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Thu, Dec 22, 2005 7:22 AM
Haakon can now say "Baby"! I am so proud of him! His first word besides Daddy and Momma.

We are busy packing and getting ready to leave tomorrow for Minnesota!

We hope and pray everyone has a wonderful Christmas!!!!!!

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Tue, Dec 20, 2005 6:40 AM
Thank you everyone for the sweet messages you left Haakon! We read each one to him.

He had a fun little birthday party. Haakon enjoyed all the attention! Chocolate is his favorite cake! I used Martha Stewart's recipe for Devil's Food Chocolate Cake with a Chocolate Ganache. This is the best chocolate cake I have ever had! Everyone must try it if you love chocolate!

Here is the recipe:
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Devil's Food Cake with Chocolate Ganache

MAKES ONE 9-INCH LAYER CAKE

1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, softened, plus more for pans

3/4 cup Dutch-process cocoa powder, sifted, plus more for pans

3/4 cup hot water

3/4 cup sour cream

3 cups cake flour (not self-rising), sifted

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 1/4 cups sugar

4 large eggs

1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 350Â°. Butter two 9-by-2-inch round cake pans; line bottoms with parchment paper. Butter parchment; dust with cocoa powder, tapping out excess. In a medium bowl, whisk cocoa with hot water until smooth. Whisk in sour cream; let cool. Into a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside.

2. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating to combine after each; scrape down sides of bowl as needed. Beat in vanilla. With mixer on low speed, add flour mixture in two parts, alternating with cocoa mixture and beginning and ending with flour; beat until combined.

3. Divide batter between prepared pans; smooth with an offset spatula. Bake until a cake tester inserted in centers comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Transfer pans to a wire rack to cool 15 minutes. Invert cakes onto rack; peel off parchment. Turn cakes over; let cool completely, topside up. Transfer half of Chocolate Ganache (3 1/2 cups) to clean bowl of an electric mixer; set aside remaining. Let cool completely, stirring frequently, about 40 minutes. Attach bowl to mixer fitted with whisk attachment. Beat on medium-high speed until ganache holds soft peaks, 5 to 7 minutes.

4. Using a serrated knife, trim tops of cake layers to make level. Transfer one of the layers to a cake turntable or platter, and spread top with 1 1/2 cups whipped ganache. Top with remaining layer, cut side down, and spread remaining whipped ganache in a thin layer over entire cake, covering completely. Refrigerate until set, about 30 minutes.

5. Transfer cake to a wire rack set over a rimmed baking sheet. Pour reserved ganache over top, letting it run down the sides. If necessary, use a large offset spatula to spread from the center toward the edges, so that the cake is evenly and completely covered. Refrigerate until ganache has just begun to set, about 30 minutes. Transfer cake to a serving plate. Serve immediately, or refrigerate, covered with a cake dome, for up to 2 days.

Note: This recipe adapted from â€œMartha Stewartâ€™s Baking Handbookâ€? (Clarkson Potter, 2005)

Chocolate Ganache

MAKES ABOUT 7 CUPS

4 cups heavy cream

2 pounds best-quality semisweet chocolate, finely chopped

1/4 cup light corn syrup

1/4 teaspoon salt

1. In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, bring cream to a full boil; turn off heat. Add chocolate, and swirl pan to completely cover with cream. Slowly whisk mixture until smooth. Add corn syrup and salt; stir until combined. Transfer to a clean bowl.
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Unfortunetly I had to make the cake twice because of our terrible oven! But the second time worked great!

Haakon's other news is that his front tooth finally poked through! He is 1 year old and he finally has his 3rd tooth. We don't know for sure, but it looks like it is a Ranum tooth more specific a Hoaas tooth (big and wide). We will have to wait and see what happens!

Sunday evening at Church they had a Christmas Program. Haakon sure enjoyed the first half. But after that it was off to the nursery.

We are getting so excited to travel north (Home) for Christmas. We have been telling Haakon about how cold and snowy it will be when we get there. We just wonder what he is going to think of all the snow!

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Fri, Dec 16, 2005 11:33 AM
Happy Birthday to Haakon!!!
We cannot believe our little boy is 1 already! We were reminicing of a year ago this time. How things change from one year to the next!

Haakon started the day a little sad. But he perked right up as soon as he saw all the balloons we had hanging up for him. We got him all clean and ready for the day and ran to the Post Office to pick up 3 packages from both sets of Grandparents. I know he can't wait to open these presents. We will wait till Daddy comes home later on today.

After our trip to the Post Office we went to play with his buddy Ryan. They had a good time singing Christmas songs and playing with books and Ryan's slide. Haakon loves to bop to the beat of the music. Must have gotten those talents from his Father! :)

Haakon is taking a good nap and I am in the process of baking his birthday cake.
Tomorrow is his party and we just can't wait. We just so wish our family and friends from far away could be here to join us! But we know we will be there next weekend for Christmas!!!

Tonight we have a Christmas party to attend at Dr. & Mrs. Colman's home. Haakon is invited as well and is sure to sport his beautiful birthday hat that Auntie Bridget found for him.

We will tell you more later about Haakon's First Birthday!

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Tue, Dec 13, 2005 2:16 PM
Haakon is getting more and more adventurous every day! Just recently he figured out he can climb the bench we put in front of the fire place to keep him out of there. Now it is a bigger danger since he can climb and stand up on it. UFF DA!
He played outside at daycare today too for the first time. Normally when the kids go out to play he stays close to his Day Care provider Monica and just watches. Today he headed for that sand box and all the toys and played with the other kids. That was fun to hear about.

Yesterday afternoon we had fun playing with Ryan and Barbara. She gave the boys Color Wonder finger paints. That was a hit! Ryan is a budding artist. Haakon liked to play with the paint more so then putting it on the paper but I am sure he will figure it out in good time. On our short walk home, Haakon was greeted with shots of his name and the neighbor kids running up to say hello. He LOVES all the attention. We are officially known as Haakon's Mom and Dad, both in the neighborhood and in church. We don't mind though!
It is such a joy to see Haakon growing and changing and learning. Each new day is a gift to unwrap. We could not ask for more! Last year he was our Christmas gift from the Lord and he still is that each and every day!

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Tue, Dec 6, 2005 8:53 PM
10 more days till Haakon turns one! Has this day really come???
Oh my how a year flies by!!!

This past weekend we got a tree and Haakon helped decorate it. (or should we say "edit the ornaments") I guess we did not place them in just the right spot for his taste.
Other then the that he has been great with the tree and has left it alone.

It is so funny to watch him lately. He is always walking around the house holding onto something in each hand. He finds his little treasures and carries them about the house. Up until this point he really has not developed attachments toward things but lately Haakon has his favorites. His latest favorites have been:
Mommy's Mary Kay blush brush
a blanket
Christmas berries
his Pooh Hat

He is now waking up bright and early, even on the weekends. No more sleeping in for us. We are up and at it before the sun is up. Haakon makes sure of that. His morning sounds begin with a high pitched "Huu?" or "jaah?" or "buuh?" as if to say, "Is it time to get up yet?", "Are you awake yet?", "is that a birdie I hear out the window?"

What a sweetie. we just can't hug and kiss him enough!!

p.s. it sure would be nice to have all of our dear friends and family at Haakon's Birthday. We know the majority of you are far far away, but if you want us to save you a piece of cake just say so!

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