Our Nine Month Princess

Okay, I am breaking my extremely long blogging hiatus with an update and pictures of Maddie. Since I have been out of the blogging world for so long, this post will probably be very "rambly" (yes, I also make up words).

We have had a very busy summer filled with many guests, parties and friends. She met her great-grandparents for the first time, enjoyed frequent visits with Grandma and Grandpa, and met her newest cousin Annika. We also celebrated Daddy's birthday.

Along with these visitors, she has had many of her own "firsts".  Maddie is a speed machine! She crawls everywhere so the days on her sitting with one toy/book are long gone. She has also graduated to pulling herself up on anything and everything. She says Kitty Cat, Dog, Duck, Dada, and Momma. She responds when you ask her where her nose is (with her sweet "scrunchy face"). She will touch your nose, mouth and ears when you ask her where they are. Her best friend is Cousin Colton. She. Loves. Him. She is a very affectionate little girl and doesn't fully realize her own strength when it comes to showing her love to Colton. It usually ends in a whine or tears, but they quickly forget about the incident and continue to play. It is adorable to watch them interact with each other. Maddie follows him where ever he crawls. They get into trouble together - it will be interesting to see how their relationship develops as they grow up.

We are now the proud parents to a crib sleeper! After MANY tears and sleepless nights (for all of us), Maddie is sleeping in her own room. It was probably our biggest challege to date. I am so thankful for our large community of moms and dads that encouraged us to stick with it. We still have nights where she is difficult, lonely or just going through the pain of teething, but we are sticking with it.

Speaking of teething, after nine months she finally has one tooth breaking through. It is weird to feel it catch on the baby spoon when I feed her.

Wow, that was a rough update...I am so rusty with this, so I will leave you with a few recent pictures :)

Only Daddy can make her laugh this way

Celebrating Daddy's birthday

One of Maddie's favorite toys

Grandma and Grandpa Roushey

Maddie's 8 Months and Many Milestones

Whoa! I can't believe that it has been 2 months since my last post...eek! Sorry about the post drought, but life has been CAH-RAZY here in Mi Casita. We have had our share of ups and a few downs lately, but Maddie always seems to make life sparkle a little more. It is amazing how life has changed, but I wouldn't want it any other way. She makes life so much richer...

This week, Maddie is 8 months! It amazes me how quickly the time has flown by. She has the most beautiful big blue eyes and big, soft curls like her Daddy (Praise God!). She continues to have the sweetest, most laid back personality. We are truly blessed!

In the past 2 months, she has achieved many milestones:

• Sitting up without support. She has graduated from a barracade of pillows protecting potential spills to sitting well on her own.
• Reaching and scooting. She loves all things high techy - tv's, computers, cell phones. All it takes is one misplaced strategically placed cell phone to get her scooting and reaching. Unfortunately once she reaches it, it immediately goes into her mouth.
• Waves goodbye. Watching those little fingers curl into a wave as I leave for work, just breaks my heart... 
• Claps her hands. While Ben's cousins were in town, they taught her how to clap. Even though her hands get tangled together in the first clap, she shakes the clasped hands while giving the most adorable smile.
• Eating solids. Maddie loves food. I can almost see the drool collecting in her bottom lip as she watches us eat. Her favorites are pears, sweet potatoes and squash. She gags on anything "green" (peas or green beans).
• "Kitty Cat" were her first words! No, I am not one of those crazy parents that think their kids drawings are the next Monet or Picasso. She really says "kitty cat"! We video taped it! Ben has been working with since early on to repeat sounds and words. She says "Dah-dah" and "Mom-ma", but mostly just repeats the syllables. I don't think she grasps that she is referring to cat, but she definitely repeats it when asked (sometimes) and says it on her own. We are now working on referencing pictures with the words.

We are very excited to watch Maddie grow up so quickly. Although there are no teeth poking through or signs of crawling, she is picking up on many other milestones!

Tidbit Tuesday: It's a Ruff Life

I can't take credit for this idea. It was all Kimi's idea. Yeah, she's pretty smart and a hoot. I know only 90 year old women say "hoot", but she is funny.

