Special Plate

I made a special plate for Lila before she was born at a lovely shower given my friends in Nashville. It will be so neat to pull it out on special days for her while she is growing up.

We have been so busy and here and there that we didn't get a chance to have a birthday meal on it, so I used it for her snack plate and I think we have a winner. I can't believe my baby has turned into this big sweet girl!

Thanksgiving 2011

We made the short drive to my parent's new cabin for Thanksgiving.  It just got "liveable" last week but I know my Mom & Dad were very happy to have us in their new location.  There are still some finishing touches to be done but I have to say, it is lovely. Quaint and quiet, just my parent's style.

Sarah was a huge help to me with my children. Lila wanted to climb the stairs 432 times an hour. Sarah helped out with this and with many other things. Thank you Sarah!

Emily, Ben & Bluet joined us from NYC. Bluet is 7 months old and so very sweet. She and Lila are just on the brink of being able to really interact with each other.

I didn't get many pictures of my sweet Nate. He was bouncing around here and there. He looks so grown up to me here. And so handsome.

My Dad and Lila - she loves this book Mimi & Paka gave her for her birthday. It makes her happy in almost any hairy situation.

My Grandma was with us too - she enjoyed watching the babies run around. Even though it got a little loud at times. Okay, all the time.

My Uncle Randy came from Maryland and Nate found a friend.  He showed Nate how to hunt for artifacts and taught him about the people that first settled the land where the cabin sits.

Lila dancing with Wayne...she wasn't too sure about it at first. But I assure you, she was smiling in the end.

Emily, Bluet, Lila & me...It's hard to get a picture with everyone looking at the camera!

I didn't get any pictures of my Mom, Scott, Hamil, Lee or Cathie & Bob that joined us on Friday. I guess I was preoccupied with my darling children:) But they were all there and very special to the occasion.  We hope you had a great Thanksgiving!

Lila is ONE!

Sweet Lila, you are ONE year old! This has definitely been the quickest year I've ever experienced. We couldn't imagine our lives without you. 

Here are a few of your notables for your first birthday:

• You are walking very well and are picking up speed daily. You crawl every and then, but it's less and less every day.
• You are drinking out of a cup now. I worried about the bottle to cup transition but you handled it like a champ.
• You have started to drink whole milk and we will phase out formula in the next few days.
• Your teachers tell us that since you are 1 now that they will start transitioning you to a cot for nap. Good luck to them. You'll be in the crib for a while at our house.
• You are what I call a "scrappy" baby. I think it comes from having an older brother that loves you so much and shows it by hugging and kissing you until you fall over.
• Kitty P. doesn't trust you anymore - you walk a little faster when she comes around. It's only a matter of time before you all really meet.
• You sleep well most of the time, if some ailment is not keeping you up...i.e. teething, coughing, inability to breathe out your nose. Let's hope your second year is healthier than your first!
• You probably weigh 24 lbs and it seems like you are getting taller every day. We'll see when we go to the doctor next week.
• You say Mama (or just Mom), DaDa, NaNa, BaBa, and Dat (which means everything you don't know the name for). Your jibberish is getting more frequent and hopefully you will have some more words soon.
• You have 2 teeth and are getting a 3rd on the top. Same pattern as Nate.

Lila, we love you so much and are excited to see what your second year will bring! Happy Birthday!

Last Thanksgiving

As we prepare for Thanksgiving tomorrow, my thoughts quickly return to last Thanksgiving. It was a great meal, with just the 3 of us. Our last meal with just the 3 of us.

We ate, talked, and took pictures. Goodness gracious I'm glad I don't look like the marshmellow man this year.

Little did we know that pretty soon after we wrapped up our meal, Lila would decide it was time for her appearance.  We should have known then that she would be a good eater. The feast was too much keep her in any longer:)

She was actually born the day after Thanksgiving and even though I was in labor about 13 hours, I called it short. It's all a matter of perspective.

It's funny to think this is actually her first Thanksgiving, since her birth will forever be tied to the day.

We've been reminded this week not to take our comfortable lives for granted, so hug your loved ones tight and appreciate all that they are to you. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Lila's 1st Birthday Party!

We celebrated my youngest baby's first birthday this past weekend.  It was joyous and bittersweet at the same time. I am so thankful for her and in most ways am glad she is on the independent upswing. But there is a part of me that wishes she was a teeny tiny baby for a little bit longer.

