Cooking up some love ...

Catherine Ellis and I made some yummy cookies for her class for Valentine's Day! I'm going to post the recipe for all our family and friends because its a YUMMY, no bake, easy recipe. And if you have kids, they will love dipping the sandwiches in the chocolate. At one point Catherine Ellis was so enamoured with the chocolate that she couldn't even help Mommy dip - she was busy licking her fingers and saying "Mommy, I liiikkkkkkkeeee dis".

What could be better than peanut butter and Nutella??

Making our cracker sandwiches

Catherine Ellis 'cooking' her cookies

Our favorite part, dipping the cracker sandwiches into the white chocolate, yummy!

Here is the recipe:

Candy Coated Peanut Butter Nutella Ritz Cookies

1 sleeve Ritz Crackers

1/4 - 1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 - 1/2 cup Nutella
12 oz almond bark

Spread a dollop of peanut butter on half the Ritz crackers and some Nutella on the remaining half of the Ritz crackers. (Use as little or as much of each that you want) Sandwich the peanut butter and Nutella halves together. Melt the almond bark in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds until it’s melted and smooth. Take a sandwich and drop it in the melted almond bark, turning over with a fork to coat. Remove sandwich from almond bark, tapping against bowl to remove excess coating. Place on wax paper to cool before serving - about 30 minutes or until the bark is set.

Happy no-bake baking!

9 months

I know I say this every month, but really? My sweet, newborn baby that I swear I just brought home from the hospital is 9 months old? In three months she will be one? Hard to fathom.

We are really enjoying this stage in Caroline's life. Her personality is shining through, she's a happy baby, loves to play and wants to be with someone constantly - she's not a loner:) She's on the move - she can army crawl with the best of them and when she adds her mad rolling skills, the girl can GO! Life on the move!

She had her 9 month check up today and is doing well! Here are her stats:

18.12 lbs - 50-75th percentile

27 inches long -25-50th percentile

18 inches (head) - 90th percentile

February 15, 2012

Happy 9 months, sweet child! Here are some fun things you're up to these days:

• you are sleeping better this month. January seems to have been a big development leap month for you - as well as teething. You're back to sleeping from 7 p.m. - 6:00 a.m./7:00 a.m. You still have an early morning a couple of times a week, but we'll take it!
• you are starting to eat finger foods - puffs and some soft fruits and veggies. You are eating baby food 3 times a day and a snack of yogurt in the late afternoon. You still nurse 5 times a day. You are a great eater!
  
• you are on the move! The days of sitting you on the play mat and knowing you'll be right there when we come back in the room are over - you can army crawl and roll to any place you desire.
  
• you can say Dada and Mama - you say Mama a LOT - and Mama LOVES it:) You say Dada over and over and over when you are mad - ha!
  
• you are super close to being able to wave bye-bye. We're also working on blowing kisses.
• you think playing peep-pie is so funny!
• you are starting to pull up on things, but you can't pull up to your feet, your knees are typically where you stop.
• you chuckle all the time - you do three little quick chuckles anytime you're concentrating on getting an object or crawling. It's super cute!
• you're napping two times a day - and sometimes you still take a quick catnap after school on the way home.
  

Sweet child, you certainly complete our joy! We love you to the moon and back! And just a few parting shots of how hard it is to get the wee one to sit still these days:

"I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete."

John 15:11

34 months, 10 years

Say it ain't so! Our sweet first-born is two short months away from three - hard to believe! Even harder to believe is that Miss Emma is 10 - that's right - 10 years old!! What a fun day for Catherine Ellis and Emma to share - although, I must admit Emma isn't keen on sharing it.

For a chow she has done extremely well as we've continued to add people to her family - first David, then Cain, next Catherine Ellis and the newest little member, Caroline. Emma loves them all in her own special way, but she still loves her Mama the most. She has been THE best companion for the last 10 years. The best dog a person could ever want. She's the last of her litter left, but we know she'll be around for many, many more years! She runs this house and protects us all fiercely!

Happy Birthday Emma!

Catherine Ellis is 34 months and so much like a little girl these days - the baby days are coming to a close and as usual, this Mama thinks it's bittersweet. I love my sweet baby girl, but we also love how well she is growing and the joy and fun she brings to our lives. Happy 34 months sweet child. You have certainly changed our lives forever!

February 9, 2012

Here are some fun things you're up to these days:

• you have an infectious joy for life - you don't let a moment slip by and you seem to be able to capture the beauty of each day. For this we are eternally grateful that you are a constant reminder to us of just how wonderful life is!
• you can already hold up 3 fingers to show us how old you will be in a couple of months.
• you are charming as the dickens!
  
• you understand your Nick Junior shows now - you get it when something is funny and you follow along easily.
• you love chapstick - you call it clapstick - you especially like to steal your Daddy's.
• your hair is WILD! It's starting to curl and point in every direction. You look just like your Daddy when you wake up in the morning or from naps!
  
• you still LOVE your baby dolls - you're a very good Mommy. You typically pick one baby doll to love on for a few weeks and then move on to the next. Right now Suzy is your constant companion.
• you have a passion for jewelry - a little girl after her Mommy's heart:) You wear rings to school every day now.
• you LOVE LOVE LOVE your little sister. You constantly talk to her, help her when we're riding in the car to find her passie, toy, etc. You read books to her, sing to her and play with her. She ADORES you. I hope the two of you are always this close.
• you dislike time out - and it works. You can't stand having to sit on the rug in your room and be away from everyone and all the action.
• dance class on Thursdays is your favorite activity now - I know your first real dance classes this summer will be a huge hit.
• you were one of the stars in Mommy's fundraising video for our homeless child care - you said you wanted to be a Mommy when you grew up - precious!
• Still sleeping well - 11-13 hours most nights.
• Pancakes and chips are your favorite foods this month.
  
• You've discovered Play Doh - Mommy hates it - you love it!
• You can climb the climbing wall at the park all by yourself - and navigate the slide. A common phrase we here from you "No, I gone do it."

"Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven."

Luke 6:23

A day at the park

It's been a while since my last update - it's event season - so much of my free time is spent working or trying to catch a few minutes of shut-eye! We've been in full swing around here and have loved every minute of the "Callie weather" - 60's - this winter. I'll take a mild winter any day!

A few weekends ago we met our friend William and his Mommy Steph at the park for one last bit for fun before the weekend was over! We had such a good time! Caroline had her first experience in the swing and I think it's safe to say she liked it. She's not quite as high in the sky as her sister, but she did like watching just how high Catherine Ellis could go! We're eagerly anticipating spring around here - bring it on!

Not too sure about the swing yet!

Catherine Ellis - high in the sky!

Getting the hang of the swing!

Precious little swinging child!

Time to go home, but loving the swing - we'll be back soon!