A Gift

I want you to know something. What I'm about to present to you is a gift. My own mother gave it to me and I would like to share it all with you. But you have to promise to pass it on. Or at least make it, serve it then refuse to give anyone the recipe because it is now your secret weapon. It's one of those recipes that people will request you make over and over again. It will become your go-to appetizer to bring anywhere. It's that good, cross my heart, SWEARS. It's called a Bacon Cheese Ring.

You will need:

plus a cup of mayo but I surmised that no one needs to look at a photo of mayo. It's kind of revolting. Delicious yet revolting.

Then you simply:

To get the full effect of this tasty treat, slather some of the spread on a piece of bread, then add a thin layer of jam. Oh sweet sassy molassy, this one's a keeper. It's sooooo good.

and I wouldn't mind a vote here :) Click the gold thumbs up for good luck

Word-Free Wednesday

Easter morn, reading his new books.

 

Ok maybe just a few words...If you are so inclined, I'd love your vote in this Circle of Moms Top 25 Baby Journal thingie. Click here, then click the small gold thumbs up button. You can do it once a day for like the next two weeks. I might remind you every so often. I hope that's not too annoying.  And if you need a vote for ANYTHING, you let me know and I've got you. You lean up against me and I'll lean up against you and that way neither one of us has to sleep in the rain. Sound good?

And if you made it here via the Circle of Moms site, I'm super pumped that you're here. And I promise no more Forest Gump quotes.

Encyclopedia of Moi: Volume I

It's time again for another installment of my own personal log of useless information and we're up to letter I.

ickle -- I've told you guys before about my love of this little tooth and his adventures with his partner in crime Lardee over on My Milk Toof. Besides the storytelling being cute and clever, these little teeth are just so loveable. I like to not look at the blog for awhile so that when I click on over, there will most likely be a new installment. Seriously, go look if just for the cuteness factor. Mini giraffes got nothin on these guys.

Irony -- I think people like to discover ironic situations, they get a little burst of pride on being able to recognize the connection between two things.  The thing about irony is that I never remember what it actually means. Just even talking about it is a conversation filled with vague words.  Every so often, John and I come across something that we think might be ironic. But then we both question...is this more a coincidence than irony?  Then we just look at each other with a blank look.  I dunno, we say, and give up.

Irish Pub-- I know, surprazz surprazz. (FYI, that's me saying surprise, surprise in my southern accent). But yeah, I know you're all shocked to see another booze-related entry in my encyclopedia. But this isn't just any irish pub, it's THE Irish Pub, located in Atlantic City, NJ. The place where any and all nights in AC end. Why the Pub you ask? They are open until like 5am, the beers are like 3 bucks and they'll serve you a plate of chicken fingers when you're hammered at 3:30 in the morning. Plus Willy the Leprochaun is a regular. Enough said.

Ironing  -- This is one of those love or hate domestic responsibilities...and I heart it in a big way.  It used to be my Sunday night activity, setting up the ironing board in front of the tv and removing creases all through Animation Domination. I have a hard time relaxing most of the day, with my mind constantly racing with things that I want or need to do. But when it comes to ironing time, it's just me, my iron and a pile of John's work shirts and I can finally relax.  Plus, I like seeing a row of nicely pressed shirts in the closet.

1 2 3 4

Apparently Easter is the Spring Christmas

Especially when it's your baby's first Easter. We arrived home last night from my aunt's with a tired baby and a trunk full of swag. From wagons and blocks to swimsuits and stuffed animals, Gabe made out like a bandit. Of course, his parents didn't go overboard. We leave that up to everyone else.  I picked up a cheapy basket for him in the dollar aisle at target and filled it to the brim...and the brim meant three items.

We gave him a couple books, a new truck, a spiffy new bowtie and some boat shoes. He could have cared less though. He was digging the plastic eggs...

Of course, I didn't fare too bad either. I might have tweeted a little something about wanting to find a shit-ton of Cadbury minis as well as Tina Fey's book in my basket. Luckily the Easter bunny follows me on Twitter because I got exactly what I asked for.

I filled John's with new undershirts, a couple of books and a chocolate orange. I jazzed up a couple of apple bin baskets the night before with some ribbons I had...and used packing tape to attach them. I have zero interest in paying $10+ for a basket I won't be using any other time of year. But apple bins? Totally versatile.

We spent the rest of the day at John's sister's, then off to my aunt's house where once again we played Pass the Baby. This holiday also included lots of showing off our "walking" skills and generally being doted on.  There hasn't been a wee babe in some time in my family so Gabe is quite the spectacle. And rightly so. He's a good boy.

I honestly didn't mean to dress us quite so....candy colored? The hot weather surprised us all so outfits had to be switched up last minute.

