Bubble Bath Fun

Miss Vivian loves her baths.  She loves to splash, play with a cup and play peek-a-boo with the shower curtain.  

We were in Target the other day and browsed their bubble bath selection.  California Baby was on sale and I figured I would give it a try on how she would enjoy them.  She loves regular bubbles so I figured she would like a bubble bath.  I was right, she had a ball.  Plus, California Baby comes with a wand to blow actual bubbles. Score!  Only thing, don't blow the bubbles in the face because it will sting the eyes.  First hand experience here.

Since having the bubbles, we've had a bubble bath every night.  She's always so happy...she becomes camera shy.  I swear, she'll have the biggest smile on her face and as soon as I point my phone or camera towards her, that smile goes away.  I promise, she's a happy toddler!

Pumpkin Muffins

Today was the first day it felt like fall was near.  There was hardly any humidity and it was so nice being outside, especially this morning.  

Vivian and I took Brody on an extra long walk this morning.  She was all happy and giddy in her Deuter Kid Comfort backpack.  I've been wearing it while walking the neighborhood to get us both use to it.  She loves it!  When I set it on the ground to put her in, she runs to it wanting to climb in.  Makes me so happy.  I can't wait to take her to the Smoky Mountains in October.

  We also went to the park this morning.  There were so many little ones running around.  Vivian had a ball.  She was so worn out that she napped for 3 hours.  Thank heavens!  

While little miss naps, I've been browsing and pinning on Pinterest per usual and came across a recipe for Pumpkin Muffins. Vivian loves muffins so I figured I would whip up a batch to try.  They were a hit!  Simple and tasty.

Pumpkin Muffins via Six Sisters' Stuff 

Ingredients 

1-1/2 cup Whole Wheat Flour

1-1/2 cup Rolled Oats

3/4 cup Packed Brown Sugar 

1 Teaspoon Baking Powder

1/2 Teaspoon Baking Soda

1 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon 

1/2 Teaspoon Ground Nutmeg

1/4 Cup Milk (I used whole milk)
3 Tablespoons Canola Oil

1 Large Egg

1 Large Egg White

1-1/2 Cups Canned Pumpkin

1/2 Cup Chocolate Chips (I used dark chocolate chips)

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line muffin your muffin pan.

Combine your dry ingredients, except the chocolate chips, in a large bowl and whisk until blended.

In a separate bowl (medium size) combine your pumpkin, egg, oil and milk and mix until well blended.

Add your wet mixture to your dry mix and stir thourghly.  Add your chocolate chips and stir.

Fill your muffin tin 3/4 full.  Bake for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown.

Enjoy!

14 Months Old

Happy 14 months to this one!

Oh little one, you are an 18 pound little ham with a lot of attitude.  Your personality is shining more each and every day. 

You have have learned on your own on how to throw a tantrum.  Seriously.  If things aren't going your way, you will toss something down onto the ground, cry hysterically, and times have pinched.  We are working on how to behave when life isn't going your way.

On other days, you are an absolute sweetheart.  You do love to give hugs and the occasional kiss.

 You still hate being left in church nursery.  You're fine for about 10-15 minutes and then you realize I'm not there.  That's when the water works begin.  You are worn out by the time we get home.

You aren't saying any words yet.  You do point to Brody, a ball or a bird and go "bah."  You have; however,  have said out of the blue "daddy," "mommy"(you said that chasing after me) and "all gone."  When "all gone" came out of your mouth you where eating blueberries and you ate the last one.  After it was gone, you tossed your hands up by your face and said "all gone!"  It was amazing to hear.

Even though your aren't saying words (you babble), you do understand when we talk to you.  You cry or get really upset when we say "No," I'll ask you to bring me a book and you'll get me one to read to you, you know to throw trash away in the trash can...you even know that your dirty diaper goes in the diaper pale and not in the kitchen trash, I'll tell you to go to your room and I'll follow and you will lead the way, tell you to love Brody and you'll pat him on the back, give polar bear (your big pink teddy) a hug and you will run over to him and love him, and I'll ask for hugs and you'll give them away. 

You are an excellent eater.  We typically have oatmeal, yogurt and fruit for breakfast.  You snack on fruit, Annie's cheddar or bunny grahams.  Lunch we'll have pb&j on Ezekiel bread, cheese quesadilla on whole wheat tortilla, Applegate turkey with cucumber.  Dinner you eat what we eat.  You love veggies!  Broccoli, cauliflower and green beans are your favorite.  You also love fish, guacamole and pasta!

You are an EXCELLENT pooper!  You poop 2-3 times a day.  All those fruits and vegetables keeps things moving.  You still won't drink anything but water.  I think that also helps keeping things moving.

You love helping mommy around the house.  Especially taking the silverware out of the dishwasher and handing them to me to put away.

You love being outside.  If you could stay outside all day, you would.  That's your happy place.  

   
You are better about your carseat.  I think it helps we get out of the house everday.  You love going to the indoor play area, Tmuffins.  You love playing on the slide and holding as many balls as possible.

You love when we read to you.  You'll grab a book and sit in our lap.  Some books we'll read two words and you'll close it shut, but the one's you will listen completely are 'Brown Bear, Brown Bear, Who Do You See?' 'Pat The Bunny,' 'You Are My Sunshine,'  'Butterfly Kisses' and 'Peek-A-Boo.'

You have 8 teeth, practically running, can walk backwards and climb down the stairs all by yourself.

