Summer Pizza, Two Ways.

Yes, I'm cooking again post-baby.  Have been for awhile now, and it's easier than I feared.  I realized that I haven't shared a recipe in a LONG time and wanted to share some easy-peasy, yummy summer pizzas.

We love pizza around here, but I struggle with the crust.  In theory, I would make the dough from scratch.  But that's a little impractical right now with a new bambino, a three-year old, and a super-busy hubby.  I have tried a handful of homemade recipes and they never seem to come out quite right.  I'm going to keep trying though because we are working to eliminate processed foods from this house as much as possible (I will NOT be making condiments, etc! -- more to follow on this nutritional endeavor).  For now, I stick with store-bought doughs.  I love, love, love the refrigerated pizza dough that Publix sells in the bakery -- the whole wheat and white are both fabulous.  I also love the convenience of Pillsbury canned dough and Bobolis. 

Rosemary Chicken Pizza
Best with either Pillsbury or Publix dough -- would also be great with a good homemade dough...needs to be pretty thin crust.  After pre-baking dough as directed, spread thin layer of fig preserves.  Top with diced, grilled chicken; crumbled bacon; fresh rosemary; and blue cheese.  Bake as crust directs and enjoy!

Club Sandwich Pizza
This is great on a Boboli, though I've also made on homemade dough.  In a mixing bowl, mix together a cup of diced turkey, a couple slices of bacon crumbled, two green onions diced, and just enough mayo to lightly coat the turkey mixture.  Spread the turkey mixture on pizza dough.  Top with one tomato diced and sprinkle on cheddar cheese to your liking.  Bake as crust directs and enjoy!

A Little Me Time.

Small Fry spent his first Sunday in the nursery. While it was hard for me to leave him (besides Buck, I've only left him with my mom, my dad, my mother-in-law, and my sister-in-law), it was so nice to be able to focus my whole being on the church service instead of trying to stay tuned in to church while caring for Small Fry. He did great -- aside from a spit up incident (that would have happened anyway, I assure you, he is still my spit up king). And, I left church feeling truly refreshed.  What a great way to start the week!

And, he was such a happy camper when we got home.  He must have enjoyed himself too!

Love his gummy grin!

Sweet brothers!

And a sweet daddy too.

Month Four Recap.

We've been busy this month.  We are loving our carefree, non-scheduled summer days (and especially loving having big brother Fawn home with us to play every day!).  We spent four days at the beach, have been to the zoo numerous times, went to the Gardendale Splash Pad, and have been park hopping.  We've also had some very fun play dates with precious friends.  While Small Fry continues to be quite content observing Fawn and his buddies play, he now really needs a morning nap in his crib to start the day.  So we've been home-bound a bit more. 
We celebrated Mother's Day -- I can't believe it's my fourth Mother's Day as a mom.  Wow!  And, all the more precious this year with such a lovely feeling of completion now that Small Fry is here with us.
Small Fry is a delight!  He is just the happiest baby.  He smiles constantly and his laugh is infectious.  He laughs loud and often.  It is my favorite sound in the world and I wish I could bottle it up!  I keep trying to capture it on my iPhone, but the second I whip that thing out he is mesmerized by the phone and loses his interest in laughing.  One of these days! 

Small Fry is so loud.  L.O.U.D.  If you know Fawn, you know that he is one loud child.  I know I've blogged about my fear that child number two would not be able to get a word in edgewise.  Little did I know that God would give me the loudest baby ever.  He talks, coos, and babbles constantly.  And, he makes sure you can hear him.  He literally screams his coos.  I've never heard anything like it.  One of his favorite times to make himself heard is the middle of the night.  Sometimes when he wakes up he just talks screams to himself for a long time (like an hour and a half or so).  He clearly loves the sound of his own voice.  Mommy and Daddy do too, though Fawn often tells him "quiet baby."  Hard to explain to Fawn that Small Fry likely learned being loud from him.

