Happy Baby

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are gray
You'll never know dear, how much I love you
Please don't take my sunshine away.

Seasoned Potato Wedges

I always seem to have leftover potato's and threw together these wedges the other day which turned out delicious!

Here's what I did:
After peeling, patting dry and cutting into wedges, just use a bit of olive oil to soak them. Then I spread them out on the foil (on my baking sheet) and sprinkled onion and garlic powder as well as a bit of salt and pepper with a dash of parsley for flavor. Other ingredients you could try would include chili powder, cayenne pepper, or chives. At 375 you just bake for about 35-40 min total. I personally flipped and re-seasoned each piece around 20 min and cooked for another 20-25 since we like them tender. They were easy, fast and yummy!

Evening Playtime

As I read a post the other day about how the most important thing a child values is their parents' time, I smiled knowing that our evening routine is just that. Time for Drew to play and grow and learn and get loved on. Every evening after dinner, Derek and I make the trek upstairs to his room or downstairs to the basement. We switch up the play location so Drew doesn't get bored, but both areas are covered in toys. Clothed in sweats and 'comfy' outfits, Derek and I get down with Drew and play until he's tired. We let him choose his toys, have no TV on and enjoy every minute.

We didn't plan it this way and having the TV on never really even crossed our minds. We just naturally gravitated towards this as our evening routine as we love the smiles and joy on Drew's face when we're all 3 playing together. It's as if he knows that we're present and enjoying it just as much as him.

And yes, the girls are right there with us. They enjoy playtime with Drew as much as we do.

Giving Thanks

I have been inspired by some facebook updates and blog posts about giving thanks this time of year and I'd like to list what I'm most thankful for this time of year. While I could go on for hours, I've decided to keep my list to the top 28 items I'm most thankful for, starting with the most important first.

#1: Drew and Derek
There's so much to say about my sweet, baby boy. The little human being that we created and has stolen my heart has easily become the most important thing in my life for which I am most thankful. That is, of course, tied with Derek. Derek has been there for me through everything for almost a decade and I'm so lucky to have him. Although houses, jobs and situations will most likely change, I smile knowing that these two men will be with me through the journey of it all.

#2: Family
Without family, I would not be where I am today. Having the most supportive and involved parents raise me, shaped me into who I am. I'm so thankful for them as well as my brother whom I'm incredible lucky to be so close with. My 'newest' family gives me so many reasons to be thankful for as well. My wonderful in-laws are always there with a positive comment to make my day and I love Derek's two siblings just as they were my own.

#3: My Friends
Whether I see them once every couple years or I text with them daily, I thrive knowing that I have the best friends ever. True friendship should not take work. It should come naturally and make you comfortable and I love how I am when I'm with my true friends.

#4 Health
Knowing people with health issues and seeing others suffer make me so happy for my health. I'm thankful for the body god gave me and will continue to do what I can in order to preserve it forever.

#5: Armed Forces
I'm grateful for every single one of them and what they do to protect my freedom.

#6: Having all 5 Senses
I'm thankful that I can see the colors of life, taste the flavors of food, smell flowers, hear Drew's laugh and feel Derek's touch.

#7: Being American
With all of the horrible stories constantly in the news, I'm so thankful I'm an American.

#8: Our Careers
We are so lucky to both work for wonderful companies who provide us with wonderful benefits and security.

#9: My Pets
And not just my current two girls, but Tally, Sally, Sadie, Brandy and all that came before them. They unconditionally loved me and I'm so thankful for each of them to have been in my life.

#10: Technology
It has allowed me to re-connect, learn new things, pass time, workout better, see family in Kansas when I want and many more things.

#11: Sleep
I'm so blessed to have a little one that slept through the night early on and has been at 11-12 hours consistently from only a few months old. I can't function well with under 7 hours of sleep and am lucky to generally get 8+ every night.

#12: KU
For my wonderful, priceless education and so many great memories along the way that my parents provided me. I feel very lucky to have not had student loans. I'm also thankful for meeting my husband there and for the years to come we will have cheering on our alma mater with family.

