Baking vs. Pureeing

Anyone who knows me, knows that I have a huge sweet tooth. It is actually a huge problem, so naturally I diagnosed the problem with allowing myself to eat ice cream if I put granola in it, I mean granola is good for your right?? .. Actually half of my problem is I love to bake. I like trying new things and in return I normally fail the first time, but the second time I normally decide to just go basic and play it safe. My cake balls never fail me!

One of my favorite parts of baking is scrapping the batter off the bowl and well eating it of course. Never gets old!!! So as much as I would love to "bake" some nice little cake balls for Mr. E, I don't think my pediatrician would be very happy with me and something tells me that I would technically pay for it later, if you know what I mean. So I have resisted that urge, and I have decided to give it a try at making Easton's baby food. What I found during this process of pureeing his food, is that I still like scrapping the "baby food" off the bowl and well making sure it is edible. I have found that baby food is not all the bad. I have decide that my motto will be, " If I wouldn't eat it, then Easton shouldn't eat it".

So, I spent Friday getting my supplies and made my first two batches of stuff. So up first for Mr. E in the cereal department is Banana Oatmeal. Of course, followed by some bananas. He has had some the last few days and actually really likes it. Up next for him on the veggie side is, butternut squash! We will see how that goes!

I have really enjoyed making his food so far, I think I could get used to just pureeing and not baking. I mean it might be a good thing, I could afford to lay off the sweets for a while! Do you think I can puree cookies?? :)

Here's to Easton eating his veggies this week!



Oatmeal, Bananas and Butternut Squash coming right up!




Hope he likes the Squash, he has 14 servings in the frezzer!



He just likes to make a mess! :)

 

A fall beach day..

It was a beach kind of day.. sounds weird to me when technically the first day of Fall was this past week and I started the day with a pumpkin spice latte, wait let me rephrase that a "tall skinny pumpkin spice latte hold the whip cream". Before I get on with my day, I just need to get out my hidden annoyance with Starbucks, first I feel that all people needs to take Starbucks 101 before they can order there, it's like you need to learn to speak "Starbucks"( It should be an official language). I get a bit nervous as soon as the lady ask me what I want to order, I start to stutter out the long freaking name of just a simple drink and the whole time I fear that she is going to say, what was that mam??? .. ahhh I get anxiety about ordering there, no lie I call my sister every time I go and ask her to text me my order so I can read it from the phone..

Ok, enough about that, back to our day! Though it was nice and cool this morning some girls and I decided to head to the beach, since the boys are working all weekend.. blah blah blah.. did I also mention that I hate the football season!

So while the boys are working, the girls will play! We went to Capatola Beach and ate by the beach and then shopped around, it was too cold to get by the water since the fog decided it wanted to hang around for a while.  However, we then decided to head over to the boardwalk, and I will tell you, I had no idea what a boardwalk really was. Now, why I have never thought to ask or look it up, I have no idea, but it was so fun!! It is literally a carnival right on the beach. Most of you are going duh Casey, but give me some credit, in Texas we have fairs in the middle of NO WHERE and Beaches are not really beaches, so much less combine the two! All I have to say is I totally know why everyone wants to buy the boardwalk in the monopoly game first ( well besides you get the most rent), but most importantly I know that Drake will now be going back with me multiple times. I loved it.. and I can't wait to play putt putt, ride bumper cars, ride the rides, eat every fatty thing possible and lay on the beach all with Easton when he gets a bit older.

Here are some pictures from our day!


At lunch, just happy as a lark!




Beach time!!




At the boardwalk.. I am getting him ready for Halloween! :)



Happiest Kid on the boardwalk!




How can you not have fun with this guy all day! I love him but I don't love that spit uo on his shirt!! So annoying!!




First ride!!




Thanks for the fun day mom, I think I will sleep now!



At 13.3 pounds and 25 1/2 inches Easton is 4 months...

My little guy is 4 months old today and he is more of a joy than ever these days. The two of us keep pretty busy going to story times, play dates, music class and parks. Easton smiles all day every day and even laughs ( I think that is what he is doing) at lots of things. He loves being flown like an airplane in the air and music will make is face light up. If you dance and sing with him, I am pretty sure he thinks your cool! ( That is what I tell myself! :) )

He truly is amazing me daily by the things he can do, and the things I watch him try to figure out. He is just a bundle of fun. He has also started going to the nursery during church and I think he likes it, because he is always so happy when we go pick him up. I just love it!!

The best part of this post is the big news that Easton sleeps from 8-6 every night, he has got it down and it is wonderful! He feeds at 6 and then goes back down till 8. I am loving life these days! :)

Easton also started some oatmeal this week, not sure if he loves it yet, but he does love rubbing it all over himself, and I know he loves his bib, he tries to eat it every time. The doctor said I could start fruits and veggies, so I am going to a class next week to learn how to make all his food! So next month, I will let you know how it goes..

Here are some pictures from our month..



Easton likes facebook too! :)





He wants to be daddy's grilling buddy!




Just another relaxing day!



Hangover.. Need I say more! :)

What in the world has E been up too..

