Under the Weather

Oliver & I have taken turns being sick this past week.

He woke up at 4:30 a.m. one morning and threw up on me half a dozen times. Him & I went through every pajama piece we own. 

He never had a fever & I think he was having a reaction to one of his shots he got at his 6 month check-up.

Poor little dude. Throwing up IS the worst!

After a couple days of not being able to get in his jumperoo, {I figured jumping & barfing don't mix} he was thrilled to be re-united once again!

That boy jumps until one of two things happen:

he gets tired {Tired needing a nap. Not tired of jumping.} or hungry.

Then I have had a slight cold. So we have spent a lot of time lying around & hanging around the house.

So glad we are on the mend & feeling better.

And looking cuter than ever! 

My Favorite Recipe

It has been a while since I have posted any recipes so I thought I would share my very favorite thing to make for dinner. I made it a few nights ago & I am wishing I hadn't halved the recipe {it makes a lot}.

Chicken Penne with Tomato Cream Sauce

1 lb. penne pasta {I used rigatoni this time around}

2 T. butter 

1 onion, chopped

1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes {I actually add more than that - but we like things spicy around here}

2 garlic cloves, minced {I add more of that too - have you ever had too much garlic?!}

2 lb. Roma tomatoes, chopped {I used to do large chunks & then puree the whole thing but this time I chopped them quite small & cooked the heck out of the tomatoes so they just became mush. Either way works}

2 cups cream

1 cup broccoli or peas

1 teaspoon salt {maybe more - season to taste}

Pepper {I use white pepper - Mmm.}

Whole Roasted Chicken, shredded {I used this Garlic Brown Sugar Chicken recipe. It was scrumptious & super easy: 4 chicken breasts in greased pan. Heat 3 T. olive oil in small sauce pan. Saute 4 minced garlic cloves in oil for about 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat. Add 4 T. brown sugar. Pour over chicken. Bake at 500 degrees for 15-30 min. Remove from oven & seal tight with foil - this makes the chicken super juicy. Allow to come to room temperature. Shred and add to whatever you like. Also good as main course.}

Boil large pot of salted water {for pasta}. When water is boiling place broccoli in pan and cook for 3 minutes. Use skimmer to remove broccoli. Add pasta to boiling water & cook according to directions. {This step eliminates cleaning an extra pan & boiling more water} Reserve small amount of pasta water. In large saute pan, melt butter; stir in onion and red pepper flakes. Cook until onions are soft. Add garlic and saute for 1-2 minutes. Stir in chopped tomatoes & allow those to cook for a good long while until they become really mushy. Stir occasionally. Add cream & let simmer until the sauce has reduced & becomes thick. Add salt & pepper, to taste. Add pasta water - enough to make sauce smooth & silky. Combine broccoli/peas, chicken, pasta, and sauce & some Parmesan cheese if you like. Eat & enjoy! The leftovers are even better!

While I cooked Oliver slept. When he woke up, he enjoyed his jumperoo!

Happy boy!

Six Months

Ollie & I headed over to the pediatricians office for his SIX MONTH CHECK-UP!

I cannot even believe my baby is 6 months old. Ahh!

♦ Height - 26 3/4 inches {Between 50-75th percentile - no longer shrimpy!}

♦ Weight - 17 lbs. 10 oz. {50th percentile}

♦ Head circumference - 44.7 cm {75th percentile}

♦ Ollie is eating fruits & veggies like a champ.

♦ Sitting up pretty much on his own - so close!

♦ So close to rolling over back to front {front to back he has done since 2 month old}.

♦ Sleeps 13 hours straight!

♦ Jabbers & squeals with delight all through the daylight hours.

♦ Loves his bath time & gets ticked when it is time to get out.

♦ & one of my very favorite advancements is when he grabbed Cadbury's eyebrow hair & gave it a good yank the other morning. :)

We love this happy boy more than anything in this world! He brings us so much joy & laughter. Jordan comes home for lunch everyday so he can see our sweet boy & love on him.

Supermarket Giggles

At the grocery store the other day, Ollie got the giggles. 

It forced everyone walking by to laugh...even people that looked to me as though they don't laugh very often.    

I love me some Ollie giggles!

