A Festive Pumpkin Banner...

I got a little crafty itch this morning.

One that had to be scratched.

I had seen this tutorial

on the sweetest craft blog,

Simple As That

Visit it-

because there is lots

of cuteness going on

over there.

So I made my own little pumpkin banner...

How I met your father {The Midnight Train to Venice}...

-charlie-

I want to tell you the story of how mommy met daddy. I always knew Daddy, but what I didn't know was that he would be your father. There are a lot of small moments in my journey to find him and I want to share those moments with you.  I want to share them before I forget them and before you become a teenager who hates me and my stupid stories. I hope these stories inspire you, encourage you, and make you smile...

The Midnight Train to Venice

I spotted him right away.  The baggy pants, Abercrombie sweatshirt, and baseball hat were a dead give away- he was an American! I had been in Germany for nine months and I was sick and tired to death of German men.  I missed dating in English.  I missed being funny (not easy when speaking another language).  I was tired of the whiteness of my teeth being a topic of conversation on dates.  And I was tired of having to climb mountains to prove my worthiness as a girlfriend.  It was 2005 and I was on my way to Venice to meet my mom for a week long vacation.  I didn't met your father on the midnight train but I did learn an important lesson that helped me along my way...

I remember saying "thank you" when he reached back and helped me with my bag.  I remember the look on his face when he realized I was American too. I even remember that he sat on the floor of the train with me for two hours, even though he had a ticket for a seat.  What I do not remember is his name...shame on me!

We talked for hours which was great because we had some time on our hands- about an eight hour train ride to be exact. Eventually we found seats next to two other American girls around our age and a creepy Austrian man who kept trying to show us his pornographic sketch book.  Thank goodness American Guy was with me because he ended up having to save me from creepy Austrian Guy- he got a little to close to me while I was sleeping.  Emphasis on CREEPY...

Side by side two we slept all night and somewhere after Salzburg but before Verona, his hand found mine in the darkness.   As morning light began to peek over the horizon the landscape began to change from mountains to seaside.  Venice was getting closer and so was our inevitable parting of ways.  

He was on his way to meet a friend.  I was on my way to meet my mom.  He took my hand and lead me through the crowded train station.  He asked for directions to the bus station.  We walked from dim light of the station into the beautiful morning light of the most perfect day on the Grand Canal of Venice.  "Was this really my life or a movie?"-  I remember thinking.

We said good bye to the American Girls.  We walked quietly to the bus stop. We decided to exchange numbers and meet back at the train station at  seven pm.  The bus pulled up and we said goodbye.  As I stepped onto the first stair, he pulled back on my hand and kissed me.  I got on the bus and waved.  He watched me pull away and then he disappeared into the crowd.  

I never saw him again.

I was at the train station at seven but he never came.  I have no idea what happened and you know what? I don't care.  Did it ruin my trip?  Not at all!  I had a great time.  I am never going to know why he didn't come but I'm not going to waste my life away wondering why.  Maybe his friend was mad that he made plans,  maybe he was late, maybe he just didn't come. 

 I'll never know but I will always have that train ride.  I think the not knowing is what makes this moment special. If he had shown up that night he could have ended up having bad breath, or long, gross fingernails, or any number of other flaws we inevitably see in someone we fall for.  

Sometimes, Charlie, the what could have been is better.  Don't be afraid to live life and have moments of spontaneity just because you don't know where they will lead you. Not every man is going to end up being the father of your children but some will take you places you never thought you would go.

Life Lesson 101:  Sometimes it's not about your destination but about your journey...

Keeping Baby Busy {Vol 3. Teaching Balance}...

...

-TV-

it's a touchy subject.

We all have our views.

Our beliefs.

Our own way of doing things.

So let me just reiterate this:

I am NOT telling you how much TV your child should or shouldn't watch.

All I am talking about today,

is finding balance

and

 how we watch TV at our house.

How much?

It is on pretty much all day, every day.

I do try and take days 

where we leave it off and have quiet time.

Charlie only watches in the morning.

I feed her breakfast and I try to hold her

 or snuggle next to her while she eats.

Then she will play in the bouncer or in the play pin 

and watch her shows.

Charlie enjoys:

Doc McStuffins,

The Mickey Mouse Club House,

and of course

The Nanny

This time in the morning 

helps me get the day going,

I make coffee,

feed the cats,

 put my contacts in and wash my face.

You know, basic stuff,

 that is hard to do with a baby.

