Twenty One Months

A little summary of the month:

* can identify all family members in photo books

* continuing to work on counting up to 10

* getting better with his colors definitely knows "yellow" and "orange"

* vocabulary has expanded so much and continues to every day I can no longer keep track of all of his new words & phrases

* new signs "open" and "play"

* did amazingly well going to bed with no crying until he got sick

* first real sickness cough/cold with a little bit of puking 

* sitting on the potty for longer periods of time & will sometimes tell us when he needs a new diaper

* time change means a later nap time 2 to 5-5:30

* first visit to Wolfe's Neck Farm (does not like going near the animals) 3/15

*  had a rough long car ride from Presque Isle "all done car"

* visited Sister Kelly in New York with daddy, Grandpa & Uncle Phil

* went swimming in Caribou and did great in the water

* attended Great Grampy Ireland's funeral service

* LOVES playing outside & gets very upset when it is time to come inside

* really enjoys playing with the water table

* participated in this years Easter egg hunt - he searched for all of the yellow eggs

* starting to have little tantrums & screaming

* St. Patrick's day play date with Conor and friends

* second haircut & now he really looks like such a big boy!

Pinterest Challenge: Week # 1

Well the DIY Pinterest Challenge has begun.  We had a great first week with many new projects attempted and most of them successful.  My first project however - FAILED.  I started off the challenge with the homemade fruit snacks.  I had wondered if Braden would even attempt to eat them, because of the texture, but decided to give it a  try anyway.  

The original recipe that I had planned to use was not working the day I needed it:

http://thankyourbody.com/homemade-healthy-fruit-snacks/

So, I went with this one instead:

http://easy-homesteading.blogspot.ca/2013/02/homemade-gummie-bear-recipe.html

I used blueberries, orange juice and honey as the sweetener.  I also was one packet of gelatin short.  In the end the taste was not very good and I think that the texture was effected by the lack of gelatin.  Braden wouldn't even put it in his mouth.  But, even if they did taste good - it was more work than I wanted, so I don't think I would have made them again.  

Here is my final product (I even used little animal cookie cutters):

Here are some successful projects from the week: 

Chocolate Glazed Donuts - (more cake like): http://www.bunsinmyoven.com/2013/04/01/glazed-chocolate-donuts/

Healthy Turkey Chili: 

http://www.theyummylife.com/Turkey_chili

Taco Ring: 

http://shabbybrocante.blogspot.com/2012/01/taco-ring-thats-whats-for-dinner.html?m=1

Chocolate Truffles: 

http://pinterest.com/pin/475481673128663986/

Orange Juice Chicken:

http://indianriverjuice.com/2013/03/08/easy-and-delicious-orange-juice-chicken-recipe/

Baked Spaghetti Squash: 

http://www.steamykitchen.com/11285-baked-spaghetti-squash-with-garlic-and-butter.html

Great first week of Pinterest projects and I am looking forward to new projects!!! 

DIY Pinterest Challenge

I've decided to create my own Pinterest Challenge.  Whether this ends up being on my own or if others decide to join me - I am determined to finish at least 6 new projects from my Pinterest boards.  

I had previously enjoyed participating in this Pinterest Challenge, and even received "honorable mention" one month.  But, unfortunately the project seems to have been abandoned :(  So, now I am starting one "just for fun" and I am hoping that by posting my progress here on my blog it will keep me motivated!  

So, here are the 6 projects that I have chosen:

1. Chicken Alfredo Lasagna

2. Homemade fruit snacks

3. DIY hoodie

4. 4th of July star decor

5. Homemade Sangria

6. Ipod cover/stand

This is not necessarily the order that the projects will be completed! But, over the next 6 weeks I will attempt to complete them all.  Each week I will feature one of the projects & the progress - whether a success or a failure.  So, here goes...  Anyone want to join me?  

Loving Project Life!

In one of my last posts I mentioned that I had discovered Project Life and how I was looking forward to scrap-booking again without taking up so much time!  Well, I just have to update that I absolutely LOVE Project Life.  Not only have I been able to keep up with my 2013 weekly album, but I also finally started a scrapbook for Braden.  

