Crawling at 8 months

As of Saturday my little boy has finally started crawling! He did the army crawl for maybe 5 days and then decided enough was enough and figured out the hands & knees crawling. Go Wesley!

Roasted Tomato Soup with Grilled cheese croutons

Ok here it is. The amazing Roasted Tomato Soup Recipe.

Original Recipe from Family Fun

Ingredients

• 6 cups (3 pints) cherry tomatoes
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 garlic cloves, minced

• 1 cup chopped onion
• 1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1/2 teaspoon thyme
• 1 cup milk

I made a few changes though. **I didn't use whipping cream like the original recipe called for. I used half n half but milk is a much better choice. Use what you have. **I also only had 1pint of cherry tomatoes, so I used 6 regular sized tomatoes instead and cut them into good sized chunks. **Added minced garlic instead of fresh and added a bit more pepper.

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 400°. On a baking sheet, combine the cherry tomatoes, 2 tablespoons of the olive oil, and the salt and pepper. Toss the ingredients to coat evenly and spread them in a single layer. Roast the tomatoes until they are shriveled with brown spots, about 35 to 45 minutes.
   
2. In a large pot, heat the butter and the remaining tablespoon of oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and onion and sauté until softened, about 6 minutes. Add the canned tomatoes with their juice, the broth, the thyme, and the roasted tomatoes, including any liquid on the baking sheet. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer, partially covered, for 40 minutes.
   
3. Using a food processor or blender, puree the soup until it's smooth. Return it to the pot and stir in the cream. Without letting the soup boil, warm it over medium heat, stirring often, until steaming. Add salt and pepper, if necessary.
   
4. Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with Grilled-Cheese Croutons. Makes about 10 cups. 
   
    

Grilled Cheese Croutons

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1/4 teaspoon thyme

• 6 thin slices of bread
• 3 ounces Cheddar, thinly sliced

Instructions

1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. In a small bowl, combine the butter and thyme. Spread one side of each bread slice with the butter mixture. Place 3 slices in the pan, buttered side down. Top with the cheese, then with the remaining 3 bread slices, buttered side up. Cook, turning once, until toasted on both sides, 3 to 5 minutes per side.
   
2. Remove the sandwiches from the pan. Let them cool slightly, then cut them into 1-inch squares. Makes about 60 croutons.

If you make this let me know what you think!!

Kickin' Wyoming Turkey Chili

I made this amazing chili tonight. I got the idea originally from here, but I wanted to add my own twist to things. First of all we LOVE chili so I always make extra for later.

Kickin' Wyoming Turkey Chili

Ingredients:

• 1lb ground turkey
• 8oz of tomato paste
• 1/2 cup spaghetti sauce
• 12oz can beer
• 1 14.5 oz can water 
• 1 cup salsa
• 14.5oz can black beans
• 14.5oz can light kidney beans
• 28oz can diced tomatoes
• half an onion chopped
• 2 tbsp minced garlic 
• 1 green bell pepper chopped
• 4 stalks celery chopped
• 2 fresh jalapenos chopped
• 1 tsp EVOO 
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp pepper
• 1 tsp cumin
• 2 tbsp chili powder
• 1 tbsp cayenne
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1/2 tsp ground mustard
• bunch of shakes of hot sauce (i used the stuff I gave out as my wedding favors)
  
• 1 tsp brown sugar

Directions:

1.  In a large pan brown ground turkey. Season with a little pepper and chili powder.
2. Add onion, garlic, celery, jalapenos, and bell pepper. Cook until soft or atleast almost soft.
3. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir until well mixed.
4. Heat to boiling, then reduce heat and let simmer for 30-45min. Leave lid cracked a bit. 

Serve with sour cream and shredded cheese. Yum.

Serves 8 or more.

When I use spices I really don't like to measure. I add what I think is good but you can put as much or as little in as you want. I add the sugar because it helps with the tomato tartness. I love spicy but its not so much that I can't taste the greatness. I also only used the jalapeno seeds from 1 pepper not both.

**also the beer makes the chili extra tasty!!**

If you make this recipe, please let me know how you like it and any improvements that you made!

Any other awesome chili recipes?

A little bit of everything

I am finally obsessed with blogging. Actually I don't blog that much, and I wish I had more time to blog. But of course that will come when I'm finished with school...maybe..

