Another Summer, means another Bucket List! This summer is going to be interesting having a mobile infant around. I’m excited to see the many adventures and activities we’ll have together as a family 🙂
My Summer 2022 Bucket List
Grow a Garden and produce fruits, veggies and spices.
Go on some sort of family adventure (the zoo, the beach, the park, garage sailing, tulip festival etc.)
Establish a more consistent daytime routine for my Baby (Naps, feedings, playtime, tummy time, etc.)
Publish my Memoir ❤️
Start a weekly Yoga Routine
Finish Knitting Charles Sweater
Finish Reading the Entire Bible
Reorganize my Bathroom
Commit to going on Family Walks at least once a week,
Create some New Recipes
Introduce solid foods to my Baby
Start teaching Baby Sign Language in our Home.
Spend more time with my Family and Friends
Do Art Projects with my Baby
Reach 425 Written Blog Posts
This Summer is going to be fun! I can’t wait!!! ☀️
Okay, so this recipe was a simple idea from my momma that I couldn’t help but share.
If you were a 90’s kid, you probably grew up with these things called lunchables. One of my favorite lunchables was the kind with the mini pizzas. This recipe is very similar to that as you only need 4 ingredients.
What You Need…
Tortilla Shell
Marinara Sauce
Cheese (mozzarella, cheddar or parmesan)
Pepperonis
First, lay out a tortilla on a plate.
Next spread a few spoonfuls of sauce across the tortilla.
Then, sprinkle cheese over the sauce.
Finally, place pepperonis on tortilla.
Once your pizza is complete you can either cut it up like a pizza, or roll it up like a wrap.
TIP: This is a fun and easy recipe to make with kids!
Now that my baby is 3 months old, I have decided to try to implement more structure to our day-to-day life and set a routine for myself and my baby. Since he is still very little, I am not expecting our routine to be very strict, but rather would like to have repetitive tasks throughout the day that can help my baby feel more secure and allow myself to better plan out each day as it comes.
Our current routine is pretty basic.
After each nap baby wakes up, gets changed, has a feeding, burps and snuggles mommy or whoever is caring for him.
He has 8 feedings in a 24 period and eats every 2-4 hours.
He has anywhere from 1 to 4 naps in a day.
Baths are at night before bed 2-3 times a week.
Tummy time, swing, music and sensory play happen periodically throughout the day, but at least 3 times.
With the weather getting nice we sometimes go on a walk or spend a few minutes on our balcony.
Below is an example of what I would like our routine to look like between now and when he turns 6 months old.
I’m hoping by 6 months we will be very close to our baby sleeping through the night, but we shall see.
This is only the general framework of our routine, I’ll keep you posted on how things are going! 💕
In the past few weeks as our baby boy has gotten older, we have been sprucing up Baby Bear’s nursery!
This crib was a gift from family friends who buy storage units. It’s considered a mini crib which is perfect for apartment living. We also put up the animal pictures which were a gift from a coworker off of my registry,
A majority of our son’s books are in the living room, however I like to keep a couple in his bedroom for easy access and late night story time.
We have continued to keep his shelf with bins full of clothes and it is perfect and a very efficient system.
Matthew started rolling around 7 weeks of age. He is now 10 weeks as I write this. Between 7 and 8 weeks we transitioned Matthew from the bassinet to the crib. However, we have kept the bassinet and are using it as a diaper changing station until he fully grows out of it.
This diaper caddy has been a lifesaver. We love having everything accessible and organized for diaper changes.
I decided to also create a bath time basket where all his wash cloths, soaps, shampoos, extra diapers and brushes can be found. I also am hanging his towels on a hook nearby where it can be easily found. I am currently storing this in his room while we continue to give him baths in the kitchen sink. Once we switch to doing baths in the bathroom, I would imagine we will move everything there.
Finally, I’ve continued to store blankets, sheets, bibs, socks and shoes on this shelf.
Thanks for taking this fun little tour of our Baby Boy’s updated nursery! 💕
Do you have some busy bees in your home who seem to constantly be on the move? Do you feel like the walls are closing in when it’s raining or too cold to send the kids outside? Do you ever run out of ideas of indoor activities to try with your kids?
Well, here is a simple idea that your kids will love! This activity is perfect for kids ages 2-5! All you need is these two around the house items: Paper Plates and Markers.
First, give your child two paper plates. Explain to them that you are going to create ice skates! Provide your child with markers to decorate the plates. You can even include other art supplies such as stickers, paint, glitter glue, etc.
Once your child has finished decorating their skates (paper plates), then place the plates on the floor. Demonstrate for your child how to step and slide on the carpet while remaining on the paper plates.
Once your child has mastered sliding across the room while using their ice skates, throw on some music and let them go to town!
Our Baby Bear is already 1 month old! When did that happen!?!? Friends and family told me it would go fast, and I did not believe them. The days are long but the weeks are flying by. We are so in love with our little man and proud at how much he’s grown already.
