5 Months Old

I can hardly believe my little guy is already five months old!

I missed the four month post so there have been a lot of things happening with our Cam. He continues to be an absolute joy and is completely laid back unless he's hungry or tired.



He still sleeps like a champ. Lately we've been cycling through a couple days of going 8-8 straight without waking for a feed, then a couple of days of waking at 4 or 6 am for a feed and then going back to bed until 8 or 9 am. I am so thankful for his amazing sleeping abilities, because I certainly have my hands full with two toddlers and a baby.



Camden already has two teeth! The day after he turned 4 months old his first little tooth came in on the bottom. A week later the second one popped through. It was relatively drama free, just lots of drool and lots of chewing on things, including me. Luckily the breastfeeding biting only lasted 48 hours just as I was about to resort to the hard wean. He must have sensed the impending doom.



His little head is covered in more feathery little baby hairs everyday. It sticks up like big bird and I think it's completely adorable. TG likes to slick it down, but I just let him rock the look.



Camden is absolutely enamored with his big sister. He lights up when she comes in the room and if she's not nearby he's whipping his head around trying to find her. If he's fussing he will immediately calm down if she comes over to talk and play with him and all of a sudden you can hear giggles and shrieks of happiness.



He can sit up for a second or two alone before he leans and topples over. He loves to stand and really enjoys his jumperoo. Camden still loves the Moby wrap and he and I shop, walk, and hang out on Riley's playdates in tandem.



My favorite part of the day is when he wakes up for the morning or from naps. His entire chubby face lights up into the biggest grin when he sees me and when I pick him up he will nuzzle into my neck for a second and goo and babble.




Happy 5 months little guy! We love you so much!

Little Car Helper

Riley is the best big sister and I tell her so everyday. I am very thankful that she is at an age where she can be helpful and loving to her little brother. She loves making him laugh and smile and even keeps him entertained for a few minutes here and there when I am trying to finish up something.

She is especially helpful in the car. Camden is not a paci baby so he doesn't have much going for him when we take car rides. He is starting to enjoy a little "lovie" that we have and occasionally his fingers, but they don't have quite the same silencing magic that a pacifier does.

Riley to the rescue! She smiles and talks to him from the back seat and as soon as we are parked she immediately hops out of her seat and sits right next to him singing and saying things like, "Don't worry lil buddy Mommy coming rescue you right now!"

Hopping up in her designated spot.


Helping to keep things under "come-troll".


Heart melting sweetness.

Take Me Out To The Ball Game

Last Friday was TG's second annual school softball game. The staff members are divided into two teams led by the principals. It's held at the school, which is conveniently 5 minutes from our house and it makes for a fun evening.

At last year's game I was newly pregnant with Camden and so miserably ill the only thing that would curb the nausea was McDonald's double cheeseburgers. Before the game I went through the drive thru and got 3 to stash in my diaper bag. Just typing that made me sick to my stomach and amazed at myself all at the same time, but don't worry I only ate 2 of the 3.

This year I opted for some water bottles for me, snacks for Riley and a teething ring for Cam. It was warm outside, but luckily the field was in the shade by the time the game started and a strong breeze was blowing. We chatted with parents and friends, played on the school playground, dragged two third grade girls into an endless game of ring around the rosie, screamed like a banshee when we saw the mascot and of course cheered loudly for TG.

We managed to stay until the end and Riley ran the bases with her adoring fans. No joke. She's pretty popular with the kiddos at the school. They swarm her like a mob everytime I take her there to visit TG. She loves every minute of it.

Last year she wore a school t-shirt, shorts, sneaks and a baseball hat so this year I wanted to pretty it up! Following a tutorial for a 30 second tee-skirt that I found online I fashioned this outfit for her.

Yes that is the old tee, cut, hemmed and with a ribbon waist done. She was precious!

Daddy's girl!


Eating a hot dog of course.


Catching a ride back to the car.

Don't Turn Around

Look here.

It's impossible to have my eyes on both of my children every second. So I make sure if I can't see them both that Camden is safe from harm.

If you're judging that statement it's likely you probably only have one kid or no kids. Or like I said to someone today judgey wudgey was a bear. You know, if the shoe fits.

Anywho, I was feeding Camden in the highchair today and Riley was looking at her Fancy Nancy sticker book at my feet. I turned around for 30 seconds to get my little food monster another jar of baby food from the cupboard.

