Cream Cheese Danish Recipe

I got this recipe from my mother in-law, who got it from her sister in-law.  So, it came from Will's aunt, and I don't know where she got it from beyond that. :)

This is my go-to breakfast to bring to a potluck (Bible Study, Sunday School breakfast, etc.)  I love it because you can cut it into smaller pieces if it's just 1 part of the meal, or larger pieces if it's the main course.  It's delicious warm or cold.  Every single time I bring it, I get asked for the recipe and I smile, because it's SO simple and ALWAYS turns out well.  I made it the other day for Bible Study, and thought I'd pass along the recipe to y'all as well. Enjoy!

1. Gather all your ingredients.

2. Separate your egg.

3. Mix together cream cheese, sugar, egg yolk and vanilla. Try not to eat filling.  I won't say anything if you have a little taste though...

4. Spread 1 can of crescent rolls in the pan.

5. Spread cream cheese mixture on top.

6. Spread 1 can of crescent rolls over that.

7. Mix together sugar, cinnamon, and pecans.

8. Brush egg whites over crescent rolls (remind yourself that you need a new brush since the other one umm.. melted.)

9. Sprinkle sugar/cinnamon/nut mixture over that.

10. Bake

11. Enjoy!

Cream Cheese Danish
Ingredients:
2- 8 oz. packages cream cheese (light works great too!)
2- packages of crescent rolls (reduced fat works well too!)
1 cup sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
1 egg, separated

Topping:
1/2 c. chopped pecans
1/2 c. sugar
1 TBSP. cinnamon

Grease 13x9 pan.  Line pan w/ crescent rolls.  Mix cream cheese, sugar, vanilla & egg yolk together.  Spread over 1st layer of crescents.  Roll out 2nd pack of crescent rolls on top of cream cheese layer.  Press to edges of pan.  Brush top with egg white.  Sprinkle topping onto egg white.  Bake at 350 for 30 min.

Sam is 3 months old!

I feel like I say it every month, but seriously, how is this baby 3 months already?  Is someone speeding up time?? I read that 3 months marks the end of being a "newborn" and the beginning of being an "infant."  So there you go.  My baby is growing up.  Next comes "toddler?"  Can we just pretend that's not going to happen?  I've also read that babies are supposed to double their birth weight by 5 months.  Sam's already there.  You can see from the pictures that he's not missed many meals.  :)  Also, I'm realizing by looking back over this blog, that my iPhone is wonderful, but I probably should pull out my camera more often to get some better quality shots.  That iPhone is just so convenient though....

Cousins Carson and Sam getting to know each other.  They're 7 months apart in age, so I have a feeling we have some good times coming with these 2!

Let's recap:  Sam still smiles up a storm... all the time... over everything.  It's so gosh darn cute that I can barely get anything done when he gets started.  I just want to hold him, and make silly faces to see his adorable smile.  He's a big flirt too- loves the ladies at church, and at Kristen's dance class.

Cousins!

He's starting to be much more aware of his environment.  He used to sleep wherever we went, but now, he sleeps in the car, but is waking up when we get to our destination.  We'll have to figure out what to do about naps with that. :)

It's absolutely clear that he's a momma's boy (and I'm ok with that- big sis is a daddy's girl!)  Often, it's only mommy who can calm him down- hey, I've got the trump card. ;)  He takes a bottle, but reluctantly, and not nearly as well as he nurses.  The other night, we attempted to have him take a bottle at bedtime because I was out.   He took a 6 ounce bottle and then nursed for an hour when I got home 30 minutes later.  I know this will probably get old quickly, but for now, I'm enjoying the fact that there are some things only mommy can do.

Wearing shorts for the 1st time- 2 days later he was in a snowsuit. :)

We went to the dr. a couple times this month- random viruses each time.  He never acted sick, but got a rash with both of them.  Same, smiley boy even though he was sick. The last time we went- around 2 1/2 months, he was 14.1 lbs.  His next checkup is at 4 months.

Hey mom!

He's being doing really well in the church nursery, and I get offers of babysitters every time.  He's so laid back and content!  He has been starting to be more vocal about what he likes/dislikes though.  It's fun to see his personality starting to come through.

