IKEA Play Kitchen "Remodel"

A few months ago, we "hacked" an IKEA stool to make a toddler learning tower. I use term "we" very loosely. My idea, Tom's hard work. So you can just imagine how excited he was when I mentioned my idea to "remodel" an IKEA play kitchen for Maddie's 2nd birthday. Same story, different project.

The IKEA DUKTIG kitchen is super cute as is without any updating. Very simple and realistic. After accumulating many pink and purple toys in the first two years, we've started to realize maybe we should shoot for gender-neutral just in case we have a future son. I wanted to spice up her kitchen, but not make it too super girly. Here's the "before":



And here's the after, with details on our additions:



Pardon the terrible lighting in the photos below. We stored the kitchen in the garage while it was a work-in-progress and set it all up the night before her birthday after she went to bed. The kitchen has never (and will never) looked this tidy again, so I wanted to snap the photos before Chef Maddie came through the next morning.

1) Microwave turn table: made from 3" wooden disc from craft store and screw/washer/locking nut to make it spin. It was pretty plain looking so I traced a silver circle on the top to give it some fake dimension.


2) LED track lighting in microwave, above counter, and in oven. We used an IKEA DIODER 4 piece strip set. My favorite part about it is the little light switch. Maddie loves to turn the lights on and off!
 

3) Backsplash: we used a piece of MDF wood trimmed to size and covered it in wrapping paper from IKEA.

4) Drawer pulls: I love love love the style of these IKEA HISHULT drawer pulls. They came in a set of two, so I used them on the "oven" and "cabinet" doors of the play kitchen.


5) Painted cabinet door and shelf backing in top section. Pretty self explanatory :)

6) Added a hook to hang aprons.


7) Painted side panel with chalkboard paint.

I really love the way it turned out. It was the cutest thing when she came downstairs on her birthday, unwrapped it, and proceeded to check out every little detail. It's such a joy to see her pretending in her kitchen, making "eggs" for her baby dolls, and pretend washing her dishes. The kitchen comes with attachments to put on the legs to make it taller, so I know this is a toy that will grow with her through the years. 

    

Maddie's "Pink Lemonade" 2nd Birthday Party

We recently celebrated Maddie's 2nd birthday, and it was so much fun! She totally understood the excitement around turning 2, seeing her friends/family, eating cake, and opening presents. Her happiness was contagious and we had the best afternoon celebrating her.

We went with a Pink Lemonade themed party this year. Truthfully, I decided on it last year when I was brainstorming ways to re-use the fruit stand Tom built. But fortunately, Maddie loves the color yellow and lemonade, so it was perfect match. I figure my time is limited before she has a real opinion on her party themes, so I made the decision and ran with it this year.

This was the DIY invitation I made:



And a few of my favorite decorations:

 
  
  

I made these party favors and had guests grab a lemon from one of our many lemon baskets before they left (well, at least, that was the plan... I forgot all about these until half of our guests were already gone):
  

The weather was warm, but the crowd toughed it out:
     

Maddie loved [the frosting on] her cupcake:
   

She also loved her many gifts:
    

It was such a joy to celebrate our happy girl with our amazing friends and family.

  
         

Happy 2nd Birthday, Maddie Grace

It's a bit cliche in the blogging world to write your kid a letter on their birthday. But I've always been one to jump on a bandwagon, so here it goes...

Maddie,

It's the eve of your second birthday. I'm sure I'll say this every year, but I can't believe you are turning 2. It is such a paradox of feelings: simultaneously feeling like we just brought you home from the hospital, but also that you've been ours forever. The ways you've grown in the past 2 years are mind-boggling. From a squirmy, fussy baby into a walking, talking, independent toddler. You amaze me every day and you're more than I ever could have asked for. 



