F is for Family

Family, home, travel, life

Kitchen Renovation: Snail’s Pace

I’ve been a little slow on the updates because we are still mid renovation. It’s been weeeeks. And, now we are back at my parent’s because construction dust + no kitchen + toddler = No bueno! I’m sure my parents’ are thrilled about this equation. Anyway, this is where we are at so far…· Cabinet demo- – Check!· Cabinet replacement- – Nope· New drywall—Check!· Popcorn Ceiling scraped and knockdown texture- – Check!· Kitchen painted- – Check!· Cohesion with new paint and adjacent room- – Nope 🙁 🙁 :-(With that short list this is what we have learned, construction never sticks to original timelines (duh), new problems always occur and you may think you can plan it out 100% but you are WRONG! Things that were not on the original list of things to do: scrape ceilings and add knockdown texture and paint the ENTIRE rest of the house. So in the famous line from the movie Dan In Real Life “put it on my tab”.

Kitchen Renovation: Snail’s Pace

I’ve been a little slow on the updates because we are still mid renovation. It’s been weeeeks. And, now we are back at my parent’s because construction dust + no kitchen + toddler = No bueno! I’m sure my parents’ are thrilled about this equation. Anyway, this is where we are at so far…· Cabinet demo- – Check!· Cabinet replacement- – Nope· New drywall—Check!· Popcorn Ceiling scraped and knockdown texture- – Check!· Kitchen painted- – Check!· Cohesion with new paint and adjacent room- – Nope 🙁 🙁 :-(With that short list this is what we have learned, construction never sticks to original timelines (duh), new problems always occur and you may think you can plan it out 100% but you are WRONG! Things that were not on the original list of things to do: scrape ceilings and add knockdown texture and paint the ENTIRE rest of the house. So in the famous line from the movie Dan In Real Life “put it on my tab”.

Happy 16 months (belated)

I guess it’s time to resolve myself that even on weeks when Sofia doesn’t have 100 appointments, life can still be insanity. We had a leak in the kitchen recently that we didn’t notice until the underneath of the sink and the contents that reside there were completely soaked!

So, Monday I came home to the water dry out company in a complete takeover of my kitchen. Tuesday to Wednesday I have an out of town work meeting and spent my first night out of town and away from Sofia for a full day and a half. I’m pretty sure it was harder on me than her but she still made sure to give me a cold shoulder welcome home to let me know she was none too happy with my departure, before she gave in to the snuggly hugs and kisses I was really wanting. Tonight I will come home to a crew of people tearing out my kitchen and I’m not too sure what think about that? A kitchen remodel is one thing but an impromptu kitchen remodel and dealing with the insurance company….not exactly what we thought we’d be dealing with. But, here goes nothing!

I have a feeling we will see things get worse before they get better.
As for little the spunky little toddler that resides in our household, she’s now 16 months old and I can’t believe the time has flow by so fast. The most recent stats I have are from a little over a month ago at the 15 month well baby appointment. She weighed in at a whopping 17lbs2oz and 28 inches tall. She still wears her 3-6 month clothes and some 6-9. Needless to say, by this age, I thought we’d be a little further down the size chart so, some of our clothing isn’t exactly season appropriate but we are figuring it out and completely grateful that we live in a warm weather location!

A little bit more about Miss S, she loves books and music. She is learning to pretend play and more words every day. It’s amazing to hear a clear word just come right out of her little mouth like she’s been saying it forever. She’ll pretend to wash her own hair in the tub if she gets a hold of the shampoo bottle. She loves to explore and be outside and as of late, she’s surprisingly developed stranger anxiety out of nowhere. She’s cool with people at a distance but don’t try to touch her or grab her…she’s NOT having that. She’s even started a little shy face with some people. She also understands so much that she is testing boundaries, just ask her Glama! When asked to sit still for a picture of her cute outfit the other day she found it quite amusing to take off running from the grandma…just learning to avoid the Glama-rrazi early!

