Sisterly Love.

I am so, so, so glad JuJu got a sister. Not that there's anything wrong with brothers. There's just something about sisters, you know?Also, I am so, so, so glad I got another girl. I hadn't realized this until I looked down and saw Little E for the first time. I thought I was fine with either. And I would have been. But there's something about a girl, you know? (I don't mean to rub this in, as a couple of friends right now are really hoping for a girl next time around....Hi Mel! Sending pink thoughts your way!)

A Fall Party.

We made it out to our friends' Annual Fall Party this weekend, and the kids had tons of fun. (I guess I posted about it last year too. Predictable, that I am.) JuJu had her first caramel apple. Not surprising, she loved it and it made a HUGE sticky mess.
C-Man got his face painted. "Batman!" he demanded. I didn't know he even knew who Batman was.
JuJu and Nana (B's mom, who was in town this week) watched on as C-Man as he got his face painted.
It turned out cute, no?
JuJu worked up the courage to get painted herself.
I love this look. It's her "I'm being real brave and sitting real, real still, mama" face.
Taking a little break from the festivities.
Little E was there too...snoozing the afternoon away.

How I've Been Spending My Time. Plus a Cookie Recipe I'm Seriously Digging Right Now.

In case anyone has been wondering, this is what I do now. Stare at my baby girl while she sleeps. Yes, she is still in the sleepy newborn phase....nursing, snoozing, nursing, repeat. It doesn't last long, so I'm trying to savor every second. Besides, how could a mom not stare at that sweet face?? (I'm trying to work on the birth story so stay tuned if you're into that sort of thing...)

I realize most of you are not here for the baby-photo-a-day routine, so I am gifting you this super awesome oatmeal coconut chocolate chip cookie recipe. I consider myself an oatmeal cookie expert of sorts (not to be boastful or anything). I had one of those moms who baked cookies once or twice (three times maybe?) a week. And she regularly made different oatmeal cookie recipes. This is hands down the best version I have tasted. Super chewy just the way I like them. Let's just say I have eaten way more than my fair share of them over the past ten days or so. It comes from my sister's roommate who happens to be a little burgeoning domestic type herself: knitter, crafter, baker, you get the picture. Sadly, I have no photos to offer you because I only take photos of the baby now. (See above.)

(The only caveat I offer you is that she claims her measurements are "estimates." But my mom and I made these the other day and they turned out great.)


Erica's Oatmeal Cookies

1 cup butter, room temperature
2 cups brown sugar
2 large eggs
3-4 tbsp of milk
2 tsp vanilla
1 3/4 cup flour
1 tsp salt
2 1/2 - 3 cups oats
About 2 cups chocolate chips
1 cup sweetened coconut

Preheat oven to 350. Grease baking sheet/ parchment paper. Cream together butter and sugar. Beat in eggs one at a time, followed by milk and vanilla extract. Gradually beat the flour into the sugar mixture, add salt. Stir in oats, coconut and chocolate chips. Bake at 350 degrees for about 10 mins. They will seem underdone, but that is how you want them. (I baked them at 325 degrees for about 13 minutes, but I think my oven runs hot. You might want to experiment baking these at different temperatures.)
(Little E likes them too!)

This Is What It's All About.

Seeing the happiness and pride spread over your first baby's face as he holds your new baby.

(Even though Little E looks a little "scrunchy" in this picture, she was quite content in big brother's arms....)

Autumn Prayer.

(I love her little tongue poking out.)

I've mentioned my uncle before. This is what was in my inbox this morning. I couldn't help but share.

Autumn Prayer
(for Emilia Rae)

In these burnished days of first fall
before bare trees and slate gray
skies of winter come to call

may the blue flower of your heart’s
deep core bloom and shine through
each cell and sinew

fill the humble and grand rooms
of your life with sweet fragrance,
true beauty and friendship’s joy
forevermore.

She's Here.

She's perfect.

Our family, and our lives, are complete.

October 9, 2009
9:32 a.m.
8 lbs. 2 oz.
19.5 inches long

Some Labor and Birth Inspiration.

In an effort to get geared up for this birth, I have been reading some past issues of Mothering Magazine. The other night, I re-read the interview with Ani DiFranco and remembered how much I loved this quote the first time I read it.

"I believe the act of giving birth to be the single most miraculous thing a human being can do and it is surely the moment when a lot of women finally understand the depth of their power and connection to all of nature. You think it can’t possibly be done, you think you can’t possibly take the pain, and then you do — and afterward you look at yourself in a whole new way. If you can do that, you can do anything....The memory of pain always recedes. The memory of triumph does not."

Isn't that nice?

Also, this birth story had me openly weeping tonight. For a good 15 minutes or so. I think it's safe to say there are WAAAAYYYYYYY too many hormones going on over here.

A Pretty Little Tip.

I haven't been much in the business of recommending beauty products lately because, well, I guess I haven't been feeling especially beautiful. (Or trying any new products.) This weekend, however, I had a little extra time to take a nice bath, apply a mask and pay a little more attention. And you know what? It worked! The proof came in the form of B asking me why my skin looked so good..."had I had a facial that day?" or something to that effect. This is significant because a.) he has extremely poor vision, and b.) he is not one to really care about or notice these sorts of things. So, I thought, I must tell the internet all about this secret formula of mine.

First I used Dr. Hauschka's Rejuvenating Mask, and left it on for about 15 or 20 minutes while I took a bath. Easy peasy.

Then, before applying my makeup (which was just a little tinted moisturizer, blush and lip gloss), I busted out the real difference maker: Laura Mercier Illuminating Brightener. Just 2 or so pumps spread lightly over your face makes a real impact.

So, there you have it. Let me know if your husband notices a difference too!

Cooking With C-Man.

Today felt like the first day of fall to me. And that means some cooking was in order. After I made a big-ol-pot-o-chili, I found myself a little helper.
First, we made some guacamole, because the chefs need a little snack while they're working. C-Man put tomato, peppers, shallot, garlic, lime and salt in his version. OK, it was the "Guacamole Kit" from Trader Joe's, but I'll still give him credit. Note the tongue. That is so B. Testing it out for flavor. He announced it needed a little more lime.
Add lime. Ensue happy dance.

Now it's time for the real good stuff. Whoorl's Heavenly Pumpkin Brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting. (You will thank me later for linking to that recipe.) Note the tongue again.

"See how good I mixed it, mama?"

Another blurry photo, true, but here he is saying "Welcome to Gusteau's Kitchen!" (He has recently become enamored with Ratatouille.) Too, too cute.

39 Weeks.

Yup. I'm still here. And all 39 weeks of this baby. Still feeling good. Excited, nervous, yadda yadda. Nothing too out of the ordinary. Although I did have an appointment with my doctor today (can I just insert here that I have the VERY BEST ObGyn in all of San Diego County, she really is all that) and there has been some "progress," as they say. For people into this sort of thing, the progress is in the form of 1 centimeter and 50% effacement and NOICAN'TBELIEVEIJUSTTOLDTHEINTERNETTHAT. This comes as fairly exciting news seeing that I never had ANY progress with the other two babes before my water broke, and thus had to work very, very, very hard for every millimeter (forget centimeters). Oh, and we might have a new girl name!