Big Bed!

As Noah has gotten older, I've had this desire to snuggle with him in a bed before he goes to sleep. We typically snuggle in his rocking chair after reading stories, which he loves, but I was wanting to change it up. All summer long I wanted to transition him to a big bed, but with how I was feeling it just didn't happen until yesterday. I am happy to report that his big bed went in without a hitch and he loves it. We were going to go with a double, but we decided to go with a twin bed instead (long story). When we were at Costco we found this cute twin bed with storage (did you hear me...STORAGE!!!) underneath, and it wouldn't take up too much room in his room. 

Last night was night one and I don't have anything adventurous to tell!! He didn't try and get out, and he even slept in an extra 30 minutes. So far the big bed is a huge success, and I got to snuggle with my little man in his big bed!! It was a moment I will never forget. 

Here are a few not so great iphone photos...;)

I look forward to the day when it won't need to be against the wall, and then I can maximize on the storage!! 

It's Happening

We will be a family of four come February! Justin and I are thrilled to rock Noah's little world ;)

You see...the blog and "morning" sickness don't really mesh well. Side note: I would love to know who coined the phrase morning sickness. Mine sure stretches into ALL of the day-suck! This summer has been all about resting and snacking and a lifesaving drug called Zofran. At 7 weeks pregnant the nausea hit full throttle and I couldn't keep a thing down (this was very different from Noah mind you). It was then that I went begging and pleading to the doctor for help. Anyways, you get the picture. Our summer has been drastically different with how I have been feeling. I am getting a little more used to it and thankfully it's not quite as severe. I am still on the Zofran and have really yucky evenings, but I am so grateful for what this sickness means for our family. 

I am thirteen weeks pregnant and beginning to show just a little bit. Noah knows there is a baby in my belly, but other than that he has no clue what is to come...haha! 

Adios for now!

Blackberry Pie

I had never made a pie, until Friday. The whole thought of the homemade crust kept me from trying it. I love baking, but I have always been more of a cookie, cupcake, crisp...kind of gal.  I had always wanted to give it a try, so when Justin suggested we go blackberry picking in our neighborhood I figured this was my chance. He was beyond thrilled at the thought of a pie so I couldn't say no...:)

I searched the internet for tips, read many different recipes, and chatted with my mom about how she made her pies. After reading this pie tutorial and looking at a few different recipes I decided to give it a go! The one decision I kept going back and forth about was the lard/butter ratio. In the end I decided to do a 50/50 mix for some flavor as well as flakiness.

Below is the recipe I completed after picking and choosing what I liked from a few different ones:

The Crust (for a nine inch, two crust pie)

2 ½ cups all purpose flour, sifted
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon sugar (for a fruit pie. Omit sugar for a savory pie.)
1/2 cup cold butter, cut into chunks

1/2 cup cold leaf lard, cut into chunks

1/4 cup cold water

I used the food processor for ease and it worked out really well. I rolled out the dough between two pieces of parchment paper, which was really helpful. I refrigerated the dough for about 30 minutes before rolling it out. I followed the tips from the above tutorial for the crust and it worked out really well.

The Filling

6 cups blackberries
3/4 cup of sugar
3 tablespoons of tapioca for thickening
1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon

After I assembled the pie I dotted the top of the filling with a few tablespoons of butter and splashed a little lemon juice over the top (about half a lemon). I brushed the top with an egg/water wash and then it was ready to go!

There are a few other tips I followed about the cooking time, etc. and they can all be found on the tutorial link above. I found it really helpful! Then again, I am new to all of this :)

Here are a few pictures of the pie! It was really yummy and we already went out and picked more berries to freeze so I can make another one in the near future! At some point I may try a varied crust with a little more lard...I never said this was a healthy pie!! I am the type of dessert person where I go all in and just enjoy! Everything in moderation right?!?!

PS. In the next week or so I will really try to get better about blogging. Check back soon for another post :)

Here are a few pictures of Noah!

Working with Daddy. I love the filthy face!

Blackberry picking

We let it keep growing just for kicks!

Listening to music in the park with Nonni

The Boat

The other day Noah, Murray, and I were able to join Uncle Steve on his boat. Noah was on a boat a year ago, but he was pretty young, so I don't think he remembered.  Ali was there, along with a friend of hers. Noah adores Ali and loves to play with her and just watch her :) 

Being on the boat so fun because Noah was back and forth, hot and cold, about the way he felt about the boat. He was very excited about it at first, and didn't even make a peep about the life jacket. All was good at first, with just a little extra tight hand grip! Then we went fast. At first he was asking me if we could go slower, and when that didn't work, he asked me if we could go home. Is it bad that I was chuckling to myself?!?! 

As the day went on he became more comfortable, but never fully relaxed. He loved sitting on the back of the boat kicking his legs, but wouldn't jump to me in the water. He floated on a tube with Pa and the girls for a little bit. 

It was so adorable watching Noah interact with Ali and her friend. The way they spoke to him was cracking me up!! It was as if they could reason with him and convince him...no way Jose! In true toddler form Noah would say yes sometimes and no at other times, and really confuse them ~ Ha! The girls would jump in the water and he would say things like, "Do it again girwls?" "Good job girls!" 