I often feel like it's my job as a mother to teach you (because it is!), but I truly think you've taught me more. Just as you've grown in the past 2 years, I have as well. When I was pregnant, I was so ready to meet you. But for my first lesson in patience, you waited a full week past your due date to (ever so slowly) enter the world. And every day since then, you've tested and strengthened my patience. You've taught me to conquer my fears. When it's just the two of us together, somebody has to kill that spider! I also eat much healthier these days. You need your fruits and veggies, so I've got to set the right example. You've changed my life direction and career path by giving me a new perspective on what is most important to me right now. And that, of course, is spending time with you! I am absolutely loving my days at home with you and treasuring every moment. Well maybe not every moment, but you know what I mean. We're both learning from each other, and I'm so thankful we have this opportunity. 



Anyway, enough sappy, here's what you're up to these days:

• Running - all day, every day, you are in motion. Dancing, jumping, spinning, hopping, climbing. Your level of energy is incredible!
• Talking - a mile a minute! You repeat everything we say, but also form your own thoughts and speech. Some words are crystal clear, and others require a little decoding. We joke that I am your translator for others.
• Singing - we're in the midst of a 10 week music class, and you love to sing the songs you've learned! Current favorites: Goodbye, Hello, Old Brass Wagon, and Merry Go Round.
• Sleeping - in your "big girl" bed. We took the front off of your crib and affixed a small toddler rail. You love to be in your bed... and you never get out by yourself. When you wake up in the morning or after a nap, you stay in your bed until I come into your room... even if your beloved blankie or baba (pacifier) fall out onto the floor! I've told you that you can get out on your own if you want, but you haven't yet. I'm not really complaining. Before bed, we read two books while you have a snack. Then you brush your teeth with Daddy, he turns out the lights, and you & I sing songs in the rocking chair. Then I lay beside your bed and hold your hand until you fall asleep. 
• Enjoying - the little things! Some of your favorite things right now are: your friend Isobel, music class, library story time, rocks, bubbles, the color yellow, your stuffed "owl", three special blankies, feeding Bailey, watering your garden, and walking around the block.
• Wearing tattoos - I can't remember exactly when or where this started, but you like to have tattoos on your hands at all times. Your favorite right now is kitty cat tattoos. You also like to have your toe nails painted!
• Teething - your canines are all coming in at once and your two-year molars aren't far behind. You complain about your "new teeth" a lot.
• Learning - you know 10 colors and 10 shapes. You've had those down for a while. Now you're learning your ABCs and 123s. You can sing A-G skip a few LMNOP skip a few Y and Zzzzzzz! You can count 1-3 skip a few 8, 9, 10! You even know a few days of the week too. You enjoy watching Baby Signing Time and know close to 50 different ASL signs.
• Eating - macaroni and cheese is your current favorite. You also love oatmeal, soup, and lima beans. And sweets. You definitely inherited your mother's sweet tooth. "Eat dinner, two cookies" you like to say.
• Attaching to toys - owl, puppy, and little fishy are your current favorites. But, we accidentally lost little fishy on our trip home from Pittsburgh, so you still speak fondly of him even though he's not around any more.
• Remembering - everything! You can recall things we did weeks or even months ago. It amazes me. You love to talk about your experiences.
• Showing sensitivity - so much sensitivity. I love this character trait of yours. Sometimes it is a challenge, but with every great challenge comes great rewards. You are sensitive to loud sounds and bright lights, new people and new experiences. But you are also so sensitive to others feelings, and very perceptive. You feel everything so deeply, the highs and the lows. 
• Playing cautiously - ok so maybe it's because I'm constantly following you around saying "be careful!" (I'm working on lightening up), but you like to watch and observe before jumping in.
• Becoming independent - it's simultaneously exciting and heart-breaking for me to watch. You brush your teeth, comb your hair & pick your bows, wash your hands, attempt to dress & put on shoes, feed Bailey, and open doors.

You are such a special girl, beautiful inside and out. You're smart, silly, and sensitive. Your Daddy and I love you more than you'll ever know. Happiest of birthdays to my sweet little 2 year old.

Love, 

Mommy