Martha's got nothing to worry about!

This recipe comes from the Kitchen of Audra Griffith

This is a Martha Stewart recipe orignally introduced to me by Audra.  They are DELICIOUS, but a lot of work!

Makes about 4 dozen

8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, melted and cooled (I used Giradelli Bittersweet Chips)

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup Dutch cocoa powder

2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature

1 1/3 cups light-brown sugar, firmly packed

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/3 cup milk

1 cup confectioners' sugar, plus more for rolling

Directions:

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Melt chocolate over medium heat in a heat-proof bowl or the top of a double boiler set over a pan of simmering water. Set aside to cool. Sift together flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt.

Beat butter and light-brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla, and beat until well combined. Add melted chocolate. With mixer on low speed, alternate adding dry ingredients and milk until just combined. Divide the dough into quarters, wrap with plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator until firm, about 2 hours.

On a clean countertop, roll each portion of dough into a log approximately 16 inches long and 1 inch in diameter, using confectioners’ sugar to prevent sticking. Wrap logs in plastic wrap, and transfer to a baking sheet. Chill for 30 minutes. Cut each log into 1-inch pieces, and toss in confectioners’ sugar, a few at a time. Using your hands, roll the pieces into a ball shape. If any of the cocoa-colored dough is visible, roll dough in confectioners’ sugar again to coat completely. Place the cookies 2 inches apart on a Silpat-lined baking sheet.

Bake until cookies have flattened and the sugar splits, 12 to15 minutes.

Transfer from oven to a wire rack to let cool completely. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

 

Serve with a glass of milk! Be prepared to make these again, because they are loved by all!

MMMMMMM!  ENJOY!

Did you feel that????

It's funny how everytime I start to wonder if everythings "ok" inside...I get a little nudge from my angel that says "yes mommy, I'm in here, and everything's ok."  I know its not only our baby, but Jesus reassuring me that He has got our little one in His hands.  Well tonight was one of those nights. 

I got home and got a wild hair to pull up all of my summer flowers out of the front beds since a frost is probably just nights away.  So, with Kirby in tow, I did just that.  I pulled up all the small flowers first, but next, NEXT, were the MAMMOTH Lantana that I planted at the beginning of Summer. They have morphed into some of the most beautiful, colorful, THICK & STRONG flowers I've ever planted.  If you need a hearty plant, this is the one for you. 

I digress...anyways, after getting all the flowers up- using a lot of my might, too much I might add- I start to wonder, "is everything ok inside?"  I kept asking Lance for reassurance if he thought I could have hurt anything while pulling and tugging on those flowers.  He said he was sure everything was fine.

So, I had some dinner while Lance and Tyler (Lance's oldest younger brother) worked on some honey-do's around the house.  Then as I sat and watched Grey's Anatomy, here came that sweet little nudge.  Most of the time when I try to get Lance to feel, it's not quite strong enough for him to feel...but tonight it kept up so we tried again.  We sat there for a brief moment, and then, there it was....HE FELT IT!  I've been wanting so badly for him to feel it, so he could connect like I do and finally, he felt it.  I said "did you feel it?" and when I looked up at him- it was so sweet- I could tell that yes, he could feel it.  He kept his hand there a little longer, but nothing more- but that one little kick was enough for tonight. 

I can still feel "it" as we speak and for that I am thankful.  As I sit her and update my blog, a blog I read daily, MckMama is posting tweets about her sweet Stellan who is fighting for his life while batteling severe bouts of SVT going on 48 hours now.  Please pray for this family as they decide what steps to take next. 

We go to the doctor for our 20 week ultrasound and check up on Monday.  We will then know if this "it" is a boy or a girl.  I cannot wait to find out what this little angel inside of me is.  I can't wait to put a name with this baby and all of the things that come along with finding out if it's a boy or girl!  I sure hope he\she is in a position where we can tell what the sex is.  Please keep us in your prayers as we go on Monday and also keep Stellan and his family in your prayers. 

We have so much to be thankful for. 

Back soon,
Annie

He Melts My Heart!

Seriously folks, I AM IN LOVE!!! 

Meet William Andrew

Born: September 9, 2009

He was born to my best childhood friend, Bridget and her husband Andrew.

This is a BabyWise Baby---and let me tell you, he's 5 1\2 weeks old and doing fabulously!

Bridget said not to be fooled, that it wasn't easy in the beginning, but this stuff works!
Being "Anal Annie" that I am, I will be following this routine and might even have a spreadsheet!

Lord help us!

I went down to Birmingham this past weekend to meet the new little bundle of joy. 

He is such a sweet baby and has the sweetest personality. 

He loves to be talked too and have the attention on him- NO PROBLEM for me!

He loves his bouncy seat!

This is the new little family- Bridget, Andrew and William

(NOTE: Look at little Sadie looking out the front door)

I made this blanket for William.  I started the weekend of July 4th and got it finished just in the nick of time for my visit.  I didn't work on it for a while, but when I set my date for travel, I got on it! 

I think I might have Carpal Tunnel now though- but he's totally worth it!

We had a great time this weekend.  Bridget cooked a yummy meal on Friday night when I got there.  Saturday Andrew kept William while me and Bridge went to the Mall for some Post-Pregnancy Clothes.  Saturday night was the real test- I had William all to my self because they went out on a much needed date!

