Jeremy.Meredith.Brooke

2012-02-01T17:49:00.003-06:00

With the temperature of 60 degrees, you would think it be April or May.

When actually, it's the first of February.

I would much rather prefer snow, cold and cloudy;

but today was nice with going on a walk

and pushing Brooke in the swing.

2012-01-28T17:34:00.000-06:00

We've had a slow week with not a lot to do;

but Brooke was quite content with her Rocking Moose.

We also took a walk to the park in hopes to swing on swings

and play with the new ball Brooke got;

but as soon as we got to the park, we realized Brooke was fast asleep.

So, instead of go straight home, we kept walking and enjoying the nice cool day.

I love days when I spend it with my two favorite people.

2012-01-13T09:00:00.028-06:00

Today is my wonderful husband's birthday.

He is absolutely the greatest.

He's intelligent and kind;

hilarious and goofy;

spiritual and uplifting;

determined and diligent;

lovable and thoughtful;

supportive and wonderful.

I'm so grateful I married such a great man who is willing to do so much for our family.

He is determined to complete school, while working full-time.

No matter what his day was like or how tired he is, as soon as he comes home he plays with Brooke.

He always gives his time to Brooke and I.

I love you, Jeremy.

Happy 27th Birthday!

2012-01-12T16:13:00.000-06:00

Brooke had her one year appointment this morning.

It went well, until the dreaded 4 shots happened.

Here are her stats:

Weight: 24 pounds

Height: 31 inches

Head: 18 inches

She's nice and healthy. And according to the doctor, she's tall for her age!

This is what a really mad one year old looks like after getting her shots. She wasn't too thrilled with anyone.

at. all.

2012-01-08T21:03:00.000-06:00

Happy Birthday, Brooke!

1 year.

8 teeth.

15 steps.

Prefers to crawl.

I absolutely cannot believe Brooke is a year old now.

Honestly, it's gone by quickly.

For her birthday we opened the present we got her

{Charlie & Lola DVD}, and a card from her Auntie Jennie + family.

Then we sat in the living room and had German Pancakes while watching said DVD. Brooke was so happy and constantly kicked her legs in excitement.

Saturday evening we went to the Smith house for dinner and cupcakes.

Brooke didn't really know what to do with the cupcake. Eventually, she ate some, but preferred the icing.

My parents, with the help of my wonderful sister, got Brooke a Rocking Moose from IKEA. She's in love with it and constantly says 'wee'.

Sunday evening we went to the Hornberger house for dinner and cake.

Jeremy's sister, Rebecca, made a gorgeous cake for Brooke.

And, once again, Brooke wasn't sure what she should do.

But, she loved the icing.

That's all she ate.

With her index finger and her thumb.

I'm grateful for my adorable, big-blue-eyed girl, who smiles, giggles, and claps her hands, a lot.

I'm grateful that she's finally getting hair and that she looks cute in bows.

I'm grateful that she gets really excited when dad comes home from school and work.

I'm grateful that I am a stay-at-home-mom; it's the best job.

I'm grateful that she is our daughter.

I'm extremely grateful that her family loves her so much.

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

Today is my wonderful sister's birthday.

She is absolutely the best older sister.

She's intelligent and kind;

funny and entertaining;

witty and quirky;

spiritual and uplifting;

lovable and sassy.

She was the best sister and helper when Brooke was born.

I bombarded her with so many questions and fears.

And you know what she did....

she listened, she helped, she loved, she cried, and she laughed with me.

She knew exactly what to do.

My sister has been one of the most influential women in my life. And I'm truly grateful for her.

I look up to her and adore her, you could say I strive to be more like her.

I love that she is Brooke's Auntie.

I wouldn't have it any other way.

I love you, Jennie.

Happy Birthday!

2012-01-01T23:17:00.000-06:00

I love Sundays.

We get dressed up, go to church, and have family dinner.

Easy and simple.

Plus, it's one day when Brooke looks super-extra cute.

2011-12-27T15:32:00.000-06:00

Since the family was together we decided to go and have a fun day. Some of us decided to go shopping and enjoy the Christmas sales. Afterwards our party of 24 ate at Lambert's. It's a Hornberger Tradition and quite yummy.

We then went to some Caverns and enjoyed more time together.

Christmas was quite enjoyable and was glad to spend time with family.

2011-12-25T21:00:00.000-06:00

Brooke's First Christmas; 11.5 months old.

Christmas was split between both families,

since we are blessed to live so close them.

Christmas Eve was with my family.

We did the usual and amazing Fondue {Oil, Cheese, Chocolate}.

It's absolutely delicious and wonderful to do.

Smokies, Popcorn Chicken, Bread, Marinated Chicken, Bananas, Strawberries, Cherries and Angel Food Cake.

Delish.

Christmas Eve night also meant opening up some presents for family who wouldn't be there on Christmas day.

Brooke loved playing with the wrapping paper and with poppa.

Christmas day we went to church for one hour then came home and opened up our own presents.

Afterward, we went to celebrate Christmas with Jeremy's family. We had a lot of fun and found out that we'll be getting a niece in May!

We played and laughed and ate way too much food.

I'm so grateful to live close to family. It's wonderful.

2011-12-24T14:34:00.000-06:00

I have always wanted to be crafty.

I have always wanted to be able to make something for someone that they would gasp at.

