Thursday, June 26, 2014

Six Months!

I say this every month, but I just can NOT believe that a half of a year has flown by!  It seems impossible that Lydia is already six months old!
We have her six month checkup next Tuesday, so we'll know the "official" stats then.  I do know she's right around 18 pounds, since last week we went to the doctor.  Poor baby had a sinus infection!  It made for a few rough nights since she had trouble breathing with all the congestion, but we're on the mend!  Thankfully it never made her too crabby!
 Lydia is eating oatmeal cereal with some apples at morning and night, but she still isn't loving it!  It's kind of a struggle most days, but we manage to get at least some of it down!  Otherwise she's having about five bottles a day.  We still don't have a real good nap schedule down, but she usually takes three of them per day and they'll last anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 1/2 hours!  We know when she's slept out because she'll wake up happy and talking!  Lydia has slept through the night a few more days this month than last, so it's an improvement!  She'll still sometimes get up (especially if sick or it's storming outside) once, but we can usually convince her to go back to sleep without a bottle.
She thinks she's pretty big stuff this month! Lydia sits very well by herself now, but still tumbles when she gets too excited or tries to reach for something.  She now never stays in one place!  She's constantly rolling or "scooting" on her back...it's really quite comical!  Lydia has also figured out how to jump in the Johnny Jump-Up this week!  And consequently tries to jump every time she's standing on your lap!
 
 Lydia is LOVING being outside!  She loves to swing, lay on a blanket in the grass, and go for stroller rides.  She's even content to just watch the cars go by!  She's also starting to like looking at books and singing songs.  Lydia babbles all the time!  She's also starting to blow raspberries and loves when you tickle or "eat" her tummy!  Lydia went to her first wedding and funeral this past month and was a trooper at both.  Some things we're looking forward to in July: a weekend vacation at Yankton, seeing her TC cousins, swimming, and her first time to the Omaha zoo!  We'll keep you posted!
We also took her six month pictures last night at Hills Park, and we're super excited to see how they turn out!
We love you so much, Lydia Ruth!  We just can't get enough of your smiles, dimples, blue eyes, giggles, blabbers and other antics!  You light up our life daily!  And you can stop growing so quickly now...  :)

Feeling fruity :)

Here's some recipes as of late!

 Strawberry Pretzel Salad
Layer 1 (bottom):   2 1/2 c. crushed pretzels
                             3 Tbsp. brown sugar
                             3/4 c. melted butter
Mix these 3 ingredients. Press into a 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

Layer 2:                3/4 c. sugar
                             8 oz. cream cheese
                             8 oz. Cool Whip
Blend ingredients until smooth.  Spread on layer 1.

Layer 3 (top):        6 oz. pkg. strawberry jello
                             10 oz. frozen strawberries (drain most of the juice off)
                             2 c. boiling water
Mix jello in boiling water.  Stir in frozen strawberries.  Chill until partially set.  Pour on layer 2 and refrigerate until set completely.

Fruit Pizza
Crust:         1/2 c. powdered sugar
                  3/4 c. butter
                  1 1/2 c. flour
Filling:        8 oz. cream cheese
                  1/2 c. sugar
                  1 tsp. vanilla
                  Fruit (fresh and/or canned)
Glaze:         1 c. fruit juice (I used pineapple)
                  2 Tbsp. cornstarch
                  1/2 c. sugar
                  1 tsp. Real Lemon
**Note: One recipe will make a small pizza pan.  I doubled it and put into an 11x15 jelly roll pan.
Mix crush ingredients & pat in pan.  Bake 30 minutes at 300 degrees.  Cool. Cream filling and spread over crust (I used the mixer).  Arrange fruits on top.  Drain canned fruits and SAVE THE JUICE.  Mix glaze (keep stirring!) and cook until thick.  Cool & spread over fruit.

Strawberry Rhubarb Jam (for freezer!)
6 c. rhubarb, cut into small pieces
4 c. sugar
1 can strawberry pie filling
6 oz. package strawberry jello

**Note:  Stir this very frequently!
Partially cook rhubarb.  Add sugar.  Boil for 10 minutes.  Stir.  Then add pie filling.  Boil 10 minutes.  Stir.  Add jello.  Stir until dissolved.  Put in small containers and freeze.  (Makes about 4 pints worth.)

Sunday, June 22, 2014

Happy Father's Day

Happy 1st Father's Day to Dan!

 As you probably know, Dan has a little bit of a big sweet tooth, so we decided a candy card was in order.  It reads: 
"Dear Dan/Daddy, We want to Take 5 to count our blessings, like YOU!  We appreciate all of your Extra hard work: you bring in the PayDay, put up with our Trix, and even clean up Kat poop! (What a Lifesaver!) You make us Snicker all the time!  You are an amazing Dad to Baby Lydia Ruth.  We love being the 3 Musketeers and love you to Pieces!  Happy 1st Father's Day!  
Hugs & Kisses, Love your Sweethearts


 We also took some pictures for Daddy to hang up at work!


Happy 1st Father's Day, Dan!  We love you lots and appreciate and respect you SO much!

Friday, June 6, 2014

Outside time!

 Lydia & I were both relaxing outside in the nice weather!

 She's getting so good at sitting up by herself!

 Cool chick!!!


Farm Visit

I took Lydia to the family farm for the first time last week.  She loved looking at all the animals, and she even giggled at them!  :)
 Meeting Fuzzy...who was so kind to let Lydia pull her hair.


 She wasn't scared of the steers!

 We love Luke and miss seeing him more often!  He's so great with kids...such a lover :)
Can't wait to visit again soon!