A Loaf by Any Other Name

Well another weekend in the books.  Here's the highlights.

Monner randomly said "Mom!" then later, "Momma."  So I'm pretty sure, that was meant for me.  Either way, it lead me to the construction of the World's Third Greatest Toy:  a bottle filled with Blue water to shake and play with . . . don't worry folks, it doesn't leak, and it's food coloring, worst disaster would be it somehow broke and destroyed our carpet.  But this Won't happen... the Husband assures me. 

Monner and I made our second round of bread - Honey Whole-Wheat and Oat flour.  MUCH better.  Chewy and delicious and good for the innards.  This version we call "Monner Loaf" it's jam-packed with fiber, the only draw back is, the out-coming Monner loaf is a little, um... adult-like in it's consistency and not nearly as palatable to change.


Monner Loaf :

 After makin all that Monner Loaf I needed a little help cleaning up... Good thing I have such a great assistant.

p.s. the hunchback in this photo -- Jesus Christ, is that me? photoshop missed my arms -- is the author of this blog.  It's entirely possible that some giant-armed imposter mom took over my kitchen, and figure posture.

If You're Happy and You Know it . . .

Ride a Horse, YEE HA!

Here's my Monner... who, after her Splashy could not be cajoled into jammies or away from Horsey.

Ma, Iz doan needz no pantz (cuz likz i sez, dayz for loooozers)

But I DOOZ like ma hatz

In other news:  we've mastered the perfect home-made whole-wheat bran pannycake.  Monner LOVES her some pannykuke!  Here's my recipe:

1 cup of Whole Wheat Flour

3/4 cup bran (or flax)

2 Tsp. Baking powder

1/2 Tsp.  Baking soda

1/4 Tsp. salt

1 egg (slightly beaten)

1 1/2 cups buttermilk or sour milk (milk with lemon juice to substitute)

3 Tbls real maple syrup

1.  In a large bowl stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In another bowl use a fork to combine egg, buttermilk, and maple syrup. Add egg mixture all at once to flour mixture. Stir just until moistened (batter should be slightly lumpy).

2.  maka-da panny kuka!

I make them silver-dollar size, Monner LOVES to tear them apart, plus, they're handy to bring out for snacks. 

Now I need to perfect my loaves of bread.  They are still a titch lack-luster.

Cheers!

signed, 

Mom, who is FINALLY ... losing weight, or it could be the Miralax, either way.... I'm wearing pre-baby jeans today, slightly ass-munching, but they're on G-Dit!

Dear Baby

Your little Monner noggin had a rough weekend.  It seems your new-found mobility has landed you squarely in the face of danger.  You take it all in stride, not too much fussing, some bumps and bruises, that mostly are worn as your badge of honors.  You're no longer my MonnerCat but my little DangerCat.  You fear no height, wall or even dried up peas or other old food stuck to the floor forbidden fruits.

I'm beginning to feel like I'm next in line for some sort of award of the Year.  Likely, some sort of  Mother of the Year award, and by "award" I mean, Worst Mother of the Year Award.

New things to Enjoy:

Helping Mama with the dishes, helping Mama do her hair, hard corners, dizzying heights, elliptic machine, and most of all DANGER!

Mama, Gramz and Boppa Anderson took you to Edinborough Indoor park on Friday afternoon, you wheeled with the big kids and saw your favorite thing.... FISHIES!

Climbing over Mama and Dad to get to the edge of the bed for the MonnerDrop.  This is particularly awesome when you can surprise mom and dad.  

Milestones for Mom and Dad:

Lowered crib to lowest setting - You love to stand up and shout and since you are a little stealthier in the morning about when you've woken up, you like to do most of your practice flights while Mama and Dad are still snoozin.  

Locking up the Cupboards - you want everything in em.  I don't blame you, there's some handy stuff in there.  We are leaving one open for when you like to cook.

Back to no sleep - your newly-commenced Crusade on Calm has kept you up at night, more aware that you are in Kidda Jail, and unable to perform your feats of strength as you see fit.

Eating - you will not be spoon fed.  You will feed yourself, thank you very much.  Even if it means sucking the stuff out of the fruit pouch yourself, which, you really really enjoy.  You Also enjoy Mama's new recipe for MonnerCakes.  They are 100% whole wheat pannycakes with syrup and bran in them.  Hopefully these will help us evade the pesky Butt Bullet again.

And for the weekend in pics:

Don't worry Ma!  DangerCat is here to help youz!

See! No danger here! 

I want some of deez guyz

I wish I was a lil bit taller, i wish I was a baller . . .

Look Ma!  Da Matterhorn!  I climbz it!

