Watermelon - The perfect summer treat.

The boys had hotdogs and watermelon for lunch today. I wasn't sure if Garrett would eat the watermelon at all. It took him a few minutes, but he ended up diggin' right in...



and makin' a mess. But he was happy.

The hair had to go.

Thanks to some other kids sharing some unfortunate buddies, the boys got their heads shaved this weekend.





Bronson has had this cut before, and he looks very dashing without hair. Garrett looks completely different. I'm still not sure how I feel about it.

I can't believe we're having to deal with this so early. I was hoping we'd at least make it to elementary school. I think that lice were put on this earth to make parents say bad words. I really don't see any other purpose they could possibly serve.

Do you have couch-bots?

Bronson is currently obsessed with drawing robots.

See?



This one is apparently Wall-E.


I was quite surprised when I got home from dinner with some friends on Friday night and found these guys on my couch. I played with the contrast on the first two so you can actually see them. Don't mind the spots. Spitting toddler + microfiber = weird marks.




I almost don't want to clean them off. They're so cute! I'll have to explain to them that if they're gonna just sit on the couch, I'm gonna put them to work.


Do you think his arms are long enough to fold laundry?

Flashback Friday - Our first weekend in DC

Two years ago, I drove across the country with my mom, a 10 month old Bronson and a big ol' preggo belly. Todd had already been here for a month. Dad flew out a few days after mom and I arrived.

The only one of us that had ever been to DC was my dad and it had been about 30 years. We took the metro from the medical center to Union Station and got tickets for a hop on/hop off tour. It was hot and humid, which made for a very long day.

Did you find me?

I did a mini-class on blogging last night for enrichment. I'm wondering how many of the sisters found my blog after my presentation.

Todd took over the computer as soon as he walked in the door yesterday. I was lucky that I got a chance to burn the cd for my slide show. I didn't get a chance to print out my notes, though. I ended up winging the whole thing... with screen shots. Thanks to Emily and Brittanie for sharing your blogs and thoughts with us.

I didn't get a chance to stay for Tammy's presentation on family newsletters. I hear it was very motivating.

I had to duck out of enrichment right after my presentation to meet up with the group from TACA. The local parents have been very helpful and are always willing to answer questions for me. One of the moms gave me some info for an autism study at NIH for kids Garrett's age. I'll be contacting them this week.

Menu Plan Monday - August 24th

It's been a few weeks since I've participated in Menu Plan Monday. Now that Garrett is on a Gluten Free - Casein Free diet, I'm really going to need the plan to make sure we have something that he can eat. No more last minute Hamburger Helper dinners for us.


Monday - teriyaki chicken legs, rice & veggies (plain chicken for Garrett)

Tuesday - Cafe Rio pork (recipe below), corn tortillas & salad
[take chicken and salmon out of freezer]

Wednesday - hamburgers (no bun for Garrett), tater tots, fruit

Thursday - brown sugar chicken, rice & cranberry poppy seed salad

Friday - mustard glazed salmon, salad

Saturday - easy stroganoff over egg noodles, veggies (Garrett will have a hot dog)

Sunday - leftovers

Cafe Rio Pork

3 lbs pork (butt or shoulder)

20 oz coca-cola

1 ½ c ketchup

1 clove garlic, minced

Place pork in crockpot. Pour mixture over meat. Cover and cook on high for several hours. When pork is tender, shred the meat and place back in the crockpot. Then prepare the sauce and pour over the pork. Cook and simmer on low for an hour.

Sauce:

2 c tomatillo sauce

1 ½ c brown sugar

juice of 2 limes

salt and pepper

chili powder

Wanna stalk the kitchens of other bloggers? Check out Orgjunkie.com for more Menu Plan Monday.

Flashback Friday - One year ago

Last August, my friend, Emily, took these photos for us. Bronson was all over the place (literally, we could hardly get any pictures because he would just take off). Garrett had just started walking. It's amazing how much difference one year makes.

Bronson doesn't look like a toddler anymore. He is very much a little boy, full of not-quite-three-year-old defiance.






Garrett would let me hold him. He didn't mind lovin' up on his mama.
[Great, now I'm making myself cry.] I miss that Garrett.

