tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11003845786908471492023-11-20T18:40:33.472-05:00First Comes Baby...FirstComesBabyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10002247523797608464noreply@blogger.comBlogger167125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1100384578690847149.post-45998430518418128502016-02-04T10:51:00.000-05:002023-08-14T18:08:26.838-04:00Where has all my time gone?? (& Merry Christmas?)I had this idea in my head that once Aurora started school, I would have all this free time to catch up on things or get back to the gym. I thought I would be looking for ways to fill those hours when she was gone. It seems I was couldn't have been more wrong. First, just getting Aurora to and from her Pre-K across town is a part time job in and of itself (seriously, it's 20 hours a week). I'm also working a contract that has me at another 20 hours a week and I am back at school for my masters degree. My days generally consist of cramming as much work in as I can, or running errands on my day off, just so I can hang out with Aurora after school. We also walk a friend's dog twice a week. I realized the other day that the school year is already halfway over and I have no idea where all that free time I dreamed about ended up. It also dawned on me that I have been letting a lot of things slip because I got so established in this school/work/school/sleep routine. One of them has been this blog! I keep storing pictures and writing down notes for new posts, but by the time I get around to posting them, they are already out of date. One thing I would feel awful about neglecting though is Christmas! So, here I am posting about it in February. Our Christmas was great and it was the first year that Aurora truly appreciated the holidays really got into the Santa aspect of it. We also got our first live tree this year which was exciting! I was paranoid about a 6ft tree in a house with a five year old and a cat, but we had no problems at all, so a new tradition is born!<br />
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FirstComesBabyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10002247523797608464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1100384578690847149.post-2819445554425472602015-10-20T21:49:00.001-04:002015-10-20T21:50:29.635-04:00Aurora is in PRE-K!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBg2HLMlTQ5TNfmR6UNIA7x-gEcCqvvDUaAjpVWfKxAuh-sx-gbkVGTvkohF98Bv89T8_AR-lUEogseS19VZVKagBpnTxvggeBcSzVvetHWwEAR0TiUlMtOlaIqvWiTL1D-vpuJoGyg9Q/s640/blogger-image--1600179736.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBg2HLMlTQ5TNfmR6UNIA7x-gEcCqvvDUaAjpVWfKxAuh-sx-gbkVGTvkohF98Bv89T8_AR-lUEogseS19VZVKagBpnTxvggeBcSzVvetHWwEAR0TiUlMtOlaIqvWiTL1D-vpuJoGyg9Q/s640/blogger-image--1600179736.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg995KDXvjdHqhR_t5fpmfxqkLJeEQD6RHlsw02GAMBtsHeOz1V0KFQ26Sa-WYqA8FXhKhbvqnleA2oqHse4-N1qFPQtuInVsW4v9qPZybpr91WP7vfzuo5c_vCE7sXxzsJy9v5DBOhDts/s640/blogger-image-325988043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg995KDXvjdHqhR_t5fpmfxqkLJeEQD6RHlsw02GAMBtsHeOz1V0KFQ26Sa-WYqA8FXhKhbvqnleA2oqHse4-N1qFPQtuInVsW4v9qPZybpr91WP7vfzuo5c_vCE7sXxzsJy9v5DBOhDts/s640/blogger-image-325988043.jpg"></a></div>FirstComesBabyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10002247523797608464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1100384578690847149.post-68095318055916121912015-01-02T13:58:00.000-05:002015-02-17T14:00:17.598-05:00Christmas 2014! This was the first year that Aurora really understood and appreciated the whole Santa thing. We definitely took full advantage and found him wherever we could. The first time was a little bit of a disaster because Aura took a nasty spill. Guess we had to get that first ER visit out of the way at some point... She was more disappointed to miss the hayride than anything. In spite of that, though, it was a great Christmas!<br />
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<br />FirstComesBabyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10002247523797608464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1100384578690847149.post-30091528281416377212014-12-01T13:47:00.000-05:002015-02-17T13:47:33.120-05:00Aurora is FOUR!!! We had an Arty Party!! I know everyone always says that children grow up so fast, but that doesn't even begin to cover the experience of watching your helpless baby turn into an intelligent, headstrong, independent, and opinionated little person. My little Bean turned four yesterday surrounded by friends and family who love her almost as much as I do. To be fair, though, I don't think she gave them any choice. I know that I am biased, but I don't think I've ever met a more lovable kid. I am in awe of how easily she pulls people in and how quickly she gives her trust and affection. I watch her look around to see who is watching her just so she can interact with them. She has always done this, ever since she had the ability to make eye contact. When she was a baby, it was just smiles, but now she'll ask questions and talk to anyone who'll pay attention. She can even make random scowling strangers on a crowded bus light up and have full-on conversations with her. I am not sure how I have managed to raise this kind, considerate and compassionate human being but I am eternally grateful for her and I hope she never becomes jaded or hardened by life. The world needs grown ups who are just as wide-eyed and innocent as this child is. I cannot wait to see the person she becomes and to be there by her side as she continues to grow and change and invite new and amazing people into our lives. Here are some of the pictures from her special day:<br />
