Today I Realized Something.

I completely forgot to blog yesterday! 

Maybe it happened because it was a very uneventful day,  I don't know.  But let's just call this yesterday's post and I'll do today's later today.  Sorry 'bout that!

Forgetful Jamie.  :)

Today I Fed My Baby.

This is not a post all about how breast is best and no one should ever bottle feed. 

I know that for some people it's a  sensitive and controversial subject. 

My personal feeling is that everyone can make their own decisions and that everyone is living their own life.  Let's leave it that way.  Mommas (and daddies!!) need to be supportive.  No judging.  No snide remarks.  Just give input when asked and helping hands where needed.

Nope. Not me nor my baby. Just a stock photo. Cuz we all like pictures.

I was formula fed because my mother wasn't physically able to nurse, and I don't think I'm any less intelligent because of that.  I'm grateful that she was emotionally ok with it and focused on being a loving mom in all the many other ways that kids need their mothers. 

Again, not mine.  But cute anyways.  :)

My main reason for choosing to nurse my babies was because it's CHEEEEEEP!  And because I'm sharing my anti-bodies with the babe.  I've got good anti-bodies.  **flexing**  Yeah.  Oh, and I think my hormones are happier too.  :)  I just feel so snuggly and happy when I'm feeding my baby.  Though, to be honest - when Ash got switched to bottles at 7.5 months (because it was time to invite Britt into our family), I still felt that to a certain degree.

My biggest concern about nursing with both of my daughters was, "Are they getting enough?"  I stressed about it for the first 4 months of Ash's life and again for Britt's. 

You can imagine how much I love the sound of liquid swooshing around in Britt's belly when I bounce her up and down. 

Yep. 

On my list of top 10 things to hear!

An obviously well-fed and happy baby.  And this one IS mine!  And so is the studly daddy holding her.  ;)

So, since this is a nursing post, I figured I might as well add a little plug for the giveaway that Life In A Shoe is having!  So, those of you who are currently nursing, or know someone who is, head on over and check it out!  They are giving away Milk Diapers!  Hahaha.  Funny name for nursing pads.  Anyways, I get a free entry if I mention it in my post.  :)

One more thing.  I've been reading on a lot of mamas' blog posts about how they can't drink milk while nursing.  That really stinks since it's hot right now and I love me some ice cream almost every night!

Last night I picked up a pint of some hemp-milk ice cream called Tempt.  It's dairy-free and soy-free and I bought it for Ash (due to her lovely allergies). 

Long story short, I helped her eat it.  Their Vanilla Bean is goooooooooooooooooood!!! 

So there you have it.  Go get some.  You can thank me later.  :)

Yummylisciousness.

Well, that's it for tonight!  It was a good day.  Hope yours was pleasant too.

Today I Cried.

I have friends who have served in the military, but I've never had family make that type of sacrifice.  I've always been grateful for the men and women who serve us and our country.  Now I just want to offer up a daily prayer for all the children who miss their military daddies and mommies sooooo much!  I am very thankful for their sacrifices as well.  These people are amazing.



I held it together until that sweet little girl, on Santa's lap mouthed, "Daddy."

Oh my breaking heart!!

I need another tissue.

Today I Laughed.

Because I get to see this Munchkin Face on a regular basis! 

What made you laugh today?

Today I'm Eating Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread.

**nom, nom, nom**  Oh hi!  I'm sitting here, savoring pure deliciousness.  And I was thinking that I should share.  :)  Cuz sharing is caring, right?  Okay!  Well, run go get your aprons because this is something you do NOT want to miss out on! 

Ingredients (and the amounts) needed:

3 eggs
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1&1/3 cups sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups grated zucchini
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1.5 cups of whole wheat flour
1.5 cups of all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg

1 teaspoon salt

Gather your ingredients if you like.  Individually they aren't much, but together they are a force to be reckoned with!  Set your oven to 350 degrees.

