Check Up

We went to the pediatrician for our twelve month check up (even though he is already 14.5 months old...gulp). For the most part everything was fine. Developmentally he is doing very well (motor skills, language, etc). He is tall for his age...at the top of the chart for height. The doctor did tell us that he is at the bottom of the chart for weight, and that we need to work on increasing his calorie intake. He ran a battery of standard tests and some extra to further investigate his weight (food absorption, gluten allergies, etc). I don't think that there is anything serious behind his weight...I just think that he would rather explore the world than slow down long enough for a silly little thing like nourishment.

He got several vaccines (MMR, H1N1, and Flu). Between the shots and the blood drawing it was a hard afternoon for us both.

We've been exploring all kinds of new foods and recipes thanks to my friend who is a pediatric nutrition specialist. I've also received tons of ideas from my Mommy friends via Facebook.

Not so extreme home makeovers

As with most mountain homes (ok cabins), adequate space can be an issue. Kamden and Cash share a bedroom, and I have to be very strategic in my selection of furniture and room arrangement. We have always had a loft bed for Kamden to accommodate all of his clothes, books, and toys. The downside was that he hated sleeping in it because the height bothered him. He ended up in my bed or the couch 6/7 nights a week. After searching for a year, I finally found some kids bedroom furniture that would store all his stuff and had a bed he might actually sleep in. (PS-not my choice of comforter set...he is obsessed with anything Army).

Before:

After:

Notice the new carpet? Much nicer choice of color for a house with two crazy little boys and a puppy. (I'm wishing I'd hidden those X-Box wires. If it were up to me, the whole X-Box would be in the trash can!)

Baby's bed...pretty soon he'll need a big boy bed. I realize my labels all over everything are a little ridiculous but that's the only way I can keep it from getting out of control!

Now if I could just get all these damn toys out of the living room!

Da Da, Vroom Vrooom!

We went to visit Da Da at the fire station. We really just went for the remarkable firehouse food and photo op. Amazingly, this was Cash' first time in a fire truck since his adventurous ride home from the hospital at three days old (story for another day). How did we let that happen? He had a great time and was furious when it was time to leave.



Old school pick up truck style engine...so cool.

Oh the Things We Can Do!

I would like to interrupt the regularly scheduled blog to brag, if I may, about my child. Of course I may, it's my blog isn't it? Someone asked me how old he was when he started walking, and I had to really think about it. "Uhhh...I think he was about eight months...I think," was my reply. How sad! I didn't write down the date and I think the only pictures I got were with a cell phone camera.

So now I would like to make a list (for myself really) of some of the ingenious things he can do.
Mobility: He can walk, run, spin around in a circle, walk backwards, and climb EVERYTHING.
Motor Skills: Wave, clap, give a "fist bump", blow a kiss, and shrug his shoulders when you say "Where'd it go?"
Spoken Words: Mamma, Dadda, Poppa,Grandma, Sissy, dog, meow, hot, Elmo, and vroom vroom!
Signed Words: milk, eat, more, all done, and please (I bet he could learn more, but that's all I know to teach him).
Commands: When I say "Go get a book," he goes to his book shelf, picks out a book, and brings it to me to read. When I say, "Throw it away," he takes whatever he's holding to the trash can. (He sometimes throws away other things too...car keys... remote controls).

He is absolutely in love with Elmo. He brings me the DVD case for his favorite Elmo movie and demands that I put it on for him (I try to make him at least show the sign for please). We have made a rule that he gets two Elmo movies a day, otherwise he will be in an Elmo induced trance all day long. Yesterday morning we were cuddling in bed and he was singing "Mo-Mo" over and over.

His favorite book. I could recite it in my sleep. He kisses each and every page.

Check Please!

We tried to go out to dinner on Friday night, but Cash is officially way too crazy for such activities. He climbs on the table, sticks his fingers in EVERYTHING he's not supposed to have (ex: salsa & guacamole), and escapes for the kitchen. It doesn't matter what restaurant we're in...he finds the kitchen and makes a b-line for it every time.

While I was struggling with my dine-and-dasher, I met a very lovely couple with a little girl who was about Cash's age. Her name was Chloe...a petite little lady with curly red hair and giant blue eyes. Chloe sat perfectly still in her highchair, daintily eating her finger foods. Chloe's nice parents gave me very sympathetic looks each time I ran past them (it was at least eight times) to retrieve my son. They tried not to look in horror as he picked up a piece of food from under THEIR table and ate it.

I have no interest in trying to teach him restaurant manners anytime soon. We will simply refrain from taking him out until he is at least 10.