#13: My Church
While we continue to watch online while we live up here, our pastor does a wonderful job of making us feel rejuvenated and re-sets our minds weekly with his sermons.

#14: The Sun
Nothing makes me feel more alive than the sun. Whether it's in the middle of winter, or in the heat of the summer, the sun puts me in the most mentally happy and serene place.

#15: Smiles
I'm thankful for random citizens who smile for no reason. I'm thankful for smiles when people see my adorable son. I'm thankful for the daily smiles from my munchkin as they brighten up my world.

#16: Encouraging & Supportive Words
Whether in the form of a text, a handwritten note, an email, or spoken, I'm thankful for people who share encouraging words. It makes me feel fuzzy inside.

#17: Daycare
I love being a working mom. Although I often (still) breakdown after dropping Drew off, I'm thankful for the time that I work knowing it makes me a better person and mother for him.

#18: Vacations
I have been to a lot of places with my family and Derek around the world and have learned and seen so much. The memories of those vacations will be around forever.

#19: Running
I'm thankful for my two working legs and what running has done for me both physically and mentally. I was so proud when I finished my first half marathon and didn't stop once. When the perfect song comes on during a sunny run, there is nothing that makes me feel more alive.

#20: Cleveland
Surprising, yes. But as I've mentioned before, the cost of living here is wonderful and we are thankful for having a beautiful house instead of a 400 square foot Manhattan apartment or a house in Alaska surrounded by snow 9 months out of the year.

#21: The Holidays
There's something magical about them and I'm thankful for getting to spend them all with family, whether immediate or extended.

#22: Our Possessions
Thankful for possessions? Yes. Derek and I have worked hard to provide a good life for Drew and our future children and I'm thankful for what we have been able to afford. I'm not speaking of silly possessions, I'm referring to a lawn mower, a dishwasher, a furnace and air conditioner.... many of which millions of Americans cannot afford. The basics.

#23: The Hard Times
Because they shaped how I think, act and am. They made me stronger and wiser and a better person.

#24: Photographs
Pictures capture the best of moments and I'm thankful for being able to relive those cherished moments whenever I can.

#25: Equality for Women
Having been raised by a strong, female personality and considering myself one now, I'm so thankful for the women who fought for equality throughout history. I'm grateful that I don't ever have to know what suppression of our sex feels like.

#26: Water
It's such a tiny thing that we often take for granted, but with how much I drink I'm so thankful for it. I'm thankful for the facilities and workers who ensure we have clean water to drink on a daily basis.

#27: Weekends
I live for the weekends and activities I get to do with my family.

#28: People who Adopt Animals
I'm thankful for them. All of them. I love animals so deeply and am thankful for those who chose to adopt a mut instead of add to the vicious cycle of puppy mill dogs.

Hopefully there is a lot to be thankful for in your lives as well!

Treadmill Running

I've finally made the full transition back to the gym treadmill for the winter. I will still try to squeeze in some pavement-pounding runs if there's a sunny day over 50 degrees, but I just don't prefer running in colder temperatures. My ears get achy with wind and cooler temperatures and all of the layers of clothing drag me down.

One advantage? There's less people to drive by and see me running as I'm sure it's not the hottest of sights once I hit about mile 3. This went around on facebook a while back and is just so true....

Happy Birthday Mom!

 

Happy Birthday

Mom!

Hope you have a great day!

xoxo,

Sarah (& family)

Crocker Park Holiday Lighting

On Saturday evening, the 3 of us ventured out to Crocker Park to watch the holiday lighting ceremony. All you Kansas Citians can just imagine the Plaza lighting ceremony and then think of about 1/6th of that size. It's not even near the splendor and visual amazement of the Plaza, but it's still fun and full of Christmas spirit.

When we first set up shop in our 'spot', Drew gave us the pouty lip for about 10 minutes. Once he realized mom and dad were having fun dancing and singing Christmas songs along with the band, the fear subsided and he was just peachy. We were also experienced with fireworks world after a successful 4th of July  so I knew this display wouldn't phase him either. Although it was past his bedtime and the stimulation around him was overwhelming, our little guy did great and even smiled a tad bit.

