taking a little break.

here's the scoop.  it's still a good life, but man - is it ever a busy one.

my hat is off to those of you who can manage your job, life, babies, house...i am obviously still figuring things out.

to that end, i am going to take some time away from blogging to really make sure that our life is being lived - really lived. 

i am still a dedicated reader of your blogs, my friends.  and i do hope to return to this little space in the not-too-distant future {maybe with some improvements!}...so it's not goodbye, but just a 'see ya soon'.

so, we'll see ya soon!

fathers day.

i don't know about you, but i'm one of those people who loves celebrating occasions by doing as opposed to giving.  i still love to find that perfect gift, but i love even more spending time with the person or people who make that day special.

for jordan's first fathers day, we took him to a local brewery for the afternoon.  and, as a bonus, we invited the grandparents - it was grandfathers day too, after all.

juliet had a blast hanging with some of her favorite people.  and jordan and i enjoyed some beers while the grandmas passed around the bebe.  win:win.

how do you like to celebrate?  any fun fathers day ideas for years to come?

all of the dads!

the stars of the show

i love this girl.

just do it.

a few weeks ago, my sister heidi ran her cute little tush off in the nike women's half marathon in dc...i am still in awe.  that is some serious running! 

as a surprise, my mom arranged so juliet and i could be there to cheer her on.  we had so much fun!

i've always loved dc - we have a handful of friends there, so we're up at least once a year - there is so much to do, and the food...dc has some great food!  this time we took it easy and ordered in thai food...have you tried pad kee mao?  holy moly - i've ordered it the past three times we've had thai - it's that good.  anyway, even though this was a super quick trip, it was such a good time.

great job, heidi - we're so proud of you!

look at that form.

four months.

our little juliet is four months old today.  i am constantly torn between wanting to freeze time and being impatient for what's next: as fun as she was yesterday, today brings even more surprises.

we are so lucky to have you, baby girl - keep being your sweet little self! 

j's favorite way to wear a onesie

lately.

as you may have guessed, i am now back at work, and therefore not blessed with much time to, say, update the blog.  i'm working on it though.  time management remains a major goal of mine. 

i have so many different feelings about being back at work, and i'm not sure i have them all together yet to share.  bottom line: i am working, and i am happy to contribute my skills, and the bacon that i bring home helps keep juliet in diapers: all good things.  however as with anything in life, there is a flip-side.  suffice it to say i'm torn.  i can't express things quite as eloquently as i'd like, but hopefully soon i'll be able to share my thoughts and also get some perspective from other working moms out there. 

this all being said, we make it our number one priority to enjoy every second of our evenings and weekends with miss juliet.  each little moment is so precious...well, the 1am diaper change may be on the low end of precious, but it's still not so bad. 

cuddles: there is nothing better

developmentally, juliet is in the land of almosts.  she's almost ready to roll over...she is so close!  and she really wants to sit up by herself.  we've caught a few giggles out of her lately, but the instant we turn on the video camera she clams right up.  dah!  we'll catch her soon.   she has her 4 month checkup later this month, and i can't wait to see how much she weighs: baby girl likes her groceries!  so far still nursing 100% {going to see if we can make it to 6 months exclusively breastfeeding and then introduce some solids}, and i'm happy to say i've been able to keep up with her appetite.  she is a champ sleeper - i'm hesitant to tell you how long she sleeps at night because i really don't want to jinx it - it's good...it's very good.  also, juliet is a chatterbox!  i guess it's because i tend to provide a running narrative of her life - oh we're changing your socks?  well, let's talk about it! 

i know this hasn't been much by way of an update, but i promise to try to keep this space more up-to-date with juliet goings-on.

thanks for staying tuned!

hey mom!

coffee with the girls

a few weeks ago, we met up for coffee with two of my best friends - juliet fit right in.

it's getting so fun taking her places now -unless she's totally pooped, she's generally good to go anywhere and is pretty interested in what's going on. 

now that the weather is finally warming up, i'm looking forward to many more outings with my little lady.

