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Favorite Baby Books at 1 Year

December 17, 2020 by Gina +

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Christmas, it’s right around the corner. If you can even believe that. 2020, the year that threw everything at us, is wrapping up. And I love that we get to end such a wacky, crazy year with the Holidays, because there really is no greater time. Especially in 2020.

This year will be especially special for having a one-year-old. Last year we were still just trying to reach the goal of putting clothes on to make sure our teeth were brushed. Life with a newborn. This year, while he still isn’t fully aware of Santa and all that magic, he is more into his toys, especially books. Which is very helpful for a newish parent. So on his (my) list for baby, lots of books.

So let’s talk about kid books. Like many other parents to be, I was given lots of books at my shower and shortly after. I had no idea by the time he was one he would have such a strong opinion on books. I thought, if I read it, he will love it. Make the sounds, read with enthusiasm, we are all good. But kids are tiny people and they have opinions. And his opinion is: Trucks, cars, and animals. These are the books he gravitates to. We currently read Goodnight Tractor at least 15 times a day.

This leads me to my next point about gifts and books. What I thought he would like, he doesn’t so much. I bought some really cute books with beautiful pictures, books with lots of colors, books with cute storylines. But he mostly wants to know what The Little Blue Truck is doing. Every book he LOVES, the ones we read multiple times a day, were gifted to us. This tells me two things, I wasn’t the best book picker outer. And two, veteran moms gift certain books because they too have children who want to hear that same story over and over. They know what’s up!

So here’s my (short) list of books that now at 15 months I highly recommend to moms. I’ll be adding to the list with other recommendations from moms too. So if you have one to add, please leave a comment on here or Instagram.

The Little Blue Truck. This was his first favorite, and since we have added the Halloween and Christmas versions. The Halloween one was a big hit. The Goodnight edition is under the tree.

Goodnight Tractor is another big hit. My son brings this to me first thing in the morning. We read it a few times, then flip through pages pointing out trucks, tractors, and animals. A close second in how many times we read and flip through is this Truck book. He flips and reads through it so much, the cover is no longer with us.

Non-car or truck related, but still a favorite, You’re My Little Cuddle Bug. This is one of the books I read at night. He likes the cutout shapes and (I think) the rhyming. The book holds his attention and is super sweet. I got the Christmas edition for under the tree. Biscuit’s Pet and Play Christmas was a gift from last year that he’s recently taken to.

My mom friend suggests this book for us. She and her daughter love it, so I added it to the books under the tree.

Let me know what I should add to the list!

You might also like:

My Pregnancy Journey-First Trimester

Filed Under: Mom Life Tagged With: books, kids books, motherhood

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2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, 
salt and pepper to taste
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Lightly toast the bagel. Whisk the eggs with a little salt and pour into a nonstick pan, spreading it thin. When the egg is almost cooked through, place the two bagel halves on top, pressing gently — this holds the egg in place and keeps it from sliding out. Flip the pan so the bagel side is down and the egg side is up onto a plate. Add your toppings, fold any extra egg over the top, and close the sandwich.

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Use sourdough or whatever bread you love, and make extra caramelized onions — you’ll want them again tomorrow.
Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan #ad This is exactly th Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan #ad

This is exactly the kind of dinner I want during the week—crispy chicken, plenty of sauce, and melted cheese, without making dinner more complicated than it needs to be.

Another winner from @TestKitchen, where every recipe is tested to make sure it works at home. And at under 45 minutes, this one is definitely going into my weeknight rotation.
 
Want to try it? Comment RECIPE and I’ll send you a link to trial America’s Test Kitchen and get the recipe. You can also find the link in my bio.

And be sure to give @TestKitchen a follow for more tested, reliable recipes!
This Harvest Chicken Salad is one of my favorite w This Harvest Chicken Salad is one of my favorite ways to switch up lunch this time of year. Sweet apple, crunchy celery, and a lightened-up dressing come together for something that’s fresh, filling, and way better than the usual mayo-heavy version. Serve it on a bed of lettuce, in a wrap, or with crackers. Make sure you’re following @gina_gibson_cooks for more recipes. 