Tidbit - I am terrified of dogs. And cats. And bunnies. Basically, any animals is on my "Most Feared" list. I realize that you may be shocked by this acknowledgment, but it is true. I am a big wimp when it comes to pets. I understand that they are part of your family, but I do not feel comfortable greeting them, petting them or being in their general vicinity. They scare the living daylights out of me! I have been known to pull my legs up on the couch, grasp the nearest person and cower in fear when a dog enters the room. I will admit that I may have asked a host/hostess if they own a dog prior to my visit. I have also locked myself in my car in people's driveway when their dog comes out to greet me. It is not fun and often embarrassing.

However, it isn't that I am a crazy person, I just "had a bad experience". Growing up, our neighbors had 2 adult Dalmatians. And these dogs would terrorize my sisters and me. They would bolt into our backyard, jump on me and chase us home from school. I remember getting off the bus at the end of our street and watching in horror as these wild beasts dogs came bounding out of their yard toward me at full speed. I panicked. I was still 3 houses away from safety. The drills that we practiced in our backyard left me vulnerable and unprepared for this attack. As tears filled my eyes, sweat drenched my shirt, and their outstretched paws were inches from my face, our neighbor stepped onto the yard to call them home. Thankfully they were obedient dogs because when they heard her call, they stopped dead in their tracks and hightailed back home. Okay, it may not have happened exactly like that, but in my elementary school mind it did. Needless to say, I have been scarred for life.

Although I have made strides to overcome this fear by slowly interacting with friends' pets, it still makes me uncomfortable. Maybe it is due to their unpredictable nature. Maybe it is due to their razor sharp nails. Or maybe I am just a wimp. Whatever it may be, please have patience with me when I visit your home. I will be scared poop-less, but I will try to not let it ruin our visit...C'mon cut me some slack, I said that I would try!

Mondays with Maddie

I am giving you fair warning, this is about to be a gratuitous love-fest in honor of our sweet pea reaching the halfway point of her first year. It also helps to be able to update family and friends on her milestones and personality. But let me be honest, I can't get enough of this beautiful face...

Isn't she precious? I know that I am biased, but can you blame me? We are truly blessed. Last week, we went to her 6 month check up. Now for Ben and I, you would think that after 6 months we would have gotten the hang of it. We definitely forgot our individual diaper bags reserved for our vehicles that were left at the house. My momentary panic subsided when Mamasita came prepared with diaper and bottle in hand to drop Maddie off at the appointment. She was so happy and alert. Everything was going as planned...until the diaper came off. Yes, it.was.full. of you-know-what. Seriously? We have one diaper and NO WIPES! I know, shame on us, but the damage was done...until she "showered" the old diaper mid-change. Really? Of course, it is Murphy's Law. And don't you know, she was smiling at me the whole time this went down as if to say "Ha-Ha! I got ya!"

Thankfully, the rest of the appointment was uneventful. Aside from a few shot-induced tears, she was a trooper and the doctor was impressed. She is growing and thriving! She weighed in at a whopping 16 lbs and 13 oz, and 26 inches tall.   

Every month, I have tried to have a mini photo session at home to capture Maddie's growth. It is my time to flex my photography skills as I pretend to be as awesome as these amazing mommas: Rachie and Bethany). I still have a ways to go, but I am having fun practicing everyday with Maddie and Ben.

It seems like her love for her daddy grows deeper every day. It is clear that even at 6 months old, she has her daddy wrapped tightly around her pinkie. The funniest part is that he knows it and unabashedly shows his love for his little girl in every smile, kiss and hug. He is the first one to answer her cries, to pick her up and snuggle after a long day. She is definitely daddy's girl. I am hoping to leverage this fact around birthday and holidays. Hey, a momma can try, right?

Maddie is learning new things everyday. She sits unsupported and can entertain herself, but often prefers interacting with others. She is always watching the world around her, which usually leads to fighting the sleepies at nap time. We are forever grateful for Mamasita, Titi Susan and Uncle Fer's involvement in her daily development and growth. They pray with her, read books, sing songs and work on motor skills. Right now they are working on her standing skills, hand movements, and crawling. In addition, she and Cousin Colty are loved like no other little kiddies. Thank you so much for what you do!

