Activity tower

When your baby does this: then you need to do read this post, stat! If you don't have this problem, just enjoy all the cute pictures.

I'm no fancy mom/craft/anything fancy blogger, so my pictures aren't the best, but if I were to pretend to be a fancy blogger this is how my post would go: (The reader is required to use their imagination for the high quality pictures with a clean house in the background).

Hey all! I'm back again with another post from my happy, pristine homestead! I NEVER have an issue with getting dinner done on time since having a baby(wait... I think it might be more like the opposite of that going on around here.) Anyway, if you do have the afternoon fussies problem, I have (with the help of a couple of other blogs: prestonandkate, inthehollowheart, and Jules on ikeahacker) come up with a solution for a toddler wanting to be held from 4-6pm keeping you from getting anywhere near a kitchen.

Stuff you'll need: Shopping List
(1)1x2x96 (or so) board
(1)1x3x96 board
(1) dowel (atleast 18" something like a 3/8 to 5/8in) optional
(1) Ikea BEKVA„M step stool
(1) Box 2" wood screws

Steps:
One: If you can, draft a good handyman. Today I've got my Handsome Helpful Husband! (HHH, for short :P )

Two: Get your shopping list together and head out to your favorite hardware store. Bonus tip: bring your toddler a carrier so they don't escape and try to climb up one of those moving stair cases!

Three: But your sweet Toddler in bed! Bonus: Have your HHH play cute bedtime games with said Toddler!

Four: Have your HHH (or substitute) ready to do some cutting! (Mine also had to take apart the Ikea step stool that is the base of this project)
Strait Cut list: (If you trust the boys at your local hardware/box store they might do these cuts for you. If you are too lazy to find a meticulous HHH to do it for you)

• You'll need four tall pieces (To figure out how tall subtract the height of your stool from the close to the height of your counter top) we used 1x2 furring strips for this part 
• (optional, sort of) You need to cut your dowel down to size.
• From 1x3 board you'll need a piece to go on the front of your tower. (MY HHH assured me that this is important for stability or something) it should be the length of your step stool

Five: Now THIS little tool is going to become your best friend. You are going to make some 45 degree cuts to top off your tower in a cute frame. two should be the width and one should be the length of the tower. We did ours in 1x3

Six: Assembly. You can start this earlier as you cut, if you want to. That might be good, because you might need to go back to the hardware store for a whole box of 2" wood screws at 8:45 at night. You never know. 

• Screw the legs (the long 1x2's) into the removed top step of the stool
• Screw the dowel into the top of the legs on the side with the step
• Optional: Go back to the hardware store for more screws
• Screw the strait piece on the front of the legs
• Screw down the 45 degree angles to make a frame!  
• Reassamble Stool

Seven: In the morning:

Get your cute morning toddler to model your creation and vow to never ever get down.

In the afternoon: Enjoy having your hands free to make dinner, or your favorite delicious Mommy snack because you deserve it!

Warnings: 

Your baby may quickly learn how to move their tower around the kitchen! They also may run to it every morning before you can even give them breakfast.

Ella the Smarty Pants

Ella has started learning to use her toys! It makes me so amazed how fast she is learning and understanding things.

She puts blocks in the holes of her sorting toy. She puts blocks on her stacking train and even has it make noises! She plays with her doll and her animals. She loves any game that means putting one little thing in a bigger thing. (My impromptu toy.)

When we go out, she loves to figure out new things as well. (Sometimes it takes more time than others.)

Lazy Halloween

I'm kind of a Halloween downer. I'm way too old to ask other people for candy. I don't like to dress up. My baby has a 6:30 bedtime.

This year my excuse was that my baby shouldn't even eat candy, and I don't want to worry about it. Don't worry though we still gave out 3 bags of candy. We made it to just after 8pm.

If anyone asks, my baby was dressed as a "sleeping baby" and I was a "relaxing Momma"

(Alternatively, we caught Ella dressed like the cutest world dictator ever?)

Sick Ella

Sometimes babies get really sick. Sometimes it feels like this. Sometimes it lasts a long time and you have to go to the doctor. Sometimes the doctor calls after a stool test and tells you that your baby has Salmonella. Most of the time, your baby gets better and then feels like this.

Ella the Climber!

Ella is learning how to climb. She is mastering how to go up the stairs (going down is definitely still a ways away). She is working on climbing on other things too (like the guest bed.)

I've also started to get into things. This is Ella being really sad that "somebody" pulled out of the towels. (This is Ella  5 seconds before that sad face)

Ella Goes to the Park

Ella loves to play outside and she loves people. This makes it no suprise that we spend lots of time at the park! There are a couple of near by parks and on special occasions we'll go find new parks to explore.

Ella especially likes mulch and rocks. She is finally getting the hang of the equipment now that she can climb some. She enjoys going down the slide with help from a grown up, but she is not so sure about the swings.

As a mom, I especially live that she is super independent at the park. I can be yards away and she will enjoy playing with Dad.

Dad is great at teaching us new games and new equipment!

Ella the Dancer

I'm not a particularly graceful duckling, so I never put much thought into the fact that my baby girl might want to be a dancer. Her opinions on lots of things (including this one) are likely to change, but for now I like to capture Ella's "dancer moments"

Ballet Positions in the Window
With a Partner
With a Partner the Right Side Up
Interpretive Dance on Video
Dancing with Props