Let Them Eat Cake!

Whilst at Walmart (Yes, I know - Walmart.) this week I was struck with a sudden urge to hop on the cake pop bandwagon.  It sounded easy enough.  I decided to go with the box mix and pre-made frosting.  I can seriously mess up even these ready mix things so I figured there was no point in wasting time on anything "from scratch".

Cake baked and messed up.  Frosting added.  Most recipes online said to use 3/4 of a container.  I think next time I'll try more like 1/2 a container.  Also, I need to do a better job of breaking down the bigger chunks.

Balls made and ready to rest in the freezer for a few minutes.

Baby not cooperating with my nap idea.  Please baby!  Mommy would like some uninterrupted cake dipping time.  Sigh.  He makes me smile.  He loves playing with blankets!

Chocolate melted.  I used the idea of dipping the sticks into the melted chocolate before inserting them into the balls to help them stay stuck.  I think it worked.

I quickly decided that my talent does not extend to creating the lollipop look.  My sticks were too short for my holder and it was making quite a mess (you can see the casualty in the background).  The upside down pop was much easier and much quicker.  I'm not sure we even need sticks.  My next round might just be cake balls.

TA-DA - butter pecan cake pops with cream cheese frosting, vanilla chocolate coating and gold sprinkles!

Baptism

A few weeks ago (OK, over a month ago) we made the trip to the STL for Matthew's Baptism.  Fr. Johnson agreed to do the job at our favorite church.  It was extra special because we were able to do it with the amazing man who married us at the church in which we were married, surrounded by our family, all while getting a little Holy Spirit into our kiddo!

 The most awesome Godparents!

 My favorite ladies!

The big moment!

Afterwards everyone made it over to Helen Fitzgerald's Grill & Pub for some celebratory lunch.  Of course my camera died in the middle of the Baptism ceremony, so you'll mostly have to use your imagination.  I did manage to get a few snaps from some other folks...

Cousins!

 More cousins!

 Watch out, Grandpa, I'm really good at grabbing noses!

Whale of a Good Time

This was Matthew's first bath in his whale tub.  Little man was just a few days old.

Wednesday was Matthew's last bath in his whale tub.  I know, I waited waaaaay too long to convert him over, but it was just so easy and Matthew liked the whale so much that I didn't want to mess with it.  Plus the new tub looks like it might be much more difficult to keep clean.

Last night was Matthew's first bath in his NEW tub!  I thought that there might be a chance that he would be apprehensive, but boy was I wrong!  I should've done this a month ago.  Thank you Grammie and Grandpa T!  Travel will be so much easier this summer in a tub that can deflate.

7 Months

What is our growly bear up to at 7 months? 

Matthew is hilarious.  I'm sure all parents find their babies amusing so that's not really news, but this kiddo is almost always happy and laughing and affectionate.  It's just amazing to me and I'm finding that I'm better off not mentioning this all the time to other moms because it's starting to come off a little like bragging.  Tears just don't last on this boy and if they appear then they have a real reason for being there.

He's gotten really good at getting both his head and bottom up into the crawling position to rock back and forth, but he's not crawling forward yet.  He's quite good at maneuvering himself around backwards though.  He loves to stand and hold onto things like the ottoman, sofa, or some one's shirt, but you need to stand him there as he hasn't figured out how to pull himself up as his own idea.  He loves to sit on your lap and pull himself up by holding your hands. 

Ryan and I have both witnessed him rolling from tummy to back, but he is still choosing to not practice that skill on a regular basis.  He sits and plays on his play mat for massive amounts of time (it seems to me that he never gets bored unless I'm on the phone).  I'm the crazy overprotective mommy because I insist on placing a pillow behind him in case he falls (read throws) himself backwards from a sitting position.  I know this isn't helping him figure out that he can't just toss himself backwards on a whim, but I'm not sure what else to do that won't result in a concussion.  What can I say?  The child loves to lounge.  Can't figure out where he learned that!

He's doing fabulous in the people department.  He's a little social butterfly and doesn't seem phased by tons people gathered around him (unless they're ALL staring directly at him).  He's not stingy with the smiles, but he gets visibly weirded out when people try to touch his hands.  Feet fine, but not the hands.  He'll just yank them away while giving a nice little frowny face to the perpetrator.  Again, he's all smiles unless there is a real reason to be upset.  He is still quite a little chatterbox and he entertains me (and anyone within ear shot) with his barrage of noises.  I suspect that once he starts talking he'll never stop.  He's still not a fan of grass and continues to use his special "I don't like you, grass" growl anytime he come into contact with it.  Oh, and he is beginning to LOVE sing along books.  He just bops up and down with the biggest of smiles.  I'm really excited about the enthusiasm he shows for books of any kind.

According to my scale (which is fairly accurate) he is 19 lbs.  I make four 8 oz. bottles a day and he usually drinks 6-8 oz. at a time.  He also eats two 4 oz. jars of stage 2 food per day.  We're still being extra careful when we introduce new foods due to the allergies.  We eat everything new for 4 days straight wearing only a diaper.  He mimics me chewing whenever I eat lunch and has started to use his upper lip to clean food off of his spoon.  He's very interested in watching me brush my teeth, and he allows me to "brush" his two teeth.

Well, he wasn't quite as cooperative as he has been in the past for his monthly photo op.  Instead of hugging, he felt like wrestling his bear.

Just Because

A Side of What?

Matthew, what would you like to have for dinner with your apple butternut squash puree?

A side of toe jam? 

Happy Mother's Day

It's officially my first Mother's Day as a mom of an outside baby!  I've been spoiled rotten by all of the love!  I was also given a very special Mother's Day gift - Matthew's first word... "Dad"! Stinker.

Brunch at Springbrook...

It is such a beautiful day.  The weather is absolutely gorgeous here, where my mom lives, and where my grandma lives.  We all are enjoying a restful, lazy Sunday in all of our respective locations.  It's the best!