Eloise & Boo

I feel like I haven't had a chance to sit down to the computer to really focus in DAYS. So I apologize, but I am behind on my blog posting... as well as my blog reading!!

If you've been keeping up with my blog for the past month or so, you'll know that my father in law has been battling cancer. He has finished his chemo treatments and will be meeting with his surgeon next week. Over all, I think he has held up like a champ! He has dealt with side effects, but he doesn't seem to let it get him down. In the time that he's been having treatments, etc.... Boo has been spending a lot of time at my in laws house. She is good for moral support and is a great distraction for them - which they definitely need right now. Although we miss her, we get to see her a few times a week... and we know that the need for joy is greater at their house.

Eloise and Boo never really took much interest in each other... and let's face it, I need to give more attention to my 5 month old baby than my 5 year old dog. That's just life.

This past weekend, my in laws brought Boo by to spend a few days at home... and to our amazement... Boo and Eloise LOVE each other!


Ok, so Boo isn't quite as thrilled as El. But it has been fun to watch. Eloise loves to coo and squeal when Boo is around. She loves to touch her and watch her play with her toys.


Boo has been GREAT and doesn't even bother El's toys or anything! And she doesn't snap... not to say that she wouldn't (I know dogs can be unpredictable no matter how much you trust them)... but Boo has been REALLY great.

I love to see "sibling" love! :)



My father in law will most likely be picking Boo up today. It was good to have her home for a bit! Please continue to keep my FIL in prayer as he battles through this horrible disease!!

My Kid...

My kid is the biggest ham....
and she doesn't even know it yet!


Thanks for the sunglasses, Grammie!
BAAHAHAHAH!

Piggies!

Someone found her toes last week!

Eloise is 5 Months!

It's hard to believe that it's been 5 months. I think I say that every time a month passes. I'm sure I'll say it as the years pass as well... but it's absolutely true. This little girl, who is our whole world, just keeps growing and changing. I can't imagine life without her... and I can barely remember what life was like before her.



Especially on days like today... the "mile markers"... I find myself in tears more often. What can I say? It's bittersweet to watch your baby grow.



This was my first attempt at putting her down for a nap in her crib... that was about 20 minutes ago. I couldn't believe how easily she fell asleep. I was anticipating quite the battle!



This little outfit she has on... I bought it probably 8 years ago. I had always dreamed of having a little girl. I know you can't see the outfit very well... but it's an absolutely adorable jumper with a little bonnet. I was saving it for "someday"... hoping that day would come... and it finally did. I thank God every day for this little girl! (I've also bought some boy "someday" clothes... so maybe that will be in our future--the not-so-near future!)

Happy 5 Months baby girl!!
You are LOVED!

Happy Daddy's Day!

My husband is the HARDEST person to buy presents for. He may enjoy opening the occasional present... but unless it is something he truly needs (since there aren't many things he wants)... he just doesn't want me to bother buying him gifts. It's very frustrating considering the fact that I love all things present-related! Cory's motto is "one thing in, one thing out"... so it's hard to buy him something unless I know he will REALLY use it.

This year, for Father's Day, I got the bright idea to get him gifts for Eloise and Boo.


I know, sounds kind of silly... but trust me... he could enjoy opening the gifts... and roll his eyes at them... but then enjoy watching the two "babies" play with the presents. Perfect! (I also got him a "baby proofing kit" since I know he will get use out of that soon enough!)

(El's gift to daddy--HAHA!)

(Boo's present to Cory.. a TICK! Cory hates ticks! haha!)

(El sporting her Esophageal Cancer Shirt in honor of Pappy today!)

Happy Father's Day to all of the dad's out there!!

Face Plant!

Eloise was so tired...
she face planted right into Aunt Katy's shoulder and fell asleep.

If only it were that easy all of the time!

A Moment to Breathe...

Today has been one of those days...

ALL DAY.

Eloise has been cranky...
screaming...
crying...
she peed on herself... twice
she spit up all over me... and the floor
she has been fighting sleep...

Until finally....


Thank goodness for the swing!!
We'll see how long this lasts!!

Here are some pictures from the past week:

My niece holding El as she sleeps...


We had a little picnic at my parents on Sunday...

El with Pop Pop...


El and Uncle Chris...


El with her handsome cousins...


El and Daddy meeting Grammie's horses...


And finally... Eloise was SO tired the other night...
we could move her all over the place and she wouldn't
wake up. It was pretty funny!


Well, I better get dinner going while I have a chance!

