Smile Steady

Desperate Measures

2012-02-22T15:43:00.000-06:00

Breastfeeding cravings are whack.

I swear they can be worse than pregnancy cravings. Lately I've wanted nothing but sweets. I could skip every meal for a bowl of ice cream and be just fine. I even made myself a pan of lemon bars the other day, knowing full well that I would be the ONLY person consuming them. This was the same week I got 3 boxes of Girl Scout cookies and a giant chocolate chip cookie cake for my birthday... with a tub of ice cream. They are all gone now, may they rest in peace.

Today, however, the craving reared its ugly head again. The problem was, I didn't have any sweets on hand. Cue CATASTROPHE!

I had to get resourceful. There wasn't even any chocolate syrup I could pour into a spoon to get me by. Nothing.

I scanned the pantry and perked up a bit when I saw a box full of Bisquick. I'll make waffles! They have syrup... and powdered sugar! Yes, sweet sugary delight!

That excitement lasted all of 3.5 seconds, or the time it took me to get from the pantry to the fridge and realize that my milk expired yesterday. I'm kind of a freak when it comes to expiration dates, and really dairy products in general, so that was not gonna happen.

But I already had the taste of syrupy goodness in my mind, so I began brainstorming. Of my other two obvious options, I chose to make french toast over pancakes, because I thought my lack of milk wouldn't be as noticeable in them.

Here's the part where I admit I've never made french toast before today. I had no idea what to do, just that it involved eggs. Naturally, I hit up my friend, Google, and got down to business.

My search for "milkless french toast recipe" led me to a Yahoo answers page. I don't know if you've ever perused Yahoo answers, but there are always some truly golden bits of advice to be found. This for example:

Good job, Carole. I think that's a great idea.

After reading through several answers, I proclaimed myself a milkless french toast expert and grabbed my mixing bowl. In it, I threw 3 eggs, a dash of vanilla, and a handful of water (yep, a handful). Then I vaguely remembered french toast having a taste of cinnamon. After I unsuccessfully scoured my cabinets for the cinnamon, I settled on a dash of pumpkin pie spice and some powdered sugar.

I'll skip the cooking part. Let's just say it involved butter flavored cooking spray because I am ALSO out of butter (does anyone want to run to the grocery store for me?).

In the end, 2 of the 3 pieces of bread that made it into my mixture were edible with enough syrup. The third soaked a little too long and was more of a scrambled egg sandwich... with pumpkin pie spice and sugar. Even I couldn't go that far.

So what is the lesson in all of this?

There isn't one, really. Just that I'm much more likely to get creative when motivated by sugar. And much more likely to give myself a stomach ache.

And Yahoo answers provides no useful information.

Also? French toast isn't as easy as it looks.

3 Months

2012-02-21T09:40:00.000-06:00

My sweet Abe,

You turned 3 months old last Saturday, and this one hit me hard. I can't believe my sweet baby is 3 months old already!

You are becoming such a little ham. That personality of yours is growing stronger everyday. You love to talk and laugh, and you just eat up all the attention we give you. These last two weeks have been especially fun, as it seems you have located your volume knob. Your little squeals are suddenly much louder, and I can't help but laugh every time you give a good shout!

Earlier in the month, we thought you might have started showing signs of teething. I know it's a bit early, but there was one week where you were quite fussy and constantly drooling. You also preferred chewing on my fingers over taking your paci. That mostly faded, though (minus the drooling- I think that's just a baby thing), and we still haven't seen any signs of a tooth.

I think you also discovered your hands this month- the left one anyway. Every once in a while I'll look over and find you staring at your fist. You just hold it above your head and look at it. You want to use it SO BADLY, but you just can't quite figure out how- other than to put it in your mouth!

I think the biggest breakthrough this month, however, is that you rolled over again! You did this several times when you were 2-3 weeks old, but then I think you just got too big and weren't strong and coordinated enough to do it anymore. That changed last week though! I was so proud of you I almost cried.

You are the sweetest boy I've ever known. You are becoming quite the cuddle, and will hold yourself close to me with your little arms and nestle your head right against my neck and chest. These little baby hugs absolutely melt my heart. I would hold you like that all day if I could. You also love to see me and your daddy and flash huge grins at us when you catch our eyes. You are such a sweet heart.

