Blake Louis: 10 Months

Blake Louis, you are ten months old today!  I can hardly believe it.  

Here’s what you’ve been up to:

My love, you are finally mobile!  More and more so every single day.  You started belly crawling shortly after you turned 9 months old, and while you still haven’t quite figured out the art of crawling on all fours…you are a fast belly crawler!  Gone are the days of plopping you down in one spot and having you stay there.  As soon as I sit you down, you’re looking for where you can take off to next.  You go seamlessly from sitting onto your belly, and then you take off in a hybrid army crawl/scoot/arm drag.  You use both your arms and legs and it’s so funny to watch!  You can almost go from your belly back to a seated position, but you get a little stuck about halfway up and will fall back over without a little help.  I usually just have to touch your elbow to remind you how to right yourself, so I know you’ll be doing it on your own in no time! 

You are an expert at pulling up!  You love to stand, and will pull up on anything and everything.  This morning you tried to pull up on the dishwasher while I was loading it, but that didn’t work out so well for you.  You were not very happy with the dishwasher after that little mishap.  

You wave ‘hi’ and ‘bye’ now!  Your wave is very exuberant, not just an opening and closing of your palm.  You use your whole arm and wave very, very excitedly! 

You give kisses and hugs!  Not all the time, but you know what they are and will give ‘em out when you’re in the mood J

Baby purees are no more.  You are officially eating whatever we eat.  Your favorite foods are avocados and bananas.  You easily eat two whole bananas a day, and a whole avocado (more if I gave it to you!).  

You’ve also developed quite an opinion on what you’re eating.  You’ll filter through what I put on your plate and very unceremoniously throw what you don’t want onto the floor.  You think it’s hilarious to do that, and then quickly hang over the side of your high chair to watch Emma devour whatever you dropped over the side.

You know the meaning of the word ‘no’ and love to play the cause and effect game with it.  You’ll do something that’s not allowed, I’ll say “uh oh, no thank you buddy” and then you’ll look at me….smile….and do it again.  I have to remind myself constantly to just be consistent with you so you’ll eventually catch on!

You drink 3 7 ounce bottles of formula a day, and lately, you’ve been doing it all on your own.  You love to hold that bottle.  Sometimes, if we’re out and about, I’ll give you your bottle in your car seat and let you take it from there.  Or, if we’re at home and I’m in the middle of something, I’ll lie you down on your back and you’ll feed yourself the bottle.  

You are an expert at sippy cups! We use the Take’N Toss brand, and we love it.  You first learned on those, but now that you’ve got it, we can use pretty much anything.   You drink water at mealtimes and usually have a sippy cup with you on the floor when you’re playing.  

You now eat three meals a day and have a snacktime.  You have learned to use those toddler snack cups where you have to stick your hand inside and pull out the treats!  You love doing this!

Cheerios are like baby crack to you.  We have all different kinds and you love them all.  We have banana nut, apple cinnamon, peanut butter (yes, I gave you peanut butter before your first birthday and, guess what! You’re not allergic) and whole grain.  

You are very, very talkative and lately your conversations sound more like real words.  You say ‘mom’ when you’re eating (not associating it with me though) and say ‘ish’ a lot.  You also have some letter sounds down, and say ‘shhh’ and ‘t’ really well.  And, well, you put those two sounds together the other day into what sounded suspiciously like ‘oh shit’.  You said it over and over and over.  Daddy and I were so surprised to hear that come out of your little mouth!!

You sleep through the night again!  We had to have a little bit of baby sleep boot camp last month, because you had gotten into a very bad habit of waking up every couple of hours wanting to be held.  Daddy and I love rocking you, but that sleep pattern just wasn’t sustainable for any of us!  It only took two nights of crying for twenty minutes (...while mommy sat anxiously outside your door praying for God to comfort that little baby heart) for you to figure out how to soothe yourself back to sleep.  Since then, you’ve slept straight through the night without a peep!  