I am subscribed to 138 blogs..and its still growing! LOL. I spend literally hours reading, getting craft ideas, find new sources of inspiration, etc. Its wonderful! I also need to network outside of cyberspace. I'm not very good at that.

But I have been thinking about Xmas ideas and how to give on a low budget..this is why these blogs are so important because they are showing me tricks on amazing gifts without spending a lot. Plus I love to make things even though buying something is easier, it doesn't mean as much. And with wesley I can use his little hands and feet for numerous projects! Hopefully I can start working on things soon!

Aside from me Wesley really surprises me everyday with new things he is learning. He loves to push doors closed, especially the office door. He is trying to pull himself up by the coffee table or atleast grab things on there. He still doesn't crawl but he will soon I just know it.

Some of the things he loves:

• Eating - anything mommy and daddy eat, Mum Mums, cheerios, bananas, any fruit or vegetable, yogurt melts.
• Dancing - rocking back and forth on hands & knees, while sitting, jumping up and down in bouncer or on anyones lap.
• Bathtime - splashing water, eating ducky
• Swinging - at the park
• Playing with doors and heater vents

Doesn't like:

• Bedtime: when mommy puts him to bed and leaves the room.
• Diaper changes (for the most part): would rather be moving around and doing something else
• Meat: doesn't eat the baby meats unless I trick him and mix it with a vegetable.
• Being told no: especially when biting mommy

• He gets impatient during meal times. Can't serve him fast enough! LOL. He will goof around and thrust himself backwards as hard as possible when he is in his high chair. I have to hold him to get him to stop. When I tell him to stop he laughs. When I'm even more serious he laughs more. He gags himself because he will rock back and forth without swallowing his food first.

• He is hesitant around other people. I need to get him out more.

• He has only had 1 temp since he was born and it was due to vaccinations and teething combined. He regurgitated in his sleep after his H1N1 shot, but otherwise he has not been sick at all and I am so thankful he is healthy! Yay for breastfed only babies.

Better go to sleep so I can be rested for tomorrow. I need to get homework done for my art class and start the 3rd and final section of political science.

I wanted to list a few of my favorite sites:

• Katherine Marie Photography Blog (she is an amazing crafter and photographer!)
  
• Not Martha (love!)_
• Deviant Art (i love art. so i love to look at everyone elses art)
  
• Wholesome Baby Food (so handy for diy babyfood)
  
• Family Fun (i love their craft and gift ideas.)

Oh and wesleys halloween costume! He was the cat in the hat. Next year I am making it! No more store bought costumes for me.

Happy Howl-o-ween

We finished up our pumpkins this morning. It was fun doing something other than a face. Kyle carved the wolf howling and I carved the panther.

Click the image to see it at full size

Wesley had fun playing with the seeds and stringy stuff. He didn't want to stick his hand in though. I'll post pics after the weekend is over.

Tomorrow is going to be fun. My grandma flew in before the 2ft of snow hit denver tuesday. Good timing! I haven't seen my sister since our wedding in May and she is now 25 or so weeks pregnant with a little boy. I'm excited to see her and for everyone to see how big Wesley has gotten. Were all having a turkey dinner at my dads.

Where did October go?!

I am definitely overdue for a post! I've been spending so much time on editing photos, and getting my company webpage together I've neglected an update.
Wesley is already 7-1/2 months old! Some of his favorite things to do is to get into everything. He can't crawl yet, but when he is on his belly he turns himself around and pushes himself to things he wants with his feet or hands. This has been something hes been doing for awhile now. He loves to bang on the keyboard. I have an extra one lying around and he yells at it and figures out different sounds he can make with it..so cute.
He is still a rocker..He dances to his music, or when I sing to him..rocking and jumping are ultimately his favorite activity!
Sleeping can sometimes be a struggle. He doesn't always take his naps and when he doesn't he a big crab the whole day. Whether or not he sleeps I still lay him down in his crib and put on his music, which usually works, but not always. Sometimes I think its due to his teething. He has 3 teeth in and 2 more close to coming in.