Speaking of Daddy, he might be the funniest person you know. You love to listen to him talk and will often stop what you're doing and turn toward the phone if I put him on speaker during the day. He gets you laughing every night before bed.

You still love baths. You'll talk and smile and swim like there's no tomorrow. I think our tub might be one of your favorite places. That and the church nursery. I don't think we made it through a single service this month. Normally that's your long nap time, but you don't want to miss anything on Sundays so you stay awake. That means we're usually rocking away in the nursery.

You're doing a great job in the sleep department, and a few days ago you began sleeping in your crib instead of the pack 'n play in our bedroom. You seem to be doing really well with it! You're usually asleep by 8:00 or 9:00, and I can count on anywhere from 4-8 hours in your first stretch, with 5 or 6 being your norm. We typically get up twice in the night, and you're ready for the day around 6:00 or 7:00 a.m. You also take a good 2-3 hour nap mid-morning every day and a couple of short cat naps later on.

You are in 3-6 month clothing now. We're using cloth diapers most of the time, but on the go you're in a size 2 disposable diaper. Last I checked on our home scale, you were topping out at 14 pounds!

Your activity mat is probably your favorite hangout right now. I can lay you there on the bathroom floor while I'm getting ready and you'll be content for a good half hour. Your favorite part of it is an octopus that hangs from one of the bars. He has a ring that you pull over and over to make him play short diddies of classical music. You enjoy watching yourself in the mirror, too.

You're holding your head really well these days, and it only wobbles now when you're getting sleepy. You like sitting propped up against pillows and the couch or our laps, and you can even hold yourself in a sitting position in my lap for a few minutes if I hold onto your hips. I'm pretty sure you think you're more grown up than you are (sorry bud, you got that independent streak from your mama), and you're only happy if you're sitting right in the middle of everything with us.

You're making new sounds with your mouth all the time. Sometimes I swear it sounds like you'll answer our questions with a "yeah," or say "hi" when we talk to you. And if we make a big deal about one of your "words," you'll make the noise over and over again. We get a kick out of that! You've recently figured out how to make a "p" sound, too, and sometimes you'll just use that to blow bubbles.

We love you so much, little man, as does everyone who lays eyes on you. My heart grows bigger for you everyday, and I can't wait to watch you continue to grow and learn. You mean the world to us.

All my heart,
Mommy

Smile Friday

2012-02-17T10:02:00.000-06:00

My birthday! In my comfy clothes after a wonderful day, blowing out the candles on my cookie cake (those candles are a 2 and a 7, for those who were wondering).

We were excited to see each other after i spent the afternoon with my friend, Diana

Being a good boy

Playing in the snow

My valentine

So maybe I was a day late, but I made heart shaped biscuits! And served the Mr. from a V-Day mug! That counts for something, right?

Holy cuteness, Batman!

Abe's first snow

2012-02-15T08:56:00.000-06:00

It snowed here Sunday night. Did you know that? It was the first (and probably last) snow of the season. It was also Abe's first snow, so I had to get some pictures, naturally.

It also gave me the excuse I've been waiting for all season to put him in the snowsuit his Oma gave him. And should there be any remaining doubts that my kid is the cutest that ever was, these pictures should put them to rest.

Looking a little like the kid from A Christmas Story

What'd you say?

Catching invisible snowflakes on his tongue

Are you still alive, or did you fall over dead from the cuteness? It can be a lot to handle, I know. :)

DIY First in first out milk storage organizer

2012-02-13T10:12:00.000-06:00

Okay, I know this post will only be beneficial for a few of my readers, but I'm pretty excited about it so I have to show you. I made my own first in first out breast milk storage organizer!

If you're breastfeeding your baby and planning on going back to work (or not), you'll soon find your freezer overflowing with bags full of pumped milk. They take up lots of space, and it can be a pain to sort through them and find the oldest bag, especially when you've got a hungry baby on your hands! Enter the milk storage organizer.

(I totally feel like an infomercial right now)

All you need is usually laying around your house: an empty cereal box and wrapping paper, which for most people makes the total cost of this project FREE!

1. Eat your cereal. Keep your box.

2. Cut off the top flaps.

3. Cut a square hole in the side of the box. (Note: the hole should bigger than the breast milk storage bags are tall, because the box probably won't be quite wide enough for the bags to lay flat.) Drop a bag in to make sure it will easily slide out of the hole.

