Friday Fun

I thought I was going to have all this time when Nate went to school and Lila & I were at home on Fridays. And then I remembered I have a 9 month old who takes 2 naps per day and still eats bottles. It's funny how you adjust to your reality. I sometimes feel like we are stuck to the house because of her schedule but when Nate was with us, I didn't feel like that at all. Funny how that happens.

Lila has quite the personality and when she's awake, she's full of squeals and smiles. She really doesn't get upset too much unless she's tired. Even when Nate yanks the 27th toy out of her hands in 5 minutes. The upside of her needing to be at home is that I've finally found time to do all the cleaning I want to do. I know you all are thrilled:)

I found that her first tooth popped thru on Friday - the day she turned 9 months old and the day she went for her 9 month well visit. Oddly enough, I found Nate's first tooth on the day he went for his 9 month well visit. I was secretly hoping I would and lo and behold, I did.

We decided to make a Friday night tradition and go out to eat after everyone is finished with work and school for the week. Nate wanted pasta, so we chose Rigazzi's this Friday night. It had been a while since we'd been there and it was so yummy! Nate saw this Arch and wanted his picture taken. I wish it was better of his face, but the sun was brutal right then.

Nate still loves kindergarten and his teacher. I think he's ready to learn something...besides the rules and when you get to go to the bathroom. When he hopped in the car on Friday, he excitedly said, "Mom!! We got to learn some math today!!" I'm so glad sweet boy, since we did promise you would actually learn something in kindergarten.

Recipe Monday

One of my favorite dishes is Chicken Parmesan. I don't often make it during the week because it is a multi-step dish and I just don't have the time. I made our version this weekend and thought I would share. If you have one that you think I'd like to try, let me know!

Chicken Parmesan (Colleen Haass)

4 boneless chicken breasts, pounded to 1/2 inch thickness
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
Seasoned Bread Crumbs
8 slices mozzarella
1 jar spaghetti sauce
Parmesan cheese

Whisk together the egg and milk. Dip the chicken breasts in milk and egg mixture and then in bread crumbs. In a skillet with a little olive oil over medium heat, brown on both sides until golden. Set chicken in baking dish.

Slice 8 pieces of mozzarella and put town on each chicken breast. Pour 1 jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce over all. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and a little more mozzarella and bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes or until bubbly. Serve with spaghetti.

Note: I use Panko bread crumbs and mix with dry italian seasoning. Also, I use shredded mozzarella so you don't have to use as much.

Enjoy!

9 Months!

Lila Lula Bell, you are 9 months old! It seems like it took way longer for Nate to get to 9 months. You are just truckin' along and get more personality every single day.

A few notables for this month...

- You have not gained much weight in the past 3 months. You have pretty much worn the same clothes all summer. We will see what the doctor says!

- You light up when you see any of us that you haven't seen in a while - Mom, Dad, Nate, and of course Kitty P. But you have a little (ok, a lot) separation anxiety for everyone else.

- You like to scream. Boy do you like to scream. It starts the moment you wake up in the morning and doesn't really stop until you go to bed. You aren't necessarily mad all the time, you just like to squeal. Very vocal you are.

- You are eating table food and some baby food. You would really rather just eat what we are eating, but Mom gets a little worried you won't get all the food groups sometimes, so you get some mush from time to time.

- You try to drink from a sippy cup but you aren't very good at it yet. Maybe soon.

- You are a master crawler and love to stand up. You have pushed a stool and the Brio cart to walk, but you aren't super interested in that yet. You do not cruise very much around the furniture, just stand and bend your knees.

- You start dancing if you hear music.

- You have been a sickly one this month, with a stomach virus and hand, footh, mouth disease. Awesome.

- You sleep really well, unless you are sick. Which seems to be every other week. But you still get up early. You are always ready to go to bed!

- You cuddle with a blanket at night but have pretty much quit using your pacifier on your own.

I can't believe that we will be planning your first birthday party very soon! How exciting! We love you so much and are so thankful to have had you with us for 9 months.

