How do these women do it? My mother, my grandma, TuPac’s mother… That has got to be the hardest job! It’s not like I get any help from him anyways. (Well, except for the fact that I am not working anymore.)  (I am grateful for that.)

I know a few women around my age who are also single mothers, but they are financially loaded!  Must be nice!

Hopefully, I can get a great job, (haha) make enough money to support Dyl and I and be happy. 

I guess I can just figure everything out as it comes.

People often ask me why I live in New Jersey when they find out I am from Florida.  I wonder the same thing myself.  I have lived in New Jersey for about 6 years and I have never called it home.  I miss my family, the palm trees, the BLUE water and the beautiful weather year-round.  I am so excited to finally move back home.

Our family is spread out over the country, so holidays are the only time that we get to see each other.  This year, we all flew into Miami to see my grandmother.  She always bakes my favorite cookies, snowballs.  Instead of a traditional “turkey” dinner, my father grilled flank steak with chimmichurri sauce.  It was delicious!  After dinner, we played Family Feud on the Wii.

At about 1:00 in the morning on Saturday night, Dylan woke up with a fever.  He cried for at least an hour.  The rest of the vacation was spent trying to make him feel better. My wild child turned into a snuggly bear.  The next two nights involved absolutely no sleep because he now added coughing to whatever sickness he had.   We made it back on Monday, but USairways lost our carseat.  Dylan is still sick today, but after the doctor’s appointment, Amoxicillan and some cough medicine, he should be feeling better soon. 

Even with the minor issues, we had a wonderful visit.

He is the light of my life.  Every day that I wake up, I know that regardless of the mistakes that I have made in the past, I can never regret anything, because I have him.  Going back to school this time around has enlightened me.  I have learned that the most important way to gain knowledge is through experience.  For me, getting married taught me to be more independant. Being a mother taught me to be more responsible. Going back to college the second time, taught me to appreciate the value of an education. As an English major, I learned that literature is not just for enjoyment, but can truly change your life.  Walt Whitman’s, Song of Myself,  is the poem that I keep going back to whenever I need some inspiration.  I love that something so simple, like a blade of grass, connects us all.  Regardless of who we are, how much money we make or what we do, we are all equally important in this world.  We learn from not just our mistakes, but by the mistakes of others. 

 I take full responsibility for my son;  My husband takes none.  He grew up in a household where his mother did everything, so he expects that from me.  I laughed when he said he wanted more kids.  I told him to find another wife.  I love being a mother, but Dylan is enough for me. 

My light is my son.

Next adventure coming soon:  Thanksgiving in Florida

copy cat recipe for Redstone’s Cornbread with maple butter

Ingredients for cornbread: (see below for maple butter ingredients)

3/4 cup yellow cornmeal

3/4 cup flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 tablespoon baking powder

4 eggs

3/4 cup sugar

7 oz creamed corn (1/2 can)

2 oz diced green chillies drained well (1/2 can)

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup shredded monterrey jack and cheddar cheese blend

Ingredients for maple butter:

1 LB butter

1 cup maple syrup

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Directions for cornbread:

Preheat to 400 degrees

mix together all ingredients in order (only cornbread ingredients)

pour into skillet (preferably a greased cast iron skillet)

bake for 35 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean

spread maple butter over warm cornbread and enjoy!

Maple butter:

soften butter to room temperature

whip butter and salt

drizzle syrup while whipping

My little superhero!

We went to lunch at this little Mexican restaurant with the BEST smoked buffalo chicken wings.  Our main goal was to make sure that we definately stopped at Brown Betty for some desserts.

I ordered 2 red velvet cupcakes and an APple Brown Betty.  I took them home and waited patiently until dinner was over to open the bag.  Not only were these the most beautiful looking cupcakes, they were the most delicious ones that I have Ever tasted!   I encourage everyone to take a trip over to the Piazza just for the cupcakes.

Meanwhile, my son is picking up all of my husband’s little habits.  The one that I am most proud of is, “I farted, you can smell it!” I bet every man that read this laughed.

I really want to go to Paris for the international studies trip in May.  This could be my last hoorah before we move to Florida and settle down for good.

I just hope I dont have to pay my husband to babysit Dylan.