Recipe for an amazing first year!!!

Today our little baby Anthony turns one year old!!  How exciting!  The three of us have successfully made it through the first year.  I can remember like it was yesterday being discharged from the hospital and thinking "wait a minute, that's it we just leave with him" and even more vividly walking into our home with him calling my mom and exclaiming "mom you need to get here quick, I have no idea what I'm doing". We figured it out though and I would like to think it's been one heck of a year!

When Anthony first came home I had made a promise to myself that I would bring Anthony anywhere I could as to always get him used to things.  His second day home marked his first Target shopping spree!  In his first year Anthony has participated in Black Friday shopping, trips to Maine, train rides into Boston and most recently a family trip to Disney.  It's amazing where one organized diaper bag and some patience can take you!  No matter where we go Anthony wins the hearts of everyone, he has his own friends at Markets Basket that we see every Sunday morning that he loves babbling to and smiling at!

One of my favorite things about Anthony's first year is seeing my parents with him.  Now everyone knows I think my parents are the best because let's face it they are, but now they can be deemed greatest grandparenst as well!  Most recently, dad and mom took him into dad's work to show him off and mom told me "your father walked around holding the baby with a giant smile on his face showing him off to everyone even the big boss".  My parents have been the greatest nana and pops through this first year helping us whenever we were in need and truly embracing the grandparent the role.  

Some of my favorite moments of Anthony's first year are seeing that first toothless smile it truly was heart melting. Anthony's first laugh.  Watching Anthony has he began to explore new foods and enjoy different textures allowing me to get creative with cooking his baby food. Capturing him pulling himself up to stand on video.  Walking into my house after work to a huge smile and clapping from him.  Getting to enjoy my favorite magical place with my magical little boy!  At the end of the day their are endless favorite moments of this first year and there will be countless more to come.  My advice to any new parent is to always have patience, always be open minded, don't get brought down with other  parents opinions (believe me everyone has an opinion about the way you're raising your infant even strangers in a mall), always remember an organized and properly stocked diaper bag is one of your best friends, always have your phone handy to snap pictures and just enjoy it.  The first year goes by so quickly, take in every minute if it.  

Happy Birthday Anthony!!  

What's in your oatmeal?

Growing up, oatmeal to me came from a small brown package, was mixed with boiling hot water and tasted like cinnamon and brown sugar.  The only time I saw a container of old fashioned oats would be if my grandma was baking oatmeal cookies.  

It wasn't until a little older and a trip to a chain bakery that I discovered a trend in food, the oatmeal bar.  Similar to a salad bar, but filled with dried fruits, nuts, assorted sugars, chocolate chips and fresh fruits.    I remember ladling hot oatmeal into my bowl and topping it with some blueberries, bananas, brown sugar and nuts.  I sat down at small table and took a spoonful and thought, this doesn't taste at all like the instant cinnamon and brown sugar kind, but what did it taste like?  The first thing that came to mind was paste, maybe even cardboard, yes, cardboard.  What went wrong, the ingredients were great, but the main part of the dish needed some attention.  Here is what I think sowcases oatmeal in all its glory, my recipe for Cinnamon-Banana Oatmeal....

Serves 2

2 cups milk ( I use 1%, or you could use half milk and half water)

2 cinnamon sticks

Dash of salt

1/2 teaspoon of vanilla

1 cup old fashioned rolled oats

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1/4 teaspoon clove

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 bananas, peeled and sliced

1/2 cups golden raisins

In a medium saucepan, bring the milk, cinnamon sticks, vanilla and salt to a simmer.  When bubbles begin to form around the edge, add the oatmeal, brown sugar and spices.  Let the oats simmer until they are tender and have soaked up all the milk.  When this happens, fold in half the sliced bananas and the raisins.  Distribute among two bowls and top with remaining banana slices.  Enjoy!