Sad Day

It hurt to wake up this morning and realize that we weren't national champions. It was hard to put away my Jayhawk hoodie that I wore all week and face the reality that the season was over. I am going to miss this team. Big time. Only one team can win it all but everyone on this team is a winner. So proud of the Jayhawks and the entire team's contribution under the leadership of the best coach in college basketball. This was such an overachieving year and they did things no one expected. Great job guys. So proud to be a Jayhawk!

RCJH!!

Pancakes with the Easter Bunny

We decided to punt an Easter Egg hunt at a park or church this year seeing as how Drew isn't walking yet. As much as I would have enjoyed eating all of his candy, the vision of children running him over and stepping on his little fingers while he crawls to grab an egg made my heart sink. (Yes, I know. I'm not doing a good job taking the bubble wrap off of him).

So instead, I found a local pancake breakfast where the Easter bunny was going to be in attendance and signed us up! Drew didn't really mind the mall Easter bunny last year, but I thought he smelled and was kinda creepy. This bunny was much better and Drew got to actually watch him for a bit before we planted him on his lap. The pavilion was decorated with so much for Drew to look at and the food was great.

As you can see from the pictures... he really liked the bunny and was wanting to inspect her mouth! We even got a few smiles and overall he did great!

Derek tried to snap a good pic of us together seeing as how I'm generally the one behind the lens. I can't get over how handsome he looks all dressed up!

I hope your experience with the Easter bunny goes as smooth as ours did. We definitely saw our share of screaming and crying children throughout breakfast.

Indoor Planting

I've always loved having my Dracaena sitting under the window right by my desk. It cleans my air and is beautiful when the sunlight rays hit the deep green leaves. I like knowing something in my office is actually real and not some plastic piece made in China.

But the best part is that it's hardy. And by that I mean it's still alive when I forget to water it for days on end. Days. It's a faithful little guy that doesn't mind the occasional neglect and I appreciate that. I need that.

You see, I don't do well with indoor plants in general. I can keep anything outside alive and flourishing, but indoors is a different arena. Whether it's sunlight issues, or warmth issues, or watering issues, they generally end up dying. And then I'm left with yet another empty pot to fill again with some other poor plant I find to buy.

Case in point below. These are both Clivia offspring from the same bulb my mother has been growing for years taken within the same few days. I don't even need a label as it's obvious which is mine and which is hers. I don't think Clivia are considered 'hardy' plants, so I'll blame its passing on the harsh Cleveland winters. Either way, I'm excited my mom brought up another offspring so that I can attempt round 2.

If this baby dies on me, I'm giving up and going back to plastic.

Grandparents

"Grandparents are a delightful blend of laughter, 

caring deeds, wonderful stories and love." ~author unknown

They came. 

They loved. 

They taught.

And we miss them.

Akron Zoo

We love going to zoos. I mean LOVE. I honestly think that I often get more excited to see all of the animals than Drew does! Derek and I just recently became members of the Cleveland zoo, but decided to take my parents to the Akron zoo as it's only 40 minutes away. Although it's much smaller, we had heard it was great for kids and still had some wonderful exhibits.

Right off the bat, Drew was greeted by some Lemur's and he was in heaven. The glass went down to his level and a little Lemur came right up checking him out. It was beyond adorable to watch Drew put his hand up to the glass where the Lemur's hand was and get so excited when they moved.

Drew pointed at every single animal, squealed often and really enjoyed watching all of the animals. Among the normal lions, tigers and bears, we saw bats, barking deer, alpaca, condors and more!

I can't wait until Drew can enjoy the petting zoo, but until then I might have to take some anti-anxiety medication. He really enjoyed standing right at the fence trying to touch the sheep and goats as they trotted past, but once I saw how big their teeth were, I began to get a bit nervous. A little boy offered Drew some goat food to hold up and my mom was kneeling down with him making sure he didn't get his hands chewed off. Although I know she was in complete control, watching a goat take food from his tiny, perfect, flawless hands about gave us a heart attack.

I guess we're going to have to let go at some point and realize that we can't keep him in bubble wrap forever, right?
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And on a separate note, I had to put this pic up of Drew watching the KU game this weekend with my parents against UNC. It was a CRAZY intense game and you can see it on all 3 of their faces!

Fingers crossed this Saturday when we play Ohio State that we can do what we're best at!!

