HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!

Well 2008 will be over in 3 hours, and it was a GREAT year for us. Jackson started pre-K and is LOVING it. He cannot wait until he gets to go to kindergarten next year. He is learning everything so fast that it amazes me. He may have been a late talker but he sure is making up for it now! I think that Jackson is more proficient on the computer than I am at this point. He has mastered the spelling and writing of his first name and we are working on the last name now. Beatrix came into our life at 1:48pm on October 23 this year. After an initial scare when she was born she is doing wonderful now. She has surgery on January 7, but it is only out-patient and it is at Children's Mercy which is excellent. After that she won't have a bum bum any longer and she will be perfect (not that she isn't already!) She is truly the most mellow, happy baby I have ever met. I have been blessed with both ends of the spectrum when it comes to my kids personalities, and I would not trade it for all the sushi in the world! Chris has officially started his business C. Sears and Co., something he has wanted for so long. In my opinion he is THE best remodeler/carpenter there is! I have decided to put my CNA to use while finishing up school and am getting ready to start work at the Atrium in Overland Park as well as some in home care. I am super close to finishing my first, serious piece of short fiction and will be submitting it to different (many) publications...so wish me luck on that! All in all 2008 was pretty good. With love and life around you, how can it really be that bad??? Good luck to everyone in the new year♥

He's got his eyes on you...

I am so lucky to have a little boy just as silly as I am. He is so much fun and usually just rolls with the punches.

Mimi and Papa

♥Family♥

I love that Beatrix makes silly pirate faces...so I thought I would share one. She is such a ham already!!!

Christmas fun!!

We had a very good Christmas this year. Drew and Julian were with us to celebrate Bea's first Christmas. I'm sure it meant alot to her! Jackson, Beatrix and I went to Karen's house for her Christmas party she has every year. Added bonus this year, Beatrix got to meet her new friend Addy (Merediths new daughter) I think they were enthralled with each other! We then went back to Nona's where Daddy joined us and Drew and Jules were dropped off. It is always so much fun to spend time with my mom. I hope I can be half as great of a parent as she is! Jackson LOVED his Lincoln Log set and his construction getup. Because you HAVE to wear working guy stuff to build a Lincoln Log house! On Sunday we had Chris' family over for dinner. Hectic doesn't begin to explain that situation but it went pretty smooth. Beatrix was the bell of the ball as usual and Jackson showed his true colors by helping all the little kids with everything. He is such a great kid. I'll post more pictures when I get the pictures from my mom. Until then Happy Holidays!!!

The many faces of Beatrix

Beatrix has arrived!!

Even though she was 2 months old yesterday...here I am announcing her! It has been super busy the past 2 months. Beatrix Suzann Elaine was born October 23, 2008 at 1:43 pm at 7 lbs 10 oz and 19 1/4 inches. It was a ridiculously easy labor. Both have been. Jackson at a total 7 hours with 20 minutes of pushing and Beatrix at 4 hours with maybe 10 minutes pushing. Not too shabby kids, my boby thanks you!! Here are some newbie pictures. More will be up soon. We promise

Strawberry-Strawberry Cheesecake

This is one of the greatest looking desserts I have seen, that being said...I am going to totally make this in a couple of days! It could be dangerous, I may very well eat the whole thing!

Ingredients:

Crust- one 10-ounce package shortbread cookies (such as Lorna Doone) 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Filling-10 ounces frozen unsweetened strawberries (about 2 3/4 cups), thawed, juices reserved3 8-ounce packages cream cheese, room temperature1 cup sugar2 tablespoons all purpose flour3 large eggs1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice1 teaspoon vanilla extract1/2 teaspoon almond extract

Topping-1/3 cup strawberry or currant jelly3 1-pint baskets fresh strawberries, hulled, halved lengthwise

Preparation For crust: Preheat oven to 325°F. Butter 9-inch-diameter springform pan with 2 3/4-inch-high sides. Grind cookies in processor to coarse crumbs. Add butter and blend until crumbs are evenly moistened. Press crumb mixture over bottom and 1 inch up sides of prepared pan. Bake crust until just golden, about 8 minutes. Set aside while preparing filling. Maintain oven temperature.

For filling: Puree thawed strawberries and juices in processor until smooth. Measure 3/4 cup puree (reserve any remaining puree for another use); do not wash bowl. Add cream cheese and sugar to processor. Blend until smooth. Using on/off turns, blend in flour. Add eggs; process until smooth, scraping down sides of bowl occasionally. Add 3/4 cup strawberry puree, lemon juice, vanilla extract, and almond extract; process until well blended. Transfer filling to prepared crust.

Bake cake until center is softly set and edges begin to color, puff and crack, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Place hot cheesecake on rack. Refrigerate uncovered on rack until cold, at least 4 hours. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and keep refrigerated.)
For topping: Using small knife, cut around pan sides to loosen cake; remove pan sides. Stir jelly in heavy saucepan over low heat until melted. Arrange berry halves atop cheesecake in concentric circles; brush with warm jelly to glaze. Chill at least 1 hour and up to 8 hours.

Fun at Feist!!

I saw Feist at Starlight last night and it was INCREDIBLE!! As soon as she started playing my little lady started spinning around in my belly like a mad woman! She must love Feist like I do, smart girl! It was a great night, perfect weather and Bobi and I had so much fun. One of the perks of being pregnant at a concert...not having to spend $7 on a tiny margarita. The drawback...having to climb the hill to go to the bathroom a MILLION times! I am waiting for Jackson to come back home from his mini-vacation with Nona and Poppy. It was heaven to have a couple days off. I love the boy more than the earth, but man can he be demanding!! Absence does make the heart grow fonder though, I am so ready to give him some hugs and kisses right about now!

In love with my girl

Sleeping is a notion from my past. This little lady inside me seems to think that the middle of the night is the best time to get some exercises done. She is active during the day, but from about 11pm to 4am it's party time in Macy's uterus! I just look at it as Mother Nature's way of getting my body and mind used to the no sleep that will happen once she is here. It wouldn't be so bad if Jackson still took a nap during the afternoon, but NOOOOO! Naps are for little babies and as he reminds me all the time, "Mommy, I'm your BIG boy now!!" Oh well, it just makes me appreciate the few sacred naps that I DO get to have. When he is at Nona's or when I wrap my giant bellied body around him and force him to sleep with me (which he secretly likes because then he gets a couple of hours of mommy snuggles as he calls it!) Well I am off to make some berry smoothies for breakfast, you know, because it's what the baby wants!!

It's Official!

The banana shaped baby in my belly is a girl! I couldn't be happier! Jackson on the other hand was not so thrilled. As soon as she said you have a baby girl he said "I wanted a freaking brother! That's not fair" and looked something like this...

But if one of us was to be disappointed, I have to say I'm glad it's him! Now we get to think of a name that our daughter won't hate us for when she is 13. Because by then I'm sure she will have oodles of other reasons for that! For now we shall call her Olga.