Cake Decorating

One of my classes this semester is Art Appreciation. In place of our second test she assigned an art project. I asked if a cake would count and she said "of course!" So, I decided that this would be a great time to experiment as much as I want because I wasn't giving it away as a gift and she was grading on effort alone! So I experimented every step of the way! I tried a new cake recipe, that didn't work. So I used the boxed cake that I had as backup. (I have tried the recipe again since then and it worked...yum!) Then I did three layers on the bottom, two chocolate with a vanilla layer in the middle. I also tried doing a raspberry filling. The top tier is the vanilla cake, two layers with the same raspberry in the middle. The top tier was a first for me. I made the fondant and it turned out great! It was super easy to make and work with, which was quite a surprise! What did I learn? A LOT!! Next time I will: make the original recipe for the cake (with the changes so it will work), different raspberry filling and more of it, use more buttercream under the fondant so it is more smooth, no matter how small the top tier seems it will need a support system underneath so it doesn't sink into the bottom tier, start earlier so I have time to do something cooler than polka dots, figure out a better way to do letters. I would love to do this for fun and make a little money on the side too. One of my friends in class is in the singles ward and will probably be getting married so we talked about me trying to do her wedding cake. I would totally do it for cost just for the experience. We will have to see. I would have more experiments before I really agree to that though! The best part, I got an A! So what if everybody else did too....

Rodney's First Beater!

This is goooood...

Mom, there's more in the middle! How do I get it?!

Ooooohh, that's how! I get it!

Winter Outfit and Halloween!

I just had to take this picture of Rodney in his warm winter outfit. We got this hat at Walmart. I had to find one that he couldn't pull off on his own. If it doesn't strap on then it lasts about 2 seconds before it is off of his head! So, this has a chin strap and really it was just too cute to pass up! The first time I put it on him he just screamed and pulled on it until I took it off. But the trick was to put the gloves on first and he was so busy trying to figure out what they were that he didn't even care about the hat! Such a goober! But really, doesn't that look warm?! I wish I could fit into it!

Last night we went to a really fun Halloween party with Justin and Sarah at the Hull house. Mark and I weren't planning on it so we didn't have costumes. So after a while Justin found Mark and wig to put on. Mark left it on for a while (under the baseball cap of course! It was pretty goofy looking.) But then mark put it on Rodney's head to see what he would look like if he really had hair. I had to take a picture. Rodney closed his eyes but we only had a 2 second window before he grabbed it off his head. But, personally, I think it turned out even cuter that way! So here is your preview of coming attractions, Rodney WITH hair!

Fun Day in Denver!

We had a super-fun day in Denver on Tuesday. We started out by visiting with Heather and Brooke for a few hours. She was here sibling-sitting. It is getting to be more and more fun seeing the babes together because Rodney is getting old enough to be interested in other kids. It is so fun to see him grow! Then we met up with Grandma and Grandpa Friesen at the temple. They had some quality time with Rodney while Mark and I got to go to the temple. They are making it possible for us to make our new goal possible. Once a month to the temple! So far we are going strong, 2 months! haha

This is Rodney and I while we were at the BEST restaurant ever! Saigon Palace. And you bet, we got the Super Bowl!

After dinner we went across the street to the Army Surplus store. Rodney LOVES his Grandpa Friesen. Grandpa can get him laughing like nobody else can! I don't know what it is, but Grandpa's got it!

We had to get a few pictures of the cousins together. I just think this one is so funny. Brooke has the biggest smile and Rodney is just trying to figure out what the heck is going on!

Like his shirt? Can I just tell you how much I love the thrift stores lately!?

