I like pork, mama!

I have a confession to make. 

I like pork.   I know (gasp)...how could I?  

It is no secret that I'm real intentional about what my kids eat.  I try to make homemade meals for us most days of the week...which has become quite the challenge with an infant and a toddler.  I want my boys to not only love eating all types of food (which, so far, Emmanuel loves lots of different types of ethnic foods), but I want them to enjoy preparing meals as well.

A few weeks ago, I found this beautiful pork loin on sale.  So, I prepared it pretty simply with some carmelized apples on top.  

Initially, I didn't give Emmanuel any pork because I cooked it to right at medium...and wanted to make sure it was "done enough" before he ate it.  Well, he saw that it was pork...took a piece off my plate...and immediately said, "More, pork, mama."  I said, "E, are you sure?"  He replied, "I like pork, mama."  He gobbled it up and went back for seconds and thirds.  Now, clearly I know that my son loves pork...any kind of pork...bacon, boston butt, shoulder...it doesn't matter how it's prepared...on the bone, pulled off the bone, roasted, slow-cooked, barbecued, but I am still amazed at how adamant he was about eating more pork.  He loves pork...and well, his love of the pig has made me work harder to find creative ways to prepare the lovely swine (we just try really hard not to eat it around Big James who is NOT a fan of pork!)    

Lately, we've enjoyed exploring Nashville in all its glory.  

Here are the kids in my "sit and stand mom-mobile" after feeding the ducks at Centennial Park.  It is a beautiful park. 

Emmanuel enjoyed painting at The Frist Center for Visual Arts.  

And, we love hanging out at the Nature Center that's down the street from our house.    Emmanuel and I got to eat right out of the garden, which was quite the treat for both of us, and he got to see some pretty cool animals, too. 

We're trying out a couple of different Moms groups in the area.  One group toured a local firestation, and well, how could we possibly resist that?

The jaws of life was about the same size as Emmanuel.

Emmanuel channeling his inner Bobby Flay...

Reese is always along for the ride even though he hates riding in the car (somehow this is getting worse instead of better for him.)

And, although Reese is not a fan of riding in the car...he has one thing down perfectly:  If they both fall asleep in the car, Reese will wait until I put Emmanuel in his bed to wake up.  And when he wakes up, he's ready to go...he talks and smiles and laughs out loud!  He may be too young to like pork like Emmanuel, but he does like his alone time with mama.

I am still figuring out how to balance these two little boys.  I think that overall Emmanuel has adjusted well to his baby brother...but he is two years old, and he loves his own time with his mama.  Eli is also working about 10 hours a day and taking two classes, which means our time as a family is slim.  We had to be intentional before, but now we have to pull our out calendars to make sure we get time together as a family of four.

Most days I am thankful to have survived...and at the end of the day when everyone is fed, cleaned, and fast asleep...I am still hurrying around washing clothes and ironing or planning meals or vacuuming...there is always something to do in preparation for the next day.

People usually say, "Take it one day at a time."  LOL.  Each of my days, as with a lot of moms with two so close in age, are packed to capacity.  (And, well, it definitely hurts the situation that I am sooo type A.)  If I focus on the day as a whole, I will wake up overwhelmed, stressed, and without a right focus.  (I almost passed out two weeks ago because I was "taking it one day at a time.")  So, I am taking it one "moment at a time."  I am focusing on the task that is before me and trying with all of my might to appreciate the moments that God has given me with my children.  When that moment is finished and conquered...even if it involved a screaming baby, a whiny toddler, and being up to my neck in little people poop, I move on...to the next moment.

I am so amazed at the amount of patience that God has for me, His child...so amazed at His unconditional love for me, His child...so thankful for the moments that He gives to me....like the moment when Emmanuel said, "I like pork, mama."

What an awesome Heavenly Father...