Round the House

Lila started walking while pushing a stool this weekend, so we decided to get out this Brio cart that Emily gave Nate when he was a baby. She loved it! She did push it and walk (I'll have to upload the video soon) but mostly she just liked when Nate pushed her around.

Here we go Lila - let's go for a ride!...while the parents bite their nails and shut all doors that lead to stairs. Love the baton she's toting...

Where we goin' Nate?

Lila's new favorite thing to do is pull the books out from her shelf. Seriously, she'll be in her room all by herself having the biggest time for many many minutes. Normally my OCD would take over, but for some reason it doesn't in this situation.

We've finally hit that stage where we can get a few things done when we are all at home. The kids play, we work, and then we all converge, usually in Lila's room, for good family time. The weekends mean so much more now that they are just 2 days. We've been spoiled with an extra day and now have to find all the ways to make the most of our time together!

Dad's Field Trip

While I cleaned out my nasty car this past weekend, Scott took the kids on a hike. The destination was not as thrilling as they hoped, but they all said it was fun (even though I'm sure it was hot, but we're not complaining!) Scott said Nate was fascinated by the graffiti. Funny how that works.

I love this picture of Lila's eyes! So serious.

Although my kids probably can't express it fully right now, I know they are very thankful to have such a fun Dad. He thinks up all kinds of new and exciting adventures every weekend. I hope they both look back on their childhood and think we were really fun! Oh okay, at least think Scott was really fun! :)

Recipe Monday

Speedy dishes...those are the ones I go for lately. How 'bout you?

Rich & Creamy Tortellini (http://www.tasteofhome.com/)

Cook a 9 oz. package of refrigerated cheese tortellini according to package directions. In a sauce pan, saute 2 minced garlic cloves in 4 tsp butter for 1 minute. Stir in 4 1/2 tsp flour; slowly add 1 cup milk and bring to boil. Add a 15 oz jar of marinara sauce, 4 oz cubed cream cheese, 2 sliced green onions, salt and pepper. Cook and stir until cheese melts. Serve over tortellini. Onions optional of course.

Enjoy!

Saturday Shopping

I'm sure most of you can relate to this title...it's what we spend our weekends doing. Gathering items so that you and your family can exist for the next week. Around our house, it is no different. Sometimes it is nice to be able to go shopping by myself, a luxury Scott is most willing to provide me. But sometimes that gets lonely. And I feel like I miss out on my kids during that time. So this Saturday, I suggested that Nate go with me and while Lila napped, Scott could get caught up on some things around the house. I may or may not have bribed him. But after his first week at Kindergarten, I really wanted to spend some more time with just him.

When we arrived at Lowe's (I wanted to look at the rugs), Nate was hot mad. This is BOORRRINGGGG Mom, he says 14 times before we reach the front door. Then we argue about what cart we are going to use. Then we argue about where he is going to sit in/on the cart. Finally we are off and I gotta tell ya....I was so proud of him because he turned his frown upside down and had a blast in Lowe's. First, we rode the lawnmowers...

Then we played with the dryers...everything is really just a Star Wars space ship or control panel, you know.

After a trip to Target, we stopped at Pier 1. I think this is the first time that I have taken Nate to Pier 1. Lots of breakable stuff in there and no carts. He did fabulous, as he had done the rest of the day, after the mini meltdown at Lowe's. On the way out, he found these hats. He modeled all the hats, all the gloves, and all the spider props they had to go with them.

We accomplished everything I wanted to accomplish, including finding a rug and pillows to spruce up our living room. I so enjoyed spending time with him. I almost don't remember the days when he went everywhere with me. It was nice to have him in the cart chatting it up about this and that. It's just what I needed for this Saturday after the big does of perspective I've gotten this week.

For those of you that still have babies - hold them tight, rock them to sleep, and treasure each and every moment. Be so proud that they are growing up, but don't take their "youngness" for granted. It truly goes too fast. Think I have told myself that a time or two this week? :)