WE BOTH SURVIVED!

It went really well.  I'll have to say I was a little nervous but after seeing the way the day went with his schedule I knew what to expect.  We had wake time, then sleep time and then mommy and daddy were home.  He did wonderful!  Really, he's such a happy baby!

I got home Sunday afternoon just in time for the Titans Massacre!  GOOD GRIEF!

 

Sunday Night Football in Nashville

This year we decided to buy Titans Seasons Tickets.  Little did we know we'd be 0-5 after last nights massacre against the Colts.  We did have fun Tailgating though.  Frank always throws the best Tailgating Parties along with good food, good music and great friends. 

Here's me and Lance before the game- not too chilly just yet!

My beautiful Mom and Step Dad Ronnie joined us for some tailgating festivities!

Ginger, Beth & Gayle

Lance and Ryan- FANTASY FOOTBALL FREAKS!

We had a great time at the Tailgate but the game was not much to speak off.  It was pretty cold by the 3rd quarter and we had seen all of the but-kicking that we could handle for a night so we left early.  I'm not one for leaving games early, but this was just torture!  Plus, mommy gets tired and turns into a pumpkin at about 10pm.  We headed back out to the tailgate to finish off some of the BEST cupcakes known to man- made by Gayle- and then headed home. 

Hopefully next week against the Patriots will be a better turn out for the Titans!

The Million Dollar Dog

Meet Kirby!

Kirby is our 6 year old toy dachshund.  She is our "firstborn".  I love this dog with ever fiber in my being. She is my shadow.  She is my lap dog.  She is my 4 legged child.  Lance would tell you the same.  Kirby was a Christmas gift to me our first Christmas that we were married.  Lance drove about an hour and a half to a breeder, picked her out, put a little pink finger nail polish on her belly to mark his selection and the rest is history! He took me back a few weeks later to pick her up when she was about 6 weeks old.  We have been wrapped around her kinked tail ever since! 

Kirby has had a rough life, medicaly speaking.  She had 2 back surgeries for treatment of Intervertebral Disk Disease in 2006.  Her back limbs were paralyzed before both surgeries.  After surgery 1- it took about 6 weeks to recover but after surgery 2, she walked out of the doctors office, wagging her tail!  She received treatment from one of the best surgeons in our area.  We owe our deepest heartfelt thanks to Dr. Oshin.  He's one of a kind! 

Recently she developed a lump on her back so we had it biopseyed last week while she was under anesthesia for her teeth cleaning and "pedicure".  The lump came back as negative for any sort of cancer.  Apparently, sometimes when  a shot is administered, a lump can form around the injection site.  Kirby is now lump free and recovering from her minor surgery. 

(This is Kirby on the way home from the vet last Wednesday- she slept all the way home- lets just say the anesthesia had not quite worn off!)

It's been 1 week and 2 days since her surgery and she's back to her frisky self. 

I'm not sure how Kirby's going to handle a new baby and having to share the attention with someone else.  I think she senses that somethings going on. She is slowly moving towards Lance and snuggling with him on the couch instead of constantly being at my side.  I'm fairly certain that she'll always be my baby so hopefully instead of having to split my love with her and a new baby my love will just double for both my babies! 

New Doctor

Today I went to meet my new doctor.  We'll call him Dr. G. 

I had not had the best experience or connection with my previous doctor, so after some deliberation, I switched. He came highly recomended from my boss so I called him up.  He's affiliated with the same group that I was with but just at a different hospital.  I met with him today and he was great!  He was very informative, to the point, direct yet NOT pushy. 

We talked about 2 concerns that I had voiced with my other doctor and he gave me his input.  I was\am unsure of whether or not I want to get the flu\h1n1 shot or not.  He "recommended" that I get it but said I was an adult and could make my own decisions for me and my child.  Now, that's what I like to hear.  I am still undecided as to what to do about these immunizations.  He said if I was to get the seasonal flu or the H1N1 that I would more than likely be sicker than most but that they would treat me with Tama-Flu- same as if I was to get the shot and get the flu.  These are both up in the air for me- but I have 4 weeks until my next visit so I'll decide by then.

The second topic up for discussion was genetic screening.  My previous doctor had been very pushy about genetic screening.  I informed her that no matter what the outcome might be of said screening, we would not choose to terminate the pregnancy.  Dr. G (new doctor) said that unless I even thought I would consider terminating based on results, he would not suggest any genetic testing.  He stated that the 20 week ultrasound would show MOST genetic abnormalities and that genetic tests were dangerous for the baby.  So, enough said- end of discussion.  We were on the same page on this topic. 

We went through 16 weeks worth of questions and he wrote up his own chart for me.   He did say my TSH levels were on the high side of normal so he sent me for some blood work and I should  know those results in a week or so.  I feel very confident in him and his ability to care for me as well as deliver our child.

We have rescheduled the ultrasound to November 2nd at 8am, with my 20 week check-up to follow. I will be 19 weeks 6 days at the time of the ultrasound so hopefully our little one will be cooperative and we will know if he\she is a he or she!  I still don't have a preference as to if it's a boy or girl.  I just want a healthy mind, body and spirit.  Lance put a little poll up at the top for your votes on whether you think it's a boy or girl, so go ahead, make your predictions! 

Stay Tuned,

Annie