Working my way back to the kitchen...

It's been quite a while since I have posted about our meal planning and recipes. Partly because we are just now getting out of "survival with a newborn" mode and am able to do a little more in the kitchen than look up a take out number!
Here and there we have tried some new Pinterest recipes and while I try to rate them on my board, sometimes I lose track.
Here's what we have been eating recently.....
I don't know about anyone else, but heavy and hot cooking in the summer (we already have 90 degrees here) doesn't sound great.  So we have opted for more simple meals that are still yummy but have more fresh ingredients and lots of grilling!!! My hubs is the bomb at grilling!!!!

 Crispy Chicken Taquitos: These puppies are super simple and I think I made about 30 of them!! I went on a rampage and made a bunch to pull out for this or for that after O was born. You can use shredded fresh chicken breast or you could also opt for the canned stuff. You probably couldn't tell the difference anyways! I would have added some beans to them to give them some added bulk and veggie serving.  I topped mine with sour cream or guacamole!

Grilled Chicken Caesar Sammies : This I didn't follow anything about except our sammie was made from grilled chicken and I topped mine with Caesar dressing... Pretty much got some Italian bread... had Rich toast it on the grill along with the chicken. We had Gouda cheese (my favorite) and topped with whatever you wanted.  While I didn't follow it this time, this sandwich is a must try. I love all things Caesar! Also... Rich said that the bread was too much, but I love all things rustic and toasty and it seeps up the juices from the chicken and sauce perfect.

Bacon Pear Pannini : First off... I don't know if that's how you spell Pannini... Panini... they are both showing wrong spelling! Anyways.... this is one of our favorite meals. It's super easy and so good for anytime, paired with soup in the winter or watermelon in the summer. Red Pears, Turkey bacon, cheese and bread. My only variation on this sandwich is pretty much cheese.  Why mess with a good thing... and lo and behold... gouda it is for me. Here's why I love Gouda..... it'smoky like a cheddar, but tangy like swiss. It's perfectly both hard and soft and melts well in this sandwich.  As many sandwiches as we eat I need to invest in swinging by Panera a little more often for REALLY good bread. The loaf stuff you buy at the store bakery just doesn't cut it for me.  I would love to get their tomato bread that has crystalized brown sugar on the outside! It's amazing!

Alongside these things, we have had lots of grilling foods like Brauts and Burgers! Rich is so funny because he's really working to fine tune his skills.  He's made some rockin burgers these past few weeks.
I have some recipes to share next week as well. Hope everyone has an awesome Memorial Day! We will be spending ours with family and the swimming pool!!

2 Months!

Owen.... sweet chilli puddin pooh!
You are just that.... round and rollie and oh so chill. You hardly ever cry and you take such a beating from an older brother who loves to "pet" you 24/7!!!!
You weigh 13.5 lbs and are 24 inches long, and so far, you're predicted to be taller than your Daddy.
Your eyes haven't changed a whole lot, they are still pretty dark ,with some brown spots in them.
You have the absolute sweetest smile that makes your whole face light up!
You are still sleeping great and nursing like a champ.
Grandmas are getting frustrated because you don't take a bottle very well! ( you just like your mama too much... same as your brother:)
Your tongue goes a mile a minute and you coo and ahh all the time!
No doubts that you will probably talk early like your brother did.
My favorite time is when you first wake up from your nap and I free you from your swaddle, and you S---T--R--E--T--C--H  and then, inevitably ,smile big.
You have the most precious cheeks that are so sweet and no one can keep from kissing them all day!
I love when you are nursing and you look up at me and just stare at me.... studying all the features of my face.

You are so special to us and we have been so blessed by you and your sweet personality. 
Keep on growing and glowing little O!!

A Summer List

So, I stole this idea from another blog I read...Summer List
And as I think that this will be the summer before my big kid starts preschool and I have another little guy that is gonna keep me busy I need to be reminded to do things... fun things!
We did this last year and it was pretty successful, other than a few things that were a little too overzealous for a 3 year old. This year I'm making it where we can do everything that's on the list! Even if I only do one thing a week I can at least have 20 weeks worth of fun activities!

Summer List 2012!!!

zoo   FISHING    bubbles   PICNIC      BERRY PICKING ( Ok that may be more for me :)


SIDEWALK CHALK     backyard camp out    STAR GAZE    watermelon seed spit     

                            POPSICLES                     pool               smores


     throwing rocks in creek w/ papa hoot       BLANKET TENT       sprinkler     


LIGHTNING BUG CATCHING       dance party on the patio      PICK FLOWERS     


         mud paint       TIRE SWING       fireworks          WEENIE ROAST        bikes         
                            
                                   BAKE  COOKIES                  bowling


 LIVING ROOM THEATER        badminton       STORY TIME    obstacle course 


GAME NIGHT      dollar movie     COOKOUT WITH FRIENDS     nature center  


 MAKE ICE  CREAM       fly kites     PLAYGROUND       paint         WATER TABLE     

                                                       sleepover with cousins       

Mothers Day

Every Mother will tell you... as the day approaches they wonder. Will I feel loved and appreciated this year? Will there be flowers or cards or massages ( yes, please!)?  Will they even remember?

