You know you're a mommy when... (4.29.11)

You find blocks in a tissue box, bath toys in the hamper, and magnets in the Tupperware drawer all in one morning.

Conversations with Andrew - Imaginary food

Andrew, taking imaginary food out of the carpet and holding it up to my mouth: Here you go, Mommy  Here's one!
Me:  Thank you.  Mmmmm.  Yummy.

Andrew, putting imaginary food in his mouth:  Yum Yum Yum!

Me:  What are you eating, Andrew?

Andrew:  Ummmm... chocolate!

Mommy:  That sounds yummy.  Is Mommy eating chocolate too?

Andrew: No.

Me:  What's Mommy eating?

Andrew:  Ummmm... vegetables!

Gee thanks.

Happy Earth Day/Easter/Birthday/Mother's Day/Spring!

Andrew and Ainsley (with a little help from their Mama) made these this morning.  I stole the concept from a similar craft we did at P2, our church play group, a few weeks ago.  We made a bunch *spoiler alert!* (for Grandma, Aunt Karen, and Aunt Loren's birthdays, as well as an extra for Mommy and one for Mimi) because I couldn't get over how stinkin' cute they came out!  As if you couldn't figure it out just by looking at the picture, here's our process...

Make sure you have one of Daddy's old t-shirts.  We use a chip clip to get it nice and snug.  Here's my handsome son modeling his make-shift smock.  He looks thrilled, doesn't he?

There.  That's better.  :-)  That's how he smiles on command.

Make sure everything is handy so you're not running around looking for more paper while your child puts finger prints on your walls.

Especially wipes for those soon-to-be-messy hands.

Glue some strips of construction paper (or yarn or pipe cleaners if you have that kind of thing just lying around) to a sheet of paper.  Do the green handprints.

Then add the flowers.  We have been using up Andrew's birthday paper plates from December as a palate.  He wanted to do blue and yellow flowers so I mixed the finger paints.

Tada!  You have made adorable handprint flowers!  The perfect gift for Easter/Mother's Day/Earth Day/Spring/Birthdays/Just Because!  Now hang it on your fridge so everyone can admire your kids' handwork or come up with an excuse to give them to your loved ones.

Conversations with Andrew (4.19.11)

To set the scene, Andrew and I were having lunch while Ainsley was napping so I had the monitor near me.

Andrew: Mommy, see the monitor?

I turned the screen on (we have a video monitor) so he could see Ainsley, and handed it to him.

Andrew (looking at the screen):  I see Ainsley!
Me:  Yes, Ainsley's sleeping.
Andrew: Ainsley's going night night in her crib!
Me: Yes, there she is.
Andrew:  So beautiful!
Me (getting a little teary-eyed):  Awww... yes, Andrew, Ainsley's beautiful!
Andrew (very matter-of-factly):  No, Mommy, the monitor.

My mistake.  :-)
 

Conversations with Andrew (4.17.11)

Andrew (after eating an entire chocolate glazed donut - don't judge me, it's not every day he does this): More donut?

Me: Sorry, Buddy.  It's all gone.

Andrew: More donut, please?

Me: There isn't anymore.

Andrew: How about... Mommy's donut?

Me: Mommy doesn't have a donut.  

Andrew: How about... another donut?

Me:  There isn't another donut.  You ate the only donut.

Andrew: How about... get another donut?

Wow, he is definitely his father's son.

Fire it up!

It's that time of year again... when the birds start singing, the sun sets later, you suddenly feel the urge to expose your Casper-white skin to the sun and you're inspired to uncover the grill and stock up on propane (or charcoal if that's what you're into).  Jim and I love grilling.  Well, mostly I love grilling because Jim is the grill master in our house and that means one less thing for me to cook!  Since it's grilling time again, I thought I'd share a few of our favorite homemade marinade recipes to get you in the grilling mood.

Tip:  Our favorite way to marinate meat or veggies is by using a gallon-sized Ziplock bag.  Throw the meat/veggies in a Ziplock, pour the marinade in, squish it around and let it sit in the fridge for a while.  For all of the recipes below, just whisk ingredients together and pour over meat.