Every month, our photo session ends with a picture series in our large blanket basket. I dream of having a book capturing these pictures at the end of her first year. It is interesting to see her interaction with the basket and watch her size change.

It is clear that she is now aware of her personal photographer...

Some additional stats:

• She eats like a champ. She has tried each of the first fruits and veggies. She is known to make faces and gag during her feedings, but after taking a whiff of some of those foods, I think that I would too!
• She has a strong grip. Many times, we are tricked by a loving gentle hand on our face, which usually issues a response of "Awe, how sweet" and is quickly followed by "OUCH!" as she grasps a large chunk of hair (or the tiny hairs at the base of our neck). The whole time, she has the sweetest little smile on her face making it hard to be upset at her.
• Sleeping...Hmm, some nights are better than others which is why we have fallen into the habit of bringing her into our bed. Ok, keep those judging sighs, looks and eye rolls to yourself. Momma needs her sleep! It is MUCH easier to roll over and pop the pacy into her mouth than to trek down the hall to her room. Granted, she tends to move alot in her sleep and that leaves me trying to execute yoga moves to keep from falling off the edge of the bed. So much for a good night's sleep, but one look at that precious face laying next to us in the morning and it is all worth it.

With friends and family all over the world right now, I am going to try to do this every week. She is a special kiddo. I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for her...and for our family...

Safety First

Yeah...uhm...well, remember that whole safety slip tip that I mentioned here. I think that I have recovered enough from the event to share it. Plus my sister, Kimi, said it wasn't fair to dangle it out there.

Deep breaths...okay, so these days the only way that I can work on projects is 1) Ben graciously watches Maddie, 2) I furiously work on things while she is napping or 3) I figure out a way to have her entertained nearby. This time, I attempted option #3. Not my wisest decision...

So I put the table in the entryway of our family room to work on while Maddie bounced away nearby. In the midst of drilling the holes, the drill bit came loose. To make matters worse, the bit was stuck in the leg of the table. No problem! I thought that I could simply slip it back into the drill, tighten it up, hit reverse and we'd be back in business. Well, it wasn't that simple...

As sweet little Maddicus jumped away in the corner, I put my plan into action and hit reverse. And. It. Happened. The bit snapped in half! My arm pits immediately broke into a sweat. Dear God, NO! Where did it go? Is Maddie ok? Stupid, STUPID! After checking on Mads, who continued to jump unfazed, I searched the floor for the broken bit. I found one half on the floor and the other portion was lodged in the table leg.

Taking a brief intermission in my project, I decided this method of "watching" Maddie wasn't the safest option and it was time to relocate her...into Daddy's arms. So that was my "near-miss" of the week.  Thank God that she didn't get hurt. It was DEFINITELY a learning experience. Never again.

It wasn't my finest moment. But these things happen to every parent, right? Did anyone else have a near-miss?

Hot Wheels

Our most recent home renovation has been on the basement. It has been on my radar since we moved in 3 years ago, but I couldn't seem to get Ben on board with my plans. That is until I uttered the magic words "Man Cave". Yes, I will admit that I have relinquished one area of Mi Casita to Ben. But after the blood, sweat, and tears that he put into it, I believe that he deserves it. Plus, it doesn't hurt to have an area that can be a mess and I can just close the door and ignore it...for a few days. I have to say that this "Man Cave" does come with one caviat (okay, there are more than one, but I don't want to get carried away). He has to share it with Maddie (and future kiddos). In my mind, this works perfectly. Picture this: Ben (and his man friends) playing PS3...for hours...while watching Maddie and the kiddies playing in the corner. Jackpot! I just scored myself some free time!  

So in an effort to make myself some free time, I knew that the kiddie area had to appeal to my uber-crazy need to organize otherwise I would be spending my free time cleaning up. That is where the console table comes in. I purchased this table on a whim. I admit it wasn't my finest choice, but at the time I couldn't pass it up. Although, I cannot remember how much it was, I remember the pulse-racing, palm-sweating, adrenaline-surgin' feeling that I got when I laid eyes on that clearance tag. It was like the heavens opened up in the middle of Kmart, the angels started singing and a light shone on that table. Okay, it may not have happened exactly that way, but you get the idea. And so, I made the table mine. It was easy to convince Ben that this table was Per-fect for his Man Cave. See these are MAGIC WORDS, but use them wisely, they can only get you so far...

