Mama' Boy

When I was younger, I always knew I wanted a family (yes I am one of those people). I imagined I would have a boy and would spend a time with Uncle Adam in Mexico learning about birds and herps, doing the wonderland trail, fishing, having fun with science and gross things and loving being with my little guy. But then I had a girl. Boy was I in shock. I hoped she liked me, hoped she did'nt look like me and hoped that I would figure out what to do with her and make sure she was happy. These might be things any new parent thinks when they find out what they are having, but I was scared. Now, she is my life. I never think those scary things or wonder how I will make sure she is happy. She is my best friend and my life. I can do all the things with her that I wanted to with a boy. Now, I found out what my second baby will be and it is a boy. Now I am not scared, but I wonder how I will raise both. I was so excited that all my hopes and dreams have finally come true that I made Molly Wizenbergs winning hearts and minds cake. It just seemed like a perfect fit. Lou worries that I will spoil this little guy, b/c he knows how much I have wanted one, but really I am happy to have the family that I have always wanted-the husband that I always knew I would have, my daughter that has given me more love than imaginable, and now a son to complete all my hopes and dreams. Things really could'nt be better! I dont have a picture of the new baby to post, but trust me it is a healthy little boy.

Here is Molly's recipe:
(I added a chocolate ganache but this cake would be much simpler, like for an afternoon treat, instead of for a celebration which I used it for). If you are going to make this, allow to cool either in the fridge or overnight at room temperature before serving.

Gâteau au chocolat fondant de Nathalie
or, Kate's Winning-Hearts-and-Minds CakeAdapted from Je veux du chocolat!, by Trish Deseine



7 ounces (200 grams) best-quality dark chocolate
7 ounces (200 grams) unsalted European-style butter (the high-butterfat kind, such as Lurpak or Beurre d’Isigny), cut into ½-inch cubes
1 1/3 cup (250 grams) granulated sugar
5 large eggs
1 Tbs unbleached all-purpose flour

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit, and butter an 8-inch round cake pan. Line the base of the pan with parchment, and butter the parchment too.

Finely chop the chocolate (a serrated bread knife does an outstanding job of this) and melt it gently with the butter in a double boiler or in the microwave, stirring regularly to combine. Add the sugar to the chocolate-butter mixture, stirring well, and set aside to cool for a few moments. Then add the eggs one by one, stirring well after each addition, and then add the flour. The batter should be smooth, dark, and utterly gorgeous.

Pour batter into the buttered cake pan and bake for approximately 25 minutes, or until the center of the cake looks set and the top is shiny and a bit crackly-looking. (I usually set the timer for 20 minutes initially, and then I check the cake every two minutes thereafter until it’s done. At 20 minutes, it’s usually quite jiggly in the center. You’ll know it’s done when it jiggles only slightly, if at all.) Let the cake cool in its pan on a rack for 10 minutes; then carefully turn the cake out of the pan and revert it, so that the crackly side is facing upward. Allow to cool completely. The cake will deflate slightly as it cools.

Serve in wedges at room temperature with a loose dollop of ever-so-slightly sweetened whipped cream.

Note: This cake is even better on the second day, so consider making it the day before serving. And thank you to Clotilde of Chocolate & Zucchini, whose mention of a clementine cake in Trish Deseine’s Mes petits plats préférés led to my stumbling upon Je veux du chocolat! in the bookstore one day.

Saint of my Heart

                                    

Valentines was great this year...it was simple. I guess I dont know the true meaning of Valentines Day after so many years of being brainwashed with the silly gifts and cards and the notion of having a valentine or else you are left out. I never thought that a holiday should be about being in or out or feeling like you had to get something. I woke up with Frannie with her asking if I could be her Valentine and that made my day. Knowing that there is somethign in the world as simple as pure as a child gives me hope (especially if you ahve ever seen me in the morning). Lou and I kept things simple as well and spent some nice time talking and relaxing. We dont need much anymore to feel close to each other. Life has gotten really simple...and I like it. (I did make the oreo-stuffed chocolate chip cookies I posted and took them into work. They were a huge hit and I recommend trying them if you ever have a reason to bring a cookie somewhere.)



Chocolate heart from Papa Lou and Nana Joann




...not sure if she'll be able to eat it




Trying to take a crack at it. Finally, we got out the cleaver and cut a piece for her.