I found these yo-yos, this mobile, and this quilt and knew I had to make them.

I made the mobile for my sister-in-law who found out she's having a girl.

And I made the quilt for my other sister-in-law.

The quilt was a huge project, about 5 months time. But it was definitely worth it. I might even make and sell them.

I loved seeing my sisters-in-law's faces and smiles when they opened their presents for Christmas.

2011-12-23T14:19:00.000-06:00

For Christmas I asked Jeremy if we could do family pictures.

Neither of us are huge fans of getting pictures taken but he agreed.

I really wanted to capture Brooke's 'first Christmas Season'.

So, after finding a wonderful photographer and booking our session,

we came back with these pictures, which we love:

2011-12-22T21:00:00.069-06:00

Today was such a festive day.

This morning, Brooke and I went to poppa's work with the family and had a pancake breakfast. The only way Brooke would eat the pancakes was if they were plain {... yum?}. Everyone loved her and her squeaky shoes.

Later today, we went to Jeremy's work party and enjoyed some bowling.

Brooke was so content sitting at the table, watching us. It was her first time being in a bowling alley, and I don't think she knew what to think of it.

She loves to study her environment and decide how she should react.

To finish off a wonderful day, the family went to A Taste of Thai. Delicious.

I've never had better Thai food than here. It's a usual for the family to do during Christmastime. We skyped Jon and Jennie to show them the yummy food we were enjoying. It made me miss them terribly.

Brooke started playing peek-a-boo with Uncle Andrew

{4th picture down}.

She laughed and smiled so much.

Afterward, we walked around the Square in Fayetteville and enjoyed the lights. Once again, Brooke was pretty calm but seemed to enjoy the lights.

It was crazy to think that just last year, I looked like a blimp and this year I have ~~a baby~~ an almost-one-year-old!

This is what life is all about.

Family.

2011-12-14T17:13:00.000-06:00

This is what you should do if it's raining outside, you have a huge box,

and the little one isn't too happy:

2011-12-07T10:24:00.000-06:00

How do I have an 11 month old?

It's not possible.

Brooke:

25 pounds, 8 teeth.

Happy in the morning,

Loves to play with books,

Loves Applesauce,

Doesn't appreciate when I put bows on her;

Doesn't appreciate shoes or socks,

Loves String Cheese,

Adores her baby doll, stuffed dog, and Douglas the Moose;

Gets really excited when dad gets home,

Loves glasses,

Get's excited over electronics.

I absolutely adore her.

2011-12-06T19:00:00.000-06:00

Today was such a fun day.

My sister-in-law, Jenny, and I got together and made chocolate treats.

It was my first time, because it's typically Jenny and Jody who make the yummy treats.

But since Jody lives in New Jersey now, I'm the substitute at the moment.

We made Oreo Cookie Balls, Ritz Crackers & Peanut Butter, dipped in chocolate; Chocolate pretzels, Chocolate Truffles, Peanut Brittle, Caramels, and Toffee.

Pure heaven!

We'll see if we share with anyone!

2011-12-03T14:11:00.000-06:00

I failed to put on here the recipe for the delicious Chocolate Cheesecake I made for Thanksgiving.

So, without further ado, here it is:

Decadent Chocolate Cheesecake {via mel'skitchencafe}

Ingredients:

Crust:

9oz. package of Chocolate Cookies

(Chocolate Wafers, Graham Crackers, or Teddy Grahams)

1 Tablespoon Sugar

6 Tablespoons Butter, melted

Filling:

10oz. Semisweet or Bittersweet Chocolate, chopped

{I used Ghirardelli Chips}

4 (8oz.) packages Cream Cheese, room temperature

1 1/4 Cups + 2 Tablespoons Sugar

1/4 Cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder

4 Eggs

Topping:

3/4 Cup Whipping Cream

6oz. Semisweet or Bittersweet Chocolate, chopped

1 Tablespoon Sugar

DIRECTIONS:

For Crust:

Preheat the oven to 350*. Butter a 9-inch springform pan with 3-inch-high sides (or use a 10-inch springform pan with 2-inch sides). Process the chocolate cookies in a food processor (or in a bag and use a rolling pin) until they are finely ground. Transfer them to a small bowl and mix in the Sugar. Add the melted Butter and mix until well combined. Press the crumbs evenly onto the bottom, only, of the prepared pan. Bake just until set, about 5 minutes. Cool while preparing the filling. Keep the oven heated at 350*

For Filling:

Melt the 10 ounces of Chocolate in the microwave or a double boiler until melted and smooth. Cool the chocolate until lukewarm but ensure that it is still warm enough to be pourable. In a large bowl (or with a stand mixer), blend Cream Cheese, Sugar, and Cocoa Powder until smooth. Blend in Eggs one at a time. Mix in lukewarm Chocolate. Pour the Cheesecake filling over the crust; smooth the top. Bake until the center is just set and just appears dry, about 1 hour. Remove the Cheesecake from the oven and cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Run knife around the sides of cake to loosen. Let the cheesecake cool to room temperature. Cover lightly with plastic wrap and chill overnight.

For Topping:

One hour before serving {or up to 3 days ahead of time}, stir Cream, 6 ounces Chocolate, and Sugar in heavy medium saucepan over low heat until smooth. Cool slightly. Pour over the center of the cheesecake, spreading to within 1/2 inch of edge and filling any cracks. Chill until the topping is set, about 1 hour.