At first she wouldn't watch for very long

but now she will sit quietly and play

for about 45 minutes!

This is MY time

and I love it.

I need it.

And you you know what else?

I'm not going to feel bad about it.

I think all things are good in moderation.

That is really what I feel like my responsibility to Charlie

is-

 to teach her how to enjoy things in moderation.

We don't have to completely deny kids TV, 

or sugar, 

or any other indulgence 

but

to make sure

they enjoy a variety of things.

We simply have to teach them how

 through our own actions and behavior

how to entertain oneself.

How to be alone 

and to be OK.

It's just like sleeping or eating, 

you have to teach these things.

You need sleep but not too much.

You need food but not too much.

You can watch TV but not too much.

Sometimes mommy can't play- sometimes you have to entertain yourself

You want to teach balance.

It was hard for me to find this balance-

without feeling guilty.

As a nanny

taking time for yourself is a no-no

during the day I was on the clock.

So for me to take time to do something for myself instead of Charlie

just wasn't in my daily routine.

There wasn't balance for me or for her.

She needed constant play and attention 

because

 I hadn't taught her 

to ok by herself.

I had let her become the boss 

and letting her guide the relationship.

As a mother

I cannot do that!

I must be the one guiding the relationship,

showing her where to go,

teaching her where her boundaries are

and helping her become her best self.

Being able to be alone

and ok

There are a lot of grown ups who have a hard time being alone-

so it is a big thing to teach,

 I think TV helped in the weaning process

but shouldn't be used exclusively.

With TV 

or

 with out-

I do think that being able to take time for yourself

is so important.

A baby with balance 

is a happy baby.

How do you teach balance in your home?

...

{FIVE} Things {Friday}...

Hello!!!

and welcome 

to all of you new to

906 E. Chic!

I'm starting 

a new Friday tradition

round these parts

and you are welcome 

to link to your own blog

in the comments to your own

{Five} Things {Friday}

along with  me.

I know yesterday 

you all saw 

a not so nice side of me.

And I kinda wish 

that didn't happen

but alas,

it did

woulda,

coulda,

shoulda.

Today I want to show you a better side of 906-

just a normal week

in the life of Chuck and Beebs

that is what my husband 

calls me, the house mangager and Charlie, our 7 month old baby girl...

{Five} Things {Friday}

Around 906 this week you would have seen...

 fake Uggs-don't judge...

 Fall beautifulness...

 Instagram addiction...follow me at 906EASTCHIC...

 Leafy, the word we were looking for is leafy...Name that Friends episode...

 Delicious...

 Angry little candy corn...

 A "berry" cute wreath...

 My first born from another motha'...Skippy.

 More fall loveliness...

Chuck watching Doc McStuffins, who enjoys the show more?

I'll never tell...

Around 906 this week you would have heard...

The Mickey Mouse Hot Dog song, we all love it...

The crunchiness of leaves...

The song "If you're happy and you know it"...a million times cause Charlie loves it...

Elementary  on the TV- great show- much better then Revolution- which sadly JJ Abrams

I think I am not going to watch anymore because it's like Lost only I just don't care what happens to them...

A lot of snoring, I cannot stay up past 9 anymore does that mean I am officially old???

The sizzle of a perfectly cooked steak and conversation with the oldest and dearest of friends...

Whining- who else has a whiny 7 month old, isn't that suppose to be happen later?  Where did my sweet, sweet baby go? Who is this meanie who pinches, pulls, and punches???

The Dixie Chicks- I know is it 1998 again???

Around 906 this week you would have smelled...

The acidic smell of Sourdough Bread Starter...

The smell of VICTORY as the Cardinals are one game closer to being in the World Series!!!

Woot woot!!! Sorry, I'm not sorry Albert but we were never that close to begin with and it looks like we don't need you to get to The World Series...

The homeyness of cinnamon buns without actually having to leave my couch- thank you Scentsie....

Lavender dish soap- it's the little things in life when you are on a tight budget...

Coffee, NEVER a  morning without coffee, Hazelnut, to be exact, with creamer if you want to do it right, with milk if you have to wise with your pennies...

Around 906 this week you would have tasted...

Pizza- of the frozen nature...

Steak with Montreal seasoning and a side of broccoli pasta...

Potato Soup that is so good it will make your husband fall in love all over with you again...

Fried Rice McElwee Style, made me think of my childhood funny how smells do that...

Bacon, it's man's best friend, sometimes they need it thick cut style...

