Alright, I have to tell you that Jake is now arching his back and THROWING himself back now when he's unhappy. And he does it a lot. I'm scared. This behavior seems far too early for a 4 month old. What do you think? Are we in trouble? Do we have a really BAD BOY on our hands?

Had to get out the 6-12 month clothes last week that were handed down from Cole. Just have one question for you----how is Jake wearing size 6-12 months when he refuses to eat solid foods????

Jake just turned four months. He had his well-check today and weighed in at 18 lbs, 8 oz. He is now able to eat solids---but being the little stinker he is, he's not liking food so much. The doctor suggested sweetening the rice cereal with bananas, but it didn't seem to make a difference to Jake. I guess he's one of those breastfed babies that the doctor said has a hard time transitioning to food. Ahhhhhh. At least he keeps us smiling. Brandon, Isabel and I can really get him to laugh. This is a snapshot I took this morning of him when he woke up.

Today, Tues. Oct. 24th, Martha Stewart made mini pumpkin whoopie pies on her show. I thought I'd post this---because it's different than Jen's recipe. They STILL have a CHOCOLATE cookie---but a pumpkin cream cheese filling. Caity, I want to kick your butt that you were here in Vegas and could have made these with me!! If you are here for Thanksgiving we will have to make them then.




Mini Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

Makes about 20


For the Cookies:
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (not Dutch-process)

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon coarse salt

1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened

1/4 cup vegetable shortening

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup packed dark-brown sugar

1 large egg

1 cup whole milk

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

For the Filling:
4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature

1/2 cup confectioner's sugar

1/4 cup canned solid pack pumpkin

Pinch of cinnamon

Pinch of nutmeg


1. Prepare cookies; Preheat oven to 375°. Sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt into a medium bowl; set aside.


2. Place butter, shortening, and sugars into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on high speed until smooth, about 3 minutes. Add egg; mix until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Mix in half the flour mixture, then the milk and vanilla. Mix in remaining flour mixture.


3. Drop about 2 teaspoons dough onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper, spacing 2 inches apart. Bake until cookies spring back when lightly touched, 12 to 14 minutes. Transfer baking sheets to wire racks and let cool 10 minutes. Remove cookies from baking sheets and transfer to wire racks using a spatula; let cool completely.


4. Prepare filling; In the bowl of a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, whip together cream cheese, butter and confectioner’s sugar on medium speed until smooth, about 3 minutes. Add pumpkin, cinnamon, and nutmeg; whip until smooth, scraping down the bowl as necessary.


5. Pipe or spoon about 2 teaspoons filling on the flat sides of half the cookies. Sandwich with remaining cookies, keeping the flat sides down

I HATE Disneyland. Maybe it's better when it's less crowded on a weekday, but I still hate it. I'd much rather ride roller coasters and fast rides at a carnival. Last year we went to an Italian Festival here in Las Vegas and I went on the best ride I've ever been on in my life. Disney just doesn't do a thing for me. I had a carmel apple---and it didn't even come close to the one at Laguna Beach. But of course this trip wasn't for me---so it doesn't matter what I think. It was ALL for Isabel---and she loved it. Turns out she doesn't get sick on rides like her Dad. She is a little thrill-seeker like her Mom and her favorite ride was Space Mountain--which apparently they just improved---and I did like it. Here is a snapshot of Isa with Laura's little girl. Isabel says she is her new best friend.

I didn't have enough time to order Pirate cake decorations. Searched all the stores and couldn't find what I was looking for. Ended up going to Michael's and buying a wooden box for the treasure chest & a small sailboat for the ship that I needed Brandon's help assembling. Painted both metallic gold--drew the skull & bones symbol on the mask with a black permanent marker---took pearls from my jewelry box & some of those chocolate gold coins--and whala--Tyler got his Pirate birthday cake. Oh--and that's brown sugar for the sand.

Everytime I tell Isabel to do something she says "You're fired!" I know she watches a lot of TV---but it's not like she's watching Trump's Apprentice or anything. What's up with this? I don't know....maybe she picked it up from a friend at school. Ahh---KIDS.

I am three-months old now!