Friday Things
1. Joseph had a big weekโฆ on Wednesday he started ice skating lessons! Heโs been begging for months to learn how to skate (and really, to play hockey), so we finally got him signed up. There was a ton of falling, but he just laughed and he said he had so much fun. AND he also got a big boy bed! It came on Wednesday, so we have two nights down and so far, so good! He fell right to sleep both nights and woke up chatting like normal, and waited for me to go in there, didnโt even get out of the bed by himself, even though he obviously could. So bittersweet, but Iโm so proud of him for being such an awesome big boy.
2. And Dominic turned 17 months old on Sunday! I canโt believe how fast heโs growing; heโs saying so much and understand EVERYTHING. Heโs also a super ultra mamaโs boy, like way, way more than Joseph ever was. He runs to me for everything and always wants to be picked up. I already feel guilty that after the new baby arrives, since Iโll be recovering from a c-section, wonโt be able to pick up for a couple of months. I had serious guilt for the same reason with Joseph after Dominic was born and it stressed me out at the time, but like most things, looking back on it, it was such a small blip of time and didnโt cause any permanent damage to any of us ;-)
3. It is unbelievable to me that Iโm going to be 36 weeks along on Sunday, gah! We are T-minus 4 weeks from today on scheduled baby arrival date, and I have officially hit the totally over it point of pregnancy. Just within the last handful of days, I feel like Iโve gotten huge and just so uncomfortable. I also have a million things to do before baby day, so on one hand Iโm hoping it goes quickly but on the other hand, I need so much more tiiiiiiime.
4. Thank you to everyone who made soap dispenser recommendations a few weeks agoโฆ I ended up getting the Simple Human hands-free soap pump a couple of weeks ago, and we loved it so much in the kitchen that I got another one for the powder room. Itโs fantastic!
5. Love that this service dog can do grocery shopping!
6. Are you planning a party or celebration for St. Patrickโs Day? If so, let me suggest some of my favorite eats! >>
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Guinness Beef Stew / Guinness, Whiskey & Irish Cream Cupcakes / Classic Irish Soda Bread / Homemade Shamrock Shake / Shamrock Shake Cupcakes / Grasshopper Pie / Homemade Baileys Irish Cream
7. Now itโs your turnโฆ Iโd love to know what you have on your Easter menu! We donโt host Easter (my mom usually does), so Iโll probably just contribute. I love to hear what people make for different holidays :)
8. Coca-Cola is planning to sell spiked soda in Japan, and it sounds delicious!
9. Has anyone watched โEverything Sucksโ on Netflix? Iโve seen a few friends talking about it on Facebook, most notably the fashion and soundtrack from the mid-90โs. I was in high school from 1994-1998, so I feel like this would be a walk down memory lane!
10. TGIF! I am so, so happy that we were able to give Judith a home and Duke a new friend :)
Our family is so lucky, because you alway have fabulous, yummy post. ย Too, your boys are so cute. ย
I always bring Hersheyโs Easy Easter Pie to my in-lawsโโฆitโs a ridiculous, sugary concoction of melted Kisses mixed with whipped topping and peanut butter cups in the middle, but itโs SO good (and easy)!
Those boys! They grow so fast โ try to treasure EVERY second! And I am so happy for Duke and Judith. He really looks so much happier!
I definitely do, thank you Robin!
We have ham and turkey. ย I always make something different that no one likes โ your italian easter bread, asparagus with prosciutto. ย Nothing crazy but this crew likes a very traditional Easter! ย Good luck with skating. ย My 14 yr old son plays hockey. ย He LOVES it. ย He volunteers with a special needs hockey team too โ those ย kids are amazing!! ย Good luck. ย Best wishes for a smooth transition with baby #3!!! ย Judith is also super cute. ย My husband was laid off at Thanksgiving. ย The kids & I have a deal that we will get a dog when he goes back to work as our survival present. ย We cannot wait!!! ย
Hi Heather, How wonderful that your son volunteers with a special needs hockey team, thatโs amazing! And thank youโฆ hereโs hoping you get that dog soon! xo
The video on IG of Joseph at his first ice skating lesson was adorable. ย Please show more as he progresses. Itโs great that he wants to learn and doesnโt mind falling. He could be a future Penguin in the making.ย
Aw thank you Carol! Will do!
We have ham, baked cranberries that I add a 1/4 c of bourbon to it burns off so no worry of alcohol taste, sweet potato casserole, green beans, relish plate, rolls and Green Rice which is a request for Christmas and Easter. The Green Rice is one of the best recipes I have ever eaten. It was served years ago by a friend and she would not give the recipe to anyone. Finally we got her to do it after a lot of begging.. Dessert is either pumpkin dump cake or key lime pie.
Iโve never heard of green rice! What is it?
Hello! I am currently in the midst of what you mentioned in your 2nd Friday Thing ย โ Iโm two weeks post csection and have a 20 month old at home. I feel terrible that I canโt lift her! I actually thought Iโd be able to (at least a time or two a day) atย two weeks but my dr said not til 6 weeks. Which leads me to a question for you โ what did you do for getting Joseph in and out of the crib for naptime!? Any tips or tricks? My husband is back at work, family is a few hours away, (but are able to come a day or two a week to help) and our sitters are only available during nap time one day a week. I donโt know now what Iโm going to do the other two or three days for napping when I canโt lift her into a crib!ย
Hi Elizabeth, Ahhh I hope you are feeling well and enjoying those newborn days! Joseph was also 20 months old when Dominic was bornโฆ And my restrictions after I had Dominic got increased to 8 weeks because the doctor said with a repeat c-section there was a greater risk for hernia, ugh. I was so fortunate that my husband also works from home so he was here all the time. There were a few days that he had appointments and on those days, either my in-laws, mom or sister were able to pop over for a few hours to do nap time or whatever I needed. Do you think you could make a special โnap areaโ for her with maybe a small mattress on the floor with blankets? I honestly have no idea if Joseph would have ever gone for that (he has always loved his crib), but itโs the only thing I could think of that doesnโt involve you having to pick her up. Thatโs so rough! Maybe try to find a babysitter/nanny that can be there every day? At least for this short time period. If itโs only two days a week, would she totally lose it without a nap? Maybe around naptime on those days, having some snuggle/down time on the couch with you, put on a favorite show, and maybe sheโll doze off, or at least have some quiet time, and then early bedtime those days?
