new in my world

my world just expanded, along with my heart, in a way that i never really believed that it could. i am no longer just jackie- wife, daughter, auntie, sister, friend, cook. i have added the most beautiful role to that list- 

mama.

the mister and i have been on a waiting list, waiting to grow our family by adopting, for just under 2 years. last weekend, it happened, in a whirlwind of a middle-of -the-night-she-is-in-labor phone call, a 3 hour drive and one exciting/emotional/intense/surreal night in the hospital with our new son.

things may be a bit quiet around here for a while, but you couldn't keep me outta the kitchen if you tried! since the peanut has been home with us, i have already made chocolate chip cookies, pasta with a meat sauce with local turri farms ground beef, eggplant and zucchini and i roasted a llano seco pork shoulder for some tender, juicy carnitas that we had in tacos one night and on a slightly toasted ciabatta roll with sharp cheddar, thinly sliced red onion and tomato, the next night.

i will be cooking and taking pictures soon enough, but for now, i will be happily soaking up my new role.