A Visit from Grandma & Poppa

It's so great having grandparents in town. Taking leisurely showers, going out for drinks with friends, seeing movies and being child-less for a bit is a nice change of pace! But what I also love is watching Drew with his grandparents. He is the first grandchild on both sides and therefore already spoiled beyond belief. He has both sets wrapped around his fingers and it's fun to watch them light up with excitement when they see his face. My parents drove up this past week and didn't even stop to eat on their 2nd day of driving from KC to as they were too excited to see Drew!

Since they arrived on Thursday, Drew has been soaking up all of the love and attention and telling them stories nonstop. He looks kinda upset here, but he was really just telling grandma about his week at school and I caught him mid-"sentence".

You can just see the safety and security he sees around our parents and I love how much he trusts them. I told my mom she couldn't leave until she had Drew walking, and she sure has tried! He continues to take steps and she has gotten him real comfortable pushing his new lawn mower without crashing over. Among the numerous gifts they brought up was a duck on a string that Drew loves to drag around with it flapping its wings behind him. But really, it's just been the play time that he's enjoyed the most. A familiar face that he knows from the computer and his look book there to give him undivided attention and smoother him with kisses.

And, as always, I put my father to work constructing things around the house and re-finishing a GREAT craigslist find (but I'm saving that for another post!). He is the handy one in my family and enjoys knocking out little projects here and there.

Thanks for all the gifts, food and projects Grandma and Poppa.... but more importantly for coming up to visit and spending time with us!

Bike Trailer

My parents bought Drew a Double InStep Bike Trailer for Christmas and I have been dying to take it out for a spin! We've been having great weather, so this past weekend Derek was able to put it together and ready to pull. After purchasing a toddler helmet for Drew we were ready to Rock and Roll. At first, he was not sure at all if he liked being in the trailer, especially with a helmet on, but I knew once we got started he would be ok.

Boy was I right! He had a huge grin on his face about a block into the ride and really seemed to enjoy it. We only took it for a short spin more as an introduction, but I can't wait to take my little man on more rides in our new trailer.

And here's a quick video of our parking lot test run:

Thanks mom and dad for the wonderful gift!

Pesto Chicken Florentine

I had to share a dinner staple in this house that's super easy to make and quite delicious!

 

INGREDIENTS

2 T. olive oil

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts

2 C. fresh spinach leaves

1 (4.5oz) package dry Alfredo sauce

1.5 T pesto

1 (8oz) package dry penne pasta

1 T. grated Romano cheese

DIRECTIONS

1.      Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add garlic and sauté for 1 minute, then add chicken and cook for 7 to 8 minutes on each side.

2.      When chicken is close to being cooked through, add spinach and sauté all together for 3 to 4 minutes.

3.      Meanwhile, prepare Alfredo sauce according to package directions. When finished, stir in the pesto and set aside.

4.      In a large pot of salted, boiling water, cook the pasta for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente. Rinse under cold water and drain.

5.      Add chicken/spinach mixture to the pasta and then stir in the pesto/Alfredo sauce. Mix well, top with cheese and serve.

We actually use quite a bit more spinach and sometimes add a bit more pesto! Enjoy!

St. Patrick's Day Parade

What do you get when you're surrounded by half a million people? EVERYTHING. And I mean EH-VER-E-THANG! Oh my word the people watching was just fantastic. Fantastic. From the hookers handing out escort cards, to the adorable babies all dressed in green, to the outfits, it was GREAT! I really think a good fourth of the people there felt like it was an excuse to wear items that fit them when they were in 3rd grade. There was a LOT of inappropriate skin showing and exposed muffin tops to say the least.

Overall though, the weather was gorgeous and we enjoyed taking Drew down to the festivities. We didn't get the memo that you had to get there super early to get a good spot so we couldn't see too much through the crowds. (Apparently it's one of the biggest St. Paddy's parades in the country!) Drew did like all of the trucks and floats, but I have to say his favorite were the horses. He would point, squeal and get the biggest grin when they walked by. We all know how much he loves his doggies and I honestly think he thought they were just extra large dogs! 

We didn't stay the whole time, but enjoyed what we saw and we'll definitely be back next year!

Dog Toys

What is is about a dog toy that is so enticing to a toddler? The colors? The rubbery material? The yummy taste? Wait, what?

