Leelo – Page 10 – Hello Leelo

5 Years Later

Alexander Lopez,

5 years ago today I was waiting in a room all by myself in a wedding dress, holding a bouquet and thinking how the rest of my life was going to change in a few minutes because I was going to be marrying you. My Dad came in and we walked towards the aisle. As soon as I saw you, my feet turned into roadrunner feet and I couldn’t help running!

My Dad had to hold me back and he said, “Slow down sweetie.”

And I said, “I can’t!”

I saw you and I just knew. I was making the best decision I ever could. The ceremony was a blur, except for our time of communion together where it was just us for a while. You prayed for us and our life together and our future children. I fell in love with you all over again.

We have been through so much together since that day. We’ve moved 5 times in the last 5 years. And collectively we’ve held 4 different jobs. We have prayed for God’s divine order over our lives and He’s been faithful (even in things we didn’t understand) to provide for us just as much as we’ve needed.

Now, 5 years later, we are expecting our first baby. Our first son. You are going to be an amazing father because you are an amazing husband. I could not ask for a better person to be sharing this responsibility and joy with and I cannot wait to see how he will become and amazing man because he was raised by one.

I love you and I am so looking forward to what the next 5 years will bring.

Happy Anniversary my love,
Bubbie

Recipe | Creamy Tomato Tortellini Soup

Adapted From Tasty Kitchen

What I love about this recipe is how fast it is! Only 15 mins for a tasty and hearty soup, that’s easy to reheat for leftovers throughout the week. Or, a great last minute meal for small gatherings.

Serves: 6-8
Cooking Time: 15 mins

What You’ll Need:
3 cups (or 2 cans) of tomato soup (I used Trader Joe’s boxed soup)
1/2 cup sun dried tomatoes, chopped
2 cups half-and-half
2 cups chicken stock
1 whole 9 oz package of cheese filled tortellini
1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese

What You’ll Have:
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper

What You’ll Do:
Saute garlic with the olive oil in a large stock pot over medium heat until golden brown.

Add in the tomato soup, sun-dried tomatoes, half-n-half, chicken stock and spices. Bring to a simmer.

Once simmering, drop uncooked tortellini into the soup. Cook about 12 minutes, until the tortellini is cooked through.

Serve topped with shredded parmesan cheese.

You can also serve this with a side salad and toasted baguette.

Enjoy!

Recipe | Vegetarian Chili

Adapted from Emeril’s Vegetarian Chili

This chili is so tasty and I guarantee any meat eaters in your family will LOVE this soup because it’s very hearty. Some of the changes I made, I believe, make the soup taste better but you can always use fresh ingredients — it just may need a bit more seasoning.

This also reheats GREAT for leftovers during the week.

Serves: 6-8
Cooking Time: 55 min

TIP: Do all the prep before, it makes the cooking process much faster.

What You’ll Need:
1 1/2 cups chopped yellow onions
1 cup chopped red bell peppers
2 tablespoons minced garlic
2 to 3 jalapeño peppers, seeded and minced
1 medium zucchini chopped
1 can corn
1 can stewed organic tomatoes
1 can organic black beans
1 can tomato sauce
1 cup vegetable stock or water
Sour cream and avocado for garnish
Cooked brown rice

What You’ll Have:
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespooon ground cumin
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne

What You’ll Do:
(If you’re cooking brown rice — start cooking now)
In a large pot heat the oil over medium heat, until it coats the pan. Add the onions, bell peppers, garlic, and serrano peppers, and cook until soft (about 3 minutes).

Add the zucchini and corn, cooking until soft and the vegetables give off their liquid (about 6 minutes).

Add the chili powder, cumin, salt and cayenne, and stir. Add the tomatoes, the beans, tomato sauce, and vegetable stock, stir well, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer for 20 minutes.

(If you’re cooking white rice, you can start cooking that now).

To serve, place 1/4 cup of rice in the bottom of each bowl. Ladle the chili into the bowls over the rice. Top each serving with a dollop of sour cream and spoonful of avocado.

Enjoy.

The Pea Pods

So, in case you guys are totally behind… I want you to meet Emmy and Teddy! We are calling them the two little pea pods. They are due 10 days a part and little Emmy belongs to my brother and sister-in-law!

When we found out we were pregnant, C&A had no idea that they were ALSO pregnant. My sister-in-law started noticing that some of the symptoms I was having, she was having too. She decided to take a pregnancy test and SURPRISE! They were having a baby!! We were all shocked and so excited.

Then, just this past week, they found out they were having a girl. So exciting! In a family full of boy cousins, Emmy is going to have her work cut out for her, but my guess will be that she’ll be well taken care of and stick up for herself just fine.

It has been pretty awesome having someone to chat with about all the things we’re going through and at the same time. My bestie Amy is also pregnant and has been a major rock for me during the first trimester which, as you know, was not so fun.

