My very own pool

We got Tucker a small pool to put on our deck and today he got to play in it for the first time! He didn't seem to think it was much different than sitting on the floor and playing... as always, as long as he has something in his mouth, he's happy!

Couldn't have staged it...

Grey decided she needed to snuggle Tucker and he went right along with it. These are some of my favorite pictures! They look staged, but I had nothing to do with it but running to get my camera! I mean really, is there anything sweeter than a puppy and a baby becoming friends?

One month later...

Our tomato plants and herbs are growing like crazy and we've had some great food as a result! It has been a little over a month since we planted them and it is amazing how big our tomato plants are! We haven't been able to enjoy those yet, but I have been using the herbs a lot! Here are some pictures of the progression and I also thought I would share a few of our favorite recipes with our fresh herbs! More of these to come I'm sure!

With these few recipes, you don't have to use fresh herbs, but the FRESHNESS of the herbs, lemon, garlic... that's what makes them so yummy! And, if you live nearby, I'd love to SHARE some herbs...we can never use all of what we have! I'll offer the tomatoes soon enough!

Enjoy and feel free to share any of your favorite recipes with fresh herbs!

Grilled Herb Shrimp
Copyright 2001, Barefoot Contessa Parties!
Serves: 6 servings

Ingredients
2 pounds large shrimp (16 to 20 per pound), peeled and deveined
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium yellow onion, small-diced
1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
1/4 cup minced fresh basil
1 teaspoon dry mustard
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup good olive oil
1 lemon, juiced

DirectionsCombine all the ingredients and allow them to marinate for 1 hour at room temperature or cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days.

Skewer the shrimp. I use 3 or 4 shrimp on a 12-inch skewer for dinner. Heat a grill with coals and brush the grill with oil to prevent the shrimp from sticking. Grill the shrimp for only 1 1/2 minutes on each side. (We did this on a grill pan and that works great too)

Pesto
Copyright, 2001, Barefoot Contessa Parties!, All rights reserved
Serves: 4 cups

1/4 cup walnuts
1/4 cup pine nuts
3 tablespoons chopped garlic (9 cloves)
5 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 cups good olive oil
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan

DirectionsPlace the walnuts, pine nuts, and garlic in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Process for 15 seconds. Add the basil leaves, salt, and pepper. With the processor running, slowly pour the olive oil into the bowl through the feed tube and process until the pesto is thoroughly pureed. Add the Parmesan and puree for a minute. Use right away or store the pesto in the refrigerator or freezer with a thin film of olive oil on top.

Notes: Air is the enemy of pesto. For freezing, pack it in containers with a film of oil or plastic wrap directly on top with the air pressed out.

To clean basil, remove the leaves, swirl them in a bowl of water, and then spin them very dry in a salad spinner. Store them in a closed plastic bag with a slightly damp paper towel. As long as the leaves are dry they will stay green for several days.

(I froze this in ice trays and now have lots of "pesto cubes" in the freezer that I can take out "as needed"!)


Lemon-Thyme Chicken
Serves: 4 servings

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut in half crosswise
1 lemon
4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for frying
4 fresh thyme sprigs
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper

DirectionsPut the chicken into a shallow dish. Grate the zest from the lemon over the chicken. Cut the lemon in half and squeeze over the juice. Add 3 tablespoons of the oil along with the thyme, and garlic. Mix everything together so the chicken is well coated with all the flavorings. Cover and let sit for 30 minutes, or refrigerate for up to 4hours.

When you are ready to cook, remove the chicken from the marinade, scrape off the herbs, and season with salt and pepper. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and put a thin coating of olive oil into it. Cook the chicken, working in batches if necessary, until it is golden brown and cooked through, about 3 to 4 minutes per side. Remove the chicken from the pan and let it rest for 5 minutes.

Tucker Weekly

Tucker is 33 weeks old (yesterday)! A few things to share...

*His favorite toy is this photo album in the picture...no matter what toys are around him, he always goes for this one and he stares at the pictures and smiles like he knows who is in them!

*He's talking A LOT and he's loud! He's saying Ma-ma and Da-Da (more like ma ma ma ma ma ma and da da da da da da da da )

*We think he's starting to get some more teeth based on the drool and some fussiness the last few days

*He's starting to drop his "catnap" that he usually takes around dinner...this is making him go to bed a little earlier...and wake up a little earlier (boo!)

*He loves music...he's starting to bounce and move a little when he hears it!

*He's eating a lot! I will probably add a third meal for him at lunch very soon because he always seems hungry for more!

*He's in size 4 diapers and 12-18 months clothes!

*He loves Grey and Grey loves him! That will get it's own post later :)

Saturday Morning Fun!