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<br />FirstComesBabyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10002247523797608464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1100384578690847149.post-10181954721139430122014-10-04T20:20:00.004-04:002014-10-04T20:20:57.836-04:00Our summer!We had a great summer! So good, in fact, that I didn't even have a moment to sit and write about it. I took lots of pictures but they mostly went on Instagram (you can follow <a href="http://instagram.com/msangelstarr" target="_blank">HERE</a> if you'd like!) School has been crazy but I should be done in May! Aurora has grown from a giggly toddler into a smart, funny, friendly and opinionated "big girl". Life has been amazing, hectic and fast-paced and I wouldn't trade one second of it. Here's a peek:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5EJrl_2q73kmOrgfYTuBuuc62R6wolSCi3p46UlLIvBCsiV5Fh7YYFPClHfmzIgkhkiSWW6BejscLq2fV-6Dwzzfw2RM5x-gyfAmWxk6AzDpQlFFEejAdvamKjOsULjD-1AY5iHgQgNU/s1600/IMG_5772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5EJrl_2q73kmOrgfYTuBuuc62R6wolSCi3p46UlLIvBCsiV5Fh7YYFPClHfmzIgkhkiSWW6BejscLq2fV-6Dwzzfw2RM5x-gyfAmWxk6AzDpQlFFEejAdvamKjOsULjD-1AY5iHgQgNU/s1600/IMG_5772.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Backyard Bubbles!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW2aciyhNnNzwtIBNkhrD0g4gLAvyD0f_tSwW8kvEdmBDnIsjdwaNTaTGq5yl7DSArJiD2CClNu0hU7etqfh7t8appvdvwbm-gKb_rv4WEwWjYxRkzAICzsaIriPzJvW5-OlhwkCrp87s/s1600/IMG_5799.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW2aciyhNnNzwtIBNkhrD0g4gLAvyD0f_tSwW8kvEdmBDnIsjdwaNTaTGq5yl7DSArJiD2CClNu0hU7etqfh7t8appvdvwbm-gKb_rv4WEwWjYxRkzAICzsaIriPzJvW5-OlhwkCrp87s/s1600/IMG_5799.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Visiting Estrella at the Children's Museum.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg93FQJq3LHD8tnb6FK9l_W2A94w4PizSFDwf-HHrQIxGebwMbxr2tLcDe-jI0WpW97sqEGSgAvaKWkGmTMTlq-5gZRPBogUBvkQ0lppI-K9MqpmUgSkloBnQtH0QvOvyFXqZJ4sk8h0Lc/s1600/IMG_5875.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg93FQJq3LHD8tnb6FK9l_W2A94w4PizSFDwf-HHrQIxGebwMbxr2tLcDe-jI0WpW97sqEGSgAvaKWkGmTMTlq-5gZRPBogUBvkQ0lppI-K9MqpmUgSkloBnQtH0QvOvyFXqZJ4sk8h0Lc/s1600/IMG_5875.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eating a delicious fresh tortilla at the farmer's market.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Dp85KkdbM6o3wgPKPuG1XToboptDwjTM_GeiObf7shg39P1CsFIfJthtvRvB08jYLRvWpCffieaeScARSwk5bCuyq_aeaqgixOewJQ2N0rg_OBs3p7Ag4Oqvh8XaNeCwFOfRUeFH3WQ/s1600/IMG_5900.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Dp85KkdbM6o3wgPKPuG1XToboptDwjTM_GeiObf7shg39P1CsFIfJthtvRvB08jYLRvWpCffieaeScARSwk5bCuyq_aeaqgixOewJQ2N0rg_OBs3p7Ag4Oqvh8XaNeCwFOfRUeFH3WQ/s1600/IMG_5900.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drawing at a block party (one of many this year!)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCd16AsxZyvpUQ80B7A19wTECk78nW8jdgapCLSo1397eViKlE7dcsNuVWhRLB9huMd76od34WEISybRmdbABPvclXmkmC0rBV_Y9f8xABlyrwMOy35CwDyIEOLNxzQuH4-zDpegiwWGQ/s1600/IMG_5953.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCd16AsxZyvpUQ80B7A19wTECk78nW8jdgapCLSo1397eViKlE7dcsNuVWhRLB9huMd76od34WEISybRmdbABPvclXmkmC0rBV_Y9f8xABlyrwMOy35CwDyIEOLNxzQuH4-zDpegiwWGQ/s1600/IMG_5953.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New scooter!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh76BPdtaL7meHka-NOEKPKqhre9T77P9taNW0aJ6U5pF61-R4waaEdA_uO55OWaa_U7CqJi8DlsGKAR7wS7weyhyphenhyphenHuKplcH8d95TnQXD8WxkZp8GlrtNzvs4GpaynNEyAZFRNtgB7MHH0/s1600/IMG_5987.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh76BPdtaL7meHka-NOEKPKqhre9T77P9taNW0aJ6U5pF61-R4waaEdA_uO55OWaa_U7CqJi8DlsGKAR7wS7weyhyphenhyphenHuKplcH8d95TnQXD8WxkZp8GlrtNzvs4GpaynNEyAZFRNtgB7MHH0/s1600/IMG_5987.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Storytime yoga at OmKids,</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_UG9J3wtRJ192E2g6UPxBEyjJb-EGFPGQ3on1iKKAn6F_bmY64Qx0C2zbFmleI3iUMCWKdH84dpCM2Hv52QUYIjcDE3BeOLgqk5ABK-sCENFQfmt4vZ3r51j8E5TlElrMENoCsGvcNo/s1600/IMG_6047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_UG9J3wtRJ192E2g6UPxBEyjJb-EGFPGQ3on1iKKAn6F_bmY64Qx0C2zbFmleI3iUMCWKdH84dpCM2Hv52QUYIjcDE3BeOLgqk5ABK-sCENFQfmt4vZ3r51j8E5TlElrMENoCsGvcNo/s1600/IMG_6047.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First time on a Ferris Wheel!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoADisUBRr5Vb6ZPQv3Tvr2yDPjRbRItLIJz12KQuGVVg9OnETcd5URcKRFkw8wuM2OreTH7qlzPWzCI-BU_0pas6zl3opkvFYh4_2HYGs5rAdwrTW5kRy8GdmqQX0JEwICcublSVUT7o/s1600/IMG_6051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoADisUBRr5Vb6ZPQv3Tvr2yDPjRbRItLIJz12KQuGVVg9OnETcd5URcKRFkw8wuM2OreTH7qlzPWzCI-BU_0pas6zl3opkvFYh4_2HYGs5rAdwrTW5kRy8GdmqQX0JEwICcublSVUT7o/s1600/IMG_6051.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First time riding solo on a carnival ride. She loved it!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWFcmfoed86MO_5G1d1pz6g25KXRrZl3Sv1v8nuMHRLDd75y9JdcSutm3d1-nf06rYjRrlyunNHpWCqikLT52iBZSUn0ZII6C_i6_oAC0CI45TDhRwjxpSpxY_cu9VJoZyC8FK1YB9g74/s1600/IMG_6171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWFcmfoed86MO_5G1d1pz6g25KXRrZl3Sv1v8nuMHRLDd75y9JdcSutm3d1-nf06rYjRrlyunNHpWCqikLT52iBZSUn0ZII6C_i6_oAC0CI45TDhRwjxpSpxY_cu9VJoZyC8FK1YB9g74/s1600/IMG_6171.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playing at a pal's birthday party.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMfHg0lS4Xt_AtxHHPksWkXSOgpj91EG6gDXvYXkLdhJH7g5lrrBwDwAExP56P3V89m5fZyUYZq30EAK5U2NbHRpjVILNdADVdTbs5FAL9wyuWFWaqHasreeQfyQJ9ycTBsA7p6NEVws4/s1600/IMG_6272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMfHg0lS4Xt_AtxHHPksWkXSOgpj91EG6gDXvYXkLdhJH7g5lrrBwDwAExP56P3V89m5fZyUYZq30EAK5U2NbHRpjVILNdADVdTbs5FAL9wyuWFWaqHasreeQfyQJ9ycTBsA7p6NEVws4/s1600/IMG_6272.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aurora's spectacular Providence Pride outfit!</td></tr>
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Hope everyone else's summer was just as packed with fun as ours was!FirstComesBabyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10002247523797608464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1100384578690847149.post-73995538968238495592014-06-02T21:07:00.001-04:002014-06-02T21:07:56.470-04:00What we've been up to. As of three weeks ago, Aurora has her very own, all-to-herself big girl bedroom. It was a pretty grueling process and it took much longer than I expected, but I am thrilled to say that it's done and I'm super happy with the results. Aurora is pretty pumped too! One of the things I'm the most proud of is that almost all of the furniture in Aurora's room was refinished furniture that may have otherwise been thrown away. The most I paid for anything in the room was $70 for the toddler bed a year and a half ago. The next is $50 for the curtains (I HAD to have them for her) and $20 for the dresser. Everything else was $10 or under! Here's a peek at the process and the results!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ7pQV3rohPrhOd5m3r6hR0jlcV2ZmNUcYtfsNNpL5_92tDE87Ds7KW2GQtvDVwwyr8KmXfQ28joR7AQ2bpIwZIrg9EBP4SbqmJJgT1D71bMcik6-8B2R9laModaY9je06LmSRoM-sgBU/s1600/iPod+touch+2012-May2014+1294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ7pQV3rohPrhOd5m3r6hR0jlcV2ZmNUcYtfsNNpL5_92tDE87Ds7KW2GQtvDVwwyr8KmXfQ28joR7AQ2bpIwZIrg9EBP4SbqmJJgT1D71bMcik6-8B2R9laModaY9je06LmSRoM-sgBU/s1600/iPod+touch+2012-May2014+1294.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aurora's ruler growth chart, thanks Pinterest!