Domestic Goddess... In progress

I have never been one to think ahead. I always had to buy cards for anything, the day before or whatever. My mom must have taught me that. Birthday gifts, we ALWAYS had to buy wrapping paper, or a bag or whatever was needed to conceal the gift. But I have found a solution to my problem. I always thought that it would be need to have everything you needed ready at home, and at the tip of my fingers. That might make me sound a little odd, but oh well. So I found some little gems at the Container store, which I'll have you know, I could spend $123821479234 in.Something about that store is just awesome, and I feel like I NEED everything in it. So I bought me a wrapping paper holder, ribbon organizer, and a card holder/ organizer. I'm most excited about the card holder. I'm one of those people that MUST find the right card. I probably look at like a zillion cards when wanting to buy one. I always go for the funny cards, no matter the occasion, and I guess if you know me, it'll probably have some sort of animal on it.

I think the best card I ever got was for my mom for Mothers Day. I think we were in high school. I forget what the front said, but it was something like this... Happy mother's day from your.... ( then you open it, and out jumps a donkey with HUGE teeth ) you JACKASS kid. It was her favorite of all time. I'm pretty sure I will find it in her stuff when I actually go through it. Every year I tried to live up to that one, but I never could, it was just the perfect card. Truth, and humor rolled into one!

I was excited to get started on my "stocking up" and it so happens that one of my favorite stores is going out of business:( I actually didn't even know until I went to their website looking for a monogrammed tote bag!!! But I went and really stocked up. I got... 8 rolls of wrapping paper, 6 packs of tissue paper, 5 bow, 3 wine bags, 4 boxes, 3 packs of gift tags, 4 greeting cards and two packs of fun napkins all for a grand total of $49!!!! I am thinking of going back since it was so great! The rolls of wrapping paper were originally $5, so that alone is worth what I paid. Needless to say, I don't think it'll be long before I'm stocked. I haven't even bought Christmas paper yet!:)

Fishy Baby

Aside from his very first bath at home, you know, the one in the sink where he is freezing, mom and dad didn't know what they are doing, and he is screaming, Dylan has always LOVED water. Everyone probably knows that just based on ALL the pictures I have of him( nakey) in his whale tub. So we decided that a day of almost 95 degrees was a great day to try out the swimming pool. It would be the first time for all of us. With me being pregnant last year, and moving, we never really got around to using it. Not this year. So on Thursday morning we packed up, slathered sunscreen on, blew up a float , and headed to the pool. I was hoping that no one would be there just in case that he didn't like it, and screamed bloody murder. Unfortunately for me, on one walk up there, I saw more than one car... I think there were like 4? Bad sign.

But we got there, and hopped into the kiddie pool( 2 feet deep), and well lets just say that Dylan didn't hated it, or even dislike it I don't think. I can't say that he LOVED it either, because I don't think we got one smile. He was sorta just chilling. Hanging out in his floaty, trying to get away from the obnoxious little boy who was " showing us how to swim" while splashing the crap out of all of us.
Dylan= not a big fan of water in the face!!! We will be going to the pool again, and probably every time he'll be a little more happy with it.

36 months!

When you say it like that it doesn't seem like it's that long, but the 26th, we celebrated our anniversary. Three whole years... As Adam said" These days, that makes us just about above average." I actually have no idea how long the average marriages lasts, but I've known a few that don't make it there. We didn't really have anything planed, because lets be honest, it's not like we needed a night off, to catch up and find out what is going on with each other, because well, we see each other 24/7. Not that I'm complaining, just saying! So the day started out with eggs Benedict made by none other than Adam, ( I'm glad I married a man who cooks!) taking the dogs for a run, which is much harder than any P90X video I'll tell you... ( Yes we are still doing it, just entered the last month. Hopefully, I'll get a post on that here in a few days!) then headed to Central Market, our adult playground, for some stuff for dinner. Rack of lamb to be exact! We had a low key day with a candle lit and roses dinner, followed up by a yummy dessert!
This year the Modern gift is leather. Well I haven't stuck to tradition yet, actually I've been quite awful with anniversary gifts for my poor husband. The first year I got him a video game, sad but true. The second year, I'm pretty sure I didn't get him anything, in my defense, we were about to move, and had a baby on the way. But this year I got him a golf club. Which I WAS going to wait for fathers day to give him, but since I procrastinated it was what I came up with.
I on the other hand, received thoughtful gifts. It started with mother's day when I got my topaz earrings. But on our anniversary, I got a another homemade card with pictures of us throughout the years, marriage and dating. And Two Movie vouchers, for tickets he had already purchased. One for Sex and the City 2( opening day), and the other for eclipse. How many other husbands would go with their wives to see those two movies? Not only where they movie vouchers, but they were at this new theater that I heard about this past weekend.

