Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Happy 17 Months Troy!

Happy 17 Months Troy!

As always, these months pass by so quickly! You seem so grown up these days . . . especially with your walking (and almost running!). You have definitely become a good walker, and have fun exploring everything. One of your favorite things to do is to pull all my things out of the cabinets and drawers in the kitchen, particularly if I’m in there cooking. 120128IMG_0551.jpg You continue to jabber up a storm. You are saying a lot of words, but you also say a lot of things that we don’t understand. I can’t wait to know what you are saying! We’ve had many people comment about how much you talk and how expressive you are.  Unfortunately, I haven’t figured out how to get you to stop talking at times we need you to be quiet . . . like at worship service. But you’ll learn soon enough!

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You’ve always been fairly clingy (although you will go see your friends and family you are used to being around), but this month you’ve really started crying or fussing more when someone walks out of the room (whether that is me, your dad, Ella, or even your friends).

You love throwing things, whether that be a ball, your milk cup, a book, or your food. We have been working really hard at teaching you not to throw your food, but apparently you think the reward of the fun of throwing the food is still worth the punishment. 120208IMG_0816.jpg

You are starting to get pretty good at following directions that are a little more complex. For example, you can take your diaper to the trash can now. Granted, you oftentimes want to take it out immediately after putting it in there, but you can put it in!120211IMG_0858.jpg

This isn’t new this month, but you look a lot like your dad (now and when he was a baby). You are such a mini-me of him, and I love it! 120211IMG_0861.jpg

You love clapping. Ella has a music box that plays songs, and one of the songs is “If you are happy and you know it.” You’ll clap anytime the song comes on. You’ll also carry the music box around and say “clap, clap.”120214IMG_0887.jpg

Signs you do: more, finished, milk, hungry, thank you, please, thirsty, sleepy, bath (that’s your new favorite sign, ha!)

Words you say: bye, ball, Bible, bottle, bite, book, blue, mama, dada, Ella, “eeses” (Reeses, our dog), “ah-ee” (Ali, our other dog), Lucy (grandparent’s dog),  “anks” (thanks), “ank oo” (thank you), “ish” (fish), “inished” (finished), duck, “ootball” (football), hut (as in football), basketball, RhuRhu (grandma), Gigi (grandma), hey, hi, down, up, uh-uh, “eese” (please"), play, ready, “gup” (cup), “gra” (cracker), cat, slide, Bailey (a friend), Katy (a friend), Ashy (a friend), trash, clap. I also think you say something that sounds like “what’s that?”

Animal noises you make: chicken and I think duck

Body parts you can identify: nose, eyes, mouth

Favorite foods: banana and beans, and then I don’t know what else. You eat a ton of different stuff, but half the time something you gobbled up the day before, you won’t touch the next day. It can make it very tough figuring out what to feed you!

Favorite activities: walking (and almost running!) and exploring everything, especially following Ella or chasing a dog; reading books; watching Blue’s Clues; taking baths; playing with balls (you love to throw any kind of ball); playing outside; playing with toys, especially talking on the phone or putting things over your head; trying get any electronics or drinks you can spot.

Troy @ 16 months

 

Ella @ 17 months

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Drafting Dinner: Weekly Menu Planning

  • Panko-crusted chicken parmesan
  • Taco salad {can you tell that this is one of my favorites?}
  • Hot and spicy pork chops {I love grilled pork chops, and this is a different twist on them} with grilled veggies
  • Warm, toasted roast beef sandwiches with bell peppers and onions
  • Beef and chicken quesadillas with pico de gallo and guacamole

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Thankful Thursday

I’m thankful for family and friends who are willing to watch my kiddos from time to time.

I’m thankful for the abundant rain our area has been blessed with recently, especially considering the drought we endured over the summer.

I’m thankful for a strong family, and a spiritually-minded husband.

I’m thankful for trips to Target with Ella.

I’m thankful for Troy’s ability to express whatever he is feeling, even if he doesn’t use words to do it.

I’m thankful for time to go jogging, and that Trent graciously watches the kids while I go, even if it means taking his lunch time to watch the kids.

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Thursday, February 16, 2012

Thankful Thursday

Although I really ought to be up picking up the house, or even perhaps putting Troy to bed, I didn’t want to let another Thursday pass without doing a Thankful Thursday post. These posts really are a good reminder of all the blessings I have in my life.

 

I’m thankful for my husband who always has our family first in his mind and always takes care of us.

I’m thankful for my children’s laughter, and that they make each other laugh. I might have mentioned this before, but a child’s laughter is one of the best things in the world.

I’m thankful for good friends who are willing to lend their ears to me.

I’m thankful for other Christian parents who are striving to raise their children in the Lord.

I’m thankful that God gave us His inspired Word, and that it gives us all things that pertain to life and godliness. {2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:3}

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Why not?

Ella: “Mama, can I have some more crackers?”

Me: “No.”

Ella: “Why not?”

 

Ella: “Mama, can I watch another show?”

Me: “No.”

Ella: “Why not?”

 

Ella: “Mama, can I bring a snack to the playroom for me and Troy?”

Me: “No.”

Ella: “Why not?”

 

Ella: “Mama, could you come cover me up?” {for the fifth time}

Me: “No.”

Ella: “Why not?”

 

Ella: “Mama, could you bring Troy in here?”