Lila's party was a ladybug theme and she was the cutest ladybug of them all. A family friend made the cakes and I was so happy with how they turned out. Everything was perfect and as it was pointed out at the party, it all matched, because that's the way that I like it:)

I'd like to say my child is above getting juice all over the front of her made for this special occassion outfit. But alas, she is not.  And of course I didn't get any pictures pre-juice.  You'll just have to imagine.  I think she's pretty cute anyway.

She's the life of the party, even at only 1 year old.  She was telling me all about it here.

It really does not get any sweeter than this. Cherub face. Wispy hair. Teeny tiny mouth.

Playing with Wayne before the party.  She was a trooper and lasted way past the last guest's departure.  Yet another difference between her and Nate:)

She was ready for the cake - I had no doubt she would be a sugar lover.

Just give me the cake, K?

Dainty at first. But did not waste time.

Nate got such a kick out of watching her dig in.  He was in stictches the whole time. It egged her on.

Sweet cousins.  Nate & Noah played so well together the whole time and I was so glad that Nate had a friend.

Who me? The sugar coma is already setting in.

Time for presents! She was less than interested...

But Nate & Noah were happy to help.

Sweet Lila Lou, we love you so much! Thank you for the honor of being your mom. I just don't think you can get any sweeter. But yet, every day you do.

Pre-Party

Big week 'round our parts.  We celebrated Lila's very first birthday, even though she's not technically 1 until next Saturday.  And yes, I'm savoring every moment of the last week before she is officially 1 year old. 

In keeping with tradition, the venue for the shindig was my parents' house (Nate's 1st birthday party was held there in 2006). It was a lovely weekend. First, I bring you pictures of the pre-party...i.e. Friday.

(Nana) Debbie & Lila



Unlike Nate, Lila loves the dogs.  She even laughed when Leo kissed her on the mouth.  I wasn't laughing too hard, but I did think it was brave of her.  

She has really picked up speed on her walking, but appreciates a helping hand every now and then.

She enjoyed picking flowers out of Debbie's garden and held on to the flower for many hours post picking.

Lulu was very excited when Mimi  & Paka (and Noah) arrived. She was glad to take a break with a wagon wheel here.

Hanging out with the G-rents.  They don't love her or anything:)

The pre-party was just what we needed after a stressful week. We all went to bed to get a good night's sleep before the BIG party the following day (oh I wish, ha).

Recipe Monday

I thought I would share some of recipes I will be cooking for Thanksgiving over the next few weeks.  One of my favorite holiday recipes (or any time for that matter) was passed on to me by my dear friend Jane Ellis.  She received it from her sweet grandmother, Mimi, who I had the privilege of knowing.  Scott fell in love with the receipe when he first had them at JE's house and they have been a mainstay at our holiday table since. 

Garlic Cheese Grits (Waneta Bock)

1 cup grits
4 cups water
1 stick butter
2 cups milk
6 oz velveeta
1 tsp garlic powder
2 eggs

Cook grits according to package directions. Melt butter, velveeta & garlic powder in microwave. Beat eggs. Add milk to grits. Add beaten egg to grits. Add butter/cheese mixture.

Stir grits until pretty evenly mixed. Bake at 300 for 45 minutes uncovered or until the top is cooked and golden-ish brown.

Enjoy!

The Mad Scientist

When we figured out that Scott was going to be out of town for the Science Lab Lowe's Build & Grow, I started to get nervous.  Nate loves to mix potions and there was no way he was going to miss it.  I agreed to take him - I mean, it couldn't be that hard, right?  The Lowe's people surely help your child put the thing together. 

Um. Not so much. You show up and receive your kit and hammer and they show you the tables where you can build.  My heart started to beat really fast.  The tables were full so we found a place on the floor, pulled Lila up close in her stroller, and got to work. I mean I got to work.

I couldn't really figure out the directions so I tried to use common building sense.  Nate helped me along the way and after the first nail, I got smarter about starting it for him and not actually holding the box while he hammered - funny how that works better.

We survived and Nate was so proud of his Science Lab.  On the way out of Lowe's, he said, "Mom, you did a really good job.  I liked coming to Build and Grow with you. You can come again next time." Melt.my.heart. I was pretty proud of myself too. I am so not a builder of anything.

When we got home, he played and played with the potions.  We created volcano after volcano and he thought I was really cool for about 10 minutes. My little scientist.  