When read to serve, release the springform pan sides. Transfer the cheesecake to a platter. Top with chocolate curls. It is preferable to let the cheesecake stand at room temperature for 1-2 hours before serving.

2011-11-26T12:45:00.000-06:00

One of my very best friends came home for Thanksgiving and we decided to hit up Starbucks for our usual get together.

It took just a little bit for Brooke to get used to Juli, but eventually she loved her.

Juli has been such a wonderful friend for so long {years, actually}. And it melts my heart seeing them together. She's such a great person, who has always been positive, and determined. She's one person I'm grateful to have in my life; and it's a bonus that she loves Brooke so much.

2011-11-25T06:26:00.000-06:00

Thanksgiving was so wonderful this year!

{we were only missing my sister & family}

It was such a beautiful day.

While the men took down a huge tree, the cousins got together and played. Cora and Brooke chased one another and laughed hysterically.

Brooke also enjoyed her first taste of my mum's Cinnamon Rolls.

The table was set with my maternal Grandmother's China and Silver.

Brooke and Cora enjoyed hiding and playing under the huge table before dinner. They were pals all day long.

Jeremy requested I make a Chocolate Cheesecake.

It. was. insanely. delicious.

Brooke and Jeremy ended the night with the rocking horse, and she loved it!

2011-11-25T06:12:00.000-06:00

The holiday's are so different now.

Now, that I'm a mother.

Holiday's used to mean spending time with my parents and siblings; doing my own thing; not worrying about anyone to take care of; helping with yard, etc...

But, now that I'm a mom, the holiday's are so different, fun and amazing with Brooke.

She has opened my eyes and helped me see things in a better way.

She's helped me become more grateful for life and family.

I am most thankful for the people in my life...

I am grateful for my religion and the happiness it brings to me.

I am grateful for my little family. Brooke has been such an incredible blessing.

I am grateful for my family. They are such amazing people.

I am grateful for my husband, who is incredibly kind, loving and patient with me. I am especially grateful for his love.

I am grateful for everything that the Lord has done for my family.

2011-11-09T21:58:00.000-06:00

I love my little girl in this hat.

My mum gasped when she saw it in Target the other day,

and told me Brooke needed it.

She was right.

I must say, she does look adorable in it.

2011-11-09T21:50:00.000-06:00

Tonight was a gutsy night in the Hornberger house.
For dinner, I made.... Sweet Chili Glazed Tofu!
And let me say, It was truly yummy.
This was our first time to have Tofu and I was more impressed than the husband. He was only slightly impressed.
It was delicious though.
And bonus, Brooke loved it as well. This was the first food that we didn't have to convince her to eat it. She went to town with the Tofu.

Here's the recipe:

Tofu:
28 ounces soft or extra firm Tofu
3/4 Cup Cornstarch
1/4 Cup Yellow Cornmeal
Salt and Pepper
3 Tablespoons Canola Oil
~ Slice the Tofu into fingers. Spread the Tofu fingers over a paper towel-lined baking sheet and let drain for 20 minutes. Gently press the Tofu dry with paper towels.
~ Adjust an oven rack to the middle position, place a paper towel-lined plate on the rack, and heat the oven to 200 degrees.
~ Whisk the cornstarch and cornmeal together in a shallow dish. Season with salt and pepper. Working with a few pieces at a time, coat the Tofu thoroughly with the cornstarch mixture, pressing to help it adhere, then transfer to a plate before putting in the skillet.
~ Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until simmering. Carefully lay half of the Tofu in the skillet and cook until crisp and lightly golden on all sides, 10-12 minutes.
~ Using a spatula, gently transfer the Tofu to the plate in the oven. Return the skillet to medium high heat and repeat with the remaining tablespoon oil and Tofu.

Glaze:
1/2 Cup Water
1/2 Cup Rice vinegar
4 Garlic Cloves, minced
2-3 teaspoons Asian Chili-Garlic Sauce
2 teaspoons Cornstarch
1/4 Cup Mined Cilantro
~ Wipe out the skillet with a wad of paper towels. Whisk the water, vinegar, sugar, garlic, chili-garlic sauce, and cornstarch together, then pour into the skillet. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat and cook until syrupy and reduced to about 1 1/4 cups, 2-3 minutes.
~ Off the heat, stir in the cilantro, return the Tofu to the pan, and turn to coat with the glaze. Season with salt to taste and serve immediately.

2011-11-08T20:17:00.000-06:00

Today was a refreshing day.

Brooke and I stayed home all day, while it poured outside.

We listened to and watched the rain and thunder.

We enjoyed cleaning the apartment and spending time playing together.

By the time dinner came around, I decided to make:

Minestrone Soup and Homemade Olive Garden Bread Sticks

It's honestly the best Minestrone Soup I've ever had and the Bread Sticks were amazing. They were delicious and tasted just like the ones from Olive Garden.

Bonus, the soup makes enough for two leftover dinners.

Minestrone Soup:

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)

2 small zucchini, chopped (2 cups)

2 medium carrots, sliced (1 cup)

2 medium celery stalks, chopped (1 cup)

1 can (28 oz) Muir Glen® organic diced tomatoes, undrained

1 carton (32 oz) Progresso® chicken broth (4 cups) or 4 cups water

4 cups tomato juice

1 cup dry red wine or water

1 tablespoon dried basil leaves

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano leaves

1/4 teaspoon pepper

2 cups uncooked small shell pasta

~ Spray 8-quart nonstick Dutch oven with cooking spray; heat over medium heat. Add garlic and onion; cook about 2 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onion is tender.

