5 more days until we have a summer of picking rocks, climbing....things, exploring new things with this little boy.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
5 more days
until I get to stay home and play, teach, love on this little boy without having to wave goodbye each day while I head off to work.
5 more days until we have a summer of picking rocks, climbing....things, exploring new things with this little boy.
5 more days until we have a summer of picking rocks, climbing....things, exploring new things with this little boy.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
One raspberry on my floor
There's going to come a time (years and years from now), when the significance of a raspberry sitting under the table on my dining room floor is going to spur on the tears.
There is, in fact, a raspberry sitting on the dining room floor right now. I'm not quite rushing to pick it up, even though I'm taking a risk that it will not stain the floor. I'll let it sit there for a moment while thinking back to the cause of events that led up to the lone raspberry sitting where it is.
It was lunchtime and Seth was sitting in his usual highchair at the kitchen table. I placed a plate on his tray with some new fruit for Seth to try: blueberries and raspberries. He LOVED the blueberries and they were inhaled within seconds.
The raspberries, on the other hand, sat un-eaten on Seth's plate. They were poked, but not eaten. And then, I heard a giggle. I looked up from plate to see a raspberry hanging precariously on Seth's pointer finger. Giggles, giggles and a proud little boy. Beyond being a scrumpcious and tasty fruit, there is a purpose to raspberries!
The raspberry was popped into his mouth and after an unsuccessful attempt at his trick again, he got a little frustrated. Mommy stepped in to help. :)
And this is how Seth came to like raspberries - first on the tip of his finger and then into his mouth.
And apparently one raspberry didn't make it.
There is, in fact, a raspberry sitting on the dining room floor right now. I'm not quite rushing to pick it up, even though I'm taking a risk that it will not stain the floor. I'll let it sit there for a moment while thinking back to the cause of events that led up to the lone raspberry sitting where it is.
It was lunchtime and Seth was sitting in his usual highchair at the kitchen table. I placed a plate on his tray with some new fruit for Seth to try: blueberries and raspberries. He LOVED the blueberries and they were inhaled within seconds.
The raspberries, on the other hand, sat un-eaten on Seth's plate. They were poked, but not eaten. And then, I heard a giggle. I looked up from plate to see a raspberry hanging precariously on Seth's pointer finger. Giggles, giggles and a proud little boy. Beyond being a scrumpcious and tasty fruit, there is a purpose to raspberries!
The raspberry was popped into his mouth and after an unsuccessful attempt at his trick again, he got a little frustrated. Mommy stepped in to help. :)
And this is how Seth came to like raspberries - first on the tip of his finger and then into his mouth.
And apparently one raspberry didn't make it.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Main Dish Recipe - Cranberry Pork Tenderloin
I could probably have Cranberry Pork Tenderloin three times a week. The bonus is that it's a crockpot recipe and it's a reasonably healthy recipe! My mother-in-law introduced it to our family and we were forever hooked.
CRANBERRY PORK TENDERLOIN
You need:
(1) Pork tenderloin
(1) Can of cranberries
(1) Packet of dry onion soup mix
Crockpot
Directions:
Mix the dry onion soup mix packet and the can of cranberries with about 1 cup of water. Spray the bottom of your crockpot with cooking spray. Put the pork tenderloin in the crockpot. Pour the onion soup mix and cranberry mix over the pork tenderloin. Make sure there's about a half-inch to an inch of liquid that the tenderloin is sitting in. Turn your crockpot on to cook for about 6-8 hours.
We usually serve this with brown or a mix of wild rice. I always cut up the pork tenderloin, serve it on plates and drizzle the onion/cranberry gravy over the tenderloin and rice.
I haven't had this in a while - it's going on next week's dinner list!
CRANBERRY PORK TENDERLOIN
You need:
(1) Pork tenderloin
(1) Can of cranberries
(1) Packet of dry onion soup mix
Crockpot
Directions:
Mix the dry onion soup mix packet and the can of cranberries with about 1 cup of water. Spray the bottom of your crockpot with cooking spray. Put the pork tenderloin in the crockpot. Pour the onion soup mix and cranberry mix over the pork tenderloin. Make sure there's about a half-inch to an inch of liquid that the tenderloin is sitting in. Turn your crockpot on to cook for about 6-8 hours.
We usually serve this with brown or a mix of wild rice. I always cut up the pork tenderloin, serve it on plates and drizzle the onion/cranberry gravy over the tenderloin and rice.
I haven't had this in a while - it's going on next week's dinner list!
Thursday, May 19, 2011
17-months
Seth, you are 17-months old! You are looking more like a little BOY, then you are a baby. I have reservations about this because you're growing up so fast!