Me: “No.”

Ella: “Why not?”

 

Ella: “Mama, could you tell Reeses {our dog} to come here?”

Me: “No.”

Ella: “Why not?”

 

My days lately have been filled with lots of “why nots.” The “why nots” are a daily reminder that Ella is growing up too fast. And, although the “why nots” might drive me a bit crazy at times, I’m thankful for the “why nots” and the conversations that I’m having with Ella everyday. I know these days will seem to pass too quickly, and I’ll look back and miss and laugh at all the “why nots.”

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Monday, February 13, 2012

Journeying to a Health Life: 3 Month Report

It has been a little over 3 months since I committed to living a healthier life, and I’m excited to say that, so far, I’ve actually stayed pretty well on track! I’m finally getting to the point that eating healthier and exercising seem like a natural part of life. Staying within my calorie goals everyday isn’t a burden like it was in the beginning (I still remember those first few weeks feeling like I was going to starve!). Is it always easy? No. In fact, today has been one of those days where I haven’t done so well eating, but I’m ok with that because it isn’t my lifestyle to eat poorly anymore like it was before. {As a side note, mostly to myself, I suppose, I definitely get the urge to snack more when I have a lot of nervous energy . . .I probably should have put that energy into a workout instead of snacks!}

I’m down 14 pounds since November (9 since coming back from the Christmas holidays over which I had gained a bit back). Although I don’t really feel “skinnier,” I have finally been able to see some changes in how my clothes are fitting. I am down a pant size! It is great to have that kind of progress (even though I still have a long way to go).

I’ve also noticed a great improvement in my physical fitness/endurance. I’ve been completing the Couch to 5K program, and I’m a week and a half from finishing it. I can actually jog for 28 minutes without stopping, which is a HUGE accomplishment for this non-runner. Unfortunately, about a week and half ago I sprained my ankle (from being a clutz tripping down my front porch, not even jogging!) and I haven’t been able to jog since I hurt my ankle. I’m really hoping I’ll be able to pick back up on Wednesday. I was really, really bummed when I hurt my ankle. BUT, it has given me a great opportunity to make sure that my eating stays on track without burning extra calories from exercise, and I’ve actually done pretty well with that.

2 Month Report

Drafting Dinner: Weekly Menu Planning

  • Roast
  • PW’s crispy yogurt chicken (I really love this chicken, and I haven’t made it in months!)
  • Chicken Fried Rice (never ate this a few weeks ago)
  • Stuffed bell peppers (stuffed with hamburger meat, cream cheese, and shredded cheese) served with rice
  • Baked potatoes with pulled pork

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Ella’s 3rd Birthday Interview

My sweet Ella turned 3 today! Where does the time go? I saw the idea for a birthday interview on Pinterest, and I knew I wanted to start the interview tradition. We kept some of the questions from the interview, but also modified some, and added our own in.

Here are Ella’s answers (in bold)!

  1. What is your favorite color? Blue
  2. What is your favorite toy? Reeses, a dog {one of our dogs}
  3. What is your favorite fruit? Banana
  4. What is your favorite TV show? Clifford and Blue’s Clues
  5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Chips {she really doesn’t like chips that well, I think she saw some sitting on the table}
  6. What is your favorite outfit? Purple
  7. What is your favorite game? Run
  8. What is your favorite snack? Fruit Snacks
  9. What is your favorite animal? Clifford
  10. What is your favorite song? Jesus Loves Me
  11. What is your favorite book? Clifford Book
  12. Who is your best friend? Karsyn
  13. What is your favorite cereal? Good cereal {for what it is worth, we really don’t name the cereals in our house – just call everything cereal}
  14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Play Outside
  15. What is your favorite drink? Watermelon Sprite
  16. What is your favorite holiday? {she was stumped – didn’t know what a holiday was}
  17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Monkey, Another Monkey {She has a sock monkey, and a “baby” sock monkey}
  18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Cereal
  19. What is your favorite thing for dinner? I’m thinking about it . . . I don’t like unguns {onions}. Regular chicken.
  20. What do you want to be when you grow up? Marry a Christian {check this link}
  21. What is your favorite movie? Hair movie {Tangled}
  22. Who is your favorite Disney princess? I am.
  23. Where is your favorite place to go? Lunch
  24. What is your favorite Bible story? Jesus. The one about the mens. The mens that were sick with leprosy. {They’ve been talking about this story in Bible class}
  25. What is your favorite Old Testament story? Genesis 1
  26. What is your favorite memory verse? He that believes and Upon this rock. {Mark 16:16 and Matthew 16:18}
  27. What is your favorite letter? E, and A, and L, and another L.

Happy Birthday Ella!

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Drafting Dinner: Weekly Menu Planning

  • Baked chicken with couscous and green beans. I just learned a new trick for getting juicy chicken in the oven – sear the chicken for a couple of minutes on the stovetop first, then transfer the pan (use ovensafe) to the oven to finish cooking (I cooked mine at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes). Super juicy and yummy!
  • Taco salad
  • Ham, black eyed peas, and cornbread. I was digging around the freezer today, and realized that I had some leftover ham (from New Year’s) frozen in there.
  • Chicken enchilada soup
  • Chicken fried rice
  • Roast or maybe pulled pork (depending on meat prices)