What Grady's been saying... & doing

Mom my legs are getting pokey.  Me, "Grady those are goose bumps."  Grady, "No mom it is from my shot."

Grady's personal paper dispenser is our printer/copier.  When he wants to color he just goes to the office and presses COPY on the copier, and presto a blank piece a paper to color on, except when we leave something on the copier.  :)

On the way to school we saw a lady walking her great dane.  I said, "Grady look at that dog, he has LONG legs."  Grady says, "NO mom, they are humongous."

Grady said, "We are getting ready for Christmas."  I said, "Yes, you have a couple more days of school then you are off from school for two weeks, and Dad will be off of work.  Grady says, "Yeah, and then we will go to Grandma's house for a long time, then we will go to the hospital if you are going to have another baby." 

For the last two days Grady has wanted to wear his soccer socks over his jeans and up to his knees. 

Tonight I was not feeling very good and was laying on the couch.  Grady came out of my bathroom with a tampon in his hand.  He says, "Mom are you not feeling good?  Do you need this to help you feel better?"  "No thanks Grady can you please go put that back where you got it from."  

I asked Grady where was baby Jesus was.  He told me, "it is not his Birthday yet so he is behind the manger."

What Grady's been saying...

• After looking at his new bumper car shirt.  Grady told me he wanted to wear his "octticopter" boat shirt. ("octticopter" = helicopter)  I guess a bumper car sort of does look like a helicopter boat.

• Grady "I am a fireman I shoot out fire"... Me "Grady firemen do not shoot fire they put out fires." ... G "Oh I mean I shoot out water."

• Friday after thanksgiving we stayed in a hotel before my cousin Mallory's wedding.  We got the boys ready for bed and went to the bathroom to get ready.  But the light under the door was enough for Reece to see himself in the full length mirror and he would not stop jumping up and down in the crib.  Grady keep sitting up and saying, "Reece is being crazy and keeping me up."  Keith and I quickly got ready for bed and turned off all the lights.  Everyone quickly got quite and I thought they were all asleep so I started playing on my iphone.  All of a sudden Grady pops up look and the clock and say, "MOM, its 10:00."  "OK Grady I will go to bed."  

• Monday morning before going back to school after Thanksgiving holiday Grady told me he and Henry lost there recycling duty's because they were not doing it properly.  Once I ask he told me he was throwing milk cartons outside and Henry was being silly making him laugh.  I love how we never heard about this all last week but now that school is starting again we learn about it.  On Tuesday he told he was able to do recycling with Kate and they did it properly.  He told me that Kate does not make him laugh.

• Me "Grady what did you learn at school today." Grady "the alphabet." Me "the alphabet?? what did you learn about the alphabet?" Grady "I put them together to make the words rat and mat" Me "Oh My Gosh that is AWESOME Grady you are spelling words!!" .... He can now sound out and spell rat and mat. 

November Cookbook Club

This month it was my turn to pick the cookbook and recipes for the Cookbook Club.  So I decided it would fun to pick a Louisiana cookbook, River Road Recipes: Warm Welcomes.  

I made the Shrimp & Tasso Pasta.  It was really easy to make.  But I did not read the ingredients very well before my trip to the grocery store, so I realized once I started making it that it did not by the 2 pints heavy cream... Yes they want you to use 2 pints heavy cream. So I used the whole milk I had for my 1year old.

We LOVED it.  It makes a ton of food.  It was a little runny and did not have a ton of spice the first night.  But the leftovers were WONDERFUL... I think it needs to sit together longer before you eat it to get the spice from the tasso.  Definitely a make again meal!!

I still want to try the other recipe but just got to busy at the end of the month with my sons 1st birthday and thanksgiving.

Shrimp and Tasso Pasta

From River Road Recipes IV: Warm Welcomes

Tasso gives a smoky flavor to this seafood pasta dish. This freezes well and is an excellent dish to take to a friend with a new baby or a death in the family.

