Lea's B-day

Right before I got yelled at for using a flash. Oops! I can't read German signs.

Puttin' the moves on random ferry men

I always wanted a man who could carry his share :)

Daddy and HIS girl.

Big rubber Legos are the best!

Well I'llbedamned

A few pursed lips

She's really thinking about. . . something

I gots gummies. Mmm

Thinking

I have been thinking a lot about our upcoming family expansion. I have to say, I am just as nervous this time around as I was last. It's some of the same worries: am I going to do okay with breastfeeding? Immunizations?! Sleep??!! Am I even competent enough for all of this???!!! And some new ones: to circumcise or not to circumcise? In any case, reading and research is how I cope with these worries. The question is, what breastfeeding book is the best? I know that new information is always being revealed, so what is the best and most current book to get? I have heard of women who are able to breastfeed just fine the first time around and have problems with their second child. I want to avoid this, and there is little breastfeeding support (that I have found) for Americans in Germany.

Lea's birthday was a blast. We went to the Sea Life Aquarium. It was no Newport or Boston aquarium, but the German's do try ;). I made my first cake from scratch: it was a carrot cake. It turned out. . . dense. Luckily my neighbor made this AMAZING cocoa cake and brought some over, so Lea's childhood is still intact. We spaced the present opening out through 2 days (kind of a play as you go approach) and by the end, she was pretty keen on birthdays. I'll get pictures up as soon as possible.

Super Excited

About Lea's birthday tomorrow! Two years old. I can't even believe it. I am sad about how fast the time has gone, but I really am thankful that I have been able to be there for every stage. I know that not every mom has that opportunity and I don't take it for granted.
The birthday events will be simple and as long as there are lots of balloons involved, I know that Lea will be content. Weather depending, we are taking her to the Manheim zoo (it is much bigger than the Kaiserslautern one and has *gasp!* elephants). If the weather is cruddy, I am laying towels over the entire kitchen and letting her go crazy with cups, water, and finger paints. I know it sounds lame and simple, but it doesn't take a whole lot to please my gal. We haven't made a whole ton of friends with kids her age here, and we have next to nil as far as social support goes, so we'll do what we do best and keep things tight with the three of us.

It's here

The new Post Secret Book. I have been a fan of the site for years and I am pretty excited about the latest book.

Nummy Muffins

I found this recipe on another blog. It's really good, but I tweaked it a little to make it better for you and they turned out REALLY well. My favorite was adding a banana, blueberries, and macadamia nuts. Nums! I also tried banana, raspberries and almonds. I think Miles liked the second combo better, but I am a sucker for blueberries.


Oatmeal Yogurt Muffins

This recipe is very flexible. I like to make them either with just a mashed banana, or banana and choc chips, but you can really chuck in your own favorite combo of flavours and be guaranteed of success.

1. mix 1 cup unsweetened plain or vanilla yogurt and 1 cup rolled oats together and leave to soak in the fridge for half an hour. (D note: Stonyfield Farms sells great lowfat vanilla yogurt in TUBS. Mmmm tubs. . . )

2. after half an hour stir the following things in, making sure you fold the flour in last to avoid over beating: 1 egg, 1/2 cup vegetable oil (I use extra virgin olive oil, but it works ok with canola oil or whatever you prefer), 1/2 cup sugar, your own favorite combinations of fruit, nuts, chocolate, spices, 1 1/4 cup self raising flour (or plain flour plus one teaspoon baking powder).

(D note: As long as you add a banana, you can halve the oil. Olive oil is packed with polyunsaturated fats which is not generally the kind that likes to stick on the thighs. I also used maple syrup in lieu of sugar. If you do this, add just a touch more baking powder to make sure they are fluffy)

3. the mixture makes 12 large muffins (1 tray) or 24 little muffins (2 trays – these are very cute). Grease your tray and spoon the mixture in. Cook for about 15 minutes in a fairly hot oven, 220 Celsius (you can google what that means in F). You might need 20 minutes for the large muffins, but its worth checking them at the 15 minute mark and giving them the extra time until they are golden brown on top, and no longer squishy – they should spring back to the touch.