Trying out the exersaucer

A few days before he turned 3 months, he rolled over!  He can roll from his belly to his back- on both sides.  Tummy time's not quick so traumatic now that he knows how to get out of it. :) He's also starting to reach for things and he can push himself up on his arms.

loves his Bumbo!

He LOVES his Bumbo seat, and we tried out the exersaucer the other day.  He liked it, but his arms aren't quite long enough to reach any of the toys yet.  Still fun if mommy sits with him though. :)

Schedule:
You're not the best napper in the world, and naps are pretty inconsistent in length, but I think we're starting to settle into this routine.  You are, however, a FABULOUS nighttime sleeper!
8:00- wake up/eat and play (sometimes you're up before then, and I'll go ahead and feed you...)
9:30-9:45ish-nap (hopefully 1 1/2 hrs, but usually about an hour)
11:00- eat and play
12:30- nap (again, hopefully about 1 1/2 hrs, but often an hour)
2:00- eat and play
3:30-nap
5:00-eat and play
7:00??- nap- you're starting to drop this evening nap so you're staying up later and later
7:30-bath, story, prayers
8:00- eat and bedtime
10:30- sometimes you wake up wanting to eat around this time.  If you do, I feed you, but if not, I let it go...

Christmas with the Thomas Family

I stopped several times on Christmas day and stood in awe of what God has done in our family over the past year.  We've added 2 precious children to our family.  Will graduated from seminary with his master's degree.  I'm now a stay at home mom (something we've been working towards and praying about since we got married.)  We are truly blessed. 

On Christmas Eve, our kids opened their stockings (a tradition from my family) and we went to the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at our church.  We also opened presents via Skype with both sets of Will's parents.  We had already opened presents with my parents.

On Christmas Day, the kids opened their presents (Kristen didn't wake up until 8:00!!) Kristen deemed herself as Sam's present opener.  We had breakfast, the kids played with their toys and took naps, and then we had dinner.  We played a game as a family, and that pretty much rounded out our Christmas.  It was a wonderful, relaxing day with our family.  I can't remember the last time we had a day where we didn't have to be anywhere or do anything. 

 Our Christmas festivities ended in January when we went to visit my brother's family.  The kids loved playing together.  It's going to be so fun (chaotic?) when all 3 boys are a little older.  I'm sure they're going to get into lots of mischief together.  For now, Kristen and Caleb played together, and Carson and Sam tried to figure out who this "other" baby was. :)

For Samuel- Your 2nd Month

So, I'm approximately 13 days late on this, which means this is really more of a 2 1/2 month post, but lets pretend that you're actually still just 2 months old, ok?

This month was the month of SMILING! Oh my how it makes mommy's heart light up to see you smile.  I will literally drop ANYTHING I'm doing when I see that sweet little grin.  It takes us about 20 minutes to change your diaper, because we have a good time smiling and making noises at each other. I love it.  You are such a happy baby!

Some big events:

Mommy and daddy went out on our 1st date since you were born.  Daddy took me out for my birthday, and Ms. Nikki came to watch you and your sister.  We got all the way through dinner, and even picked up dessert to eat at home.  I only cried a little, and you slept the whole time, so I'd call it a success. :)

We celebrated Christmas- you and your sister raked in the presents this year.  Seriously, you are both extremely spoiled by your grandparents. I guess we'll let the spoiling slide... ;)  You celebrated Christmas by sleeping through the night for the 1st time!!!  Wohoo!  Merry Christmas to Mommy!

We celebrated New Year's.  You and your sister were both asleep when we rang in the new year.

At Christmas and New Year's both, I kept thinking about how next year, you'd be toddling around everywhere, and eating "real" food!  It still makes me sad to think how fast you're growing.

You went for your 2 month checkup on the 3rd.  You weighed 12 lbs. 13 oz, and were 22 inches long.  That puts you in the 75th% for weight, 50th% for height, and your head circumference was in the 25th%.  You got 3 vaccines at that appointment, and you screamed and screamed and screamed.  Mommy cried just a little bit a lot

We had some snow! We played in it just for a little bit- it was COLD!

A little about you!