4. Wrap the box up like a present, and tape the extra paper to the inside edges around the top and side holes. Ta-da! You're done!

Now you just drop your bags into the top of the box as you fill them, and pull from the bottom when you need to use one. Easy as pie. :)

Smile Friday

2012-02-10T23:48:00.000-06:00

This week...

Rainy lunch in the city

Afternoon pick-me-up

Sugar cookies for the Superbowl

Hangin' at Miss Jenny's house

Our meatless dinner

My view from the Moby

I got the most Buncos! (okay, I tied)

The Unthinkable

2012-02-08T12:54:00.000-06:00

They told me it would happen. They said you just wait. You'll see. It happens to everyone.

I didn't believe them. Maybe you did it, but not ME. No way. I'm much too careful.

Hmph!

It was last week. I was on number 8. I had a happy baby in my lap, just talking away. He was smiling and laughing, having a grand old time, when it happened. The unthinkable.

His excited little hand flew up right as I clamped down on the clippers. My heart stopped. I knew what happened before I even saw the damage. I clipped my baby's fingertip.

His wrinkled red face confirmed it. He let out one little yell, then seemed to be fine. I, on the other hand, lost it.

What had I done?! I glanced down and saw the teensiest spot of red. It was my baby's blood- something I simply wasn't prepared for. That's when MY tears came.

It was his middle finger on his right hand. I was so close to being finished. I only had 3 fingers to go! I had done this many times before, why was that the moment I slipped?

Why did there even have to BE a moment at all?

Then I realized, there will be more moments. There will be more blood, and there will be more tears- his and mine. Regardless of how careful I am or how much I protect my child(ren), we're going to get hurt. That's life.

And you know what else is life? Realizing that I'm not a perfect mom. And sometimes, I'm going to do stupid things like clip my son's fingertip. And then I'm going to make the whole situation even sillier by crying like a bigger baby than my 2.5 month old.

And then I'm going to confess it to the world... because that's how I roll.

February Goodies

2012-02-07T00:16:00.000-06:00

I'm really excited to show you my sponsors for this month because they have got some great deals (and giveaways) lined up for you!

juliethefish designs

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I've said it once, and I'll say it again; Julie makes some of the prettiest jewelry out there! She specializes in hand stamped pieces, and I am absolutely crazy about this butterfly wing pendant she just added:

Isn't it pretty? You know my birthday is this month... But the best news is that she's giving my readers a discount for the month of February. Just enter the code SMILE10 to receive 10% off your order this month. Yay!

Pinch of Zest

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Abe and I are big fans of Kate and her onesies. He's been seen sporting several of them around town! They are too cute, and she's adding more and more designs all the time.

If you have or know a little one, I encourage you to go check out her shop- you won't be disappointed!

Doodle Design Shop

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My friend Jenny is one of the most talented, crafty women I know. She has a fabulous shop where she sells new products with each season, and her hats are absolutely adorable!

Poke around on her website and you may even spy a familiar model... :)

She's giving away items from her new line each week this month, and the next giveaway starts Tuesday, Feb. 7th. Check out her blog or Facebook to enter, and tell her I sent you!

NEK Photography

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Then there's Jen, from NEK Photography. This girl seriously amazes me with her camera.

It's like she's doing magic. Lucky for us, she's willing to sell that magic for our own homes. If you've got some time to browse her collection, you really need to visit her shop and see all of her beautiful photos!

***

I genuinely enjoy the work of ALL of my sponsors (otherwise I wouldn't bother telling you about them)! Check them out and see their products for yourself. I have a feeling you'll like what you see!

Smile Friday

2012-02-03T09:35:00.000-06:00

I admit, I'm not sure on which days all these pictures were taken. Some may even be from the same day... but they're all from the last week!

This is his pooping face. It takes a lot of concentration, apparently.

First time meeting his (great-) Mammaw and Pappaw

That lip will get him anything he wants. According to his Nana, this move came directly from his daddy's playbook!

My favorite way to clean the house (yes, I DO clean sometimes)- makeup-less and in my pj's with a chubby sleeping baby strapped to the front of me.

Being a good boy in the sweater his great aunt Winkie made him.

This sums up how we spent a lot of our time this week. We're thinking teething? I know it's a little early, but I'll explain more next week...

This face makes it all worth it, though. Are those eyes for real?