You love your crib. When you wake up in the morning and come in to greet you, you're all smiles and you hold up "Pooh-Bear" (your lovey) to me, so I say "good morning" to
Pooh-Bear too. Then, you point to your books and I put a handful of books in your crib. I pop in your Kindermusik CD and you'll sit in your crib for a half hour just looking through your books.
This month has brought a whole new play world for you: OUTSIDE. You would play outside all day long if you could. Picking up rocks, touching plans, swinging in your swing, strolling around the perimeter of the yard. You love playing with rocks. There are little groupings of rocks all around the outside of our house. You pick up a few rocks, then gift them to me or your Grandmas. Sometimes you just clutch two rocks in your hands as we take a stroller walk to the park.
At one particular playtime at the park, you clutched one rock in your hand the entire time you were playing on the playground set. You wouldn't let it go. But then it dropped under the equipment, you looked at it to see where it went and then you were on your way again. So, you're not super attached to your rocks, but it's important for you to have a few in your hands. :)
You are learning to take Daddy or Mommy's hand if we are walking someplace. This will be important for us this year because you are getting big and we're not able to carry you for long extended periods of time when you were only about 15 pounds! You do this better with Daddy than with Mommy. I think you're a little proud to be holding Daddy's hands. :)
We celebrated your new use of sign language "please" and the way you say "please" is so cute! You wave your right hand back-and-forth, kind of like how it's supposed to be done but in a very exagerated way. It's adorable and now you use it all the time - not just eating, but anytime you want something. You also sign "help".
It's hard to say, but you seem to have a bit of a compassionate heart. Whenever you are near a baby that cries, you go over to the baby and stand there, looking back and forth between the baby and his/her mama to make sure she's taking care of the crying baby. But you are also very aware when adults are sad or not feeling well.
You haven't always been the super cuddly little baby who would be content sitting in my arms for long periods of time, but you definitely are affectionate. You give open mouth kisses and are starting to learn how to hug. When I hold you before going to bed, I say, "Rest your head on my shoulder" and you nustle your head on my shoulder. It just endears me!
One morning on my way out the door to work, I was holding you and prepared to do a hand-off to your grandma. You wrapped your arms around my neck and burried your face into my shoulder. I was about ready to call in sick!
In the last month, you have NOT liked being dropped off in the church nursery. I thought I was one of the lucky parents whose baby was completely content and happy to be dropped off in the nursery with no separation anxiety at all. Heh, heh, heh. Well, a few months has changed that and you CRY and CRY when I drop you off. But, I'm always told by the (super kind, sweet and loving) nusery workers that you eventually settle down and play.
Your hair is starting to get long in the back and you're turning into quite the blondie. It's still too early to get it cut, unless it starts to be a mullet. Your bright blue eyes and long eye lashes always get commented on.
Here you are at 17 months!
You love your crib. When you wake up in the morning and come in to greet you, you're all smiles and you hold up "Pooh-Bear" (your lovey) to me, so I say "good morning" to
Pooh-Bear too. Then, you point to your books and I put a handful of books in your crib. I pop in your Kindermusik CD and you'll sit in your crib for a half hour just looking through your books.
This month has brought a whole new play world for you: OUTSIDE. You would play outside all day long if you could. Picking up rocks, touching plans, swinging in your swing, strolling around the perimeter of the yard. You love playing with rocks. There are little groupings of rocks all around the outside of our house. You pick up a few rocks, then gift them to me or your Grandmas. Sometimes you just clutch two rocks in your hands as we take a stroller walk to the park.
At one particular playtime at the park, you clutched one rock in your hand the entire time you were playing on the playground set. You wouldn't let it go. But then it dropped under the equipment, you looked at it to see where it went and then you were on your way again. So, you're not super attached to your rocks, but it's important for you to have a few in your hands. :)
You are learning to take Daddy or Mommy's hand if we are walking someplace. This will be important for us this year because you are getting big and we're not able to carry you for long extended periods of time when you were only about 15 pounds! You do this better with Daddy than with Mommy. I think you're a little proud to be holding Daddy's hands. :)
We celebrated your new use of sign language "please" and the way you say "please" is so cute! You wave your right hand back-and-forth, kind of like how it's supposed to be done but in a very exagerated way. It's adorable and now you use it all the time - not just eating, but anytime you want something. You also sign "help".
It's hard to say, but you seem to have a bit of a compassionate heart. Whenever you are near a baby that cries, you go over to the baby and stand there, looking back and forth between the baby and his/her mama to make sure she's taking care of the crying baby. But you are also very aware when adults are sad or not feeling well.