Well my little guy is quite the busy bee..

We joined a play group, and Easton has been attending Play groups dates all week!It goes with out being said, he can't really play, but he can certainly lay on his belly and stare at others. His people watching skills are top notch! :) On our way home from his first play date, I looked back and this is what I saw..



I am going to call this play date a sucess!! :)






Easton also went to Baby Story time at the Los Gatos Library, and he actually watched the lady read and make her animated movements.. I know he has no idea what she is saying, but once again, I looked back after the play date in the car, and what do you know!! He was passed out!



This is Easton listening to story time.





Then he passed out! :)




Then Thursday, we went to Music with Friends! I know he can't sing or dance but I know he is trying to figure out what all the crazy people are doing, because he gets locked on the leader and just stares. He hears the beat and smiles..Hopefully he will be able to do the hand movements sooner rather than later.. This followed about 2 mins after music class...



You get the theme, Play dates wear him out! :) Love me some nap time!


Easton is continuing to amaze me daily, I love watching him learn the simplest things that we forget we never knew how to do.. His newest things:
- Trying to roll over from his back to his belly, he has his belly to his back down, but is working so hard to do it the other way, and it is quite funny to see him excert so much energy on such a "simple" task
- Talking to himself, well you know funny noises and a new scream that really has to go.. he just thinks it's so funny
- I have figured out how to get him to hold his own bottle, I do prop it up and place his hands up there ,but he doesn't move them so I let him hold it while I finish up things around the house at times! ( I love this.. but it only last for about 5 mins)
- He also is a professional skyper with my parents!
- He is not needing Mr. Giraffe so much, I think Mr. Giraffe feels like the kids on toy story, he has to be so sad!
- Easton loves Estein Videos and anything that lights up!
- Smiling and laughing are Easton's speciality right now,  you can make him laugh or smile by doing just about anything


So after such a busy week, Easton is taking a nice little relaxing holiday weekend and just being lazy..





Where is my "milk" and " book"! :)


This is what we have been up too, I am loving every minute with my little guy and we hope you have a nice relaxing Labor day as well!!

What a difference a year can make..

Well if you can believe it guys, I have made it a whole year in California, and let's not ignore the truth there were times that I was not sure that it was possilve to survive a year out here. I think back to this day a year ago and let's just say the year that unfolded before me was not at all what I had pictured on my flight over. It is quite funny how God is so sneaky and has plans for you!

So backing up a year ago, I flew out to good ole San Jose on my one way ticket with my favorite little girl in the world, Chloe!! Wasting no time at all I was headed straight down the 101 to my first 49er game all dressed in my cute little tube top. Now a year later, I would say this day is no longer possible for multiple reasons, one being I no longer travel with Chloe but with this cute little buddy of mine that I didn't even know would be apart of my life a year ago, named Easton! Also, any one from San Jose knows you don't travel the 101 if possible it's a nightmare of a highway, you take 280. Second no one in their right mind wears a tube top to Candlestick park, it is always freezing year around. Lastly, just the thought of a flight and a football game all in one day is exhausting with a baby!! Needless to say a year later, I least know how to dress for games, how to get to games and I know to go early because I have a BABY!!! Who would have thought! :)

Alright Drake family,get excited for this... I have actually grown to like many things about California, here are just a few that top my list.. yep there are more than this list! :)
1) WEATHER, need I say  more to any of you Texans
2) Weekend Vacations, being able to go to Napa, the city, Pebble Beach, Santa Cruz, Half Moon Bay etc.. all just on a weekend is wonderful
3)Mountains, they are so pretty to look at
4) Being driving distance to the Drake families


Things that still just kill me about California:
1) That stupid CRV charge.. ahhhh I really hate it, and to be honest I have chosen to forget about it and continue to buy my water bottles, however every once and a while I see a sign that says "Water bottles $3.99 + CRV", I hate that friendly reminder they post in stores and I get all worked up all over again! :)
2) Not being driving distance from the Salley Family and Texas Friends
3) Everything cost more
4) The school certification process is not only retarded but slow
5) People are not as friendly in Silicon Valley
6) I still miss my old school and working..

ok, I will stop!


I will say that in a year I found myself calling "San Jose" home a few times ( let's not get carried away it won't be a permit home, but a pretty good home for now). We have actually created a pretty good group of friends. We have plans on the weekends again! :) We have a church home that I have enjoyed getting involved in. I have joined  a mom's group aka.. My play group, I still don't feel like a mom, but non the less have meet some great people, some super cute little babies and found lots for Easton to do in the community! Drake is thriving in his job and I am grateful that I have been able to stay at home and explore the new city. I spent the whole year trying to see and do everything that there is to do int he Bay area. I owe my husband a big thank you for letting me play for the whole year and getting to explore things that most people never will get a chance to do. We are also growing to actually really love our "flea" house and we are just one happy little family.

It truly is amazing what all happens in a year! I guess I am not stating the obvious huge change that happened, but we all know that I love and adore our Little boy and he truly makes life much easier, how can you not be happy when you have that sweet little face smiling at you everyday!