My litte cupid is growing like a weed a kicking up a storm.  On sunday, Lou and I were both able to feel it thumping on the outside (I have felt movement for weeks). The baby is about the size of a heirloom tomato and about 6 inches long and 19 weeks along-next week I'll be half way!

What's Happening with Your Baby?
Your baby is now about five to six inches long-about as long as your outstretched hand. The baby's head is not quite as large in proportion to the rest of the body as it was before. Fingernails are now starting to form out of the nail beds on his fingertips.

17 Weeks

On my walk in this morning while my cheeks froze, I thought about these last 17 weeks. Why have things been so different from the first time? For one, this is #2 and a different baby. I am also not on my feet waiting tables for 6 or 8 hours three nights a week. I slept, a lot. Sleeping and winter time seem to go well together with this pregnancy. Maybe it is b/c I am older and have a different set of stresses in my day than I have previously. But we did have a lot on our plates then too (like a house remodel and planning a wedding). Now, I am grateful for the time I can squeeze in for exercise and yoga without veering from my time with Francesca. Things have been a lot different with this pregnancy (like wearing pregnancy pants around 10-12 weeks). I dont think that the baby is a lot bigger, just that my muscle memory from the pregnancy is weighing in-we call this the big release-all of my muscles have just gone back to the pregnancy time before and arent going worry about anything and just relax.



#1



#2

And no, I did not plan to have the same militant color scheme for my wardrobe this picture. I was cleaning and my sweat pants looked like a better option than the pants I wore to work. I need to work on my camera man too. It is almost like he wants to take bad pictures...



Big Sister has also been smart enough to use this time to her advantage and request BIG things b/c she is a big sister, like this ice cream cone...

not keeping time

I know that I havent posted anything recently and can only blame my hectic life lately. We all have been great and recently we've been cold. here is a recipe to keep you busy and happy. They say it is the turducken of baked goods and if my husband permits, i'll be making them this weekend:

 http://picky-palate.com/2011/01/06/chocolate-chip-oreo-cookie-sandwich/

Chocolate Chip Oreo Cookie Sandwich

2 sticks softened butter
3/4 Cup packed light brown sugar
1 Cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 Tablespoon pure vanilla
3 1/2 Cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
10 oz bag chocolate chips
1 bag Oreo Cookies, I used the double stuff
1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.   In a stand or electric mixer cream butter and sugars until well combined.  Add in eggs and vanilla until well combined.
2.  In a separate bowl mix the flour, salt and baking soda.  Slowly add to wet ingredients along with chocolate chips until just combined.  Using a cookie scoop take one scoop of cookie dough and place on top of an Oreo Cookie.  Take another scoop of dough and place on bottom of Oreo Cookie.  Seal edges together by pressing and cupping in hand until Oreo Cookie is enclosed with dough.  Place onto a parchment or silpat lined baking sheet and bake cookies 9-13 minutes or until cookies are baked to your liking.  Let cool for 5 minutes before transferring to cooling rack.  Serve with a tall glass of milk, enjoy!
Makes about 2 dozen VERY LARGE Cookies

Yellowstone

We left Helena last Saturday at 6 am, dogless, but excited for the weekend ahead. Francesca had no idea of what was to come.  We headed down to West Yellowstone, ahead of schedule, and visited the Bear and Wolf Center hoping to see some animals. Frannie didnt get to see the bears up close, but we hit the feeding time for the wolves. It was a nice transition into the park.


Baby wolf  happy at the wolf viewing center





Alpha male showing dominance over alpha female at carcass

 
  We found our ride into the park,a 1978 Bombardier, and sqeezed aboard ear plugs in place. They didnt have toddler sized ear plugs and it made for a challenging trip. We did see animals along the way and had a great trip in.

 

Our ride in






Elk




Yellowstone traffic jam



 We stayed in the Old Faithful area and rented a little cottage for the weekend. We didnt do much, but explored what we could and rested. It was a great weekend and we are hoping to do it again very soon. The park in winter was quiet, free of crowds, and should be enjoyed by all. It was a very special weekend.


Ground transportation at the Snow Lodge




Taking a break in front of Old Faithful until it went off




Our ride out




Happy at the Fountain Geyser- it only goes off every 8 hrs and we caught it!!