we are family

juliet isn't quite sure what to think of bathtime yet. she's glad she's graduated from the kitchen sink to the tub, but i can't really say that she feels one way or the other about the bath itself.  hopefully this changes, because there are few things better in this world than a big bubble bath and curling up in fuzzy robes afterwards.  and hot chocolate.  and puppies.  i think i'm losing focus.

she does, however love all of the up close time with both mommy and daddy.  i love how she lights up when we're both around.  when we go in to tag-team for the 4am diaper change/feeding and she flashes one of those big smiles, it's like she's saying "hey!  this is our little family - isn't it great?!"  ...you forget for a minute that the sun won't be up for another 2 and a half hours {but just for a minute because 4am is still crazy early}.

we love you, baby girl!

winter baby

juliet was having a tough time falling asleep for her afternoon nap the other day, so we bundled her up and took her for a ride around the neighborhood. 

thanks to aunt sheila for the sweet snow suit (:  juliet was so cozy!

won't you be mine, valentine?

i know we're a day late...but hey, we've got a 2-month old over here. 

juliet was our valentine this year, and she set the bar high.  lots of sweet cuddles, a long nap which let me make cupcakes for daddy, and a good night's sleep - best gifts around if you ask me.

we love this little lady.

my mama's homemade vegetable stock

stock, or broth, is one of those items that we always like to keep on hand.  true, you can usually substitute water with no serious side effects, but a good stock gives such a nice punch of flavor to whatever you're cooking, i think it's worth it.

something i really like about making my own stock is that i can control the amount of salt that gets added.  you usually add salt to whatever you're making anyway, so why start with a salty base if you don't have to?

this recipe comes to us from my mom, and it couldn't be easier.  when i make this, i usually double the recipe so i have 12 cups total on hand for the week.  the broth lasts about a week in the fridge and a good long while in the freezer.  this is a great way to use up any veggies which may be passing their prime. 

also, i'm not too worried about the soy sauce affecting our compost, so i do throw all of the veggies in the compost pile once they've been cooked.  circle of life. enjoy!

homemade vegetable broth

makes 6 cups

ingredients:

2 carrots, cut into large chunks {no need to peel}

1 onion, halved

2 celery stalks, cut into chunks
2 large red potatoes, quartered
1 bay leaf
1 small bunch parsley
black pepper
2 tablespoons soy sauce
6 cups water
mushrooms {to taste...about 1/2 cup dry, 3/4 cup fresh, sliced}
olive oil








directions:
heat olive oil over medium high heat in a large stock pot.  when hot, add all veggies except dried mushrooms if you're using those {if you're using fresh mushrooms, go ahead and add them now}, and saute until lightly browned {watch the potatoes...they may stick to the bottom of the pan}.  once browned, add the water, soy sauce, parsley, bay leaf, dried mushrooms, and a generous sprinkle of pepper.  bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook, covered for about 1 hour.  strain veggies from broth.

happy eating!

just because.

we've all been a little under the weather in this house for the last little while, thus the dearth of postings.

i feel like we're rounding the bend though, and hope to be back in fighting form soon!

in the meantime, while we nap/ chill/ drink our 25th cup of tea today, enjoy a little snippet of life.

it is so good.

at least one of them is sleeping...

good to know

while i was pregnant, {and especially now that i'm nursing} we began to look most closely at what we eat.  to sum up the research i did: the drive these days to increase efficiencies on all fronts has led to some pretty serious side effects for our food.  we certainly can't afford to eat all organic, but we do make sure to select those items for which we get the most delicious bang for our buck. 

the environmental working group published this great chart to help determine which fruits/ veggies are best to buy organic, and which are ok to eat when grown conventionally.  i have found this to be super helpful and i hope you do as well. 

this list covers the infamous "dirty dozen" with a few extras...as explained on the site: "For the second year, we have expanded the Dirty Dozen™ with a Plus category to highlight two crops – domestically-grown summer squash and leafy greens, specifically kale and collards. These crops did not meet traditional Dirty Dozen™ criteria but were commonly contaminated with pesticides exceptionally toxic to the nervous system."  Source: Environmental Working Group


do you eat organic?  why/ why not? 

