Charlotte's First Birthday!

Charlotte turned one last week (November 5). I can hardly believe this year has already come and gone. It seems like just yesterday I was so excited for her arrival and waiting not so patiently for her to make her way into this world. So many friends told me to savor each moment I have with her because it all goes by so fast. It does indeed! But I am very glad to say I truly feel I've savored. She is such a joy in our lives and I feel so blessed to get to spend my days with her, seeing each new development as it happens. I could hardly imagine the day she would belly laugh or crawl across the floor to me or even lift up her arms to be held, and now it seems like all those things happen in abundance each day and every time is a delight.

This was the morning of her birthday, getting ready to eat Daddy's birthday breakfast treat - Dunkin Donuts. She's wearing some costume jewelry a friend of ours from church gave us, and she insists on wearing it sash-style.

Opening birthday cards from family and friends.

Opening a pretty pink birthday dress from her Grandma Taylor.

Having fun checking out her new play kitchen from Grandma and Grandpa Smith.

Pete grilling hot dogs and burgers at the park for Charlotte's birthday party.

Charlotte enjoying her first birthday cupcake.

TWMHTHS #7: Pardon the Pause for Some Chocolate Milk

My apologies for the delay on getting out some fantastic food finds over the past few months. Have no fear. I have been taking photos of the good treats although a few photo ops were missed (sorry Erich, I wish I had snapped up some shots of that Brisket... definite Grand Slam to the BBQ starved man at that time; many apologies to my wife's homemade alfredo sauce too).

So let's get The Way to a Man's Heart is Through His Stomach series jump started with something I like to call, My Little Secret to the best Chocolate Milk... and no it is not salt. But first, a story:

It's Discovery
Growing up in Baltimore, MD we often found our Christmas and Summer vacation travel destination in Sturgis, MI (no, not that Sturgis of Harley lore). My family, having been born there, returned to see the extended family. We either stayed with my mom's side or dad's side of the family usually alternating between the two.

My parents were not coffee drinkers (although my dad has become one in recent years). However, my grandparents on both sides of the family drank coffee. I distinctly remember my brother Andy trying and liking my grandma Moss's coffee while in the early elementary age years. The Smith grandparents had a house layout that basically had a kitchen as a main passage way between one side of the house and the other. As kids we felt more comfortable accessing the refrigerator there. On the way through the kitchen we'd grab a small glass and pour ourselves some Tang or cold water. Eventually I tried this stuff called Half and Half from the local Burger Dairy. Not too bad. I'm into the whole creamy thing. Turns out my grandpa used it in his coffee at times, though many times he'd drink his Folgers black (I remember the red metal cans of the stuff!). Well this one time, I decided to pour in some chocolate syrup. That's how I entered into the whole Half and Half world... and yes there are more ways than one to use Half and Half that I will reveal on down the line some day. There you have it, My Little Secret to the best Chocolate Milk.

I rate the stuff a solid 3B (Pretty darned good! Definitely a good place to score from) because there's really no way to put it other than it is the best Chocolate Milk you'll ever have. Missing a desert? Grab a small glass and enjoy a good surprise like watching a triple in baseball. Maybe give it a straw and feel like a kid again... sneaking in your new discovery on vacation!

There's a bear on the lose.

Charlotte just got to experience her first Halloween and it ended up being a good one. We went to a friend's house and met up with a few other families. There were tons of kiddos out on the street trick-or-treating and the whole group seemed to have a really great time.

Charlotte mauling  playing with baby doll at the church nursery Sunday morning.

Heading out to trick-or-treat. She insisted on wearing her pumpkin as a purse through most of the evening.

The whole crew heading out. 

 

 

 

 

Chili Anyone?

It Finally Sunk In

Tool Time

Fun With Food

So, tonight I tried to get Charlotte to eat more chunkier foods. I got some raviolis for her and made some carrots, cooking them down so they were nice and soft. I got her all "dressed" in her shirt-style bib to let her have at it. She took two bites and then threw a fit because she didn't want anymore. She cried louder than I had heard her in a long time. After I took a time out and came back to her, cuddled her, and put her back in her high chair, I went ahead and gave her some yogurt to eat. She always loves yogurt. She took a couple bites in between sobs and then wanted to stick her hands in it. She stuck her one hand in and it seemed to make her happier, so I let her just have at it. With this method we finished a carton of yogurt and a carton of baby veggies and pasta, and Mama almost had an anxiety attack because of the mess. But, a bit into it I figured I should make the best of it and laugh instead of cry and just enjoy the moment. Here's a video of the outcome of our evening food smear.