Spring Garden Update Plus an Easy Green Smoothie

So, last year our garden was a bust.  Between the heat, my pregnancy, and the condition of our soil, our plants just didn’t want to produce.  I am really hoping that this year is different.  I think our soil has improved much through the winter… we also added some compost and peat moss to help it maintain moisture.  Last year, our garden boxes were like the Sahara. 

So far, I have planted a mixed variety of lettuces, kale, carrots, and arugula of which the kale and lettuces are growing already.  I also bought a swiss chard plant which seems to be doing well.  I am so excited to make green smoothies with our very own garden produce (recipe at the bottom)!  

Kale

Lettuce

We also have two rhubarb plants in the alley but I don’t think we will be getting a crop this year. 

Our seedlings just aren’t doing great indoors so I am thinking we will be buying plants this year.  Tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant are on the list.  Basil and rosemary are some herbs that I really want to grow too.  We already have mint and what seems to be cilantro growing in odd places in the yard. 

As always, our raspberry garden is in full force.  I added a golden raspberry stock to liven up the variety! 

Golden Raspberry

We plan on using the entire side of the house to plant pumpkins this year.  We are already excited for roasted pumpkin seeds!

Our peach tree survived this year and hopefully we will have some deliciously sweet peaches come August!  

Peach Blossom

Elise got her very own peony this year!  It is a coral peony and I am very excited to see it bloom!

Cross your fingers that I will have lots of garden updates this summer.  Also, some rain dancing would be greatly appreciated!  

Green smoothie recipe:

-2 cups of greens plus some liquid (I use water but any kind of milk or juice would work)

-2 cups of ripe fruit and veggies (banana, oranges, strawberries, apples... anything goes really)

-add-ins (chia, flax, protein powder, wheat germ, anything you want)

-Blender or bullet (I use the bullet)

Blend the greens and the liquid first then add in your fruit/veggies and add-ins.  Blend until smooth!  Enjoy!

Elise is 7 Months Old!

Goose,

What a month does!  You have suddenly become your own little person who knows what she wants.  You are a curious, happy, demanding, cuddly, and above all, oh so loving.

You are a mama’s girl but your face lights up when you see your daddy.   You give him the biggest smile (one that I only see when you see him) I read somewhere that babies seek fun and excitement from their dads and love and comfort from their moms…that fits you to a T.  However, I think we lose out to your pups.  They get the biggest smiles and happiest laughs from you.

You hate when your dad or me walks away from you.    In fact, you are typing with me right now because you didn’t want to be one foot away.  You have become very attached this last week and it is hard for us to get anything done.  I love that you love to cuddle.  You reach for me in your sleep and if you don’t feel me you wake up (which has its own problems) but I still love it no matter what.  Speaking of sleep… what is sleep?  I am chalking it up to teething and I hope this new found hate for sleeping of yours ends soon.  It takes about 45 minutes to get you to take a nap and go to bed.  Whatever it is just make it end soon… mommy is tired!

You absolutely love to eat.  You still despise avocados but everything else you love.  You love feeding yourself already and will get mad if I try feeding you.  I have recently started giving you whatever we are eating for dinner.  Last night, you ate chicken, pasta, and veggies.  I blended some at first but you weren’t having that, so I cut little pieces up and you gobbled it down.  You were happily eating away for about 30 minutes.  Your other favorites are HappyPuffs and Little Yums.  You also love sharing my morning bowl of oatmeal.

You are sitting up like a pro now.  You are pulling yourself forward so that you end up on your belly, which I think is a good start to crawling.  I’m thinking that by next month you will be mobile.  We need to get going on baby proofing!

You absolutely love being outside.  Whether it be in the yard or out for walk.  I can put you in your bumbo and garden away and you’ll be happily pulling at the grass, watching the dogs, or just watching what I am doing.  If you’re having a particularly bad day, I can take you outside and you will stop crying instantly.

You had your first trip to the zoo this month and your first ride on the carousel. Daddy was so excited…get ready to go with him a lot!

You also celebrated your first Easter and dyed your first Easter egg. We went on an egghunt together.  So far, that has been the best holiday with you! 

Things you love:

Eating

Cuddling

Your pups

Anything that is not a toy (my wallet and hair especially)

Walks

Your Ergo

Jumping

Your mommy and daddy (but that goes without saying)

Things you hate:

Napping

Sleep in general

Being left alone for 0.3 seconds

One of the funniest things you have started to do when you’re mad is turning really red and putting your firsts up in the air and yelling.  All I can do is laugh.

You are my angel, my star, my darling! Mommy loves you!  Happy SEVEN months!