dear Trey

I really. really. love you.

xoxo, mom

The Hundred Acre Wood

When I saw this on TV I  felt like crying. It took me right back to Sunday afternoons when my sisters and I would watch "Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too" - I love Winnie the Pooh {who doesn't?!}. It's so simple and pure. I love things that just make you feel like a kid again. Now I just have to convince Brock this is worth going to more than Transformers...hmmmm.

too good not to share

If you're like me, just reading the words chocolate and peanut butter in the same sentence makes your mouth water...which is why when I saw this recipe on pinterest I made them immediately! (well immediately after Trey went down for a nap) These are some of the YUMMIEST cookies I have ever had (and they are husband approved!) plus they are pretty basic which means you probably have all the ingredients already...what are you waiting for?!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Surprise Cookies

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup granulated sugar (plus more for rolling)
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup creamy peanut butter, divided
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg
3/4 cup powdered sugar

1. Preheat oven to 375º F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

3. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together sugars, butter and 1/4 cup of peanut butter until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla and egg, beating to combine. Stir in the flour mixture and stir to combine, blending well. Set aside.

4. In a medium bowl, mix together powdered sugar and remaining 3/4 cup of peanut butter until smooth.

5. Pull off a heaping tablespoon of cookie dough and flatten with your hands. Take about 1 teaspoon of peanut butter mixture and place it in the center of the chocolate dough. Wrap the chocolate dough around the peanut butter center, pressing to seal. Roll the cookie into a ball and roll the cookie in the sugar. Place cookies on the prepared baking sheet 2 inches apart. Using the bottom of a glass, flatten each cookie to about a 1/2 inch thickness.

6. Bake in preheated oven for 7 to 9 minutes. Let stand on the baking sheet for 2 minutes, then remove to a wire rack.

{and here's Trey's latest favorite for the babies}

ingredients:

2 baked sweet potatoes (1.5 hrs)

2 cups cooked peas

2 cups cooked brown rice

2 cups raw spinach

4 poached chicken breasts 

directions:

blends, blend and blend :)

9 months later.

somehow in 9 months I went from this (ready to POP!)...

to this...a little boy! ah!

Brock and I were watching Trey play on the floor yesterday (and by play I mean pull all the books off the book shelf, take them to various corners of the living room and then start to rip pages out...that was the end of that) We were remembering this little boy about 9 months ago- so small, totally helpless and brand new to the world- now he is SO alert and aware of everything little thing going on and eager to explore (and taste) it all.

We say all the time how crazy it is that we are parents and that we have baby...sometimes it just feels like we are playing house...does anyone else ever feel like that?! Some most days I still feel like a 14 year old girl dreaming of getting married and being a mom...and I must admit, (sorry for sounding mushy) life is better then I ever imagined! I love my husband and my "job" of mom- not to be confused with being the easiest job I've ever done- and I often am reading or listening to things to help me learn how to be better at it! Something I like to do while I am cleaning or cooking or just sitting on my behind is listen to ldsradio, there are so many good interviews, it's fun to hear our church leader in a more casual setting and I love listening to the mormon tabernacle choir...anywho, I recently listened to an interview done by Sheri Dew with Julie B. Beck and her two daughters...I HIGHLY recommend it! It really made my think! It is so inspiring and funny and motivational and anything else that makes you feel good. It made me so excited about all the stages of motherhood and they talk so much about the power that women have in the world today. If you want to listen (I don't know why you wouldn't after that endorsement...plus it makes an hour of "chores" a lot more enjoyable) you can find it here! Happy listening!

a good day

At 8:15am {almost} everyday, Trey and I drive Brock to school. And everyday without fail at 8:27, on the way home I see the same old man walking down the sidewalk; sunglasses, grey backpack and a comb-over.
 Seeing this man has become a part of my morning routine and this past week or so I have seriously contemplated stopping and talking to him. It might be weird though {and not in a-"I'm Amy and I like the smell of onions." "Really? That's weird.-way. more like a- "I'm Amy and I'm a creepy stalker."-way}.
 Wondering where this man is heading every morning has made me think more about where everyone is heading everyday day...?
 Sometimes I forget that other people are living out their lives, not to sound vain, but you know how it is; you get so wrapped up in everything going on in your bubble you forget that other people are dealing with things threating to burst their little bubble.
You know that song that says "everybody's got a story that could break your heart..." {Amanda Marshall-Everybody's got a story} I'm not saying this is my favorite song or anything, but that line kind of haunts me in a way. I know I am so blessed! I have a loving family, an amazing, hardworking husband, and a healthy baby boy. We have a place to live, a car to drive and food in the fridge. We have SO much compared to some others. Another song line I think about is "...in the quiet heart is hidden sorrow that the eye can't see..." from hymn 220. I think about all the people I know- and don't know- who are going through such difficult things and can make it seem on the outside that "everything is fine." We just really never know- which, I guess is why we are taught to love and forgive EVERYONE.
I have really been trying harder lately to recognize chances I have to make someone's day just a little bit better, I love the quote, "you can't do everything for everyone, but you can do something for someone!"- so true!
 I like to think about what my city, or country, or- I'll even go all "Miss America"- and say world, would be like if everyone gave everyone else the 'benefit of the doubt' and treated eachother as the children of God that we are?...Heaven maybe?
I know I am learning more and more about the chance that I {and every person} has to truly make the world a better place by the way we act and treat others each day...
so on that note, have a great day! 

{this makes my day}

my new hobby

If you know my husband it's no surprise that my little boy LOVES to eat! I am not exaggerating when I say he has yet to refuse anything we put in his mouth, it's so so so nice, but also so so so exhausting, I am constantly trying to find new ways to expand his menu but it's fun to watch his reaction to each dish I cook up!

I have become a little bit crazy with the home-made baby food...I love it! It is way cheaper (we need that!) and, to me anyways (I'm sure Trey could care less) more appetizing, I felt bad once when I was trying to feed Trey some canned 'chicken veggie' thing that made me gag! Plus I like knowing exactly when and when his food was made...I warned you I was passionate about this!

There are TONS of awesome recipes on http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/ that I have used and, based on what Trey seems to like we've created a few favorites of our own! Blend and ENJOY (warning!-these are all measured for BULK production! I bought the NINJA blender- love it! and  "Baby Cubes" is what I use for storage- They are AMAZING- the lids are attatched...GENIUS!)

"breakfast smoothie"
- 1 cup organic plain yogurt
- 2 cups blueberries
- 4 peaches- cut in cubes
- 10-15 carrotts (depending on size) boiled or baked to soften

"veggies and meat"
- 1 pound cooked meat ( I've used beef, turkey and chicken)
- 2 BIG sweet potatoes (bake for 2 hours in tin foil)
- 1 "bunch" asparagas (bake for 45 mins on cookies sheet)
- 3 cups of peas (baked or boiled to soften)

"delicious dessert"
- 1 cup brown rice
- 2 1/2 cups water
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup raisins
* bring everything to a boil then simmer until water is absorbed, then blend!

If anyone has other recipes that babies have liked please please please share!!

happy blending :)