Paxton’s 6 month old Photo Session

  Pax turned 6 months old February 17th.  The theme of the month is “SAVE SAVE SAVE”, so I decided to do his 6 month photo session myself.  I also did Tylan’s 4 year old photos, which I will share tomorrow.

  I know I say this a lot, but HOW CAN MY BABY ALREADY BE 6 MONTHS OLD?

  These are by no means professional, but they will serve their purpose in capturing this precious time in my baby’s life!

  Such a precious gift from God, this little one….

~T

Meet Ms. Pennyfeather

  I had a lovely guest arrive this morning!!!!  Her name is Ms. Pennyfeather, not to be confused with her um, Grandmother? Sister?

Mrs. Pennyfeather. 

(aka cousin Brent rockin’ the hat at Christmas)

  Visiting with Ms. Pennyfeather was a delight!  She brought her babies and invited me to the park with her.  We had a lovely time!

 

  There was one unfortunate incident where the slide broke, but we remedied that in no time!

The babies had so much fun sliding down the slide! Ms. Pennyfeather declined trying the slide again herself, it was just for babies, she said.

    Ms. Pennyfeather is such a great mommy to her 2 babies, Paxton & Baby Lulu!

  Next, we headed to the store where Ms. Pennyfeather bought herself a new hat, some jewelry and some makeup.

  You look lovely, Ms. Pennyfeather!

  There was one embarrassing moment when Ms. Pennyfeather got herself stuck in a doll stroller.  Did she ever raise a RUCKUS! Apparently, I can’t take her anywhere!  (She must get that from hanging around her grandmother, Mrs. Pennyfeather, too often.)

  No matter, I was able to get her out, and we went on to have a wonderful day anyways!

~T

Some Paxton Firsts

  Hopefully you aren’t getting tired of Paxton Posts, but come on people, he is my LAST little Ferguson, and this first year is so full of fun stages, just bear with me, ok?!

  Paxton has experienced a few firsts lately….

Like Avocados for instance. 

  Great choice for babies, easy to prepare, rich in protein, provides all of the essential amino acids, is an excellent source of vitamins and is considered a healthy fat to boot.  Sold! 

  So, will he go for it??????

  Yeah, not so much. 

  I usually do 1 food for the week to really allow baby to get used to it, but I ran out of fresh avocado after this, and we will just have to wait until the next trip to the grocery store to try again.  Lucky him!

  Another first was the beautiful weather we had last week!  We took him outside to play with us, rather than leaving him sleeping inside with the monitor on.  I plopped him in the baby swing without much to-do about it.  He was a bit shocked at first.

Then got so mellow he about fell asleep.

  Well, not being one to give in to sleep THAT easily, he quickly remedied the situation by grabbing the rope, and pulling himself to a sitting position.

   At that point, he decided the rope looked delicious and tried desperately to put it in his mouth, to no avail.

The other side didn’t reach his mouth either.

  About that time he gave up, leaned back and just grinned:

“You’re funny mommy! Why do you always have that black clicky thing in front of your face?”

  Another first we’ve recently experienced is quite sacred…..passed down from generation to genera…..

 No that’s a lie.  But we’ve done this with each child as they grow hair…….

It’s the “Unca Chad Fo-hawk” in honor of their favorite Floridian Uncle.

(Let’s just hope they don’t start LOOKING like him!)

FIRST FOHAWKS

Destiny:

Tylan:

  Ok, ok, you are right, that’s not a fohawk.  That’s Tylan after his big sister played “Barbie Beauty Salon” with him.  But for real, he wore a fohawk for quite some time until his curls came in, and it was darling.  Please don’t make me go dig out an album and scan it, just TRUST me!

Avery:

  Again, not really the official fohawk picture, but it’s good enough, RIGHT?! See how the wind is kinda blowing it into a fohawk? Squint your eyes…see, told ya!We did her fohawk picture in the tub, like big sister’s, but again, I don’t wanna go find it. (it’s LATE people, I need my beauty sleep)  {no smart comments here}

    Paxton’s first fohawk….. 6 months old. 

My little sweet cheeks!  I just wanna smooch him, MUAH!