~ Stir in remaining ingredients except pasta. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 45 minutes.

~ Heat to boiling. Stir in pasta. Return to boiling. Reduce heat; simmer uncovered 10 to 15 minutes or until pasta is tender.

Homemade Olive Garden Bread Sticks:

1 1/2 cups warm water (between 110 - 120 degrees F)

1 ½ teaspoons active dry yeast

4 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

2 tablespoons sugar

1 tablespoon salt

~ In a large bowl, dissolve sugar and yeast in warm water and allow to sit for 10 minutes, covered. Mixture should be frothy.

In separate bowl, combine flour and salt.

~ Add to yeast mixture. Add melted butter. Mix with paddle attachment of stand mixer or wooden spoon until fully combined.

~ Knead dough for a few minutes just until dough is smooth.

~ Grease a cookie sheet. Pull off pieces of dough and roll out into strips.

~ Cover the dough and let sit in a warm place for 45 minutes to an hour.

~ Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F and once heated, pop in the bread sticks. In microwave, combine the following:

1 stick unsalted butter (or 1/2 cup margarine)

2 teaspoons garlic powder

2 teaspoons salt

~ After 6 or 7 minutes, brush the bread sticks with half the butter mixture.

Then continue to bake. Honestly, I almost never leave them in there for an entire 15 minutes - normally it's closer to 12 because I like them softer and less crisp on the outside, but to each their own. Either way, immediately upon removal from the oven brush the other half of the butter on the sticks.

2011-11-04T21:28:00.000-05:00

I randomly decided to make Naan tonight for dinner.

I've never had Naan.

I've only seen pictures of it on blogs or in recipes books.

I had no idea what you ate it with.

But, I made some tonight.

I used this recipe, only because of the picture.

I failed to calculate how long everything would take and when the husband would arrive home. So I only let it rise for 1.5 hours instead of 2 hours. But it turned out well and was quite delicious.

Here's the recipe:

3 1/2 Cups Flour

1 tsp. Salt

1/2 tsp. Dry Active Yeast

1 1/2 Cup Milk, heated to 110F

1 tsp. Sugar

Ghee (or Melted Butter) to taste

Activate the yeast in the warm with the sugar added.

Combine the flour and Salt. Once the yeast is active, combine the yeast mixture with the flour mixture. Mix in a stand mixer on medium speed for 5 minutes, or knead by hand until the dough is smooth and elastic.

Allow to rest for two hours, covered with a towel or plastic.

After the dough has rested turn it out onto a floured surface and divide into 12 equal pieces and round them into balls. Cover with a towel and allow to rest for 30 minutes.

While the dough rests, heat the oven to 500F and place a pizza stone, or cast iron skillet, on the bottom rack of the oven.

Moisten your hands with water, gently pass the dough between your hands to moisten gently, then lay on the hot pizza stone. Close the oven and bake for 2.5 - 3 minutes, or until puffed and beginning to get brown spots.

Remove from oven, brush lightly with ghee (or melted butter) and cover with a cloth. You may need to press the Naan to release the air inside.

2011-11-01T21:07:00.005-05:00

I love these two.

They make life worthwhile.

2011-10-26T22:18:00.001-05:00

This was Brooke's first Halloween.

Last year at this time Jeremy and I were flying home from Seattle,

and didn't get a chance to do anything for Halloween.

Nor did I want to, being 8 months pregnant.

So, this year I decided I should do something for Brooke for Halloween.

I perused the Internet looking for something

easy, fun, cheap, and cute.

Which led me to this.

I searched and searched to find something just like it but failed.

Then I realized I could put my own twist on it.

I did. And it worked.

Her feathers are a bit crazy and could have been tamed.

But it's funny and everyone liked it;

and I'm happy with not spending a ton of money.

She makes a pretty cute Peachick.

2011-10-25T12:00:00.016-05:00

Today is our third year anniversary,

and we needed to celebrate, sans babe.

So, after dropping Brooke off at my parents house,

we went to P.F. Changs for dinner.

I had the Calamari,

he had Orange Peel Beef.

We had The Great Wall of Chocolate.

Best. Decision. Ever.

This is what 3 years of marriage,

1 kid,

a full-time I.T. Specialist,

plus a part-time student,

and a stay at home mom looks like...

After a nice, delicious dinner;

we walked around trying to figure out what to purchase next.

I got fabulous pants, on sale, that Jeremy convinced me to get.

Purchased a new belt for Jeremy.

We even ended up at Target,

only to get duct tape for Brooke's Halloween Costume.

We talked and laughed,

held hands and kissed.

A wonderful night.

2011-10-25T11:00:00.002-05:00

3 years of marriage.

That's what today is.

3 years ago, at 11 o'clock in the morning,

in the St. Louis Temple,

I married my sweetheart for eternity.

It was a lovely, chilly but sunny day.

There was so much love from our families.

We made promises to one another and to God.

We were excited.

No other words could express how happy we were.

Best. Decision. Ever.

2011-10-19T17:48:00.000-05:00

48 degree weather.

sunshine.

windy.

soft grass.

curious babe.

crawling.

eating everything.

laughter.

drooly, happy babe.

fantastic park weather.

typical day at the park.

