Toddler Christmas 2012

This year we got a taste of Christmas magic through the eyes of a toddler.  (Can I even still call her a toddler anymore?)  

It's just the three of us until March.

1.  She believed this button really turned on the tree lights at the zoo.

2.  Family!

3.  It "snowed" at the San Diego zoo.

4.  Guilty! She must have climbed up there to eat the crackers a million times.

5.  Serving up some pizza in her new apron.

6.  Santa came and brought this freaky looking doll that she asked for.

7.  Little Santa hanging at the Catamaran before brunch.

8.  Taking her sweet time opening her stocking.

Sharing her stickers with Uncle Jay.

Walking  to brunch, hand in hand with her favorite guy.

Wishing you a Happy New Year!  There is so much to look forward to in 2013!

Scenes from the past {Christmas Edition}

Christmas 2009- Just Married!

This Christmas involved lots of drinking and fun with friends.  Every photo I have turned out terrible (must have been the drinking), including the one below..

Taking down the tree- Jeff and I enjoyed our first married Christmas, maybe too much?!

Christmas 2010- Leila's first Christmas

Leila had no clue what was going on...

She willingly posed by the tree at 3 months old.

Christmas Eve at the Haley's-
Leila is dresses to impress and Aunt Val is sporting our Grandmother's favorite vest.

Christmas 2011-  New Traditions
This year Leila met Santa for the first time, our Christmas Eve celebration moved to Val and Stefan's, and Christmas morning with a toddler proved to be a lot more exciting than waking up with a hangover...

Leila (15 months) and Santa at Fashion Valley Mall.

Kicking off the Christmas Eve festivities.

Still able to fit into her Santa hat.

Christmas morning-about to see what Santa brought!

Wishing you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas! This year we are excited to experience the magic of Christmas through the eyes of a two year old.  Let the celebrating begin...

Salt dough ornaments {New traditions}

Last Christmas I attempted to make salt dough ornaments with Leila.  I was proud of my accomplishment, but they are so easy to make, I decided to step it up a notch this year.  I saw these adorable Santa hand print ornaments on Pinterest (of course) and knew they would be the ornaments we made this year.

Aren't they adorable?

They were super easy to make too!  The most difficult part was keeping these two friends entertained while Amy and I kneaded, rolled, and cut out the dough into the shapes we wanted.

I used the same recipe I used last year to make the dough.

Salt Dough Santa Claus Ornaments

This recipe makes 12-16 toddler hand sized Santas.

Ingredients:

4 cups flour

1 cup salt

1 1/2 cups water

sturdy cardboard

parchment paper

Acrylic paint- skin tone, red, white, black/brown, blue, pale pink

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
2. Combine the ingredients in a bowl.
3. Knead the dough for 15-20 minutes (knead on the counter, it's easier)
4. Separate dough into equal sized portions and set aside.
5. Roll out one portion of dough onto a small piece of parchment paper.
6. Trace your child's hand onto a piece of cardboard and cut out carefully.
7. Dust one side of the cardboard cut-out hand print with flour to prevent sticking.
8. Cut around the cardboard hand with a knife.
9. Use a straw or similar object to make a hole at the top (base of the hand) for hanging on the tree later.
10. Poke holes with a skewer around the perimeter of the ornament to prevent bubbling.  Poke all the way through the dough for the best results.
11. Place parchment paper and ornament on a baking sheet.
12. Bake at 300 degrees F for 20-25 minutes or until golden. 
13. Let them cool completely before painting. 

Salt dough Santa Claus Ornament painting guide:

(As you can see in the pics above, I also made stars for Leila to paint herself since she is not ready for the detailed Santa painting.  Read these tips on painting with toddlers...no muddy brown if you follow my instructions!)

1. Start by paining the section just above the fingers using the skin tone colored acrylic paint.  (You can see in my close-up picture that the paint I used for the face cracked.  I did not use acrylic for the skin tone which was a big mistake.  Regular washable paint just doesn't work as well.)
2. Paint the hat and the thumb red leaving the tip of the thumb unpainted until later.
3. Let these two colors dry.  (You may need more than one coat.)
4. Paint the fingers and sides of the ornament white.  Leave a little bit of the skin tone paint showing for the mouth.
5. Paint the fur trim on Santa's hat and the tip of the thumb white.  I definitely needed more than one coat of white paint.  For best results let it dry between each coat.
6. Use pale pink for the cheeks and mouth, blue for the eyes, and black/brown for the pupils,
7. Mix a bit of pale pink with the skin tone paint for the nose.
8. Let them dry completely overnight.
9. Add a ribbon or ornament hook and wrap them as a gift of hang it on your tree. 

Next year I'll be making ornaments again!  With inspiration from Pinterest, I'll be tackling something new for our homemade Christmas ornament tradition.

