i moved!

in more ways than one :)

pittsburghbirdie.wordpress.com 

7 months!

actually more - but i can't bear to say she's almost 7.5 months so humor me :)  nate and i looked at these photos and actually don't think she looks all that different past month 3.  at least when we're looking at a still photo :)  5 seconds of addie in motion would definitely prove the difference!

**grandparents only**

warning, you should only watch this video if you are a grandparent of addie.  or maybe an aunt or uncle :)  it's 3 minutes of not very interesting events, except that she's now crawling, sitting from crawling, and attempting pull up- oh, and in general, just being adorable :)  if you're the aforementioned, you probably care but if not, you may want to go elsewhere :)

if it weren't for my iPhone...

i'd miss out on some great Addie moments :)

Storytime at the Library 

Little cupcake :)

Teething is no fun for anyone!

No but seriously!  Teething makes for a cranky Addie Bird!

Passed out without a sleep sack from all of that crankiness :)

You know what's hilarious?  Destroying the exam paper while waiting for the doctor.  Seriously!  Give it a try sometime.

Addie at our weekly Mommies and Babies lunch

Sleeping again.  This time with her owl lovey (and sleep sack!)

For a few weeks, this was how I got a shower in when Addie was awake.  That's over now as she seems to consider it baby jail.  She's much happier to free roam the bathroom and torture Cleo without a playpen wall to stop her!

Of course she loves the porch since she shares DNA with Nate & I.

Steeler fans :)

Attempting to keep her entertained while I'm making dinner!

I didn't realize she'd be even CUTER if i put her in jeans!  Fall, hurry up!

Back at story time!

Funny food face :)  There are plenty of these!

True story.

This was a relatively brief moment in time when she was so excited about the toys that Aunt Cassie sent, she stood for about 30 seconds to check it out.  She hasn't had all too much success in that arena since but those days are clearly coming soon :)

guess who sits in the cart now?

and loves it.

First ride at Target- obviously tired, but enjoying it :)  you can see the worried Mommy that scoffed at shopping cart cover thingies propped her with my purse and covered the handle with my ring sling (I didn't realize the first thing she would do was lean forward and suck on the cart handle) :)

Getting the hang of things at World Market, like a kid in a candy store :)  She's definitely mastered the casual one arm slung over the back method.

Rocking the cart at Publix :)  She particularly likes swinging her legs as we shop :)

when have i ever kept something up?

i'm ditching the weekly menu thing for now.  let's be honest, i can hardly remember what i had for breakfast, let alone what i cooked for a week :)  but i do remember what the winners were in terms of new recipes, so i'll continue to share those :)

here are a few that we've really enjoyed the past few weeks.

#1:  shrimp cobb salad - here's my iPhone pic of it.  it was super tasty!  i was skeptical about salad for dinner (few in my book make a meal.  exceptions include: taco salad... and this one.) :)  i did use double the bacon and double the dressing but... it's still salad :)  corn.. tomatoes.. bacon... shrimp.. what's not to like?  it has a yummy lemon-y dressing too.

#2:  sea salt vanilla bean caramel sauce.  i drooled a little bit just typing that.  mmmmmm.  for my birthday, one of my requests was a salt keeper (a cute little olive wood one with a swivel lid).  and wonderful husband that he is, nate followed my carefully constructed amazon list and purchased it for me :)  he also got some fun salts to put in it, one of them was from the farmers' market.  the lady said she goes to some island in the keys and just rakes it up.  sketch?  maybe.  but sea salt down to the literal sense for sure.  i used it in this delicious caramel sauce.

i had never made caramel before and it was mildly tricky.  but the pics on the recipe really helped me decide when it was officially caramel :)  still, when i stirred in the cream (and vanilla bean- yum....), the whole thing seized (right word?  i have no idea.  but the whisk was suddenly weighed down with a gob of sugar) and i had to keep whisking for awhile until the sugar melted back in.  anyway, it was all worth it because it was SO good.  i am officially swearing off buying caramel ice cream topping ever again and forever making this instead.  i also saved my empty vanilla bean and put it in a jar of sugar per the suggestion in the recipe.  any idea what i can do with vanilla sugar?  it smells so yummy!

and so long as we're talking about the winners, it's important that you know there were also losers.  one in particular actually and that loser was mayo chicken.  i think it has a better name, but overall i thought it was bland.  i mean, the recipe sounded bland so i should have know, but i was expecting some kind of mayonaise alchemy or something and it definitely did not occur.  consider yourself warned :)

mine's broken!

you know that scene from pretty woman when she is holding the opera glasses and says, "these are broken.  mine are broken."... ?  that's what i think of watching addie with her sippy cup :)

drool! all the kids are doing it these days!

but i thought i set you down over there?

addie has been rolling around for awhile now, and the other day was even inching forward a bit without realizing it i think.  well today, she figured it out for real.  she's scooting?  crawling?  i'm not sure what it technically is, but the girl gets from point a to point b!

addie via the iPhone lately

i've been slacking on posting pics of addie from my phone, but i've definitely been taking plenty!  here's a smattering of them :)

Feeling dubious after a long nap.  See the sheet crease on her cheek?

