36 weeks

no more photo's mama!

Micha, you are learning so much lately. 

At 36 weeks you can:

- pull yourself up in your playpen 

- pick up your little wooden kitty from a row of other little animals when we ask you: 'Where's kitty?'

- grab our fingers when we pray before we have a meal, (we always hold each others hands while we pray, but now you initiate it)

- 'talk' back to us when we talk to you, using the same kind of sounds we use

- really get around in your walker

- pick out which book you want us to read to you (we always give you a choice between two different books, and you already have favorites)

- eat apples (which was always a bit tricky, but you know how to use those little teeth now)

- let us know when you're done eating by throwing food on the ground (thanks bud.)

- get others to notice you and then wrap them around your little finger by batting your eyes and showing off your cute two-toothed grin

standing up in your playpen

grabbing kitty

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It's so exciting to see you learn all these new things and understanding them. 

I'm not sure what you should be able to do by now, 

but in papa's and my mind you're the smartest baby there is. 

Oh, and the most adorable one too. 

We're not biased at all ;)

Love, Mama

Lately Loving - vol. 4

Lately I'm loving:

- This tutorial:

source

Trying my hand at it this weekend with some old white jeans. I'll let you know if it works!

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- This film:

I love Mumford and Sons (who doesn't?), but the other bands are just as great! 

I love the feeling of this film, it just makes me want to pack up my clothes and my men, hop on a train and dance and sing our lives away, free from everything.

It's a must-see!

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- This outfit:

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 or this one:

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I'm so ready for fun little summer dresses. 

And I love them paired with a cardigan or chambray shirt and a belt, so me!

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These blogs:

for Lauren and Lauren

tales of a young mama

Kendi everyday

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- This free printable for on my wall:

source

I think I'm printing the one with the blue background, it would look so cute on my kitchen wall.

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- And of course this cute little cool dude:

Have a happy Friday and a great weekend!

Love, Maria

linking up with

Falling for Friday

For the soon-to-be or new mama...

I don't know about you other mama's out there, 

but I had quite a hard time getting used to my changed body after Micha was born. 

It was hard to see my body look so different from what it had looked like before I got pregnant, 

but my perspective has changed. 

While I still sometimes dislike what I see in the mirror I'm learning to embrace 

and love my body and the changes it's gone through. 

I probably shouldn't post such a compromising photo of myself online, but this is what you look like a few days after giving birth: big tata's, swollen belly and greasy unwashed hair :)

That is why I was struck by Katie's post in which she shared her insecurities about her changing body.

(She is 25 weeks pregnant and beautifully so and has the cutest blog, go check it out!)

 I know that there are other soon-to-be mama's and new mama's who are having issues with their changing or changed body too. 

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This letter is for you:

Dear soon-to-be or new mama,

Congratulations with your baby! What a huge blessing, even though it doesn't always feel that way ;) 

(swollen feet or sleepless nights anyone?)

Maybe you loved being pregnant, maybe you hated it. Maybe you felt beautiful in your pregnant body or you felt big and uncomfortable. But one thing is certain, your body has changed.

You probably first noticed something changing right at the beginning of your pregnancy, your breasts became sensitive and bigger, that last bit was kind of fun :)! 

And pretty soon after that you noticed your belly getting bigger and rounder. Maybe you even got a nice brown stripe from your belly button down to your you-know-what.

I loved my pregnant body and really enjoyed being pregnant, but once in a while I would look in the mirror and hardly recognize myself. 

I wondered if I would ever get back that flat stomach I had before and that made me feel selfish and ungrateful: Who was I to have these feelings? I should be happy to even be pregnant. 

Maybe you feel the same way too sometimes. It's okay and totally normal, 

and definitely not selfish or ungrateful.

After Micha was born, I was shocked to see how giving birth had affected my body.

My belly was still swollen and flabby. 

What? It doesn't pop right back after the baby's out? 

No, no it does not. 

It's a whole lot flatter now, but there's still some flab.

>Fun fact: my mom told me that she had brought her tight jeans to the hospital when she was in labor with my oldest brother, she really thought she'd be able to fit them. She had to send my dad home to pick up a pair of larger ones. I learned from that mistake, haha!<

My breasts were huge and engorged at first, 

but definitely not those sexy Dolly Parton boobs. 

They were just big and good for one thing: breastfeeding. 

And then they became small and saggy and had stretch marks all over.

My hair fell out in clumps when Micha was about 4 months, 

I seriously thought I was going bald. 

And now I have these fun little short new hairs sticking out of my head, 

making any hair-do impossible.

I felt so uncomfortable showing my body to my husband. 

I just didn't feel beautiful anymore. 

Even though he kept telling me how attractive and beautiful I was.

Maybe you recognize this, or maybe you fear this. You are not alone.

My body had changed and I needed to accept it. 

There was one thing that really helped me to do so. 

The realization what an awesome thing my body had done:   growing my sweet baby boy. 

I realized I needed to give myself and my body some grace and embrace the changes. 

Your body has carried your newborn for nine months. 

It has kept your baby safe and fed and alive. 

And once your baby's born, it keeps on doing just that. 

And it needed to change to do so.

So love your body, treat it with respect, feed it well and keep it fit.

If you're breastfeeding your baby, that will work miracles for losing your baby weight, that I promise you.

Go for nice long walks with your baby, good for baby, good for mama.

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And when you see those stretch marks, that flabby belly 

or short little new hairs sticking out of your head, just remember:

My body did an awesome thing!

And you will get your body back in due time. 

Changed? Yes.

But just as you!

Micha, 4 days old. I'd do it all over again!

And that cute little baby you're holding is quite a nice reward as well, amiright?

