Date Night!

Last weekend Violet stayed overnight at her grandparents' house for the second time ever! That means Matt and I got to eat dinner alone and go out with friends! We met up with Jamie and Julia at Central Market where they had a live band and patio furniture set up. Then we headed downtown for some drinks. We had a good time. I'm so tired now and I'm glad we have no busy plans for this coming week.

xoxo, Jill

Cakes.

I made 2 cakes over this past weekend. (Now I have to run at least 10 miles this week!) The chocolate pecan cake was a sheet cake recipe from thepioneerwoman.com. Her site is linked on my page. That was for my dads' birthday. For the most part, everyone liked it. It was extremely sweet (there was a pound of powdered sugar just in the frosting)! The second cake was a sour cream coffee cake from allrecipes.com. Here's the link-

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Sour-Cream-Coffee-Cake-III/Detail.aspx

This one didn't turn out right. The brown sugar-cinnamon crumbly topping didn't turn out crumbly, it sunk right into the cake. You couldn't even see it. So, I made a sugar-butter glaze to pour on top. Matt and I just tried it. He said it taste like a cinnamon roll. It kinda looks like a cinnamon roll too. Good Night everyone and Cakey Cakey!! (Mandy knows what I'm talking about).

Happy Birthday Dad!

Happy Birthday!

This is Dad last year on his birthday. Then he's with my baby last year right after she was born. The bottom picture is my mom with my dad. (cute couple huh?)

Things About My Dad

1. He turned 50 last year.
2. He has 5 siblings (so does my mom).
3. My mom and him take ballroom dance classes.
4. He coached a lot of my basketball/softball teams as a kid.
5. He holds a track record at Mansfield High School.
6. He's a very good cook!
7. He used to be a professional carpenter.
8. A Good Guy.
9. A Good Dad.
10. A Great Grandpa!
    
    
    

What would I do without them?

These two are pretty cute!

My Dinner

You may or may not know this about me but I LOVE Pot Roast! But only if my mom or dad cook it. Usually it's my dad that cooks it and I always eat at least 2 helpings of it. I tried to make it Valentine's Day 07 and the meat was tough. (Matt ate it anyways). Today I made it and it was a SUCCESS! My little girl seemed to enjoy it too! Picture Note- 1. Yes, I usually strip her down before she eats. 2. I don't know how she got that adult person fork in her hand, she's quick! Here's the recipe I used-

Marie's Easy Slow Cooker Pot Roast
Submitted by: Marie ThomasRated: 5 out of 5 by 603 members
Prep Time: 20 MinutesCook Time: 9 Hours
Ready In: 9 Hours 20 MinutesYields: 8 servings
"Browned chuck roast is slow cooked for 8 to 10 hours along with potatoes, carrots, onion, celery, and dehydrated onion soup mix."
INGREDIENTS:
4 pounds chuck roast
salt and pepper to taste
1 packet dry onion soup mix
1 cup water
3 carrots, chopped
1 onion, chopped
3 potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 stalk celery, chopped
DIRECTIONS:
1.
Take the chuck roast and season with salt and pepper to taste. Brown on all sides in a large skillet over high heat.
2.
Place in the slow cooker and add the soup mix, water, carrots, onion, potatoes and celery.
3.
Cover and cook on low setting for 8 to 10 hours.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2008 Allrecipes.com
Printed from Allrecipes

(I added one can of cream of chicken soup during the last hour and a half of cooking to thicken the gravy or you could use flour mixed with some of the juice).

Daydreaming.

So many weddings lately! Guess, My friends and I are all at that age...I already have my wedding planned out and I don't even have a ring! A girl can dream, right?

(I love ENCHANTED)

It's Friday Night and I feel alright!

I'm about to...

1. Go with Kristen to the mall to try on a ring I have been eyeing.
2. Then go see the Kaleidoscope of Homes Tour.
3. Grab a bite to eat!
4. Come home and relax with my baby and Matthew!

I'm in a very good mood, must have been the 2 mile run I did today and the fact that Matt is watching Violet by himself tonight , Oh YA!

It's Official!

Violet is done nursing!

I sound really excited, huh? I have my body back and more free time! I actually loved breastfeeding. That's the most loving, motherly, and natural thing you can do for your baby. (IMHO) I have been weaning her since she turned one. It took a little over 2 months. The bedtime feedings were hard to let go. That used to be the ONLY way she would go to sleep. We also would cosleep. So, if anything startled her to wake up in the middle of the night, she would nurse again. Or if her teeth hurt, she would nurse. We were attatched! On the second night that she didn't need me to sleep. I cried those, "OMgosh, she's one" tears! I had been waiting for that day to come. On her birthday, I was fine. Then the day I realized we wouldn't have that official, quiet, cuddle time, I was a little sad. But now it's been a week and I realize that Violet still wants to be held and snuggled and even though she likes to be a big girl sometimes, she still likes being a baby too!

Congrats my little baby, To 410 days of breastfeeding! We surpassed the One Year Mark! Mamma Loves YOU!

Wean Me Gently

by Cathy Cardall



I know I look so big to you,

Maybe I seem too big for the needs I have.

But no matter how big we get,

We still have needs that are important to us.



I know that our relationship is growing and changing,

But I still need you. I need your warmth and

closeness,

Especially at the end of the day

When we snuggle up in bed.



Please don't get too busy for us to nurse.

I know you think I can be patient,

Or find something to take the place of a nursing;

A book, a glass of something,

But nothing can take your place when I need you.

Sometimes just cuddling with you,

Having you near me is enough.



I guess I am growing and becoming independent,

But please be there.

This bond we have is so strong and so important to me,

Please don't break it abruptly.



Wean me gently,

Because I am your mother,

And my heart is tender.

Hungry Girl Cupcakes

These are the easiest cupcakes you will ever make! And healthy too! Here's the recipe link-http://www.hungry-girl.com/week/weeklydetails.php?isid=614. My sis, Jordan has the Hungry Girl Cookbook and the book used brownie mix instead of cake mix. If you want them fudgey, use brownie mix. If you want them cakey, use cake mix. I added 5 semisweet chocolate chips to top off each cupcake for an estimated 11 calories. That makes them about 181 calories and 3.5 grams of fat for 1 regular sized cupcake. Still high on calories but pumpkin is so good for you!

I'm a proud Mamma because...

That's my VK!

1. Violet can say "Meow" and go find her kitty.
2. Violet can sway to music perfectly from side to side.
3. She can hear a car 3 blocks away and say "What's that?"
4. Violet can point her chubby, baby hands and say Na Na! (no no)
5. She shakes her hands and says "stink stink" when I change her diaper.
6. Violet gives us hugs and kisses!
7. Violet loves to go outside and explore.
8. She eats more cheese than anyone I know!
9. She pretends to blow her nose on toilet paper, lol!
10. Violet is back to her happy self after going through a tough month of cutting 4 molars, ouch!

11. The word that I'm MOST impressed with in her vocab. is...Aujus! haha, It seems to mean a lot of things. And she uses gestures with her hands when saying it. So, Aujus everyone!