When I turned back I saw this.


Disclaimer: If you're thinking the criminal act here was someone making him wear the Patriots bib, it wasn't. His Steelers bib was in the wash.

I said, "Riley, did you put stickers on your brother's face?"
"Umm...yes. Isn't he just gorrr-jus Mommy? I fink he needs just a leedle bit more."
"OOOH take my pitcher too!"

Fancy Nancy Riley

My sister is getting married in a week. We're all very excited because the wedding has been long anticipated and my entire family is coming into town.

In order to prepare and attempt to look appropriate enough to stand up there with her on her big day I made an appointment to get my hair cut on Monday. At the last minute I looked at Riley's straggly locks and decided to take her with me.

She was pleased as punch to have some special girl time with her Mommy. This is only the second time she's had her little hair trimmed, but she hopped right up in the chair and listened very carefully to the directions that the stylist was giving her. No lollipops, no tv, nothing kid related. This was a grown girl salon and she did an amazing job.

She kept saying, "Mom, wook at me! I getting my hairs cut!" or "Wook Mommy she ba-whoa dry-wing my hair!"

Then while I was getting mine cut she kept reminding me to "keep my head down", "ha-wold still", and "don't move cause she might cut you ear!".

This is her end result. Isn't she the cutest?

Seen and Heard

SEEN:
Last Thursday we had to stay home all day because the carpet people were coming to install the playroom carpet. The kiddos were getting a little stir crazy and I was running out of ideas until I stumbled upon a can of shaving cream that I had.

Shaving cream meet Riley.


I just squirted some on a cookie sheet and gave her some toys to play with. She was so funny because she was very tentative at first and kept looking at me to make sure it was really okay. Then she jumped in whole heartedly and had a good time. The bonus was her arms were really soft for the rest of the day. :)

HEARD:

TG moving her stuff down to the newly finished playroom.
Me: Riley, look! Daddy is moving your table downstairs.
Riley: hyperventilating and taking deep breaths.
OH NO! I can't wook!

TG: Riley, want to go get a smoothie?
Riley: Hmm, no thank you. Not today.

Digging in her dress up box.
Me: Hey, whatcha doing Riley?
Riley: Playing dwess up.
Putting hands on her hips.
Let me see here.

Like a Fat Kid Loves Panke

Riley's first face painting experience was a year ago at the very same fair we visited today. She was a bit wiggly as she was only 19 months at the time, but she loved it.

Today she waited patiently in line and jumped right up in the chair when the little girl beckoned her over for her turn.

Little girl: What do you want?
Riley: Panke. (pink)

She meant a pink butterfly. We were discussing her choices when she saw a butterfly float by and decided that was what she wanted.

Just as she told the girl her choice Camden started sitting up in the grass and being all cute so I ran to snap a photo of him and left her alone in the chair. I forgot to translate what "panke" meant to the painter. So instead of a pink butterfly...

She got this.



It took me a minute to figure out what it was. The little painter was only about 10 years old so I was turning my head this way and that trying to make out the butterfly shape.

Then I realized.

It was a cake. Complete with white icing and pink candles.

She was none the wiser. Even as I put her to bed tonight she was talking about her butterfly on her cheek, but I think if she knew she would have loved it.

Because Lord knows she loves her some cake.

Seen and Heard

SEEN:

Miss Muscles at the awesome Clemy Park. Seriously if you live in my area, Google it, and then take your kid.


Fat guy in a little shirt. I kid, I kid. We know he's not fat, but he has definitely outgrown all his clothes. Plus when I sing that song to him he thinks it's hilarious.


Riley was trying to entertain herself one rainy Sunday. She dragged her dress up box downstairs, put on everything inside of it, and then climbed in. Next thing I know I hear this little voice saying "MOM-MY! I stuck. I stuck in my dwess up box!"


Me and the little man on our shopping spree. Typical male that he is he quickly tired of looking at clothes and opted for a snooze in the Moby instead.


HEARD:

Riley: Yippee Ki YAY!
It's dat WI-WALD WEST!
I gonna rope you cowboy!
EEHAW!

Riley finding a puzzle piece under the dining room table. She puts it back in its spot.
Riley: Dere.
Good as new.
You see dat Mommy?
Me: Yep sweetie. Good job.
Riley: Whew. Good thing I such goooood hewlper Mommy.