In Matthew’s first month of life he has…
Started focusing on faces and bright colors
Discovered his feet and learned how to kick, and even push off of things.
Embraced tummy time which he doesn’t seem to mind at all.
Started gripping things including shirts, and his pacifier.
We adore you Matthew! You are our gift from God that just keeps on giving! ❤️
As I write this, it’s been about a month since I had my baby… since I officially became a mama earth side. I truly can’t believe my baby is about a month old. Where has the time gone? Anyway, I think I am slowly but surely starting to get the hang of this mom thing.
One thing I really didn’t think about much before giving birth was my baby’s diaper bag. I was naive before in thinking babies don’t need a lot of stuff. I’m here to tell you that if you are someone who likes to be prepared, then let me just say… babies need a lot of stuff. When taking the baby out, whether it’s to the doctor, the park or to visit relatives… it’s important to be prepared and bring the essentials.
Now I’m new at this, so if any of you pro mamas have any tips on what to include in the diaper bag, please let me know! Below is my list on what you should include in your daily diaper bag for an infant.
Diaper Bag Check List
Diapers (8-10)
Wipes
Diaper Cream
Diaper Changing Disposal Mats
Trash Bags
Socks
Mittens
Bib
Onesies (2)
Sleepers (2)
Rattle
Teether
Nursing Cover
Board Book
Pacifier
Pacifier Clip
Brush
Receiving Blanket
Do you have any suggestions on what to include in the diaper bag? Comment your thoughts below! ⬇️⬇️⬇️
As a teacher, and now as a mom I have a love for children’s books. I own hundreds and use them within my classroom. Soon, I will be reading them to my son. Check out my top 10 favorite children’s books!
My Top 10 Favorite Children’s Books
Llama llama and the Bully Goat
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
The Kissing Hand
Read and Share Bible
Chicka Chicka, Boom Boom
M is for Michigan
That’s Not My Sloth
You Complete Me
Horton Hears a Who?
The Family Book
Did your favorite children’s book make the list? Comment below! ⬇️⬇️⬇️
Mackenzie Goes to Heaven is a children’s book, created for families who have gone through a pregnancy loss. It is designed to teach siblings and other children about the concept of miscarriage and how it affects a family, in a child friendly way.
Now, I have also created a coloring book to accompany this gentle children’s book.
Mackenzie Goes to Heaven Children’s Book is available for $7.70 + Shipping and Mackenzie Goes to Heaven Coloring Book is $5.00 + Shipping! Digital and Paperback copies are available.
Are you a teacher, mom, sibling, friend, aunt or grandparent? Are you in need of some fun activity ideas with the kids? Then look no further, because I am here to help.
As a teacher I am constantly browsing Pinterest, bouncing ideas off other teachers, and brain storming different things to do with my kids. As a teacher I am always looking for new ideas, and I am always willing to share my ideas with others.
So with out further or do, I am introducing Kid’s Corner. Kid’s Corner is a segment on my blog dedicated to kids and fun activities.
Today on Kid’s Corner I would like to share an activity called File Folder Matching Game.
File Folder Matching Game
What You Need (Best for ages 2.5 – 5 years old)
A File Folder
Bingo Card (2 copies)
Tape
Scissors
Ziploc Bag or Paper Clip
Markers (optional)
Laminator (optional)
What You Do…
First head over to Pinterest or Google and look up “bingo cards for kids”. Depending on how old the age of your kids are, will depend on what you decide. To narrow your search you may want to put “easy bingo cards for kids”. You could also include a specific kind of bingo card to see if it’s out there, such as Halloween, Ocean Fish, or Shapes. One of my favorite books of all time is Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? So, I decided to type this into Pinterest. Once you have found the bingo card you would like, print 2 copies.
If you have a colored printer, and feel like printing out the bingo cards in color, this will save you from having to color them later. However, if you don’t have a colored printer, coloring the bingo cards with markers will make the game more fun and enjoyable for the kids.
Once the bingo card is colored, cut around the edge of one bingo card until it is one big grid. A lot of times the title, and word Bingo is on the top, and I usually cut that part off as well.
Next tape the card you just cut on the inside of the folder (just as the picture shows). Then you will take the other bingo card and cut out all the squares. Once they are cut, I usually place them in a ziploc bag for safe keeping so they don’t get lost. Or, they can be paper clipped to the folder.
Lastly, I put the name of the game on the front of the folder, so I know what it is. For this particular example I wrote Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? File Folder Matching Game.
One last step, and this is optional. I like to laminate my folders simply so they last and I can use them again and again. For some folders, I chose to laminate the entire folder as well as the matching pieces. But for other folders I chose to laminate the pieces and the large grid before taping it onto the folder. Do whatever works best for you.
Once the folder is complete, feel free to introduce it to the kids. For my kids, I just lay it on the table and they have a ball! They love matching the different pieces and telling me what is on each square. It’s a fun, easy activity that takes a little preparation.
Grief and Mercy 