Terrifically Thomas

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

MARCH MADNESS

Most people are aware that March Madness is quite possibly my very most favorite time of the year...aside from the holidays and my birthday, of course. I just feel it not only divvies up the monotony of the lackluster extended time from the bustling holiday season to summer break, but is just plain fun and exciting to say the absolute very least. There is seriously NOTHING better than vegging out and watching college basketball all. day. long. Nothing. Who cares if it's your squad or not? It's just great...plain, pure, and simple. I mean, it definitely doesn't hurt if your squad is kickin' ass and taking names too :)
But anyways...
The rivalry, the roaring of the crowds, the shattered egos of a squad that once was or certainly thought "they were", or even the fulfillment of dreams within a Cinderella story squad from a season that built up to that one "shining moment"...or just those very last seconds that come down to a plan built upon that one inbound pass conjure up feelings of anticipation and exuberance that I cannot get enough of...I. LOVE. IT. Every year, it's the same story...it's all shiny and new and it never gets old, and just like the holidays, I always feel that it goes by far too quickly.

Now, UK may have made quite the piss poor showing this year so I need not divulge into any deets of remnants of a season that could've, should've, and would've...but didn't and should never (EVER) be spoken of again, so I'll digress and focus upon expressing my overwhelming excitement towards the next few weeks of college basketball that lies before us. Ahhh, I can just feel the goosebumps creeping up my spine and racking my frame as the echos of the roaring, chanting, taunting crowds ring in my ears already. Fun, fun, fun!!!!!!!!!
I cannot help but get a tad nostalgic, however, because at this very time last year I was fresh on my "modified bedrest" and Daddy Bob Banker was on babysitting Abby duty while B was at a Bachelor party weekend with his buddies. Ol Bobby and I hunkered down and did absolutely NOTHING but watched every last second of college bball possible while trying to keep me still, stable, comfortable, and Baby Jack cooking in his cozy ~~little~~ ever expanding oven. This gets me thinking of how very different our life is now from what it was then. That Baby Jack that we so desperately worked to keep in his "spot" for a few more weeks is now a vivaciously hilarious, bouncing, thriving, entertaining wee-bit of a human being that is the pure joy of our days and light of our lives. Oh how March Madness has a whole new meaning of its own now. We certainly will be watching our college basketball games and keeping up with our brackets, but we will also be keeping up with our crazy little man and all that he has going on in his little world. He turns one year old 2 weeks from today and his birthday is 2 weeks from Saturday so oh my wordy how March Madness is truly a madhouse around the Thomas residence now. We have taken on the literal meaning of that mantra in every sense of the phrase and while we are loving life, we've all gone a bit "mad" for March! Ha!

He's so ready for the Easter Bunny this year!

Tom Cruise better WATCH OUT, because our boy is ready for some "Risky Business" dance scene action...

Our child 100% absolutely KNOWS what to do when we cheer or say, "GO CATS!" See for yourself (below)...he knows what's up. He's too legit to quit. Real talk.

sweet, precious, sleepy babe

SNOW DAY building with Mommy!!!! YAAAAAAAY!!!!

This particular outfit WAS good luck for UK as we beat FLORIDA the day he wore it!

our little skier :) Having a fake-out meltdown...his specialty.

you take one look at this picture and try and tell me he doesn't look EXACTLY like his father. Go ahead and do it.

same as before. I mean, it's not obvious at all that he is clearly his Daddy's spawn....ha!

I also wanted to share that I do not know what gets you going in the mornings...okay, I probably do...a coffee? Espresso? A big gulp of Mountain Dew, Diet Coke, or something equally as caffeinated? Well, in addition to some caffeination what gets me going is the sweetness that follows below. I do not get to see my Toots boy before I leave for work because he is still sleeping. Then, his Daddy gets him up and takes him to his NanNan and Poppy's so since I do not get to see him, he and Daddy take pictures to send to me every. single. morning. And they literally make my day, every. single. day. Like, I seriously, SERIOUSLY LOVE them

Easy Cheesy Burritos

It was one of those nights...I had gotten home from work and was none too keen on the idea of whipping up something majestic in the ole kitchen for dinner. I was tired, I was over it...it had a been a long day...wen well, we didn't have much that seemed to go together; thus, my slate was clean and I had a blank canvas in which I could paint upon ingredients and combinations of my choosing. That can be an excellent thing or that can be a nasty thing. Lucky for us, it was a GREAT thing! I found soft tortilla shells, can after can of chili ready tomatoes, taco seasoning, etc. Thus, I decided to make a type of baked burrito...we'll call them Easy Cheesy Burritos, if you will.

What you need:

1 lb ground beef

1 can chopped green chiles

1 can Del Monte Chili Ready Tomatoes

I packet taco seasoning

6 soft taco tortillas

2 cups finely shredded sharp cheddar

1 cup shredded pepper jack (I used sharp cheddar with horseradish [found at local Kroger - AMAZE.])

