The Bread Made My Heart Burn!

I accidentally stole a thing of strawberries from one of my girls yesterday and I was very excited about it when I started unloading the stroller and found them! I bought some strawberries when I last went shopping and froze some for Baby Girl's smoothies, sliced some for fruit salad, and saved a few whole ones for myself. They were so yummy; however, we've been strawberry-less for a few days now and so this morning was quite sweet because Baby Girl got to have some in her Malt-O-Meal (I can't stand this stuff!), I ate a few, and I decided to use the rest for Strawberry Yogurt Cake - which I made into a bread instead.

You can find the recipe here: A Spice Perspective.

The only thing I really did different was the baking temperature. I had mine at 350 degrees and baked it for about 60 minutes. I didn't use Greek yogurt either. I stopped buying it because it's twice the price of regular yogurt. We used just simple, plain yogurt. I also probably put a bit over a tablespoon of lemon juice as well because I love baked goods with an actual taste of lemon, not just a hint of it. There were also almost two cups worth of diced strawberries.

I didn't do the glaze either, mostly because I forgot to take those ingredients out of the cabinet. The bread was fine without it and definitely sweet enough and I have proof - I ate a piece and proceeded to have heartburn for the next six hours! If there is one pregnancy symptom that just kills me it's the heartburn whenever I eat anything sweet or any kind of carb. I guess this means I'm done with carbs for the next four months. I did try a home remedy and it appears to be working: toothpaste. You just stick a dab in your mouth, swish it around, and swallow. The last ten minutes have been fairly painless. I'm a believer!

This is why I can't stand the stuff! It's such a mess! Cute, yes, but still a mess.

Wordy Wednesday

I have the habit of coming across a word that I know, but don't really know. This means that I've basically have made up my own definition to fit the meaning of the sentence. Recently, I've been reading books on my Nexus and, at first, I was totally against e-reading. Reading is meant to be done with dusty, yellowing pages, not on an impassive screen.

I found e-reading's redeeming value!

I can highlight a word and the definition pops up! Easy access! Learning the actual definitions also bring a whole new - and proper - understanding. Although sometimes my definitions are a lot more interesting, but I'll go by what the dictionary says, I suppose.

Gimmie a Break

The last three weeks have been slowly draining the life out of me.

Okay, maybe it's not that dramatic, but it was definitely a test of my mothering skills, patience, and knowing that "this too shall pass". Pastor Husband was training for his new part-time job and the training used full-time hours. Some hours were a normal type of 8-5pm and then some were late into the night. Then there were even a couple of graveyard shifts! I am so thankful for his stamina, hard work, and his knowing that we will get through this and then things will settle.

Today was our first normal day, you could say. Though he did work a graveyard shift last night into this morning. Then the dogs got out so I had to wake him after a few hours. I knew though that I needed to get out of the house without another human being in the car, which included Baby Girl. Now, she has been wonderful. I'm surprised she didn't tell me that she was tired of my face or try to run away herself. We played a lot of "what does the (blank) say", visited thrift stores, went to dinner, ran around the house yelling (all for fun, not at each other), colored, sang songs, danced, and played with kitchenware. We explored every corner of the house.

I feel like an Oprah-show when I say that I needed some "me time". It's that whole hating to show vulnerability thing.

I decided to go get a haircut as Pastor Husband and Baby Girl were napping. I did and I asked for side-swept bangs and I got something between straight across, side-swept bangs. It's different and I just wanted her to stop cutting so I said it was great. I then went to the used bookstore and browsed. After being gone a couple of hours I thought for sure that both of my family members would be awake and entertaining each other. I stopped at Starbucks first for a treat and went home.

They were both still asleep! As I tried to settle down and read some, I heard Baby Girl talking to her crib friends. I got home just in time for her to wake up. The break was over.

Oh well, it was still a couple of good hours of just relaxing as hair stylist took over my hair and it was nice being able to look at almost every book on the shelves without having to constantly glance for the little person next to me. One day she'll enjoy doing this with me and will probably want to sit in the middle of the aisle reading something and I'll join her with my own pile of books. It'll be a lovely way to spend some time together.

Cute Baby Girl - Happy Birthday!

Baby Girl is 18 months - a year and a half - and I can't believe how fast it's all going already! She is or rather, we are, completely pacifier free! She still groans and complains, which turns into a conversation with something in her crib, and then finally sleeps. I guess instantaneous sleep isn't going to happen, but if it doesn't happen with me why should it happen with her.

It's just amazing to be able to watch her new tricks from day-to-day and it's so hard to believe that another one is on its way. I'm already at 21 weeks!

Our Baby Girl is is fabulous both with her laughter and her tantrums - timeouts for everyone! - , willful, and her own living creature. We ask ourselves many times, "do all babies do this?". She has finally made her way past the 20 pound mark and was called "short" by her doctor (thanks). We've added the sounds of a cow and a duck to her animal repertoire. I sing and we do the hand motions together for "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" at least one-million times a day. There are now five teeth in her grin. Not enough for a steak, but good enough to eat most of my breakfast burrito. Speaking of that, eating is still her favorite hobby.

She is a good baby and we love her so very much...Happy Birthday!!

Breakfast Burrito Steal-er

This morning when I asked her to show me her teeth.

After the Aquarium of the Pacific :)

At the Aquarium of the Pacific

The Pacifier Saga, Day 5

So far, the days have been going well...unless, the tantrum monster gets a hold of Baby Girl and then all is lost. Yesterday, was a good day minus the nap. It took her about 40-minutes to fall asleep. I'm not sure what she was doing in there, but it sounded like she was standing and then throwing herself down - she likes to do that - and then laughing, laughing, laughing. She fell asleep and then woke up a half hour later, crying. I think she slept about another hour before waking up crying again. Usually she wakes up talking to herself.

Baby Girl was good for the last half of the day, but I could tell she was tired after a restless nap. Right now, I put her down for a nap about 15-minutes ago and there has been some talking and some complaining. It's all quiet at the moment so hopefully this means sleep! Good, quiet, restful sleep!

Tonight = bedtime sans pacifier...

Wordy Wednesday: The Pacifier Saga, Day 3

Today is the third day going without a pacifier. We started on Monday when we only used it at naptime and bedtime. It was a good day. Baby Girl was in a really fun and playful mood. Tuesday, Pastor Husband and I caved. We gave in about a half hour before lunch. She was fine after that and, again, only used it to sleep. Today we entered into day three...

Today was a success! Minus the complete meltdown this morning. Baby Girl actually did the same thing yesterday morning and Pastor Husband and I are completely baffled as to why this is happening. She's not crying for the pacifier, she's just crying. It's not teething and she isn't sick. The second her favorite cartoon came on she was fine and just sat with me. The poor thing didn't even make it through breakfast this morning.

However, today I will count as a success because we went the whole day without me giving in and plugging her up with a pacifier. Baby Girl even went through her entire afternoon nap without one! Tomorrow will be the same routine and then Friday - the big night! - we'll try to do bedtime pacifier free.

I'm not sure why I picked this week to start this, but I did and now I have to stay dedicated. I realized that the pacifier is really my bad habit, not Baby Girl's habit. She doesn't look for it, ask for it, and will only take it if she happens to see it. It's more our crutch than any thing else. It takes such discipline from yourself to raise a child! I knew this, but I'm really beginning to realize it as she gets older and learns new "tricks"!

Monday, Day 1 - Diaper Head