Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

I have to share a recipe that I found the other day.  I was browsing through some Paleo blogs and came across this...

The recipe is here over at Tessa the Domestic Diva

When I first saw them, I thought there was no way they would come out tasting as good as they looked.  They only contain bananas, natural peanut butter (or any nut butter), honey (or stevia), baking soda, vanilla, eggs, and chocolate chips (optional...pff yeah right).  They're actually really good for you!

So how do you get this??

I have a bit of an aversion to the texture of almond flour and other grain-free flour in baked goods so I was wary of this recipe.  But it was 9:45pm, Zenith and I were hungry, I had the ingredients, and then pictures were too tempting (not to mention the fact that they only take 13 mins total to put together and make!).  So I threw it together and 15 mins later, Zenith and I were thoroughly enjoying them with a cuppa.  

I thought there was one problem though...I didn't know if I could stop!  But after 2, I felt very satisfied and filled (it has a really good amount of protein in them) and my sweet craving was gone.  Don't know how they are so good, but I'd make them again!

And a few videos to leave you with.

Not to much longer until the weekend!

~Lindsay

It's official...Spring is here!

The sun is shining, buds are on the trees, blossoms have burst forth in soft pastel colors, and flowers are beginning to peek cautiously through the ground as if to make sure this new weather isn't just a joke before another snowstorm cruelly enslaves them again.  Ahhh yes, Spring is here!  Best part, I just hung my nappies out on the line for the first time this year!

Now it's official!

Friday and Saturday, both Zenith and I had some sort of stomach virus so we just stuck to home.  Sunday we were feeling better so in the afternoon, we met up with our friend Tess for a tennis match (between Zenith and her...William and I were content on the sidelines).  It was in the 50s so perfect for the players, but William and I had to be rugged up.  However, I'll take that over 20s and 30s any day!

He quite enjoyed watching the match.

William now walks around everywhere and loves it.  He has molars coming in on both sides so the poor guy has been in a bit a pain.  He has what looks like an eruption cyst on one side so I'm hoping that clears up on its own so we don't have to take him in.  But that can't be very comfortable.  I'm feeling much better (besides the stomach virus) and able to do much more.  I've been getting the vacuum out, mopping, doing nappies again, cooking, and it all feels great.  Time for some Spring cleaning!

Zenith's night classes have ended for the summer (yay!) and he'll have to do some make-up classes in the fall again, but at least he's done with the big stuff.  It's been great having him home for dinner in the evening and he's enjoying the freedom.  

Hope you all are having a great week.

~Lindsay

Mountain getaway

This past weekend we joined my parents and sister Kaite and her family who had rented a house up in the mountains for a little getaway.  It was great to get out of the old routine and enjoy good times with great company.  Games in the evening, good conversations, fresh mountain air, bonfires, Wii competitions, and watching the kids have a great time playing and interacting made it a wonderful weekend.  The house was in Conway NH, overlooking the White Mountains.

The loft, our "room" for the weekend.

View from the loft

This is zooming in through the window...we had an awesome view!

More pictures from outside

Bonfire

Now THIS is a s'more! Brownie, roasted marshmallow, cookie, and chocolate. I'm sad to say I didn't eat it...Zenith quite enjoyed it though.

Fellow photographer

Kaite and Dan

Sling shot practice

Aiiiiiiiim.....

FIRE! (it literally plopped about 10 feet in front of me...fail.)

Since Monday was our anniversary, Zenith took the day off and Mom and Dad took William home with them so we could have a day out together.  (Thank you Mom and Dad!!) We headed up further north into North Conway where we did some shopping at the outlets up there, and had lunch at a cute cafe.  It was on the second floor above little shops and they used mainly local and organic produce.

We also stopped at the Bavarian Chocolate Haus (!!) where they make their own chocolate and fudge right there.  Of course we couldn't leave without buying a sample. ;)  We then headed along Route 302 over the mountains where it went from 40 degrees to 31 degrees in a matter of minutes and the rain turned into a snow storm.

We had been thinking of getting out at some point and doing some hiking, but as you can see from the pictures it wasn't really walking weather.  We enjoyed the drive (which would have been better had we been able to see the mountains) and then stopped at the Common Man for dinner before picking up William.  We had a nice dinner upstairs in the lounge, tucked away in a little corner where they have comfy couches and tables to sit at.  The atmosphere is rustic and country and the food is delicious!

I can't believe it's been 2 years since Zenith and I received the sacrament which has fused our souls together in marriage.  In a way it feels like just yesterday, but in another way I can't believe that we've only been together as husband and wife for 2 years.  He's such a part of me now that I can't imagine a time where he wasn't in my life.  If 2 years has already brought this much joy to us and love for each other, then I can't wait to see where 5, 10 or 15 years will take us.  I wouldn't have it any other way, and can't imagine my life without him at my side.  With all that we've been through, he's been my rock, my loving support, reminding me everyday what our goal in life is and keeping me focused on this journey to Heaven.  He inspires me to try harder to be a faith-filled, strong, and loving wife to him and mother to our children, and I pray that God will always give him the strength and prudence to guide our family, and me the grace to help him when needed and the faith to follow and support him always.

My first and forever love <3

I'm feeling much better this week.  Still have to take it slow or I'll end up unconscious on the ground, but the midwife wasn't concerned since it's pretty common with the increased blood volume to feel like you're going to pass out.  12 weeks today, praise God!  I'm still proceeding cautiously since the miscarriage with Gabriel happened in week 12 of pregnancy.  I'll feel much better when I reach week 13 and 14 and then I can stop holding my breath and start letting it sink in that I have another little one growing inside me and I can allow myself to get more excited.

