Preparing for Christmas!

I was trying to think of ways to have Bear enjoy his first Christmas and get ready for Christmas instead of letting it all happen around him. I know he wont really understand or remember but he can have little bits of fun!

I am going to post a holiday activity for you and baby daily (hopefully-if not ill double up days)

To start: Holiday Cookies that Baby can enjoy too!

Keep in mind these are not for everyone. Bear eats graham crackers when supervised because they get a smooshy some babies are not there yet and that's ok, just wait for tomorrows activity!

These are home-mad graham crackers that have no honey in fact they are vegan too

you'll need:

2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

1 cup all purpose flour

1/5 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 cup butter

1/4 brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 cup agave nectar (health food store or sugar mixed with water works)

3/4 cups water

Mix flours, baking powder, salt, cinnamon in a mixing bowl. Cream butter and sugar in separate bowl. Whisk in agave and vanilla until smooth. Slowly add dry mixture and water until mixed completely-you may have to switch to mixing with hands. Let dough rest for 30 minutes at room temp.

TIP: If you have older children they may want to join in this process. If not sit your LO in his bumbo on the counter with you and say everything as you add. I usually give Bear a wooden spoon to gnaw on while I cook and he sits contently.

Preheat oven to 325F Roll out the dough and use festive cookie cutters to cut out graham crackers or 'cookies'. If you want to keep them square go ahead! (Cut in 3inch squares and poke with fork)

TIP: There are no raw ingredients so it's ok to let baby pat the dough. I wouldn't let him have his own chunk though. Just pat your hands down on it to show how and maybe sing "patty-cake" while you do it!

Lay out on a pan and cook for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool and enjoy!

Remember to watch baby eat these make sure they are all slimed up! If you are nervous take out a bowl and break up the cookie. Add 2 tsp of formula or breast milk and spoon feed to baby.

If you have older kids or want something sweeter make a glaze by mixing 1 small box of confectioners sugar and add water until its a thick glaze texture (about 1/2 cup) Add as-is or add coloring and let the older kids apply with a spoon or new paintbrush. If you let cookies sit with glaze it will harden so they are not so messy.

Love,

PlusPeace

SneakPeak: Decorate the tree!

Happy Holidays!

The holidays are so busy and I just started a new job-i know, excuses, excuses- BUT I will resume posting again this weekend! I'll have super easy holiday cards and holiday activities our little babies can enjoy too!

Come back this weekend and have a great week everybody!!

Love,

PlusPeace

Crusty Baby

I was totally grossed out by the thick flaky ew on top of my son's head. I know there are way more disgusting things ahead but this is worse than thin flaky dandruff-Cradle Cap. There is nothing wrong with cradle cap other than it's unattractive and looks dirty (kinda like your baby's head is covered in bumpy yellow wax) So it's a common thing and I researched a few ways to make it go away. The trusted google says to rub petroleum jelly or mineral oil on it-I disagree.

I used baby oil (I guess kinda like mineral oil, but smells like babies) I put a generous amount of baby oil on my hands and massaged it into Bear's hair (use your nails-the stuff is thick) I pulled his onesie up over his head and twisted it (like a 'nun' hat...I did that when I was little) then I put a changing pad or towel underneath him in his crib and let him sleep for his nap (about 30 mins) then I stuck him in the tub, washed his hair thoroughly twice and dried him off.

Just a warning your baby's hair will be greasy until after the next bath time when it will be super-soft! If the 'nun hat' irritates your little one try an infant hat that is washable instead. 15-30 minutes should be fine for letting it sit in his hair and you should do this once a week or until it stops coming back.

Love

PlusPeace

Dinner for Two.

So I think a romantic evening for you and your significant other is in order and (most likely) long over due. I've asked my favorite blogging cook, Kelsey Jeanne, to do a week of "dinner for two" She is so great and even included a shopping list in the start (for all the weekly shoppers) so that you'll have everything you'll need.

So after feeding the little one and putting him to bed cook something nice for your honey.

Here's her intro to the day 1:

"For the Sandwiches, we're going to do a Foreman grill panini, with ham, Swiss, sprouts and spicy brown mustard. then a vegetable minestrone soup (tomato basil works really well too) and a mixed greens salad with celery, carrots, tomato and cucumber.

( I am going to put a shopping list in each post, and then the cooking directions, so that if your a once a week shopper you can just combined them all or you can just run out to the store after reading)"

The link for the recipe and for a new one every day this week go to http://kelseyjeanne-junk.blogspot.com/

She also goes over tips for cooking for two like, Pre Freeze, Post Freeze, Unfrozen Leftovers and Only Cooking what You'll Eat. Good tips for busy parents!

Love,

PlusPeace

PS Wearing something sexy optional. ;)

Christmas Under $50

Been reading what alot of fellow moms are buying their babies for Christmas and my oh my some are goin insane. If you can afford it-go for it! This year I decided one "big" thing and ill make him a stocking with smaller things inside. Here's what I'm thinkin'..

