Jack {15 Months!}

We are firmly planted in toddler town these days. Jack is now 15 months and breezing around all over the place. It's been fun to watch him develop the past few months - walking, saying more words, understanding more commands. It's also been really interesting to see his personality come out a little bit more.

Jack had his well child check up last week and my oh my it was such a breeze. He doesn't yet mind going to the doctor so there were zero tears or meltdowns. It was delightful. Jack didn't mind the doctor poking and prodding and actually preferred to be carried by him. He did have to get a few shots but cried for about 3 seconds.

15-Month Appointment (6/14/2016)

Weight: 23 lb

Height: 30 in

12-Month Appointment (3/7/2016)
Weight: 19 lb 15 oz
Height: 29.5 in

Jack is one goofy kid. He loves to laugh and often does things just to make us laugh or to make himself laugh. It's sweet to watch. We love to play the "Night Night" game where we say "Night Night" and the boys lay down wherever they are and then pick them back up when we say "Wake up!". Owen often likes to initiate that one. Jack will sometimes do that too and can say "Night Night" himself! Jack is also VERY ticklish so I have a lot of fun with that.

Jack responds really well to routine but does express some stranger danger with people he doesn't know well or see every day. It takes a little bit for him to warm up to newer people or new activities. And if we break up his routine, we'll get a little meltdown. Often it's more non-verbal with a little lip quiver (not like Owen's hysterical tears!). For instance, I had to take the boys to daycare for a week earlier this month but we had to be there much earlier because I have to be at work earlier than Gspice. Well, because it was so early, Jack needing to go to his room first versus the kitchen to eat breakfast. He didn't freak out when we left the kitchen but promptly melted to the floor in his room when I dropped him off there. I get it, I'd freak out too if I was used to eating right away! I do anticipate his transition to the next room at daycare to go well. He seems to feel comfortable already with those kids and teachers so that should be nice - Jack is just more laid back than Owen.

A couple of new things since his last update:

Jack can walk! I forgot that Jack wasn't walking at 12 months but that was soooo nice since we are so busy with life these days. His first steps were at around 13 months and he definitely walks really well now. Jack can turn around or stand up on his own and I love that he just holds my finger when I let him walk next to me.

The tooth count has gone up. Since his 12 month update, Jack got the second lower lateral incisor and has also got all of his first molars popping through! His upper lateral incisors have not come in yet so we'll keep an eye out for those the next few months. Our dentist didn't seem concerned but I bet will intervene if they don't appear by his next appointment in six months.

Naps are little more consistent now, down to one between noon and three. Opposite of how Owen did, Jack naps really well at daycare and not so well at home. He'll be down for an hour and then wakes up. Gary has a nice little system where he grabs the crying babe and lays down in bed. After a few seconds, Jack will plop his head down and sleep for a bit longer. I've tried it a couple of times and it hasn't worked so it must take daddy's special touch. The boys do still share a room and it's still going well! Jack typically falls asleep within 10 minutes and isn't bothered by his brother that takes a bit longer to fall asleep. However, it does seem that Jack can fall asleep just about anywhere. Proof is in the pudding.

Feeding is still pretty easy with Jack. He eats a LOT but still will try just about everything and eats without much fuss. We've introduced a plate, bowl and spoon to him and he seems to use those well enough. The spoon needs a bit more work because he understands how it works but doesn't always scoop actual food onto the spoon each time. Much to my chagrin, Jack also likes to throw things on the floor when he's done, just like his big brother. That's a habit that we haven't been able to break from either child, and one of the most frustrating (and messy!) One day, we'll get there. One day.

Jack also likes to do whatever Owen is doing. I do seem to get better photos of them together than I do apart but it's so darn cute! Owen, on the other hand, usually doesn't like doing the same thing as Jack so there's that...

COUSINS!!!!

I've got four little nieces that I don't see very often so it's extra special when we are all together at the same time. This happened very recently, as a surprise to my youngest sister who is about to get hitched! We held a bridal shower for her and she had no idea that our far away sister with her two kids in tow would be there as well. It was AWESOME to see her newborn, already almost three months old and to have all of us together. '

I don't take as many photos as I once did, but below are just a few of the most adorable we were able to capture that weekend.

I enjoyed that whole weekend but one of the highlights was meeting Miss Emily for the first time. I'm obsessed with little babies and she was so crazy adorable and squishy. And Leta was so surprised! Look at the tear in her eye!

It was great to see Arya too. She's a busy body just like my kids but at least I got a slight pose from her for a photo!

The four of us sisters went out for dinner in Waterloo together and went bridal party dress shopping. It was nice to catch up and do something together, which we haven't done in years!

Now, to the fun part! First, Gspice created a little house for the kids out of a box on my parents' porch. He cut out a door and window and the girls had so much fun inside. Owen was scared but he did go in for one hot second.