Your naps have also been great!  You take one good nap in the morning that usually lasts about two hours, and then another one late in the day that ranges from 20-40 minutes.  We always read books together before naptime, and then I rock you to sleep.  I sing you ‘Jesus Loves Me’ and a song that your grandpa used to sing to me as a baby girl.

You still love Toby and Emma.  You squeal when they walk by and love to grab their fur and ‘talk’ to them.  They are pretty good sports!

You are so good at walking when we hold your hands!  You can also stand on own for long periods of time, although you’d much rather have our hands to hold.  I think you’ll walk before your first birthday! 

You love your daddy so much, and often will have roaring contests with him.  You’ll ball up your firsts and ROAR, and then daddy will do it back.  You giggle…and the cycle starts again!

You also love to growl at us when you want our full attention.  It is a very guttural sound, and your face gets all red like you’re pooping.  So funny. 

Little man, life with you has never been so sweet.  You give the best hugs, and will cuddle your face into the crook of my neck while letting out the most contented sigh.  Those moments are so precious to me.  You’ll just let me hold you tight in that hug for the longest time, and you don’t know it, but in my heart I am memorizing every last detail of how you fit so perfectly into my arms.  I never want to forget.

Earlier this month, I read the story of a little boy named Tucker who was just a bit older than you when Jesus called him home to live in heaven.  Right now, I imagine that Tucker is running around on streets of gold---in eyesight of his Savior--with a smile that, I’m sure, lights up the throne room.  His story has a happy ending, but when I read it, I was terrified.  For you.  I immediately pleaded with God to never ever take you from me like that.  Not you.  Not my little boy. 

But you know what, little one?  In that moment of absolute fear, I felt the gentle prodding of the Father, reminding my heart that the control I desperately seek He already has.  He’s always had it.  Nothing that happens in this life catches God by surprise.  He already knows. He’s already ordained every single one of your moments!  You’re the most precious gift I have ever received, but you’re His precious son, and He loves you more than I ever, ever could.  Sometimes that’s still hard for me to grasp, because I can’t fathom a love bigger than what I feel for you.  It literally steals my breath to imagine the incredible, all-encompassing love that the Father has for us.  How can I not relinquish my control to a love that big?   

When Tucker was born, his parents claimed a very special Bible verse for him:

"The Lord is with you, mighty warrior."

Judges 6:12 

I want to claim this verse for you now, in honor of Tucker’s life and in honor of my calling as your mommy.  I know that I can’t protect you a single day of your life, but I can do my very best to raise you up to be a warrior for Christ.  I can commit to being intentional with each of your moments, and commit to interceding every single day in prayer on your behalf. 

Your life is so full of promise, so full of unbridled potential, and my greatest prayer as your mama is that you will grow into a man who God proudly declares His mighty warrior.  My heart soars at the thought of who you will become.  I just know God has big things in store for His mighty warrior Blake.  

And someday, when the things of this earth are long gone and we are all united once again on those shimmering streets of gold, I pray that I will find my mighty warrior running alongside the little boy with the same life verse.  What a day that will be.  

I love you so much, Blake Louis.  Happy 10 months!

Love,

Your Mama

Blake Louis: 9 Months

Well Mr. B, you are officially 9 months old!

Here's what you've been up to:

* You are starting to get more mobile!  Not crawling yet, but you can spin around in a circle while on your belly and you are a pro at scooting backwards.  You aren't pulling that round belly off the floor yet, just using your arms to pull/push/turn yourself around in circles.  I think you're still not quite sure how to work those legs.  But you're getting closer every day!  In fact, just this afternoon I took a video of you sitting on your little bum reaching and stretching and almost getting up on all fours.  So incredibly close.  You want to so badly. 

* You have started to pull up on some things!  You like to try and pull up on the baby gate in the playroom, and you also try to pull up at your activity tables.  You've tried pulling up in your crib a couple times when we sat you in there to play, but since you can't get into a seated position by yourself, daddy and I haven't lowered your crib mattress yet.  That will probably come soon. You'll usually pull up to your knees and then get frustrated because you don't know how to finish it....but just today, you pulled all the way up on your baby gate and thought you were SUCH a big boy! 

