New car seat :)

Our friend Liz gave us a car seat that her daughter used for two years. We installed it, and there seems to be something wrong with it. When you pull on the straps to make sure it's tight enough, they just come all the way loose. We need to bring it to the police department to make sure it's not something we're doing wrong, but I trust Matt's ability to install it, so I'm sure it's defective.

In any case, after reviewing many review on car seats, testing them out, asking for advice, we finally ordered one tonight! I am so excited to get it in and try it out. It is super comfortable and one of the best car seats we could find. It's still hard to believe that our little girl is growing up!! She's going to look like such a big girl in her new car seat!

Looong day!

Acadia and I had two errands to run today - one to Toys R Us (yuck) and one to Walmart (double yuck - why don't we have a Target here?!). For the past month or so, Acadia has hated going shopping with me - she cries literally the minute I get her into the cart until the minute I get her out of the cart. So annoying when you have decisions to make in a store and have a baby screaming the entire time. Oh my.

So it was pouring rain today and I decided to run those two errands. And, yes. Acadia cried the whole time. Sigh. When I got to Walmart, I completely lost it and told Acadia to be quiet. In the middle of the store. With people staring at me. I just burst into tears - exhaustion set in and I felt awful for losing patience with my girl. I left the store and got into the car and cried all the way home. I called my poor husband at work to talk, and cried into the phone to him, poor guy.

15 minutes later, he called back and told me that he didn't want me to argue - he was coming home and was going to watch Acadia so I could have a break. I wish I could put into words what that did for me...he's an amazing daddy and husband - so supportive and understanding...I couldn't ask for a better friend than him...

Yummy recipe

Acadia LOVES these pancakes (and so does my husband!):

1 c. flour
1/4 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking powder
1 egg
1 c. milk
2 tbsp. oil
1/2 c. applesauce (I use cinnamon applesauce)

Measure all ingredients and put in mixing bowl. Mix all ingredients until smooth. Cook on Teflon griddle, until bubbles form on one side. With a pancake turner carefully turn and brown on other side.

I triple the recipe and have been making them on Monday mornings. I freeze the leftovers and just pop them in the microwave every morning - they are so yummy! You could put sliced apples on top of them or add mashed bananas into the mix to make apple/banana pancakes. Enjoy!!

Echo Center Fun

We took Acadia to the Echo Center yesterday for the first time and she LOVED it!! We had such a fun time, too ~ watching her observe the fish, play in the "playground", making an art project and a button. We ended up getting a year pass for only $27! Adults pay $9.50 to get in every time, so this pass will pay for itself in a month! Also, there are over 200 participating aquariums and museums, so there are 4 different museums we will be able to get into for free in Chicago - yay! I am so excited - I love deals! Dork. Anyway, here are some pics of our trip:

Daddy showing Cadi the fish


Learning how to ring the bell


Ohhhh! That's fun!!


Playing with the floating sailboats


Telling us she's all done during lunch


Making an art project


Playing a game






Meeting friends


I just saw Champ!! Over there!

Angry customer

Dear Gap:

I have been a loyal customer of yours for years without any complaints. I do not like to complain, however what has been happening lately is just unacceptable.

I had a baby girl 12 months ago and since then, your clothing has shrunk. I have checked the setting on my dryer and it hasn't been changed, so it seems as though it must be the clothing that is shrinking. I can't figure out another reason for why the clothing that I have had forever is all of a sudden not fitting me. I do not want to stop shopping at your store, but I just needed to bring this to your attention. I hope you will respond to this letter in a timely manner, as I refuse to go all summer long with clothing that is too small.

Thank you,

A concerned customer

Signing

Acadia finally signed "milk"!! It was the very first sign I introduced and it's taken her until now to sign for it. She now know milk, eat, more and all done. I am still trying to figure out the next signs I am going to introduce - probably book, water and juice.

Picture perfect day...

Yummy treat

Yesterday, while I was having a frozen desert, I realized that we didn't have any frozen treats for Acadia. With this hot weather, we all need frozen treats!! So I mixed some Stonyfield vanilla yogurt with mashed bananas and put them in containers to freeze, and - voila! Some yummy frozen treats for my girl...

My daughter, my teacher

I think I have learned more from Acadia in this past year than she has learned from me....I learn from her every day, by watching, being patient and reminding myself that housework can wait and to live in the moment...I have also learned that...


The process of learning to use a spoon is quite messy...

Every baby needs love...

Getting dirty can actually be fun...

My house will not be clean for the next 18 years...

Sunhats are coming back into style...

Bestfriends come in all different shapes and sizes....

Everybody needs a good laugh...

When you're exhausted enough, a person can sleep anywhere...

I love Vermont!

By the end of the winter here, I really do seem to forget the many reasons that I love Vermont. Last night, being on the lake during the warmest day of the year, surrounded by my family, it hit me yet again, why I love this little state of mine...

Has anyone seen my daughter?

Family Date Night by Acadia

First I had to eat 5 bites of my peanut butter sandwich before I could play...


Then I had to wait for Mommy and Daddy to finish their dinner...


Finally!


Daddy took me down the slide!



And taught me all about Lake Champlain...


Then I got very sleepy...





So it was time to go home...