Halloween Art :: Pumpkin Painting

One of Evelina's BFF's, Holly, brought over a couple of cute small pumpkins a couple of weeks ago and they were just screaming to be used for some Halloween fun.  I came across this fun pumpkin painting idea on one of my favorite blogs and decided it would be a perfect art project for "the bean" (and easy for Mama).  Evelina had a great time and was very angry sad when the painting was over and it was bath time.  I must say that she was quite proud of her work when she saw the finished product this morning.  

A Dusting

In typical New England fashion, the snowy season has arrived early.  God forbid we actually have a fall in between summer and winter.  We got a dusting last night that stuck around for most of this morning.  Evelina was quite interested in looking out the window at the interesting white stuff.  So, after breakfast, we bundled up, in our PJs and all, and went outside to check it out.  Brrrr....

Now we just have to brace ourselves for the 5-8 inches we are forecast to receive tomorrow night.  How depressing.  It isn't even November yet. 

Evelina at the free-throw line

Won't be the Same

Halloween just won't be the same this year without our first little girl dressed in costume.  We still miss our Vivi.  

Halloween 2009

Halloween 2010

:-) :-(

Dada #1

Evelina has been saying "Mama" since she was about 9 months.  It was so exciting when she started saying it since up to that point most of her babbling was about "Dada" or babaquabadabalara.  She is learning new words weekly now and we know she can say "Mama" but she flat out refuses!!  She will say mama on occasion/if she is in distress, she will point to a picture of me when we ask her where mama is, or she will physically point to me if I'm in the room, but that's where it ends.  Over the last few weeks she has only called me "Dada". 

Even though I know that this is temporary and probably just a developmental thing, it still makes me sad. I'M MAMA!!!

So until she moves beyond this phase, I have changed my name to "Dada #1" and Chris is now "Dada #2".  I deserve to be #1...I pushed her out.  ♥

Lovely Ladies

Evelina has so many wonderful ladies in her life that love her to pieces.  She is so lucky (as am I).  

Favorite Auntie KK

Great Auntie Elaine

Cousin Heather - all the way from Utah!!

Halloween Art :: BOO!

I came across this cute hand ghost idea on Pinterest and thought it would be a fun project for Evelina and I, and a cute memento of Halloween 2011.  

Evelina's favorite part of the project was when I painted her hand with the paintbrush, she loved the sensation and giggled as I painted.  Once we finished her hand print, I gave her the extra paint and brush to keep her busy while I painted the ghost's face (I had to make him happy of course) and applied the glitter.

When I showed Evelina the finished product she immediately said "BOO!". Teehee...so adorable!!  

Next up, some fun pumpkin painting!!

Little Miss Chatterbox

I don't think this will be the first post with this title. We have been told by Evelina's teachers that she is the most vocal and loud toddler in the class.  Oh boy.  She may be clingy and shy at drop off but as soon as we walk away, she is a little miss chatty.  She has such a motivation to talk, talk, talk!! She tends to really enjoy talking as soon as nap time rolls around.  I feel badly for all of her other "friends" trying to drift off to dreamland while she is yakking away. Most of the time she just babbles but every now and then she uses an actual word from her vocabulary.  As of today, Evelina can use the following words in the correct context or without being prompted by us (guilty, like every first time parent, I'm tracking her words): 

Dada - By far this is still her favorite word. 

Mama

Mimi

Gigi - 1st word after Dada and Mama. Initially, it represented her giraffe lovie but now she uses it for all giraffes, including the original "Gigi". 

Hi

Bye or Bye-Bye

Ball

Bubble

Baby
Boo - As in peek-a-boo

Book - Only uses on occasion

Uh-Oh

Up

Moo - Like a Cow

Baa - Like a Sheep

Whoo Whoo - Like an Owl

Snorts - Like a Pig

Cockle - Like a Rooster without the doodle do :-)  

Big Bird

Cracker - She says something similar to this A LOT but not sure if it is actually cracker or another word.  We are trying to use our toddler language decoding skills to figure it out.  

Evelina has also come along way with her signing as well.  We started attending a Baby Signing Time class on Saturday mornings which has been a lot of fun.  We also watch Baby Signing Time DVDs a few times a week.  Not only is she learning more signs, I'm learning as well.  I never thought I would know the ASL alphabet. 