We had sweet Bosten over to play this morning... They LOVED being outside in the backyard and who knew as early as 7 months old, babies start taking each other's toys away from each other! It's fun to watch the beginning of this little friendship! Come again soon Bosten!

Bluetree- God of this CIty

Tucker Weekly

Tucker is 32 weeks old today! In the world of my pretty-laid-back-good-sleeper of a baby, we have had a rough week. Teething was the main culprit...and the top two have finally broken through. Then there was also the rolling over to the belly during naps and not being able to turn himself back over. He's gotten better at rolling back over in the last few days but this has definitely been a big nap interrupter! The other very unfortunate issue is that Tucker has been refusing the bottle all week! He always gets one bottle a day--usually before bed--and he has always taken it great! And this is obviously a great thing for Mama so I can not be attached to him ALL the time. I thought it had to do with teething, but he's still been fighting it the last few days. Hopefully this is just a short rebellious stage or I might have to have the first serious mommy-son conversation with my boy!

But, in the midst of all these tough moments, I don't think Tucker has ever been this much fun! He is laughing A LOT and we have several moments of just giggling back and forth--it's so fun I can hardly stand it! He has gotten so much more comfortable around lots of people and more noise. He is still my little observant boy who likes to "take it all in" and warms up pretty slowly in a new environment. He's eating so well--we added a 2nd meal to our day that he gets at breakfast!

GiGi came into town this week since Brad had to be away for work for a few days... We're having fun as always... Tucker loves his GiGi!

Book Review: Same Kind of Different as Me

Chances are, someone has already told you that you need to read this book... But, I'm telling you again! Same Kind of Different As Me, by Ron Hall and Denver Moore, is not only one of the best books I've read in a long time, but one of the best books I've ever read! It is an amazing story of learning how to accept, befriend, and love people that are different than you. It's about taking the time to hear someone's story. It's about putting yourself in places that are sometimes uncomfortable in order to meet the needs of someone else.

This story was especially impactful for me because although I desire to do these things, it is not always the easiest road for me. I'd much rather surround myself with people that are just like me...I'd rather hang out in places that are familiar and comfortable...I'd rather be able to help someone in need without having to sacrifice a lot. This book stretches me in those struggles of mine... I hope this story will be forever etched into my mind and my heart so that it actually changes me...betters me.

Thank you Ron, Denver, and Mrs. Tuesday! What beautiful lives you have lived!

Tucker Weekly

I couldn't resist showing you all three of these pictures of my handsome boy...especially since he's showing off his teeth!

Tucker is 31 weeks old! This week we have definitely had some "growing pains"... When I think about the last few days, there's just one word--TEETHING! Tucker is trying to get his top teeth (he already has the bottom two) and they have been bothering him a lot more than then first two did. Tons of drool...face breaking out from the drool...fussiness...lots of waking up during sleep...congestion... Sounds like good times, right? We had a pretty rough day today, so hopefully those teeth will be popping through SOON! Tucker has also been rolling over in the crib when he's sleeping... He has always slept on his back but this week he's been rolling on his belly. The only problem with this is that he can't roll back over! He can't roll that way well for some reason so every time he rolls over he basically screams until I go turn him over. It will be interesting to see if he ends up being a tummy sleeper or a back sleeper!

Aside from those few sleep interrupters, we had a busy week traveling to Greenville for a long weekend and Tucker had a few firsts there, including a taste of vanilla ice cream and a fudgescicle--He can thank his sugar-loving POPS for that! He also got to play in the pool for the first time and he loved it!

We are having so much fun with our boy right now!

Congrats Anthony!

This weekend we celebrated my brother graduating from college! It is so crazy that all of us are out of school now... and I have a family of 5 ECU alumni--Go Pirates! It was a fun day celebrating him and this huge accomplishment... We wish you all the best in the real world Anthony!

Enjoy these pics from the day and the rest of the weekend in Greenville!

Mama's Day!

This day last year, I celebrated my first Mother's Day since I had a baby in my belly... It's crazy to think about how I had no idea then what I know now about the joy of being a Mama! I had no idea that I was having a boy, what his name would be, or how he would steal my heart. This morning Brad gave me a card and at the end of what he wrote he said, "You have found your calling". It's like he put into words exactly how I feel (and gave me the biggest compliment ever!)... I'm so thankful that I LOVE being a mom and feel like I was made for this! 7 months into this, I am so in love... And I have learned a few things...