I had started an original scrapbook for Braden, but I only made it as far as his birth and just could not keep up.  Twenty months later and it was looking like it was NEVER going to happen.  But, in just over a month I have been able to use Project Life (and the Baby Boy kit) to complete Braden's first year from July 2011 through February 2012.  Now, I know that I will be able to finish it and my plan is to continue up through January 2013 where my other Project Life album picks up.  Then I will end Braden's scrapbook with his monthly t-shirt photos from 18 months - 24 months.

  

It's Been Way Too Long!

Well, this blog has certainly been neglected over the last few months.  So, I thought I would take the time to give a little update.  My first quick update is from my roman shade project.  I had posted here about feeling crafty and working on a few things.  So, finally here is the finished product!

The only problem I have found is that the fabric had to be pulled away in order to install them properly.  Because of that they don't quite fit over and hid the plastic installation pieces.  I really need to go back and glue them down again.  I am also wondering if I should do one long valance across the top, but at this point I don't think I would be able to find the same fabric.  

And the hunt still continues for some artwork/decor for the blank wall left in the room!  

Twenty Months

A little summary of the month:

* experienced his first big blizzard 2/8

* loves his new learning tower so he can help out at the counter 2/6

* walks up the stairs on his own while holding onto the wall

* break through with finger painting and Braden does not cry/scream anymore

* made valentine's for friends & family and actually held out his hand for more paint 2/11
* had fun sledding in Brewer 3/3

* uses the front facing car seat sometimes

* So many new words I KNOW that I am not thinking of all of them:  hockey, hockey stick, cold, horse, sheep, bird, airplane, bus, downstairs, upstairs, toast, cereal, milk, stuck, pants, shirt, grandma, grandpa, tractor, candle, sorry, bike, button, puck, guitar, pick, bear, frog, hoop, seat, heart, fan, big truck, knock knock, light, soap, cup, swing, orange (fruit), jump jump, lunch, drink, pancake, beep beep, Eva, tissue, trash, catch, purple, yellow, blue, green, orange.

* started saying friends names and identifying them in person or in a book/picture

*  Putting two/three words together in a phrase  "Go Bruins", "oh gosh", "oh man" "mommy's shirt" "daddy's shoes" "all done car"

* can count up to 5 (skips 1) and working on up to 10

* has learned the "clean it up" song from music and will help clean up his toys

* will sometimes catch him attempting to sing abc's and does not like others to join in (says no no no)

* had fun with Sarah at Seacoast United kicking soccer ball while mommy played field hockey

* working on some colors, can usually pick out "yellow" and "purple"

* points to himself in pictures and says "you"

* predicts what is coming next in his favorite stories (repetition)

Nineteen Months

A little summary of the month:

* last incisor finally broke through (TR - 1/20)

* learned a few new animal sounds: pig, horse, duck, cat, dinosaur

* still working on correctly identifying family members & friends

* he talks so much I am having a hard time keeping up with new words & phrases:

       "football", "basketball", "mimi", "vroom vroom car", "let's go", "there it is", "love you", "help", "hurt", "up", "down", "excuse me", "come" (when calling the dog), "spot" (stuffed dog), "sit", "paw", "high five", "pee pee", "water", "spoon", "fork"

* puts a tissue up to his nose and says "achoo" 
* identifies more body parts "knee", "shoulders", "foot", "toes"

* more comfortable in the bath tub - splashing and pouring water on himself

* new signs: help & hurt

* working on sitting on the potty for short periods of time

* will say "excuse me" at appropriate times

* had his first haircut 1/22

* doing great with family babysitting - date night & Scentsy event

* he loves to help with measuring and pouring ingredients when baking/cooking

* still working on catching the ball

* prefers to walk up and down the stairs with help

* went sledding for the first time (front yard) 1/9

* becoming more comfortable with paints & getting his hands dirty
* affectionate loves giving family, Sage, stuffed animals hugs and kisses say "muah" and "awh"
* will sometimes catch him attempting to count or say abc's