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU7fZ1EFavnlA8i_I7G_RBgDNSccpU7beW7Swrec1-a50JlVnXDjl81GdCvfZM8MQlZk3hvci81a6KL2wEHwIicelLl_wnTAYiLM2ZTzS_LZ44Tu_Q-hEqOklf2od6gwWP2b92LFdeCjc/s1600/iPod+touch+2012-May2014+1680.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU7fZ1EFavnlA8i_I7G_RBgDNSccpU7beW7Swrec1-a50JlVnXDjl81GdCvfZM8MQlZk3hvci81a6KL2wEHwIicelLl_wnTAYiLM2ZTzS_LZ44Tu_Q-hEqOklf2od6gwWP2b92LFdeCjc/s1600/iPod+touch+2012-May2014+1680.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dresser - before</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipKmVhekrm_T6xwI3BX-_7WnZtn1M8LSk6C1SPYxYdcLNdyjIN3T2hVtElnNXbGL3gAJrQlrmzdCHWi537CR_Sdvjyh_EtHC6sQJBV0TBlKthcdbIXPTsSG6EUtiva3HueZXEQ3XiDC38/s1600/iPod+touch+2012-May2014+2387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipKmVhekrm_T6xwI3BX-_7WnZtn1M8LSk6C1SPYxYdcLNdyjIN3T2hVtElnNXbGL3gAJrQlrmzdCHWi537CR_Sdvjyh_EtHC6sQJBV0TBlKthcdbIXPTsSG6EUtiva3HueZXEQ3XiDC38/s1600/iPod+touch+2012-May2014+2387.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A before picture of our old shared bedroom</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiad6MnnDnOTX_elnQPFvccqDiB7tf6hxxFEuGiCREahe8ypAWHLGlZznwVdkbsa80wpCv3XAVJkccPs8Cg7uFwmBZQrTThovj5mswFmntqV6sDVGG6lKgtPQhFUCs8KVLWpJje5qo0bpQ/s1600/iPod+touch+2012-May2014+2543.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiad6MnnDnOTX_elnQPFvccqDiB7tf6hxxFEuGiCREahe8ypAWHLGlZznwVdkbsa80wpCv3XAVJkccPs8Cg7uFwmBZQrTThovj5mswFmntqV6sDVGG6lKgtPQhFUCs8KVLWpJje5qo0bpQ/s1600/iPod+touch+2012-May2014+2543.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dresser- after!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijqWBZsmsRoi2hm63RvcdS58T9XwWPydFcd17AGT4qJCX5o0T1gfHgcF_N-t6f5eYwbqw94eZFxgJKbRz6JjE0ceagAEoljmkQn3jgpVWWkzdddRFZFsArBvA33zQ7gtjPxRp8O0DU-mI/s1600/iPod+touch+2012-May2014+2743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijqWBZsmsRoi2hm63RvcdS58T9XwWPydFcd17AGT4qJCX5o0T1gfHgcF_N-t6f5eYwbqw94eZFxgJKbRz6JjE0ceagAEoljmkQn3jgpVWWkzdddRFZFsArBvA33zQ7gtjPxRp8O0DU-mI/s1600/iPod+touch+2012-May2014+2743.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nightstand - before (with my secret weapon liquid sandpaper!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2gN5lsFvB46PC6rm_BTRTpEa0c2YpN-Wy7KWhj1j4pts-OILOE7VKwx9yJlZsRK53mycjfEQ1JUKn29cmundaGXzYhdQ_rIGgxddRoW40FKI5KwkTkjH6PUQ_fW2HsRohZzCSCttWu6Q/s1600/iPod+touch+2012-May2014+2762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2gN5lsFvB46PC6rm_BTRTpEa0c2YpN-Wy7KWhj1j4pts-OILOE7VKwx9yJlZsRK53mycjfEQ1JUKn29cmundaGXzYhdQ_rIGgxddRoW40FKI5KwkTkjH6PUQ_fW2HsRohZzCSCttWu6Q/s1600/iPod+touch+2012-May2014+2762.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nightstand - after!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAxNIMPi6TQD3Lrdl-ArAqBODZGAhB4clz4hekk3_nnqAkxGsttKtGqEjhmgLlFd1YNJ069flGwocjxsDH5K5XcLTQwoMjvSQjAjEwGleeWp7OGm-lluWuIViD1jb-EY5RJGKgfSV8iIM/s1600/iPod+touch+2012-May2014+2840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAxNIMPi6TQD3Lrdl-ArAqBODZGAhB4clz4hekk3_nnqAkxGsttKtGqEjhmgLlFd1YNJ069flGwocjxsDH5K5XcLTQwoMjvSQjAjEwGleeWp7OGm-lluWuIViD1jb-EY5RJGKgfSV8iIM/s1600/iPod+touch+2012-May2014+2840.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one I'm really proud of. This is an old sawhorse support... </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaJ_6X19TsN0miZPAW48KExYoZJaLGk3qYWcfaPSUXmyfiaPkV7-ucyXno0wcht0xiTYVJmQwJ1bOqMjNz0m_Y20KXyW2oH6Jxkwy4YFIj0RONo_i54MReQ9HaqsmTE_YMne9xrARlsF8/s1600/iPod+touch+2012-May2014+2928.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaJ_6X19TsN0miZPAW48KExYoZJaLGk3qYWcfaPSUXmyfiaPkV7-ucyXno0wcht0xiTYVJmQwJ1bOqMjNz0m_Y20KXyW2oH6Jxkwy4YFIj0RONo_i54MReQ9HaqsmTE_YMne9xrARlsF8/s1600/iPod+touch+2012-May2014+2928.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And this is a sawhorse support turned into a bookcase!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQucAii8ooEz6qKQtn0rlAENarGPK0Q_l2QrK5xF3oGAFWiDqGakSE33CKiDBg37WREuHHuVNUpROaCgv5_wVxj53V9_HOTFtEXAAQXYl-17F8fTrjhT3BQmVgjsZf0AsLnSrKVuV3MAQ/s1600/iPod+touch+2012-May2014+2872.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQucAii8ooEz6qKQtn0rlAENarGPK0Q_l2QrK5xF3oGAFWiDqGakSE33CKiDBg37WREuHHuVNUpROaCgv5_wVxj53V9_HOTFtEXAAQXYl-17F8fTrjhT3BQmVgjsZf0AsLnSrKVuV3MAQ/s1600/iPod+touch+2012-May2014+2872.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aurora's cool flower lamp.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBGPtDdLddcyHDWlZp3jr6qBk2rlycpjZPjWvc2NMeNRLPfSVe_Oj9AQYpkJBeLbAz-CJ4bwAh__w-Eb33ir5tXeGqjA2bUno2nc6hFQFFl8rHAXYWENh8ELKeFHT874ncGPerFnBcXPw/s1600/iPod+touch+2012-May2014+2899.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBGPtDdLddcyHDWlZp3jr6qBk2rlycpjZPjWvc2NMeNRLPfSVe_Oj9AQYpkJBeLbAz-CJ4bwAh__w-Eb33ir5tXeGqjA2bUno2nc6hFQFFl8rHAXYWENh8ELKeFHT874ncGPerFnBcXPw/s1600/iPod+touch+2012-May2014+2899.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Awesome textured wallpaper. Still unsure whether or not I'll be painting it pink.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy9O-C9cw96uqJyco2as_hWebSVytBRYl_f9H7CYUN98vyVJW8Uzfgq8WL2Bn_h9f-3OH9N5ii-ZdEQck21TyMzPFUmMZSIhJynGR0cwrtmzZXxT1NUE4-iFm2C22eO5ySVdeQlxgUKcQ/s1600/iPod+touch+2012-May2014+2908.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy9O-C9cw96uqJyco2as_hWebSVytBRYl_f9H7CYUN98vyVJW8Uzfgq8WL2Bn_h9f-3OH9N5ii-ZdEQck21TyMzPFUmMZSIhJynGR0cwrtmzZXxT1NUE4-iFm2C22eO5ySVdeQlxgUKcQ/s1600/iPod+touch+2012-May2014+2908.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hello Kitty decal wall and play table.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglMJnyzEu2iW_mAaZvd8ZmddlUFDaijwDu0SnyMO8iUxwO6fdpVxUyocPOiPWc4sUGj8BNUeusBVFPiGbCKdMvFxWZddSGxg-k2WlVv6QU_TEpLIfh7FGxqkXOVqv0OuPUI3UzGFq-_Es/s1600/iPod+touch+2012-May2014+2911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglMJnyzEu2iW_mAaZvd8ZmddlUFDaijwDu0SnyMO8iUxwO6fdpVxUyocPOiPWc4sUGj8BNUeusBVFPiGbCKdMvFxWZddSGxg-k2WlVv6QU_TEpLIfh7FGxqkXOVqv0OuPUI3UzGFq-_Es/s1600/iPod+touch+2012-May2014+2911.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aurora's new reading corner. Still hunting for the perfect fluffy chair.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih9n37wUocbFKAJIjsMU7fxC-cvxBaIAnzjXfLJm3A1iwxwSUc0sekKGI7x1zQW-bg_mIXMVg8gkN4TujAroTv7ImWv0RO0MXbwccWYWRJ-bQ21swKSQnVSbxtL-ZW7Hyp0sRKlld2fsw/s1600/iPod+touch+2012-May2014+2913.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih9n37wUocbFKAJIjsMU7fxC-cvxBaIAnzjXfLJm3A1iwxwSUc0sekKGI7x1zQW-bg_mIXMVg8gkN4TujAroTv7ImWv0RO0MXbwccWYWRJ-bQ21swKSQnVSbxtL-ZW7Hyp0sRKlld2fsw/s1600/iPod+touch+2012-May2014+2913.