one month.

our sweet girl is a month old today.

when and how that happened, i have no idea!

all i know is that every day, i am more glad that she is ours.

a few highlights from the past four weeks:

juliet is a champ at tummy time - she holds her head up like a cute little turtle and almost looks like she wants to roll over...i am not sure i'm ready for that just yet.

she sleeps 5 hours at a time just about every night.  we can't believe it ourselves.  during the day she can be quite the cat-napper, but pretty much regardless of how the day goes, she can be counted on for a good long stretch of sleep {and so can we!}

the girl can eat.  and eat.  and she took a bottle for the first time yesterday!  i'm so excited that jordan can share that time with her now too - she is so funny when she's eating...sometimes she takes a little break and gives you the sweetest smile before getting right back to business.  it's the best.

she likes loves her moby wrap.  my sister-in-law gave us a wrap, and i will tell you: if our house were burning, i would grab my family, any important papers i could find, and this wrap.  it's pure magic.

not a juliet highlight, but i am enjoying breastfeeding for the sheer pleasure of eating everything in sight...seriously, i am always hungry!  it's pretty awesome (:  to that end, i'm trying out this recipe tomorrow.

i hope you've enjoyed the start of 2014...we over here will continue to hunker down and get to know this little lady a little bit more.

ps: recipe post coming soon!  have a great sunday!

a little 2-week reality check.

hello!

i cannot believe our little girl is two weeks old {plus a day!} already...seriously, it seems like we were just taking her home from the hospital yesterday.

i am surprised to see how much has already changed in these short 15 days.  for instance, i now realize that i can survive on a broken-up sleep schedule {knock on wood, but juliet has fallen into a great sleeping pattern: 3 hours down, 1 up to eat, then back down with little to no fussing...i am counting my blessings}.  i also have had to revise some of my expectations for myself.  i am a doer: i feel most complete and accomplished when i get things done, and i will usually push myself to do so...but nowadays, there is someone way more important than that extra load of laundry, or the floor which desperately needs to be swept, etc.  and so?  i give myself a break.  as long as my baby is fed and safe, my day is complete.  dinner will figure itself out {especially when my parents stop by to feed us (:...thank you again!}.

also, you know all of those "i will never..." statements that you think up when you think of what you will/ won't do with your child?  some are worth sticking by definitely, but others may need to be revised.  i swore up, down, right and left that i would never give my kids a pacifier. {when i was a kid, i used one for too long and it made me have speech problems later which had to be corrected in therapy...read: "hi! i'm thephanie."...}  but you know what?  pacifiers work, people, and if it soothes my baby and helps her sleep i am all in.  

i am also very thankful for the little things in my day...the cup of coffee i enjoy during her morning nap, the books i read to her as she's falling asleep {this morning it was are you my mother?}...my sister coming over whenever i need an extra set of hands and literally doing anything i need in return for a few minutes of baby-holding.  heidi: you are a gem!

so this is life nowadays!  and i couldn't be happier (:

hope you all enjoy your weekend!

juliet, 8 days...and cookies!

a cute baby and cookies?  my kind of post.

my sister brought these cookies to the hospital the day juliet was born and i seriously devoured them.  it's ok though, because regardless of my giving myself all sorts of dietary liberties these days, these are not your average cookies: they're actually good for you!

try them out and let me know what you think...and if you don't care for them, call me - i will take them off your hands, no problem.

good-for-you-but-don't-taste-like-cardboard cookies

2 cups quick-cooking oats
3/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 cup almond butter, peanut butter or sunflower seed butter {i use almond...no salt added}
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
1/4 cup apple butter {*check the labels when you buy this: many of the brands out there add a lot of extra sugar - we found that whole foods carries a variety relatively low in sugar, fyi}
1 large banana, mashed {about 1/2 cup...you can adjust this depending on how banana-y you like things}
1 cup dried fruit {cranberries, cherries, raisins, chopped apricots, blueberries...all work well}

1/2 cup shelled pumpkin seeds
1/4 cup ground flax seed (optional)

{you can also add about 1/2 cup of dark chocolate chips if you want a little sweetness}

preheat oven to 325 degrees. line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

 

combine all ingredients {except flax seed} into a large bowl or stand mixer.  mix until all of the ingredients are combined - using either the stand mixer, a hand mixer or a good 'ol wooden spoon. the dough will be stiff.  when everything is incorporated, add the flax seed and mix...if you add the flax at the beginning, it tends to just stick to the sides of the bowl and not get worked into the dough.

