changes...

So has anyone noticed any changes around here other than the blog banner?  I feel like a new person lately.  Apparently 6 months is a magical changing point with babies.  Or maybe 6 months is just how long it took me to figure out this whole "parenting a newborn and toddler" thing.  Suddenly, I can count on getting a solid night of sleep - every night.  I can count on having some quality "mommy and Poppy" time while Sam naps in the morning.  I can count on getting stuff done around the house while both of the babies sleep in the afternoon (or maybe I just sit around and watch reality tv and surf the net, but I have every intention of getting stuff done around the house).  (Do people still say "surf the net"?)  Marc and I enjoyed our first date night, just the two of us, in OVER A YEAR!  Breastfeeding, which at various points over the past 6 months has been the most difficult thing I have ever done, is now actually enjoyable. I am back to my pre-pregnancy weight (although, apparently my body will never be the same, but I'm ok with that).  I can count on a few hours to talk to Marc uninterrupted before we go to bed.  I can read books without falling asleep after the second page!  It feels like it took a long time to get here, but now that I am here, I absolutely love it.

Now that I am a new woman, I am planning on making a few changes with my blog.  I've had this blog for almost 4 years, and I have always made it a point to only write about things that have to do with Poppy or Sam.  I've never really blogged about any of my interests, what I'm reading, about work or hobbies.  I think I might start writing a little bit about myself.  Does that sound selfish?  I'm ok with that if it does.  Of course I will primarily still write about Poppy and Sam and the things we do together as a family, but just don't be surprised if you start seeing a little more "me" in my posts from now on.

Homemade Fingerpaints

Did you know you can make fingerpaints?  And it's super easy.  And it will keep a toddler occupied for a long time?  

Poppy has never really been a fan of fingerpaints because she doesn't like to get her hands all messy.  So I just gave her a couple of paintbrushes and let her go to town.

I'm sure you can make the colors more vibrant by adding more food coloring, but these worked fine for Poppy.  And because of the detergent in the recipe, the paint is washable, so you don't have to worry about stains on clothing!  Here's the recipe:

Homemade Fingerpaints

2 Tbsp. sugar

1/3 cup cornstarch

2 cups water

1/2 cup liquid dishwashing soap

food coloring

Mix the sugar and cornstarch in a saucepan and stir in the water.  Cook over low heat for 5 minutes, stirring constantly until the mixture is a clear smooth gel.  Stir in the soap and remove from heat.  When cool enough to handle, scoop it into storage containers (I used glass yogurt jars) and add food coloring.  

source: http://planetgreen.discovery.com/home-garden/make-your-own-fingerpaint.html

sidewalk luge

Check out this video of Poppy, the next american olympic luger...



Yep, these are the types of things we do to stay warm around here, especially on days with a high of 5 degrees!

Melted Snowman Cookies

Poppy and I have been doing quite a bit of baking in the kitchen lately.  I came across this idea a few weeks ago and decided it would be the perfect dessert to bring to Pizza Thursday.

First thing in the morning, I made the cookie dough and let it chill in the fridge.  When it's time to make the cookies, you just take a ball of dough and smoosh it into a free form shape that would resemble a puddle.  That was super fun and easy for Poppy to do.

Then it was time for the icing, which is when I began to think that this was going to be more of "project" than I originally thought.  I almost scrapped the whole thing, but Poppy was super into, so I trudged ahead and made 1 big batch of icing and added food coloring and used sandwich bags for the piping.  It actually turned out to be pretty easy and super fun to do.  

Poppy kept saying that she wanted her snowman to be making a sad face because Frosty would be sad when he started to melt.  (can you guess which one is hers?)  Needless to say, they were a big hit with the cousins on Pizza Thursday!

Here are the recipes I used...

Sugar Cookies

1/2 stick of butter

3/4 cup white sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 3/4 cups flour

1 tsp. cream of tartar

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1. Cream the buter and sugar together. Beat until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla.  
2. Add the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt gradually to the creamed mixture, mix well. Cover and chill dough for at least an hour.
3. Bake at 375 degrees F for 6 to 8 minutes or until cookie has a golden appearance.

Royal Icing

4 egg whites

4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar

1 teaspoon almond extract

1. Beat egg whites in clean, large bowl with mixer at high speed until foamy (use only grade A clean, uncracked eggs). Gradually add sugar and almond extract. Beat at high speed until thickened. 

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Tubby Time!

Check out one of the best inventions ever.

Poppy and Sam both love hanging out in the bath tub, but it was too tight of a squeeze with Sam's old big blue infant tub in the bath, and there wasn't really enough room for Poppy.  Enter the tub seat for Sam (that I found on craigslist for $5!).  Bath time has suddenly become soooo much easier and fun!

Now there's plenty of room for both kiddos and they have a blast playing in the water together.  (Ok, well Sam doesn't really have a blast playing with Poppy, he just loves chewing on anything he can get his hands on, but Poppy really does love playing with him!)  And Poppy's favorite part of the bath is when she gets to help wash up Sam.  She takes the role of big sister very seriously.

Seriously, is that not the best invention ever?!

The Nursery

Finally, pictures of the nursery!  But first, check out where I got my inspiration from.  Ok, well maybe it was a little more than inspiration.  I basically just copied every thing from that room as closely as I possibly could, right down to the exact paint color. 

I am planning on framing baby pics of me, Marc, Poppy and Sam and hanging them on one of the walls.

And maybe hanging a little white shelf somewhere...

I love that the changing station fit perfectly in the closet.  Once he gets older we'll put an organizational system and a closet door on.

How about the fact that my dad spent about 100 hours painting that crib (it used to white) with about a million coats of red paint during the hottest weeks of summer this past year.  Thanks dad!

And check out Poppy's original artwork hanging above the crib. (thanks for the idea Natalie!)   She's so proud of those paintings.

And there you have it.  Marc worked really hard on this room and I think it turned out great.  Sam loves taking his nice long naps in there and Poppy loves to hang out in there too.

Well, hello there.

Welcome to our new site!