This is What Six Months Can Do To A Baby

He will be in no time, as big as his *almost* 4 year old sister. Fieldin will be 6 months in 2 days. It has flown by and we have a plump happy baby to show for it. I think I know his recipe for happiness. Lots of laughter, love, kisses, LOTS of food and special time with his best friend Greta. Can't wait to see how this picture looks in 6 more months.....

Does This Look Like Spring To You?

The Troll on the Bridge

Things I Am Lovin' Right Now Part II

It has been a bit crazy around here this week so my brain is a bit scattered but thought I would share more things I am lovin'. Feel free to contribute what you love, because I am sure I will love it too...

1. Making cards. Right now, vintage Easter cards.
2. Going paper-free. I am on day one. Let me tell you, it isn't easy. I am still feeling ambitious and so happy to throw away all the post-its taking over our kitchen. The test is if I miss an appt or playdate next week. I will keep you posted...but not with a post-it, you know what I mean.
3. Greta's watercolor paintings.
4. Fieldin's chubby thighs, funny laugh and blossoming personality. (wait that was three things)
5. Jeff and Gretas apple cake. Those two can bake!
6. Sunlight bringing the neighbors outside to catch up and admire each others growing kids.
7. Fieldin sleeping through the night.
8. Me and my rainboots in our muddy tulip beds.
9. Any time I have with my Greta. Just her and I. The time is hard to find most days and I miss her. Very Much. I miss you too, Jeff.
10. Vanilla soy milk. I may stray, but I always come back to you soy milk.

Ginger Will Be Here Soon

Not much going on here. In between the spring cleaning, the playdough bead making(and drying) and the daily visits to the backyard tulip beds we are hearing Miss Greta talk ALOT about the near arrival of Ginger. Greta has talked about Ginger for the last 2 years and "Gingeritis" always starts up right about...now. Every year we forget who Ginger is, but we are quickly reminded. Ginger is the Easter bunny. I probably forget this because the Easter Bunny, I mean Ginger, never let me drop the formalities and be on a first name basis. Honestly, I just cared about the peeps and chocolate eggs and never got to know the bunny. I am not sure when the name exchange happened but Greta has been saying kind things about Ginger since she turned two. We are eagerly awaiting your arrival Ginger and Greta has been watching the tulips grow. Because when the tulips bloom that means you will soon be here.....

Hi Spring. Nice To See You Again.

Hello Spring. We waved hello to you this morning or at least Fieldy did. At 5 1/2 months he chose the first day of spring to start waving. Very cute. We started the morning watching the puzzle prodigy do her magic and took a trip to the backyard to photograph our emerging bulbs. We didn't forget our Friday trip to feed the animals with a basket of bread, broccoli and apples.
Happy Spring everyone!! Check out Fieldins new spring hat picked out by daddy and Greta. He LOVES his new hat. Now we just need to find a spring bonnet for Miss Greta.

Play Time

Happy St. Patrick's Day From...

Little O' Cutie and Daddy's Lucky Charm. May luck be on your side today.....May there be green cookies at pre-school, A baby spoon holding peas and not applesauce, beer that's not bitter, an awaited phone call, a winning night for the Cougs and a good night sleep. There, I think that covers everyone in some shape or form today. If your wish o' luck is missing here, let me know.

Greta's Wicked Smart Northwest Chowdah

It is hailing, raining and snowing tonight. A great night for comfort food. Thought I would post a recipe, so like usual, I know where to find it if needed. Greta has the most sophisticated palette in our house. (seriously, no kiddie food for her. She has been a foodie since 1 1/2) Greta likes this, and scarfs down 2 bowls with some toasted sourdough bread on the side. I found a recipe a while back that was pulled from some magazine. I modified it quite a bit to use what we had in the fridge so we can make it anytime. The smoked salmon tonight is courtesy of our pal Mark. You must really like us to share your salmon. So good. Many thanks for sharing...

