Happy New Year from Michael

Ribbit, Ribbit!

Feeling froggy today!

Chicken and Dumplings

For Christmas Eve this year, we started a new tradition: we made my mom's chicken and dumplings. Mom never wrote down the recipe, so I had to experiment and draw as much as I could from memory. Growing up, I remember this being one of my favorite dinners!

Ingredients:

- whole chicken (you could buy it already cut up if you like)

- 1 tsp salt

- 1 cup chopped celery (about 3 ribs)

- 2 cups chopped carrots (I use the little baby carrots)

- 2 cups frozen green peas

- 2 1/4 cups Bisquick

- about 2/3 cup milk

Wash and pat chicken dry. Cut up chicken. Into large stockpot, bring 8 cups water, chicken, and 1 tsp salt to boiling. Reduce heat to simmer (medium), cover, and cook for 1 hour. If you like onions, you could cut up a small onion and simmer it with the chicken (I don't do this).

Remove chicken from pot, debone, and cut up meat into bite size chunks. Meanwhile add celery, carrots, and peas to pot (keep it on medium and let the veggies cook while you debone chicken). Add chicken back into pot and bring to boil.

To prepare dumplings, measure 2 1/4 cups Bisquick into mixing bowl. Stir together Bisquick and 2/3 cups of milk - you can add extra milk until dough is about the same consistancy as raw biscuit dough (I almost always have to add extra milk). Drop by tablespoon into your boiling pot of chicken and vegetables. Reduce heat to simmer and cook for 10 minutes. Cover pot and cook 10 more minutes.

Enjoy!

Michael Smiles at Oscar

Tummy Time

Introducing Michael Garrett Meunier in Person - We have video!

4 weeks old - 11/28 through 12/5

Michael's First Thanksgiving

Photos from November

Michael's First Day Home - November 4th

Michael's First Few Days

Announcing the Arrival of...

A Star Is Born

At yesterday's appointment, Dr. Murray told us that I am not showing any signs of going into labor. Baby Peanut is estimated to weigh over 9 pounds and our doctor doesn't feel that I will be able to delivery him safely at that size. So, he scheduled a c-section for Saturday morning. The fact that his birthday is 11/1 is neat because one of my best friend's twins have the same birthday :)

Baby Peanut has now arrived! He was delivered at 8:21 a.m. on Saturday, November 1st. He weighed 9 pounds 14.2 ounces and was 21 inches long. We are finally announcing his name, Michael Garrett Meunier. We are doing fine :) I am glad we had the c-section. Before the doctor weighed him, the anesthesiologist whispered in my ear that she thought he might be 11 pounds! The one thing I will never forget is the sound of his first cry :)

Peanut's room is mostly finished :)

Baby Shower!

Around the house

I have the sweetest husband in the world!

And the sexiest cat ever...

And a big belly at almost 34 weeks. Here I'm about to go to childbirthing class... we are still trying to recover our wits after seeing "that" film!

Friends

Will, Hope, and Heather

Michelle, Kyra, and Rob

Missy & Kyra

Michelle & Kyra

30 weeks

Here we are at 30 weeks :)

Moving In

I'm horribly behind on posting...

We moved in on July 22nd! Jason's parents came to see us and help us get settled in.

Oscar felt it was important to help!

But he wasn't sure what to make of having stairs...

He had not trouble locating "his" chair though :)

Moving Day

We moved July 22nd into our new home!

The Great Painting Project

We decided that now would be a good time to paint a few rooms/walls in our new home (before any furniture arrives). After many trips to the paint sample aisle of Home Depot, we decided to paint the kitchen a pretty red color called "currant jam" and the baby's room a soothing blue called "sonata" (better for a boy than the pink that was in there). We also decided to paint 2 accent walls in our living room and master bedroom "sage green". Here are some before and after shots (actually, we are still working on the kitchen - it is needing several coats). Oh, before anyone fusses at me, I Missy do solemnly vow that I did not pick up a single paint brush nor climb any ladders. My role in this project was simply to choose colors and locations. Jason did a great job being in charge of the painting and we owe many thanks to the many friends that helped with the decision making and painting process!

Jason taping some walls.

Before shot of kitchen.

With a little (actually alot) of help from our friends....

Painting the kitchen, love the pink primer! After shot of kitchen (lighting is not good in this)

Before shot of bedroom wall.

The living room wall all taped up.

After shot of living room wall.

Baby's room before - no pink for Mr. Peanut!

Painting the baby's room.

Finished! Can't wait to decorate!

Closing Day!

We closed on the house today! Hooray!! Everything went smoothly and we get the keys next week!

Several of yall have asked for preggo pictures, so here I am at 21 weeks, 5 days :) Peanut is making himself known for sure!

Jason is totally thrilled about being a home owner and a daddy!

And Oscar, well let's just say he's highly amused!

More from the 20 week ultrasound

This is the best of the pictures from the 20 week - Jason says he already sees a family resemblance in the profile :)



Just in case you didn't believe us that it's a boy :)

20 week ultrasound

This is a view of Peanut's back.



Here's our proof that it's a boy (and there is no doubt!)



Here we have a foot and leg. Peanut's femur already measures longer than the typical 20 weeker. I reckon he'll have his daddy's long legs!



Here's a profile view. Peanut really wanted to nap on his tummy through most of the ultrasound (he's going to be a belly sleeper like Mommy!)



I'm not really sure what this one is... maybe the top of his head. :)