A quiet morning moment...

I heard a scream this morning coming from the nursery, a scared little boy crying, "Mama!"  My first thought when he wakes up in the middle of the night is, "Please go back to sleep while mommy is still sleepy enough to also go back to sleep!"  As I picked him up and wiped away the alligator tears, I took a deep whiff of that oh-so-good sleepy baby smell.  I'm not sure what woke him up or why he was so upset, but mommy was here to make it better.  That is one of the best things about motherhood, is that no matter the problem or boo boo, mommy always makes it better.  That's why waking up while it is still dark, which AJ and I do not do, is OK once in awhile.  At first I thought it was 7ish, and I resigned myself to being awake for the day.  We snuggled into the rocking chair to cuddle for a bit, with the hope that he would fall back asleep, and therefor mommy could go back to bed also.  He sighed and nuzzled into my shoulder, with that entire-body relaxing limpness that babies do.  I knew it would take a while for him to be asleep enough for me to put him down.  I settled in and listened to Kanye West Rock-a-Bye baby, my mind starting to work for the day.

I was actually kind of grateful that he needed his mommy this morning for  a few reasons.  1.  He has been super active and independent lately, so the only wants snuggles if he's sick or sleeping. 2. He stopped nursing 2 weeks ago, and it has been kinda hard for me.  We don't have that special bond thats just between us.  I feel like I can't do anything different than anyone else can now, and I actually cried when I realized that I had nursed him for the last time. So it was nice to just sit in the dark quiet and reflect on my little baby, who is growing up so fast.  Well, I kinda thought that it was still pretty dark out for being 7ish, then I realized that it was actually 6, because we still haven't changed his clock back from daylight savings.  I was pretty happy about a potential hour more of sleep.

 He was out by then, so we just went and climbed back into my bed.  He doesn't sleep with us very often, I don't really believe in co-sleeping, but once in awhile we make an exception.  I do not actually sleep very well with him in bed with us, I just worry about him falling off, or something, so it's not very restful for me.  He was asleep on my arm, so I just laid there in wonder of his sweetness.  We dozed for a bit until he suddenly sat up, smacked Dave on the face and said, "Dada!"  I guess it was time to be up.  :)  I am currently a little jealous of AJ, who went to bed at 7:30, and I wish I could have as well, but I'll head there soon, as I'm sure he'll be up early again tomorrow.  Hopefully it'll be his normal happy chatter and smile that I wake up to.  I prefer that to crying babies.

Baby banana pancakes

 I love pancakes and eat them quite often for breakfast, (or when having a sweets craving), and I thought they would be great for AJ to eat because of their soft consistency.  I was a little concerned though, because there is really nothing nutritious about regular pancakes, so with some searching, and creativity on my part, I put together this recipe, and it has gone over like gangbusters!  This is a doubled recipe, because I make it in a big batch and freeze them.

2 Cups Wheat flour
2 Tbsp Stevia
4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 eggs, slightly beaten OR

1 egg, slightly beaten and
1 Tbsp flax seed meal mixed with 3 Tbsp water*

2 cup milk
2 mashed bananas
1/2 cup plus 1/8 cup applesauce

You could also add cinnamon, nutmeg, or whatever spices you think your baby would like, or also berries would be very yummy.  Nuts would make a great addition for older children, but I wouldn't recommend them for children under 1.

Mix all ingredients together, if it still seems a bit thick, add a little more milk.
Cook on a griddle set at 300 for about 2 minutes on each side.  I sprayed mine with Pam, and poured the pancakes with an 1/8 cup, so they turned out to be just a few inches around.  I could make about 14 at a time on my electric griddle. Once cooked and cooled, they freeze fantastically, and now I just grab a couple out and microwave for 30 seconds and breakfast is served.  AJ loves them plain, no butter or syrup of any kind.

*I use Bob's Red Mill Flax Seed Meal.  I get it at King Soopers. When mixed like this you can substitute it for an egg in almost any recipe.  I put it in my banana bread and cookies, and you can't even tell.  Flax seed is a great source of fiber, omega-3's, and vitamin E, among other things so it's nice to sneak it in where I can.

Let's give thanks...2012

As the new year yawns and opens it's sleepy eyes, ready to start fresh, I am looking back at 2012 to give thanks, and forward with excitement.  There are so many great things that happened in 2012, so many wonderful memories made, so many things to thank God for.  There have of course been hiccups and worries, but I like to focus on the positive. Let's start with the biggest and best thing that happened last year.

Giving birth to the most amazing beautiful little boy that was ever created!  I have always felt like I was put on this earth to be a mother and it finally came true for us.  I was built to make and have babies, and if they were all as easy as AJ then I would have a million more.  His first 9 months were crazy amazing, and I can't wait for hundreds more!

Our first year of marriage.  Dave and I are actually approaching our 7 year anniversary of having met, but September 10th was our 1st anniversary of marriage.  I hope that every one of the next 50 years with him is as great as our 1st one was.  He is my best friend, and it gets more and more creepy every time we realize that we are slowly melding into the same person.  Not really, but we are very similar.  We have gotten really good at compromising when needed, and respecting each other enough to let one another grow.  I am amazed every day that someone could love me as much as he does, I have a hard enough time loving myself that much.  He is such an amazing father and smart guy, I am so lucky!

Our growing friendship with the Oakes.  Colleen and I have been friends for a little over 2 years now, but I seriously feel like I have known her for my whole life.  You know when you meet someone as an adult and you wish that you have met as kids?  That's us.  Colleen and I always have such great conversations, I feel like we can talk about anything and everything, and we do.  It's an easy friendship where you don't have to try anymore and your closets are a little mixed together :)  Dave has become good friends with Ryan as well, they have a guys game night every other Friday night, which is good for Dave, he needs more guy time.  Ryan thinks Dave is hilarious, which is good for his ego. We shared with them some of our favorite things, like Rockies baseball.  They shared some of theirs with us, like Battlestar Gallactica.   They are AJ's Godparents, because we know and trust that they will guide him should anything happen to us.  I am so thankful for their friendship.

And of course, I am thankful for my parents.  They are so amazing and supportive and giving!  Living so close to them has been such a blessing to us and to AJ.  He is the first of many grandchildren for them I'm sure, and they could not love him  more.  They are so good to him and to us.

A few things that I am looking forward to in 2013.

Taking AJ to meet my Grandma in Nevada.  We are planning our first family trip for possibly March, and I am really looking forward to AJ meeting Dodo, his first vacation and airplane trip.  Dave and I love Vegas, (not for gambling, we just do) and it's about time for a little getaway.

I'm praying for a new job opportunity for Dave.  He is a very hard worker, and so smart and driven, so he needs a job that will push him to be better, instead of the mindless crap he does now.

We are planning on more family, waiting with open arms for God to decide that it's time for our next little one.  AJ needs a sibling, so he doesn't get too spoiled, and we're praying for maybe a cousin too.

I pray for health and happiness for all of my friends and family, be good to one another and love each other as God commanded.  I hope each of your lives will be as filled with love as mine is.