16 ounces fine or wide egg noodles
1 bell pepper, chopped
1 yellow onion, chopped
1 rib celery, chopped (optional)
1 bunch green onions, chopped
8 garlic cloves, chopped
½ cup (1 stick) margarine
2 pints heavy cream
1 pound deveined peeled shrimp
2 cups chopped tasso (reminder: substitutes include salt pork, pancetta, prosciutto, Canadian bacon or smoked ham)
1tsp Crushed red pepper to taste
1 ¼ tsp Salt to taste
1tsp Creole seasoning to taste
1tsp Paprika to taste
¾ cup (3 ounces) grated Parmesan cheese

Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente; drain. Cover to keep warm. Saute the bell peppers, onion, celery, green onions, and garlic in the margarine in a large skillet until the vegetables are tender. Add the heavy cream and shrimp and mix well.

Cook for two minutes or until the shrimp turn pink, stirring frequently. Fold in the tasso and pasta. Season with red pepper, salt, creole seasoning, and paprika and sprinkle with the cheese.

Serves 6 to 8.

Reece started walking!!

Reece started walking at the hotel the day of my cousin Mallory's Wedding. 

 Nov 27, 2010!

Happy 8th Birthday Winston!!

Happy Birthday!!

Reece Patrick is 1 Year Old!!

WEIGHT: 22 LBS. - 37th percentile

Reece had 3 teeth on top come in.  He still loves to eat, we have started to cutting back on his portion sizes because some nights he was eating as much as me and Keith (we eat small portions but not that small).  He feeds himself his yogurt in the morning, he starts out using the spoon but ends up just using his hand.   We think he is going to be a lefty like Grady, he really favors his left hand uses it to eat and that is the thumb he sucks.  He was crying and having drama fits when things did not go his way or he wanted something.  But he has just started to really use sign language to let us know what he wants, so that has cut down on a lot of the drama.  He can now sign the words milk, water, more, dog, please, & eat.  

Reece loves to play with board books and "read" them (turn the pages).  He will not listen to us read books for very long so we are reading shorts books to him right now and letting him turn the pages.  He responds to his name and no.  He loves to "talk" (babble)... he can say mama, dada, and baba.  

Reece loves to help us put toys up, he also likes to dump things out.  He throws balls, waves bye bye, claps his hands and loves to give high fives.  He can walk holding one of our hands, he can squat and stand alone for a couple seconds (he took one step the other day).  He just started to turn his walker and/or push wagon while walking behind it.

Reece had a wonderful 1st Birthday Party on Saturday Nov 13th.  We had a wonderful time visiting with family and friends, he got a lot of awesome gifts.  But the poor baby burnt his fingers on his birthday candle while we were singing Happy Birthday.  It did not brother him to much once he tasted the cake.  

On his birthday, Reece and I went to a playdate at my friends Megan's house.  That night we had dinner at Hooters and then cupcakes at home, Grady made sure Reece did not burn his fingers this time.  We opened gifts and then Skyped with my sister.  

I can not believe my baby boy is 1 year old, this year has flown by.  It has been fun getting to see him grow and his personality develop.   He is such a sweet happy boy.  

Grady's 1 year update

Pedal Bike

Grady has been riding his balance bike really well lately.  He has really been enjoying going to the new Extreme Sports Park to ride his bike on the Skate Park.  

From 2010 - 10

Link of Video 

We decided it was time to get him a pedal bike and see if he could ride it WITHOUT training wheels.  Well he did AWESOME... He needs a little help getting started but once he gets started he can ride forever.  I think by this weekend he will be able to it all on his own.

From 2010 - 10

Link of Video 

1st day riding a pedal bike!  Grady is only 3.5 years old and can ride a bike without training wheels.  We are really proud of him.  

October Cookbook Club

This month's Cookbook Club was a Paul Deen cookbook.  The recipe was Chicken and Rice Casserole.  

I was a little worried about some of the ingredients, because I do not like the taste of CANNED green beans and I was not sure what pimentos were.  But I googled pimentos and found out they are just large chili peppers and figured I could use fresh or frozen green beans.

It was a REALLY easy recipe to make.  I could not find green beans at the produce stand so got frozen green beans.  The recipe called for two 14oz cans I just measured out four cups of frozen greens heated them up then mixed them with everything else.  

