So much going on!

There has been so much going on between thanksgiving, teething, decorating for Christmas, teething, etc...etc...etc

Hayden is getting her second big front tooth which is driving me bananas! My poor baby gets in these "moods" and I just can't ever make her happy...well, unless I hold her. She's starting to play peek-a-boo with anyone who is watching. She will pull up her blanket up to her face and wait for someone to say, "where's Hayden?" and she pulls it down fast. It's so cute....cause she's so proud of herself. :) Hayden is also dancing when she hears a good tune and seems to obviously really like music. Another thing she likes to do is empty things out and put stuff back in so Santa will be bringing her some appropriately fun toys this year! She's such a good eater and really seems to know how to handle chewing different things. No real interest in crawling, just wants to walk...on her own. Scares me, but I'm pretty sure she is going to take her first steps a little sooner than her sister did. She's always chasing after Natalie in her walker so I'm sure she can't wait to really go after her. Riley and Hayden seem to be becoming friends. He will lay next to her while she plays on the floor and just likes to be around her. She's getting used to him and tries to share her "cookies" with him. :)
My sweet Hayden, I can't believe you will be 9 months old in a few days!! Seems like just yesterday we were in the hospital getting to know each other. You are so funny and loving with a spark of "stinker" in you....and I love you so!!

Natalie is SO into Christmas! She loves holidays like her mommy does! I guess that's why, cause I make such a big deal out of the ones I like. She has a set of plastic decorations that she decorated the tree with. She has her own little funky white christmas tree in her room and lots of christmas books and dolls. I can't wait to see her face on Christmas morning! Last year was good, this year will be even better. :)
Sweet Natalie you are learning so much and talking up a storm. You don't fully understand some things still, but you are learning so fast. We straightened your hair for the first time and it was sooo beautiful. The next day you said, "oh no, my hair's not beautiful anymore :(" haha...awww.
I love the way you love your sister and the way she stares at you with delight. You are already best buddies and I hope it stays that way!

I love you both so much and am looking forward to this Christmas season and all the fun it will bring!!

XO
Mom

So Very Thankful

I am a lucky girl.
I am so very thankful for...kids and their kisses....hugs and hilarious moments....teething and talks...crafts and cooking...play time and nap time....baking and book reading....my picky child and my non-picky child....funny faces and fun places....movie time and moving times....controlled chaos and complete chaos....friend dates and mommy-daddy dates....secrets and silly dances.
I am so very thankful for all of the above and so much more but most of all I am thankful for love and for life. The love of my husband, my best friend and who I am meant to spend my life with. The love of my babies, who do so unconditionally and never cease to tell me or show me just how much I mean to them.
I am so thankful for the life I was given, the life my husband was given, and the chance to give life to my Natalie and my Hayden and to join all of our lives together into ONE. You all are my dream come true and more than I could have ever asked for or ever thought I deserved. I love each one of you to the moon and back times infinity.

XOXO
Mom (Lori) :)

Perfect Day

I couldn't have planned a better day than my family and I had yesterday. Literally could not sit down and write it out any better.
We started off with going on the metro rail to downtown Austin. My husband and I have been trying to plan out more activities for the girls to do and thought Natalie would enjoy the Children's Museum. She had been there once before when she was about 15 months old, but this experience was MUCH better. It's more fun with her walking and talking. Hayden got to play with a few things too, so that was a bonus. It was pretty crowded so we spent about an hour there and walked over to get lunch. We had hot dogs at a place called Frank which I'm pretty sure is sitting in an old club I used to frequent...a LONG time ago. ;) and :( After lunch we walked back to the train station and rode it back to our car. I couldn't have asked for my girls to behave any better. No melt downs. No fits. NOTHING. Natalie did fall a couple of times, but she was ok and kept on going. When we got home they both went right down for naps and slept a couple hours. After they got up we went to eat pizza with Grampa and headed to the hockey game. Natalie kept telling me she was tired and wanted to go "home to sleep." haha...a mother's DREAM! But we stayed 2 periods and the Stars got a goal with 2 minutes left in the 2nd! It was exciting! Hayden and Natalie didn't mind the loud music and noises (even though we blocked Hayden's a little). Nat was kinda getting into it but was ready to go home. It was just a really awesome day. One of those days you wish you could repeat over and over. Although, hubs and I were super tired too! ha! :) We both fell asleep quick.
I just love watching you girls excited and happy. Exploring all the new things and faces in your environment. It's completely amazing to see you both learning and soaking things up like little sponges. You both have similar but different personalities. You both loved the train ride. Hayden, you laughed and played during both rides. Natalie, you looked out the window and talked to Daddy and when it was time to get off and go to our car, you said.. "Mommy? can we go on the train next year?" :) SO sweet! Of course I told you YES!! That's your new thing, saying "last year" or "next year." LOVE. :) Nat you waved bye bye to the train and said "see you next time, train!" :) again...LOVE.

