Go Steelers!

We're having a Steeler's party tonight! (it's not big....just the Gilmore's :)

The boys have on their jersey's and we're ready to watch some Monday night football!! Go Steelers!

Jackson coloring in his pullup after a nap. He's become quite the little artist!

Thought I'd share with all of you who care, my baby bump! I'll be 12 weeks tomorrow! I'm still in my regular clothes, however, they are getting uncomfortable...at least I have Lana's closet to raid!

I've also started back to the gym this week! I was excited about that. The nausea seems to be gone but has been replaced with some serious (and frequent) headaches....yuck. The boys are doing great. We've been going for a bike ride after dinner every night (since the weather has been cooling off) and we really enjoy that time of day.

Charlie took 2 steps today....but decided crawling was more fun and faster. Someday....

What's for Dinner?

I try to make a new recipe every week just to keep things interesting in the kitchen. I also have wanted to blog some recipes to share with my readers because a lot of the blogs I read do this too and I think it's a great way to get new recipes! This one comes from my favorite food network chef, Ina Garten. I've only got one of her recipe books but I'd like to collect them all someday. I've made lots of recipes from this book and none have failed me yet.

Here's what's on the menu:

Chicken with goat cheese & basil

Roasted cherry tomatoes

Rice Pilaf

Green Beans

This recipe is so easy and so yummy. These are all the ingredients it takes!

Here's the recipe:

6 boneless chicken breasts, skin on

8-10 oz. garlic & herb goat cheese

6 large fresh basil leaves

olive oil

salt and pepper

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Place the chicken breasts on a sheet pan. Loosen the skin from the meat with your fingers, leaving one side attached. Cut the goat cheese into 1/2 inch thick slices and place 1 or 2 slices and a large basil leaf under the skin of each chicken breast. Pull the skin over as much of the meat as possible so the chicken won't dry out. With your fingers, rub each piece with olive oil, then sprinkle them very generously with salt and pepper. Bake the chicken for 35 to 40 minutes, until the skin is lightly browned and the chicken is just cooked through. Enjoy!

Note: (I had a package of leg quarters so I just used that but I recommend the breasts instead. I'll def use them next time.)

You can buy the recipe book here.

Teddy Bear Picnic and more

Today Jackson had a "Teddy Bear Picnic" at school. He got to bring his favorite teddy and have lunch with it outside. This is what he brings downstairs this morning to take to school. Notice it's hot pink. (Also notice that ring of chocolate around his mouth from Cocoa Puffs). James was concerned about this teddy bear choice. I thought, "he's three,...whatever." James said he was going to get picked on today, etc. etc....I told him to let it go.

I also packed some teddy graham snacks in his lunch, just in case "pinky" got hungry too..
"Pinky" riding on his shoulders.

This is the scene every afternoon around 4pm when Charlie wakes from his nap. Jackson hears him on the monitor talking and playing in his crib and runs up the stairs yelling, "Charlie's awake! Charlie's awake!" And then I'll come up a few minutes later and find the two of them hanging out in the crib. Here Jackson's pretending to sleep.
Charlie's got wild hair. And I really don't want to cut it. I gave him a bang trim the other day just so he could see...but I love those long shaggy locks!
Looks like t-r-o-u-b-l-e if you ask me.

This is gross to me. But for some reason I allow it. Charlie wallering around in Champ's bed. The boys love to "be doggies" and crawl all over it. Jackson barks and scratches himself and licks himself. Weird.
But it's so cute.....


This boy can eat. And he loves food. Dinner time for him seems to last until everyone finishes their plates because he'll harrass you til you give him a bite. Lana cut up this honeydew last night and he was in heaven. There's nothing NOTHING he doesn't like.

A mouthful and trying to crack a smile.

I swear, I'm going to have to get a job just to feed these boys soon!

I'm still having some nausea. The last two days it's let up a little....not saying anything too soon, but, I hope it continues!