Happy 16 months (belated)

I guess it’s time to resolve myself that even on weeks when Sofia doesn’t have 100 appointments, life can still be insanity. We had a leak in the kitchen recently that we didn’t notice until the underneath of the sink and the contents that reside there were completely soaked!

So, Monday I came home to the water dry out company in a complete takeover of my kitchen. Tuesday to Wednesday I have an out of town work meeting and spent my first night out of town and away from Sofia for a full day and a half. I’m pretty sure it was harder on me than her but she still made sure to give me a cold shoulder welcome home to let me know she was none too happy with my departure, before she gave in to the snuggly hugs and kisses I was really wanting. Tonight I will come home to a crew of people tearing out my kitchen and I’m not too sure what think about that? A kitchen remodel is one thing but an impromptu kitchen remodel and dealing with the insurance company….not exactly what we thought we’d be dealing with. But, here goes nothing!

I have a feeling we will see things get worse before they get better.
As for little the spunky little toddler that resides in our household, she’s now 16 months old and I can’t believe the time has flow by so fast. The most recent stats I have are from a little over a month ago at the 15 month well baby appointment. She weighed in at a whopping 17lbs2oz and 28 inches tall. She still wears her 3-6 month clothes and some 6-9. Needless to say, by this age, I thought we’d be a little further down the size chart so, some of our clothing isn’t exactly season appropriate but we are figuring it out and completely grateful that we live in a warm weather location!

A little bit more about Miss S, she loves books and music. She is learning to pretend play and more words every day. It’s amazing to hear a clear word just come right out of her little mouth like she’s been saying it forever. She’ll pretend to wash her own hair in the tub if she gets a hold of the shampoo bottle. She loves to explore and be outside and as of late, she’s surprisingly developed stranger anxiety out of nowhere. She’s cool with people at a distance but don’t try to touch her or grab her…she’s NOT having that. She’s even started a little shy face with some people. She also understands so much that she is testing boundaries, just ask her Glama! When asked to sit still for a picture of her cute outfit the other day she found it quite amusing to take off running from the grandma…just learning to avoid the Glama-rrazi early!

Happy 16 months (belated)

I guess it’s time to resolve myself that even on weeks when Sofia doesn’t have 100 appointments, life can still be insanity. We had a leak in the kitchen recently that we didn’t notice until the underneath of the sink and the contents that reside there were completely soaked!

So, Monday I came home to the water dry out company in a complete takeover of my kitchen. Tuesday to Wednesday I have an out of town work meeting and spent my first night out of town and away from Sofia for a full day and a half. I’m pretty sure it was harder on me than her but she still made sure to give me a cold shoulder welcome home to let me know she was none too happy with my departure, before she gave in to the snuggly hugs and kisses I was really wanting. Tonight I will come home to a crew of people tearing out my kitchen and I’m not too sure what think about that? A kitchen remodel is one thing but an impromptu kitchen remodel and dealing with the insurance company….not exactly what we thought we’d be dealing with. But, here goes nothing!

I have a feeling we will see things get worse before they get better.
As for little the spunky little toddler that resides in our household, she’s now 16 months old and I can’t believe the time has flow by so fast. The most recent stats I have are from a little over a month ago at the 15 month well baby appointment. She weighed in at a whopping 17lbs2oz and 28 inches tall. She still wears her 3-6 month clothes and some 6-9. Needless to say, by this age, I thought we’d be a little further down the size chart so, some of our clothing isn’t exactly season appropriate but we are figuring it out and completely grateful that we live in a warm weather location!

