Growth

What a gift it is to have gone on this same trip and sat on this same tree exactly one year later.  I have learned more... grown more... this year than any other.  Chris and I talk all the time about how before we became parents, there were so many threats about how our life will change and how "hard" it will become and how little time we will have for each other and ourselves.  These things couldn't be further from the truth in our experience.  Our life has only evolved and grown. Change is not the word that I would use.  For change and growth are both so very important, but they imply very different things.  Being a parent has not changed us.  We do all of the things we did before only now we get to share them more fully and we believe all of the same truths that we did before and now they just seem even more deep and important.  Trees grow taller and wider and the roots grow deeper, but they don't change.  And time has just become more rich, more complete.  Being a mother has been having time for myself - because I am more myself than I ever have been.  Time for each other and time for ourselves have never been more real and plentiful.  Time is exactly what we have and it is filled to the brim and just grows each year*.


we all truly have grown
even the trees.

*That is not to say that time doesn't fly so fast that I can barely catch it by the tail before it is gone into memory-land...

Sequoia, welcome us back!

Last October, we traveled North, and the Fishers traveled South and we met in the middle in Sequoia National Forest.  Cheyenne was just under 3 months and the wilderness and crisp air next to a campfire was something that we are so happy that we exposed her to so young.  The cabins we stayed in were perfect.  They gave us safety and comfort while still allowing us to feel some of the rustic adventure of camping.  So naturally we decided if something is good - more is better.  So we are going to do our best to make it an annual trip and this year, grandparents and a brand new cousin will be joining all of us.  Our hope is that each year as the leaves start to change and the Fall season sets in, we all start to get jitters of excitement of what new adventures we will have that year in Sequoia.
We saw 3 bears last year and walked through trees that were wider than our house and taller than we could see.  We leave in a few hours and I feel like a little kid that can hear the ice cream truck a couple of blocks away.  What wildlife will we see this year?  Will Cheyenne be able to appreciate the deliciousness of s'mores? Will Tyson spot all of the raccoons again?  A report to come!

Sequoia National Forest
October, 2011

Crib Kisses

Zucchini Muffins

Cheyenne has been touch and go about her veggies and so to move along the process, we decided to add some cinnamon and sugar.  You know what they say about a spoonful of sugar... well try a cupful and you are golden!


Zucchini Muffins are now a good friend in the Gould household.

Here is the recipe I used:

Zucchini Bread 
(Recipe adapted from smitten kitchen)
2 cups grated zucchini
3 eggs
1 cup cinnamon apple sauce (you could use veg oil here)
1 3/4 cups sugar
3 teaspoons cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
(raisins, nuts or chocolate chips might be nice addition as well!

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Line muffin pan with holders (For tutorial, see pics below)

In a large bowl, beat the eggs with a whisk. Mix in apple sauce and sugar, then zucchini and vanilla.

Combine flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, baking powder and salt

Stir this into the other mixture. 

Pour in prepared muffin pan

Bake until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean - about 20 to 25 minutes.

(It made about 18 muffins, but you could do it in loaf pans too!)

Of course, they won't taste quite as good without this little helper...
I can lend you mine for a small fee.

A new pair of shoes

the first in fact...

Such a big girl sitting on her own little couch,
sleeves rolled up
in her jeans,
with her shoes,
and  her phone.