~T

Being A Mom Makes You Say Weird Things…

Being a mom makes you say weird things:

“Of course it stung you; wasps don’t like to be petted.”

“No, no honey, we don’t lick furniture.”

“Sweetie, please get your toe out of your sister’s mouth.”

“Even if someone hugs it out of you, you should say, ‘Excuse me’ after tooting.”

“Shhh! Not so loud.  And don’t point, it’s not polite! Yes, that is a nice drawing on her shoulder, now shhh!”

“No, he doesn’t have a baby in his tummy. Please, I am begging you, talk quietly!”

“Shh, lower your voice. No, her face is not melting. Those are called wrinkles.”

“Well sweetie, sometimes your breath stinks, too.”

  

“You can’t marry Daddy; I got him first.”

 

“Don’t eat that, you’ll get worms!”

 

 “That’s not snow, honey…..it’s dust.”

 

“Your shirt is not a napkin.”

 

“No, it’s not a Kleenex either.”

 

“You WILL eat it, and you WILL like it!”

 

“This hurts me more than it hurts you.”

 

“Your underwear is not a hat.”

 

“NO YELLING!!!! YOU’LL WAKE THE BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

 

 “You’re the oldest, you should know better.”

“No honey, we don’t wipe boogers on the couch.  Go get a Kleenex.”

“Well how would it make you feel if I spit in YOUR water?”

“Don’t put the chips back in the bowl after you’ve licked them.”

{High-pitched baby voice}  “You are a stinky poo-poo boy. Oh yes you are!  You stinky, stinky poopy boy!”

Yeah, I totally said that just yesterday to Paxton.

Don’t judge me.  It made him smile.

~T

3 Mexican Soup recipes ~ Tres Soupa Recetas

 Here are 3 of our favorite Mexican soup recipes…click on the titles to be taken to Tasty Kitchen for a printable version of these recipes. 

Chicken Enchilada Soup

In large soup pot, saute in 2 T. butter:

1 small onion chopped

1 garlic clove, minced

Add 4 oz green chilies

1 can beef broth

1 can chicken broth

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 T. steak sauce

2 t. Worcestershire

3-4 chicken breasts, seasoned, boiled and shredded

1 1/2 cup water

1 t. cumin

Optional dash of chili powder if you like it spicy

Serve with freshly shredded mozzarella cheese and fritos.  Garish with cilantro.

 

Mexican Dump Soup

1/2 cup chopped Onion

1 can diced petite tomatoes

2 cans Rotell

1 can green beans, drained

1 can corn, drained

1 can black beans, rinsed

1 packet taco seasoning

1 packet Ranch dressing mix

2 cans chicken chunks

1 can chicken broth

2 cans of water

1 T. steak sauce

Dash of Worcestershire

  Sautee 1/2 cup diced onions in 2 T. butter.  Add all other ingredients.  Simmer 30 minutes.  Enjoy with mozzarella cheese and a big bloop of sour cream.

Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup

Saute in oil:

1 cup chopped onion

2 t. minced garlic

Add:

1 can Rotell (lime juice cilantro version)

1 can Italian stewed tomatoes

2- 14 oz. cans chicken broth

1 tsp lemon pepper

2 tsp Worcestershire

1 tsp. chili powder

Simmer 2o minutes.

Add 2 cups of cooked, chopped chicken.

Whisk together 4 t. flour with 1/2 cup cold water.  Stir into soup.

Add 2 chicken broth cans of water.

Add 1 cup of sour cream and just heat through before serving.

Serve with crushed chips.

 

  Happy Soup Making!  Better get it out of your system now, Spring is approaching and I don’t know about you, but I will gladly tuck the soup cookbook away until next fall!

~T 🙂

This post linked to:

Gooseberry Patch Recipe Roundup

Spirit Week

   I LOVED Spirit Week when I was in High School.  Getting to dress up crazy, anticipating Homecoming, you know….one of the more fun parts of High School.

Class Unity Day: Nerds

  Since K-12 are all on the same campus at Central Christian, the elementary kids got to participate in Spirit week last week.   I gotta tell you, I had as much fun dressing Destiny up each day this week, as I did when it was my turn to do this many years ago!