In the car talking to herself.
Riley: (stern voice) Ooooh you not wibstening Riwey. You running way from Mommy in Paris Teeter. That's bad so bad.
Riley: (happy voice) Ooooh you good girwal Riwey. You such a good wibstener. You get a treat!

Riley: Mommy, Daddy take me to see the turtle riber again soon?
Me: Yes, honey. Maybe tomorrow afternoon.
Riley: Oooh weeee. Dat be so wonderful.

Riley: Mommy, Daddy sweeping in his bed?
Me: No honey, Daddy's at work.
Riley: At worked? Dat silwee guy.

Riley: MOM-MY! You be quiet. I trying to resting.
Stop making all dat noise!
(This happens quite often even when I'm not making a peep)

And lastly...
Riley: Mommy, you put down my brudder.
Mommy, you do something wit just me, Riwey?
Mommy, you not bring my brudder in my room, okay?
Mommy, you leave brudder lone?

Those few kill me. She loves her brother, she really does. She runs in to see him each morning and climbs his crib so she can look at his face. She asks to hold him and wants to hug and kiss him all the time.

But, it's hard for her to share the attention and limelight with the little man and lately it's resulted in some major meltdown moments. I've gone to bed a couple of nights feeling so sad and worrying that I'm not giving her enough attention or love.

I keep trying to remind myself that she got 2 full years where it was all about her. Which is something that Camden will never get. Then I take a deep breath and remind myself that I'm doing my best which is all that really matters.

OTC: Bulletin Boards

I've known for a while now that I wanted a corkboard in my kitchen, but I've been holding out for a sale price.

So you can imagine my joy when I stumbled across this in the clearance section of Target's college goodies. $2.50 = coming home with me.



It was kind of ugly, but once I added in some kitchen fabric scraps, leftover ribbon from the letter I hung on Camden's door, and my glue gun I got this.



Totally custom. Completely functional. Awesomely on the cheap. $2.50!!

Game Day

Last night was the return of the NFL in our house. We watched football (as best as we could) with two children under foot.

The two teams that this household support both won which makes for a happy home. I won't mention TG's team because this is my blog after all, but I will say, GO STEELERS! ;)



Here's to an awesome football season, Sevenburgh anyone!?!

Song of Summer 2010

For the rest of my life whenever I hear this song I will always think of this summer and how cute and *mostly* sweet my little Riley was at 2 and 1/2.

Riley singing from Lindsay Vinson on Vimeo.

For Your Viewing Pleasure

With the help of my "twinnie" Riley made a little lamb mask this week. Then with some *ahem* mild prompting from Mommy she sang a song that she sings all the time. Well, a mash up version of it anyway. Happy Friday!

Labor Day Weekend

Whew.

You think a girl would relax on her last three days of summer vacation.

If that's the case you don't know me.

Three days with the hubs at home = three days I have extra hands to help with the kids while I try to knock out some of my home projects.

Like...



We have had this media shelf since before we were married. When I first bought it for $10 it was bare pine. I stained it a dark cherry color so it would match our armoire and we used it for all of our DVDs.

When we moved in here this summer we put it into the nursery to hold Cam's books and little toys. All of his furniture is black so it's been bothering me that it didn't match. While I had out my little can of semi gloss black I tackled this table too.



This piece has been living in the corner at the bottom of our stairs in our new house. I like it there, but it too was a natural wood color. All of our living/dining room stuff is black, so buh-bye wood.

I love it now that it's black, but I'm perplexed as to what to do about the hole in the top. It used to be in my kitchen and I stored all my cookbooks on the lower shelf and I had a potted plant sitting in the top.

I've been thinking about using a charger with a seasonal display and some type of cloche on top. Any ideas out there bloggies??? On to the third (but not final) piece of my weekend.



I know, I know I've already painted our table and chairs, but about a month and 1/2 worth of use by a messy toddler and her equally messy Mommy and I discovered that I should have put a poly coat on top. So after a new smooth coat of black on the top I added a thin layer of polyurethane on to protect my work. (That stuff had an awful smell to it, so if you ever decide to polyurethane I'd suggest picking a day where you can open all the windows).