I am THAT mom

2012-01-31T11:41:00.000-06:00

You know that mom who is always showing you pictures and telling you stories about how cute/smart/funny/advanced her kid is? I have become that woman.

Or since what I'm about to show you is actually video, maybe I'm more like that great aunt who insists on making you watch footage of her vacation in Branson.

Either way, my kid is really cute, and this video pretty much sums up our life from the past several days. It's riveting, I tell you!

Yep, you just watched a video of my kid snoring like a man. How many of you joined him?

I wish life was more exciting, but this is really all that's been going on lately. Maybe I'll have more exciting content to show you soon.

Orrrr, maybe not. :)

Smile Friday

2012-01-27T08:59:00.000-06:00

I wasn't very good about remembering to take pictures this week, so once again there are lots of cell phone pics. And it seems like my go to shot when I've forgotten to take a picture is Abbott in his pajamas. Good thing he's so cute!

Tummy time. He's still not a huge fan.

Hanging out with Uncle B and Aunt Bear

Our friend Mayumi, AKA the Japanese baby whisperer. Abe loves his Mayu!

Little chunker...

My bedtime routine. Some of my best blog posts have been written here... and some of the worst.

Monster jammies

We were going to try to let him sleep unswaddled. He liked the freedom (obviously), but wound up getting swaddled about 20 minutes after this was taken because he wasn't sleeping as well. Better luck next time!

The Veggie Files

2012-01-25T08:49:00.001-06:00

I'm kind of an information junkie. When I find something that interests me, I'll search to the ends of the internet and back again to absorb every last detail about it. This job that I've been interviewing for? Suffice it to say that I've researched everything from the company's mission statement to one disgruntled ex-employee's trash talk posted on some obscure forum in 2007.

The ends of the internet, people...

So I think it's only natural that I'm drawn to the documentaries on Netflix. I've watched many. In fact, the "Suggestions For You" section is full of them. And let me just add, the more a documentary delves into conspiracy theories, the better. I'm kind of a freak like that.

So anyway, the latest flick I watched was Forks Over Knives.

credit

In it, they claim that pretty much every horrible disease we get, including multiple cancers, can be prevented and even reversed by eating a plant-based whole foods diet. They show a few people who suffer from diabetes, high cholesterol, heart problems, insomnia, etc., and after a short time on this diet they are all skinny(er) and healed!

Conspiracy Theory Alert: They also suggest that the USDA's healthy food guidelines are biased due to funding and industry ties.

Lots of facts PLUS a conspiracy theory = I was hooked.

So I went to the grocery store today full of good intentions to clean out the produce section (did I mention I'm also pretty gullible and like to believe everything I see in those documentaries?) when some chocolate chip cookie dough called my name. And while I did leave with plenty of leafy greens and juicy fruits, they were accompanied in my buggy by some frozen pizza and way too many snack foods.

I'm weak...

But well-informed!

Anyway, I'm really going to attempt to incorporate more fruits and veggies into my diet, but there's no way this girl's gonna give up her meats and cheeses. I will try to cut back though. That means I need some tasty new vegetarian dishes to add into the line-up. Do you all have any good ones? I think a good meal plan up my sleeve would really help me do better at the grocery store. I'll also take smoothie recipes. I do love me a good smoothie. :)

Let me know if you've got any great recipes, or even if you just know of some good vegetarian recipe sites. Again, I cannot and will not go fully vegetarian, at least not right now, but I'd like to go without meat maybe a couple of nights a week (if my husband can handle it).

I am also accepting great documentary recommendations. And new conspiracy theories. They're out to getcha, you know! ;)

The dingo ate your baby

2012-01-24T09:34:00.000-06:00

Okay, so Mac isn't really a dingo, but he kind of looks like one, right?

I don't see any reason why he would want to eat the baby, though. That thing makes weird loud noises and smells awful, at least that's what I'm pretty sure Mac thinks.

It was always surprising during my pregnancy when people would ask me what we planned on doing with him after the baby was born. What do you mean what are we going to do? Are we supposed to do something?

Mac was our first son. We rescued him from the shelter when he was just 8 weeks old, and we LOVE that dog. To think that we would get rid of him when the baby came was absurd! I truly believe our baby is safer with Mac around than he would be otherwise.

He definitely has those German Shepherd instincts. He wouldn't let a stranger so much as look at Abbott if he didn't think we were okay with it. Luckily, he takes his cues from us and has never had to actually protect us from anyone. And as fierce as his bark sounds when you approach our front door, the tail wagging that ensues once he realizes you are a friend is much more painful.

