Balloon

Todd gave moi a sweet I Love You balloon for Valentine's Day. It was part of mine & Peanut's Valentine Express mobile. It's also been decorating Peanut's high chair for a week now.

Well, Friday night MeMe decided to let P play with it. Here's what he did...

Valentine's Day 2010

Yesterday was Nathan's first Valentine's Day. He was the sweetest little Valentine.

We dined at Thumbs Up for breakfast and then made our way to Target (where else) looking for maracas. After returning home, he enjoyed a cat nap (way too short if you ask Todd & me), and then we set out on an adventure.

We spent part of our afternoon spreading a little love with our "Valentine Express." With his stroller decorated with an "I Love You" balloon, we delivered Valentines and Strawberry Cookie Lollipops to our dear neighbors.

Mom & Rich invited us over for dinner, so I brought dessert & salad. Steak, fries, salad & cake were on the menu... yummy! And a lot cheaper than a Valentine's Day meal out.

Peanut's first Valentine's Day ended with Mommy & Daddy giving him a book ("Guess How Much I Love You") and a Curious George bath book & toy. We have a routine that includes bath, bottle, book & bed, so these gifts were perfect! And as parents, Todd & I got our first Valentine's Day cards from our little Valentine. How sweet is that?

Sunshiny Days

I am so ready for flip flop & tank top weather. I am ready for the golden sun to warm me all over. I am also ready for a breeze between my toes & a sunkissed face. I guess what I am really ready for is a CRUISE!

My birthday is in two & a half months, and since I haven't had a vacation* in almost a year & a half, it's time for one. And since we always go on vacation for my birthday, I am ordering up a CRUISE! How about this? I think Todd will be happy to oblige.

*And no, our vacation to Florida for Labor Day weekend last year does not count since Todd & I both suffered food poisoning. That nullifies that trip's "vacation" status.

Coconut Shrimp

This MUST be a good recipe since I am actually taking the time to tell you all about it. And while we all know I am a good cook (just being honest here), you know these sweet & savory shrimp-babies must have been truly divine. Here's the recipe...

Shrimp
Salt & Pepper
Pina Colada Mix
Egg
Flour
Shredded Coconut
Sweet & Sour Sauce (found in the Asian aisle)

I bought a pound of shelled & deveined shrimp, but probably used 3/4 of it, and even that was enough for two people for two meals. I had Pina Colada mix in the house, so I thought why not. The egg & flour is just a basic breading component, and the salt & pepper is what helps with the flavors. Here are the steps...

Heat oven to 425 & grease a baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray.

Season the shrimp with salt & pepper. In a bowl, add Pina Colada Mix (I eyeballed it, but it was maybe 1/2 cup) and an egg. Whisk together. Add shrimp.

In another bowl, add flour. I cannot remember if I used AP or SR, and not sure that it even matters. Use what you've got. And in a third bowl, pour your coconut. The more the merrier, but I'm like that about food & friends. Line up your three bowls beside each other & then have your baking sheet right beside the coconut bowl.

Take the shrimp from the egg & Pina Colada mixture & transfer it to the flour. Not all at once, but by the handful should be OK. Shake to cover the shrimp & to make sure all excess flour comes off, & then toss into the coconut bowl. Coat well, & then coat well again. The more coconut the better! (Can you believe there was a time when I hated coconut?) Place shrimp on baking sheet & repeat. Bake for 15 minutes, but make sure you don't burn your coconut. Toasted is good, browned is better, and slightly darker brown is best, but no black!

Serve immediately with Sweet & Sour Sauce.

This was so easy & so good that I am even rethinking my menu for next week's get-together with our neighbors. But then again, that meat & mushroom lasagna I had planned is really awesome, too!

Another Day, Another Visit

Nathan's tooth fairy visited him last night. He woke up with a 3rd tooth up top. His sweet & silly smile now has 5 teeth! & he'll soon have a 6th. We think it will make its appearance before the weekend. If so, that will be 4 teeth in 14 days!

Drum Roll Please....

Peanut now has 4 teeth!!!

The fourth one made its debut yesterday.

I'll try to get a picture posted soon.

YouTube Debut!!!

Hope this makes you smile & laugh!!!

Mommy's Little Helper

Thank God one of us LOVES doing laundry! Neither Todd nor I can stand doing it, but it seems that Peanut LOVES it!

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Or perhaps he just likes climbing into the basket?!?!

We had another visit

Nathan's tooth fairy visited him last night. Peanut now has THREE teeth!!!

Will work for food

So Peanut is with me at work today. It seems his daycare doesn't understand how fevers & teething go hand-in-hand, so he wasn't allowed there today. But the good news is that by this evening, his 3rd tooth will have made its grand entrance! YEAH, Peanut!!!

So anyway, we've put him to work here. He's been dusting the floors with his belly & knees, he's helped clean & untangle the cord to my dictation machine pedal (don't ask... the boy is attracted to wires), he's also licked some of my unused envelopes closed, and he's made sure I have properly alphabetized the library. (See photo below.)

He's doing such a great job that Bob may decide to hire him & fire me! (Let's hope not. Not sure P can reach the telephone yet!)