Drew has always had a fondness for dog toys and will drop whatever he is playing with to get over to them. Luckily we have two sharing pups who really don't mind Drew playing with their toys. The issue is when they go into his mouth. I'm sure some of you are thinking about the whole dogs-mouths-are-cleaner-than-ours saying, but my dogs like to eat mulch and they throw up a lot. So yeah, that's gross.

Illustration #1: Walking around with his ride-on Dino when he notices the basket of dog toys and quickly scurries to them.

Illustration #2: The "I've been caught" face when he realizes we see him pulling out the toys.

Illustration #3: The back away and move on to the next toy shuffle.

Illustration #4: The realization that we don't care if he eats his own toys!

And please take a second look at that picture on the right where he's smiling. I swear this kid knows what a camera is and refuses to smile when it's out so this might have to hold you over for a while!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

A message from my little leprechaun to all of you -

Spring

It's not officially spring yet but the buds on our trees and green on the ground would tell you otherwise. 

Pre-spring really is my favorite 'season' of the year. My skin strains to soak up the warmth of the sun as glimpses of color begin to blossom at my feet. I look forward to all of the outdoor activities that we get to partake in with Drew and pounding the pavement instead of the treadmill each day on my job. Knowing that we probably won't see snow again for a good 8 months or so is good for the soul and I cherish the 90 degree days that will be here before we know it. 

Spring represents rebirth and a new beginning, a chance for nature to unveil it's beauty. It's a good time for us to change our winter-ish attitudes and look for the positive in life.... because life is good.

With the evenings lit longer and the crisp air turning pleasant, we get excited for our family walks and time outside. Time to relish in the stunning sights and breath in the magnificent aromas.


It's a happy time.

So here's to you spring, and all that you mean to this household. 

We look forward to indulging every minute of your time here this year.

Walking

I've debated about blogging on the topic of walking for quite some time. It's a sensitive subject in this household and because this is my little world where I can say what I want, I decided that I'm going to.

Drew is not walking yet. And he is 14 months old.

I realize that the norm for children to start walking is between 12 and 15 months and I realize that we have another month before we are out of that norm. The problem, however, is the societal pressure that is weighing on my shoulders and the headache I'm causing myself with my competitive nature. It's frustrating seeing 9 and 10 month olds walking on facebook and hearing of friends babies who are "finally" walking at a year old. I try to keep telling myself that I didn't start walking until I was 15 months old and am just fine. I also remind myself of the old wives tale that babies who walk too early become bowlegged.

None of it helps.

It goes much past the frustrations above as my mind begins to race. Have I already failed Drew and put him on the 'slow' path to learning everything? Was there more we could have done to help encourage walking? Is it my fault? I understand that some of you might think this all sounds ridiculous, but I am being honest with myself. Walking is a big deal to me and seems to become bigger each day that passes with Drew crawling on the ground.

The boy can stand. Oh he can stand forever in one spot if you leave him there and sometimes we'll get one step forward, but the kid looks scared out of his mind. About a month ago, we got him taking 2-5 steps in between us and were super excited as we thought walking was on the horizon. Little did we know that about a week later, we were done with that fun and he would just sit when you let go of his hands. The kid loves nothing more than walking with his Dino and other walkers, but for some reason he gets scared when he's not holding on to anything.

Judging eyes don't help either.

My kid is big. And very tall and when we're at the mall and a shorter 24 month old walks up to him, I can feel the parent looking at me with judging eyes wondering what is wrong with my child. I've joked with friends that I'm going to make a shirt that says "I'M ONLY 14 MONTHS OLD!", but in the back of my mind, I'm partially serious. It would be so much easier if he was a tiny kid, or if I didn't care about what others think, but neither of these are true. He's big. And I care. And that's a formula for mental disaster.


So there. For anyone who is wondering about this milestone, there you have it. Drew isn't walking and we're not sure when it will happen. He is happy and healthy though and that's all that matters. Err.... well all that should matter anyway.

Fish Pictures part 468

I know, I know. More 'Drew-in-the-water' pictures from swimming lessons. I promise, though, that I played with my camera settings more and these are better than I had captured before. And hey, I'm generally in the water with him, so after this set you might not see any for quite some time!

We have developed a fear of the kickboard, but we still LOVE "jumping" off the side and swimming to our ducky. We have still yet to see a tear after being dunked and seem to have no fear of the water!

It's just fun watching him smile and enjoy the water.