Just Like Daddy

Eli LOVES his daddy. I think because Marc periodically disappears for 24 hour call or weekend moonlighting shifts that Eli really notices when he is not around. Sometimes he asks for him and then starts crying when I tell him he is at work. It is so sad, however, it does make their reunions that much sweeter to watch! This Saturday Marc had to go in early to do pediatric rounds so he wasn't home when Eli woke up. Eli and I waited for him at the window (once Marc called and told me he was coming around the corner!) and Eli was so thrilled to have him back in sight. When Marc decided to go cut grass shortly after he got home Eli couldn't stand it. He had only seen him for 15 minutes and he was already gone again. So, I took him outside to play while Marc mowed. Eli loves doing everything that Marc does so he started up his play lawnmower and took off to help his daddy out.

After Eli's nap on Saturday we took him to the zoo. Zoo membership is great because you can go at any point even if it just for a few hours and not feel like you are wasting an admission fee. We mostly just hung out by the petting zoo. The sheep last time we went were "baa"ing like crazy and Eli has been making the same noise when he sees sheep in his animal books ever since. It is hilarious because he sounds just like they did that day. He was really excited to get to feed them again.

Since we had eaten out on Friday night with some friends we decided to eat in on Saturday after we got home from the zoo. I made my version of rice and beans (it is a recipe I learned from my nutrition teacher in college). This meal is by far the easiest thing I make and it is one of Marc's top three favorite things to eat. Eli thought it was too spicy. He wanted to eat the sausage so bad but would cry every time after he put a piece in. So, this probably isn't too kid friendly but here it is.

Rice and Beans

1 can of Bush's black beans (store brand just doesn't work as well, I have tried)

1 can of mild Rotel

Johnsonville New Orleans Spicy Andouille sausage (comes in a package of 6 but only heat as many as you need)

1 cup of rice

Jiffy corn bread mix and ingredients

Heat your black beans and Rotel together in a saucepan. Cook your rice according to directions. Make your cornbread however you like (I usually make muffins). Heat the sausage in a skillet in a shallow amount of water for 10-15 min. When your rice is cooked, spoon over some of the bean mixture and then add in some cut up sausage (usually 1 per person). Mix it together and then enjoy with some buttered cornbread. Easy and good!

Father's Day

Tonight on the way to the grocery store K-Love was doing a special on fathers. It was so interesting to hear all the different psychologists' perspectives on the role dad's play in a child's life. There was one in particular who was speaking about how a father's relationship with his daughter affects her future relationships with men as well as her relationship with God. He said that if you had a loving father growing up you should feel blessed. I feel blessed... very blessed. I love my dad. He has always been someone I could count on to give me good advice and I have utilized him a lot over the years in that area!

I had really wanted to make today special for Marc. I knew that he would have to round at the hospital this morning but was hoping we would have most of the day with him. That unfortunately wasn't the case. Marc has worked SO much this weekend. He worked from 6am on Friday morning straight until 3pm on Saturday and then came home and slept to catch up from no sleep the night before. Then he worked today from 6am to 3pm. If you are counting, that is over 40 hours in a weekend which is a lot. He is worn out. Now he has a patient in labor at the hospital and will likely have to go in tonight to deliver her and then be back at the hospital tomorrow morning at 6am. So, I had to adjust his Father's Day a bit. Since he couldn't enjoy breakfast with us this morning I made him some of his favorite banana nut bread last night while he was sleeping and put it out for him to have this morning. I got this recipe several years ago from Southern Living and Marc REALLY likes this bread so I knew it would bring a smile to his face.

I made the one on the right without nuts so Eli could have some since we haven't introduced him to any nuts yet.

Once Marc got home he opened up his presents. Eli had made Marc something at school and then he opened up the gifts we bought. He got a mirror for his bike so he can see Eli when he is the bike trailer (our neighbors recently gave us their old one for free!) behind him and some new Nike pool sandals for our upcoming trip. I think he loved them all and Eli enjoyed helping him open everything up.

Eli gave Marc a bag of peanuts and a cute card made like a shirt that he worked on at school.

After such a long day we decided to do something easy for dinner that the whole family would enjoy so we headed to Pizza Hut. We have a really nice dine-in one by our house that is never very crowded. Eli wasn't in the best mood tonight (yes, he is sick again with fever and probably has another ear infection) so we were glad to find that we were the only ones in the restaurant. :)

Eli has another battle wound on his forehead. He hit the corner of one of his stackable blocks and.. well you can see who won. :)

Here is my 22 week picture! Getting big in the belly. :) Baby girl is moving a lot and her kicks are getting much stronger. I still think she is still breech because the kicks are really low. I bought her first two outfits this weekend which was really fun. I have ordered some fabric samples and plan on getting the nursery figured out in the next month!