Growing up, it was such a blessing to be so close to my cousins. So, even though we’re 2 hours away, it’s extremely important to all of us that the kids know and love each other. We’ve already started up some Family FaceTime meetings and they have meant the world to me.

I can’t wait to see these two pea pods grow up together and see their personalities form! They will fight, love, and teach each other so many things. I can’t wait.

Here’s to family!

Love,
Leelo and Ander +1

Baby | 20 Weeks

Merry Christmas Eve and welcome to 20 weeks baby! You’re about the size of a banana now and I’m kind of freaking out about the fact that you are eventually going to be the size of a pumpkin. Can we make a deal? Could you be a relatively small pumpkin? Like a 7 pounder would be good? Great.

* * *

20 weeks. Half way there! I know I’ve said it a million times but can it be May already?! I just want to hold this little guy like nobody’s business. Don’t get me wrong… I have really started enjoying this pregnancy thing. I’m cooking again and I’m not barfing unless I forget to eat something AS SOON as I get up — or brush my teeth before I eat. AND last week on 12/21/12 around 9:00 pm I felt him move. It was amazing. It started off as a low rumble and I had my hand resting on the right side of my stomach when the low rumble turned into sort of a wave and then a quick jab! I moved my hand off and sat VERY still and then I received two more quick punches or kicks or whatever. It was the weirdest and most amazing feeling ever. I totally cried. So did Alex when he got home from school and I told him.

So far, the jabs have been the best part of this pregnancy. Oh! We got to hear Teddy’s heartbeat for the first time last week as well. That was amazing. 150 beats per minute and doing great, the doctor says. It’s the first time that the words “typical” and “boring” made me so happy. She has absolutely no concerns and that makes me feel so great.

The same day I felt the jabs we also found out that a dear pastor’s daughter, who was just 5 years old, passed away from a severe asthma attack. I literally gasped when I read the blogpost. I couldn’t move or do anything for about 30 minutes — I just sat there in the mess of it all completely stunned. No one thinks they’ll loose their little one to asthma. I spent some time doing research after that and realized how very dangerous asthma is! It is most definitely not something to take lightly. Just when I was about to start freaking out, Teddy gave me the weave and jab and reminded me that he’s still here and he’s still safe. What a blessing in the midst of it all.

Lord, help me rejoice in this time with Teddy. Help me not to be too anxious. Help me treasure him and cherish him and ultimately know that he’s a gift and not mine to begin with. Thank you for him.

I hope (and I know) that you all will cherish your loved ones this Christmas season!

Merry Christmas,
Leelo and Ander +1

Meet Teddy!

I’ve been getting a lot of questions regarding our son’s name, so hey… let’s make it official.

Drum roll please…

Theodore Primo Lopez!

Daddy suggested the first name and to be honest, I kept thinking about the fat chipmunk from Alvin and the Chipmunks. But after doing some research I realized that some pretty amazing people in History were named Theodore. There was a president, a cowboy, some saints, and a Russian fighter, musicians, painters, and even a major league baseball player. Best and most of all, the name means “God’s Gift”. And truly, this little guy is. We’ve been praying for him for a long, long time.

Primo is Daddy’s middle name and his grandfather’s name and HIS father’s name. It’s very special and very manly — if I do say so myself. It’s Italian in origin and it means “first.” Fitting, I think. Especially if Daddy has his way and Teddy becomes an amazing baseball star. EVERYONE will be calling him Primo. I think he could be a pretty sweet rapper with the name, “Teddy P” but Dad isn’t going for it.

So, there you have it! A pretty amazing name for an amazing kid.

Only about 20(ish) more weeks until we get to hold our little guy!

Recipe | Baked Potato Soup

I know what you’re thinking… WHAT?!?! a recipe? Yes. I’m back to cooking again and it feels so good! I was getting tired of eating out and quick fast food runs when the craving struck. This week I made salmon and asparagus (a veggie I haven’t been able to stomach for 4 months)!

So, anyway, I’m so happy to share one of my favorite recipes — Baked Potato Soup. It’s not a very involved soup and it is very hearty, especially with the bacon fat cooked into the onions. Oh yeah, you know you want some.

Serves: 4-5 (depending on thickness)
Cooking Time: 45 min

What You’ll Need:
3 bacon strips, diced
1 small onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
3 cups chicken broth
2 large baked potatoes, peeled (optional) and cubed
1 cup half-and-half cream

What You’ll Have:
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
Shredded Cheddar cheese

What You’ll Do:
In a large saucepan, cook up the three strips of bacon until crisp. Drain the fat, but reserve about 1 tablespoon of the drippings.

In the same pan, saute the chopped onion and garlic until tender (This smells sooooo good — sorry to all the vegetarians out there). Stir in the flour, salt, basil and pepper.

Slowly add in the chicken broth and bring it to boil. Then stir for 2 minutes.

Add the potatoes, cream and hot pepper sauce; heat thoroughly. This soup thickens up quite a bit so if you feel like you need to add some milk or more chicken broth, feel free!

