New Vlog from Parker

Hey all!! We recently found out that Parker loves playing in his jumperoo at day care so we decided to put him in the one we have here at home. To say he loves it is an understatement! Here is a little clip of him playing in it today.




Hope you all are having a great weekend!

Laura

Recipe time!!! Toffee Chocolate Chip Cookies

I was online looking for a good cookie recipe and this seemed to fit the bill. I modified the original recipe a little bit and it resulted in a chewy yet crispy cookie that is just perfect!!!

Here is your cast of characters, ultimately I did end up using 1/2 cup butter and 1/2 cup shortening :

Toffee Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 cup butter, softened (or you can use 1/2 C butter and 1/2 C shortening)
1/4 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 (8 ounce) package heath bar chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Mix sugars, margarine and shortening until light and fluffy.


Mix in egg and vanilla. Stir in flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Stir in chocolate chips and heath bar chips.

Drop dough by rounded teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheet. Make 9-10 minutes until lightly brown.

These are some of the best cookies I've ever tasted. I hope that you make them soon and enjoy them with an ice cold glass of milk!

Laura

Dear Parker - Month 3

Dear Parker,

This last month has been filled with great changes! You now enjoy spending time on your belly and can push up on your arms and look around some. Your movements are so much more intentional now and not as jerky as they had been. You've discovered your hands and love to chew on your fists. You probably chew on your fists a lot because you're cutting two teeth!!! Mommy couldn't believe it when she first felt them, but sure enough - there they were! Grandma asked if it was normal to cut them so early and I told her that whether it was normal or not, they were coming in! ha! Parker, you now look at Mommy so focused and intent - we laugh together now and you smile when Mommy blows raspberries on your belly. You wake up so happy and talkative. You usually spending 10 minutes stretching out on your changing pad in the morning - stretching and talking to us.

We have spent lots of time with family over the last month - we spent two different weeks with Grandma and Grandpa in Tennessee. They enjoy spending time with you so much. We also made lots of trips to see Nana and Pop and they love seeing you grow and change.

We took you to a pumpkin patch on your three month birthday and took some pictures of you with the pumpkins. Unfortunately you're not sitting up so well yet and they looked kinda funny. But we had several other pictures that looked great and we'll cherish them always.

You are Mommy's sweet boy and I love you so much. Everyday you do something that amazes me and makes me so proud to be your Mommy. Just don't grow so fast!! :-)

Love you always!

Mommy

The best moment of being a Mommy....so far!

The last three months have been filled with momentous times in my life. So many firsts that I cannot count them all. However, yesterday there was a moment that caused me to stop in my tracks. Caused me to lose my breath. Caused me to cry. Caused me to completely understand why I became a Mother.

I was rocking Parker to sleep in his nursery yesterday afternoon. I had neglected to turn on his lullabies so I started humming a lullaby - only it was more like a La La La lullaby. Anyway, La is one of the sounds he makes a lot these days. He stopped sucking on the paci, looked up at me, grinned so hugely and said "LA!" I couldn't catch my breath. He recognized the sound and spontaneously interacted with me! It was a huge first in his development and a huge step in our bonding. For the first time I really understood that he knows me, knows my voice, and remembers our interactions.

I go back to work in two weeks and I really wish I had another 12 weeks off with him. Honestly, I wish I could have gone back to work and worked for the first 10 weeks and then started my leave - he's reaching such a cute stage that I'm relishing every moment with him!

Also, here are a few new pictures of the precious puddin' cup!

This motherhood thing is pretty darned awesome!

:0)

L.