Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Birthday Week


Date: August 22, 2012
Weight: 20.3 pounds
Height: 30.5 inches
Everyone in my family is growing up way too fast! This week is birthday week, both of my brothers became a year older. Matthew is now 21, and spending this momentous occasion without us. I cannot wait till he gets leave and we can celebrate his birthday in Vegas! Adam just turned 15, my mom's youngest will soon find himself behind the wheel of a car. 
Where did that time go? When did my brothers go and grow up on me? If it happens that fast with my siblings, I know that it will be even worse when it comes to my son.
Aiden has hit another growth spurt and has been putting on about a pound a week for the past three weeks. Everyday I see his giggly personality developing and it seems to always bring my life into perspective. When everything else is trying to bring me down, he can turn it all around with his big, toothless grin. The sound of the rain used to be my favorite thing to hear but it has been replaced by the magical laugh that my little boy emits. I find it impossible not to smile when that pure expression of joy is shown, it truly warms my heart. 

 Aiden Enjoying His Water :)

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Wake Up, It's Wednesday!

Kicked back with the remote. Hilarious!


Here we are, it is Wednesday once more. I would like to say that I am awake and as fresh as a spring chicken but alas, that is just not the case. For reason unbeknownst to me, Aiden has decided that it will be fun to wake up repeatedly during the night the past few days. He has been eating solids pretty regularly now for about two weeks, everyone told me that this would make him sleep better. Well they are all liars. (Liars whom I still love, I am just speaking from sleep deprivation.) The funny thing is that when he gets up in the morning, he seems wide awake, refreshed and happy; while I look like death just slightly warmed over. I have been a little stressed out the past few days, so perhaps he is feeding off of my anxiety. By 9 I have usually shaken my death warmed over look off and can embrace the day with the same exuberance that I normally do. I am becoming increasingly able to function off less and less sleep, yay me for learning a new life skill!
Despite being completely sleep deprived, I am completely thankful for every moment of the day. Aiden is happy, healthy and a bundle of fun. We have been having more and more play sessions on the floor together. Sometimes he sits up all by himself for over a minute, I'm sure he will have that skill mastered before I know it. He is turning six months old on Friday, and I just cannot believe it. This has been the most challenging, but definitely most rewarding six months of my life. I cannot wait to see what the next six months will bring, I just hope that it goes by a little slower. :) 
Date: August 15, 2012
Weight: 19.2 pounds
Height: 30.5 inches

Friday, August 10, 2012

Tantalizing Tortillas


I love flour tortillas. I enjoy them as a snack; just heat it up, lather it in butter and I am in my own kind of heaven. I love the versatility of a tortilla, how it can become a vessel for so many scrumptious concoctions: burritos, tacos, chips, quesadillas, enchiladas, flautas or wherever your imagination will take you. The other day I had quite the hankering for a tortilla, but alas; there was not a tortilla to be found in the house. After accepting my bitter disappointment, I decided to do something about it instead of just wallowing in my tortillaless state. My solution? Make my own! They turned out pretty fantastic, even if they weren't the perfect circles we get in the packages. I am sure if I had a tortilla press, they would have turned out a little more uniform; considering I did it by hand, I think they turned out pretty dang good. :) Next time you need tortillas don't buy them, make them!!!





A little misshapen but I think it looks good!
Flour Tortillas
4 cups all-purpose flour 
1 teaspoon salt 
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 tablespoons shortening
1 1/2 cups water

 Whisk the flour, salt, and baking powder together in a mixing bowl. 
Mix in the shortening with your fingers until mix resembles cornmeal. 
Add the water and mix until the dough comes together; place on a lightly floured surface and knead a few minutes until smooth and elastic. 
Divide the dough into 8-12(Depends on the size you want) equal pieces and roll each piece into a ball.
Preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat. 
Use a well-floured rolling pin to roll a dough ball into a thin, round tortilla. Or a tortilla press if you have one! I also tried flattening it with a heavy cast iron pan.
Place into the hot skillet, and cook until bubbly and golden; flip and continue cooking until golden on the other side. 
Place the cooked tortilla in a tortilla warmer; while you finish making the rest of them. 
I stuffed my tortilla with shredded pork, cheddar cheese and dipped it in sour cream. Delicious!


Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Hello Wednesday!

Aiden and his Grandpa!

   Despite the craziness of this day, I am finding the time to weigh-in and blog. Today, is my youngest brother's first day of his Sophomore year, and I have to take both of my parents to the airport. They are flying to Georgia to see my other brother graduate from the Army. I am more than just a smidge jealous, I haven't seen my little brother since January. I miss him! 
   Aiden has been growing leaps and bounds, but not so much in pounds. He has been sitting comfortably around the 18 mark. This is probably due to the fact that he has become so much more active as of late. Every time I put this little munchkin down, he rolls right over. He is constantly scooting, rolling, squirming, trying to stand and making it darn near impossible to hold his wiggly self! We have just recently added some solids to his diet: avocado, prunes, pears and cereal. He is enjoying it and eating it all up, literally! :) I cannot believe how fast his first year is going, it is incredible to watch a little one develop right before your eyes. Aiden loves to laugh and I hope he keeps that lightheartedness all his life! I entered him in the new face of Gerber contest, voting begins September 4th and I am counting on all of you to help my little munchkin win! I will be posting his number and way to vote when the day is closer. Thanks in advance! :)
Happy Wednesday all, see you next week or earlier if I get a chance!
Date: August 8, 2012
Weight: 18.3 pounds
Height: 30.25 inches
 

Monday, August 6, 2012

Where Are You Wednesday?

    All of a sudden my life has taken a REALLY busy turn and unfortunately blogging has taken a backseat to everything else. I should have a little more time to blog now, but I cannot guarantee the steady flow until September. The last few weeks have been crazy, my mom and I threw a wedding shower for my cousin. We throw a pretty great party, if I do say so myself but I was literally in the kitchen for 3 days straight preparing food for the shindig. We had some amazing grub, which I shall be posting recipes for on a later date.
    Last week, we packed up and moved to Kingman, Az. Starting to get an idea why I have missed a couple blogs? Our new home is wonderful, and I cannot wait to get back to it. Yep,I am not there now, two days after moving in I had to be back in California for our annual Cousins Campout and a bachelorette party. Aiden and I will be returning to Kingman for good the first week of September, right after my cousin's wedding. There is a lot happening between now and then but I will do my absolute best to keep my blog readers up-to-date on Aiden's growth and changes.
Here is a quick recap via pictures of what has been going on in our lives as of late:
My little super hero being flown by my big super hero!

Aiden just started drinking water. Forget sippy cups, he wants to drink right out of mine!

Our new home in Arizona, isn't it cute!?!

Happiest little guy I know!

Thanks Great-Auntie Marilyn! Aiden loves his new books!!!

This is what happens the morning after a bachelorette party, breaking and entering!

Aiden is so excited to be eating solids like everyone else! :) Thanks for the handmade bib, Grandma Patty!
Individual pineapple upside-down cakes that I made for the Wedding Shower