Half way to 1

I tried to get a cute picture with blocks that say six like I do every month but I couldn't keep him away from them long enough to get a good picture. Little stinker!

Chase recently turned 6 months old. I know I say this everytime I post about Chase but I really can't believe how fast the time has gone.

When I first found out I was pregnant with Chase I went through a lot of emotions. I felt guilt, fear, a little regret, and a whole range of emotions. I'm not sure why I felt that way because we were trying to get pregnant but I think I just didn't think it would happen so fast or maybe I wasn't as ready as I thought I was. I don't know. Family members were actually concerned at why I wasn't happy about the baby. That pretty much made me feel terrible. I never want any of our kids to feel that I wasn't excited to have them but I couldn't help the way I felt. It was weird.

For some reason, once we found out it was a boy everything changed for me. And now that Chase is here I know why. I can't explain it but I just feel so blessed to have him. He can be difficult at times but I really love this guy so much. I feel like he belongs in our family and we are definitely better because of him. I can't wait to see him continue to grow and develop his personality. He already contibutes so much to our family.

In honor of him turning 6 months old, here are 6 things about Chase:
1. Momma's boy. Score! Well sort of. He's beginning to develop a little stranger anxiety sometimes and only wants mom. And he just wants me to hold him all day long. But I still love that he's a momma's boy.
2. This kid is going to be a handful. He is already a lot more mischievious than Emily ever was. He gets into everything and tries to grab whatever he can get his hands on. I know, I'm a mean mom that got the camera before getting him out. :)

3. Seriously obsessed with paper. Loves to crumple it, rip it, eat it, etc. He will dive across anything if he sees paper. It's crazy. He also has discovered his tongue recently and it sticks out constantly.

4. Loves to sit up. He has loved to sit up since he was a newborn. But now that he can do it on his own he is just in seventh heaven. It makes it difficult to feed him sometimes because he'll just be fussing because he wants to sit up but as soon as you sit him up he is a happy camper.
5. He's not really loving pureed food. I can't say that I blame him because I can't imagine it tastes very good but he is always making the funniest faces when he eats. He loves sweet potatoes and cereal and I can't get that stuff in fast enough.

6. He has a smile that melts my heart. I just love this boy so much.

He now weighs 17 pounds even and is 26 3/4 inches tall. Perfect in every way!

Worlds of Fantasy

On Friday my mom, Robert, and I took Emily to see Disney on Ice. Emily was pretty excited because she is seriously obsessed with princesses and all things Disney. She wanted to wear her Snow White dress and waited by the front door for about 30 minutes for Grandma Cathy to come. It was pretty funny.

Of course we had to go to the Princess Pre-Show where they had princess dresses and other things on display and two princesses made an appearance. I think Emily was a little overwhelmed with all the princess stuff and all the people but she loved getting to see Tiana and Cinderella. She just waved and waved and didn't want to leave.

Waiting for Cinderella to come

Waving at Tiana and Cinderella

Belle's dress and "pretty rose"


The show started with Mickey and Minnie. Emily's favorite TV show is Mickey Mouse Clubhouse so she was pretty excited to see Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, and Donald Duck. Side story: one time I told Emily that she was being goofy and she said, "No. I'm Mickey Mouse!" Smart girl who had apparently watched too much Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

She figured out pretty quick that you are supposed to clap and wave.

Cars was first. Emily could have cared less about this part of the show. After a couple of minutes she told me "I don't want this one any more." I guess they had to throw that one in for the boys.

Next was the moment Emily had been waiting for. The Little Mermaid. She can tell anyone the entire story of The Little Mermaid. It's one of her favorites. Surprisingly though she was most excited to see Ursula and Prince Eric.


Next was The Lion King. I don't think Emily has really ever seen The Lion King but she still really liked it. Maybe because of all the animals.

After The Lion King there was a short intermission. We told Emily that Tinkerbell was next and she would tell everyone "We have to wait just a minute (while holding up one finger) for Tinkerbell." We were kind of bummed we mentioned Tinkerbell because we might have been able to get away with leaving at intermission! Oh well.

Waving goodbye to all her friends

By the time the show was over all the adults were exhausted but Emily just wanted more. As soon as Tinkerbell was done she asked "What's next?" She had a great time and can't wait to go again. It was so much fun for Robert and I to see Emily so excited about something. We all had a lot of fun. Thanks Grandma Cathy!

Driving me nuts

Kids are apparently born with stalling techniques built in I've decided. No one has to teach them, they just know how to do it. Lately Emily has been really working on her technique to delay anything she doesn't want to do. And sounding a lot like me in the process.

