A Year in Review

I am proud to say that I put a big chunk in my goals for 2011.

1. Reading - Thanks to iBooks on my phone I have started reading again!
2. Washing my face - More than before, still need to do better...
3. Balance - Much better
4. Church - Well, we moved ::again::, but I have the big hurdle cleared.  Doug wants to go now too.
5. Make a baby - Technically achieved.  Should reword to "have another child".  At least we know we can conceive.
6. Start my dream book - Thank you Pinterest.
7. Accepting - Still improving
8. Go on more dates - Done!  And much easier now that we live near family :)

Huston - December 2011

Huston you are growing up so much!  Your legs and arms are getting hair on them (even a little on your back and upper lip too - gonna be all man!)  You have lost most of your baby fat and your muscles are starting to show.  The only things still "baby" on you is your pudgy belly.

You are very vocal and give us lots of please, thank you and your welcomes.  You also say cute things like "Did it" when you figure something out, you point to yourself and say "Suston", "come", "sit", "carry you" when you want us to hold you, you always ask "K?" when someone coughs, sneezes or gets hurt and you are starting to try your ABCs and numbers.  You've added sound effects to most of your playtime too, which is so funny.  You especially love to do monsters, dinosaurs, cars and animals.

Your appetite has really kicked in and you can put some food away.  You especially like yogurt, mac and cheese, veggie straws, pretzels, fries, grapes and roll ups.  I taught you my favorite way to drink milk.....with strawberry and you are a big fan.  You have also started asking for water all of the time, which is great.

You like to be the center of attention and will sing, dance, roar, snore and anything else to make someone laugh.  You like to get on the back of couch and lay like a cat.  You love to draw with a pen and paper...you have lots of crayons and markers but prefer pens.  You like to read or play with the phone under the blanket and you can navigate our iPhones better than we can.

At the beginning of December you started a new daycare and you really like it.  You always talk about your friends and sometimes aren't even ready to go when I pick you up.  This makes momma so happy because I hate that I can't stay home with you.

My favorite thing this month is "CUDDLES".  When you want to sit with me you say "cuddles" climb up on my lap.

I love you sweet boy and your Daddy and I are constantly amazed by how smart, cute, funny and outgoing you are.  You are the best of both of us.

A Child’s Ten Commandments to Parents

love this.....

1. My hands are small; please don’t expect perfection whenever I make a bed, draw a picture, or throw a ball. My legs are short; please slow down so that I can keep up with you.

2. My eyes have not seen the world as yours have; please let me explore safely: don’t restrict me unnecessarily.

3. Housework will always be there. I’m only little such a short time—please take time to explain things to me about this wonderful world, and do so willingly.

4. My feelings are tender; please be sensitive to my needs; don’t nag me all day long. (You wouldn’t want to be nagged for your inquisitiveness.) Treat me as you would like to be treated.

5. I am a special gift from God; please treasure me as God intended you to do, holding me accountable for my actions, giving me guidelines to live by, and disciplining me in a loving manner.

6. I need your encouragement, but not your praise, to grow. Please go easy on the criticism; remember you can criticize the things I do without criticizing me.

7. Please give me the freedom to make decisions concerning myself. Permit me to fail, so that I can learn from my mistakes. Then someday I’ll be prepared to make the kind of decisions life requires of me.

8. Please don’t do things over for me. Somehow that makes me feel that my efforts didn’t quite measure up to your expectations. I know it’s hard, but please don’t try to compare me with my brother or my sister.

9. Please don’t be afraid to leave for a weekend together. Kids need vacations from parents, just as parents need vacations from kids. Besides, it’s a great way to show us kids that your marriage is very special.

10. Please take me to Sunday school and church regularly, setting a good example for me to follow. I enjoy learning more about God.

**A Child’s Ten Commandments to Parents, by Dr. Kevin Leman

Drop the "A" and add a "Y"

Somehow I went from Momma to Mommy.  Not sure how or when this happened.  I have always been Momma and for the last few days, I have the word Mommy about 1000 times a day.  Not only has the "A" been replaced with a "Y", it is now the beginning and/or end over every sentence.

Mommy, hat.  Hat, Mommy.  Mommy, sit.  Come, Mommy.  Mommy, water, mommy.  Trains mommy.  ALL DAY LONG.

