I LOVE Being a Mom but...

Sometimes it's exhausting.

Sometimes I miss my freedom.

Sometimes I feel guilty for wanting a break and for missing my freedom.

I went to lunch and shopping with an old friend yesterday. Seeing her made me think of my life before babies, and I really missed it. I missed going where I want, when I want, and it not taking 15 minutes to get in or out of the car. I missed sitting and chatting at lunch without having to keep a baby and toddler happy. I miss going out drinking and dancing and just being crazy.

I love how my life is now, I love my babies more than anything. I think I am just a little burnt out.

MA-MA!

Addison has started to say Mama!!! I'm so excited, not because I think she is saying Mama because she loves me so, but because she is making a new noise. Although to be completely honest, I am happy she chose to say Mama first instead of Dada (like Aubrey). Greg bragged forever about how Aubrey only said Dada. So yep, I think I have bragging rights now!

So the reason I am so excited she is making a new noise is because she isn't super vocal and I was starting to worry that it was because of her soft cleft issue. She has an appointment at the ENT in January, I was planning on asking him if it might cause speech issues. I still might ask, but I am definitely not close to as stressed about it as I was.

I of course didn't catch her saying Mama, but here's some babble for you!

So since I am already going on about Addison, might as well update on everything else she is doing! Addi is almost a unassisted sitter. She can sit for extended period with no help, but as soon as she gets excited about something she forgets she is sitting and either falls over or lunges towards the thing she is excited about. Like right now, she was sitting and got excited about a present that is sitting under the Christmas tree, so she lunged for it and is now trying to open it. It's keeping her really occupied and happy, so I think I'll just let her open it, she is just too sweet to say no to! 

Addi is trying so hard to get around. She tries to crawl, but never seems to get her arms and legs to work together. She just ends up scooting backwards. She doesn't seem to mind though!

Let's see what else is little bit up to?? Oh yes, sleep! Addi can sleep like no other. She sleeps from 7:30 to 6:30-7:30 then eats and goes right back to sleep until anywhere from 8:30 to 10:00. Then she naps about 1-2 hours in the morning (depending on how late she sleeps) and about 2-3 hours in the afternoon. I sometimes worry when she sleeps "too" much. I check on her non-stop, since she loves to sleep on her belly. I really just want to flip her back over, but that might not go over too well.

Addi isn't much of an eater, she really refuses to eat baby food. The doctor suggested trying table food in tiny chunks. She gags every time. She seems to have no interest. I am about to give up. I might just feed her formula for the rest of her life...

Last Christmas...

I gave you my heart and the very next day... just kidding, couldn't help myself!

I thought it would be fun to compare some pictures from last Christmas to this years!

Last year, Aubrey wouldn't sit in Santa's lap she screamed but was fine sitting in mine! 

This year she wasn't fine in either. She loves Santa from afar but up close it's a no go.

Opening presents, with some help!

Opening them this year all by herself, what a big girl! 

Not quite walking around yet!

Walking and running everywhere! 

Last year, hanging by the tree with Daddy!

This year, hanging by the tree with Daddy, but hmm what's different??

Last year, hanging by the tree with Mama! 

This year hanging by the tree with Mama, again something seems different!

 Standing up leaning on presents for support!

Standing up decorating the tree, and then dancing around it!

OH YES, and the biggest change of all! Our newest little gift! She was just itty bitty in my belly (well not necessarily IN my belly, but you get my point) and now she is itty bitty (not quite as itty bitty as she was last year) in my arms!! 

Penne a la Betsy Review!

I went into this meal so skeptical. It got such great comments about how amazing it was, but I have tried other recipes that had similar reviews. This is a VERY simple recipe, so really how yummy could it be?

OH- MYYY- GOSHHHHH was I wrong!

This to me is the most amazing meal I have ever made with my own two hands. I don't think I ever need to go to another Italian restaurant again (if you know me well, you know I am CRAZY about Italian restaurants). Seriously though, I might be making this meal once a week!

So here is how easy it is!

 Cook the shrimp for a few minutes in 1tbsp butter and 1tbsp olive oil. I cooked them on medium heat.  Then when done put them on a plate and cut into chunks. 

Cook penne pasta until al dente. (I did this while the girls napped and just put in the fridge, to try to save time). 

 Then in a large skillet heat up 2tbsp butter, 2 tbsp olive oil, and garlic. I used 1.5 tsps of jarred minced garlic (I'm not fancy enough to cut up cloves of garlic).

Then add in one small diced onion. Since onion's hurt my eyes too much to cut, and really I find it to be a pain, I bought the pre-cut, so much easier! Cook for a couple minutes! Then add in a 1/2 cup of white wine! Cook for another couple of minutes.

Then add in 8oz. canned tomato sauce, then 1 cup heavy whipping cream. 

Cut up italian parsley and basil (1 tbsp each) and add in! (I also cut these during the girls nap to help speed things up!) I did a little less parsley then it called for, mostly because I wasn't sure I would like it. 

Add it in! 

That's it!! Simple, right??

So the only thing I might try next time is to add some fresh chopped tomato! I just love a little chunk! I think I would add them in when I put the tomato sauce in. I don't want them to be too cooked or mushy. 

I still can't even believe how yummy this meal was and the nice part is it makes a ton! So I have enough for another whole meal's worth!! Can't get much better than that! 

Here is the link again to the actual recipe: http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2007/09/cooking_with_my_punk-ass_little_sister_penne_a_la_betsy/ (she says you can make it with chicken instead, or veggies, or on its own!)

