Sep 30, 2013

Peach Gold & White Baby Shower!

 
This past weekend my best friend hosted a baby shower with my family & friends to celebrate Emersons pending arrival!
She is so talented and creative!
She knows I'm not a TOO MUCH pink fan, so she went with peach, white and gold.
I am LOVING peach right now. 
Emerson's nursery is peach!
Whispering Peach from Benjamin Moore.
It's so sweet and soft and soothing.
 
Thank you Brooke for all you did!
Everything was perfect & delicious!
 

Maple donuts are my FAVE!  She knows. 


Dipped pretzels are also a FAVE!
How cute are these with gold glittler?!?!

 


 
Hope you all had a fun weekend!
We went to Gatlinburg after the shower!
Had a BIG TIME!!
 
 

Sep 26, 2013

Growing up, gaining independence

He's growing up right before my very eyes.  Sometimes he still wants to be my baby and have me hold him, or help him but so many times, he wants to 'do it myself' or 'I can do that!'

Last night after bath, I'd rubbed him down with our special magic lotion (for his eczema) and it was time to put jamma's on.  We went in his room and I grabbed a pair of cotton pants and helped him get them on.  One leg at a time, holding on to my shoulders while he stepped in.  It came time for the shirt and he wanted to pick that out on his own.  Forget jamma shirts, he wants a t shirt.  He went to his closet and picked out his MY MOM ROCKS shirt (that's my boy!).  I took it from him assuming he'd want my help, but he told me he could do it himself. 

He held that little shirt upside down and backwards and asked if it was the right way.  I showed him which side was the front.  He flipped it around.  Held the front under his chin and started working the back of it over his head.  Once his head popped through that smile peeked out and those eyes cut up at me.  Slowly, one arm at a time, with a few questions of 'where is the arm?' he finally got it.  Left, then right.  He very proudly straightened it all out and smiled. 

Part of me was beaming, yet part of me wanted to burst out in tears.  My little boy, three and a half years old is growing up right before my very eyes. 

We headed to the bathroom to brush his teeth.  I sat him up on the counter and again, 'I can do it myself.'  Sure enough, he pulled out the toothpaste, squirted it on his toothbrush and ran it under the water.  He began brushing, just as I've done so many nights.  Saying 'eeeeee' to get those front ones good and clean and 'open wide' to get the big chompers in the back.  Spitting when he filled up with 'all those bubbles!!!' and rinsing when he was done. 

As I sat there watching him I couldn't help but think that in a few short months I'd be grateful for the fact that he can do these things on his own as I'll be tending to his new baby sister, but for now, it makes me a bit weepy.  The little boy who once depended on me for everything, can now do so much on his own. 

As bedtime approached, we were saying our 'good-nights' to daddy upstairs and the little baby boy was back.  With Charlie in hand and Ra-Ra in his mouth, that request to 'pick me up' came out.  I gladly picked him up, rested him up over the top of my ever growing belly and headed to his room.  His arms around my neck and head rested on my shoulder, I was thankful for that little moment of 'baby' that was still there.   

This growing up stuff ain't easy.  Rewarding yet challenging.  Inevitable yet painful.  BUT!  I'm so thankful that I can watch him grow.  And thankful that he's mine. 

Sep 10, 2013

Recipe:: Zucchini Carrot Muffins

I am am always on the hunt for quick little snacks I can put in Easton's lunch.
Sometimes those come at a cost.  TOO MUCH SUGAR.
Yes, it's easy to throw a bunch of prepackaged items in his lunchbox, but I really want him to have good food choices and be healthy!
 
There are way too many sugary options out these days.
I'm guilty of buying and eating them, but I do prefer to do less sugar where we can.
And I also don't deprive him either.  All things in moderation I believe.
 
Last week I happened upon a Zucchini Bread Recipe on Better Homes & Gardens and I pinned it!
 
Last night I decided to make some while I was getting supper ready.
 
The recipe calls for just Zucchini but I added carrots as well.
Those are 2 veggies that Easton will NOT eat, so why not sneak them in when I can.
 
Disguise anything with a little bit of sugar and cinnamon and the boy will eat it.
 
{Even Kirby was looking for a crumb}

Recipe from BHG
**MY CHANGES
Ingredients
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (I'm going to try this with oatmeal flour next...we'll see how that goes)
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup finely shredded, unpeeled zucchini **I used a whole zucchini and 2 whole carrots
  • 1/4 cup cooking oil
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans, toasted **no nuts- Easton's school is nut free
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease the bottom and 1/2 inch up sides of an 8x4x2-inch loaf pan; set aside. In a medium bowl combine the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, baking powder, and nutmeg. Make a well in center of flour mixture; set aside.
2. In another medium bowl combine egg, sugar, shredded zucchini, and oil. Add zucchini mixture all at once to flour mixture. Stir just until moistened (batter should be lumpy). Fold in nuts. Spoon batter into prepared pan.
3. Bake for 50 to 55 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pan. Cool completely on a wire rack. Wrap and store overnight before slicing.
From the Test Kitchen
 
**I prepared our Zucchini Carrot Bread as muffins.  I
 used my mini muffin pan that yields 24 muffins. 
Spray the pay and use a small cookie scoop to scoop batter into pan. 
(And yes, they're right.  The batter WILL be lumpy.) 
They cooked at 350 for 20 minutes...until toothpick came out clean. 
Let cool about 5 minutes and gently lift muffins out of tin.
Cool before storing. 
 
Let me tell you, these are DELISH!
I froze half the batch and left the other half in a ziploc for this week.
The perfect little snack for his lunchbox {and mine}!
 
Now, lets just see if the 2 I put in his lunch box are gone this afternoon!
That's the REAL test!
 
Do you have any ways you sneak veggies into your kids meals? 
I'm always looking for new and different HEALTHY treats!

Sep 1, 2013

Little Sister kicked for Big Brother

 
a little sweet memory for the record books.
tonight while crocheting, easton felt emerson move for the first time.
his little eyes lit up and his face filled with a smile.
 
i can't wait till he sees her for the first time.

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