Another winner.

I have another wonderful recipe to share...this time thanks to Pinterest.
Meet my new favorite risotto- Summer Squash Risotto with Fresh Garlic, Peas, & Basil.
I haven't made many risottos with Owen around because they require a good bit of attention while cooking. This one is easy, & it's as delicious as it sounds.
I also added fresh Parmesan which made it even better!

Enjoy!

Fabulous recipe.

A dear friend shared this dish with me recently & I immediately knew that I must have the recipe.

It seriously is like eating so many of my favorite things all in one dish...feta cheese, fresh basil, craisins...it doesn't get much better than that!

It's an amazing summer pasta dish that pairs well with almost anything & is good room temperature or chilled. The recipe makes a gracious plenty (as we say here in the South!).

I can't recommend it enough.

Tri-Colore Orzo Salad

Ingredients
1 pound orzo pasta
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus 1/4 cup
2 cups fresh arugula (about 3 ounces)
3/4 cup crumbled ricotta salata cheese (or feta cheese)
1/2 cup dried cherries
12 fresh basil leaves, torn
1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain pasta and put the pasta on a large cookie sheet. Drizzle the pasta with 3 tablespoons olive oil, toss, spread out, and set aside to cool.

Once the orzo is cool, transfer to a large serving bowl. Add the remaining ingredients and toss gently to combine. Serve.

Enjoy!

Crushes.

Thought I'd share some things that I'm currently loving...

The Atlanta Braves...they're dominating their division & are playing great baseball that's just down right exciting to watch!

This cookbook (Dinner: A Love Story). I love the way that Jenny (I feel like I'm on a 1st-name basis with her after reading her stories) weaves her recipes throughout her family's stories. And I love that the premise of the book centers on the importance of family dinners which is something so important to me. I can't wait to try so many of her recipes. We've tried the pan seared scallops with the bacon corn hash...it's a must try!

I can't rave enough about my newest make-up find...NARS tinted moisturizer with SPF. I treated myself to a Cosmetic Market makeover one afternoon before Owen got out of school for the summer. I instantly loved the product & although it was a splurge, I'm so hooked on it that I don't think I'll go back to Clinique. I apply it with a foundation brush & it's enough coverage for me that I'm wearing it as a foundation & add powder on top. Love it!

Triscuit's new crackers made with brown rice & black beans are delicious. The Roasted Red Pepper ones are definitely my favorite. I love snacking on them, & interestingly enough, Owen loves them too!

I'd love to know some of your favorite recent finds!

Vocabulary.

Owen's vocabulary is expanding at an alarming rate. I feel like he's learning up to several new words a day. I had been pretty good at keeping up with the words he knew, but I think that's about to become  impossible. Here's one more attempt to record Owen's vocabulary at the age of 16 & 1/2 months.

Hi
Bye bye
Dog
Cat
Bird
Duck
Fish
Cheese
Cookie
Broccoli ("brocci")
Banana ("nannie")
Pea
Apple ("appa")
Berry
Cup
Fork ("ork")
Bite
Cook
Brush
Head
Mouth
Teeth
Eye
Knee
Toes
Shoe
Hat
Book
Keys
Block ("bock")
Please
Baby
Mommy
Daddy
Abbey
Re (for Auntie Cheri)
Hot-One of his newest words. I told him not to touch the stove because it was hot, so now he thinks
        anything you tell him not to touch is hot.
Light ("ight")
On
Off-Owen's newest favorite word. He constantly asks if things are off (lights, appliances, cars, etc.)
Push
Outside ("side")
Bubble ("bubba")
Grass
Potty ("pottsy")
Bath ("baf")
Car
Trash-Another of Owen's favorite words. He loves to find trash & put it in the trash can.
Crash-Owen loves to drop things & say "crash".
Stuck ("scuck")
Yeahhhh
Yes

I love listening to our little man talk & am realizing just how much he's taking in from this busy world around him.

Summer fun.

Owen & I have been on summer break for a couple of weeks now & we've been having lots of fun, with lots more to come.

Story time at the library on Mondays, morning walks with mommy, playing outside, finger painting, trips to the park, a roadtrip to GA to visit family, a trip to the zoo with mommy...so much fun!

Owen's 1st ride on Grampy's tractor

Perfecting the art of relaxation at the lake

Gardening.

I planted a little summer garden about 3 1/2 weeks ago, just after my summer break started...Summer squash, zucchini, tomatoes, & bell peppers. I edged the garden with marigolds because I read that the smell of the flowers deters rabbits & squirrels (which are run rampant in our yard), and the marigolds excrete chemicals into the soil that deter slugs & many bugs. So far it appears to be working!

And, perhaps the best part-I also planted a little herb garden...cilantro, basil, oregano, & parsley. I love little more than the way fresh herbs taste!

Here's what we started with...

 3 1/2 weeks later...

We're so looking forward to harvesting some homegrown vegetables & herbs this summer.

Big guy.

I think this picture from Monday says it all...he thinks he' a big guy!

Last day of school.

I can't believe that today is Owen's last day of school in the Infant class at WBWP. It's been such a special year for us with our new friends there. We feel so blessed to have found such an amazing group of people to help us take care of our Owen.

Since Owen started attending WBWP last September, he learned to walk, to say many words, to eat at the big boy table, to eat with a fork (sometimes!); he transitioned from the bottle to a sippy cup and from breastmilk/formula to whole milk; he's learned to share & play with his friends; he's loved music classes with Ms. Donna; really, he's just grown up into such a big guy!

