Playing with Play Doh

Pick up sticks and play dough can be very entertaining!

Dress Up

Lizzy will be turning 2 in 3 months! I'm already starting to think of a theme for her 2nd birthday and I think we are going with hula girl. I made Lizzy a hula girl tutu and she tried it on tonight so I took some pics. I just wanted to make sure it fit well but man she did not want to take that thing off...wow...I think we hit the terrible twos already!

Spring is Almost Here

Spring is almost here. It sure feels like Spring here in Houston. Springtime is my favorite season ... the weather is usually nice enough not too cold not too hot and there is rebirth all around. I changed the nature table to a sorta St. Patrick's day theme and had a small basket of new goodies for Lizzy waiting for her when she got home from school. A Spring book, a magnifying glass, a small toadstool kaleidescope and a green play silk.

Almost Rodeo Time

Today Lizzy got to see the Trail Riders. The Trail Riders usher in the Rodeo by riding into Houston from every direction on horse and buggy. Somehow every year I am lucky enough to encounter the Trail Riders and when I do I'm basically stuck in traffic not moving very much for 30 min or so until they pass. Lizzy was with me when we encountered the Trail Riders and with us not really moving it was like a mini parade for Lizzy. I rolled down the window and Lizzy would yell "Bye bye horsey!" "Neigh Neigh" as they went by us. It was so funny.

With it being almost Rodeo time Lizzy is getting to know farm animals and the sounds they make. I can't wait to take her to the livestock show to see all the farm animals.

School Days

Today Lizzy went to school and Mike said she cried when he dropped her off. The teachers say she takes a little bit after she cries to join in but once the activities start she happy and participating. Mike drops her off and I get to pick her up. When I picked her up today she was playing outside with the other kids and having fun, her teacher scooped her up and brought her to me. I'm glad she is having fun and comfortable with the teacher. She said bye bye teacher and we left.

Lizzy comes home in dirty clothes from playing outside most of the day and I find leaves in her lunch box (they eat lunch outside). For some reason it gives me joy to find those leaves in her lunch box.

After school I took Lizzy to Chick fil A. I asked Lizzy if she was hungry and she said yes, I also felt kind of guilty because she was at school most of the day and I had a meeting for work I had to be at in a couple hours. I only got to see Lizzy for a couple hours today and I don't feel good about that. I wonder how I will feel if I go back to work in the daytime and have to leave Lizzy. Lizzy had fun at Chick fil A...she loved the fries but didn't touch the chicken nuggets. Then, she played in the toddler play area for a while and of course she didn't want to leave.

Natural Toddler Cold Remedies

Lizzy just got over a cold. The symptoms lasted a little over a week and were pretty mild. I'm thankful that I have a healthy child. It's no fun being sick and Lizzy has only been sick 2 times since she's been home both were colds. Lizzy was born with jaundice and that was hard but all she had to do to recover was be under a lamp and sunlight. Our case was not a serious case but there are cases where jaundice can cause brain damage if it gets in the high levels. We are very thankful to God that Lizzy is healthy.



Lizzy had never been sick until around 18 months when she got the cold. She got the cold after being outside in the cold for an extended period of time waiting on the Christmas train. That cold stayed with us through our Christmas visit in Indiana.

Lizzy's second cold happened after she started school. She either caught it at school or it was a result of the freezing temperatures we had that week.

Anyway, toddler and infants especially cannot take any medicines except for infant Tylenol but there are no approved medicines for infants and young toddlers. In any case, I try to avoid any medications for Lizzy because of the chemical contents. Instead, I choose natural remedies.


Some that I have tried with Lizzy are humidifier in her room at night. Steamy showers and baths. Spoonfuls of honey for throat and cough. Lizzy is too young for herbal teas so I heated apple juice with lemon and honey for her to drink. (this is actually really tasty). Taking her outside for fresh air. Saline drops to loosen mucus in the nose. Lots of liquids, daily vitamin and rest. I have also heard of using eucalyptus oil as a rub but haven't tried it. These are some simple natural remedies to help relieve some of the symptoms of a cold for a toddler.