Monday, Mismatch Day

Tuesday, Twin Day with her friend, Haley.

Wednesday, Western Day

Thursday, Decade Day, we picked 80’s.

  Notice the red, teary eyes here, mid-bang teasing.  She was SO embarrassed and so worried kids would laugh at her hair.  So, as to not scar her for life, like I was scarred by my giant bangs of the 80’s, I brushed it out!  🙂  She was thankful.

Friday, School Spirit Day

  So we were SUPER late getting around this morning, and I failed to get a photo of her, but this is what she wore.  She took her pom-pom’s to play with at recess.

  Well, that’s it from here! We are excited to have big sis home from school for Presidents Day today. 

Here are the current activities happening at our house:

                                          “Mommy look, I’m a shepherd!”

  Happy Monday! ~T

 

Hoodie-Hoo Day

     This weekend all over the northern hemisphere, people will go out at noon, wave their hands over their heads and yell: “Hoodie-Hoo”.  It’s considered a holiday, bizarre as it is, and is celebrated February 20th.

  It is a day to chase away winter and bring in spring. After all, everyone is sick and tired of winter at this point and a little crazy being cooped up inside all the time. Thank the Lord it’s been GORGEOUS here the past few days!

   Anyhow, not being one to skip celebrating Holiday’s, the kids and I went out the other day for a little early Hoodie-Hoo time ourselves.  It can’t hurt, right?!

 

Doing a Hoodie Hoo Dance

 

“Do I HAVE to do it too? I am supposed to be the picture taker!” 

Fine.

 Hoodie Hoo!

Hoodie Hoo!

You guys are SO embarrassing!                                  Ok, fine….Hoodie hoo!

“That was FUN mom!”

  Go away winter, enough is enough!  We don’t want any of this March snow the farmers are talking about!

Look! I think it’s WORKING!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 Hoodie-HOOT?!

~T

Party Pics

  Ty’s birthday has come and gone, but I am just finally downloading these to share with you.

  We celebrated Ty’s birthday at school last Friday, he took Owl cupcakes to share with his friends. His teacher invited us to join him for the morning.  Avery was SO proud to be a part of “big kid school”!  And Paxton? Well, he was just plain sleepy but did great anyhow!  🙂

  Then on Saturday, we had the family over to dinner.  We made homemade Stromboli:  Sausage & Mushroom, Sausage & Pepperoni, or Vegetarian, with a delicious Caprese Salad (I need that recipe, Gena!) and fresh veggies.  For dessert we served the remainder of the owl cupcakes. 

  Check out our Owl Happy Birthday signs using paper plates and scratch paper in the pics below.  Yup, pulled those outta my whazoo just moments before the first guests arrived.  The old Tonya would’ve planned out and made those DAYS ago, and done a much nicer job!!!!!!  Not this new Tonya….nope, apparently she is more of a fly by the seat of her pants kinda girl when it comes to this stuff.  Either way, the kids thought they were super fun to make.  There is a daddy owl named Happy, a momma owl named Birthday & a little owl named Tylan. What a hoot!  (hardy-har-har)

I adore having so many family members near-by to celebrate with! What a blessing!

~T

Singleness Awareness Day

“Forget love, I’d rather fall in chocolate.” — Sandra J. Dykes 

  According to my calendar of unusual holidays, yesterday was Singleness Awareness Day, which kinda made me giggle.  No, not because I laugh at single people, but don’t you think its sorta MEAN to create such a Holiday?  The day after Valentine’s Day no less?  I am pretty sure singles are AWARE of their singleness without having a National holiday named for them, but whatever. 

  Actually, “Singles Awareness Day” (SAD) is a humorous holiday, created by Trevor Mcwanda that can be celebrated on February 13, 14 or 15. (some prefer the 13th or the 15th to get away from the commercialism associated with the 14th) It serves as an alternative to Valentine’s Day for people who are single.     

  So, to all my single friends reading this, Happy Belated Singleness Awareness Day!

Enjoy this poem, I think it ROCKS!!!!!!

~T

Saved & Single
– Author Unknown

  What makes you think that just because I am
 an Attractive woman of Godly intelligence
 That I’m incomplete without a mate?

