he’s {almost} 2

Around this time last year, I was lamenting over Theo being a month shy of a year old.  That first year with him just flew by. 

Well…the second year hasn’t gone any slower and here I am again, lamenting over the fact that my sweet baby is now a little toddler who is almost TWO years old.  On March 8th, I will have a two year old.  Guys.  Girls.  Do you know what that means?  This is huge.  I can no longer tell strangers that my baby is 20-however many months old.  There’s a big difference in a one year old that is 13 months and one that is 23 months. 

Ohhh, deep sigh.

I imagine I will be crying over my computer a month before his 18th birthday, too.  Does it ever get any easier?  I thought 2 would be easier than 1.  This should be old news.  I look at pictures of my little 13 month old and pictures of my 23 month old and without me even realizing it, he’s changed.  His chubby cheeks have thinned out (some) and his legs are longer.  He’s gone from babbling a few words to saying sentences.  Having conversations with himself.  Watching his dad through the door into the garage, saying “What’s daddy doing?  Daddy’s moving the car.  In the garage.”  HOW IS MY KID talking like this all of the sudden?

He picks up new phrases every week.  Last Friday we were at home and he was in a negotiating mood.  He had eaten a clementine and a bagel with cream cheese.  Apparently he was still hungry.

He said, “I want some crackers.” 
I said, “Ummm, no.  You can have some cereal.”
He said, “No, mom.  How ’bout some crackers?”

My jaw hit the floor.  I was so dumbfounded by his “how ’bout” that I said, “okay,” and gave him the dang Cheez-its.  And when did he start calling me MOM? Is he 23 months or 12 years?
He does something every day that makes me want to pull my hair out.  He also does about 5 things every day that make me proud or melt my heart.  I just can’t believe this kid is mine.  Do I know what I’m doing or am I just lucky?  Because y’all?  He’s awesome. 
I couldn’t have picked a cooler 23 month old if you’d given me a 5 million page catalog.  

xo,
~C~

project 365 (jan 26-feb 5)

Project 365, Days 26-36
26/365: Tail lights in the rain
27/365: Toddler sizes.  Bye bye baby.
28/365: Fun with Friends at Super Bowl Village
29/365: Niko snuggled up on Theo’s towel.
30/365: Tippy toes.
31/365: Best. Breakfast. Ever.
32/365: Little kitchen helper.
34/365: Theo’s new Melissa & Doug game.  We play almost every day!
35/365: My sweet boy.
36/365: Cruisin’ the Target toy aisles on Super Bowl Sunday.
It’s been a busy week with all the Super Bowl festivities going on.  Dexter’s 8 1/2 month pics (bet you didn’t know there was such a thing!?).  Visitors from Nashville.  My favorite pictures in this post?  Probably 33 and 35. 
Which are yours?  
Love,
~C~
You can see ALL of my Project 365 posts by clicking here

comfort food: this ain’t your granny’s shepherd’s pie.

It’s my dad‘s.  It is nothing fancy, but it’s warm and the flavors and textures are just right on a winter day.  It’s one of the few things I remember my dad cooking and I always loved it.  I didn’t have much in the cupboards or fridge last night, but I had what I needed to throw this together.  It was just as yummy as I remembered, so I thought I would share.

There are no veggies in this shepherd’s pie. No gravy. And that’s how we like it.  Three layers: cheese. mashed potatoes. sloppy joe meat (or something like it).

~Jack’s Shepherd’s Pie~

Preheat the oven to 350ish.  Make some instant mashed potatoes (or real ones, if you’re crafty like that. But the point here is quick and easy on a weeknight, so whatevs…).

Start by browning a pound of ground beef or ground turkey in a large skillet. 

How do you make sloppy joes?  I just squirted some ketchup and barbeque sauce in the skillet.
And voila!
Spread the meat in a square baking dish.  Preferably a cute blue one like mine.
Spread the mashed potatoes over the meat mixture.
Dump a bunch (or about a cup) of shredded cheese on top and spread it to the edges of the dish.  I prefer sharp cheddar but I had colby & monterey jack on hand so that’s what we used.
Put it in the oven and start the timer for 15 minutes. 
Hint:  It improves efficiency in the kitchen if you can find a couple of helpers to get things out of drawers for you and hold on to your legs while you walk back and forth.
When that timer goes off, I like to leave the oven door cracked and turn up the heat to broil until the cheese starts turning brown and getting a little crunchy. 
Not as brown as I’d like it, but when you have hungry mouths to feed, you have to make sacrifices! 
The verdict?
It’s in his mouth (this equals success) AND he {almost} cleaned his plate.  Yummy.
If you try it, let me know what you think.  Jack would be proud.
~C~