Just a regular day with Miss Grae today…
Early morning antics.
Laundry “helper”.
Little swimmer.
Post-nap routine. Milk, snack, blanket, and quiet time.
Single pony.
Play dough play.
Before dinner walk.
Crackers and cheese at the park.
Frozen blueberries for dessert.
Emergency sink bath.
♥
Today I had barely finished mentioning making play dough and my little Lulu had already retrieved her apron.
Now, I have always been a fan of the 2:1:1 recipe (2 parts flour to 1 part salt and 1 part water). It’s fast, it’s easy, and it really only requires having two ingredients on hand. I’ve used it through many, many years of babysitting, nannying, and teaching without even considering giving another recipe a try. That is, until I decided to give this “fussy” recipe a go this Christmas. Yes, it requires both oil and cream of tartar – not to mention cooking – but if you’ve got the ingredients, extra time, and patience to let it cool, it’s totally worth it. It’s soft, super pliable, and lasts for a ridiculously long time. Plus, it’s really not that hard.
Here’s what you need: Some flour, salt, cream of tartar, vegetable oil, water, food colouring, and a cute little sous chef to help you along the way.
First things first, pour your water in a large pot.
Next, add your salt. Preferably into the pot. But hey, whatever works.
Then, add your cream of tartar.
And your food colouring. (Of course for this little one, purple was the colour of choice.) Give everything a little stir.
Then, over medium heat, warm the mixture until hot, but not boiling.
When hot, add your oil and your flour, cup by cup.
Don’t worry if it looks all chunky and gross. We’ve used this recipe several times and we’ve always experienced this stage. It’ll all work out in the end.
When you’ve added all of the flour, give the dough one final stir and plop it out onto a well-floured counter. Sprinkle some extra flour on top if the dough appears sticky. Be careful – it’ll be very hot still.
Once it’s cooled, kneed the dough well, incorporating all of the extra flour.
Then give your munchkin a chunk and let her go to town.
Fun for hours!
Here’s our slightly tweaked version of the recipe if you want to give it a try:
Mix water, salt, cream of tartar, oil, and food colouring in a large pot. Cook on medium heat, stirring regularly until mixture is hot.
Add oil, then stir in flour a cup at a time, mixing in between each addition. Mix until playdough pulls away from pot and is no longer sticky.
Dump dough on a well-floured counter, let cool a bit, then knead.
Store at room temperature in an airtight container for several weeks.
Enjoy!
This afternoon we had Miss G’s 18 month wellness check up. Although I love knowing that she’s growing, gaining weight, and reaching her milestones as expected, I absolutely dread the vaccination part. I’ve always disliked it (especially in Kuwait at those terrifying government clinics), but now that she’s older, it’s worse. Afterwards, she looks up at me with these big tear-filled eyes with a ‘Mama, you knew that was going to happen’ expression. Break my mama heart. The good news is that this time around it was only one shot compared to the four she had to get at twelve months. And getting to choose an animal sticker and play with toys afterwards seemed to pretty much make up for the poke.
The other good news is that our nurse was really happy with all of her measurements, skills, and progress. This months measurements may be a little off because it was the first time she was weighed with clothes and shoes on, and it was the first time she was standing when her height was measured, but close enough. Here are her 18 month stats:
When we originally pulled up to the clinic, my unsuspecting little lady saw the playground at the school across the street and started bouncing with excitement. Of course, little did she know, we weren’t there to play. I told her that we were going to visit the nurses, and afterwards, we’d go to a park. So that’s exactly what we did.
It was freezing cold and we were the only ones there, but she was pleased none the less.
We played, ran, slid, and hid and then headed home to have dinner and a warm bath!
Gracen absolutely loves our friends’ little man to bits. To the point where it’s an obsession. Today Steph and Tate came over for lunch and a visit, and she literally could not leave his side. The poor little guy just wanted some peace and quiet to slumber in the sunshine, and Grae was all up in his business the entire time. And imagine her dismay when it was nap time! She was utterly insulted by the fact that I would even consider making her sleep while there was a baby in our house. She fell asleep crying “Buubba… Buuuuubba…” (baby) and woke up 30 minutes later pointing out her door and calling “Bubba! Bubba!” in desperation. I guess we have to make sure we see Tate more often!
This afternoon, as I tidied up the kitchen, Miss G sat at her little table happily colouring and drawing. That is, until she came into the kitchen with narrowed eyes, a furrowed brow, and a serious, “Mama?” She held her pudgy little hand out to me and looked at the floor.
In my most serious mama voice, I said, “Gracen, what is this?” After a short pause, she looked up at me with bright eyes and upturned lips and proudly announced, “Star!”
How can you be upset with that? :)
A Superstore ritual.
Serious in Starbucks.
This afternoon, for a brief time, little dancing snowflakes filled the sky. Gracen sat on a cushion in front of the window, sipped her milk, and took it all in. ♥
Oh, how I love Sundays… And today’s was just as they were meant to be. Bradley had the day off and we were able to spend the day together, just the three of us, for the first time in what felt like a long while. Our day was filled with a morning at the beach, a leisurely walk for tea lattes, a lazy lunch, produce shopping at our favourite market, and fresh vietnamese spring rolls for dinner. Of course, the beach was the highlight… I know it seems like we’ve been a little obsessed with Kits Beach lately {we have!}, but it’s just so beautiful down there. There’s a little bit of everything – a seawall to walk along, one of the best playgrounds we’ve visited in the city, and a giant beach to explore. Not to mention, there’s a Starbucks across the street (this makes Mama very happy) and you can’t walk 3 steps without seeing a dog or a bird (this makes Gracen very happy). Overall, it’s a win-win! Plus, it’s only 15 minutes from our house and Papa had not been since well before our overseas adventure… So basically, we HAD to go {and take 150 photos while we were at it}. Here are some of my favourites:
Little Miss Animal Lover on her way to offer the seagull her muffin.
