Whole Wheat Pumpkin-Spice Muffins With Glaze

     I've been a fall pinning nut lately on Pinterest.  From decor, photography, clothes and food.  Definitely love this time of year.  I knew I wanted to make pumpkin muffins for Vivy and I to nibble on for the next several days.  Tired of giving her the same ole snacks and figured I make something a little nutritious and delicious at the same time.  

We made our way to Whole Foods to pick up a few ingredients I was missing in my pantry yesterday.  While we were there, my child decided to knock down a corner display of crackers.  Yep.  She removed the plastic clear shelf and they came tumbling down.  Awesome!  I put it back together as best as I could while praying no one would see us.  Wish I had my phone on me so I could have taken a picture.  I hate grocery shopping with her.  She hates riding in the cart and insists on walking and pulling things off the shelves.  Hope she outgrows this phase quickly!!

This morning we woke up to rainy, chilly, gloomy day.  What a great time to make our muffins for our morning snack!

Whole Wheat Pumpkin-Spice Muffins via here

MUFFINS:
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 Tablespoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup salted butter, melted
1/2 cup granulated white sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 cup pumpkin puree (unsweetened)

GLAZE:
1 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup (2 ounces) softened cream cheese
dash of ground cinnamon
dash of milk (to thin out)

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray muffin tin with nonstick spray- be sure to spray the top of the pan too since the muffins will bake over the side of each tin.

2. Prepare the muffins: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, pumpkin pie spice and cinnamon. In another larger bowl, use electric mixer to cream butter and sugar together. Mix in eggs and vanilla. Alternate adding dry ingredients and milk/cream. Add pumpkin puree last and mix just until incorporated (don't over mix).

3. Divide batter between 12 muffin tins. They'll be quite full with batter- that's okay. Bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center of muffin comes out clean. Let cool in the muffin tin for about 15 minutes, then gently move muffins to a wire rack to cool completely.

4. Prepare the glaze: In a small bowl, mix glaze ingredients. Drizzle glaze over muffins. 

These muffins are so good!  I scarffed down two :)  I didn't add the glaze to Vivian's because I didn't want her to have the extra sugar. But me, I went for extra glaze :)

16 Months Old

Happy 16 months to this little rascal!!

You amaze me everyday little girl.  You are so full of life and none stop!  You are on go mode all day long until you are asleep.

You still weigh 18.5 lbs, same as 12 months.  You have 10 teeth.  Mommy is dreading when you cut the rest.  Your blonde hair is growing.  You are wearing size 3 diapers, size 3-4 shoes and clothes range 6-18 months depending on the brand.

You're in bed by 7pm every night and you are now waking up anywhere between 6-7 am.  Sooo much better than 4-5 am!  We moved your naptime to 12 pm which has helped with you snoozing a little later.  Your naps last 1.5-2.5 hrs.  You nap on the couch with me next to you.  There are times you roll on top of me and sleep.  I don't mind.  I love the snuggles!

The only two words you say are "ball" and "yeah."  You understand every word we say though.  We'll tell you to do something and you will do it.  Your are too smart for your own good.

Not only do you say "ball,"  you LOVE balls.  You are obsessed with them, and rocks.  You also love dogs.  You point at a dog everytime you see one and they bring the biggest smile on your face.  For Halloween this year you are dressing as a dalmatian. 

You don't care for riding in a shopping cart for long.  You want out and walk yourself.  Going shopping can be stressful at times because you want to pull everything off the shelves.  I pray this phase will be over soon!

You also don't like sitting in a highchair for long at restaurants.  You always try to stand up in your seat.  You want out and run around.  Going out to eat isn't pleasant.  We try to sit outside when we can so you can run around a little.  However at home, you like to sit in your chair.     

If things aren't going your way, you'll toss whatever is in your hand onto the ground, shake your head "no" and cry.  Doesn't happen often, but you do have some of those days. Overall, you are a happy little girl.

You like to run around and scream.  So funny!  That's when your really happy.

You have been on lots of vacations lately.  We went to Asheville the end of September, Smoky Mountains a couple of weeks later and we are going to New Orleans the first of November.  The trip to NOLA will be your 2nd time flying, but if you count when you were in my tummy it will be your 6th time.  You've turned into a pretty good traveler.  You love to explore your new surroundings.