1. Drive slow over speed bumps when you have a sleeping baby in the car (or avoid them all together if possible).
2. I can get a full day's work done during a 2 hour nap!
3. Tucker's giggle can turn my whole day around!
4. To appreciate all my diapers that my mom changed!
5. I've never needed more patience...
6. A baby can't cry forever.
7. Marriage can be sweeter and harder all at the same time.
8. "Firsts" never get old!
9. There is no shame in singing at the top of my lungs and doing a silly dance, if it will make my boy smile!
10. I can try as hard as I can to make this predictable, BUT... (this sentence could be ended in so many different ways!)

On this day, I'm grateful for the privilege of being a Mom to Tucker... No one else was made for this job but me... AMAZING!

We are also so grateful for our moms today as well... Thank you for the way you have loved us well for all these years and for the ways you love Tucker now too! We can honestly say that we appreciate you much more now after these 7 months!

First time in the pool!

We're in Greenville for the weekend for my brother's graduation... Today, Tucker got to get in the pool for the first time! My parents have a pool in the backyard and we were excited to try it out! He seemed to love it! His reaction was complete relaxation...he was practically asleep by the time we got out! My best friend Jordan and her little girl Avery came to join us!






It ended perfectly with "pruned" feet!

7 months old!

Happy 7 months little one!


That paper looks yummy...


Hmmmm....


The bear tastes good too!


Ah...satisfied!

Tucker Weekly

Tucker is 30 weeks old today! Crazy! Several times this week, I've made comments about how content and easy Tucker is right now! Life has turned the corner now that he can sit up on his own...He loves to sit with all this toys and entertain himself and I love it! He's eating new food every few days and hasn't turned down anything yet... Sweet potatoes, carrots, and green beans. He's not too hot on the carrots or the beans...



He has gotten SO much better about all the separation/attached-to-mama stuff! Ever since our trip to the beach and Missouri, he has not had fussiness that seems related to that! Hopefully all those people helped him get over some of that but whatever it is, I am thankful! He doesn't cry at loud noises as much or mind random people holding him--YEAH! He even did great in the church nursery for the first time! I had to leave for a little over 24 hours this week and he did great without me around... Big thanks to Brad and my friend Jen who helped make that possible!

A few nights ago, when I went to peek in on Tucker before I went to bed, he was on his BELLY! That is the first time he has ever rolled over to sleep! He has always been a happy back-sleeper, so maybe we're turning the corner? He also is starting to sleep without the sleep sack...I'm sure he'll be all over the crib now!

Stay tuned for the 7 month picture!

Happy Birthday Blog!

Dear Blog,

Happy Birthday! It was one year ago that I wrote your first post. We had just seen our first ultrasound and wanted to share it with everyone we loved. That began a journey of documenting our life--especially life with our sweet addition, Tucker. Thank you for allowing me to reflect, record, and just write about nothing.

Love,

Your Author

And thanks to all of you for taking the time to read about our life! This blog has been a great place of escape, reflection, and joy! Hope you continue to keep up with us here!

FREE dinner!

If you watched Oprah today, you're already "in the know", but today, Oprah announced that you can get a FREE chicken dinner from KFC if you download this coupon before 9:59 pm tomorrow night (may 6th)! You get 2 pieces of grilled chicken (they just started making this), 2 sides, and a biscuit FOR FREE! I'm not one to endorse Oprah, but hey, I'll take a free meal! Enjoy!

Life Shared

Today I walked through life with my friend... It was a hold a child's hand while blood's being drawn, walk laps around the hall until the baby stops crying, hold down baby while his whole body gets xrayed, talk to doctors, get no answers, sleep-deprived kind of day.

I got to spend a little more than 24 hours with my best friend Sharon and her little BOY Bosten at Duke Children's Hospital. What a tough place to be. Everywhere you look there is another story of a life that has been hit hard by health issues. It is so surreal that my friend is one of those people and it is even more difficult that they are in the middle of a long journey of the unknown. This is certainly one of the more difficult things I've ever walked through with a friend, yet it is something that will forever mark our friendship and our lives.

Let me tell you something about my friend Sharon... She is an AMAZING mom. She is so patient even though the crying is enough to send you over the edge...She is calm even when everything around her is telling her to be stressed out...She is full of smiles for her little boy even though she is sleep deprived...She is TRUSTING our God with her little boy, even though it would be easy to take it all into her own hands. I am being challenged and shaped by watching her go through this trial and I could only hope that I would persevere like she is in this valley. To me, this is what LIFE is all about. Walking together--in the trenches and up on the mountain tops. What a gift that we don't have to live this life alone. This is a tough road, but there's nowhere I'd rather be than walking right beside my friend.

Please continue to pray for sweet BOSTEN and Ryan, Sharon, and Elle. Keep up with the latest updates on their caring bridge page!