Thankful Thursday: A terrific daddy

Today, after a LONG night with a baby who was only interested in eating, I am thankful that I do not have to get up and get ready to go to work outside of the home.  I am thankful for my wonderful husband who has a terrific job.  I am grateful that he provides for our family and that I can stay home with our children.  I'm thankful he finds value in my role as a mother and that after a long day of work, he comes home and jumps into his daddy role, playing with the girls, and putting A to bed.  We are blessed.

Linking up here:

Thankful Thursday

Baby's first Christmas

For A's first Christmas, we made a pink handprint ornament out of Model Magic. This year, we made one for little sister.  Here's how:
Materials:
-white Model Magic
-Markers
-a lid to a small bowl
-a straw
-a piece of ribbon
-parchment paper/wax paper

1.  Knead a bit of Model Magic to soften.
2.  Spread dough flat, color with a marker, knead, repeat until you get your desired shade.
3.  Put Model Magic inside lid, place baby's hand in the middle and press.  (We had to do ours while she was sleeping, otherwise her hand would be clenched into a fist.)
4.  Carefully Peel Model Magic out of the lid.  Use the straw to create a hole in the top.  Lay flat on parchment paper to dry overnight.
5.  Add ribbon.
We put the name/year on the back with permanent marker

Thankful Thursday: Plain ol' muffins!

Today I am thankful for a sweet little girl who is not afraid to ask her mama for "plain muffins with no strawberries."

And for Google...and Bisquick.

Grab the recipe for these applesauce puff muffins here.

"Mmm...and no strawberries in them!"
(yes, she really said that.)

Linking up to Thankful Thursday

The Mitten

Today we read The Mitten, by Jan Brett.  I remembered that the author provides free printables on her website.  (Get yours here)
I printed two mittens and a page of characters.  We looked at the illustrations in the book and colored the animals accordingly.

I cut everything out and taped the animals onto craft sticks.  I also taped the mittens together (I was planning on having A lace them together, but she was too excited to act out the story)

We read the story again and A follwed along and put the animals into the mitten.  When the bear sneezed, she shook all of the animals out!

A read the story over and over and over, using her props.  The poor mitten did not hold up well.  I'm thinking of printing out a set on that has already been colored, using cardstock and laminating it. 

We'll be doing more mitten activities in the next few days.  I'm thinking we'll use this set again.  I'll lay the animals out, have A close her eyes while I put one inside the mitten and then have her tell me which animal is missing.

If you haven't read The Mitten (or any of the other books Jan Brett has written), you should check it out!  I like that the animals she uses are not the typical animals in toddler books (pig, cow, puppy, etc.)  A learned to identify a mole, badger, and hedgehog...all animals that she wasn't familiar with.

Thankful Thursday

I found this blog while looking at something on Pinterest.  She has a Thursday link-up where people share what they are thankful for.  I figured it was a good practice, so I thought I might join in.

Right now, at this very moment, after a long night with a restless baby, I am thankful for:

The iPad, with educational games that keeps A occupied while I am trying to wake up...

 my
Happy Lite....

and my morning coffee.  My latest cup is a mix of Frango Candy Cane and Dunkin' Decaf...with a splash of Peppermint Mocha creamer.

When the coffee cup is empty, we will start our day, the iPad will go away and I'll be happy to play and clean and do what Mama does.  But for this moment, I will enjoy my coffee while my baby sleeps and toddler learns.

Linking up here 

Afternoon tea

I took the girls to Teavana a few days ago.  While we were there, A tasted an herbal iced tea and liked it!  I purchased a few herbal teas and brought them home.  I made a batch of each to keep in the fridge.  She thought it was okay the first day.  Then she forgot about it.  Today she asked to make more.

"I like to drink iced tea with Mama!" she exclaimed.  I was pretty excited about having an afternoon tea time, even if it was iced tea.  Then after dinner she asks for more.  Oh, I'm so happy she's enjoying her herbal tea. (I prefer that to sugary juice) and then, I slowly realize...

Yes, she enjoys drinking tea with her mama.  Yes, she may enjoy the taste of the tea...but what she really, really likes most...is the ice.  I love that girl.

(disclaimer--no, she did NOT put that piece of ice into her mouth...though I don't doubt she would have tried without me there!)

Our favorite teas so far:

Pineapple Kona Pop from Teavana

Tazo Passion Tea from Starbucks

Mealtime, Shmealtime.

Consistenly, the most stressful part of my day with A (since she began eating table food) is mealtime.  UGH!  She doesn't eat meat, can't eat dairy (along with other fruits and nuts), has acid reflux, along with the usual toddler pickiness too.  She's not the kind of kid who, "if she's hungry enough, she'll eat it."  No.  She will turn into a crabby bear and make everyone else pay until she gets something she approves of into her tummy.  (Sadly, she gets the hungry, crabby bear trait from me)

We gave her a portion of a bottom drawer to access as her snack drawer whenever she wants.  This has helped, but mealtimes still were stressful.  This was especially true at the end of the day when a tired mama had run out of ideas.

Enter the pre-packed Bento.  We've always brought one along with us on errands, playdates, at church, etc. since A has intolerances and, well...can get grumpy without food (Ahem...Mama has her own snack stash too.)  Today I decided to prepack every meal for one entire day.  That way, there is an intentionally planned, at least somewhat balanced meal ready to go.  Why has it taken me this long to think of this?!  DUH!

There they are: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Now when it's mealtime or I hear, "Mama, I'm huuungry!" I can just whip one of these out and not spend an ounce of stress worrying about it.  To go even one step further, I planned out an entire week of breakfasts, lunches, and dinners that I can rotate around.  Oh, I can't wait to try this.

Oh, I almost forgot.  I am freezing her smoothies too.  I can just pull one out the night before and have it thaw inthe fridge to be enjoyed the next day.  Ahhh....I can do this.