My Mother's Day started on Saturday because my sweet husband technically works on Sunday and so any holidays honored on a Sunday he doesn't get to be a part of.  So... the plotting began as he and Asher snuck into Asher's room and whispers came. Then they emerged and Asher's smile was so sneaky and precious! He lead me to the couch where I, traditionally so, closed my eyes and held out my hands. Placed before me was a card which was quickly snatched away by an excited almost 4 year old, who wanted to open it for me.  The words are short and sweet followed by messy letters scattered throughout the page and a left handed attempt at a baby's name by Daddy. 
Another card follows with sweet words that say how hard this time in our life is, raising young kids, but when we are further down in this journey we will look back with such love and fondness.

Actual Mother's Day was a pretty typical Sunday... feeding a baby during the sermon, much crying all the way home by 2 sleepy and/or hungry boys. Lunch of leftovers.
Rich had plans... napping plans...:)
Asher has been having some really bad sleep going on, so when usually he protests, he was game.
Owen and I slept in the rocking chair and Rich and Asher slept in our bed.
It was refreshing.
Rich also gave me pick of anything I wanted to eat for dinner, and imagine the shock and awe when I said, Mexican!
El Puente it was and it was sooooo YUMMY! By far, my favorite Mexican place! I think I could eat it every day.
Many times I got a hug at the knees and a "Happy Mother's Day" from my oldest.
Lots of smiles and snuggles from my youngest.

Throughout the day I thought about expectations that some mothers have for their day of appreciation. And I thought mine was pretty special.  But even if it wasn't... we mother anyways. There are still cheeks to be kissed, dinners to be made, bottoms to be wiped.  We do these things not to be appreciated, but because we are mothers. 
I am very thankful for my family and it is a PRIVILEGE to be a Mama to my boys. A task that asks so much of me, but I willfully do it and feel it is my Godly calling to do so. I am grateful they are as forgiving as they are.. and despite my many shortcomings as a mother, they are still excited to celebrate me for a day.

March 14th, 2012

The day we met our sweet Owen.
I'm not gonna lie, I was pretty scared going in. My first C-section was a very tough recovery for me, as I had allergic reactions to my pain medicine and it really didn't do the trick on the pain either.
The night before as I lay in bed with Asher the fear of another baby and if we were really messing up his life were overwhelming. He would have to go without all of Mom and Dad's attention and we wouldn't have the same time we did before.
After many tears and Rich and I talking it over we knew that God blessed us, including Asher with Owen and that they will need each other someday.
I honestly can say I got some good sleep that night.
We had planned to get to the hospital about 10 sine they had planned the surgery for noon, but my OB called at 11 that night to tell us she wanted to do it sooner and to be there at 9 and the surgery would be at 11am.
Quick call to the family and all the changed plans are in place.

7am
We woke up and got ready. I even curled my hair and did my makeup.. which was probably the last time for quite a while!!
Arrived at the hospital and all the grandparents were waiting there already. Already making the nurses laugh! Papa John ( Rich's Gpa) had been having some knee trouble and instead of making him walk all over the hospital they wheeled him in a wheelchair. As they were wheeling him up to L/D he says to the lady at the window that his water broke! I guess it put everyone in a good mood and with all the excitement and laughter it put me at ease as well.
I get checked in and the time flies by! They are really ready to get me in there and outta there, because it seemed like they had me prepped in 30 minutes!
I had really poor veins for in IV and with Asher they stuck me 7 times before they finally got a good one. 
This time it took 1!! I was so thankful. But it actually didn't hurt at all.
I was ready to go in at 10:45 and so they got my anesthesia on board and we were rockin!
It was more nerve-wracking this time since I was very aware and shaking quite a bit, so all that fed my anxiety. I was so excited to hear his cry and see his sweet face and count his fingers and toes.
Rich came in and sat beside me and held my hand and tried to keep me talking, but Owen was out in no time.
11:03 we heard his first cry and it was the sweetest thing.
Rich said he looked just like Asher and that he had a little birthmark.
I think everyone there was awaiting to hear how much he weighed... 9lbs 5oz and 22 inches long. BIG BOY!
Although not as big as we thought...
Recovery was great... I loved holding him and studying his every inch and when I was holding him I wasn't shaking. My family came in and everyone had a chance to snuggle him.
Time in the hospital was great. I was not in NEAR as much pain as the first go round and was up and walking that night. All my nurses were awesome and praised how great I was doing and how sweet Owen was.
I will never forget when Asher first saw his brother... It was the sweetest look in his eyes. Pure love. He got to hold him and love on him and everyone made over him being the big brother. In fact, my mom took him down the cafeteria for dinner and he showed everyone his big brother button and he said  he was going to tell everyone that his brother was "born-ed" .
Later, as Owen was getting a little fussy, Asher leaned over to whoever was holding him and started to sing "twinkle twinkle" and was telling him he was ok and he loved him. Tears were in everyone's eyes on that one!
While I did enjoy the time in the hospital, I was anxious to get home to Asher and I know Asher was anxious to be home with all of us.

It has been a time for adjustment and patience for sure. On all fronts. Balancing time with Owen and Asher is trying, and some days I succeed and some I don't.
Forget about the gourmet meals that I was making 3 times a week, forget about laundry and dishes done. But that's ok, my main concern is my boys and the rest will still be there tomorrow!