You both have done so well today too! We are on a roll! Hoping that the cowboys don't lose tomorrow and ruin our "perfect" weekend!

Thank you for being testy and difficult and happy and joyful and SO MUCH FUN. Did that sound weird? Well, if it weren't for the former I wouldn't appreciate the ladder sooo much! :) I love you both for all that you are. You are a crazy mix of me and of Daddy that I completely adore. I can't wait for our next adventure! Christmas activities...here we come!

Now, onto making cookies! LOVE YOU!!
XO
MOm

This, That and the Other

Hayden is starting to not like baby food anymore. She definitely prefers the stuff that has small chunks in it. I don't think she likes the pureed stuff anymore. Truth be told she never was too excited about any of it, but she really likes to pick up her own food and chew it. I never experienced this with Natalie. She would just touch stuff with her index finger and gently swirl it around on her highchair. Hayden is the opposite. She figured it out how to get food in her mouth quickly and even though she about shoves every one of her fingers in while feeding, she gets her little morsels in there! Super proud that her instincts kicked in so soon. I'm still anticipating her sitting up at any time now and she's threatening me with her crawl stance. :) Using her walker is no problem for her anymore. She motors throughout the house! I wish I could work with her more effectively, one on one, but it's a little bit harder with Natalie needing my attention just as much and with their nap times coinciding.

Speaking of naps, I am going to start back at pilates during that time. I feel like my back is weaker than it used to be so I need to work on my strength for carrying the girls when I need to and for running. I feel the weakness in the middle of my run and it really inhibits my longevity and my speed. Here's hoping I can get back...my back! :)

I'm super excited for tomorrow because I'm going to be trying a new recipe! Not my own recipe, but one that I saw featured on the Brown-Eyed Baker website---love her. I am, however, going to try a different "presentation"....hoping it works!

Today has been a little hairy with me waking up late due to the fact that I tossed and turned a lot last night. I keep having these scary dreams...I so need to turn off the TV when I start getting sleepy!
I'm going to try to take a few deep breaths to get through the day. I have this other thought in my head about brightening up my kitchen. I so want to paint the cabinets white...but the Mr. won't allow it. I just want to freshen things up!

boo. :(

I got Daddy to eat a veggie!

As you girls probably know, your dad is anti-veg. It's sad, I know. I've been wishing for change for a looooong time. Well, yesterday I was writing a recipe and decided to try it out. I made 7 cookies and froze the rest of the dough. The recipe was a chocolate chip type but it was made with half the butter and half the sugar as typical recipes. I decided that I wanted a soft cookie and wanted to see what pumpkin puree would do. Fingers crossed, they went into the oven. When they came out they were tinged orange, of course but not enough for anyone to notice. They were yummy! VERY soft. That combined with chocolate and white chocolate chips I came up with a great cookie I named "Half and Half." I asked Daddy to try them and he liked them! He couldn't pic out the "secret ingredient"...and you really can't taste the pumpkin at all! I told him, "it's good that I just got a veggie into you"...and he just looked at me as I smirked with joy. :) He had one later on after dinner too. He said they were like muffins...but it's only cause they are super soft. Maybe if I had less flour, it would be crunchier. So, Natalie...you LOVED them. After your nap I took one up to you to taste and watching your face and the way you snatched it from my hand was priceless. I so love watching you enjoy food that I make. It's weird maybe, but I LOVE food and put so much care into it so it warms my heart to make you happy. I hope that this recipe, along with other successful ones I write will stay in our family a long time. I'm still waiting for the shoe to drop and to have something come out completely wrong...but at least that will be a funny story to tell in the future as well. :)


Today we are getting a cold snap and Natalie and Hayden...you both love the cooler weather! You both smile and get excited when it's chilly out. Friday we are all going to hop on the the metro train and head to Austin to go to the Children's Museum and then have lunch and go on a family adventure. Daddy and I haven't ridden the train yet, so it will be fun for us all! Can't wait!