Sippy's Baby Shower (and other weekend fun)

Yesterday we went to the shower for Baby Ezra. It was at an adorable gourmet pizza place in downtown Redlands. It's always fun to get our kids together and marvel at what attractive children we have all managed to produce. Seriously...it's out of control.

I am a lame picture taker so I stole this from Jessica. Why would I bother when the queen of cameras is present?

Afterwards, Ariella and I got our kiddos together for an evening playdate (no pics...too busy munching on McNuggets and enjoying each other's company).

It was "Fight Night" at Von's, so we made a quick stop at his house for some FABULOUS gumbo (still no pics...too busy stuffing my face).

Lucky Girl

We usually don't go too overboard for Valentine's Day...maybe some flowers or a nice dinner in. This year, it just so happened that my laptop AND my watch gave out at th same time. Shane saved the with double V-Day presents.

I've been wearing the same watch since my 21st birthday, so I was long overdue for a new one.

(PS...he got a really smokin' deal on the lap top)
Don't go thinking I'm spoiled....those who know me know that this year is making up for years worth of kinda lame Valentine's Days. Sorry, Babe...I'm just sayin.

Here's an email I sent to Shane a couple of months ago (maybe it was near Thanksgiving time??):

I am thankful that you are a good dad. I am thankful that you make the coffee everynight. I am thankful that you love to cook. I am thankful that you like to cuddle (eventhough you pretend like you don't). I am thankful that you clean the "schmagma" off my coffee cup. I am thankful for our date nights. I am thankful that you helped me make a really cute kid. I am thankful that you bought a beautiful home for our family. I am thankful that you always put the car seat in for me (because I'm an idiot who doesn't know how to do it). I am thankful that you put up with my mental melt downs about stupid things like a messy house. I am thankful that you don't take up very much closet space. I am thankful that you do most of the grocery shopping. I am thankful that you are my best friend. I am thankful that I never have to worry about anything when you're around. I am thankful for our little family, and I am thankful for the last five years with you!

Ice Skating

Penalty box

Kamden and Olivia

Valentines Day in Room 8

I got to go to Kamden's class Valentine's Party. It was a blast and made me miss being in the class room (but not enough to consider teaching anytime soon). We love Mrs. Ontiveros...it's been a great year for Kamden so far.


Good ole Capri Sun. Yes, that's Pappa Jim in the background.


Kamden and our good friend Molly.

There were lots of cute class photos, but I think it's against some kind of ethics code to put them on the internet w/out parent consent.

Christmas with Dad's Family

We went to "that cowboy town" to have a very belated Christmas celebration with my dad's family.


We finally got to spend some quality time with our cousin Ty.



Poppy gave Cash a "Cozy Coupe" and he loooooved it. Before we could get it put together, he was already trying to sit in it playing with the steering wheel and making vroom vroom noises.



A big thank-you to the newest member of our family, Wendy. She was a great host and even cooked for us all weekend. She was a lot of fun too! I hope she decides to stick around.


We got together for a family photo. Cash could not be removed from his car long enough for a quick pic...hence the car in the photo.

Super Bowl Pesto Cheese Pastries

I'm making an effort to cultivate a little skill in the kitchen as I currently have NONE. I decided to try a new appetizer for Alex & Jackie's Super Bowl party. They turned out fabulosa!! This is officially a new favorite of mine.

2 oz cream cheese, softened
1 oz Parmesan cheese
2 tbsp prepared basil pesto
½ pkg frozen puff pastry sheets (1 sheet),
thawed
2 oz (60 g) thinly sliced deli ham (about 6 slices)

1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line Large Sheet Pan with Parchment Paper; set aside. In Small Batter Bowl, whisk cream cheese until smooth using Stainless Whisk. Grate Parmesan cheese into batter bowl
using Rotary Grater; add pesto and mix well.
2. Unfold pastry dough onto flat side of Large Grooved Cutting Board; lightly roll seams using Baker’s Roller. Arrange ham over dough, overlapping if necessary. Spread cream cheese mixture over ham using Small Spreader. Bring bottom edge of dough up to create a 1½-in. (4-cm) fold; bring edge up again make another 1½-in. (4-cm) fold. Repeat on opposite side. Fold dough in half, bringing folded edges
together. Press dough lightly to seal.
3. Cut dough crosswise into sixteen 1 inch-thick (6-mm) slices using Bread Knife. Place slices cut-side up onto sheet pan. Bake 22-25 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm.

PS- Don't expect too many more cooking posts from me...my kitchen masterpieces are few and far between.