Hope you're having a better day than me!

ABSENT: Common Courtesy

I was at the store today... Walmart, if you must know. The choices are limited in my little town... so it's either Walmart, Tractor Supply, JC Penney or Big Lots! (Or the tiny little supermarket whose prices don't compare to a big box store) Normally Cory goes for groceries without me (don't ask)... but every once and awhile I'll have to buzz to the store to pick up some odds and ends that come up during the week. So... today was a quick Walmart trip for me. Eloise was in her car seat... happily riding around in the cart... while mommy continually made car sounds as we drove through the aisles. (Yes, I make noises and faces at her--and probably look like a total goob... because the last thing I want is to be the mom with the screaming baby! HAHA!)


Well.. toward the end of the trip... I was finishing up in the fruit section... picking out a few peaches before heading to the check out lanes. There I am with 2 peaches in one hand and a third in the other (the bag thing was conveniently on the other side of the bin I was standing at--and I hadn't thought to grab a bag first).... and some lady comes driving over in a little scooter and parks it right next to my cart. Did I mention that I stupidly had pulled my cart right up against a pole while looking at the fruit? Did I also mention that this lady had her daughter (who was WAY too young for the amount of eye liner she was wearing) right behind her with a full cart?

I was boxed in.

I couldn't back up without being totally rude... but I couldn't go forward because of the pole... I couldn't go to the right without climbing over the fruit bins... and I couldn't go left without barging into the lady, scooter, her daughter and their cart!

And then...

The lady started talking to Eloise and I smiled....... but out came the lady's hand... right in El's face.

(This was probably mommy's expression at the time)

Touching her cheek... Eloise grabbed her finger, wanting to put it in her mouth!!!

This wasn't some sweet old lady... or else I may've had a different reaction.

This was some lady--a stranger who wanted to poke and prod at my baby. I understand... Eloise is a cutie pie (duh!!)... but you don't EVER touch another person's baby... unless they are personal friends with you... or family... or you know... NOT STRANGE!

I pretty much held my breath. I just kept thinking... WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?

And then...

The daughter reached out and started touching her too!!

It was all I could do not to want to shove my cart through them and get outta there!! It's just common courtesy not to touch someone else's baby, don't you think?

Maybe I'm just paranoid... (yes, I whipped out the hand sanitizer after they finally left!)

But now I know to be careful how I park my cart--so as not to put myself in a situation to get boxed in... and definitely keep the hand sanitizer wipes handy..... uuugh!

(Sorry--had to vent! But isn't Eloise cute in her little Sunday dress - top pic) :)

Project Complete!

So, the other day I had mentioned that I was starting a project...
If you missed that little announcement you can see the fabric in THIS post.

Well, once I actually had a chance to start getting things ready
to work on it... I realized that I definitely had NOT gotten
the right amount of fabric.

DARN!

However, I was able to find some other OK fabric in my stash...
and last weekend, Cory watched Eloise for quite a bit
so that I could focus.

Check it out!

"Peek-A-Boo!"

Now I can go to a store (that doesn't have shopping carts!)
or wherever.... and haul Eloise around semi-hands free!
(Technically I can let go of her--if I need to browse racks or
something... but I feel better with at least one arm under her!)

We had gotten me one of those slings... and I REALLY
wanted to use it... but I don't think I got the right size
because I never felt like El was in it the right way.

I didn't want to be one of those mom's who suffocates
their baby in a sling!

I also was WAY too cheap to spend $80 on
one of those fancy carriers... and honestly,
I really didn't want just a cheapo one
from Walmart.

So I made my own
(yes, with a pattern--no free handing something like this!).

It was pretty simple to make and I am
pretty darn pleased with it!

WOOT!

Perhaps I will make more of these for
some of my preggy friends...
Hmmmm..... :)

I would love to hear if any of you had success with a sling!
I just could not figure it out!

Hope you had a great weekend!!

Simple Celebration and a Recipe!

Cory's birthday was pretty uneventful.
He was super busy at work...
it was really hot outside (and in)...
and well, it just didn't have any Oomph to speak of.

But I tried!

He opened up some presents... Eloise liked the paper!

And we enjoyed some of this
AMAZING (sugar free)
carrot cake that I made!
MMMMmmmm!


I wanted to share the recipe with you!
I encourage you to try it... for real!

I stored it in the fridge...
and it was so refreshing on a hot evening!