Grab your helper, if have one.  Britt was mine.  Well, ok.  She wasn't much of a help, but she's going through a lovely little stage where she has to have me in her sights constantly and I have to make eye-contact and acknowledge her presence regularly.  If those things don't happen, then she makes very unhappy, headache-inducing noises.  Not pleasant.   

Step 1.  Mix the wet ingredients together until they are completely blended. 

Step 2. If you haven't done so already, now would be a good time to shred the zucchini.  I'm a vigorous grater.  Anyone who enters my kitchen right now will get lovely bits of vegetable stuck to the bottoms of their feet. 

Step 3.  Add in zucchini and chocolate chips.

Step 4.  Stir.

Step 5.  In a different bowl, combine all the dry ingredients. 

Step 6.  With a spoon stir the flour mixture into the egg mixture.

Step 7.  If you've got a hand mixer this would be a good time to use it.  If not, that is fine but just make sure you mix everything together really well.

Step 8.  Grease you pans or tins or whatever you're using and then pour the batter in to them.  I doubled the recipe this time and ended up with two loaves of bread and eighteen muffins.  Last time (when I didn't double it) I got one smaller loaf and twelve muffins.  It's your call as to what shape you want your snack to be. 

 Step 9.  Set timer and go do something else for a bit.  The muffins take about 20 minutes.  The bread cooks for about 40 minutes. 

Step 10.  After the timer rings, take out the yumminess and try not to burn yourself because you just can't wait for it to cool!

FYI.  Zucchini is very slimy and that slime sticks to your hands. It's weird. I'd never cooked with zucchini before this recipe. Actually, I originally tried this recipe for Ash. Because it's almost dairy-free and soy-free.  But I've discovered that the small amount of milk and soy lecithin in choco chips doesn't bother her when she ingests just a little.  Yay!  Anyways,  I thought I hated zucchini bread. I sure didn't like the slice I had when I was eight years old! Of course that particular loaf didn't have chocolate chips. And **smug look** mine does!  Though it would still taste pretty great without if you need/want to omit them.  But, I still hate banana bread. Even the smell makes me gag.  That will never change.

Now if you'll excuse me.  I'm going to the kitchen for another piece.  And to sweep the floor.  **sigh**

Today I Entered A Photo Challenge.

The Paper Mama hosts a weekly photo challenge over at her domain.  I have decided to join in this time around.  :)  The subject is "orange."  I found the perfect pic too! 

This is Ash last October at the local pumpkin patch.  We had so much fun and I really hope this same patch is open again this year.

A little taste of things to come...

Today I Made Shelves.

Out of cardboard.  And wrapping paper I got out of a freepile.  Cool, huh?  I saw someone else do these on a blog somewhere, but I have no idea who it was.  Message me if you think you're the one who deserves the credit! 

Anyways, I was breaking down boxes to put in the recycle when I realized that I could use them!

I started thinking that they could help to make more room at the top of Ash's closet.  See all that wasted space?

So I got out all the supplies I needed.  Which include wrapping paper (I'm going to use the adhesive kind next time).

Also, duct tape to retape the boxes I broke down, two different kinds of tape, box cutter, scissors for the wrapping paper, and glue (not pictured and not necessary).

It's pretty simple.  I wrapped it like a present.  This tutorial (of sorts) is assuming you have basic gift wrapping skills.  :)

Lookin' pretty already!  The outside was the most simple.

Ash wanted to help.  Of course.  And she's going through a hat phase.  It makes me giggle. 

I used glue on the inside, which makes the whole process faster, BUT it makes the paper a little wrinkly.  I don't mind because you can't see it when it's doing its job (meaning, full of folded clothes).  Just use the outer dimensions of the box to measure the paper for the inside and then stick it on with glue or tape or both.

I cut four of these out of another box.

Then I covered them in gift wrap.  They are brackets (along the help of packing tape) to help give the shelf more balance and hold.

Here's the bottom of the shelf (I made out of the second box) with one set of brackets attached. 

Yay! All done.

Here it is.  It's awesome and I'm going to make another to go next to it, but I'm going to have to go through my other wrapping paper since I don't have enough of the freepile kind to completely cover another shelf.

Now THAT is provident living!