Birthday!

OMG! Life has been busy! Not anything special, looking at houses I think is a second job. Life has just been busy. I didn't mean to take a break from the blogging world, I couldn't find time to write. My fingers have missed this, they have been itching to write. Blog, blog, bloggity, blog, blog, blog. They are so happy.

During this time somebody turned 3!! Can you believe it! No better way to celebrate a new post but, with a birthday update!

Since we live with my parents, I didn't feel like crowding their house with people to celebrate a birthday. So, with that we went to Chuck E. Cheese!!

I will admit Chuck E. Cheese is a little too much for a 3 year old and wouldn't necessarily recommend it.  Overall it wasn't too bad. I really like their ways of protecting the kids. Nobody can take the kids out of Chuck E. Cheese without an adult with a corresponding stamp. So, the few times Mackenzie got away from one of us to go play more games, I didn't panic and wonder if she ran out of the restaurant. They also do all, ALL, ALL of the work for you. It was great!!! I didn't have to do anything!! They give out a bunch of tokens for all kids and the birthday kid gets a bunch of tickets! I think she got 1,250 just for being a birthday girl. Which got her a Chuck E. Cheese doll and 1,000 sticker set. The cost wasn't that bad, no more than I would have spent decorating a house and getting food.  She did freak out about Chuck E. coming towards her but, later on when Chuck E. was dancing she went and danced with him. She loved running around playing games. Overall I would give the complete experience a 7. I think it would have been given a higher number if she was older and if the rest of the day wasn't so crazy. See more below. First, pictures!!!

I should say knowing the day was busy we started out with donuts and chocolate milk at home. Chuck E at noon and then right after that a wedding. The wedding was beautiful!! It was at a vineyard and with a no nappy 3 year old I let her play in the dirt next to the seats. She was quiet, that was all I needed. We left the wedding before the reception due to the heat and again did you read no nap 3 year old!! YUCK!!! As we were leaving both girls fell asleep in the car. So, Mondo and I hit up a drive thru and sat in the car to eat while they slept. Picture perfect date!! HAHAHA! Next, was a Shock game!! This year the Shock are not doing very good, so the joy of the games is watching Mackenzie dance and cheer! 

morning before party

at the wedding

shock game!

Overall, it was a busy, successful, stressful, fun day!

Mackenzie is 3! Here is a short update.

Weight: 27 lbs
Height: Just shy of 3 feet. 2' 11.9"
Just so you know 3 year check up is the first time they get blood pressure checked and BMI checked. BMI is perfect and blood pressure was a little high because home girl won't stop moving! Doc said she wasn't worried about it.

Wears a 2T, shoes 7.

She likes Tacos (nachos), mac and cheese, pizza, chocolate milk.

All things princess are her jam!

She is a great big sister!

She dances and sings and says things that make us laugh all day.
Another Mackenzie said post will be coming!

Mackenzie the amount you have grown up the past year is phenomenal. I love you more than ice cream!!

You can email Mackenzie at mackenzieayako@gmail.com

Conversations with Mackenzie

I have a pretty funny almost 3 year old. Everyday we have the funniest conversations. I wanted to share a few of those with you.

On Daddy's "toys"

Me: Kenz do you like Star Wars

K: No, Daddy like Star Wars Kenzi like Frozen. Daddy has a lot of Star War toys

Playing outside

Me: Why are you holding your hair?

K: It's Windy I don't want it to blow away.

looking for her football book (Shock program)

K: Where's my football book?

Me: I put it where all your other books are on the book shelf.
Gramma: Actually, that's GG's book. She took it from GG at the game.
K: GG took my football book. She stole it.

Looking for the Ipad

K:Where's the Ipad
Me: I don't know. Where is it?
K: Daddy took it!
Me: I don't think daddy took it.
K: He did. He put it in his backpack, took it to work.
(same story with anything she misplaced that day)

Sitting in my lap like baby sister

Me: look GG I have a new baby
GG: Oh, Hi cute baby. What's your name?
Me: Let's call this one George.
K: Look GG new baby (points to sister)
GG: What that baby's name
K: Let's call her Ainsley


Daddy vacuuming
Mackenzie named the vacuum Prince Philip from the prince in Sleeping Beauty.
She gets a plastic sticks (a sword) starts hitting dad with it. 
K: Dragon, Dragon stop hurting Prince Philip

These are just a few of the hilarious conversations I have daily with my daughter. I want to document these so I won't ever forget them.