Thank you for taking the time to reply! The working from home is so niceโฆ.my husband is going to try to do that a bit more. ย Between my initial comment and now we were fortunate to find a great person to come in and help me the days when I donโt have any other support! So looks like my daughter will get her naps in her crib (sheโs loves her crib too!!) after all. Best of luck to you with the upcoming arrival of your daughter! Such an exciting time!ย
The boys are changing so much. I hope you are feeling alright. The baby girl will soon be here.
I sure hope Coke does not change make any changes here. I never drink any alcohol.
Skating is great fun and exercise. I loved it as a kid.
The boys are really growing up! I know you are excited
for your baby girl.
What was the name of your maternity jeans that
you like so much? I want to buy some for a friend.
Hi Pam, They are the Jessica Simpson maternity jeans! I bought them online from Macyโsโฆ I have the boot cut and the skinny jeans in light and dark wash. How nice of you!!
I cannot tell you what it does for my heart to see Duke with Judith. I always felt he was sad after he lost Einstein. I firmly believe in the two by two philosophy of life. Everyone needs someone of their own. :)
Seeing Duke playing with Judith makes my heart sing! So, so happy he has her to sleep, play, confide in and instigate with.ย
I donโt think there are very many people out there that would adopt a doggie right before they were going to have a baby. You are amazingโso love your blogโitโs my very favorite.
Aww thank you Macy! We may be totally insane, but itโs been worth it, ha!
We get to celebrate two totally different Easter dinners. Saturday evening is a Slovak dinner with my husbandโs family, consisting of what weโve called โthe cold Easter dinner.โ Almost everything is served coldโฆa boiled ham, cubed, cooked (and cooled) kielbasa, halved hard boiled eggs, a VERY hot beet horseradish, a homemade Easter cheese (slightly sweet, called Hrudka) and then a few warm side dishes (a potato dish and a veg or two).
On Easter Sunday, we celebrate with my family and have more of a traditional Italian American Easter dinnerโฆwith ravioli, sausages, meatballs, and then also ham and potatoes and vegetable dishesโฆwe have several vegetarians in my family so this kind of satisfies all of the dietary issues.
Dogs are such amazing ย and special animals. The service dog video made my heart melt. Colt is truly super special and has such a sweet face.
Speaking of sweet, Duke looks so happy nowโฆhis furry sister is very fortunate that her journey lead her to your family.
Did I miss name of lilโ one on the way soon? Iโm sure perfectly chosen! Good Luck & well wishes. Boys growing soooo fast! Where does the time go?! โบ
Hi Lisa, Nope, didnโt miss it! We always keep the names our little secret until the baby is born :)
My youngest son is going to be 24 next week and I remember him as my cuddle bug. ย If there was the smallest space in the corner of the couch he would somehow manage to squeeze himself in. ย Now he is a grad student living 14 hours away and will soon be getting engaged. ย I wish I could have a few more afternoons like that. ย If I learned anything at all it isโฆ.Donโt sweat the small stuffโฆ.I am sure Dominic will figure out how to hug mommy and his new baby sister while your sitting down. ย I canโt wait to meet your new addition. ย Be well๐
Big boy bed is exciting! Thatโs great you got that done with plenty of time before the new baby. My 4yo was a head first climber, so after trying everything, we had to convert his crib to a toddler bed at 16 mos. ย That was interesting!
I havenโt thought much about Easter, aside from easter candy ;) but my stepmom makes a pineapple cornbread stuffing thatโs amazing!ย
Oh gosh, pineapple cornbread stuffing sounds totally amazing!!
Our Easter menu will consist of porketta, chicken Marsala, pierogi lasagna, cheese stuffed shells, kielbasa, homemade bread, deviled eggs, and a few other small sides yet to be determined. ย Dessert will be cheesecake and something else. Easter is my favorite holiday to cook for! ย Seems easier since I try to prep everything but the bread on Saturday. ย Happy Easter to you and your family!!
pierogie lasagna?!!!! How do I not know of this??!! ๐
Itโs really easy Lisaโฆlayers of lasagna noodles, mashed potatoes, cheese and onions sautรฉed in butter. ย Layer it like a regular lasagna. ย I make it in advance, bake at 350 for 30 minutes with foil on and 30 minutes foil off.ย
I was going to ask the same thingโฆ that sounds DELICIOUS!
Easter potlucks I liked taking a baked pineapple casserole.
Itโs sweet and savory and went well with salty ham. (My family doesnโt put a sweet coating on ham)
That sounds amazing! Iโd love the recipe, feel free to email it to me!
I usually make the dessert for Easter, so I think Iโm going to try how sweet eats lemon sheet cake with cream cheese frosting.
Everything sucks is amazing. I hope it gets picked up since the ending was such a cliff hanger. I graduated in 2000 and it was perfect. I actually went to high school with one of the writers/directors!
Thatโs so cool! My husband and I flew through Everything Sucks in about a week โ I also graduated in 2000 so it was definitely nostalgic. I hope it comes back!