baking...

So, if you didn't know it, I love to cook. I love to bake, I love to experiment, I love most of all to eat :). I have been trying out several new recipes (mostly desserts) this week. I have used fresh citrus fruit in honor of the summertime! Sometimes it gets hard to make it all happen when I need to be at the stove constantly whisking a filling or what not and I have a crying baby, but I manage. Emily likes to sit in her bumbo seat and watch me cook. I tell her everything that I am doing in hopes that she will understand (ha, LOL) and share joy of baking with her momma when she gets bigger.

I have been contemplating and thinking alot about starting to bake and cook for people. I would love to have a bakery or even open a restaurant, but I'm not sure that I am up to that at this point in my life. I have ideas to cook good home made meals, stuff like 'lasagna, spaghetti and homemade meatballs, chicken pot-pie, chicken & dumplings' and more, and offer it to families who would like to put some fancy home-cookin' on their tables. I would also love to bake sweets to go along with the meals. Ranging from cookies to layered cakes, I have several recipes I can offer. What do you think...I'd love to see some feedback. I sometimes feel like I am typing this blog to no-one because I seldom get comments. So, if you are in the area and this would be appealing to you or to someone that you know, give me your thoughts...and we will see what happens!

This week, my goal is to bake a new dessert recipe each day that I have never done before. Yesterday it was 'Fresh Orange Cake with Orange Cream Cheese Frosting'. It is a Paula Deen Recipe complete with lots of butter, cream cheese, and sour cream! (You know you can't go wrong there.) It came out great and looked good. I was honestly a little disappointed though when we cut into it that it didn't taste more 'orangey'. It is a delicious, moist cake and the frosting is great, but it only has a slight (very slight) hint of orange. So, if I bake it again, I will have to make some adjustments to the orange content. Jeffery suggested that I make an orange curd filling to go between the layers instead of putting the frosting between layers. It's a good thought!

Today, the trial recipe was 'Lemon Meringue Pie' from my FAVORITE cookbook. It has a veryyy tall mound of meringue. The filling smelled very lemony. I just hope it tastes it and doesn't disappoint like the orange cake. It is out of the oven and cooling at the moment. We will cut it later. I'll let you know how it tastes!

Tonight for supper...Chicken & Dumplings...I better get busy!

My growing, changing Baby Emily

Emily is 15 weeks old today. That is crazy to believe but we are having so much fun with her and she is such a sweet blessing in our lives. She is growing everyday and changing every time I look at her. What is she up to these days...

-She loves back time and tummy time, she is starting to roll over and she likes to play with toys laying on her tummy

- She sleeps all night, from about 9 to 5:30 :)

-She laughs at us, she is so cute when we get her to giggling. I think her laugh surprises her. It is a deep chuckle but so cute!

-She loves to be outside! We go on a walk every day, sometimes 2 or 3! And we sit outside

on the porch swings alot. She loves to look around.

-She is very alert. Definitely recognizes us. She follows objects. She can spot a

TV if it's in the room. She might be a TV junkie!

-She is starting to NOT like being in her carseat! This is a little bit of a bummer because we

go go go alot, but hopefully it will pass.

-She holds her head up very well and is starting to try to sit up...not too long til she does.

-She is loved more and more everyday!!

Last weekend, Emily, my mom, and I went to Ft. Worth to see Aunt Lindsey and Uncle Bryon. Lindsey is 31 weeks now and had a baby shower Saturday hosted by some of her church friends. It was very nice and Lindsey is becoming more and more ready for her baby girl. We get to go back next weekend for another baby shower! Looking forward to that!

This weekend Jeffery, Emily, and me are going on our first family camping trip! We're going with some friends to Hot Springs to camp on Lake Hamilton for Memorial Day. We are looking forward to it and hoping for a fun, warm weekend. Maybe I can get some sun!!

Isaiah 40:10-11, 28-31 "See the Sovereign Lord comes with power, and his arm rules for him. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. He tends his flock like a shepherd; he gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young...Have you not heard? The Lord is the Everlasting God, the creator of all the Earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and power to the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will find new strength. They will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not become faint."