Good News from the Allergist

Maybe I should start with the allergic reaction. About 2 months ago we were eating breakfast burritos and Rodney being Rodney wanted some of what we were eating. I didn't know that eggs were a no-go until 1 year. Now I know. He grabbed a chunk of egg off of my plate shoved it messily into his mouth and then rubbed his eye. His skin started to rash, he kept itching it. His nose started to run like mad; and he started to sneeze like crazy too. I washed his hands and by the time the doctor called me back he was much better. Long story short, the doctor ordered an appointment with an allergist before we gave him a flu shot to be sure he wouldn't have a reaction. So, Rodney had a scratch test yesterday at the allergist to test his reaction to eggs and the flu shot. He ended up being only slightly allergic to eggs and no reaction at all to the flu shot. Wahoo! That also means that he will most likely grow out of the allergy! The doctor wants us to keep a food diary of anything that has eggs baked in it and keep our eyes open for reactions. We are also to avoid plain eggs, but that is expected. So follow appointment is in a month, hopefully nothing comes up. We don't need an egg allergy!

Super-sad realization for this Mom

I am suddenly realizing that Rodney's 1st birthday is right around the corner. (tear) What is so upsetting about this? I am only months away from being done nursing. (I am literally on the verge of tears writing this) Rodney will be just fine, I know. But I am just dreading it. However, the nutritionist at WIC today told me that the world average for breastfeeding is 4. So Mark and I have decided to continue breastfeeding like that lady in the UK until her kids are 8... ok maybe not...ok really we aren't. I'm not going that crazy over it.

New Post to come TOMORROW for Rodney's 9 month check-up. He is already in bed and I want a picture to go with it dang-it! With how often I post, I have to make it worth it! Be impressed, very impressed. 2 posts in 2 days~!

9 Months and Counting...

This was taken at Grandma and Grandpa Friesen's house about a month ago.

He loves this little chair.

This picture was taken today, he is looking far too old :(

Well we had our 9 mo. check-up, well a week and a half ago now. I couldn't find our camera and I wanted to post a picture of Rodney with it. So the serious search for the camera began. I haven't seen it in far too long. I was really getting worried. Well, good news. I FOUND IT! I don't want to admit where I found it because it proves how LAZY I am....

Anyway, back to the purpose of the post.


Good news first:

• Rodney gained weight! 5 oz. in 3 months...but he gained!


• I don't need to feed him in the night anymore = more sleep for me!!! Apparently, when some babies eat in the night it affects their eating habits during the day. I was thinking I was doing a good thing by giving him food whenever he wanted it. Guess not. We have been using the strategy of The Baby Whisperer (Compliments of Emily and Sarah, THANK YOU.) GENIUS! A week of weening him off of night feedings and last night he slept for 8 hours straight. 8 HOURS!

Bad news:

• Ear infection (no hints from the little man. No abnormal playing with the ear, no fussiness, ear infection none the less)


• An appointment to set for the allergist


• Sent to the lab for blood draw (for a metabolic panel to make sure that his thyroid is ok. Don't panic. She said it is probably just fine but we need to check just to be sure) Suprisingly, he did incredibly well. He just layed there and watched the guy do what he needed to do. Cried right when the needle went in, but as soon as it was in he just watched the doctor again. He never sits still, but I guess if I lay him down on a table and there are two strange men looking down over him...

Official Measurements: 16 lbs. 5 oz. (1%-ile) 27 inches(12%-ile) head? I don't know, they didn't tell me.

He has started to clap, pick and choose what food he eats off of his tray, picks things up with his fingertips and not his whole fist, learned his first baby sign language: Milk (although we use it for drink. He did it for the first time yesterday), climbing. Climbing. Climbing. He has learned that he can open the drawers on the bottom of our coffee table to reach things he wants in the middle of the table. Lovely.... I think we have a natural monkey. He has started to refuse baby food altogether. He has let me feed him two containers of pears and 1/2 a jar of sweet potatoes in the last week. He is starting to play really well with other kids his age and gets very excited to see Rowan and Rory. ( I guess they could be called his two best friends) Today Mark and I were watching Rory pretty much all day. They were so cute together. It was like they were attached at the hip, partners in crime. Anywhere one of them would go the other would follow. A not so cute thing he has started to do is scream/squeal/screetch extremely loud. Most likely right in your ear. We really need to get going on the sign language...