Pink Poodles and Bows Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to Leigh Ann from Sew Blessed. She is the winner of the Pink Poodles and Bows giveaway!! And thanks to Pink Poodles and Bows for offering the giveaway!

Baby Cream: 6 Months

Somehow the little girl that we just welcomed into our family is already 6 months old. It really does feel as if I just had her one or two months ago and here she is half of a year old. For some reason 6 months is a big milestone in my mind. There is something about the 6 month mark that means you really don't have a newborn anymore. That your little baby is really growing up. Just imagine what 16 years will mean for me.

We were at the doctor this morning for her 6 month check-up and aside from having to go back on antibiotics for her ears, she is doing really well. She also handled the visit like a champ, a bit of a change from her four month appointment.
Little Cream is now:
16 pounds and 9 ounces (58%)
26 and one half inches long (74%)
and has a head circumference of 44 centimeters (86%)

We are still giving her some solids. So far we have done rice cereal, squash, avocado, and banana. Sometimes she will eat a decent amount and then there are other times where she just isn't all that interested. I also gave her a Mum Mum this weekend as her first finger food. She did very well with that. This isn't a surprise as she brings everything to her mouth. We got her the Chico 360 clip on high chair this month and she is a big fan of sitting at the table with us. It is still a little big for her so it looks like she is sitting in a hole or burrow. It is pretty cute.

She still just rolls from back to front. It is pretty amusing how quickly she gets herself flipped over when you put her down. Sometimes she will hang out on her tummy for a long time and sometimes she instantly gets mad at the injustice of being on her tummy.
Lately she has been amazing me with her eye-hand coordination. She really works hard at grasping anything that gets her attention. She also will sit there playing with her hands and examining them and what they can all do.

Peachy is her number one source of amusement and fascination. Her big sister's antics always capture her attention and quite often bring a giggle and a smile. It is so much fun watching the girls relate more and more to each other everyday.
Cream is still residing in our closet. I am in no hurry to get her down into her room downstairs. For now it is so much more convenient to have her a few steps away for pacifier reinsertion and night time feedings. Although she is really stretching out how long she can go without needing to be nursed. Lately it has been around 10 hours during the night. She is also on more of a predictable daytime routine as well with usually 3 naps a day.
Our little Cream still has a sunny and smiley disposition. She loves being able to take it all in and watch the action. You can almost sense that she can't wait to be a part of it all.

iPad Cover and a Giveaway

The giveaway is now closed.

When my friend Lori recently turned 40, I knew just what to make for her. She recently got an iPad and she really "needed" a homemade cover. You see, Lori loves handcrafted items.

Here is Lori's reaction. Do you think she appreciated it?

When I set out to make this for Lori I looked for tutorials online and didn't really find what I was looking for. So I went to Etsy and looked there. I ended up finding the pattern that was just what I was looking for at the Etsy shop Pink Poodle Bows.

The pattern works for iPads, Kindles, and Nooks. There are also two options for the pockets, one large pouch type pocket and two smaller file like pockets. I opted for the smaller pockets. The pattern was well written and went together very easily. And I loved how it turned out.

And do you know what?? Today you get the chance to win your very own  pdf pattern from Pink Poodle Bows. If you would like to chance to win a Pink Poodle Bows pattern of your choice follow the steps below.
1) Like the Pink Poodle Bows Facebook page.
THEN
2) Go to the Pink Poodle Bows Etsy site and choose which pattern you would choose if you won.
FINALLY
3) Come back here and let me know that you like the Pink Poodle Bows Facebook page and which pattern you would choose.
The winner will be chosen at random and announced here on Friday. (Please make sure to leave your email in the comment if you are not logged in through Blogger. You can leave it like this: kristi (at) ymail (dot) com.)

I am linking to these wonderful parties this week.
Today's Creative Blog
Making the World Cuter
The Sweet Talk Shop

Foodie Friday: Cinnamon Pull-Apart Bread

Have you seen this bread making the rounds of Pinterest and the like? It combines two of my foodie favorites, cinnamon and carbs. What's not to love? While this recipe does take a bit of time and effort, it is worth it in the end. Just beware, since it pretty much comes pre-sliced, you probably shouldn't leave it sitting out on the counter or it may disappear in less than 24 hours. Not that I am speaking from experience or anything.

Cinnamon Pull-Apart Bread
Adapted from Joy the Baker
Ingredients:

For the Dough:

2 3/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1/4 cup granulated sugar

2 1/4 teaspoons (1 envelope) active dry yeast

1/2 teaspoon salt

4 T butter

1/3 cup milk

1/4 cup water

2 large eggs, at room temperature

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

For the Filling:

1 cup granulated sugar

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

4 T butter, melted until browned

Directions:

In a large mixing bowl whisk together 2 cups flour, sugar, yeast, and salt.  Set aside.

Whisk together eggs and set aside.

In a small saucepan, melt together milk and butter until butter has just melted.  Remove from the heat and add water and vanilla extract.  Let mixture stand for a minute or two, or until the mixture registers 115 to 125 degrees F.

Pour the milk mixture into the dry ingredients and mix with a spatula.  Add the eggs and stir the mixture until the eggs are incorporated into the batter.  Add the remaining 3/4 cup of flour and stir with the spatula for about 2 minutes. 

Place the dough is a large,  greased bowl.  Cover with plastic wrap and a clean kitchen towel.  Place in a warm space and allow to rest until doubled in size, about 1 hour. 

While the dough rises, whisk together the sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg for the filling.  Set aside.  Melt 2 ounces of butter until browned.  Set aside.  Grease and flour a 9x5x3-inch  loaf pan.  Set that aside too.

Deflate the risen dough and knead about 2 tablespoons of flour into the dough.  Cover with a clean kitchen towel and let rest for 5 minutes.  On a lightly floured work surface, use a rolling pin to roll the dough out.  The dough should be 12-inches tall and about 20-inches long.  Use a pastry brush to spread melted butter across all of the dough.  Sprinkle with all of the sugar and cinnamon mixture. 

Slice the dough vertically, into six equal-sized strips.  Stack the strips on top of one another and slice the stack into six equal slices once again.  You’ll have six stacks of six squares.  Layer the dough squares in the loaf pan.  Place a kitchen towel over the loaf pan and allow in a warm place for 30 to 45 minutes or until almost doubled in size.

Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F.  Place loaf in the oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the top is very golden brown. 

Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 20 to 30 minutes.   Run a butter knife around the edges of the pan to loosen the bread and invert onto  a clean board.

Why I Love My Big Sister, by Cream

 She shares her shoes with me when they are too small for her.

 She likes to play with me on the floor.

 We makes each other smile.

 She gives me kisses.

 She teaches me how to play.

She likes to snuggle me up.