Our Footprints.....

Baby | 5 Month Photo Shoot

Shan Cait — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 03:56:46 +0000

He’s 5 months old already! Let me stop and let that sink in – 5 months! That is almost half a year, which is almost a year which means it’s almost his first birthday?! Okay, I guess not quite but it sure feels like it. Seriously, you hear ‘they grow up so fast’ and boy is it true! I want him to stay this cute, little, squishy guy forever. Since he just had his 5th month birthday it was time for his photo shoot.

I am cherishing these moments when I get to dress him up in anything I want and he is still happy as can be – even if that means naked and a cap like Grandpa!

Baby | Travel Nursery

Shan Cait — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 05:48:51 +0000

Since it is always fun to take a peek into other people’s homes, I thought it was time to share what little man’s nursery looks like these days. We did not find out the gender prior to the birth, so we had to stick to a neutral color palette and plus, it gave me a reason to put white in the nursery despite everyone’s recommendations. Sometimes, ya just have to do what the heart wants to do! I love walking in there and seeing his smiling face lit up by the morning sunlight. It warms my heart even on the chillest of mornings!

If anyone wants to know where anything is from please put it in the comments and I will do me best to answer

White | Baptism Cake

Shan Cait — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 17:47:27 +0000

Over the holidays, we scheduled to have Broderick baptized but life had other plans and for various reasons we had to re-schedule it. I couldn’t let this pretty cake from Waldi at Cake and Candy Specialties in Sacramento go without photographing a few pictures of it first! After all, having an extra cake around the house is never a bad problem to have!

Broderick | 4 Month

Shan Cait — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 00:44:43 +0000

As I told you yesterday, this little guy has stolen our hearts (especially in the picture above which might be my all time favorite so far). He is more fun than I ever could have imagined. Every month, I do a mini photo shoot with him and this time Daddy was able to participate! For his four-month photo shoot, I wanted to capture his rolly-polly legs before that cute chub is gone and his playful personality that is beginning to develop. He talks to us all day long and somehow we communicate even though neither of us are speaking anything other than baby gibberish of oooohs, coos, and ahhhhs.

;

Broderick, I hope you know just how loved you are because Mommy and Daddy just can’t get enough of you! I am fully aware that I have turned into “one of those Moms” that shares way to many pictures of her kids but I can’t help it. I prooooomise to post about something other than this little guy next time!!!!

Christmas {a little late}

Shan Cait — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 06:33:56 +0000

While most of you have already seen these pictures from our Christmas card this year, I thought I would share these pictures anyway because I just love them so much! This little man melts my heart every day. We laugh because even when he is sleeping, we sit and scroll through pictures of him on the computer….to say we are obsessed would be an understatement!

Happy 2013!!!!

Recipe | Almond Cookies

Shan Cait — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 12:00:19 +0000

I have had this recipe in the back of my recipe book for well over two years and decided it was finally time to give it a try. With the holidays coming up, I am always in need of new cookie recipes. This one reminds me of my favorite almond cookies from my days working at the local coffee shop, Bella Bru, while in high school. These little cookies are filled with tons of almond flavor and are perfect to enjoy with your morning coffee or as an after dinner treat!

Italian Almond Cookie

Ingredients:
3 egg whites
1 (16-oz) package Bob’s Red Mill Finely Ground Almond Meal
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 tsp pure almond extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup sliced almonds
Powered sugar

Directions:
1. Beat egg whites until foamy in a large bowl. Stir in almond meal, sugar, almond extract and salt; cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours to chill.

2. Preheat oven to 300F and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Press almonds with your fingers to break into smaller pieces. Shape dough into 1 1/2-inch crescents and roll in almonds; place on baking sheets.

3. Bake for 20 minutes for softer or 30 minutes for firmer cookies. Dust with powdered sugar.

Sweet & Spicy Cookbook

Shan Cait — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 12:00:27 +0000

The ladies at Ruche created a wonderful Thanksgiving Dessert Cookbook which I was honored to have my Red Velvet Brownie recipe featured in the magazine. For this and other yummy recipes, click on over to the cookbook – I can’t wait to try the chocolate chiperoos on page 23!

Hear Me Roar

Shan Cait — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 04:59:24 +0000

I have anxiously been awaiting Halloween because this will be baby B’s first holiday and yes, we are all about firsts around here! Even though Broderick fell asleep two blocks into our outing, this was by far my favorite Halloween in a long while! I had a whole new appreciation for all the adorable kids walking around dressed in costumes. Those kids used to annoy me on Halloween because I had to stop for an extra long time at each crosswalk so everyone could cross and had to be re-routed because certain streets were closed. I know, I was a scrooge! That former annoyance now brought me so much joy.

While trying to put Broderick to sleep, I took a late afternoon walk around town and saw the beginning of the Halloween festivities beginning. Instead of being annoyed by the kids, I was excited. They filled my heart filled with happiness. I wondered how many times they each changed their mind before walking out the door for their big night. I saw parents holding hands with pride. I saw big smiles from the kids and even bigger smiles from parents. I wanted Ryan to come home right away so he could share this new joy the children brought to the holiday. Joy in the most unexpected ways.

Even though Broderick slept for almost the whole night he was the cutest little lion I ever saw and couldn’t help but smile every time I saw him and all the other kids on the street. Tonight, I gladly wait through two waves of people at the crosswalk and just smiled.

Happy Halloween!

My Little Pumpkin

Shan Cait — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 19:26:46 +0000

Happy Almost Halloween!

Sleepy & White

Shan Cait — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 13:00:34 +0000

I have tried my very best to enjoy each moment with little B because I know these are moments we can never get back. This first six weeks have already flown by and I can’t believe he will be 2 months old in just a few weeks.

Since little B’s announcements went out, I thought it was time to share these pictures which I took when he was seven days old (belly button shot was 14 days ). I look at them and marvel at how little he was. This little guy loves to put his right hand next to his face which is funny because we have a sonogram picture of him doing this exact thing.

This is was my favorite picture from the session and melts my heart. This represents little B just how he is, no hats, no crowns, just his little face sleeping away with his hands.

We love you little guy!