But not Gabe's outfit. This one was going to be worn come hell or high water. I could not get over the cuteness of tiny madras plaid shirt and of course, his babyAlexPKeaton bow tie tipped the adorbs scales. But I won't lie...kind of hard to keep a bow tie on a baby.

Sorry for all of my photos being half blurry. This is what happens when you're playing photog with a wine glass in one hand, a handful of mini eggs in another and a squirmy babe wanting to be anywhere but in front of the camera. Anyway, we had a great first Easter and it proved once again that holidays are a billion times more fun when wees are involved. I hope you had a great holiday weekend. What did the big wabbit bring you?

Take the Good With the Bad

You know what one of the best feelings in the world is? Cooking a new recipe for your family and realizing that it tastes awesome. Total feeling of accomplishment knowing that everything came together as it was supposed to and that your hard work paid off.  Plus, you've now got another recipe in your arsenal. So big surprise when I made yet another Mexican-inspired dish and it turned out delicious. This one is Baked Creamy Chicken Taquitos and it got 4 thumbs up at our house. It's hard to believe that there's a tortilla-meat-cheese combination that I haven't tried before but alas, this one's it. I'd highly recommend you guys make these. And pair it with some sangria. Let's all sit around and have a glass of sangria okay?

On the other hand, you know what one of the worst feelings is? Making something that just sucks. And even worse is when a lot of time and effort went into that sucky mess. You think you're doing good, plugging away in the kitchen, following your recipe and when it comes time to sit down and dig in, you realize that the meal sitting in front of you went wrong. Even worse is the people you made the meal for digging in and attempting to convince you it's not as bad as it really. "What went wrong?", you think. You went out and bought the weird expensive ingredients. You followed the directions. The recipe came from the queen of domesticity herself! How did this situation get so effed? I know I'm being a bit dramatic but for reals, a bad meal can totally ruin your night, right?

The meal below is a prime example of a big disappointment.  It's Sausage, Chard and Lemon Lasagna from MS Living and it's a strange, strange meal. The sauce was thin and runny and while I was venturing out of my comfort zone with these ingredients, the combo just didn't do it for me. But it sure did look pretty. But I suppose beauty is more than lasagna-deep.

 Well hopefully there will lots of good eatin in your neck of the woods this weekend. I foresee a Cadbury Mini egg coma in my future for Sunday night. At least I will be if the big bunny knows what's good for him. Have a super duper Easter!

*Take a Long Walk Off a Short Pier

Growing up, I was lucky if any pictures of me were taken. I was the third child of working parents in the early 80's. And although they were both working, it was a struggle to keep the three of us in Catholic school and food on the table. Things like film and film developing costs were pretty much luxuries. Completely unheard of were home movies. Sure, we saw commercials for them on TV but no one I knew had one. So as it is, there are limited photos and zero home movies featuring yours truly. (Geez, it's no wonder I have this incessant need for attention *coughblogcough*) So anyway, when the time came last year for my 30th birthday present, I chose a DSLR with a camcorder option. Best decision ever. I don't have to lug some other piece of equipment around and it's super easy to switch into movie mode. To catch awesome pieces of history like this...

Gabe Walking...Sort Of from Shannon Wellington on Vimeo.

And um, sorry bout the sideways view here, I could not for the life of me figure out how to rotate it.

Gabe Walking & Talking from Shannon Wellington on Vimeo.

So clearly Gabe will never have these woes.

Oh and in other news, I chopped my hair off. Thanks for all your encouragement and many compliments on my mop. But I just couldn't take it anymore. It only looked good after an hour of primping and who's got that kind of time? So without furthur adieu...

*Was this a common saying for you guys growing up? I know I would hear it (and variations) from my parents but I know my bff Kelly associates it with her Nan. That one's for you Kel.

Oot and Aboot

Or as you might say, Out and About. John and I are fond of Canadian-speak.

The weather this past weekend was nothing but bipolar. On Saturday, it rained and rained and there were moments when I thought our house was going to get get picked up and swept away. I used to not care about the rain. Yeah, it's raining, it might mess my hair up when I'm running into the mall or to a bar but whatev, it'll dry. These days, if there's a major storm, I start thinking about trees falling on my house, leaks in my roof, thunder waking the baby...all things I can't control. But I cringe everytime I start to see the makings of a storm. Craaaazy. Luckily, it cleared out of here, making for a positively gorgeous Sunday.  We headed down to the waterfront for lunch outside and a little walk along the water.

Downtown Wilmington, DE is usually dead on the weekends, so we weren't surprised when we were the only ones sitting outside, even on such a perfect day. Although as we were sitting there, a crowd of women , presumably shower attendees, piled out of the restaurant with glasses of white zin and cigarettes in hand for a smoke break. My mom-eyes immediately got squinty as I stared them down, seeing exactly how far they were going to be from us with their stank.  Luckily I didn't have to go all passive-agressive on their asses.  Now, let me assure you, as a former smoker, I was always considerate of others, especially littles. So I don't feel hypocritical at all when I get all high and mighty mom on smokers.