Hope you all have a great week and happy Hump Day!  

~Lindsay

(Just realized I have no pictures of the little guy from this weekend!  My camera battery died so I wasn't able to get many shots, but I'll make up for it in the next post.  He's walking much more confidently and has taken 9 steps at a time!  Not much longer and he'll be running.) :)

Midwives and heartbeats

Yesterday was my first prenatal appointment with my midwife.  It was a beautiful, warm, sunny day and perfect for an outing with the little guy.  It was the first time I've been out by myself and driven since I took William to get x-rays for his foot because I've been having so many dizzy spells and feeling faint, but it felt good to be able to get out again.

The appointment went great and they only had to take one blood sample since I had just had a whole panel done recently so there wasn't much that needed to be checked.  She used the doppler to listen for a heartbeat, figuring we would probably hear a heartbeat since I'm at 11 weeks.  As soon as the doppler touched my belly, I heard the best sound an expectant mother could hear; a quick little heartbeat, loud and strong.  With Gabriel, I was at 12 weeks and they weren't sure if they heard the heartbeat or not, so it was a huge relief to find it so quickly and easily.

I've been feeling better and able to eat more, and I've stopped losing weight which is a good sign.  I'm able to sit up and move around for longer periods of time without feeling sick or faint, and not all food makes me want to turn green now. :)  It still comes in waves, but at least it's not as constant as it was.

Sunday morning I didn't feel sick, but I was feeling dizzy so it was probably a bad idea to decide to try to get to confession at Mass.  Halfway through, I started to pass out, so I stood up and managed to make it through the whole thing, then I made a b-line for the pew where Zenith was sitting and put my head down, trying to stay conscious.  It's pretty embarrassing since the same thing happened when I was pregnant with William, but I actually hit my head on the kneeler and ended up knocking it over when I passed out.  Ah well, just one of those things!

After Mass, I was feeling better, so we went out to lunch with another couple we know who have a toddler and a newborn.  We just love getting together with them since we have so much in common and it's nice having another couple in the same stage of life.  Afterwards, since it was so lovely out, we all went to Lexington to walk on the battle trail which goes through the woods and fields that the British marched on during the revolutionary war.  It's so lovely there and we plan on going back again through the summer with a picnic since it's so close to church.

Tuesday, William and I had a picnic of our own in the backyard since it was warm and sunny.  He, Zenith and I have all been suffering from colds so it's been a rough week and was nice to get out in the sun.

Not much other news from here.  We're headed up to the mountains with Kaite, Dan, Mom and Dad for the weekend which will be nice.

The latest William videos, for you!

Happy Thursday!

~Lindsay

Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!

A very happy and blessed Easter Week to you all!

Yes, I'm still alive.  It's been difficult to do anything lately with all the pregnancy nausea and other symptoms that go with it, thus the reason my posts have been so few.  So here's a little post to let you know what's been going on.

Pregnancy: I will be 10 weeks on Wednesday and hopefully not too far from starting to feel better.  The amount of pregnancy symptoms I've been experiencing is an excellent sign for which I am very grateful.  And between Lent and Holy Week, it's been an appropriate time to go through it all. :)

William: He has finally taken his first steps!  A couple weeks ago he "accidentally" took a step, thinking he was holding on.  Since then, it seemed to click with him and he tries to take little steps here and there on his own.  The most he's taken at a time has been 4.  We're getting there! 

He now says "hi," "Mama," "Dada," "moh" (more), "nana" (banana, which really just means food), "dinky" (stinky, which he usually says when I'm changing his diaper), "bah!" for peek-a-boo, and he's starting to mimic what we say to him.  

Latest happenings: Since I haven't been feeling well, I've been pretty housebound unless I have Zenith with me.  He's either been doing the grocery shopping himself, or he'll be my chauffeur and go out with me to help.  I am daily awed by how helpful and understanding he is with both William and chores around the house.  

However, yesterday I seem to have gotten a break from the worst of the pregnancy symptoms and actually had a good day...which was great considering it was Easter!  After a lovely morning Mass, we headed back to my parents for a nice Easter dinner with them and my sister Chrissy and her family.  

My mother set up an Easter egg "Resurrection" hunt where she hid 12 Easter eggs that the kids had to find, and they each in turn opened them to discover a tiny object inside.  They had to guess the symbolism for each object, i.e., a piece of bread to represent the Last Supper, a toothpick to represent the spear driven into His side which drew blood and water, a piece of cotton represented the clean linen they wrapped Jesus in after His death, and the last egg being empty to represent the empty tomb on Easter.  I was so impressed by all the kids guessing correctly what each thing represented and going into detail about it!  

I didn't take many pictures throughout the day, but I did get some before we left the apartment for Mass as well as a few at my parents.

William's Easter basket.  New cloth nappies, big boy sippy cup with a straw, Easter board book with pictures for Holy Week leading up to Easter, and of course a little bit of Australia with a stuffed koala bear.

He was very excited to wake up and find a basket waiting for him.

Dig right in!

His own Rosary that he can hold during our family rosary.

All spiffed up for Easter (minus the shiny shoes here)

I hope you all have a blessed Easter week and hopefully you will hear more from me in a couple weeks after I transition into the 2nd trimester. *fingers crossed*

~Lindsay