Somebody's Turning One!

In a little over a month this handsome little guy will be turning one year old! I can hardly believe it and I am so excited to celebrate! I have decided on a Curious George theme since he is like my happy, little monkey and both kids absolutely love the Curious George show and books.

So, here is where you come in. Do you have any ideas to make a Curious George birthday party a success? Invitations? Decorations? Treats? Cake? Etc?

Let me know your ideas, friends...

Yummy Bean Salad

Yummy Bean Salad

This meal is amazing and so yummy (hence its name)
Courtesy of my sister, Nicole

1 block pepper jack cheese cut into small cubes

1 can garbanzo beans- drained

1 can black beans- drained

1 can white corn- drained

1 can kidney beans- drained

1 chopped onion (optional, depends if you like onions)

1 red pepper chopped into small pieces

1 box Spanish rice (cook according to directions and cool)

fresh cilantro

chili powder

cumin

garlic powder

salt and pepper

• 
  
  Combine all ingredients


• 
  
  Squeeze in juice of 1-2 limes


• 
  
  Serve with tortilla chips or heat up and eat with corn tortillas

Soooooo Yummy!

Felt Blocks

**Warning: You will want to do this craft immediately. You might as well get your shoes and purse ready to go to the craft store for when you are done reading this.


As I mentioned before, I am becoming more and more interested in getting rid of the loud, ugly, plasticy toys in our house and finding and making more toys made with simple, natural materials such as wood, cloth, and natural fibers. (Don't get me wrong, we have plenty of plastic toys that are great and inspire the imagination. I am talking about the ones that are super noisy and do all the thinking for you and the ones that I step on in the middle of the night on my way to the bathroom).

I got much of my inspiration for this from reading Amanda Blake Soule's fabulous book, The Creative Family. She says about more natural toys that, "Not only do these toys feel good to play with and connect children to the outside world, but they are often strong enough to last a lifetime and even more." I love the idea of my children's children playing with the toys I made or gave them. It warms my heart.

So, I decided to try one of the craft ideas from The Creative Family and I am hooked! They are Wool Felt Blocks and they are so simple and fun to make. You don't even need a sewing machine, just some felt, stuffing, a small bell for the inside of the block if desired, a needle, scissors, and thread. That's it. You probably have most of this stuff already. All I had to go out and get was some felt, the stuffing, and some bells. And here's the final product, with many more to come:



And, as a bonus, just because they are so darn cute today:

Now I am off to bathe the babes. Have a great night!

Getting on the Potty Training Train!

We are deep in the trenches of potty training here. The first thing I have noticed is that I need to be trained as much as Miss A does. I mean, I am not in a diaper anymore, but I do have to get in tune with Miss A's body and, specifically, her bladder and bowels. I have to try to anticipate the next time she needs to "go" and offer her the potty chair at the right times.

Some days she is really into the potty and likes to sit on it and feels proud. Other days she asks for her diaper with tears and avoids the potty chair like the plague. I try to be patient and understanding and not force her to do anything she is not ready for.

Honestly, she has probably been ready for potty training long before I was. I think I would be more eager if our whole house wasn't carpeted. I have not been looking forward to cleaning up messes and I know that is inevitable with potty training. Vinegar is now my best friend. It cleans up messes beautifully, is cheap, isn't a harsh chemical, and loses the vinegar smell as soon as it dries. Thanks for the idea, Mom!

So, this has been my Potty Training Strategy so far:

1. Letting Miss A go bottomless


2. Setting the timer and asking her to sit on the potty every 15 minutes


3. Rewarding a "successful" potty sitting with lots of cheers (and sometimes Skittles)

That's about it. It has gone o.k. but without much progress. I need your help! What has worked for you? Do you have any grand suggestions. I am open to almost anything. Let me know.

Please Eat! I beg of you!

***Update***
I have now showered and am feeling much better. Miss A is eating apple sauce. At least it's not green peppers.

*** Update***
I discovered the smell in my refrigerator. Apparently, old black beans and spilled balsamic vinegar make for a nasty smell combination. Hopefully, that will solve the problem. Yuck!

Why can I not get my daughter to eat? I present her with a wonderful medley of tastes and flavors and the ONLY thing she will eat lately are green peppers dipped in ranch (and then the rest of the ranch with a spoon). Today her spread included:

• fresh blueberries


• yogurt melts


• cheddar sun chips
  
• flour tortilla wrap with turkey


• the ever popular green peppers and ranch

Does this sound reasonable to you? Are "normal" two year olds this picky, especially when it comes to proteins? She is not wasting away but I doubt she is getting enough nutrients.