We went to visit Grandpa Jud on Tuesday. Wesley is a great traveler usually except for this time towards the end of the trip to Fort Collins he wanted to cry the whole time. Even with his binky in his mouth. He had already eaten and had a diaper change...the teething gets the best of him. I must say though he really is a trooper and a great baby. Food is never an issue. Hes an excellent eater. He will try anything I give him. Most of the time though he is impatient and won't wait for me to get it ready. When your hungry your hungry!
I did give him some chicken the other day. FUNNY...when he took a bite he didn't swallow it, or do anything. He let it sit in his mouth and gave me the "what the $@#* was that" look. I'm going to try again next week with a different meat.

There really isn't any other news. Both of our classes are going well and life is still pretty much the same. Very excited for Halloween next weekend. We didn't even carve pumpkins this year. We didn't last year either. Were so boring lol. Next year for sure when Wesley is older. But I'm going to take him downtown to trick or treat..mainly to show off his costume and to get out of the house, and go with a friend and her daughter that night trick or treating. I do have a cute picture of Wesley in his 1st Halloween outfit Grandma Kim got him. I'm going to take some pictures of him in the Cat in the Hat costume this week.

And as always please check out my website.
http://www.cmwdesign.weebly.com

I also forgot to add that we had a really big snow on Oct 10th and we took Wesley outside for the first time. He enjoyed it and can't wait to take him outside more this winter.

Photography and design business....

So I'm finally getting my photography and design blog put together. I still have to add my examples, but I'm working on it. Everything was on my old computer and with my new one I'm slowing moving everything over. I plan on getting my own server here soon so I can have my own personal website and get advertising and that sort of thing.

Plus I'm working on different logo designs. This one is just something I'm using for now. Its ok and the font I customized myself but it needs something more. Font size bigger and I'm not sure about the square. Or even the picture of my son. But once I get a few finished I'd like some feedback please =)

Check it out!

RIP Max kitty cat

He was a cat that my mom and i got when we lived in Maine back in 1998. When my family moved to california, and I moved to Wyoming to live with my Dad, my Mom brought Max to live with us. He has been a part of the family for 11 years. He was 4 or so when we got him which would make him 15.

The last few months he had been in and out of the vet because he was sneezing a lot. Nothing seemed to work and he wasn't getting better. The last week or so light and sound bothered him. He stopped eating and starting cuddling on my Dads lap (he was never a lap cat before). Yesterday morning he went to the vet and really what they thought were bad sinuses was really possibly a cancerous tumor that was building in his sinuses.

He was a wonderful part of the family and as much as we didn't want to see him go, it was better for him and now he isn't suffering and with God. We love you Max and will never forget you.

He is buried in my Dads backyard in Fort Collins.

R.I.P Max - '94 - 10/7/09

He has such long fur that he needed a hair cut.

Cozy on the chair.

I will add more pics when I get them transferred over from my other computer.

Cat in the Hat

I bought Wesley's halloween costume for this year on Ebay. He is going as the Cat in the Hat.

I don't have a picture but it will be totally cute.
I'm taking him on the 30th to safe treat at the University dorms. And halloween were going out with a friend of mine, Krystal and her daughter Adriannah. Anyone know if anything else that goes on for kids in october??

Visit from Mom..."Grandma Kim"

My Mom came to visit 9/23-9/28. It was chilly the first day but the weather was great the rest of the time. I was able to get a bunch of homework done and she cooked and even cleaned!

It was a very nice treat and I'm glad she could come visit. We took Wesley's 6 month pictures at the sandbox and swings across the street. Wesley loved it!

Also Kyle and I got to have a date night on Saturday. Back in Feb for valentines day I got him 2 tickets to see the Cardinals play the Rockies so we drove to Denver for that and didn't get home until after 1am =(. It was a long day! We didn't leave early enough because we got there just as the star spangled banner was being sung. We left at 3p and its a 2 hr drive and the game started at 6:10p. Didn't factor in gameday traffic plus we had to walk really far to the stadium...next year were going to take Wesley and stay with my Dad in Fort Collins hopefully or my sister in Loveland or just go to a day game.

The next morning we were exhausted. Actually we got to sleep in since my mom was there. Wesley also started to say "dada" that day also.

Monday I took my mom back down to the bus station and we made it there just 1 min before the bus was going to leave...but then I found out they were waiting for her since she had a reservation. Overall we had a great trip and it was wonderful to see her and she was very helpful and we didn't even fight at all!! Which is actually a surprise because usually its complete opposite.

I'll upload some pics later.

Its winter in september!

