Autumn is Officially Here

Happy Tuesday and WELCOME TO FALL! 

One of my favorite seasons--the other is spring--is officially here. 

With the air turning crisp just a teensy early here in Michigan, I celebrated the arrival of fall just a little early over the weekend with delicious apple cider and rum, infused with mulling spices I picked up from World Market. 

The great thing about Michigan, and having four seasons, is once you are feeling bored with one season, Mother Nature brings on the next show. And fall in Michigan is an absolutely beaaauuutiful show.

I love when the air begins to turn slightly crisp and you can leave the doors open for a cool cross breeze.  I adore the moment the leaves dry just a little and the wind shakes them about and makes the most peaceful nature's music. Don't even get me started on the utter gorgeousness of the leaves when they begin changing colors. Oof. 

I have not been able to enjoy fall the way I'd like to for the past couple of years due to being unnaturally busy. Although I am still working on wrapping my degree up, I am determined to partake in all that is wonderful about fall, including recipes, cocktails, long walks in the evening, pumpkins, candles and more! I have a checklist of things I'd like to enjoy/do this fall and I can check the following off that list:

1. Make Pumpkin Dip

 Well worth the wait!

2. Cook with squash. 

Oh my. I pinned a delicious butternut squash recipe with brown rice, chicken broth and parmesan cheese. Low-fat and absolutely scrumptious. 

3. Drink wine infused with mulling spices

Who knew Witch's Brew was more than just wine packaged in a cute bottle?

I actually followed the suggestion on the back of the bottle by lighting up my "cauldron" and heating the wine. 

It was absolutely delicious, but I remain unsure what the temperature of a witch's tongue might be...I took my best guess at it. 

This is just the beginning and I will share more completed items as the season progresses.

What is on your fall fun list?

Cheers,

Samara

Seven Months Old

Our little buddy has another month in the books!

Jackson Nazir Morgan

Seven months old on 7-18-14

Milestones and Memories

1. Green Beans

As new parents, we were a little spoiled in that Jackson easily and quickly took a bottle from day one. Never fussed--save for the brief period we switched formula in the early days and who knows if that was even stemming from the formula--and would take a bottle like a champ. From anyone. So admittedly, we were not the parents to get him going on other means of nutrition early on. (If it ain't broke, don't fix it, right?)

Well, his pediatrician recently recommended we start introducing other foods. This month wasn't the first month he ever tried food outside of formula, but it was when we decided to regularly start giving him other food. Just a little bit at a time. 

It's so funny to see babies' faces when they start eating something other than their formula. All that flavor. Woah. Hey. Too much. What IS this?? After a little adjusting, Jackson is beginning to happily eat the new food, too. He especially likes carrots and green beans, as is evidenced in the picture below. ;-)

2. Getting More Teeth

Jackson has started getting his teeth brushed regularly because he now has FOUR TEETH. Tooth number three and four came in during month seven. Jackson loves getting his teeth brushed because mom and dad's finger inside the little baby toothbrush serves as an EXCELLENT teether. 

3. Still Loving Bathtime

I laugh when I think back to Jackson's first bath. He hated it. I was worried as I thought it would be the one thing a baby would love. Luckily mom and dad just had the bath water a little too cold for his liking. We adjusted the water temperature the next time around and he has loved taking baths ever since. 

We only put him in his little bath chair out of convenience, rather than necessity, these days. He kicks, splashes and squeals while taking a bath. He is completely relaxed during bath time and it's so much fun for us as parents. The most intriguing part of bath time for Jackson is when the water is draining. He likes to feel the pressure near the drain and pat at it. 

4. Getting Sick

Not that this is a great memory, but it's a part of his month, so I thought I'd include it. This was the first time Jackson really got a bad cold. His dad had put this Baby Einstein contraption together and while he was mildly amused with it, his cold kept him from really enjoying it. 

This was also the first time we had to take him in to the pediatrician for being sick. When we took him in, we found out he had a double ear infection. I just wanted to take the pain away as it broke my heart to see him suffering so much. 

And the worst part about babies getting ear infections is that oftentimes, the ear infections come back. 

