I know what you're thinking

FOUR posts in one day? Where does she find the time?!

Well. Let me tell you. I have a million other things I should be doing. But all I really want to do this morning (besides make homemade breakfast bars) is blog. Because for the past six weeks I have been trapped. Paralyzed. Consumed. By a deadline. By the way, the word "deadline" is so appropriately named, don't you think? DEADline. Because deadlines are really horrible. But the relief and the satisfaction that follow are really wonderful.

Last fall (right before Finn was born) I accepted an assignment from 417 Magazine to write the cover story for the June issue. Again. I hesitated at first. I was pregnant with Finn and would be staying home with him for a few months after he was born, not to mention I have a toddler AND another job, so how in the world would I have time to do it? But I didn't want to turn it down because...

What if they NEVER ask me again?

So I accepted. On the condition that I wouldn't be able to start it until after the first of the year. I figured I would need six weeks of postpartum recovery time to recharge my brain, plus it would be the holidays... but January 1 sounded do-able. But then Jan. 1 rolled around and, Oy. I still didn't really have time, but I had to do it. And even though there were several times I thought I wouldn't be able to finish it or really do a good job with it, I did finish it. And I did do a good job. At least I think so. You'll have to let me know what you think when it comes out this June.

I'd like to thank my little family (Matt, Lola and Finn) for allowing me the flexibility to do it and for putting up with me over the past six weeks. I think we all need a vacation now, don't you?

By the way, if anyone needs a lesson in multitasking I'm your gal.

Tummy time

I know! He's so cute it's ridiculous.

What can I say?

He takes after his mama. :)

Homemade breakfast bars

Matt eats a Fiber One bar every morning for breakfast, and a couple months ago Lola decided she needed to eat a "breakfast bar" with her milk in the mornings, too. Half the time she doesn't even eat it, but she insists on having it. I feel like we throw away most of them (or Oscar eats them). We've tried a dozen different kinds, and they're all pretty much loaded with sugar, including the Fiber Ones, which Matt says he'd like to get away from if he can find something better. Well, voila! I found a recipe on pinterest for homemade "breakfast bars" with no added sugar, no flour and no butter. Crazy, right? These are definitely healthier and cheaper than buying boxed bars. They just came out of the oven and smell (and taste!) delicious; however, they haven't passed the inspection by the official taste tester (Lola), so I'll have to report back on that.

Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Bars

2 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats

1/4 cup ground flax seed

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 cup milk (or almond milk)

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 large egg

2 large very ripe bananas, mashed

1/3 cup creamy peanut butter

1/4 cup mini chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix together oats, flax, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Add milk, vanilla, egg and stir until combined. Add mashed bananas, peanut butter and chocolate chips. Stir well. Pour mixture into an 8 x 11- inch pan. Bake for 20 minutes. Let cool completely, then cut into bars. Store in airtight container or in the fridge.

Notes: The original recipe called for 1/4 cup dark brown sugar. My bananas were super ripe and sweet, and I didn't think it needed any extra sugar, so I didn't use it. (And they came out sweet enough, I think.) The original recipe also called for 1/2 cup chocolate chips and 1/2 cup peanut butter chips. I'm sure the PB chips would be awesome, but I wanted to try to keep the sugar as low as possible. So I just used 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips, and that's all, which is plenty for a "breakfast bar," I think. I also used natural peanut butter with no added sugar or salt. The (single) ingredient is literally just roasted peanuts I LOVE me some peanut butter, but I'll admit I can't really eat the natural stuff on its own. It's so bland. But it's great for baking because you can omit the extra sugar and salt and just get the delicious peanut-y taste. And finally, the original recipe didn't call for flax, I added it. Because we all need a little more flax in our lives, right?

A super easy (and inexpensive) DIY project

This is the easiest thing we've ever made, and it turned out so cute! It fills a corner in Lola's room where the crib used to be. She's been sleeping in her big bed for a while now, but we just moved the crib into Finn's room a couple weeks ago. I was a little worried about what she would think about baby brother taking her old bed - turns out she couldn't have cared less. But the tent was a nice little addition to her room anyway. Super easy. Super cheap. The only materials we had to buy were for the frame itself. I think it was like $13. The tent "cover" is an old crocheted tablecloth that was in one of my hutches (must have belonged to one of my grandmas - I'm sure Gigi knows whose it was). And I just used twine to tie it to the frame. Here's how to make your own A-frame tent!

Big sis, little bro

The picture I'm going to break out when they go on their first dates:

They still like each other :)

Love bugs ♥

WHAT'S NEW:

Lola enjoys chewing gum these days. Strawberry is her favorite!

Finn can roll over from his tummy to his back; however, he will not do it on command. This kid is laid back, and I like it.

Lola enjoys going to school two days a week now, although sometimes at drop-off she can be a little teary.

Finn is very alert and happy (most of the time). He has pretty much outgrown the bassinet, but we haven't moved him out of it yet because I'm in denial that he isn't still a newborn. Maybe when his feet start to hang over the end?

Lola is growing up so fast. I often have to remind myself she is only 2...

Finn is wearing some six month clothes already. Already?!

Love Bug #1
























Love Bug #2