The Month of Joy. Grating Carrots.

Helping out in the Kitchen is big around these parts these days. Nye-Nye just learned how to grate carrots. She probably ate more than she grated. But, she was so proud of herself!

Whenever she is interested, I try and find a way for her to help with cooking.

Yogurt Cakes are still very popular!

Baltimore Herb Festival. 2014.

It is that time of the year. Tons and tons of Plant Sales are happening every Weekend.

The absolutely BEST Plant Sale I have ever been to is the Baltimore Herb Festival.

It is a massive event held at Leakin Park with oodles of vendors selling all sorts of plants, including some hard to find Herbs. Last time I went, I came back with at least 25 different herbs ...

"Comfrey", "Mugwort", "Meadowsweet", "Lady's Mantle", "Feverfew", "Boneset", "Calendula", "Tulsi", "Lemon Balm", "Echinacea", "Pennyroyal", "African-blue Basil" and "Marshmallow"...to name a few.

If you live in the area and are curious about Gardening or Herbalism, check out the "Baltimore Herb Festival." Just make sure you bring a wagon or wheelbarrow to haul everything.

Mark your calendars, it is THIS Saturday, May 24 from 9:30 am - 3 pm.

The Month of Joy. Lemon Balm.

Last year, it was Tomatoes. 

This year, it's Lemon Balm.

I love seeing what starts growing in our Compost Heap. I drank a bit of Lemon Balm Tea this Winter and threw out the spent leaves in our "Heap." Look what's growing!

It has a terrific lemony taste and is a mild sedative. Great for those days when I am about to lose it. Maybe, I should have drank some yesterday, when Nye-Nye was having tantrum after tantrum.

I love the stuff!

I'll dig it up when we move, next month.

Here's another post on Lemon Balm Tea.

The Month of Joy. Riding a Bike.

What is bringing this Little One tons of Joy, right now?

Being pushed in the tricycle.

Over and over, again.

She just gets into the total meditative state and hums to herself, while she goes for a ride.

Back and forth, back and forth.

It's so sweet.

Happy 1st Birthday. Anala.

Dearest Anala Bears,

Your infectious grin and giggle lights up our daily lives. It's hard to remember what is was like before you made your Grand Entrance exactly one year ago.

You have a loud voice and are determined to be taken seriously. No one will ever call you a push-over. We rightly named you Juliette Anala. Anala means "fiery" and that you are, My Love.

You get very, very indignant when Mama tells you "no" or tries to remove something dangerous from your hand.

Many people have commented on your independence. You love cuddling with Mommy or Daddy, but spend most of your awake time doing your own thing.

Recently, you have really gotten into looking through books all my yourself. Your favorite two are "Noses and Toes" and "Chomp Zoo." Both are about animals. Not surprisingly, you go wild when you spy a dog or cat on one of our Daily Walks.

Another thing that makes you go wild is hearing music. You have started dancing by swaying your shoulders and spinning around in circles. We have just begun having Family Dance Parties. Sometimes, when you are dancing, you swing your arms back and forth so much that you fall over.

Today, Daddy just taught you how to give a high-five. It's the cutest.

You adore sitting on your Sissy's Potty. You grunt and groan while smiling devilishly, in her direction. I don't know if she realizes you are making fun of her. You also enjoy sitting on the Potty and scooting it backwards across the entire length of the Living Room.

Another of your favorite things to do is tickle Daddy's feet. You like to sneak up to him and do it.

You are fascinated by climbing and down on the sofa and armchairs, all by yourself. You look so proud. All of that practice has paid off.

Right now, you have 5 teeth (with 2 more just starting to poke through). You started teething at 6 weeks old, but didn't get your first teeth until after you were 6 months. Talk about a lot of work for a little compensation! Then, a whole 5 months passed before any more teeth started making an appearance. The last 2 weeks have been rough with teething. Sorry kid, there are a lot more teeth to go.

