Cooking with Lila

The Tyson house loves bananas. They're an easy grab-and-go snack for Chase and I, and Lila will eat anything if I mix mashed bananas in it. This morning, I let her try to pick up large pieces of banana and feed herself. She was being quiet, and I was occupied making breakfast. When I finished cooking, I noticed that she had decided to use banana as her homemade styling cream. I snapped a few pictures with my phone, but they do not accurately depict how sticky her hair was. I tried to wash her down with a washcloth, but even that didn't take the banana out. Silly girl....

Speaking of cooking, I'm loving this baked oatmeal recipe from Inspired Taste . The base of the recipe is all that really matters. You can mix in any fruit, nuts, and spices that you like. We made it with strawberries and bananas today, but I think I'll add blueberries next time. The best part is that it tastes great re-heated - making it a "cook once, eat breakfast for a week" dish. 

Baked Oatmeal with Strawberries, Banana and Chocolate

very slightly adapted from Inspired Taste

Ingredients 
2 cups old fashioned rolled oats

1/3 cup light brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2  teaspoons of cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup sliced strawberries
1/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 cups milk
1 large egg
3 tablespoons butter, melted
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 ripe banana, peeled, 1/2-inch slices

1. Preheat oven to 375°F and generously spray the inside of a 10-1/2 by 7 inch baking dish with cooking spray and place on a baking sheet. 
2. 
   
3. In a large bowl, mix together the oats, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, half the strawberries and half the chocolate. (Save the other half of strawberries and chocolate for the top of the oatmeal).  In another large bowl, whisk together the milk, egg, butter and vanilla extract.
4. 
   
5. Add the oat mixture to prepared baking dish. Arrange the remaining strawberries and chocolate on top. Add the banana slices to the top then pour the milk mixture over everything. Gently shimmy/shake the baking dish to help the milk mixture go throughout the oats.
6. 
   
7. Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until the top is nicely golden brown and the milk mixture has set. For an extra tasty top, sprinkle a tablespoon or so of extra brown sugar on top then place back in the oven under the broiler and broil for 20-30 seconds. Serve warm with an extra sprinkle of sugar or drizzle of maple syrup.

Enjoy!

Month by Month: 8 months

Happy 8 Month Birthday Baby Girl! This month you are crawling everywhere, pulling up on everything, and getting into absolutely everything. I can't leave you anywhere alone! I am pretty sure we have entered the "raccoon stage".

You love to get on top of our bathroom scale because it lights up... Conveniently letting me know that you weigh 16.3 pounds now.

You are still wearing size 2 diapers and a lot of your 6 month clothes, with a few 9 month pieces mixed in because you're so long.

You spent a lot of time with family this month... You met your baby cousin William, extended family at a birthday party, enjoyed a visit with your great grandparents from TN, and reunited with your Uncle Corey after he returned from a summer away.

You are so brave! You rode down a water slide several times with your daddy at a birthday party. 

You talk all the time, wave your hands wildly, and love when everyone comes over each week for small group.

It takes you 30 seconds to maneuver yourself out of almost any seat you aren't strapped in -your bumbo seat, bouncer, car seat, shopping carts.. Etc

You shake your head now in the most over-exaggerated way. Sometimes you do it to let me know you don't want any more baby food, sometimes it's when you're trying to dance to music, and the rest of the time I can't figure out why you're doing it- probably to make us laugh.

You always loved looking in the mirror but now you also want to kiss your reflection. You've figured out that you can also see yourself in our stainless steel appliances and some of the windows.

You started school this month! Well we call it school but it's just a mothers day out program at a church close to our house. You really like your teacher, and I really love the program.

You love this fluffy pink bunny. As soon as you get a hold of it, you snuggle in to take a nap. When you wake up, you play with it and talk to it until you're ready for someone to come get you.

You like to pull up on the coffee table and tickle your daddy's feet. If he still doesn't pay enough attention to you, you yell "aaah!"

Your Granna (Chase's Mom) bought a big stuffed Piglet ride on toy that you've fallen in love with. You only like to ride it when there's an audience of people to cheer when you ride by. You even convinced some people at small group to push you on it.

Your changing table used to be one of your favorite places, but now you do the alligator roll when I'm changing your diaper, and you yell every time I change your clothes. What happened?!

You are such a mess, and such an absolute joy. You make us laugh everyday. You're definitely teaching me patience lately, but I could not be more proud to be your mommy. We are so thankful that you're a healthy baby. I just want to stop time and enjoy this stage, because I'm afraid you're going to attempt walking soon!