 Although, the passive agressive tables were soon turned on me. While we were eating, a couple came up and sat down at the table next to us, the only other table in the sun. As the guy walked over, I noticed he had a dog on a leash with him. I looked over at John, with a look on my face, and said, ugh, I really don't want to sit next to a dog. It's not that I don't like dogs, I just get nervous with them around the baby, ya know? And honestly, I don't know what that dog's like, what if gets up in my business?

Anyway, the guy totally catches my expression and says, " I'm sorry my dog is ruining your lunch" in a tone that definitely implied that he was in no way sorry. I'm never on the end of passive aggression! I'm always the one doling it out! But I recognized it right away and told the guy,"Look, I'm sorry but I get nervous with dogs around the baby." I wasn't being an a-hole on purpose (like I sometimes am it was just the truth. Turns out, the guy is pretty nice and starts asking about the baby and then telling us about his dog. Thank goodness, that was going to be a real awkward lunch if things went the other way.

Margaritas for lunch? Why not? Two of them? Okay!

Itty bitty city

Itty bitty preppy baby

All in all, a great little family day. I like those.

April Showers and Whatnot

You know what today is right? Little buddy's 8 month birthday! So he decided to get all spruced up for the occasion.

I, for one, cannot get enough of those little baby rolls. Those soft, lily white chubs...cannot.get.enough. And the little baby man boobs? I die.

I think I'm hitting the wall with the monthly photoshoots. I always knew a time would come when he wouldn't do what I wanted him to...like sit still. He'd look at everything in the room but me...John, the cat, specks of dust. But I'll keep doing them until he's one, swears.

He's such a happy little dude though. He lets out these high pitched laughs and then some that sound like machine guns hahahahahahaha.

Doh!

The expression on his face here cracks me up...a little Church Lady-esque?

Pretty sure this is going to be a cat-beating toy from now on.

Is this shoot over yet Ma?

I don't think you're ready for this belly.

Squeaky clean and ready to play.

My wee (sorta) Gabriel, happy 8 months! You've managed to only make us love you more and more with your funny

little personality and general adorableness. You're getting to be quite squirmy lately so I know my time holding onto you and cuddling is getting limited. I remedy this by squeezing you multiple times a day and covering you with kisses and zerberts. You love a good zerbert, kid. You even join in and give them yourself. But anyway, this month has been another big one, with lots and lots of accomplishments. In the past month...

-You have become a pro at pulling yourself up on everything and even walk all along the couch by yourself, barely holding on.

-You will also walk across the room using your little wagon walker ALL BY YOURSELF. I am in shock and awe at this one. I'm pretty sure this is kinda early to be walking and I know you'll be darting around without holding onto anything in no time. *Blows into paper bag* Where did my baby go?!?

-You have mastered drinking water out of your sippy cup. For awhile there, like everything else, it was just a chew toy for you. But then you actually started gulping down the water. Very "big boy" of you, I must say.

-You say dada all day long. I think you might have an idea that the word is related to your actual dad but sometimes I'll just say it to you in Target and you'll crack up and repeat it. So who knows, maybe you just think it's a funny word. Now the word mama on the other hand? You only say it when you wake up in the middle of the night and start with the screaming. That's enough of that, bud.

- You have learned how to entertain yourself in your crib. It's a lot nicer waking up to your babbling than red-faced tears. Keep it up.

-You tried store-bought baby food. I picked up a pouch of spinach-pea-pear just to see if it was my cooking of peas that you found repulsive or just peas in general. Yep, my cooking. You gobbled down the pea combo in no time. It's ok, I've realized that having some of those pouches on hand will be good for babysitters and when we go out. NOT for mama's habitual laziness, NOT AT ALL.

-You still get called Buddy Bear by me and your dad, and now even by your Gigi. But your parents also refer to you as a pint-size wisenheimer when you're being a...wisenheimer. 

-You are rocking size 9 month clothes these days and seem to be on track to catch up to your age/size correlation. At least I hope so, I've been buying 12 month summer clothes so stay on track!

-Just last night we saw that your 7th tooth had broken through. Really? Seven? Are you going for some sort of record?

-Your favorite tv shows are Clifford the Big Red Dog, Curious George, Kipper and the Sunny Side Up Show/Good Night Show on Sprout. My favorite tv show is Sid the Science Kid. I might watch it while you're napping.

So that about sums up life as you know it, kiddo. We're constantly amazed by all the new tricks you keep pulling out of your bag and we can't wait to see what you do next.

(but you can call me Mom)