Wow, how did I get onto this tangent? Anywhoo, my plans involved making this table into a mobile bench complete with colorful bins for storage. I started by measuring the legs of the table. They were about 1-5/8" x 1-5/8". After searching some online sites, I realized my newest favorite store, Lowes, would be sure to have the wheels I needed. Thankfully my trip was successful and I left with these Hot Wheels for a mere $3.29.

I said a prayer as I tested the wheels out for size. Gloria a Dios! They fit! Well, the base was slightly larger than the leg, but I figured that I could live this it.

I decided to predrill the holes for the wheels because I knew that this would make the installation easier. Using the base as a template, I marked the screw locations by tracing the holes.

I interrupt this post for an important safety tip. Be sure to wear your safety glasses (no matter how silly you feel) and don't do projects like this in front of your infant. Yeah there is another heart racing story behind that but I will save that for another day...maybe...

See that bin of screws? It contains all of our random "extras" from projects over the years. I cannot remember purchasing screws, but they seem to keep accumulating, which works out well for projects like this one.

As simple as this project seems, it took me a few tries to get it right. I guess that is what happens when you go into a project thinking "I will just wing it". Uhm yeah, that isn't always the best way of thinking, hence a split in the first leg and only 3 screws in the base. After my trial and error first plan, I decided that the shorter screw would prevent the splitting and still do the trick.

Since I didn't intend for anyone to really sit on this, I figured that I was safe without the 4th screw holding it in place. The "shake test" is a good method, right? Let's hope so!

Fifteen minutes later..WHA-LAH! I was scootin' this bad boy all over the kitchen and doing my happy dance. I love the feeling of completing a project ALMOST as much as I love a great sale.

Now I need your help. I am debating on what I should do with the table top.  

Should I leave it, paint it or make it into a chalkboard? What is realistic? Remember little kids will be playing and coloring on this table. Do you have any other ideas for this toy storage bench?



Pan Duro aka "Hard Bread" (Biscotti)

I will be the first to admit that my skills in baking and cooking leave much to be desired. So over the years, I have worked my tushie off to "master" a few recipes that I can whip up on any occasion. This one happens to be a family favorite. Thankfully, it is easy!

Here are the ingredients:

3 eggs

1 cup sugar

½ cup oil (Olive oil works well or vegetable oil)

1 tsp baking soda

1 – 2 tsp flavor extract (vanilla, raspberry, lemon, orange, or anise – whatever flavoring you desire) – I usually use 2 tsp of raspberry extract to get a stronger flavor

¾ tsp salt

2 ½ cups Flour

Beat the eggs. (Cue Michael Jackson's "Beat It") I use a hand mixer, but a Kitchen Aid Mixer or a good ol' fashion spoon will work well too.

Add sugar, oil, baking soda, extract, and salt.

Gradually mix in flour until the dough is firm, almost pasty, but not stiff. I usually add the flour a cup at a time. Now if you chose the "good ol' fashioned spoon" method of stirring, your arms is probably burning from the force is takes to stir this bad boy. Or maybe I am just weak... 

At this point, you can add any "extras" to the dough. I add white chocolate chips because my family loves them so much, but you can add craisins, nuts, or whatever tickles your fancy. Eyeball the proportion to ensure there is enough dough to hold your "extras".

Pour dough onto two cookie sheets in three oval strips the length of the pan (2 strips on one pan, 1 on the other). And "pour" is a very loose term. I have to use 2 utensils in order to get these strips onto the pan. The dough is sticky and takes some wrangling to get into position.

NOTE: Do not grease the pans. If the bottom of the cookies burn, the oven temperature is too high or the pan is too close to the heat.

  Bake at 350 degrees for 20 - 25 minutes until the loaves puff up and are golden brown.

I would like to interrupt this recipe to share with you the wreckage that is my kitchen. Thankfully, I was able to get it under control while the Pan Duro baked.

To ensure even baking, I rotate the cookie sheets halfway through the baking time. At the end of 20-ish minutes, a toothpick should come out dry.

