JAMSquared

Author Archives: Jennifer

4 months 1 week old

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Well, I meant to do this post last week, but I got busy and forgot. Jessica turned 4 months old last Tuesday. We visited the pediatrician for her shots and well-check. She weighed 14 pounds 8 ounces (75%), measured 26 inches tall (90-97%), and had a head circumference of 42.5 centimeters (90%). The pediatrician was pleased with Jessica’s growth and said it was no longer necessary to wake and feed her in the middle of the night (well the 11:30 or midnight feeding before I went to bed), so if she wants to sleep 12 hours a night she can go right ahead. Since her appointment, she has slept about 12 hours a night and even let her parents sleep in until 10 AM on Saturday. I woke up and thought my goodness, maybe I should have set my alarm, but I went into her room and found her awake sucking on her thumb. I’m not sure if she was asleep the whole time or she woke up and just lay in her crib, but either way she didn’t make a peep.

Jessica and her Mommy, 2/6/10

Happy Jessica, 2/9/10

Jessica’s hand-eye coordination seems to be really improving. She grabs at her toys and holds onto them. She even works intently at the straps of her super seat. You can also see the results of her drool. Can’t be a baby without drool, right?

Jessica Concentrating, 2/9/10

Smiling Jessica, 2/10/10

Playting with the Butterfly, 2/17/10

She also is starting to put everything in her mouth: toys, the burp cloth, bibs, and of course her thumb and fingers.

Trying to Eat the Elephant, 2/18/10

Model Jessica, 2/18/10

Jessica’s hair is getting long. In the back, it is definitely to her shoulders. I noticed some flaky scalp on Saturday, so I worked in some baby oil. How much actually made it to her scalp, I’m not sure, but it sure made giving her a spiky hair do fun.

Spiky Hair, 2/20/10

Sunday was beautiful weather. Austin had a high of 77°F. We walked to the nearby Which Wich for lunch and then to the park. Jessica enjoyed the swing, but I think she enjoyed going down the slide with Daddy even more.

Chilling in the Swing, 2/21/10

Going Down the Slide with Daddy, 2/21/10

From a gorgeous spring-like day on Sunday to snow today. Yes, snow. Probably less than 1 inch and of course, it didn’t stick to the sidewalks or street, but snow nonetheless. And big flakes. I took Jessica outside for a few minutes so she could experience her first snow.

Amazed at the Snow, 2/23/10

SFYTT & TCP Color Challenges

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I’m trying to increase the number of birthday cards in my stash. That is part of why I typically make 2 of the same card when I make cards. One to use now (in this case my BIL’s birthday) and one to use later. I think this card turned out pretty cute and will be perfect for male birthdays. I used Jen del Muro’s Sketch for You to Try and The Cat’s Pajamas color challenge of olive, light blue and ivory.

Eat More Cake Card

Stamps: The Cat’s Pajamas
Cardstock: Stampin’ Up Very Vanilla, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery
Designer Paper: Stampin’ Up Ski Slope
Ink: Stazon Jet Black
Markers: Stampin’ Up Bashful Blue, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie; atYou Spica Clear
Accessories: Stickles Frosted Lace, dimensional
Tools: Nestabilites Standard Circles Large, Classic Scalloped Circles Large

Trip to Midland

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As promised, here are pictures from our trip to Midland last weekend. It was a very busy weekend.

My Dad had so much fun at the breakfast table, he ended up being the last one to change from his pajamas.

Jessica and her Papa

My sister wouldn’t want to see the other picture I snapped of her and Cameron.

Cameron and his Mama

After breakfast, we all hung out. Cameron found a giant foam hand that he immensely enjoyed. Of course, it made all the Longhorn fans happy, especially since my sister is an Aggie through and through.

Longhorn Cameron

I can’t wait until all the kiddos are old enough to play together. It will be so much fun. Growing up, I never really spent much time with my cousins. Partly, because I didn’t have many, two on my Dad’s side and three on my Mom’s side. And partly because none of them traveled and they lived a ways away from us. So I think it is great, that we all live close enough to see each other often and that we’re all willing to travel.

Cameron and Aspen Playing

After lunch on Saturday, we went over to James’ parents house and visited with them a bit.

Jessica and her Grandpa

Then we stopped by his grandparents for a little while. His grandparents will celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary in September. Isn’t that exciting? Yep, Jessica has her thumb in her mouth. I think it is so cute how she covers up her nose with her fingers when she does that.

Great-Granny and Jessica

We got back to my parents house right as everyone was leaving to go on a walk. We walked to the playground near the elementary school I attended. That brought back memories. We used to walk home from school. Aspen and Cameron enjoyed the swing. I didn’t bring Jessica’s coat (I didn’t realize we were walking to the playground) and so she stayed tucked under the blanket in her car seat/stroller.

Aspen Swinging

Cameron Swinging

Mom and Dad with their dogs Dixie and Daisy

I can’t wait until the kiddos become cheesers. Then Julia won’t be the only one smiling. Plus it will be so much easier to get them to all look at the camera.

Julia and Aspen

On Sunday before church, my Mom got to hold all the grandbabies for a photo shoot, similar to the one my Dad experienced at Christmas. It was so cute how Cameron had his arm around Aspen.

Cameron, Aspen, Jessica, Nanny and Trevor

Then we tried to get all four of them on the recliner, which was a tad difficult. We should have stuck with the loveseat from my Mom’s photo shoot.

Trevor, Cameron, Aspen, and Jessica

Jessica did pretty good in the car both ways. The way up would have been faster if we had realized all it took was a light on once it got dark outside to make Jessica happy.

Peppermint Pinwheels

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I recently joined the committee at SHPC that makes dessert for the KidStuf Program, a monthly extravaganza for parents to engage kids more deeply in conversations about scripture and our Christian faith. For February, I made these Peppermint Pinwheels, a refrigerator cookie. I saw this recipe on a Food Network special before Christmas and I thought the red and white cookies would also be good for Valentine’s Day. I gave most of them to the KidStuf Program and saved some for James to take to work in his lunch.  They were quite tasty (we also had a few the night I baked them) and were really pretty easy to make.

Peppermint Pinwheels

Peppermint Pinwheels

Source: Food Network

Ingredients:

  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon peppermint extract (I used mint extract since I didn’t have any peppermint)
  • 1 teaspoon red food coloring

Directions:

In medium bowl, sift together the flour, salt and baking powder; set aside. In large bowl, cream butter and sugar together. Add egg and beat until incorporated. Add teh vanilla and peppermint extract. Gradually add the dry mixture, beating until combined. Remove half of the mixture from the bowl. Add food coloring, beating until fully combined. In waxed paper, roll out dough to form a large rectangle, about 1/4-inch thick. Repeat this step with the uncolored dough. Refrigerate 2 hours.

Tear out 1 sheet of waxed or parchment paper. Sprinkle surface with confectioner’s sugar to prvent sticking. Very carefully, slide the red dough on top of the white dough. Trim edges if uneven and patch is necessary. Roll dough into a log, creating a swirl effect. Place the dough back in the refrigerator and let chill for 2 hours. To prevent a flat bottom place in round glass and lay glass on side in refrigerator.

Preheat oven to 375°F.

Slice the dough into 1/4-inch slices and place on a parchment lined sheet about 1-inch apart. Bake 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool on wire rack.

Yield: 3 dozen

Slicing Cookies

Baking in the Oven