What are your holiday traditions?  Have they changed since having children?

The Great List {12.07.12}

I have been so excited for this Great List all week!  We are busy, busy, busy here and I like it!

1.  We finally put up our tree!  We borrowed an artificial tree this year from my friend Lauren for a few reasons (cost and size).  Although it doesn't look like or smell like a real tree (that's what scented candles are for) it did get me into the holiday spirit!  Leila loved hanging the ornaments with us.  It was fun to watch her choose the specific ones she wanted to hang.  Her favorite...my First Christmas ornament from 1977!  It's got her favorite Disney characters right on the front.  Mickey, Donald, and Goofy haven't aged a bit.

2.  Jeff took the first step in getting the kids' bedroom ready for baby #2.  We have so much reorganizing to do to get ready for this little guy.  Luckily we have plenty of time.  I currently have four projects going and need Jeff's help for all but one. We'll get there!

3.  I had a whole day to myself!  Ahhhhhhhhhh.  Shopping is one of my favorite pastimes and although I love to shop with my mom and sister, I also love shopping alone.  I literally shopped till I dropped and am still in some pain from all the standing and walking.  Leila's Poppy will be babysitting again next week (hooray!) and hopefully I can get all our shopping done without killing myself in the process.

4.  Leila and Kennady did some crafting.  Okay, Amy and I most of the work, while they tried to eat the salt-dough.  Regardless, the ornaments turned out wonderfully!  If you follow me on Instagram (myleilaland) you saw some pictures of them.  I'll be posting the tutorial on Tuesday.  If you're interested get some flour, salt, and acrylic paints.  It took only two days/sessions to complete the project. You have time before Christmas to wrap these cute ornaments up!

5.  I received the highest compliment on my blog from a guy I've looked up to my whole life...my dad.  Yesterday his email simply said, "I enjoy reading your blog. Impressive."  I started this blog to keep in touch with faraway family and friends and am thankful to know that they are still reading.  Although knowing that they read does make me filter out some content/blog ideas, I still post embarrassing and personal stuff here (recently looking at my butt in the mirror comes to mind). Thanks to EVERYONE for reading.  I would still write if you didn't, but am sure glad you do.

"Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough."
 -Oprah Winfrey

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Come back here each week for my newest list and don't forget to check out Betsy's list each week too.  Warning...positive thinking is addicting!

Want to write your own list?  

Just grab the button, add it to your post, and come back to tell us about it.

Share some joy...

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{Mommy} Holiday Wish List 2012

According to Merriam Webster's online dictionary... 

Wish list (n.)  a list of desired but often realistically unobtainable items 

Just making that clear before I list a bunch of items I'd love to have on my 2012 holiday wish list.  This is for fun!  Maybe you'll even get a gift idea or two for a friend or family member.

Want to play along?  Leave me a list in the comment section or link up your blog post here.  I'd love to see what's on your list (as I'm sure we all have some difficult-to-shop-for people this holiday). 

Wish list {for moms} 

I think this parenting book is right up my alley.
I already agree with the title.

Summer Infant Baby Touch Digital Video Monitor
This will allow Leila the freedom to play in her room by herself and
it will come in handy when the new baby arrives.

I left my gorgeous fish quilt at the park one day (hello mom-brain!). This blanket by JJ Cole is not nearly as beautiful as my quilt, but it is waterproof and it folds up easily to fit in the stroller.

Wish list {for beauty queens}

This is the best smelling lotion EVER!  It is lightweight and perfect for everyday use.
I thought I got it as a gift in an extra large size one year and it seemed to last forever.  

My sister gave me this Mega Bright serum by Origins for my birthday and I loved it! Maybe it's the pregnancy glow, but I'd like to say it improved my skin tone.

Jeff got me this blush called Orgasm by Nars two years ago for Christmas. It's a perfectly universal color and I want more.

I own many perfumes and want to add the newest one by Marc Jacobs to my collection.

Wish list {for the fashionistas}

So...this Black Calypso Canvas Wedge by TOMS may not be the most fashionable wedge out there,
but remember I do stay at home and this is about as dress as I get these days.  I saw them on a mom in our play group and they was totally appropriate for daily wear.

Maybe I should have titled this section differently.
Maternity yoga pants from Gap and fashion just don't belong in the same sentence, huh?

Add captionAll of the Original Seatbeltbag cross-body styles by Harveys are on my wish list. This one in particular is eco-friendly and could even double as a diaper bag.

That rounds out my extremely ridiculous wish list for Christmas 2012.  I could go one for days telling you about things I love... jewelry, scarves, socks, bags, music, etc.  I personally think I am the easiest person to shop for.  I love everything!

What's on your wish list this year?  

