Yogurt Cake. Gluten-Free.

In an attempt to help my daughter develop a bit more patience, we've been baking a lot.

The book, Bring Up Bebe, inspired this burst of baking.

It took a few goes, but now I think I've figured out a recipe that works for us (I combined several recipes I found).

We've been making variations of this Yogurt Cake for about 10 months now. 

Blueberry. Cinnamon. Cardamom and Ginger. Apple. Mango. Rosemary and Parmesan. Peanut Butter and Chocolate. Cinnamon and Maple Syrup. Green Tea.

Yummy. 

And so easy for this Non-Baker. 

Fool-proof, unless you are completely distracted like I was and forgot the Yogurt!

Yogurt Cake

• 2 six-ounce containers of plain Greek Yogurt (use empty Yogurt containers to measure other ingredients)
• 3 Eggs
• 1 container of Sugar or Brown Sugar or Maple Syrup
• 1 teaspoon of Vanilla
• just under 1 container of Olive Oil or Coconut Oil or Vegetable Oil
• 2 1/2 containers of Brown Rice Flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons of Baking Powder

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 F

2. Use Oil to grease a 9-inch round cake pan or loaf pan

3. Mix the Flour and Baking Powder

4. Add Yogurt, Eggs, Sugar, Vanilla, and Oil

5. Add extras (Berries, etc..).

6. Bake for 35 minutes, then five minutes more if the cake doesn't pass the fork test. Almost crispy on the outside, but springy on the inside.

7. Cool and enjoy!!!

Babies Discovery Basket: Shells.

Poor second kid. She has totally gotten the shaft.

By the time her Sister was the same age, I had done lots of interesting, fun Activities with her. I carefully rotated out her toys and materials every 2 weeks. She had been to numerous Music Together Classes and even a Yoga Class or two.

Not this time.

The Living Room is starting to starting to feel overwhelming, so it's time for a "Toy Rotation."

Sorting out Toys, prompted me to put together this quick Discovery Basket.

I collected around 10 or so Shells from our various collections. I made sure none were too small. I sat right next to her, after introducing the Discovery Basket and made sure that all the Shells stayed on the Sheepskin Rug. The Living Room has wooden floors and I was concerned that if she started walking around with the Shells, one would drop and shatter.

Each and every one of the Shells went into her mouth (of course). It was fun seeing which ones, she really responded to and kept picking up again and again.

This is such a simple, but beautiful Activity to share with your baby! 

Dancer Mobile

 

 

Here is the "Montessori Dancer Mobile" I made for Bright Eyes. I figured I might as well post photos before I take it down.

This ended up being a super-easy DIY project. I spent less than $10 on it and it took about an hour to make. The hardest part was trying to balance the mobile and have it hang properly.

I love the way it moves in the breeze and the shininess factor. It wasn't a huge hit with the baby, but that was because she didn't like spending time in her bassinet...she just wanted to be part of the action from the get go. I'm still glad I made this Mobile and can't wait to pass it on to my friends.

Materials:

• Inner Circle from a Quilting hoop
• Fishing line wire
• Scrapbook Pad (shiny paper)
• Embroidery Thread

 

 

Directions

1. Paint hoop.
2. Cut out dancing figures. Each figure has three parts. Head. Arms. Legs. Once you have cut out one set, then flip the shapes over, trace and cut those. Each Dancer should have six parts (this was the fun part deciding if what each Dancer should be doing...leaping, arms in the air, arms down, etc...).
3. Cut four pieces of Fishing wire, each one a different length.
4. Lay figure shiny part down. Cover unshiny part with glue. Lay down Fishing line wire. Make a sandwich by adding the reverse body part on top. Kind of hard to explain, but if you look at a photo, you should be able to tell.
5. Tie each Dancer to the hoop.
6. Tie Embroidery Thread to hoop (this is the hardest part...trying to balance it properly).
7. Tape to the ceiling (it's light enough that you don't have to worry about having to drip a hole..unless you want to )

 

 

 

 

Montessori Infant Bell Mobile

Anala's Montessori Corner

 

 

 

Poor kid. She only gets a corner of a Bedroom to claim as her own. But, she doesn't seem to mind. Look at that concentration. Look at those smiles.

 

I think this may be my newest favorite part of our house. Sometimes it pays to be part of a long line of Pack Rats.