Lois's Rosemary Balsamic Marinade

*Can be used for chicken or pork

2 Tbsp dijon mustard

2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar

2 Tbsp lemon juice

2 Tbsp olive oil

2 tsp minced garlic

1 tsp dried crushed rosemary (or 4 tsp fresh chopped rosemary)

Salt & pepper

Rachel Ray's Honey Lemon Marinade 

Juice and zest of 1 large lemon (3 tablespoons juice)

3 tablespoons honey

2 teaspoons finely chopped garlic

1-1/2 teaspoons ground cumin (I find that 1/2 tsp is enough)

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Salt and freshly ground pepper

Soy Citrus Marinade

*We've used this one for chicken, kielbasa, veggies, and pinapple.  As Andrew would say, 'Deeeeeelicious!'

3/4 c. pineapple juice

1/4 c. cider vinegar

1/4 c. vegetable oil

2 Tbsp. sugar

2 Tbsp. soy sauce

1 tsp. minced garlic

Salt and pepper

Cilantro-Lime Marinade

*This one is great for fajitas!

1/4 c. veg. oil

juice of 1 lime

1 garlic clove, minced

1 Tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro

1 tsp. ground cumin

1 tsp. onion powder

Dash hot sauce

Salt and pepper

We're always looking to try new things so if you have a favorite, feel free to share!

Time flies...

My baby girl is 9 months old today!  I really can't believe it's been 9 months since we first met her.  It seemed like the 9 months before that were spent in denial, not that I didn't want to have another baby (I did!), I just didn't expect it to happen so quickly and I had a hard time wrapping my head around how our family (and our lives) would change once our family of 3 became a family of 4.  I don't think reality hit me until after we brought Ainsley home from the hospital and settled into our routine.  When I was pregnant, I struggled with guilt.  It's a pretty weird thing actually, to feel guilty about being pregnant.  I had such a great connection with Andrew and we had a pretty good thing going and I was nervous about something (or someone) changing that.  I was also nervous about how becoming a big brother at such a young age (he was 18 months when Ainsley was born) would change him.  He was a Mama's boy - very affectionate and enjoyed sitting on my lap to read a book, play with a toy or work on a puzzle - and I was afraid that my having to put Ainsley first sometimes would make Andrew more distant or that he would be resentful of me or her.  I'm very happy that, although it's been a juggling act at some points, he's still a Mama's boy. :-)  He's still not as enamored with his baby sister as we are, but he's coming around slowly.

It's been so much fun to discover Ainsley's personality over the past 9 months, and watch her discover the world.  She is such a busy baby.  Jim and I joke that she has ADD, but I think we both think it may actually be a real possibility.  The girl does not stop moving except when she finally gives in and falls asleep.  She fights sleep with every ounce of energy she can muster and I think she does that because she doesn't want to miss anything.  Little does she know that we are just not that interesting and by taking a nap she's only missing Mommy sip coffee and fold laundry while watching House Hunters International.  As I type this, she is sitting in her crib peaking over the bumper and cracking herself up.  She's always smiling and wide-eyed and wants to be in the center of all the action.  She's going to be social, ambitious and stubborn!  She's also really sweet and patient, but she'll let us know when she's had enough.  Ainsley is also the loudest one of us.  Jim, Andrew and I are all pretty reserved and mellow, but Ainsley is way more out-spoken, enthusiastic and animated than we are!  It's amazing that at only 9 months, I can know this child so well yet have so much more to learn.  All I know that each moment and each discovery has been, and will continue to be, a blessing. 

Understanding Jibberish (Cont'd)

What is a foo-fah-set?

Answer: Screwdriver

You know you're a mommy when... (4.11.11)

You suddenly have the ability to understand jibberish.  Case in point...

Ha-tet = Helicopter

Die = Car

Shoo shoo = Tissue OR Choo Choo

See-Yo = Cereal OR Cheerio

Neena = Noodle

The sound it makes when you say "Buh" while moving your tongue back and forth across your lips = Banana

Foo-Fah-Set = I bet you can't get this one.  If you have a guess, enter it in the 'Comments.'  :-)

What's the 411?

Apparently it's National Cheese Fondue Day!  Who knew?  In case you weren't able to get a reservation at a participating Melting Pot restaurant (click here for more information and for a last minute attempt at reservations) to get your FREE cheese fondue between 4/11 and 4/14, you can always make your own (that is, if you happen to own a fondue pot)!  If you ever needed a reason to celebrate some cheesy goodness, 4/11 is your day!

