Cupcakes are not like Chi Squares

In a rare departure from Caroline-centered posts, a quick note about mommy’s new obsession: cupcakes. And I owe it all to the brilliant mind behind Bakerella.


It is important to note that I fully embrace my lack of originality (anything I try has been at least partly copied from someone else’s inspiration) and in no way claim expertise. But, I have had a great time trying my hand at something so different than my day-to-day life. (What? Cupcakes aren’t like chi-squares? Shocking!)


For my little projects, I took inspiration from her cupcake pops and chocolate cake-and-cupcake decorations for the desserts served at recent baby showers for Lil Elbert and LBR. Though they didn’t turn out with the same polish as Bakerella achieves so easily (see previous disclaimer about lack of expertise), I was pretty happy with the result, and the fun of making them would have been worth it anyway. A few pictures:

Lil Elbert Party

LBR Party

Thanks Bakerella!

Read more...

Wash, Rinse, Repeat

Another Baby Shower!

This weekend's festivities celebrated the upcoming arrival of Baby Roeschlein (known as LBR to his friends).

Come on little ones - we can't wait to meet you!

Read more...

Step by Step

BRAVO Caroline!

Caroline took her first unassisted steps today - on her 13 month birthday! They came a few at a time, and were a little sporadic throughout the day.

Of course, Mommy and Daddy cheered her on with lots of "Bravo"s - and then, she cheered herself on: "Baaahbo!"

As regular readers know, CEC is not one for performances on demand - but we are determined to catch this exciting development on video. Stay tuned for more updates!

Read more...

Word Games

Thought it was time for another Caroline word-update. Before long, there are going to be so many, I won't be able to keep up! But for now...

The updated word list includes:

1. brush (sounds a lot like push) *Includes wanting to brush teeth and hair - usually Mommy's
2. cup (bup)
3. door (doe) *as in, I want to go out of the "door" to "walk"
4. hippo *Random – she has a stuffed hippo or 2, but definitely not something we’ve emphasized
5. Rory *Her friend at school who shares her birthday!
6. walk *Something she wants to do all the time, even if it is with assistance

Other Linerese updates:

1. momma is now mommy; dad-n is now daddy - very sweet!
2. she now calls all letters and numbers “8” though, if you have pictures of a bunch of numbers and ask her to point out the 8, she can do it!

She was even willing to share some of her new language skills with her fans:

No doubt there will be more soon!

Read more...

A Moo and A Baa...

As mentioned in a previous post, performances on demand are hard to come by when it comes to our little diva.

But, as promised, we have managed to get a rendition of Moo, Baa, La, La, La on video.

Though it might not have been her finest performance to date, and there was definitely some artistic license taken with the headstand, this critic rates her performance as top notch (the co-star wasn't so bad, either :) ).

Without further ado...

Read more...

Words of the Week

With things changing so quickly around our house, CEC's mommy has decided to post an unexpected update a mere 2 weeks after the last one. Yep - they change that fast.

Here are Caroline's words of the week (actually the past 2 weeks, but it doesn't have the same alliteration):

1. [the horse says] ‘neigh’
2. “x” . *She calls all letters and numbers, including the X, “x”. except the 8, which she calls…
3. eight. *Randomly, she knows this one.
4. balloon (loon)
5. bird (beud) *We’re working on distinguishing ducks from our other feathered friends
6. boat
7. book (sounds a lot like block: bock)
8. BRAVO (baahhbooo) *Usually said when mommy or daddy does something that C likes – like eating one of her Cheerios – or when she is particularly proud of herself.
9. Mommy: "Do you want to sing?" C: “A-B-C” *When her teachers told us this one, I didn't believe it. But it's true. Video coming soon.
10. gentle (sounds a bit like turtle: juuttlle). *Usually said while she pats momma.
11. hair (haeu…)
12. happy *Said especially when she hears someone say "birthday." Like I've said, this girl loves a celebration!
13. hot *And the toaster is a “no no. hot." She's catching on!
14. JoJo *A new one - JoJo is her friend Johanna, at school
15. momma *Hooray! Finally!
16. papaya
17. pat *...pat pat, while she pats herself
18. push *As in "What do we do to the elevator button?" C: "Push"
19. water (sounds a lot like waffle)

She also can recite (with some help), her favorite book, Moo, Baa, La La La. It goes something like this:
MOM: The cow says...
CEC: ...mooo...
MOM: The sheep says...
CEC: ...baaa...
MOM: Three singing pigs say 'La La La'
CEC: No No
MOM: :-) 'No No' you say, That isn't right. The pigs say 'Oink' all day and night. Rhinocerouses snort [snort] and snuff [snuff]. And little dogs go 'Ruff ruff ruff' Some other dogs go...
CEC: ...Wow wow wow...
MOM: Yep! 'Bow wow wow'. And cats and kittens say 'meow.'
CEC: Duck
MOM: 'Quack' says the duck. The horse says...
CEC: Neigh..
MOM: It's quiet now... what does Caroline say?
CEC: [Insert giggles]

We're working on a video of this, too, but performances on demand are hard to come by. Stay tuned...

Read more...

Pa-pay-a!

Caroline has ventured into the delicious world of tropical fruits -

And it introduced to her to a new fun word: "pa-pay-a"!

Read more...

Flower Child

CEC loves flowers!


Check out her reaction when she received a beautiful birthday bouquet of gerbera daisies from her Papa Ray and Uncle Jonathan. As you can tell, she loves them, and has loved pointing them out to us ever since.

Yep, that's "flower" - she's definitely a fan.

Thank you Papa! Thank you Uncle JD!

Read more...

Happy Birthday Eliza

Caroline has a special birthday wish for her friend Eliza, who turns 2 today!

Hope it is a great one sweet girl!

Read more...