Snuggletown

I don't have a picture to share, but hopefully I can write well-enough to make you think you're in the Neighborhood of Make Believe, minus that scary Lady Elaine Fairchild, with her wailing "Boomerang Toomerang Soomerang!"

Here goes:

So Tuesday night, I lamented to the husband how I really missed my nights with Monner.  The way she'd snuggle in next to me, we'd sing won't you take me to... Snuggletown! (yes, to the tune of Funkytown)  and waking up looking at her smiling and wiggling.  It was "our time." Now, when she gets sleepy, she'd rather be in her crib.  The Monner Castle.  Kidda Jail.  What happened to our Sleepy Citadel?

Well, she read my mind.  The husband had to work an overnight.  Monner woke up around 4 and just wasn't gonna go back down.   I figured I'd give Snuggletown a shot.  I grabbed Snuggle Seahorse for reinforcements.  Maybe just maybe this night she would want to make a move to a town that was right for her-yes, Snuggletown!

Before I knew it we had both fallen asleep, snuggled in together under the covers, two hearts, who just didn't want to sleep alone last night.  No kicking, or smacking or whining... just pure snoozes.  Me and Monner.  Didn't even hear the husband come home.
 
One of those moments I hope to never forget, and cherish always.  Thank you daughter ;)

The Sun No Longer Setting on Elmo Monster

The holidays are over and You (yes YOU, Monner) no longer give two sheets about Elmo, or Snuggle Seahorse, or Vanill-o-roma.  All you want to do is climb the dizzying heights of your Time Machine.   Lo! the days when we could stick let you play in your "office" and watch you rip for a good half hour.  These days, we have to call Gramma to come watch you, so that your Llama might use the can.

Furthermore, our lives have also changed in the following ways:

I am forced to wash the floor every day.  EVERY.  DAY.  Just in case  WHEN you find sweet-taters from last week stuck on the floor.  They are irresistible.

Sticking you in your Bumbo on the counter top while I make dinner.  Never.  Gonna. Happen.  Again.

There are two safe places for you.  Your Graco Castle, and your crib, which inexplicably you enjoy being in these days.

On another note... you've claimed to have been "teething" the past couple of weeks.  Moaning about and not sleeping.  Seriously... Monner, no new teeth have appeared and frankly, I'm beginning to think it's a farce.  I'm not falling for it anymore, and you're going to bed at 8.  11:00 p.m. playtimes are done.  FINEE!  I'm on to you.

In a nutshell, you're just advancing faster than your mom and dad are.  Eating and drinking WHILE in the wheelie rider?  Come on!  we're just getting used to you saying "Da Da."

Mom with her fancy new phone app

I'd like sledding even more if mom could fix dis foto to be uprite! Oh wells, i still loves da sledding!

Goin downtown to Macy's 8th Floor and finding chocolate mousse!

Sometimes i miss deez dayz

A Very Monner Christmas

I had a pretty good Creemas. I got loadz of new stuffz, bookz, Grinches, Bigsbys and fluffy stuff! Oh and a Monkey dat pop outta a box... he intreegz me! Boy Iz had a REEL good time~! Plus i get to eat lots more better stuffs nwo lik FrechyToast an Yogurtz!

I went to Alcapulco with Gumpa an Grammie Hanson yesterday, we had a special Creemas Feast! I had beenz and avacado! YUm! Dem Green things reely treat me rite! Unkel Dalton made me laff too wif his funny fases!

Mom gabe me deez pics to post.  Check me out! --

--NOTE FROM MOM Llama...

Dear Allie... We just enjoyed the best Christmas holiday ever, we missed sharing your first Christmas with Uncles Matt, Chad and Kyle, Aunties Squirrel, Christa, Norma, Tasha and Rosalinda, and all your cousins:(  And we didn't get to take you out on your new sled, BUT...   You were so good, and gracious and had the best time.  You never wined over the noise, late nights, over-kissing and hugging and above-all you slept and took your naps like a champ.  You tried new things and played in your new barn. The best part was we got to take a little winter Wheelie Ride!

We had four whole days with you and it was priceless.  We also had to put new bumpers on the tables, cause you seem to enjoy some new Monkey talents.

And how could I forget the BEST present ever?  We let you stay up on Christmas Eve until 11:00 p.m., when you decided to start talking.  You said "Da Da" not once but each time we said it.  Obviously you are an 8 month old genius.

p.s. don't post the nakie pics.  k, thanks, love Llama.

Santa was good to me!

My new Boyfren, Andrew

I LOVE dis barn!

and i love deez sox!

ma Grinchy!

I'm drunk on Fun!

Here we go! - a Post from Mama to Monner

The race is on.  I'm getting over anxious excited about our first Christmas with MONNER!   Dad's calm, as he just realized stores are open 24 hours until Christmas.  Great. 