A SaSsY MoUtH and LOTS of NaUsEa...oh, and a little complaining

No pics this week....I'm a slacker mom this week. Get your own drink, wipe your own butt....that sort of mom. Pregnancy has hit me....full force. And it can hit at any moment, round the clock. Not so with Jackson and Charlie's pregnancies. I could pin it down to the minute.....4 O'clock in the afternoon everyday. At least I knew when it was going to happen. This one is different, and I don't like it. I have to force feed myself 5 small meals a day to keep the nausea at bay. NOTHING sounds good or smells good for that matter. I actually lost 2 pounds (that wasn't a complaint) when I went to the doctor last week. I am 11 weeks along...hoping this sickness stuff passes by week 13...we'll see!

Jackson loves school, and so do I. However, I don't love his sassy mouth. It's become somewhat of a challenge for James and me the last couple of weeks. For example:
Me: "Jackson pick up your toys before bed please."
Jackson: "Whatever mom!" (with a big exaggerated gasp)

Whatever? I'd like to smack him in the mouth...where on Earth did he get that? And he's seemed to have lost his manners...Where did they go? Who took them? Most things now are a demand and us parents have had it. James belts out, "You don't talk to your mother that way!" Yeah, you tell him. As James walks around snapping his leather belt trying to scare his child. Nice touch James..(no he doesn't spank him with his belt). It's James' scare tactic...whatever (ha)

Speaking of scary stuff, my husband is trying to learn spanish. Yes, my southern drawl speaking sweet husband. And it's all I can do to keep a straight face when he's walking around with his spanish/english translator gadget he just bought, reciting phrases. He told the boys good night last night in spanish. Of course, I'm right behind him correcting his pronunciations...it's so cute and a good laugh for me. He doesn't know how to roll his "r's" but he's trying and I do hope he sticks with it. I took 6 years of French in school and wish I would have taken spanish. I learned some basics when I went to Honduras a couple of times and Dora and Diego help too :)

So if you have any suggestions on putting a stop to a sassy 3 year old's mouth...I'm all ears!

Charlie isn't walking yet. He SO could he just chooses not to. He's starting to rebel against baby food and I'm not ready for him to yet. He has 8 teeth and likes to show them all to you when he flashes his cheesy grin face. He's so happy and full of energy and flirts with anyone who will look at him in public! He likes to ruffle his big brother's feathers any chance he gets (and he's very good at it). He's the best sleeper/napper baby in the whole wide world. I hope Gilmore #3 will take after him in that department! He says "momma" and "dadda" and "nana" (for banana). If you ask him how old he is he will put his pointer finger in the air to show you. He gives "high fives" and likes to turn over Champ's water bowl every chance I'm not looking.

First Day of School is Here!

Today was Jackson's first day of preschool! We graduated to the "car dropoff/pickup line" this year. (Yay, Mommy doesn't have to lug Charlie in to school anymore to Jackson's classroom!) Jackson gave me a kiss and waved goodbye. Such a big boy. I was the slightest bit sad...but then quickly got over that emotional spell.
Charlie and I crammed lots of errands into our morning today while Jackson was away. We were super productive :)

Charlie sporting his new shoes! I figured it was about time the poor kid wore shoes. They don't seem to bother him much.

Trying to escape via the front door...
Jackson and I got bored the other day while Charlie was napping...so we made Jackson a camera. His very own camera made of cardboard and aluminum foil. He was very inventive with all of the pictures he took. Meanwhile, I got to strike many a pose for the "camera." Don't laugh at my creative genius...

Highlights of the week

Here's our week.

In a nutshell.

Friday my sweet friends, Kim & Katie sent Charlie a birthday present.

He's in LOVE with it.

Thanks guys!

Then later that day...

Nanna sent him a birthday card.

And it was no ordinary card.

It was huge AND played the hampster dance.

Our fav around here.