Ingredients:
2 cups cooked chicken breast, finely shredded
1/2 cup Greek yogurt
1/4 cup light mayonnaise
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 small apple, finely chopped
1/4 dried cranberry 
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, 
salt and pepper to taste
Optional 1/4 cup chopped walnuts for crunch.

Instructions:
Finely shred or mash the cooked chicken breast to your preferred texture. In a large bowl, combine the Greek yogurt, light mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, and lemon juice, mixing until smooth. Add the chicken, apple, celery, red onion, and parsley, and stir until everything is evenly coated. Season with salt and pepper, and mix in the walnuts if using. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes so the flavors meld, then serve chilled on lettuce, in a wrap, or with crackers.
This Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake Loaf is everything This Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake Loaf is everything you want from a fall bake — a soft, spiced crumb, juicy apples, a cinnamon swirl running through the center, and a buttery crumb topping on top.

Comment “APPLE” and I’ll send you the full recipe!
A dinner you don’t want to miss. I cut a hole st A dinner you don’t want to miss. 

I cut a hole straight into savory Hawaiian rolls and dropped a protein-packed meatball right in —  meatballs made extra tender (and boosted with protein) thanks to a little cottage cheese blended into the mix. Load with marinara, mozzarella, bake until bubbly, and pull apart to serve.

Comment “MEATBALL” and I’ll send you the full recipe!
Instead of stacking a fried egg onto a bagel, you Instead of stacking a fried egg onto a bagel, you cook the egg thin in the pan and let the bagel halves press right into it — no sliding eggs, no mess. 

Lightly toast the bagel. Whisk the eggs with a little salt and pour into a nonstick pan, spreading it thin. When the egg is almost cooked through, place the two bagel halves on top, pressing gently — this holds the egg in place and keeps it from sliding out. Flip the pan so the bagel side is down and the egg side is up onto a plate. Add your toppings, fold any extra egg over the top, and close the sandwich.

Use a low carb or regular bagel, both work great. I love bagels from @westernbagel
Save this sandwich — your fall grilled cheese. Bu Save this sandwich — your fall grilled cheese.

Buttery, golden sourdough stuffed with melty brie, sharp white cheddar, jammy caramelized onions, and crisp apple slices. It’s creamy, sweet, tangy, and toasted to perfection.

Use sourdough or whatever bread you love, and make extra caramelized onions — you’ll want them again tomorrow.
Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan #ad This is exactly th Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan #ad

This is exactly the kind of dinner I want during the week—crispy chicken, plenty of sauce, and melted cheese, without making dinner more complicated than it needs to be.

Another winner from @TestKitchen, where every recipe is tested to make sure it works at home. And at under 45 minutes, this one is definitely going into my weeknight rotation.
 
Want to try it? Comment RECIPE and I’ll send you a link to trial America’s Test Kitchen and get the recipe. You can also find the link in my bio.

And be sure to give @TestKitchen a follow for more tested, reliable recipes!
This Harvest Chicken Salad is one of my favorite w This Harvest Chicken Salad is one of my favorite ways to switch up lunch this time of year. Sweet apple, crunchy celery, and a lightened-up dressing come together for something that’s fresh, filling, and way better than the usual mayo-heavy version. Serve it on a bed of lettuce, in a wrap, or with crackers. Make sure you’re following @gina_gibson_cooks for more recipes. 

Ingredients:
2 cups cooked chicken breast, finely shredded
1/2 cup Greek yogurt
1/4 cup light mayonnaise
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 small apple, finely chopped
1/4 dried cranberry 
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, 
salt and pepper to taste
Optional 1/4 cup chopped walnuts for crunch.

Instructions:
Finely shred or mash the cooked chicken breast to your preferred texture. In a large bowl, combine the Greek yogurt, light mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, and lemon juice, mixing until smooth. Add the chicken, apple, celery, red onion, and parsley, and stir until everything is evenly coated. Season with salt and pepper, and mix in the walnuts if using. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes so the flavors meld, then serve chilled on lettuce, in a wrap, or with crackers.

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