I can't wait for the day he and Abe become close friends. I've seen Mac play with our friends' children, and it amazes me how well he adapts his play style from child to child, depending on the size and energy of said child. There is no play with Abbott, yet. Just the occasional sniff and head tilt when his crying picks up.

Every once in a while, if I'm in the other room when Abbott starts crying, Mac will come and stick his head in, as if to say, "it's making that noise again... I need you to come make it stop." And if he cries in the night while Mac is sleeping at the foot of our bed, he'll grumble and walk out. He gets grumpy when you wake him up!

He's as gentle and patient as can be though, even now when he's clearly not our top priority anymore. And we do try to get in some fun with him, taking walks and visiting the ducks when weather permits.

He may not be making as many appearances here as he used to, but we certainly haven't forgotten our old friend. And he definitely hasn't eaten the baby.

Smile Friday

2012-01-20T06:48:00.002-06:00

Here's the third week of me taking pictures everyday. I'd be lying if I said I'm not a little bit surprised I've stuck with it this long. Nineteen days down, three hundred, forty-seven to go!

Stamping cards

Family walk to the duck pond (I was NOT expecting Mac to jump in the water... brrr!)

Getting ready for church

Sleeping baby

Smiling baby

2 month doctor's appointment

2 month (and one day) photo shoot

2 Months

2012-01-19T15:00:00.000-06:00

Abbott,

My sweet, sweet boy. As of yesterday, you are two months old!

This month has been so much fun. It seems like you are doing something new every single day. You are growing like a little weed, too!

Compared to just a month ago

Yesterday at your appointment you weighed in at 12 lbs 11 oz, and you were 23.5 inches long. This puts you in the 75th percentile for both weight and height. You are a big boy! Even the nurse commented on those chunky little thighs of yours. They're just so perfectly squeezable.

You gave me your first deliberate smile the week before Christmas. Since then, we've been seeing those little baby gums more and more each day. You think bathroom humor is especially funny, and give us the biggest grin anytime you manage to spray your Daddy during diaper changes. :)

Yesterday before your appointment you even giggled a bit. You are just SUCH a happy boy, and that happiness is contagious. I've never seen anyone frown while holding you!

You found your thumbs this month, and day by day you're learning to use those little hands. A few weeks ago, you would gladly suck on your fingers anytime your hands accidentally landed by your mouth. Now it seems you're able to get your thumbs to your mouth on purpose, and you do it often. I still don't want this to become a habit, but it's just so cute I can't bear to make you stop!

On that note, you still don't care too much about your paci. There are certainly times it's been a lifesaver, but then there are entire days when you'll refuse it. It's just not as tasty as that thumb of yours!

You definitely know your mama and daddy. If I speak while someone else is holding you, you will immediately turn your head in my direction. Yesterday you caught my eyes during your doctor's exam and flashed the biggest grin, like I caught you doing something silly. It melts my heart every time, sweet boy.

You love bath time. It's our secret weapon when you get a little fussy in the evenings. After you're all clean, we'll hold just your head above the water and your little frog legs will kick and swim the best they can. You love being in the water.

You also love music, and it amazes me how much you show preference to certain kinds of music already. Sadly, you prefer your daddy's rock to mommy's Taylor Swift. You also love the singing at church. Even if I have to take you out of the auditorium, you calm down as soon as you can hear the congregation singing. I hope your love of music never goes away.

Sleep is still really hit or miss for us. You did sleep from 11-6 one night, and I woke about 3 times just to make sure you were still doing okay. Most nights, you'll go about 3-4 hours, then another 2-3, then you're up every 45 minutes to an hour until I get you out of bed. I don't mind it, though, love.

Your favorite toy BY FAR is your swing. Sometimes I feel bad about letting you swing so much, but it's what you want. There are times when you've had enough talking and playing, and you just want your "me time." It's during those times that you'll fuss until I put you in your swing. Then you're happy as a clam- especially if I have your mobile on and some music playing in the background. You'll stay awake and content for a surprising amount of time that way.

You're still my hungry little hippo. Meal time makes us both happy, because it gives me a chance to snuggle you and hold your little hands. You also took your first bottle of pumped milk this month, and you took it like a champ. You've now taken several bottles, and I'm so glad that you seem to have no problem going from me to a bottle and back again. You just want your milk!

