Diaper free baby?

O.k., Maria sent me this link, and I just have to post it, because it is so freaking crazy that I can't help myself!! I mean, o.k., in a rural area or ancient times, maybe this would work, but modern America?? Like, I don't have enough to do being a mom, now I'm supposed to watch my child 24/7 to look for signs that he is going to pee or poop?? This is just ridiculous. People have way too much time on their hands! Please send me comments, because I can't wait to hear what others think about this one.

Diaperfreebaby.org

Another recipe from Rachael Ray!

Chicken enchiladas! We had these for dinner on Friday night, they are so good! I admit that boiling and shredding the chicken takes a while, but if you start early enough with the process then it isn't so bad. The chicken comes out very tender, and the sauce is so easy to make. You probably have all the indredients on hand, cinnamon, hot sauce, cans of tomato sauce and chili powder. I strongly suggest trying these, if you enjoy tex-mex food like we do!

www.rachaelrayshow.com/?q=recipes/chicken-enchiladas

Too cute

If you can't read the shirt, it says "Part Italian, Part Irish Total Perfection"
ha!

Jonathan loves to hug his new bear!

Singing with Jonathan

The Pool

This was another picture from Jonathan's party. He wasn't so sure about the pool that day- it wasn't that warm! The other kids had a ball!

One Year Old!

A year ago today I was at the hospital still in labor with Jonathan. It is hard to believe that a year has passed already since that day. I haven't gotten to sleep late since!! That's o.k. though, I don't miss it as much as I thought I would. Coffee helps.

Right before my Dr. started the c-section to remove my poor stuck child, she looked at me and said "I normally don't say things like this, but I think it's a boy. A girl wouldn't have given you this much trouble."
She was right, and here we are. Mother and son. He may have given me trouble in utero- but he has been a great baby overall. He doesn't fuss much (after the first 3 months anyway) and he eats and sleeps well. He was sleeping through the night by 4 months old, you can't ask for more than that!

Now Jonathan is a big boy (24 and a quarter pounds- 30 inches tall) and almost walking! He sings (for real!) and dances- see movie below- and almost walks. He can do it just holding on with one hand.

I'll be going back to work next week, and he'll be going to daycare a couple of days and my mom's the other days. I'll miss being with him all day, but hopefully getting out relatively early, I'll still feel like I'm spending the day with him.

Skip to my Lou...

Jonathan's working on his new moves. He loves to dance!

More party photos

Jonathan's birthday party

Jonathan's birthday is the 22nd, but we celebrated in on Saturday. We had gorgeous weather and a big crowd of people. I think everyone had a lot of fun. Here are a couple of pictures, I'll have to borrow some from other people because I was too busy to take many myself.

Rose wants to help

Rose helping Jonathan with his bottle.

Truck

Playing with Luke's truck with Dad.

Swinging at Luke's party

First Haircut

What are you doing, putting me in the garbage?


Are you sure you know what you're doing?


Hey, not too bad, Dad! You can have a second career!

Flight of the Butterfly

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Finally, success! There were two other butterflies in the garden today, but this is the first one I've caught on film. Jonathan and I saw the first one early this afternoon. It flew right around us, but I didn't have my camera at the time. The second one was in the garden with this one that I got on camera, but it flew away when I was coming up the stairs. I looked up the picture, and this butterfly is an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail. They are normally the butterfly most attracted to the butterfly bush, but this one seemed more interested in the zinnias, though it did visit the butterfly bush at one point. I'm not sure what kind of butterflies the other two I saw today were, but I will try to get some more on film if I can. I'm so happy and excited that the butterflies are finally finding the garden! woo hoo!

A tribute to my Nonnie

This is a picture of my Nonnie, Rena from 2000. She passed away August 4, 2005.

I had a dream about her a few days after she died, and I'll never forget it. She was washing dishes in her kitchen, something she always did. I realized, although it was a dream, that she had passed away. I asked her why she had come all the way back to wash dishes, to which she replied "I like washing dishes."

She walked toward the cabinet to retrieve some items, and I was grief stricken, even in my dream. "Why didn't you ask God just to let you live a little bit longer?"

She looked right at me and smiled, "I did, about fifteen years ago. Isn't God great?"

Right after her response I awoke.

There is something about the relationship between a grandmother and a grandchild that is never forgotten and always longed for. I now have no grandparents, and it makes me feel quite sad and alone sometimes. I am so grateful that Jonathan can enjoy all four of his grandparents, and his great-grandmother- Mike's grandmother. I am also grateful that I have my memories of both my grandmothers and can share them with my children when they grow.

Fun with Laundry

Jonathan loves the laundry basket! Today he decided to crawl right in.
If there were clothes in there, he would have just thrown them over his shoulder, another favorite activity!

butterfly update

This morning I saw a black butterfly with white spots near the garden. I didn't realize it was there, until I walked up the stairs and scared it away. I don't know the name of it, but I'm trying to keep track of what I see. I found out the other day that I should have planted more of each flower, because the butterflies are attracted to a big display of one flower. Oh well. I did see another black butterfly that likes the zinnias the other day.

Hopefully they'll start to come more regularly so I might be able to get some pictures.

Another pool picture

taking a ride

Um, Mom, I think you're too big for this car!!

the pool

Jonathan having fun in the pool. Dakota wants to have fun too!