Ok, ok, it's hard to complain because it is super cute but oh my goodness it's strange how a word that melts your heart can also drive you nuts!

CHICKEN ENCHILADA PASTA

I finally made a meal I pinned on Pinterest and it was oh so yummy!
2-3 chicken breasts, cooked & shredded
2 tbsp. olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced (I used minced garlic seasoning)
1 medium onion, diced (I used onion seasoning)
1 red pepper, diced (I used red pepper seasoning)
1 {4 oz.} can diced green chiles
1/2 tsp. salt (I omitted)
2 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. cumin
2 {10 oz.} cans green chili enchilada sauce
2/3 cups red enchilada sauce
2 cups shredded cheese
1 cup sour cream
Penne pasta

Cook chicken, drain, and shred. Meanwhile boil pasta according to package and chop the veggies (no chopping my way). 

Heat the olive oil in a deep skillet and add seasonings.  Cook for about 10 min.

Add cooked chicken, green chiles, & enchilada sauces. Let sauce simmer for about 8-10 minutes.

Add cheese and stir until the cheese is melted and heated through. Now toss in the sour cream, but whatever you do, DO NOT bring to a boil! Cook on low heat or the sour cream will curdle. Stir until sour cream is well mixed and heated through.

Drain pasta & return to pot. Pour sauce over pasta and mix well.

Top with shredded cheese.  So good.

Tis the Season

Huston had a great time helping decorate this year.  From the minute we got the Christmas bins out he wanted to help with everything.  He had to help Daddy carry the boxes in, he helped unpack everything and even put things where he thought they should go.

Picture Perfect

The Jones Family Photo was a success again this year.  We are so blessed that Huston is such a good model and cheeses for the camera.  Here are a few of my favorites....

We even took the opportunity to get a Giants pic in their matching shirts....

shakin' what his momma gave him

Choreographed and performed by:  Huston Dean David Jones - 2011

Gobble, gobble!

After helping my dad fry a turkey a few years ago, Doug decided to introduce our California family to the juicy wonderfulness of fried turkey this Thanksgiving.

We made a trip to Bass Pro shop to get our fryer and supplies.  Huston LOVED Bass Pro, he's been there before but this must be the first time he really noticed all of the animals and fun things.  I bought a shirt that didn't fit, so we'll have to go back again soon and exchange it and spend more time.

The night before Doug had to prep the turkey by injecting it with Creole butter and covering it in Cajun spices.

It sat in butter and spices all night and was ready for us Thanksgiving.  Doug was so excited to fry his first bird.  The hard part is putting it in the oil without spilling any of it or it splashing on you.

His Grandpa and Dad hung out with him while they waited.  It only took 48 minutes to cook.  Try to beat that in an oven!

Finally it was time to take it out and it smelled sooooo good!

Doug was very proud of his bird!  And we were all very happy to eat it, it was YUMMY!

Huston - November 2011

Huston, it has been quite the month.  You had a sleepover with your cousins, had your first trip to the ER, went trick or treating and your Nana Loretta came to visit.  You have mastered putting on your shoes and socks and sometimes try your shirt and pants.  You are a busy little man and can pretty much do anything you put your mind to and you are learning so much!

You are amazing us daily with all of your new words.  You are saying complete sentences and can say almost any word you try to.  You love to play a word flashcard app on my iphone and I hear you practicing words all of the time.  When you are reading a book you will point to letters and try to "spell" the word....you don't quite match up the letter with what you are saying but you are definitely getting the concept.  When we write your name, you can sometimes even tell us which letter goes next.  You also try to count 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 3 or a similar combination.

You love to color!  All of the time.  Nonstop.  Either you are coloring in a color book, drawing on a balloon with a pen, using pen and paper, painting on canvas or arts and crafts...you really can't get enough.  You are pretty good too.  You fill in coloring book shapes pretty well and I will draw something and you will try to copy it and get pretty close.  You are also starting to recognize some colors.

Right now you are really getting into tv shows, your favorites are Yo Gabba Gabba, Barney, Handy Manny and Blues Clues.  You still like to play cars and trains, and have discovered dinosaurs and monsters (insert your scary voice when you say dinosauuuuuur & monnnnnster).