Keith, Reece and I all really liked the casserole.  But Grady has become very picky since he turned 3 so he did not eat it.  But we will be having this again so hopefully Grady will try it next time :) 

Reece Patrick is 11 months old!

Photo by: Childish Couture Photography

Reece STILL only has two teeth.  He had his 1st donut at our 1st Garage Sale this month.

He is loves to play outside every time we go outside the crawls down the driveway to play in the street.

   

Reece stacked his 1st block together on Oct 12.  He also got his 1st haircut on Oct 15.  He loves to talk and read books.  He said Grady for the 1st time the other day (it sounded pretty close and he was looking at Grady).  

We are getting ready for his 1st Birthday!  I can not believe a Reece will be 1 years old next month this year has flown by.  

Grady's 11month update!!

September Cookbook Club

My sister started the Cookbook Club so every month one person picks a cookbook and recipe from that cookbook.  We all try it and post about it.  


This month was a Rachael Ray cookbook and the recipe was Mega Meat Stuffed Shells.  


It was really easy to make and we loved them.  I loved the nutmeg flavor in the meat.  I did not like the sauce I think I will just use a jar of marinara next time.  


Ok and one more thing this recipe is in the chapter for 2 people... I am not sure how much Rachel Ray eats but this fed my family of 4 and we had leftovers.  Also the recipe calls for ONLY 8 jumbo pasta shells, I am not sure how RR fits all that meat in 8 shells maybe she buys enormous pasta shells (I used about 12 shells and they were packed).  

Favorite 1st Birthday Gifts

These are our favorite 1st Birthday gifts.

1. Little Tikes Deluxe Cozy Convertible Car
2. Fisher-Price Little People Build 'n Fun Jungle
3. Radio Flyer Scoot-About
4. Melissa & Doug Fresh Start Jumbo Knob Puzzle
5. B. Wheeee-ls! Soft Cars 4-pk.
6. Fisher-Price Little People: Racin' Ramps Garage
7. B. Parum Pum Pum Drum
8. Edushape See-Me Sensory Balls
9. Climber Playset

Please add your child's favorite 1st birthday gifts with Linky Tools.

If you need help with Linky Tools.  Search online for the toy you want to add, copy and add the web address to the Link it to: box.  Then put the toy name in the Caption or Title: box.  Then click From
Web button and it should pop up with images from the web address you just added.  

Reece Patrick is 10 months old!

Weight: 20lbs - 28th percentile
Height: 29in - 56th percentile

Reece still only has two teeth.  He started to do the sign "more" while he is eating to ask for more food.  Reece found Grady's water bottle the other day and started to drink from it, he LOVES it so now he has his own.  He is now drinking his formula from just sippy cups, no more bottle.  He loves to eat snacks from his snack trap.

The boy loves to babble and yell (he learned that from Grady).  He recognizes his own name.  Reece likes to read books and especially in the car.

He can walk behind his walker and pull himself up on it.  Reece is cruising around on the furniture.  He can stand himself up in the tub.  Reece can throw balls.  He is starting to be able to stand alone for a little bit.

Reece loves to play outside, go for walks in the wagon and being pushed in his car.  He started to sit on and can scoot a little on his Radio Flyer Scoot-About.

Reece went to his 1st Crab boil at my parents house for Labor Day.  He can not have crabs yet but he had fun hanging out and swimming.   We went to Exxon Mobil Family Day Picnic at Blue Bayou Waterpark the other weekend, both the boys had a great time.

Grady's 10month update!!

1st & 2nd Week of School!

Grady started school at La Printaniere Montessori on Sept 3.  The first week the new kids went for only one hour a day.   Grady wanted to undo his own carseat at school and was a big boy when his teacher came to get him in carpool line.  During that week Grady started to say words then sound it out to find the letter it starts with.  He has been doing this at least 4-5 times a day.  He also drew oval like shapes on his manga doodle and told me they were "ontinents" (continents).  