Gold Class Cinemas. It's the same concept as Studio Movie Grill, but AWESOMER... Yes I just used that word! It has about 25 seats for each theater, and the best part is that have RECLINERS!!!! Oh yes, recliners, someone bringing me food, and alcohol, and get this, even a blanket and pillow ( though I pasted on the pillow) The tickets are pricey about $17 a ticket, but it's not to much more than the 11 at a normal theater. The food was quality, and it was a good time. Not something we would do everyday, or every week for that matter, but I nice date night.
I look forward to spending many more anniversaries with the man of my dreams. We've had so much happen in the last three years, I can't wait to see what happens in the years to come.

The forgotten fruit?

For our anniversary yesterday, instead of finding a babysitter ( usually not hard with all the volunteers we get!) we(Adam) made a nice homemade meal of rack of lamb, pommes chef Anne, green beans and PEACH(Nectarine) upside down cake. I know right, you can make upside-down cakes out of something other than pineapple!I enjoyed the dessert and thought it was different so I thought that I would share it with you all. Now we halved the recipe, but I'm going to give the full one to you. We also found the ginger to be a nice addition, but if you are not big on the ginger flavor, you might go ahead and not put as much in. Next time we won't.

Peach Upside-Down cake

Adapted from Alton Brown ( Our revisions are in red)

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
1/4 cup light brown sugar
2 medium peaches, peeled ( We used Nectarines, because the peaches weren’t very ripe!)
1-ounce finely chopped crystallized ginger, approximately 3 tablespoons ( We will use less next time)
2.5 ounces all-purpose flour, approximately 1/2 cup( Yup, we actually weighed it out)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup buttermilk, room temperature
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Whipped cream or ice cream, for serving, optional ( We used Cool Whip Free)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Divide 2 tablespoons of the butter between 4 (6-ounce) ramekins. Melt the remaining tablespoon of butter and set aside. Evenly divide the brown sugar between the ramekins; sprinkling it into the bottoms of the dishes. Cut each peach into 12 to 14 pieces. Lay the peaches on top of the sugar; evenly dividing them between the dishes and sprinkle with the ginger. Set aside.

In a medium mixing bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In a separate bowl whisk together the sugar, buttermilk, vanilla extract and 1 tablespoon of melted butter. Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture and stir just until combine. Pour the batter over the peaches; dividing the mixture evenly between the dishes. Place on the middle rack of the oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes .

Remove from the oven to a rack and allow to cool for 5 minutes. Run a knife around the edge of each dish and turn upside down onto a serving plate. Repeat with each cake. Serve immediately with whipped cream or ice cream if desired.

The return...

Adam made it home safe and sound. I think he was ready to be home after being in smoke filled rooms, and being around drunk boys for three days. Dylan was nothing but ecstatic to see him! Which is good, maybe he'll stop being a pill!!! Yesterday was not a good day, probably the worst in about lets see... his WHOLE life ( Alright, maybe I'm being a little dramatic) but it was still bad. He refused to take naps, he took two MAYBE thirty minute ones. And then when the ladies were other, he decided to scream so that I would come get him. I am now aware he just wanted to come down and flirt, and be told how handsome he is... Though I can't say that it's a lie!;) Then, he woke up again around 12:30 when the final two gals were leaving. He ate again then went back to sleep which is good. He hasn't woken up to eat in the middle of the night in several months. So I'm thinking growth spurt. Especially since he made up for the lack of naps with a four and hour one today!!!!!

Well I know the burning question is, " Did Adam make you rich in Shreveport", and the answer is absolutely not. Though he didn't make us have to eat beans for the next two years either!! None of them left with more than they came with. One day honey, one day you will win!:) So he has spent time with Dylan tonight feeding him, changing him ( Dylan greeted him with a gift of a dirty diaper, just so Daddy could change him, good boy son, good boy!) and now they are sitting over there playing.

