2 months...

Mr. Conrad is 2 months old today...is that really possible! Oh gracious I love this little nugget. And I'm pretty certain he loves us too! Currently he is a great eater, and is sleeping through the night most nights, and is wearing 0-3 month clothes and some newborn. This picture sequence is his normal progression to give me a smile!!! Smiling and giggling at us is a great Conrad skill!

And below is his one month collage that I never got posted on here! 

Summer Vegetable Soup

                                

I made this delicious soup last week to take to the ladies I work with as a thank you for covering everything while I have been off. I have been waiting for a good day to post it since it's had been quite warm out. But the last two days of rainy weather and cooler temps are made for soups like this one! 

When I was deciding what to make for this little lunch delivery I knew I wanted to try to make a version of Panera's Garden Vegetable Soup with Pesto. My co-worker had told me once how much she loves that soup! Plus I have an abundance of zucchini, yellow squash, and basil at my disposal! 

I have never had Panera's version but I looked it up and read the description then looked at what I had available to me and magically this delicious soup was born! 

This soup is really really good and super easy to make and it makes a large batch! With the added bonus of being less than 200 calories per serving! I am going to do some experimenting with turning this into a freezer meal so that this winter I can still enjoy summer's bounty without a ton of chopping! 

Summer Vegetable Soup

2 tbsp EVOO

1 cup zucchini diced

1 cup yellow squash diced

1 cup cauliflower chopped

1 cup red onion diced

1cup red bell pepper diced

1 cup kale chopped (could use any dark hearty green)

32oz chicken or vegetable broth

4 cups water 

1 can petite diced tomatoes

1 can tomato paste

4 cloves garlic minced

Salt and pepper to taste

1/2 cup orzo pasta

1/2 Parmesan cheese grated

Basil Pesto

In a large heavy bottom pot heat oil over medium heat, add in zucchini , yellow squash, cauliflower, onion and pepper, sauté for a couple of minutes. Stir in kale no cook for a few more minutes season vegetables with salt and pepper. Lower the heat and stir in broth, water, tomatoes, tomato paste, and garlic. Allow mixture to simmer for 20-30 minutes. Add in the orzo allow to cook for 10 minutes more. Stir in the Parmesan cheese just before serving. Top each bowl with basil pesto, serve with crusty bread! Yum!

Take time with the ones you love...

                 

I have zero pictures to document the story I am getting ready to tell you...all I have is the memories I will forever treasure and the joy in my heart.

I few weeks ago my grandma was preparing for a trip to see my aunt and her family in Atlanta, everything was arranged and my momma was to take her to the airport. As it turned out a good friend of my mom's passed away so I stepped up and said the kiddos and I would take grandma. I felt like the most amazing thing of the day was going to be that I got two kids and myself dressed, fed, and out of the house before 7 am. But man oh man was I wrong, the conversation and time I got to have with my grandma will always be a great memory for me! One thing she said to me that day stuck out more than any other. 

As most of you know my papa passed away in October, when he passed they had been married for 67 years. Their whirlwind romance and love for one another was always present. Something I always admired about their marriage. What she said that day was that what she missed the most was Saturday night dates. She said you know we went out almost every Saturday night from the time our kids were little on. I didn't think much of it at the time but as I drove home that day with two sleeping kids in the back seat I thought how strange for that to be what she misses most...the longer I thought about it the more I understood. Knowing what you would do every weekend and the person you would be going with, no question no doubts. Knowing the person you would ride in the car with on the way to dinner, always knowing who's hand you would hold across the table, and never having to wonder if you would have someone to share that meal with. I thought about my relationship with the hubs how I have been his date for nearly 15 years now and I can't imagine it any other way. Take that feeling for 67 years and quickly I knew why my grandma missed dates with my papa the most.

With this in mind last night I took my grandma on a date. A date that brought me so so much joy one I will never forget and pray I will get to do more frequently. At first I thought oh this will be great for my grandma but by the end of the night I knew that it had meant more to me than I could ever know. The conversation the laughs, the lessons and the love we shared will forever be engrained in me. I can't really explain how thankful I am that I still have my grandma and that she is healthy enough to spend time with her entire family because she is a beautiful soul we all can learn from.

If you still have your grandparents or parents or really anyone special in your life that no longer has a forever date or even if they do take the time to take them on a date and just enjoy the moment. 

I love you grandma thank you for all you have taught me and continue to. 

Baby T #2 has arrived!!!

Well our little family grew by ten fingers and ten toes on Wednesday afternoon! We are absolutely over the moon in love. I not going to write a whole lot today but I wanted all of you to see what we've been up to the past few days! We hopefully will get to head home tomorrow! Oh and big sister Charlot can't keep her eyes off, she is in love!

Ok drum roll please....

The Thorntons are pleased to introduce:

Conrad Wyatt Thornton

Born at 12:40 p.m. Wednesday June, 8th

 

39 weeks prego...

As I lay in bed tonight knowing that I a completely and totally 39 weeks pregnant I will say I am more than a little nervous about this new adventure we are nearing. I am so totally excited to meet this little one but nervous all at the same time. 

One I never dreamed I would have a child some day and I am so thankful that the good Lord decided that was in my plan because the past 5 years with Charlot have been amazing. So as a person who didn't think she could have kiddos one kid is hard enough to fathom let alone two. I mean I see the crib all set up, the clothes are folded, the car seat is ready to go in, it's all there I am the one who is struggling I guess. 

Two we waited quite a long time before we decided to start this adventure again then it took a while to get here. So I think I just can't seem to believe that God sees me as good enough to do this over again. I know it sounds crazy but I'm sure every mom out there has thought am I really qualified to be raising this little person and preparing it for the big world ahead? Please tell me others have wondered about this! 

Third and probably the thing I am most nervous about is...is my heart really big enough for another one? I can't imagine loving someone else like I love Charlot. How in the world will my heart let more in? How will I still love Charlot just as much? Will I love this baby and raise it the way I am with her? Oh it is so hard I never want either of my children to doubt that they were wanted, prayed for, welcomed and loved. 

Why yes this is a little deeper than my typical blogs I just needed off my heart and head tonight. I haven't yet decided if I will actually post this or not...so if you see it I thought others could be helped. Or maybe I was hoping other momma's out there would reassure me.

Finally this is my 39 week (Charlot) verses 39 week (Baby T #2) wowszer!!! I am not a fan of belly pics for me frankly but I am very glad that I have these to remember. 

Baby T #2 you are soon to meet us! Trust me you sister and momma are slightly crazy but daddy helps keep things grounded. See ya soon!