Welcome to the World New Mommy

I haven't been attending to my blog for a long time.  I thought it was about time to get back into the swing of things.  I announced last year that I was expecting my first child. HERE I didn't realize even though I had an easy pregnancy and delivery how much energy growing a human takes.  So alas, my free moments before the baby were spent resting and my time since has been feeding and caring for an adorable little man.

I have been thinking a lot during my time feeding my little nugget and at night before bed about the interesting comments people make when you have children. It seems as though everyone has an opinion, experience or frustration they wish to share. I'm enamored with listening to people talk about how much they love their children young and very old.  I'm also surprised by the negativity that comes out of some peoples mouths about their children.    I'm grateful that I read the blog here at the  Diving for Pearls Blog.  She has so many wonderful thoughts on the beauty of children growing up and your joy as a parent watching and being a part of it.

I've only been a mama for 4 months so I know that there will be times in the future that I will pull my hair out, my kids will get on my nerves and I will need a vacation.  But right now I am trying to savor every second that I can from this blessing in my life.

Do I miss sleeping without interruption?  Do I tire of the flab that has taken over my body? Do I secretly fantasize about getting in my car and doing anything I want for just 2 hours? Do I wish that I could prepare and eat a meal without someone demanding to be fed first?   Of course, and anyone that says otherwise is lying.

But, I will tell you in the scheme of things none of that really matters.

None of those things can quite compare to growing and giving birth to a tiny little human that has characteristics of both you and your husband. ( Adopting in my opinion is just as amazing.. You may not physically create the baby but preparing your home to love and nurture a beautiful child and to give it the love and life another cannot is a miracle)

It is a beautiful and heartwarming sound to hear your child laugh and coo.  To see them smile at you when they're half asleep or when they see you across the room. To see them get startled and look to you for comfort and assurance that they are safe. And once they see you're OK that is all they need to know. It is so entertaining to watch them laugh at you when you make weird sounds or expressions or blow in their faces.

There is nothing quite as sexy as seeing your big ol husband pick out onesies and blankie for or change diapers on a tiny little baby. Or when you hear him make up ridiculous songs to sing to your upset child to make him feel better. And this new found tag team partnership and unspoken appreciation for each other after experiencing such intense excitement and love following giving birth.

I marvel at the joy that this little face brings perfect strangers when they see him at he flirts back.  How amazing it is to see the impact of a little spirit on the world.   And what a great reminder that we all started out so small and precious.  My interactions with others have been permanently altered because now I think of everyone as someone else's baby.

Just the thought of this beautiful little boy growing into a great man brings me to tears for two reasons. Firstly, that means that he will not always be this precious little baby and secondly, that he will have this amazing life he gets to live.

The best thing a person has said to him was this; "Welcome to the world little man.  You are going to have so many awesome experiences"

I thank my Heavenly Father everyday that I get to be with him for some of those experiences and more importantly that I get to be the Mom he runs home to tell about the good and bad.

My goal is to never take for granted this precious gift and I pray that I can be the mother that he needs.

I love this quote and wanted to share it with all of you.

Here is a copy for you to print out for your home.  Now go kiss your babies of all ages : )

Sep 19, 2011

I'm BAAACK

Holy Cow..  It's been awhile!

So after life craziness and a trip to mexico.. I am finally home and getting into the Christmas Spirit.  Today we are having an office ornament exchange.  For my delicious plate of food I brought in some Crescent Roll Cream Cheese Bars.  They are delicious and made even better by the addition of vanilla, bananas and honey...  Some of my favorite flavors of all time...

Here is the original recipe from Pillsbury   MY changes are in green.

INGREDIENTS

2 - Pillsbury® Refrigerated Reduced Fat Crescent Dinner Rolls 8 oz (8 ct)

1 Package reduced fat cream cheese, softened (8oz.)  I prefer all of my fat...

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup sugar, plus 1 teaspon

2 bananas sliced

1/4-1/2 cup drizzle of honey

2 teaspoon cinnamon

2 tablespoons melted butter

DIRECTIONS

1 Preheat oven to 350. 2 Unroll 1 can of the crescent rolls and place into a 9x13 pan, smoothing out the seams. 3 Mix together the cream cheese and sugar and vanilla  with electric mixer until blended well. 4 Spread cream cheese mixture on top of crescent rolls.  Evenly spread over banana slices and drizzle honey over all. 5 Unroll 2nd can of crescent rolls and place on top of cream cheese mixture, pinch together the seems. 6 Brush top with melted butter. 7 Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon sugar and 2 teaspoons cinammon. 8 Bake at 350 for 20 minutes or until lightly brown. 9 Cut into bars and serve.

 final goooooey goodness...