A little bit more about Miss S, she loves books and music. She is learning to pretend play and more words every day. It’s amazing to hear a clear word just come right out of her little mouth like she’s been saying it forever. She’ll pretend to wash her own hair in the tub if she gets a hold of the shampoo bottle. She loves to explore and be outside and as of late, she’s surprisingly developed stranger anxiety out of nowhere. She’s cool with people at a distance but don’t try to touch her or grab her…she’s NOT having that. She’s even started a little shy face with some people. She also understands so much that she is testing boundaries, just ask her Glama! When asked to sit still for a picture of her cute outfit the other day she found it quite amusing to take off running from the grandma…just learning to avoid the Glama-rrazi early!

New Toddler Tricks: Mommy Gets Schooled (Almost 16 months old)

This is my first submission for Mommy Monday Link up on You Just Can’t Google Everything (http://can’t googleeverything.blogspot.com/2013/01/mommy-Monday-1.html)

Little Miss Toddles has learned some new tricks this week. Honestly, I feel like she learned them in a 48 hour period and the only thing that came to mind, as I was being schooled by my toddler on her new talents, laughter. Welcome to my inner dialogue:
First thought, sheer laughter.
Close second, what is happening?
Lastly, did you really think you’d mastered this stage?! Newb!

Let me preface by saying, the toddler stage is my favorite. It is truly fascinating to watch someone learn and watch her master new talents. She pretend plays with tea cups and spoons, or “drinks” from the baby doll bottle. She walks around with our cell phones in hand saying hello and babbling with it clenched between her squishy cheek and shoulder as if she’s been chit chatting in the phone for ages.

I love all this, I’ve come to truly appreciate my phone being stolen away occasionally for a pretend conversation or finding it in her discovery box in the kitchen. Said discovery box has random empty kitchen containers for her to play with and keep occupied with while I cook and it was the contents of this box that led me discover her new ability or discovery, I haven’t quite figured out how to label it just yet.

The scene: Mommy washing dishes while toddler plays quietly with discover box. (I added in the “quietly” as creative license, we all know toddlers don’t play quietly). Busy toddler all of a sudden whizzes by and into our bedroom and remains quite for entirely too many seconds. Again, toddlers don’t play quietly, they get into trouble quietly. I decide to investigate the reason for the silence.

The discovery: Discover box containers in toilet and a good portion of the toilet paper roll unraveled and being guided into the trash can. :: insert gasps and flashing visions of cartoon like germ characters crawling the walls of the bathroom and Little Miss Busy Bee::

Must disinfect bathroom, play toy and child…immediately

What actually occurred, a quick soapy rinse of the hands and face, container tossed out and calling the now excess toilet paper strand a loss.

Other new tricks: Throwing everything into the trash can including toys, clean diapers and actual garbage. Unrolling the toilet paper and throwing it into the toilet opposed to trash can is said item is confiscated. Depositing toys into decorative vases or narrow crevices.

Needless to say, the roaming-the-house- talking-on-cell-phone days may be numbered, it may mean we find one swimming in the toilet. Lesson of the weekend, don’t get too comfy Mama’s, it means something new is on the horizon.

New Toddler Tricks: Mommy Gets Schooled (Almost 16 months old)

This is my first submission for Mommy Monday Link up on You Just Can’t Google Everything (http://can’t googleeverything.blogspot.com/2013/01/mommy-Monday-1.html)

Little Miss Toddles has learned some new tricks this week. Honestly, I feel like she learned them in a 48 hour period and the only thing that came to mind, as I was being schooled by my toddler on her new talents, laughter. Welcome to my inner dialogue:
First thought, sheer laughter.
Close second, what is happening?
Lastly, did you really think you’d mastered this stage?! Newb!

Let me preface by saying, the toddler stage is my favorite. It is truly fascinating to watch someone learn and watch her master new talents. She pretend plays with tea cups and spoons, or “drinks” from the baby doll bottle. She walks around with our cell phones in hand saying hello and babbling with it clenched between her squishy cheek and shoulder as if she’s been chit chatting in the phone for ages.

I love all this, I’ve come to truly appreciate my phone being stolen away occasionally for a pretend conversation or finding it in her discovery box in the kitchen. Said discovery box has random empty kitchen containers for her to play with and keep occupied with while I cook and it was the contents of this box that led me discover her new ability or discovery, I haven’t quite figured out how to label it just yet.

