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!

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}

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!

well-said.

i stumbled upon this article today and i'm really happy i did.

have a read, have a laugh, and then come back here and tell me what you think.

me?  well it certainly made me feel a lot better about things.  because i'm nervous!  excited, definitely - but nervous, absolutely.  and after reading this little gem, i feel a lot better about the next chapter ahead.

10 True Things About the First Year of Parenthood