Serves 4-6 or 1 Greta and 2 semi-hungry parents.

1 tbls olive oil
2-3 med leeks. rinsed and sliced. white and light green parts only.
1 minced garlic clove
1 large and 1 small russet potato, peeled and cubed
1/2 tsp sea salt
2 cups low sodium chicken broth
2 cups milk (any fat content)
1/2 cup heavy cream
About 8 oz smoked salmon, flaked
2 tbls chives for garnishing
Heat olive oil in soup pot. Add leeks & garlic and saute for 2 minutes. Add potato, salt and cook over med heat for 1 minute stirring constantly. Add broth and simmer until potato is tender about 15 minutes. Add milk, then salmon and bring mixture to a simmer for a few minutes. As it simmers stir in cream. Remove from heat and garnish with chives.

Things I Am Lovin' Right Now

1. Watching my babes wear shorts in winter and watch them practice their surfing skills on a bed ( A soft surface to land because even professionals sometimes wipe-out)
2. Knowing my tulips are slowly emerging from under the snow in our garden.
3. Listening to Sufjan Stevens sing about one of my loves... Chicago. Love Chicago, except for the guys who tried to mug us for our pizza late at night. You may have been twice me & Jeff's size but next time find a pair who are actually afraid of you and not smarter than you. Nothing comes between me and my Giordano's pizza. Nothing.
4. Finding tasty asparagus at the store and watching Greta eat it like candy.
5. Watching Fieldin play with his steering wheel toy... hopefully it isn't a sign of what is to come. That boy can drive.
6. Feeling better after being sick for 8 days and realizing that being sick for that long actually gave me time to get weaned off of coffee. Noone wants coffee when you feel like I did.
7. Having a T.V. that rarely gets used.
8. Sara for watching Na Na while we were unable to.
9. Baking night with the resident bakers and smelling pumpkin bread and pumpkin pie....
10. "Lost Night"
and also that Spring is so, so close. What are you guys lovin' right now?

She Loves Him

She truly does. The First words she said to him were " I love my baby brother" and she still tells him she loves him, even after he pulls handfuls of her hair and drools on her stuff. She takes her role of Big Sister seriously. She takes good care of him. We are so proud of her. Now she begs to feed him and says things like" Peas, Fieldy, yum yum" and "Your face is green Fieldy. You look like an ogre" (my personal favorite). I love moments like these.....

Them

Time for an update on the little Bronx Bomber and Miss Greta.

Fieldin at 5 months likes:
sweet potatoes more than peas, giving Greta wedgies, likes to "talk" alot, is always moving(and grooving), still smiles all the time (so cute), likes playing with his stuffed toys and activity table, loves to stand, likes being carried everywhere, found his toes, loves to eat all day!, has a very funny laugh, is still teething, still adores Greta more than anyone, has to have his eye on her every minute, is very strong, makes us laugh, can throw small things very far, playing Fieldy monster, likes to play with Gretas toys when she's not looking, loves music, loves his steering wheel toy and loves attention.

Miss Greta at almost 4 yrs likes:
Cinderella, trains, snacktime at pre-school, art projects, imaginative play, baking bread and cookies, anything Suess, The Berenstein Bears, her stuffed Dumbo, all books, applesauce and pita, dress up, Wall-E, Disney Princesses, snow and mud, hair clips, drawing, Going to Grandma and Grandpas house, crackers, dressing herself, playing Fieldy monster,being a helper, music, her stuffed buddies, her dollhouse, tights, pineapple juice and pretty much everything.

Chug Chug Chuggin' Along

Last night was spent rocking out to Thomas and Friends. We had a great time! Both kids grooved, but Fieldin didn't make it to intermission. He fell asleep....

Greta found her conductor hat to wear to the show. In his defense Fieldin's cheeks are not that HUGE! His headphones that we use to protect his ears from concerts/theatre push his chubby cheeks forward. Doesn't he look like a helicopter pilot in them?