The scene: Mommy washing dishes while toddler plays quietly with discover box. (I added in the “quietly” as creative license, we all know toddlers don’t play quietly). Busy toddler all of a sudden whizzes by and into our bedroom and remains quite for entirely too many seconds. Again, toddlers don’t play quietly, they get into trouble quietly. I decide to investigate the reason for the silence.

The discovery: Discover box containers in toilet and a good portion of the toilet paper roll unraveled and being guided into the trash can. :: insert gasps and flashing visions of cartoon like germ characters crawling the walls of the bathroom and Little Miss Busy Bee::

Must disinfect bathroom, play toy and child…immediately

What actually occurred, a quick soapy rinse of the hands and face, container tossed out and calling the now excess toilet paper strand a loss.

Other new tricks: Throwing everything into the trash can including toys, clean diapers and actual garbage. Unrolling the toilet paper and throwing it into the toilet opposed to trash can is said item is confiscated. Depositing toys into decorative vases or narrow crevices.

Needless to say, the roaming-the-house- talking-on-cell-phone days may be numbered, it may mean we find one swimming in the toilet. Lesson of the weekend, don’t get too comfy Mama’s, it means something new is on the horizon.

New Toddler Tricks: Mommy Gets Schooled (Almost 16 months old)

This is my first submission for Mommy Monday Link up on You Just Can’t Google Everything (http://can’t googleeverything.blogspot.com/2013/01/mommy-Monday-1.html)

Little Miss Toddles has learned some new tricks this week. Honestly, I feel like she learned them in a 48 hour period and the only thing that came to mind, as I was being schooled by my toddler on her new talents, laughter. Welcome to my inner dialogue:
First thought, sheer laughter.
Close second, what is happening?
Lastly, did you really think you’d mastered this stage?! Newb!

Let me preface by saying, the toddler stage is my favorite. It is truly fascinating to watch someone learn and watch her master new talents. She pretend plays with tea cups and spoons, or “drinks” from the baby doll bottle. She walks around with our cell phones in hand saying hello and babbling with it clenched between her squishy cheek and shoulder as if she’s been chit chatting in the phone for ages.

I love all this, I’ve come to truly appreciate my phone being stolen away occasionally for a pretend conversation or finding it in her discovery box in the kitchen. Said discovery box has random empty kitchen containers for her to play with and keep occupied with while I cook and it was the contents of this box that led me discover her new ability or discovery, I haven’t quite figured out how to label it just yet.

The scene: Mommy washing dishes while toddler plays quietly with discover box. (I added in the “quietly” as creative license, we all know toddlers don’t play quietly). Busy toddler all of a sudden whizzes by and into our bedroom and remains quite for entirely too many seconds. Again, toddlers don’t play quietly, they get into trouble quietly. I decide to investigate the reason for the silence.

The discovery: Discover box containers in toilet and a good portion of the toilet paper roll unraveled and being guided into the trash can. :: insert gasps and flashing visions of cartoon like germ characters crawling the walls of the bathroom and Little Miss Busy Bee::

Must disinfect bathroom, play toy and child…immediately

What actually occurred, a quick soapy rinse of the hands and face, container tossed out and calling the now excess toilet paper strand a loss.

Other new tricks: Throwing everything into the trash can including toys, clean diapers and actual garbage. Unrolling the toilet paper and throwing it into the toilet opposed to trash can is said item is confiscated. Depositing toys into decorative vases or narrow crevices.

Needless to say, the roaming-the-house- talking-on-cell-phone days may be numbered, it may mean we find one swimming in the toilet. Lesson of the weekend, don’t get too comfy Mama’s, it means something new is on the horizon.

