Ginevra @ 9 Months

Hey Humble Readers...

It's official.  Ginevra has now been 'on the outside' as long as she was inside.  So amazing!  She's had an eventful month, and I really hope you enjoy the pics. 

First up, she had her first haircut.  We went to one of those places that specializes in doing kids cuts because I wasn't sure how she would react.  She did great!  So much better than the little boy at the next station who was freaking out and crawling all over his dad.  It really was just a trim to even everything up, but they gave us a cute little certificate with a lock of her hair attached.  It was so fun.

First Haircut!

This month had us hanging out with my Beloved's family a lot.  August is the usual month when his brother and sister from far away travel to see us, my Beloved has his birthday, and we remember the loss of my Beloved's dad. Ginny got a lot of time to hang out with her 'little' cousin Thor.  It's hard to believe that he was born 7 weeks early, he's gotten so big!

Ginny and Cousin Thor

Another big event this month was the appearance of her first tooth.  Front bottom right... and she's so proud of it, she shows it off constantly, except for when I want to take a picture of it or when I want to check and see if its neighbour has shown up yet.  She's totally ok with having her tooth brushed tho, which I think is a little funny.

Come 'ere baby!

She also went to the park for the first time this month.  Due to the fact that we only have one vehicle, and the closest park with baby-friendly swings is too far to get to on foot, combined with the totally crappy weather we had all of spring and early summer meant that we just didn't get there before now.  We had a blast, even tho she wasn't sure about the slide.

Ginevra's first trip to the park

  

Not so sure about the slide

 

Lovin' the swing!

She's so mobile it's frightening sometimes, and she's determined to give her mother a heartattack before she get's to her first birthday.  Ginny especially loves to hang out in the kitchen with Mommy, which just isn't a good idea.  I am hopeful that it might indicate an interest in cooking... I can dream right? :)

Me?  I'm not up to nothin'...

Due to the layout of our condo, there's really only one spot for the baby gate, so keeping her corralled is a challenge, but it's pretty fun too.  It's become a game to keep her from sneaking down the hall.  And I swear she can tell time... every day at 5pm, she heads to the entryway and waits for her Daddy to get home. 

Woohoo!  Mommy left the gate open!

She's getting closer to understanding that some of her sounds have meaning.  There have been a few times when she has looked right at my Beloved and said 'dada'.  'Mama' is seeming to be a harder connection to make.  Baby sign still isn't really connecting for her, but I'm going to keep trying.  Ginny's also becoming aware of people and things around her, especially other kids and babies, and dogs.  She's obsessed with doggies. 

A tisket, a tasket, a baby in a basket!

She's managed to stand on her own without holding onto anything, but as soon as she realized that's what was happening, she fell to her butt. 

Hangin' with Auntie P

Ginny's growth has totally plateaued.  At least weight-wise.  She's still only 18 pounds.  She's grown almost an inch and a half though over the summer and is now 28 inches tall.  The result is that she still fits into some of her 3 month shirts and dresses, and 6 month pants fall off her.  (seriously, she crawled out of the pants I put her in today)  For summer, it's okay, but I'm wondering what we're going to do when the cooler weather comes for good.  Any pants that fit her waist are going to fall off her little behind.

Ginny & Thor, trying to stay warm at the campsite

Ginny totally hates her playpen and her bouncer seat.  She basically hates being restrained in any way shape or form.  She's generally a very happy, content little girl, but restrict her movement and she turns into the she beast from h-e-double hockey sticks. 

All in all, a busy month for the wee girl.  I love her so much!

Very Merry Birthday, My Beloved!

Hey Humble Readers!

Today is a special day in my little hobbit-hole.  Today my Beloved celebrates his 40th birthday! 

My wonderful, patient, sweet, ent-ish, unflappable Beloved...

He puts up with my mercurial moods and is amazing with our wee sweet girl.  He cheers me on in whatever I attempt, and quietly, humbly makes our world work. 

I love him so much.  How did I get so blessed?

*****
The sunburn is getting better, slowly.  That itchy crawly stage has set it... Ugh!

Who's A Dumbass?

Yeah, that would be me, Humble Readers....

I spent way too much time out in the sun this weekend, mostly today, and now I am suffering the effects of a wicked sunburn.  Face, neck, arms, ears, chest, and scalp. 