By the way, the song that crazy Jordan is singing is 'Apples & Bananas' which we were shopping for at that moment.  Ollie is eating his fruits & veggies like a pro, 

but don't try to give this boy peas...he gags on every bite. Which is also ridiculously adorable.

Rainy Days

Try telling this guy to "Go read a book."

Cadbury is not a fan of the rain.

Babies First Christmas

Oliver & I packed our bags & set off for  Arizona {again}!

 We arrived just in time to celebrate my birthday! Dad & Mom

prepared my traditional birthday dinner...Grilled Salmon, Baked Potatoes with Creamed Peas, & piña coladas! My favorites!

Thankfully, there was no shortage of desserts!

or crazy kiddos...

 I was just glad to be able to hang out with my parents & sister all day. :)

Jordan had more trouble than anticipated with getting to Arizona - - which is VERY frustrating. After his fourth or fifth trip to the airport & having ZERO luck getting on a flight I told him to just get in the car & drive. THANKFULLY, his parents are much smarter than I, & got him the LAST plane ticket on a flight the night of the 23rd. Yay!

We had the traditional Shill Family Christmas Eve Mexican Feast, followed by the Nativity! Unfortunately, Cadbury could not represent the cow this year,

BUT, we had a really cute {really tired} baby Jesus!

{Hallie said she would ONLY be Mary if she could hold the baby Jesus. I guess she thinks she is too old. Thanks for being a good sport Beautiful Hallie!}

The rest of the crazies...

 

I personally ♥ the Dalmatian {in blue} in this next pic.

We had a lovely Christmas.

We were spoiled again this year & received too much from our loved ones.

We had fun celebrating JJ's birthday on the 28th. Jordan went shooting with his brothers & then we all met up for pizza later.

Then on the 29th, Jordan & I celebrated SIX years of marriage! Whoa!
Beth volunteered to babysit...

but I don't think Beth did much. Thanks to sweet Cousin Lucy, Oliver played,

ate,

was bathed,

& cuddled all night long!

While Jordan & I watched

& ate

It was nice to get out & we enjoyed ourselves,
BUT
I missed my little man.

We three rang in the New Year in airports & on airplanes - boo!
It was another nice trip to AZ. Thanks to all our family who entertained, fed, & put up with us. We miss you already!

Brain of Mush

I am working on our Christmas post, but am having trouble uploading pictures so I thought I would update the world on the recent whereabouts of my brain.

AS FOR NOW THE WHEREABOUTS ARE UNKNOWN.

{If you see it anywhere, please, let me know.}

For years, I have heard my sister talk about how kids turned her brain to mush. Until recently, I thought she was full of it. There are a few instances I would like to document, for they are amusing & should be shared with all.

Oliver & I were at my parents ward & I needed to make Ollie a bottle. I asked my mom to come out into the hall with me so she could hold him & I could make him a bottle in the bathroom. When I came out of the bathroom, my mom pointed at the 'Men's' restroom sign. My first thought was, 'Oh, that's why the sink was on the wrong wall.' {I grew up going to that ward building & kept wondering why the sink had been moved.} My first comment to her was, "Well, there was no urinal!" My Dad, upon hearing this comment, "Oh yes there is!" I replied, "Well, where is it?! I didn't see it." His response, "Next to the sink." [Where I filled up the bottle.]

Thankfully, the restrooms only occupant was me at the time of the incident...or at least, no one made themselves known while I was in there.

I helped my mother-in-law decorate her Christmas tree one day. A few days later, I was reading her blog & she talked about how I came over to help her decorate the tree. In the post she talked about how they got a 'real tree this year.' THIS, my friends, is how I learned it was a REAL TREE. So...when I asked my m-i-l if she could fluff the top where it looks a little smashed, that's why she responded reluctantly, "I guess I can try." AND that's why the limbs were so weak & couldn't hold a darn thing. AND that's why the trunk I was admiring for looking so real, looked so real. AND that's why it smelled so darn good. {I thought it was the candle she was burning in the other room.} AND that's why there were piles & piles of pine needles under the tree that I vacuumed up off the floor! {While I thought to myself, hmm...I didn't know fake trees shed this much...or at all!}

So, as you can see, it wasn't as if, I wasn't given the opportunity {on numerous occasion} to realize it was REAL!

Like I said, if you see my brain wondering around aimlessly anywhere, PLEASE, let me know!