How Great is our God. I am feeling especially aware of His presence and His blessings in my life. I am so thankful that we serve a God who loves and cares for us supremely, so much more than we can fathom. Last week, family discussion involved the greatness of God and the abilities of God. It is pretty amazing to think about His capabilities. They are endless and something that we will never fully grasp or comprehend. Psalm 139 reminds me of that. Who are we to limit a sovereign God. J and I were talking about the meaning of 'sovereign' the other night. It is used commonly in talk but I guess both of us needed to be reminded of what it really means.

Sovereign: one that exercises supreme, permanent authority

I think it is important to remember too that God's sovereignty also reflects his independence of us. God is all powerful, all knowing, and all present. Who are we to limit God's power or expression.

Just a few of the biggest blessings in my life right now are: My wonderful, caring, hard working husband Jeffery. I am thankful everyday for the husband he is to me and the leader he is to our family. My sweet baby Emily. She is healthy, happy, and growing and changing everyday. She is such a sweet girl and a true blessing and wonderful addition to our family. My family (Crabb, Copeland and Lawrence, McKellar) and each person who has influenced, encouraged, and loved us and does all these things on a daily basis. Our Church family and opportunities for growth therein. The gift of being a mother and the challenges and rewards that gives me everyday.

God is good. I hope that you will reflect on his sovereign nature and the Good he has placed in your life. Praise him in the good and in the bad.

my cute sister and niece

Emily already realllly loves her new cousin! She can't wait to meet her!!

She is almost here!! Lindsey is 29 weeks now and so dang cute pregnant! We can't wait to meet our new sweet niece and Emily is super excited to meet her cousin. We love you Aunt Lindsey. You are the sweetest pregnant woman and will be a great mommy!

Three months now!! I can't believe that yesterday was Emily's 3 month birthday. She is growing fast and changing everyday. What a blessing the last three months have surely been and we look forward to what else is in store for us and for her sweet little life. I've been looking at all of her pictures from day one til now. Sometimes I can't even see the same baby...she has changed alot, but gets cuter everyday. She smiles all the time, sleeps great, has a routine down (mostly), and fills each day with something exciting! She is truly a joy and the sweetest thing in my life. God is so good.

Fun times in Fort Worth

Emily and I went to Fort Worth last week to visit Lindsey and Bryon! Actually, my dad took us since he was headed that way to the PATE Swapmeet. He goes to this swapmeet every year. Lindsey, Allen, and I used to always go with him and now Emily got to go with him!! We stayed Thursday and Friday night with Lindsey. Emily did great. She slept super, all through both nights! She has got the sleeping through the night down now! That is such a nice thing! She is a good baby.

We had fun with Lindsey and Bryon's friends Thursday night at a little outdoor concert with a friend of theirs who plays in a band. Everyone enjoyed meeting Emily and she lovvved being outside in the middle of all the action. Friday Lindsey and I headed to PATE with her (its at Tx Motor Speedway). I had the stroller so we just walked around for a while with dad checking out old car parts, motorcycles, and lots of other stuff!! It got pretty windy and rain was threatening so we didn't stay too long. When we left, sis and I got to have some quality time and Emily did good running errands with us. Allen even came to Fort Worth Friday so it was an extra treat to be able to see him too. It was just a fun weekend all around. Emily is a good traveler, I am thankful for that.

Since our little trip, we have had a good week. I have started working some PRN (as needed) at the hospital. I worked only Tuesday this week. Emily likes her babysitter, Obdulia, and does great on days that she goes to her house. I am thankful for her. She is sleeping through the night consistently now and on a pretty regular schedule. She still likes to eat at least every 3 hours during the day. I have started giving her some jar foods and an occasional mashed banana. She is messy but she likes it! Not sure how much she weighs now but I'd guess close to 13 pounds. She is happy and healthy!

Emily at 10 days old...

Emily at 10 weeks old...

Our happy family!

Time is flying by. I never thought I would be one to say that, but truly, it is crazy that Emily will be 11 weeks old this week. Thats almost 3 months! She is growing and changing every day. She is definitely becoming much more aware of her surroundings. She smiles at me and J all the time, which makes our hearts smile. We are very blessed and overwhelmed with God's gift to us with Emily. She is a sweet, happy baby and we are so thankful.

Emily's Sip & See

Emily was the star of the day at her Sip & See, hosted by some of my greatest friends here at home. Thank you all again. She had fun at her party!! And looked pretty cute too. It was so fun to see friends and let everybody meet and play with Emily!!