The hottest week of the year and I forget to pack along the sunscreen.  Ugh.

So here I sit in front of the fan, drinking gallons of water, wishing for some aloe vera, and moving a cool cloth from burning spot to burning spot.

I'd smack myself in the head, but that would probably hurt too much.

Foodie Friday: Super-Sticky-Caramelly Monkey Bread

Hey Humble Readers...

Summer has finally arrived on the flatland, and because it's been super warm this week (warm for us is probably luke-warm for some of my readers further south, but without a/c, I'm just a big ol' puddle) I haven't been doing a lot of cooking.  So, that means you all are getting a recipe that I've been hanging onto for a while. 

This is super yummy with breakfast, brunch, snacking, or dessert, and it's so simple you wouldn't even believe it. 

You can use whatever basic white bread recipe you like.  If you have a bread-maker, just throw all the ingredients (in manufacturer's recommended order) use the dough cycle and let the machine to do the hard work.

Super-Sticky-Carmelly Monkey Bread

Bread:
2 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup white sugar
2 tablespoons butter, softened
1 cup water

Sauce:
1 1/2 cup butter
1 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup raisins, soaked so they are plump

Place all bread ingredients into the bread-maker in order suggested by the manufacturer (mine is liquids on the bottom, then dry, topped with yeast).  Run a dough cycle.  When bread machine is almost finished, melt butter in a small saucepan over low heat.  Stir in brown sugar and cinnamon, and keep stirring until sugar disolves.  Add raisins to sauce and remove from the heat.  When the bread machine cycle is complete, remove dough to a floured surface.  If the dough is a bit sticky you may need to knead it a few times with a sprinkle of flour.  Tear or cut into 1 inch chunks.  Dip chunks of dough into butter sugar sauce to coat (your fingers will get sticky!).  Layer the chunks in a greased bundt pan.  When all the dough has been chunked, dunked, and stacked in the pan, pour any remaining sauce evenly over the dough.  Allow the dough to rise in a warm spot for 15-20 minutes, then bake in a preheated 375F for 20-25 minutes until golden.  Remove from oven and invert onto a plate.  Serve warm.
 
You can also throw some nuts into this recipe, if you like.  It's super yummy either way!
 

On The Nightstand: My Vicious Cycle

Good Evening Humble Readers...

So, the last couple of weeks have found me in a a vicious cycle I often get into when it comes to reading.  I currently have four books on the go, and I'm not making much progress in any of them.  This whole thing used to work when I had a book that I read at work, a book that I read on the bus to and from work, and a book that I read at home. 

One of the books in the stack is one that I was really looking forward to reading, but I have read the first ten pages three times now, and I just can't get into it.  I totally believe that there are seasons for some books, for example, I can really only get into the Lord of The Rings books in the winter and Harry Potter is totally for summer.  I was just stoked to read this book, and I borrowed it from a friend and eventually she will want it back.  I hope its season comes soon.

Because of the aforementioned vicious cycle, I actually only have one review for you all.  Hopefully I'll get back in the book groove soon.  The books on my nightstand seem to be breeding, as they are multiplying almost daily. 

Here's the review...

The Help by Kathryn Stockett (five out of five hairy hobbit toes) - This was my second time reading this book, and I have to say I really do love it.  The characters are so genuine and believable, even in their appalling prejudices.  For those of you who have been living in a box and haven't seen the trailers for the movie that was released a couple of weeks ago, it's the story of several women from a small town in Mississippi in the early 1960s.  The main character wants to write a book of stories from the perspective of the 'coloured' maids... about their lives cooking for, cleaning up after, and raising the children of the well-to-do white women of town.  The danger that these women put themselves into to share their stories is mind-boggling.  The depth of the ignorance of some of the white women was truly shocking, especially when I know that there were people in my family's history who believed things like those women.  *** A Warning *** There is a character who's dealing with recurrent pregnancy loss.  There are some fairly graphic scenes as she deals with the loss of a pregnancy.  This book won't be for everyone. 

Currently Reading: Lonesome Dove, It All Began in Vauxhall Gardens, A Discovery of Witches, & Arranged. 
Soon to be Started: Room

The Help isn't pictured because I lent my copy to my MIL on the weekend.