I also enjoyed teaching her about being sick by watching the yo gabba gabba episode "doctor" in which Toodee has a cold and everyone help in caring for her. The baby doll ah choo also came at a great time and Lizzy got to help care got her sick doll and learn from it.

Lizzy in Motion

We took Lizzy to the park and she just kept running. It was a windy day and for some reason when it's windy Lizzy loves to run.

Kemah Boardwalk

This weekend we went to the Kemah Boardwalk with grandpa and tita! Lizzy had a blast! I wish we could have more days like this together as a family.

First we went to the Aquarium where Lizzy got to see lots of fish and eat yummy food.

Then, we went on the carousel. This was Lizzy's first time on the carousel and she absolutely loved it. It was like she was in heaven and couldn't believe it. We definitely have to do this again sometime.

To end the night we went on a train ride that rides through Kemah boardwalk. It was actually a pretty good train ride compared to others like it. Lizzy had a good time on the train ride as well. She liked waving at everyone as we passed by and saying choo choo.

She pointed out other rides she wants to ride to me. We will have to come back sometime for more fun.

New Puzzle

Lizzy loves doing puzzles so I thought we could try the puzzle her uncle Brian and aunt Nikki got her on their trip. She got some of the pieces in the right place but she enjoys counting the numbers right now. I am teaching her to count and recognize the numbers so the number pieces were good for doing this. Later when she's older she can learn to tell time with this puzzle.

Mixing

Lizzy loves to help in the kitchen. If she sees I'm doing something she can help with she will take me to her tall step stool and say "cooking" so that I can get it and put it in the kitchen for her. She especially loves mixing things. I usually let her help with most things but for some reason she really wants to crack an egg...anytime I have an egg out she goes crazy saying egg egg egg and she wants to try cracking it. Maybe I'll let her try but so far I haven't let her do that.

Staying Home Sick

Lizzy goes to school on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Last Wednesday she stayed home sick and this Wednesday she stayed home also. She has a mild cold mostly a runny nose but she's not to go to school sick so she stayed home.

A family friend from Argentina who has a sick child at Texas Children's Hospital gave Lizzy a sick baby doll (baby ah choo fisher price). The doll sneezes, takes medicine, and says 30 interactive phrases in Spanish when you give her medicine, take her temperature, or wipe her nose. Lizzy absolutely loves this doll! It's great that she got the doll the same time she was sick because she relates to it and has learned to ask us to wipe her nose, give her medicine, sneeze, tissue, ect. She knows and says these things in both English and Spanish which is great.

We went to grandmas house and to the neighborhood park to play. Afterwards we went to a Mexican restaurant and Lizzy ate all her beans, rice, and quesadilla. She loves beans for some reason she can't get enough of them.
Lizzy really wants to go back to school every time we drive by the school she exclaims "teachers"! She seems to be back to normal so we will take her tomorrow. We have warm weather so Lizzy is going to really enjoy playing outside at school tomorrow.

Meal Planning

Daily life can get pretty hectic most days. Taking care of a toddler, home, and working leaves little time to do anything. I really enjoy trying to simplify my life as much as possible so I can spend more time doing things I enjoy doing. One area that I have simplified is mealtime.

When I was pregnant I knew once Lizzy was born things were going to change and cooking and meal planning wouldn't be top priority but I knew we had to eat so I started meal planning. Over time I created 16 weeks worth of different meals for variety. Each weekly meal plan has a meal for each day and a grocery list to go with it.

To make things even more simple each day is themed as such, Meatless Monday (Vegetarian Meal), Cultural Tuesday (Italian, Mexican, Indian, Chinese Ect.), Soup and Sandwich Wednesday, Breakfast for Dinner Thursday, Easy Meal Friday (Crockpot meal, Frozen meal, leftovers Ect), Take out/Eat out Saturday, Homemade Pizza Sunday. These themes are great because neither Mike or I are great cooks and for the most part these themes keep things easy and predictable.

