A New Hobby

I have a new hobby. Cooking. This is a big deal for two reasons:
1. I don't have ANY hobbies. I never have an answer to put on applications or surveys that ask what my hobbies are. I simply don't have any.
2. I don't cook. Cooking has always been a disaster for me and quite frankly something I have been content to leave in my dear husband's hands.

For whatever reason, cooking has become of interest to me lately and I've had several pretty successful creations! (well, maybe not CREATIONS...but I'm following recipes and sometimes throwing a little of my own flair in there).

Lately, I've cooked a good meatloaf using deer meat, some yummy lemon pepper chicken in the frying pan, a chicken/stovetop stuffing creation of my own and as of tonight....CHICKEN DUMPLINS! My stepmom makes the world's best chicken dumplins, so this is a huge accomplishment for me. I used a recipe from the recipe book that Kathy made for me when I got married, packed full of recipes from friends and family. Now, the dumplins are actually made of egg noodles, not from scratch...but they are good... Baby steps, right??

I think it's been so long since I've had something interesting to write about myself, so I figured why not let the Internet world know I have a hobby? :)

Now...on to what's really important...Walker! There is a Dr. Seuss book that Judy brought over for him several weeks ago. It's called "The Eye Book" I think...it's become one of his favorites. We read it (along with about 4 other books) every night before bedtime. Walker always points to his eye when we read. He occasionally points to our eyes, but usually winds up with his finger in our nostrils. (this is new, also)

Judy reported that he walked around most of Tuesday holding the picture of me and my dad that I posted about earlier in the week and saying "MaMa" "PaPa" while giving it kisses. I have the sweetest little boy in the world.

Speaking of sweet...sometimes he's sour! I do think he will be a very challenging toddler and I am so inexperienced at discipline! He seems to constantly want to test me. He also gets very upset with me if he doesn't get his way. He's already huffing and puffing, grunting and pouting. What's a mom to do? I guess I'll learn...

He has the BEST sense of humor. He definitely got this from Cliff. I see more and more of it everyday and almost daily, Judy comments on his sense of humor. She says she's never seen a little kid who seemed such like a grown person in a little person's body. I love how she constantly makes me feel like my kid has impressed her more than any other kid she's ever known...and after keeping kids and/or teaching school her entire life, she's seen ALOT of kids! She's just that kind of person. We are so blessed to have her in our lives...

I failed to mention in my last post, that the wonderful Saturday that I wrote about also had a "bad" moment. Walker learned that he can crawl up on the fireplace. He's never bothered it before. It's layered with about 4 thick comforters for safety and many of his books sit there. Well, Saturday he crawled on it and got a pebble out of our fireplace...I'm not real sure why our fireplace has pebbles. I've never really thought about it until now...
Anyway, we removed him several times for him to only crawl back up and kick and scream when we removed him. I finally popped him on his hand. (We've gone back and forth about this for a while as to whether he's old enough...and finally decided that he's definitely in need of more than what we've done...) Well, as soon as I popped him he laughed at me and then took his hand and popped me right back on my hand. Of course, this was funny to me but I felt so defeated as well. He tried again a few minutes later and Cliff popped him (a little harder than mommy) and it brought about a wimper, then a laugh, then he wiggled out of Cliff's arms and went about his business. I'm happy to report that he hasn't been back to climb the fireplace. That we know of, anyway.

Today I walked in the livingroom to peek on him (I was cooking dinner) and I found him standing on a box of diapers, leaning on the back of the couch and watching tv. You've probably read enough of my blog to know by now that the box of diapers was not located up against the couch when I left him.

He's saying more and more these days, but still nothing consistent. He will clearly say many different words and then it will be days or weeks before we hear it again. One thing is for sure, his mouth is constantly running. :)