All By Myself...

Yup, I get to experience being a single mom for a whole two days. Adam went to Shreveport for boys trip with Noah, Josh, and Andrew. This has been planed for ever it seems like. I think since like the end of December! Every month Adam would get a text from someone doing a countdown, it's silly. What is even more sad is that I texted him when he was on the way there, and some of them ( not Adam because he was driving) were already drunk!!! lol silly boys! I'm sure they will have a good time. In the mean time, I will be cleaning, watching tv, and having a few friends over! It should be a good weekend! I know how much Adam is going to miss Dylan, so I feel a little sorry for him! Oh well, Absence makes the heart grow fonder right??

The classic struggle

For as long as, ever, there has always been a rivalry struggle between men and woman. Seeing as I am no feminist, and I tend to agree that there are certain things men do better than women, I've found it intriguing. I will always let a man open a door for me, or carry something heavy for me. It doesn't make me feel like less of a woman. I know there are things that I do better than Adam for instance. Like... Laundry, I know I know I'm having to fish for things, because well, he does a lot better than me. Anyway, I always considered myself the baker in our relationship. He is the cook. I have to follow recipes. He likes to create things, try ingredients together. So what better way to test our skills than with a cake auction?

The church has an annual cake action, used to be, only men could enter a cake to auction, but now everyone can. So we both did one. We each helped brainstorm for both cakes, so I'll take a little credit for his!;) So yesterday we spent the day baking cakes!

Adam's was a cheeseburger and fries. It wasn't hard to find an example on the Internet for one of those. It turned out cute, everyone was really impressed by in. Mostly kids, which well, can't bid a whole lot in an auction.

I made a Bailey's Irish Cream bundt cake It's my favorite after dinner drink, and well boozy cakes tend to make a lot of money in church auction. It had a glaze of butter sugar and baileys on it. Sadly, I kinda made the cake ugly with the glaze because, it hardened before I could pour it all on there..

So as the battle raged on, between husband and wife, we went to the auction this morning. Seeing every ones excitement over Adam's cake, I was sure that I was going to lose. We were both pleasantly surprised that the same person bought both of our cakes. We obviously come and go as a pair to some people!

I know, you guys had to read everything and all you want to know is who won. Well I'll tell you... My cake went for $85... Adam's went for....

$110. I bow to him. He won. Fair and Square. oh well... Maybe next year. I think it was my glaze that ruined my chances!

Oh yeah, and Dylan was a hit, he was a perfect little baby. He fell asleep on my chest during the auction, which I'll have you know, he hasn't done in probably 3.5 months. So needless to say, I was sad when I was required to get up and wake him!

My 1st Baby Mamma Day!

My First mothers day, while bittersweet, was amazing! It started out with Adam getting up with Dylan ( it happened to be his day anyway, but oh well!) Adam made me breakfast, only a small one though because we were supposed to meet his parents for brunch. Then I got TWO, count them, not one but TWO HOMEMADE cards!!! They were soo cute, and Adam worked hard on them I know! Before we left, he gave me Dylan's gift to me. JUST what I asked for. A blue topaz something... It's Dylan's birthstone. Which also turns out to be the state gem of TEXAS!!! Am I the only person who didn't know that? I must say my son already knows a way to a woman's heart... farting, and giving jewelry for gifts!

As we were leaving, I got another gift. This one was for our anniversary, which is in a few weeks, but it was matching earrings, to the necklace that Dylan had gotten me! He said he couldn't wait.

We were planning on doing brunch at Urban Crust, but they( Adam's parents) got there and there was a 1.5 hour wait. I GUESS we weren't the only ones who thought that would be a good idea! So we had to come up with something else. We didn't have a plan B. We ended up doing Brunch at a Mexican restaurant right here in Murphy called Amado's. It was actually really good. We got there right before the crowd and it was nice. Dylan didn't even cry at all!

The day was completed with me taking a nap, my sister and Michelle coming over and playing games. They even fed Dylan, gave him a bath, AND put him to sleep! So I got a break from that. Adam made me a yummy lamb dinner, and I am pretty sure we were in bed asleep by 10:30!!! lol... But I would have to say, despite everything, I had a wonderful day! Thanks to my two men!!

