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First Hot Chocolate Face:

(You have to look close, but it's there...)

Grasping at straws...

Yesterday, Eva took a tumble while she was running into the kitchen. I never really saw what happened, but I think she bumped her head on the door frame or something. Anyway, she started crying, and I picked her up to comfort her. Somehow, through her tears, she managed to say weakly (use a sad, pathetic voice when you read this) "Evie want medicine," which I'm totally used to because the girl has decided she loves the taste of the Tylenol we give her when she has teething pain, and she asks for it regularly. Just in case we'll give it to her, you know?

So I looked her over, decided she wasn't probably hurt too badly, and told her sorry but she couldn't have any. She paused for a minute, thought hard, then said (just as weakly) "Evie want beer."

Mike wanted me to share this with all of you:

He and Eva have really been reaching new levels in the bathtime hair spike world. He's so proud. And really, it is an achievement. I mean just look at that height.

House Guests

Look who came to stay at our house this weekend!!

Yep. That's Sebastian all right. My brother and sister-in-law took their first "road trip" as parents to our house—what an honor! It was such a joy to have a little babe in our house again. I've already forgotten how much they eat, sleep, and repeat when they're so young. And Sebastian was such a good little boy—I think he liked it here!

Eva was beyond thrilled, of course. She attended every diaper change to make sure that her Uncle Dicky and Auntie Alix did it right. And she kept us all updated with a running commentary on Sebastian's every move (as is her way.) She spent some quality time with her Uncle Dicky, learning the nuances of Guitar Hero:

She got pretty good.

(Ok, so she's not actually playing, but we did teach her to say "Evie Rocks!")

 

Recipe, anyone?

It's been a while since I posted an "Eva Recipe"...and this is one I've been meaning to share with you for a while now. Eva's been a little sick this week so we've been all about the comfort food, which, for Eva, means lots and lots of macaroni and cheese. (Although I should add that, sick or not, if you ask Eva what she'd like to eat her answer will almost always be "Mac and Cheeeeese!")

Since Eva requests mac and cheese so often, I've developed my own recipe so I know she's eating real cheese and whole wheat noodles instead of whatever makes up that (oh-so-yummy) powdered stuff that comes in the box. Plus, I can make just a bit at a time so there isn't a perpetual bowl of leftover macaroni and cheese in the fridge.

Homemade mac and cheese is usually a gooey, cheesy, baked concoction. And, while that version definitely has its place, it doesn't exactly fall into the "quick meal for my kid" category. So I had to get creative.

Following, you'll find my recipe for macaroni and cheese. Like the spaghetti-o recipe I shared earlier (follow the link at the top), this one is extremely flexible. You can tweak it to your kid's (or your spouse's) tastes, and feel good about not feeding them the fake powdery orange-y chemical-y stuff. (And then you can send your unused boxes of mac and cheese to me. Because, as good as this recipe tastes, there will always be a place in my heart for the stuff I grew up on.) Happy weekend, everyone!

Click below to see the recipe...

Poor Baby

Yesterday, Eva had a bit of a fever, so she went down for her nap a full 2 hours early and then slept for about 3 1/2 hours. Between the long nap and the fever, she had quite a head of hair going on when she woke up.

When I asked her if we should go get a barrette to hold her hair out of her eyes, she replied (and I quote), "Or not."

And I figured: she's sick. If she wants her hair in her eyes, who am I to argue?

Chaz Alert!

I'd say it's about time for a Chaz Report...how about you? Great! Here you go: 

From his mama: Chaz took his very first step the other day, it was brief, but it counted!! He'll be off and running in less than 2 weeks is our guess. Otherwise, he's busy climbing up and down the stairs, climbing the shelves in the pantry, emptying all the blankets out of his crib, walking while pushing anything he can get to move across the floor and getting a few more words out, too: leche and teta, which are Spanish for milk and bottle and all sorts of other new sounds we haven't figured what words they are....yet. Overall, he's very healthy and happy and keeping us on our toes.

Well there you have it, Chaz fans. Isn't he purty?

In a Hurry

Yesterday, when Eva and I came home from running some errands, she ripped of her mittens, threw them on the floor, and made a beeline for her jammies. She wrapped them around her shoulders before I could even take her jacket off...you'd think it's cold outside or something. (Sorry for the blurry picture. I couldn't get her to hold still.)

A "Grand" Weekend (ooh. sorry. sorry about that.)

Eva's Grammy and Grampa came to town this weekend, much to Eva's delight. It was a nice, long visit: they came Friday evening and stayed until Sunday afternoon, leaving just after Eva laid down for her nap. When Eva woke up, a couple hours later, we had this conversation:

Eva: Grammy and Grampa!

Mama: Grammy and Grampa went home to their house, sweetie. Remember?

Eva: Miss so much.

Watching Barney: