Quick and Easy Gift for Classmates!!

So, I was browsing around pinterest looking for something cute for Maddie's little preschool friends and I stumbled upon this...

So cute!  

I didn't have all of the right stuff to make it exactly like this, but I improvised and it was SUPER easy!

If you want to whip some of these up, here's what you'll need:

Cheap sandwich bags

Whoppers...you actually may not need the strawberry ones.  I thought I could use the strawberry as is for the Rudolph nose, but it wasn't good enough, so I coated it with frosting; which means you'll need...

this and...

this!  Red gel food coloring.  

To make Rudolph's nose just combine a little white frosting with red gel food coloring and coat the strawberry whoppers.  This is where you could probably just use regular whoppers.

Let them dry...it won't take too long!

package them up and you're ready to go!  

I printed my topper on the computer using Adobe Photoshop.  Make your file size 6.5 x 5.  Create a circle 1.75 x 1.75.  Drop in a few brushes for the reindeer and the snowflakes and you are good to go!!

Trying New Things

I'm trying new things with my hair.  This is the sock bun.  

I watched this youtube video.  

I still need to practice some more.  It looked good for about 15 minutes and then pieces of hair slowly started  coming "unbuned." {sigh}  never been too good with hair, but I'll keep trying!  

Anyone know of any other good hair tutorials for long hair?  

I need Fixing Hair For Dummies 101!! 

Determination

Saturday I got a little glimpse of Maddie's determination. 

We've been working on independent spoon feeding for quite some time now

(about a year and a half to be exact!)

I've realized she does much better if I just leave the table and let her be.  

So, when she asked for applesauce, I knew this was a great opportunity to give her some space and let her do her thing.  

And guess what?! 

She ate the whole thing...with a spoon! YIPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!

I was busy in the kitchen but I saw from a distance her amazing progress.  

The only thing is...things tend to get really messy.  

Her Dad tried to clean her up.  

She wanted to do everything herself...

Oh, these pictures make me laugh. 

When you have a child with special needs, there's a tricky balance of pushing their limits to help them achieve all of their potential and supporting and accepting them for who they are. 

Kyle and I have decided we are going to raise Maddie just like any other child, and have all of the same expectations for her as a typical developing child. That decision was the easy part.

The hard part is knowing when to hold her hands and support her through experiences, and when to step back and let her figure things out on her own.

I think its time to put more faith in Maddie's determination.  It's a humbling lesson for a Momma to realize your baby doesn't need you to be there every step of the way.  In fact, they are actually better off when you take a step back.  Yeah, that's going to take some time to sink in.  

While that's sinking in, I will smile and revel in her most recent accomplishment...

Independent Spoon Feeding!!

And she literally did it all.  by.  her. self!!