Philip was getting tired of the Mexican Meatloaf and Turkey Ziti all the time... so I tried new recipes this week.

Angel Hair Pasta with Zucchini and Tomatoes

2 medium zucchinis, julienned
4 cloves garlic, chopped
2 shallots, diced
3 tomatoes, diced
4 tsp olive oil
salt and pepper
crushed red pepper flakes to taste
12 oz high fiber angel hair pasta, like Barilla Plus
1/4 cup fat free chicken or vegetable broth
fresh Parmesan cheese
In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook pasta according to instructions.
Meanwhile, in a large saute pan, heat pan on medium-high flame and add oil when pan is hot. Add garlic and shallots to the pan and saute about 1 minute. Add zucchini and season with salt and pepper. Cook about 2 minutes. Add tomatoes, crushed red pepper flakes, parsley, chicken broth and adjust salt and pepper. Stir for another minute. Remove from flame.
Drain pasta when done and mix well with vegetables. Top with fresh Parmesan cheese.

--- I thought this one was "ok." Philip really liked it a lot. He ate most of it. First of all, I used double the pasta I was supposed to... cause I wasn't paying attention. lol. And, I didn't like how the recipe wasn't specific ("pepper to taste"). I also added chicken cause I knew Philip would freak if there was no meat. I'd probably make this again sometime, but it wasn't great. Maybe because it was pretty much all pasta.... my fault....

Here is that cute video I mentioned in my earlier post... seriously, I don't know what is with the screaching noise, but he does it EVERY night before bed. It's like he's so overly excited he can't contain himself.

And this is just me and Cooper playing today :)






I came home from work Tuesday to find this in my front yard...

My wonderful in-laws surprised me with new flowers on Tuesday! I can't wait till they grow and fill out the planters :)

Last Thursday was my last photography class for April. I loved my "Photo Basics" class and can't wait to start "Photo Basics 2" in May! I learned soo much. I know I still have soo much to learn!

I've been working a lot more lately. It's actually been nice. It's nice to have the extra money and it's nice to get out of the house several times a week. I'm starting to realize I get stir crazy if I'm inside for too long.

Cooper is going to be 5 months old tomorrow. Crazy. He is getting so big! He is finally starting to look more like a baby and less like an infant. It's a little sad, but I'm excited for the next step in his life. All the toys, playing, crawling, start solids.... we have some fun times ahead. I cannot wait for the summer! Saturday afternoons at my parents pool and weekends at the lake... Cooper is going to have a blast. He really loves being outside. His whole attitude changes when he goes outside. He gets quiet and curious. Everything is exciting and new. He loves going for walks and the swings at the park. Summertime will be a blasty-blast (That's a Dane Cook reference for those who didn't catch that). Also, He started doing this screachy thing every night before bed. It's hilarious, I have a video but I haven't uploaded it to youtube yet. I'll post it when I do. It makes me laugh.

I have to constantly remind myself he is learning things at his own pace. I feel like he should be able to support himself a little better at this point.. and he still hasn't mastered grabbing toys. Although he definitely wants to. He'll get there, I know.... I just have to remind myself he'll get there when he is ready.

In non-related Cooper news. My parents have been helping out with my grandpa a lot lately. His condition seems to be worsening. We went over there last week. He has no idea who I am and doesn't really know my dad. I think he only knows it's his son cause my dad always says, "Hi dad... bye dad." Grandpa doesn't even know grandma most of the time. It sucks. I know he wouldn't want things this way. I told my mom the other day... "Sorry mom, I'd rather you go ahead and die than go through life like this." And, she agreed. I wouldn't want my children to have to go through all this suffering. I can't even imagine my dad looking me in the eyes and having no idea who I am. Ugh, it's awful. And I can tell it's draining on my dad.

We've taken several pictures of Cooper with grandpa. Cooper looooves looking up at him, it's so sweet. Cooper is his only great-grandson.