As of today, Evelina can sign: 

More

Milk

Eat

All Done

Hat

Please

Cracker

Dog

Bird

Book

Time

Brush Teeth

Sky

Wind

Evelina is also working on putting two separate words together.  Such as "Hi Gigi", or signing "more eat (food)". Just the other day she verbalized "baby" and signed "time", she wanted to watch Baby Signing Time!!  So smart that little one.    

It is amazing to think that she only spoke about 3-4 actual words a month or so ago and now her vocabulary is growing by the week.  It is awesome to witness!!  Way to go Beanette!!

PS:  I L.O.V.E.D the little Mr/Miss books when I was a kid!!  I wish we would have kept them all.  

At the Playground

The playground has become much more fun since Evelina learned to walk.  She likes to walk around and explore, look at the other kids playing or swinging, and watch cars or motorcycles zoom by.  By far, her favorite activity at the playground is the sandbox.  She could stay in it for hours, digging and covering up her legs.  She's even been known to throw a tantrum when it is time to leave, so I've started to lure her to other toys instead to avoid a meltdown.  She also loves to "drive" at the playground and walk up the platform stairs to the bridge.  She's even started to enjoy swinging.  It was rough going for awhile, she would cry or protest going in the swing but now she smiles and giggles and asks for more. 
  

Next spring we plan to get a swing set for the yard and possibly a sandbox (if she still likes it).  I'm thinking this would be the perfect 2nd birthday gift!!

16 Month Photoshoot Outtakes

Heartwarming Moment :: Mimi

This past Saturday, Mimi, Poppy and Lilly came for a visit in the afternoon.  It was a windy, chilly, fall day here in New England.  Despite the wind and unexpected rain showers that arrived, Evelina still had the strong desire to go outside to blow bubbles.  She just LOVES bubbles.  I keep a wand on the table on the deck and she will frequently walk by the sliding glass door, see the wand and shout "BUBBLE", hoping we will go outside for some fun.  

So off we went with Mimi and Lilly.  We blew some bubbles and then walked around the front of the house to check out the pumpkins and mums on the doorstep.  Evelina spent a lot of time touching the pumpkins and trying to pick them up, smelling the mums, going up and down the stairs, playing with the little owl stones we use to decorate, walking along the stone walkway, smiling at Lilly and signing doggy.  We tried to get a cute photo of Mimi and Lina on the stairs but little miss thang isn't really interested in sitting still for photo opportunities these days (hence why the amount of pictures on this blog has diminished). 

Fast forward to Monday evening.  After dinner, we went to blow some bubbles and play with a ball outside .  As soon as we got to the front stairs, Lina sat down on the bottom step and said "Mimi".  The last time we had been in the same spot we were with Mimi, she remembered and was wondering where her Mimi was.  It was incredibly adorable.  She's been saying "Mimi" for a month or so now and I'm happy it was one of her first words.  

Evelina, Mimi and Lilly coloring after playing outside

Tasty Recipes to Share

I've whipped up a couple of new recipes over the last week that are worth sharing.

Apple Pumpkin Muffins - Evelina loves stealing bites of my Dunkin' Donuts pumpkin muffins but who knows what's in those things (that make them soooo tasty).  So, I decide to find a healthy option for her (and me) so I made these apple pumpkin muffins.  They were delicious.  The recipe made 6 large muffins and 16 mini muffins, the perfect size for Evelina.  I stored them in a Tupperware container on the counter and Evelina would request one daily. 

Nutella Banana Bread - All I need to say about this is, YUMMY!! It is really heaven in bread form.  I even debated adding some vanilla ice cream on top and probably would have if we had some in the freezer.  
 
Slow-Cooker Hawaiian BBQ Chicken - Super quick and easy, and very tasty.  We ate it over brown rice but it would also be great on a bun with slaw, similar to a pulled pork sandwich.  I was hoping Evelina would enjoy it too, but nope (can you sense my frustration). 

Cloth Diaper Update

Evelina sportin' her Tot Bot Easy Fit Fruit Diaper

It's been about 8 months since we started cloth diapering Evelina and I still love it!!  We hit some road bumps along the way, but overall it has been a great experience and I highly recommend it to anyone who is remotely considering it.  I think we have finally reached the point where we've broken even with what we spent for disposables initially and the cost of all of the cloth diapers.  It really has been quite nice not having to order/run out to get sposies on a regular bases. 

