Eula's 1st Birthday!

How did this happen? has it really been a year since my sweet little Eula Beatrice was born? I havent even finished writing her birth story or a photo book for her;)! i need to get something done for her! poor little second child... a little neglected ;)

She is such a delight and just so happy all the time. She has started waving, clapping her hands and says mama, papa, bye bye and lots of little songs she makes up. Her favorite person is still Staughty. and he loves her right back. In the mornings, he comes running into our room, not to see clay or me, but to see his Eula. I love watching them together. I'm sure in a few years they will be driving me as crazy as my brother and i did to my mom.

We had a wonderful little party for her and she loved loved loved her cupcake! Unlike staughty, who at his 1st birthday party looked at me like i was crazy when i gave him chocolate!

I know everyone says it, but it really does go by too fast. In the past 6 months she has had so many developmental milestones that have quickly changed her from my little newborn to this TODDLER. I already wish i had soaked it up more..

I will start now with my babbling, beautiful little 1 year old.

EichelAdamsCravenChapman (minus the Adams)

A few weekends ago, we headed up to Robbinsville, NC to see some friends. We had a beautiful time in these gorgeous NC mountains with friends. Beth took us all kinds of places- art and pottery galleries, candle makers, and a farm where they make their own cheese from their cows. The boys went fly fishing and swam in the creek while Beth, Faye and I sat in the hot tub! here are a few pics

Laugh

No one can make Eula laugh like Staughty She reserves her brightest smiles and beautiful laughs for the person closest to her level. He is so good with her. The 3rd parent when i need him to be ("mama, eula has something in her mouth!") and her favorite playmate. He takes such good care of her and she often repays him by relentlessly yanking on those beautiful little blond curls of his. Here is a wonderful snapshot of their relationship.

Christmas

trying to catch up!

We had a lovely Christmas and there are many more pictures of Christmas to be posted later. Jen Jen and Rye Rye came down from Brooklyn and spent Christmas Eve with us. Then Donna spent the night Christmas Eve and spent Christmas day with us. She cooked an incredible breakfast- Lemon Ricotta Pancakes and Blueberry Sausage. then we went to my parents for another wonderful meal and family time. Lastly, to our friends the Galenkamps for some evening Christmas cheer. Then home, exhausted and happy. Eula chose the week we put up our Christmas tree to start crawling so i was pretty ready to take it down right after. All Staughty wanted for Christmas was a Batman costume. Luckily, Santa make a darn good Batman costume. He wears it every day!

Staughty and Sanders

drawing at the table like Clay

Making Carrot apple celery juice (in reverse order)

Whew... the longer i go without blogging, the more daunting it becomes. I will try to update a bit with a few pictures and then will try my hardest (maybe) to do better with this!

Staughty loves his cousin Sanders. Sanders is a year 1/2 older but they have this crazy bond. Clay once asked me who he thought Staughty felt safest to and I responded that of course it was his incredible parents. But Clay told me he thought Staughty felt safest with Sanders. I think he's right. Here is someone on his level, but a little bigger. Sanders protects him (from big boys splashing him at the pool) and teaches him (about Transformers, how to jump on the tramp, ride a scooter, play soccer and so much more). Often when Staughty wakes up crying in the middle of the night and we ask him whats wrong, he cries, "I want Sanders!". breaks my heart. We try to get the boys together often. Here is some pics of some of our latest dalliances.

Fowl Confusion

I got this email from my mom tonight- cracked me up.

Dear Children,

 

I think I am losing it.   I ran into Kroger to get a nice big  chicken to roast for dinner tonight.  The package said

'fresh oven roaster, no added preservatives.'    I grabbed it up with some carrots and potatoes thinking

we would have a nice easy dinner.

 

Well, when I got home, I noticed that it might have kind of a turkey smell.    I looked all over the package and there

is not one word that says if it is a chicken or a turkey.   Just a picture of this brown steaming baked fowl.

And, another clue, is that it has one of those pop-up timers in it, but maybe chickens have those too.

 

I put it in a roasting pan with the carrots and potatoes, and we are having either a very large chicken for dinner

or a very small turkey, I still don't know what it is.   Crazy.

 

Love, Mom

Broccoli Cheddar Soup

1 medium head broccoli, cut into small florets
2 T olive oil
1 large potato, peeled and cut into 1/2" cubes
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
1 large garlic clove, minced
1 t cumin
1 t salt
1/4 t black pepper
1/2 t ground mustard
2 T flour
1 c soy milk (or skim)
2 c coarsely grated sharp Cheddar cheese
6-7oz firm tofu (apx 1/2 block)

I got this from a great blog that Faye shared with me. Fresh365.blogspot.com. i love it because it has protein from the tofu, and its not fatty. I use skim milk instead of soy, but you could probably use unsweetened almond milk too. i made this 2 weeks ago and have been craving it ever since. i double it so we have tons for lunch the rest of the week- if clay doesnt eat it all tonight and tomorrow!

RECIPE:
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add broccoli, and cook until just tender, 2-3 minutes. Drain, reserving 3 cups water. Rinse broccoli with cold water to stop cooking, and set aside.

In a large pan, heat olive oil, over medium heat. Add potato, pepper, onion, and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened, 8 to 10 minutes. Add cumin, salt, pepper, mustard and flour, and cook, stirring, 2 minutes. Add reserved 3 c water, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer (partially covered), until potatoes are tender, about 10 minutes. Add soy milk and Cheddar, stirring to melt.

Transfer 3 c soup to a blender, and add tofu (this may need to be done in 2 batches). Puree, until smooth. Return to pot. Add florets and cook over medium heat, until heated, 2-3 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper (I added about 1 t more salt).