Bed Head

Just thought I would share this cute face. ButterBean has his first real cold right now, which has led to increase napping (yay for napping!!) and sleepless nights (boo for tired parents!). But, who can be frustrated when your little sweetums wakes up and gives you this face with his crazy hair everywhere? You can't! And that's why God made children adorable!

Ten Months

Every month just flies by!! He's 10 months already! 
Our little trouble maker is now climbing stairs...

Loves to unravel the toilet paper...

Can hear when the dishwasher is opened and will do anything to try to get dishes out of it...

Is too cool for baby food, if it has no texture - he's not eating it...

Claps, babbles up a storm, so so so close to walking, and keeps getting cuter

with his new nativity scene

I can't believe that in 2 short months he will be celebrating his first birthday. 

Such a lucky family

I just finished a pediatric rotation for school. I absolutely love working with the little children. Who wouldn't love tickling all of those chubby cheeks and playing silly games as you wheel into the operating room? However, it breaks my heart to see these kids who have so many complications, syndromes, illnesses. It just doesn't seem fair that such little darlings should have to go through so much. If you ever want to feel totally blessed, spend a day in a pediatric ICU!! I encountered a lovely child who had gone through more than I could imagine at her young age, yet her bravery, excitement, and sweet demeanor put tears in the eyes of every person in the room. Every day when I came home, I couldn't believe how lucky I was to have a beautiful and healthy baby. I'm glad I did the pediatric rotation after having a baby. I would have been way too paranoid that he would have something wrong with him after that! Even now I worry that all of the sudden he's going to have something horrible go wrong. I guess that's what it is like being a parent. I'll never stop worrying about him! For now I'll count myself among the lucky!

That's my boy!

Holidays and Haircuts

This weekend we went to see Santa! I didn't expect ButterBean to actually behave on Santa's lap, but he did! Not only did he behave, he loved it! We couldn't get any pictures of him looking at the camera because he was totally enthralled with Santa and wouldn't stop looking at him. (I'll post pictures of this when I get them on the computer)

His new favorite thing to do: get the cords to the tree

On another note, ButterBean's hair grows at amazing speeds. I only hope that if I have a girl some day that her head will be blessed with the same thick hair! However, my little ButterBean had begun to look like a hippie/baby Justin Beiber as of late.

In need of a trim

I have attempted to cut his hair before with less than desirable results (a chunk of hair missing...whoops!) This time I cut half of his hair while he was sleeping on his side and then had Gatsby distract him with Elmo on YouTube while I cut the other half. It turned out pretty good considering my lack of hair styling skills!

You can see his eyes again!

Ice cream in December

checking out some snow

Usually at this time of year I swap out my Dairy Queen blizzards, Sebastian Joe's scoops of expensive deliciousness, and my homemade malts for more seasonally appropriate pumpkin spice lattes, tea, and hot chocolate (I was recently reminded of this fantastic chocolate store in San Francisco - if you go there, forget Ghiradelli Square and go to Bittersweet for the best hot chocolate you will ever experience!). 

Life is more delicious with your very own milk frother

HOWEVER! A true Minnesotan can enjoy ice cream even when it is below freezing outside. On a recent trip to Lund's grocery, I spotted something I never thought I'd see here. Wait for it...
GRAETER'S ICE CREAM
Yes, the ice cream gods were looking favorably on me that day!

I realize that most people will say "What the heck is that?". But, a true ice cream aficionado will know that this treat hails from Cincinnati Ohio and is one of the most wonderful ice creams in the world!! Being the food nerd that I am, I know too much about the French pot process used to make my favorite little pint of goodness, but I won't go into detail. I highly recommend finding a grocery store near to you (I have also now found it at Whole Foods) and picking up a pint of Graeter's ice cream. If you live in Ohio, then you won't be quite as excited about this as I am ;)

ButterBean shares in my excitement

It has been at least five years since I've had the decadent taste of black raspberry chip in my mouth and I have been savoring a bite or two every day in order to make it last...also because the calories per bite is steep! In fact, as I watch snow falling outside my window, I believe I will go snatch a wee spoonful...