Last night Robert was in her room with her while she was supposed to be picking up her toys and cleaning her room. She had spilled her crayons so she was in the process of picking them up. She had put three of the probably fifty crayons up and put them back in the box when she decided that was enough work for one day. Robert told her to pick up the rest and she said, and I quote, "Just a minute (while holding up one finger. Wonder where she learned that!). I need a drink. I worked hard." Hysterical.

Bedtime is of course when her stalling techniques really come in to play. She always makes numerous requests for chicken nuggets, french fries, root beer, macaroni, and the list goes on or she wants to give Chase another kiss, say prayers again, or she needs a DIFFERENT blanket. My favorite is when she stalls by telling me a story about her "friends" which she says are the Seven Dwarfs. She can get quite elaborate in these stories and tries to think of whatever she can to buy another minute. It just makes me laugh. Stories about birthday parties, her friends coming for dinner, or "my friends are driving me nuts!" I have no idea where she learned that and I say that with no sarcasm whatsoever. Fine. I may have said YOU KIDS ARE DRIVING ME NUTS! once or twice. I'm sure the stalling will get worse and probably less endearing over time but for now it just makes me laugh. There is never a dull moment with Emily around.

A bunch of sickies

I've pretty much had nothing to blog about lately because our house has been consumed with illness. I really need it to be spring already. It's not just a want. It's a need.

Beginning in December, Emily got a stomach virus that consisted of vomiting and diarrhea and lasted for 2 months. Sounds fun right? It wasn't. Then when we finally felt like she was getting over it she got that weird virus that caused her to break out into hives. That lasted about a week. Robert had his passing out episode, was diagnosed as hypoglycemic, and has been dealing with that. Once that was over, I got strep. On Valentines Day. Pretty sweet. That was followed by Robert getting strep about a week later. Robert is still extremely sick and just can't seem to get better. Last week I got food poisoning (from dinner that I cooked. Oops.), and Robert got a really bad toothache. Good thing we have dental insurance. Oh wait, no we don't. Then today I woke up with a terrible cold. Chase has a fever and is coughing as well.

So that has pretty much been the story of our winter. I can't even begin to describe how over it I am. I just can't handle it anymore. I think we've been to church as a family maybe twice all year because someone is always sick. I counted all of them up and in 2010 we have gone to the doctor 12 times and to the ER once. That's insane for a family of four and being only two months into the year.

What's really annoying is that we are nazi about hand washing and let's be honest, we don't really go anywhere. Why do we keep getting sick?!!! We've changed the sheets, replaced toothbrushes and toothpaste, Lysol'd everything multiple times and still getting sick. Anyway, I'll stop venting now. I know I shouldn't complain because things could be worse but I just really hope spring will change our luck.

Recipe of the Week

Since I have been staying home I try to cook every night. I don't think I'm a terrible cook (maybe I should check with Robert on that one) but I just don't really like to cook. I hate it actually. But I'm trying. One of my new years resolutions has been to try one new recipe a week. I have kept up on this resolution unlike pretty much every resolution I've ever made so I'm pretty proud of myself!

This week's recipe is pretty basic but way yummy so I thought I would share it. I just found it on allrecipes.com. It makes a bunch so you can freeze half or have it two nights which I always like. One less night of cooking. :)

Three Cheese Pasta Bake

1 pound uncooked pasta (I used penne)
1 pound ground beef
1 onion, chopped
6 1/2 cups tomato pasta sauce (about 2 regular sized bottles)
6 ounces provolone cheese, sliced
1 1/2 cups sour cream
6 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

1. Bring large pot of slightly salted water to a boil. Cook pasta in boiling water until al dente. Drain.

2. While cooking pasta, cook ground beef and onion in skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently, until meat is browned. Stir in pasta sauce, reduce heat, and simmer for 15 minutes.

3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 9 x 13 baking dish. Layer the ingredients in the prepared baking dish as follows: half of the cooked pasta, all of the provolone cheese, all of the sour cream, half of the sauce mixture, remaining pasta, mozzarella cheese, and remaining sauce mixture. Top with grated parmesan cheese.

4. Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes or until bubbly.

Yummy!

You know you're a mom when....

....you're changing your clothes at the end of the day and find half of an animal cracker in your bra.

Family and Kids Pictures

I have been meaning to post these for awhile. They were done like 3 or 4 months ago. I don't know who's idea it was to have family pictures done RIGHT after I had a baby but whatever. The first 3 are when we had pictures done with Robert's family.




We also attempted to have Emily's 2 year pictures taken. She is a serious diva...or you could say brat! It was difficult to say the least and I eventually just gave up. This is literally the only one where she was smiling...

The rest were variations of this...


We also did some of Chase when he was blessed. He was much more cooperative.

I love this boy!


This one is sweet but also makes me laugh. Chase had started fussing so Emily gave him a kiss. I just love how his shoe is coming off.