I plan on making this a continuing series.

Girl's Update

I haven't posted a girl's update lately so here it is. Actually, can we pause for a moment while I realize that I now have to say girls!!

Okay pause over, OMG I HAVE GIRLS!!!!!!!!

Mackenzie

age: 2 years and 9 months

• Clothing size 2T and some 3T (I like to buy clothes big, especially shirts so I get more wear)
• Shoes 6 but soon a 7
• Diaper size 5 although 4 works and hopefully soon no diapers at all!!

Who needs talking when you can sing EVERYTHING!

This girl loves to sing and it is the cutest thing to listen to. 

Loves her Disney princess, when asked which is her favorites she names all of them!!

Asks to go outside all the time!

Asks to play with play doh on a daily basis (thanks youtube)

Is the best big sister ever!!

She doesn't care what she wears on a daily basis but, lights up if I put her in a dress.

Loves to play with her princess magic clips and make them "new dresses" out of play doh

(again thanks youtube)

We are working on potty training but, she shows little interest in the process.

Baths are an all time favorite! When she is done she will put away her toys, drain the tub and wrap herself in her towel.

In the car she likes to say "Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom!"

When I finally get her to realize I am answering her she replies with "Look!"

I say look at what and she points and says ridiculous things like; "Ice cream cloud, or green dog."

It's quite annoying, obnoxious, cute.

She loves to help give big sister baths or bring her toys or wrap her in blankets.

Ainsley

age: 11 weeks

At her 2 month check up she was 11 lbs and 5oz and 22 inches.

Loves tummy time and really, really, really wants to roll.

Thinks Peek-a-boo is fun and makes the cutest face.

Sleeps 6 hours at night, although on the night's I have to wake up early I think she would sleep longer but, I have to wake her up to feed her.

Likes to cat nap but, will take one really good nap for me daily.

LOVES TO SMILE!

She also loves her sister and will smile like crazy at her.

She tried to laugh earlier in the week and I think her sister will make her laugh first.

I love being a mom to 2 girl's, I want to find them matching pjs, how cute! For mother's day I am so doing co-ordinating outfits!!

Maybe a post on that??

My 2 year old has too much screen time

I let my daughter play with the I-pad WAY too much, but I refuse to feel guilty about it. Here's why!

at hospital after baby sister was born

1. It's been a better teacher than me.

Since I have been busy being pregnant, working full time, or even taking care of a second child. My teaching time with Mackenzie has lacked. I was really good doing crafts with her, or teaching type activities, or even baking with her. With busy schedule, tiredness and more I haven't been able to do that. Her favorite thing to do on the Ipad is to watch "videos" (youtube), she chooses some videos that sing about colors, shapes, letters. Even the games we have downloaded for her help with those and I have seen a bigger improvement in her learning her colors, than when I was "teaching" them to her.

2. It's help her imaginative play.

Some of the "videos" she watches are the ridiculous ones where they unwrap new toys. Sometimes they play with them and create stories. I have been watching her take her "elsa and belle" dolls and mimic the play she has seen. In fact the other day Belle put Elsa down for a nap. She also loves the playdoh videos where they make things, food or new dresses for the dolls. She loves to "cook" for me or make her dolls new dresses.

3. Her vocabulary has increased.

Everyday she surprises me with a new word or phrase. Or even the new items she now knows what they are. Such as "My little pony", or garbage trucks. 

4. It's a moment of bonding.

Her and her daddy will lay in bed and watch music videos every once in awhile. She loves it, she curls up next to him and picks out videos for them to watch. He loves to expose her to some of his favorite songs. She loves to watch Star Wars (rebels) with daddy. Even us as a family, we have been watching the latest season of "Once Upon a Time" together. Since it has Elsa! It's nice to sit on the couch, snuggle and have some settle down time. 

5. It gives me a break.

It helps me to have a moment of pause, especially if the girls didn't nap at the same time. Or if I need to switch laundry loads. One day it allowed me to take a shower. Mackenzie had the Ipad and Ainsley was with me in the bathroom. I knew everything was fine, since she is glued to the screen. We took/take the Ipad to doctor appointments to keep her busy while I talk with the doctor. If Ainsley needs extra attention, I don't feel like I am neglecting Mackenzie if I let her play with the Ipad.

