Sensory Sunday Funday: Toilet Paper Roll Turned Ball Chute

Lately, Makaela has been all about putting things in containers and taking them out. She has a couple toys where she has to put a ball into hole, and basically it's the most exciting thing in the world to her.

She gets VERY proud of herself when she does it, and so do we :)

Earlier this week, I decided to make a lil somethin' somethin' with that concept in mind. 

All I did was take one of the toilet paper rolls I've been hanging onto and covered it in the left over felt I had from her sensory station. I just used the hot glue gun to make sure it was on there good (enough). 

Then I bought a bag of pom-poms in assorted colors and sizes. I picked out a few that were small enough to fit through the toilet paper roll and just grabbed a plastic container to store them in. 

The idea is that Makaela can drop them through the "chute" and into the container, or wherever. 

I can't get over the look of concentration on her face. Too. Adorable. 

She loves dropping the pom-pom down the chute and watching it fall out the other end. 

Sometimes it gets stuck mid-chute and she has to flip it around and check out the other end, or give it a little shake.

It's a great quiet time activity or a good game to play when she is getting restless with whatever else she is doing. This really seems to capture her attention and calm her down. 

Sometimes if we're feeling ambitious we even "practice" our colors. In other words, I say the color of the pom-pom and she looks at me like I'm interrupting her concentration :)

I don't store this game with the rest of her toys because I'm worried she'll stuff a pom-pom or two in those chipmunk cheeks of hers, or that the dogs will eat one and ain't nobody got time to be sitting in the ER or at the vet for a silly pom-pom related incident. 

Matchy-Matchy

Alright guys, I've got a problem and I think it's time I admit it. I may or may not match my outfits to Makaela's sevvvvvveral times a month.

Here's how it usually starts....I get her dressed in one of her adorable little outfits, and then I stare at my own boring pile of clothes not sure which outfit to pick, so I choose one that color coordinates with the mini. I know, I know. It's bad.

But at least it's JUST a coordinating color palette. It could be worse, no? I could be out shopping for neon leggings and kitten shirts in my size. And I'm not doing that. I PROMISE.

50 Shades of gray, or shades of pink...

Matching hair bows... 

Kidding! This one was just for fun, but of course the mailman knocked on the door while I was in that get-up and I forgot to take out my special bow. Good times.

My only hope is that this is not the first step on the path that leads to middle-aged-mom-dressing-like-her-teenage-daughter... 

If that happens PLEASE guys, run an intervention. Seriously, call in Dr. Phil.

Like a true addict, I feel like I need to show you proof that I don't get all matchy-matchy EVERY day. I don't have a problem. I don't know what you're talking about. 

10 Month Photos!

Our baby girl is officially in the DOUBLE DIGITS! 10 months old. Wow, wow, wow.

Yeahhhh, blurry action shot again. I just loved the energy this photo captured so I had to use it. She is so joyful and we cannot get enough!

It's been such a fun month. It feels like Makaela is really starting to communicate with us more and her personality is blossoming by the minute...and she is definitely living up to the April Fool's Birthday Baby title - such a little jokester.

She is really into making faces lately. She is sure to let you know if she likes or doesn't like something. Who knew a frowny face could make me smile?!

She is also quite the little chatter box. I don't know what she's saying, but man oh man does she have a lot on her mind. Jabber. Jaws. One of the cutest things is when she pulls out a book and "reads" it to mama and daddy.

We've really enjoyed family time this past month and have started a new tradition we like to call "Pancake Sundays." Usually spent at Cracker Barrel, where Makaela likes to devour a mound of pancakes. She only breaks to wave and smile at every single person that passes by our table.

And of course if you're gonna go to Cracker Barrel for Pancake Sunday, you're gonna dress up in the ol' Country Store. Obvi.

And sometimes you just can't resist and you find yourself purchasing one of the items you dressed up in, and wearing it around the whole day...

This past month we also spent a lot of time hanging with friends. Makaela loves to socialize...

Speaking of things she loves, add slurping up water from the (clean - thank goodness) dishwasher to the list...

In fact, that is not her only canine-like tendency...

And what do I love? Playing with her ever-growing hair...

How can you not love the crap out of this little nugget? That belly is just ASKING to be tickled...

The outtakes are too funny this month. Maybe she thinks she can fly?

Wait, so I'm not a bird??

Oh well! See ya later!

Sensory Sunday Funday: Valentine Heart Felt Magnets!

It's no secret that around here we love a quick and easy project. Bonus points when it's super inexpensive. Double bonus points when it is Valentine's Day related, because even though I could care less about the holiday, for some reason I love crafts related to it.

We made magnets again!

I understand that you are insanely jealous of my high-end white refrigerator. I get it. Really I do. Please try and control your envy so you can focus on the craft at hand. 

I picked up a package of felt hearts that also came with a bunch of felt lovey-dovey themed cut outs. I think the package had something like 12-16 hearts, but 4 seemed like the right number for our fridge. 

I used my hot glue gun to attach the cut-outs to the front of the heart, and the magnet to the back. I used the same magnet roll from the snowflake craft we did, and just cut the pieces to a reasonable size. 

Even though the magnet is fairly large, we all know kids are cray and fit the most bizarre things in their mouths so it is still a "supervised play" kind of thing. 

This is definitely an easy, inexpensive project that provides lots of entertainment. Makaela plays at the refrigerator for a decent chunk of time daily. Happy baby = happy mama.

She loves sliding them around on the fridge...

And pulling them off and putting them back on....

And stacking them and passing them out to Mama, Daddy and of course Rocky and Ginger :)

Excuse the blurriness of the above action shots. For some reason, Makaela doesn't stop and pose for photos when I ask her to. Hmm. Weird ;-)