At one point during the bridal shower, Gary went to the park (bless his heart!) with Owen and Arya. He captured an adorable photo and a fun video too! I was getting a little overwhelmed with both boys so it was nice to have just one with me during the party.

Bridge, Drew, Gary and I went on a walk later on and played at a park by the civic center in Strawberry Point. It's crazy to think that we played here as little kids too way back in the day.

Erin and Liza LOVED the swings!

The other highlight? Getting a few cousin photos! We opted to bribe them with mini Reese's. I'd say it worked!

Baby Jack {1st Birthday Recap!}

We celebrated Jack's birthday back in March and now that he's nearly 15 months, it's time to share his birthday party recap!

You all know we've been a wee bit busy so Gary and I went for the no fuss, no mess and no work route. I AM SO THANKFUL WE DID! I felt absolutely no pressure to clean the house and not having to prepare the food was such a blessing. I did make the cake but that was easy peasy and made the house smell delicious. I also had this weird obsessive desire to use a spring-form pan. I know, I'm a legit odd ball.

Unlike Owen's 1st Birthday Monster Bash, we didn't select a theme for Jack's 1st Birthday. I decided that we'll make up for that as they get older. I have my sights set on a few fun things!

Everyone was invited to join us at our local Pizza Ranch. We ordered a few different pizzas and their green beans which were a bit hit with the added bacon. I ordered those so that I could make sure the littles got their veggies but I'm glad to see that even the adults did as well :)

After pizza, we enjoyed cupcakes while Jack enjoyed his homemade birthday. It had a pretty thick layer of frosting which I later regretted - that's pretty much as far as he got but he seemed to love every bite of it.

Owen had a lot of fun too. The toys were a nice distraction so he didn't disrupt the presents as much as he normally does!

 

Happy Birthday, Jack! We love you to the moon and back!

What's for Dinner {38} - Let me tell you about this burger....

Guys, I'm going to tell you about an amazing burger.

It all started with a photo.

Source

Ummmmmmm.

I was sold. I shared the photo with Gspice and he was sold.

I dreamt and talked about this burger for daaaayyyysss and I am so excited to report that it was pretty damn delicious.

Our burger didn't look quite as appealing as the photo but it did deliver in the taste department. The recipe is below so you can enjoy an easy homemade burger of your own!

Mexican Chorizo & Garlic Shrimp Burger from LadyandPups.com

• Fresh Mexican chorizo patty: adapted from Charcuterie
  • 17.6 oz (500 grams) of ground pork shoulder, ideally 30% fat
  • 2 cloves of garlic, grated
  • 1 1/2 tsp of Mexican chili powder
  • 1 1/2 tsp of sweet paprika
  • 1 tsp of hot paprika, or cayenne powder
  • 1 tsp of red wine vinegar
  • 1 tsp of tequila
  • 1 tsp of salt
  • 1/2 tsp of freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp of dried oregano
  • 1/4 tsp of ground cumin
• Garlic shrimps/prawns:
  • 8 large shrimps/prawns (2 for each burger), peeled and deveined
  • 3 sprigs of fresh thyme leaves
  • 1 clove of garlic, minced
  • 1/2 tsp of extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/3 tsp of salt
  • 1/8 tsp of freshly ground black pepper
• Paprika mayo:
  • 3 tbsp of mayonnaise
  • 1 tbsp of tomato paste
  • 1 1/2 tsp of paprika
  • 1 tsp of yellow mustard
  • Juice of 1 juicy lime
• 4 Sweet potato burger buns (recipe follows) - We didn't make our own buns
• 1/2 heaping cup of shredded manchego cheese

To prepare the chorizo patties: Mix all the ingredients together until evenly combined. Cover with plastic wrap and let sit in the fridge for at least 1 hour, or you can certainly make this the day before and keep in the fridge.

To prepare the garlic shrimp:  After peeling, deveining and rinsing the shrimps/prawns, dry them really well on a clean towel.  Mix evenly with the rest of the ingredients, cover with plastic wrap and let sit in the fridge for 30 min to 1 hour.

To prepare the paprika mayo:  Mix all the ingredients together until even.  Set aside.

To make the burger:  Divide the chorizo-mixture into 4 equal portions, then shape into patties.  It’s very important to make sure the diameter of the patties is slightly larger than the diameter of the buns!  Because the patties will shrink during cooking and there’s nothing more infuriating than an “I-shaped” burger.  Now, next step is a little unconventional, but I like to dust a thin layer of flour on both sides of the patties so they pan-fry into nice crusts (you can take this as optional).  Heat up 1 tbsp of olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat until really hot, then add a small nub of unsalted butter in there and the chorizo patties (maximum 2 patties at a time).  Leave the patties to pan-fry without moving, until a nicely browned crust has formed on the bottom.  Turn the patties over, then add the shredded manchego cheese on top (2~3 tbsp on each).  Cover the skillet completely with a lid and keep cooking on medium-high heat for another 1~2 min (the steam will melt the cheese as well as cook the patties), just until the center of the patties is cooked through.  Transfer the patties with whatever crispy cheese-bits on the side, onto a plate and let rest.

