Monday, June 22, 2009
Recent Struggles with Boo
Nap and bedtime has become such a struggle with Boo since I've returned from my CA trip. When I try to lay her down for a nap or at bedtime, she instantly starts pitching a fit and screams until she's hoarse because she doesn't want to go to sleep. Her tantrum is horrible, with her trying to lash out by hitting me and throwing things off of her bed.
Nothing works to calm her down so I end up having to walk away and just let her throw her fit until she falls asleep from sheer exhaustion.
It really stresses me out and it doesn't help when Oronzo tells me she doesn't do this for him.
I don't know if this is happening because she's angry that I left her for 7 days, or if my being gone brought up all her fears of abandonment from her first year of instability. I'm not sure if she's just throwing these huge tantrums because she's 2 and stubborn by nature.
I just know that my heart aches to see her struggling with her emotions so much.
Any suggestions on how to help her through this?
Thursday, August 30, 2007
If bribing my son works, I'm all for it!
I've blogged in the past about our half hearted efforts to work on potty training Snuggle Bug. I know now that he was really too young in January to even entertain the idea of potty training. But now, I think we're making progress!
Potty Training Benefit From Daycare
One of the benefits of having Snuggle Bug in daycare is that his teachers are working with all the 2 year olds on potty training. Every hour they take the kids in to try to use the potty. They all stand in a line and wait their turn to go. I suspect that the success rate is pretty low, but the teachers are establishing the routine and for that I'm thankful.
Mommy & Daddy Need Motivating
Oronzo and I have finally decided to get motivated to reinforce the daycare's potty training efforts while we're here at home. Snuggle Bug has been going potty in his potty chair off and on for about a month now but not on a consistent basis. I know this is in large part due to the fact that we haven't been consistent about encouraging him to go. We've been the lax ones, not him!
Pull-Ups, Big Mistake
Last week Oronzo and I decided to purchase pull-ups and planned on phasing out his diapers. We made a big deal of these pull-ups to Snuggle Bug, calling them his "big boy pants." He was all for wearing big boy pants and was happy to give up on his diapers.
Let me just say that I think pull-ups are a BIG mistake, at least for us! They're considerably more expensive than diapers and, to Snuggle Bug, they're really not much different from diapers, except that he can pull them on and off on his own.
What we found out is that Snuggle Bug treats pull-ups just like his diaper. I think it's because when he pees in them he doesn't feel wet. Pull-ups are too expensive to be used as diaper substitutes!
Age-Old Rite of Choosing Underpants
Yesterday, I decided to take him to Target and purchase him toddler underpants, thinking that if he could feel himself being wet he'd be more likely to want to use the potty.
I let Snuggle Bug pick out his own designs. He agonized over Cars, Thomas, Sesame Street, Nemo, and Diego themed underpants. He chose the Cars and Sesame Street underpants. When we got home, I washed them and immediately put a pair on him. He didn't like them. He wanted his pull-ups back on. I let him run around the house naked instead.
Let the Bribes Begin
After speaking to many parents, I heard over and over again that you basically have to bribe your child into becoming potty trained. I tried bribing Snuggle Bug with a stamp on his hand (he loves stamps) but that lost it's appeal over time.
Now, it's all about presents! I decided to wrap up little gifts (cars, bubbles, stickers, books, and a wee bit of candy...all stuff I already had around the house), put them in a basket, and let Snuggle Bug pick a present each time he successfully uses the potty. Unexpected bonus, I'm using up ugly wrapping paper that I didn't know what to do with!
Bribing is working out pretty well so far. Snuggle Bug loves unwrapping his presents almost as much as he loves seeing what's inside. He's even decided that his underpants are neat too (pull-ups will only be used at night from here on out) and today he wore them at home and at daycare.
Today he went pee twice for me in the potty in the morning and went again for Oronzo this evening. He had no accidents at home and had only one accident at daycare. He actually often tells us when he has to go pee!
I think now that Ornozo and I are making an effort, potty training Snuggle Bug won't be so horrible! We're making progress on the peeing portion of potty training, but haven't made much headway with pooping. I've been told that takes a bit longer.
** Edited to Add **
Potty Training Benefit From Daycare
One of the benefits of having Snuggle Bug in daycare is that his teachers are working with all the 2 year olds on potty training. Every hour they take the kids in to try to use the potty. They all stand in a line and wait their turn to go. I suspect that the success rate is pretty low, but the teachers are establishing the routine and for that I'm thankful.
