how things have changed.

so the last time i posted i said that i was going to be more devoted to my blog. that was in july. that was the last time i posted. and now its november. oh well...life got too busy. but with some recent developments in my life combined with some lessons i've learned, i think it would be therapeutic for me to start posting more. and therapy is good for the soul.

so much has changed since july. jude is such a little man now. he's obsessed with tractors, helicopters, airplanes, trains, trucks, and all things manly. he has such a huge vocabulary. i'm sure every parent says this about their 3 months from being 2 year old, but he's seriously a genius. he's so moldable now, we can say a word to him once and he'll repeat it a day later like he's known that word forever. i walked in to papa and grammy keezer's house the other day, where jude was having lunch, and he said "mama pretty!" he's just so sweet. he walks up to me and says "hug!" and wraps his little arms around my neck so tight. i love it. last night he hit his foot on the coffee table and was then walking around to everyone and everything making them kiss his boo boo. he constantly makes me laugh. he's such an entertainer. he has a very sweet spirit, except for those times that he's throwing a fit because bella is playing with his tractor or he can't have a "treat". but lets remember, he is 2.

oh yeah, i'm pregnant now too. its a girl, lucy mae. i guess we adopted a beatles theme for our kid's names, but thats cool with me. i'm really afraid of having a girl. jude has been so easy and i'm scared out of my mind that lucy is going to be completely nuts or diva-like. if so, i might send her back. just kidding. i love her so much already. i definitely have a different view of this pregnancy vs. the first. i can't imagine loving another child as much as i love jude, but i know it will happen. i can't wait to meet her.

i've got some recipes that i need to post soon so stay tuned.

what else has changed...

brian got a new job. we are so thankful! its one that he's been waiting on for months now, and its finally come to pass. he is so excited and i'm so proud of him. he has such a great work ethic and i'm thankful that he will pass that on to our kids.

its awesome having my sister and best friend living fifteen minutes away. it makes life so much better and the timing could not have been more perfect. God seriously knows what he's doing.

for those of you who know about my dad, he's not doing well. i can go into greater details later, but we would all appreciate your prayers. its been a really rough fall. i never imagined my family going through something like this. there are definitely lessons to be learned and things to be appreciated, but it pretty much sucks all around. so thanks for your thoughts, encouragement, and prayers. it all means a lot.

there's a little update on the keezers. thanks for reading. there's definitely more where this came from.

summers resolution.

i've made a resolution...to do this blog thing more. my sister is obsessed with her blog. she puts everything in life on it. i aspire to be like that. i want to have my life written out so i can look back and read it someday! so here i go, trying again, hoping to stay committed. 

this summer has been amazing thus far. its been filled with family, fun, warm weather, and love. here are some highlights, in list form.

-megan, nick, and bella moving here from texas.

-bonding with my niece. she's definitely one of my favorite people. i miss her right now because its been two days since i've seen her.

-swimming at the keezers pool.

-kenai! my little 7 year old buddy who tells me that i have hair like lady gaga, look like the girl on soul surfer, and am a servant to king jude. 

-jude turning into a crazy little boy. he's such an entertainer.

-family time. 

-craft projects and home projects with brian. he's amazing and so multi-talented.

-the ocean. maine rules.

-the farringtons.

-ice cream and lots of it.

-our garden rising from the dead.

-hot days and cool nights. with the exception of the insane one hundred degree hot streak.

the list could go on forever. i love summer, especially summer in maine. nothing beats it. 

tasty bites: applesauce oatmeal muffins

i don't know about the rest of you moms, but i know i often times get stuck in a rut when it comes to feeding jude. we easily get stuck in the same eating routine...partly because he's so picky right now, and partly because i don't want to fight the battle of serving something new and receiving the scrunched-up-nose look in return. (this look is very commonplace these days). so i found this muffin recipe. jude loves them, and so do i because they are both healthy and delish.

ingredients:

