and Kar Kar's with mommy's siblings, Christmas Eve Breakfast with Uncle H and a visit from the Duffy cousins and a stop by Nanny and Cece's before heading home at Noon on the 24th) and at Dede and Papa's Christmas Morning and Jennifer and Sean's Christmas afternoon. 

Jay LOVED the lights this year and we're sad to see them go. He could recognize a Santa ("ho-ho") or reindeer from 100 yards and would shout excitedly every time we strolled, walked or drove past one. Jay loved opening presents and all of the gifts he received from family and Santa. 

Here are  a zillion some photos to for us to remember how special this year was. (Lizzy got some great gifts too, although I don't think we have any pictures.)























Friday, December 16, 2011

Sneak Peek at Christmas and an addition...

Here's a sneak peek at Christmas and an addition to the mantle at Dede's house this year....
















See the stocking nestled right in the middle--that's a new one for our little Elizabeth Katherine--"Lizzy"!

We picked out the name when I was pregnant with Jay so it was already done when we learned we were to anticipate the arrival of a little girl this spring. Just a few days after our gender ultrasound I went to Christmas Village and picked up a bracelet and had it engraved with her initials--(her initials will be the same as Dede's so I knew I wanted to tell Dede her name that way) and some frames for Jay and Lizzy for Christmases to come.

I realized that I had not really included little Lizzy in any of the blogging at this point, but she is on our minds and we will really start to prepare for her arrival after the holidays. It's a little more difficult since we are still on the house hunt and are not sure where we'll be when March rolls around and we become a family of 4!

Note: Dede wanted to line up all of the stockings and holders to make sure everyone fit on the mantle and we do. Since then all of them have come back down as they are well within Jay's reach and Dede and I both thought that he could easily pull them down and conk himself silly with a falling stocking holder. I can't wait until Christmas Day and the rest of the family gets to see our VERY full stocking display!

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

My Husband Hates Pot Roast

Oh, the hubs and his preferences! Just teasing-in general he's a traditional guy--a meat and potatoes man. Just don't put the meat and potatoes in the crock pot and simmer for a few hours-then he's a "I'll just stop and get something on the way home" kinda man.

I personally like pot roast and have had to adapt a bit throughout our married life to try to replace this universally well-liked go-to dinner from our menu. This week I had two success stories that were inexpensive, easy and well received. I thought I would share them here if anyone else is looking for new family dinner recipes.

Pork Loin
(this should have a better name, but I kinda made it up so name it yourself and call it your own!)
1.5 lb Pork Loin
Dijon Mustard
Lipton Onion Soup mix
Salt (few dashes), Pepper (1 tablespoon?)
Other spices on hand ( i used dried ginger and allspice) probably a tablespoon of each.
Most of a 10 oz. jar of CHUNKY Applesauce
EVOO

I patted the pork dry, then coated with Dijon mustard, mixed the spices together and sprinkled over all sides of the pork. Browned the loin on all sides in a heated skillet with evoo, then set aside. I added the onion soup mix and 1/2 water to the hot skillet to "de-glaze"and recapture the lost spices and mustard and renderings from the pork. Placed the pork in the Crock Pot on low for 4 hours, poured the contents of the skillet and most of the jar of applesauce on top.

Jay had the rest of the applesauce for lunch. :)

It was really good, I served with shredded cabbage and John's Slaw Dressing and mac-n-cheese.

Tomato Beef Bake (you could call this roast)
2 lb. Oven Roast
Lipton Onion Soup Mix
Salt (dash) Pepper (several grinds)
Sprinkle of flour
Jar of Sliced Mushrooms, drained
can of Hunt's Diced Tomatoes w Onion and Garlic

Coated the Roast with dry soup mix, pepper, salt then dusted lightly with flour. Add mushrooms and tomatoes, cover and bake (could Crock Pot this and it would be awesome, but I didn't have 4 hours to spare) 350 degrees-90 minutes. Serve over rice. I served with green beans.

One day, when I don't have a 16-month-old on my hip and a baby in my tummy, I might try to photograph some things while cooking. Right now, it's impossible. That's life. 

Monday, December 12, 2011

Hey, Santa!






















We enjoyed Breakfast with Santa on Saturday with the Junior League of Tuscaloosa.

Jay had fun waiting in line and seeing everyone but was a tad anxious when the "big moment" arrived. This photo turned out well since at first he just reached for Mommy and thought about crying for about 2 seconds.

I'm proud of my little serious fella for being so brave! He did manage to muster the courage to tell Santa he wanted a "taaact-DER" (Tractor). So we'll see if he makes the Nice list and Santa delivers! (That was a surprise to Santa and Mommy!)

Tradition Begins Here

**I'm linking up with Kelly's Korner today for a SUYL about Traditions. Thanks for visiting. We're continuing this tradition this year, but doing  it this weekend. Here's the fun we had last year. Thanks for visiting and keeping up with us! Merry Christmas to you!!**

I asked Dede what she would like to do with the grandkids every year as an annual activity they could share. She chose cookie decorating and we had our inaugural Decorating Day with Dede on December 3. The boys had fun, made a mess and Jay ate lots of cookies. He thought we were having a snack party and was the only one eating, but I think he got pretty full!!

Before we started. (Note someone reaching for a taste??)

Weston's cookies were awesome!
Love at first bite. 

With a little guidance, Davis was a decorating machine!


Sprinkles are delish!

Lots of red....

Davis was serious!
So was Jay! Yum!
Cheese!

Sprinkles!!
Davis' finished product. Great job for a 2 year old-no mess at all!

The 1 year old at work!

Lots. Of. Sprinkles.
Chew them up, Buddy!

Jay needed some help from Dede.

No assistance required!!

Eat, work, eat, work. 

Work. 
EAT!!

This may be the last photo of Davis and his paci--I heard their Elf took it during one of his nightly visits! Oh my!!