Barley if your name is Charlie...

Pears and Raspberries-if you are a daddy who likes to sneak in baby food snacks...

Around 906 this week you could have touched...

The sweetest bald baby head you have ever seen...

A soft and furry friends named Walter, or Skippy, or Kitty...

A snuggle blanket, they were all over the house it was a rainy. cold week...

Kissable, sweet, baby cheeks {you can also argue that they are good enough to eat!}...

A chubby little hand reaching out for you to walk her, for the 1,000,000,000,000 time around the house...

The bathroom floor, I actually cleaned it- it had been a while...

What have you been up to this week???

I'm...flattered...This time I really am..

I wrote this post earlier today.
Out of anger.
And
I was wrong to do so.
But you know what?
I have eaten humble pie before
and I will eat it again
if I am wrong.
Well Stubborn's Place
I am eating it right now on behalf of you.
With a side of I'm sorry too.
Thank you for your post
and apology
for a little blog like mine
it was big time news
and it meant a lot
And if you seriously would like me to guest post-
I would be flattered...
Sincerely
this time : )
Sometimes I can be a baby...
I can't help it
I hang out with one all day.

Sourdough Starter {In my kitchen}...

I find that a duck's opinion of me is influenced by whether or not I have bread. A duck loves bread, but he does not have the capability to buy a loaf. That's the biggest joke on the duck ever. If I worked at a convenience store, and a duck came in and stole a loaf of bread, I would let him go. I'd say, "Come back tomorrow, bring your friends!" When I think of a duck's friends, I think of other ducks. But he could have, say, a beaver in tow. 

-Mitch Hedburg-

Unlike the duck

I do have the capability

to buy a loaf

but

I am trying to save money right now.

So

today I made...

Sourdough Bread Starter

What you need to make your own:

Mix the whole package of yeast in 1/2 cup warm water and let dissolve.

Mix in all ingredients with yeast mixture and add the other 2 cups of warm water.

Cover with a cotton cloth for 5-10 days.

Stirring 3 times a day.

You know it is done when it has a fermented aroma and it is not bubbling.

So I guess we will talk more in 5-10 days...

Keeping Baby Busy {vol 2.}

Sticks

or

that's what we like to call it around here.

Call it what you want

but it's the perfect game for baby

during that time in the afternoon,

when they are up from the last nap of the day,

and the hour of daddy walking in the door

seems

so

far

away

...

3 o'clock

All you stay at home moms are 

out there shaking your head in agreement.

It's like the twilight zone

nothing seems to go right,

baby is crabby,

mommy is tired,

afternoon TV is horrible...

 I know just what to do 

to get you and baby out of that afternoon slump

Music time!!!

Turn off the TV

give baby a variety of

"instruments"

Pots

Tins

Spoons

Clapping your hands to the beat

All are great ways to show baby

how to have a good time with music and rhythm.

Plus if you DVR Ellen

you can finish it off with a little dance sesh

and that friends

is how me and Charlie beat the afternoon grumpies.

How do you get through 3-5 every afternoon?!?

Fall is my favorite time of year...

Fall.

I flippin' love it.

The beautiful trees,

the delicious smell

of spicy autumn candles

and cozy soup dinners.

Love it.

And I don't know about where you live

but round these parts, 

we take decorating for fall pretty seriously.

There are mums on front porches,

and pumpkins sprinkled down

front steps.

There are ghosty and creepy things

all around the house

and candy corn in abundance.

And if you can stomach the sweetness

there is always the classic pumpkin candy too.

How are you 

decorating for fall???

Feel free to post links in the comments to your own blog or facebook page to show how you get your house all festive!

Keeping Baby Busy {A New Series}...

Charlie is a busy baby.

I knew she would be.

So I have been researching

games,

activities,

songs,

you know, 

learn-ny things.

And one of the big themes I have come across 

is introducing your baby to all kinds of texture.

One of our favorite ways to practice this

is to fill a big bowl full of something

"unusual"

for Charlie to explore.

You can use:

Dried Beans

Dried Peas

Dried Egg Noodles

Uncooked Rice

Sugar

I stick her pacifier in,

sit right with her to make sure that it stays out of her mouth,

other then that I just let her have at it.

Yes.

It is messy

but it keeps their attention for so long

and teaches them to investigate the world around them.

You can also give them 

bowls,

cups,

spoons,

anything to dig and scoop.

Save this one for a rainy afternoon.