The weekly meal plan is numbered week 1, 2, 3 and so on so you can go in order and once you've gone through all the meal plans you can repeat. I put everything in a binder with tabs labeling the week, the menu and grocery list is behind the tab as well as a pocket for recipes needed or coupons.

This system is so simple and easy to follow. On Sundays I just pick a new week of meal plans take the Weekly Menu out and post it on the fridge, take the grocery list out, go shopping and follow the plan.

Happy Valentine's Day!

This weekend was a Valentines day weekend on Saturday Mike and I went out for dinner and movie while Lizzy had fun at grandpa's and titas (as she now calls my mom her grandma). Then, Sunday we had pink waffles for breakfast, a heart shaped pizza for dinner, and ice cream cake! As much fun as all this sounds our little family is down with the cold. Lizzy and I are just trying to get through the day. I hate seeing my baby so sick I hope she gets better soon.


Today Lizzy is having fun playing with her chiming heart, nesting dolls, and playsilk she got for Valentine's day. I never got around to making valentines day cards with her to send out to her grandparents but today we are working on that and will post the finished project soon.


Lizzy got a package from her grandparents. A card with stickers in it which she loves, a new book, and a giftcard! She's a lucky girl we will use the giftcard towards some farm animal toys. She loves the animal sounds book because right now she's really into making animal sounds especially farm animal sounds thus why we will get her the farm animal toys.

Lizzy also got a package from her great aunt, a cute card, valentines, and a book called I am a little bear. It has wonderful illustrations to look at. Lizzy will love this. Thank you!


Today is Mike and I's 4 year anniversary the date we got legally married and moved in together. It's a little unorthodox that we got legally married then had the wedding in June but we wanted to start our lives together and I wanted to be married before I moved in. All in all it worked out and we are happy together.

Happy Valentine's day and may your day be filled with lots of love!

Yo Gabba Gabba!

Lizzy still loves watching Yo Gabba Gabba but now she has become obsessed with the episode "School". She talks about school all day and tell us she's the teacher all the time. Ha!

Valentine's Day Gift

I wanted to make something with Lizzy for Mike as a Valentine's Day gift and we made this hand print frame for him:
I had seen this idea somewhere and it was on want to do list. It very easy and fast to make just trace your family members hands and stack them overlapping onto a card stock, add your family's name and date or year and frame it. I used a 8x10 mat which was a little small but it'll work for us. Lizzy loved getting her hand traced, now every time we draw with crayons she tries to either trace her own hand or mine. She also traces her dolls hands. Ha!

Before Bed

After we get Lizzy in her pajamas we let her play a little before we dim the lights for our bedtime routine. You never know what Lizzy will choose to do and on this night she played with her tree blocks. I had to take a picture because she built such an elaborate scene with such care and balance. Only a few months back she would only stack a few of these blocks or just set them out and look at them but now she will actually try to build with attention to shape and size.

Also that night Lizzy potty trained her doll. She was playing with a diaper and I thought I would show her how the diaper goes on the baby doll but she stopped me and said potty potty and ran off with the doll to the bathroom where she taught the doll how to use the potty! I was so surprised she did that.

Lizzy's Got Mail

I've always like to surprise Lizzy after her naps with something new or interesting like a tasty treat, a new toy she hasn't seen, or have an activity set up for her when she wakes. In honor of Valentines day I have been using the little mailbox from time to time to surprise Lizzy with sometime new after her nap. Well today was a long day. Lizzy woke up early and she looked tired and kinda down all day but she refused to take a nap. While she was in her crib I delivered some mail for her. A mini roses grow kit.

We put the soil in the pot and Lizzy pressed the seeds down into the soil.
We set it by the window and Lizzy would come back and check on it throughout the day. I'm sure she doesn't understand what this is all about but hopefully we'll get some sprouts soon and she can see the magic of planting seeds.