kids

Continuing to Instill a Coffee Ritual in Toddlers But Not Really Because That Would Be Bad

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As far back as Teagan being able to hold her head up and able to be held by me upright we have been making coffee together. At first it was just me holding her and her watching me. Then it was Teagan pressing the button on the Nespresso machine for me. Next evolved into her helping me put the cartridge in the machine and press the button to make the espresso.

Nowadays Teagan and Amelia both can put the cartridge in by themselves. The only help the need is closing the container. It’s pretty cute to see both of them bring over their chairs to stand up tall enough by the counter help make my coffee.

I’ve blogged about it before since it is something so simple yet something that makes me smile every time I think about the coffee ritual we do together.

I don’t use the espresso maker very often anymore. Maybe once or twice a week I’ll have a shot or two of decaf after work. I rarely make it on the weekends. Instead I have moved on to a French press cup of coffee. I will use the Nespresso machine when I want to make an Americano. The price of the pods are significantly more than the price of coffee for the French press.

After I have lost my weight a few years ago I do not make cappuccino’s as often as I used to. Because of that the lore of the espresso machine is diminished. I still like Americano probably more than the French press however the cost just makes it prohibitive in the French press is not that bad.

I do however have used for the milk frother. That is because Teagan always asks me to make her coffee. What she really means is that I froth her up some milk. Since I used to take spoonfuls of my cappuccino milk that wasn’t touched by coffee and feed it to her as a baby I find it cute she likes to do that. She’s been asking me rather consistently in recent weeks to make it for her. Usually she asks when I get home from work and it’s late. I tell her to remind me on the weekends when I’m up to make her and Amelia breakfast. Then when she asks the three of us will make a batch of milk together and the girls will share.

I find it adorable that they sit on their chairs with the mug of frothed milk and eat it like yogurt or ice cream.

Still Trying to Grasp Amelia is Two Today

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It feels like it Teagan was just born so grasping that Amelia turned two today is challenging to me.

It was funny to see Teagan & Amelia help MC bake a cake for Amelia yesterday.  I don’t know what was funnier.  That Amelia picked the yellow cake batter over the chocolate cake batter or that Teagan continued to try to change her mind to chocolate.  I was hoping Teagan would be successful because sometimes you wonder if a two year old really knows what she wants.  Well in this instance Amelia did know, and was insistent on the fact that she wanted the yellow cake box.

All I can say Amelia is I hope the cake is yummy later.  Happy birthday to my little smiley face!

Cheers

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Favorite quote today.  The setup.  Amelia needed a teething ring and Teagan wanted one also.  They both got them and Teagan tapped her ring to Amelia’s and says “cheers”. 

The Art of Dipping

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I came home early from work today and was able to eat dinner with the girls.  They had chicken nuggets.  Well we call them chicken nuggets but they are the Morningstar Farms Veggi nuggets.  MC & I have showed the girls how to dip food into sauces like BBQ & Mustard.  Neither of the girls have been interested in it.

Kids Quotes of The Day 24-May

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At dinner T asks “daddy you like cake? “. My response “yes”.  T asks “Mommy you like cake?”  M’s reply “yes I like cake”. T’s response “I like cake too”.  I then realize our family is very focused around cake.  One might say too much however I am not saying that.

Earlier in the day: A to T “thank you” as she gives Teagan a toy.

Amelia the Destroyer

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Since Amelia has been a few months old and learned to grasp at stuff she has been battling me.  She has been attacking my watch, Jawbone UP, eye glasses, chain, hair, nose, chin.  She goes after pretty much anything she can grasp at.  After loosing weight and getting rid of any double chin I had i was surprised when she grabbed a bunch of skin on my chin and yanked.  Not fun.  I seriously need to watch out for her to ensure i don’t get my eyes gouged out.  She is happy about the whole thing, so i am glad she is enjoying herself.

Last week she added to her head count of fatalities and destroyed my chain.  I got the simple gold chain from my parents for my Bar Mitzvah and have been wearing it every day since i was maybe 17.  Amelia has been attacking it for some time but finally was successful at pulling it off my neck.  It was the 2nd time she did this.  The first time the chain came off at the clasp so after i found the coin that goes on the chain i was able to start wearing the chain again.  This time Amelia just yanked the chain and broke one of the links.  This time i was able to find the coin and chain before it got lost.  Last time I was panicking for a day till i found the coin in the girls room.

Today I dropped the chain off at a jewelry store to get fixed.  They said it wasn’t a big deal to fix so i am happy by that.  I am pondering looking for something a bit stronger until Amelia is a bit older and won’t destroy this one again.

This whole event reminded me why I wear an old pair of glasses when i get home after work or during the weekends.  They are not as comfortable as the ones i normally wear but much more resistance to child attacks.

 

 

Amelia’s Photo Shoot

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Today we took Amelia to a photographer for her 1 year birthday photo shoot and cake smash.  We did the same thing for Teagan last year and we loved the photos.  For Amelia we went to the same photographer (Amanda Saldarelli Photography) we used for Teagan.  We also used Amanda for our holiday cards.  We have been very happy with her photos so we were excited to see what she could do with Amelia.

Going into the photo shoot we had a feeling Amelia would be more challanging.  She has a “slightly” more demanding personality than Teagan.  I didn’t stay for much of the shoot.  We first took some family shots with both girls and then I took Teagan away so Amelia could get some personal time to get her photos.

Teagan and I ended up at a Starbucks nearby.  She was happy since she got a snowman cookie.  I was happy since i got a cappuchino since i hadn’t had coffee at all that day till then.  After a little one on one time with Teagan we headed back to see how Amelia and MC were fairing.  I got back in time to see the cake smash.  Amelia at first was super excited to see cake.  That was until she touched it.  Then it was like we poured nasty goo on her hands because she got very upset.  Teagan on the other hand had a blast at her smash.  So much so that we can proudly say Teagan’s smash photo (one of our personal favorate photo of the shoot) is hanging on Amanda’s studeo wall.

All is not lost however since the first teaser photos of Amelia from the shoot looked fantastic.  We are patiently waiting for more.

The rest of the day was a nice day at home.  The girls slept in the car on the ride home but then wouldn’t take regular naps afterward.  They were tired by the time it was bedtime.  MC & I were also pretty tired too.  I am a huge fan of nap time and I think MC is too.

Flying Solo With The Girls

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Today our babysitter was sick.  MC had a deadline at work so I took off.  I was already going to work from home because I was taking Teagan to her 2 year checkup but I wasn’t planning on getting no work done.  I have taken care of both kids alone before but it is always a challenge.

Today thankfully Teagan had a class in the morning.  I also had a class with Amelia but she was napping in the stroller so I made the command decision for us not to go.  Instead i got a civilized walk in with her sleeping.  The highlight was my Starbucks Cappuccino.  I miss my walks when Teagan was a baby were I could go for coffee.  With both kids it is a challenge so i was grateful for the chance today.

After Teagan’s doctor appointment and attempted nap time I got in some really good play time with them. That was followed by the challenging yet not as bad as it could have been bathing Amelia, feeding Teagan, then bathing Teagan juggling act.

All day I was craving Sushi, so i ordered delivery for when MC got home.  We hadn’t had in a while and it was delicious.  I was tired but it was a generally great day with my girls!