Preemie Problems: Tiny Walker, Non-slip Grip Pj’s

Technically this isn’t just a preemie problem but it’s my preemies problem. My 16 month old is in full on toddler mode. Crawling is overrated and attire isn’t going to hold her back. I know, some of you might be thinking, we know toddlers crawl, so what’s the issue? Most kids who are wearing 3-6 month and 6-9 month clothes aren’t toddler age. So basically my petite preemie + footed Jammie’s + my gorgeous laminate floors =  not a good combo. She’s literally cruisin’ for a bruisin’.

The first thing I did, consult the Preemie Support crew to find out if I was just buying the wrong brands and had perhaps missed the memo about infant sized toddler clothing. Per usual, they had the answer. Puff paint! Wait, what? That’s correct, DIY non-slip grips for PJ’s and socks. So here is my easy to follow tutorial along with tips and tricks and variations.

Supplies:
Puff Paint
You little ones favorite but danger ridden socks or jammies


And…that’s all you need! Even if you aren’t the DIY type, this is pretty much as beginner friendly as it gets.

I chose white because I figured it would go with everything but you can choose any color you have or  coordinate with clothing colors.










Next, start applying your dots! Let it dry overnight and that’s about it.



Pretty simple right? Well if you want to step it up a notch, add designs like zig zags, hearts…get creative, anything goes.








My one recommendation of what NOT to do, don’t apply to much in any one place. All I could imagine was putting dots that are too thick and poor Sofia feeling like she had little pebbles on her feet. Keep your designs flat but with enough coverage to provide grip against your flooring.

My fail moment. I thought about placing a thick dot, giving the paint enough time to get tacky and then pressing each one flat to create a nice cushion dot. Good in theory but total fail. Essentially as the dots dry, they become paint bubbles that “explode” when pushed on. So my pretty little dots became mushed, messy blobs. All I can say is thank goodness she doesn’t stop walking around long enough for anyone to notice the bottom!

Exploding paint bubbles, not fun!

And the final product!

Preemie Problems: Tiny Walker, Non-slip Grip Pj’s

Technically this isn’t just a preemie problem but it’s my preemies problem. My 16 month old is in full on toddler mode. Crawling is overrated and attire isn’t going to hold her back. I know, some of you might be thinking, we know toddlers crawl, so what’s the issue? Most kids who are wearing 3-6 month and 6-9 month clothes aren’t toddler age. So basically my petite preemie + footed Jammie’s + my gorgeous laminate floors =  not a good combo. She’s literally cruisin’ for a bruisin’.

The first thing I did, consult the Preemie Support crew to find out if I was just buying the wrong brands and had perhaps missed the memo about infant sized toddler clothing. Per usual, they had the answer. Puff paint! Wait, what? That’s correct, DIY non-slip grips for PJ’s and socks. So here is my easy to follow tutorial along with tips and tricks and variations.

Supplies:
Puff Paint
You little ones favorite but danger ridden socks or jammies


And…that’s all you need! Even if you aren’t the DIY type, this is pretty much as beginner friendly as it gets.

I chose white because I figured it would go with everything but you can choose any color you have or  coordinate with clothing colors.










Next, start applying your dots! Let it dry overnight and that’s about it.



Pretty simple right? Well if you want to step it up a notch, add designs like zig zags, hearts…get creative, anything goes.








My one recommendation of what NOT to do, don’t apply to much in any one place. All I could imagine was putting dots that are too thick and poor Sofia feeling like she had little pebbles on her feet. Keep your designs flat but with enough coverage to provide grip against your flooring.

My fail moment. I thought about placing a thick dot, giving the paint enough time to get tacky and then pressing each one flat to create a nice cushion dot. Good in theory but total fail. Essentially as the dots dry, they become paint bubbles that “explode” when pushed on. So my pretty little dots became mushed, messy blobs. All I can say is thank goodness she doesn’t stop walking around long enough for anyone to notice the bottom!

Exploding paint bubbles, not fun!

And the final product!

Michael’s AD