Remove the sheets from the oven and cut biscotti about ¾ “ wide. Turn each biscotti on its side and return to oven until sides are golden brown (approx. 5 minutes).

Allow to cool on the cookie sheet for approx. 5-10 minutes before transferring cookies into storage container.

• If you want your Pan Duro to harden up, place in a brown paper bag to complete cooling and storage.
• If you want cookie-like results (this is what I do), put them in Tupperware for storage.

You can make about 20 - 30 Pan Duro for each batch, which is the perfect amount to share!

 It is "Simply Deliciouso"! Enjoy! 

The Reveal

So for my faithful readers, I apologize for the cliffhanger, but I did not have the energy to finish the big reveal last night. But since you asked so nicely, I will not make you wait any longer ... TA-DAH!

I. AM. IN. LOVE. I am so happy with how the chairs turned out. Initially, my heart was set on a more traditional style like these from Overstock.

But at $142 for TWO chairs, they better be able to pull themselves out, sit me down and push themselves back in. Since that wasn't going to happen, I knew that there would be no way I could convince my husband that this would be a "good" purchase.

I am glad that I took things into my own hands ("punny", right?). I figured that I didn't have much to lose. First of all, I wasn't crazy about the chairs to begin with and was in the process of looking for replacement chairs at garage sales, thrift stores and Craigslist. So if I totally butchered the chairs, I would look for something else. So why not give it a shot?

Well that is exactly what I did! I invested in the Rust-oleum Comfort Grip spray attachment, Rust-oleum Ultra Cover Primer and Paint.

 

Okay, I know I have raved about Rust-oleum's Ultra Cover Primer and Paint here, but the products are really THAT good. No, I am not being compensated (although I would love a few hundred dollars cans of paint for my positive review). But I want to share my experience with these products and I am sure that there are pieces around your home just waiting for a makeover!

These tools have changed my painting experience so much that I will never do a project without them again. The Comfort Grip has a 2 finger trigger than reduces fatigue. Unlike the typical spray painting method, where I end up with a claw for a hand after 10 minutes, this trigger enabled me to get through the primer and paint on all 4 chairs without batting an eye. I would literally run out of paint before I realized that I needed to stop to change the can. It also provided better control of the trigger so that my coverage was even on the entire chair. And to make things even better, I didn't have to sand the chairs in order for the primer to stick to the chairs! You know how much I despise sanding. Is it really even necessary? Probably, but I try to avoid it at all costs.

Do you have anything around your home that you are eyeing-up for a facelift? When will you "pull the trigger" on the project? I am already dreaming of my next project! (mua-ah-ah)

Take a seat

Our dinette has looked like this since we moved the farmhouse table into the house and the mismatched chairs have been driving me crazy ever since. They were an eye-sore taking away from the beauty of the table. They were like Cinderella's evil step sisters. And in the same token, they had to go or had to change.

So I searched for white chairs to match the table. Guess what I found - a lot of chairs that were clearly out of my price range. So I scoured Craigslist. And can you imagine how many people don't just sell chairs? Not many at all. Armed with this information, I was bound to make these chairs work. I busted out my favorite tools - Senor Spray Paint and Senorita Primer and sandpaper. 

 The chairs are pretty glossy, so I started the first chair by sanding down the surfaces with a 150 grit paper. It did the trick, but was too long for me. Quick results, remember?!

Knowing that this project was much larger than the lamp project, I invested in a comfort grip attachment for my spray cans. It was WELL worth the $6 investment. After 1 coat of primer and 2 coats of semi-gloss (it was almost 1 can per chair), I was done. It was just in time for a quick walk with Maddicus. Doesn't she look happy?

Yeah, that was BEFORE we left the garage. Little one freaked out on me once I was a significant distance from home. Sadly, I was out of breath, as I carried her part of the way home. The little stinker!

When we returned, these beauties awaited us. It was like new life was breathed into these chairs. They weren't in my original plan, but I love the crisp clean feel that they bring to our table. Now I am looking for 2 more to match or similar chairs to flank the ends of the table. Will you keep your eyes peeled for me?

I know, you are asking yourself, "OK, where is the AFTER photo"...well, I haven't taken one with the mess that has overcome our kitchen table and tonight I am pooped! As much as I hate cliffhangers, I will have to leave you with this...

