crossrhodes

We didn’t actually go trick or treating. I just wanted an excuse to make a costume from scratch.

Mommy recycled daddy’s old red t-shirt into Layla’s Little Red Riding Hood.  The idea was a Martha Stewart knock-off.  One of the shirt’s sleeves made a perfect hood.  I cut the cape from the remaining part of daddy’s t-shirt that was not covered in grease and paint and trimmed the edges with white ruffles.  I decided she would go blond with bunches of yarn braided together.  I used fabric glue, thinking it would be easier than sewing.  It’s really not.  I would’ve finished the project in no time (and with less gooey mess) if I wasn’t too lazy to pull out the old sewing machine.

Anyway, there you have it!  Next, I’m carving her first Funkin for the Thanksgiving table.

Hey, who turned out the lights?

Brrr…… it’s gettin’ cold outside!

Yes, I’ve been neglecting my blog.  It’s amazing how much time a tiny baby demands.  When I do hop online, I have just enough time to check email, ebay, and craigslist.

I bought a “gently used” maternity winter jacket last year on ebay for $50.  Since I have no use for it now, I put it back on ebay.  The highest bid is already over $50 with a couple more days (and 9 lurking watchers) to go.  The jacket just paid for itself and then some!

We’re unloading our media armoire and James’ desk on craigslist, too.  I can’t wait for someone to haul them away!

I’ve also had a steady stream of book and DVD sales on Amazon.  The first sale was depressing, my 3-inch thick Anatomy & Physiology textbook that cost more to ship than the used sale price.  But with Amazon’s shipping credit, I still netted a few dollars.  Woop-dee-doo!  Overall, I’ve averaged a net profit of $15 per sale on Amazon.  I suppose that’s better than $0 and wasted shelf space.

Time’s up!  Baby’s hungry.  Bye-bye!

I’m two weeks late in posting this but better late than never!  Five months with Pinky the bunny. Her complexion looks different in each picture. It’s actually because I’ve been inconsistent with the photo exposure and white balance. Her skin is consistently fair, except in her first few weeks after birth when she was really pink.

She hardly naps during the day anymore, keeping me busy entertaining her.  But she’s more entertaining to me.  She’s so much fun at this stage, more interactive at play.  She loves to hear daddy’s typing or stares at him when he’s talking on the phone.  She has been showing a preference to mommy since I spend the most time with her and I’m the face she associates with food and comfort.

Baby Sign Language Update:

I read that sign language training should begin at 6 to 9 months.  Repetition and association are key.  I have been signing the basics to her since she was 3 months old.  I figured, if she’s beginning to recognize people then she must also recognize things like her bottle, bowl, spoon, and diapers.  She’s already starting to communicate to me.  I will speak and sign a list of things and she only reacts when I get to whatever it is she wants.  It’s usually food.  She can’t tell me her preference yet between formula or solid food, but when I sign “eat” or “milk” (without seeing her bowl or bottle) she responds.  Other words I’m teaching her are sleep, change (diaper), tummy ache, mommy, daddy, and I sing and sign “Jesus Loves Me” at least once a day.  It’s the only song I know in sign language =)

After she turns 6 months, we’ll move on to family members.  I’m making a mini scrapbook of all her grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins that we can look at and sign to every day.  Now, if I can only find my scrapbook desk that is burried under a pile of baby clothes and supplies……

Look what I found in the dryer! LOL! Wait till Thanksgiving when I garnish her on a turkey platter =)

For now, she’s the butterball at the checkout line =)

Okay, enough with the silliness.  I actually have a serious question for other parents.

Where do you place the car seat on the grocery cart?

Before James left for college, we would tag team.  He pushed the baby stroller, I pushed the cart.  I’ve seen some women put the car seats on the handle and child seat.  They must have a different type of car seat because Layla’s Graco SnugRide does not fit there snugly.  And I’ve tried it on different carts from different stores.  None of them feel secure enough.  The only place I’m comfortable putting her in is inside the cart, which leaves little room for groceries, which means I have to do the groceries more often.  So, until a baby can sit up on her own in the child seat, where do you place the car seat on the cart???