Carefully selecting a few new items for our ocean discovery box.
Smitten with blankets.
Almond-filled pockets.
Sittin’ with the seagulls.
Deep in conversation.
“Papa, you’re sooooo funny!”
Showing off her shell.
Impromtu beach snuggles for Mama. ♥
Giggles.
Stealth snack style by Papa.
Little admirer.
Serious about boots.
Log walking.
Papa & his little lady.
Dismount.
Grandma Charlotte was in town this weekend doing some professional development and visiting a friend, so we got to spend afternoon with her today. Gracen kept her busy with colouring projects and countless storybook requests. Grandmas don’t need rest, do they?
My baby girl turned 18 months old today. Officially one and a half. As in… Tomorrow she’ll be closer to two years old than to one. Goodness gracious…
One thing I’ve noticed since becoming a mommy is that I now have an overwhelming urge to create traditions, make the holidays more special than ever, and create memories that our little lady will keep with her always. So today, we continued a little tradition we started last year. We celebrated Gracen’s half birthday. Nothing fancy. Just a day focused on Grae with a few special little things mixed in here and there.
Our day included a trip to Science World with friends, a Mama and munchkin date for hot drinks, picking up helium balloons on a whim, and a “cupcake” (a healthy banana nut muffin topped with fresh whipped cream) with a candle after dinner.
Here’s what our little lady has been up to this month…
Gracen loves:
She doesn’t like:
She thinks it’s hilarious when:
Grae’s new foods include:
The new words she regularly uses include:
The new signs she’s using regularly include:
She now:
Funny / Cute things she’s been up to lately:
Big things that have happened this month:
Well, another month and what feels like a hundred new little things learned by our doodlebug… Before we know it, it will be time to start planning her second birthday party. (Okay, who am I kidding? I’ve already given it some serious thought.)
If you want to see the difference 12 short months makes, you can see her last half birthday update here.
This morning we braved the crazy torrential downpour / sleet / snow / hail combo Vancouver was receiving and spent the morning down at Science World with some friends we originally met in Kuwait, but who are also from the Lower Mainland. Although a lot of it wasn’t really age-appropriate, my friend, Sue, is a regular there and knew exactly where to take the girls. Gracen and Ava had a wonderful time exploring, playing, running, and splashing their way through the Eureka and Kidspace sections and by the end of it all, they had tired themselves out so completely that they were perfectly happy to climb in their strollers and be pushed out to the parking lot. Here are a few shots from our visit:
Greeted by a Lego horse and knight.
Splish splash.
Ball hoarder.
Watching the start of the snow.
One of Gracen’s favourites. (Mama’s too.)
Snow in full effect.
Loving the gears.
Tired and headed home.
Okay, so not actually from Mexico, but Gracen’s Auntie Roz and Uncle Gary just recently got back from a trip to Mexico and sent her a sweet little package of things they had picked up for her while on their trip.
The parcel arrived bright and early this morning, and of course, Gracen was excited to open it up.
Inside, she found a colourful little Mexican doll…
And a beautifully embroidered dress.
She loves both!
Today was a bit of a rough day for Papa and Grae… The power was out for several hours in the morning, Gracen didn’t want to eat what Papa had prepared for lunch, and then when nap time rolled around she coughed and coughed in her crib until the kids who live downstairs came home for lunch at freight train volume and ended all hopes of an afternoon sleep. Needless to say, there were no videos for this working Mama (whew – two work days in one week!)… I was, however, surprised when I found this little gem on my camera tonight:
Apparently snack time took place in a basket today? Who knows, but I’m sad I missed out! It looks much more fun than scrambling around in a day plan-less classroom of 21 anxious-eyed first graders.
This post is late. BEYOND late. So late in fact, that Gracen will be 18 months old in just 2 days. But we were so sick when she turned 17 months that staying awake was nearly impossible… Let alone posting a monthly update. So here it is, short and sweet with one lousy picture of my very sick {at the time} little doodle.
Gracen loves:
She thinks it’s hilarious when:
Grae’s new foods include:
The new words she regularly uses include:
The new signs she’s using regularly include:
She now:
Funny / Cute things she’s been up to lately:
January was a bit of a crazy month for us… Between traveling home to the Okanagan for a week, our ‘Christmas in January’ celebration, another round of teething, and the sickness that hit our house just recently, things have been a little chaotic. Here’s to a low-key February!
This morning was a little rough. Gracen had a great sleep, woke up happy, and gobbled up her oatmeal with milk and berries as usual, but things quickly went downhill after that. Before long, she was an unhappy, whining, I-need-my-mama-to-carry-me-all-morning-long mess. (I think it must be this little bug we’re trying to fight off.) There’s only one fix for a morning like this. What is it, you ask? Getting outside and getting some fresh air, asap! I swear, it’s the cure for all Gracen issues. Teething? Get outside. Tired but not yet time for a nap? Get outside. Feeling yucky? Get outside. So that’s just what we did. We quickly got ready, packed some snacks and our gumboots, and headed down to Kits Beach.
Saucer swingin’.
Steamed milk with cinnamon along the seawall (she’s signing ‘drink’).
Seashell inspecting.
Wave watching.
Wet toes.
Newly collected ocean items.
Bumblebee boots on the beach.
Snacks on a log.
Puddle jumping.
Making friends with passersby.
The perfect perch.
Voila! Grumpiness gone. Fresh air is magic, I tell you. Pure magic.