There are still days that your daddy and I will sit and stare at you, wondering aloud how we are lucky enough to be blessed with such a perfect little boy. We love you so much, and it's amazing the way that love seems to grow with every day. I love seeing the little person you are becoming, and I look forward to many more months and years with you.

All my heart,
Mommy

Guilty Excitement

2012-01-17T10:38:00.000-06:00

Yesterday afternoon you could've found me lugging an increasingly heavy car seat into my favorite Mexican restaurant with my mama, stepping very carefully so as not to snap my high heels.

High heels, you ask? That's right. My mama drove into town to watch the babe while I went in to take an assessment for a new job. Abbott is 8 and a half weeks old now, and our maternity leave savings is running low, which means it's time for me to hit the streets in search of a new job.

Initially, I was really sad about it. With every week that passed, I felt a lump growing larger in my throat at the thought of leaving my sweet boy in someone else's care. That lump is still there. In fact, I get a little misty if I think about it too long. What if he has one of those days where he just wants to be held and rocked and loved on all day? No one can do that like his mom.

And to think that someone else will be getting all his little smiles and catching all of his new developments and milestones kills me. It KILLS me.

But yesterday, while I was all dolled-up and shaking the hands of potential new coworkers, I was a little excited. I'm excited to get out and do something new... something that utilizes both of my degrees. I found myself imagining the kind of work I might be doing, and I was looking forward to it. There's something exhilarating about beginning a new job and growing in my career.

Then I climbed into my car, and the guilt hit me in the gut like a sack of bricks. It was sudden and unexpected. For one, how could I leave my baby alone with a stranger all day? And worse, how could I be EXCITED about it?!

I'm a horrible, awful mother.

But am I?

It's so twisted. I love my baby, and I would love nothing more than to spend all of my days with him for the rest of my life. But I also want to provide a good life for him. And, selfishly, I want to get out and continue to move my career forward. I miss those feelings of success and accomplishment that come from the workplace.

So yeah, I'm a little excited to get back out there. I'm also brokenhearted. In short, I'm a mess.

But in this case, it's out of my hands. I have to go back to work. And when I think about it that way, I suppose it's better for me to be excited than to dread it. If I were unhappy and bitter about it, it wouldn't be good for anyone. And Abe certainly doesn't need a disgruntled mother.

I'll go back. I'll accept these feelings of excitement and guilt, because I think they're natural. I'll try to enjoy every moment that I get with my boy, and I'll try to find pride in the fact that I'm doing the best I can for him.

Sorry for the repeat picture, I just love it!

I only wish it was easier!

Smile Friday

2012-01-13T09:25:00.000-06:00

Several of this week's pictures were taken with my cell phone instead of my real camera. My apologies, future self!

We went on our first date together since Abe was born. My mother-in-law was happy to babysit.

We met up with the Mr.'s old college roommate and let him cook us some tasty Japanese food- chicken katsu.

Wine is always better when it's dressed as a reindeer.

Somebody found his thumb while we were running errands today!

Cute little cupcake and candy shop. I was not on my best behavior here...

A red onesie accidentally got in the wash with Abbott's lighter clothes and turned everything pink, so I let the load soak with some OxiClean in my bathtub overnight. The verdict is still out on whether or not it worked. I'm thinking not.

And that, friends, is another week in pictures!

Reasons why I love my husband, part 4

2012-01-12T09:41:00.000-06:00

Anytime my sister sees a clear glass ball, she picks it up and twirls it in her fingers, David Bowie style.

And yes, that sentence does make sense.

Did any of you watch The Labyrinth when you were younger? We LOVED that movie. I mean, how can you go wrong with David Bowie and a bunch of muppets? They were scary muppets, yes, but as long as my sister and I watched together, we remained brave enough to make it through that whole crazy maze with the young Jennifer Connelly.

So the other morning I was recovering from an especially rough night with my sweet, precious, innocent baby boy by laying in bed with a pillow over my head and crying out to my husband, "PLEASE JUST LET ME SLEEP!"

But I knew I had to get up. So did my husband. I heard him joking and playing with our son as he got him dressed, and before I knew it this song was blasting through our speakers:

Spandex abuse

I looked up to find my two favorite guys dance-magic-ing around the room, and my husband leaned down to tell our babe with the power, "See son, I told you this would make your mama happy!"