Love, Maria

linking up with Casey today

A spring outfit + a guest post

Today I'm not only posting here, but I'm also guest posting over at 'The Domestic Wannabe'. 

I've written a post for Ashley's series 'A day in the life' , where you can read all about what a typical day in my life looks like.

Why don't you hop over and check it out? 

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This morning I woke up and the sun was shining so beautifully and brightly through my bedroom window. 

I thought that Spring had finally arrived and I wanted to wear something that would match the sunshine, so I pulled together this outfit:

do you see that sunshine?

I wanted to enjoy the weather so I put on my fun little faux-leather cropped jacket, plopped Micha into his stroller and opened the front door.

Womp, womp, womp.... An icy cold wind had me turn on my heels and head straight back inside to change into my warm winter coat.

Alas, Spring is not quite here yet, but that won't stop me dressing 'Springy'.

Come out, come out, where ever you are Spring. We're all so ready so ready to meet you!

Love, Maria

linking up with:

the pleated poppy and Dear Abby Leigh

35 weeks

dear Micha,

You are 35 weeks old today. 

You love:

broccoli, 

your sock monkey, 

your crane bird mobile,

saying your new favorite word 'gaga', 

when papa comes home from work, 

when I get you from a nap, 

your music box,

your special baby cookies,

when we sing to you,

your toothbrush,

practicing to stand,

trying to crawl,

shouting loudly,

going for walks in the baby carrier,

eating the edge of the living room rug,

splashing all of the water out of the tub,

playing peek-a-boo,

when we tickle your belly,

kisses in your neck, 

me,

papa.

We love you crazy boy!

Love, Mama

Good Friday

source

I was planning to write something about Good Friday but then I read this post on lifeingraceblog.com, it is so beautiful and so true and I just felt I needed to share it with you, there's nothing more to add:

" This is where we were made to live, in the veiled glory of Good Friday. Easter is coming, to be sure. But learn to live here first, in the brokenness. Don’t despise today. His suffering is for you. And me. We spend so much time and effort presenting our best selves to the world but He came to be broken and His heart is to see us live there, too. We want prosperity. He bore a cross. We want an easier way. He blazed an impossible path. We want to be liked. He came to love. And His love, on display on Good Friday, changed the world.

Stay with Him, here, until it’s time.

Stay here, at the cross.... "

Read from the beginning here.... 

Have a good Friday, and a hope filled and joyful Easter weekend!

Love, Maria

Love = baking, and a recipe

I find it kind of odd that of all my blog posts I've written since I've started blogging hardly any are a recipe post or a post about baking. 

It's strange because baking is one of my greatest passions.

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It started when I was a little girl. On Saturday mornings I would sneak downstairs and help my dad bake pancakes for the whole family, or I would watch him on Saturday evening while he was kneading dough for his famous Sunday morning raisin bread. 

I would help my mom bake cookies or watch her make the most amazing birthday cakes. Those cakes were the highlight of every birthday, we had a recipe book with all kinds of fun cakes and every birthday we could choose which one we wanted her to make.

my moms creation for my seventh birthday, a bunny!

I've held on to those traditions, almost every Saturday morning I bake pancakes and as often as I can there's freshly baked raisin bread on the Sunday breakfast table. I bake cookies and muffins and squares whenever I can and I already have BIG plans for Micha's first birthday cake.

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Baking has always been an emotional thing for me. 

When I yearned for a baby, I baked my sadness away. 

When I quit University, I baked because that was something I actually was good at. 

When friends had babies, there I would be with a basket of muffins for the tired new mom.

When I want to show my man some lovin', I bake whatever he pleases.

And yes, when my monthly fun time (ahum) arrives, it's brownies I bake.

The process of baking gives me so much joy. 

From measuring out all the ingredients to melting chocolate or butter. 

From rolling out pastry to sitting in front of the oven watching my creations rise
and bake and turn into edible happiness. 

I find peace while I'm kneading dough or icing a cake or seeing a pile of pancakes become higher and higher.

And I love that feeling of pride and satisfaction when someone bites into that perfectly crumbly pie crust and their eyes light up and their mouth curls into the biggest smile, 

because it's MY baking that's making them feel like that.

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I haven't shared a lot recipes on the blog, but I think I'll try to do it once in a while from now on. 

Mind you, I don't have the best photography skills, so don't expect any beautiful food blogger-worthy photo's. 

But what I can do is share some of my favorite recipes and my love for baking. 

Because I really do believe that food tastes better when you put some love and attention into it. 

And that's what makes it so special to me.

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And now on to my first recipe. 

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies 

(makes about 38 cookies)

I know, I know, everybody knows how to make Chocolate Chips cookies, but this is my go-to recipe. 

I combined a bunch of different recipes to make my perfect cookie.

1 cup butter (at room temperature)

1 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups flour

1 cup quick oats

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup chocolate chips

or for Oatmeal Raisin Cookies add:

1 tsp cinnamon

and replace the chocolate chips with

1 cup raisins

Preheat oven to 375 F/ 190 C

In stand mixer or in a bowl using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time. Stir in vanilla. In another stir together flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda and salt; stir into butter mixture until just blended. Stir in chocolate chips.

For the raisin cookies, add the cinnamon with the dry ingredients and stir in raisins instead of the chocolate chips

Roll dough into balls about 11/2 inches/ 4 cm in diameter. Place on ungreased cookie sheets, (you might want to use baking paper) placing balls about 2 inches/ 5 cm apart. On sheet at a time, bake in center of oven for 8-10 minutes or until just golden. Let cool on cookie sheet 1 minute, then transfer to rack to cool completely.

Enjoy!

Love, Maria

linking up with Casey today