Now I will admit there are days where she has it way to much, and now that things are becoming more of a routine with 2 girls, I have limited the amount of time she plays with it. I also turn off the TV for a few hours a day and make sure I spend quality time with Mackenzie. If I can't give Mackenzie a huge quantity of time I want to make sure I can give her quality time. There are so many articles out there about not letting your kids have screen time, I used to feel guilty about the amount of time my daughter had in front of the TV or Ipad. I refuse to do that, it has had some benefits. Like I said I do try to reduce the amount of time, spent in front of the screen but, as long as the screen is not her parent and I am still getting in my quality time with her, I will no longer feel guilty for allowing my daughter to indulge a little. Hey, I do! Why not her too?!

Last Minute Halloween

This turned out more last minute than I thought. Yesterday, I was experiencing some Braxton Hicks contractions and thought instead of posting it would be best to relax until those pass. I never experienced those with Mackenzie so it was definitely new to me. Anyways I thought I would show you what I plan on wearing on Halloween, I actually work Halloween night, Boo :(, so nothing wild for me. Also, I am taking Mackenzie a couple of places the day before and Mondo is taking Mackenzie out that night. We kinda made her an Elsa costume, out of stuff in her closet. The same way I found all these great last minute costumes! Here are 7 easy last minute costumes from my daughter's closet. Maybe it will help you in case you forgot Halloween is Friday!

I came up with this idea last year when Mackenzie was in gymnastics and they had a dress up day. I realized that morning no way could Mackenzie do gymnastics in her costume, so I had to come up with an idea on the fly.

A baker

1. A baker, add an apron and spatula to any outfit. Ta-da! Bonus point for adding flour on their face and clothes! What baker doesn't make a mess?

2. A cowgirl. Just a tu-tu, button down shirt, and some boots. You are ready to go. Bonus: add a microphone to be a country star!!

3. A mermaid. Another tu-tu with any tank top would work. Sparkly shoes help or sparkly tights. Sorry about the picture I didn't realize it was blurry until I went to post.

4. Owl. Ok, so this one is kinda cheating. It would be great for wearing before going out to feel festive all day. You could use any fun shirt to dress up!

5. Minnie. You could also double this as a lady bug with a plain black tee. This is what Mackenzie ended up wearing at gymnastics last year.

6. Audrey Hepburn. Any fancy black dress will do, just add mama's pearls!

7. Football cheerleader or player. I know you kinda need these to make them work but, no denying how simple it is!

Now my diy maternity shirt. I just bought a big long sleeve shirt and some felt. You could glue the felt on for a no-sew but I actually ended up liking the shirt so I want to be able to wear it again, with out the pumpkin face! So, after Friday I plan on cutting out the stitches and there I go, black shirt again!

How to:
Just cut out a jack-o-lantern face from the felt.
Put on the shirt to figure out where the face should go.
Then glue or I did a simple whip stitch.

I hope this inspired you to figure out some easy last minute costumes in your kiddo's closet or maybe even your own. Have fun this Halloween!!

Check here for a couple of last minute ones, I did last year!!

Dorinda

Fun Fall Activity for a Toddler

We went on a leaf hunt. Although, at the time there weren't many leaves on the ground, now there are a lot. Just waiting for the rain to clear up so we can make a big pile and jump in!! On our leaf hunt we collected leaves, Mackenzie loved this job! Once we collected them I scratched my head for what to do with them. Well, I brought them inside and washed them to save for another day!  I finally decided to make a leaf garland. It was super easy.

I took some plastic straws and cut them in about 1/2" sections.

I then taped those sections to the back of the leaves. I used scotch tape but, they have slowly started to fall down as they dried. So, I would recommend something stronger.

We then took kite string and laced them on. Lacing is a great activity for toddlers, perfect for hand- eye coordination. Mackenzie has some lacing cards and hasn't shown a lot of interest. Needless to say I ended up lacing.

Hang up and all done.

I love how it turned out, I plan on making another but, again I need to wait for the rain to go away.

Next fun fall activity for a rainy day. 

Super easy to make cloud dough. I have actually never used the baby oil we got at our baby shower for Mackenzie. I don't know what to use it for? Is that weird? So, I finally opened it and used it to make cloud dough. This is super easy just 4 cups flour and 1/2 cup plus 2 Tablespoons baby oil. I used a whisk to stir mine and even though it was clumpy as we played with it, it smoothed out.

To make this a fall activity I found fall cookie cutters to play with.

