Recipe: Cheesecake Cookie Dough Bars

Source: brandysbaking.blogspot.com via Amanda on Pinterest

This is the most recent recipe that I've tried out, and it is delicious. And fairly easy to make too! You basically make a bottom out of graham cracker crumbs and butter, make the eggless cookie dough (kind of like a crumble), and the cheesecake mixture. Add the cheesecake mixture on top of the graham cracker crumbs, then the crumble on top, and bake. If you click on the link, it'll take you to the actual recipe. I highly recommend it.

3/52

"A portrait of Cash once a week, every week, in 2013"

Week 3

See the first two pictures here

Etsy Favourites

Here are some of my recent finds on Etsy:

Women's Flax Linen Slippers made by Molipop
I ordered myself a pair and they should hopefully be here by the end of the week! Our new house has a lot of tile/laminate flooring, so my feet don't stay warm long. These are custom made in Quesnel, BC and she has different styles and colours available!

Personalized Boy Necklace made by VivaRevival

Brimfield Growth Chart made by Kims Sister
I really really want this! And I think we will get it in the future. It's a growth chart made to look like an old  black and white wooden ruler. Since we're renting, I had mentioned to Garrick that we should get a 2x4 or a piece of door frame trim so we could keep track of Cash's growth, but be able to take it with us whenever we move. This is the perfect solution!

Zombie TOMS made by LamaLand
This person hand-paints a pair of TOMS! There are some truly fabulous creations in this shop

Periodic Table of Elements Wooden Blocks made by WoodToyShop
How great are these?! I would love to have more wooden toys for Cash.

Routines.

If you've been following along with this journey that is parenthood, you'll already know that in the beginning, we really lucked out with Cash's night time sleeping. And that he's always sucked at napping. And that he suddenly decided that sleeping in the crib was NOT an option. And that now the holidays are over and we're settled into our new house, sleep is our number one priority, waaaay above hair-do's, make-up, outfits, and general house-keeping.

I've been doing a ton of reading and research on babies' sleep, different temperaments, etc. and I think I've started to make some real progress this past week. I have been really paying attention to Cash's cues and working on a daily routine that fits him.

I have worked out a 3-hour rotation (approximately):
- wake up for the day (this week, days began at 7:30 at the latest)
- diaper change, eat
- lots of activity, play time, tummy time, making loud noises at each other (and sometimes he wants to eat again)
- pretty much 2 hours on the dot since waking up, Cash shows signs of tiredness
- in his bedroom, diaper change, read a book, nurse/rock to sleep (slowly transitioning to sleeping in the crib)
- sleep for (hopefully) at least an hour (working on him not waking up while transitioning through sleep cycles)
- wake up and REPEAT

Friday was the first day of being quite clockwork about this, and it worked out really great! Nighttime sleep wasn't too bad either.. I see improvement!

"A portrait once a week, every week, in 2013"

I got this idea from Danielle at Sometimes Sweet and loved it!

"A portrait once a week, every week, in 2013"

I decided to do one of Cash every Friday for the whole year. Since I'm starting a week late, I'll do two to catch up.

1/52

2/52

4 Months Old - Dear Cash

16 weeks old on January 5, 2013

Dear Cash,

Wow, you have grown a lot in the last month! We think your head is bigger, and you've definitely put on some chub. This past month, you have moved into a new house, started laughing, took your first big trip, and met your whole family.

On Friday, December 21st, we took you on your first plane ride all the way to Edmonton. I think it was a 46 minute flight. You nursed during take-off, slept for most of the flight, and were all smiles by the time we landed and got to Grandpa Mel and Grandma Kathi's. 

Funny story: At dinner, we layed you on the floor where you kept yourself entertained. Everyone clinked their glasses together, saying "Merry Christmas" You let out a couple happy yells and someone said "Cash says Merry Christmas too". You continued babbling, and after a few minutes of it, Caprice said "Caasssshhh, stop saying Merry Christmas!!!!" It was too cute.

cousins

Saturday: We were headed to Grandma Cathy and Grandpa Merv's, but made a stop at one of Dad's friend's house first. Saturday night was fairly relaxed.

floor time

Sunday: Grandma and Grandpa had a bunch of Dad's friends over to meet you, as well as some of their own. You were a big hit, even though you spent a good portion of the time sleeping in the sling.

