Yappy 7th Birthday, Brody!!!

Yesterday, September 27th, our little fur child turned 7 years old!  That's 49 in human years :)  

It seems like yesterday we brought him home.

(First day as a Kinard)

(Still sits like this)

Brian got him for me as a Christmas present our first year of marriage.  I remember researching on which dog I wanted and came across the miniature schnauzer.  Suppose to be great with children (which he isn't with toddlers), very excited to see you even if you step away for a second (he does act like he hasn't seen you all day long) and very loyal to their owners.  

Brody was formally known as Sweet Bear from his breeder.  I still have his picture that I fell in love with online.  He was a tiny little thing sitting next to a pumpkin.  He was the last one out of the bunch to find him a home.   I don't know why?  How could you not love this little face!

After making the arrangements, Grace put him on a plane from Dallas, Texas and he arrived to us in Savannah, Georgia.  I've always wondered what he was thinking riding on an airplane.  You know he was down below with the luggage in a crate.  Still breaks my heart thinking about it.  I would never do that to him now.  He has been the BEST Christmas present thus far!

(The start of the costumes.  He still HATES them!)

HaPpY BiRtHdAy, Mr. Brody!!

(Cake from Coastal K9 Bakery)

3 Months Old

I can't believe my sweet angel is already 3 months old.  My, where has the time gone?  Our days mostly consist of taking a stroll in the neighborhood, playing on her activity mat, a small cat nap here and there, swinging in the backyard, eat, pee/poop, smiling and trying to giggle.  

She is one happy baby.  Loves to smile.  She is the happiest in the morning...that's my favorite time of day.  She greets you with the biggest smile when you get her out of her crib.  She is so happy to see us because it had been 12 hrs since she last saw us.  Yes, my child sleeps 11-12 hrs straight through the night.  We are truly blessed with a good sleeper.  I think a lot has to do with our nightly routine.  At 6:30 pm we take a 30-40 minute stroll, take a 15-20 minute bath, get lotioned up and into our jammies and swaddled, eat and she's down around 8 pm and sleeps until around 7:30 am.  Some mornings longer.  I think that is the key to having a child to sleep through the night.  You also have to be consistent.  Yes, we have to go to dinner around 5 pm to get back home, but that's okay.  We have turned into total home bodies.

Vivian's Likes:

• I think baths will always be on the favorite list
• Strolls
• Being outside.  Whether its sitting with mommy or daddy in a chair or in her swing.
• Watching TV.  She's mesmerized by it.  During the day we usually have it on Nick Jr or Sprout.
• Playing on her activity mat.  She loves the singing flower.  
• Smiling.  Happy happy little girl.
• She likes rolling onto her tummy, but once she's on the tummy she isn't too happy.  As soon as you put her back onto her back she's back on her stomach.  She's a silly girl.
• Being bounced and held.
• Her peacock Polly and her baby doll Lucy.  That's what we named them :)

 Vivian's Dislikes:

• Sitting in her car seat for too long.  I try and take her out and about, but it usually turns into an unsuccessful trip.  She gets so fussy when out in public.  We've only had one good day of going out.  We went to Target, Old Navy and World Market.  If I plan to take her anywhere it has to be as soon as she's done eating.  That way we can go to at least one store together.
• Waiting on her bottle.  She is very impatient when it comes to eating.  As you can tell by those chubby cheeks.  
• Sitting for too long.  You can't just sit on the couch with her or leave her too long in her bouncer chair.  She again gets fussy and you have to stand up and walk around with her.

I have to say we have the best little girl in the world.  I count our blessing everyday.  God has truly blessed us with this amazing little girl!

Happy 3 months sweet heart!!!!

 

Pumpkin Spice Waffles

Am I the only one itching for fall??  I don't know what it is about this year, maybe because we have a little one, but I am so ready.  Yes, tomorrow is officially fall, but weather wise it doesn't feel like it.  Come on summer weather, move on out so the weather will be in the 60's.  Grant it, we have a had a few days that felt like fall which was wonderful.  I would take Vivy out in her swing and we would stay outside for over an hour. We have her swing in the corner of the backyard and I'm planning on setting up a little area for us to sit by a fire once the weather becomes cooler.  I found this fire pit that I'm going to get and hoping World Market still has chairs similar to this.  Maybe put some string lights in the trees.  I think it would make a nice little oasis.

I've already stopped by Starbucks and got me a Carmel Apple Spice.

Fall in your mouth people!  Plus, its non-caffeinated if you don't drink caffeinated beverages.

Anyway, I was on Pinterest this morning and came across a recipe for Pumpkin Waffles with Apple Cider Syrup that sounded delicious.  I knew I had to go to the grocery store while little bit was napping I thought I would pick up the ingredients.  Well, I detoured to Home Goods first to check out their fall decor and came across an already prepared pumpkin spice waffle/pancake mix.  Score!  I like to make this as simple as possible now.  I knew I wanted to make the apple cider syrup which was a wise decision.  The BEST SYRUP EVER!!!  Seriously.  It screams fall!

Pumpkin Waffles/Pancakes (If you want to make mixture yourself)

Makes 6 servings.

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 cup canned pumpkin
• 2 cups milk
• 4 eggs, separated

• 1/4 cup butter, melted
  
  

  Apple Cider Syrup:

  
  

  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 cup apple cider
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons butter

  Directions

  1. Preheat a waffle iron according to manufacturer's instructions.
  2. Combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, allspice, ginger, salt, and brown sugar in a mixing bowl. In a separate bowl, stir together the pumpkin, milk, and egg yolks. Whip the egg whites in a clean dry bowl until soft peaks form.
  3. Stir the flour mixture and 1/4 cup melted butter to the pumpkin mixture, stirring just to combine. Use a whisk or rubber spatula to fold 1/3 of the egg whites into the batter, stirring gently until incorporated. Fold in the remaining egg whites. Cook waffles according to manufacturer's instructions.
  4. To make the syrup, stir together the sugar, cornstarch, and cinnamon in a saucepan. Stir in the apple cider and lemon juice. Cook over medium heat until mixture begins to boil; boil until the syrup thickens. Remove from heat and stir in the 2 tablespoons of butter until melted. Serve warm.
  I
  I adjusted the serving size to 2 since I was the only one eating the waffle.  I seriously could have eatin' two of those suckers.  I had some left over batter that I think I may try out pancakes in the morning.   Although,  I'm the worst pancake maker ever!  I'm thankful we have a Belgium waffle maker :)

  
  

  Happy Fall Y'all!!!!

  
  
  

The day in the life of Vivian

Just relaxing in my bobby

 

Silly girl sticking out her tongue

Dinner with daddy

Watching her 1st MS State game.

Sometimes we wear boy jammies

Napping with mommy and Brody

Happy, Happy!!

Swing her for a few minutes then she's out.  We will sit outside for an hour or so swinging while she naps :)

Sporting my Halloween jammies.

Loves playing on her activity mat

Loves sleeping upright.

I don't know how I'm going to get through 2 days a week without seeing this little girl when I return to work.  It will definitely be hard!!  At least she will be home with daddy those 2 days and they can have father daughter time :)