You are still not eating meat, but you are trying more things.  You love your string cheese, grapes, bagels, pancakes, waffles and fruit roll ups.  Daddy also helped you discovered donuts, so on the weekend if we leave in the mornings, you always ask for "doneys".

You still hold your ear when you are drinking your milk and no matter how many times we move your hand, you put it right back on the ear.  You sleep with your Toy Story blanket, "b", and your stuffed Buzz doll.  When we say it's time for bed, you kiss us goodnight and then walk in there all on your own.

Some of our favorite things you say are:  "Come, Sit down" (as you point to the carpet), please - "fleas", "No, Daddy, no", woo-hoo - "hoo-woo", "yipeee", "mommy happy, daddy happy, aydin happy, thank you - "dank you", love you - "zuv you".

And my most favorite thing you do right now is copy your daddy.  You are "learning" to shave, you do stretches and sit-ups with him each evening and you are always wearing his shoes or his hat.  You are his little mini me.

Love you so much baby boy!

Jumping for Joy!

As we were walking around the Pier this weekend I noticed you were really watching the bungee jump ride.  I asked if you wanted to do it and you said yes.  I was pretty sure you'd back out, but I went and asked they guy what the requirements were.  You only had to be 30 lbs or more, so we put you on the scale and you weighed in at 32.  I still figured you'd change your mind, but we paid the man and he started buckling you in.  You barely let him finish strapping everything before you started jumping......

The pure joy on your face was worth the $5 and they couldn't make you go high enough.  You didn't care for them flipping you too much, but the jumping put a constant smile on your face.  So much so that your threw a huge fit when your turn was up and you had to let the next person go.  We are still working on transitioning you from one activity to the next....

Buzz in Action

Trick or Treat

Huston aka Buzz had his first Trick or Treat experience this year.  It didn't last long but he sure had fun while it did.  We went out to Nama Dede's so he could go with his cousins.  He said "Trick or Treat", "Thank you" and "Bye" and thought that he had to trade candy to get a new piece.  My cutie.  We hit about 10 houses and then went to Poppop and Gramma's and he proceeded to strip down in there yard.

Boo

Boo is a popular word in our house this month.  Not only did Huston learn to say "BOO" at the end of the Halloween song at school and we are surrounded by monsters and goblins.....Huston also got his first major "boo-boo".

He was playing on the playground having a great time at his cousin's birthday party and in his rush up the stairs to go down the slide, he went flying.  My poor baby fell face first off of a four foot jungle gym.  I was trying to get all of the dirt out of his mouth and nose and then I saw it.  His first (of probably many) head wound.  He must have hit it coming down, because he landed on his tummy.  Surprisingly I was very calm and I got Doug and we decided it was deep enough to get it looked at.

boo-boo

We took him to the ER and for the first time in his life he got to sit on my lap instead of his carseat (it was only a 2 mile trip thankfully).  Luckily they weren't very busy and we only had to wait an hour to see the doctor, but we did get our own room.

waiting on the doc

 It took about an hour, a coloring book and lots of candy to keep him in the room.  He really wasn't even aware he was hurt until right before the doctor came in and that was because he saw the blood where he leaned his head back.

The doctor and nurse came in and decided he'd need staples, so we had to have him lay on his stomach and the nurse held his head, while I held his arms and body still.  I was able to have my face right next to his, so I could talk to him while they cleaned it and injected a huge needle full of a numbing agent around the wound.  Right before they started I asked the doctor if he was ready and I heard my little baby in a soft voice say "ready."  It broke my heart.  He cried while they put in the staples, but overall did really well.  As soon as it was over he gave the doctor high five and looked at his "toys".

stapled up

The hard part after that was keeping him in the room while we waited to be discharged.  It took awhile, so I finally let him walk the halls and he made a point to stop in everyone's room and say hello.  I think he made several old ladies very happy.

He did great when we got home and was able to sleep all night.  This morning when he crawled in bed with us he did lay directly on it and in a sad little voice said "owwww" so I think it does hurt, but he's not completely aware of it unless he puts pressure on it.

We are very lucky that it wasn't any worse, but I still get a sick feeling in my stomach every time I think of it.  Let's just hope it's the worse that he ever puts us through :)

sleep over

Huston, Jazzmin & Aydin had a sleepover at Poppop and Gramma's this weekend.  I wasn't there, but it looks like they had lots of fun!