This week he started going to school full time (8:30-2:30) with no nap.  He did not want to get out of the car today at school and told me that he cried at the window this morning.  I think he has a lot more rules and routines to learn this week so I am sure it is overwhelming.  

This week he has been telling me a lot of interesting things.  

• Like he does not want any "lessons" at school because he can do it by himself.
• Everyday he tells me what they have for snack... one day he told they had hummus and potatoes but he did not eat it.  I asked if he meant tomatoes he said no potatoes.  (well last night we tomatoes in our supper and Grady called them potatoes so i think they had tomatoes)
• He showed me his back and said "it is rude to turn your back on people while they are talking to you."  I asked him if he did that he told me yes to his teacher.  
• Then today Grady told me that his teacher told him they are NOT allowed to eat cookies at school. HAHA it is 3rd day Grady brought lunch school and I packed a cookie each day.  
• Tomorrow is Grady day to bring snack so all week I have been asking him what he wants to bring yesterday he told he wanted to bring his friends gummies.  I told him I did not think that was the best idea I thinking about fruit or veggies.  After today news about cookies I see that would have been a VERY BAD snack :) 
• He also told Peter got mad it him today when I asked him why he said because he knocked down his blocks.   

Reese's Pieces Chocolate Chip Cookie

So last week we bought a bag of Reese's Pieces.  Keith and I both started to wonder how they would taste if we added them to our FAVORITE Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe.  So Sunday Keith made them and they are wonderful they are a little more like a peanut butter cookie.  Next we want to try M&M's.

Neiman Marcus Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

Ingredients

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened

1 cup light brown sugar

3 tablespoons granulated sugar

1 large egg

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1-3/4 cups all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1-1/2 teaspoons instant espresso coffee powder (we can not find...so have never tried this)

1-1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions

1.	Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Cream the butter with the sugars using an electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy (approximately 30 seconds)
2.	Beat in the egg and the vanilla extract for another 30 seconds.
3.	In a mixing bowl, sift together the dry ingredients and beat into the butter mixture at low speed for about 15 seconds. Stir in the espresso coffee powder and chocolate chips.
4.	Using a 1 ounce scoop or a 2 tablespoon measure (I use an ice cream scoop), drop cookie dough onto a greased cookie sheet about 3 inches apart. Gently press down on the dough with the back of a spoon to spread out into a 2 inch circle. Bake for about 20 minutes or until nicely browned around the edges (they will not look done at 20mins but take the out, they will harden and be PREFECT). Bake a little longer for a crispier cookie.
	Adaptations  1.  Reese's Pieces Cookie  Instead of 1-1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips.  Put 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips and 3/4 cup of Reese's Pieces.  Put a couple Reese's Pieces on top of each drop of cookie dough before you bake them.
Yield	2 dozen cookies

My 30th Birthday Weekend!

My parents came to celebrate my birthday and bring us out to lunch on Saturday.  I mom brought trick candles for my cake and Grady LOVED them.

Sunday I went shopping alone to spend some of my birthday $$.  (Thanks mom & dad and Shay & Andy!!) Keith watched the boys and had fresh baked cookies waiting when I got home.

Monday was just another normal Monday with me and the boys weekly grocery trip.  But we did get a Chick-fil-a chicken biscuit and Starbucks to enjoy while shopping at Target.

Keith came home early from work and grilled us filets and zucchini and roasted potatoes.  And then while enjoying our lovely meal Grady made himself throw up while trying a potato because we told him he had to eat one potato and one zucchini to get cake.  But he did continue to eat the potato and the zucchini so he could have cake!!

I had a wonderful weekend.  I am so blessed to have such a wonderful husband, kids, family and friends.

Liz & Jim's Wedding

We had a wonderful time last weekend at the wedding and visiting with the family!! 

Side by Side - 9 months old

Reece is above and Grady is below

Reece Patrick is 9 months old!

Weight: 19lbs 2oz - 24th percentile

Height: 27.8in - 30th percentile

Head: 18 1/4in - 77th percentile

He now has two bottom teeth.  He started crawling and sitting himself up on August 6.  Then he started standing himself up 4 days later.  And by the end on that week is was crawling fast and is now everywhere.  