* You looove to splash in water!  We've had some great weather lately and you and I have spent many afternoons on the back patio relaxing in your baby pool.  And you will just splash to your little heart's content!  It's so fun to watch you!  You'll splash and splash and then stop, look at me, GRIN, and get going again!  This also carries over to the bathtub.  You love the water!

* Daddy and I got you a wagon a few weeks ago and you love it so much!  Often, instead of the stroller, I'll take you for long afternoon walks in the wagon.  You think you are such a big boy riding in that thing!  You will often drop your toys of out the wagon as we walk and you get a big kick out of me having to stop and pick them up.  This might be your all time favorite game.

* We tried you in a swing at the park for the first time this month, on my birthday!  You thought it was pretty neat :)  You have the most adorable little smile, and you scrunched up your nose and squealed as we pushed you on the baby swing. 

* A few weeks ago, we took our first family vacation.  We flew to California for your Great Grandma Ollison's 90th birthday party!  All your California family had the best time getting to meet you!  You were a charmer.  You met your third cousin Paige, who is just three weeks older than you, and almost all of your second cousins on Grandma Dal Ponte's side!  We went to the Santa Ana Zoo, which is known for its monkeys.  There are at least 50 monkeys on the grounds of the zoo at all times!  We saw some pretty crazy monkeys!  We also saw an anteater, which I was personally quite fascinated by :) This trip was full of so many 'firsts' that I'm going to make a mini-list!
     1. Your first time on a plane!  You did amazing.  Didn't cry at all!  Since we haven't had much luck with you and bottles, we decided to feed you baby food during take-off and landing to make sure you were actively swallowing.  Worked perfectly!  Once we were in the air, you played a little, made faces at mom and dad for a little while, and then fell fast asleep until landing.  Perfect gentleman!  You did this both ways.
    2.   First time sleeping away from home (well, except for at Grandma and Grandpa's house).  We brought along your PeaPod, and you slept so well!  We had an amazing hotel room, and we just set up the PeaPod in the closet in our room (I know, that sounds crazy, but the closet was roomy and the perfect size!)
     3.  First time in the pool!  You loved the pool!  Such a little water baby!  We bought a little baby flotation ring for you and brought it with us to use, and boy did you ever love it!  You kicked your little legs and tried to eat the float (haha!)
     4. First time being really 'off' schedule.  We kept you out late (waaay past your bedtime), missed naps, got you up early, fed you at weird times and in weird places...and you know what?  You did amazing!  You were such a trooper.  Didn't cry at all.  We were so proud of you!!
     5.  First time on a carousel and a train!  You really liked the carousel ride...until you didn't.  You were done with it, which was bad timing since we couldn't exactly jump off a moving carousel.  After that, we went over and took the little train around the park!  You had lots of fun riding the train, roaring at the animals and scrunching up your cute little nose!


* You love to throw your toys.  It's one of your favorite games.  I'll set you down with a bucket of toys and you'll take each one out, study it in your hands, maybe shake it a little....and then chuck it across the room.  Before I know it, all of your toys are emptied out of the toy tub and are scattered all around you.  You think this is great.  Fantastic, really.

* You're still taking two naps a day, which range anywhere from 1-2 hours.  I can always make them longer by going in and rocking you once you've woken up on your own.  I love this time with you, even if it drastically reduces my productivity during your nap time :)

* You're no longer sleeping through the night....siiiiigh.  You routinely wake up at least one or two times a night, and usually need to be rocked back to sleep at least once.  You don't eat during the night, that's not allowed and you wouldn't want to anyway, you're just not sleeping a solid 10 hours anymore.  Daddy and I decided we wouldn't try the cry it out method with you, we just don't feel like it's right for our family, so when you cry one of us always answers.  I'm sure this is just a season, so for now, I'll just soak up my midnight snuggle sessions. 

* You love to feed yourself.  I pretty much let you try anything.  Some new things you've tried include pasta, soft granola bars, cheerios, and grilled cheese sandwiches.  Your favorite foods seem to be Baby MumMums, avocado, pears, Gerber puffs (you love these) and bananas.  You are not such a big fan of pasta (maybe a texture thing?), and you haven't really been interested in oatmeal lately.  We tried steel cut and it did not go over well. I think we're really moving away from baby food purees and into the land of real food!