You have FOUR sets of grandparents people!  FOUR.  Some are an hour away, some are in the neighborhood, some or far, too far away.  It's going to be tough.  

You are safely at home rocking out to your new tunes Nanny 'Manda made for you.  Mama Llama and Dad Dur Dur are scrambling for last-minute gifts on our lunch break.

You have been SO silly lately, I have a hard time leaving you in the morning.  You eschew napping, but sleep at night has been great and you are SO cuddly wuddly in the morning!  Your new thing is kisses and hugs.  This is utterly irresistible.  How can I possibly be expected to go to work?   

Last night you and I had the nighttime bottle in Llama and Dur Dur's bed, we were two happy little clams, snoozin away, then Dur had to come in and wake us up.  Danged ol Dur!

To cap it off, you're my joy, my biggest blessing and I count my stars and thank the Lord every day for you.  I love you lil Monner!  You are the best Christmas gift a girl could ever wish to receive.

Dancin with Daddy "Dur Dur"

BRING IT ON HOLIDAY!

Itz been real bizzy wif all dis creemas stuff.  I got lights all ober to chewz on an treez and all kinz o boxes to crawlz on.  Yup, dat's rawt, Iz crawlin!

Here ma rundown from my Mama... i lawk to call her "Maaeh."  Most da timez she reel nice to me, but deez dayz she always at my noze sayin Boogy  Boogy wif wet clofs.  I hate DAT!

Chek me out heer.   Mama was Like, "Allz, whirz ur Pantz?" and Iz all "I dunno!"  ha ha ha... silly Momz, pantz are fur loooozers!

Den on da weekenz my Cuzin Marley come by!  She were BIG!  i liked hur lotz.  Cept she kep kickin me off da sled.  She got madz cuz I took her Bear.  Shoot... everybody haz a bear anyhowz.

 And dis me slidin' with ma Auntie Dani!  I lik  her and hur hairz!

 Den Gramma an Boppa kame an put me in diz silly outfitz dat Maaeh say look like a Chrimas Court Jesser or sumfin lik dat.  But I dint kare.. I had me some reel fun!  U cant seez em, but Iz got Jin Tinglerz on ma feetz.

 But den Iz decide "Hey dis ain ma Grampa... who dis?"  I tole my Maeh lady to get me da hekz outta dare.

After all dat my 'Manda take me to meet a new fren.  She wir real nice--cep i had to show hur to respek ma athoritay!  I lawk makin new frenz.  I proteks ma frenz identiteez. 

NEGOSHIAHUNZ SKILLZ - I GOT EM

do not assimilates... mus reed dis book firs

 I think iz take it eezy today wif ma dadz.  I alredy tirred from all dis aktivitys.  Nobody givin me da Respek i desurv.

Anywayz hope u lik ma story for da week, chek ya laterz.

--Allz

I Got Dis

I no longer have a baby Allie.  I have a Daughter, her name is Allison.  Monner, to some.  In preparation for all of the other things she's quite sure she can do on her own, here is display number one.  Leave me the Flip alone, I got dis.

I don't even know when this all happened.  Moreover, despite all of our efforts in trying to teach her signs for "Eat" and "more" she has designed her own.  I ask "do you want to 'eat'" and make the sign.  Response?  She smacks her lips like somebody who is eating with their mouth open.  Seriously.  What on Earth could have provoked this rebellion?  I think I have an idea... something to do with DNA and her mama, that's where.  This is Allie's first in likely many years of  "yeah, Mom?  I'm not really into your shitty sign language, so I made up my own, and you BEST assimilate."

Thank You Mama! For Makin Me No Pants!

Thursday nights is date night with my girl.  Here's a rundown of the night, which I give you in list-form, why?  'Cause Allison LOVES lists as much as her Mama.

1) Scarf on some Squash, Mango, and mushy peas

2) Laugh hysterically at  Mom Doing her "You kanta toucha da Mango" impressions.  Video to come.

3) Sing "Magic Dance" ala David Bowie through the wizardry of Captain Calamari.

4) Rule the world.

5) Splashy! bathtub wipeout monetarily stomped on our date-nite buzz, but it was quickly cleared up by the appearance of Grammie Karen and her silly pajamas!

6) Snuggle town with Mom!

And now, for some pics, graciously provided by Nanny 'Manda, who has proven her weight in gold!

MonnerCat does not approves

Yeah, what?  it's not weird hair, it's CUSTOM.

Caught with my pants down

You get the looks, you don't get the pants!!

Peek! I like to call dis my "Nativity Scene look"

Naptime?  Bwaa ha ha ha, wait no... bwaaaaaha ha ha ha!

Dare ain't no stinkin nap time!

MonnerClaus