A Few New Tricks...

And I Cut Hairs Too!

I cut Peter's hair all by myself today. What fun! For me anyway - I got a few "Ouch! That hurt!" from my (non-paying) customer. Oops. Aside from the three of us all ending up covered in Peter's hair (who knew shaving hairs ourside on a breezy day would do such a thing?!) it was a raging success.

Not much else going on today. Stayed in bed till 7 (Carina joined us at 6:30). Worked out since someone got up a little too early and I didn't get a chance to yesterday. Made some chocolate chip banana bread. Fed Carina bananas with strawberries - the strawberry was new and went over VERY well. Did some laundry. Tried out a new ground turkey and sweet potato turnover recipe and it was alright. Thinking I may use the filling in a casserole (I made way too much and froze it - hope it keeps well). Picked up a few things at Toys R Us. Took a walk and ran into a couple friends. Now the baby is asleep and I'm ready to start my relaxing evening with a big 'ol bowl of ice cream!

The Perfect Jeans

Apparently the search begins younger and younger these days. Carina had one pair of jeans with a stretch waist way back when (probably in 0-3 month size) but we couldn't find another larger pair... till today! She received a pair at Christmas and as adorable as they were, and as well as they fit everywhere else, she just can't wear a pair with snaps because they're too tight around her belly, haha. Oh the hardships of being a chunk. She looks like such a little lady in her big girl pants.

But enough about her jeans. There is other, just as important, news. She tried pineapple for the first time over the weekend - pears with pineapples to be exact. She liked it! Sometime this week we're going to try bananas with strawberries. She is waving really well now. Sometimes she gets shy around other people but she always does it for me and Peter. When her Daddy came home on Monday she gave him the biggest, wiggliest most excited wave EVER and it warmed both our hearts.

Oh and another big first - we put her in the nursery while we taught Sunday school. It wasn't too big a challenge for us because the woman who babysits her on Friday, Cheryl, was working in the nursery so I knew she was in good, familiar hands. The funny thing was when I was ready to leave her there she stretched out her arms to one of the high school youth working there, haha. I'm glad she made some friends. She was way too distracted to eat her breakfast and she didn't fall asleep till right before we picked her up but she did so well and was happy the entire time. Our baby is growing up!

The Two Cutest Girls In the Universe

Well it finally happened. Carina and Celia had a play date. Linz and I both attended Whitney's jewelry party and I arrived a little early. Carina was silent - still recovering from the trauma of the passing fire engine we encountered on the way there (she apparently is NOT a fan). She broke her silence for Celia. One look at her and she just had to communicate. It was the cutest thing in the whole wide world.

They played side by side fairly well. They traded toys more than fought over them. They were gentle and sweet to each other (aside from Carina's hair pulling, which Celia took in stride). They both ended the date a bit fussy but it was a big day for them both.

Can't wait to do it again Linz!

Rhyme Time

Carina attended her first Rhyme Time at our local library last night. I was a little bummed the first time I went in search of a story time for her age group because I couldn't find any on Wednesday morning. Then one day when Carina and I were at the library one of the children's librarians asked if we ever attended Rhyme Time and I said no because I worked every day but Wednesday and she kindly informed me there were two on Thursday evenings! I was SO excited. I was part of the very first story time group our local library ever had where I grew up - I was even in the paper! I practically grew up in the library between story time, my Mom volunteering week nights and eventually working there myself Saturday mornings through high school. Introducing Carina to the library has been a special treat.

Rhyme Time lasts about 20 minutes and is for ages 18 months and younger. It consists of songs, rhymes, short stories and rhythmic games. Last night we made music with egg shakers and played with big bouncy balls. It was so neat to see Carina interacting with kids so close to her own age. Another 9 month old (with TONS of dark hair) crawled up to her and Carina kept leaning in and grabbing this dear girl's face and hair. No harm done but Carina now has need to learn the word "gentle". We wonder once she becomes more mobile if she'll be a quiet listener or an active mover and shaker! This group had it's fair share of both.

Can't wait to go again next week! And here is the Joneses gone green pic I promised.

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Yes, the entire family is wearing green today and I hope to capture and post a picture later. For now I can post a green Carina pic (I'm sure I'll hear zero complaints). Not much to report. Life is good! We helped a friend move this past weekend. And with a baby in tow that now means that one of us watches the baby and one of us is actually helpful.

Carina is quite the little talker as evidenced in the video below. The only word she can say and we KNOW she understands is "cat". We can say it, she'll look at one of our cats and then repeat it. So adorable. Of course we know she understands a good bit more than she can say at this point. She's a little smarty pants. She can pull herself up on something that is short but the coffee table and couch are still a bit of a challenge. Once she is standing she practices cruising. It's all just so much fun!

Anyway... Carina is napping. Once she's up we may run a couple errands and then my Dad is coming to visit on his day off. We're taking a dessert (peanut butter striped delight) into Peter's St. Patty's Day work party. All just to show off the baby :)

And oh yeah - Happy 4th Anniversary to us!

Story Telling

Most Productive Day EVER!

I'm pretty sure I've mentioned a time or two just how much I love my Wednesdays off. Well I really do! Carina woke up at 5:30 and since she went to bed early I figured we'd just get her instead of trying to get her to go back down. Missed my morning work out but hope to make that up tomorrow. Emptied the dish washer, put a load in the wash and baked some brownies all before Carina napped at 8! Made a trip to Target, washed, dried, folded and put away 2 loads of laundry (with Carina's help of course) and did some reading while Carina took an afternoon nap. Took a walk and played a little till Peter got home, then went for another walk. Pancakes and sausage for dinner and some more play time. Carina was such a happy girl! Bathed and fed Carina and put her to bed, then my Dad came to pick up our TV to give to my cousin since we're getting a new one soon. Getting it out to the car was an ordeal - the thing probably weighs twice as much as I do, no joke!

Anyway... great day and here are the pics to prove it.

Spring is Here!

Or at least on the way. Pictures below from the walk Carina and I took today. There's green popping up from below and blue skies above. The snow is nearly gone and our landscapers are back! I love Spring.

Well Hello Technology

Nice to meet you. My name is Amy. Please make yourself at home.

Guess who has a new laptop? This girl! Our sweet tax refund allowed us to replace our desk top (pushing 4 years old). This thing is stupid fast!

Alright, Peter's turn on the new toy. We're calling it "Magnus".

That Kid of Ours

Carina turned 9 months old yesterday. According to the pedi she is now 16 pounds 12 ounces and 24 inches long. Learning to wave and clap are her new tricks. Oh and finding Mommy's Cosmo stash...

Taco Bake

New recipe time! Courtesy of http://www.kraftrecipes.com/

What you need:

1 pkg. (14 oz.) Kraft Deluxe Macaroni & Cheese Dinner
1 lb. ground beef
1 pkg. (1-1/4 oz.) taco seasoning mix
3/4 cup sour cream
1-1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
1 cup salsa

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Prepare macaroni and cheese as directed. While macaroni is cooking, cook meat with taco seasoning as directed. Stir sour cream into macaroni and cheese; spoon 1/2 into 8-inch square baking dish (I used a big round one). Top with layers of meat mixture, 1 cup cheese and remaining macaroni and cheese, cover with foil. Bake 15 minutes; top with salsa and remaining cheese. Bake, uncovered, 5 mins or until cheese is melted.

Delish!

A Girl & Her Daddy