Baby's are a time-sucker

On my last post, I talked a bit about how I have an easy newborn and that I can still get everything done and blah blah blah.  Yeah, ignore that.  It's not that Joey is difficult now, he isn't, but I'm not really sure where the hours in our day go everyday.  Why can't I get anything done?   Mike comes home from work and I say - all I managed to get done today was taking care of Joey (if I'm lucky I get a nap in - yes, I view this as an accomplishment - and a daily necessity).  Fortunately I have a good guy and he says "That's enough".

Last week I had to get a few things done, no option.  We had a Welcome Joey party for my family, so it was absolutely essential that the house get cleaned, the food get bought and cooked, and of course some cookies get baked.

I planned out my week (the week before the party).  I broke down the cleaning, cooking, shopping and baking into small manageable bits for each day. Yeah, That worked for Monday, then all of a sudden it's the day before the party and nothing else has gotten done.  Seriously, Joey eats for a little over two hours a day, yeah there's changing him and some holding him, but really, where does the day go?

And remember my good guy of a husband, yeah - he didn't really want to help with the cleaning.  He supposedly "cleaned" the bathroom - but then admitted later that he did the absolute bare minimum to see if I would notice later and then leave it for me to clean if it wasn't up to "your standards".  That didn't go over so well.

Anyways, I did manage to get a batch of cookies and bars made for the party.

#83 Chocolate Chip Crispies (3/22/13)
A chocolate chip cookie with potato chips thrown in - very yummy.  Mike rated them a little lower, 3 : ) - only because they were a little crumby (not crummy).

Have I mentioned how much I missed eating cookie dough.  I refrained from eating any raw cookie dough the whole 9 months of pregnancy - no more!  (No worries, I didn't lick my fingers and then handle the dough.  After doling out tablespoonfuls of dough, I scooped up a little extra and then ate that - no licked spoons, and I washed my hands after eating any dough).

#84 Black Bottom Banana Bars (3/23/13)
We both rated these bars 4 : ).  They're essentially banana bread (a very good, moist, sweet banana bread).  They're called black bottom banana bars because after making the dough, you separate it in half, and mix baking cocoa into one half.  So it's banana bread with half of it being chocolate banana bread.

Blog post done - check that off the to-do list.  Quite an accomplishment for the day, wouldn't you say!

For all you doubters

Yay, not pregnant anymore, at home with a 3 week old newborn.  I can't really complain about the pregnancy, I had it pretty easy.  And now... I'm told I have a pretty easy newborn as well.  I'm counting my blessings.  My new little guy (Joey) is not a screamer or a cryer.  He's not even too fussy.  He does wake up every 2 hours or so at night to eat, so I'm sleep deprived, but frankly during the day I'm a little bored.  I'm told that boredom is not a normal reaction for a new mother.  I'll stop talking now about how well things are going so I don't incur the wrath of mothers everywhere.

I have not stopped baking.  Today alone I made a turkey dumpling dinner, muffins and another batch of cookies.

I haven't exactly "taken it easy".  I have "taken it easy" by my standards, I was always very productive and kept very busy.  I'm still managing to get out most days and run a few errands, I take showers daily (I feel the need to mention this as I hear it's an accomplishment for new mothers just to get a shower in), I make dinners most days, and I take care of a newborn.  But I get help the next three days, yay!  It's off to the cabin tomorrow morning for all girls movie weekend (all girls meaning my sisters and mom - so very helpful people).  My goal is to truly "take it easy" these next three days.

Anyways: batch #82 Chewy Coconut Cookies
Cookies for girls movie weekend.  I'm not sure how to describe these cookies other than to quote the guy who "invented" these cookies.  This is a treat "that is crisp outside, moist and chewy inside, and mildly flavored with peanut butter".  That is exactly what this cookie is.  Imagine a cookie made from peanut butter, almond extract (I find that almond extract gives cookies a unique flavor and smell), a mashed banana, coconut plus all the other ingredients a cookie has.  That's what this cookie is.  I can't decide if I think it is wonderful or actually kind of gross.  One thing for sure, though the peanut butter isn't overwhelming, if you don't like peanut butter, you probably won't like this cookie.