Hiking at Bull Creek

Belated birthday party pictures

Fishing with Granddaddy!

Exploring at the children's museum, again

We visited the Children's Museum again this week. Right now the main exhibit is "The Notion of Motion," so there were lots of new and interesting things to try out!

Birthday girl!!

Yesterday was my sweet baby girl's 2nd birthday! She was born on a sunny Friday afternoon. I woke up that morning pretty sure that it would be The Day. Oliver and I were supposed to attend a friend's birthday party in a nearby town (about 30 minutes away) at lunchtime, but I canceled because I just had a feeling.

I took Oliver out for a quick 3 mile run in the stroller mid-morning, then we stopped at the playground to play. Then all of a sudden, I knew that we needed to head home NOW. The 1/2 mile walk took for.ev.er. because I had to stop frequently to breathe through the increasing pain. My water hadn't broken yet though, so I put off calling my doctor's office until I was sure that this was IT. I did, however, call my hubby and ask tell him to PLEASE, PLEASE COME HOME WHY AREN'T YOU HERE YET, GET IN YOUR CAR NOW!!

I got Oliver's lunch ready, but couldn't eat anything myself. I got him down for a nap early since the pain was getting a lot worse and I didn't want to scare him. Even reading a short story was difficult since I had to stop every few minutes to breathe!! Finally, he was in bed, and finally, Dennis came home. I called the doctor, and was told to go straight to the hospital. After a sitter arrived to stay with Oliver, we left.

At the hospital, the triage nurse checked me to see how things were progressing. My water still hadn't broken, but the pain was increasing so quickly that the nurse decided to let me walk the halls for an hour and get re-checked again, rather than sending me straight home. Let's just say that was a smart move. ;-)

Three hours later, I was in a L&D room, but my water still hadn't broken. My doctor arrived about that time, and made the decision to break my water. The good part was that Buttercup was born about 45 minutes later. The very, very bad part was that for those 45 minutes, I was forbidden to get out of the bed. OUCH, OUCH, OUCH. I'd much rather stick flaming toothpicks into my eyeballs, than be stuck in a bed with that much pain and not be able to move around.

But then, suddenly, sooner than anyone (including me!!) expected, there she was. All pinkish red, screaming, with a head full of black hair standing straight up on her head. My first thought was disbelief that I was holding her so soon. I almost couldn't believe that she was mine. I stared at her sweet face while she wailed and floundered in my arms, and I wanted to laugh, sing, cry, jump, yell. I had mistakenly thought that holding my brand new baby wouldn't be as thrilling as the first time, since I'd already been through the experience with Oliver. But I was wrong. So wrong. She smelled so good, was so warm, fit so perfectly in the crook of my arm, and nuzzled her face so sweetly into my neck, that I immediately wanted to do this again, have a million of these sweet babies to love and hold and protect.

Buttercuppie, you have taught me so much in these two short years, and I can't wait to see what happens in the future as you continue to grow and learn. There is never a dull moment when you are around, and I just love spending my days with you. Without knowing I was missing anything, you have made my life so much more complete, have filled our family with such a light. I am so thankful that God chose me to be your mommy! I love you, my sweet baby girl! Happy birthday!!!

Soccer practice

The best banana bread ever!

This is my recipe for banana bread. I've revised it countless times over the past three years, and finally have the spices and texture just the way I like them. I've reduced the amount of sugar in the recipe, but also increased the fat content. I figure, if you're going to eat banana bread, it should at least taste good, right? :-)

(You can make a healthier version by substituting applesauce and/or plum puree [baby food] for the sugar and oil, and by using a low fat yogurt instead of whole milk yogurt. But it won't be as tasty and delicious!)

Maria's Super Fantastic Banana Bread
1 cup all-purpose flour
2/3 cup whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3 1/2 bananas, very ripe, mashed
1/2 cup whole milk yogurt (vanilla and maple flavors taste the best)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips or 1/4 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 350. Combine dry ingredients. Make a well in the center, and add eggs, oil, mashed bananas, yogurt, and vanilla. Mix well, and pour into a buttered 9"x4" loaf pan. Sprinkle chocolate chips or nuts on top (if desired). Bake for 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Makes 12 servings.