Sick Blueberry

Despite being sick the last couple of days she has actually been really good. I don't know how she is so agreeable as congested as she is! Yesterday she just wanted me to hold her all day. She fussed if I put her down, but as long as I was holding her she was okay. I think she is starting to feel better already- hopefully it was just a short little cold.

Hating my computer

Blogging is not fun when you can't post those gazillion cute pics I have on the camera. Mark's computer apparently bit the dust so we are down to my computer. It is a reject from when Mark used to work at the bank and they were giving away the old computers (you know the computers are old and prettty useless if they are giving them away to employees). Anyway it is miserably slow when it comes to posting pics and doing other fun things. We are in the market for a new computer and until we get one I am too impatient to post loads of pics. However I can't resist posting these in the meantime...

Thanks Grandma Sugar for the adorable suit and purse!

Monday July 20

• July 20th 2009- great date, not great day



• Blueberry= 3 months old



• Mark and Ashlee= married 3 years

Just one of those crazy busy days where I was lucky to take a shower and get dinner made, Mark was sick and Blueberry was, well, just tired (she went to sleep at 6:00pm for the night since she had no afternoon nap!) while her parents became couch potatoes- why didn't I use that time in a better way??? Maybe we can properly celebrate another day... I don't even have the umph to write a mushy post about how much I love my husband and baby and I do love them both A LOT! I did however have the energy to post pictures. Next time I will have to write the post before I download the pics and not the other way around! I posted the pictures as a slideshow below because I know some people will gag at the amount of pictures I have and others will be happy to look at them all :) My computer is too slow so I didn't get to flip all the pics- just flip your head...

4th of July

Having fun with the camera on the 4th!

Donut Falls

We did our first hike with Blueberry on July 3rd to Donut Falls. It was a lot of fun and she was great- just snoozed on Dad's chest the whole hike! Here are some pics...

I don't know how she could breathe like that!

Hiking is tiring!

Yes, that is my nursing cover- it was all we had and I didn't want her arms to get burnt!

Love it vs. Leave it

So as I watch Blueberry grow and start to show her little personality I can't help but think of all the things she does now and whether I want her to keep that characteristic or grow out of it. Like for example, she is such a great eater now. Not picky at all- she eats whatever I provide:) Definitely lovin' that! Other thoughts...

Got it, Love it, please keep it:

• Such a good sleeper- I stick her in her crib with a binky and leave and she just quietly puts herself to sleep. Or, if we are out and about she just has to have something against her face to fall asleep. Or, if she is in the car she is usually a goner. Noise? No problem. Let's just say she has her momma's gift of good sleep :)
• Little social girl- she likes to see what is going on and be a part of it all- if you are holding her you better face her out!
• Likes to play outside- if she is fussy, sometimes all I have to do is walk outside and she calms right down.
• Talking and laughing- LOTS! especially in the morning
• Little athlete- this started in the womb, but she is still a busy body- always kicking or wiggling

Maybe leave it behind...

• Partier? She is loud in the middle of the night. I mean LOUD. When she wakes up at midnight to eat she talks so much and so loud I am sure she is going to wake Mark up. We do not need a late night partier on our hands!
• Book hater?! I have started reading little books to her or just talking about the pictures in books and she hasn't given me quite the response I'd hoped for (admiration, complete attentiveness, overall joy whenever she sees the printed page). She fusses the second we sit down with a book, or yesterday I gave her the binky to stop the fussing and she promptly slumped over and fell asleep on the book!
• Unappreciative of the girly accessories? Mom finds cute shoes. Mom buys cute shoes. Mom puts cute shoes on cute feet. Cute feet kick them off 20 seconds later. Or... Wiggle, wiggle wiggle- lacy headband turns into rambo headband or blindfold. Bow on head with caro syrup? Baby rips out bow on head and sympathetic dad asks mom to quit putting bows on head or all hair will be ripped out. arg!

Amazing deliciousness

Trust me, you want this recipe. It is scrumptious and as an added bonus, very pretty.

Cowboy Caviar

1/4 cup cider vinegar

1/2 cup olive oil

1/2 cup sugar
Bring vinegar, oil, and sugar to a boil, then let cool.

Add:

Chopped green and red pepper

Chopped onioni bunch cilantro

DRAIN and RINSE 1 can each:

black beans

garbonzo beans

light red kidney

dark red kidney

black eyed peas

2 cans shoepeg (WHITE) corn

Toss together and chill.Can serve with tortilla chips.

Blessing Day

On June 28^th we blessed our beautiful Blueberry. She was an angel and it was so much fun to get together with family and friends. Thanks to all for coming and sharing in our joy! I am so thankful for our healthy little girl and the happiness she brings into our lives. She adds such a sweet spirit to our family and I feel that she brings out the best in me as I try to be a good mother and example for her. As I think about the blessing Mark gave her I have to add that I am also so thankful for my husband. He is an amazing father and it just melts my heart to see him with our little girl. Every day I thank my Heavenly Father for bringing him into my life. He is the spice of my life and I am so grateful that he works so hard and is willing to make the necessary sacrifices so I can stay home with our beautiful babe.

Yes, he even made her blessing dress! He is a man of many talents…

**Thanks to our photographer Jenn!

Another Tasty Tuesday

Made Zucchini Oat Muffins today- YUM! Thought I would share the recipe since they are so delicious and anyone with a garden needs more zucchini recipes! I used craisins instead and also added some flax!

I am a messy scooper! I want a pampered chef scoop to help me out! Having a pampered chef party on July 14th so I can get one! YAY!

The only drawback to the baking... the MESS!

Notice the missing "poison piece"!

Zucchini-Oat Bread

1 ½ c. sugar
2 ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
2 ½ c. all-purpose flour
1 c. rolled oats
1 tsp baking powder
¾ tsp salt
½ tsp baking soda
3 eggs
1 c. applesauce
¼ c. butter, melted
1 tsp vanilla
2 c. shredded zucchini, unpeeled
1 c. chopped walnuts or pecans
¾ c. raisins

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Lightly coat a 9x5x3 inch loaf pan with cooking spray; set aside. Combine 1 Tablespoon of the sugar and 1/4 tsp of the cinnamon; set aside. Combine flour, oats, baking powder, salt, baking soda, and remaining cinnamon; set aside. In a large mixing bowl beat eggs with electric mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes or until foamy. Add remaining sugar, the applesauce, butter and vanilla. Gradually add the flour mixture, beating on low speed just until combined. Stir in the zucchini, nuts and raisins. Spoon into prepared pan. Sprinkle with remaining sugar-cinnamon mixture.

2. Bake for 1 hour and 20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool in pan on wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pan. Cool completely on rack. Wrap and store several hours before slicing. Makes 16 slices

*** Muffins: Bake in cupcake liners for only about 20-25 minutes...store in airtight plastic bag to keep moist.

Photo recap of Blueberry in June

For all of you that can't get enough pics of my baby...
:) Okay, probably just the grandparents...

Discovering (and eating) her hands

Discovering and talking to (not eating) her "friends"

Reading with Papa

Morning smiles and

morning stretches

First playdate (huge success as you can tell)

A little working with Mom

A little snuggles with Dad after he ran out in the rain

Not always blissfully content...

Always willing to hold things and help out

inherited the gift of sleep

and relaxation

and more sleep (looking like a frog or bird?)

helping Mom pack for NC

And still the cutest thing I have ever seen :)

Two questions:

1. Can you tell Blueberry is the first child?

2. Can you tell I have a new camera I love?