What’s Up Wednesday
This week has been all about making comfort food, nursing a sick baby boy, watching trees grow, and getting ready for baby boy’s second birthday! That’s an exclamation full of emotion, folks. I’m so proud of the adorable bundle of sugar my baby boy has become at two. I’m also completely devastated that two years has passed so quickly. Anyone invented a machine to pause time yet? I’m mean, it is 2017. We can order toilet paper and lion costumes for our pets on demand, but no time machine? Get with it, Amazon.
Corey says that almost two year olds don’t have to use utensils. Except apparently he says it in a pirate voice with an “Arrrgggg” following it.
{Side Note: poor baby boy has bronchiolitis. It’s a wicked nasty cough, but he’s still in good spirits. We’re praying he recovers quickly so he can enjoy his party this weekend!}
Anywho… I’ve been making some serious [EASY] comfort food to get in the mood for fall weather (and holy cow – Thanksgiving is next week). I hear Houston will be slightly chilly, so you better believe I’ll be wearing layered fall clothes like I was in an L.L. Bean catalogue. Here’s what I’ve made this week:
Barefoot Contessa’s “Spanish” Pea Soup + Crispy Ham
This delicious bowl of sweet, salty, creamy goodness takes literally 10 minutes to make. Okay, 15 tops. I made it while I was simultaneously getting Corey’s lunch ready – yes, it’s that easy! I only spilled pea soup on myself about 12 times. And then went to the UPS Store with said spilled soup on my shirt without noticing. You know, Mom Life. If you don’t want to go the “Crispy Ham” route, you can always substitute some bacon bits. I think this would also be yummy topped with some crumbled Feta or goat cheese. BONUS: it’s only 245 calories per serving, 21g protein, and 7g fat.
I also made a HUGE batch of Pasta e Fagioli because well… comfort food. It’s got pancetta (hello, basically bacon), beans that make the soup thick and hearty, and pasta to send it over the Comfort Food Cliff. To top it off, throw on some fresh basil + freshly grated Parmesan. Holy Italian Happiness.
Another major comfort food staple is my sister-in-law’s famous meatloaf. I’ll share the recipe soon! The best part about her recipe is that it freezes perfectly! I always make a double batch and freeze the pieces individually. We had our meatloaf this week with Cauliflower Mash.
On Monday, we had some purty trees planted in our backyard. I don’t know about you, but nature is my JAM, y’all. If I’m surrounded by too much concrete, I tend to get a little cranky. The house we lived at in Dallas had gorgeous, tall, full trees. Tons of them. I hated their leaves, but boy did I love seeing all that fabulous green in our backyard. These trees are starting to add more of a “home” feel to our new home.
These trees have more than just a need-to-make-Mama-get-over-concrete value. They’re planted in memory of my sweet brother, Jimmy. I love the idea of looking out the window and seeing something tangible that can memorialize him. I think about Jimbo every day – I don’t need a reminder of him. I wanted a special something that was my own, happy thing that could represent life after death. I’m not sure if that makes any sense, but that’s how my brain is working these days. Sometimes, you’ve got to actively seek your hope + joy.
Okay – enough sappy rambling. So, Jon Boy and I each chose the type of tree we wanted to plant. I went for a Maple tree that’s native to Houston because I think the leaves go “whishy-whishy” in the wind. Don’t know what I mean? Go watch a Maple tree’s leaves blowing around… they go “whishy-whishy”… I swear. It’s their official sound.
Jon Boy opted for a Red Oak because that was his favorite tree from our home in Dallas. It’s sturdy, handsome, and full of colorful life (just like good ole Jon Boy himself).
I had to take a few pictures of our baby trees’ first birthday! I can’t wait to see how big they grow compared to the house. That’s like a botanist’s official version of a growth chart, right?
Here’s a Happy Monday for ya: I broke my stinkin’ Apple watch (had it for less than a year)!!! This is the punishment I get for doing dishes. As I was drying my hands, somehow my watch strap came undone and my whole piece of arm candy fell SMACK flat right onto the granite countertop. I told Jon Boy this was God’s way of saying dishes are solely a man’s job. He didn’t agree. Anyone have ideas for how to magically get this puppy back in working condition? Or should I try to get on the ‘Nice’ list this late in the Christmas game?
And in honor of trying to get ready for a birthday party while having a sick toddler running around the house…
Happy Humpday, y’all!
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