    You have weaned yourself off the bottle completely.  We now have our bath, lotion up, get into our jammies and straight to bed.  You don't want mommy to rock you.  Made me so sad, but that showed me that you are growing up.

Everyday is an adventure with you my sweet darling.  We love watching you grow!  You are one AMAZING little girl and we love you oh so much!!!  

Homemade Granola Bars

I LOVE granola bars.  They are always my 'go to' snack.  I once upon a time used to eat the Quaker Chewy granolas, but stopped after seeing all of the ingredients they used to make them.  So ridiculous!  You are basically putting poison into you and your childs body.  

GRANOLA (WHOLE GRAIN ROLLED OATS, BROWN SUGAR, CRISP RICE [RICE FLOUR, SUGAR, SALT, MALTED BARLEY EXTRACT], WHOLE GRAIN ROLLED WHEAT, PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED SOYBEAN AND COTONSEED OILS* WITH TBHQ AND CITRIC ACID ADDED TO PRESERVE FRESHNESS AND/OR SUNFLOWER OIL WITH NATURAL TOCOPHEROL ADDED TO PRESERVE FRESHNESS, DRIED COCONUT, WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR, SODIUM BICARBONATE, SOY LECITHIN, CARAMEL COLOR, NONFAT DRY MILK), SEMISWEET CHOCOLATE CHIPS (SUGAR, CHOCOLATE LIQUOR, COCOA BUTTER, SOY LECITHIN, VANILLA EXTRACT), CORN SYRUP, CRISP RICE (RICE FLOUR, SUGAR, BARLEY MALT, SALT), INVERT SUGAR, SUGAR, CORN SYRUP SOLIDS, GLYCERIN, PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED SOYBEAN OIL*. CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF SORBITOL, CALCIUM CARBONATE, SALT, WATER, SOY LECITHIN, MOLASSES, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, BHT (PRESERVATIVE), CITRIC ACID.

I then switched to Luna bars.  They are so good and way less ingredients.  Plus, they are non-gmo.  Win, win!   

I was browsing on Pinterest as usual and came across a very simple recipe for homemade granola bars that I would give a try.  I also wanted something for Vivian to snack on as well. 

Homemade Granola Bars recipe via here.

INGREDIENTS

4-1/2 cups of rolled oats
1 cup softened butter (2 sticks)
1 cup honey
1 cup whole wheat flour

1 teaspoon vanilla 
1 teaspoon baking soda

Optional add-ins:  mini chocolate chips (I used regular size Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Chips), coconut flakes, shaved almonds, dried fruit.

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Mix butter and honey in a large bowl. I used my Kitchen Aid Mixer .  Add your vanilla and mix until well blended.

Add your dry ingredients...flour, baking soda and rolled oats.  Mix until well blended.

If adding additional yummys, add to your mixture and mix by hand.  I just added dark chocolate chips.  I eye-balled on how much I wanted.  Your add-ins should be no more than 2 cups.

Lightly grease a 9×13 pan.  Add your granola mixture to your pan.  Press firmly.  It will be sticky, so you can use the back of a spoon or wet your hands with a little water and press firmly.

Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.  Just an FYI, it will not look done when you take it out of the oven.  Let cool for 10-15 minutes before cutting into bars.  They will be firmer the next day.  Store in a air tight container.

Something else that's delicious, heat a little peanut butter along with a granola bar in the microwave and devour.  Such a perfect night time snack!!!

  

How Ripen Bananas quickly and a Banana Bread Recipe

When we were in MS, my Mom made zucchini bread a few times and Miss Vivian LOVED it!  I knew I had to make some banana bread for her when we returned home.  Who doesn't love banana bread?

I came across a simple recipe that I found on Pinterest that didn't call for a lot of sugar and knew that would be perfect for Vivian.

I picked up some banana's at the grocery store, but of course they weren't ripe enough.

I did my Google search to find out if there was a quick way to ripen bananas.  You know what, there is!  Simple preheat the oven to 300 degrees, line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil and add 2-3 bananas on the sheet and bake for 30-40 minutes.  Once they are all black, shiny and soft to the touch, you naner's are ready.

For you Banana Bread, you need: 2-3 banana's, flour, milk, applesauce or apple butter, eggs, baking powder, baking soda, butter.  Optional: cinnamon, nuts, chocolate chips.

Recipe via here

Banana Bread

Ingredients:
4 tablespoons butter, room temperature
1/4 cup applesauce or apple butter
2 eggs
2 tablespoons milk
3/4 cup lightly packed brown sugar
1 cup mashed bananas (2 or 3 medium bananas)
1 3/4 cups flour (I sneak wheat flour in and nobody notices)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt

Optional:
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
3/4 cup chocolate chips
Cinnamon

 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mash your bananas in a bowl.  Doesn't have to be smooth.

Add you liquid ingredients...eggs, milk, applesauce, butter...to your smashed bananas. Mix to well blended with a hand mixer.

If making with your little one, they can join in on the fun! I had a great little mop to lick up some droppings that landed on the floor :)

 In a separate bowl, add your dry ingredients.  You can sift it together or like me, mix together until well incorporated by hand.

Then add your dry mixture to your banana mixture and mix by hand.  I added a little at time then mixed until all blended together.

Add your extra goodies if desired.  I added walnuts to my side.

Line or spray your bread loaf pan and back for 60 minutes or less.  Until bread comes out clean.

I really like this recipe wasn't super sweet because Miss Vivian is sweet enough!!