The weather has taken a dramatic jump from the 60's to 30's. In the middle of the night I woke up to hard rain, then hail and then sleet. This morning we had a very nice snow covered ground and it continued most of the day. Snow in September...crazy! But we live in Wyoming and that doesn't surprise us.

Wesley is 6 months old now! He went to the doctor on Sept 11 and got his last set of immunizations! I forgot his binky also when we went to the dr...(smart move huh?) He was not a happy camper. He cried before he even got the shots.

The nurse checked his weight and height. He is 18lbs 12oz and 27" long. They grow so fast!

That evening he had a fever of 102.1. He never even acted like anything was wrong until I picked him up after dinner and he was burning up. Poor kid. Plus he is teething again! His front teeth are coming in so teething + shots = not a very good day. Gave him motrin and tylenol and he slept sound. Didn't wake up once which I thought because he wasn't feeling well he would be up more often. He is such a trooper.

Wesley also had a runny nose + a cough that weekend. He ended up getting me sick a few days later and I was so congested I was up and down all night long on Monday the 14th. But I'm better now and got over that within a couple days.

Wesley started book babies last Friday the 18th! He was more interested in the baby girl sitting next to us than the books. But we had a good time and I can't wait to take him again next friday.

On Wed the 23rd my mom is coming for a visit! I know shes super excited to see Wesley. I will take lots of pictures and be sure to put some up!

And...I finally have gotten 5-6 thank you's done! I figured I've put them off enough, they had to get done!!

Wesley loves bathime!

Napping with Daddy

Thats all the news for now in the Holbert house.

End of summer....

A lot has changed with Wesley in the last month. Wesley's 2 bottom teeth have started to come in. He also says mama on a regular basis now. He sits up but it isn't steady yet. No crawling yet, but maybe in a couple months. Hopefully he masters his sitting up soon. He's doing better sleeping now that he isn't teething at the moment.

Overall hes a very happy boy, and will be 6 months in a couple weeks!

We tried to start daycare but only lasted 1 day. It was a home daycare that only had a couple kids but they ended up sick for a long time and then my hours at work have been cut back so we really don't need it right now. Maybe we can try again next semester.

I got a haircut a couple weeks ago. Chopped it off. Its easy to maintain but I'm still not that used to it. Beg of Aug Great Grandma Brown and Grandpa Jud came to visit. Grandma was so tickled to see how big Wesley has gotten since the wedding in May. We went out to dinner and had Wesley sit in a big boy high chair, but it didn't work that great since he can't sit up completely. He did however love chewing on the table.

In other news:
School has started for both Kyle and I. He is taking math and english, and I'm taking foundation color and american and wyoming government. So far everything seems to be going well.

We got a new dog a couple weeks ago. Her name is Puddles. Shes mixed with german shorthair and greyhound. Shes warming up to us slowly.

All the news for now.

July

So far we have had a blast this July. 4th of July we spent some time at Freedom has a birthday in Washington Park. Wesley won a crime dog from the police booth. He loved it.

Nap before the park.

He loves his crime dog.

Having fun at the park.

His new thing..sticking out his tongue

Being outside always wears him out.

The weather didn't hold up very long because by 3ish it started to rain and rained the rest of the afternoon and evening. Thankfully it stopped so I could watch the fireworks. Wesley was already asleep and Kyle had to work at 10p.
We didn't get to cook on the grill but we still enjoyed the evening. I made margaritas, pretty much for myself, and we cooked brats and chicken, with potato salad.

Wed July 8th we enjoyed music in the park. The Laramie Municipal Band played.

Thurs we took a long walk on the greenbelt and stopped to play at the park before heading home. This was the 1st time Wesley had been to the park to swing. He loved it.

Friday, July 10th, Wesley had his 4 month doctor appointment. In less than 2 weeks he gained over 1 pound and grew 1 inch! He is now 16lbs 6oz and 25.25in. Wow! He is really growing fast.

Saturday was the Jubilee Days Parade. We were lucky to find some shade. Wesley enjoyed it for the most part. The semi's and firetrucks horns scared him.
Then we went downtown. Had chili @ the cookoff. Didn't have much though..too hot out. Walked around the carnival and won Wesley his first baseball bat..plastic of course. Watched the animal show which was really neat. Then went home to get out of the sun. It was 86 that day.

Sunday was the rodeo. Wesley was so good the entire day. He had a lot of fun watching all of the cowboys and cowgirls.