  Who told you that
 Without a man, something’s missing from my life?

 And if so, what would that be?

Love?
I love myself…                                                                                                                                                                                       

And more importantly I love the Lord
He told me that when I delight in Him,
He will give me the desires of my heart.

Security?
I have everything I need according to His riches in glory.

Intimacy?
Now, how’s a man going to get to know me
When he doesn’t even know who he is in the Lord?

See my Father told me I’m above a ruby’s worth,

And a gem does not seek…..

It is sought.

I’m single and that’s all right with me.
See, it’s not that I oppose relationships…..

It’s that I detest co-dependency.

As a woman,
I know it is not my role
To chase after any man

Esther 2:14 reads That I am to wait on my king and when he’s
delighted in me……

He will call me by my name.

My Lord does not intend for me to be needy or desperate.

I am to be Cherished, Relished, Valued, and Honored,
It’s not my job to convince him
Or Convict him of that.
My mate will already know it
And consistently show it
And he will stay on his knees daily.
Not just to adore me,
But to praise the Lord for
The virtuous woman he has found

So, when you see me by myself…..
I’m not alone,
I know what I have coming to me.

I’m single and saved, and right now, that’s all I need to be!

Happy Birthday, Tylan!

4 years ago today, my little family: Dale, 3-year-old Destiny, a very pregnant me and our 2 inside dogs, were living with my mom while we added on an addition to our home.

It actually wasn’t as bad as you would think. Yes, we still speak to my mother, and we all still love each other too! 🙂  We actually lived there for nearly 4 months, until our home was move-in ready.   Have you ever tried to bring home a newborn to someone else’s house?  It was way harder than we expected!!  There were some tears, but we worked it out, right down to the formal dining room table turned changing table! 🙂  And it was a huge bonus to have Nana around to help!

4 years ago today, was an icy-snowy day.  I remember waking up so disappointed that my Valentine’s Day due date had come and gone.  (remember every day feels like a week at this point in your pregnancy!) After sticking close to home all week, waiting for this kiddo to show up, Dale had to drive to the border on business. (which is probably why I went into labor!)  So, when my water broke and my contractions were 5 minutes apart, it was my mom that had to drive me to the hospital, 45 minutes away.  As we started on our way, her Jeep was overheating, so we had to turn around and go get my Tahoe before continuing.

Now, I love my mom, but she is a bit of a crazy driver on dry roads, let alone slick roads.  And she is not used to my big Tahoe…..you better believe I prayed the ENTIRE way.  🙂  (Love you momma, you did good!)

I was thankful to have my mom there with me those first few hours at the hospital, while we waited for Dale to arrive.  (Which he safely did, a few hours later, after flying across the states!!) No speeding tickets, but that meant no police escort either.  Thankfully, he made it in plenty of time to see his baby boy come into the world.

My best friend, who was at Destiny’s birth, called the nurses station to check on our progress RIGHT as Tylan was born, and got to hear his first cry in the background.  I love when God works out things like that!!!! 

Tylan Zachary means “God remembered”.  I know He never forgot me, but it sure felt like it for a few tough years of trying to stay pregnant. Tylan was our first miracle baby, conceived against all medical odds, 2 weeks after our 4th miscarriage, when all seemed lost. I cannot even begin to tell you the excitement we felt, when we got to hold our 9 1/2 pound, bouncy baby boy at 7:11 tonight.  (the EXACT time that his big sis was born!)  We were crying and praising God for the miracle He had worked in our lives, and the privilege of a new life here on earth, with us!

So, today, according to the Birthday tradition in our house, Tylan is “Prince for the Day” and will not have to do ANY of his usual chores.  This also means he gets to pick the supper of his choice tonight….he picked Pancakes, which I will serve with Huevos Rancheros and his FAVORITE, cheesy tortilla roll ups!  We will open presents when Daddy gets home from work.  (But it’s SO hard to wait!)

Happy Birthday, Tylan! You are a gift straight from our Heavenly Father, and today I praise Him for YOU!

Love you bunches,

~Mommy

“For this child I prayed, and the Lord hath given me that which I asked of him.”

I Samuel 1:27