2011 Resolutions.

1. Take more pictures.

I started to join the 365 photo project but I have decided instead to take a picture a day of Sydney.

2. Learn my camera better.

This goes with number one.

3. Bye bye baby weight.

I have about 10-15lbs to go and some major toning.

4. Get organized.

As far as pictures. Possibly start Sydney a scrapbook. I have tons of baby things like hospital bracelets I need to do something with.

5. Get crafty

Improve on my knitting and bust out the sewing machine and get learning.

6. Garden

Get the landscaping done on the house and start a garden.

I'm over Winter

I can't wait until summer. Can't. Wait. I think I will spend every day at Coney Island with my girl.

Holidays and more.

Thank god Christmas is over. I love being with our families but by Christmas night I was ready to pass out. Seriously it took a lot for me to stay awake. I almost got sick but took 70% of the things on my "to do" list and crossed them off and felt much better. My family doesn't care if my baseboards are scrubbed and possible repainted. My problem is that I try to make things as perfect as possible for Sydney. I made myself sick last Christmas and at her birthday party just from stressing. She doesn't even know whats going on so I don't know why  do it.

Sadly, I didn't get that many pictures on my camera but I know my Dad got a lot. So I'll put some more up later. Sydney got an entire Toys R Us store pretty much. And really, I hate it. Its too much. My nails a broken from opening boxes and I have to clean out the basement tonight to create a second play room for her. She won't be getting new toys for a long time. The problem is that she has a HUGE family and her great grandmother tends to spoil her.

Our Bokeh Tree

Christmas Morning

Sydney in her Christmas dress from her great grandmother. Poor girl.

So now I have the night to myself to clean the basement I suppose. I was thinking about going to get dinner but I think I'm going to beg Rob to pick up Sake Bomb on his way home. I have a mad craving for some vegetarian sushi.

My baby girl.

I have a serious problem with my daughter.



I can't stop kissing her. I can't stop looking at her. I can't stop smelling her. I am obsessed.

She is my whole world and its so crazy to think how much in love with her I am. She has turned my whole world upside down but I wouldn't change it for anything.

And now if you'll excuse me I have to go upstairs and smell my baby's hair.

Coming soon....

I have a new project I am starting. Well 2 actually.

And a baby/toddler food post is coming soon.

Morning Glory Muffins.

Since Sydney has decided shes not eating anymore I had to think of ways to pack in the fruits, veggies, and whole grains for when she does eat. These are perfect for that and good for adults too.

3/4c all purpose flour
1/2c whole wheat flour
1/2c brown sugar
2 tea. cinnamon
1 tea. baking powder
pinch of fine salt
2 large eggs
1/2c vegetable oil
1 1/2c carrots, grated (about 2 carrots)
1/2c crushed pineapple, drained
1/2 c raisins
1/4c applesauce.
2 tbl wheat germ

Preheat to 350
Whisk flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. In another bowl whisk eggs, vegetable oil, and applesauce. Fold wet ingredients into dry ingredients with a spatula. Stir in carrots, pineapple, and raisins until evenly moist. Fill 12 muffin cups and bake for about 30 min.

Notes:

* The applesauce replaces half of the oil so if you omit it, then replace it with oil.
* The 1/2c of raisins can be replaced with 1/2c extra of carrots if you like. Or crasins, dates, or dried cherries.
* I soak my dried fruit in hot water for about 15 min. before adding it to the batter. It makes them plump and juicy.

Enjoy.

Food Stuff

I want to get rid of all processed food in my house. I would probably throw it all out of Rob wouldn't get pissed. I would say 98% of Sydney's everyday at home food is homemade, organic, unsalted, fresh food. And I love that. She eats  pretty much everything we put in front of her (unless its slimey). I have mostly made the switch over but every once in a while I'll make a frozen veggie burger or have some chips. I pretty much have Rob convinced that produce is not that expensive. Tomorrow when I go to the store I will be stocking up on dried beans and grains and lots of produce. I plan on starting to make our own salsas and tabouli to have with pita breads and tortillas. Since the dog won't eat her food unless you mix in yogurt and Sydney eats like 3 bowls of yogurt a day and I'm dipping fruit in it, I want to start making our own but messing with bacteria like that kind of freaks me out.

