Monday, October 26, 2009

Pasta with Clam Sauce



Similar to this: http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1758,132190-252195,00.html




Pesto Sliders with Roasted Brussel Sprouts and Apples



From the November 2009 Cooking Light issue


Tickle Me Elmo and Ben



Birthday Ben



Ben in his glow in the dark pajamas



Ben eating out



Ben pushing a box



Ben playing with the soccer ball



Benjamin likes to hear "Whoop!"



Wine we like



Growing Toddler


Ben is trying more and more foods. Here he is playing with noodles at Pei Wei.



Ben also loves playing with toys.



Like his daddy, he likes technology.





A couple of weeks ago he tried his first potato chips.



Ben got to see the beach, but soon after it started raining.



Ben even got to see a photo by his Opa Peter in a Galveston gallery!



Ben also loves reading about Sooki, his favorite elephant.









Sunday, October 25, 2009

Recipe to try: Orange Ancho Marble Cake Recipe

Orange Ancho Marble Cake Recipe



Wild Mushroom Risotto



Similar to: http://wordstoeatby.blogspot.com/2006/04/mushroom-risotto-for-stephen.html



Fruit Salad



Chopped Fruit + 7Up



Mustard-Based Potato Salad



Similar to: http://caloriecount.about.com/potato-salad-double-mustard-dressing-recipe-r109402



Chocolate with Salted Nuts



Semisweet Baking Chocolate + White Baking Chocolate + Salted Nuts



Pain Perdu with Orange Cream Cheese and Chocolate Syrup


Ben's Birthday Breakfast, Based on: http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=592295



Affogato with Biscotti



http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/gelato-affogato




Pizza with Arugula, Fontina and Proscuitto



Used pizza dough, added prosciutto and baked based on: http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/grilled-pizza-with-fontina-and-arugula


Grilled Squash and Scallions



http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/grilled-radicchio-summer-squashes-and-scallions



Butter Beans with Mint



http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/butter-beans-with-mint



Benjamin - Around his 1st birthday!


It was very hectic around the time that Ben turned 1. We had to move a little sooner out of our old house than anticipated. I started a new assignment at work on Sept 1, and Ben had surgery scheduled for Sept 16 to insert ear tubes and get his adenoids removed.

Between many sleep-deprived nights, everything got done. In the middle of it all, Ben had his surgery. We woke up early that Wednesday and brought him in, playing with him until he went to get anesthesia. Less than an hour later, we were told he was fine and that his adenoids were huge (which explains his then-constant state of congestion). We were able to see him as he was coming out of the anesthesia and I don't think I've ever seen the little guy more miserable. He fell asleep a little while later after I fed him. He then was almost back to normal for the rest of the day. I even was able to work as he slept during the afternoon. The next day, you could not tell he had ever had surgery! He was back to normal. Since he wasn't able to go to his new daycare until that Monday (due to the surgery recovery), Josh and I had flexible working arrangements to cover the time.

To go back in time, here's a photo after his pre-op appointment in early September.



I found some cute skeleton pajamas. Ben barely fits them but looks very handsome. Once he shut my parents' bedroom door, and since the pajamas glow in the dark, he got scared!







That weekend, his Uncle Alex came to visit him, and he got his first birthday present!







Ben still likes taking the cement truck apart!

That Monday, Ben started at his new daycare. That took some time for adjustment. Since he was almost a year old, he finally got to move to a front facing seat! He likes it a lot more... lots to see and it is probably more comfortable. His feet had been hitting the back of the car seat when it was rear-facing.



For his first birthday, we made french toast and had a nice breakfast, since his daddy was working a night court shift (as he usually does once each week).











The two presents that we bought him for his birthday were a cookie jar that makes noises and a basketball goal. A gift he got from his Oma Angie and Opa Peter was a baby laptop - he likes ours a little too much, but now he has his own to play with!



Soon after, we were reunited with our doggies! Opa Dean and Oma Glenda were gracious and watched them while our house sold. We were glad to see them!



So then Ben's first birthday party started. It was a small family gathering, and the little guy was fun to play with!









































































Ben now really loves to swing!