Mama-luia

Chicken Fajitas From the Meat Lovers Cookbook Ingredients: 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (they'll tell you this "serves 4." No, it serves 6. Or 8. Or at least Two Patricks worth of appetite. And those of you who have ever watched him eat, you know that's saying something!) 2 red peppers seeded and cut into strips Marinade: 3 tbs. olive oil 3 tbs. maple syrup 1 tbs. red wine vinegar 2 cloves garlic, crushed (but in my world, I usually double the garlic called for in any recipe) 2 tsp. dried red chile flakes For serving: Tortillas (follow the link to a surprisingly easy and WAAAY cheaper way to eat tortillas! Mmm!) Shredded cheese Shredded lettuce Sour cream Salsa ... and, well, whatever else you like. {Baby Appleseed says "Guacamole, Mama!"} 1. To make marinade, place the oil, maple syrup, vinegar, garlic, oregano, chile flakes and salt and pepper to taste in a shallow dish. Mix well. 2. Slice the chicken across the grain (I do...

How far along? 23 weeks, 1 day. While I'm delighted that I'm already past the half-way mark, having my cousin and one of my dear friends give birth in the last three weeks, on top of knowing that my sister's baby will be born a month from today, makes this last stretch seem looooong. I'm hoping it goes by as quickly as the first 20-ish weeks. Total weight gain: Still haven't gotten back to my pre-pregnancy weight, although I am gaining fairly quickly. Maternity clothes? I am still wearing my pre-pregnancy jeans (as well as maternity clothes too of course). They're stretch jeans, so that only counts a little, but this is far cry from the last pregnancy, when people were certain I must be having twins; I just looked so big for how far along I was. Sleep? It's mostly going very well, thanks in part to the Snoogle pillow my parents loaned me (they have one for when one of their oft-pregnant daughters might happen to spend the night at their house. Aren...

Tonight Patrick and I participated in a Vocations panel for a parish nearby, where junior high school students were able to ask us, a religious Sister and a priest anything they wanted about our respective vocations. I think it well fairly well, due mostly to my well-spoken husband jumping in and clarifying my garbled responses. For example: Teen: How did you know you were supposed to get married? Me: Well, that's a tricky question to answer as an individual, because it took the two of us to decide that. I guess, with prayer... (trails off awkwardly) Patrick: For starters, we loved each other. And because we loved each other so much, we couldn't imagine not being married. It seemed to just fit. Me (laughing nervously at my realization of my wild admission): Oh, right, we love each other! True story. Thanks, Patrick-dear. He has a way of doing things just like that -- fixing things so I don't look like a complete fool. He also has a way of surprising me with s...

While Angela was here, we were taking pictures of the various happenings of our life when Noah came up to her, and in his amazingly clear yet non-verbal way, demanded she take a picture of him. He walked her towards the dishwasher, and moved his new teddy bear stool in front of it so he'd have a place to sit while he posed. When he noticed there were a few toys in the way, he quickly pushed them aside, sat atop his stool and posed as follows: We were both so amused by his forceful insistence on having his picture taking, and having done just so . This picture, and the way it came to be, makes me think I have a rather strong-willed and incredibly creative child on my hands. I'd say that's just lovely.

January A happy quiet month at home in our apartment. Noah celebrated his first Epiphany with a lovely gift from his Nana (a homemade ark, of course!) he cut some new teeth and generally we were together and happy. February An uneventful month (in the good sense). Lent began, and we turned a little more inwards. March We started attending a monthly family Rosary and potluck with some fellow Nova Scotian Catholics Here we are dressed up one Sunday on our way out to visit these friends. April We celebrated Easter. Our great little source of joy turned a year old! One year of blessings and joy that can't be captured in words. May We returned to our former home, Ontario, for a visit Noah had oodles of fun playing with his cousins June After much prayer, we decided to start looking for a house. Here. In Nova Scotia. We celebrated two years of marriage (and went out for our FIRST baby-free date at night in 15 months. Dessert at Il M...

One of my best friends in the world came and stayed with our little family for this past week. We didn't 'do' much. She mostly just joined in on the rhythm of the days and nights with us. Making meals. Cleaning up after said meals. Drawing endless pictures of ducks and cats to a curious toddler. Changing diapers. Folding laundry. Cuddling a cutie who is so shockingly close to two . Drinking loads of tea. Eating Cheetos because preggo wanted them. Putting away toys. Having toys dumped from the bag they were placed in. Our little life is so intimate and quiet, and even she wondered aloud if she was interrupting things, but in actual fact, she was the perfect addition to our home. Gentle. Kind. Patient. So deeply loved by me. And now Noah, who calls her "Nada." I give you, the beautiful Miss Angela: Here she is patiently writing out Noah's name over and over. Her lap became a favoured place for him to spend much time. Ever the elementary te...

What a full, and yet peaceful, extravagant and yet simple Christmas we are experiencing. It has truly been my best Christmas ever. We made a "pilgrimage" all the way across the street to visit the creche And anxiously awaited Baby Jesus' arrival Babies grew bigger And toddlers got so very grown up We decorated our first real tree on Christmas Eve We laughed. A lot. We posed for a quick photo before going to Christmas Eve Mass. This isn't our tree, mind you, but my in-laws, where we had just finished a big feast of tortiere. Mmm. (One of us was lucky enough to wear his jammies to Mass! He also got to sleep for most of Mass. And no, it wasn't Patrick.) We delighted in the sight of our tree with presents under it the next morning A certain toddler curiously studied the large strange shape under the table cloth (He seems to be saying "is this for me?! ") Also, note the cute pants. His proud mommy made them ...