You love giving kisses and hugs.  All we have to do is ask and you give them away.  Melts my heart!  You love to laugh and being tickled.  Your laugh is the sweetest sound.

If you hurt your finger, stump your foot or bump your head, you want mommy to kiss it and it makes it all better.

These 16 months have been the sweetest and most exhausting moments of my life.  I would not change it for the world!  God truly blessed us with the best little girl in the whole entire world!!  

   

Smoky Mountains

It has been 3 years since we've been to the smokies.  Growing up, going camping there was our yearly family vacation.  Such great memories!  I will always love going.  

This year we decided to take Vivian for her first trip.  We met my parents and my brother and his family for a few days in the great mountain air.

Vivian loves the outdoors which means she would love being in this new environment.  She had a great time exploring.  Especially throwing rocks, acorns and leaves into the river.  I think she could have done that all day long.

Getting there was a little rocky.  We left out of Wilmington at 8:45am and didn't arrive in Townsend until after 6pm.  A 7 hour drive turned into 9 hours.  Horrible.  It was fine until we got into Asheville.  We were stuck in stand still traffic on the interstate FOREVER.  And for what?  Nothing!  There were a couple of vehicles on the side of the road and that was it.  Pathetic.  Then I missed our turn to Sevierville.  We ended up in the second oldest town in TN, Danridge.  Then the traffic in Pigeon Forge was RIDICULOUS!  Stand still traffic, again.  We hardly moved for an hour.  B decided to take some back roads to Wears Valley Road.  The road was very curvy and steep. Then Vivian throws up because of all the turns.  We sat in throw up until we got to the cabin 30+ minutes later.  It was a mess.  We were glad to get there.

The next day we hung around Townsend.  Went to the top pool of the Little River where you start inner tubing so Vivian could play next to the river.  She had a ball!   We ate lunch and got ice cream later.  A perfect day after a long day the day before.  

Sunday we spent the rainy afternoon at Cades Cove.

We picnicked at the entry when it wasn't raining and once we started the 11 mile drive, the rain came on and off.  We didn't even get to go to John Oliver's cabin.  I wanted a picture of Vivy on the cabin porch and in the meadow with the mountain back drop.  Oh well, we will return.  At least we were able to make a couple of stops between the rain.  After Cades Cove, we drove to Gatlinburg.  We a did a family old time photo and had dinner at Bennett's BBQ.

Can't go to Gatlinburg and not eat at Bennetts.  So good!

Monday, B, Chris, Suzanne and Audrey rode Smoky Mountain Alpine Roller Coaster in Pigeon Forge.  Vivian was napping in the car so I was unable to ride.  They really enjoyed the ride.  After the coaster, Chris and his family had to return home.  We grabbed some lunch and drove to Chimney Rock and up to Newfound Gap. When we got to Newfound Gap, the weather went from the upper 70s to the 50s.  It was cold and windy!  After a quick stop we drove down to Alum Cave Trail  for a little hike.  It was beautiful.

Tuesday we stayed at the cabin all day long because it rained all day long.  We needed a lazy day!

We left Townsend before 6:30am to make our trek home.  Thankfully the drive back was much smoother. No traffic jams, getting loss or sick.  Vivian did great hanging out in her car seat.  We did stop at South of the Border, aka the most random in place in America.  They had a little playground which was great.  We made it home around 2pm.  So good to be home!

Pumpkin Patch

What a beautiful day to pick out our pumpkins at our church.

The weather was cool, the sun was out, it was our first real fall day.

Amazing what a difference a year makes!

  Not only the size, but mobility and more aware of her surroundings.  Poor child was terrified of the bail of hay.  She wanted no part of taking her picture on it alone.  However, she loved the scarecrow!  We had a great time and we each picked out our own pumpkins.

Outfit: Bottoms , Top , Shoes

Excuse my appearance.  I had just woken up from a nap with Vivian :)

Vivian made a little friend named Lucy.  Vivy is one day older than her, but you wouldn't guess by the size :)

I'm sure even next year will be even more fun!

Happy fall y'all!!!