todd: 21 months

So many updates on Todd!  I skipped last month because I was deep into a very intense two-week Doctor of Ministry course.  So double the fun today.  :)

His language is getting so good.  Short sentences are happening now, and I really feel like we are communicating.  It's weird for me to think that Vicki was 25 months when Todd was born, and she and I could speak really clearly to one another at that time.  It felt like Todd wasn't getting there as quickly, but now it seems that in four months we will be in the same place as I was with Vicki.  Never have had to worry about language with either of my kids in the least.  We are talkers, and they got it from both sides.

The biggest news in Todd's world in the last two months is his first haircut!  Aside from one time that Vicki got a little chunk with her scissors when I wasn't looking, Todd had never had his hair cut.  We went to see my sister over the New Year, and she said it was time.  So we popped him in the bathtub and got out the clippers . . . and he did great!  I thought he would be freaked out, but he was cool.

And doesn't he just look like a big boy now!?

This was from our first (and only) good snowstorm in Nashville this year.  Todd was loving eating the snow.  I think he got some dirt, too . . . 

At a Superbowl Party, sharing a hug with his sweet friend Avery.  Already a ladies' man.

They handed out these hilarious foam crowns at both his and Vicki's schools for some reason . . . he loves wearing it.  

Enjoying the playground at our neighborhood school on a glorious warm and sunny day.  He made friends with this sweet little girl, too.

His firetruck was his favorite Christmas gift, by far.  He rides it around and around Memaw's house.  I tried to get a picture of him with his driving goggles, but no luck.

This is a great age.  He's still very much my baby, but he is quite independent, talkative, and engaged with his surroundings.  Can't wait to see what next month brings!

menu plan february iii

What's up, world?  We are just chilling over here.  No big happenings, which is just fine with me.  It's good to be calm for a little while.  I am ready for spring, though, and the advent of nice fresh green vegetables.  Eating locally and seasonally gets hard this time of year, when the main vegetable staples are potatoes, sweet potatoes, cabbage, squash, turnips, onions, and so on.  There are only so many ways to eat cabbage!  A spear of tender asparagus will taste so good in late March.  :)  And our annual strawberry-picking trip at the first of May is just the best.

Preamble
We literally always have one of three things for breakfast if we are at home.

1)  -- scrambled eggs from our Mennonite hens
     -- homemade sourdough toast/English muffins/biscuits
     -- raw butter we have been making from our Mennonite cow cream
     -- local raw honey or homemade preserves
     -- seasonal fruit from our CSA or mandarins (in the winter)

2) -- pancakes
    -- raw butter
    -- real maple syrup
    -- seasonal fruit

3)  --soaked oatmeal with raisins, shredded coconut, coconut cream, honey
     --seasonal fruit or preserves

Vicki usually requests #2.  If we have time, I'm happy to oblige.  If I do any sourdough baking, though, we will use the excess starter to have sourdough pancakes.

Since it is so monotonous, I'm not going to put breakfast on the menu plan.

For drinks, we always have raw milk on hand.  We also drink Berkey filtered water, kombucha, or homemade soda from our ginger bug.  I would love to start messing with water kefir soon.

Finally, I try to make one dessert-ish item that we nibble on all week for snacks and desserts.  This week, we are still eating up the chocolate cake I made for Valentine's Day.  Yummmmm.



Sunday
-- lunch:  salisbury steak, mashed potatoes, mustard greens gratin, sourdough rolls
-- supper:  Family Dinner!  We are bringing an old favorite - cabbage and noodles.

Monday
-- lunch: leftover cabbage and noodles, kombucha
-- supper:  black bean tacos with homemade tortillas, taco seasoning. cheese, home-canned salsa, sour cream, and shredded cabbage salad

Tuesday
-- lunch:  we have a District Clergy meeting, so I will probably grab lunch with some colleagues/friends after that
-- supper:  chili & cornbread (and making some extra to take to our dear friends who are in need - pray for them if you are into that kind of thing!)

Wednesday
-- lunch:  tuna salad, crackers, cut-up veggies
-- supper:  sesame-soy salmon fillets, rice, steamed carrots

Thursday
-- lunch:  leftover black beans and tortillas
-- supper:  we are eating with our sweet friends the Allens.  I think we will bring bread or salad or some such.

Friday
-- lunch:  leftover something
-- supper:  margherita pizza on a sourdough crust with homemade mozzarella (and skip the basil since it's winter), roasted pumpkin wedges

Saturday
-- lunch:  tomato soup with grilled cheese sandwiches on sourdough bread with lacto-fermented pickles
-- supper:  pork ribs, mashed pumpkin, roasted turnips, cabbage slaw, cornbread

What's happening in your kitchen this week??