All You Need is a Box

I left this box of granola bars by the basement door so that I would remember to take them down . Lila decided to investigate and was happily entertained for over half an hour.  Score.

Other people see me in Lila, but there are very few pictures where we resemble each other in my opinion.  I think this last one is one of them though - I can see my baby pictures in this one.  She's growing up way too fast and is trying her best to be an exclusive walker.  She walks great until she wants to get somewhere really fast and then she hightails it by crawling:)

Lila & Her Books

Lila loves books.  She will go into her room saying "Ba? Ba? Ba?" over and over again until she reaches her book shelf.  And then if you are sitting down on the floor, she will crawl or take a few steps over to you, plop down in your lap and want you to read the book - as she makes known by hitting the front of the book. It definitely is one of the cutest things my kids have ever done.

On Sunday night, we were all in the living room watching Aladdin. She was playing quietly with her books off to the side (we marvel at her ability to play independently, a skill Nate did not acquire until much later and sometimes it's hard to tell if he's mastered:) She brought this book over to Scott and put her arms up in the air. He picked her up and she rested her head back on his shoulder.  So sweet

 It didn't last long though and she was quickly down and posing for the camera!

The Front Porch

The winters here are hard on our front porch.  I really wanted to paint it before this winter rolled around so that it would hopefully get on my nerves a little less. Nate supervised. His classic face.



 It turned out really nice and I am very happy with the results!

Sometimes with small children, it's hard to get stuff done around the house.  Especially if you are the other parent trying to keep them away from the affected area!  But we survived with an errand trip and a stop at Sonic.  Thank goodness for Sonic.

Thank you Scott! Now here's to hoping we can cross off at least 3 more items on the house list before the end of the year!

Recipe Monday

I wouldn't say that fish is my favorite meat, but for some reason fish sandwiches appeal to me.  I made these this weekend and they were very good! I made Nate's tilapia separate since he wouldn't have liked the seasoning.  Very good and very easy!

Blackened Tilapia Sandwiches (Paula Deen, November-December 2011)

1 1/2 lbs tilapia fillets

1 tblsp blackening seasoning (I used Durkee New Orleans Style)

2 tblsp butter

4-6 hoagie rolls

Sauce (I took a shortcut and used Boar's Head Cajun Remoulade Mayonnaise)

Lettuce

Tomato

Sprinkle tilapia with blackening seasoning. Melt butter in skillet over medium-high heat. Add tilapia and cook for 2-3 minutes per side. Serve on toasted hoagies with sauce, lettuce & tomato. 



Super Duper Sauce (in case you feel like making it)

1 cup mayo
1 tblsp green onion
2 tblsp lemon juice
2 tsp sweet pickle relish
2 tsp hot sauce
1 tsp Creole seasoning

Enjoy!

School Picture Day

Nate had his first school picture taken last month. Thankfully he's more photogenic than me. I'm sure my mom got tired of me always wanting to do re-takes.  I also have to note that I was out of town on school picture day and Scott did a great job of dressing him and making sure his hair was combed. 

When did his neck get so long????

World Series Catch Up

There was a time in my life when I wasn't behind. But being behind is just a state of being nowadays. Emily came to visit during the World Series to go to Game 2 and Lila & I go to hang out with her. It was so nice. Like really, really nice. Lila loved being with her and I'm so excited to have Lila & Bluet together at Thanksgiving.

 We were 4 of the 1 million people at the Cardinals parade on Sunday. It was an effort to get down there and find a spot, but it was worth it.  It is really fun to be part of this city's baseball tradition.

 Lila didn't really know what was going on.  She stared the entire time and just took it all in. I love this picture of her - Nate took it and I think it's a neat angle.

I think that's the last of my Cardinals pictures.  And now we wait until April!

Happy Halloween!

I've never really cared for Halloween.  I thought it would be different when I had kids and it is to some extent, but costumes and trick or treating fall way outside my comfort zone:) But I have to say that we do have the cutest Darth Vader and Yoda that there ever was. Darth was hard to photograph, but I tried my hardest.  

Yoda sat still a little better and was very precious.  

Lila does.not.like the Darth Vader helment and really didn't want to be anywhere near it.  And she kept sticking her tongue out.  Who knows why.  But this picture pretty much describes our life.  Complete with the pumpkin artwork stuck on the wall with tape by our very own Darth Vader.  Thank goodness Halloween is over so I can take it all down (surely you didn't think this wall was the only one graced with pumpkin artwork).

Happy November!