Still hasn't figured out that this is super fun but she tolerates it :)

Baby in a bar!  Her 1st visit to World of Beer.  Not her last :)

Dinner at Mooncricket!

Mom I'm hungry!

Pretty much mastered this sitting thing, as long as someone else sets her up :)

Both baby and dog coveting my PB&J sandwich!

Modeling at a pool party.

She loves the pool still!  Splashes up a storm :)

Monkey.

Thoughtful Adelaide.

All dressed up for the first day of the season!  Nate and I particularly appreciated the irony of the Harrison jersey, but I think Maureen was the only one who got it :)

What the heck is this?

Ready to go at 6:55 am!

this week's menu

here's what we're up to this week!  and may i say- tonight's dinner was AMAZING.  i know, i made it so i'm not supposed to say that- but both the pork and polenta were great recipes!! the pork was so easy and so delicious- we'll be making that one again and again and again!  and polenta is another thing i'm new to making... a whole grain?  essentially instant?  has fiber?  polenta!  where have you been all of my life?!

Sunday - Crispy Pork Medallions, Two Cheese Polenta, Green Beans
Monday - Beef & Snow Peas, Jasmine Rice
Tuesday - French Dips, salad, chips
Wednesday - Chili (from freezer)
Thursday - Mayo Chicken, Broccoli, Salad ... okay, i know chicken that's pretty much only flavored with mayonaise and parmesan cheese sounds scary but i have to try it, i keep hearing about it.  and i'm going to use light mayo ;)  i'll report back!

and a little dessert sidenote... i've developed a post-pregnancy sweet tooth so i've been baking more :)  last week i tried this grapefruit pound cake and loved it!  this week i'm going to try fudge walnut brownies.

Bruschetta (the best. for real.)

mom found this recipe years ago as an appetizer for thanksgiving and we've been making it ever since!  everything together is just so so yummy, i love it!  i think recipe is also what got nate to eat tomatoes on a regular basis. mmmm.....

Bruschetta


Ingredients

• 2 lbs. roma tomatoes (core, seed and dice) -- don't skip this step or it'll be way to runny with tomato juice!
• 5 tbl. extra-virgin olive oil 
• ½ tbl. lemon juice 
• ½ tsp. dijon mustard 
• ¼ cup kalamata olives (pitted and chopped) 
• 3 tbl. fresh basil (chopped) 
• 2 cloves garlic (minced) 
• 6 oz. goat cheese 
• 1 baguette 
• Pinch salt/pepper 

Directions

1. Slice baguette in roughly ¾ “ thick slices, brush olive oil on each of the slices (2 tbl. total) and bake at 425 for 5-8 minutes or until slightly golden brown (or cheat, and use your Misto to spray them all with olive oil once they're on the pan. your call.). Let cool. 
2. Whisk olive oil, lemon juice, and dijon mustard. 
3. Add olives, basil, garlic and tomatoes to mixture. Spread goat cheese on bread slices, add a spoonful of tomato mixture to each.

a seat at the table

so we're planning to start feeding addie solid foods tomorrow, and last week we gave her a seat at the dinner table with a plate and spoon to try it out.  she's become increasingly interested in what we're eating over the past month or so, so we are excited to see what she thinks of eating!  we'll be setting the bar low with rice cereal but as soon as she gets the hang of moving that through her mouth, we'll move on to something more exciting and delicious like avocados.

mmm... avocados.  reminds me of when cadiem started his first foods ;)

awww .. what a cutie he was/is!

so anyway, addie's first visit to the table was funny.  first we sat her down and she was more than eager to see what was in store.

but apparently nothing but chew toys...

so.. let's throw those on the floor and get to the good stuff... and chew on the table :)

don't worry, we're giving up the goods starting tomorrow morning :)  nate has also been letting addie sip water from a cup.  she LOVES this.  now if anyone has a cup, she wants it!  i'm still not quite used to her reaching out for anything i'm trying to drink (like.. hot coffee)!  we're going to try a sippy cup soon too.

stay tuned for more on the food front!  i know there are some good photo ops in the coming days... :)

arrrrrrrizona where the wind comes sweeping down the plain...

errr... desert.  but either way, we had a wonderful time in arizona and i'm way overdue to blog about it :)  i spent more than a week out there with addie bird and nate joined us for the last few days.  cassie & cadiem were out to visit at the same time so it was mass chaos and oh so much fun :)

here are some photos from our adventures!

the cousins looking chummy :)

cousin love :) (or, "please don't let me fall off the couch!")

enjoying the weather at the cabin!

more cousin togetherness at dad's house- addie loved to watch whatever cadiem was up to!  cadiem kep saying "addie is my best friend."

Cadiem hanging out with Dad :)

Addie loves Gigi -- gets a serious case of the giggles every time she sees her! :)

Mom with the kiddies!

Nate and his partner in crime.

Love this one of Cassie & Cadiem :)  wish it was more in focus!

Marty and the kiddies!