TO BE CONTINUED...

I heart thrift stores!

Is it crazy that I love thrift stores? I have to admit that the Volunteers of America is one of my favorite stores. Yes, I know it isn't glamorous like Banana Republic or The LOFT, but since this post-baby weight isn't melting off of me, clothing stores are the furthest from my mind right now. I break into a cold sweat at the thought of trying on bathing suits. Yep, there go the sweat glands working on overdrive...

So I have taken a liking to home stores, decor and DIY projects. Although I cannot see quick results in my transition from jiggly to less jiggly, I can quickly transform my home and the items in it. Even better, the prices are CHEAP and budget-friendly, which is music to my hubby's ears. And to top it all off, they have sales too! Each week, there is a label color chosen for 50% off . Could it get any better? By golly it can and it has!

They have a Frequent Shopper Program (be still my heart):

If you spend $15, you get 15% off
If you spend $20, you get 20% off
If you spend $25 or more, you get 25% off your next purchase

Sweet sassy-mo-lassy! I can't wait until my next shopping adventure...I wonder what treasure I will find next!

This Little Light of Mine...

Do you remember the lamps that I bought on my thrift store shopping trip? Well, I decided that it was finally their time to shine (nice pun, huh?).

Although, I hadn't decided what I wanted to do with them yet: paint the base white, silver or keep it gold. With Kimi's recommendation, I went with white. It just seemed to match better with the crisp white duvet cover that our bed was sporting these days. Yes, the lamps are fully functional and in great condition. I even felt kind of guilty as I walked them down to be stored in our basement, but I knew that the revived lamps would look even better in the space.

So armed with my trusty tools, I got to work on makeover fit for Nate Berkus. Okay, maybe that is a stretch, but as my celebrity boyfriend, I knew that he would appreciate it.

Using a grocery bag, I cut a small slit in the bottom center of the bag and pushed the socket through the hole. I took small pieces of painter's tape to line the perimeter of the cap and cover the top of the lamp that was exposed. Taping always feels like the most unproductive part of the process, whether it be a small piece like these lamps or the walls of a room. I loathe doing it because it feels like a waste of time, but whenever I try to get away without doing it, I regret it. Since my mind was filled with visions of grandeur, I decided that it was better to be safe than sorry.

Pulling the bag tight, I cut the handles off to create an "even" opening. Removing the handles made it much easier to tape the bag closed around the base.

Wasting Using a lot of tape, I secured the bag to the base. Because of the curvature of the lamp, ensuring that only the base was exposed proved to be quite challenging. I tried to create a cone shape with the tape. In my mind, this seemed like an easy task, but not so much...

I wasn't in love with the brown cord, but knowing that it would hang behind and blend in with our nightstands, I taped the end to prevent the white from spreading. I ended up putting the length of cord in another grocery bag to keep it clean during the painting process.

Now for my favorite part of the process - PAINTING! It is so rewarding to see new life given to an item with a simple coat of paint. In my experience, I have found that Rust-oleum has the best paint. Not only do they offer a HUUUUU-GE selection of colors, but they offer "Ultra Cover" for 2x the coverage! This cuts down on the number of cans and the number of coats. Plus, it seems like it is easier to prevent drips because it is easier to control the coverage. No, I am not being compensated for saying this, but I wish I was!

Anyways for this project, I used the Ultra Cover Primer and Semi-gloss White paint - 1 coat of each. Priming really helps to provide an even final coat. (Oh I almost forgot! I covered the socket with tape to avoid painting any electrical connectors. I didn't want to get through the whole process only to find out that I damaged the connectors by painting them!)

Another benefit of the Ultra Cover Rust-oleum Paint is the short dry time! I told you that I like to see quick results! I waited about 20 minutes in between coats and about 2 hours before I moved them inside. After peeling off the tape, I was ecstatic about the results...



BEFORE



AFTER



  The lamp matches our curtains perfectly and offers the perfect pop of color in our room. Next step: Artwork for above the bed.



Have you ever purchased an item from a garage sale, thrift store or even rescued it from the dumpster with hopes for a makeover? Do you think Nate Berkus would love my results?