He loves Winston he crawling after the dog all the time.  He also loves to feed and let Winston clean his hand during supper.  

Reece is saying Mama & Dada a lot now and I think he knows what they mean.  He loves to eat and will eat anything we put in front of him.  

Reece is now wearing 12-18month clothes that Grady was wearing at 1year old.  

Grady's 9month update

7 Quick Takes: Reece and Playing

1. Wedding Shower
On Saturday we went to a BBQ/Pool Wedding Shower for Portia and Rob.  We all had a lot of fun, the boys loved swimming and Grady loved playing in the indoor basketball court.

2. Baby Plank
Here is the plank and/or downward dog Reece has been doing since last week.

3.  Playing in balls
I took out the balls and baby pool to give Reece something new to play.  Reece loves it but I think Grady LOVES it MORE!!

4. Soccer 
Keith has been out of town for his last 2 soccer games so it was nice to go out to his game Wednesday night.  We had supper at the field and Grady loved misting everyone with his spray bottle and I think everyone liked it too because it was HOT out there.  

5.  Fresh Faces
I entered the boys in a local photographers Fresh Face contest.  They were both selected as a Fall 2010 Childish Couture Fresh Face!! They will get ultimate Couture Session in downtown Baton Rouge.  In addition their images may be used for advertising, business ads, and marketing.  We will receive digital images of the boys that we can use for printing.

6. Sitting
Reece started sitting himself up from his the crawling position today.

7. Crawling 
Then this afternoon Reece and I were sitting in the doorway watching Grady Slip N Slide outside and Reece started to CRAWL to get out the door.  It is a crazy looking crawl but he is moving FORWARD.  Go Reece we are so proud of you but nervous about having two mobile children :)

Reece is 8 months old!

Poor Reece turned 8 months old on the 16th of this month and I am just now getting around to posting this update.  

Weight: 17lbs 14oz - 24th percentile

Reece is now sitting in the tub with no sling or anything.  He is loves to splash and play with Grady.

He is now eating ALL table food he is just eating what we have for meals.  It is so much easier to have everyone eating the same thing.

Reece went to his 1st O'Meara Family Reunion in West Virginia.  (It was Grady 1st reunion too since it only happens every 5 years)  He also got his 1st ear infection on this trip... poor baby never really complained till we were landing in New Orleans, then we quickly knew his ears were hurting him.

Reece got his 1st tooth right before he turned 8 months old.  He is still backing up and scooting backwards but has not figured out how to go forward yet.

He is such a sweet happy boy but has started to show his distaste when we stop him from doing some thing he wanted to be doing.  He has a real good "tank" face that shows us that he is not happy... I am famous for my "tank" face when I was young and I still use that face some times today.  I need to get the photo of me as a kid and him with the "tank" face :)

Grady's 8month update

7 Quick Takes: party, pedals, planks

1. Bachelorette Party

I went to my cousin Liz's Bachelorette Party in New Orleans on Saturday.  I had not been to Bourbon St. in a LONG time it was a lot of fun.  But man do you see things in a different as you get older :)

2.  Pedaling
Grady finally started pedaling his tricycle.  YAY go Grady!!

3.  Canada & Cali
Keith has had two business trips in the past two weeks.  He went to Canada last week for 4 days and then California this week for 3 days.  We stayed really busy last week. This week we had lunch with friends two days and then my mom came in to visit and have dinner on Wednesday so the time went by quickly.

4. Baby Planks
Reece started doing baby planks.  He is still not crawling but getting up on his hands and knees, then he goes up to his toes and does a plank.  I am going to have to try to get a picture of it soon.

5. HAPPY DAY!!

6. Louisiana Children Museum 
Friday we went with friends to the Children Museum.  We had a wonderful time.  On the way I stop by Caffe Caffe to get a Freeze for me and cookie for Grady.

7.  Dinner with the family
On the way home from New Orleans Rachel called and invited use to dinner at her mom's house.  We had a wonderful time visiting and playing with the kids.  Dinner was WONDERFUL thank you so much Eva.