So far Wesley has had a great 1st summer. He loves all of the walks we go on and is now starting to eat cereal. Most of it he spits out but its a work in progress. We are practicing sitting up now. He can hold himself up and occasionally sit without support for a few seconds before falling backward. We are so proud of everything he is doing! More pics to be added shortly!

Growing...

Wesley weighs 15lbs 2oz and is 24.24in long. He is in the 75th percentile for weight and 45th for height. He was weighed at WIC.
Hes getting so big!
His 4 month doctor appointment is July 10th. He will get the rest of his shots and will get weighed again.

Summer is here!

Even though there is still rain (not as much), its finally summer time! We took Wesley to the pool for the first time on Wednesday. The water was very warm so he really enjoyed it.

The water wore him out.

Since he is only 3 months and has very sensitive skin we didn't stay in long. He did seem to break out a little bit but it wasn't bad at all. Might need to get him a rash guard shirt for next time and see if that helps. We want to take him to the waiting pool at the park so he can get some sunshine and we can meet other mommies and babies.

Kyle has been working hard at work. He still works nights (10p-7a), and it will probably be that way until he finishes school. He's also been working hard around the house fixing up some things. He just rebuilt our side stairs since it was completely destroyed. The mosquitos ate him alive even with bug spray.

We still haven't finished unpacking (I know I know, we need to get it done lol). But we have been working on it more each day than we used to. I'm almost finished with Wesley's room so I can set up the crib I've had sitting for a few weeks now!

I have been looking for a PT job so we can have extra money for our bills. Its been very tight lately. I got a call back from UPS but missed the call so I may have a job there. Cross your fingers!

In other news I've registered for classes at UW for the fall. Only going PT. I'm taking photography (on campus) and political science (online). Kyle is also taking classes at LCCC. Math and English and they are right after he gets off work in the morning so it works well with his and my schedules.

Butch Cassidy days tomorrow!!

It's all over now...

May was a crazy month! We did almost everything in a weeks time! Spent the last week of May moving into our new house. May 30th was the wedding, and May 31st Wesley was baptized. Now its over and time to relax...not. Have SOOOO much to unpack its unreal. We have so much crap!

So much for the pictures I was going to take. I'll have to wait until the house is unpacked now and cleaned up first. Still waiting on wedding pictures. Might be 2 or 3 weeks before I see any of those. Kyle and I still want to take bride and groom pictures that we never ended up taking.

As for the babe...
Wesley is almost 3 months old! Hes growing so fast. At his 2 month checkup May 14th he was 11lbs 14oz and 23in long. He can roll over now from his tummy to his back. He loves to play with toys and is always trying to eat them. He smiles all the time which is so heart warming. And just recently he started to laugh out loud when I would tickle his neck.
He sleeps all night long! I love it. Usually is in bed between 8-10p (which hopefully I can get him to go to bed closer to 730-8p) and wakes up between 6-8a. We still co-sleep because he hates his bassinet and I haven't had the money to get him a crib, which is something we are definitely getting him ASAP. By the end of the month hopefully he will be in his own room.

So now that everything is over we are just unpacking, resuming normal life again. No honeymoon for us. Were hoping to save enough to go on our 1 year anniversary.

Beginning...

Wesley at 2 months Old

Now that Wesley is here as of March 10th, I figured now is as good as any to let everyone keep up with the family. 7 days until I'm an official Holbert.

Wesley is now 10 weeks. Hes changed so much since he was born its unbelievable. He started smiling in mid-April. He recently started staring at his hands. Its so cute. I caught him doing it yesterday while he was sitting in his high chair while I was packing up the kitchen. His eyes were a little cross eyed but he couldn't stop staring. He also is very strong. When I lay him on his belly he really does a push up. He can't hold it for that long but he is doing an amazing job. Wesley has also started swatting at toys. I caught him doing it for the first time the other day while he was in his Pooh swing. With his left hand he kept batting the animal. What a little boxer lol. He doesn't really like bath time all that much yet. He usually starts to cry when he touches the water, but he will learn and I plan to take him swimming a couple times a week when we get settled into our new home.

In other news we move from this cramped 2 bed 1 bath apartment on Monday to a 3 bed 2 bath. Its a mobile home that we are renting to own. It is very nice, and was updated in 2005. I will put up pictures Sunday after we get the keys!