GFCF diet

I'm trying really hard to focus on what we need now that we have a diagnosis. I went shopping last night and we are officially starting the Gluten Free/Casein Free diet today.

We're starting with Garrett's favorite foods. For breakfast, he had GFCF pancakes, rice milk and peaches. We didn't exactly get a thumbs up, but we did get an enthusiastic shove into his mouth and screaming when it was gone. That means Garrett likes it.

Bronson didn't care for the pancakes, which was fine by me. He had some regular waffles from the freezer.

If you're not my friend on facebook...

Or you don't follow Garrett's developmental blog, you probably haven't heard this yet.

Garrett was officially diagnosed with autism today.

We were expecting it, but we still cried for a few minutes. We're moving on and gathering information and planning to help him the best that we can.

My week of baking.

Last week was really odd. I was trying really hard to stay home. If I make too many trips with the boys during the week, I spend too much money.

So I started baking again.

Monday, I made whole wheat bread. It was my first time using THIS recipe. It turned out okay. It was really crumbly. I don't know if that's how it's supposed to be or not. The boys didn't like it, so I'm not sure if I'll make it again. I may try the original recipe from Tammy's Recipes.

Tuesday, I made the mini carrot cake cups. Totally delicious. So delicious, I actually made them again on Friday.

Wednesday, I took a day off from baking because of Garrett's audiology appointment.

Thursday, I started bread in the morning and it was done baking by the time Garrett's speech pathologist got here at 11 am.

My new love. Homemade bread with homemade strawberry jam.

Friday, my friend, Jenda, came over. After a morning a the pool, we decided to make some more mini carrot cake cups. I also made the mini corn dogs that night.

I love baking, but it creates too much temptation. I was good and delivered some treats to a friend and a neighbor one day. And instead of eating two loaves of bread in one day like we used to, it lasted for four days.

Mini Corn Dogs

I guess I'm on a miniature food kick.

We had mini corn dogs for dinner tonight. Bronson loves them. Garrett loves the breading, but won't eat the hotdog.

Buying them from the freezer section is pretty pricey, so we decided to try out our own.

I got this recipe from a GFCF website, but we used regular flour and milk this time.

1 c. flour (or a GF flour)
1 c. cornmeal
2 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1 large egg
1/2 c. milk (or milk substitute)

Heat the oil in a deep, heavy pan or deep-fat fryer to 350 degrees F.

Whisk the dry ingredients together. Add the egg and half the milk and whisk well to combine. Add more milk as needed until the batter is thick but still pourable.

Stick whatever ingredients you decide to use onto long skewers. Use your imagination to find other interesting "variations." Coat the ingredients in flour and then dip into the batter. Make sure to get it completely coated. Immediately and carefully, lower it into the hot oil. Fry, in batches, until they are light brown, about 3 minutes. Let drain on paper towels and serve while still warm.





We really liked these. There were plenty left over. We'll reheat those for lunch tomorrow, I'm sure.

Can I really take 17 more years of this?

If we were going by our original orders, we would be moving next week.

But we've been extended. Unofficially, since there have been no new orders cut. I thought that when the detailer told Todd that we'd be here until "at least October... maybe November" he was being serious.

Now we're hearing that we might not get orders until October, which would mean moving right before Christmas. Of course, that's all just hearsay since we have nothing official on paper.

I need a drink.

Mini Carrot Cake Cups

Three cheers for last minute baking!

I was flipping through the new Pampered Chef Season's Best recipe book and found these beauties - Mini Carrot Cake Cups. Fresh grated carrots and whipped cream cheese topping. Yum.

They're quick, easy and so darn cute.

Looks like I'll be delivering them to some friends this afternoon because having them around could be dangerous.

I'm such a whiner.

But I'm so good at it.

I strained an abdominal muscle on Sunday. For those of you that have had c-sections, you know that pain that you get near your incision every time you try to sit up. Yeah. That's what hurts.

I didn't even strain it doing anything cool. Sunday morning, Todd was doing his exercises to prep for his PRT. Push ups and sit ups. Bronson loves to exercise with Daddy, too. I had just walked into the living room when Todd stood up. Bronson told me that I should do push ups, too. Not a problem. I can totally do them.

Not a great idea. Just getting down into a plank position pulled a muscle.