Thankful

We had a thankful Thanksgiving!
I was thankful that this week marks one year exactly until I am done with school!
We are all thankful for our first Thanksgiving with ButterBean!

I was also thankful for a little spare time to do some baking - I made a sweet potato pie and some roasted veggies for our Thanksgiving feast.

ButterBean was thankful that he got to try some!

We were lucky and were able to spend time with both sides of our family for Thanksgiving! We went for a walk in the afternoon, which is unheard of in these parts! 60 degrees at the end of November in MINNESOTA!?!?! Now THAT'S something to be thankful for! We have a lot to be thankful for in this crazy busy life

3/4th of a year

My baby is growing up!
First he started to walk along the furniture. Around the same time, he got four teeth, so he started thinking he was pretty big stuff.

There's those teeth

Top teeth

With the confidence of standing and teeth, he began to think that he's a teenager:

He low-rides his pants now

Too cool to smile for pictures

Most recently though, he thinks he is a grown man:

OBSESSED with the remote control

Mesmerized by the Cat in the Hat

Daddy and baby saints

This house likes saints. I myself am partial to St. Francis, St. Anthony, and St. Gianna. ButterBean loves his wooden saint doll that the Little Stay at Home Momma made him. You can't see in the picture, but it's St. Dominic, another of my favorites. :)

Future saint?

Today is my Gatsby's birthday. He has a slight obsession with St. John Baptist de LaSalle. A common phrase said at Lasallian schools is for one person to say "Live Jesus in our hearts" and the others to respond "Forever". So, instead of a typical birthday message, I used his favorite phrase on top of his marble birthday cake.

He appreciated my humor. The cake was a hit and pretty yummy too. I will definitely be making the fudge frosting again - it was easy and deliciously fudgy!  (See below for the recipe)
In other news, our little ButterBean is now holding on to any and every surface to pull himself up and has progressed to shuffling along the side of the couch. It will be a matter of weeks I think before he starts walking. Is there a patron saint of new walkers?
Baby proofing has begun: gates, outlet covers, moving everything out of reach. 
Or, when in doubt, put the baby in a box to contain him!

Marble Cake and Fudge Frosting(from Baking Bites)

1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup cocoa powder
3 tbsp water, hot
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup sour cream (regular or low fat)
1 cup milk (any kind - coconut milk would be fun to try...MmmMmm)

1) Preheat oven to 350F and grease a 9×13-inch baking pan.
2) In a small bowl, combine 1/4 cup sugar, cocoa powder, hot water and 1/2 tsp vanilla extract. Whisk to combine and set aside.
3) In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
4) In a large bowl, cream together butter and 1 1/2 cups sugar until light. Beat in eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla and sour cream. Working in two or three additions, alternate adding flour mixture and milk to butter mixture (beginning and ending with flour). Mix.
5) Scoop out 1 cup of cake batter and stir into cocoa mixture.
6) Spread white batter into prepared pan. Top with chocolate batter and drag a knife through to create a swirling pattern.
7) Bake for 32-36 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the cake springs back when lightly pressed.
Cool completely on a wire rack before frosting.

Fudgy Frosting
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup milk (any kind - again, I think it would be fun to try with coconut milk)
2 tbsp light corn syrup
1/8 tsp salt
2 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract

1) Combine sugar and cocoa in a medium saucepan and whisk until cocoa is dissolved. 
2) Add butter, milk, corn syrup and salt, and cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture comes to a boil (about 10 minutes). Continue boiling; stirring occasionally, for 6 minutes. 
3) Remove from heat and cool to room temperature (approx 1 hour). 
4) Beat in powdered sugar and vanilla and pour on cake. Frosting will spread easily and will set up itself after a few minutes.

