Yummy Recipe

On Sunday I made a new recipe from my "Taste of Home" magazine ( thanks Mrs. Adelaide for the subscription ). I love pizza & could eat it every day! This recipe was for chicken cordon bleu pizza! My critics, Matthew & Randi approved.
Here is what you need:
-Pizza dough or crust
- Alfredo sauce
-cooked chicken
- Ham (I used deli ham)
-Swiss cheese

Bake on 400 for about 15 minutes! My left over picture doesn't do it justice. Trust me it was delicious!!!!

Way Too Fast!

(Mary Stewart in her dalmation cow outfit, made by my childhood babysitter)

Last weekend I went through Mary Stewart's closet cleaning out, reorganizing, and packing clothes up. The emotions of putting my baby's, baby stuff up, was kind of overwhelming. I can't believe we are already 9 months old. It is so fun to see her interact and move in a new way, but I miss the sweetness of an infant (yes I am getting baby fever, but I am not acting on it, yet anyway....). Mary Stewart is just growing up way too fast.

This last month has been quite eventful. Here is what month 8 looked like for Mary Stewart.

- Your new foods were mango, kiwi, watermelon, okra, cheese & hummus (you are particularly fond of the hummus)

-It seems you really enjoy feeding yourself your Cheerios! My how it entertains you!

-You are crawling! We look up sometimes and wonder where you have wandered to.

-Standing! Anywhere and Everywhere you can pull yourself up, you certainly try.

-This month you have been going to camp with me! You LOVE playing with the other children. We are thankful for Estaefania who you are so fond of!

-You are becoming a daddy's girl! It may be because he throws you in the air, plays peek a boo, and gets on the floor in the middle of all your toys with you.

Yes, you are still rotten in the best way, and realizing that this is such a short season with you, I wouldn't change a thing. I don't think either (Matthew or I) of us could have ever imagined we could love you as much as we do.

On the move......... Constantly!

Helping in the kitchen!

Mary Stewart & Estaefania at Camp

Road Trip

Road Trips.

I LOVE Road Trips! It may just be one of my favorite things from college. Well Saturday Randi and I took a little road trip to Camp Desoto in North Alabama (Look Out Mountain).

Rachel, my very soon to be new sister in law, is working at Camp Desoto for the first session. One reason I adore Rachel is that she LOVES camp too! I could devote a whole blog on why I think camp, and especially a resident camp, is so wonderful for children. My hearts desire if for my children to be able to escape the craziness of the world each summer, where they can be loved and nurtured and to be free of the pressures society is constantly throwing at them. When I mention sending my children off for 3 or 4 weeks in the summer to camp my mother in love ( side tangent- my friend amy refers to her mother in law as a mother in love, and I like it. Mother in law can sound kinda evil, and my certainly isn't, so mother in love from here on out) gives me that, "I can't believe you could send your babies off" look. At least with Rachel being a camp girl, I know the idea of camp will grow on Dee Dee.

Apologies for all the tangents.

So Randi and I were off. I must say Randi was a great co pilot. There has been speculation on her directional skills, but I can reassure you she can read a map! We had fun exploring the "Joe Frank Thomas Highway" and a nice little Starbucks detour. It was a fun girls afternoon in the car.

I had called Desoto earlier in the week to make sure Rachel would have time to hang out and show us around but mostly to make sure it was a surprise. We surprised her! I think we all got a little teary when we saw her sweet face! We visited during rest hour and sat on this great swing in the shade. It was so peaceful. Rachel took us down the road to the Mentone Market and we enjoyed root beer and diet coke.

Rachel was a camper at Desoto for 8 years and has been on staff for the past 4 (I think 4). Camp has been a tremendous part of Rachel's life. I am so thankful I saw a glimpse of it today with her and Randi.

It was a perfect summer afternoon for a road trip.

A First

Today was a first in our house. It was Matthew's first Father's Day. I love sweet days like today (even if hallmark just made them up) to honor the father's in our lives.

My dad used to have this picture hanging in the bathroom ( I think I may have actually given in to him on a Father's Day when I was a wee one) with a saying about Father's & Daddy's. I am thankful that Mary Stewart will know the unconditional love of her father. A father who will protect her and provide for her. Even now she gets so giddy when she sees her daddy! There is something fun and playful about a daddy and something even more precious about a daddy and his little girl.

I am thankful for my daddy today and my father in law. Two great men, with so much to give.

