bits of this and that

WARNING: DO NOT READ UNLESS YOU HAVE A LOT OF TIME ON YOUR  HANDS AND/OR CARE PARTICULARLY ABOUT WHAT GOES ON IN OUR DAY-TO-DAY LIVES.

First of all, we're hoping you and yours had a wonderful Easter. Yes I KNOW it was a month ago. Humor me. Here is a picture from our PRE-Easter Dinner, the weekend before. I will post some actual Easter photos as soon as I take them... confused? you see, Easter in Dallas was a stormy blustery mess of a day, the sun not lending itself to adorable pics of my son in his brand new easter outfit. It was the CUTEST! My mom made it for him and he got tons of compliments at church and the Easter lunch that followed. I plan to dress him up soon and take some pictures in the sunshine where the outfit (and his fat little smile) will look their best! Do check back soon-- I'm telling you, this boy has one talented grandmother.

Also, I saw this recipe on a friend's blog and though I've yet to try it, I've made her recipes before and I'm sure this one won't fail me.

Spinach and Artichoke Lasagna
1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 can (14 oz) vegetable broth
1 tablespoon chopped fresh or 1 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves
1 can (14 oz) artichoke hearts, drained, coarsely chopped
1 box (9 oz) Green Giant® frozen chopped spinach, thawed, squeezed to drain
1 jar (15 to 17 oz) roasted garlic Parmesan or Alfredo pasta sauce
9 uncooked lasagna noodles
3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (12 oz)
1 package (4 oz) crumbled herb-and-garlic feta cheese (1 cup)

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13×9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray.
2. Spray 12-inch skillet with cooking spray; heat over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic; cook about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onion is crisp-tender. Stir in broth and rosemary. Heat to boiling. Stir in artichokes and spinach; reduce heat. Cover; simmer 5 minutes. Stir in pasta sauce.
3. Spread 1/4 of the artichoke mixture in bottom of baking dish; top with 3 noodles. Sprinkle with 3/4 cup of the mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers twice. Spread with remaining artichoke mixture; sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese. Sprinkle with feta cheese.
4. Cover and bake 40 minutes. Uncover and bake about 15 minutes longer or until noodles are tender and lasagna is bubbly. Let stand 10 to 15 minutes before cutting.

In other food news: Have you tried this stuff? Bluebell Banana Pudding Ice Cream. Go... dare I say RUN to your nearest store and buy some. I don't even eat ice cream and it MIGHT just convert me over to the dark side. Could it get any better? Slice up and throw in some real bananas and IT JUST DID!! Thanks Becky, I won't tell Dr. Brown.

Speaking of Bananas... Cohen is now an official solid food eater. Bananas and rice cereal were the first hit...

Then came pears which also really agreed with the little guy.

Avocado the next week... NOT SO MUCH

But sweet potatoes are the all-time winner thus far.

And just because I thought you might enjoy them... try Arm & Hammer Essentials dryer sheets in Lavender and White Linen scent. I used to use the Downy Lavender and Vanilla version but my was I excited when I tried to save a little money and went for the cheaper product. Cheap, yes but they smell like heaven. I wish they made a perfume. Maybe they do... I should go to Sephora and ask.

MEMPHIS

We're in memphis. I promise to post about our trip when we get home. For now, here's a preview of what we have been up to...

 

Cohen took a sink bath

Met his great-grandmother

chilled with Aunt Whit

Met his friend and future partner-in-crime, Blake Allen

and ate bananas with Pa

so much more to follow...

birdy deal #1

I read on a friend's blog that at Christmas time her family exchanges "Birdy gifts" they are called that because they are "cheep cheep" I love it! So, I've adopted the name for my future posts on free and/or cheap things that I find out about. I hope to post 1 or 2 per month. We can all benefit from saving a buck here and there so hopefully I can pass on some good info that you may not know about. Let me know if you hear of anything as well.

If you live in Dallas (it might be the case elsewhere too) the Chick-fil-A on Hillcrest is giving away free breakfast April 13-17. There is something different featured each day.

Disney's Matinee Club would be great for those of you with little ones who like movies! See if there's one coming to your theater by clicking here.

mom becky's copying me!

just kidding I copied her... but I wanted to make sure everyone got to hear this today.

thanks beck

things we did this week

changed diaper: called insurance company: paid bills: clipped coupon: grocery shopped & saved: made parfaits: hosted playgroup: marinated pork chops: ate pork chops: cleaned bathrooms: planted geraniums: laundry: changed diaper: went for a walk: ate Chick-fil-A: met with alarm company: yawned: yawned again: changed diaper: laughed at Cohen: laughed at Chris: went to Target: admired things I shouldn't buy: prayed for some friends: broke out my flip flops: made buttermilk pies: made jello salad: sat on a blanket in the yard: wondered why baby won't nap: called about birth certificate: did taxes: took a long bath: watered herb seedlings: changed poop diaper at Chick-fil-A: went to farmers market (ditto on the poop diaper): took pictures of my niece: ate lunch with my nephew: designed some stuff: checked the mail: debated feeding son rice cereal: watched a movie: slept

I've been thinking of how to inexpensively decorate my walls I found this and thought there were some cool options
via::how about orange

Please pray for my friends Erika and Chance. Read more about what happened here.

How neat is this? IF you are a Bank of America cardholder you can get in FREE to over 70 museums nationwide on the first Saturday of every month. Had it not been so gorgeously beautiful outside yesterday we would have gone! Maybe there's one where you are...

my smart friend

This week has been a particularly trying one. Me and the little man have been cooped up inside due to the rain and he has not been his usual chipper self. Not sure what's going on but today a friend sent me an email and reminded me of something. Her words were this: "My purpose in this life is not to become a mom and raise good kids, it is to love and serve glorify God and love and serve others." How right she is. Of course I want to submit to the Lord and follow him as it relates to loving and taking care of Cohen but there's more. There's so much more and I want Cohen to grow up knowing that. It's my job to make sure that by watching me, he learns to serve others and glorify the Lord even at a young age. My friend also sent a song (oh how I love a good hymn) Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus. I'm sure a lot of you know the words but here they are in case you didn't grow up southern baptist like some of us (Becky holla atcha).

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

there's also a verse that I didn't really remember but I love the words. There is a dying world out there and I need to step outside into it with both feet, love others, and teach my son to do the same.

His Word shall not fail you—He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well:
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!

4 months and holding strong

Cohen passed his 4 month checkup with flying colors. We feel SO blessed and excited about it!! For those who care, he is 17 pounds and 25 3/4 inches tall. He got more shots and this time I didn't cry (you can congratulate me when you see me next) He only cried for a bit. I think the blue camo band-aids adorning each fat thigh probably helped. We love our boy so much!!

4 month photo in the glider: compare to 2 months and 3 months

not a mohawk, round here we call that a "co-hawk"

I spent the last of the babies-r-us store credit on an excersaucer. He's warming up to it I think.