Emily 9 months -December 2012

9 months old!

8 month - Emily

 

8 months - Cute as a bug!

Emily - 7 months old - 10-15-2012

My happy baby!

Hey Baby, can I borrow that dress, so cute!

Her little wave, but looks more like -power to the people!

Her 'power to the people' pose.

 

 

My sweet baby is 7 months!  The time is flying and I am loving every minute of this snuggly, sweet smelling, chubby, love bug.  Emily is about 17 lbs now, cutting her first bottom tooth (yikes for mama!)  Still not a huge fan of baby food, rice is ok.  She is almost sitting up all by herself, few moments than falling over.  She is not crawling on her knees, but pushing and army crawling all over the house.  She loves to laugh and smile.  She loves her Daddy's attention and loves to watch her brother and sister dance around to music (We host American Bandstand -Jaggi style at our home most nights).    We are working on the sleeping issue, we went from sleeping all night to now waking up  2-5 times a night.  We now think cutting that tooth as helped that issue. We will get some sleep one of these days, but now with my sweet baby so little, I am enjoying every snuggle moment from her.  I am so in love with her and I know the rest of the family feels the same, Happy 7th month Birthday, Emmi Em.

Banana Cake with Vanilla Bean Frosting -YUM-O!!

To Die For Banana Cake with Vanilla Bean Frosting

This was so good.  Telling you so good!  Go make this today-Vanilla bean paste is found at Williams Sonoma. Makes one 8x8-inch pan (double recipe for a 9x13 pan) (Recipe: ButterYum)

 

Cake:

2/3 cup sugar

1/2 cup sour cream

1 egg

2 tablespoons butter, softened

2 mashed super ripe bananas (about 3/4 cup)

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (I used the vanilla bean paste!)

1 cup flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

 

Frosting:

2 tablespoons butter, softened

1/4 cup heavy cream

1/2 teaspoon vanilla bean paste (or equal amount of pure vanilla extract)

1 1/4 cups confectioner's sugar

 

Frosting - I didn't have any heavy cream, but I had cool whip, so I mixed 1 container of cool whip with 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla bean paste and 1/2-3/4 cup of confectioner's sugar. It was so yummy!

 

To make cake (easily mixed by hand):

Preheat the oven to 375F (see note below). Cream together sugar, sour cream, egg, and 2 tablespoons softened butter. Add mashed bananas and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Add flour, salt, and baking soda; mix well. Pour into greased 8x8 pan. Bake at 375F for 20-25 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely before frosting.

 

To make frosting:

Cream butter and confectioner's sugar together until smooth. Slowly add the heavy cream; stir until smooth. Stir in the vanilla bean paste until fully incorporated. Spread on cooled cake.

 

Note - Bake at 350F if using a glass pan.
Recipe doubles well to fit in a 9x13 pan.

My 6 month baby

Oh my precious baby is 6 months already.  
She weighs about 15-16 lbs.  Rolls all over the place.  Loves toys.  Sucks her thumb and toes.  She smiles all day.  Sleeps all night.  She is such a joy - I wish I could freeze time and keep her this way. My Emily Alese you are such a special spirit - I LOVE YOU SO!! 

My school goers plus one cute baby.

Matthew, my sweet 1st grader. "Hey Matt, are you excited for school?" What do you think?!

 

"Are you going to miss your mommy, while you are at school?"  "I will miss you too buddy!"

 

Izzie after her first day of Pre-K (2nd year)

My beauty queen 

 

 

My baby doll who I get to dress up!  Emmi, so cute at 5 months.

Cottage Cheese Pancakes...yes you read that right!!

Yep, you read that right.  I saw this recipe in a book and was thinking...hmmmmm..good diet breakfast, lets try it out on the kids.  Guess what...... they loved them!  I thought they were darn good too and I even whipped them up and didn't let them rest.   I wonder what they taste like if I let them rest???  They take 5 minutes to mix together and 10 to cook.  To me that is amazingly fast - even on a school day.  Try them out!

Cottage Cheese Pancakes

2 cups cottage cheese

4 eggs

½ teaspoon salt

½ cup flour

***Update - Cook on greased skillet - it will help flip.  These do cook longer than 'normal pancakes' on each side.

Mix ingredients and let them rest for 1 hour to up to overnight.

Cook as you would a normal pancake.

Put real maple syrup, jam, fruit or honey on top.
Enjoy!