Jim and I bought a fondue pot a few months ago in order to start a new Christmas Eve/Andrew's birthday tradition of a fondue night and it was a huge hit!  We did a cheddar/beer cheese fondue followed by a Creme de Menthe chocolate fondue.  So yummy.  Here is a great site for cheese fondues. http://www.bestfondue.com/beer-cheddar-fondue.html
Here are a few of The Melting Pot's best kept secrets. 3 Recipes from The Melting Pot

You know you're a mommy when... (4.7.11)

sometimes you don't care how big a mess you're going to have to clean up as long as it's keeping your kid busy, quiet and in one place for a few minutes.

Youtube is a gold mine

A friend recently posted a link on her Facebook to Jason Mraz's appearance on Sesame Street singing "Outdoors."  (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrqF7yD10Bo)  Being a big fan of his clever lyrics and wordplay, I obviously couldn't resist checking it out and what I discovered (in addition to an entertaining video) was a whole world of celebrity appearances on Sesame Street, Wow Wow Wubbzy, etc.  Andrew loves them!  Gotta love Youtube for some easy, free and *sometimes* educational entertainment!  Here are a few of his (our) favorites!  Please let me know if you find any other good ones!

Feist sings "1, 2, 3, 4" on Sesame Street http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZ9WiuJPnNA

Beyonce on Wow Wow Wubbzy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNYBU9zllug

We actually have this song on a Kids CD someone made for Andrew (thanks, Cindy!) and the other day while driving in the car, I turned it off to put the radio on.  Then I heard from the backseat, "What happened?  I like that song."  Who knew my son was a Beyonce fan?!

Adam Sandler's "Song About Elmo" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Py2f38iPBeI&feature=relmfu

Preschool Musical Parody http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGMB7Rn8KGE

Katy Perry and Elmo "Hot N Cold" (I know this one is controversial because of what Katy Perry is wearing, but this is actually Andrew's favorite and he has no idea that she's wearing a revealing top so I play it for him anyway) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHROHJlU_Ng

For a listing of all celebrity guests on Sesame Street, click here http://www.sesamestreet.org/onair/celebrityguests

You know you're a mommy when... (4.2.11)

you go to Target to buy storage bins and leave with 2 books, Mickey Mouse crayons and some plastic Easter eggs (from the Dollar Section), a couple of t-shirts, a pair of pants (they were on clearance) and a new Phillies hat for your son, Gazillion Bubbles refills, 2 beach towels... oh, and storage bins.

They're not perfect, but I'm proud of them.

No, I'm not talking about my wonderful kiddos, although the same is true for them.  I'm referring to my little project...  I'm not sure if I should call it a 'craft' or what because I'm really not crafty, but I decided to make these for Ainsley's room a few months ago and my fairly simple project that should have taken me a day or 2 took about 2 months.

I ran into a few obstacles along the way.  #1.  I bought cheap frames at Walmart and wanted to spray paint the frame matting green.  I learned not to do this on a windy day outside because before the paint could dry, leaves and bugs were stuck to the paint.  I had to spray again and then take it inside to fully dry.  #2.  When spray-painting a plastic stencil (they only came in blue), be sure to buy spray paint made for plastic.  The first time it was all splotchy and uneven and I had to buy new stencils and spray paint.  #3.  Make sure you measure to see if the stencil will actually fit in the matting.  The stencil (which I had finally finished) ended up being too small to fit in the matting.  I had to improvise and add the pink borders.  #4.  It's not a good idea to leave the finished product on the floor next to a can of Lysol because little hands can get ahold of the Lysol and saturate the picture so much that the matting gets stained and needs to be spray painted all over again!   Despite all of the snags, they are finally ready to hang!

Now let's see how long it takes to actually get them on the walls.

ps.  Before I fool you into thinking that I am the creative genius that came up with this fun easy idea, I should confess that it wasn't mine.  I saw the concept on someone else's blog (she apparently IS crafty because she was clever enough to think of it!).  It was a random person's blog and I can't even remember whose or how I ended up there so I'm sorry for not being about to give specific credit where credit is due.  Hopefully this creative stranger will forgive me.  Afterall, imitation is the best form of flattery.