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Closet wall.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKA5kvEkklOGYofF2vjMk_IZTvchVhVdfGZql4BVqYt5iv_7t5zGtFCsoPqgWf2baKriwWS8JFgLNEu7fcIn3JQmT6Ve3vEZDio2UROg-7B6I7m2UMMKwEBmnp5D3sAEPWsjmNckoT5dw/s1600/iPod+touch+2012-May2014+2926.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKA5kvEkklOGYofF2vjMk_IZTvchVhVdfGZql4BVqYt5iv_7t5zGtFCsoPqgWf2baKriwWS8JFgLNEu7fcIn3JQmT6Ve3vEZDio2UROg-7B6I7m2UMMKwEBmnp5D3sAEPWsjmNckoT5dw/s1600/iPod+touch+2012-May2014+2926.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bed and nightstand.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhclCMJYAYZpRzwk1djaJkGKMuQ_86ZJRiyVODlkp1y-8YDkZKE1AxP5uETLSFROnMIoc3rrWqdeIN-RVrk3S_4iMe6BrlzYA0RzQad8fHjSAtDrUv2LEbPa0DW6MoQiJr7Rq1ohA2MzRU/s1600/iPod+touch+2012-May2014+2927.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhclCMJYAYZpRzwk1djaJkGKMuQ_86ZJRiyVODlkp1y-8YDkZKE1AxP5uETLSFROnMIoc3rrWqdeIN-RVrk3S_4iMe6BrlzYA0RzQad8fHjSAtDrUv2LEbPa0DW6MoQiJr7Rq1ohA2MzRU/s1600/iPod+touch+2012-May2014+2927.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dresser, Aura's framed pictures, Hello Kitty clock.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLOlK6-YPn-uYKcwN5E-Sly1fbaQclwBQVFEYqLfFAu58My-ImuSur-SbMA0K-NYB5az_Y3v1uS8HiRNpP0Vswd4ngf0hhJ5tU8JvWC-RAO9CVK4HtkoEnm5mnAkM8PbUFCnlpUquruEI/s1600/iPod+touch+2012-May2014+2953.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLOlK6-YPn-uYKcwN5E-Sly1fbaQclwBQVFEYqLfFAu58My-ImuSur-SbMA0K-NYB5az_Y3v1uS8HiRNpP0Vswd4ngf0hhJ5tU8JvWC-RAO9CVK4HtkoEnm5mnAkM8PbUFCnlpUquruEI/s1600/iPod+touch+2012-May2014+2953.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Play table. Got this for $5 but it needed a total overhaul. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPJpxAgzuOoacdcCWWGAqOM_1cOV_-TUUON-t_0L5FRZk0YouvkfOVkI-c-mx8MFM465ew5Li9UoKT5kOcdR3w5RUF8jXi1pxFq_YUmCOek250piUiMnxwKVIEgDyrXW-aR2SYSX89EAQ/s1600/iPod+touch+2012-May2014+2955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPJpxAgzuOoacdcCWWGAqOM_1cOV_-TUUON-t_0L5FRZk0YouvkfOVkI-c-mx8MFM465ew5Li9UoKT5kOcdR3w5RUF8jXi1pxFq_YUmCOek250piUiMnxwKVIEgDyrXW-aR2SYSX89EAQ/s1600/iPod+touch+2012-May2014+2955.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The infamous $50 curtains. Totally worth it, right?!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />FirstComesBabyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10002247523797608464noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1100384578690847149.post-35915113532418250582014-02-14T21:02:00.002-05:002014-02-14T21:52:24.934-05:00HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ea9999;"><b>Nothing says "I love you" like a heart-shaped, potato flatbread pizza!</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/t1/1898041_10151990066737685_2079296900_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://scontent-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/t1/1898041_10151990066737685_2079296900_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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This is a new recipe I tried for the first time. It was delicious and may be my go-to crust from now on. If there is any interest in the recipe, let me know and I'll post it!</div>
FirstComesBabyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10002247523797608464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1100384578690847149.post-3065841033999912022014-02-04T20:27:00.000-05:002014-10-04T20:28:54.673-04:00Aurora's Birthday & Christmas - super late. Things have been crazy around here lately. Every time I think I I'm all caught up, more projects come out of the woodwork. I'm still doing school full time and hanging out with the Bean during the day. We still have our adventures, though the snow has been keeping us indoors a lot. We're currently gearing up for a big room switch. Aurora will be getting her big girl room and mama will finally be getting a little privacy (at least during sleeping hours!). It will be nice to have my things out again without worrying about them getting lost or broken. It's funny the things you take for granted before having a child. Anyway, it's going to be a ton of work, but it will be worth it in the end. Aurora and I are both very excited for the change. Here's what you've missed over the last couple of months:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVUuatI_Fntha1rTr0Z62rrFOoXp5AOusrLsEK4r0KXUrCw9aChCUC3jacs3JiY89Mbild2UrCSJt4LIYvdk5TDbZJDMoVTEODHpDtUowsSaV4qPWEKc0C5w5-GuaDUMrxPVhqmnbpwBI/s1600/DSC00723.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVUuatI_Fntha1rTr0Z62rrFOoXp5AOusrLsEK4r0KXUrCw9aChCUC3jacs3JiY89Mbild2UrCSJt4LIYvdk5TDbZJDMoVTEODHpDtUowsSaV4qPWEKc0C5w5-GuaDUMrxPVhqmnbpwBI/s1600/DSC00723.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioMg_UMIK_HesnyXe5NcER8i6NkLo6q-D-QZYsA6kpkGO_d1tfHlouWM2nFZlVzF62pvcS9P2vfaWrR95o45qP9Q8xH0qwmFYgBvx47OxKUYNx-gtii6MsK_9q0lRM0P2J7GfdIEVezcc/s1600/IMG_3667.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioMg_UMIK_HesnyXe5NcER8i6NkLo6q-D-QZYsA6kpkGO_d1tfHlouWM2nFZlVzF62pvcS9P2vfaWrR95o45qP9Q8xH0qwmFYgBvx47OxKUYNx-gtii6MsK_9q0lRM0P2J7GfdIEVezcc/s1600/IMG_3667.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<br />FirstComesBabyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10002247523797608464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1100384578690847149.post-24275549492496984432013-11-07T14:12:00.002-05:002013-11-07T14:12:59.137-05:00Sneak Peek of Aurora's birthday party theme this year!I bet you can guess what it is...<br />
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<br />FirstComesBabyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10002247523797608464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1100384578690847149.post-28349020727690914832013-11-07T00:40:00.000-05:002013-11-07T00:40:22.144-05:00HALLOWEEN!!<div style="text-align: left;">
Aurora has been OBSESSED with dragons ever since someone gave her one at the Big E a month ago. So, when it came time to decide on Halloween costumes, I already knew what the answer would be...</div>
A purple dragon!!<br />
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This was Aurora's first year trick or treating, and even though it was a little rainy outside, she had a blast! Of course mama had to dress in a coordinating purple sorceress costume... <br />
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Aurora loved her costume so much, in fact, that she insisted on wearing it the whole next day while she watched Dragon Tails on Netflix. 2013 - Year of the Purple Dragon.
