Anna Maria Island, Florida

Last week we were on the BEAUTIFUL Anna Maria Island in Florida with my parents and brother.  My parents have been vacationing on the Island for over 35 years. They went there on their honeymoon and they will be celebrating their 35th wedding anniversary this month! My Grandma and Grandpa Andrews (who are no longer with us) have been going for years before that.  I have been going since I was two years old and we are now starting the tradition with Ellis at one year.  Let's just say our family has quite a few memories on the island.

The weather was mid 80s the entire time, our beach house was adorable and we got through the entire week without too much family disfunction. ;)  It was relaxing and the perfect vacation with a baby.  Every day we slept in, drank coffee by the pool, my mom watched Ellis while Logan and I went for our morning run, swam in the pool with Ellis, put Ellis down for her first nap, did a short day trip when she woke up (fruit farm tour, the Mote Aquarium, little shops around town, etc.), tried to get back in time for Ellis' second nap, grilled dinner at the house or went out for dinner, and ended almost every night with a walk on the beach once Ellis was down for the night.  It was wonderful to spend time with my family and so helpful to have my mom and brother there to help with Ellis.  One day we left her with my family and Logan and I went to Orlando to the Magic Kingdom.  It was so nice to have the day for just him and I since we rarely get alone time these days. 

For me,
It was a week without lists.  Lists - I. HAVE. THEM. EVERYWHERE - work lists, home lists, freelance lists, grocery lists, dinner lists, lists, lists, lists.  I needed a week without lists and I can tell it was just what the Doc ordered b/c I am feeling totally refreshed and ready to take on the world - more on that later.  Sometimes you just need some time away. Basically this quote sums it us:

Trip highlights - Having a beer on the Rod and Reel Pier and talking to locals, swimming with Ellis in the pool, the Mixon Fruit Farm, and bumming around town looking at all the little shops - this one was my favorite.  They also have a blog with recipes!  The store smelled AMAZING and there were samples of everything!

Lowlights (is that what I should call them?!)

#1 - THE. PLANE. RIDE.  I have some advice when traveling with a baby - DON'T DO IT! ;)  I am sure some parents have had a great experience when traveling with a child, but ours didn't go so smooth.  Had she been just a few months younger, I feel like it would have made a big difference.  She had to be moving at ALL times - jumping, touching, climbing (all over us), "talking" to the people in the seat behind us, arching her back and throwing a fit to get down off of our laps and oh, her random screams, for fun.  She is a pro.  The girl has some pipes!  So for two and a half hours Logan and I were sweating, getting climbed on, trying to control her screaming, and trying to feed her all while cramped in a tiny plane. We were hoping for a nap. Not a chance for that!!! Basically she looked at us and said - "Ain't nobody got time for dat!" kidding!  But if she could talk, that is totally what she would have said.

#2 - When the bank called us about one hour after we got in the Magic Kingdom and told us our credit card number was stolen and someone spend $2,500 in Great Britan.  I was like "C'mon!  Isn't this supposed to be the happiest place on earth!"  Grrrr.

Ok, now on to the pictures:  

Morning smiles the day we left

Wearing Mama's hat

First Airplane ride

I might look happy, but in my head I am thinking LAND THIS THING NOW AND GET ME THE HELL OUTTA HERE! STAT!

Our beach absolutely adorable beach house - The Coral Cottage!

The Beach

After a morning run

No room to pack toys, so kitchen utensils had to do.

Braiding back my bangs.  Jodie and Kate tried teaching me this technique a couples times and I kind of got it while on vacation. :) Now if the hair on my temples would just grow back.  I knew it would fall out after I had Ellis, but I thought it would grow back. sigh...

The Mote Aquarium

She looks so much like a little girl in this picture and not a baby.

Look at the Sea Lions Grandma!

Mixon's Fruit Farm

Pool Time:

This bird was VERY friendly.  He would show up and we would feed him bread.  No wonder he was so friendly. ;)

 The Rod and Reel Pier:

Ice cream!!!

The Spice Merchant and bumming around town:

Disney's Magic Kingdom

Around the beach house...

ELLIS TURNS ONE!

Ellis is one loved little munchkin.  We are reminded of that every time we are surrounded by our friends and family.  Her God Father (God-Daddy-Patty) cured and cooked all of the meat and handmade all of the bread and bagels for her special day.  Pat happens to be the Sushi Chef at Restaurant Muramoto and has cooked at Tornado Room and Nostrano (yeah... I know.... totally a big deal ;) and he is one amazing chef!  He made beef pastrami, maple ham, and smoked turkey for sandwiches as well as salmon for the bagels.  Paul, Ellis' other God Father and Uncle, brewed some beer that was a huge hit!  Maybe he will name one of his beers after her someday.  I already have one named after me, but that's a whole other story. ;) My special contribution for her special day was making her cake.  This might sound funny but, I have dreamt about the day I got to make my first child's birthday cake.  I made my Aunt's famous cake that she made for our wedding.  It is TO DIE FOR. Well, at least I think it is and my dad thinks so too.  My mom had to practically pry our cake topper piece out of his hands so he wouldn't eat it after our wedding.  We were storing it in my parent's freezer so, in tradition, we could eat it on our first anniversary.  It is white chocolate pound cake with cream cheese and raspberry filling and white chocolate frosting on the outside.  YUMMMMM!  Anyways, besides the fact that our house is a bit cramped for the entire Trameri/Buell clan, it was a wonderful day! Ellis got so many fun toys and adorable clothing.
Side note: The Buells are pretty much a one stop shop.  We can build you a home, insure it, then sell it, cut your hair, watch your kids, bake you a cake, brew you some beer, take your family pictures, and then to top it off, we will sell you some damn good cheese!  ;)

God Parents - Pat and Nora 

God Parents - Ashley and Paul

NO MORE PARTY HAT!