Sleeping Angel

Sharp Shooter

Ever since Derek learned his gun skills, he has wanted me to learn how to shoot. We decided that it was time seeing as how I've slowly become less freaked out by guns over the past 2 years. Although I'll hopefully never have to touch one again, I was very unsettled about going to the range last week. The entire 30 minute drive, Derek proudly taught me as much as he could on what he had been trained about guns to ease my mind. The proper hold, safety tips, strong grips, wide stance, etc, etc, etc. Upon arrival we were ushered to the 'private' side which wasn't being used at all and we had 4 stalls to ourself. This helped my comfort level as all 10 public stalls were occupied by shooters, including a few that were on the creepy-looking side. After more lessons from Derek, I declined to take the first shot. Looking like a pro, he stepped up first, aimed and fired.

And that's when I lost it.

I don't know if it was the fact that I'd never been near a loaded gun, let alone one firing. Or that there were about 20-25 people walking around the facility with loaded guns. Or maybe it was the gut wrenching thoughts swirling my head about the only reasons I'd ever have to even fire a gun. Whatever it was, all of my emotions balled up and I just had a deep cry for about 30 seconds. Derek stopped, turned around to console me, we chatted for a few minutes and then everything was ok. It was weird. I didn't even 'feel' emotional, it just came out once I felt the shot deep inside the core of my body. After Derek shot a few more rounds followed by a couple more words of wisdom, it was my turn. With my hands and body shaking, I tentatively took hold of the gun, planted my feet and raised my arms to fire. It seemed like I was pulling back on that trigger forever and then out of the blue it happened. I had been holding my breath so I gasped for air and carefully laid the gun down only to look up and see where I hit.

Bullseye.

The bullet hit the target with a bang exactly where I was aiming it. It was the most powerful feeling in the world that I was not prepared for. My grip must not have been tight enough, though, as the gun almost flew out of my hands after firing. I also did not have that 'excited' feeling that people get when shooting and I'm pretty sure every single muscle in my body was tensed. I had done it though... and did it good! Something I honestly had never thought I would ever do in my entire life and, quite frankly, had NO desire to ever do. But the fact that I hit the target perfectly encouraged just a small tinge of excitement to roll down my spine. I ended up shooting better than Derek and getting a 96/100** and boy did that make me feel good.

As I told Derek, it really brought me from a "5" to a "75" as far as comfort level with guns. Although I'm sure I'll never be "100" comfortable, it was an experience that was needed and I'm glad we did it.

(**Sidenote, it did take me about 15 minutes to get off those first 10 bullets when Derek shot all 10 in under 3 minutes).

10 Months old

Happy 10 Months Sweet Boy!

Stats:
- Weight: 23 lbs
- Height: 30 inches

Changes:
- Drew still wins the award for the best sleeper on a consistent 11-12 hour schedule. Daylight savings threw him off a bit for a while, but we're so thankful for how he sleeps. He also naps 1 to 2 times a day for anywhere from an hour to three hours still.
- Drew still sleeps on his back although sometimes we notice him falling asleep on his side.
- He is now saying Momma all the time and have said Dadda also along with a few other multiple syllable sounds/words. Drew has clapped a few times and pulls up on anything he can get his hands on.
- He is pretty much eating anything we eat now three times a day and still takes five 4-6 oz bottles a day which we are slowing tapering down. He has been a wonderful eater with a healthy appetite!
- Drew has been doing great with the sippy cup and enjoys drinking from it, but still finds it hard to tip it up enough to get the last sip.
- He is a full out crawler now and gets anywhere he wants to get. We can't take our eyes off of him for a minute!
- Drew goes straight for books these days and really loves to turn the pages. I'm scared he'll get a paper cut as he just goes crazy with the pages!
- He also has definitely shown his 'boy' side this month enjoying banging on anything he can. He loves to play the drums on his highchair, tables, toys, and anything else that makes noise!
- Drew is still loving swimming and really kicks like crazy in the water. kicking all the time. He doesn't cry at all when he gets dunked and isn't a baby about being splashed in the face.
- As far as clothes, he still can fit into some 12 month shirts, but generally we're in the 18m-24m range.
- Lastly, he still has 8 teeth with no signs of anymore coming through.