A couple of weeks later, Jackson got another ear infection in one of his ears. My poor buddy spent that entire Saturday at a birthday party, completely miserable. We didn't know at the time that he was sick as he didn't have a fever and just seemed fussy. We figured it was due to his nap schedule being totally thrown off that day. 

We took him in and found out about the ear infection. His pediatrician put him on an antibiotic and he was back to his happy self a couple of days later. 

5. First Cousin Birthday Party

It was not the first birthday party Jackson had attended, but it was the first cousin birthday. Jackson attended his cousin Audrey's fourth birthday party. The party was held across the street from our house and had a pink butterfly theme.

The kids played all sorts of games and Jackson was happy and content watching the kids play. I know he can't wait to join in the fun next year!

6. Six Month Checkup

Although technically in the seventh month, due to the six month appointment being made slightly after Jackson's six month mark, I'm including it in this month's memory list!

Jackson loves his pediatrician. He is always so smiley and happy for her. He bats his eyelashes and now can happily roll around the paper they have on the medical examination tables. He loves the way the paper makes sound. Jackson is still middle-of-the-road for height and weight and has a head circumference that is nearly off the charts. The doctor did a double-take when she saw the numbers for his head circumference. So, she checked again. Yep, still has a big noggin'. He definitely has his dad's head. (Though large heads run-on mom's side of the family, too.)

 7. Working on Sitting Up

So I know there are a lot of babies out there who probably sat up on their own very early on. Many of those babies do not have head circumferences in the 98th percentile, either. It's hard work holding all that up when you are a baby! 

I knew Jackson could sit up on his own without assistance, but he just didn't seem motivated to do it. I'm telling you, I have one of the world's most laid-back babies. I don't like to push anything, but I felt it was time to gently prod my little man into sitting up. 

Over the 4th of July weekend, I really worked with him and it was amazing how in just a couple of weeks' time, you would never know he hadn't been sitting up. He is still a little wobbly at this point if he gets too excited, but he is gaining independence so quickly now by being able to sit up on his own. 

8. First Fourth of July

Jackson had an event-filled first Fourth of July!  We hung around the house earlier in the day and headed to Aunt Margaret's in the afternoon to meet up with the rest of the family. 

At Aunt Margaret's, there was a huge spread of delicious food, drinks and fun that awaited us. 

I finally got to try out this fun fruit arrangement I'd pinned on Pinterest at least a couple of years ago. Super easy, festive and fun!

 Grandma Jody wore a dress that Jackson could not resist. The pattern and fabric--baby heaven!!

The weather that day was absolutely perfect. All the kids were playing with water guns and in the pool. Most of the family sat out in the backyard on my Aunt Margaret's gorgeous deck. 

Jackson dipped his toes in the water. This was only his second time standing in a pool. 

He loved it!!

After a dip in the pool, he enjoyed a ride atop dad's shoulders.

It was a bonus that dad had so much hair to play with. :)

Jackson was tuckered out a couple of hours before the city fireworks began. We put him in his pajamas and laid him down in my aunt's spare bedroom. I had no idea how he would do since the fireworks were going to be LOUD. My 30 year old baby slept right through the booms of the fireworks! (With the slight aid of one small sound machine we put on, of course.)

Here is the view of the city fireworks from my aunt's backyard. 

After the fireworks were over, we woke Jackson up to take him home. I have to say we were lucky parents because as soon as we got home, Jackson went back to bed, right away with zero issues. 

9. First 5K

While Jackson was not in the 5K, he did cheer his mom on from the sidelines. Here we are together after the race was over. 

I wanted to hug him so badly, but I was also sweaty, gross and had "paint" all over me. It was such a nice treat having my guys on the sidelines to cheer me on!

10. Second Soccer Game (First With Mom)

Jackson, dad and I all headed to our alma mater campus--MSU--to watch Lansing United play. It was an extremely toasty day, so Jackson and I hung out under the shady tree. Jackson was so good--completely calm, happy and watching passersby. 

He was so good that we decided to take some pictures. 

Lansing United won the title that day. All in all, it was a great family outing!

And here is an outtake from Jackson's month 7 photoshoot. Enjoy!