Small Fry loves to be kissed -- especially on the cheeks and belly.  He loves peek-a-boo and songs.  He's really starting to enjoy his toys and will even sit through books I read to Fawn.  He also loves to stick his tongue out and loves for you to stick your tongue out back at him.  He is such a strong little guy -- standing up is quite possibly his favorite position (which he accompanies with a huge grin).  Though not a fan of tummy time, he can push his chest up and hold his head high.  I'm bracing myself because this little one will be crawling before I know it.

We moved Small Fry to his nursery (and his crib) this month.  While I'm definitely sleeping better without a baby right next to my bed, it's sad to think I'll never have another little one to literally watch over through the night.  Small Fry seems to like his crib and we're starting to get into a routine.  We're doing better in the sleeping department and actually had one night this month where Small Fry only woke up once.  I hope many more of those follow soon. 

I'm predicting a bottom tooth or two by the end of next month.  Poor baby is teething!  One of my least favorite parts of babyhood because I can't make it better.  Small Fry is constantly gumming whatever he can get in his mouth and drooling up a storm.  Fawn got teeth really early and I think baby brother is following in his footsteps.

The stats:
Weight: (a whopping!) 17 pounds, 5 ounces (95%)
Height: 25.75 inches (92%)
Head Circumference: 17.25 inches (97%)

That's one big baby!  At some point we know your genetic predisposition with catch up with you (Mommy and Daddy are just not big people!).  So enjoy your size while you can.  We love every inch of you precious boy and are thrilled to see more of your magnetic personality each day.

Month Four in Pictures.

Week 13.

Week 14.

Week 15.

Week 16.

Week 17.

Letter to Fawn.

Dear Fawn,

Where to begin to tell you how proud I am of you, how much I love you, and how precious you are to me little one?

You are my everything -- you changed my life when you made me a mommy.  You taught me how to love in a way I never imagined possible.  You taught me about self-sacrifice and living for others.  But, I was the real winner in the deal because I get to be a mommy to not just anyone, but to you sweet angel.

When God knit you together in my womb, he was knitting a little boy just for me (oh, and daddy too of course!).  You are like a little grown-up -- my sidekick, my buddy, my partner in crime.  You talked early, loudly, and often -- I think to give me companionship while daddy was working and I was adjusting to life at home.  I tell you all the time that you are my best friend; and I mean it.  I love exploring the world with you and seeing things through your perspective.  I love your excitement in the tiniest of details.  I love that you want to go and do and live.  I love your memory -- you remember things that I have long forgotten.  I love that you are daddy's "mini me". 

You are funny and you know it.  You can easily turn a bad day into a good one with a spontaneous laugh or just being you.  And, you are sensitive.  You know if I am having a bad day or am sad.  And you try to make it better.

Oh, we have our moments -- you and me.  We are both head strong, stubborn, and independent.  One of us has to give and often neither wants to back down.  I am learning to mellow when appropriate but also hold strong to my parenting responsibilities and not let the three-year old rule the roost.  It's a tough balancing act, but I think we are teaching each other.  And, no matter what we both always remember that we love each other.

I love how often you show me your affection.  What a gift from you to me!  You are still my cuddle bug; thank goodness, because I'm not sure how my heart will handle the first day that I don't get to snuggle with you because you're too big.  I love reading to you with you curled up on my lap.  I love singing you to sleep.  You are such a sweet boy -- please don't let that change.

I am so very proud of how well you've adjusted to Small Fry -- and how much you seem to genuinely be enjoying your role as big brother.  I hated for our time of just the two of us to come to an end, but I knew I wanted to give you a sibling.  Now, when I see you interact with Small Fry that desire is validated.  You love your brother -- and he loves you.  Nothing makes you prouder than making him laugh.  And, no mommy has ever been more proud of a big brother than I am of you. 

I love you angel,
Mama

Already obsessed with Small Fry -- and totally enthralled.