So easy, and SO yummy!!

Penne a la Betsy...

You know how I mentioned I am not the best baker, well I have comparable cooking skills. Well maybe I just lack the patience or the time to be fancy. So when I am on the hunt for new recipes, I look for simple ones that don't have an extensive list of ingredients. I stumbled across this one on pinterest (http://pinterest.com/mel_lyn_17/yummy/) and could NOT wait to try it. I found it over a week ago and put everything on my grocery list, then of course lost it. Then added everything into my phone, went grocery shopping with my two babies on my own (craziness)...

and forgot to get the canned tomato sauce and the heavy whipping cream. I was off to a great start.

So here I am over a week later, I finally got my-hot-mess-of-a-self  together and am just now trying it out for dinner tonight! Check back and see how it goes!

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2007/09/cooking_with_my_punk-ass_little_sister_penne_a_la_betsy/

Christmas #1!

I know you all have been dying to know how our first Christmas celebration went! Well don't worry the wait is over...

Friday was a bit of a rough day. The girls were in rare form. They both decided to whine and cry all day (I think being sick played a big part in that), Addi had a HUGE blow out diaper (all up her leg and she kept grabbing it) and my phone died for two hours (thought for sure I was going to have to buy a new one), the girls only napped for an hour and a half compared to their usual three hour naps. When Greg finally got home, I was more than ready for the weekend to begin. Ryan arrived shortly after we rushed off to meet up with everyone for dinner!

 Waiting for Dada to get home...

...don't let these smiles fool you, they really were crying most the day. 

Saturday, Aubrey still had a fever, but you never would of know it. We met up for a breakfast feast. Aubrey seriously ate her weight in fruit and yogurt. It was delicious! We headed back to the house afterwards and I prepared the yummy cookie dough cupcakes! Not too long after that Mary and Rusty arrived, followed by Corine, Ethan, and Emma. Then the craziness began! 

They brought tons of gifts! 

 Addison opening her first gift ever!! She was so into it, I was shocked! 

Aubrey got a Cabbage Patch Kid that says her "ABC's"! She loves this doll, she takes it everywhere with her! She puts diapers on her, and pretends to put diaper cream, and feeds her snacks to her, it is the most adorable thing ever! At this very moment she just put a diaper on her and is now pushing her around in her fancy stroller! We will have to name her soon! 

 Look how excited she was when so got her! 

 Addi was working really hard! 

 She got a piece! 

 The fancy doll stroller I referred to above!

 Standing in the midst of craziness! 

 Opening presents like a pro!

 Yay she got it!

Relaxing while the kids went nuts!

Shortly after we headed to an early dinner at Stonewood, which is one of my favorite places to eat. It was a lot of fun chatting and eating. Aubrey loved it too, mostly because Grandpa helped her bounce in the booth!

Then we went back to the house to chat for a bit before Mary and Rusty had to head back to their hotel for an early night, they had to head out at 5:30 the following morning.

It was such great fun seeing Mary and Rusty. I was sad to see them go. I am hoping we can get up to Maryland soon to visit. Maybe once it warms up a bit!

All in all it was a fabulous weekend, even with the babies being a bit under the weather! I just loved seeing them opening their gifts, it really makes Christmas time so special when you get to see it through your children's eyes!

The Results/ Review (Cookie Dough Cupcakes)...

So we had a surprise visitor tonight, so I pushed making my cupcakes up so he could try them too!

Big mistake.

Saying I am a beginner at baking is probably a bit of an understatement, I bake most things from a box and have never made homemade frosting on my own before. I have made it with my Mom a few times but mostly with my Dad when we use to make carrot cake together (my fav)!

So making all three of these steps separately wasn't going to happen.

So here is how it went:

First I got out my pre-made cookie dough...

Then rolled them in small balls and put them in the freezer...

I mixed up the cake batter, it seemed much thinner than the nice thick cupcake batter the original poster used...

Dropped the frozen cookie balls on top...

Baked at 350 for 16 Minutes...

Mixed up the frosting and frosted one (I am not going to frost the others until the day of)...

So my BIG mistake I mentioned earlier was making them too soon. The frozen cookie ball was not "frozen" enough (I had them in for 6 hours, should of done more like 12). So instead of cookie dough inside, I ended up with more of a under cooked cookie. (Sorry the picture is awful, the cupcake was still warm because I wanted to try one asap!!)

Here is a close up of the frosting (no flash to try to get a more accurate color). Looks like cookie dough doesn't it!! YUM!

Needless to say they were DELICIOUS. Yes, even with my mistake they were still yummy. I promise I will do better for Aubrey's Birthday! I am glad I did a trial run, now I can figure out how to do it better! I definitely recommend making these, if you are more advanced go for the original recipes. Either way I think they will be AMAZING, because how could cupcakes and cookie dough ever be bad!! 

Oh and here is the link one more time to the original recipes! http://www.kevinandamanda.com/whatsnew/new-recipes/chocolate-chip-cookie-dough-cupcakes.html

UPDATE: Great news!! They are filled with cookie dough, not cookies! This morning I wanted to see how they were cold, since I was impatient and ate one warm! Well I think I thought it was cooked because of the melted chocolate chips. Well I am happy to say that is not the case! I just had one and it was delicious! Yes, yes, I know cupcakes for breakfast probably not the smartest choice, but I had to do it for the purpose of my blog. :) That's my story and I'm sticking to it!!