ten...

We're two months away from the year mark, and I'm not ready.  Not ready for a one year old.  It makes me incredibly sad to think of how the last ten months have flown by.  I didn't pause to appreciate each moment enough, and now our little guy is not a baby anymore.

At ten months, Chams, jr. is one active little bugger.  He can now pull up and stand, and seems to be especially good at that during naptime.  The solution to that, according to his teachers, is to let him tire out...but that leads to one tired momma after 20 minutes of standing.  He loves to toddle around walking, holding fingers.  Gran seems to thing he'll be walking soon.  That equals dangerous times ahead.

He continues to make new "words" and noises.  Chams taught him how to hum like a car just last night.  He catches on surprisingly quick these days.

The disciplining has started, and I wish I could report that it's going well.  I'd like to keep my dishes in their rightful home in our buffet, but little fingers love to touch and grab at them.  I've enforced the hand spank, which has gone unsuccessful.  Chams, jr. is unfazed.  Problematic, to say the least.

Chams, jr. has got his crawling down pat.  He's quick.  He loves to roll a ball around the living/dining room and crawl after it.  It tickles him to death, and is the cutest thing ever....that is, until it winds up underneath the table and he can't escape.  He also loves to push his car, truck and tractor around.  Anything with wheels is a crowd favorite.

We're really starting to see his cute little personality.  He's happy, and smiley, but can also throw a mean fit. He can flirt with his pretty blue eyes and shiny white teeth (all 6, and counting, of them), but take something from him and game over.  No more flirting.

Speaking of teeth, he's also got chewing down pat.  I'm one proud momma.  He loves anything I give him that he can use those chompers to eat.  I think we're going to have a good eater.  He especially loves bananas and grapes, and chicken.

Chams' mom (Gammy) gave him a sweet bear, Boris, while he was at Children's, and he's really grown to love him.  Chams, jr. can give him kisses, a hug, and can also point to his nose.  Smart boy.  He gives us kisses too (mouth wide open), but not on command. He has to be feeling the love.

Chams, jr. is one sweet boy.  I couldn't have ever imagined that my heart could feel so much love.  He's one precious little boy, and growing up oh so fast.  Here's to cherishing every moment...

christmas in pictures (and a few words)...

Christmas was just wonderful. Our first as parents, and it was truly special.  

To start the season off with a bang, my dear friend Ra and I hosted an ornament swap for mommies at the Ranch.  It was super fun spending time with fellow mommies and their kiddos...and of course Chams, jr. loved spending time with his best bud, B.

We also fit in a trip to Bass Pro to see the man in red.  I mean, every child needs to have their picture with Santa, right?  After 45 minutes of standing in line, they met, Chams, jr. was not thrilled, and we got 3 semi-decent pictures.  Somehow, I sense upcoming years of frowny pictures.

For Christmas, we headed north to Gran Bon and Granddaddy's house to celebrate with the Downs family.  

Chams & Cubbie

Uncle Brew, Aunt S and Cubbie were all there with their Christmas spirit in tow.

Gran, being the sweet librarian she is, had to start the tradition of reading the Christmas story.  It was a little long for the attention span of a 7 & 9 month old, but was so precious.

Chams, jr. and Cubbie especially loved getting to play together.  They're great buddies already.

Granddaddy couldn't wait to give the boys their first tractor, and gave it to them the first night we were there.  It's become a favorite of Chams, jr's.  Wheels + Noise = Good times.

Chams, jr. got a shiny red car from Gran and Granddaddy.  It's pretty snazzy if I do say so myself.

Aunt D, Unc, and their family came over to celebrate with us before the Chams crew headed back to the ham to start our own Christmas traditions.

Unc calls Chams, jr. his twin.  They have the same initials, and look similar in baby pictures.  Sweet boys.

Being back home for Christmas with Chams, jr. was so special.  And, to think that this time last year it was just the six of us, and now we've grown to eight.  We're quickly feeling the home-place up!

The Chams three drove south on Christmas Eve to enjoy some time together and wake up for Christmas at the Ranch.  It was super special.

Chams, jr. didn't know really what to do with all of the presents, but loved all his new goodies.

Mommy's old rocking chair has become a quick favorite.  Gran and Granddaddy gave the green light for it to come back to the Ranch with us.  Chams, jr. is thrilled...it's just his size!

Santa was especially good to this girl, and brought her a new printer.  I must've been pretty good this year.

