Friday Things
1. Duke has been taking a very serious interest in whatever Joseph is doing, especially now that he’s awake a little bit more, kicking around and making all kinds of noises. I have a feeling they’re going to be the best of friends! Einstein takes a passing interest, sniffs around, and then goes back to his spot on the floor :)
2. Joseph is 6 weeks old this week! He’s been smiling and is much more alert and aware of his surroundings. He loves gazing at new things, and he’s finally started to notice to his furry brothers, as well :)
3. In the month or so leading up to my due date, my mom started making meals for us to stash in the freezer so I wouldn’t have to worry about cooking after the baby was born. She made wedding soup, my favorite chili, baked ziti, meatloaf and spaghetti sauce. Both she and my in-laws brought us tons of food in the weeks after Joseph was born; once all of the hubbub died down and we started to settle into a routine, being able to pull those things out of the freezer was a godsend on nights when we were starving but had no energy to make anything ourselves. I came across these posts on The Kitchn, which are great starting points for stocking the freezer with make-ahead meals: A Week of Dinner from the Freezer and 10 Freezer Meal Plans from Real Home Cooks.
4. In related news, I actually cooked dinner for the first time since Joseph was born last Friday. I made cheesesteaks, which are one of our favorites… quick and easy, and it helped me feel normal again. It didn’t dawn on me until they were in the oven that it was Friday and it was Lent… oops. My brain is currently a shell of its former self.
5. I have to laugh every time I see schools announce their snow delay or closing on Twitter… I still remember hanging out by the radio listening to the long list of schools, waiting to hear ours. I think I was probably in high school before they started reading them on TV… even then, the ticker across the bottom was still a couple of years away!
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6. Speaking of snow days, March definitely came in like a lion in my neck of the woods! I love snow, but I’m definitely ready for it to warm up. My birthday is at the end of March; sometimes it’s 70 degrees and sometimes it snows… always a toss-up!
7. Have you seen any of the Oscar-nominated movies? Tell me what I should add to my Netflix queue!
8. Do you fill out a bracket for March Madness? I never watch college basketball (or any basketball, for that matter), but I’ve filled out a bracket for the last handful of years, and it totally brings out the competitive nature in me, ha. I get obsessed with following the scores for the first couple of days and seeing if any of the upsets I picked actually happen.
9. We’re still chugging through episodes of 24 in the evenings – right now we’re not quite halfway through season two. I love it, however every time I hear David Palmer talk I feel like I’m watching an Allstate commercial ;-)
10. TGIF! My boys and I wish you an awesome weekend!
I would love to hear what you think of season 6 of 24 when you get that far. It’s considered the worst season by most 24 fans, but I was/am obsessed with the Mike Doyle character (played by Ricky Schroder.)
Love your posts, the pics make me smile. Too cute for words! Stay toasty warm, and enjoy every second. Babies grow so fast.
Lol! I have a hard time with the Allstate commercials! Why would the president make a car insurance commercial? :)
What a cutie! And when the brackets come out, the gloves come off!
Homemade lasagna or other casserole in a disposable baking dish is my go-to gift for new parents. New babies leave no time and energy for cooking real meals!
Your pictures are so sweet!! This is the first year my husband and I watched all 8 films nominated for the Oscars! Whiplash, Imitation Game, and American Sniper was my favorites. Birdman is very unusual but all four are great for a night in.
So beautiful…so precious….so generous of you to share your beauty. These precious moments are so fleeting. How wise of you to capture them in the hearts of many. The world is a far better place for your love and beauty. I look forward to Friday for this. This old granny thanks you and loves your family.
Thanks for sharing ‘Friday Things’. It really helps us keep connected to your family. Such wonderful pictures and memories to look back on when Joseph is older. I love looking back at baby pictures. My babies are 25 and 22. Yikes! Where did the time go?
First of all he is adorable and I want to squeeze him. Love that your furry babies are smitten too!
Second of all, she totally got shafted but if you have the chance definitely watch Cake with Jennifer Anniston. It was the best I have ever seen her act. American Sniper was also amazing. Happy Netflix-ing!!
A handsome dog + a cute baby = amazing pictures!