While thinking about Father's, I am thankful for my Father in heaven. Thankful that he would adopt me and share His inheritance with me. How wonderful for me to have been blessed with a great earthly Father and I look forward to Mary Stewart's days with Matthew, but my hope is that Mary Stewart will know her Heavenly Father too.

We celebrated today by going to church and then to lunch. Randi and her friend Hannah joined us. We had a quiet afternoon and then took our Annie (yellow dog) to the emergency vet. Annie is at home and fine. We think she had a seizure. All in all a pretty eventful end to a first Father's Day!

Couponing

Couponing. It's our new hobby, as lame as it sounds. This all started a few weeks ago when our friend Chris, told Matthew about this amazing deal on Old Spice body wash & deodorant. Next thing I knew, Chris is delivering 4 body washes and 4 deodorant for $4. I started to get the bug. Chris walked me through the steps (double coupons, stacking coupons, buy 1 get 1 free, etc), and though I am still very much a baby couponer, it's so much fun.

I have to admit I was a little surprised at how into couponing Matthew is. But then again it involves saving money, and he is such a competitor. Couponing really is just one big game. Where and how can I save the most money?

For the past two Sunday's we wait until Mary Stewart is taking her afternoon nap, and then it's through the newspaper. We have set up a system, and it seems to be working for us. I have to laugh because the past two Sunday's, Matt's sister Randi has been here. I am sure she is thinking, "Boy I hope I don't turn out like them!"

I think the thing I like the most about couponing is that I feel like my pantry is full. Though my monthly grocery bill hasn't really changed, I have so much more to show for it.

Today our big thrill was CVS (this is Matthew's favorite, & the store he is in charge of). We walked out with 6 air freshners (he is such a sucker for things that smell good), a new razor, 2 colgate clinical toothpastes, 5 body washes & a deodorant, & 2 big bags of sour patch kids (I couldn't resist) for $9. The best part is to look at the receipt and it says I saved $46.

So maybe our new hobby really isn't so lame!

Let's Catch Up!

I feel like the past few weeks have been a whirl wind. Oh it's because they have been. Since we made it home from the beach it's all a blur.

Dee Dee & Papa (Matthew's parents) were in town last week. His sister Randi is here for the summer too. She is working as a nanny here in Atlanta. She has already come over for dinner and we loved having her with us at church. My dad passed through town last week. We had a great visit, although it was too short. Sadly I realized I didn't take any pictures of Mary Stewart & her Paw Paw. But I guess the real news to catch you up on is my summer job. June 1 camp started for me! For the past few years I have served as Director of Paceketeers at Pace Camp here in Atlanta. It's a precious camp for 3 to 5 years old and I have an amazing staff who I adore. One of the great perks of the job is that I can bring Mary Stewart to camp. My friend Holly introduced me to a sweet high school girl, Estefania, who is keeping Mary Stewart at camp. I am thankful to have her.

It seems they (Estafania & MS) adore one another. She reaches for Estafania in the morning, and doesn't seem to mind when I leave (what a bitteresweet feeling)

Here are some pictures to catch you up!

Mary Stewart spent some time with her Dee Dee & Papa while I was in training last week.

Flowers!!! My oh so precious husband brought these home to me as camp started this week.

What A Month!

Mary Stewart had quite a month! She was a busy little bee. We had a lot of "first" this month. Here is a small glimpse....

-You tried Yogurt, green beans, squash, apple sauce & carrots! You also like your white grape juice and cranberry grape juice.
- This month you & I flew home from Baton Rouge! You did great! A special thanks to PaPa who upgraded us to first class! Wow, you are a loved little girl.
-Yeah!!!! You gained weight! Mary Stewart, you went from the 7% at 6 months up to the 30% at 7 months.
-There was the face plant! You fell out of your seat on to the HARD TILE kitchen floor! We were both crying & our hearts racing. Daddy was out of town to make matters worse! After a visit to Children's, you were all checked out! Just the first of many bumps & bruises.
-FINALLY a tooth! Not just one, but two. We have our two bottom teeth
-We ended the month with a great trip to Pawley's Island, South Carolina for your first trip to the beach!!! It was such a sweet trip for us.
-You still don't love to nap, but this month you have started sleeping 12 plus hours at night.
-Daddy had to lower your crib because you are standing!!!!
-You have been busy scooting around! We are close to crawling. You like to get up on all fours, but then not sure what to do next. I suspect any day now you will be crawling like crazy.

The other day my friend Mikki asked me what adjectives I would use to describe You Mary Stewart..... Delightful, Content, Sweet, Willful, Curious...... You continue to be such a special blessing to our family.