Father's Day

This is Jeff's second Father's Day, last year we were still pretty new at the whole parenting thing so I wasn't quite sure what type of dad he would be. 

Now I know a bit more.

Jeff is a great dad because:
- He always lets me sleep in on the weekends
- He can't stand for Leland to cry at all (I have toughened up a bit)
- He still calls Leland baby and would prefer to carry him all day (someone is having a hard time realizing their baby is not a baby anymore)
- He will give Leland food off his plate, and share his food (this is kind of a big deal)
- He is always there to take over when I am about to crack
- He wakes up in the middle of the night for some much needed exploding diaper assistance

It has been very interesting seeing Jeff with a kid since he had minimal experience before Leland.  I am looking forward to the continued parenting experience with him and to see how we overcome the many issues of parenting. 

Garden Update v.2

 Bean sprouts coming up.

 Peas!  Peas are very challenging to pick.  I have the hardest time finding them, they blend in very well.  I will stare in one area and finally find one a few minutes later.

 Lots of lettuce

 Soon to be broccoli.

 Collards with tomato plants in the background.

 Our grass patch.  To the back left are beans, back center will be summer squash and back right are the ever growing peas.  The very back is the pile of dirt that has been taken off to allow for planting areas. 

 We have a rose or two that pop up. 

 In front of the peas are winter squash.  In the very front are carrots- they are doing very well. 

This years garden is so far a success.  I cannot believe how well it is doing.  I think we are just learning more and being able to learn from past mistakes.  This year the biggest mistake was where kale was planted.  It isn't getting enough sun, so it is not really growing.  It is tiny, but with how well everything else is doing, I am okay with that minor fail.  I am already thinking about next year's garden and what we will do.  Not so many collards, good lord that is a lot of collards, and I don't even like them.  Kiwi bins will become play areas for Leland, since he is always getting into them.  Probably will just have snow peas next year, since those are doing better thus far.  And of course more tomato plants!  Maybe even add in some peppers.

But it is a lot of work.  It was a lot of work for Jeff in the beginning, with the digging up the yard and planting all the seeds.  Now the work isn't so bad, some weeding and watering.  Neeming some plants to help get rid of pests.  It is starting to pay off though, and hopefully there will be a little less work next year since he won't have to re-dig up the yard.

Overnight oat waffles

This is a really delayed post because I have been obsessing over these waffles for months now.  They are seriously the best waffles ever.  They have ruined my love for pancakes, they are that good (and I really use to love pancakes).  There is a whole pound of butter in a double batch, so you don't have to add extra butter at the end.  I like to top mine with strawberries and maple syrup.  You should definitely make these this weekend. 

I make a double batch and then freeze them, so I can enjoy them for the entire week. I just reheat them on the toaster option in our toaster oven (best appliance ever, I use it all the time since we don't have a microwave).  

Leland also really enjoys them, which is awesome since they are an easy breakfast (once they are frozen). Leland enjoys his plain or with some yogurt. 

Overnight Oatmeal Waffles

(original recipe from One Lovely Life)

Serves: I usually get about 10 waffles, we have a large waffle iron though, so you may get more.  More the merrier!

Ingredients

• 4 cups thick cut oats
• 4 cups buttermilk
• 4 eggs
• 1 pound melted butter
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 4 Tablespoons maple syrup or honey
• 1 tsp baking powder (this is for high altitude, you sea level folks may want to bump this up to two, same for the baking soda)
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 Tablespoon cinnamon
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• Other additions that are delicious: coconut flakes, ground flax seed, coconut oil in replace of butter

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, combine oats and buttermilk. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
2. When ready to prepare waffles, stir eggs and melted butter into the oat/buttermilk mixture. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add in flour mixture and stir till just blended. (Batter will be quite thick).
3. Cook in waffle iron according to manufacturer’s directions. You may want to leave them in a bit longer than normal to crisp a bit more.  When freezing I make sure to not get them too crispy in the waffle iron so they can get nice and crispy in the toaster oven without burning. 

Lately...

So now we can go back to real time posts...

Leland has been sleeping in his crib until the early morning hours, like 4 am.  It is still a debate every night if I should just go get him when I go to bed, so I can have a snuggle buddy.  But eventually he will want to sleep in his own bed, maybe he is already making that decision.  That also means he is cutting out a feeding or two, another good thing right?  I can also fall asleep now without him nursing, definitely a good thing. (Okay scratch that, I think this was only happening because he was sick.  The past two nights he can been up at his normal 11pm time, but doesn't necessarily nurse, I just bring him to bed at this time.  So I still an not dependent on nursing to fall asleep SCORE!)

Leland loves to be pushed around on his Thomas.  His friend Henry loves to push it.  We showed the boys how to combine their two loves, it was a good break for the parents.

Leland can now climb up onto his slide and go down on his own.  Someone is a big boy now, or so he likes to think.  (He may also throw tantrums when you tell him no.)

Leland's communication is getting better and he is understanding more and more.  Leland is now signing more.  He signs bath, all done, milk, no (when I tell him no he repeats the sign), dog, and sometimes all gone and please.  Hopefully he keeps increasing his signs since he shows no sign of talking soon.  The only consistent word he uses is MA for food. Sometimes he will say something that actually sounds like a word and I get excited, but it is never if rarely repeated. 

At night when I put him to bed, I tell him, night night and we waves goodbye.  He then has to point to all his friends that sleep with him.  It is the cutest thing ever. 

Leland has also been a bit more picky about what he is eating.  He often refuses to eat veggies (unless in pesto form), but will always eat fruit and cheese.

He really is just the best kid ever.  No bias here.  

Paonia

After Glenwood Springs, we headed to Paonia.
This place is destined to be my future home.  There are only a couple of places that feel more like home than this place- Table Rock Lake and Sheridan, MO.  Paonia reminded me of Sheridan so much, expect it actually has a downtown with businesses. 

While we were in Paonia, we checked out the relatively new National Park (since 1999), Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and went on a hike around Black Canyon.  That point on the right was our destination. 

Leland slept the whole hike there and back.  He had a brief awake time while we ate lunch. 

My favorite flower along the trail. 

A lizard is hiding out on the rock.  He has a bluish belly. 

The canyon bottom and river. 

Jeff's uncle Bobby

Bobby and Ruby

Being his cute self. 

Group photo! (Leland is hiding in the ergo)

Photo op before we headed back home. 

His favorite thing at their house, the pig!

Flying!

This trip was much needed, it was soo relaxing, even with a sick baby.  There were no plans, no one to see.  We just decided what to do each day as it came.  Very slow pace.  Another reason we need to get to the Western slope as soon as possible.  Hopefully it isn't too much longer before we can leave the city and move to a much smaller town.