Must.Make.This

What comes to mind when you hear the word

meatloaf


Some may reminisce of their grandmother's home cooking. Others, like me, envision stereotypes of nasty-cafeteria-school-food-make-you-want-to-vomit-hard-bricks-of-who-knows-what. I didn't grow up eating meatloaf, never cared for the idea of it, etc etc. You get the picture.

My husband did grow up eating meatloaf. And he very sparingly will drop hints (literally, only about one hint a year) that he likes meatloaf.

Well, after a gigantic beef purchase at CostCo, the lovely concept of meatloaf came to mind, and I was on the hunt for the perfect recipe.

And guess what? I found it.

Pioneer Woman's Meatloaf

And I must say, I'm a meatloaf-lover now (but probably only of this recipe. My weird sickening stereotypes of all other types of meatloaf are not out of my head quite yet).

I highly recommend giving this very easy recipe a try. Your husband will thank you for it.

15 Months

My lack of posts have been due to:

1) Celebrating, like crazy, Mark and Lucy and their glorious wedding this past weekend

 2) Me losing my voice at the wedding reception, and still hoarse (6 days later), and fighting a lovely little cold (but I'm all better now due to the aid of a Z-pack)

So we've been laying low, taking lots of naps, I've been reading this intriguing novel, and listening to lots of babbling and chasing/running after our active 15 month old.

Jackson is at such a fun and busy age.  He's still a happy child, but I'm definitely beginning to see some throw-myself-on-the-floor fits when he doesn't get his way. These fits don't last long, and I can usually distract him with something else. Nevertheless, they've begun.

He can be a picky eater when he wants to be now, and a good bit of his food gets thrown down to Tucker. Jackson is constantly babbling, and it sounds like he's mastered some foreign language. Absolutely hysterical to listen to.

Since my YouTube videos are MIA right now, I'm showing Jackson's determination at 7 1/2 months old. What sweet sweet days those were, but I know I have even more fun times the older he gets.

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**note, videos not working right now! will work on it

Everything is a phone...it goes up to his ear, whether it's his play phone, a bubble wand, a banana, his pacifier, anything. It's funny because I'm not much on the phone around him, but I know he is picking up quickly on anything and everything we're doing. He also loves dancing, which consists of banging his head up and down (not hitting anything, just head banging). Thomas the Train is a big hit these days, whether we're reading the book, listening to the theme song, or watching episodes on our Kindle Fire.

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Thankfully he's still taking 2 naps a day, sometimes fighting one or the other of them. This boy needs his sleep!

And while I know this last one is sideways and I can't turn it, I loved these days of him "dancing" in his exersaucer

What sweet, happy, "containable" days :)

**At the pediatrician's office, Jackson weighs 20 lb 14 oz...my long and lean little boy!

John the Baptist

We love the Jesus Storybook Bible, and I read it to Jackson whenever he's drinking his bottle of milk. I was just now reading it to him, and when we got to the story of John the Baptist today, Jackson started growling. I suppose he thought John was a bear?  He is, after all, licking honey and surrounded by honeybees.

Recent Recipes

Here is a hodge podge of recipes I've made recently.  Enjoy!

Coconut Curry Chicken

Strawberry Lemonade Muffins

Swiss Chard & Sweet Potato Gratin
I've made this with Swiss Chard in the past. This week I had some kale leaves that I needed to use up, so I substituted the kale for the Swiss Chard and it was delicious as well.

Baked Kale Chips

Crock Pot Santa Fe Chicken

Freezer Ham Sandwiches

Open-Faced Sandwiched with Arugula, Ricotta, and Fried Egg 

Soft Chicken Tacos 

Welcome to the Jungle!

 Jackson loves his new singing Veggie Tales book from Meemaw and Papaw.  He giggles and grins every time he sees it.  Too cute!

Easter 2012

He is Risen! He is Risen indeed!

What a glorious, beautiful day to celebrate our Risen Savior.  I have been continually humbled this weekend, grateful for Jesus' sacrifice for my many sins, grateful that His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23), grateful that we have abundant life through Him (John 10:10).

Here are some pictures of our Easter morning below.

We started off by celebrating at church with our Pastor doing a monologue in the character of the apostle Thomas.  Truly wonderful, and our Pastor uses his gifts to minister to his congregation.

 Loving that I found this Peter Rabbit book set at our church's consignment sale (and they were brand new..even better). Elisabeth Elliot said she grew up reading these as a child, so I was delighted to find them and put them in Jackson's Easter basket.  Plus, I love the movie "Miss Potter."

Jackson loved the set of beach toys we got him, but this was his favorite "tool" out of the set and he carried it around all day.  Notice Tucker (dog) being wary of Jackson's "weapon."

Lately

 

Last weekend, I came home from one of our many Easter egg hunts to find this garden, completed and waiting on me in our back garden space.  Wonderful Andy went to Home Depot, bought this raised cedar bed, and planted some tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, and basil. We're excited to see what will grow (and what the squirrels won't steal).

 Another Easter egg hunt with my parents great neighbors and their cute kids. (Who I used to babysit for...that makes me sound old that these precious kiddos are all grown up!)

Jackson, more interested in the egg, instead of beautiful Mary kneeling at his feet.  :)

As I reflect on this Easter weekend, I can't help but be moved by Ann Voskamp's Easter Holy Week series.  Go here for her amazing revelations, encouragement, and wisdom.

Have a blessed Easter.  He is Risen, He is Risen indeed!

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Galatians 2:20

14 Months

First time in big boy cart at Publix

I didn't think I'd keep updating the months of Jackson's life after age 1. But I'm amazed at how quickly I'm forgetting the cute details of his precious life, so I'm writing this for my own memories (but feel free to read along).


I had just come home from work and Jackson was already in bed (as my wonderful parents watched him all day, for 13 hours! They're the best babysitters!). Jackson was asleep, but I think he was moving around more than usual because he probably heard me moving about the house. Sorry for the shaky camera, but I was laughing uncontrollably. When I showed this to Andy, he told me that he (used to) sleep this way. No big boy bed in our future any.time.soon.

Jackson is walking everywhere these days! We just got kicked out of the crawler class at church. Or should I say, promoted to the toddler class. I know he'll get run over by all those kids running everywhere, but it'll toughen him up, right?!


I realized I filmed this sideways, but I couldn't resist capturing his first time wearing big boy shoes. Still getting adjusted to them!

He is into everything, reaching up onto counter tops, desks, you name it, grabbing for things that I didn't even realize he could reach. He is still a sweet, happy boy. Jackson is getting in 2 of his back molars, so that can make for some hit-and-miss naps, as well as some unexplained whini-ness, but I bet that's got to be so uncomfortable to be cutting those teeth.

Jackson is still a great eater, but he'll definitely let you know when he's "all done" (using the baby sign language, still the one-handed left hand wave signal). It's fun to see him intently listening and responding to various questions such as, "Where's your belly button, Where's your tongue (his favorite); What does the doggie say," etc. I realize he's a little sponge!


Family Date Night at Chez FonFon


First Easter Egg Hunt

Second Easter Egg Hunt...terrifying his friend Knox with screaming (definitely a nap-time moment)

We've had a lot of fun recently, going to various Easter egg hunts, reading The Jesus Storybook Bible, having play dates with various friends. I'm so grateful for this season of life.




Wearing Andy's outfit that Andy wore as a baby. Too cute!