How Quickly You Forget.

Dear Small Fry,

You are rapidly approaching four months old.  I can't believe it!  You are certainly not the tiny, fragile newborn I brought home from the hospital on February 10.  You are a baby -- an active, funny, happy baby.  I've been keeping a list of things about your newborn self that I don't want to forget.

When the nurse handed you to me, I remember your wavy hair and how slim your back and tummy were.  Your tiny eyes were just waiting to open up and show me your soul.  I also remember what chunky thighs you had even right out of the womb!  Your sweet little body was so flexible and loved to cuddle up into the most precious positions.  Your most favorite place to be, to rest, to sleep was snuggled up on my chest.  You were a Houdini right from the start -- baffling the nurses and us with your ability to bust out of a swaddle.  You loved to keep your hands right up by your face as if still snuggled that way in my womb.  Sometimes you would even grab your hair and then start crying (as if not realizing the cause and effect of hair pulling).  You loved to stretch too, though.  As if exploring the world and the extent of your reach.  When you stretch you lead with your chin, which always brings a smile to my face.

Even at 8 pounds, 1 ounce you seemed so tiny (and it made your brother seem like a giant!).  Your tiny limbs seemed to get lost in even the tiniest of clothing.  You filled out quickly sweet boy!  We were instructed to feed you around the clock to get rid of the jaundice and feed you mommy did.  I remember those first few days sitting with you in front of the windows to soak up the sunlight and literally watching your belly grow.  Daddy and I would joke that you grew a fat roll while he was at work!

Part of your sweet personality unfolded each day.  What a blessing to learn about you -- what you like (standing up, your brother, grabbing mommy's hair) and what you don't (being flat on your back, when your brother left you in the car at carpool, sponge baths).  And part of your precious looks unfolded as well.  As you lost the newborn "smush" look, we got glimpses of what Small Fry was really going to look like.  While you favor your brother, you are certainly your own little boy.  We love your gummy grin and your double chin.  We also love your sweet birth mark right under your cowlick.

Small Fry, each day I showered you with tons of hugs and kisses.  You are just so lovable -- and you crave physical touch!  And, you know what -- it never felt like enough to me.  I still have so many more to give you!  If I wasn't so tired I wouldn't waste the night sleeping -- I would spend it loving on you!

You know me dear child.  And, you've known from day one that I was your mama.  You recognize my voice, greet me with a smile, and calm with my touch.  It is precious, and I am certainly blessed to call you my son.  I am amazed by the miracle of life even the second time around -- I grew you and continue to sustain you.  AMAZING!  And, most of the time I am the only person who can meet your needs.  What an awesome responsibility and blessing!

I love you,
Mama

Small Fry at one week.  Pure love.

Fawn's Friday Funnies.

The material keeps coming....

I was wearing a UNC-Chapel Hill t-shirt that had a tar heel on the sleeve.  Fawn said, "Mommy, why do you have a picture of a foot with a huge splinter on your shirt?"  How to explain the legend of a tar heel to a three-year old??

Not only does Fawn have a nickname for me ("Girl"), he's got one for Buck as well.  The long version "Big Ole Man."  The short version of the nickname is simply "Big Ole."  He will actually say, for example, "Mommy, do you know when Big Ole will be home from work?"  I need to pray for the ability to parent with a straight face.

Fawn loves to turn my parenting lines back around on me.  Since Small Fry's arrival, I've really been gently forcing Fawn to give me a hand as we attempt to get out the door, etc.  It usually involves me asking him to help get his stuff to the car -- I get him to wear his little backpack or to carry his sippy cup and snack.  I usually explain that he has a hand and that I don't so I need his help.  Now, on the rare instances that I actually have a free hand, instead of doing anything for himself, Fawn will say, "Mommy, can you do it?  You've got a hand girl."  And, then he will put whatever he wants me to carry in my hand...as if his verbal request wasn't clear enough.