The wagon was a huge success.  I'm super pumped about walks in the spring in that thing.

Christmas is such a wonderful time of year, and this year with our newest addition, it was even more special. Change is never easy, but spending Christmas day at home with my two favorite boys was the best gift of all.   I'm already looking forward to Christmas's to come when we can share why we celebrate and who the real reason for the season is....Jesus.  

Hope your Christmas was filled with love and blessings, and lots of special memories.  I know ours was!

merry merry...

Merry Christmas...from the Chambless Ranch to you!!

nine...

Yes, I am more than aware that Chams, jr. is now not only nine months, but also nine months, plus 10 days.  What can I say...I'm a little behind.  

Have I mentioned that we have a crawler (since right after Thanksgiving), and it's Christmas time?  

Things have been a little busy...but with all things good, despite a little ear infection and a never ending cold at the Chambless Ranch.

  

I feel like the biggest change in Chams, jr. has happened over the last month.  He's got the crawling thing down pat, and well, it's hard to contain him.

He's also saying "da" for daddy, "do" for dog, and can wave and say "bye bye".  The "ma" season has come and gone...I can only hope it comes back with a vengeance   

Santa ran early to our house, and there's a nice, shiny wagon under the tree.  But, with the onset of serious tantrums, Santa may have to rethink things (only kidding...like I could ever take the wagon away).

At Chams, jr.'s 9 month check-up, he weighed 21.2 lbs, and was 28 inches tall. Still growing strong.

I'm working on him pulling up, but he seems uninterested.  There's a season for all things, I know.

We're super thrilled about celebrating Christmas with this precious boy.  He continues to be such a blessing to Chams and I.  Our hearts overflow.

Merry Christmas!!!  Hope you're enjoying this wonderful time of year!

make this cake...

It's been a while (let's face it, a long while) since I've posted a recipe, but that doesn't mean this girl hasn't been cookin!  It's just that a little someone special takes up most of the blog-time these days.

But, just a couple of weeks ago, I made something so delicious that it just had to make blog-land.

For those of you who know me well, or know me at all, it's no secret that I LOVE the food network.  Ina Garten (Barefoot Contessa) happens to be my favorite, and I'm pretty sure I've seen just about every episode she's ever recorded atleast once, if not 5 times.

I'd seen her make this cake several times, and had wanted to try it for some time now...so two weeks ago I got a bee in my bonnet and made it.  

Wow.  It did not disappoint.

Unfortunately, the bee started buzzing around 8:30 after someone special went to bed...and since it takes a while to bake, it was a late nighter.

Did I say it was worth it?  I could've eaten my weight in it.  

Here is the recipe, with some slight modifications. 

• Cake:
• Butter, for greasing the pans
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for pans
• 2 cups sugar
• 3/4 cups good cocoa powder
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 cup buttermilk, shaken
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup freshly brewed hot coffee
• Chocolate Buttercream, recipe follows

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour two 8-inch x 2-inch roundcake pans. 

Sift the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and mix on low speed until combined.

In another bowl, combine the buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vanilla. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry. With mixer still on low, add the coffee and stir just to combine, scraping the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula.

Pour the batter into the prepared pans and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean. Cool in the pans for 30 minutes, then turn them out onto a cooling rack and cool completely.

Place 1 layer, flat side up, on a flat plate or cake pedestal. With a knife or offset spatula, spread the top with frosting. Place the second layer on top, rounded side up, and spread the frosting evenly on the top and sides of the cake.

Frosting:

• 6 ounces semisweet chocolate
• 1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 extra-large egg yolk, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar

Chop the chocolate and place it in a heat-proof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Stir until just melted and set aside until cooled to room temperature.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium-high speed until light yellow and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg yolk and vanilla and continue beating for 3 minutes. Turn the mixer to low, gradually add the confectioners' sugar, then beat at medium speed, scraping down the bowl as necessary, until smooth and creamy. On low speed, add the chocolate to the butter mixture and mix until blended. Don't whip! 

Spread immediately on the cooled cake.

And, do yourself a favor and double the frosting recipe.  It's seriously the best icing EVER.  Not too sweet, but just perfect.  See - I told you so.

Long recipe, short...make this cake.  If you love chocolate, you'll love this cake.  It'll be appearing again at the Chambless Ranch...hopefully sooner rather than later.  But, let's hope this time the bee starts buzzing before 8:30!

Happy eating!