"healthy" dessert?

This is a random post, but if I had all the time in the world to cultivate all my habits, food blogging would be up there behind momma blogger. And one who sews and creates beautiful things. Repurposer of found treasures. Photographer. Reader and writer of great things. 

Anyway. Hubs signed up to bring a healthy dessert to his work potluck last week so I got to experiment. I kinda wanted to send him with a bowl of fruit because if it's dessert it shouldn't be called healthy - in my opinion. Instead I checked around the internet and pinterest and found some gems.

Left: Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bars

Right: Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Both were delicious.

I have been recently obsessed with these homemade fudge brownie bars as well. (not pictured) All this "healthy" goodness has set me on a good path *wink*. Yesterday I caved in the checkout line and bought a Reece's egg. My taste buds are so conditioned to lighter "healthier" fare that I wasn't mad I had to share it. It was sooo rich. Before I tasted that richness I made these Chocolate Chip Zucchini Brownies. I adapted the recipe a bit, used coconut oil instead of canola oil just for fun and then when I realized I only had 1/2 cup of sugar left in the house I added 1 Tbsp of honey to the mixture as well. I lost interest in the honey and had a babe pulling at my legs, that's the scientific reason for only 1 Tbsp. And, if I do say so myself, they tasted quite good. I took my zucchini lovelies to an Easter gathering and they were eaten up before I could warn everyone about the impending healthiness. 

And also : Happy Easter!

ten months

We have a crawler on our floors. Sometime in the middle of his sick week he figured out how to crawl for serious forward movement. I knew he was starting to feel better when he crawled over to the puppies bed to get Stella's ball and be close to the action. That was close to the DVD's and the baby proofing began. Jake is not a "leave it alone" baby. He's a "hey-what's that?! I need to touch it" boy. Extra effort if it's shiny or big. Or can be un-somethinged (unpacked, unstacked, unwound, unplugged, etc).

Still only 2 teeth. There's a row on top allllmost ready. So mama is still pureeing 90% of the food. This baby loves to eat, and the only thing he doesn't enjoy so far is black beans with cumin, oh, and chicken. Ha - maybe he gets that from his brother *wink*. Anyway, don't know if it's the purred black bean texture or the cumin, I was just excited to add some flavor to his food. This morning, I handed him a slice of frozen peach and was rewarded with 5 minutes of silence. I don't even officially know how much he's eating. Seems like a lot but since it's all fruits and vegetables it can't hurt - right? At his last ear check he was 22 lbs. Big boy!

He's a great sleeper. Wiped out by 7pm most nights and up between 6-7am the next morning. During the sickness there was a little hiccup with waking between 4-5am for a bottle but he would go back to sleep so I won't even complain. He loves to cat nap every 3 hours or so but occasionally takes a long midday nap too. Since he's figured out how to move around the crib AND throw things, a new favorite game is to throw his paci out and then talk until someone comes to give it back. At night Jake gets really silly before bed time and loves to see how fast he can sit up after I lay him down.

Jakers is starting to sing a bit. Sooo sweet. And we've finally gotten a couple "mama"'s out of him. Not directed at anything in particular but definite mama action. The pups and loud children are his favorite. In the picture above he was watching some silly girls run back and forth in the yard. Nothing gets him quite as excited as watching other people be excited. We have not encountered the "afraid" of other people stage yet. I set him down at school (or church nursery) and he's off to play with toys and friends, not a bit worried about me.

I realized this last week he's becoming a person. In lots of ways I don't like it (the batting things away and fusses when he doesn't get what he wants), but I am also excited for the next. Zoo's, parks, and swimming, can't wait to show you the ropes of summer.

ruff stuff

we are in the midst of siiiiiiiiiick. thrush, yeast rash, virus w/ evidence out both ends, pink eye, ear infections. it's been a heck of a week. and in the middle of it all, my baby is officially a crawler! dvd's are packed up, photo's are off the bottom shelves of the book case (he's not a climber, yet), and nothing is safe. 

life is just gonna get more and more fun from here :-)

and y'all. look.

that pot on the top shelf was a gift from when Jakers was born
matches the dishes perfectly

Those dishes! Free, a hand-me-down gift from a bestie. I tried to show how amazingly they match the decor I already had up in my kitchen. AND - the KitchenAid! Another gift...I didn't realize until posting this picture that the towel in the background matches the dishes and decor. That's fun.

I just felt so loved by God when I was putting the dishes out and connecting all the dots. In the middle of this *sick* week it was a welcomed bout of love and gratitude.

a story begins here

So. A friend of a friend of a friend gave birth to a precious baby girl this week. She has Trisomy 13. My heart as been hurting for them and my head spinning. Trying to remember those first days after the news and imagining it with a body that has just given birth...I hope they are soaking up every moment with their sweetest. I wish I lived closer and could take them food!

What I do remember, when I started reading blogs and spending time on all that, was I wanted quick access to their story. I was glad (not really) that life had moved on for y'all, but let me see where you started.

So here I am 2.5 years later, life has *cringe* moved on...and I am adding a link to get to a story. Sammy's story. Y'all. I hope, one day, to share some more. Because I waited for the perfect blog title and SURPRISE! it applies to most all my stories...my life. It's gonna take a lotta love to get through this mess life. 

