Happy Valentine's Day!

Shortbread Peanut Butter Blossoms Emilee's Chocolate Chip Bear Claws (recipe posted here) My mom showed me this book today and I absolutely loved it!  Recipes

Christmas Oatmeal Cookies 

1 cup butter 

1/2 cup sugar 

1 cup flour 

1 tsp. vanilla 

1 1/2 cup oatmeal 

 Cream butter and sugar together. Add vanilla, then flour and oatmeal. Drop 1 inch balls onto cookie sheet and flatten with fingers. Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes and dust with powdered sugar. 

Shortbread 

1 pound butter 

4 cups flour 

1 cup sugar 

 Cream butter and sugar together. Gradually add flour, mixing by hand and kneading until all the flour is gone. Roll out 1/2 inch thick on floured surface. Cut cookies into 1 inch by 2 inch bars, and place on cookie sheets. Prick with a fork. Bake in a 300 degree oven for 40 minutes. Take them out of the oven when they are a tiny bit browned on the edges.  

Peanut Butter Blossoms (hardly a recipe) We used a tube of premade peanut butter cookie dough. Just roll 1 inch balls of dough in sugar, and bake according to directions on package. One minute before they are done, press a Hershey's kiss in the middle and return to oven for one more minute. 

1 cup sugar 

1 cup brown sugar 

1 cup butter melted

2 eggs 

2 tsp. vanilla 

1 tsp. salt 

1 tsp. baking soda

3 cups flour

12 oz. bag of semisweet chocolate chips

 Combine all ingredients together in order. Bake at 350 degrees for 11 minutes or until just golden brown.

I did it! (usually when he is trying to do Noah's puzzles)

All better (when I put diaper cream on his little bum)

All done (when he wants to get out of his high chair, or finish his breathing treatment)

Hi Dada (when Cory comes home from work)

What he's learning:

Eating with utensils

Family member's names

Animal sounds

Eyes, Ears, Mouth, Nose..

Other things he does that I can't get enough of:

He pats my back when I hold him.

He randomly runs up to me, hugs my legs and says "squeeeze" (just like Noah does).

He gives kisses on the cheek (mouth wide open) on demand.

When Noah goes to his room for time-out (usually for being too rough with his little brother), Caleb will wait by the door to Noah's room and cry because he can't go in too.  He's such a little sweetheart!

He likes to be rocked, cuddled, and sung to for a few minutes, and then I just lay him in his bed and he puts himself to sleep.  His favorite song is "Trust and Obey" and he always repeats the word "obey" after me.  This is a good indication of future behavior, right?  He sleeps at least 12 hours every night, and literally hasn't woken up in the middle of the night for months!

What he likes to eat:

Favorite fruit: strawberries or grapes

Favorite veggie: green beans

Favorite cracker: fishy

Favorite cheese: string

Favorite cereal: multi-grain cheerios with milk

He has definitely grown up a little faster having an older brother to keep up with.  I love each new stage, but miss the baby things he leaves behind too.  I guess that's why I like stop and write these things down.  

boo! 

I'm loving how Caleb and Noah like to reach across the backseat of the car to hold hands while we drive (until Noah pulls a little too hard and Caleb starts to cry)

I'm loving how Caleb loves his strawberry, banana, and spinach smoothie every morning.  Noah likes to push the buttons on the blender, but just wants one little sip.

I'm loving that Noah and Cory are having some one on one time together.  

I'm loving the new mom's group at church.

I'm loving the things I am learning in my Tuesday morning Bible study, "Calm My Anxious Heart."  Its so much more than being worry free, and more like learning to be content with all God has given.  

I'm loving these chocolate chip cookies:

Mix all together:  2 sticks butter, 3/4 cups brown sugar, 3.5oz instant vanilla pudding, 1 tsp. vanilla. 

Beat in 2 eggs

Mix: 2 1/4 cup flour

       1 tsp. baking soda

Mix all together, and add 12 oz bag chocolate chips.  Bake on stone at 375 for 8-10 minutes.  

Sound familiar, Trudy M?

I'm loving that it just might be getting cooler soon.  

I'm loving falling asleep to Chris Rice's The Living Room Sessions every night.  

I'm loving how I can look forward to a long kiddo-free weekend in San Diego with my husband.  

I'm loving that I found two new shirts for my husband on sale today, and that my mom wanted to buy me a new shirt too.  

I'm loving Noah's expression in this picture.

I'm loving that Caleb said "Amen" when we finished praying for our lunch today.  

I'm really loving how Fresh and Easy has fairly good prices, little coupons, bags groceries for you, carries my favorite Greek yogurt, never has long lines at checkout, free stickers, crayons, and coloring books for kids, has clean restrooms, and close parking for people with kids.  