Ouch.

I'm trying to take it easy. But taking it easy isn't really possible with my two monkeys. I was going to do laundry, but then realized that I wouldn't be able to move clothes from the washer to the dryer. Looks like I'm folding clothes and cleaning the kitchen today.

"He gets that creepy tongue thing from his mother."

Bronson ate a peanut butter sandwich for lunch today. As always, he got peanut butter all over his face. He knew it was there and was trying to lick it off, but it was just out of reach of his tongue. I couldn't help but laugh. I told Todd that Bronson was trying to lick peanut butter just under his nose but he was doing this crazy move with his tongue to try to get it.

Todd said, "You know, he gets that creepy tongue thing from his mother."

I could only reply that if he really did have my creepy tongue, he would be able to reach the peanut butter.

So there. :P

Swingin'

I took the boys to playgroup on Friday morning. I've been trying to take them to the park more often. Bronson loves it. Garrett usually ends up strapped in the stroller. The past two weeks, I haven't taken the stroller out of the car. Bronson is old enough to walk on his own and not wander off, which gives me some time to spend with Garrett.

Garrett just like to run around. He hates the slide. Hates as in screams bloody murder if you get him anywhere near it. We learned this a few month ago. Things haven't changed. He will sit in the swings. I'm not sure if he likes it or just tolerates it. He doesn't cry, but he doesn't show any enthusiasm either.

He just kind of sits there. But he leans forward and faces the ground.

Bronson on the other hand LOVES the swings. He kept telling me that he was flying.

Flashback Friday

My baby sister, Becka, turned 18 yesterday.

1998

2004

Happy Birthday, Sister. I miss you.

He followed up with a question!

This morning during Garrett's occupational therapy session, Bronson said, "Mom, I have a question for you." Expecting the same ol' conversation, I rolled my eyes and replied, "Okay, what's your question."

And he answered.

He followed up.

He asked, "What's Garrett doing?"

And it made my day.

National Night Out

They were doing a National Night Out event at the elementary school around the corner. I decided to go for a walk with Bronson and check it out.

Free food.
Bounce house.
Sold.







Bronson had so much fun in the bounce house, he even waited in line so he could go again. Two year olds aren't very good at waiting, but he did it. If we had a yard, I would totally get him a bounce house for his birthday party.

One of the police officers gave him a rubber ducky in a police uniform. He loves ducks, so it's his new favorite.

We went for a walk yesterday

Since I can't take Garrett to the gym without stressing myself out in the morning, I've been trying to find some other ways to get a workout in. I've found that if I don't do it first thing after the boys eat breakfast, I lose all motivation and it just doesn't happen.

Yesterday, we went up to the lake for a walk. We were off to a late start due to Garrett's impromptu chocolate shower. It was warmer than I would have liked. I hope to get out of the house at 8 if we're going to do this again.

My boys getting ready for a "push" around the lake.

No picture of Garrett would be complete without spit.

Bronson loves wearing Daddy's old frames.

Bronson loves this bunny. The bunny wasn't too fond of us getting closer.



My handsome boy.

It's one of THOSE mornings.

Bronson decided that he was using the potty this morning. Fine. Whatever. He didn't want to get off of it, so I made him move to the living room while I was making breakfast.

A few minutes later, the boys are watching Arthur. I'm sitting comfortably at the computer; checking email and sipping a chocolate slim-fast shake. Bronson then yelled that he had dropped his car in the potty. I hopped up to begin the search and rescue mission (it wasn't in the potty).

While I was five feet away and my drink was left attended, Garrett decided to help himself.


A chocolate covered toddler is my favorite kind.

On my way to rescue my child, drink and carpet in one fell swoop, I rammed my shin into a plastic tote that was left in the living room yesterday. It's a beautiful bruise, really.

I'm really hoping that this day gets a whole lot better.

A little production

I wasn't very productive today, but I did get something done. It was something I've been thinking about for a few months.

The five boxes of baby boy clothes that were taking up half of the closet are now condensed to one plastic tub that fits up on the top shelf. I do have one box to drop off at Salvation Army on Monday. The rest of the clothes are in Space Bags (:::love:::).

Oh, and I love Panera. And their Strawberry Poppyseed salad. I wish they had it year round.