mama's mocha smoothie

Dear Lincoln,

Your father and I are smoothie fans.  Jamba Juice was a regular pit stop for us on the way to our dating adventures.  My regular was a Peanut Butter Moo'd in what I like to call "little girl size," or, what the menu calls a 16 oz.

This is probably one of the most calorie laden smoothies they make, adding up to nearly 500 calories a pop.  But once I had tasted its creamy sweetness, there was no going back.  Your dad typically chose healthier options like Strawberry Nirvana, but he'd order a 24 oz, which added to his caloric intake quite a bit.  We decided that the secret to a guilt-free smoothie is to make it a meal replacement.  Which is why Jamba for us has always meant lunch-on-the-go or a perfect summer dinner: light and refreshing.

But, sadly for Jamba Juice, we bought a blender a few months ago. And while we still visit our favorite restaurant every now and then, it has lost a lot of its charm.  Well, at least for me, because I have found the PERFECT recipe for my creamy-craving, smoothie-loving self.  This is my new favorite breakfast!

Mama's Mocha Smoothie:

2/3 cup soy or rice milk* (if you're sensitive to dairy, like me)

2 scoops of mocha mix 

4 to 5 ice cubes

1 to 2 bananas, cut into slices

1 huge spoonful of peanut butter (or almond butter, even better!)

Blend all ingredients thoroughly and enjoy!

*For an even creamier version, try frozen yogurt.  

 Because these have coffee in them, your dad doesn't like them.  He's not much for the taste or smell of coffee, which I find disappointing.  It means we don't ever wake to a gently percolating pot of divinity.   (But then again, it also means I get to venture out to local cafes every now and then!)

I haven't shared my caffeinated smoothie with you either, little one, because you're only 11 months old.  But don't worry, there are plenty of baby-friendly smoothies we can try.  So far, you've disliked every single one I have made.  When we find a keeper, I'll post it.

a new idea

I would like to try something different with my blog.  I have come to the point where I don't know what to say anymore, other than to catalog my son's milestones.  And while such a theme affords me a limitless supply of material, I would also like to tie in commentary on stuff that other people might have an interest in. 

So... I have an idea.  I am going to start writing letters to Lincoln.  I'll try telling him about his cute quirks, the things I hope to teach him throughout life, and all that he has taught me so far.  I know, I know-- this is sounding even more exclusive than where I was to begin with.  But, you'll see.  I will pull in material from current news stories and discuss the possible implications it may have for his generation.  I will write product reviews on the items which worked for us and those that flopped.  I will talk about the emotions of a new parent and how I dealt with them.  And in the process, I hope to create something enjoyable for you and me now, and for Lincoln someday in the future.  At the very least, he'll know something about his mama and the world she lived in during his early years.

Feel free to tell me if you like/dislike this idea.  And then feel free to tell me if you like how it actually turns out, once I've created some content.  Keep in mind that "Dear Lincoln" also means "Dear YOU!" 

We had a Halloween party!

And me too!

When my husband saw the pile of pictures I was choosing from to scan, (for my last post about Evan) he saw one of my baby pictures.  And he said Lincoln looks even more like me.

I'm glad to know that I didn't just pass on my scowl:

But Lincoln got my smile too!

Little Evan

My mother-in-law said yesterday that Lincoln looks a lot like my brother.  And it's true!  Here are some of Evan's baby/toddler pictures.  They even looked alike at this age.  Isn't my baby brother so cute?  This is what I grew up with!

Sew darling!

As you might guess from some of the blogs I follow, I've been into sewing lately.  My mom taught me to sew when I was a little girl; together we made blankets, quilts, a stuffed animal (I think it was a bunny?), clothes and other things.  I'm so glad she took the time to impart this useful skill.  I borrowed her sewing machine a few weeks ago, and I've still got it.  Thankfully she doesn't need it anytime soon, because I've been enjoying playing around and seeing what I can make from the scraps of material and old clothing we have.  We had a bag set aside to take to a thrift store, but at the last minute I realized that some of the shirts could be refashioned into new things.  It's a satisfying sense of accomplishment to be able to create a useful item, especially when it only takes a day to make!

Here's a scarf I put together from two shirts:

I LOVE the accessories which accompany colder weather.  Scarves in particular!  Every year as fall approaches I practically go crazy over all the wonderful colors and textures in the stores.  But it's just not practical right now for me to be buying anything superfluous.  I feel incredibly empowered by solving this problem without spending a penny.

The day has come....

when Lincoln will no longer stay put.  Set him down in the middle of the living room, and within 20 seconds there's no telling where he'll be.  This means it takes a little more work to keep him safe, but it also makes play time even more fun!  Watching him explore the house on his own is amazing.  I'll try to post a video soon!