* Speaking of eating, you are so funny when you do.  You make a 'mmmmm' sound every single time you put a bite of something into your mouth.  So adorable! 

* You talk all the time.  Not really words yet, but you are always talking.  One of your favorite things to do is ball up your little fists and literally yell at daddy and I.  If we yell back, you get SO excited, and you'll do it again.  So cute.  You also say "bla" pretty regularly, and 'da' less often.   We have really been working on saying "mama"...I'm pretty sure it will be your first word ;);)

* One of your not so fun first this month was your first trip to the ER.  You'd had a cold for weeks that just wouldn't quit, and after an afternoon of screaming/uncontrollable crying/lethargy/non-eating or drinking....daddy and I listened to our instincts and knew we needed to get you help.  We took you to the ER, and they gave you a chest xray and ran some tests to find out that you had pneumonia and a double ear infection.  My poor baby :(  Even feeling so crummy, you were the sweetest little boy in the world.  You barely fussed and just spent our time in the ER snuggled up close to mommy, taking in everything around you without a peep.  I could tell you felt horrible, though, and it broke my heart.  Daddy and I kept telling you over and over how we wished we could have done it all for you.  We're only a day out from that visit, but already you are feeling so much better!  You are on antibiotics and pain medication, and we will follow up with your regular doctor in a couple weeks to get you an all clear bill of health.

*  Lately, you've started turning the pages in books and pulling down the flaps on the pages!  We have a book called Peekaboo Forest, which you love, and you always pull down the flaps and I yell "peekaboo!" as you uncover the animal.  You think it's so fun!

*  We've been working on giving high fives!  I'm not sure you totally get it yet, but you'll put your hand against mine, so I'm calling that good :)

* At your 9 month check-up, you weighed in at just over 22 pounds and measured at 29 inches long.  You're wearing size 4 diapers!

+ You have SEVEN teeth!  Four on top and three on the bottom.  A fourth bottom tooth is just starting to poke through!

+ You are wearing 18 month clothes 

I really can't even believe that I need to start planning your first birthday party.  It's even harder for me to believe that we've now hit the point where you've been outside of me for as long as you were inside of me.  I was just thinking today how it was eighteen months ago that we first found out about you.  Where did all of that time go?  As your mommy, I feel so blessed to have literally spent every single day of the last eighteen months with you.  I was the one who got to feel you move and kick and hiccup inside of me.  You have been a part of me all that time, physically at first, and now the most treasured and vital part of my heart.  God chose us for one another, little one.  Every season with you has been miraculous. 

 I love you little boy.  So much more than I could ever say.

Love,
Your mama

A Different Kind of Mother's Day

I woke up this morning and the first thought that ran through my head was simple: today is Mother's Day.

This is the first time I've ever celebrated the day with a baby in my arms.

And yet, as much as I've anticipated what this day would feel like, now that it's here...I can clearly see that it's not the first year I have celebrated being a mother.

Before I ever held Blake in my arms, I held that precious baby in my heart.  I prayed for him, planned for him, loved him and waited for him.  I dreamed of his future, I planned out his nursery, imagined the things I'd do and say with him.  I've been his mother since the beginning of time.  God planned him for me since before either of us took our first breaths.  The road we took to one another was a little bit more twisted and broken than I ever imagined it would be, but we're here now.  And standing here, in this place, looking back over the road traveled....I'm grateful for what it took to get here.  The potholes, flat tires and unforeseen detours were the very obstacles that led me to this moment, that shaped me into the woman that would be sitting here this morning while a baby boy sleeps peacefully down the hall.

And I think, it's in looking back that I find myself overwhelmed with a new understanding of the celebration of Mother's Day.

