5 Months Old!

Nash is 5 months old! Man, how time flies when you're having fun.  He is growing by leaps and bounds and I feel like most of the 4th month he wasn't doing much of anything different, then, BAM! He is doing all kinds of stuff.  Some of the things I love from this month are:
1. He can recognize my voice on that box thing Grammy always talks on. He tries to grab it and get to me when I am at work.
2. Grabs anything within reach.
3. Lights are the newest fascination.
4. When we come home from work, he laughs and smiles as if to say "Oh THERE you are! I have been waiting for you all day!"
5. He smiles at all the pretty girls. Only the girls and the look on his face says "Hey there pretty baby."
6. He is rolling side to side front to back.
7. He is just such a happy boy.
Can't wait to see what the next month has in store.

Patience Is A Virtue

I have always heard that once you have children you gain more patience.
I have decided this is definitely false information. I believe you still maintain the same amount of patience that you had before, only now that you have a child, the pie is divvied up differently and less evenly.
My patience, for instance, is divided as seen on the chart below.

As you can see pretty much everyone and everything (except Nash) can send me to the edge and back. Patience has never been my strong suit and now it's magnified that I have little to spare. This is something I am working on improving, but in the mean time, watch out.

Autumn Means Butternut Squash Soup

Autumn is definitely my favorite time of year. All of the colors, smells and unbeatable weather make it difficult not to love.  I always know Autumn is in full swing when I whip up the first batch of butternut squash soup.  I make the most amazing B-Nut Soup (as Isaac has lovingly dubbed it) I have looked high and low for a recipe that can beat mine in ease and taste and have yet to find one. This quick and delightful supper can be made in about 15 mins and served with some crusty bread-HEAVEN!

Gingered Butternut Squash Soup
Ingredients:
1 onion, chopped
1 Tbsp ginger (fresh is best, powered works too)
1 large butternut squash, peeled, seeded and chopped
2 ripe pears or apples, peeled, cored and chopped
4 cups chicken broth
Salt and Pepper

How to make:
Saute' the chopped onion in a little Olive Oil (butter if you prefer) and the ginger in a large stock pot. Add the chopped butternut squash, pears (or apples) and the chicken broth with a little S & P sprinkled in. Bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to medium for about 15 mins or until the squash is tender. Cool about 5 mins then puree' (See the best immersion blender on the list of "Things I couldn't live without)

Serve with a dollop of sour cream and some crusty bread. Voila'! Delicious dinner in no time and for very little fat and calories, too.

Lucky Undies

(Actual photo of Isaac)

We received very exciting news last night and I was reminded of why I love Isaac so much.
Isaac was offered a new job!! This has been a prayer that we have been diligently praying for several months.  It's 10 minutes from home, pays well, has excellent benefits and is more inline with what he wants to be doing long term.  Praise the Lord!
Last night, as I was getting ready for bed, Isaac asked me if I knew why he had been offered the job. Of course I responded with "Because they saw how incredibly talented you are and just couldn't resist your charm?" He replied with "No. It's because I wore my lucky boxers in my interview and I wore them today. Which is why I got the offer today." I smiled and just replied "Oh yeah? You think that's it, huh?" He responded "Definitely. Look how great they make my butt look." He flips around and flexes for me. "Plus, they cradle my package like the hands of angels."
I am so grateful for him, his wit, and of course, his boxers.

Like Momma Like Son

The last few weeks Nash has been sucking his fists, fingers, just about anything he can get in his mouth. I went in to check on him during his nap yesterday only to find that this little guy found his bowling ball grip.

Everyone knows that I made the bowling ball grip hip and cool in the daycare. I have to admit I was a little elated at the fact that he is sporting the same finger sucking.  I guess he really is a momma's boy.

Swear Jar

I have a swearing problem. We both do. I have to admit, I do love a good swear. 

There are times when Shoot, Dang, Son of Bucket, Fetch and Heck just don't cut it.  In my life, it's most of the time.  Perhaps, it's the fact that I was raised in Utah county for the latter part of my adolescence (pun intended) and it just sounds so Utah, or it could be that I get a little satisfaction from giving the "brothers and sisters" the butt cringe when I curse at Wal-Mart.  Whatever the reason, there are two things I know: 

1. I don't want my kid to look like the one photographed above

2. I don't want our kid to sound like us

Therefore, the only thing I can come up with to fix this behavior is a friendly competition.  Isaac and I are usually in some form of a wager (which I almost always win.) And so begins our new Swear Jar.

This is how it will work; since it makes no cents (yes I meant to do that) to have us put money in a jar because we share money. We decided to have two jars and fill them with noodles for every swear that is uttered. Whoever fills the jar the fasted is the loser. The loser has to read a book of the winner's choice.

When I win, Isaac will read The Help. If, by some random act of Nature (God wouldn't let me lose) Isaac wins, I will have to read The Hobbit.

It's starts tomorrow and may the cleanest mouth win.