My Baby is Becoming a Toddler by Day...

but is still very much a baby by night.

In the past month:

Toddler By Day
1) She has learned to walk. Over the past 4 days it has transitioned from dashing from one object she can stand next to to another to toddling around the room with her hands outstretched not falling.

2) She likes to dive head first down slides at the park. That was a little scary the first time... :/

3) She responds to basic instructions. For example, she was whining for food and I pointed to a closed container with pretzels in it on the floor and asked her to bring it to me so that I could give her one, and she followed my instructions exactly.

4) She gets her own food. Today she found the same pretzel container in the pantry and brought it to me.

5) She shuns nursing for a sippy cup from time to time.

6) She says words: "Mommy", "Daddy", "Ahhhhhh-lll Daaaaahhhhhhh" with waving arms ("all done" for you non moms out there), "Amen" (this morning at Mass), and tries to say other things like "pope" (I use this as a distraction when she is on the changing table since there is a papal blessing on our wall right above it).

7) Oh yeah, I forgot, she tries and sometimes succeeds in climbing EVERYTHING! Nothing is safe, not chairs, toy push carts, me, her sister, stairs, step stools. I expect that she will get herself out of her crib one day. Though I have not seen her attempt that yet...

Baby By Night

1) As soon as we come into our room at night, no matter what time it is or how recently she nursed she wakes up and fusses until I nurse her again. And then if I am lucky she only wakes every three hours. But at least she sleeps until almost 7am on days we don't go to 8am Mass?
2) My dear husband pointed out that she no longer needs to nurse to sleep in my arms at night or at nap. So I can't complain as much, because I can nurse her a little bit and put her back in her crib awake. So that's a plus.

3) I know I have to savor these nighttime nursing moments because soon she won't be a baby anymore and I know I will miss that.

My Three Loves

Last night right before our bedtime prayers for the girls, G. gave me a big hug and we had this conversation:

G: "I have two loves, Mommy."
Me: "Who are your two loves?"
G: "Them." *points to my husband and L.
Me: "Daddy and L?"
G: "Yes."
Me: "Well, I have three loves, you, Daddy, and L. But Daddy is my best love."
G: "You are MY best love!"

Then my husband interjected: "Well your smallest love needs your attention." L. had been fussing for me the whole time.

I told him, "Sorry, G. and I were having a moment."

French Onion Soup

In high school my best friend and I loved to go to St. Louis Bread Company (Panera Bread outside of St. Louis). She always got french onion soup and I always had the chicken noodle (my favorite soup as a child). My reasons for not trying french onion soup were the onions and the swiss cheese.

However, it is very difficult to not try foods I never liked as a child with my husband who will eat anything and wants me to try everything. So, I never avoid onions anymore and have learned to really enjoy them. Then I ventured had my first reuben sandwich and loved it. It had swiss cheese on it. I ventured to put swiss cheese in my lentil soup and loved it. I still do not prefer swiss alone, but when combined with super salty foods it is delicious!

So, a couple weeks ago at Bread Co. I tried their french onion soup...it was amazing. Then I decided to make my own...and here is what I did:

First, you saute onions in butter with thyme for about 15 minutes until then just start to get golden:


Then you cook them for a ridiculous amount of time on low covered until the onions are a rich brown color. Once they are brown add cognac or sherry and saute on high until the alcohol cooks off. Add stock and salt and pepper to taste; cook 20 more minutes or so.


Shred swiss and put in each bowl. Slice some french bread and add to the bowl.


Put finished soup on cheese and bread and enjoy.



YUM!!!!!!!! We had this with homemade reubens. I have to make this dinner again soon... :)