Baby Halle

Today a friend of mine brought her precious two week old over to snap some photos.  She is so tiny and sweet.  There's  just nothing like a newborn.

Presley was fascinated with the baby.  It was pretty cute.

To Cut or Not to Cut...

A certain little lady got her very first haircut tonight.  Actually, I'm not really sure if it can be classified as her first haircut... it was just a bang trim.  I basically distracted her by letting her bang on the computer keyboard while I hacked away just praying not to stab her in the eye.  It was a hot mess for a while but it actually turned out pretty darn cute.  She's working a very stylish side swept bang like all the big celebs :)

I had a major panic moment midway through vacuuming the hair up off my desk.... I FORGOT TO SAVE SOME!  Good new friends, I found a little "clump" that was stuck under the keyboard and it's now safe and sound in her baby book.  Phew!

She also got her very first bake set today :)  That rolling pin!  She did a lot of chasing the dogs around to get back her cookies and cupcakes.  Someday I'll just lounge around on the couch while she slaves away in the kitchen cooking dinner and baking dessert.  Someday.

A Break in the Rain

Anyone who knows anything about living in the Pacific Northwest knows all about RAIN.  We actually had a really nice end of summer and beginning of fall with warm and dry weather, however, that's gone now :)  We're back to rain, rain and more rain and it will probably be like this until next July.  Fun!  Loading and unloading a toddler from the car in the rain is not a good time.  She's not a fan of the wet stuff either.  Anyways, today was a beautiful day so we decided to get our booties outside to take advantage of it!

How cute are her boots?  I'm pretty obsessed with all of the Old Navy boots right now!  So adorable and playful- and perfect for a toddler who is growing at lightning speed!  Her Daddio would not be a fan of her growing out of Uggs in two months.  Don't say I never do anything for ya hoosband!  ;)

 I think this is her get that camera outta here face.

I'm not really into Halloween... I know, I know, I need to get into it for the little one.  I'm working on it!  I'd rather just decorate for fall and let that carry over to Thanksgiving :)  I'm loving white pumpkins this year.

Hopefully we can make this Halloween candy last a week.  We're suckers for sweet stuff around this house!

Now I just need to finish up the decorating and decide what Miss P is going to be for Halloween.  I can't seem to settle on anything!  What's a Momma gotta do to find a cute cow costume?!?

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies for the Hunters

This week the boys in the family are gone hunting... which means the gals in the family make them treats to take along.  And if you're my Grandma, you make a whole lot more than just treats.  These hunters eat like Kings.  I'm pretty sure they just lay around their campsite all day eating and napping.  :)

Anyways, this year I sent Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies- perfect for this time of year.  They end up making more of a cake like cookie rather than a regular chocolate chip.  They're yummy!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 cups pumpkin puree

1 cup vegetable oil

2 eggs

2 cups white sugar

4 cups flour

4 teaspoons baking powder

4 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 tablespoons milk

2 tablespoons vanilla

2 cups milk chocolate chips

2 cups mini semisweet chocolate chips

In your mixer, combine the sugar, pumpkin puree, eggs, oil and vanilla.  In a separate bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt.  Mix the baking soda and milk and combine with the dry ingredients.  Once the wet ingredients are mixed add the dry ingredients a little at a time and mix well.  The dough will be pretty sticky.  Add the chocolate chips.  Since the dough is so sticky, it works best to use a cookie dough scooper to place the cookies on a greased baking sheet.

Bake for about 10 minutes at 350 degrees.  Makes about 4 dozen cookies.

Enjoy!

Smell... and Taste

Last Friday I had sinus surgery that was MUCH needed.  Without going into the yucky detail, basically I'm unable to taste or smell pretty much all of the time because of little polyp invaders that choose to live in my sinuses.  Luckily for me, I had them all removed and am already feeling MUCH better.  Basically it's inspired me to eat a little bit of everything that I haven't been able to taste for way too long.  This made for a weekend of random yumminess.

