Baby steps.

This blog has been something that I loved doing. I've thought about it lots and have wanted to share so many times. I've started so many posts, and haven't completed them.
So, it's my plan to come back to the blog- I love it as a place to share (although Instagram has won me over).
Finley has been taking baby steps for a while now. He took a few before his first birthday, and has been walking more in the last month and a half.
I love watching him!! The way babies walk is so adorable. So, as he is taking baby steps towards being a toddler, I'll try to take baby steps towards sharing more here.

Mispronunciations

All kids do it.
Mine included.
They mispronounce all sorts of words.
When my niece would say funny things, I wondered why her parents didn't correct her. Now I know why... And miss how she used to call me "Gosi" (Josi) or say Gust (just).
My kids say some pretty cute things too. Bella says "breskit" (breakfast), And "purrise" (surprise) among others I don't have the heart to correct her. She used to call her blanket a "manky".
Then there's Ben. He mispronounces pretty much everything. We have come to understand a lot of his little language. He drops all sorts of consonants, and trades his vowels. May means more. Bay means boy. Inney is Finley. It's cute... But sometimes we don't understand him. It's like listening to someone with a super strong accent... It takes lots of concentration. We've been referred for speech and language help. We've been correcting him lately, and have seen some improvement. I am looking forward to progress.
I know one day lol miss their silly talk.
What do your kids say? Do you correct them? Or pick and choose?

Isabella and her apple bin, 2012

Every year we take a pic (actually a whole bunch) of Isabella on her apple bin.  You can see photos from the past year here.
This year, we had two seperate shoots, as I wasn't thrilled with the first.
Due to the early warm weather- then frost, we had a really tough year and didn't pick many apples.  I was actually afraid our fall bin pics might not happen... Thank goodness they did- so I could capture my cutie pie!
I love this tradition! Here are a few photos!!

Good surprise

My kids surprise me all the time... Like, good surprise.
Ben uses manners when even I wouldn't remember to.
This morning I was reminded of Bella's strange ability to recognize models of cars. I know, weird talent.
She's been doing this for a while. A car will pass us, (often that I don't even notice) and she points out who's car it's like. And she is ALWAYS right.
This morning she looked at this flyer. Within a few seconds, she pointed out our vehicle... Same make- but different colour and year. Sheesh! She's smarter with cars than I am.
Kids' minds amaze me!

Playing together.

Bella and Ben play so well together (ok, some arguments, but that's probably normal). They love each other and are cute pals.
I sometimes wonder what the dynamic will be like when Finley is old enough to play too. Will the big kids tire of the baby they adore when he's old enough to get into their stuff? Will they just be too far apart in age? Will someone get left out? Which one?

When I grew up, the number of children in our house was usually odd, and I remember feeling left out a lot.

Bella is like the sweet, adoring mother hen (a little bossy).
She is still, almost seven months after his birth, wildly ga-ga over Finn. She is so helpful and understanding.
If I have to walk away while feeding Finley dinner, she steps in without missing a beat. In the past when I've run out of the room just before changing his diaper, she's done it for me. She's actually over board (makes me worry for Finley) helpful.

(shh! Don't tell... Isabella told me her favorite brother is Finley. I told her not to repeat that again).

Ben is so sweet too, he talks so surprisingly gently to Finley. He's kind and helpful too.
He loves to hug Finley, and asks to often. He kisses him, and runs to him when he wakes up.

Today the boys (gently and guildedly ) pretended to wrestle. Later in the day, Ben brought Finley his dinosaurs for them to play with together!

It was so cute.

Both kids played peek a boo with him.

It's nice to see the kids play with Finn, as more than just a baby to kiss, and cuddle and take care of.
(though the baby stuff melts my heart)

Rebel sleepers

I'm not sure what's normal for how kids like to sleep. I thought a bed.

Since about July, Bella & Ben have been sleeping on the floor of their bedrooms (only sleeping in their beds a small handful of times).

Now that Finley's on the move... I put him to bed on his back - with his head on the left (the head of the bed)... And whenever I come back in he's done a 180* and is on his tummy.

My new fave way to make KALE CHIPS

Kale... Mmmm
I'm kinda addicted to this green goodness. (hence my coffee & kale chip breakfast today)

Last night I made (and ate so fast and burnt my mouth) the best batch yet!

Maple-sesame kale chips

Fill a baking sheet with washed, dried, and torn kale.
If you're smarter than I was, you'll use parchment paper to line the sheet.
Toss kale (or massage) with a few tablespoons of oil. (I used olive, but I'm pretty sure coconut oil will be my next and most delish way).
Then drizzle with 2-3 (or more if you've got a real sweet tooth) tablespoons of pure maple syrup. (again, you can massage, or toss).
Then sprinkle the kale with 2-3 tablespoons of sesame seeds.

Bake
(you can do this at almost any temp. I prefer to not go above 300 though. @ 300 degrees, they take about 20 mins.
You can go much lower, ie, 100-110 to preserve more nutrients, but this takes much longer).

Check on them about half way through baking.

Cool (very important step... Just ask my roof of my mouth and tongue)

Eat!! (repeat!)

Enjoy!!!