My little princess is almost 3!!

I just can't believe that my little princess is turning 3 in just a few hours! It seems only like a few months ago when I found out I was carrying her under my heart and now she is 3!
She is our little doll, a little bit a tomboy but also a girlie princess. She is always ready to come up with something silly and funny and has such a beautiful spirit.

Maile was born on August 31st at 5.31 AM at Mercy Gilbert Hospital and I can still remember that day so vividly. I arrived at the hospital the night before about as calm as anybody could be knowing full well I was going to be induced due to my gestational diabetes. My in laws were in town eagerly awaiting for the arrival of their 7th grandchild. We started that morning ( August 30th) by getting everything ready for the hospital and then we all went out and had lunch at one of my favorite places ( Crackers ) whose owner just happens to be Romanian. This is not a Romanian place by any means but it is soo simple and delicious.

At about 4PM we headed to the hospital where we got admitted right away. I ended up getting induced just before 6 PM that evening and started going into labor soon after. By 10.30 that night I had already gotten my epidural and the rest was just a waiting game. I remember being almost asleep in Eric's arms while waiting for Maile to arrive.

By 5 AM I was all ready and so was our little princess. She arrived at 5.31 AM just before the sun was starting to rise. She came out face up ( which is very unusual) and I could just remember her little blue eyes just staring at us trying to figure out where she was...who everyone was...and as I held her in my arms I was in pure awe. She was and always will be our first miracle.

I tried to rest that first night, after giving birth, but I couldn't sleep. I kept my baby with me most of the day. I counted her fingers and toes. I nursed her. Her father held her, talked to her and rocked her. Later that night I nursed her to sleep and put her in the bedside bassinet. I turned off the lights and climbed into bed after checking on her several times, just to make sure she was okay. Then I got back up and just stared at her. I felt as if my heart swelled several sizes and then I burst into tears. I was absolutely overwhelmed by the need to protect her, love her and do whatever was necessary to make sure she was perfectly happy.

The world seemed to stop spinning; only she and I existed. Nothing else mattered.

I soon discovered that there was no such thing as spoiling a baby and found that one of the greatest joys of my life was rocking my baby to sleep.

Being a mom has brought me some of the richest friendships of my life. Friends that were there for me through every little step of the way! They have encouraged me and influenced me in ways that they may never even realize.I even saw my marriage in a different, even lovelier, light. Watching my husband be a father and seeing how gentle he was with my little one made me love him even more.

I have always thought that being a mother must be special, but until I actually became one I hadn't realised that my expectations were only the tip of the iceberg. I know that it's not something one says, but I honestly feel I will give my all, even my life, in a heartbeat, and that the love I feel for my baby is far more intense than anything I ever thought possible. It's certainly worth more than all the money in the world. It knows no boundaries, it fullfills you, brightens the darkest day, and I know that can heal the world.

Tomorrow is the day of her party and she could not be more excited....good night for now my little princess!

Banana Nut Bread

Ok...so this one is definitely a favorite around my house ( at least for most of us) and I just made it the other day using the recipe from the America's Test Kitchen Family Cookbook ( which is fabulous by the way)...Thank you to my brother in law Brian for the reccomendation. I was sure it was gonna be a winner if he'd been using it. Anyway...this recipe is soo easy to make and so delicious.

Ingredients:

2 cups all purpose flour

3/4 cups sugar

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 very ripe bananas, mashed well ( 1 1/2 cups)

6 tablespoons ( 3/4 stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

1/4 cups plain yogurt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/4 cups walnuts, toasted and chopped coarse

Directions:

1. Adjust an oven rack to the lower-middle position and heat the oven to 350 degrees. Generously coat a 9 by 5-inch loaf pan with vegetable oil spray.
2. Whisk the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt together in a large bowl. Whisk the mashed bananas, melted butter, eggs, yogurt, and vanilla together in a separate bowl. Gently fold the banana mixture into the flour mixture with a rubber spatula until just combined. Fold in the nuts ( if using). Do not overmix; the batter will look thick and chunky.
3. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with just a few crumbs attached, about 55 minutes.
4. Let the loaf cool in the pan for 10 minutes before unmolding onto a wire rack to cool for 1 hour.

Enjoy!

First day of Preschool....

Our day this morning started off real good with all of us sitting down for breakfast in anticipation for the big day. Then daddy had to go to work and after kissing the girls good-bye, I then started getting them both dressed and ready to go. I think Audrey must've thought she was going to school as well because she kept talking about going with Maile and she even held Maile's hand on their way out the door.

We got to Miss Rachel's house and Maile just ran to the door and starting knocking. As we got there, her friend Carlie was already in the classroom so she immediately followed and started playing. We then said our good byes and I could feel myself getting pretty emotional so I knew I had to rush out the door before the tears invaded my face...My little baby is all grown up... I was not sad to leave her, I was just having a hard time thinking she was old enough for school! I feel like I was just holding her the hospital a few months ago.. where does the time go?

Although, thinking back Maile's been talking about going to "school" for at least a year now, before she even knew what school really was. It must've been all the shows she was watching on tv...particulary this one Dora episode where Dora has to go to school but she forgets her "song" ( homework assignment) at home. The whole episode is full of music and dancing and in her mind I am sure that meant that school is lots of fun and today was her VERY first day. She's been so excited for it, and had a GREAT time! She will be attenting Miss Rachel's preschool two times a week, Tuesdays and Thursdays between 9.15 and 11. 30 AM.

I can't believe how excited she was for me to leave her behind all by herself. It must've made her feel like such a big girl. Plus being with her other 2 friends, Carlie and Addison must've helped as well. She's been enthused about it all day and haven't heard her talk about anything else....She told me about how they played "follow the leader" ( with Miss Rachel leading) and how they got to read a book and then they had to put it back on the shelf after they were done...how they had a little snack and then they did arts and crafts...Hearing her talk about her day with so much enthusiasm is so great while at the same time it marks, perhaps, the beggining of a new stage in our lives....

Maile just absolutely loves her classroom right now and I think her teacher has done a fantastic job in decorating it and making it feel warm and welcome for all of her students. I particularly liked this little bus printout she had with the little flower tags with their names on it...so cute...

This was Maile's first art and craft project at school and she absolutely loves it..as a matter of fact she got a bit sad because as we were picking them up outside Miss Rachel was holding this in her hand so she could give it to the parents and I think Maile was wanting to be the one to do that...
Below is Maile's first "homework" assignment...a little show and tell project meant to describe what makes Maile...Maile.This will be the first in a long line of mom and dad doing homework for our kiddos!LOLI am looking forward to seeing what the next year brings and watching Maile grow and learn more and more with each and every single day.