2 c. Whole Wheat Flour
2 tsp. Baking Soda
2 tsp. Baking Powder
2 tsp. Cinnamon
1 tsp. Salt
2 c. Grated Carrots
1 c. Skim Milk
1 1/2 c. Apple Sauce
(I used natural so there wasn't added sugar)
1 c. Maple Syrup
1/2 c. Crushed Walnuts

Preheat oven to 350. Mix all dry ingredients together in a bowl. Grate carrots and add, along with the rest of the ingredients (except walnuts), to the flour mixture. Mix until "just mixed". Stir in walnuts. Put in a 9x13x2" pan--greased. Bake for 40-50 mins (until a toothpick comes out clean). Cool for 30 mins - Frost!!

Here is the cream cheese frosting I made...
it's not too zippy but when paired with the cake--it's pretty good!

3 blocks cream cheese
1 packet sugar free instant vanilla pudding
milk
nutmeg

Whip cream cheese and pudding together.
Add enough milk to make it fluffy.
Add nutmeg to taste.

(This makes a lot of frosting... so you can probably cut it down to 2 blocks of cream cheese and still have enough to cover the cake!)

You'll have to let me know if you try it!
No white flour... and only the natural sweetness from
Maple Syrup and the Applesauce...
Can't beat that!!

Have a great weekend!

Happy Birthday!

Wishing a Happy Birthday to my husband today!


We LOVE you!!

RECIPE: The BEST Pancakes EVER!

When I first made these pancakes... we were afraid to take the first bite. But after that first bite, Cory looked at me and said, "I think these are the best pancakes I've ever had."

I... Agreed.

We aren't going back to "normal" pancakes ever again!!

How could I not share this recipe with you?

I hope you try it!

And if you do... let me know what you think!

YOGURT PANCAKES

Ingredients:
2 c. Whole Wheat Flour
2 c. Whole Plain Yogurt
2 Eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 tsp. Sea Salt
1 tsp. Baking Soda
2 T. Melted Butter

Prepare the night before:
Soak flour in yogurt (covered) in a warm place for 12-24 hours.

(This is after it set for almost 24 hours)

Stir in other ingredients and thin to desired consistency with water.

(I did not add any water to my mixture.)

Cook on a hot, oiled griddle or cast iron skillet.

(I used a non-stick griddle.)

Cook on one side until you start to see little bubbles!

(You will want more than just a few bubbles though!)

These pancakes cook more slowly than regular pancakes.


The texture will be chewy and the taste pleasantly sour...
Serve with butter and maple syrup!
SO GOOD!

Enjoy!

Check 'Em Out!

Eloise has had a hoarse voice since Saturday...
we aren't sure what's going on...
but we are monitoring her and praying that
it doesn't end up getting worse.

But even when she isn't feeling 100%...
she's still all smiles!

Check out those teethies!

In the Works!

I've started a new project!!

Hopefully I will have time to work on it this weekend while Cory is home.
If not, it will be during El's nap times, when I can!

I'm not going to tell you what it is...
so you'll just have to check back to see!! :)

Have a great weekend!!

The Jeans

These jeans... are 30 years old.

I kid you not.

They were my mom's back in the day--
and since my sister is going to be 30 this year--
these jeans are probably even a few years older than that!


My mom is artistic.

She did all of this stitching...
(her nickname is NR--if you were
wondering what that was about on the first pic).

She can draw, paint, sculpt, make pottery,
stained glass, sew, stitch... pretty much anything
you put in front of her... she is a master at.

Unfortunately, I didn't inherit too many
of the "artistic genes"...


However, I did inherit her
30 year old JEANS!

I've had them since I was about 15.
They've always been my "skinny" jeans.
Any time I fit into these jeans...
I feel like a million bucks.

They may look like they should go into
the garbage... but I keep these jeans
around to remind me of my goal.

I need these jeans now more than ever!

I watched the video of us from Eloise's Dedication
at church this past Sunday...
and I need to get back into these jeans...
QUICKLY!

I can fit into them... but definitely can't
button them.. AT ALL.

They are a size 30.

I WILL fit into these jeans.
I WILL.
I am determined.

On that note--
does anyone own the
Zumba DVD's or Wii game?
I love to dance but can't afford paying $5
per class to join the Zumba workshop.

Would it be worth it to buy the DVD's?

One of these days I'll be posting a picture of me
IN the "skinny" jeans... so stay tuned!

Wondering....

I hope it wasn't rude of me to take a picture...

We stopped at the mall real quick on Saturday...
and this was tied out in the back parking lot!

I wonder what store they were going to! :)