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FirstComesBabyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10002247523797608464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1100384578690847149.post-31029216363644768442013-09-09T20:55:00.002-04:002013-09-09T21:07:02.150-04:00The Hardest Thing I've Ever Had To Teach My Child<div style="text-align: center;">
When you become a parent, you know there are things you will have to teach your child. Things like; "Don't put that in your mouth", use the potty, "Say please and thank you", learn your ABCs and 123s. Other stuff happens as a reaction, like no hitting or biting (or swearing.. oops) and be gentle with animals. Then there are the things that you don't realize need teaching until you are faced with them head on.<br />
For instance, how to behave in a social situation, or how to make friends.</div>
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For me, the hardest lesson to teach, and to accept myself, has been "not everyone is friendly". In other words; "leave people alone if they don't want to interact with you". When Aurora first learned that she could get a reaction from people by smiling or talking to them, it was incredibly exciting for her. When she was a baby, she would wave at everyone and there was nothing more frustrating for me than watching people go out of their way to ignore her. At that age, though, she was oblivious and, because I was always holding her and she had a short attention span, the moment usually passed quickly. These days, though, she is more persistent. If someone doesn't acknowledge her, she will often go out of her way to get their attention.</div>
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Many people respond well, but others, not so much. She is curious about everything and it's her job at this age to learn about the world around her. This includes the people she sees every day. She wants to know about them too. She is learning important information about how to interact with others. This is something that could set the stage for her entire social life. How do you explain to your child, who is just trying to make friends, that many people don't want to be bothered? She knows that I love her. She knows that the people she sees on a regular basis like her. She knows that she can make friends with other kids and some other adults. But... what about that guy on the bus giving her a dirty look for asking too many questions? </div>
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If other kids don't mind her questions and most people will interact with her in a very age-appropriate way, why can't everyone?</div>
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Aurora is extremely social... I'm sure she gets that from me. She is not shy and has no problem voicing her opinions. She loves interacting with other people and I think it's important for her. Moreover, she's really GOOD at making friends. Whenever we're in a situation where there are other kids, she gravitates towards them in a very natural way. Sometimes, it's as simple as sitting next to someone until they notice her.</div>
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Sometimes she plays alongside and occasionally she will ask about something the other kid is doing.</div>
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Sometimes, she goes so far as to give a random person a giant hug...<br />
for no apparent reason other than the simple fact that she wanted to.</div>
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Almost universally, the other kid responds well. It is the parents (myself included) that stand by waiting for something to go wrong. Why is that? Most kids are born with a natural ability to make personal connections and we, as parents, spend their formative years discouraging it! We do this by imposing our own prejudices on them or by outright teaching them to be more reserved. What is so wrong with giving someone a hug just because you want to? Why is it such an imposition when someone we don't know starts a conversation? These are adult hangups and we have no right to train our kids the same way when all they want to do is make friends. I think it's wildly unfair. However, I also recognize that we are a society that revolves around everyone having a bubble of personal space that no one should invade. I know that some people will react poorly if Aurora is always so outgoing. I also realize that some people may not have the best intentions.</div>
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I guess where I am going with this is, do I really have to teach her that talking to or touching other people isn't okay? Do we have to go over guidelines about where/when and how she is allowed to make friends?This goes beyond the typical "Don't talk to strangers" diatribe. Personally, I hate that lesson. I understand where it comes from (fear) but I refuse to make it that cut and dry for several reasons. For one, some people genuinely DO want to make connections and I think that is important. Secondly, I don't want to instill universal and unwarranted fear of the unknown into her. Should we be teaching our kids that all strangers are 'bad' just because one or two in her life may actually be? For me, the answer is no.</center>
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I think learning to trust your instincts is more important. I've rarely, if ever, been wrong when I get an uneasy feeling about a person. This is something we all have the ability to recognize. Some people make your hair stand on end, others you want to cross the street to avoid talking to, some people are fine to talk to but you question the validity of everything they say. We can all see these things. However, it took me many years to fully trust that instinct. Why? Because I grew up with a "don't trust strangers" mindset. Then, as I grew older, I realized that if I never trusted strangers, I would become a creepy unemployed and reclusive cat-lady who never made friends or had lovers and who would inevitably die alone. </div>
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The truth is we NEED strangers in our lives. They help us learn and grow and without them we would be incredibly lonely. Not to mention the fact that we would never get jobs or go on dates or make new friends.</div>
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Reconciling these two truths became very hard when I was in my teens and early twenties because I never had to rely on my gut before. Strangers were bad... period. Upon the realization that strangers were actually very important, it became hard to decide which ones were trustworthy. I had completely lost touch with that basic social instinct that we are all born with. I had no bullshit detector. I didn't know when people were just using me. I found myself believing people when they said they were telling the truth, even if a tiny part of me knew they weren't. I was desperate to let people get close to me and I made quite a few poor decisions as a result. Then, I sort of went the other way...</div>
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TRUST NO ONE.</div>
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I spent the majority of my mid-twenties as a jaded and miserable person. I thought everyone had ulterior motives. I assumed that I would never find someone who genuinely loved me. It took me a very long time to let all of that anger and disappointment go. I often wonder how much heartache I could have avoided if I had a better grasp on how to judge people. Is it really just a matter of getting older and wiser?<br />
I think that is part of it, of course. But I also believe that we are fundamentally set up for failure because we never learn how to socialize.</div>
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Almost everyone I know has similar childhoods. They had a select group of friends that didn't change until school, if it changed at all. For the most part, the only adults in their lives were relatives. I can't remember any significant childhood memory that involves someone outside of my family or my two friends growing up. Granted, I also grew up in the time of 'children are seen and now heard'. I'm sure this also played a part. The thing is, the memories I have of my family are mostly amazing ones. They were adults who interacted with me in a way that was different from my parents. I learned things, I grew, and these moments stuck with me. Imagine how many more I might have had if I had met more people?</div>
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So how do we bridge this gap between "don't talk to strangers" and "only talk to the right strangers"? For us, so far, it has been a matter of teaching Aura that "not everyone is friendly" for now. She is allowed to say hello to whoever she wants (as long as she is with me). If they don't want to talk to her, I redirect her and explain later. Sometimes even when she is initially well received, she gets too excited or tries to touch people which makes them uncomfortable. In those situations, I tell her to keep her hands to herself and if she can't calm down, I redirect her. She seems to be picking up social cues little by little and will often get the hint that someone doesn't want to interact. On more than one occasion, she has told me "That person isn't friendly" which I always think is hilarious and which I secretly hope will teach the other person a lesson.</div>
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As she gets older, and is in situations where I am not right next to her, we will have to elaborate and learn the difference between strangers who are safe and those who are not. This raises a whole new set of issues. Is the person with the uniform on always friendly? How about the person teaching children's activities at the park? Are they always safe? How can you be sure they work there?</div>
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In my opinion, the simple answer is; you can't ever be sure based on appearance. But this doesn't mean you should be afraid of strangers! This is where trusting your instincts will come in. We already talk about being able to judge moods, she knows when people are happy or sad and she's pretty good at spotting a faker! I'm hoping this will translate well into being able to tell if someone is honest. I also want to teach her to trust her gut. If something doesn't feel right, it isn't. She's not obligated to trust anyone except for me. She doesn't have to talk to someone if she's uncomfortable and she never, ever has to go anywhere with anyone. Ever. But that doesn't mean she has to stay in a bubble and be afraid. I don't want her to ever think that she has to be afraid of people. I don't want her to feel like she's not allowed to make new friends or to be outgoing. </center>
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Some people aren't friendly.</center>
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That's their problem, not hers.</center>
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Plenty of other people are.</center>
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FirstComesBabyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10002247523797608464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1100384578690847149.post-22835839764539446162013-09-04T22:30:00.002-04:002013-09-04T22:30:32.412-04:00Wordless Wednesday XXXVI - (Our micro stay-cation!!!)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />FirstComesBabyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10002247523797608464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1100384578690847149.post-62938572473199256082013-08-14T15:30:00.000-04:002013-08-14T15:30:55.440-04:00Foo Fest 2013! Aurora is a Rock Star PLUS a Special Announcement! This was Aurora's third Foo Fest (You can read about the other times <a href="http://msangelstarr.blogspot.com/2011/08/our-weekend-meeting-new-family-foofest.html" target="_blank">HERE</a> and <a href="http://msangelstarr.blogspot.com/2012/08/last-weekend-foo-fest.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>). For the first time she was truly able to appreciate our little family summertime tradition! It's hard to believe that just two years ago she was a little bean who spent most of her time in a carrier just staring at the bright lights. Where has the time gone? This year we went to brunch at a new place called The Grange.<br />
Aurora spent quite a bit of time drawing "funny faces" on the napkins. <br />
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Then we headed to Foo Fest!