He was so right. How can you not laugh at your husband rocking out to some cheesy Bowie? Turns out the power of the babe was all I needed to get out of bed and face the day.

Just another reason why my husband and I are truly meant for each other. :)

Snippets

2012-01-11T09:36:00.000-06:00

Today looks like a good day to brief you on some of what's going through my mind:

- Weight Watchers is hard for me. I have a serious sweet tooth, and I feel like I need to satisfy that craving after every meal. And by "feel like I need to," I really mean I might curl into a ball and cry if I don't get my chocolate... Pathetic, I know. I did just discover Skinny Taste, however, so I'm hoping to try out lots of new recipes.

- My friend Diana took a couple of pictures of me and Abbott the other day. I think this might be the first real picture we have of me posing with the baby:

But this NEXT one is my new favorite. Hands down. Can't you tell he just thinks I'm the coolest person on earth? He might be onto something there...

Gosh I love that kid.

- The Mr. and I went to Hawaii a few years ago. While there, I fell in love with all the plumeria plants.

Well they sell (legal) plumeria cuttings at some of the souvenir shops for tourists to take home and attempt to grow. I bought one for myself and one for my sister in law. Hers is enormous now. I think she said it had three branches, and it blooms every year. This is mine.

To say I have a black thumb is an understatement. I left it on my back patio during the summer to get some sun. Then we had a drought and record high temperatures. Then things cooled off and we still had a drought. Then it froze. Then Christmas came and I remembered my plumeria was outside. Now it's shriveled and black. No branches. No flowers (I never did get any). No life left. Poor thing.

The good news is I found some on Amazon, and I think I'm going to try to talk my husband into buying me one for my birthday. I'm bound and determined to grow one of these things before I die!

- Finally, I want to welcome everyone coming over from Abbey's blog today! I put a few new items in my shop recently, and she was lovely enough to host a giveaway for me! Go check it out!

Baked Kale Chips- Recipe

2012-01-10T07:01:00.001-06:00

You guys- I recently figured out how to play an amazingly devious trick on myself. I can make myself eat leaves.

True story. And I LIKE them. A lot!

I've heard people talking about kale chips for months, but I could never bring myself to actually make and eat them until now. And whether or not you think you like leafy greens, and even if you think they look disgusting, and even if you never eat your vegetables... you need to try these. I bet you'll like them!

The ingredients:

1/2 T. Olive Oil
Kale
Seasoning of your choice (salt works just fine!)

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Wash and dry your kale, and tear it into bite-size pieces. For me this involved washing each leaf as I tore it, and vigorously shaking the water off before I threw it all in a big bowl:

Drizzle just a half of a tablespoon of olive oil over the bowl of leaves, and stir until they are all lightly coated. Then lay them out flat on a cookie sheet lined with foil and sprinkle them with whatever seasoning tickles your fancy. We used Tony Chachere's for a little bit of a kick.

Pop 'em in the oven for about 10 minutes, or until the edges are just starting to brown. The leaves should all be light, crispy little chips- if they're still soft they need more time.

And that's it! Baked kale chips:

You guys, these things are light as air. They're so much fun to eat. And an added bonus: if you're doing the whole weight watchers thing like me, you can eat this entire bunch of kale chips for just 2 points. 2 points! But if you do, you might have a little bit of a tummy ache afterwards. I'm just guessing of course. I would never eat an entire bunch of kale chips in one sitting. Never.

They're super healthy, too. WebMD calls kale a "nutritional powerhouse." Can't beat that!

Let me know what your favorite seasonings are on these if you make them. I'm anxious to try different varieties. And if you're making them for the first time, come back here afterwards and let me know how delicious you thought they were so I can say I told you so! :)

January Sponsors

2012-01-09T01:28:00.000-06:00

Once again, I want to bring some attention to the great shops sponsoring my blog this month. These are both amazing girls with great talent, and I encourage you to see what they've got!

First is Kate, from Pinch of Zest:

{Shop} {Blog}

Once again, I've got to give it up to Kate and her adorable onesies. Abbott is a fan, too. Here he is sporting a Christmas onesie from her shop. Pretty darn cute, huh?

