School's in session

So, it's yet another school weekend.  But Scott is in the home stretch!  He may or may not sit with this lovely clock on his desk at class...

I took that a while ago - I believe the countdown is at 61 days.  SWEET!

Do any of you out there find it hard to believe that Scott would have that on his desk, facing out towards his professors?  HAHA!

The one nice thing I try to do is cook him a really nice dinner on Saturdays when he's in school.  It's a long, long day for him.  I get requests during the week and while I cook, he gets some one on one time with JJ.  It has definitely not been easy on him to be away from our little guy every other weekend for over a year.  But it will all be worth it in the long run! 

Last session he requested bacon and leek risotto.  It's amazing.  The recipe had me at bacon but REALLY won us over with the fried egg you put on top (it calls for poached, we just prefer fried).  Runny egg yolk on top of creamy, wonderful risotto?  A match made in heaven.  Leeks are in season during the spring so go grab some and make this!

http://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/2011/04/bacon_and_leek_risotto_with_poached_egg

This saturday is St. Patrick's Day so he didn't get much of an option on his special home cooked meal.  Corned beef and cabbage, of course!  Best part - corned beef hash tomorrow!  Just like last year, I've had a brisket brining away all week.  If you haven't done this yet, please do it!  It's so easy and tastes amazing.  I'm trying to work up the motivation to make some soda bread this year too (to go with the kerrygold butter I splurged on.  MMMMMMM).

I hope you all have a wonderful St. Patrick's Day!  I have some beautiful irish eyes smiling at me today :)  Now, off to crack open a beer and get started on our irish feast!

Next class session - Scott has requested I make cookies.  I'll be back in a few weeks to show you the results!

Dance Party!

JJ has discovered the rhythm in his SOUL!  Or more like the lack of rhythm in his soul :)  White boy dancing at its very finest...

He does love MJ.  But hey, who doesn't?   We'll all agree not to tell Scott he was dancing to a Glee cover version though :)

Counting! Sorta...

Excuse the poor video.  I could blame it on him and say he's too wiggly.  But really, I just wasn't prepared for the cuteness and certainly wasn't expecting to share this video with anyone else!  But I just can't resist...

We work a lot on our numbers.  Tonight he really wanted to count.  Over and over again.  Except it's not so much counting as it is saying the numbers he knows best in a totally random order.  Oh and cheering for himself at the end.  Usually he says "I did it!" at the end, but you'll just have to imagine that part.

*sigh*...SO CUTE!  Love this little boy :)

The good life

It's a school weekend for Scott...so JJ and I went out on the town today.  We met up with the lovely ladies of book club (including his auntie April!) and he was on his best behavior.  PHEW.  Lunch out is a real crap shoot.  He usually naps around lunch...but he woke up at 9:30, so nap time got delayed today.

YES - I SAID 9:30.

I bet you were wondering how I suddenly learned to write in complete sentences.  Amazing things happen when you get to sleep in.

Since we were in MD, we stopped at the Kielbasa Factory.  What do they sell there you ask?  Kielbasa!  Shocking.  But really delicious, homemade, served to you by an old polish lady kielbasa.

Do you know what happens when you are a little boy and say MMMMMMM to every sample of kielbasa they give you?  You walk out with a lollipop.  This boy loves his lollipops. 

Now, there is an unspoken rule with this blog.  You must ignore the background of any and all pictures I take.  Lets all pretend like you can't see shoes, toys, laundry and other assorted items strewn all around like some sort of tornado hit my apartment.  Just focus on the super duper cute little boy, ok?

XOXO

Within the last few weeks, a wonderful thing happened.  JJ turned 18 months and that "language explosion" I had heard so much about started showing up!  Very exciting.  Just about every day he has a new word.  He had a handful of words before then, but its really remarkable how much he has to say now.  We even got a "Joseph"!  Before we only heard an occasional "JJ". 

But the part that REALLY gets me is he understands a lot more too.  Specifically, I can ask for a kiss.  And get one!  He'll lean in and give me a smooch.

It's the best.  thing.  EVER.

Kisses right back at you, little man.

Rock star!

He loves his Daddy's new guitar...

I'm baaaaack...

Ok, folks. I fell off the wagon with the whole “you actually need to post to your blog” thing. It’s just that JJ has done NOTHING remarkable since July. Nothing! I kid, of course. I’m really not sure what happened, but I’m going to give this one last try and see if I can get my mojo back. If I can’t, then I abandon this whole idea.

I promise to try really hard to brag and whine enough to make up for 5 months of inactivity.

Does this picture make up for my neglect?

I’m resisting posting a video of JJ streaking through my living room post-bath. It’s so funny. We’ll see how strong my resolve is. But coming up next is a video of him being a little rock star :)

Stay tuned!

It's official!

Ladies and gentlemen...we have a walker!



He started taking steps about a month ago but didn't have the confidence for any longer attempts. Today it's all he wants to do! Now we really have our hands full!

Roly Poly

I'm not sure how this is even possible since last time I blinked my baby was just a few days old, but apparently he's 7 weeks old now! and he can ROLL OVER! Sort of. With just a little help. But check it out...



He will do anything and I mean anything to not be on his tummy! Isn't that just crazy??

When not on his tummy, he loves that play mat. He can really focus on things now and will bat at those animals and is completely captivated staring up at them. Plus this means he can really focus on mom and dad too now! That's the best. Maybe tied with the milk smirk for the best actually :) LOVE the milk smirk!