Her tree

Ever since we moved into the house, Mom wanted us to get a tree for the backyard. There was nothing back there.. not one plant, nothing. After we had our flowerbeds done, and found out how cheap it would be for the fella to plant a tree for us, we had planned on it, just hadn't gotten around to it yet. So, when her cremated remains were returned to us, we were at a standstill as to what to do with them. She always told me not to put her on my mantle, which honestly, wasn't going to be what I did with them, even if she had wanted that. Just not our style. Grandma Lou( Adam's grandmother) and her new husband Richard, so kindly wanted to donate money to Adam and I to put toward a new tree to plant in her name. So that's when we got the idea to put her remains in our tree.

To some that might seem a little weird, but she wanted us to have that tree so, what better place. So when the time came, and they were there to plant the tree, we scattered her ashes along with the collection of animals ashes that she had. Archie, the son that she never had and beloved dog, Gus, her favorite cat, and Sebastian my yorkie, that turned into hers, after Archie was gone. They are all four together again, and I think that she would be very happy with the decision that we made.
The tree is a Bradford Pear, and it will be a great tree for shade, as well as a climbing tree, though it's not much of one now!

Have you ever...

Have you ever heard of people talking about how a picture speaks to them? Although Dylan can't yet talk, I'm pretty sure he is talking to me in the picture!

He is saying " Mommy, I think Daddy MIGHT be crazy!!!!;)"

What do you think?

Ever since Dylan was born, my mom told me he looked like me. Sure, he had huge eyes, a downward mouth, and a little button nose, so of course he looked like me. Suzan, Adam's mom, thought that he looked like Adam, or she sometimes would said he "looks like a baby." What grandparent doesn't want their grand baby to look like their own child? Adam didn't think that he looked like either really, and said that he can't tell until babies are much older.

One day last week, while Laura was in town Suzan pulled out Adam's old baby pictures and tried to show us how Dylan looked like Adam. Well, I wasn't really buying it, but you know... Dylan is Adam's son, so of course SOMEWHERE in there Dylan will look like Adam. ( I think it's the growth of his fingernails that Dylan inherited... Both of them have to have their nails trimmed like every other day.) But later that day or maybe the next, we were going through my mom's things, and we found MY old baby pictures. I was pretty sure that she had a picture of Dylan circa 1985, so I showed Adam... he 100% agreed with me. Our son looks just like me. I took it to Suzan to show her... her response you ask? " You win":) Tell me what you think? Uncanny isn't it?

5 Months

I was asked at Mom's memorial the other day if I was going to be keeping my blog of. Of course, though I know that she was my number one reader, well possibly one of the ONLY readers, I will be keeping it up. It's a great way for me to document the things we do, and of course, Dylan's growth and milestones, because lets be honest, I've got a baby book, that has hardly ANYTHING in it!!!

So Dylan turned 5 whole months yesterday. Although it has been a rough couple of weeks for him, having to be away from home, and really only seeing Adam and I for about an hour a day, he has been a champ. So what have you been up to this month you ask?

You are STILL sleeping through the night, about 10-12 hours. Though about mid month you decided you were going to wake up because well.. you were pissed that you had rolled over!!

Rolling over if your new favorite past time. We put you on your back, and before we are gone, your on your belly.

You've had rice cereal, oatmeal cereal, and avocado ( only once) You are not a fan of oatmeal, but you love you some rice cereal. We have to give it to you before you bath though, because lots of it ends up on your face!

You are still in size 2 diapers, and will be for a while.

You have finally outgrown your 0-3 month footed sleepers, but we can put you in the footless one that we have. You still fit in 0-3 month onsies, but most of them are long sleeve, so I went and bought you some 3-6 month, they are pretty big... you probably won't need new clothes until winter!

You also started sucking on your bottom lip, it's pretty freaking adorable!

Also, you love to blow raspberry's now, it's also pretty cute!

You have not QUITE mastered sucking on your toes, but you are getting really close!

Another month has gone by baby boy, and you are growing up way to fast. You will not understand until you are older what having you in my life has done for me in the past two weeks. I'm so grateful, that I get to wake up to your smiling face every single day!! I love you my monkey man!