Swimming!

Jim went down to St. Louis this week for work and since I didn't have anything going on TJ and I decided to drive down for an overnight. The hotel has an indoor pool so we took advantage! He seemed fairly indifferent... but he didn't cling to me, panic, or cry at all so I say it was a success! But the end he was kicking up a storm and actually having fun. He even let me lay him on his back to float (with me holding him up) so he could kick and splash with his legs. TJ and I start mommy and me swim class on Monday so I'm excited for him to get used to the water and become a little fish. I think he'll have a leg up on the class after today!

Ready to get in!


Sitting on the steps to get used to the idea


So much to look at!


"See my hippo? I saved hims from drowning."


And a short video



Now we especially can't wait for summer!

Chicken Pot Pie

Tonight was one of those "what on earth am I going to do with these chicken breasts" kind of a night. So I decided to whip up a chicken pot pie. Serious. I realize this isn't something most would "whip up" but all the ingredients are commonly stocked in my fridge/pantry and, more importantly, Jim came home a bit early (and didn't have to keep working for once) so I had a TJ watcher. I love to cook but it is difficult since the little man demands quite a bit of my undivided attention.

I rarely use actual measurements when I cook but here is the gist:

Chicken Pot Pie

Pie crust (if you want to be legit make your own! ;-) see below for those ingredients)
2 large chicken breasts, cubed
approx. 1 C. carrots (sliced, cubed, whatever you like)
approx. 1 C. peas
1 stick (or 1/2 C.) of margarine
1 medium onion chopped
1/3 C. flour
Salt, Pepper, Celery Salt to taste
1 3/4 - 2 C. Chicken broth (I actually use LB Jamison's chicken soup base dissolved in water)
1/2 - 2/3 C. Milk

Combine chicken, carrots and peas in a sauce pan and lightly salt. Cover with just enough water and boil for 15 minutes. Drain and set aside.

Meanwhile make the pie crust. I use just your basic crust you would use for fruit pies. (Combine 2 C. flour, 1/2 t. salt and 2/3 C. Crisco with a pastry blender. Add 1/3 C. ICE cold water. Handle sparingly and roll out with a rolling pin.) I used about 2/3 of the crust to line the bottom and sides of my dish saving about 1/3 of the crust for the top.

In a large pan sautee onions in butter until just turning translucent. Add the flour, salt, pepper, and celery salt creating a roux. Slowly stir in the chicken broth and milk. Simmer while stirring until thick.

Add the chicken, carrot and pea mixture to your crust. Top with the hot roux. Cover with top pie crust and pinch the edge shut. Cut slits in the top to vent.

Bake at 425 degrees for about 30 minutes. Enjoy!



Yum...


My happy eater loved it! And I loved knowing each and every ingredient that he was chowing down.

You've got mail!

TJ received his very first package today! He could hardly contain his excitement and I was happy to see the unwrapping skills he learned at Christmas stuck in his little head. :-)

Ohhh a package for me!


Hurry Mama, open it!


What's in here?


Ohhhhh


A present for me! But I have to wait until Valentine's Day to open it.

Helping me bake

TJ helped me bake some cookies the other day. He absolutely loved this bar-b-que sauce brush and looking through the containers. Kept him busy for a solid 15 minutes!





And just because he's so funny, here's TJ crawling towards me. He usually has his mouth open and panting while he crawls.



Love my boy!

8 Months Old!

Happy 8 Months TJ!











TJ's 8 month accomplishments:

-Lot's of babbling, but still no actual words

-He's eating 2 real food meals a day, breakfast and dinner. Almost everything he eats is softened chunks of veggies and fruits. He will usually have a fruit and grain for breakfast and then a veggie and grain for dinner. He can pick up his own food and gets about 90% of it in his mouth! Loves his sippy cup and drinking water. Foods TJ has had include:

Apples
Pears
Bananas
Avodaco
Oatmeal
Carrots
Sweet Potato
Green Beans
Gerber Puffs
Cheerios
Wheat Pasta
Crackers

-Crawling all over the house

-Pulling up to stand

-Cruising around the couch and coffee table on two feet

-Sleeping 11 hours straight most of the time

-Gives high fives and kisses (we're now working on waving bye bye and blowing kisses)

-Enjoys story time at the library every week and is starting to be a little less shy

-Loves chasing Lucy's tail and climbing in her bed

-Knows his nap time routine and will put himself to sleep

-Still loves to snuggle and be rocked

Shuffle Shuffle

I've decided TJ is Superbaby! The last week or so he has been pulling himself up on everything. He hadn't quite figured out the feet aspect, instead he gets a good grip and literally pulls himself to his feet by his arms. Anything that he can reach from his knees he will use to pull up. He's quite accomplished at this feat!

Just now TJ started walking along the couch! He was actually standing at the leather cube we use as a ottoman/coffee table and reached over for the couch. He got himself over to the couch and then down about 3-4 feet to where I was sitting. Go TJ!