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The first stop was the mini makers market where we found some 3D dinosaur puzzles that Aurora loved!<br />
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Next was the musical instrument 'petting zoo' where Aurora tried her hand at guitar and drums and started an impromptu toddler band with another little girl.<br />
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Then we went to the face painting area. This was Aurora's first time getting her face painted so she had to stand and check it out for a little while first. After, she was excited to tell us that she had a 'butterfly face'!<br />
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Then my former boss treated Aurora to her first giant pretzel. You can tell by her face that she loved it:<br />
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After some more walking we ate our dinner from the roof of a double-decker bus restaurant!<br />
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Finally, Aurora played with Auntie and a new friend making more dinosaur puzzles and then we headed home. It was a great day as usual.<br />
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NOW...<br />
Are you ready for the super exciting announcement?<br />
Aurora is officially POTTY TRAINED!!<br />
After introducing the potty around Christmas time and doing a few stints here and there, Aurora finally decided about a week and a half ago that she was ready! She woke up and asked to go to the potty and she's been going ever since with no daytime accidents and only two nights of waking up wet! We even made it the whole long day away from home at Foo Fest and got back totally dry!<br />
Needless to say I'm pretty proud of my big girl!<br />
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<br />FirstComesBabyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10002247523797608464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1100384578690847149.post-68578143520597199372013-07-26T21:47:00.000-04:002013-07-26T21:50:44.751-04:00Aurora's Summertime Adventures! - HUGE Photo update!Oh boy have we been busy around here. Trying to enjoy as much of that summer sun as we can! Of course, now that I'm not taking so many classes at a time, it's actually a little chilly here this week. Hopefully it's nice out next week so I can enjoy my first full week off after 17 weeks of non-stop schoolwork! Aurora is growing by leaps and bounds. It's almost overwhelming. At her last appointment even the doctor was amazed by how tall she had gotten and that she was speaking in full sentences. It's like she went from a baby to a big kid overnight. There's very little trace left of that helpless baby I held in my arms just two and a half years ago. Lately, she's been making new friends, playing outside as often as we possibly can and, of course, eating lots of yummy foods! On that note; my new canning hobby has quickly turned into an addiction so I'm sure some canning posts will make their way onto the blog soon, as well. Stay tuned! In the meantime, here's some highlights:
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FirstComesBabyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10002247523797608464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1100384578690847149.post-53415511375411359742013-07-06T20:28:00.000-04:002013-07-06T20:28:34.091-04:00Happy Birthday America!! -Our 4th of July!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />FirstComesBabyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10002247523797608464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1100384578690847149.post-67947720350841840962013-06-08T00:28:00.000-04:002013-06-08T00:28:05.919-04:00Sorry! I've been slacking...For anyone who doesn't know, I've got an unusually heavy courseload this semester and it's been a little tough to make myself sit down and update. Usually I want to get as far away from the computer as possible! The good news is; the semester is halfway over and I've been surviving, with my 4.0 average still intact. Soon it will get easier! The bean and I have been enjoying the warm weather during the day though... here's a quick glimpse of our last few weeks:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/93604726@N04/8982794229/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_1928 by FirstComesBaby, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1928" height="500" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3742/8982794229_a8ca0824d0.jpg" width="375" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aurora practicing her bike riding skills at Nana Poo's house.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aurora at her best buddy's 2nd birthday party!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drawing and eating fruit snacks!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picnic at the zoo!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Painting with water at the zoo (I really need to make her one of these!)</td></tr>
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Meanwhile mama has been canning awesome salsa; running and obsessing over salads!!</center>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/93604726@N04/8982794133/" title="IMG_2025 by FirstComesBaby, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2025" height="500" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5328/8982794133_46dea1d573.jpg" width="375" /></a></center>
FirstComesBabyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10002247523797608464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1100384578690847149.post-38743184021690824142013-05-21T21:47:00.001-04:002013-05-21T21:47:13.690-04:00Mother's Day, Pint Sized Picasso and Aurora's 1st Attempt at Chopsticks!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbkhl7mdK9a_0nUacNBb5f7VClou_kVwtIlaQ-XVY0OyLmy9FDFI5k8Z5ZZBc0zbSYsmyYCX12wTSlwLTnG16tbaONRjeIzskrspdbAFCqIQnBVOwxdBzRCY2xmBQ0B56HxQd_GPUgKfA/s1600/IMG_1846.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbkhl7mdK9a_0nUacNBb5f7VClou_kVwtIlaQ-XVY0OyLmy9FDFI5k8Z5ZZBc0zbSYsmyYCX12wTSlwLTnG16tbaONRjeIzskrspdbAFCqIQnBVOwxdBzRCY2xmBQ0B56HxQd_GPUgKfA/s320/IMG_1846.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Mother's Day is a holiday that I'm still getting used to. It used to be a holiday that I dreaded because it just reminded me that my mother was no longer around. These days, it is a much happier time because I have my own little bean but it is still a lot to take in and it's hard to not feel a little guilty while celebrating. This year we took it pretty easy. We went out for a nice brunch and some bloody Marys, then did our usual grocery shopping routine. It was perfect. In other news: </div>
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Aurora has been on a creative streak lately! Drawing and painting up a storm!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG4HS7ymBya_3mrsLvSwTCh_Wgpho5Iyf1Ljq_0YZzRQQHNnSyEBSjoWrbY0VAHankA2LzGIKHl2SugCF73nvGvmTTPzAa3IWkRwj9UUAaiIJ2npZ3fGpa5kbAj8xWUNQhF3UfeBuNTRw/s1600/IMG_1796.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG4HS7ymBya_3mrsLvSwTCh_Wgpho5Iyf1Ljq_0YZzRQQHNnSyEBSjoWrbY0VAHankA2LzGIKHl2SugCF73nvGvmTTPzAa3IWkRwj9UUAaiIJ2npZ3fGpa5kbAj8xWUNQhF3UfeBuNTRw/s320/IMG_1796.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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She's also learning how to use chopsticks, or tsop stips as she calls them. It was all her idea. She's doing pretty great, but she tends to stab the pieces of food that won't cooperate haha. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJcWcbyINScEXH_u-ks9CVvIVQDb5QNn4A3_-yxuYBI5Y9f45sUAtm8Ia9baPrxJUZSaqyvtducfc0JFZDKALwZFS3bN1GgsWHoEqP9TcsYIvGkaOIZHovkGPg7XMkJQPkf09w1PL1G38/s1600/IMG_1776.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJcWcbyINScEXH_u-ks9CVvIVQDb5QNn4A3_-yxuYBI5Y9f45sUAtm8Ia9baPrxJUZSaqyvtducfc0JFZDKALwZFS3bN1GgsWHoEqP9TcsYIvGkaOIZHovkGPg7XMkJQPkf09w1PL1G38/s320/IMG_1776.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />FirstComesBabyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10002247523797608464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1100384578690847149.post-38664291201330821332013-05-07T23:11:00.002-04:002013-05-07T23:11:41.879-04:00What we've been up to lately:Time just keeps slipping away around here. We're busy busy busy! Aurora's new buddy is still with us three days a week, which seems to be working out well for everyone. I'm still in school full time, taking THREE classes at once right now which is a little stressful. I've also started running for exercise because it's the most (actually, only) convenient option for me. In between all of that, we've been trying to get out and enjoy this new spring sunshine as much as possible! Here's some of our moments from the last few weeks:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/93604726@N04/8718534945/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_1755 by FirstComesBaby, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1755" height="500" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7368/8718534945_f9906a237c.jpg" width="375" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Running errands with mama.