Chocolate Blackout

Bean and I made a Chocolate Blackout Cake for our friend, Julie's, birthday on Saturday. Bean helped pour dry and wet ingredients into the mixing bowl, and did her best work cleaning up (as you can see in the photo below). We used the stand mixer. At first she was scared of the loud noise... "No, Mommy! Bean go hide!" But then I convinced her to look into the bowl and watch it mix. After about 15 seconds, she requested I turn it up a notch: "Super fast, Mommy!!"

The cake was fantastic. I hope this is the first of many cakes Bean and I will make together.

Bedtime with Bean

Bean is ridiculously sweet at bedtime these days. Tonight was a good example...

We're in bed (Daddy, Bean, Mommy) reading "The Very Hungry Caterpillar." Bean knows about half the words. Her favorite part is when caterpillar eats the buffet on Saturday: "one chocolate cake, one ice cweam cone, one pickew [pickle], one cheese, one ami [salami], one awipop [lollipop]..."

When we're done reading, I pick her up and she puts her head on my shoulder. "Good night, Daddy! Give kisses!" and she blows lots of kisses to Daddy. I carry her to her room and she requests a song, "Sing Sunshine, Mommy." I sing "You are my sunshine..." and put her down in her crib. She requests a specific setup: "Mommy, soft blanket up here. Other blanket cover up. Easter Bunny. Boo Boo. Head on pillow, Mommy. Mommy, Bean turn on fishies!"

When she's all set up, she says "Night night, Mommy. Kisses, Mommy. [blows kisses here] Thank You, Mommy. Night night, Mommy. Love you, Mommy."

Love you, Bean!!!!

Happy Birthday, Nana! (an update)

A simple, belated birthday gift for our Nana. Translated from toddler to English: "I'm Nana's Girl. I'M NANA'S GIRRRRLLL!" Guess who taught her that?