The boat is my happy place and it was so nice to be out there!

Ya know how I said Noah adores her...the feeling is mutual. I think she would play with him all day long over her 4th grade buddies. She is such a sweetie. She wanted to sit with Noah, and when he wouldn't sit on her lap (on account of the fear ;) she sat next to him. When he wanted a chip with dip, she got up to get him one... You get the idea ~ a true sweetie!

The squished face makes me giggle :)

Playing is More Fun!

Oh, poor  blog...and to all of you (maybe 5 readers...wink wink :)

I haven't felt super motivated to blog and most of that is due to all the fun we've been having with Noah. So really, I blame him! Well, and the fact that I'm not usually willing to stay up late and do it. It's so fun to play outside and be in the garden with him. If he could, I think he would live outside. There hasn't been anything super exiting going on, just normal everyday fun :) Here are some iphone snapshots of what we have been up to:

Having fun on one of our many morning walks. Justin is doing Noah's "excited" face. The eyebrows go up, the arms go out to the side...it just kills me :) He loves to walk to the fountain near Safeway and throw pennies in it. I am thankful that he still enjoys going for walks in the stroller.

Produce from our garden! We are getting lots of blueberries this year.

These next photos are from the Healdsburg FFA Parade BBQ at my parents house. We look forward to  it every year. Justin couldn't make it because he was flying, but Noah and I had a blast. He even had a sucker and a cookie...very rare for him ;)

Fun times had by all! 

Excuse the food in his mouth, but this was our first zucchini! We planted MANY of these as they are Noah's favorite.

Howarth park fun!

My mom and I at a retirement dinner for Murray. He is retired!! So happy for him and all the adventures to come :)

A Mother's Day craft Noah brought home from church...with a rose. Melted my heart!

Here are a few videos of life lately:

Having some fun in one of his "big books," as he calls them. Mommy and Daddy are WAY over them, but he still loves to bring them out. Noah will sit for a few stories back to back now and we love reading with him. I feel like it took him a little longer than some to sit still for a story...his poor teachers...ha!! Curious George, Pete the Cat, Owl Babies, and Charlie the Ranch Dog are some of his favorites. 

Noah gets a big kick these days out of jumping. This day he was jumping and then landing on his knees, as well as describing the jump before he went. It was cracking me up.

He can hardly contain himself when we let him pick blueberries (or strawberries). 

The boy, The Pictures, The Friend

There really are no words to describe my feelings about these pictures! 

I love the boy more than anything I could have ever imagined, and I cherish the friend who took these photos for Noah's second birthday. 

Here are some of my favorites from the session :)

Cheers to our 2 year old, and cheers to Melissa Morelli Photography and my dear friend for these priceless and memorable photos!

The Party

My Gym is so very fun for little ones and Noah had such a great time celebrating his 2nd birthday there. On Sunday, the day after his birthday, he celebrated with his friends and family at his party. He was really excited about it, and of course a second cake~ha!

Here he is coming out on a birthday train and giving high-fives to everyone in the circle.

He was telling one of the My Gym gals how old he is! 

Miss Jenna Jo saying how old she is...

She said 5! Ha! 

Look at that cutie-pie Mister Wes, 7 months old!

Noah loves loves loves to hang!

Cambrie, like a pro!

This was a fun activity where the children were able to slide down a ramp on the rocking horse. PJ loved it and had no fear.

Noah and Stella having fun with Justin

Look at those smiles! Peekaboo :)

Parachute! Noah didn't mind going in the middle, but then he was also very excited to go under

Oh, the hoop, the basketball...that boy is obsessed!

I'm not really sure what Nonni is doing, but it made me laugh so I had to include it. She may hit me!

At one point the children were allowed to tag each other below the waist, which I was a little surprised by, but we rolled with it. The children were really confused as this is something they are usually told no to...the adults had more fun than the kiddos in this moment. Exhibit A: Justin. :)

Cambrie became creative :) Not sure what she is doing (in her mind), but it made me laugh when I was going through the pictures.

The "zip-line."  Noah loves it, but is usually pretty serious faced while on it. 

Sweet little Wes with his Momma

Go PJ go!

Nonni and Mommy

Hey Waylon! He loved the ball pit :)

Look at that face! 

Ready, Set, Go!

Miss Pippa, Stella's sister :) Happy to be with her Momma.

"Mmmm, how does this work?"

The cake, the candles! He loved the look of it and the idea of it, but not the act of eating it. Why does it have 5 candles on it? I have no idea...I didn't even think of only putting two on like normal people...

I just wanted to evenly fill up the top space...I'm weird, or I became distracted by all the birthday fun!

This was his face when he saw his cake~priceless.

The Giles family, with one more to come any day~yeehaw!

"I'm 2!" I love the way he tries to do two on his fingers.

Blowing out the candles

Daddy's are so fun :)

Love this face

Andrea and Waylon had so much fun and he celebrated his birthday a few days later

Noah was not very cooperative for this photo as it was at the very end and we were keeping him from his friends...how dare we...still cute though.

So fun, and a huge thank you goes out to My Gym and to 

Melissa Morelli for these photos.