During play time I put it in a cookie sheet on the table above a wood floor. Warning this is messy, clean up is a breeze though. If you don't have an easy to sweep floor it might be nice to do it on a shower curtain (get a cheap one at the dollar store) or I am sure it will vacuum easily. Just expect a mess!!

Both these activities Mackenzie loved and it was nice to do something fun with out a lot of work! Next month I am starting our at home preschool, I will share my ideas with that. November is the color Yellow and the shape is a square. Do you have any activity ideas to share?

Talk to you next time.

Dorinda

Mackenzie Update/ Friday Favorites

I wasn't sure how I wanted to write this update. Although, knowing I did want/need to, since I haven't updated on her in awhile. I did not want to do it how I used to because all favorites would be toys and I thought that would be boring. I love reading the blog Snappy Casual and she does updates in a list fashion, I thought of doing that and Little Baby Garvin (another favorite) does a Friday favorites list. So I have decided to try and combine the two. Let's see how this goes....

Mackenzie at her 2 year checkup was 24 lbs, and 34" tall. She is definitely growing but is still a tiny little girl.

Mackenzie

True size probably 18 months although I put her in/ and buy 2T

Diaper size 4 might be able to still fit in 3

Shoe size 5

• talks like crazy and everyday surprises me with new words, says 3 to 4 word sentences
• loves football
•  terrorizing  loves her animals (although Leela and her are best friends when outside)
• Loves to help in the kitchen
• Lives outside, once out you can never come back in!!
• Loves taking selfies

Some of our favorite activities are:

Going to the library

Swinging (which she hated until about 4 months ago)

Going to the gym daycare bonus if we take her swimming afterwards

Slides including the super scary waterslide at our gym

threading pipe cleaners in a colander (spends like 20min at time doing this)

Favorites in general

football

mickey mouse (bickey bouse)

coloring

balloons (bouys)

Favorite toys

baby stroller and babies

Melissa and Doug birthday cake (happy birfday)

doc mcstuffins doctor set

Favortie foods

pizza (asked for daily at each meal)

(she recently asked for a pizza party after seeing a Chucky Cheese commercial)

Mac and Cheese

Smoothies

She also sleeps in a "big" girl bed, is in the potty training process and I am trying to get away from pacifier but, break down after I hear "bink please". Can get out of tub by herself (not so great), daily has to watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Loves to head bang to any and all music but boy bands are her favorite. 

There is my Mackenzie update. I hope you enjoyed, should I do more in this style? Maybe every couple of months?

Dorinda

Mackenzie 2nd birthday

Wow! I have a 2 year old!! Half the time I think it was just last year I was pregnant with her, hard to believe she is actually 2.

For her party this year I kept things simple. I planned to go more elaborate but things just fell through.

I did take a lot of pictures but, I didn't have a lot that turned out great, if you know what I mean. 

So we will just get started.

Everything took a lot longer than I planned so this was all the decor that got put up even though I bought a lot more and more in store! Oh, well. What will she remember in a few years? The decor or the fun? 

For food I wanted everything on a stick, that didn't work out so I did carnival food. Corn dogs, chips with nacho cheese (we also gave the option of doritos, YUM!), veggies in a cup (some had ranch at the bottom), fruit on a stick, and popcorn. For my gluten free friends I put some regular hot dogs on a stick. Sidenote: The food was yummy and kid friendly!!

Next we opened presents, Which was fun this year because she was actually into it! Then we had cake! I wanted to make cakepops to keep with my everything on a stick theme. Since, I hadn't tried it before I got scared off. Instead I went with ice cream cake cones.

The easiest way to do this was to flip the cones upside down into the cupcakes before you place in the oven. These turned out yummy!! Also, for my gluten free friends I went to a local bakery that bakes vegan and bought some cupcakes for them.

This is her "whooooo" chair from mom and dad. 

After this we let the kids run around and play. I put out a coloring table, her Ikea circus tent, some balls, made some homemade bean bags with socks and dried beans (just tie a knot in the top), and brought out her wagon. The wagon turned out to be the kid favorite.

My parents got her a trike for her birthday and that was the other favorite.

Overall it may have not been my most elaborate party thrown but, I think everyone had lots of fun. Mackenzie came inside almost brown from all the dirt which tells me she had fun.

Mackenzie also had a special message to share at her party!

That's right baby #2 is on the way!!

So next post will be a pregnancy update and then I think I will do a Mackenzie update/favorites. I haven't done one of those in a while.

Dorinda