Just had to show you my Mexican honey..  You know it's good when they caught a bee inside... Yum..

 

 

Thanksgiving Printables

Check out this Wordle Subway Art I made.  Click on the image and print out your own!

And here is a super cute Thanksgiving Quote from Erma Bombeck.

Cheap/Easy Halloween and Thanksgiving Centerpiece

Sorry the pictures are lame but here is a $3 centerpiece for Halloween or Thanksgiving that literally takes 3 minutes!

Go to Dollar store and buy straw colored crinkled packing ( in gift bag section), a bag of candy corn and a vase.

Pour 3/4 of the bag into the vase.  Pour candy corn over the top.  Take an appropriately colored ribbon.  Cut to size of the diameter of vase with an extra 1/4in overage.  Put one dot from a glue gun and Whoo hoo you're done...  Literally think it took me longer to type this that actually do it!

We used this for a few tables at our church chili cook off.  I think they look adorable!    BTW there was more candy corn but there were quite a few hands that got into this one!

Improv cooking challenge: caramel apple nachos

I am super excited to be a part of The Lady Behind the Curtain's Improv Cooking Challenge!

 This month she gave us two ingredients to create an original recipe with.  This reminds me of Chopped which is one of my favorite shows! After discussing with super smart (and very handsome) hubby   he suggested Caramel Apple Nachos..... How can you go wrong with that?

I started by cutting 2 flour tortillas into 8 triangles each.  I chose to fry them to create a chip but feel free to bake them also.   After removing from oil I immediately tossed into cinnamon sugar to coat.

Next I chopped one granny smith apple into small cubes.  I sauteed the apples in 1TB of butter and generous sprinkling of the remaining cinnamon sugar.   Cook until tender.  After turning off the heat pour in several spoonfuls of caramel ice cream topping and allow to melt into the apple mixture.

Pour apple mixture over chips.  Drizzle over vanilla bean cream cheese dip from Walmart.  

 

Sprinkle on either chopped red apple or red hots to look like tomato salsa  and top off with whipped cream or ice cream to be your sour cream.

BTW..  This got an enthusiastic thumbs up from hubby : ) 

And As Always my faithful kitchen helper was begging for scraps...

MOM's Crazy Cooking Challenge Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

I"M #60  VOTE FOR ME!!

It's that time again for Mom's Crazy Cookie challenge.


For this month I visited the blog of a cute 21 year old guy named Ryan who loves baking and pugs.  Check out the original recipe here    http://ryansbakingblog.com/2011/01/brown-butter-chocolate-chip-cookies/

I decided to make Brown Butter Chocolate Cookies to try something a little different.   I changed Ryan's recipe a little.  These have a tendency to dry out/ over cook quickly so watch them.  But over all they have a delicious toffee essence and are worth the extra work they take.

Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Makes about 3 dozen cookies  ( or if you're me....   20 cookies : )  I like mine bigger)

1 3/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 3/4 sticks unsalted butter, divided
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon table salt
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 large egg, plus 1 egg yolk
1/2 bag dark chocolate chip cookies

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with a silpat or parchment paper.

Sift together flour and baking soda in a bowl, set aside.

In a skillet, melt 1 1/4 sticks butter over medium high heat. Continue to cook until the butter turns dark golden brown and has a nutty aroma. The butter will bubble and boil before starting to change colors, keep a close eye so it doesn’t burn and swirl pan occasionally to ensure even cooking.

Transfer browned butter to a bowl and mix in the remaining butter until melted. Add the sugars, salt, and vanilla to the butter and mix well. Add the egg and egg yolk; whisking until smooth (about 30 seconds). Allow the mixture to rest for 3 minutes, then whisk against for 30 seconds, before letting it rest again. Repeat this process about 4 times, until you have a thick, glossy, smooth mixture.

 SEE THE DIFFERENCE THE WHIPPING MAKES?????!!!!

Sprinkle the flour and baking soda over the top a little at a time, gently stirring until it is just combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.

 I don't roll dough into balls or use a silpat...  Sorry... not that kinda baker...

Form dough balls about 3 tablespoons in size, place them on the prepared baking sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake for 10-14 minutes, then put the baking sheet on a cooling rack and allow to cool on the sheet.

Cookies are best served warm right after baking, or stored in airtight containers and microwaved for 20-30 seconds prior to serving.

Thanks Ryan for your awesome recipe!!

Guest Blog on One Little Mister

I created a cute little baby printable and picture frame.

Nicole had a baby and used my tutorial as a guest post.  Check it out at:

http://www.onelittlemister.com/2011/09/diy-baby-nursery-frame-printable.html

Here is a picture of the printable.

GO  Visit!