The Little Man Moves

When I went to get Sebastian out of bed the other morning he looked like this...

...partially sideways.

Partially sideways? What's so great about that? Well, it means that this little SeboMonkey is starting to move. Not just kicking and flailing his arms...but he is beginning to wiggle his whole round body from one spot to another. And I think this is a big deal. 

Everyday I look at him and think to myself, how is he so big already? Everyday passes too fast and I do all I can to savor every single moment. It's little things like these that are totally worth savoring. 

Yup, those are mustache socks. 

Yup, that's the cutest face ever.

Nate's Caramel Corn

Seeing this on the kitchen table is always exciting...

Why? Because it means Nate will be making caramel corn. His is the best. I think it's so wonderful because the popcorn itself comes right from the Riverview Theater, it calls for an obscene amount of butter, and Nate must just have a special touch.

All you need is butter, corn syrup, brown sugar, vanilla extract and heat. 
Healthy right? 

It doesn't matter.

Soon enough you have this bubbly wonderfulness. 

Is that a word? 

That doesn't matter either.

Yummmmmmmm...

Sebastian joined in the fun for a bit. Then he got bored waiting for the caramel to heat.

The transition from highchair to crib included a face smash into Papas shoulder...this happens when he is zonked out enough to not care where he lands. 

As usual, Magnus and Penelope were not far from the food.

And we may have even tossed them a few pieces of popcorn.

Nate's Caramel Corn

A bunch of popcorn (popped) - (well, that's vague)

1 1/3 cups brown sugar

1 cup butter

1/2 cup corn syrup

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 250 F. Grease large roasting pan, fill it with popcorn and warm in oven. Over medium heat, combine brown sugar, butter and corn syrup. Heat without stirring to 250-265 F or when caramel forms a rigid ball when dropped in water. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract. Pour over popcorn and stir. Return to oven and bake for 45-ish minutes stirring regularly. Cool on lightly greased foil sheets. 

I have never made this myself...so have never read the recipe until now...love how it says "A bunch of popcorn (popped)". I will be checking with Nate to see about how much popcorn to use...update on that later. 

Bluegrass Saturday...Muffins and Mari

I headed to work at 8am this morn. When I got home shortly after noon, Mari was here taking care of Sebastian since Nate had to work today too. Then the 3 of us went to get some Aveda goodies, coffee and Noodles and Co. 

Who's Mari?...Oh, she is one of my besties and she is the shit.

On any given week night, you can often find the two of us watching crappy reality TV while eating macaroni and cheese and Stove Top instant stuffing...yup, at the same time...like, the best dinner ever.

Anywho, after we got home, Mari and Sebo both napped and I did laundry and started making muffins. Super yummy muffins. 

I have eaten these muffins a couple times...but have never made them. It is a recipe from Nate's aunt. Banana Bran Chocolate Chip Muffins. 

The recipe calls for oat bran...this is harder to find then you may think and that's why it took me so long to make the damn muffins. I thought I found it once, I was really excited about it. I came home and Nate pointed out the fact it was oat bran FLOUR. I had noticed this when I bought it but assumed it wouldn't make a difference. Nate assured me it would. 

Buzz kill. 

I finally did find oat bran...just plain oat bran all by its lonely self. 

Wrong                                                                Right

Then the muffin making starts.

Part way through, Mari and Sebo joined me in the kitchen.

Sebastian loves hanging out in his highchair staring at everything...

...and I love staring at his face.

The recipe doesn't call for muffin cups but I decided to use them so I can easily grab one (or two) when I am running out the door.

Of course Magnus wasn't far from the food as well.

Once the muffins were done...Mari and Sebastian spent some quality time on the couch.

Another good Saturday followed by what I expect to be a good Sunday and Monday...I don't work until Tuesday! 

Banana Bran Chocolate Chip Muffins

Yields 18 muffins

1/2 cup butter (room temp.)

3/4 cup sugar

1 cup ripe bananas

1 tsp salt

1 cup oat bran

1 tsp vanilla

2 eggs

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 F. Cream butter, vanilla and sugar until fluffy. Beat in eggs. Sift together flour, salt and baking soda. Stir in oat bran. Blend dry ingredients alternately with mashed bananas into creamed butter/egg mixture. Stir in the chocolate chips. Do not over mix. Fill greased (or lined) muffin tins about 2/3 full with batter. Bake for 20-25 minutes. 

Yum.

I tossed about a dozen in the freezer in hopes that I can throw one in the microwave on rushed work mornings. Not sure if they freeze well...we will find out. I will post an update to let you know how that goes. 

Bluegrass Saturday Night

Yup, that's right. Bluegrass Saturday...night. 

Last week I mentioned that 88.5 FM plays bluegrass music on Saturday mornings and it makes me jolly. I've decided to make a post every Saturday from now on and title them Bluegrass Saturday _____. Why? Because bluegrass music is easy going and happy and that's how Saturday's should be.

Most Saturdays, Nate works all day and night so Sebastian and I just hang out. It's really cold out today and we are happy to just be cozy in the house.

This afternoon he took an epic nap and afterwards was wide awake and talking away in what his Papa calls his "activity chamber".

The many faces of Sebo.

Dinner is always uneventful when I'm the only one eating it and tonight was no different. But it was pretty yummy. We have a bunch of tiny garden tomatoes in the freezer from last summer. I tossed a bunch of them in a pan and added olive oil, balsamic vinaigrette, garlic, salt, basil, brown sugar and a bit of tomato paste. I put it all on top of some angel hair pasta and topped it off with some parmesan. Yum. I even used the china and paired it with a glass of  wine.

Sebo is now sound asleep. I'm curled up on the couch and look forward to what's next...pistachio ice cream, a few episodes of Hoarders and then bed. My Saturday's tend to be laid back and uneventful, but I am just fine with that because they are days filled with Sebastian time...and that is the best kind of time.

Bluegrass Saturday Mornings

What's awesome? 

That 88.5 FM plays bluegrass music on Saturday mornings and I love it. 

What else is awesome? 

When I am heading up the stairs and I see this...

It takes a few things to create this moment. 

A white curtain, a sleepy cat, just the right sunlight. 

When it happens, I love it.

 Because of this, you may get some fuzz on your bum if you ever use our restroom. 

Sorry about that...totally worth it.

Who will you find behind the curtain? Charlotte de Berry.

Of course Filibuster has to watch me take photos...which in turn creates more photos.

While the cats hang out in the bathroom...Mr. Magnus lounges on the stairs.

And Penelope snuggles in our bed.

Where's Sebastian? 

Napping.

And I stare.

Then he wakes.

Recently, his legs and feet have become quite interesting.

As you can see, Saturday mornings around here are pretty lazy...and I love it.