Keep the chorizo drippings in the skillet and cook the shrimps/prawns on high-heat, about 1 min on each side until just cooked through.  Then set aside.

If you want to toast the buns, remove any food-solids inside the skillet with a bit of oil left, then toast the cut-sides of the buns until golden browned in the same skillet.

Apply a good layer of paprika mayo on both sides of the buns, then put 2 thinly sliced tomatoes and a chorizo patty on top.  Slice the shrimps/prawns lengthwise and place over the patty.  Close it off with the top bun.  I warn you, it’s going to be very messy and drippy… and happy.

I do agree that this was a messy and happy bite. Mmmm MmmmMmmmmmmmmmmmmm!

Baby Jack {12 Months!}

Baby Jack is no longer a baby! Jack turned 12 months old on March 6 and I am just now getting around to posting this. Let's be real, I'm exhausted. I've got a lot going on in my head that I just need to get sorted out but it's so tiring! Hopefully by his 15-month update, I'll be feeling a bit more organized!

I honestly cannot believe Jack is already a year old but it's because time went by so incredibly fast. The first couple months at home seem so far away and I can hardly remember the rest of 2015 until we hit October. Jack had a few surprises for us when he was first born - dark hair and weighing in at almost 9 lbs. He was pretty calm as a baby and that hasn't changed. He's a chill little dude. The only thing that really bothers him is having to clean his face/nose. Otherwise, Jack just loves to play, hang out with his brother, stick out his tongue, crawling with his head on the floor, mimic sounds and actions, giggle and eat.

My goodness, Jack can eat! I definitely have two hungry boys. It kind of freaks me out to see how much they both can put down in one sitting and I have definitely learned the importance of snacks. Hungry kids = T.A.N.T.R.U.M.S. with lots of melting and tears. Nowadays, Jack eats whatever we give him - cheese, meat, noodles, mixed veggies, yogurt, toast, bananas, blueberries, cheerios, avocados, etc. We also stopped using bottles and have successfully switched to sippy cups. Not having to clean bottles anymore is AWESOME! I love them but that's a chore I don't miss one bit. Jack didn't seem to mind the switch from warm formula to cold whole milk either. Made the transition pretty easy.

Jack got one of his lower lateral incisors and is working on the other side as well. He does seem to be chewing a bit more aggressively so my guess is his top lateral incisors might pop through in the next few months as well.

Thankfully, Jack is not yet walking. We'll enter a whole new ballgame when he does so he can hold off on that for another month or two if he wants. He crawls pretty fast and loves to pull himself up on anything he can reach. Face plants are a normal occurrence these days.

Naps are in transition but nothing terribly consistent. Some days he wants two naps, one in the morning, one in the afternoon; other days, he wants one - but that could be at any random time. Sometimes 10 a.m., other times 2:30 p.m. This makes the room sharing thing a bit challenging but somehow we make it work.

Jack's 1-YR appointment was on March 7. He had been sick the week prior with a fever/cough but was well enough to get his shots that day. He cried for the vaccines but really couldn't care less about the finger poke. Jack didn't even take the band-aid off!

12-Month Appointment (3/7/2016)
Weight: 19 lb 15 oz
Height: 29.5 in

11-Month Mommy Guesses
Weight: 19 lb 13 oz
Height: 28 in

10-Month Mommy Guesses
Weight: 19 lb 7 oz
Height: 27.75 in

9-Month Appointment (12/7/2015)
Weight: 19 lbs
Height: 27.25 in

8-Month Mommy Guesses
Weight: 18 lbs 12 oz
Height: 27 in

7-Month Mommy Guesses
Weight: 18 lbs 3 oz

Height: 26.75 in

6-Month Appointment (9/8/2015)

Weight: 17 lbs 6 oz

Height: 26.5 in

5-Month Mommy Guesses
Weight: 16 lbs 1 oz

Height: 26.25 in

4-Month Appointment (7/7/2015)

Weight: 14 lbs 13 oz

Height: 25.75 in

3-Month Mommy Guesses

Weight: 13 lbs 9 oz

Height: 24.25 in

2-Month Appointment (5/8/2015)
Weight: 12 lb
Height: 23.75 in

Mommy-wants-a-weight-check-kinda-visit (5/1/2015)
Weight: 11 lb 9 oz

Add'l Doctor Visit (4/16/2015)
Weight: 11 lb 

2-Week Appointment (3/26/2015)
Weight: 9 lb 8 oz
Height: 21.5 in

Newborn (3/6/2015)                  
Weight: 8 lb 14 oz           
Height: 21.5 in