As I've said before, I truly believe that motherhood is a calling.  It is literally written upon the heart of a woman by the Creator, and just like any other calling that is divinely-inspired, it cuts deep.  It's consuming.  It's transformative.  It defines sacrificial love in a way that simply cannot be quantified.  And I know that when God raises up a woman and calls her into motherhood, He does so with the perfect understanding of the cost.  He knows her journey. He knows what will be asked of her through every turn and twist and pothole, and He knows that He has chosen the perfect person to weather the storm.  He knows that in the end He is gifting His precious daughter with a gift that will far surpass her wildest dreams.  And He also know that motherhood is not a destination.  It's a journey.  I haven't 'arrived' because I have Blake in my arms.  I may have thought that this would be the finish line as I was running the race, but man was I wrong.  I'll say it again: motherhood is a calling.  It's a calling I'll pursue my whole life through, as God raises me up to be the woman He intended to raise Blake up.

So as I sit here today, and as I remember all the heartache and brokenness of Mother's Days in the past, I want to speak directly to those still navigating the storms.

Happy Mother's Day.  

I celebrate your calling, your unconditional love, and your commitment to the precious children your arms ache to hold.  Please don't forget, in those dark valleys and in every detour, that you have been a mother since the beginning of time.  This journey you're on, it's long and it can be terrifying to not see what's ahead...but my dear, dear sister please know that it's that very heartache that assures you you've already arrived.  God has called you to motherhood, and where he calls....he enables. 

Today I am on my knees thanking God for the blessing of the call.  This road has been the single most important one I have ever traveled, and it will continue to be the greatest journey of my life.   

Blake Louis: Eight Months

Well Silly Bean, you are EIGHT months old today!  I'm pretty sure I'll turn around, and tomorrow you'll be heading out the door to college.  Time flies.

Here's what you've been up to last month:

+ After waiting for what seemed like foooorever for you to roll over, you finally did it at about 6.5 months (more on that here).  You'd just roll off your belly anytime we tried a little tummy time.  Back then, you weren't really rolling back to belly, just doing these riiidiculous back bends until you could squirm to/reach for whatever it was you wanted.  Well, that's all changed now.  Just recently, you've started rolling back to belly and belly to back with purpose.  I wouldn't say you use it as a form of transportation (you are still our non-mobile little man) but you're a crazy little squirmier in your crib at night.  We put you down on your back, but you might end up on your tummy, turned 360 degrees around, with one foot hanging out through the slats.  So funny.  You are definitely a side/tummy sleeper and really want nothing to do with sleeping on your back anymore. 

+ You have FIVE, count 'em F-I-V-E, teeth!  Still just two on the bottom, but two new teeth poked through on top!  One of your front teeth, and your second 'canine' (which we've since decided is actually your bilateral incisor...aka the two next to your front teeth)

+ Daddy and I think you are really working on crawling.  You've stopped immediately rolling off your tummy when we put you down and will instead squirm around like you're trying to get somewhere.  You haven't figured how the propulsion yet on your own, but if I hold you heels and let you push off on me, you'll use your arms to pull yourself across the floor. 

+ Along those same lines, sometimes you'll let me put you up on all fours and then you'll rock back and forth.  Sometimes you will have none of it and collapse onto your tummy as though I have just done you a huge injustice. 

+ You are such a content little boy.  You are happy to sit and play by yourself while I work around the house.  I'll just put a tub of toys in front of you and you'll pull them out of the tub as you want them.  You loooove to reach and stretch for your toys, but where you used to lose your balance and face plant, you now do not.  You are so good at sitting and balancing.  I can count on one hand the number of times you've toppled over in the last month...usually it's when you're looking behind you at something and can't quite catch yourself in time. 

+ You love to stand!  You can stand by yourself for about 10 seconds, but when you start to fall you fall like a tree.  You don't even attempt to put out your hands to catch yourself or bend at the waist to fall into a seated position.  So funny. 

+ You stand at play at your activity table or against the couch, but you aren't cruising yet.  I think you really really want to be mobile, but you just can't quite figure out how it all works.  We'll get there!