I didn't mean to end this on such a sad note! But, I HAVE to go to bed...I have to get up for work in 6 hours... I'm a workin' girl now :-P

I had a photography assignment today. My mom, Brooke and I took Cooper out to Will Rogers Park. We had lunch out there and they played with Cooper while I walked around to snap some pictures. It was a lot of fun! It was a really nice day today, not too hot and not too cold. Here are some of the pictures that came out of today.... the assignment was "Focus and Frame." Basically to intentionally focus on a certain part of the photo.

I get these emails every week telling me of Cooper's development. I used to get them when I was pregnant too. It was exciting then to learn how my baby was developing..... when he grew ears, when he lost his 'tail' when his lungs were forming, all that good stuff. It's still fun to read what he can do and understand at the age he is now. Here is the one I got for this week:

Your 4-month-old: Week 2

How your baby's growing:

By now, your baby may play with her hands and feet for a few minutes at a time. She's quite fond of doing one action over and over again until she's sure of the result. Then she'll switch things up a bit to see if the result is different.

Suddenly you'll realize it's strangely quiet in the bedroom and look in, only to discover that your baby, who until now has needed your attention for most of every waking moment, is amusing herself in her crib. You might be able to start reading the paper again — well, maybe just the headlines.


I have noticed Cooper noticing his hands and feet. He'll just stare at his feet with his 'monkey face' as mom likes to call it. He tries really hard to grab them, but he hasn't fully grasped the concept yet. He is starting to purposefully swat and grab at some things though. It's funny to see him touch something intentionally and get this look on his face of, "Whoa.. I just did that!"

He's also loving the "goooo-geeee" noises. He makes those a lot and he likes it when I make similar noises back at him. His eyes get all big and he starts pumping his legs up and down. A-freaking-dorable.

I am beyond sick of Philip's company. The bad way out weighs the good. They treat their employees like dirt and pay them dirt and act like it's amazing pay. As if he should be so gracious for receiving that amount of money. BS. He is so underpaid for the hours he works. He is very unappreciated for the amount and quality of work he gives them.

Their management doesn't know what they're doing, ever. People are always confused because of the lack of leadership. There used to be a feeling of teamwork, and now it's every man for himself. There is definite favoritism for certain employees too. They parade themselves as a "Christian company" and do NOT act as Christ would. They've become so motivated and driven by the all mighty dollar.

I am SO ready for Philip to graduate and get out of this job. It's really become a nightmare. It's a constant stress source for him and I hate to see it that way.

..... I'm feeling bitter right now because I was really excited about spending the evening with my husband and baby. We planned a dinner together (which we never get to do) and had it marinating for hours. He got called into work and now I'm eating without him.

Mommy's not happy. Mommy needs Daddy.

Just at the heightened moment off irritation, Philip was just about to walk out the door to leave for work and Cooper looked up at him with this giant adorable smile of admiration. Gotta love that kid.

I'm getting bored with the same 2 WW recipes I eat every week. They're really good and easy to make, but I need to mix it up a little. But, I went to WW to weigh in today and I did lose 2.2lbs. For a total of 19lbs gone!

I had my first photography lesson at Fife Photography today. Even though it took me AN HOUR to drive there... it was really fun. I love learning about my new camera and taking pictures. I think it's going to be a good class. We have a photo assignment this week. I'll be sure to post the pictures I take :)

We had a photo session with Cooper at Will Rogers Park on Tuesday. It was so cold that day! I thought it was supposed to be low-60s and it was more like mid-50s. Ugh. I kept a hat and blanket around Cooper unless we were taking pictures. His nose started turning red toward the end of our 'session.' haha. He was a trooper though. I wasn't too thrilled with the pictures because I was so rushed (...the cold and I was worried Coop would have a break down at any moment). The lighting wasn't what I wanted AT ALL. But, oh well. Cooper looks adorable and that's all that matters.