Loves you!

Fun Sunday

I had a great time yesterday trying out a new recipe and working on perfecting another. I spent hours in the kitchen while the girls slept...even during the Cowboy's game! Loving baking so much right now. The best part about it is having a little taste tester. Natalie loves being my helper and especially taking a bite of her mama's love! I have to admit, I am on a mission to be a great cook/baker and to create my own signature recipes that my girls will treasure always. For Christmas I'm making my great grandmother's Chocolate Date Cake. I've never used dates in cooking before but that is apparently a mid-west staple...or it used to be. I can't wait to put my own spin on it---not much...just a little bit. Natalie and Hayden, I can't wait till you both are cooking in the kitchen with mama!! Memories that we will cherish forever!

Check out my recipe for these yummy Pumpkin-Banana Muffins on www.bakespace.com (username: lorikat)....SO YUMMY and the softest, moistest muffins you've ever had!

Chocolate Muffins!

So in celebration of Miss Hayden's 8 month birthday today, I decided to make chocolate muffins! I feel bad that she can't have any yet...but by the time she does, my recipe will be perfected. This is a basic muffin recipe that I use but then I add my special ingredients to make them my own! If you want a yummy, fluffy muffin with a nice semi-crunchy top...give these a try! Low fat...decently low sugar and SUPER chocolatey! Family approved!

Chocolate Muffins (Low-Fat)
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups Flour
1/4 cup sifted baking Cocoa
2 tsp Baking Powder
1/3 cup Sugar
1/8 tsp Cinnamon
1/8 tsp Salt
1 beaten Egg
1 tsp Vanilla
3/4 cup 1% Milk
1/4 cup Vegetable Oil
1/2 cup Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips

Directions:
Heat the oven to 385. Grease a muffin tin. Mix dry ingredients together in one bowl. In a different bowl mix together the beaten egg, milk, vanilla and oil. Pour all at once into the dry mixture. Stir together until just moistened. Fold in the chocolate chips. Fill 7-8 of the muffin cups in your pan. It makes medium sized muffins. Or you could use a mini muffin tin for smaller bite sized muffins.

Bake for 17-20 minutes. Judge by your own oven's temperature.
Yields about 8 muffins.
ENJOY!

Good plus bad plus good plus love...

As you can see there are more good things than bad that are rolling around in my brain and in my heart. I've come to terms with my life and the ups and downs. It doesn't, however, make the good any less good, or the bad any less bad. I suppose the way I handle it is what matters the most. Too much of the time I let it all chip away at me. I want what everyone wants, or so I assume. A happy and healthy life for all those that I love including myself. Never to have pain in our hearts, never to feel let down or have anger, to have glowing love and joy and to never stop laughing. Unfortunately, life never works out that way. What we can all hope for is more of the ladder and less of the former. I sometimes wish I could have 3 more kids just so that I can surround myself with people who have unconditional love for me but that's just selfish. I am who I am and I don't expect anyone in this life to understand me but to halfway get me is better than not getting me at all. That aside I feel sometimes like things around me (outside my little family's bubble) are unraveling. It's a "jagged pill" to swallow. Not knowing what to do, thinking whatever you say no one will understand or really listen to....feeling like it's your fault. Words hurt even when they aren't necessarily directed toward you. I wish I could take it all away and going back to my original opening thoughts, I just want the world of the people I love to have happiness in their hearts. I am certainly not one to judge in the worst sense, I've learned my lesson after years of doing just that. When you haven't walked a mile in others' shoes, you have no right to judge....period.
I'm so thankful every day for my husband/my best friend and for my children. They bring love and happiness to me every day...even on crazy days! Yesterday Natalie was watching a cartoon and Moose E. Moose asked "what are you thankful for this year?" and without even pausing, Natalie said, "my mommy." I was just in shock and awe...not sure why, but to have someone need me that way and be so thankful to have me in their life meant everything to me. Maybe she's only 3....but she definitely knows who she loves. She never gets mad at me when I put her in time out...or when I tell her "no"...she always wants to work it out after the fact with a hug and a kiss. There is so much to learn from that little girl. Love and acceptance is more important than anything.
I love you, my girls...to the moon and back. Never forget how much you need me and how much I need you.
XO...Mom