Another Post from an Unbiased Momma

OMG, I have the CUTEST boys!!! See for yourself.


Both of my pride & joys:

Our fabulous big brother:

Sweet Baby Deacon's 6 week pictures:

Eggs & Mudbugs

What beautiful weather we have had in Houston! We took full advantage yesterday by spending the day outside, starting with an Egg Drop.

A local church puts on this event where a helicopter comes and drops thousands of Easter eggs on a football field for the kiddos to hunt. We went last year and was excited to see that it was moved to the school across the street from our neighborhood, and they divided it into hunts by age groups, instead of just one big hunt. Carson had so much fun, and there were so many eggs for the kids to hunt, that once Carson's basket was full he had to stop!

By the time Carson was done hunting, my sister and her boys arrived. Carson and Austin tested out all the other activities that were set up:

Next we went and fulfilled our Spring tradition: Crawfish!!!

Luckily Carson is adventurous with appetite, and has always loved eating crawfish. But what he loves even more is PLAYING with crawfish.

LIVE. CRAWFISH.

I don't think he got my sensitivity for animals though. At one point he came and told me "Okay Momma, I am done playing with the crawfish. I want to eat some crawfish."

Deacon can't wait until he can join the fun...

Baby Smiles :)

6 Weeks

This week Meme came and stayed with you and your brother during the day because Momma and Dada went back to work and you weren't quite old enough for daycare.

Your stomach has still been bothering you this week, so we have been testing different formula combinations and also purchased new bottles and gripe water. We pray that they continue to work so you won't be so uncomfortable in the evenings.

Otherwise you are such a happy baby. You have been much more curious this week and just enjoy taking in your new world. Your neck is getting so strong now, you can even spend a few minutes in your bumbo, where we decided to take this weeks picture.

Hotslings

I'm in love!!

I think I found my favorite baby invention this round of having a little one. I knew I wanted a comfortable sling so that I could have my hands free around the house and with Carson, and also not have to use a stroller or lug around the carseat every time when we went out.

After doing some research, I found one and it ROCKS! The brand is called hotslings and it is super comfortable for both me and Deacon, and comes in a ton of fabulous styles! Their website
shows all the patterns and gives a sizing chart. You can also purchase from their site which has more selections but costs more, or for a little less at Target and Babies R Us (around $30-$50).

I decided to check out ebay and found two bargains, neither had ever been used, one for $15, the other for $20! They arrived today and when I got home from work I immediately had to test them out, and when I discovered how fabulous they are, I had to share! All new moms need one of these!

This first one is reversible; it's black on the other side:

Look how happy he is!

No hands! (It doesn't look like it in the picture, but he is super secure.)

The other style, I think it's my fav

5 Weeks

This week you smiled for the first time!! We can't wait until you start smiling more often so we can capture that grin on camera.

We had a couple of tough days earlier this week, where you cried a little more and stayed awake a little longer at night, but as the week has gone by you seem to be feeling much better.

We signed you up for daycare this week and you will be starting after you turn 6 weeks old. Carson is excited that you will be going to his "school" soon.

Kermit was Wrong

...it's totally easy being GREEN!

In honor of St. Patrick's Day we took on the adventure of making "green" velvet cake balls from bakerella.com. They turned out SO yummy, I thought I would share the recipe. (This is the hard way, you can also cheat and make it quick & easy by using box mix and canned icing.)

"Green" Velvet Cake Balls

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1 Tablespoon cocoa
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 eggs
1 cup oil
1 cup buttermilk
1 Tablespoon vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 oz. red food coloring
1 package chocolate bark (regular or white chocolate)
wax paper

*Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

*Grease and flour two 8 inch cake pans.

*Lightly stir eggs in a medium bowl with a wire whisk. Add remaining liquid ingredients and stir together with whisk until blended. Set aside.

*Place all the dry ingredients in your mixing bowl and stir together really good with another wire whisk.

*Add wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix on medium-high for about a minute or until completely combined.

*Pour into cake pans and then drop the pans on the counter a few times to release any air bubbles.

*Bake for about 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

*After about ten minutes, remove from pans and cool completely on a wire rack. I also cover in plastic wrap while the cakes cool.

*Then make the frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting

4 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups confectioners’ sugar

*Beat cream cheese and butter on high until creamy. Add vanilla.

*Then, add the sugar in batches. Scrape down the sides in between each addition.

*After cake is cooked and cooled completely, crumble into large bowl.

* Mix thoroughly with cream cheese frosting. (It may be easier to use fingers to mix together, but be warned it will get messy.)

*Roll mixture into quarter size balls and lay on cookie sheet. (We made ours larger)

*Chill for several hours. (You can speed this up by putting in the freezer.)


*Melt chocolate in microwave per directions on package.

*Roll balls in chocolate and lay on wax paper until firm. (Use a spoon to dip and roll in chocolate and then tap off extra.)

They are SO moist & yummy! And best of all don't require a plate or fork!

Two Peas in a Pod

We have discovered a similarity that both of our sons share...

On the left is Carson as a baby, on the right is Baby Deacon.

Aren't babies supposed to sleep in the fetal position?!?

Not our boys...

1 Month

Deacon - You are 1 month old!!

You are around 12 pounds and 21.5 inches.
You wear size 1 diapers and 0-3 month clothes.

• You have been such a sweet addition to our family. We are still surprised at how easy-going you are and how little you cry.
  
  
• You are such a great eater, and can eat anywhere from 4 to 8 ounces in one feeding. When we told your doctor this, he said that was "incredible!"
  

• You love having your feet rubbed, sitting in your swing watching cartoons with Carson, snuggling on the couch with Dada, and your pacifier.
  


• For a one month old, you are an amazing sleeper. You typically sleep 4-6 hours at a time, and can sleep through anything! Our favorite activity is to watch all the adorable and hilarious faces you make while you sleep, your smiles are the best because you haven't learned to do this while awake yet.
  

• Your coordination has improved so much this month. You can hold your head up longer, follow us with your eyes better, get your little fingers to your mouth easier, and have recently discovered your tongue.
  
  

• Your arrival has been a wonderful blessing to our family and we are so excited to get to know you better in the months to come!

Mr. Mustachio

I don't know how she does it, but my Aunt Claudia always finds the most fun and unique gifts. A couple of months ago she sent these mustaches, which has provided us endless hours of fun. What makes them extra cute is the names each 'stache has assigned.
I had Carson model some of our favorites tonight. As you can see he is well adjusted to my obsessive picture taking.