1 Tbsp cumin

2 Tbsp minced onion

1 beer

To make:

Preheat oven to 375.

Lightly spray 13 x 9" baking dish

Brown ground beef in skillet (as it is browning season with sprinkles of cumin and minced onion until all gone); drain and return meat to skillet.

Stir in taco seasoning packet and use beer instead of water (optional)

Allow mixture to simmer until all liquid is absorbed; stir in chopped green chiles, tomatoes, and cup of pepper jack until well mixed and cheese is melted in mixture.

Hold tortilla in palm of hand and spread meat mixture down center, then roll as tightly as possible and place seam up in baking dish.

Repeat process until all meat mixture is used and/ or you cannot fit anymore burritos into dish.

Cover with 2 cups of finely shredded sharp cheddar.

Cover tightly with foil and bake for 15 minutes.

After 15 minutes, remove foil and bake for another 5-7 minutes.

Allow 3-5 to cool before serving with sour cream.

Yum, yum, yummmmmmmy! AND, I might add, these were DELICIOUS and B and I both agree that they were even better and all that much yummier reheated the following day as leftovers!

Enjoy!

Sunday, March 3, 2013

11 months for Jackbaby!

Yes friends, the time has come...the end is near for these monthly postings/ updates about our Jackman because as of 1 month from today, he WILL BE ONE YEAR OLD! Holy moly! I am deeply enthralled in party planning mode and we are firmly implanted within our theme of, "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" as we feel it is most fitting for our boy who is an everchanging, VERY hungry little caterpillar indeed! The signs are showing daily that we really no longer have a "baby-baby", we are transitioning into having a toddler which is just plain scary...a baby toddler, if you will. It's like another person in our house...ha! Not that he hasn't been here all this time, because I assure you, he has, but he is an almost walking, talking, contributing member of society...well, kind of, ha! And he. is. amazing. And every day is better than the day before with him...if that was even possible!

see my teefers?!?

Also, we may or may not be raising a puppy. Yes folks, I admit it, our child is much like a small dog. Why you may ask? Well, he's not pooping on the floor or anything, but there is a lot of maintenance in that department as diapers are obviously still with us...but he picks up anything (and I do mean and emphasize ANYTHING) off the carpet and eats it; he grabs and eats people's shoes and feet; he picks at the edges of the carpet and attempts at fraying it; he eats anything and EVERYTHING; he's obsessed with toilets and the water within them (yes, I know...FOUL); whenever you eat, he is right by you waiting for a bite or for you to drop some so he can eat it. See? Puppy.

got his Harvey man... :)

Now, let's update you on our boy...

JACK ROBERT THOMAS - 11 MONTHS

WEIGHT: @20lbs (our estimation as we do not go to the doc until next month)

HEIGHT: @32-33" (this is me measuring with my measuring tape with a squirmy and not so cooperative semi-toddler)

FAVORITE method of sitting. And the doc? She no likey. We are working, working, working to break this apparent bad, bad, baaaaaad habit...any suggestions?!?

CLOTHES: besides trying to be the best dressed baby toddler on the block?!? Hahaha, I kid, I kid...or do I? j/k ANYWAY, he is in some 9months, mostly 9-12 or just plain 12months, and some 12-18 months in pants because his legs are so long, but in that case they are HUGE in the waist because our little feller is a long and lean one. He's alllllllll over the place as far as sizing goes, really...so I usually just guesstimate when buying

"Is it on straight this time, Mommy?!? Oh wait, you didn't lose it this time....yay!"

DIAPERS: still in Huggies, size 3. This has the biggest range for weight so they're still fitting well

ALWAYS such a HAPPY boy!

having a pow-wow apparently

COMMUNICATING/ UNDERSTANDING/ COGNIZANCE: Jack now says, "Mom-Mom"; "Momma"; "Daddy", "Dad-Dad"; "Hiiiii!"; "Bye!"; "Go" (this is the funniest because he will say, "Go, go, go, go!" or "Go-go Daddy!"); as well as constant ramblings and incoherent and indecipherable musings. Sometimes, we think he is getting other things out and I assure you that he most definitely understands MANY things, often shaking his head, 'yes' or responding with his eyes and body language when you talk to him. He does understand when you say, "No" and is completely cognizant of throwing a temper tantrum or two in an attempt (emphasis on attempt, there) to get his way. He knows how to work all of his toys; he knows what it means to go, "Bye-Bye" or when he first sees someone, and will respond, waving accordingly; he interacts with other kids well once he warms up to them; he has developed a shyness front, but soon warms up to people and then is a total ham and total flirt; he knows when to give kisses and how to give high-fives (we're working on the knuckle bump), etc. He'll play "patty-cake", "get-you" (this is seriously hilarious as he sprint crawls all over the living room and then laughs hysterically when caught or when he gets you, and he can also blow some mean burbles (blueberries) on your neck, arm, or belly and loves engaging in a piercing screaming match. Jack is also quite the inquisitor, there is nowhere that he will not go...seriously. He'll stick his hand in a toilet, clean out our kitchen cabinets and pantry (it got rearranged the other day...Thank you, Mr. Thomas), and will ransack our garbage cans. Our little explorer...oh, and did I mention escape artist too?!?