Our stash includes:  

Grovia All-in-2 Hook and Loop Closure - These are by far one of my favorites.  The organic cotton insert is super absorbent and we rarely have any leaks (unless we wait to long to change her).  They fit Lina's skinny frame very well and they are easy for Chris, Mimi and Lina's teachers to use thanks to the hook and loop closure.  We have 3 shells and 6 inserts so each shell can be used for 2 diaper changes (unless there is a real mess).  You can also buy a disposable insert to use with these shells which work great.  We brought a few with us when we went up north over the Summer.  The only con about this diaper is that the hook and loop is starting to break down slightly so it doesn't hold as well.  

Fuzzibunz All-in-One Pocket Snap Closure - Unfortunately, these make up the majority of our stash.  When we first started cloth diapering, this was the go-to diaper, I LOVED them!!  Well, now I wish I hadn't purchased so many of them.  They worked well for the first few months, but all of a sudden they just started leaking constantly.  I tried modifying the fit, stripping the diapers since I wasn't sure if they had build-up causing them to not be as absorbent, and I even purchased some new inserts, but nothing solved our problem.  There are still a few in our rotation but I only put them on Evelina when I know we will be home and I don't care if she has a leak.  I'm disappointed in these dipes.  I think the sizing mechanisms may be too complicated so getting the perfect fit isn't easy. There are many websites that cater to selling used cloth diapers, so I may post these and see if I get any hits. 

Charlie Banana One-Size Snap Closure -  Very similar to Fuzzibunz and we had the same issues with these diapers that we experienced with the Fuzzibunz.  Currently, we don't use these dipes which is a bummer since I LOVE the butterfly pattern. 


bumGenius All-in-One Pocket Snap Closure - Originally, I wasn't a big fan of this diaper but the more we used it, the more I liked it.  We still only have 1 in our stash but it is a great go-to diaper.  We've never had a leak with this one and it fits her a lot better now then when she was a smaller baby.     

Rumperooz All-in-One Pocket Snap Closure - A great diaper and super absorbent.  The fit is similar to the bumGenius pocket diaper but the inside of the diaper has gussets which help prevent leaks and the fleece lining is so soft. So much more comfortable than a disposable.  We have 2 of these in our diaper supply and I love the owl and kangaroo designs...too cute.  

Flip Diaper System with Organic Cotton Inserts Snap Closure - GREAT diaper!!  Similar to the bumGenius, I hated didn't really like this diaper in the beginning since the fit was awkward. When the Fuzzibunz diapers started leaking I decided to give this diaper another try and it didn't disappoint.  The organic cotton inserts are incredibly absorbent and unless the diapers isn't snapped correctly, we haven't experienced any leaks.  We have 2 shells and 6 inserts so each shell can be used for 3 diaper changes. 

Tot Bots Easy Fit Diaper Hook and Loop Closure - This is another one of my favorites.  It is a pocket diaper but has an interesting tongue design so the insert is always attached to the diaper which makes it easy to stuff.  The hook and loop is super strong, the fit is trim and the diaper is super absorbent.  It doesn't hurt that they have some cute designs as well.  We currently have 3 of these nappies and would probably have more if they weren't so pricey.  

Soft Bums Echo with Super Dry Touch Pods Hook and Loop Closure - This diaper is just okay.  When our Fuzzibunz diapers started leaking I researched other diaper options and a lot of people seemed to like these.  They are very absorbent and we haven't had any leaks, but the fit is kind of strange since the super dry touch pods are kind of bulky. The good news is that we can use the super dry touch pods in the Flip diaper shells and the Thirsties Duo Wrap as well.   

Thirsties Duo Wrap Hook and Loop Closure - I purchased one of these to be used as an additional cover over the Flip diaper organic insert and the Soft Bums super dry touch pods.  It is an okay cover.  The pattern is cute but the fit just isn't great on Evelina.  We only use this as a last resort. 

Many people who cloth diaper use a diaper sprayer to clean up any dirty diaper mess.  Instead of using a diaper sprayer, we use flushable diaper liners. They have worked great for us.  Whenever Lina has a dirty diaper, we just remove the messy liner from the diaper and flush it. It really isn't THAT gross.  I would much rather flush the mess then lock it up in the Diaper Genie only to be blasted with the stench during the next diaper change. 

