February was filled with quiet family moments, time in the mountains, a special birthday celebration, and a few sweet milestones we want to remember.
“I can’t remember all the times I tried to tell myself to hold on to these moments as they pass.”
Welcome to “Moments” here on JoyFoodSunshine. At the end of each month, I share a family life recap with some of our favorite memories, milestones, recipes, and everyday snapshots. Here is a look back at our February 2022 family moments.
Life lately
February was a slower, cozier month for our family. We spent time in the mountains, celebrated Keilah’s birthday, and tried to enjoy the simple days at home while dealing with a few stubborn colds. Even though it was low-key, it was still full of moments worth remembering.
Baby Z!
Zach is 13 months old, and he is changing so much. I am nursing him only once a day now, right before bedtime, and honestly, if I could keep that sweet routine forever, I just might.
He is still very snuggly, and I try to soak in every cuddle. Rocking him to sleep is one of my favorite parts of the week. On Saturdays, when Ritch is home, I often hold him through his entire morning nap, and it feels like such a gift.
This month he learned how to climb up the stairs. He is so quick and sneaky that he can crawl away in an instant, and before I know it, his little head is peeking through the railings upstairs while he grunts or laughs to get our attention. We have been working on teaching him how to climb down safely, too, so we can all relax a little more.
He can stand up from the floor by himself, which feels like a big step toward walking. He cruises around the furniture and has taken a step here and there, but he is not quite walking everywhere yet. I do not mind him taking his time. Hearing and seeing a baby crawl around the house brings me so much joy, especially knowing this is the last time I will experience this stage with one of my own children.
He still says just one phrase: “Uh oh!” It has become the classic baby game. He drops something, says “uh oh,” we pick it up, and then we repeat the whole thing again. I love it.
Keilah turns 3
I feel just as emotional about Keilah growing up as I do about Baby Z. I think it is because she is my last girl. After having three baby girls in a row, I find myself mourning the end of the toddler girl stage a little bit. Toddler boys and toddler girls are very different!
Keilah loves pretty dresses, pretend jewelry, painted nails, singing, and dancing like no one is watching. She is joyful, expressive, and completely herself.
She is very much her own tiny person and different from her siblings in many ways. One of the most noticeable things about her is that she does not seem to enjoy being the center of attention.
On her first birthday, she was scared of her cake and actually tried to climb out of her high chair to get away from it. On her second birthday, she cried when we sang to her because I think she felt overwhelmed. This year, whenever she opened a present and I asked, “What is it, Keilah?” she nervously answered, “I don’t know,” even when the gift was obvious.
I have a feeling she may be more of a quiet birthday person than someone who wants a huge celebration.
For her birthday, she requested donuts and hot chocolate for breakfast. For dinner, she wanted pizza made with pizza dough and pizza sauce, plus a unicorn cake made with chocolate cake and vanilla frosting. We opened presents and watched Sing 2, just as she asked.
When the kids are little, we decorate a special birthday chair for them. We also filled the house with streamers and balloons for Keilah, and she felt like a little princess.
Every day since her birthday, she has asked me, “Am I still 3?” She has also told me several times that she wishes it were still her birthday.
Birthday Date
The day after her birthday, Ritch and I took Keilah out to lunch for her birthday date. I love spending one-on-one time with her. Once again, she answered “I don’t know” to every question we asked, including what she wanted to eat and where she wanted to go. So we chose what we thought she would enjoy most. It was simple, sweet, and perfect for a 3-year-old.
K potty training
Keilah has been hilarious during potty training, and her approach has been completely different from her siblings.
She has only had two accidents, both while she was busy playing, which has been such a blessing. The funniest part is that she refuses to tell us whether she went potty or what kind it was. As soon as she finishes, she calls out in the cutest voice, “Come here!”
If I ask any follow-up questions, she will not answer. Instead, she says, “I have something to show you!” When I walk into the bathroom, she is usually either sitting on the toilet or leaning over it while covering the seat with her hands or body so I cannot see inside. Then she says, “I have a surprise for you!” and reveals her accomplishment.
After that, I sing our potty song, clap for her, and let her choose a treat. For a while, she did this for everything, but now she mostly saves the routine for number two, so I usually know what to expect. It makes me laugh every time.
One of Keilah’s favorite birthday gifts was a pair of glasses from my sister. They are handmade and have quickly become a favorite.
Skiing
We spent time in the mountains this month and went skiing at the resort near our mountain house. We truly live in such a beautiful state, and I am always grateful for opportunities to enjoy it together as a family.
Date with Naomi
In addition to birthday dates, we keep a regular rotation of one-on-one dates with the kids. We go from oldest to youngest and alternate between mommy and daddy. This time, it was my turn to take Naomi out.
She wanted breakfast at Gourmandise so she could order a plain croissant. After that, I took her to Target to pick out birthday gifts for Keilah. Naomi is so much fun to take out because she simply loves being together. She wants to talk, snuggle, and enjoy the time we have.
Valentine’s Day
We do not do much for Valentine’s Day, but we do want our girls to feel loved and special. Ritch got each of them roses, which made the day feel extra sweet.
This year was especially fun because Valentine’s Day fell on co-op day. The kids were able to exchange valentines with their friends at school.
One of the moms also organized “Donuts with Dad” that morning. The dads joined the morning assembly, and instead of our usual activities, they got to eat donuts with the kids. It was such a fun memory.
Essential Oils
This month I shared my recipe for an all-purpose Thieves Cleaner, which has replaced many of my conventional cleaning products. I also shared more information about toxins commonly found in traditional cleaners.
More essential oil posts:
- Getting Started with Essential Oils
- Essential Oil Diffuser Blends
- Essential Oil Roller Blends
If you would like to purchase oils, you can sign up through this link: Young Living Essential Oils and enter my number, #31270904.
You can also shop my Young Living website, where I share my favorite products and bundles: https://www.myyl.com/joyfoodsunshine
Things I’m Loving
- Wooden Spatulas. I have had these spatulas since Mara was a baby, so for almost five years. I use them nearly every day, and I love that they are made in the USA in Montana. Earlywood Wooden Spatulas.
- While we are talking about spatulas, these are my all-time favorite silicone spatulas.
Recipes
Here are a few recipes we made and enjoyed in February.
- The best chocolate cake and vanilla frosting for Miss K’s birthday.
- I have been on a roasted Brussels sprouts kick this month.
- I also made Jamie’s Tahini Brownies twice this month, and they are so good.
Snapshots
G looking handsome after a fresh haircut.
K being absolutely adorable.
Best friends forever.
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