***

Then we have my bloggy friend, Jen, from Northeast Kingdom Photography:

{Shop} {Blog}

This girl has got more talent and skill in her little finger than I could ever dream of having. She also lives in one of the most beautiful states in the U.S. and captures the scenery perfectly. My husband would love to have one of her prints hanging in his man room, and I can't blame him!

Gorgeous.

I dare you to visit either one of these girls' shops and not find something you love. Tell them I sent you!

And if you have a shop or blog that you'd like to promote here, give me a shout at smilesteady@gmail.com. I love finding new talent and sharing it with my readers!

Have a wonderful week!

Smile Friday

2012-01-06T17:30:00.001-06:00

Remember that ~~resolution~~ GOAL I had to take more pictures documenting the every day? Well I've decided to incorporate it into my weekly Smile Friday posts, because this life is what makes me smile. And I'd love to take a picture every day of the year in true Project 365, or 366 rather (leap year!), fashion, but I'm going to be realistic and admit that it probably won't happen. I'm not going to be too hard on myself if that's the case, though.

These may be super boring to everyone except me, but that's okay. It makes me happy. This was our life this week:

We had some insane winds on New Year's Eve, and woke to find a couple of our fence panels blown over.

My baby's acne cleared, but his dry skin took over. Poor little guy.

Homemade mini pizzas, pre-baked

Headed to our first "Mommy and me" Weight Watchers meeting.

Baked kale chips- more on these later!

And visiting with my friend, Diana after an appointment today

And because I know some of you are also taking daily photos, I'll add the link-up feature back into my Smile Friday posts. Feel free to link up what made you smile this week, whether it be a week's worth of pictures Project 365 style, just one moment, or even just a funny story.

And have a fabulous weekend!

Creating Happiness

2012-01-05T22:19:00.000-06:00

The ladies at BlogHer recently asked how we plan to create happiness in 2012, and my answer is simple: I'm going to focus on 2012.

Last year was kind of a whirlwind for me. You see, I was pregnant for 75% of the year, which means I spent 75% of the year looking forward to what was to come rather than enjoying the moment I was in. And we certainly did have things to look forward to!

I found myself pre-washing tiny socks instead of taking frequent pictures of my belly. Painting the nursery walls instead of spending extra time enjoying our family of two. I was so focused on the future that I forgot to take in all that came with my pregnancy.

And now, as I'm holding my chubby little baby, I'm realizing that the now is so much more important than the later. It seems like my boy has outgrown another piece of clothing every day. Every day he becomes a little more independent... a little more of a man. If I don't relish the moment I'm in, when I'm in it, it'll be gone just like his too-small clothes.

So my goal for the year is to appreciate the small stuff along with the big things. To focus on whatever is happening today. To notice the sights, smells, and feelings that surround me right now.

And I'm certain that when I'm giggling with my boy or inhaling the scent of my husband during a hug, I will be so much happier than I would be if I were worrying about next month's bills, or where we'll send our kids to school in a few years. That's why I want 2012 to be about 2012. The rest will just have to fall into place.

Dr. Aymee Coget had similar advice on her Life Well Lived post, but I'm curious to hear YOUR thoughts on the matter. How do YOU plan to create happiness this year? Let us know here.

And you may as well enter to win a Kindle Fire while you're at it, because new toys are always a step in the happy direction! :)

Once again, cheers to a wonderful 2012!

Reasons why I love my husband, parts 2 and 3

2012-01-04T15:18:00.000-06:00

If you've ever doubted that my husband and I are perfect for each other, here's a glimpse into our dorky bliss.

During dinner the other night:

Me (in a very serious tone): Cauliflower is greater than broccoli.

Husband: False. The probability of that statement being true is zero.

***

Also? This.

He helped me make him and even donated his own crooked smile to the cause.

I can only take so much... <3

We're Old

2012-01-03T15:20:00.000-06:00

Our New Year's Eve consisted of dressing up in t-shirts and rockin' new-mom bags under my eyes, sitting around our table with some friends and our kids, and eating home-grilled burgers and kale chips (don't knock 'em til you try 'em- they are TASTY). Oh, and there were some board games and a polar bear hat, too. We lead thrilling lives.

BUT, the good thing about having a crafty video-editing husband is that even our boring celebrations can look pretty (excluding the whole smeared make-up, pony-tailed, sleep deprived girl in the black)!

Our New Year's Eve:

Didn't he do a fabulous job? Now if only I can talk him into getting in front of the camera at some point next time...