One a happy note, riding on the tricycle really mellows you out. You climb onto your Sissy's tricycle and demand a ride. Mommy puts the seat-belt on you and then you just start humming to yourself, as Mommy pushes you around the yard or on the side-walk. You still enjoy the Ergo, but the bike is now your favorite way to get around.

Happy 1st Birthday to the Sunshine of our Lives! This past year hasn't been easy for any of us, but we are so very, very Blessed to have been able to have spent it with you.

Our Love for you know no bounds,

Mommy, Daddy and Big Sissy

Yogurt Cake. Gluten-Free.

In an attempt to help my daughter develop a bit more patience, we've been baking a lot.

The book, Bring Up Bebe, inspired this burst of baking.

It took a few goes, but now I think I've figured out a recipe that works for us (I combined several recipes I found).

We've been making variations of this Yogurt Cake for about 10 months now. 

Blueberry. Cinnamon. Cardamom and Ginger. Apple. Mango. Rosemary and Parmesan. Peanut Butter and Chocolate. Cinnamon and Maple Syrup. Green Tea.

Yummy. 

And so easy for this Non-Baker. 

Fool-proof, unless you are completely distracted like I was and forgot the Yogurt!

Yogurt Cake

• 2 six-ounce containers of plain Greek Yogurt (use empty Yogurt containers to measure other ingredients)
• 3 Eggs
• 1 container of Sugar or Brown Sugar or Maple Syrup
• 1 teaspoon of Vanilla
• just under 1 container of Olive Oil or Coconut Oil or Vegetable Oil
• 2 1/2 containers of Brown Rice Flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons of Baking Powder

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 F

2. Use Oil to grease a 9-inch round cake pan or loaf pan

3. Mix the Flour and Baking Powder

4. Add Yogurt, Eggs, Sugar, Vanilla, and Oil

5. Add extras (Berries, etc..).

6. Bake for 35 minutes, then five minutes more if the cake doesn't pass the fork test. Almost crispy on the outside, but springy on the inside.

7. Cool and enjoy!!!

Friday: This Moment

Inspired by Soule Mama.

11 Months. Anala. (Playing Catch-up).

Our Dearest Anala Bears,

You turned 11 Months old on April 4th.

This hasn't been a Month of huge milestones, rather you have been refining all your newly learned skills. You gotten better at giving kisses (you can now give a close-mouthed kiss, no more open-mouth kisses...lucky us).

You enjoy using your sippy cup or regular cup, if Mommy gives it you (or someone leaves it in your reach). Meals continue to be your favorite time of the day.

You can sign "done" when asked if you are finished eating.

You still only have your two bottom teeth. Those two silly little teeth, crack us up.

You are walking very fast, especially if you have something in your hand that you know you shouldn't be holding. You love to be chased. Your favorite game is to have your Sissy chase you from the Bathroom to Mommy and Daddy's Bedroom and back again. Over and over.

You have gotten particularly good at taking pens from Mommy and then pretending to write on paper.

One of your recent mannerisms is to rub your cute, Buddha-belly and smile.

Your Nightly Routine includes taking a bath with your Sissy. Daddy is very silly and the three of you have tons of fun. Mama stays downstairs washing the dishes, while you take your bath and it makes her so happy to hear all of your squeals of delight.

When saying "Good-bye" or "Good-night" you blow kisses. Talk about melting our hearts.

Your Nightly Routine wouldn't be complete without your new friend, Baby Bear (or Chewy as Daddy insists on calling her). Auntie Julie and Cousin Nia gave her to you at Nye-Nye's Birthday and you love falling asleep with her soft fur next to your face.

You continue to put EVERYTHING in your mouth. But the good news is that now when Mommy asks what is in your mouth, you politely remove it and hand it to her. Thank you.

Our delicious, perfect little Imp, we adore you.



All of our Love,

Mommy, Daddy and Big Sissher

Happy May Day.

Happy May Day.