Hopefully this week  I can post some recipes of what we make. I'm thinking it'll be a lentil week since we are both on a lentil kick right now.

Also, I am dying for a new flash for my camera. And a remote for my shutter.

Wordless Wednesday

I'm going to start doing "Wordless Wednesday" since its too cold to do anything fun enough to write about and I have been uninspired by any recipes.

So here is number one.

Gloomy Monday

We've pretty much been stuck in all day. Its horrible out. Cold and grey.

We turned on Toddler Music On Demand and had a dance party in the living room. Then I layed on the floor and Syndey and Lucy climbed all over me.

I am so so so lucky to have such a loving little girl. Her hugs(which are normally reserved for the dog and cats) make my whole day when I am lucky enough to get one.

Sydney and Adia

Sydney and Adia. Sydney's friends are beautiful. It scares me that if they remain friends they will be this little group of extremely pretty girls.

I do this so I won't lose my mind.

I went and got some yarn a Michaels for a new project and on my reciept there was a 50% coupon! I love coupons and feel like I need to use them all the time. Especially if they are 50% off. So I've been looking at this case for knitting supplies for a while. It was $60 and not something I really wanted to spend $60 on. I'd rather get a pedi if I'm going to spend that at once on myself (Sydney gets most of my money). But $30 I can deal with. So I got it. And I. Love. It.

The only thing I wish it had is a spot for my circular needles. Like a specific spot.

I've had this green and teal yarn for years. I got it because I was in love with the color and I've been saving it for something perfect. I think I know someone that would appreciate the colors. The rest is all Sydney projects. Minus the purple in the second picture. Thats for me.

The very few things I've made recently.

A headband called the Urban Turban. Its cute and will be nice for winter. It was a very quick knit. I made one while Sydney napped and then it was a little big so I knit another while waiting for Rob to get home. It only took me about an hour.

Sydney scarf. Its kind of plain so I'm going to crochet and edge I think.

My current. I love this and hope it turns out. I'll post it when its done.

And my last:

I hate this yarn

but love my little helper.

One year check up (a month and a half late)

We switched pediatricians a couple months ago and had to wait an extra month and a half for Sydney's one year check up. Right now she weighs 18lbs 13oz and is 28" tall. 10th percentile in both weight an height. Shes tiny. But as far as her development shes in the 18 month bracket! My smart little thing.

Currently everyone in the house is sick. Gross. Luckly, I got called off work tomorrow so we can all lay around in pajamas. Oh wait. We have a toddler. Not happening.

Kings Island

Rob had to work on Halloween and got home too late to take Sydney Trick or Treating at the salon with me so I really wanted to do something as a family on Sat. for Fall. I really wanted to go to Kings Island for the Howl-O-Fest but tickets are REALLY expensive. Like $60 expensive so we were trying to think of something else. Then a girl at work posted on Facebook that she had FREE tickets to give away and we grabbed them up. It was such a great day. We took her on several rides including a small roller coaster. She went to the dance party with Snoopy (she LOVES LOVES LOVES to dance), played in a foam pit (and FYI chasing a 13 month old through 4ft of foam is not easy), she got a pumpkin in the Pumpkin Patch, trick or treated, watched a show in the German Theatre, and way too many other things. Such a great family day.

Waiting in line for the ride

On the "roller coaster"

We set her down and she ran right over to get ice cream.

The foam pit

Dancing

Back to the foam pit

Foamy

Trick or Treating

Our afternoon.

One!

We (well I) decided we needed a new blog. Its hard to keep up on a "Sydney Only" blog because shes such a person now. We do so much as a family and with our families that its hard to just post about what she does. Even if she is amazing.

So in this blog I want to TRY to blog daily about SOMETHING. Anything really. It could just be a picture or a recipe but I'll do my best. Try to remember I have a toddler, a new puppy, and a husband that sometimes acts like a toddler. All require daily care and maintance. So be patient with me.

Cheers.