Monday - Christmas Eve: We drove to Gramz' and Popz' house. You got to meet Popz and Aunt Robyn for the first time! Aunt Kathryn and Uncle Anthony also stopped by to meet you and bring you a present! The sweater you're wearing in this month's photo was from them. That night, we celebrated Christmas with Popz' side of the family. There were 22 people there that you met, including wonderful Oma.

Aunt Kath

Tuesday - Christmas Day: We opened presents in the morning with Gramz, Popz, and Aunty, just like we did every Christmas growing up. It was very special for me to be able to share that with you for your first Christmas! Around noon, we drove to Uncle Phil's to see everyone one more time, then headed to Granny's house to celebrate with Gramz' side of the family! There were a lot of people on that side, including Granny of course, as well as Lyra, who is exactly 8 weeks older than you! It was cool to see all the things she does that we can look forward to you doing very soon.

Cash and Lyra. Before Lyra decided it was a good idea to eat Cash's fist

four generations (there were too many cameras going)

Granny and her two great-grandbabies

Wednesday: We mostly relaxed at Gramz & Popz. Both sets of grandparents from Dad's side came over to visit you again too.

Scootch

sleepyhead and Gramz

not sure if he should be scared or excited

And Thursday, we flew home!

three generations of Kopiak boys

Now that we're settled into our new home, we're working on your sleeping routine again. So far... it's not that great. Some nights we're able to get you to stay asleep in your crib (for only 3-4 hours), some nights it doesn't work. And I'm really trying to pay attention to your signals during the day and try to get you to sleep as soon as you're tired. 

Your first laugh was on Dec. 14. You laughed a second time the night before we went to Edmonton, then didn't do it again until after we got home. Go figure.

3 Months Old - Dear Cash + moving!

Wow, its certainly been a while since I've made a post! We've just been soooo busy. With what, you ask? Moving! Packing! Preparing for our trip to Edmonton! Wrapping! haha. And of course, taking care of the little man.

So this picture is just about 2 weeks overdue.. he was officially twelve weeks old on Saturday, December 8! Wow.. I can't believe it. He's considered to be out of "The Fourth Trimester" now.


Dear Cash,
Here's a little bit about your last month...
- You started out the month sleeping like a champ! Last month, you were sleeping in your crib for 4-5 hours straight before waking up to be fed. We continued with our same bed time routine and you stretched that first portion of sleep to 6-7 hours, waking up around 2 am to nurse and join us in our bed. 
THEN you shocked me by sleeping until 5 am before wanting to eat! And you did this for almost two weeks straight. It was amazing.
And without warning, that completely disappeared. We would do our regular bedtime routine - I'd nurse you in your dimly lit bedroom, dad would rock you to sleep, then lay you in your crib - but you suddenly decided you don't like to sleep in your crib! You'd wake up either immediately after being laid down, or within 10 minutes.. and we'd try putting you down at least 3 more times with no luck. So you end up spending the whole night in our bed.
I've bought a book called "The No-Cry Sleep Solution" by Elizabeth Pantley that is highly raved about, and have been studying up on ways to help you sleep.. but we won't implement anything until after we're home from Christmas and are settled in the new house. 
Atleast you are a pretty good sleeper in our bed! You nurse probably three times throughout the night.. I don't know exactly, cuz I barely even wake up!
- You are so curious about everything! You study everything around you very intently and notice when things have been moved (like your favourite picture).
- We sing you "Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes" and "Itsy Bitsy Spider". You love them both
- A sure-fire way to make you smile is to touch your face
- You have become more content sitting on your own for a little while, so mom can have a quick shower or eat dinner without you crying to be held

You've really been a champ during this whole moving process. At the new house, we lay you on top of a blanket in the living room and you babble away at the ceiling fan while we unpack.

Love Mama

And other exciting-ness... the new house!

We've moved most of our stuff in already (and unpacked it!) and will finish up the weekend we get back from Edmonton. I will share more pictures then.