And of course some of the other poses:

Swimming

It's been a couple months since our swim lessons ended and we decided to take a family dunk this past Sunday! I wish I would have gotten some pictures about 5 minutes in as Drew was completely splashing and kicking all over with a huge grin on his face. The pictures below show his tentativeness right before entering the water including his nervous trait of clasping his hands. He gets so quiet and nervous and his sweet face is so aprehensive.

Within a few minutes of encouragement and being thrown into the air, he's having a blast. He was a little froggy kicking non stop towards his ducky and he has no problem being dunked two times. At the end he even sat with me in the shallow waters watching the older kids play for a bit before heading home. This little guy is going to be one serious fish, just like his mommy!

Cake in a Mug FAIL

A friend sent me this recipe for a tiny Cake in a Mug that you bake in your oven and I have been dying to try it! I was so excited for the perfect little one-serving portion of a chocolate cake that I could whip up in 5 minutes some drizzly, cold evening.

So earlier this week I decided to test it out. With thoughts of indulging in this throughout the winter from time to time, I measured out all ingredients and started the 3 minutes in the microwave. After letting it cool for a few minutes and salivating from how good it looked, I settled down on the couch and dug in.

YUCK.

It was simply disgusting. I'm not sure if it was the fact that I used diet hot chocolate mix that's extremely low in calories or some other reason but it just wasn't that good. It was very chewy and wasn't even that "chocolaty". Needless to say, I moped around after the results and ended up just drizzling some chocolate over banana pieces in order to get the fix that I had been craving.

Does anyone have any success with another single-serving cake in a mug type recipe? If so, I'd LOVE to have it!

One Fall Day

Surprisingly, it's been pretty warm temperatures up here hitting the low 60's the weekend and this upcoming week not looking too bad. We are trying to soak up being outdoors as much as we can and spent some time at a park soaking up sunshine and fall colors yesterday. There wasn't many other people there making it feel like we had the play set to ourselves. We made sure to wear out the slide, swings and jungle gym before heading home.

And this picture made my mother-bear protective feelings pour out from future thoughts of Drew climbing around by himself. I know children must fall so they can learn to get up but I am already trying to find companies that I can invest in who are creating protective bubbles for children to wear keeping them safe from any harm.

Can't you just see the "look what I can do" face here?

Menchie's Frozen Yogurt

Derek's parents sent Drew some 'treat' money for Halloween and told him to 'treat' us to Menchie's Frozen Yogurt. We LOVE Menchie's so this was perfect! Last night we decided to grab some fro-yo and below is the reaction we always get from Drew when he's offered a tiny taste. He has never had a fondness for frozen things in his mouth and makes the cutest faces when it first goes in. Once he realize how good it tastes though, his world turns better. This video is so cute because you can tell how much he wants to eat it, yet at the same time is so hesitant as he knows it's so cold!

Thanks Mimi and Grandpa for the yummy treat! Drew loved taste-testing, but loved his spoon even more!

Halloween at Crocker Park

I think Drew was in his Pooh costume at least 5 different days this October. Thank goodness it kept him warm and cozy and was comfortable or I'm sure we would have seen a few tantrums. This past weekend we ventured to Crocker Park for their Halloween festivities. It included a pet costume competition and trick or treating for the kids. Drew LOVED watching the pups all dressed up and we had a great time eating lunch at B Spot with some friends.

Ok, I think it's safe to say that I'm done with the Pooh pics. Sorry, but it was my baby's first Halloween and I get to take a lot of pictures!

More Halloween Pictures

Only because I like to think no one is tired of seeing Drew in a Pooh costume! I mean, how could you be?