Saturday was...

A HIT!

Luci's First Birthday Party

I love planning parties and this was my favorite so far. A ladybug cake, pink and yellow balloons, family and friends. What a blast. Luci was a star! She loved all the kiddo's running around. She love love loved opening her presents and then putting everything back in the bags so that she could pull it all out again. I made her my delicious but healthy banapple cake (recipe below) with all whole wheat pastry flour and lots of bananas and applesauce in hopes that she wouldn't get too much of a sugar overdose during her first exposure. Well, she hardly even got to the cake when she figured out that the spots were made out of Oreos. Going straight for the chocolate...her mothers girl. Please block out the not so lovely singing in the video below :)

Banapple Cake

2 eggs
2 cups whole wheat flour (pastry is yummiest)
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1.5 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
.5 tsp salt
1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 3)
3/4 cup plain yogurt
1/2 cup applesauce
1 tsp vanilla
.5 tsp nutmeg (optional)
1 tsp cinnnamon

Allow eggs to stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.
Mix together dry ingredients in mixing bowl.
Add bananas, yogurt, applesauce, and vanilla. Beat on low until combined.
Add eggs and beat on medium speed for 2 minutes.
Pour into greased and floured pans. (Two round pans or one 13x9x2)
Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.
Let cake cool on wire rack for about 10 minutes before removing from pans.
When completely cooled top with cream cheese frosting.

Luci on Demand

Luci does lots of tricks lately and the best part is that she does it on demand! We love that she says uh-oh. Her first word has made it's appearance, well besides da-da and mmmom- ma. She says it when she's supposed to (usually when she drops things on the floor), and when we say it. Please enjoy the broken record of uh-oh's in this video.

Nope, we didn't...

have Luci for dinner. But Jacob did put her in a frying pan on the stove. Luci loves it when Jacob comes home. She says hi dad...in her baby talk of course, and then bounces her head, a little bit spasmodically, and then pats his cheeks and chest. She loves to shake her head "no" and when she tries to nod "yes" she puts her whole body into it and it looks a little awkward. What entertainment though! Life is going smoothly, Jacob got offered a job for the summer... phew! I've been doing yoga like it's my job. Can I tell you how much I love yoga. Almost as much as I love Luci's naps these days! She naps twice a day for at least an hour and a half, and sleeps from 630-7. Thank you doctor Marc Weissbluth. If your child needs more sleep, read his book, |Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Baby|.
I can't wait for it to be warmer so we can explore the Zoo with our new pass some more. I can't wait for it to be warmer so I can go on walks with my husband at night. I can't wait for it to be warmer so I can start my first garden. I can't wait for it to be warmer so I can put Luci in her first swim suit and take her to the pool. I can't wait for it to be warmer...period! But since I must, I guess I'll go clean the ceiling fan, organize my laundry room, bake some bread, dance with luci in the kitchen, and await the return of my wonderful Jacob.

They Just Wanna...

Have Fun!

Kendal Grace, and Ella Bella came to visit! Kendal is here for her birthday present (thanks dad!) and Ella came to have a sleepover for a couple of nights. So we celebrated Valentine's Eve yesterday. In a attempts to be a good hostess I tried to supply days packed with adventure, festive meals and treats, and other girlish indulgences. We also ventured to the Zoo. Luci was pointing at everything by the end. She is fascinated by birds. She also joined in making goat sounds. She was really good at it surprisingly!

Luci loved the attention although she didn't yet get to enjoy the chick flicks and chocolates. We listened to the Wicked soundtrack while we rolled out sugar cookies. Ella got |Pocahontas| from the Library, and entertained us by singing, "savages, savages, barely even human" for the rest of her stay. Today we're going to surprise Jacob with a special Valentine's present and of course, we're all wearing Valentine's colors. Okay, so I go a little bit over the top for Valentine's day. I don't care if you think I'm cheesy, I like being cheesy. Have a Lovely Valentine's day

Danielle

L'amore

A Dialogue From Me

Today I feel like sharing a few thoughts and stories.
The other day I came home with a ginormous headache, possibly a migraine. You know, the kind where you feel nauseous, lights hurt your eyes, and you want to put your head in between 2 very heavey anvils. It was 8pm and I went straight up to bed and covered my head with pillows. Cub came upstairs and kissed my head softly while getting me warm (due to a 62 degree house. Yes that's what we keep it at during the night.) until I was asleep. He tucked the blankets around me and said he loved me. I woke up in the morning, 11 hours later, to find that he had cleaned the house; put up some decorations I had made, and many other productive things. Thanks Cub.

Yesterday Luci took a 3 hour and 15 minute nap. Thanks Heavenly Father.

Just now as I was lotion-ing Luci in her wonderful baby smelling lotion she clasped her arms around my neck and gave me a tight squeeze. Those are the moments that make you forget all the no nap days, and the 5am mornings. Thanks Luci.

So, I have many resons to love this week of Valentine's. What are your reasons? Make some heart shaped pizza's (recipe here) and eat some chocolate, okay lots of chocolate, to celebrate!

Con amore,
Daniella

The world needs more of this

Luci loves to share. Do you?



Love,

Danielle and Jacob

Gorgeous

What's Luci looking at out the window? (Her new favorite thing to do, thanks to Grandma Dean!)

It's called freezing rain and about a foot of snow! The city is at a level 2 weather emergency and everything is shut down. We've had two snow days in a row. YEAH! Look how gorgeous the frozen branches are. Of course you can appreciate it as long as you're not driving.




And this is how gorgeous Luci is. Thanks Nana for the outfit.all