We still use disposables in certain situations: 

1. At night - I tried a few different cloth options for night-time but Evelina would always leak.  I don't think she is necessarily a heavy wetter but either way, she would leak and I wasn't able to sleep at night wondering if she was leaking!!  So we use a night-time disposable with a cloth diaper cover over top.  This helps curb any disposable leaks and reduces the number of sheet changes.  
2. In the morning (on school days) - Chris isn't as much of a fan of cloth diapering as I am so I give him a free pass on school day mornings.  We use Target brand disposables.  They are cheap, absorbent, and don't let off any weird chemical smell like we noticed other disposables do.  We only buy one package every month or so.   
3. If Evelina has a bad case of diaper rash - Most diaper creams aren't cloth diaper friendly so in the event of a bad diaper rash (which is infrequent these days), we've found only Triple Paste to really do the job, in addition to a mixture of Lotrimin, Hydrocortisone and antibiotic ointment with a disposable.  If she has a little rash or redness, we will continue to use a cloth diaper with CJ's BUTTer.  It is great stuff!!
4. Vacation
5. If I behind on diaper laundry :-o 

Here is a re-post of Evelina's first time in a cloth diaper.  Her "chubby" face was too cute.  

That, my friends, is where we are at with cloth diapering.  It is just the normal for us now and I'm much more confident with it than I was in the first few weeks (and so are Evelina's teachers and maybe Chris).  Hopefully it will aid with potty training since Evelina will feel wetness more than if she were wearing a disposible.  One can hope. 

Shake Your Booty

Shake, shake, shake....shake your booty!!

PS: My mobile video camera is the pits. 

Spearmint Baby - Photo of the Day

I submitted a photo of Evelina to Spearmint Baby (one of my fave blogs) for their photo of the day post and it was chosen today!!  

October 7, 2011 Photo of the Day 

This photo always makes me smile :-)  

Chilly Fall Evening

Just a few shots from this chilly fall evening.  The perfect weather for a cozy fleece, a cute handmade beanie, sidewalk chalk and leaf-hunting. 

16 Months!!

Dear Evelina,

You are 16 months old!! What can I say? There are no words that can describe our love for you. You are the light of our lives and we can’t imagine a day without you. Papa and I still ask ourselves how we could have created such a beautiful little girl with such a goofy personality. Often times we will look at each other and all we have to say is “Beb?”, and we both know we’re thinking about your cuteness and how much we adore you. We miss you when your sleeping and are sometimes tempted to go wake you up so we can shower you with hugs and kisses, Papa can’t wait to scoop you up on weekday mornings, and I can’t wait to leave work everyday so I can pick you up at school and watch you barrel over to me while you smile and giggle. Oooooweeee….we love you!!

Here’s what you’ve been up to this month:

• Your canines are s.l.o.w.l.y appearing. Two have officially cut through your gums but the others are taking their sweet time. This has not been pleasant for you, poor thing. You are well on your way to having a full set of baby teeth and I’m not sure who is more excited. You or me and Papa.
• You love saying “Hieeee” to strangers or into your play telephone. You don’t like to be put on the spot though so if we ask you to say hi to one of us or to someone on the phone, you just smile.
• Babbling, babbling, and more babbling. You are rarely quiet. I’m not sure what to expect once you start speaking using actual words and sentences. You have always been chatty but this is a new level of babbling with lots of new consonants.
• In terms of actual words, you are working on it.  Some new words I've heard this month are "Baby" and "Bubble".  Many times we think you are saying a word but we can't figure out what it actually is.  I think I need to take a baby language interpretation course. 
• You’ve started to say “Mimi” but not actually to Mimi. We’ll keep working on it.
• Coloring is one of your favorite activities. This includes coloring with crayons, markers or sidewalk chalk. We must keep working on keeping the writing utensil on the paper or driveway.
• Playing outside (with chalk and bubbles), walking around the yard and driveway, pushing or riding in your car, pointing to the sky, sun, grass, trees, birds, landscapers. When we ask you if you want to go outside, you shake your head yes, walk over to the basement door and just wait for us to bring you downstairs. You just LOVE being outside.
• You find great joy in brushing your teeth and hair, and using the lint roller on me, Papa or yourself (yes, we are starting you off early in the OCD department).
• You fill each day with lots of gross motor and fine motor activities and you are becoming more precise each day. You can put crayons back into your crayon box, pick up cheerios with a fork, walk (and attempt to run) anywhere we ask you too, get up on your play table chairs all by yourself (not very safely I might add, but we are working on it), get off the beds, couches, and chairs safely.
• Many spills come along with walking and you have taken a few rough ones this month. You fell and hit your eye, you tumbled into your play table and hit your nose and upper lip which resulted in A LOT of bleeding, and you fell at school and gave yourself a fat lower lip. This is all part of toddlerhood. Overall, you are very coordinated and stable on your feet, partly because of your general cautiousness.  
• You have successfully used the potty on two occasions and I couldn’t have been more excited!! You are so interested in watching us use the potty as well. You like to watch the bowl flush and even attempt to flush it yourself. You’ve also become aware that we like to keep the lid down so you will always walk over to it and look at me to put it down, if it isn’t already. If we ask you to go to your potty, you will walk into your bathroom and sit down carefully, albeit in your clothes. If we smell a dirty diaper, we'll ask if you've taken a poop and you will shake your head yes.  These are all great skills for you to have and will come in handy once we officially start potty training.
• You enjoy using a spoon and fork when eating but you still prefer your hands since they are much more efficient. We can finally give you plates and bowls, and you no longer throw them immediately.  You will eat what's on them first and then try to throw them. 
• You are great at following directions of any kind. It is amazing what you comprehend!! This includes helping us clean up your toys. It can be a lengthy process but it is fun to do together when you cooperate.
• You love to point out things in books and point to family members in photo albums.
• You had the opportunity to go into your first bouncy house this month and you just loved it!!  I went in with you and Mitchell, one of your neighbor friends, and we had a great time bouncing and giggling.  You like to recreate the experience on our big bed as often as you can.  
• You have really begun to enjoy the playground.  Previously, you weren't really interested in swinging but you are learning to love it....but not as much as the sandbox.  You LOVE the sandbox.  
• A couple of things you doing love?  Diaper changes!!  Oh my goodness, how painful they are.  It’s as if you think we are going to stab your eyes out.  You arch your back before we even put you down on the changing table, and then you proceed to kick, scream and roll over trying to get away from us.  Potty training can’t come fast enough!!  Another thing you hate?  Eating at home.  You eat like a dream at school and always clean your plate, but as soon as it is meal time at home, you refuse almost everything.  I often tell your teachers that it is a good thing you are at school 4 days a week because if you weren’t, you would whither away to nothing.There are some aspects of toddlerhood that are tough and this is one of them.

