Baby Bites...Homemade Animal Crackers

I still have a recipe page from an animal cracker-making kit

I got when I was young.

The other night Jonah and I decided to try them.

Here is our health-i-fied version:).

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/3 to 1/2 cup honey

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon lemon extract (don't omit this!)

1 3/4 cups whole wheat flour

1/4 cup flaxseed meal

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Beat butter, sugar, honey, egg, and extracts together; set aside.

Blend flour and baking powder together, mix into butter mixture.

Refrigerate for one hour wrapped in waxed paper (I didn't do this and it was fine).

Roll to 1/4 inch thickness, and cut with animal cookie cutters.

Place on ungreased baking sheet. Bake for 6 minutes at 350.

Our animal cookie cutters were inaccessible,

so besides the circle and heart that we had,

we made kitties, fish, and triangles.

Yum yum...enjoy!

Just in time for Easter...

As young children, my siblings and I used to listen to the record "Little Tree". My sister and I were happy to find a CD version of it online a couple years back. Jonah and I were listening to it again in the car today, and I thought I should share it with you here.

"The Story of Little Tree" is a fictional story about a young tree whose branch is cut off to make the cross upon which Jesus is nailed. There are several songs mixed into the story and they are very nice. This CD never fails to bring tears to my eyes when I listen to it!

Hop on over to CBD.com to purchase it for only $6.99. I promise you won't be disappointed!

Cute book to prepare for a new sibling!

Are you preparing your child to be a big brother or big sister? If so, I would recommend buying this book from your favorite retailer! God Gave Us Two, yet another in the "God Gave Us" series by Lisa Tawn Bergren, follows little polar bear cub as he peppers his pregnant Mommy with questions about the upcoming arrival. Papa and Mama polar bear reassure their little cub that being a big sister will be great fun, and that a new baby won't change their love for her! "He gave us you. Now he's given us two!" is their frequent refrain to little cub in answer to her worries. I love how this book emphasizes the prayers of parents, as well as the joys of being a big brother or sister! Once again, Laura Bryant illustrates with fun, colorful pictures. Go read this book...there's a surprise ending that I don't want to spoil! *I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Sweet and Dreamy...

I recently "discovered" the author John Butler, and Jonah and I simply love his books! The latest one we checked out from the library is called Can You Cuddle Like A Koala? Each of John Butler's children's picture books feature full-page soft & dreamy illustrations of animals accompanied by rhyming sentences that seem to come alive as you read them!

In Can You Cuddle Like a Koala, each page-spread features a different animal (or animal parent and baby), and asks the reader if they can imitate that animal's actions. For example, "Can you stretch like a tiger waking up from a dream?" The sentences are placed on each page in wavy or arched formations, which makes reading the story even more fun.

This book is great for bedtime, or anytime,

and older toddlers will have fun copying the creatures on each page!

He will grow up...

I tried to put aside my "to-do" list and sat down in the rocking chair

with my little boy cuddled in my arms.

We shared some sweet moments as lullabies played.

As his eyelids began to droop, I stroked his baby-soft thighs.

His fat fingers clutched my shirt and he fell asleep.

I could not stop staring at his precious face,

and I choked back tears.

Because this is the easy part.

I know, mothering a young toddler is exhausting and demanding,

but it is simple.

There will come a day when he will have to deal with difficult and painful things,

because we live in a sin-cursed world.

As I thought of pain or trial coming to my boy,

my heart grew heavy.

I cannot pray that God will spare him from pain or difficulty,

for God uses those things to build character and help us to trust Him.

And it may be those things that lead Jonah to trust in Jesus Christ

for forgiveness of his sins.

But I can and will pray that God will be with him,

that God will protect and preserve him from every side,

that He will make Jonah into a strong godly young man,

and that God will help me to be a kind, patient, godly mommy to him.

I cannot hold onto him as a baby forever.

Before I know it he will be playing soccer, having sleepovers, climbing trees,

and then going off to college and getting married!

So how thankful I am that God hears my prayers for my son,

and that I can entrust this little boy to God's care.

Boy Book!

What a cute engaging book, especially for boys! We stumbled upon Truck Stuck at our library time last week, and took it home since Jonah is recently fascinated with the vehicles! Sallie Wolf tells the story of a big truck which gets stuck under a "viaduct" in a little neighborhood off the highway. Children are engaged with the story by mostly 2-3 word catchy phrases that rhyme with each other. It's fun to see how the traffic (workers going to their respective jobs) behind the truck passes the time and emotions are transformed from anger and impatience to smiles and friendship. Great book for teaching about "community helpers".

Baby Bites...Sweet Butternut Squash

Check out this "baby bite" that Jonah loves!

It's great for dipping apple slices in,

or enjoying by the bowlful with lunch or dinner

(great food for babies, kids, and adults alike...so yummy!)

Put in pot:
1 butternut squash, peeled, de-seeded, and cubed
Cover with water and boil 'til very tender; drain.

While still hot, add
2-4 T. butter
generous sprinklings of cinnamon and nutmeg
brown sugar, to your taste
(try evaporated cane juice, coconut sugar, or honey to be real healthy!)

Puree (with a regular or stick blender)

Enjoy!