Bow Patrol

Put baby on bow patrol while you wrap presents! Set all the wrapped presents out and take off the paper backing and let baby stick on all the bows. Yea they might end up in weird places on the boxes but who cares! They end up in the trash anyways. You can even let him stick em on his clothes-trust me-he'll think its a riot!

Love

PlusPeace

Read me a story, Momma

Oops I did it again-I said I'd post and didn't. An emergency arose and I had a mess of things happen yesterday! Here we go...

Decorating the tree!

For those of us who have not yet decorated the tree this is an activity both you and baby can enjoy. My son LOVES the lights so I set him in front of the tree and he stared at them for like 20 minutes. Buy a few ornaments if you dont have them already that are ok for baby to play with. Like plastic ones instead of glass-or wood ones with no led paint. Set him down with those while you decorate the tree and leave place on the bottom branches.

Hold him up to the tree while you hang "his" ornaments on the bottom. I can guarantee your baby will just look at you like your nuts but hey it gets everyone in the spirit and now if you sit him by the tree he can see the ornaments that are OK to touch!

Holiday Story Time! Ok I'll admit I couldn't think of a second one for today BUT Bear loves it when I do this and I bought the night before Christmas book the other day. Read with expression, props and funny voices. It's hilarious, if you have a significant other involve them too. My Christmas suggestions are:

Twas the night before Christmas

Polar Express

How the Grinch stole Christmas

What is Christmas

Merry Christmas Stinky Face

Humphreys first Christmas (religious)

Love,

PlusPeace

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"