-1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
-1 1/4 cups oats
-1 tsp. baking powder
-1/2 tsp. baking soda
-1/4 tsp. salt
-1 tsp. cinnamon (sometimes i add more)
-1 cup all-natural unsweetened applesauce
-1/2 cup buttermilk (i just use regular milk)
-1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
-2 tbsp. canola oil
-1 large egg, lightly beaten

directions:

-preheat oven to 400.
-spray muffin tin with cooking spray, or line with baking cups.
-in a large bowl, combine flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.
-in a medium bowl, combine applesauce, milk, sugar, oil and egg. make a well in dry ingredients and add applesauce mixture. stir until moist.
-bake about 16 minutes.

green thumb.

brian and i have lived in our house for almost 2 years. we love being homeowners. its a lot of work, and very expensive, but fun at the same time. i love the sense of accomplishment i feel after a project has been completed.   

we recently planted a garden. we have a tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, hot peppers, and lettuce. we're crossing our fingers and hoping we both have green thumbs. i'll keep you posted.     

we also finally got around to doing our front landscaping. thank you, tax return.

  i haven't killed these flowers yet. yay.

down with the braggadocio.

it kind of bugs me when people constantly brag, brag, brag about their kids. i mean, obviously everyone thinks their own child is pretty awesome. i know how that is. but come on, its not like your kid is the first one in all of history to do something cute, smart, or funny. so get over yourself. BUT...it is surely a very cool thing to watch your child change and learn as they grow. in fact, its amazing. so this is not me bragging...more so just chronicling some actions of my one and a half year old.

he is talking so much now. i remember at his 12 month well child check i was kind of concerned because he wasn't talking much...saying probably 4 to 5 words but that was pretty much it. his doctor lovingly comforted me by saying that usually language explodes between 12 and 15 months. she was totally right. i can't believe i even wasted a second being worried.

jude spends a lot of time with me. its kind of scary how much i catch him doing things that i do. one of my favorites is when jude is eating a meal in his high chair. stella will sit right at his feet, waiting for him to drop food. she often barks which causes jude to point at her and say "no!" i love it. today, jude was playing with my camera. he held it up, pointed it at himself, and pressed the button. that's how i take pictures of he and i when no one else is there to do it. seriously...how cute is that?!

one more thing. jude often picks up wrappers or pieces of string he sees laying on the floor. again, he gets that from me. so he gets the piece of string, walks to the trash can, and throws it out. boy after my own heart.

jude is always surprising me with things that he says and does.i'm so lucky to get to hang with such a cool dude.

tasty bites: strawberry rhubarb dessert bars

i love to bake. and i have a huge sweet tooth. so, these two facts inspired me to find this recipe for strawberry rhubarb dessert bars. they are amazing. so amazing that i made them two days in a row! brian said he could have eaten the whole pan in one sitting. super good and super easy...check it out!

Filling:
      -1 1/2 cups sliced rhubarb
      -1 1/2 cups sliced strawberries
      -1 tbsp. lemon juice (not necessary!)
      -1/2 cup sugar
      -2 tbsp. cornstarch

Crust:
      -1 1/2 cups flour
      -1 1/2 cups oats
      -1 cup brown sugar
      -3/4 cup butter
      -1/2 tsp. baking soda
      -1/4 tsp. salt

Drizzle:
      -3/4 cup powdered sugar
      -1 to 2 tbsp. milk

Directions:
-Combine rhubarb, strawberries, and lemon juice in saucepan. Cover and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until fruit is tender. 10 to 12 minutes.

-Combine 1/2 cup sugar and cornstarch in small bowl. Slowly add to fruit mixture while stirring. Continue stirring and cooking until mixture comes to a boil. Boil 1 minute or until mixture is thickened. Remove from heat and set aside.

-Heat oven to 350. Combine crust ingredients in bowl. Beat on low speed until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Reserve 1 1/2 cups. Press remaining mixture into bottom of greased 9 x 13 pan. Pour fruit mixture over crust. Sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture.

-Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely and drizzle.