2011-10-17T12:37:00.000-05:00

Even though this happy girl, wasn't too happy yesterday due to two upper teeth coming in; she's still a blast to be with and still quite adorable as ever.

2011-10-11T18:53:00.000-05:00

I was looking through a food magazine the other day and came across a recipe that sounded, and looked delish.

I told Jeremy I wanted to make it, but that we had to eat it with other people so we wouldn't end up eating too much of it ourselves.

I called up my sister-in-law Jenny and told her we should have dinner while Jody was in town.

I figured they would be good guinea pigs to try it on.

And so, I made Silky Maple Flan.

I've never heard of Flan.

I've never tasted Flan.

And yet, for some ghastly reason, I wanted to make it.

It was good. Everyone said they loved it!

I'm not sure if I'm a fan, but it was definitely worth it.

Here's the recipe:

1 3/4 Cups Sugar

5 Eggs + 5 Egg Yolks

1/4 teaspoon Salt

2 Cups Half-and-Half

1 1/2 Cups Whole Milk

1 Tablespoon Pure Maple Syrup

1/2 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract

1. Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 325*. Have ready a 5x9 loaf pan and a large roasting pan. In a heavy, medium saucepan, heat 3/4 cup Sugar and 1/4 cup Water over medium heat, stirring, until the Sugar is dissolved. Increase the heat to high and bring the mixture to a boil, washing down the sides of the pan with a wet pastry brush if you see an sugar crystals. Boil, without stirring, until the caramel is a dark amber, swirling the pan toward the end of cooking to even out the color, about 5 minutes. Immediately pour the caramel into the loaf pan and, using pot holders, tilt to coat the bottom and 1 inch up the sides. Place the pan on a rack to cool.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together the remaining 1 cup Sugar, the Eggs, Egg Yolks and Salt. in a medium saucepan, bring the half-and-half and Milk just to a simmer over medium heat. Whisking constantly, drizzle the milk mixture into the Egg mixture in a slow, steady stream. Whisk in 1 tablespoon Maple Syrup and the Vanilla.

3. Pour the custard through a fine-mesh sieve into the loaf pan. Place the loaf pan in the roasting pan and place in the oven; pour enough cool water into the roasting pan to reach halfway up the sides of the loaf pan. Slide a sheet of foil on top of the loaf pan (don't wrap it). Bake until a knife inserted about 1 inch from the edge of the Flan comes out clean and the center is still very jiggly, about 1.5 hours (the Flan will set as it cools). Discard the foil and transfer the loaf pan to a rack to cool slightly.

4. Refrigerate, uncovered, until thoroughly chilled and set, at least 4 hours or up to 1 day. To serve, carefully run a table knife around the edge of the pan and invert the Flan onto a platter. Drizzle a few tablespoons of Maple Syrup over the top. Cut into slices and serve.

2011-10-10T11:46:00.000-05:00

We went to see the pediatrician today, whom we love,

for Brooke's 9 month checkup.

Whoa.

He was thrilled to open the door and see Miss B standing while holding onto the chair.

He cheered when she crawled away from him.

He laughed at her funny faces and that she was gnawing on her toothbrush.

He's such a nice doctor.

He reassured me that my child would get over her stranger anxiety, eventually.

He reassured me that B was a happy, normal child.

And bonus: he gave us a Clifford the Big Red Dog book.

He informed us of her stats and everyone was thrilled:

Height: 28.6 (75th percentile)

Head: 17.6 (75th percentile)

Weight: 22.9 (95th percentile)

I love my beastly girl and her thunder thighs. Jeremy has informed me that Brooke has the Hornberger thighs, nice and thick!

And good news: she's one point above being anemic.

Unlike me who is always below.

Here is Brooke checking out her battle wound from being pricked in the foot.

She handled it well, but wasn't too thrilled with the band aid.

2011-10-06T21:10:00.001-05:00

It was a lovely day and we decided to enjoy it.

Brooke was so happy to be outside and to enjoy the swings!

She had a great time crawling around,

getting dirty,

eating grass, leaves and sticks.

Such a happy babe.

2011-09-30T19:57:00.000-05:00

Since the weather was glorious today,

we decided to take a nice stroll around the UofA.

Jeremy has talked about all the construction going on,

so I suggested we should go check it out.

I haven't been on campus since '08,

it was fun being back and seeing everything the school has been doing.

They are redoing several buildings, adding on to the Architecture building and destroying an old auditorium.

We walked around some of campus

and ended the evening with Brooke 'playing' at a fountain;

she laughed and squealed at the water splashing in her face,

she also liked the green grass in front of Old Main.

It was so nice being together as a family, enjoying the campus

and fall weather together.

2011-09-29T17:54:00.000-05:00

Today was beautiful.

Breezy. Refreshing. Cool.

Thus, we went to the park, again.

They took down the swings, so we couldn't enjoy them;

but Brooke ended up enjoying the play ground set.

While at the park, a group of five little boys came over to Brooke

and talked to her, played with her and made her laugh.

It was pretty cute.

She crawled all over the place and eventually found a leaf and stick.

She was set.

One happy babe.

I love seeing her so happy.

Which isn't too hard.

2011-09-25T17:27:00.013-05:00

I love this little girl.

She's an absolute blast to be with,

and I cannot get enough of her.