We have a busy month ahead filled with birthday parties, watching the leaves change color, pumpkin carving, and your 2nd Halloween!! Yay!! 

You are the sunshine of my life,

Mommy

Ketchup, YUM!!

Evelina has learned a new skill thanks to school. Dipping!! I've offered ketchup in the past for her to dip chicken tenders or sweet potato fries in but she has never been interested.  That is until last week when she saw me, Auntie K, Auntie Elaine and Cousin Heather dipping fries in ketchup.  I've noticed some of her "friends" at school dip, so she must have picked it up from observing them.  It is adorable.  My hope is that she will learn to love foods again that she once loved because she will find joy in dipping and eating.  Ranch dressing and veggies here we come!!

Goals for 2011 :: Q3 Status

Goals for 2011 Q3 progress: 

• Organize the pantry in the kitchen -ACHIEVED!! Although, I feel like this needs to be done again...ugh. I did throw in organizing the linen closets and bathroom cabinets so that is an added bonus.  Bring on the basement and downstairs coat closet. 
• Wean from the pump - ACHIEVED!!
• Paint, have a back splash installed in the kitchen, and find some fab curtains to hang around the slider - No progress.  This is pretty much on hold until next year.  It just isn't a priority at the moment.   
• Convert the existing office into a playroom for Evelina - Almost complete as can be seen here; we just have to hang a couple of more things and I need to label and organize the toy baskets.  
• Hold a yard sale -ACHIEVED!!
• Plan (and go on) a summer vacation - ACHIEVED!! 
• Have a date night with Chris AT LEAST once per month - We have been semi-successful with this goal.  Last weekend we had a party to attend in Nashua, NH so we decided to go out for dinner beforehand.  We tried Saffron Bistro and it was delectable.  We will try to keep date night up during the holiday season or at least for both of our birthdays.  
• Tone up for Kate and Jason's wedding - FAILED!!  Due to constant back pain, I am currently working with a Physical Therapist to improve my core strength.  It is long overdue that's for sure.  
• Practice patience - It depends on the situation whether or not I'm patient. ;-)  Meal times and night-time wake-ups are definitely my weak spot. 
• *Try* to worry less - I've made some progress...thankfully we have a walker, but now I will attempt to not worry about Evelina not saying more than a handful of actual words.  It's always something!!  
• And most importantly, be the best Mommy I can be and have fun!! I'm working on it....it is an area of continuous improvement.      

Only one more quarter left in 2011, that's just CRAZY!!