The Post-Anesthesia Post

owl hat

Knitting

I once learned how to knit, but I never got very good at it and I wouldn't remember how to even start now. I see all of these ultra cute crafts, especially for babies and kids, that I would love to do, but can't for a few reasons: 1) I don't have time 2) I don't know how 3) I'd need more supplies.

When school is over I want to learn how to knit for real...and maybe crochet too.

By the time I learn how to knit, ButterBean will be to big for me to make adorable things for him to wear. He doesn't keep hats on for more than 3 seconds anyway.

Waaay too cute

Seriously? Turtley cute

 Life is going to be sooo full of crafts when I'm done with school!

For the Love of Pumpkin

Those who know me know that I have a love of pumpkins. What's not to love? They are very versatile and oh-so-tasty in cooking, their seeds are a great snack, and I think they are cute! If I had more time right now I'd do some fun pumpkin crafts:

Rhinestone Web

Lacey Pumpkin

Glitter candle holder

So, I was a proud Mama when my own little Punkin' displayed his love of pumpkin. He has already tried pureed pumpkin and ate it like a champ. I made some pumpkin bread the other day and I while I was eating a piece ButterBean was going crazy trying to get at it. I gave him a nibble, which caused instant leg kicking and arm waving. I gave him little bites in between his "Hunhh, hunhh!" for more. This boy is definitely his mother's son!

Pumpkin-Head

Hello pumpkin!

Tonight, in the Halloween spirit I will be making Penne-Pumpkin Pasta, which I made last autumn too. I don't have any cream on hand, so it won't be quite so creamy, but still yummy! I feel no guilt with this because it's basically just whole wheat pasta, shallots, sage and pumpkin! I can't wait!

My little Pumpkin Monster

Happy Halloween!

Surprise Visit

Last weekend I was given the pleasure of a surprise visit from my best old pal, Little Stay at Home Momma. We hadn't seen each other in a ridiculous 2 and half years. Waaaay too long! It had been so long we each had a child that the other had never met! That's what happens when you live 12 hours apart, have kids and crazy lives.

It was sooooo good to see her and her cutie-patootie girls even if it was for only a couple of hours.  I miss you already!!!

I also made this discovery: Chia

 This was a fun drink I picked up at Lakewinds- it's chia seeds that have been hydrated and it turns into a drink that feels like watery jello with tiny crunchies in it. Definitely different, but definitely yummy.

 It looks like something you might see in an alien movie. Or something great for a Halloween party!

8 month favorites continued

5-8 of my favorite Butterbean-isms

5. His "persistence": My mom told me I had a "persistent personality" as a baby and I think this has been passed on to him from both Gatsby and me. If he doesn't want to sleep, he doesn't want to sleep! He'll rub and rub his eyes, thrash from side to side, and wear himself out until his body falls asleep despite what he tells it to do. A favorite move of mine is when he lies on his back with his eyes shut and shakes his head, stops, kicks both legs a few times, stops, shakes his head, stops, and on and on until he falls asleep. The version of this on his stomach is to lift his head, slam it on the bed, lift head, slam on bed, until he falls asleep.

Rubbing eyes

after much bouncing

fell asleep in the johnny-jump-up

 6. His need to grab everything and see everything going on around him: If an object is near him, he will grab it. This is typical baby stuff, but I love it. His favorite objects are remotes and cellphones. If action is going on around him, he will swivel his whole body forcefully from side to side just to make sure he doesn't miss any of it. And if you turn while holding him, he will crane his way around to see behind him. When being held in the standing position, he performs a continuous pivot/twirl to get a 360 view. He never stops.

Gimme that!

Hey, what's going on back there?

7. His cuddles: This boy loves his cuddle time. I hope it stays that way. There is nothing like lifting a baby out of the crib and having him bury his face in your neck. Mmmmm!!

looks like I need to get a recent cuddle time picture

8. His SMILE

Happy Autumn!!

Look at me! I'm 8 months old!