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Sunday, January 23, 2011

Please Don't Hate Me

Please don't be mad at me. I know I have been a thorn in your side when it comes to my blog address.  But, this is very good news to me.  So, I apologize for you having to change everything, yet again.

But...we are back at our old blog site!  I am SUPER excited. You know, you like all of your memories to be in one place - at least I do. I am in the process of moving over my postings from this last month into my old site.  Plus the other site is linked to my monogramming site, so this is much easier for me.

I happened to tell my friend Bryan about my picture situation.  He showed me how to host my pictures at another site so this way, it won't matter how many pictures I upload. And guess what, it worked!! YAY for smart friends like Bryan.  

So this will be my last post at this site.  Please join us at our old site: http://thestanalands.blogspot.com/ for future updates.  Again, I am so sorry!!!!

And for your patience with me...here is the last picture of the little guy on this site:

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Texas Winters

The past few days have been just beautiful.  I must say, there are times when I ask my husband, "why did we pick this place to live?!" I say this often during the summer and the heat is unbearable.  However, seeing my cousin's most recent post, I am very thankful for our wonderful Texas winters.

The past few days have been unseasonably warm - and thank goodness because Rhys and I have had a bit of cabin fever.  As a cure, we headed to the park.  Here are a few shots of our fun time in the tunnel.


I'll wrap things up with this, Rhys' new fun pose...



Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Cousins Weekend

We traveled to Lubbock this weekend for my great aunt's 80th birthday party.  I was so excited to go to the party because Rhys was finally going to meet his cousin, Connor!  We don't have much family close by, so I jump at any chance Rhys has to hang out with his cousins; I think it is so important for him to be surrounded by family as much as he possibly can.

 

I just love his momma (even though she is an aggie!) - you should check out her blog.  The two little boys didn't quite know what to do with one another.  We had them pose for a few pictures...can you believe that Rhys is only three months younger?  We need to start feeding him spinach and bulking him up so that one day, he can be as big as Connor!

Poor little Rhys has been cutting molars, four to be exact. He couldn't keep his fingers out of his mouth the entire night because of these lovely newcomers!


Rhys has also been spending a lot of time working on his walking skills.  He has been walking for months now, but he is really starting to be able to walk places other than between mommy and the couch, ect.  Here he is strutting his stuff:


And just because I love his smile:

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Toddler, Say What?!

I receive weekly emails on the development of my baby from Parents.com.  I started subscribing to these emails when I was pregnant and Rhys was smaller than a little raisin.  This is the very place that I learned he was smaller than a raisin and as big as a cantaloupe, ect.  These weekly emails inform me on my baby's development and they assure me every time I start to question and compare Rhys to other little ones that are around us.

Today I received me weekly email and they have officially stopped calling Rhys a baby.  He has graduated into the toddler world. What?!  A toddler?!  This guy isn't a toddler...


Maybe they are right.  Even though it pains me to say it, he does act more like a toddler - even a big boy at times - than a baby.  He is starting to want to do things for himself, things I never thought would be possible after the fits he threw. 

For example, this little guy l-o-v-e-s bath time.  And we can even take a bath without a swim diaper on now! Whooohooo!  He splishes and splashes all over my freshly mopped floor.  But this momma doesn't mind one bit.


He took an ever so brief time out from playing with his toys to glance my way.  You can tell how much fun he was having by the current in the water below.


I know I have posted about these letters before, but Rhys just adores his magnetic letters.  Maybe even more than baths.  Oh how I hope he continues to love letters.  


They are our first stop every morning, even before his breakfast - a banana, or "na na na na" as Rhys calls it these days.



And I will leave you with a picture I just adore of my baby, errrr...my toddler. :)

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

New Recipe Up!

Just in case you missed my previous post about the recipe blog that I am contributing to...here it is - with a new recipe that I just posted! Enjoy! Midland Morsels {Italian Chicken with Artichokes}  And, just for all you momma's out there...Rhys ate it up and cried until he got seconds!

Baby Shower

I helped host a baby shower this weekend at my mom's for one of her dear friend's daughter-in-law.  I adore throwing showers; all the planning and decorating gives me such a high.  The only problem is I want to plan everything and control everything.  I know, I sound like a really fun person to host a shower with, huh?!  Anyways, here is the diaper cake I made for the event:


One of the girls made these corsages; I wish I had this kind of talent.  But I know if I attempted it, my fat fingers would just get tangled up in the wires. I better stick to embroidering.


And the hostess, most are my mom's teacher friends:


These same sweet ladies, threw me one of my baby showers.  It was fun to be on the other side this time!

Wordless Wednesday



Sunday, January 9, 2011

Recipe Blog

A friend of mine asked me to post recipes on her recipe blog. I am so excited to do this...please check it out!  Find it here.  Plus, you will see my first contribution to the site!  Enjoy!

Friday, January 7, 2011

Toys

I don't know why I bother buying toys for this little guy...all he wants are mommy and daddy's toys!!  Usually its our cell phones, but today was the remote. 

Monday, January 3, 2011

Peanut Butter Banana Muffins

Today marks the first day of my diet.  I know you must be thinking, we have heard that one before!  This time though, I am going to take it seriously.  No more, "I'm starting again on Monday!" business.  Not after those numbers stared back at me when I got on the scale this morning. 

In order to stay strict on my diet, I cannot keep things around the house that tempt me.  And sometimes Rhys' food tempts me.  So I need recipes that are good, healthy and fun for him, but that don't call my name in the middle of the night.

My other issue is that Rhys has become a picky eater.  I have to sneak vegetables and fruits into his diet.  "Of course you can have mashed potatoes for dinner!" I say to Rhys.  That's because that is the only way I can get peas and carrots into his tummy! 

Enter the cookbook: Deceptively Delicious.  This cookbook came out a few years ago - my sister gave me a copy - and I am just now blowing the dust bunnies off of it. The concept is great.  Continue offering your children fruits and vegetables (this is important!) but while they are turning up their nose, sneak it in to the foods they like.

I made these muffins, a recipe from this cookbook, this weekend and boy oh boy, does Rhys love them! And, mommy can resist them.  I believe this might be a match made in culinary heaven!


Peanut Butter and Banana Muffins

1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup natural peanut butter
1/2 cup carrot or cauliflower puree (I used carrot)
1/2 cup banana puree
1 large egg white (I used the whole egg)
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking powder
1tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 350. Coat a 12 cup muffin tin with cooking spray or line with paper baking cups.

In a large mixing bowl, mix 1/2 cup of brown sugar with the peanut butter, the vegetable and banana purees and the egg.  Mix in dry ingredients, do not over mix - it will be lumpy. Add the remaining 1/2 cup of brown sugar and stir once or twice.

Divide the batter among the cups and bake until the muffins are lightly browned and a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the center - 15 to 20 minutes. Place on a rack to cool.

Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or freeze for up to a month.

I hope your kiddos like them too!

Saturday, January 1, 2011

A Year of Rhys

2010 has been one of the best years of my life.  Here are a few pictures to show you exactly why!
























Happy New Year!

Rhys was very unimpressed with the new year celebrations, just take a look:




However, he was excited about his new toy from his Auntie and Unc!