Weekend Wrap-Up
I made kick ass chili last night. No, I’m not going to give you the recipe. Partially because there is no recipe and partially because chili is one of those things people get passionate about – I don’t want to come to blows over chili recipes. I will give you a general idea of the ingredients: tomato sauce, onion, garlic, jalapeño or other hot pepper, ground beef, ground pork, a couple of chili seasoning packs (1 tex mex and 1 hot), brown sugar (have to have a little sweet with my heat), ground cayenne and chipolte pepper powders, 3/4 bottle of a good beer, and black beans (not a fan of kidney beans).
But almost better than my chili? The Amazing Race premiered last night!! There are only a few reality shows I watch – Project Runway, Top Chef and the Amazing Race. I LOVE the Amazing Race. So I happily ate chili and watched the Amazing Race last night. Did I mention I LOVE it? Steve always jokes about us trying out. I don’t even think that is funny. I love to travel but I hate the act of getting from point A to point B. I would totally end up sounding like Flo from one of the early seasons (she whined “L-e-n-n-y” all the way across the world). Or I would try to pretend to enjoy the running from airport to car to village to airport and about 1/2 through I would have a total meltdown. No thanks. I’ll just sit on my couch and watch other people do it. It would be completely amazing though.
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Steve is concerned that Sabrina isn’t walking yet. She turned 14 months old yesterday. I’m not worried in the least – she is on track with everything and will walk when she is ready. But Steve wants to help her so he spent all weekend hunched over doing this:
And why don’t they make one piece sweat suits like that in mommy sizes? I swear I wouldn’t wear it to the grocery store – strictly at home. But doesn’t it look warm and comfy?
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And finally…some fundraising to bring home some precious babies out in blog world.
Matt & Jenny recently brought home Eliana from Guatemala. Sabrina and I had the pleasure of their company for lunch in July – they are incredibly wonderful people! They have decided to adopt 2 little ones from Ethiopia and are doing a neat raffle in addition to some other fund raising. They are raffling off a different Longaberger basket every day in December. Does everyone know Longaberger or is it a region specific thing? They make awesome baskets that are highly collectible and pretty pricey – and they last forever. The company also has the coolest office building I’ve ever seen (it is based not too far from where I grew up):
I almost drive off the road every time I drive past it because I can’t stop gawking at it. Go here to learn more about their raffle.
AND
Julia and Holly promised us the mother of all raffles and they have delivered! They have set up 15 different prizes to choose from when you enter the raffle – with lots of amazing prizes. The raffles benefit Sig and Krystal. Sig is working to bring home Tarana on the heels of Abby’s adoption. Krystal is trying to bring home brothers from Guatemala – but they didn’t plan on adopting 2 when they started!
If you are able, go help out at one or both of these fundraising opportunities. If you aren’t, go check them out and keep all of these families in your thoughts. I am so amazed by the generosity and creativity of others in helping other adopting families. It makes me very proud to be a part of this community.
Thanks so much for helping us! The more aware of the need people are- the better chance we have of blessing these families and helping give these children homes they deserve!
Hey – also – do you have any organice – or gluten free recipes??
Thanks again:)
JUlia:)
Your chili sounds um, yummy!!
Now, on Sabrina, first off I LOVE her outfit. She looks so cute in it. Tell Steve no worries!! Reese will be 15 months on the 23rd, and he is barely standing on his own (he does until he knows he is doing it, then down he goes!) I was worried too, but my ped. isn’t concerned. He too is progressing in other areas at or above target so as long as that continues, he’ll walk when he is damn good and ready (BTW I am ready. My back is breaking).
I love that office building. I have glanced at the raffles, and am trying to figure out which drawing I am going to put myself into. Wish I could afford them all. You do great at getting the word out there!!
I think you would be an awesome contestant for the amazing race. Your humor would get you through!
I also LOVE LOVE LOVE the Amazing Race! We will stop almost everything to watch it!
Our DD is 15.5 months and not walking yet… cruising only. Tell Steve he is not alone in the non-walking DD catagory! We are also not concerned.
Your chili sounds yummy!
Don’t worry about Sabrina not walking yet. Both of my children (born in Guatemala as well) didn’t start walking until they were 14 months old.
-jenn
Well, Peanut isn’t walking yet either. He’s 15 months. I read not to worry until they get to 18mos. 🙂
PS I gave you some link love on my blog this week.