Today I am at my wit's end with this eating thing. It doesn't help that:

• I have a little 10 month old Monkey boy who is teething badly and is very miserable.


• We are all in pajamas still.


• I have not eaten lunch yet, just a whole lot of coffee.


• I cannot seem to tame Miss A's curls.


• Something in the refrigerator smells and I am just avoiding it.


• I need a shower. Badly.


• I can't get anything done because Miss A will not play by herself.


• I can't get anything done because my little Monkey just wants to be held.

Where to start?

Can't I just start this day over? On second thought... can't I just fast forward to tomorrow?

(You might be wondering how I can write when all of this is going on. It is truly a miracle. Here are my children as we speak.)






And here is their mother:

Best Sunday Ever

Yesterday was the best Sunday ever and I am not sure why. There was nothing special about the day, in particular, but Husband and I kept looking at each other saying, "This is a great day."

We did nothing of consequence. We didn't even play outside all day! I cleaned the hall closet. Husband mowed the lawn. The kids did a whole lot of nothing. And it was perfect!

It was the kind of day when I felt completely comfortable in my skin and with my brain and was totally content with everything. I had no expectations and no plans. But I ended up feeling fulfilled and productive.

Husband had cleaned the house on Saturday and I was catching up on laundry. Folding clean clothes is very therapeutic for me. And although the dirty dishes seem to be multiplying in the kitchen sink and around it, I did not care!

I wish everyday could be like yesterday, but then it wouldn't be so special, right? Plus, I am sure we would get bored doing nothing eventually. I do hope the feeling of contentment stays around though. It is a nice change from my frequent visitors, Anxiety and Stress.

I hope that today you have a day like my best Sunday ever!

"I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am." Philippians 4:14

Weekly Wrap-Up

Here is a glimpse into what my life looks like right now (besides The Terrible Two's and Family Time).

What I'm Reading:

I am finally almost done with the last installment of the Twilight series, Breaking Dawn. It is messing with my head a little at the moment and giving me weird dreams, but I am still addicted.

What I'm Buying:

Lots and lots of blueberries! Miss A is addicted to them. We go to the farmer's market Saturday mornings and she usually polishes them off before we get home.

What I'm Eating:

I thoroughly enjoyed Grandpa Jerry's burgers on the Fourth of July. Maybe I will write about him one of these days.

What I'm Watching:

I'm keeping up with the trend of my foodie shows and watching The Next Food Network Star. It's like Top Chef but harder for the competitors because they have to have good t.v. personalities as well. Plus, I like how the recipes seem like things I could actually make. Not that I will, but I could.

What I'm Listening to:

I am loving Lisa Hannigan's album, Sea Sew. I have liked her for a long time as a vocalist with Damien Rice and it's nice to hear her in the spotlight.

What I'm Making:

I had some girlfriends over on Wednesday and we made magnetic clothespins. I just stuck a magnet on the back, glued some pretty paper to the front and topped it with some Mod Podge. They were simple and cute.

What I'm Perusing:

I am very happy that some of my friends have started blogs of their own. Here are a few of them:

http://totallymama.blogspot.com/

http://pipocaandguarana.blogspot.com/

http://lightlovefaith.blogspot.com/

It Ain't Easy Being Two

Don't get me wrong. Miss A is generally a peach and an absolute delight to be around, but lately...

It's like she is getting frustrated by being just old enough to comprehend so many things, but not old enough to make all the choices on her own. She wants to choose what to eat, where to go, what to listen to. She also seems to get really bothered if I don't do something quite the way she likes it: milk goes in the blue cup not the green cup, she wants two books on her bed not three, she does not want to listen to the new Lisa Hannigan cd, she wants LAURIE BECKNER, and "Mommy, why can't you remember that no one is allowed to touch my boppy pillow!!!"

It's rough for me as well. I go through many stages as a family member of someone in the Terrible Two's:

1. Laughter, because it is just so darned cute when she gets all huffy and puffy and tries to use big words.

2. Denial, because maybe she will just let it go without a fight this time.

3. Sympathy, because it really must be hard being two. I just don't remember much of it.

4. Anger, because seriously? Do you know what I did to get you into this world/pay for those toys/get this meal on the table.

5. Acceptance, because I know she will not be two forever. And I know I will miss these days terribly.

This excerpt from Olivia by Ian Falconer suits our situation well:

When they've finished reading, Olivia's mother gives her a kiss and says,

"You know, you really wear me out. But I love you anyway."

And Olivia gives her a kiss back and says,

"I love you anyway too."