2 month checkup

Today finally came. I have dreading this day since monkey was born. his first shots. I cried inconsolably when Darren had his first round of shots, i felt so guilty about bringing him to be poked at and causing him pain, although it probably hurt me more than him. Well monkey was no different and i had Michael come with me so he could hold me if i cried while i held monkey if he cried.
As always he was all smiles for the nurse and happily cooing as the nurse took his weight and measured his length. He is 10 lbs 8oz and 22 1/2 inches. My baby boy is growing so fast! His doctor said he looks great and that he is growing right on track with his chart curve.
He got 2 vaccines today one oral and one shot and boy was he a trooper. They gave him the oral one first and he was awesome. Then I was allowed to start breastfeeding him while the nurse did the shot. He was happily content but then he latched off and screamed for maybe half a second and then proceeded to go back to eating.
He is so perfect.
We then headed over to Ikea to do some browsing and ended up getting 3 of the toys i mentioned yesterday.
We then came home. I was worried he would run a fever but thank God he did not. the only "change" was he was sleepy after the shot but by the afternoon he was back to himself smiling and cooing all over the place.
I know the pic is blurry, but how does this smile not make you want to smile and forget about everything?

let's talk toys

I grew up part of my childhood in Costa Rica, where playing meant going outside to ride our bikes or play with wooden cars and doll houses my grandfather had built for us. I remember my mom catching baby frogs (they were super cute not slimy and icky) for me to entertain myself while she napped. It was very carefree and natural.
If the day was rainy we all went inside and built forts or haunted houses in the bedroom and played indoors. or we would built play-doh houses and crafts. or we would play jaxs
remember these?

TV was reserved for sunday morning cartoons but once they were done we all went out to play or to the park, or even just for a walk.
I see how my 9 y/o now entertains himself with Ds, Wii, PS2 or his latest obsession...finding star wars based movie clips made of legos on you tube...yes he know youtube(with parental controls of course)
When we started the registry for Gabriel we didn't get many things i deemed unnecessary, this included toys because well he has a n older brother. that said i also didn't want him to go down the same road as Darren has as far as electronics goes. I'm counting the days where we can head out and go to the zoo and take walks and explore nature.
I don't want to introduce complex toys to him, that leave virtually no room for his imagination to flourish once he gets older.
I have been looking at some wooden toys at ikea and i think i'm gonna go get them and try them out. Take a look at how cute and simple these are:
baby gym
building blocks with wagon
push along
stacking ring
toy hammering block
toddler walker

and i also saw these on etsy by seller pinkhouse
very simple clean toys.

I mean seriously I don;t want ot be like this, nor do i think baby needs it:

here is an interesting article i found about this...well sort off

7 weeks

By 2 months, baby's movements become more voluntary and less jerky, and your baby gains control of his neck. He also starts batting and kicking at toys. Read him simple books that have pictures of bright objects, animals or faces. Place him on his back under a baby gym so he can kick and bat at hanging toys.
Your baby's brain is expanding in size and complexity. It will grow about 5 centimeters during the first three months.
You may notice short periods of time when your newborn is quiet and alert. This is prime time for learning. Use these calm intervals to get better acquainted with your baby — talk to him, sing to him, describe the pictures on the walls. He may not be able to add to your conversation just yet, but he's learning nonetheless.
New textures for his hands to feel and new sights and sounds (all in moderation) are all learning opportunities. Even bath time becomes a laboratory for understanding the world around him.
Your baby's hands should be mostly open now — ready to reach out to the world. In the early days of your baby's life, grabbing was mostly automatic and instinctual and he couldn't let go if he wanted to. Although he can't really grab objects just yet, he can hold things placed in his hands. And, once he wraps her hands around something, he might not let go so easily. He'll also begin to try and bat at objects, so keep potentially dangerous objects far from your little one's reach. This means not holding hot liquids or sharp objects while you're holding him.
With both eyes now able to follow things consistently and well, your baby can track a moving object much better, something he may have been able to do for only brief periods since birth.
The stores are packed with developmental toys, but you'll do just as well with everyday objects. Pass a rattle or a bright plastic ladle horizontally in front of her. Then try moving it up and down. This should attract your baby's attention, though he probably won't be able to smoothly follow things vertically for another three months and diagonally for another six months.
You can also play eyes-to-eyes by moving very close to his face and slowly nodding your head from side to side. Often his eyes will lock onto yours.

wait my baby is talking to me?

Watch Priscilla Dunstan at Oprah show in Entertainment  |  View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

another fabulous giveaway

Feels like home has a giveaway featuring etsy seller Paisley Pineapple.
make sure you gio check out her blog for a chance to enter.

She has some really adorable stuff. I swear etsy will be the death of me.

please say a prayer for Layla

For the past couple of weeks I've been following the blog of Layla Grace, an adorable 2 year old losing her battle to Neuroblastoma, a(cancerous) tumor that develops from nerve tissue. It's heartbreaking to read the most current post Not Like This. Please just take one moment and pray for her and her entire family. She is in so much pain, and they are watching their baby pass from something so horrible and it just breaks my heart....
We have endured our fair share of trials, but this...no one should have to loose a child like this EVER

The 25 Most Common Cooking Mistakes

which ones are YOU guilty of?whole article found here

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  1. You don’t taste as you go.

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  2. You don’t read the entire recipe before you start cooking.

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  3. You make unwise substitutions in baking.

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  4. You boil when you should simmer.

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  5. You overheat chocolate.

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  6. You over-soften butter.

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  7. You overheat low-fat milk products.

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  8. You don’t know your oven’s quirks and idiosyncrasies.

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  9. You’re too casual about measuring ingredients.

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  10. You overcrowd the pan.

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  11. You mishandle egg whites.

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  12. You turn the food too often.

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  13. You don’t get the pan hot enough before you add the food.

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  14. You slice meat with―instead of against―the grain.

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  15. You underbake cakes and breads.

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  16. You don’t use a meat thermometer.

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  17. Meat gets no chance to rest after cooking.

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  18. You try to rush the cooking of caramelized onions.

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  19. You overwork lower-fat dough.

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  20. You neglect the nuts you’re toasting.

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  21. You don’t shock vegetables when they’ve reached the desired texture.

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  22. You put all the salt in the marinade or breading.

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  23. You pop meat straight from the fridge into the oven or onto the grill.

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  24. You don’t know when to abandon ship and start over.

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  25. You use inferior ingredients.