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/93604726@N04/8719651386/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_1603 by FirstComesBaby, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1603" height="500" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7410/8719651386_f13fe8eeb7.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snugglin and watching Sesame Street! (SO CUTE!)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/93604726@N04/8719652064/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_1652 by FirstComesBaby, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1652" height="500" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7444/8719652064_9d1169d5b5.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first 5k - don't laugh at how slow I am please!!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/93604726@N04/8719649428/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_1739 by FirstComesBaby, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1739" height="500" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7339/8719649428_713e5cd547.jpg" width="375" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teaching her buddy how to draw with chalk!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/93604726@N04/8718530475/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_1729 by FirstComesBaby, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1729" height="500" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7288/8718530475_64df4dcd61.jpg" width="375" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Longest bubble bath ever!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/93604726@N04/8719652812/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_1764 by FirstComesBaby, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1764" height="500" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7359/8719652812_1c5c8dea9d.jpg" width="375" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aurora's first ice cream cone!! (Shhh.... don't tell her it was vegan and all -natural!)</td></tr>
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FirstComesBabyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10002247523797608464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1100384578690847149.post-966925620688947792013-04-11T12:56:00.001-04:002013-04-11T12:56:27.766-04:00Aurora's self-portraits....<center>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/93604726@N04/8639833545/" title="65625_10151416307387685_1707165674_n by FirstComesBaby, on Flickr"><img alt="65625_10151416307387685_1707165674_n" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8536/8639833545_d9a1e48532.jpg" width="500" /></a></center>
FirstComesBabyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10002247523797608464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1100384578690847149.post-29748680024012158412013-04-02T23:03:00.001-04:002013-04-02T23:04:29.956-04:00Aurora's super rad dinner tonight:<center>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/93604726@N04/8614561187/" title="9998_10151404492067685_2023227003_n by FirstComesBaby, on Flickr"><img alt="9998_10151404492067685_2023227003_n" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8100/8614561187_e4f741ae93.jpg" width="500" /></a></center>
FirstComesBabyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10002247523797608464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1100384578690847149.post-27379787815771707072013-03-15T20:09:00.000-04:002013-03-15T20:09:14.683-04:00Potty Training Madness Continues... Oh, and, p.s. I'm even more famous!<div>
So, with the exception of two days when Aurora was sick, I haven't changed a dirty diaper in weeks! She still needs to figure out peeing on the potty. However, number two goes in the potty every time and that's the one that matters the most to me. We'll keep working to get it down completely, but I'm pretty happy so far!</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/93604726@N04/8560054605/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_1338 by FirstComesBaby, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1338" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8392/8560054605_3343ef4e8b.jpg" width="375" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aurora's potty chart... because I'm a nerd. </td></tr>
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Oh, and I was featured on yet another site this month! This time over at Mommy HotSpot! How flattering!! If you want to read the full article it's on their page, <a href="http://www.mommyhotspot.com/march-blogger-first-comes-baby/" target="_blank">HERE'S THE LINK!</a></center>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/93604726@N04/8561161204/" title="IMG_1337 by FirstComesBaby, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1337" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8515/8561161204_16db5b571e.jpg" width="500" /></a></center>
FirstComesBabyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10002247523797608464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1100384578690847149.post-184649054930790642013-03-13T15:11:00.002-04:002013-03-13T15:37:30.396-04:00Angela's super amazing gluten-free, vegan and PORTABLE homemade protein bars - 7 ingredients, NO refrigeration!!<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/93604726@N04/8544297514/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="IMG_1290 by FirstComesBaby, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1290" height="320" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8111/8544297514_1effe1d555.jpg" width="240" /></a>So, I'm happy to announce that my<a href="http://msangelstarr.blogspot.com/2013/03/today-i-may-have-invented-something.html" target="_blank"> great homemade protein bar experiment</a> was a success!! This little guy is from my first batch... ten days later with no refrigeration! I've wanted to do a homemade protein bar for awhile now since most of the better tasting ones aren't gluten free and the list of ingredients on some of them is horrifying! My biggest beefs with all the recipes I had previously found were:<br />
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- They needed to be baked to death.<br />
- They had a list of ingredients just as long and strange as the store bought kind.<br />
OR (and this was the worst and most prevalent one)<br />
- They needed to be kept in the refrigerator.<br />
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I'm sorry... but isn't the whole point of these to be quick, easy and portable? It seems pretty silly to make the effort if you need to keep them in the refrigerator all the time to keep them from becoming a sticky mess, doesn't it?<br />
Needless to say, I decided it was time to throw my hat into the ring and figure out a better way to do these. Mine have only seven ingredients plus they are gluten free and vegan. The best part? TEN days after making a batch, they are solid, not sticky and still delicious with ZERO refrigeration!!<br />
Here's day ten up close and personal:<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/93604726@N04/8544297542/" title="IMG_1294 by FirstComesBaby, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1294" height="400" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8389/8544297542_6c0746b96c.jpg" width="300" /></a></center>
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Ok, I'll stop gloating now and divulge all of my delicious protein bar wizardry. Here you go, friends: </center>
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<b><u>Angela's super amazing </u></b><b><u>no-bake, </u></b><b><u>gluten-free, vegan and PORTABLE homemade protein bars</u></b><br />
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I have to warn you, the grocery list may be a little pricey for your first batch (protein powder is crazy expensive) BUT the good part is, you're only using a small amount for every batch of ten, so it still works out cheaper than the store-bought in the end. If you have trouble finding some things, I cannot recommend <a href="https://www.vitacostrewards.com/XxaZiqs" target="_blank">Vitacost </a>enough. That site has saved my life since I decided to go gluten free, I place an order at least once a month. They aren't paying me to say that, I swear!! Buuut, if you decide to check them out and <a href="https://www.vitacostrewards.com/XxaZiqs" target="_blank">use this link</a>, there's a nice little ten dollar credit for your first $30 order (and a matching one for me). I'll provide product links as well so you can see the nutritional information and prices, but those links won't give you the $10 credit. If you decide to make these, please please come back and tell me what you think! You can be my honorary long distance taste-testers. Feel free to ask questions and/or give me suggestions as well. I'm pretty excited about these just the way they are, but I'm always looking to improve!