 

 

using a cookie scoop, tablespoons, or your hands, drop the dough onto the prepared cookie sheet {you can make these cookies however large/small you'd like}  slightly flatten the tops into the desired thickness...the cookies will not spread in the oven.

 

 

 

bake for 15-17 minutes or until the edges are slightly brown.  allow to cool on the cookie sheet completely.  

cookies will stay fresh at room temp for 1 week; they keep well in the fridge, and can be frozen for up to 3 months.  {they're especially good frozen, dunked in your coffee!}

 

 

these people make me the happiest:

 

daddy's little girl

 

she's here!

juliet alexis moger

december 12, 2013

7lb 4 oz, 20 inches

perfection.

 {this is currently my favorite picture taken of anyone at any time}

a little holiday cheer.

to be honest, i totally expected to be lacking all energy this holiday season and not want to do any sort of decorating...but somehow despite a pretty consistent 3-4 a.m. bout of insomnia, i seem to rally during the days.

i'm not saying martha is going to be knocking at my door asking for decor tips, but i am saying i'm happy with the little holiday touches i've been able to add to our house.

take a peek!

 ^^bringing our christmas tree home on our beloved station wagon, bubu^^

^^some of little girl's first books, camped out in the livingroom waiting for their audience^^

^^moravian molasses cookies^^

 ^^i love working with fresh greenery^^

 ^^nothing fancy, but i love little touches^^

 ^^ o christmas tree!^^

^^and a belly pic...b/c we are officially 40 weeks tomorrow!!^^

i hope you're all enjoying your monday!

3 days.

3 days.

we are three days from our due date.  i almost can't believe we're actually here.

for the past few weeks i've been having a strange feeling {i'm sure a lot of first time moms get this...maybe?}...anyway, my feeling is that i'm just going to keep on being pregnant.  mainly b/c i don't know what life is like after this stage, and this is all i've known for the majority of 2013...but i just feel like "ok - my life is now a little rounder, and i get kicked a few times a day, and this is alright!"

don't worry: logically i know what comes next.  i've read the books.  i've heard the stories.  it's just all so magical thinking about everything that's going to change, and how life is going to be, and how i am going to be and how my husband and i are going to be.

i've never been one to eschew change - i actually like mixing things up a bit...routine depresses me big time...so i'm not worried about the changes, i'm just so curious: what will they be?!

on a very bright note, i am officially off of work for 3 months.  YES.   and while i have a few days {we think (:} before our little miss makes her debut, i'm really taking the time to let myself experience these big feelings.   the doubt, the worry, the excitement...i am feeling it all, and i want to feel it all.  i want to let this in, and let this experience be so real.

so here we are: 3 days out and as ready as we'll ever be.

 

sweet bibs my mom & grandma made...and baby's first bear

a lovely little shower.

a few weekends ago, the grandmothers-to-be threw us a little shower at my mama's house.

in all actuality, there was nothing little about it: there was lots of good food, plenty of sweet friends and sooo much love.  we had a ball.
 
let's begin with the food, shall we?

 something i wish for daily is that our little girl is lucky enough to

have as good of friends as we do.  these ladies are the deal.

tip: when visiting my mom's house, always, always save room for dessert.

the hostesses!  {and one very tired-looking mama to be}

 

the fam - what a good crew.

i swear we did not plan this.

 preggo back at the food?  you know it.

the belly dance - i should probably be embarrassed?

 dana put together these super cute favors - and my sister in law made some 

delicious caramels to go with: what could be better on a crisp fall day, i ask you.

i am still feeling the love from this day - baby girl, you are one lucky little lady.  i cannot wait for you to be here and meet all of these wonderful people.  i love that you are already so loved!