Just add milk... I don't think so

So, this weekend I decided to get crazy in the kitchen and make blueberry oatmeal muffins from SCRATCH.  Yes, you heard me.  My mom would probably laugh, since she taught me to make everything from a box whenever it would turn out as good or better than whatever you were about to spend tons of time doing from scratch.  I didn't even know biscuits could be made from scratch until my senior year in high school home economics class.  This is intended as no offense to the wonderful woman who taught me to cook, because I whole-heartedly agree with slice-n-bake cookies and cinnamon rolls in a can.  So, don't speculate too hard on what caused this sudden personality glitch, (and I hate the term "nesting".)  I just saw this article in my new Cooking Light magazine regarding a cookbook coming out in mid-August on making healthy foods for infants/toddlers.  (I'm planning to get this cookbook too, since the recipe was a hit with Isabella.)  And I happen to have a TON of fresh blueberries I didn't know what to do with.  Regardless, I was pleased with the final product, so here you go, the beautiful blueberry oatmeal muffins.

Baby Cole update

John and I got to see sweet baby Cole today because the doctor wanted to check the fluids and his growth.  He's doing great.  The ultrasound tech measured him to be abou 6 lbs. 10 oz. (but said she tends to overestimate) and the amniotic fluid looked great.  She said he's in a great position (head down, umbilical cord up and out of the way) and I'm still only 1 cm dilated (as I was 2 weeks ago.)  We're planning to induce August 2 if everything looks favorable on my next visit.  I just can't wait to meet this sweet little boy.  Just hang in there until your daddy finishes taking the Bar exam!

This is his profile.  The forehead is to the right of the picture and the nose and mouth and chin are to the left.  He smooched up against the placenta.  Pretty cute, huh?!

Independence Day

It's been a restful weekend for us.  After the busyness of last weekend, we really needed this.  We enjoyed swimming in the pool together, pushing Isabella on her tricycle, and grilling hot dogs.  We went to bed (or at least Isabella did) too early for the fireworks, but we enjoyed the 4th in a relaxing way!

She loves the slide.  She tried to climb the ladder herself, but PawPaw stopped her.

Isabella loves to go in and out the door while we're grilling.

She hasn't quite gotten the hang of pedaling yet, but it's coming soon!

Happy 4th of July!

Shoes, Shoes, Shoes

This little girl loves some shoes.  "Shoe" was one of the first words I could understand on a regular basis and she will almost always stop in her tracks if you tell her it's time to put her shoes on.  In fact, about 50% of the time, she will pitch a fit when you take them off.  She tries on her shoes, my shoes, her dad's shoes, and dress up shoes and gets great pleasure from walking around in them.  Here are a few of my favorite recent pictures: