Pool Fun

Michael loves his pool!! He tries to get in it every time we are outside. I keep his swimsuit handy just in case I have to go in and grab it quickly, which I have had to do several times. Here are a few pictures of Michael in his pool.

I decided to give Toby a bath after Michael was done playing.
As you can see, he wanted to help.

This was at Grandma and Papa's Pool.

Michael's First Mommy Haircut

This past weekend I gave Michael a haircut! I got out the clippers and put him in his high chair and started. He was a little squirmy, but pretty good. We will definitely be giving him all of his haircuts in the future. Why pay for someone else to cut it when we can do it? Next time I won't put him I. The high chair though, because it came up too high on his back and it was hard to cut the back of his head.

I got him this lawn mower a couple of weeks ago at a consignment store, and he hasn't stopped playing with it since.

8 Years

 Eight Years ago, I married my best friend! Eight years later, and he is still my best friend, but so much more. I love you so much Andrew, and I look forward to Many Many More years with you!

Monkey Joe's

Lydia and Michael holding hands as we walked in.

Last week, Michael and I met Jessica, Lydia, and Abby at Monkey Joe's for a couple hours. Michael had a blast!

Taking a quick break from jumping,
so Mommy could take a picture

This was his first time in a bounce house and he loves it. His favorite thing to do right now is jump. Whether on the couch, or in his crib, or just around the living room, he is jumping. I see many more trips there in our future.

Quick Picture with Monkey Joe!

Vegetable Garden 2012

I finally planted a few vegetable plants last week. I usually do this in late April, but I kinda forgot. Oops, oh well. At least I got a few. I planted two tomato plants, and a basil plant. Then this weekend, I added two jalapeno pepper plants.  

I love using the containers for my garden. Besides the fact that I just don't have a good sunny spot in my yard for a garden, this is a lot easier to plant and clean up at the end.

And while I was planting my garden, this is what Michael was doing...

He had a blast and he wasn't making a mess, that's a win...win...

What's for Dinner - Honey Pecan Chicken

INGREDIENTS

½ c chopped pecans
2/3 c cornflake crumbs
4 T honey
2 T soy sauce
1 lb boneless/skinless chicken breasts or thighs

INSTRUCTIONS

Combine pecans & cornflakes in a shallow bowl. Combine honey soy sauce in a Ziploc bag and add chicken. Remove from bag and dredge chicken into pecan mixture. Bake in a sprayed baking pan for 6 minutes on each side @ 425 or until done (an internal temp of 165 or higher)

Serve with white rice on the side.

**I had to cook the chicken for a lot longer than 6 minutes on each side. It was more like 15 minutes on each side. **

21 Months

21 months! We have gone from saying his age in months, to either, "1 1/2" or "almost 2" when people ask how old he his. I really can't believe how fast these 21 months have flown by. Here is what Michael is up to this month:

- He has grown another 1/2 inch, which puts him at 33.5 inches.
- He is talking, talking, talking. Mostly he talks in 2-3 word sentences instead of just saying random words. It won't be long until he will be able to have a conversation with us.

- He isn't eating much these days. He loves eating Applesauce, because he can feed himself. He does really well spoon feeding himself, and doesn't really make too much of a mess. I'm actually really impressed how well he is doing. He also loves cheese, Peanut butter sandwiches, and strawberries.
- I have been renting the Baby Signing Times movies from the library, and he loves them. He goes around singing the theme song, and signing the theme song too!

- We got the baby pool out yesterday, and so far, Michael loves it. I knew he would, since he loves bath time so much.

- Everything else is about the same. He is just so sweet, and so funny, and all of the little stuff is what makes him such a wonderful little boy!

Playing Catch Up

It's been a little quiet on the blog lately, and that's because there has been a lot going on. Let's back up a couple of weeks...

- On April 19, I left with my Mom and Sisters to go to Women of Joy in Tennessee. We were there until Sunday, the 22nd. We had a great time, and the conference was excellent.

Mom, Becky, Me at the Conference

- On April 24, I got a phone call from my mom, telling me that my Papa had died in his sleep. This is the first death in our family, and I wasn't sure how I would react. I decided that I would go with my parents to California, and leave Michael home with Andrew. Since I had just left Michael the weekend before, it was really hard for me to leave him again so soon. I'll admit, I cried when we said goodbye at the airport. He, of course, had no idea what was going on and just kept waving, saying "Bye Bye, Mommy..." which made me cry even more.

I flew out on the 26th, and it was a LONG day of travel. I had a delay, which led to a missed flight, which led to a long layover, which led to me being exhausted by the time I finally arrived.  I'm so glad I went. I was able to see family that I haven't seen in years. To spend time with my Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins was priceless. It was a beautiful military funeral.

My Grandma receiving the flag
My Aunts and Uncles sit beside her

My grandmother had Alzheimer's, and really wasn't sure what was going on, or who anybody was. That is the hardest thing to watch. When a mother doesn't recognize her own children. I pray that never happens to me. Once you tell her who you are, she gets very excited and knows you, she just doesn't recognize many people. A few times over the weekend, Grandma would say, "Papa's gone. He's not with us any more." So, we know that she did eventually remember what happened.

Cousins - Cindy, Me, Matt, Mikey, Andy

My Grandma with all of her kids
Mike, Shelly, Kevin, My Dad, and Maureen

The funeral was on Friday, and Saturday we drove over to Santa Cruz to spend time time at the Boardwalk. It was beautiful weather, and we all had so much fun.

Me with Mom and Dad in Santa Cruz

Me and my cousin Mikey in Santa Cruz

 Later that day, we drove over to my Aunt's house, and all hung out with Grandma.

Sunday, we spent the day with my Aunt, cousins and Grandma. I did have to opportunity to go visit my childhood friend, Cara. She lives only 45 minutes from my Aunt, so I took the car while my parents were in church. It was so good to visit with her and her family. She has the sweetest little baby, Ellie, and I only wish Michael had been there to play with her. Unfortunately, we forgot to take any pictures while I was there.

We flew home Monday, and that trip was a lot less eventful. It was so good to be home, and back with my boys.

- On this past Tuesday, I started a new job. I will be babysitting for 4 little boys this summer. The oldest is 9 and the youngest is 2 months! One of the little boys is the same age as Michael, their birthdays are 1 week apart. The other little boy is 5. I will watch them on Tuesdays and Thursdays - All Day, 9am - 8pm. Plus I get to bring Michael with me!  I'm so excited that I was able to find a job that pays what I needed, and I can bring Michael with me. Andrew and I have been praying that I would find something, and this just fell in my lap. Something only God can do! We are so thankful for this opportunity, and excited for Michael to have some kids to play with a couple of times a week. Also, this helps with any baby fever that might creep up. I'll have my hands so full that the thought of adding another to our family anytime soon, will not even enter my mind. And I get to cuddle with a little baby all day long!

So, that's what's been going on around here. Hopefully I will get back in the swing of things, and start blogging some more. I also have a few more recipes I need to post.