Cheers,

Samara

New Orleans

Many, many, MANY moons ago, I sojourned to New Orleans with a suitcase and a dream to get on "American Idol". Sadly, I did not make it. I was immediately cut and by the time I'd gotten through the audition process, I was deliriously tired. After I cried my only-been-asleep-for-about-forty-five-minutes-the-night-before eyes out over breakfast at a local restaurant, I was slightly consoled (and intrigued) by the restaurant patrons bellied up to the bar eating oysters.

After breakfast, I slept.

After I slept, I hung out on Bourbon Street where I slipped into a bar and happened upon a singer with a blue wig on and a whole lotta blues to sang. That is not a typo, she was SANGin', from the belly of her soul. I drowned my sorrows in every note she belted out. I skipped from live music bars to top 40 bars and as the magic of New Orleans melted into me, the sadness of the auditions began to slip away. 

The last bar I went into that night was The Funky Pirate where Big Al Carson was rocking the place. Not only could he sing his butt off, he was funny, entertaining and engaged the crowd in a way that made a roomful of strangers turn into an intimate Friday night jam session with newfound friends.

When I returned to New Orleans many years later, I realized I'd only seen a fraction of even the historical section of the city and I'd seen it through very sleep-deprived and soul-crushed eyes. I had more time to see the sights the second time around and when I really saw New Orleans, I fell in love with it. New Orleans is one of my favorite U.S. cities. This is why I was beyond excited to travel there this past spring with my husband. 

Here is our trip in pictures. (A small sample of them, anyway.) Enjoy!

Beautiful local art in the hotel rooms

Our view from dinner just a street or two away from Bourbon Street on the night of our arrival. Note the beads hanging from the wires.

The scene on the table in our hotel room the morning after the first night on Bourbon Street

Absolutely perfect lunch by the water

You cannot leave New Orleans without patronizing Cafe dú Monde. Often, musicians will be playing just outside the cafe. It is truly a divine experience.

Thomas and I joked that you couldn't get away with ditching your bill here. You would clearly leave a trail!

I always go on a tour via mule ride when in New Orleans. Each tour guide has something different and unique from the last tour guide to point out to you.

But first, let us take a selfie

I'd never been to any of the plantations in Louisiana and was determined to get out to the Oak Alley plantation this visit. I'd seen the plantation in brochures and of course, it is an awe-inspiring sight with the huge oak trees (all around 300 years old), but the history behind the plantation is what really drew me in.

We toured cabins that were recreated to look like the original slave cabins on the plantation and they all included historical displays inside.

On the walls of the recreated cabins were names of slaves drawn from inventory records.

Inside the plantation house

The front of the plantation house. The trees are so large that the house almost disappears. See it way down at the end of the line of trees?

We spent a few nights on Bourbon Street

Bourbon Street is more than just drinking and partying. The architecture and history of the buildings that line Bourbon Street and nearby streets are beautiful and fascinating. So much art, history, music and culture makes this city unique and full of color.

Even the outside of hotels have beautiful structures! 

And of course, you have to eat at Mother's. Wonderful hospitality, delicious food and a style all its own.

We were in New Orleans for my birthday. The tour guide from the mule ride recommended  Irene's, an Italian restaurant, and said it was one of his favorite restaurants. For my birthday, we decided to dine at Irene's!

Thomas checks out the menu

Inside the restaurant

Good wine menu advice

I don't even care that I took a picture of my food. Totally. Worth. It.

For dessert, the wait staff came out and sang me one of the heartiest renditions of "Happy Birthday" I ever remember and a complimentary piece of cheesecake with Grand Marnier sauce drizzled over it. Absolutely delectable.

No trip to New Orleans (or birthday in New Orleans) is complete without a haunted historical tour. Ours began here around dusk on my birthday.

Our tour guide

Lots of spooky stops and stories

Looking inside a haunted ballroom 

My birthday in New Orleans was spectacular. I should mention that it began the night before in a bar on top of a mechanical bull. You'd think with as many bachelorette parties as I'd been to, I would have rode one of these things before, but no--first time! 

Last day (morning) in New Orleans

Cheers to another great time in New Orleans!

The pictures here are just a fraction of the sights we saw and things we did. If you have not been to New Orleans, I highly recommend you add it to your bucket list! 

Cheers,

Samara