Great pics of Joseph and the doggies…have not seen any of the movies from the Oscars….usually I do but this year just haven’t for some reason…Thanks for the link on the freezer meals…will be going to my sister to help her since she hurt herself and I might need those posts for leaving some food for her:)
Michelle,
What a gorgeous baby. He seems so alert for his little age. Congrats again to you and hubby for your little man. Thank you for the lovely pictures you post of your little family, and take care of each other.
Ohhh your Joseph is darling! I have a Joseph too….love love his name:)) March came in like a lion here in Kansas too! But we are supposed to have a warm up this weekend! So excited….and as for March madness… I am ready! I’m a pretty huge Jayhawk fan so this time of year is always fun!
Seriously, your Joseph is so cute it makes my uterus hurt! I can hardly stand it!
ADORable pictures!! Happy 6-week Birthday, Joseph! Michelle, Thanks so much for sharing your joy (and food stuff!) with the world, and me… Blessings!
Six weeks old? WOW! Time really flies! Joseph is going to have a very special best friend in that Duke. Nothing like growing up with a precious dog – Einstein may get more interested as Joseph gets older.
Thanks so much for sharing your sweet pictures with us – I really look forward to your “Friday Things.”
It’s been crazy here in Arkansas this year – we have had major snow events THREE times this year! I live in Hot Springs where we have Oaklawn, a famous horse racing track, and they are very close to record closing days this year! I love snow, so I’m not complaining a bit, but a lot of folks around here are threatening to kill the groundhog! LOL
Have a fabulous weekend with your little family! Stay warm!
That firs tpicture reminds me of my babies and our pets. Every cat or dog thought the children were theirs. They always let me know if a baby needed me. Much too often the dog thought the baby needed me more than he or she really did.
Your blessings are abundant. So happy for you.
Your baby is just beautiful, and your dog so loving.
Great blessings, both.
What a cutie Joseph is! That last picture is absolutely heart melting. So precious. And 24 is the perfect binge watching TV show. I’ll warn you, after Season 3 things get a little rough, and by rough I just mean really predictable, but we just enjoyed watching it and being able to guess exactly what Jack was going to do (yell at someone, threaten to shoot their kneecaps, or disobey orders).
Joseph is so dang cute. Enjoy every minute with him and congratulations!
Joseph is absolutely beautiful! I can see why Duke is so fascinated with him; Einstein is just more mature and cool about his fascination ;) Isn’t it a great moment when you get a glimpse of “normalcy” when you make your first meal after the birth of your baby? I remember that feeling (not what I made though) after having my first child . . . and that was 24 years ago!! “Normal” is completely redefined after the birth of a baby as you settle into different routines. My mantra: the days are long, but the years are oh! so short . . . . Enjoy those long days . . . they are filled with so many blessings. Have a wonderful weekend with your family!
Goodness, that is one cute baby!
Happy Friday! It’s funny that you just mentioned the snow day alerts. I refused to get text alerts when I was in college. I liked the anticipation of turning on the television to watch our school pop up on the ticker. As a teacher, I still like to obsessively check the television instead of receiving texts to my phone about the news. I saw “Boyhood” and really enjoyed it. It was slightly longer than it had to be, but I liked the concept of taking the same actors and working with them for ten + years. I also saw “Grand Budapest Hotel”; if you like Wes Anderson movies, you’ll enjoy it. It’s very witty and entertaining.
I remember those early weeks with a baby, (x3 eventually!), and they’re wonderful, exhilarating, and exhausting. What a Godsend those meals are for you and hubby. I’d recommend The Imitation Game too. Loved the film.
Happy Friday Michelle! The picture of Duke and Joseph is too cute. I too am so ready for warmer weather. Only Oscar movie I saw was The Imitation Game and it was excellent.
I loved whiplash. So so good! You have a beautiful family :)
OMG…Just watched.Whiplash last night…it was a great movie! A little hard to watch at times but a great movie.
I think the dogs love your precious baby! How adorable! I was grandkid sitting and dog sitting for most of this week! Loads of fun! Have a great weekend!
What a cutie!! I am due any day now. Maybe I have time to make a loaf of that meatloaf??
All the pictures are sooo beautiful :) LOVE IT!
love the last photo, you are truly blessed.:)
Nice pics! You are blessed. And your mom made you freezer meals to stash away? You are a lucky girl! I had to hit up Taco Bell. Wife was too tired to cook. Anyhow, like how Duke is kissing baby. I think it’s great that the pets are still getting love and your not all paranoid about germs.