Update and Stationery Card

Things have been a little busy here at the K household, understandably so.  I have been pretty lax about posting here at CircusBerry.  Not to say that I have not done any post-worthy activities, I just have not had the time to put anything up.

A phone call from my mother the other day lit a fire under my tush.  She gently pointed out, "What the heck?  Your description says 'Mama to Moira'...what about Ronan?  You need to update that!"  Thanks, Mom.

So along with me updating my 'description' about myself, thought I would share the birth announcement that I created about a month ago but only ordered from Shutterfly today.  See, I am not just lax about CircusBerry, I am lax about everything.  Really, the truth is that I had about 6 different announcements and I did not know which one I liked more.  I finally bit the bullet and picked one.

I am a big fan of Shutterfly for printed materials that I would not do at home.  Last year for Christmas we gave the grandparents a photo book of Moira.  It came out beautifully and was recieved well by all.

I also love the coupon codes and discounts.  For example, an order that was over 150$ is now just over 90$.  

I took the pictures for the announcement about a month ago.  I spread out a white blanket on my bed and did a little photo shoot experiment with Moira and Ronan.  Moira had a blast, Ronan was patient and good-tempered, and I got a TON of pictures.  Here are some of my favorites.

Doesn't this one look like he is gonna pop her in the nose?

See how it would be so hard to decide?  Once I figure out some of the Photoshop basics I intend to print many of these out...someday.

:)

Anne

Stationery card

Happy Baby Boy Birth Announcement

Customize your own unique baby announcements with Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

Grilled Pizza

If there is one thing I learned about cooking dinner when nursing a newborn and potty training a toddler, it is don't do it!  At least don't try to attempt anything more than throwing a hot dog on the grill and some baked beans in a pan...which is great in the summer...just not every night for dinner...

However, with a new grill, warm weather, and a longing to be back to my culinary playtime, I just couldn't resist giving the whole meal preparation thing a shot.

Last night's meal:

Grilled Pizza

I checked out some tips online for grilling pizza.  I am not going to lie, I was really nervous.  I could just envision the pizza dough falling through the grates and baking itself onto the burners of Steve's brand spankin' new grill.  With the help of  this little tutorial on YouTube that I (mostly) followed, pizza on the grill was a breeze.

I topped the pizza dough with a balsamic-olive oil-garlic concoction, blue cheese, caramelized red onion, steak, "pizza" cheese (in that order), and when finished topped with some arugula and grated Parmesan cheese.

Doesn't it look yummy?

The husband loved it...I loved it...Moira loved what she ate of it before she got in trouble.  There were no left-overs.

A couple of tips...
-Have all of your ingredients ready to go and a clear work space near your grill.  I took the dough off the grill, quickly assembled, and returned back to the grill.  It worked very well.
-Split one whole pizza dough in two.  This made it easier to handle.
-Make sure you flour (or use cornmeal) your parchment/wax paper when stretching your dough.  Otherwise it will stick when you flip it over onto the grill and then your are risking burning your fingers as you try to pull dough off of paper.
-Get a pizza peel.  We don't have one.  It is on my wish-list.  It would make my life easier and I won't come dangerously close to frying my digits every time I take dough off of the grill.  If you don't have a peel, tongs work...but watch those fingers!

No more 500 degree kitchen in July when I'm in the mood for pizza!

Next on the grilled pizza menu:
Prosciutto and fig.  A local restaurant serves it and I don't think I ever go there and not order it.

:)
Anne

It's A Boy

And now presenting:

Ronan Michael

Our little man was born at 2:21 am, June 11, 2011; 7 pounds, 15 ounces; 20 3/4 inches long.

Just look at how much Momma adores him already!

I started labor early Friday morning, and after a lot of walking, waiting, counting, waiting, visiting with everyone else who had come to wait, sunshine, counting, visits to the playground with Moira, eating, waiting, counting...we headed to the hospital to arrive at 1:32 am and find out that I was 7 cm dilated.  Guess I should have taken some of the "waiting" out of my day!  Less than an hour later we finally got our little surprise...a baby boy--healthy, beautiful, and in the words of Mary Poppins, "practically perfect in every way."

It took a couple of days and a couple of classic, quotable moments ("He stays at the hospital", "No, I do not like him", "I have my own baby"), but by the time we got home from the hospital, Ronan's big sister was smitten.

Moira says things like, "He is delicate", "I wanna kiss his head", and "He is so tiny".

She also soothes him when he cries--"It's okay buddy"; does "This Little Piggy" on his toes; and repeats his name over and over again.

And she has started to take care of her own baby-dolls like Mommy and Daddy take care of Ronan...

Complete with baby and apron...such a little Donna Reed!

 He is a joy.  We all love him so very much.  It is amazing how much worry I had all during my pregnancy about finding the love and energy to care for another baby the way I do Moira, and now that he is here it all just comes naturally.  We are so blessed!

:)
Anne

Fun with Onsies

Monday I will be 39 weeks and once again, I have much baby on the brain.  I am even dreaming about giving birth...or falling asleep during labor and waking up to a new baby.  Could that ever even happen?  It did in my dream last night!  Needless to say, I am ready.  Come on baby!  Let's go!!!

For the second time, Steve and I don't know if we are having a boy or a girl.  It is all very exciting.  The mystery, the wonder, the predictions you hear from complete strangers and the reasons behind it--you're carrying low, you're carrying up front, you had heartburn, you had morning sickness, you have nice hair, you aren't breaking out, you crave chocolate, you don't eat your vegetables, you blah, blah, blah...

The downside?  You have to have all "gender neutral" things.  No bruiser blue or princess pink here.  That will all come after.  In the meantime, we have to rely on the yellows and greens that retailers offer.  OR...

make our own fun baby onsies...

which I did...

With some colored felt and no-sew Heat n' Bond ironed together...

I traced some fun pictures...

Cut them out...

Ironed them on...

And finished some with Sharpie.

We are even prepared to be festive for Independence Day!

And what is a baseball season without...

You bet!

Even though it feels like the end is not nearly near enough, soon we will meet this baby and see if there has been a little man or lady pummeling me these past months.  The rest of me is ready to get this show on the road so, again, I can enjoy:

• A Sahlen's hot dog (I love these Buffalo-made hot dogs and my last one was in October);
• A full cup of coffee (I end up dumping everything after the first 2 sips down the drain because it just doesn't do it for me);
• A turkey sub (or any other deli meat...another thing taken for granted when you can eat it whenever you want);
• Sushi (love my raw fish);
• An ice cold beer (probably a Sam Adams Summer Ale, with my husband, on my back deck on a nice hot day);
• A 5 mile run (I think I may already have my next half-marathon picked out...ichin' to get back in those running shoes);
• Touching my toes (goes along with running, I can't wait to be able to stretch and bend like the good ol' days).

:)

Anne