Showering Baby Schaefer

Last Saturday, I co-hosted a shower for Baby Schaefer at my house. Baby Schaefer's Mom (a name she will soon be referred to as by most people) a.k.a. Cam and I have been friends for quite some time. It's pretty exciting that we will have two little boys born in the same year. I am sure they will be great friends!

Cute Sisters!!

Cute Cousins!

In the Kitchen

We took a respite from cooking after Lil' D was born (surprised?), but we have enjoyed getting back into cooking the past few months. Last summer, I was in my first trimester of pregnancy, so I wasn't interested in cooking much, so we have been enjoying some of last summer's Cooking Light recipes. It is also constantly 80+ degrees in our house with the A/C running constantly so I avoid using the oven at all costs. The grill was possibly one of the best investments we have ever made!

Shrimp Cobb Salad--I don't do bacon, but everything else in this salad is wonderful. We have had it several times. Nicholas loves the dressing. We have done it with and without roasted corn, but it is definitely better with the roasted corn. I also use whatever veggies we have on hand.

Mexican Street Corn--This is what Nicholas calls the corn we have been making on the grill. We take fresh corn, remove the hair, but leave the husk. Then soak the corn in water for a couple of hours. Nicholas sometimes adds some fresh squeezed lime juice. Grill until the husk is starting to burn through at a few points. Take off the grill and remove husks. Then butter the corn and season with paprika, chili powder, and fresh lime juice.

Lemon Chicken Orzo Pasta--Delicious! I made this for lunch one day when day when Adrienne was over. She loved it and so did Nicholas!

Tuscan Lemon Muffins--DELICIOUS!!

Pistachio Chai Muffins--An unusual combination of flavors. The chai taste is strong, but good. Don't skip the "icing." It totally makes the muffins. Both muffin recipes freeze well.

Top Ten Thursday--Revisted

This post originally ran Thursday, February 4, 2010. I have updated below the results of our actual travel in 2010.

Top Ten Thursday


Top Ten Thursday during the month of February is dedicated to things I love love love!

This Week: States I would love to have on my visited in 2010 list

10. Washington D.C.--Granted, not actually a state, but still. Plus, I have already been there this year. :)

I visited Washington D.C. in January 2010 with Beth and LJ Turman for LJ's Air Force Band Competition.

9. Maryland--The ride to/from the Baltimore Airport is much more exciting in an Escalade than the backseat of a taxi.

I rode from D.C. to the Baltimore Airport in January 2010. That counts.

8. Massachusetts--because I have been there every year since 2006, and I am starting to miss Stop 'N Shop where I could scan my groceries as I shopped.

Nicholas and I took LJ to Boston in February 2010 for his Boston University college audition.

7. Rhode Island--I miss the weather, our church, our friends, and the cute kiddos.

Nicholas and I visited Rhode Island in February 2010 after taking LJ to Boston. We spent a few extra days in a Holiday Inn Express because Nicholas had the flu! We also visited Rhode Island again in October 2010 when I was 5 months pregnant.

6. Minnesota--Home to the cutest blonde twins, my BFF birthday mate, and Mall of America.

Nicholas and I visited Minnesota in August 2010. It was my first 2nd trimester plane ride!

5. Wisconsin--It's next to Minnesota, I've never been there, and I was promised that on my next trip I could go to there.

We didn't actually make it to Wisconsin during our Minnesota trip, but we did go to Stillwater, MN. You can see Wisconsin across the lake. That almost counts.

4. Illinois--It's home to Chicago and the site of a weekend girls trip with my gal pals from Rhode Island.

I visited Chicago in April 2010 for my RI girls trip with Liz, Kate, and Andrea.

3. California--My little nephew is all grown up and graduating high school!!

Nicholas and I went to California June 2010 for my nephew, Timmy's graduation.

2. Alabama--The dome home keeps progressing, and my aunts aren't diligent about sending pictures. I will probably just have to go see it in person. :)

We didn't make it to Alabama in 2010. Some of our travel plans got a little derailed due to Lil' D's entry into our lives (and silly work).

1. Washington--The actual state...I've never been there, but it's the Mecca of glass, so it's inevitable I will find my way there sometime soon. Why not this year?

We also did not make a trip to Washington State in 2010, but 8 out of 10 states...not too bad!

Lil' D's Friends

Lil' D is learning new things everyday. When he stares at at things, you can just see his brain processing everything. He can go from crying at the top of his lungs one minute to staring at something out of curiosity the next. We have taken to to referring to all the things that he stares at his friends.
Fans---Lil' D loves fans. If there is a fan anywhere near his line of sight, he'll find it. He still gets distracted by the fan even when he is frantically flapping around on the ground trying to crawl and scoot around.
30th Birthday Decorations--You may remember that 5 days before Lil' was born I put up 30th birthday decorations for Nicholas' birthday on the ceiling in the dining room. They are still there, and they need to be dusted. You shouldn't need to dust throw away decorations. Lil' D just LOVES to stare at them, especially when they blow around from the air conditioner! They will be coming down in a week, though because I am hosting a baby shower. No worries, for Lil' D, though...I bought more hanging decorations for the baby shower that Lil' D can enjoy.
Faces--Lil' D loves looking at faces, and he is non-discriminatory. He likes people faces, but he also likes the faces of the animals on his toys and blankets. He talks to the zebra and giraffe on the tray of his swing. He loves all the animals on his exersaucer. Although, he is currently on the outs with the penguin because he can't get the penguin in his mouth.