Serve it up with the bacon (or stir that stuff right in there — Nom). Don’t forgot to top it with cheese. LOTS.

Enjoy!

Crazy Cravings

They have started! It’s not even necessarily CRAVINGS, like ohhhh man I have to get this or I’m going to starve… but I have had a few weird moments where I open the fridge and I think, “Hmmmm, that and that sound good together.”

Then I instantly think, “That’s disgusting, but I’m going to eat it anyway.”

For the last two days I’ve been really wanting chili cheese fries from Del Taco and usually around 8:00 or 9:00 at night. My loving and sweet hubby has gone for me and the baby has been extremely grateful.

But, today was the weirdest… weirdest of all. Today I opened the fridge and thought, “Oh man, jared peaches and spanish olives with pimentos. That sounds AMAZING!”

And I ate them. And they were good. Nom.

Baby | Week 16

Well baby avocado, we made it to 16 weeks! I haven’t felt you move yet but we did find out what you are…

A BOY!

Daddy and I knew it all along.

We are so excited to meet you in about 4-5 months!

Now, start kicking so Mommy can stop freaking out and feel you already!

* * *

Helllllloooooooooo second trimester! Amen and Hallelujah for feeling better. I still don’t have that extra burst of energy, but my morning sickness has subsided significantly. This week, we got to find out what we were having and it was so exciting!

I had spoken to Alex about 1) If we even wanted to find out and 2) how we wanted to tell everyone. He had seen some of the “Gender Reveal” parties I had done for some friends and wanted us to have “one of those parties”. So, my bestie Amy and I set out to plan it. I drove her crazy because I practically had no opinion about decorations or anything. They say planning a party for a party planner is a stressful job… whelp, not this planner! I was exactly the same way about my wedding.

“Oh, they don’t have those flowers? Eh that’s okay, we’ll just do these ones.”

Originally, Alex and I already had an appointment on Thursday to see the babe and we asked if the doctor could write the gender in a sealed envelope so I could give it to Amy. He agreed and he looked and looked and poked and pushed and after a while he said, “Okay, I think I got it, but the placenta is in the way so I can only give you an 80-90% accuracy on the gender.”

80-90%?! That’s a B. My baby is not going to be a B baby… we want A+s people! So needless to say, I scheduled another appointment to confirm the gender.

Amy and I celebrated her birthday on Saturday morning with Starbucks and pedicures, then it was off to the Baby’s First Photos in Riverside before hitting a movie. I was surprisingly calm and the techs were great.

We got confirmation that the gender was 100% accurate, but I told Amy I didn’t want to know if the doctor’s and this tech’s prediction were the same or different because it would freak me out.

She agreed but then I couldn’t take it and kept asking — she wouldn’t tell me.

What a good friend.

Anywho, Sunday came and all our family and close friends arrived wearing either pink or blue based on their guess of the baby’s gender!

TEAM BOY (The Winners!)

TEAM GIRL

We mingled and ate and then we walked over to the giant box that would be filled with both pink and blue balloons. Amy told us that she had secured two balloons with strings to the bottom of the box and that after all the other balloons flew out the two would remain in the color of the baby’s gender! So exciting.

We opened up the flap and….

BLUE BALLOONS! WE KNEW IT!!

Alex and I also made a fun little video of our gender reveal, check it out!

I can’t believe that in 4-5 short months, we will finally have our sweet little guy. I keep imagining what he will look like and imagining his first bath in the sink, waking up in the middle of the night just to check and make sure he’s still breathing, and all his squishy faces and plump extremities. Ugh, I can’t wait. Can it be May already, please?!?!

Cheers to BOYS and besties who are pretty much amazing!

Baby | 12 Weeks

We made it to 12 weeks little lime and, so far, according to the doctor we both are doing a great job. Hooray!

So, this little lime is still totally kicking my butt. I’m up peeing all the time, tired all the time, and the morning sickness — though it has died down quite a bit — is still in full effect. Last night was the worst. I’m pretty sure this baby hates diary, tomatoes, and red meat. All of which are very sad. This baby has pretty much ruined spaghetti for me, since it just doesn’t taste the same coming back up. What was really weird is that all the noodles were gone, just the meat sauce remained, so I’m pretty sure this little one likes carbs. Sorry if that was a little TMI for y’all.

The weird, and I mean ultra-super weird, dreams have started. Two nights ago I dreamed that I was Hermione trying to escape the death-eaters for my ultimate mission of choosing the next James Bond. I interviewed many candidates and finally I took a rocket to outer-space where I found… Sponge Bob, who was jumping rope around the moon. Anyway, after much deliberation I decided that Sponge Bob should be the next James Bond or Bob. Whatever. Then we orbited around earth and landed in England where we shared a virgin martini (shaken, not stirred).

Needless to say, I woke up completely terrified and also hysterical.

This pregnancy has been a pretty crazy ride so far and I am so looking forward to the second trimester where I will, hopefully, start to feel better and have a bit more energy.

Until then,
Leelo and Ander +1