Blue Star Spring

 What's Happening with Baby? Week 15
Your baby is now beginning to grow his very first hairs. Around this time the baby's eyes close and won't open again until the 7th month. Nail beds are beginning to become visible at the ends of the baby's fingers. The baby's arms are now long enough that she can grasp one hand in the other.



Mastering 2011

For many people, the new year is about resolutions-resolution to change something they did or didn’t do in the past year.  For us, the past year was just about right for a change.  We didn’t do too much, didn’t do anything we didn’t want to do, and we didn’t do too little.  We spent time taking in the seasons slowly and learning to share our lives with a two year old.

01/01/2011

In 2011, we made the choice to bring more into our lives by having a baby this July.  We will be able to prepare for this baby and enjoy life at the pace which suites us much better.  With Francesca, we had so many other pots in the fire that life seemed to keep us spinning.  For example: I don’t have a second job working until the wee hours of the morning, we aren’t remodeling a newly acquired house, we don’t have a wedding planned and we don’t have anything big coming our way besides the new big change-baby #2.  I constantly compare this pregnancy to the last and forget how different our lives were then.  Being settled and having some major life events out of the way will be a relief.  I’ll be making cookies.

Todays cookie:  Moosewood Restaurants Big Chocolate chip cookies

Last year, with all my free moments, I began wondering what it would be like to understand cooking.  To be able to make my family meals that made me say, “yum”.  With my Aunt Simones visit from France in the summer, I took the opportunity to learn more about French cooking.  Basically, yes I started the Julia and Lindsay (Julia and Julia) project.  I didn’t have direction, didn’t have a goal besides cooking when I could and whatever I liked (yes, I’ll be passing on the aspics).  This year I hope to continue the practice and tackle the deboned and stuffed duck recipe.  I have the duck in my possession, just need the mastering the art of French cooking books.  Right now I am typing as I am making cookies but would really love to be cooking that duck.  Sometime soon; I’ll keep you posted.

End of 2010

Christmas was peaceful this year.  We left out cookies for Santa and apples and carrots for Rudolph.  It was fun for us b/c Francesca knew who the major players were.  We went to church on Christmas Eve with her friend Freya and family and spent Christmas day with just us and the moment.  Frannie had to be woken up and convinced it was Christmas and not farmer’s market day (both fall on a Saturday this year).  We spent a long morning going over gifts and enjoying the white splendor outside.  New years was not eventful besides all the coughing and chilling temperatures.  We enjoyed some crab and fireworks from down the street.  We are all looking forward to 2011.

Beginning of 2011

We will be spending next weekend in Yellowstone as a substitute Christmas vacation and hopefully the weather isn’t as bad as it is forecasted to be.  Lou and I have wanted to go to the Park in the wintertime since we moved to Montana and decided this might be the best time to go, since the next two years probably won’t work.  For the first 90 or so days of the new year, I’ll be tied up in Legislative work and wont have too many spare moments for making cookies or enjoying quiet time like I did over Christmas break.  Francesca will be turning three this March and she is already looking forward to her party.  She has a great group of friends to share it with and is excited about the singing.  We moved her up to the big sister room upstairs (to be shared with the new baby) and made her old room the play room/guest room.  She is have so much fun with all of her things that previously resided in the closet and having a new room.

New room in progress

=

Besides visiting family for the birth of the baby, all I have hopefully planned will be the visit of Seattle over Labor day.  I am not sure what type of leave I will have, but that is usually a good time for us to visit (except for fire season or hunting season conflicts).  We’ll see how things work out once #2 arrives and what life will be like.  I think it will be great.

Blogging has gotten off to a slow crawl this year but I hope to keep you all informed as much as possible.  Pictures will come and go and I hope to show you what 2011 is like for us. 

Happy New Year and best of everything to you in 2011. 

Updates

-          Next weeks posting: Yellowstone

-          Baby Update:  14 weeks on tuesday-mostly craving apples and savory/salty things.

-          Today’s (Sunday)weather out on our porch 5˚F

holiday picture

i have been feeling rather behind not posting christmas pictures for days. it is mostly b/c i havent felt like it. we have had such a relaxing week and holiday that not much has promted me for action. so here, are just a few pictures from our christmas. more details to come once the new  year roles around and my laziness rolls along.




opening presents, what fun

 


re-decorating the buche de noel, notice she did not miss an opportunity to wear her party hat




with our christmas tree





fun with daddy

 

lots of time for fun and laughs