Monthly Archives: December 2009

In the Mood to Cry?

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Silly question?

Well, if you’re a mom (or a dad) and you want to cry, I have a song for you to listen to.

theBOY discovered it today at work. When he got home he played it for me, and yes, it made me cry.

Several times.

(Why do we torture ourselves with sappy songs?!)

So…the song:

It didn’t help that theBABY and I had a rough day together.

First, she woke up starving (according to her shrieking) from an afternoon nap. When I went to feed her my nail got her scalp and broke the skin.

More shrieking- this time from both of us.

I cried harder than she did. Sobbed really.

Later, she was doing her jumping trick and jumped her pretty little face right into my ring! She looked at me like “what did you do to me?” and started crying all over again.

I’ve been trying to tell her all that kicking and jumping would get her hurt one day.

On a much happier note, theBABY loves this Alicia Keys’ song. I often find theBOY and her dancing to it:

I think he’s secretly trying to counteract the influence my singing will have on her by exposing her to someone who can really sing!

So tell me, what’s your favorite sappy song to cry to?

Christmas Cookies Made Easy

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How do you make Christmas cookies with a one month old napping in the next room (who can – and will – wake up any minute)?

Last year I saw these adorable snowmen and top hat cookies in a gift set at Pier One and thought “I could make those!”

So I did.

They turned out great last year, so I decided to tackle them again this year.

The best part? No baking required!

In a one-hour nap’s time I finished approximately four dozen cookies (and cleaned up the kitchen)!

Here’s how it’s done…

Ingredients:

Snowmen cookies

1 package of Nutter Butter cookies
1.5 pounds of white melting chocolate
Carrot-shaped candy sprinkles (I found the same sprinkles at my local cake and candy supply store.)

Simply melt the white chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl by placing in the microwave 30 – 45 seconds at a time and stirring each time.  When the chocolate is melted, dunk the Nutter Butters to coat both sides and place on a cookie sheet. (I use a fork to dunk, let the chocolate drip and transfer to cookie sheet.) Place carrot noses in the appropriate place immediately.  

To further decorate your snowmen, place 2 Tbs. melted dark chocolate into the corner of a plastic bag and snip off a very tiny portion of the corner. Using the plastic bag as a piping bag, pipe two eyes and a dotted smile onto the snowmen. (HINT: I don’t add the dark chocolate details until the very end so I can use the leftover melted chocolate from the top hats.)

Place cookie sheet in freezer for 5 – 10 minutes. Ta da!

Top hat cookies:

1 package of Oreo cookies
1 package of large marshmallows
1.5 pounds of dark melting chocolate

Melt the dark chocolate as directed above.  Dunk Oreos into melted chocolate , place on cookie sheet and freeze for 5 minutes.

Using the same chocolate (you may need to reheat a bit), coat the marshmallows and carefully place on top of the Oreos. Freeze for 5 – 10 minutes and you’re done!

What could be easier?

Do you have a quick and easy Christmas cookie recipe you can share? I’m talking 60 minutes or less from start to finish!!

Who Stole My Daughter?

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Exactly three weeks ago theBABY joined our family.

After 21 days together, I thought I knew my daughter…

…the way her cry sounds like a little lamb when she’s really unhappy about something…

…her favorite place to nap…

…the way her eyes light up when she hears theBOY’s voice…

…the squeaky noises she makes during naps…

…the 20 minutes of fun mommy/daughter time after she eats…

I want to know who took my daughter and replaced her with this strange baby who’s suddenly living with us.

The little lamb-like cry has been replaced with a persistent screaming. She won’t nap anywhere. Her squeaking is now more like mid-nap crying. There’s certainly not been any fun time lately.

(Yes, she still lights up for theBOY. The nerve.)

I’ve read that colic starts at three weeks. I’m totally panicked that this strange baby will stick around for nine more weeks.

I’ve also read that a three-week growth spurt is normal.

I’m praying it is a growth spurt.

I want my baby back.

I have a feeling this is the first in a long line of “phases” that will make theBABY unrecognizable to me.

I sure could use some advice on how to roll with the changes!

Motherhood: Perk #1

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I’m two and a half weeks into motherhood and I’ve discovered the first unexpected perk of the job.

theBABY doesn’t judge.

Specifically, she has no idea I can’t sing.

We’ve been spending quiet days around the house as we get to know each other and work on establishing a routine. (You know – eat, play, sleep. repeat.)

One regular part of our day has quickly become singing Christmas carols together. Imagine my surprise when I discovered singing Silent Night to the little one actually puts her to sleep! I miss note after note, but she doesn’t seem to mind at all! She just looks at me with her pretty blue eyes as I sing.

Eventually, her eyelids become heavy and she drifts off…

Soon enough she’ll know that I can’t sing. For now, I’m going to enjoy her obliviousness.

I want to know more unexpected perks of motherhood! I’m sure I’ll discover many on my own, but I want to know yours! If you know of any, leave a comment!

theBABY arrives!

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Well, she didn’t make me wait 10 days.

Only three.

My precious little baby girl was born on Tuesday, November 24, 2009. She was 7 pounds, 9 ounces and 20″ long. I fell in love from the minute they placed her in my arms! theBOY is in love, too. Oh, how he loves her!

So…how has becoming a mom changed me? Not much yet.  I cry at the drop of a hat, but that’s not totally new. The crying is just a little harder and lasts a little longer these days.  We rented My Sister’s Keeper last weekend – NOT a good idea for someone who just had a baby! (Great movie, though!)

I’m spending my days nursing, changing diapers and praying she’ll nap. When she actually does fall asleep, I race around the house trying to get as many things done as I possibly can.  I’ll probably learn to slow down right in time to go back to work.

Luckily, theBABY sleeps at night. That is the biggest blessing! Mama needs her rest.

I’m praying she doesn’t change her mind a few weeks into life and decide to become a colicky one!

The next challenge? Getting into the Christmas spirit!! I’ve been so busy getting settled with theBaby…all my Christmas shopping was done well before my due date… and we’ve had beautiful, sunny days that make it seem more like October than December!

I’m prescribing myself Christmas music – 24 hours a day – until the Christmas spirit arrives.

I’m wondering what you’re doing to get into the Christmas spirit this year?