+ You have developed this funny little habit of 'roaring' at people we pass by in the store.  If daddy or I are holding you, you'll throw your body across ours or whip your head around so you can see a passerby and will then proceed to literally roar at them.  You have also taken to doing this to the little boys who like to play outside our house on the street.  I find it absolutely hiiilarious.

+ You're a self-feeder!  You figured out how to get those tiny bits of food into your mouth using your pincer grab, and now you are literally unstoppable.  You've had toast, broccoli, carrots, bananas, pancakes....little bits of whatever daddy or I have....basically whatever you can get your hands on.  You love food. 

+  Along those same lines, you've started becoming quite insistent with your food.  If we aren't quite fast enough, you'll slam your hand down on your high chair tray letting us know you mean business.

+  You've been saying 'da' and 'ma' and, most recently, what sounds like 'bla'....clearly, you are trying to say your own name! :)

+ You are the sweetest little boy on the planet.  Your smile lights up a room and your giggle is the most precious thing I have ever heard.  Daddy and I discovered that you're ticklish on the sides of your back, and will just squeal and squirm when we tickle you there. 

+ Lately, because you're teething, I've been rocking you to sleep at night and for some naps.  This is such a sweet time in my day.  Yesterday, I was rocking you and singing with my head back and eyes closed, when all of a sudden I felt a tiny hand reach up a grab my nose....followed by an adorable little giggle.  You thought you were so funny, and we sat and laughed at each other instead of getting you to sleep.  Worth it.

+ This past month, you took your first trip to the zoo for daddy's birthday and LOVED it!  You were fascinated by all the animals, and you also got to sit on grass for the first time and get your hands dirty.  Such a boy!

+  You also had your first sleepover with grandma and grandpa this month.  You did so well!  Daddy and I had a date night planned that we knew would run late, and since grandma and grandpa were babysitting at their house and had already put you down in the crib there, we decided to let you keep sleeping.  The first of many, I'm sure!

+ You're drinking three bottles a day, for a total of about 20 ounces of formula.  Yep, we're done with the breastmilk.  We've had some trials with getting you to drink bottles...you're kind of a drama queen about it and will flat-out refuse some days....but I think we finally found our groove (and I say that having just put you down for the night without a bedtime bottle, which you refused to drink...oy).  You also eat 6 ounces of baby food 3x a day, in addition to finger foods.   

+ You are so inquisitive.  You'll take a toy in your hands and turn them around and around in your hands, examining them from every angle.  I love to watch you learn that way.  So amazing. 

Little man, earlier this month I was rocking you to sleep in your room, softly singing Jesus Loves Me as I looked down into your face that was relaxed in peaceful sleep.  I snuggled you close and bent my head down low until I could smell the soft scent that is so wholly you, and as my nose brushed your forehead you stirred slightly and nestled your head deeper into the crook of my shoulder.  It was at that very moment that I realized I had just sung the line of the song that says 'Jesus loves me, this I know'...but all of a sudden, this time, those words caught in my throat and hot tears welled in the corners of my eyes.  In that moment, I was struck with the realization that I wasn't singing the song to you anymore, and instead, I was singing it with the realization that it was for me.  Jesus loves me, this I know....because He gave me you.  I spent the next few moments in quiet, grateful, prayer as I stared into your precious face and thanked God for the love He has showered on me through the gift of you.  You are all the best parts of your daddy and I, the little boy we prayed for and love more than anything on this earth. 

It's been another incredible month, precious boy.  Thank you for the memories....I'll cherish them my whole life through.  

Love,
Your Mama

A Man After God's Heart: Deuteronomy 4:29

But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you search after Him with all your heart and all your soul.

Deuteronomy 4:29

Buds, this one is important, because it's easily overlooked.  Sometimes, in our humanity, it can be easy to fall into a sense of complacency when it comes to an active relationship with the Father.  Things are going good, life is rolling along smoothly....those are the times when it's easiest to forget your absolute need and dependency on your Savior.   But I want to challenge you to really take this verse to heart; if you seek Him, you will find Him.  Just like any other relationship you'll have, an investment of time and attention is necessary so that it can grow.  You can't truly know someone who you haven't spent time with.  And, when you love someone, you make the choice to invest in them.  Because you love them, and you desire to know them intimately.  So invest in your Savior.  It's the most important investment you will ever make.  The implications are eternal.  Don't become complacent.  My prayer is that you will live each day with intention, seeking to know and grow in the love of the Father so that your life may be a living testimony to the love you have come to know. 