I'm covered in paint and my wrists are killing, but my to do list got a little shorter. It will stay that way as long as I can manage to refrain from reading all the design blogs out there!

Which if you know me is not likely. :)
.

Seen and Heard

SEEN:

Riley enjoying the last scorching days of August at the fountains and trying out "gobbles" for the first time. She begged me to take a picture of her and then said, "Let me see dat pitcher!".



HEARD:

TG: That's pretty cool Riley.
Riley: No Daddy, dats not chool, that's awesome!

Buddy is walking up the stairs.
Riley: No Buddy. Get down here right now. My baby brudder is aseeeping!

Riley: Oooh Mommy, dat a princess costume store?
Me: Looking at David's Bridal display window. Yes, Riley that's a princess costume store.
Riley: I wanna wear dat princess Mommy. I wanna wear dat princess right now!

Riley: tooting
I tooted.
Hmm, I stinky.
Toot maboot!
Smuse me.

Worth The Heavy Lifting

Look, I'm all about easy and delicious. So I don't hesitate to buy bake and break cookies (UMM HELLO?? anyone else tried the Target brand white chocolate, cranberry, walnut ones???), instant brownies and use cake mix to make tasty treats. Less ingredients, less dishes, less time, still perfectly yummy.

But sometimes I'll come across a recipe that is worth all that AND the heavy lifting.

Heavy lifting as in the lugging out of my Kitchen Aid mixer that Gigi and Papa gave me 5 years ago for Christmas.

I saw this dessert on a blog I read and instantly knew I would make them someday so I copied and pasted the recipe, e-mailed it to myself and then stored it in my recipes folder in gmail.

It's been a long back to work week for TG and I couldn't think of a better day to surprise him with a delicious treat. TGIF people.

And, without further ado I present to you...



(The blogger found this recipe on Martha and instead of using Crisco which she hates, and I do too she substituted butter. I have to say I think they turned out perfectly delicious.)

For the Cookies:

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, not Dutch-process
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed dark-brown sugar
1 large egg
1 cup skim milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

For the Filling:
1 1/4 cup natural, creamy peanut butter
3/4 cup confectioners' sugar

To make cookies: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt into a small bowl; set aside.
Put butter and sugars into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on high speed until smooth, about 3 minutes. Add egg; mix until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Mix in half the flour mixture, then the milk and vanilla. Mix in remaining flour mixture.

Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper, spacing 2 inches apart. Bake until cookies spring back when lightly touched, 12 to 14 minutes. Let cool on sheets on wire racks 10 minutes. Transfer cookies to wire racks using a spatula; let cool completely.

To make filling: Put peanut butter in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on high speed until smooth. Reduce mixer speed to low. Add confectioners' sugar; mix until combined. Raise speed to high, and mix until fluffy and smooth, about 3 minutes.

Assemble cookies: Spread 1 scant tablespoon filling on the bottom of 1 cookie. Sandwich with another cookie. Repeat with remaining cookies and filling. Cookies can be refrigerated in single layers in airtight containers up to 3 days. Bring to room temperature before serving.

MMMMM. Peanut Butter Whoopie Pies...totally worth the heavy lifting.

On The Cheap

Hello.

I'm not sure we've been formally introduced.

I'm Mama V. I'm a SAHM with two children. My amazing husband TG is a teacher. Our little family of four lives in one of the most expensive areas in the country. On a teacher's salary.

So I like to do things on the cheap. Side that is. Cheap, but fabulous.

Saving money gives me such a thrill. I love figuring out a way to make something expensive on the cheap. Like my roman shades. Completely fabulous, custom and a 1/4 of the price you'd pay for them in the store. LOVE.

My latest adventure?

Ribbon sticks.

Ribbon sticks are a hot commodity at our local library storytime. All the kids, boys and girls, aged 1 1/2 to 5, rush the poor lady when she pulls out the ribbon stick box.

So I figured I would get some for my kids. I didn't think they would be that expensive. Until I Googled them and discovered that one good ribbon stick cost upwards of $10.

Um...no. So off to my local craft store I went.

And for a grand total of $5.19 plus some craft glue, markers and push pins I had on hand I fashioned these little babies.

I had enough ribbon to make 4 sticks and I have 11 of the wooden craft rods left!

Do you do anything "on the cheap"? As much as I love doing it, I love hearing about your thrifty projects as well!