Here's Owen with his sweet group of teachers (Ms. Polly, Ms. Lin, & Ms. Pam) this morning...

Mother's Day.

I had a lovely week celebrating Mother's Day with my little man & his dad.

Owen & I had Muffins with Mom at preschool last week. Owen made some lovely artwork for Mommy at MOPS on Friday & again on Sunday at church and with Daddy. We did a little shopping on Saturday & I was treated to a super cute pair of white pants from my guys.

I feel so blessed to be this little man's mom!

Where's Owen?

Owen has always loved to play peek a boo, but just today he started throwing his arms up & saying "Buuuh" when he uncovers his face. I love how 75% of the time he doesn't cover his eyes-mostly just his nose & mouth.

It's the little things like this that I never want to forget!

One cool dude.

This cool dude loves to wear his sunglasses on top of his head just like mommy.
Lookin' pretty cool despite that skinned up chin :-(.

Weekends.

Whew-life seems busier than ever these days!

Up until last weekend we had enjoyed having family in town for the previous three weekends. Our weekends were full of fun trips to the park, Owen's 1st Easter Egg Hunt, a rainy but lovely Easter Sunday, Owen's 1st pony ride, Owen's 1st popsicle, a trip to the zoo, & lots of time playing outside.

Faithful Parenting.

This time last year, our pastor was finishing up an e-mail devotion series that he faithfulyl shared for over a year.

Earlier this week I stumbled upon one of these devotions that I had saved because it resonated with me at the time. As I re-read it, it reminded me of "the big picture" of my role as a parent. It's so easy for me to get bogged down by the smaller details of day-to-day life with a busy toddler and I lose focus on what ultimately matters.

So, I will share it in hopes it will resonate with you-whether you're a parent or not.

Faithful Parenting
April 19th, 2012
3 John 1:4

"I could have no greater joy that to hear that my children are following the truth."
 -3 John 1:4

"A closer pastor friend of mine recently turned my attention to our focus verse. He claims is as his favorite verse. In fact, when his children were young, he would tuck them in at night, touch them on the forehead as if bestowing a blessing, and then he would quote, "I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth." Great thought, right?
What could give any parent greater joy than that of knowing that their children were following the truth? Let me remind you that children learn most of what they know from their parents. They watch the example. They listen to the words. They imitate the actions. If you want your children to follow in the truth, then you have to role-model truth for them. Your faith...your fidelity to Christ...your commitment to the church and its ministries, will all be clearly communicated to your children. If you want them to care about matters of faith, then you must care about matters of faith. Why would they develop a passion for things in which you have no interest. Faith matters. Truth is important. The promise of the Gospel needs to be told. If you want to have the joy of knowing your children care about such things, then pour out your life doing the things that matter most. Live with consistency, devotion, and authenticity. What if your child one day turned the phrase and said of you "I could have no greater joy that to know that my parents are following the truth." Remember, you can't leave a legacy if you don't live a legacy."

Father, burden us with the responsibility of carefully role-modeling the faith for the next generation. May we never mar the image of Christ in the eyes of our children. Amen.

-Jon Roebuck

One big guy.

Owen,

I feel like just in the last 2 weeks that you have grown up so much. You're just so big in size, personality, and skill.

You are constantly chatting. You have lots of words that we can't quite understand, but many that we can- mama, dada, hi, bye, dog, cat, brush, bath, teeth, cookie, cracker, cheese, side (for "outside"), crash (your newest word which you learned when I was stacking blocks & you were busy knocking them over). You make animal sounds for cow, sheep, horse, monkey, dog, & snake.

You are always moving. You run all over inside & outside, scatter toys all over the house, chase after Sadie...you rarely stop-even when you're exhausted! Your favorite thing to do is be outside. You cry sometimes nearly uncontrollably when we come back inside. It's just precious to watch you run all over the yard carrying your dollar store shovel!

You're becoming a big boy eater. You're a little more picky than you were a few months ago,but still a great eater. You're willing to try pretty much anything & right now your favorite food is broccoli :-). You are becoming pretty skilled at using a spoon to feed yourself oatmeal, and you're making improvements with the fork too. At school, you now sits in a little chair at a little table rather than in a highchair. At home, we have taken the tray off of your highchair and sit your plate on the table. What a big boy!

You are learning so many new things every day. Watching you learn new things is such a joy for me. You are always watching & imitating what we do which has been a very humbling experience for daddy & I. You have learned that we do certain things in specific rooms of the house so if we tell you it's time to do laundry, you runs to the laundry room or if we say it's time for dinner, you run to your chair in the kitchen. I am so proud of how much you have learned in your 14 months of life!

I love that although you're getting bigger every day, that you still love to run over and kiss me, hug me, & snuggle up. I can't express how much I love you and how proud I am to be your mom.

I love you Owen.

Mommy

Dragon Park.

We had a glimpse of spring a few weekends ago, so we took advantage of the sunny, 70-degree Saturday & headed to "Dragon Park".

This was Owen's 1st  real playground experience and to say he enjoyed it would be an understatement. He played for nearly 2 hours and might have kept going if we hadn't decided that it was time to go.

He had very little interest in the "little guy" playground equipment and went right on over to the bigger equipment. His other favorite activity was playing in the mulch-he's easily amused!

Owen has been back to the park twice since our first trip (once with us & once with Papa & Grandma). We're definitely looking forward to spending lots of time at the park this spring & summer.