Her squishy cheeks and sweet smile.

Her big blue eyes and long eye lashes.

Yup, I think I love my babe.

2011-09-21T16:49:00.000-05:00

Life right now is moving along quite nicely.

We're able to enjoy the weather a lot more now.

We happily go on walks and love playing at the parks;

but Brooke mainly loves the swings.

I don't necessarily have anything exciting to post,

but I must show you her best face ever:

Brooke looks way too much like me in this picture.

Kind of strange comparing my baby pictures with her,

she's definitely my daughter.

And she's wearing my ultimate favorite outfit.

She loves mirrors.

She could stand in front of one all day long.

She gets so giddy, seeing 'another' baby. It's a adorable.

2011-09-09T17:06:00.000-05:00

Our week has been quite pleasant,

thanks to fabulous weather.

We've gone to the park every day this week.

Even if a few times it was only 30 minutes.

Brooke got her 'serious' look from her dad.

She loves to crawl under our glass table in the kitchen.

She grins whenever you knock on it.

She's such a cute, entertaining kid.

2011-09-07T11:12:00.000-05:00

Now that Brooke is 8 months old,

I decided I would do a project I've been wanting to do for a while.

It involves the shirt that the hospital gave her and the most adorable hat that someone made for the babies at Mercy Hospital.

I found this inspiration to go off of from HoneyandFitz.com.

I wanted to make it simple easy on the eyes.

I'm debating the placement of everything

or if I should all of her birth information.

But, for now, I'm happy with how it turned out.

2011-09-06T18:23:00.000-05:00

We went to the park today.

It was the perfect day:

80 degrees. Slight breeze. Sunny.

There were loads of kids at the park,

several dogs,

and lots of compliments about how cute Brooke was.

She swung on the swings for a while,

crawled in the grass,

and played on the equipment.

It was so wonderful to get out and enjoy this weather.

I'm hopeful that fall is here to stay!

Because if it is, we'll be going to the park a lot more often.

2011-08-29T10:35:00.000-05:00

It's 10:30 in the morning.

I've cleaned the kitchen and living room;

and succeeded in doing one load of wash.

It's quite and calm.

Why?

Because this little one is still asleep.

Poor girl must have had a hard time sleeping.

2011-08-25T18:31:00.000-05:00

Life has been moving right along, since Jeremy started back at school.

Brooke has been entertaining the idea of crawling forward more, but will do it on her terms.

I couldn't help but post these pictures of Brooke in the tub.

I love her cute booty.

She played in the bath for a while, then I thought we could try the shower.

She loved it; mainly because she would stick her tongue out to catch the water!

I was busy doing something when Jeremy yelled that Brooke had crawled over to him and started playing with the iPad.

Go figure.

On Wednesday nights, we go with Jeremy to church and hang out with 8 year old boys. Last night we went outside so the boys could do wood working.

Brooke and I enjoyed sitting on the blanket and drinking water.

We went to the Fayetteville Public Library today to do Baby Bookworm but ironically enough they weren't doing it.

So I found a comfy chair to sit in and she found huge windows to play at.

We tried several books but ultimately she was only interested in the window and looking at the other kids.

She loved the new environment and playing with their toys.

Pretty sure we'll be back.

2011-08-21T17:07:00.000-05:00

This is what happens when miss B crawls backwards and refuses to crawl forwards. She gets stuck under the coffee table :

2011-08-20T10:51:00.000-05:00

I've fallen in love with Pears.

I have no idea why, but I'm glad I have.

I found a fabulous recipe that I've been wanting to try for a month now and I needed a good excuse to make it, and last night was the perfect occasion.

We had dinner with Jeremy's sister, Jenny and her husband Stan.

So I figured I'd make the yummiest Honeyed Pears in Puff Pastry.

We paired it with Jenny's homemade Ice Cream which was seriously delish.

Here's the recipe:

Honeyed Pears in Puff Pastry

4 small pears

1 sheet of ready made puff pastry dough, thawed

4 cups water

2 cups sugar

1 cup honey

1/2 lemon

1 vanilla bean, seeded with hull reserved (I used Vanilla Extract)

3 sticks of cinnamon

6-8 whole cloves (I used Ground Cloves)

Peel pears and core from the bottom. Cut the bottom of the pears strait across, so they will stand upright. Set aside.

In a medium saucepan, combine the 4 cups water, 2 cups sugar and 1 cup honey. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. When the sugar has melted, add the pears, vanilla seeds and hull, 1/2 lemon, cinnamon and cloves. Simmer pears until they are fork tender. This can take 20-40 minutes, depending on the ripeness of your pears.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

When the pears are soft, remove them from the pot and allow them to cool slightly. Discard solid pieces from saucepan and reserve 1 1/2 cups of the poaching liquid. While pears are cooling, cut the puff pastry into 1/2" strips. One sheet of puff pastry will cover 4 small pears. Large pears will need a second sheet of puff pastry to compensate.

Wrap cooled pears with puff pastry starting at the bottom and working upwards. When you come to the end of a pastry strip, brush it lightly with water and press to adhere to the next pastry strip. Continue wrapping until you reach the top of the pear. Tuck the end of the last pastry piece behind the previous dough spiral. Place wrapped pears on a parchment lined jelly roll pan and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until puff pastry is golden brown.

Simmer the reserved poaching liquid over medium heat until thick and syrupy. Plate pears and top with syrup.

