Banana Nut Bread

I found this recipe online the other day, and tweaked it so I would have a "keeper" banana nut bread recipe. SO YUMMY!

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 cup butter or margarine
• 2 cups white sugar
• 2 cups mashed overripe bananas
• 4 eggs, beaten
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 1 cup chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour two 9x5 inch loaf pans.
2. Sift the flour, salt and baking soda into a large bowl. In a separate bowl, mix together the butter or margarine and sugar until smooth. Stir in the bananas, eggs, and walnuts until well blended. Pour the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, and stir just until blended. Divide the batter evenly between the two loaf pans.
3. Bake for 60 to 70 minutes in the preheated oven, until a knife inserted into the crown of the loaf comes out clean. Let the loaves cool in the pans for at least 5 minutes, then turn out onto a cooling rack, and cool completely. Wrap in aluminum foil to keep in the moisture. Ideally, refrigerate the loaves for 2 hours or more before serving.

ENJOY!

Dear Paisley

       You are taking a nap right now, or at least you are trying. You sleep peacefully for 45 minutes and then wake up every day for about ten minutes before you fall back to sleep. You can ask daddy, when you cry you cry, "Mama" over and over. I think you know you are calling my name. I just went in to give you your paci (did I tell you we tried 7 pacifiers before you liked one?), and you smiled at me while you started to cry. You've been doing that lately when you are tired. You aren't sure whether you want to cry or laugh or smile. You are so very sweet and so special to me.
       We have been going on walks lately because the whether is just beautiful. Soon it'll be too hot for me to take you out for long periods of time so for now, we will enjoy this spring weather. You are doing a great job of holding up your head lately. I like to sit your bottom on the counter while I hold you and talk to you. Speaking of talking, you are making so many sweet noises, trying to talk to us. I love it. Last week we put little toy bugs on the handle of your car seat. You love them! You talk to them, stare at them, smile at them...adore them really.
        For the past few days, I get so emotional when I look at you! I feel an overwhelming since of love for you and gratitude to the Lord for giving us such a perfectly healthy, happy, smily, sweet sweet girl. I know I told you this before, but I tell you over and over, "You make mommy SO happy," and you really do. I love you more each day. You are my precious baby girl.

Love,

Mommy

I just downloaded 500 photos of you from my iphone; here are a few since you have turned 3 months...

Dear Paisley

       What an incredibly sweet and happy baby you are! You'll be twelve weeks old on Tuesday, and the time is flying by, just like everyone said it would. In one sense, I love that you are getting bigger because I can't wait to see the things you'll learn how to do or take you to the playground or bake cupcakes with you, but on the other hand, I want you to be my tiny little cuddle baby forever.
       You smile all day long and it just makes daddy and mommy so very happy. You've started making little noises this month, and you're getting much stronger. You have grown a couple of inches and you weigh about 12.5 lbs. I tell daddy all the time that you know how to say momma because when you cry you say "mamamamama" and I love it. I'm staring at you right now as you are grinning from ear to ear- such a beautiful baby. I love your cheeks and your eyes and your little button nose. You have ticklish thighs and feet and you laugh out loud now!  I think you are starting to look more like me, but your eyes are undeniably daddy's. You stare at us with those beautiful brown eyes and even though you can't say it, your eyes are telling us how much you love us. I can't explain it, but I know that's what you are thinking. You sneeze quite a bit, usually two or three sneezes at a time. You love when I tell you about your eyes, ears, nose, mouth and cheeks...oh how sweet your cheeks are!! Everyone loves them and has to say how cute they are every time we take you out. You have the hiccups everyday. In fact, you have them right now as you are falling asleep; they don't seem to bother you but are still quite pitiful.
        I don't think I realized how much joy you would bring our family. The whole time I was pregnant all we could talk about was how we just couldn't wait to hold you, and now when I'm holding you that seems like ages ago!  We can't really remember you not being here and wouldn't want to. You truly are a blessing. Daddy sang "Great is Thy Faithfulness" in church a few weeks ago (you love being in worship and hearing daddy), and the line, "morning by morning new mercies I see," found a new meaning in my heart because every morning when I get you out of your crib I truly do see new mercies in your face. You are my little blessing and I love you more than you'll ever know. I tell you all the time that you are "Mommy's baby"- I treasure you more than anything. I don't think you'll understand how much I love and adore you until you have your own little baby. I love you, Sweet Girl!

Love and kisses,

Mommy