You are a good sleeper.  We are so beyond blessed by that.  By 4 weeks you were sleeping about 6 hours, and by 2 months you were doing usually between 7-8 hours.  Thank you, sweet child, for that wonderful gift.  Even if you do wake up in the middle of the night, you nurse, and go right back to sleep.  Seriously. Thank. You. (Let's keep it up!)

You still love your playmat, but you got a new toy for Christmas- it's a penguin that has a mirror, and plays music.  You may love that penguin a little more. ;)

You've sat in your Bumbo seat a few times, and you're getting a lot better at holding your head up, although I think you're liking tummy time even less, so we'll need to work on that. :)

You're still loving to cuddle (and mommy appreciates that!)

You adore your sister.  You will pick her out of the crowd, and focus your eyes on her alone.  It's so sweet. 

You're wearing 3-6 month clothes, and size 2 diapers.  At this rate, I wouldn't be surprised if you're in 6-9 month clothes by 4 months. 

Samuel, we absolutely adore you!

For Kristen...

The 1st day we met you.  I tried hard not to cry in front of you, but I was so ecstatic at what God was doing, I'm not sure I succeeded!

Oh, my sweet precious girl.  Yesterday, we celebrated that it's been 1 year since you came home! (Officially, it was on Sunday, but yesterday was the celebration).   I've been thinking about what I would write, what I would say about your 1st year for a long time.  I don't think that I have adequate words to say all of what I'm feeling, but I will write down my rambling thoughts and maybe you'll be able to make some sense out of them...

I'll never forget the day you came home.  It was a Friday night, and the last day of school for both of us before Christmas break.  We both had Polar Express Day at school, so you and I were both in our pajamas!  I drove over to your foster family's home and picked you up, along with a lot of your stuff!  We had just found out the night before that you were going to get to come home!  We were all so excited to get you home!

May 29th- ADOPTION DAY! You forever became a Thomas!

We had only met you a couple of weeks before, and daddy and I spent our days in December like this: We would go to work, I would pick daddy up from work ,and we would drive to Oldham County to see you- we'd take you to dinner usually, and help you with your homework.  Then, we'd drop you off at the Spears' and head home (I would cry the whole way, because I wanted you with us!)  When we got home, we would work on getting your room put together!  We so desperately wanted you to come home before Christmas so that we would have 2 whole weeks without school to get to know you.  Mommy pushed pretty hard to make that happen, and the Spears were WONDERFUL about working with us to get it done!  We were so thankful that it worked out.

Precious girl, we have watched you grow in tremendous ways over the last year.  We have had many, many struggles, but the victories have been unimaginable.  As daddy and I have watched you grow, we have been overwhelmed by how God is working in your life.  You are more confident now, you believe in yourself.  You love reading, and art.  You are doing very well in your dance classes- your teacher even says it's already time to move up to the next level!  You are kind and caring, and always want to help out.  You are an unbelievable big sister.  You are so sweet with Samuel, and he adores you!  You can calm him down sometimes even when mommy can't!  He loves to listen to you read to him.

Our family of 4 headed home from the hospital with Sam

Kristen, we know that you have grown so much, because you have so many people who love you, and who are praying for you now.  I don't know why you went through all that you went through before you came home.  It breaks my heart to think about.  If I could take all those things from you, and go through them myself, I would.  In a heartbeat, I would.  But, I believe that God has beautiful, wonderful things planned for you.  I believe that He will take the ashes and the rubble that began your life, and turn it into something beautiful.  He promises that He will do that.  Your testimony is going to be one for the history books, precious one.

People tell us that you are a lucky girl to be in our family.  That may be true, but your daddy and I are the ones who are blessed to have you in our family.  You have taught us tremendous things, about God, and unconditional love, and about our own salvation.  Baby, we love you, forever and ever.  We are so thankful to be your parents.  Remember that when we asked you to come home and be our daughter, we said that it was forever.  We meant it then, we mean it now, and we'll mean it tomorrow, and the day after that... and the day after that...until forever. 

Love,
Mommy

to bestow on them a crown of beauty
    instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
    instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
    instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
    a planting of the Lord
    for the display of his splendor. -Isaiah 61:3

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.-Jeremiah 29:11

being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.-Phillipians 1:6

This is one of my favorites of you- playing outside shortly after we brought Sam home from the hospital.