2011-08-19T14:04:00.001-05:00

We walked over to the park today

and played on the swings.

It was playgroup day and only 4 of us showed,

probably due to the heat and humidity.

It was still wonderful to be with other people and be outside.

Brooke was pretty neutral about the swings.

No squeals or laughter.

She just wanted to sit and watch everyone.

She did enjoy sitting on the blanket and playing with my water bottle.

I wanted to her interact with other kids because she loves them. So I plopped her down next to Louisa and let them poke one another. Louisa didn't seem too convinced but eventually they liked each other.

Later on, Charlie showed up and told me all the differences between Brooke and Louisa.

He needed some convincing that Brooke was a girl, since she didn't have as much hair as his sister. He's one hilarious kid.

It was so nice getting out of the apartment.

We are both tired but only one of us will get a nap today.

2011-08-11T13:29:00.001-05:00

Since my dad works at Tyson, we get a lot of Chicken. Which I'm extremely grateful for, but sometimes I don't know what new to make with it.

So, with some searching I found another easy and yummy Chicken recipe:

Italian-Style Chicken Skillet

picture via

Need:

4 boneless, skinless Chicken breasts

1 Onion, halved & sliced

1 Red Pepper, cut into thin strips

1/2 Cup Chicken Broth

1/4 Cup Kraft Tuscan House Italian Dressing

How To:

Heat large nonstick skillet sprayed with cooking spray on medium-high heat. Add Chicken; cover with lid and cook 5-7 minutes on each side until cooked through. Remove Chicken from skillet and keep warm

Add Vegetables to skillet and cook, uncovered, for 4 minutes, until crisp-tender.

Stir in Broth and Dressing. Return chicken to skillet and cook for a few minutes or until chicken is coated and heated through.

and we paired the chicken with this. The two were so yummy.

2011-08-10T13:28:00.000-05:00

Disclaimer: I'm not an Organic - tree hugging - all natural - mother. But today I did something that could put me in a category like that.

I made my own baby food.

I know, I know. It's the thing to do. But I didn't think it would save me money or be easy to make for that matter.

But, after talking to a few friends and having my sister convince me it was definitely worth it, I decided to try it.

We packed up, got soaking wet and purchased 2 Pears, 1 Sweet Potato, 1 pound Carrots and Cherries. I figured I wouldn't go all out and purchase a ton of food, since I needed to see if Brooke would like what I made or the 'pre-made- Gerber' food better.

Now, I realize there are at least two ways of making baby food: boiling or steaming them. I also realize, most people prefer steaming. Well, since we don't have a steamer, I decided to boil the food (and I'm happy I did.)

I felt so cool using all of my pots and burners at once. Peeling, coring, chopping and boiling. Plus, making the biggest mess with the food processor. I kept muttering to myself that this better be worth it.

I emptied out our three ice cube trays and filled them with the baby food and put some in breast milk containers, too.

I hope it's worth it. If it is, I'll continue to make my own and expanding what I make. It's honestly not hard and I feel quite accomplished.

Let's hope this little one likes it as well:

2011-08-08T12:53:00.001-05:00

Since Brooke is so close to crawling and trying so hard to pull herself up, I convinced Jeremy that we really did need to get a safer/better looking TV stand.

The one we used to have looked like this. Glass, open and unsafe (in my opinion).

So after a couple of weeks looking and looking, we finally found one that we actually agreed on. I wanted a white TV stand; but those are extremely hard to find, not cheap and we had a firm budget. So, a black one was found and purchased, with the help of gift cards, from Amazon!

Brooke also loved playing the box that our new printer came in.

Let's just say this has been the month of unexpected purchases. We've had the worst luck with printers (it always happens in three's!)

I'm in love with our fancy printer and so glad to not be printing stuff off at my parents house or from Jeremy's work.

I'm very grateful we can afford these things.

Next up.... baby proofing!

2011-08-07T09:00:00.101-05:00

Seven months old.

I cannot believe it.

My life has been turned upside down since you arrived.

Brooke, you are such a sweet little girl and so much fun.

You make life so entertaining with your giggles, smiles, squeals and screams. Your sneezes are the funniest things ever. It's so amazing how you are learning who your parents are, how to jump in your jumper, to scoot, kick and stand.
It is a blast feeding you baby food and how excited you get when you eat pears, apples + blueberries, squash and carrots. I miss your toothless grin but your two tooth smile still melts my heart.
It's hilarious when you're sad and all we need to do is pick you up, give you a squeeze, a kiss and everything is right in the world again. The way you look at dad and I with your incredible big, blue eyes. So much love.
I love when you wake up in the morning babbling and laughing. Makes me excited to go get you. I find it incredible that you know when dad is home from work + school. Your face lights up when he walks in the door and you get super giddy. I love how happy you are.

I cannot wait to watch you grow and learn, explore and discover in the coming years. Although, please don't grow up too fast. I can wait for all the teen girl drama and boy crushes. Thank you for loving your dad and I and for being ours. Your sweet spirit and love has been the greatest blessing brought into our home.

I love you. so. so. much.

2011-08-05T18:30:00.000-05:00

I did it.
I finally made Beef Wellington.
And it was Delicious. Simple. Filling.

2011-07-28T21:01:00.000-05:00

i love my little family.

they are seriously the best.

she is such a goof ball and so much fun.

the husband is the best,

and brooke lights up when dad comes home.

it melts my heart.

i'm so glad they're mine.