If you seek Him, you will find Him.

Love you so much little one.  I am more proud of you than I could ever say.

Love,

Your Mama

Pinterest Challenge: Food Edition 'I Want to Marry You' Cookies

First off, I have to apologize about falling off the face of the blogging world last week.  I have dubbed March as 'the month of sickness' in our home.  I thought I had escaped the worst of it....until last week.  I went down hard with a yucky bug that had me throwing up with a fever, sore throat, headache....PINK EYE (twice)....yeah, yuck. 

However, I am happy to announce that here I am, eight days later, finally feeling better!  And the pink eye is almost gone!  Ahhh I'm so happy I could just hug every one of you. 

Anyway.  I had intended to post this last week, as it was my food challenge from last week, but I literally made them the day before I got sick.....sooooo yeah.

Regardless of that, these bad boys are really good.  They ain't called "I want to marry you cookies" for nothing!  In all seriousness, they may be the most delicious cookie that has ever touched my lips.  Wanna make 'em? 

Here's the recipe, from here:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter
• 1 1/4 cups dark brown sugar
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 cups flour
• 1 cup uncooked rolled oats
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• Salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 cup white chocolate chips
• 1 cup chocolate chipsIn a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat until melted. Remove from the heat.

Directions: 

Add the dark brown sugar and granulated sugar and stir until sugars are incorporated and smooth. Chill the mixture for 10 minutes.

Remove from the refrigerator and stir in the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla.

Add the flour, oats, baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and cinnamon and mix together.

Stir in the white chocolate chips and chocolate chips.

Roll by hand into 24 medium-size balls or use a scoop, and place on a light-colored cookie sheet.

Chill for 30 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Remove the cookies from the refrigerator and bake for 12 to 14 minutes.

They are so delicious!  You might notice in the pictures below that my hubby did get down on one knee and tried to propose (yes, they are that good and do live up to their name)....but then I reminded him he already put a ring on it almost five years ago!

Another successful Pinterest Challenge!  I've already completed the one for this week (which is pretty cool, if I do say so myself) and will also be back with two MAGH posts later today!  The famiy blog will also be hoppin' later today when I get some posts up about Easter and the hubby's birthday!

Adam's 27th Birthday

Last year, we started a little tradition of celebrating Adam's birthday with a big brunch with the family.  So, true to form, I invited over my family for a delicious brunch in honor of my main squeeze!  The food was delicious.

We had cinnamon roll waffles, homemade Orange Julius', whole wheat banana bread pancakes, a sausage casserole, and homemade granola bites!  I made Adam a couple of special birthday banners, using old pictures I had of him on my computer being goofy (go figure...).  And, because the theme of this celebration was brunch, I wanted his cake to match.  So, I baked cupcakes inside of hollowed out egg shells (you can see the carton of 'cupcake eggs' underneath the happy birthday banner in the above picture.  It was so fun!  We cracked the cupcakes and peeled them just like you would an actual egg! 

After brunch, Adam opened presents!  He got lots of fun stuff, including a beer making kit (from me) an awesome power washer from my parents, and a new holster from my brother!  He did good :)  Love my family!!

Then, in the afternoon, Adam decided he wanted to go to the zoo!  Blake had never been, and we thought it would be a fun way to spend the day as a family.  We were right!!

Blake didn't really care about all the animals, but he loved the ride!  He's such an easy-going, happy little man.

About halfway through the zoo, we stopped at the pavilion area to let Blake out of his stroller to stretch and wiggle.  The above photo collage demonstrates what happens when Blake gets hold of something...in this case, it was the zoo map.  Oops!

We had such a wonderful day celebrating the most wonderful husband and daddy there is!  We love you babe!  Happy 27th!!