One big thing:

Johnny Jump Up - $19.50 Amazon.com

Stocking Stuffers:

Playskool Weeble 2 pack - $5.00 Walmart.com

Learning Curve First Keys or Sassy Ring-o-Links - $2.99 Amazon.com

Fisher Price Rock-a-Stack - $5.95 babyearth.com

Classic Rubber Duck 3 pack - $4.99 Amazon.com

This is what I have so far and it's under $50 which is not bad at all. I know that relatives will buy him clothes and stuff. Some other suggestions for babies in the 5-7 month range are..

Soft blocks or balls

Crib mirrors

Jumparoo (on the pricier side)

Bath Sqirty toys

CLOTHES! - they aways need clothes

A tip for mom's buy used toys-make sure you wash thoroughly and spray with clorox. I scrub mine and put them in the dishwasher on steam clean. Used toys are excellent as long as they are NOT used stuffed animals or plush toys-they contain icky things.

love

PlusPeace

P.S. Walmart.com has a section under baby toys called "toys under $10"

Life Savers vs. Money Wasters

I was sitting here going over my finances and such and thinking about what I need to buy for Bear and what I've already bought and wanted to share my thoughts on a few products. Some have been life savers and some just didn't last as long as I'd hoped.

Foot Rattles ($4.99) They seemed like a really great idea and he loved them for about a day but his feet are so big they don't fit. I would just invest in the hand rattles put one around the arm and one around the ankle and look! Now you have a wrist rattle AND a foot rattle!

ArmsReach Co-Sleeper ($80.00) I admit when I first got it I LOVED it. But if I am being honest with myself it doesn't last very long. He's only 16lb and too big for it. He has an inch over his head and two inches under his toes. I think this is best for c-section mommies in he very beginning but for me Bear ended up just sleeping with me anyway.

Graco Pack N' Play ($90-130.00) Life saver! I actually scored one of these for only $30.00 very lightly used. The changing table is perfect height, the bed is nice and big and its portable (it's best feature) I should have got one of these instead of the arms-reach co sleeper. I can pull it close to the bed or wheel it into the nursery very easily. Also the bed drops down to make a netter play yard for when he's older.

Sassy MOD Pop Bouncer ($55.00) another life saver. He used to nap in it, it takes up almost no space, it's easy to bounce with your foot and he is 5 months and still fits in it! He also really loves the nature sounds it plays and the vibrating feature-seemed weird to me but he likes it! I've heard a lot of mom's say their babies grew out of their bouncers fairly quickly and most of them had those really crazy gizmo and gadget ones that swing and jump and do everything. This one will work fine.

Graco Tucson Changing Table ($100.00) I actually got this at Target for only $15.00!!! Someone returned it open box because the coloring in the stain was slightly off...who cares?! I have mutual feelings about this one. I rarely use it as a changing table but all of Bear's clothes are stored in colorful bins on the shelves below. So it makes a great dresser but I don't use it for what it is.

Bumbo ($29.00-59.00) I love this for feeding time! It get's him sitting up and I can either put it on a chair or right on the table. He is tall and thin and can almost push himself out which makes me upset since it's advertised as a chair babies cannot get out of on their own but with supervision it was good. I recommend finding a cheaper used one.

PlayMat ($20-60.00) all play mats are essentially the same I have two and he loves both. Good for tummy time or just quiet time where baby can entertain himself. I wouldn't buy a $60.00 one when the ones for $20.00 are equally as entertaining. I would get one that you can attach your own toys if you want though.

Cracker Barrel Rocking Chair ($80-110.00) GREAT BUY! I had trouble finding a rocking chir NOT a glider. And Cracker Barrel has good quality American made rocking chairs in all different stains. It's wide and low so you can fit you, baby and a nursing pillow while rocking without back issues.

Well those are most of the "big buys" and my opinion on them. I hope this helps a new mommy somewhere!

Love

PlusPeace

BUBBLES!!!

This is a short post but one that will bring hours of entertainment for your little one. I remember when I was little I loved bubbles! And I thought my son might be too little to enjoy them but I was very wrong he loves popping them and feeling them land on his tummy.

How to:

-You'll want a naked baby, either in his tub or in the sink with some warm water.

-Have 2tbs water and 2tbs baby shampoo mixed in a container-I used an old travel lotion bottle.

-Either cup your hands covered in the solution and blow or use the bubble wands from a bubbles bottle from the dollar store (I recommend the wand)

-Blow bubbles at baby's tummy during bath time and when one pops say "pop!"

-DO NOT aim for the face. This is why I make my own baby-safe solution in case any go in the mouth or eyes the baby shampoo wont irritate like regular bubbles will.

-When the bubbles touch his legs tell him he has bubbles on his legs or arms, etc. This way it's a learning experience too!

Love

PlusPeace