Like I said in my last post, Ellis no longer has to wear her DOC band and we are thrilled with the results!  Her asymmetry went from 12 to a 3!  This chart will explain what I am talking about.  Basically, she went from severe to normal.  So, in the end, that overpriced helmet was worth EVERY SINGLE PENNY!  We are still fighting with our insurance to cover it... more on that later.  Here are a few pictures form her very last appointment with her Physical Therapist, Cathy, who we simply adore!

Yay Dad!  No more stupid helmet! :)

Ellis next to her head mold.  This angle doesn't show the improvement as much as I would like it to, but you can kind of see how the mold had more of a lump on the right side.

Final pictures

Wall of patients

Cathy showing us a few exercises we should still be doing with her.

ENERGY BITES

If you know me, you most likely know what enery bites are b/c...
• I talk about and eat them incessantly
• You dig through my freezer for them when you come over (Mom & Nora)
• I have brought you some after you had a baby. (too many names to list here - they are kind of my thing to give to new mommies, so if you have a baby, expect energy bites.)
• You have energy bite making parties b/c you love them as much as I do! (Kate and Jodie)

If for some crazy reason you do not know what what energy bites are, here you go:

ENERGY BITES

1 cup old fashioned oats

1 cup coconut (sweetened or unsweetened)

1/2 cup ground flaxseed

1/2 cup peanut butter (I use Smuckers organic w/o hydrogenated oils)

1/2 cup honey

1 tsp vanilla

(mini chocolate chips - optional - I only put these in once in a while)

Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl and make into balls.  Place the balls on a wax paper lined cookie sheet and then place in the freezer.  Once the balls are frozen, throw them all in a gallon ziplock freezer bag (or tupperware) and keep in the freezer.  When you want one, take one out and zap it in the microwave for about 12-15 seconds.

EASY PEASY!!!!! :) 

Note: You will mostly likely have to take your rings off and really get in there with your hands to mix it well.  It can be a little hard to mix. I ALWAYS double this recipe.  We go through them pretty fast in this house.

They are PERFECT for new moms b/c they are full of protein and fast and easy to eat when you walk in the door with the baby and the baby it cranky and needs to eat, but YOU are starving as well b/c you are breastfeeding and need to eat something too! lol  I went through these like crazy while I was on maternity leave.

BIGGEST LOSER PANCAKES

I have been meaning to share this one for a while.  I make these almost every weekend and Logan and I both love them!  They are super healthy, and like it states above, they are ACTUALLY yummy too!  The best combo if you ask me!  They remind me of french toast b/c of the egg whites and the vanilla.  I usually scatter mini chocolate chips on top when I am making them, of course, you can use blueberries or really whatever you want.

BIGGEST LOSER PANCAKES

6 egg whites
1 cup rolled oats, dry
1 cup cottage cheese
2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla

In a blender, blend all ingredients until smooth. Heat a griddle or large non-stick skillet over medium-low heat. Spray with non-stick cooking spray. For each pancake pour 1/4 cup of batter onto griddle. Flip when they start to bubble. Cook until golden brown. Repeat with remaining batches, spraying the griddle as needed. Makes about 10 pancakes.

Number of Servings: 3

Nutritional Info Per Serving:
181 Calories, 2.7g Fat, 10mg Cholesterol, 361mg Sodium, 20g Carbs, 2.8g Fiber

RED LENTIL COCONUT SOUP

I found this recipe on Pinterest and finally tried it this weekend. It was SUPER yummy - seriously one of the best soups i have ever made!!  I thought is was share worthy, so here it is! (Oh and it is gluten free!) 

Ingredients:

• 2 cups red split lentils
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 1 red bell pepper cut into 1/2 inch dice
• 1 fresh jalapeno or serrano chili, finely chopped, including seeds
• 1 tablespoon fresh peeled and minced ginger 
• 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon curry powder
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1/3 cup tomato paste 
• 7 cups water
• 1 can unsweetened light coconut milk
• 1 15-ounce can of chickpeas
• 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
• fresh cilantro and lime wedges for serving (optional)

Heat the tablespoon of olive oil in a dutch oven or large soup pan and add the onions, bell pepper and jalapeno and cook for 5-7 minutes until the vegetables have softened and start to take on some color.  Add the garlic, ginger, spices and tomato paste and continue to cook for 2-3 more minutes until the mixture is toasty and fragrant.  Add the water, coconut milk, lentils and chickpeas and cook uncovered for 20 to 25 minutes adding the lime juice at the end of cooking.  Taste and adjust with more salt or more lime juice if desired.  Serve the soup topped with a sprinkling of fresh cilantro and some extra limes on the side.

(recipe from scaling back blog)

PARTY HAT!

Ellis got her "party hat" last Friday and has adjusted just fine.  Me on the other hand... well, it might take me a tad bit longer.  Even though I know the helmet is HELPING her, not hurting her, it makes me a little sad.  She just looks so different and I cannot cuddle her the way I used to.  I used to give her little head kisses and snuggle her under my chin and now it is just hard plastic. lol  We get to take it off for one hour a day and during that one hour I try and get my snuggles in and of course a bath. :)  Overall, we are THANKFUL for the helmet and the health of our family.

Here are a few pictures of Ellis in her party hat.  It is no longer white though.  It is now blue with sparkle clouds and a kite!  Yup, her head is in the clouds! ;)  I will post pictures of that along with her 7 month bunny pictures soon.

Happy Thanksgiving y'all!!!

"Just hanging out watching TV with dad and sucking my fingers.  This is the life."