You haven't always been the super cuddly little baby who would be content sitting in my arms for long periods of time, but you definitely are affectionate. You give open mouth kisses and are starting to learn how to hug. When I hold you before going to bed, I say, "Rest your head on my shoulder" and you nustle your head on my shoulder. It just endears me!
One morning on my way out the door to work, I was holding you and prepared to do a hand-off to your grandma. You wrapped your arms around my neck and burried your face into my shoulder. I was about ready to call in sick!
In the last month, you have NOT liked being dropped off in the church nursery. I thought I was one of the lucky parents whose baby was completely content and happy to be dropped off in the nursery with no separation anxiety at all. Heh, heh, heh. Well, a few months has changed that and you CRY and CRY when I drop you off. But, I'm always told by the (super kind, sweet and loving) nusery workers that you eventually settle down and play.
Your hair is starting to get long in the back and you're turning into quite the blondie. It's still too early to get it cut, unless it starts to be a mullet. Your bright blue eyes and long eye lashes always get commented on.
Here you are at 17 months!
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Mother's Day
I love Mother's Day! I love being a mother and I feel so blessed that God has given me a wonderful son. Being a mommy is unlike any role I've experienced. Jason and Seth made me feel very special all day.
I am so lucky to have two wonderful women in my life, my mom and my mother in law, as great examples of being a mom.
The day started out really pleasant, so while Jason headed to church early to help out with the service, I let Seth take a little nap before getting him up and dressed for church. I needed to get Seth up by 10am and out the door by 10:20. Seth probably fell asleep 10 minutes before I needed to get him up. Bless his heart - I went into his room, opened the shades, rubbed his tummy and he would not budge! He was deep asleep. So I did what any other mommy would do. I grabbed my camera, because I have no pictures of my active little boy.
After a great sermon at church about Lydia and the working-out-of-the-home mother (Pastor Rick did a great job with a touchy subject among evangelical circles). I was really encouraged about being a diligent worker as I'm finishing up my career
at my company, but also how to be diligent in my new responsibilities as a stay-at-home mom.
We had a relaxing afternoon. I had a little treat of reading my commemorative edition of the TIME book on the Royal Wedding.
My parents, grandparents and Joyce came over for dinner and dessert later in the afternoon. Seth was tickled that all of his favorite people were together. I'm sure he thought they were all over at our house to play with him. Ha! He had a blast getting chased by my dad around the house.
It was such a great day!
I am so lucky to have two wonderful women in my life, my mom and my mother in law, as great examples of being a mom.
The day started out really pleasant, so while Jason headed to church early to help out with the service, I let Seth take a little nap before getting him up and dressed for church. I needed to get Seth up by 10am and out the door by 10:20. Seth probably fell asleep 10 minutes before I needed to get him up. Bless his heart - I went into his room, opened the shades, rubbed his tummy and he would not budge! He was deep asleep. So I did what any other mommy would do. I grabbed my camera, because I have no pictures of my active little boy.
After a great sermon at church about Lydia and the working-out-of-the-home mother (Pastor Rick did a great job with a touchy subject among evangelical circles). I was really encouraged about being a diligent worker as I'm finishing up my career
at my company, but also how to be diligent in my new responsibilities as a stay-at-home mom.
We had a relaxing afternoon. I had a little treat of reading my commemorative edition of the TIME book on the Royal Wedding.
My parents, grandparents and Joyce came over for dinner and dessert later in the afternoon. Seth was tickled that all of his favorite people were together. I'm sure he thought they were all over at our house to play with him. Ha! He had a blast getting chased by my dad around the house.
It was such a great day!
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Toddler Musings
Oh, boy. I have really slacked on writing on our family blog! These are such fun times with toddler Seth that I really don't want to forget about the funny and amusing times of the Counihan household....well, in our eyes, it's pretty amusing!
Indulge me for a second while I spew the tender and amusing times of living with a toddler!
If only we knew what was racing in Seth's mind while he lay down in his crib for an afternoon nap. After I rocked him his chair for a few minutes and he was poking my mouth that produced a round of giggles, I laid Seth down in his crib. He was giggling and giggling to himself for a good five minutes before he conked out for an hour and a half.
Indulge me for a second while I spew the tender and amusing times of living with a toddler!
If only we knew what was racing in Seth's mind while he lay down in his crib for an afternoon nap. After I rocked him his chair for a few minutes and he was poking my mouth that produced a round of giggles, I laid Seth down in his crib. He was giggling and giggling to himself for a good five minutes before he conked out for an hour and a half.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)