Best. Shoes. Ever.

Last week I was wandering at Target and spotted these babies while I was taking a shortcut through the shoe section. They were so cute, so comfy, and so inexpensive I just couldn't resist. Now I absolutely LIVE in these shoes. I want to get them in the two other colors as well. You can dress them up or down, and wear them with jeans, shorts, or a skirt. I have a feeling these will be well-worn by the end of summer.

Double-Delight Peanut Butter Cookies

I've had this recipe for three years now and I finally decided to make them the other day. What makes this recipe so special is it's the 2008 Pillsbury Bake-Off Winner; the creator of this recipe won a million bucks, so it's gotta be good, right? Well I was definitely not disappointed! This is one of the best peanut butter cookies I've ever tasted and I thought I'd better share the wealth (and the calories) with you!

Double-Delight Peanut Butter Cookies

Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup dry roasted peanuts, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 roll (16.5 oz.) Pillsbury Create 'n Bake refrigerated peanut butter cookie dough, well chilled
- Cooking spray

Directions:
- Heat oven to 375 degrees. In small bowl, mix chopped peanuts, granulated sugar, and cinnamon; set aside.
- In another small bowl, stir peanut butter and powdered sugar until completely blended. Shape mixture into 24 balls.
- Cut roll of cookie dough into 12 slices. Cut each slice in half to make 24 pieces; flatten slightly. Shape 1 cookie dough piece around 1 peanut butter ball, covering completely. Repeat with remaining dough and balls.
- Roll each covered ball in peanut mixture; gently pat mixture completely onto balls. On ungreased large cookie sheets, place balls 2 inches apart. Spray bottom of drinking glass with cooking spray; press into remaining peanut mixture. Flatten each ball to 1/2 inch thickness with bottom of glass. Sprinkle any remaining peanut mixture evenly on tops of cookies; gently press into dough.
- Bake 7 to 12 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheets to cooling rack. Store tightly covered.


These cookies are best when eaten warm. From the outside they look like simple peanut butter cookies; but the center of the cookies are nice and warm and gooey and YUM. Try them. You'll love them.

Then and Now

This morning I pulled an outfit out of Oliver's dresser and had total déjà vu. I remembered putting the same cute Tigger sleeper and hat on Taylor when he was a wee little one. It's so amazing to me how time just flies by and I love being able to re-experience these little moments I had with a baby who is now almost (gulp) four years old.

Here are a couple of side-by-side photos of Taylor and Oliver in the same outfit (click to enlarge).

Three Months

Our little Ollie is a quarter of a year old today. How time flies! He's changed so much since he was born and I've loved seeing his little personality develop over this past month.

Some facts about our bitty three-month-old:

- Oliver loves to laugh. He especially loves when Taylor makes funny sounds or when Daddy talks gibberish to him. He has such a sweet little belly laugh that we never get tired of hearing.


- This baby is insanely ticklish. One little poke to the back of his neck, shoulders, armpits, belly, legs, or knees will make him squeal and roll onto his side laughing. It's the cutest thing I've ever seen.

- He's still growing like a weed and is almost in 6-9 month clothes now. Crazy! I tried to put a 3-6 month onesie on him the other day and I had to stretch it down so far to snap it that his little shoulders popped out the top. I can't believe how big he is!


- Ollie LOVES his softie blankie. I've never known such a new baby to be so attached to one blanket, but he sure is. All you have to do is lay his blanket on his belly and he immediately grabs a fistful of it, brings it up and buries his entire face in it. He loves being wrapped up warm and always has at least one hand on his blankie at all times.


- He gets up about 2-3 times at night. I couldn't tell you how long he actually sleeps because I co-sleep with him and I'm pretty much only half-awake when he gets up to nurse at night. Co-sleeping has been wonderful for us and has helped both me and the baby get a good night's sleep. He usually won't go to bed until around 10 or 11 but usually sleeps in until about 10 in the morning, so it's worth it.

- Oliver thinks his big brother is just the greatest person in the world. He's always watching Taylor play with such a longing expression on his face. I can tell he just wants to jump up and play with his brother so badly.


- He loves to take naps in the swing, which is nice because it gives me a bit of a break and I'm better able to get things done during the day.

- He loves hanging out with Daddy at night after big brother goes to bed. He sits on Sean's lap and watches tv with us, content to get in some snuggle time since he doesn't get to see Daddy very much right now.


- He's always babbling and cooing in his own little language to anyone who will listen. I'm not quite sure what he's trying to say, but it sure sounds important.

- He's getting close to rolling over from his back to his tummy. He gets super excited when I lay him on the floor and he immediately pulls his legs up so he's in a little ball and throws himself over on his side. A couple of times he almost made it all the way over to his tummy. I have a feeling that when he actually does roll all the way over it'll scare him to death.

I've loved spending so much time with my little Oliver. He's getting so big and I love watching him grow and develop every day. He's such a sweet little thing!

A sign of Spring...

I looked out our living room window yesterday morning and look what was peeking up through the soil:

Oh Spring, how I've missed thee!