I borrowed the sheepskin from my Mama's house.

The mirror I took from the Master Bedroom (which originally came from my Mama's house).

 I bought the child's furniture piece from an auction for $2. My Sissy did a lovely job of painting it. And, I just added the crystal pulls from my favorite vintage store Ginger and Spice in Walkersville, MD. They cost $6 each. I moved the bookcase from one part of the room to this corner.

Since our Family is a bit Bird-crazy right now, I cut out a photography from an Audubon Calendar and put it in a frame I already had.

The "Gobbi Mobile" I made.

I am so loving this "Montessori infant room." (Even if it's just a corner).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Temporary, DIY Baby Mobile

 

 

 

Things have started to normalize here, since the arrival of our Bright Eyes, 12 weeks ago. She's no longer colicky, which helps A LOT.

 

I've been having a Mother's Helper come to our house for 4 hours a day, 3 days a week. B is a College Student at home this Summer. She's been a big help.

 

She takes Nye-Nye on short little Adventures like to the Spraypark, the Library and various local Playgrounds.

 

When they are out and about, I am able to focus more on the baby.

 

Just like how it dawned on me that she might like Tummy Time more, if she had a mirror in front of her. I realized that she needed some Mobiles to look at and interact with, while in her Bassinet.

 

When Nye-Nye was 3 months old, I could leave her on the floor and walk away to get something. She was only in the Bassinet to sleep and was never put in a Playpen.

 

Not with this one. Poor Anala. When her Big Sissher is in the house (racing around the Living Room), she has to be in some secure spot (unless I am on the floor next to her). That spot is usually on Mama's lap, the Ergo, the Swing or in the Bassinet.

 

She was NOT LIKING the Bassinet at all and would start protesting after a minute or two.

 

Then I realized. She's bored. Head-smack.

 

I immediately threw together a "temporary baby Mobile" using a thick, sanded dowel rod and some baby rattles. Not secure at all, but she likes it and it's not heavy when it falls on her. Plus, she's learning cause and effect, right?

 

After I took the video (which can be seen at the end of this post), I realized there were some velcro flaps on the Bassinet that I could use to secure the dowel rod better.

 

I switched the direction she was facing in and put the flaps over the rod. She still manages to knock the rattles and stick on herself, but it takes more time. She loves it. She coos and smiles and kicks her feet when she sees me setting it up.

 

I just finished making her a "Montessori Dancer Mobile" (which now hangs over her Bassinet), so I can phase out this temporary Mobile. I can't wait to share with you how inexpensive and satisfying it is to make both a Dancer Mobile and a "Montessori Gobbi Mobile"! Photos and a post coming soon about the baby's Montessori Corner...

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sneak Peak. Anala's Montessori Corner.

 

Cutting Apples.

 

 

 

I try very hard to foster Independence in my daughter. At 28 months, she has been helping in the Kitchen for over a year now. "Me, help. Me, help" is a constant refrain the moment, she sees me step into the Kitchen. Sometimes I have to make up tasks, but whenever she shows interest, I try and let her help with food-prep. Here she is cutting up some apples for a snack.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rainy Day Toddler Activity: Doing Dishes Video

 

 

Here is one of my "go-to" activities for my toddler on a Rainy (or Snowy day). She's 25 months and has been interested in doing dishes since she was about 16 months old. Lots of  "Water Play" is so important for toddlers. (In the video below, she was 23 months old).

 

I make sure to put in a few different types of brushes, cups (since she loves pouring) and a ladle or two. I try not to put in too many dishes because then she doesn't have as much room to work.

 

It's been a terrific activity, especially when she has already spent an 1 1/2 hr playing and painting in the bath-tub (I've been trying to be careful about how much bath-time she gets since she started developing very dry skin this Winter).

 

It's the simple things that bring us so much Joy, right?

 



 

A Toddler's Mud Kitchen in 5 Minutes

 

 

 

This Mud Kitchen won't win any awards in the Pretty Department. But, boy, did my child have fun. This was way back in February, one warmish Winter Day.

 

It took me less than 5 minutes to grab some items from the kitchen and around the house, grab an empty bin, some milk crates, a few water jugs and a pot full of potting soil. A much more permanent and attractive Mud Kitchen is in the works, but she had loads of fun with this simple one.