2011-07-27T12:23:00.000-05:00

I have two recipes that I must share with you.

No, I didn't come up with it myself.

But either way, they are delicious.

First off:

Summer Squash Casserole from Taste of Home

via

Second:

Quick Fettuccine Cacciatore from Kraft

via

2011-07-25T11:29:00.001-05:00

We've been busy getting things back into order since being home from vacation.

I've been cleaning out,

organizing,

redecorating,

baby proofing,

and trying to simplify things.

One thing I wanted to do was get new curtains.

And we finally did, thanks to my sister.

We have these in our living room.

It's great because it gives us privacy but it lightens everything us.

Also, I wanted to fill a void in Brooke's room,

so I put up two shelves that my grandpa made me.

While in NYC, we stopped off at Anthropologie (heaven)

and I purchased this for her room.

We put these on the shelves too,

and her 'baby's first' book.

It makes her room a lot more cozy and it's finally personalized for her.

2011-07-14T18:07:00.000-05:00

Spray paint.

How come I've never used you before?!

You have forever changed my opinion about projects.

I finally did something gutsy.

I spray painted old vases,

from clear, to blue.

Whoa.

I failed at taking a 'before' picture (as always).

But here are the results:

I was aiming for this effect, instead of the one I got.

But dang it, I think it's quite festive.

I really wanted pistachio, but home depot didn't have it,

and I wasn't willing to go hunt it down in 100 degree weather.

Also, tonight for dinner we are having this.

I've made it before and it's fabulous.

And for fun, I'm making this.

2011-07-07T12:00:00.021-05:00

6 months old.

19 pounds.

How on earth did that happen... so quickly?!

Before vacation,

Brooke was able to scoot on her back,

gnaw on mum-mums,

and roll from back to tummy.

After vacation and being around 5 kids who could either:

walk, crawl, stand or sit up; she has learned a lot.

She now sits up,

reaches for and slightly holds her own bottle,

eats some baby food,

rolls from tummy to back,

makes the worlds most incredible faces,

and has begun the dreaded separation anxiety.

She's beginning to look a lot more like Jeremy, too.

2011-07-01T20:10:00.001-05:00

Ontario Beach.

The end.

Before we left,

we had to 'the usual'.

Abbotts Frozen Custard.

Feed the ducks.

Merry-Go-Round.

Walk the pier.

Get lots of attention, thanks to the babes.

Enjoy the wonderful weather.

2011-06-30T19:51:00.001-05:00

Skaneateles and Marcellus, New York.

The most adorable little towns.

family.

brisk air.

yummy chocolates.

soft grass.

playgrounds

tire swings.

slides.

swings.

laughter.

2011-06-29T19:35:00.007-05:00

Letchworth State Park.

running.

blowing bubbles.

eating.

playground.

swings.

giggles.

2011-06-28T19:16:00.007-05:00

Hamlin Beach.

A New York Special.

This has become the newest tradition,

and it's a great one at that.

Emmeline and Caroline didn't care for the sound of the waves,

but Brooke enjoyed it (thanks to white noise).

All the kids loved the water,

probably because they had three great guys to play with.

The weather was, once again, fabulous.

Sunshine and nice breeze.

Sweet cousins.

We obviously don't feed her enough.

2011-06-27T19:52:00.002-05:00

Rochester, New York.

Pretty much my second home.

Such a wonderful family connection.

I love being with my grandma.

The weather is always heavenly.

You can never get enough Friendly's Ice Cream.

The grass is so soft and actually nice to sit on.

You can never get sick of the Merry-Go-Round.

Feeding the ducks never gets old.

Checking out the hidden room in the Library.

It's the greatest vacation.

2011-06-26T12:58:00.001-05:00

On our way out of Boston, we decided to go see the Massachusetts Temple.

It's such a beautiful Temple.

2011-06-25T12:25:00.012-05:00

Boston: We salute you Oh Red Sox.

Boston's Public Gardens : Make Way for Ducklings

Paul Revere's Grave Site

The greatest Starbucks Cafe I've ever seen:

We went the Bunker Hill Monument.

The breeze was glorious, the grass was luscious, the sunshine was brilliant and the company was perfect.

I seriously love her

Fabulous view of Boston and it's marvelous bridge.

Emmeline, Caroline and Brooke loved playing on and with Jennie

2011-06-24T13:47:00.002-05:00

Cape Cod = Breathtaking.

I would live here.

Permanently.

I don't think I've ever seen somewhere so beautiful.

Calm, peaceful, refreshing, delightful.

After going to Braintree and Plymouth, we headed to Cape Cod.

It might have been out of the way, but it was absolutely worth it.

We walked out on the stone pier and saw some crabs,

the breeze was great and the temperature was nice.

I wonder how tall that sign used to be.

Sweet Caroline.

All six grandchildren together. It was a blast.

2011-06-24T13:36:00.001-05:00

Plymouth = Great history.

Such a beautiful place.

It was, once again, cloudy and cool but nice.

Everyone meandered and enjoyed the breeze, looking at the boats and laughing.

We arrived after they had closed walking tours of the Mayflower,

but we still got to look at it.

It's incredible that over 100 people came across the ocean in that little boat.

The kids had a great time running around and enjoying themselves.

Cute cousins.