Cerah walked late…don’t worry..now I wish she would stop RUNNING!!!
Hi Michelle, I found your site through Jessica, Mike and Jaden’s blog. I brought my little guy home at 14 months. We did the hunched over walk for a couple of weeks. My hubby and I then sat across from each other and made a game out of taking steps between us for a week or so. Then all of a sudden…he just took off by himself. Now (he’s 18mos) I can’t keep up with him. Tell that hubby to not be in a hurry!
They do make adult onesies!! I found ’em at http://www.bigfeetpjs.com
Enjoy!
Sophs is 15 months old and not walking either. I am not worried though.
check these out:
http://www.bigfeetpjs.com
Hubby is addicted to that show too. He is always saying we should go on it. We would KILL each other before the first show was over! We couldn’t get around Germany without fighting and there was no race involved. Not gonna happen!!
That is really their building? Holy cow! That is amazing. IWhat is more amazing is that there aren’t tons of accidents in front of it. LOL
I bought a ticket for Jenn and Matt’s fundraiser, I hope thye raise tons of money!
Thank you for your plug too! Love ya!!
PS had a dream I was in Guatemala last night (again) and fostering with you. Hmmm..deja vue…unfortunately we had an earthquake while we were there AND I lost one of the boys I was adopting (yes 2 boys LOL). Yikes. (Talk about stress dreams…)
Sabrina is just fine, I’m sure. It is fun that Emma walks (um, runs) but you also need to take child proofing to a whole new level (literally) when they start walking…also, they suddenly look like such “big kids” when they walk. So, I have mixed feelings about the walking business…LOL…I just want Emma to stay as little as she can for as long as she can. : ) One thing that really inspired Emma was walking behind one of those push toys with wheels…it helped her to really get the “feel” of walking. Anyway, our babies are growing so fast…I just cannot believe it! God bless.
Thanks for the ad Michelle!
Eliana’s not walking yet, either. They’ll get there. And then they’ll be in high school. This babies-growing-up business goes by fast.
K. isn’t walking, either. He’s taking some tenative steps, though. I think it will be a matter of time. And then we’re REALLY in trouble. We can keep him corralled pretty well right now, but when he starts walking…hoo boy.
You know, I couldn’t get into Amazing Race. I haven’t watched Survivor since the first season, either. And I definitely don’t get LOST. I do love the cooking reality shows-Top Chef is one of my favorites. Maybe I should give Amazing Race another look. There are a lot of people who love it.
Love those pj’s-and I LOVE LOVE LOVE those adult ones. I’d roast here wearing them, but they are cute!
I totally forgot The Amazing Race was on!!!!!!!!!!!! GRRRRRR. I have often said the true me would come out if I went on that show. It wouldn’t be pretty.
Those pjs are definintely cute!!
And, I am quite sure she will walk soon.
mmmm, chili… must try to make some soon.
as for the walking – don’t stress. my little guy crawled at 10 months, walked @ about 14-15 months, and i was freaking out about my late bloomer. his dr said not to stress until he hit the 18 month mark. now, at 27 months, he won’t stop – jumps, runs, skips, hops, and pretty much drives me crazy.
happy tuesday.
Steve will be so sorry he started that hunch over walking thing! I did that with The Boy and it lasted for what seemed like forever at the time. Oh, the back pain!
Skylar didn’t walk until she was 15 months old to the day , she walked when we held her hands but not by herself until then.So don’t worry.Skylar also had problems sleeping around that time, maybe its a growth spurt. Hang in there.
I have always wanted to go to the Longerberger Homestead. Hopefully we will make it there soon.
Savannah did not walk until she was 16 months, 1 week. She was really good at when she did and we had a lot less falls and bruises because she was ready (she walked one or two steps for about a month). They do it when they are ready.
I also LOVE the Amazing Race. I just started watching it last year when I was fostering though (one of the only stations we got in English was CBS LA).
Good luck with the sleep. We have no luck here and one nap a day around 4 or 5 at night and she stays up way late and sleeps late in the morning. It is just her sleep cycle and has been since Guatemala.
Michele- childrens place makes adult onsies as well….that way you can match the kids. LOL
http://www.childrensplace.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=10001&productId=423008&langId=-1&exp=n&catTree=25851,26140,25914&clearance=0