Don't even get me started on what it's like to actually be able to smell my baby girl again.  I missed the smell of her clean hair and baby breath!  How about freshly "Drefted" baby clothes.  Such a delicious smell!

Anyways, lots of yummy recipes coming up this week.

The most delicious homemade chicken noodle soup - with big fat noodles!  Recipe this week.

Snuggles with baby breath.

Presley's new friend Peanut.

Squish face.

What? Don't you watch Mickey like this too?

Baking team!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies for the hunters.  Recipe Tuesday!

Happy Monday!

Birthday Wish

Once again, I was spoiled this year on my Birthday.  My Grandma spent 7 hours in the car on Saturday just so she could take me to lunch.  They whole fam bam got together for dinner and to top it all off my most favorite babysitter as a kid was there with her little family which made everything a little extra special (She lives in CA and I haven't seen her since my sweet hoosband flew her up to surprise me at our wedding).  Now her 7 year old daughter has become the greatest thing ever in Presley's eyes.  Kind of a full circle moment there.

Obviously I can't tell you my wish :)

The Sweetest Thing

A few days ago Mooma took the babe on a short walk to the mailbox.  My little sweetie pie picked this amazing flower (yeah, I know it's a dandelion) just for her Momma.  She ran over and handed it to me with a big smile then clapped for herself.  She is her biggest cheerleader lately clapping for everything she does.  It's pretty darn cute.  This sappy Momma is keeping the flower forever.

p.s. it's my BIRTHDAY today.  I think 29 is the new 20.  Right?

16 Months

Happy 16 Months Miss Presley!

Here we are with our not so baby girl another month older.  I know I say it every time, but she's really at such a fun stage right now.  A little bit of an attitude is still here (and probably here to stay) although she seems to get over her 'tude pretty quickly and replaces it with a grin.  Her favorite toons are still Mickey and Doc McStuffin.  She loves to have breakfast in our bed, which leads to us finding Kix stuck to us daily.  I have to say, the little white chihuahua is really slacking on clean up crew duties in the morning.  The little lady is very into sharing right now, one Kix for her, one for the dog.  One cookie for her, a couple for the dog.  One goldfish for her, a handful chucked all over the floor for the dog.  If the tiny little pooch manages to not become severely obese it will be a miracle.  Speaking of the little white chihuahua- he's still not sure what to think of the babe.  Presley, however, has already decided that they need to be best friends.  We'll see how that goes.

She's loving milk in a major way, tomatoes, cucumbers, mac and cheese, pizza, yogurt, chocolate pudding and chicken are some of her current favorites.  Last night she said "bath" for the first time.  We're really noticing lots and lots of jibber jabber turning into something a little closer to the English language.  She entertains everyone in Starbucks each morning when we stop for our morning pick me up.  She goes straight to the refrigerator case and smiles and talks to the moo cow on the milk cartons.  She's running everywhere, not walking, running.  The days of getting her dressed in snap are over.  Now it's a process of chasing her around trying to get each piece of clothing on while dealing with a greased pig.  Her most favorite thing to do is move ALL of her toys from one area and neatly stack them in another, and repeat.  She also wants to "go" everywhere, which means grabbing your hand and leading you wherever she pleases.

The best part about month 16 has been her big hard hugs and sweet smooches.  Once you get her started smooching she's ready to give one to every person in the room.

We love, love love ya Sweet P!

Also a Happy Birthday to my friend Steph!!! She's a whopping 348 months old today!   Aren't you glad we stop talking about our ages in months as toddlers :)  I hope you have a perfect birthday and that new husband of yours spoils you!

We'll forever be 14 year old girls wearing sweater vests and having fabulous photo shoots!

Pumpkin Baby

{2011}

I miss having a bambino small enough to stick in a pumpkin.  Poor kid!

We'll see what we come up with this year...

{Yes, she found another tomato to snack on}