So there's a link back to the beginning of one of my greater stories, one that has unapologetically changed me and shaped me. It's there, at the top, above those beautiful cheeks.

niner

This is the kind of photo I like to have as my desktop photo on the computer. BOO! Love it. 

Nine months! Amazing. His newest skill - pointing or using his pointer finger. He's very interested in trying to pick up everything he sees with his thumb and pointer finger. And the pointing. So sweet. I almost got a picture of it this morning (9 months and 1 day). 

Let's see...

Sleep: to bed at 7pm like clockwork...up between 5-7am. Will take a bottle and sleep for a little longer if it's before 6:30am. After 6:30am - it's up for the day! Naps are not consistent. Sometimes he'll sleep for a couple hours midday and sometimes it's a few cat naps all day. As long as mama get's a good night's rest she can go with the flow. That flexibility is also helpful when mama wants to be out during the day. 

Seriously. I had to take him to work with me today, it was a half day and his day care was closed. When he got tired I snuggled him up in the Maya wrap and he eventually laid his head down and slept. I taught a small group with him in the wrap. AWESOME BABY. I know it's all a ploy for a sibling. Isn't that how it goes? The older ones act all good and easy then BAM! the next ones rock your socks off? hmmmmm. 

Oh - don't let me forget to mention that you figured out how to sit up from a laying down position. For the first time at home last weekend you giggled wildly every time I told you to lay down and sleep. You're not quite standing up in the crib, but you like to pull up on your knees and bounce. And giggle. 

Eat: Again - couldn't be easier. Eats everything I put in front of him and just wants a lot of it. Favs are sweet potatoes, carrots, apples, blueberries, yogurt, banana's...peaches, mango, puffs! Finally! Only the 2 teeth on the bottom...although, I predict the top row will just appear one day soon. 

Play: Jakers, Jakers, Jakers. You are not crawling yet. Everyone else in your little baby room at daycare is crawling. And you sit. Every now and then you scoot over to something but mostly you just chill. At home I've noticed when you are sitting next to an end table or coffee table you are quick to pull anything you can reach off so I will enjoy the few non-mobile days we have left. We've been waiting since Christmas for you to decide it's time. 

You have yet to utter a "ma". Da, ba, ga, pbbbbbsssstttttt, almost everything *except* ma has escaped those lips. I guess I'll really know you mean it by the time it comes out.  

You still looove people and they love you too. You get lots of attention at the grocery store. Every now and then you don't want to be held by someone different but most often you'll sit with whomever will hold you. 

The clapping and the waving! How could I forget the clapping? One Sunday we set you down in the middle of the living room floor and tried to get you to crawl. Instead you started clapping. Funniest clap, you move one hand while you watch it hit the other. Turns out, Ms. Sharon at school has been coaching all you babies, telling you to clap for your mama's to come at the end of the day. You also picked up a little boogie. When music gets going you start rockin' back and forth. Sweetest ever.

Soon I will try to write a little "day in the life". You know, for memories sake. Because I bet one day I'll forget how you used to sit in the middle of our bed and watch us get ready every morning...or do you plan to keep doing that for a while? That'd be great actually, why don't you keep doing that.

8 months!

jake. jakers, pumpkin.

baby boy - how can it be. 8 months already.

loves: bottles, paci's, chunks of bananas, pears, apples...sweet potatoes, mango, carrots, puff thingys, mama, dad, the dogs, your new rocking horse, yourself in the mirror or pictures or video, splashing in the bath, teasing mama by constantly saying "da" in response to any prompt, being mimicked, "dancing" or that cute little bop you do when you hear a beat, those Varela girls, school (daycare) and your friends there, his cousins

likes: his backseat mirror

dislikes: not being able to crawl, climb, stand, when the food runs out, ear infections, his new car seat?, his puffy red coat

I really need to write down the thought every time I think about what's changing. Tonight he scooted across the kitchen floor somehow. He was on the blanket in the middle of the floor and then he was in front of the stove, looking at his reflection and playing with his elephant blower toy. Ceramic tile makes it easy to kinda creep along I guess.

I gotta figure out how to do video on here. Cause the dancing thing - sooo cute. He'll do it to any beat. Occasionally he'll wave good bye too. I've started signing "more" as I give him more puffs on the tray or another hunk of banana, we'll see how long that takes to catch on. He smiles now when I do the sign, like he knows what's coming.

He's making the remembering big stuff easy on me. 1st tooth - Thanksgiving week. 2nd tooth - I noticed on Christmas Day. We nursed for the last time on New Years day. While I was sad to stop, it was the right time. I don't know how people bf for years and years. I didn't realize the effect it was having on me. I mean, I loved doing it, I will do it again should the occasion arise, but it is soooo nice to have my body to myself. The pressure to eat the right foods to produce enough and the pumping - ugh. It was a great journey.

I have been making most of his food. A friend is letting me use her baby Beaba and it is amazing. Chop, steam, puree. Done. I store it in 4 oz (4 ice cube) portions in ziplock snack size bags. Ms. Sharon feeds him A LOT so that's the easiest way to get it done for her and for home.