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<u>Here's what you'll need: </u><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/93604726@N04/8553892422/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="DSC00554 by FirstComesBaby, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC00554" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8088/8553892422_5a9fe20660.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">note: coconut oil is only for the optional melted chocolate that I'll talk about later</td></tr>
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1 and 1/2 cups - <u>Gluten free Crispy Rice Cereal</u>, like <a href="http://www.vitacost.com/natures-path-envirokidz-organic-koala-crisp-cereal-eco-pac" target="_blank">Koala Crisp</a> (I used chocolate, because it's delicious)<br />
1/2 cup - <u>Peanuts</u> or other nuts<br />
1/2 cup - <u>Quick or Rolled Oats</u><br />
2 servings - <u>Protein Powder</u> (I use <a href="http://www.vitacost.com/lifetime-lifes-basics-plant-protein-mix" target="_blank">THIS ONE </a>because it's agave-free, dairy-free and the price is great)<br />
1/4 cup - <u>Nut Butter</u> of your choice (I went with peanut because I had it on hand)<br />
1/4 cup - <a href="http://www.vitacost.com/lundberg-organic-sweet-dreams-brown-rice-syrup" target="_blank">Brown Rice Syrup</a><br />
3 tbsp -1/4 cup <u>Add-ins</u> like Mini Chocolate Chips (I used <a href="http://www.vitacost.com/enjoy-life-semi-sweet-chocolate-mini-chips" target="_blank">these awesome dairy free ones</a>)<br />
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<li>You could also use chopped dried fruit, seeds or extra nuts - anything shelf stable will do. Aim for just shy of 1/4 cup for proper yield</li>
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- Wax paper for wrapping. (Parchment could work too, but they may not hold up as well during the week)<br />
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Prep time - 20 minutes, Inactive (drying) time - about 1 hour.<br />
Yield: 10 bars<br />
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I like to buy whole nuts and chop them myself, it's easy and cheaper, plus they don't get stale as fast. You could buy pre-chopped ones if you wanted to save a little time. Otherwise, whiz them in the food processor for a few seconds or put them in a bag and hit them with a rolling pin... whatever works. For these, you don't want to go too crazy, the nuts are there to add texture so a few big pieces are fine... mine looked like this:<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/93604726@N04/8553892852/" title="DSC00552 by FirstComesBaby, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC00552" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8520/8553892852_7d5156464f.jpg" width="500" /></a></center>
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Throw the nuts with all the other dry ingredients in a bowl and then mix your nut butter and brown rice syrup together. If you're a crazy person, like I am, you'll mix them right in the measuring cup...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/93604726@N04/8553892224/" title="DSC00555 by FirstComesBaby, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC00555" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8105/8553892224_0c7ea53f4b.jpg" width="500" /></a></center>
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Now here's where the trade off for no baking and no refrigerating comes in. These are kind of a pain to mix. You need to work the nut butter and syrup all the way through the dry mix. It takes awhile and there's a lot of smooshing and bowl scraping involved. I promise, it's worth it. You want the mixture to start making little evenly distributed clumps, sort of like a dry pie crust mix with no big lumps. It should look like this:<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/93604726@N04/8552790267/" title="DSC00556 by FirstComesBaby, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC00556" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8087/8552790267_9e47760397.jpg" width="500" /></a> </center>
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Now you're going to add a tiny bit of water, 1 tbsp at a time, but no more than 4tbsp. You just want to moisten the mixture enough to hold together, too much water and they won't form bars. You'll know you're at the right consistency when there's no more dry protein powder hanging out at the bottom of the bowl and the mixture starts to stick to the spoon a little bit. It will look like oatmeal cookie dough at this point:<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/93604726@N04/8553891742/" title="DSC00557 by FirstComesBaby, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC00557" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8104/8553891742_c78a89dd20.jpg" width="500" /></a></center>
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Now the fun part! Working with small handfuls form the mix into bars, really squeeze the mixture together, so they don't fall apart when they dry. Mine are about the same width as my middle and ring finger and a little longer because I just eyeballed it using that as a guide. They don't have to be perfect, or even in bar form, just make sure that they are compact. I got 10 bars with a tiny bit extra to sample... Lay them on a piece of wax paper or parchment and let them sit out so the outside dries up a little bit. I gave mine about an hour...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/93604726@N04/8552791281/" title="DSC00558 by FirstComesBaby, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC00558" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8231/8552791281_0094d2868c.jpg" width="500" /></a></center>
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When the tops are dry to the touch, you can wrap the bars up in squares of wax paper and toss them in an airtight container or baggie. Mine lasted a full ten days with no refrigeration, in fact they probably could have gone a bit longer because the one I ate on the tenth day (that little guy in the first picture) still tasted perfect. Now, if it's really warm or humid where you are, you may want to store them in the fridge just to be safe. But they should travel perfectly well during the day once you take them out.<br />
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Speaking of the one in the first picture, you probably noticed the chocolate drizzle... I did that as an experiment to see if they would hold up. They definitely did! I just melted some extra chocolate chips and a tiny bit of coconut oil (to smooth and temper it) then drizzled away. I did the hour of drying (uncovered) in the refrigerator to set the chocolate, but then I took them out and held them at room temperature for the full ten days and they were totally fine. These wouldn't hold in really warm temperatures though, obviously. Chocolate + heat = big gooey mess.<br />
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With the ingredients listed above, (same brand of protein powder, peanuts, peanut butter and 3 tbsp mini chocolate chips- *no extra melted chocolate*) these have 212 calories, 10g of fat, 22g carbs and 10g of protien! They come in really close to the Nature's Valley gluten free protein bars that I love- but these have less than 1/3 the ingredients and I know how to pronounce them all! If you sub chocolate chips out, you could adjust the carb and fat content a little. However, I have a severe peanut butter & chocolate addiction, so these hit the spot for me as is...<br />
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Again, if you try these out... and you should, right away... please come back and tell me what you think!FirstComesBabyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10002247523797608464noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1100384578690847149.post-14248203080474266772013-03-06T00:52:00.001-05:002013-03-06T00:52:51.241-05:00Say hello to my new hobby: Canning!<div style="text-align: center;">
This was my first batch: fresh chipotle salsa and marinated mushrooms. I'm hooked already!</div>
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FirstComesBabyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10002247523797608464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1100384578690847149.post-26606278494690520772013-03-02T19:30:00.002-05:002013-03-02T19:32:56.569-05:00Aurora has the hair of a Texas beauty queen today.I've had to keep Aurora's hair in a half ponytail these days because it was getting so tangled all the time. The ponytail seems to do the trick because the top and sides tangle easier than the back. Today we did a big long brushing session though while Aurora watched TV. I wanted to make sure every last hidden snarl was out. But because it had been up in a ponytail so long, she ended up with even more volume than usual....<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/93604726@N04/8523105438/" title="IMG_1258 by FirstComesBaby, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1258" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8385/8523105438_f44a690ffa.jpg" width="375" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/93604726@N04/8523105462/" title="IMG_1260 by FirstComesBaby, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1260" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8523/8523105462_9f8242a390.jpg" width="375" /></a></center>
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Out. Of. Control.</center>
FirstComesBabyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10002247523797608464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1100384578690847149.post-41392557855991594932013-03-01T22:54:00.000-05:002013-03-13T15:18:12.815-04:00Today I may have invented something amazing....<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/93604726@N04/8520540932/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="480406_10151349976407685_1450099838_n by FirstComesBaby, on Flickr"><img alt="480406_10151349976407685_1450099838_n" height="400" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8507/8520540932_0f0307e568.jpg" width="400" /></a>These, my dear friends, are what I hope will turn out to be homemade gluten free protein bars that are actually portable. This is my test run. These babies are going to be eaten over the next ten days to see whether or not they will keep without being refrigerated. I know this seems like it would be an obvious requirement. However, trust me, after sifting though literally fifty or more that needed to be kept in the refrigerator, apparently it's easier said than done. I think the main issue is that homemade bars aren't loaded with preservatives. In fact, these are only seven ingredients!!! This is definitely a good thing, but there are a lot of things to consider if you want to avoid the chemicals. Obviously, spoilage is a big concern. I've managed to deal with that by using only shelf-stable ingredients. If nothing in them needs refrigeration, then the bars themselves shouldn't (hopefully). Another less obvious issue is texture. Many of the recipes I read required refrigeration otherwise the bars would become big gloopy messes. I think I may have solved that issue also by substituting elbow grease for liquids. These are never a sloppy mess to begin with so it stands to reason that they won't magically become that way over the next several days, only time will tell. Wish us luck! I did the nutrition info on SparkPeople and they come pretty darn close to the $4.00/box Natures Valley bars that I've been inhaling, only these are cheaper and much better for you. Also, seven ingredients vs. 20+. I think that's a win-win. If they survive the ten day test, I'll be posting a step by step with the recipe! Stay tuned, and cross your fingers!!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/93604726@N04/8520553698/" title="Protein Bars recipe by FirstComesBaby, on Flickr"><img alt="Protein Bars recipe" height="486" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8085/8520553698_15f9d65d4f.jpg" width="500" /></a></center>
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<b><u><a href="http://msangelstarr.blogspot.com/2013/03/angelas-super-amazing-gluten-free-vegan.html#" target="_blank">UPDATE: THEY SURVIVED!!! RECIPE HERE.</a></u></b></center>
<br />FirstComesBabyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10002247523797608464noreply@blogger.com0