How about you?

This little boy is really working hard on choosing to listen and obey. "I will obey, Mama." While he tends to be a little bit of a wanderer, I'm seeing a lot of effort on his part lately. "I won't run away, Mama." He is working really hard on potty training too, and I am so proud of him. It makes my heart so full when I see him starting to take his big brother role seriously. I received some good advice from my aunt (who has boys). She told me to nurture his "big brother instinct". Instead of pushing Caleb away when he comes near his toys, he is learning how to take care of his little brother and help him find his own toy to play with. When I dropped the boys off at my sister's to get my hair done today, I told him to be good and help take care of baby Caleb. He reassured me, "I will take care of him," and then added, "I will hold him." It was very sweet, but scared me a little because he usually holds him by his neck! It's also fun to see the admiration in Caleb's eyes too, as he crawls around after Noah wherever he goes. I pray that God will continue to bless their relationship, and that their bond will grow strong as the years go by.

[9 Month Stats]

Height: 29.5 inches (85%)

Weight: 20 lbs (40%)

Caleb is definitely loosing some of his chunk due to the fact that he is in constant motion.  He is exactly one pound lighter and one inch shorter than Noah was at this age.  

I'm still amazed at how different these boys are.  Sometimes I think they look alike, but I found these pictures taken in the same place and around the same age (Noah is about six weeks older) and I think that other than their fair skin, blonde hair, and blue eyes, they do look very different.  

(Baby Cah-Chi = Baby Caleb)

Weight:  16 pounds 6 ounces (95 percentile)

Length:  26 1/2 inches (95 percentile)

Needless to say, he's kind of a big boy!

Caleb is a sleeper.   He is a little over six weeks old, and he is still only awake for a few hours each day.  He wakes up usually once (sometimes twice) in the night to eat, and then returns to peaceful slumber.  He smiled at me for the first time last night, and man, was it ever a cute one!  Now he has us talking in a way to high-pitched voice, way too close to his face, trying to draw out another smile.  "Can you smile at mommy little guy?"  He is a good eater, and I'm looking forward to seeing his weight progress at his doctor's appointment in a couple weeks.  He is nice and chubby, and I love the way his eyes look when he wears blue.  

Noah is still loving his "Baby Cah-Chi".  Multiple times throughout the day he walks up to Caleb and says, "Hi Baby Cah-Chi!  Wah doonin?"  (Whatcha doin?)  Of course, Caleb is usually sound asleep.  He likes to kiss his head and give him "toe five".  Its just like giving "five" with  your hand, except foot to foot.  It's a Noah thing.  Noah is a smart cookie (of course his mother thinks so).  He can count to ten, sing the ABC's (but not for an audience), and recognizes all the letters and colors.  He is also learning to play the violin (just kidding, not that smart).  Almost all his sentences end in "right here!"  Like, "A cool (school) bus, Mimi!  Right here!"  Noah will imitate everything he hears, so we have to watch everything we say.  He is still in love with all things with wheels.  He amazes me by recognizing people's cars.  When we are driving, he will point out all the Honda Van's, Ford Mustangs, and Ford trucks because this is what our family members drive.  Sometimes he will watch the road in front of our house out his bedroom window for a long time, studying the cars that go by.  If you ask him a question, he will always say, "yah".  If he actually means yes, he will be more enthusiastic with his "yah!".  His favorite TV shows are Sesame Street and Curious George.  Hard to say, but I think his favorite book right now is Cars and Trucks and Things That Go.  His favorite foods are macaroni and cheese, any kind of fruit, and ketchup.  

My sleep tank may be a little empty, but my heart is so full.  I am blessed!

We had a good day today even with Cory back at work.  I did get a shower in before Cory left this morning... I think this will be my new shower strategy.  

Kaelyn gave Noah a book about being a big brother for his birthday, and he asks me to read it to him just about everyday.  We talk about the baby that is coming, and he points to my tummy and says "baby".  I say, "That's right buddy, baby Caleb is in mommy's tummy.  Can you say Caleb?"  Confidently, as if he is repeating exactly what I said, he replies, "Cah-chi!"  Hmmm... I guess we still have a few more weeks to work on that one!

While I am equally excited about this new baby, I don't have the time to be quite so intentional, but we are making way with our nursery and Noah's new room.  A new set of bunk beds are on their way and two matching quilts are ready to go.  I have ordered some wall letters to spell out the boys' names.  I tracked down the perfect diaper bag yesterday, so I can check that one off the list.  All of this preparation is keeping me busy, and in addition to this Noah and I have been having so much fun swimming almost every day.  I'm thinking the next eight weeks will be over before I know it at this pace!