Ever own any of the things on my current list?

Anything you would recommend based on my list?

I can't wait to start holiday shopping...even if it isn't for me, shopping for gifts is just as fun!

{Toddler} Holiday Wish List 2012

I know, it's not even November yet, but you better believe I've already been doing some Christmas shopping!

All year I keep a list on my phone titled "Gifts". When I hear a family member or friend mention something they like, I add it to the list.  When I think of something Leila would like or read about a product online, I add it to the list.  This makes shopping way less stressful during the holiday months.

Leila's wish list was wiped out after celebrating her 2nd birthday a month ago. Our house is stocked with toys, but I know by Christmas she'll be ready for a few new items.  I'll be especially looking into more items that allow for her to play independently.  That's going to be necessary after her baby brother is born.

Toys for toddlers

Green Toys Dump Truck

Melissa and Doug Cutting Food- Wooden Play food

Mr. Potato Head Silly Suitcase and his party friend Mrs. Potato Head Spudette

Disney Princess Sparkle Shoe Boutique
and dress-up clothes of all kinds

Art supplies for toddlers

Melissa and Doug Paint with Water book

Do-a-Dot Rainbow Art Set

Color Me Nursery Rhymes Do-a-Dot Creative Art Book

Clothing

Minnie Mouse Slippers Size 5/6- Toddler
(I saw Elmo ones in her size too!)

Chicago Bears Toddler Football Jersey and Pant Set

More toddler gift ideas

My Tot Clock
 I love that this clock has so many uses! 

Stocking Stuffer ideas for toddlers

Electric toothbrush
Play-dough
Stickers and tattoos
Winter hat
Teeny-tiny hair bands for her almost-piggy-tails
Coloring book


So, I may have gone a little overboard!  We won't be buying her all these things...it's called a wish list for a reason! 

I have a feeling this list for my two-year old, Leila, will be growing after I read the other linked up posts for this week's Toddle Along Tuesday.

What is on your child's holiday wish list this year?

Two-year old Favorites {Toy Edition}

Leila just turned two and received some toys for her birthday that quickly turned into favorites.  Although I may have suggested a few of these gifts, none of the gifts from Jeff and I have made it on this list. (Go figure!)

1.  See that stroller?   Yep, Leila loves it.  Two-year old kids love pushing anything and her stroller is a favorite because I have one too.  She pushed her stroller (ditching it only a few times along the way) all the way to Aunt Val's house last weekend.  Luckily I convinced her that I did not also need to push a stroller with a baby doll in it.  Not to say that it won't happen in the future.

2.  Remember the Magna Doodle?  This toy has been played with daily since she got it.  I think she likes the fact that she can "color" whenever she wants without me nagging to keep the crayons on the table.  Leila was able to erase her pictures easily from the start, but prefers erasing mine.

3.  Books, books, and more books.  After I read a book to Leila she insists that it's her turn to read it.  Sometimes she can recall the text based on the pictures, other times she just reads in her head (I guess?!?).  The best books are the ones that we have two of- a board book and a regular copy.  This way we can read at the same time.  Like a typical two-year old, Leila loves to hear the same books over and over again.  I don't mind, with all the practice I get really good at reading them aloud with expression.

4.  This kitchen set took Jeff five (golf watching) hours to put together.  I swear it is nicer than my real kitchen.  She cooks, washes dishes, does laundry, and cleans up just like Mommy.  It has been a great distraction while I actually do those things.  Leila has been interested in doing "all things Mommy" for quite a while now, but I am glad we waited until she turned two for a kitchen set because she really knows how to play with it now.

With Christmas less than three months away I will be checking out other lists of Favorite Toddler Toys that have linked up with Melissa for Toddle Along Tuesday.

Go check them out...

After-Christmas Cheer

Christmas might be over, but we are celebrating the weather here in San Diego! Tourists have invaded our town and everyone seems to be in a good mood.

This week we've been buzzing around enjoying the outdoors. We walked to the end of the pier to see the Christmas tree before they took it down. Leila was very interested in all the fishermen and listening to the waves crashing.

That same day I decided I was over Christmas. I took down all the ornaments and packed them up while Jeff micro-managed my work. I'm ready for our space back. This apartment is too tiny for our family of three, a cat, a Christmas mess, and a tree.

Well, today is Thursday and our tree is still up and the lights are on. I guess Jeff wasn't on board with killing the after-Christmas spirit so soon. This is the beauty I've been looking at for the past two days.

Now instead of having a Christmas tree we just have a very large lighted houseplant that clearly looked better with ornaments.

Merry Christmas!

Enjoying her second Christmas!
Leila 15 months


Rewind to 2010
Leila 3 months

What a difference a year makes, huh?

Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas! XOXO