Saturday morning we woke up and I made the boys blueberry pancakes (chocolate chip) for Jackson cause he's not diggin the healthy lifestyle.

I put a "1" birthday candle in his pancakes.

His birthday party was canceled, ya know.

And this was the best I could do.

Sorry Charlie.

Jackson wanted to put "fire" on the candle.

I couldn't find matches or a lighter.

We pretended.

After breakfast, we began packing.
To evacuate.
It took all afternoon.
Then we went to say goodbye to Daddy.
He was at our friend Tony & Tracey's house cutting down a tree in their yard.
See....

After saying our goodbyes, we loaded up for what we thought was going to be a 4 hour car ride.

Boy were we wrong!

7 hours later......we arrive in Montgomery, Alabama...at 2 AM

We pulled out of town.

And headed for the Interstate.

Stella, the cat, had to be drugged.

Cat treats with triptophan.

They WORK.

Then we turn the corner and see this.

Not a pretty sight.

But it's the sight we saw the whole way to Mobile.

Yuck.

I was not a happy camper.

I suggested we give the "cat treats" to the boys...

We arrived in Montgomery at 2 AM at this lovely couple's home.
Mr. Ronnie and Mrs. Diane Lindsey.
They are the parents of Clint, James' good friend he went to college with.
We love these people.
They are family to us.
Thank you for the comfy beds to sleep in...
Wish we could have stayed longer.
But Sunday morning we were off to Decatur.
Only 3 hours away.
And it only took us 3 hours.
Big whew!

Jackson found a litter of kittens out in the shed.

He man handled those poor kittens the whole time we were there.

Sorry little kittens.

The scary guy is long gone from you now.

He wondered why the mommy cat kept running from him.

I told him it was because he was scaring her.

He told me, "But I'm not a scary monster mom"

Ha.

Lounging on the old swing.

My grandmother used to swing me on this very swing when I was a tiny baby.

And she sang to me.

"Swing low, Sweet chariot....comin' for to carry me home"

Her voice still rings in my ear.

Love that swing.

Jackson found a dead butterfly.
That was entertainment for a solid 2 hours.
Happy Charlie on that old swing.
Invading the poor kittens house my Dad made them.


Lana and me on that old swing.
Charlie and my Grandmother.
It took him a few days to warm up to her and allow us to get this picture.

ok, so the storm has passed.

It's Wednesday and we decide to head home.

James says we still don't have electricity.

But we don't care.

We're ready to be home.

So we load up.
And drug Stella, the cat, again.


Charlie can't believe he has to endure another car ride.
Good thing he can't talk yet,
he might have cursed us.

And so we arrive home safe and sound.
It's good to be home.
The house is hot,
and Jackson can't understand why I can't turn on the tv
or the light in the bathroom so he can "go"
an hour passes,
and all of a sudden....
the lights flicker on
and the sound of the air conditioning kicks on.
God is so good.
I can sleep under my covers tonight
instead of on top of them.


Yesterday I spent getting the house back in order. Removing all of the extension cords from the generator and such.
Unpacking all of our suitcases.
Doing mounds of laundry that James had left for me.
Thank you sweet husband.

After I finished my tasks.....
it was on to more fun things.
Lana and I hit up the Hobby Lobby in Decatur
and all of their fall stuff was on sale.
Big time.
How does my mantle look?

And remember a couple of posts ago....

when I had that really productive and creative Saturday?

I made fall wreaths?

Well, I finally got to debut them on the front door!

I think think look fabulous if I do say so myself :)

I love fall.

And I LOVE those feathers in my wreaths.

James and I are supposed to be on a plane, ALONE, TOGETHER, to New York right now.

But we had to cancel our trip.

Too much stuff going on to leave it all.

James has tons of work and that's a blessing.

oh well. Maybe another time.

But my Mother-in-Law is still coming for the weekend.

And that's a blessing too.

James and I get date night on Saturday night!