Fun with Uncle Blaine

Rowan-Oak LOVES his Uncle Blaine. He is that silly fun Uncle.

 He was one of the first family members to hold Ro.

They have a great time doing things that are fun only with Uncle's.

Bowling

Watching Television

Playing Pretend

Telling Stories & Sharing Giggles

I'm so thankful Rowan-Oak has a FUN Uncle that LOVES him too.

First Month with THE CHAMP

Rowan-Oak had a very busy first month....very busy. 

Grandmoo and Grandpoo (my parents) flew in when little man was just a few days old, and oh what fun we had! We went bowling, toured Astoria, and even went to Washington.

Week 2 Aunt Mary Katherine (MK) came out from Washington DC.  We all turned into Goonies for the weekend and went hiking in the woods!

Rowan-Oak really enjoys the outdoors so we traveled to an old pirates cove and watched the sunset over Astoria.

We really enjoyed our visitors and the time we spent getting to know our son.  We are having a blast!

Welcome Rowan-Oak

Welcome Rowan-Oak!

Introducing Rowan-Oak Hemlock Graham.  He will officially be taking over the bulk of this blog seeing as I have posted a ton of cooking recipes. Ha. From time to time I will continue to cook and share some of Mrs. Pat Graham's recipes.  But for now it's all to the first born.  He is more interesting than some cake I baked anyway....

What an adventure with this little one!  In my belly as a mystery one moment and birthed in the water at home in another moment revealing himself as a boy!  Oh what fun we are going to have!

His arrival was quite the experience.  I had the birthing tub set up for almost 3 weeks before he made his grand entrance.  Oh the waiting......those last few weeks are long!

I had a midwife appointment in Portland on June 10 and was surprised to learn that I was 4-5 centimeters dilated already!  The midwife told me I would be in labor that night and to hurry the 2 hours home, so I wouldn't be in the car when the baby came.

The car ride back I finally started to feel something. I made it home and the contractions really started to get going!  While they waves were coming I decided the best place to be was outside.  I scooped dog poop every time I felt a contraction,  I know I wouldn't have been able to do THAT in a hospital!

After a few hours I decided to call the midwife to come as she had a 2 hour drive herself.  While waiting for her I filled the birthing tub, settled in a chair, and told myself things like "this feels good" when the contractions were coming.

When the midwife arrived I hopped in the tub and just rode the contractions out floating in the warm water.  I was in a dark room with Brandon while the midwives stayed out of my way in another room.  Before long I was pushing out a head "I feel hair" I proclaimed!  I was then notified that I would feel the baby turn, and to stand a little to catch the baby.  After I felt the turn (really cool BTW), out the baby came in the next contraction in my arms.  I quickly counted fingers and toes and saw a little penis.  It's a BOY!  I knew it all along....

Little man was weighed 9 lbs 1 oz.

**Please excuse my mess, scooping poop and staying outside was a lot more appealing than folding clothes during labor**

The wonderful ladies who assisted the birthing process. Carrie Duncan and Kristen Downer.  Such amazing women!

I'm so thankful to have had such a wonderful experience.  Welcome to the family Rowan-Oak we love you very much.

Little Devil Balls

First post!  It has to be GRAND!  I was going to make a cake for a new friend.  She brought us some cake from Safeway (a chain grocery store out here) I thanked her for the cake and later promised her a homemade one in return that tastes even better!

Oh I shouldn't have boasted....

The cake I promised was a Red Velvet.  I got even more excited as I remembered I had a recipe from Mrs. Graham!  I quickly looked for it, omitted her icing for my own, and got to baking!

It was a disaster as things started coming together.

I somehow purchased salted butter for my icing, and I realize as I'm adding my last bit of sugar.  Then guests starting arriving and I forgot to get those beautiful looking cakes out of the pan.

What do I get for boasting? A salty icing-stuck-in-the-pan cake.  Ha.

She will just have to try the Red Velvet cake some other time.  This time she will just have to try Chocolate Covered Red Velvet Cake Balls!

                                       Card created by http://stampins4you.blogspot.com/

It worked out better this way.  With all the cake balls I made a treat for a friend and had some for a guest's birthday.  We still have a ton of cake left too!  Did I mention this the best Red Velvet Cake recipe I've had?  Yum!