WALKING: we're almost there. He freestands for lengthy, lengthy periods of time, but isn't quite making the move forward yet. He'll even get up on one knee and then go to standing and take a step and then fall down. He does fall down quite gracefully and very softly and word on the street is, is that once they start doing that, they are even closer to walking. I honestly think he's being a bit lazy. He is one of the fastest crawlers I have ever seen and can get from Point A to Point B in .5 seconds, so I think in his mind, he feels, "why walk when I can get where I need to be by doing this?" Stinker.

look at those long chicken leggies. Love.

SLEEPING: bedtime anytime between 7 and 8 depending on how tired he is acting beforehand and his nap schedule throughout the days. He sleeps through the night every night, with the exception of this weekend, but he was in a different environment under different circumstances (we had guests so he slept in the 'pack n' play' in our bedroom and he was none to pleased). If he wakes up in the mornings a bit early, he'll usually jibber-jabber to himself or even go back to sleep while waiting on Daddy to get him up and ready to go to NanNan and Poppy's. He's not sleeping as late on the weekends...wahhhh. He used to sleep until like 8 or 8:30...sometimes even 9 or 9:30, but now it's a 7-7:30a.m. wake-up call because he is a man with a plan and a creature of habit. It's okay though, that early rising means a nap full of baby snuggles and cuddles later in the day which is my absolute favorite!

PERSONALITY: He's a nut and quite the little loverbug all wrapped in one precious package. Do I need to elaborate?!? Seriously, HE IS SO, SO, SOOOOOOOOO SILLY. Like, we really think we could have a comedian on our hands someday...he really is quite a ham and is so much fun to be around. We also think we may have our hands full because he can be a bit of a wild man sometimes. Realistically speaking though, he's actually a great balance of fun and obedient - within the toddlerisms and temper tantrums thrown in the mix accordingly and per usual for this age. He really is such a good boy, though, he's just funny and loves marching to the beat of his own drum, doing what he wants and thinks he needs to do (which is often interesting watching his agenda unfold), within the limits of mom and dad's realm (and sometimes to his dismay).

FIRSTS/ ACTIVITIES/ NEW THINGS: getting into the toilets and trashcans (um, gross); escaping the gate by the stairs (SCARY!); freestanding on his own without pulling up; mommy out with friends for the night while Daddy stayed home; diaper rash; UK blowout (ugh); and again, he's alllllll about the constant action, talking, rambling, and interacting with toy and people he knows.

TEETH: Still only rolling with the two on the bottom. We think he could be beginning the process again because of an increase in drooling and excessive chewing once again.

EATING/ FOOD: We are down to only 2 bottles a day! One when he wakes up and then one at bedtime. We are gradually trying to get him fully onto regular milk, but he is not liking it so much. Since Jack only has 2 teeth, we obviously have to be careful with what we give him, but he will literally eat ANYTHING and I do mean, ANYTHING we eat...it's insane and he's in FULL vulture status.

As of now, his eating schedule is typically around as follows:

7:30 a.m. - BOTTLE (7-8oz)

9:00 a.m. - BREAKFAST: Cereal with 2% milk and a full jar of baby fruit

12:00PM - LUNCH: typically half a container of a meat mixture mixed with half a container of a veggie and then a full jar of a fruit - so, at least 2 full jars, if not a bit more

2:30PM - SNACK: usually a full container of yogurt (to supplement the usual milk/ formula snack) and some Puffs, diced fruit, Crunchies, or Wheelies

5:30PM - DINNER: same as lunch (but with an obviously different variety)

6:30PM - SNACK: just some Puffs, Crunchies, dried cereal, diced fruit, or pieces of bread or potatoes while Mom and Dad are eating their dinner

7:30-8PM - BEDTIME: Bottle (7-8oz)

NOTE: (obviously) KID. CAN. EAT!!!

FAVORITE TOYS: his barn...LOVES it; rubber duckies (he'd rather have them outside of the tub, rather than in); his basketball goal...LOVES it; remotes; cellphones; Mommy's iPad; and now, his WALKER! He LOVES pushing it across the floor. He also loves playing and crawling all over Mommy and Daddy,

FUN FACTS: Jack has a very small birthmark under his chin. It's hard to see, but he has one! He also still has the innie/ outie belly button and quite a little Buddha belly which of course, we love! Jack has discovered drinking out of a big boy cup (NOT a sippy cup) and LOVES it. We may be in for quite a battle now that we're trying to get rid of the bottle as he is most definitely NOT ready for a cup without a lid but won't take much to a sippy. Whoops and yikes.