Has anyone seen the Remote?

I was going back over and looking at old posts yesterday (noting the long span between many of them!) and remembered that I started this thing when Ava was just turning ONE!! She was still a BABY! Then realized that in less than 5 months, that will be LIAM. Cue me freaking out, and holding back a few tears. How do I slow this the heck down?
Ava was just a little munchkin, and before I know it, my little dude really will be a little DUDE. The baby phase goes by so fast, and I love it so much. I love all of it really, but if you've ever heard the term "Baby Rabies", well that's me in a nutshell. I love everything about them. Except for the being knocked up part, and I'm not ashamed to admit that. Don't get me wrong, I love the IDEA of it, and there are a few months in there that are okay, enjoyable even. The rest, not so much. If someone would just give me one every few years, I'd be good! Even now, when I have no intention of having another for a little while (No, I'm NOT DONE!!) the thought of not having a baby in the house makes me want to cry.
Although, I absolutely love the stage he'll be heading into pretty soon as well. That early toddler stage where they're into anything and everything, but everything is so new and fresh...and it's all a big adventure. It's like they KNOW you can't keep up with them! But watching them figure it all out it so worth it, and so much fun. I remember Ava being there, and it was never a dull moment! I treasured every single second of it. It's times like this when I'm even more thankful that I have a husband who works his ass off so that I don't have to miss any of it. I have all of these memories of her, and get to have them of Liam too...I didn't miss a single thing and even on days when they drive me batty it is SO WORTH IT.
I'm even managing to see the good in the terrible 3's. Just FYI, whoever coined the term "terrible 2's" was an idiot. There are days where I want to put her on the curb w/ a sign that says "3 going on 30. Free to a good Home". But watching the little person she's become over the last 3 years has me truly amazed most days. She is SO smart...and not in that "smart because she's my kid" kind of way. I think she's going to know more than I do before she's in High School...then what? Plus I SEE so much of myself in her (good and bad!). It's different when they are babies because they are just developing their little personalities, and it's mostly about who they look more like on any given day. Now I look at her and literally see myself. It's so crazy, and amazing, and scary...all at once. If my grandmother were to read this, she would simply say to me "Retribution Veronica, retribution". Oh, but I love that child , both of them, more than I can describe in any amount of words. There simply are no words. I think that Jon is going to have the same reaction to Liam in a few years. I just have this feeling that he is going to be an exact little replica of his daddy! He's going to look at him one day and just go "Holy crap".

There's no real point to all of this, other than the fact that I'm still amazed at how fast it all flies by. Even with all the warnings everyone gave me about how "fast it was going to fly by"!

...And I'm still looking for my DAMN Pause Button.

Watch Out Colicchio

Because Ava might be coming after your job in a few years! Maybe that's a little ambitious, but I definitely thing she has inherited my love for cooking! She's always asking to help out in the kitchen, but last night she said that she wanted to cook dinner! She has a great little Sesame Street cookbook that her Aunt April gave her a couple of years ago, and I told her she could pick any recipe out of it and make it. She picked "Abby Cadabby" Bowtie Pasta, and after we made some alterations to the recipe, she embarked upon her first (semi) solo cooking experience. I chopped the veggies, measured out the olive oil and seasoning, and boiled the pasta...but the rest she pretty much did on her own. I was so proud of her, not just because she actually did it, but because it was GOOD!

Here's our version of what will forever be known as Abby Cadabby Pasta in our house: (the original is carrots, sliced ham and parsley...not all that appealing, and I'm thankful she let me take a few liberties!)

7 oz Farfalle (bowtie) pasta
1 small zucchini thinly sliced
1 carrot thinly sliced or 10-12 baby carrots
Large handful of cherry tomatoes
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp butter (we used smart balance)
1 tbsp Italian seasoning
2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese...or that's about what it looked like while I was watching her shake it in :)
salt and pepper to taste

While pasta is boiling:

Add olive oil to large skillet (on med heat) then add carrots and saute for 3-4 min. Add zucchini and seasoning, saute for 2-3 more min. Add tomatoes and turn skillet to low. I like my veggies al dente, but if you're a soggy veggie fan, up the cooking time and/or temp a bit.
Drain pasta and add to skillet (reserve just a little pasta water and add to skillet as well). Add butter, Parmesan, salt and pepper and mix thoroughly.

Quick, healthy, and easy enough that a 3 year old can do it!!







The finished product!! Don't think we'd win Top Chef with it or anything, but not too shabby if you ask me.

Baby update!

I'm getting induced this Friday, so we get to meet out little dude soon!! Hopefully everything will go smoothly, wish me luck :)

Sweet Cousins

This has to be one of my favorite pictures ever!! We were all at the lake, and took the munchkins to see the Christmas lights. Do they look just ridiculously sweet here, or what :)

Good Witch, or Bad Witch?

Ava was a witch for Halloween (yes...I know that was almost 2 months ago!), and every time someone asked her whether she was good or bad, she said "I'm a cute witch". Yea, but that still doesn't answer the question little monkey. She had her usual week or so of Halloween festivities at school/church, the club, the Arboretum...then she went trick-or-treating with Aidan. They were so cute :) She got to wear her costume to Dance class that week, which was a big deal...if you ask her! Here's a few pics.

Fair Fun!

Last weekend we were supposed to go to Galveston (Crystal beach) with Dad and Pam for a little family vacation. That obviously didn't happen :( So, Dad and Pam came up to see us, and we went to the Fair and Arboretum. Both were so fun, and we got some much needed family time!! Ava loved the fair....between the rides, animals and food, she was in heaven!

We came home with a 3 foot tall Care Bear, who took over the stroller. They were everywhere, and of course Monkey had to have one. 10 games, and about $40 later, we had one. Everyone tried, and guess who won it....that would be me, Supermom!!

Sunday we had a picnic at the Arboretum, and let Ava run around...she loves that place. It is especially awesome in the Fall w/ all of the pumpkins!

Playing Catch-up!

I know I haven't updated this thing in forever, but promise I will try harder so everyone can stay caught up with the baby news. We had an ultrasound last week, and here's the 1st picture of Liam!

He's not even a pound yet, and has started kicking me like crazy lately. The whole time the tech was looking at him, he just hung out with his legs crossed and his hand in his mouth. She had to jiggle him around to get the money shot, but he is definitely a HE!!

We're thinking his full name is going to be William Ridge Deats. William is for both of our grandpa's, and Ridge was my grandma's maiden name. But we'll call him Liam for short! He's supposed to make his appearance Early Feb, but we all know that that doesn't mean anything!

That's about it in baby news :)

Little Miss Monkey has been busy with school, soccer and dance. She's going to preschool 2 days a week, and loves it. She's also playing soccer with her BFF/boyfriend, Grayson. They are too funny together. We're also doing a Mommy and Me dance class, which she hated the 1st week, but loves now. She can't take the real classes until she's 3, but has been telling me she's ready to go to the big girl ballet class. We'll see if she's still into it by then!

If I forgot to send this link out to anyone, her teachers post weekly updates from school. If you want see what she's been up to here's the website:

http://ccdcps2tth.shutterfly.com/

The password is CCDC (all caps).

That's it for now....hope everyone is doing well!