The Sara Adventure

She's My Baby, Grace!

By: Sara Boyle

Who has ticklish toes,

And a little round nose,

Big brown eyes,

And chunky thighs?

She’s got a smile on her face,

She’s my baby, Grace!

She can babble and coo,

But what else can she do?

She can play with a toy,

And laugh for joy.

She can stand up tall,

Even though she is small.

She’ll give you a kiss, with her mouth open wide

And laugh at peek-a-boo, when you try to hide.

She keeps getting stronger,

And I know before much longer,

She’ll be learning to talk,

And learning to walk.

She holds my heart in her hand,

I think you understand.

I’m so proud every day.

I love her in every way.

Do you like Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies?

Then you are gross. Seriously, I pretty much hate any cookie with "oatmeal" in the name. I don't care what else you put in it or if it is your Grandma's secret recipe. Ick.

However, I LOVE oats in my muffins! It was a life changing experience when I started baking with whole wheat flour and oats. This recipe vaguley resembles the original, so I won't bore you with what it looked like before. Here is my version:

1/2 C butter
3/4 C brown sugar (packed or course)
1 egg
3/4 C apple sauce
a little oil... like maybe 1/8- 1/4 C
a little vanilla... maybe 1 teaspoon
1/2 C re'glar flour
1/2 C whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 C oats
1 C or so chocolate chips
1 C or so of walnuts (or pecans!)- no need to chop if they are already in halves

Preheat to 350 degrees. You know the drill- cream together the sugar and butter. Add the egg, applesauce, oil, and vanilla. Mix the dry ingredients separate- the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, oats, chocolate chips, and nuts. A little at a time mix the dry into the wet- it will all be a bit lumpy. Bake in greased cupcake tin or use cups (I like the cups because I freeze them and they seem to maintain their shape better that way) for 25 minutes- use the toothpick test if they don't look quite done.

There you have it. I love them and so does Alan.

I doubled the recipe and it made about 2 baker's dozen. Fill the cups pretty much to the top- they don't rise much at all.

Dear Gracie,

I am almost a week late on writing this because we have been busy!

You've been learning a lot this month. You're getting very good at sitting up, and we've been practicing a lot. I think you'll like it more as you get stronger. I love the look on your face, because you seem so proud! Here you are on the bed sitting up on your own:

A huge first this month was starting solid foods! About a week before you turned 6 months old we offered you a little cereal, and you loved it! Then a few days ago you tried bananas, and today avocado! You don't get much since you are still nursing most of the time, but you like to try new foods. I just got tired of you trying to steal things off my plate! Here you are licking the bowl:


You have been trying to copy me lately. It seems you want to do everything we do! You make chewing motions when you watch me chew, you stick your tongue out when I stick mine out at you, and you even try to mimic words. I swear you almost said banana! You love to play games. You stick your hand out so I will pretend to eat it, or sometimes you stare at me waiting for me to look at you... then you smile : )

Nana sent you a walker and you are almost big enough for it. You can make it a couple feet, but it takes you a while because your toes barely touch the ground. You love to sit in it and talk and look around. Most of the time you are just as happy as can be.

We haven't been to the Dr yet, but our scale at home says you weigh a little over 16 pounds! Sounds like a lot to me, but you are right on track. I just can't believe how fast you grow! Even though you have made physical strides this month, I think the most impressive is your communication. You reach for things you want, hold your arms out so I'll pick you up, and make chewing motions when you are hungry. You know how to tell me what you need, and it is so much fun.

We had a million wonderful memories this month- smiles, laughs, and jabbering. One time you fell over while sitting up, this scared you, and you began to cry. I picked you up, held you close, and kissed your little tears. In no time you were ready to play again. This sounds like a bad memory, but the joy of comforting you makes it a wonderful one.

We love you!