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{Bebe: Celebrating Halloween withTots}


Hi lovelies!!!

We are off on another (very short) adventure tomorrow, to NYC to watch Z's big sister play in a tournament and although the car part has me peeing in my pants worried, I am excited to do something different with my crew.

Now as for the last week and the rest of the month, well it looks a little something like this!









One of my favorite things about being a SAHM is that I get to create our "lesson plan" and although a lot of everything we do is centered around educational activities (girlfriend knows most of her letters and colors and is mastering counting in spanish!) but I also like to have a theme for the month and break it down to activities, crafts and even songs. Ayyyy that all sounds super duper corny but I am living out my dream to be a teacher and I absolutely love it.

As a mama to a preemie I spent my first year with homework from our Early Intervention Case Workers, making sure I was supplying her with all of the tools to be successful and to hit each developmental stage when she was ready. Ask anyone who knows me, I was totally by the book. Reading every dang book I got my hands on. But it helped me ease my fears that come with bringing home a preemie.

Now it's just about making sure she has fun, learns and is prepared to one day go to pre-school. We also squeeze in classes and playdates so she is socialized. But mainly it is us to having a ball and making a mess.

Last month it was Fall is here, and this month the theme is Halloween. Some cute songs and videos, and lots of books to prep her for some dressing up and maybe not being scared, because make pretend is fun but can be scary for babes! Here are some favorite ways to celebrate Halloween with your toddler.

Here are a few of my favorites for this month:

Paint a pumpkin! We plan carving one closer to Halloween but painting a real one (or the wooden one from the craft store) was so much fun and with a little craft paper on her table she was able to go at it and I could do a little work and sip my coffee. I like to talk to her about the colors she is using, what other things are orange, and what it feels like etc. And she has a ball.

Bake cookies! These were from a box (gasp!!!) but she loveddddddd making them and although the sprinkles and frosting got EVERYWHERE she had a great time. She wouldn't even try one, she said no "mama'ssssss". lol Check out my Halloween Pinterest board for other treats you can make.

We also craft a ton on a regular but making the ghost (like in her book!) was her favorite and I of course have a ton pinned on this board where I get all of my ideas!

Let's be honest videos give mama a lil coffee break! These are a few Z has seen and approved.

I added a few books to last years haul and these are our favs! I may have them memorized. No seriously... I do...

I love any reason to be silly and have fun as a family, so we are making sure to make the best out of all the holidays with our little lady. Because the truth is she will only have one Halloween when she is almost two, the rest of them will be different (I am sure just as great!) but different. So soak it all in mamas!!!

Hoping to share a round'up of my fav crock pot meals for fall on Monday, so stay tuned! And don't forget to enter the reader appreciation giveaway here! All you have to do is subscribe to the blog and forward to 5 (or more!) friends to win one of my favorites for Fall.

xo

Natalie

{Dishes: Oatmeal Chocolate Breakfast Cookies}



Guyssssssssss. TGI Freaking F.

We are off to Vermont for a quick leaf peeping, family visiting, bed and breakfast weekend and I honestly can't wait. Don't get me wrong the control-freak part of me would love to stay home and orchestrate some decorating as the painter finishes up upstairs but time away from chaos with my favorites is definitely needed. Hoping to knock a few of those bucket list items off the list! Now for the absolute easiest recipe I have ever put on le blog.

And get this, it is impossible to mess up. Unless you over cook them which I have done and still eaten because well you can't let food go to waste, right?

Easy and quite possibly the one I have made/altered the most.














{blowing on them for mama} ^^^^^


Even (my amazing) mother's helper approved and took home a few to enjoy before soccer!


The base of this recipe is always the same for me.

2 cups of oats, 4 super duper ripe bananas, 2 scoops of chia seeds and a couple tablespoons of flaxseed flakes.

But this time I added, dark chocolate chips, cacao powder and tiny bit of sea salt. Next time I'll try some coconut flakes or dried cranberries or skip the chocolate chips and add raisins. No matter what they are easy peasy, gooey and tasty. I used an elephant cookie cutter for todays letter of the day, E! Zoe also loves pushing down the cookie cutter.

We have them for breakfast and snacks and sometimes simply as a meal (let's be honest here!). You must make these and report back.

Ingredients

4 ripe bananas

2 cups rolled oats

1/2 c dark chocolate chips (milk or semi sweet work too)

1 tsp sea salt

2 scoops (about 2 tbsp) chia seeds

2 tbsp cacao powder (Mayan Superfood)

2 tbsp flaxseed

Recipe

Preheat oven to 350

Mash oats and bananas together.

Fold in rest of ingredients.

Bake on bottom rack for 10-12 minutes.

This makes about 12 large cookies/bars. You can also make tiny ones and serve them in your yogurt, or feed to your littles.

Told you it was easy peasy! And I even froze a batch for cold mornings when warming up the oven is welcomed!

Hope you all have something fabulous planned!!!

xo

Natalie

{Mama Diaries: Holy Moly 21 Months}


How the heck did that happen??? Last week Zoe turned 21 months and I am finding it so hard to believe that it has really been 21 months since I walked into an ER because my little babe wasn't moving and lots of tests, what ifs, worse case-scenarios, I was rushed into an OR for an emergency c-section.



She was itty bitty, but tough as nails, making her arrival known as she hollered and cried. I didn't get to hold her or see her but I sent O off to the NICU and told him not to let her out of his sight.




We brought home a 4 pound, head full of hair, fighter, who against some odds is a healthy, smart, sassy, talkative, observant toddler.

She knows her colors by Sesame Street characters, counts to 4 in spanish, loves practicing her ABC's, dancing, music and anything that has to do with water. Calls her self Zozo (like her dadda calls her!) and loves to say "zozo do" for just about everything. #biggirlstatus





She remember so much it is scary! Loves to "rock" her babies, cook rice and beans and color. She is a great eater and will try just about anything I put on her plate, but try and force her and she'll remind you who is boss! Her fav pouch is still spinach lentil brown rice and will even pick that over a popsicle any day! Oh and don't get me started on green smoothies, she drinks mine and hers!

She dislikes the car seat with a passion (it helps when I repeat where we are going and ask her what song she wants to sing!). recently started hating bathtime before bed so we are gonna switch to AM baths but loves showers because it's "raining". Does not like eggs or pasta but we try our best to always share some with her, since they change so much of their likes and dislikes from week to week.





No matter what is going on in the world and how crappy some days can be, I can look at her and in an instant feel such gratitude, a sense of peace and fullness. My miracle baby. The best thing I have ever done. My sweet sweet sunshine, Zoe Lucia you are truly my light and life. I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings us! Mama and dadda love you so much, to the moon and back x infinity.

xo

Natalie

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