Mommy & Daddy Need Motivating
Oronzo and I have finally decided to get motivated to reinforce the daycare's potty training efforts while we're here at home. Snuggle Bug has been going potty in his potty chair off and on for about a month now but not on a consistent basis. I know this is in large part due to the fact that we haven't been consistent about encouraging him to go. We've been the lax ones, not him!Pull-Ups, Big Mistake
Last week Oronzo and I decided to purchase pull-ups and planned on phasing out his diapers. We made a big deal of these pull-ups to Snuggle Bug, calling them his "big boy pants." He was all for wearing big boy pants and was happy to give up on his diapers.
Let me just say that I think pull-ups are a BIG mistake, at least for us! They're considerably more expensive than diapers and, to Snuggle Bug, they're really not much different from diapers, except that he can pull them on and off on his own.
What we found out is that Snuggle Bug treats pull-ups just like his diaper. I think it's because when he pees in them he doesn't feel wet. Pull-ups are too expensive to be used as diaper substitutes!
Age-Old Rite of Choosing Underpants
Yesterday, I decided to take him to Target and purchase him toddler underpants, thinking that if he could feel himself being wet he'd be more likely to want to use the potty.
I let Snuggle Bug pick out his own designs. He agonized over Cars, Thomas, Sesame Street, Nemo, and Diego themed underpants. He chose the Cars and Sesame Street underpants. When we got home, I washed them and immediately put a pair on him. He didn't like them. He wanted his pull-ups back on. I let him run around the house naked instead.Let the Bribes Begin
After speaking to many parents, I heard over and over again that you basically have to bribe your child into becoming potty trained. I tried bribing Snuggle Bug with a stamp on his hand (he loves stamps) but that lost it's appeal over time.
Now, it's all about presents! I decided to wrap up little gifts (cars, bubbles, stickers, books, and a wee bit of candy...all stuff I already had around the house), put them in a basket, and let Snuggle Bug pick a present each time he successfully uses the potty. Unexpected bonus, I'm using up ugly wrapping paper that I didn't know what to do with!
Bribing is working out pretty well so far. Snuggle Bug loves unwrapping his presents almost as much as he loves seeing what's inside. He's even decided that his underpants are neat too (pull-ups will only be used at night from here on out) and today he wore them at home and at daycare.
Today he went pee twice for me in the potty in the morning and went again for Oronzo this evening. He had no accidents at home and had only one accident at daycare. He actually often tells us when he has to go pee!
I think now that Ornozo and I are making an effort, potty training Snuggle Bug won't be so horrible! We're making progress on the peeing portion of potty training, but haven't made much headway with pooping. I've been told that takes a bit longer.
** Edited to Add **
It's 3 p.m. my time and I've got good news to share! If you're not a parent dealing with or having dealt with potty training, please disregard. :)
This morning Snuggle Bug went pee in his potty four times! Better yet, on his fifth time to the potty, he actually went poop! This is the first time he's pooped in the potty. Hooray! He and I were both excited!
The presents are working like a charm to motivate him! He got 5 presents before I even took him to daycare at 11:30 a.m.
Ornozo just picked Snuggle Bug up and was told that he had a great afternoon. He went potty for them once in the bathroom and his underwear stayed dry the whole time. Oronzo is being brave and put Snuggle Bug down for a nap in his underpants, rather than putting a pull-up on him. Let's hope he stays dry while sleeping.
I think we are officially on our way to really potty training Snuggle Bug!
So, anyone else out there in the midst of potty training? If so, what's working for you?
Labels: parenting, potty training, Snuggle Bug, toddler
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Teething Pains
I think Snuggle Bug is working on getting his 2 year molars in. He's been saying "mouth hurt" and sticking his fingers in his mouth. He's also been running low grade fevers off and on. Considering he'll be turning 3 in December, I'd say it's about time these molars come in!It's been a while since we've had to witness Snuggle Bug in pain due to teething and these last 3 nights have been tough. He wakes up frequently throughout the night, crying out in pain. We go in and try to comfort him the best we can, but it's not easy.
Last night I picked up my 28 lb. little boy and paced the wooden floors of his room with him in my arms as he snuggled up against my chest and whimpered in pain. I did the bounce-sway-shhhh-shhhh-shhh walk with him for several minutes, just like I used to do when he was teething as a baby, until he had fell back to sleep in my arms.
I hate to see him in pain like this and I'm not sure what's the best brand of medicine out there for his age to help sooth his teething pain. Any suggestions? Maybe I should call our pediatrician and ask.
Oh, by the way, I just want to say that I'm loving all the business names that many of you have come up with! I'm checking them all out to see which URLs have already been taken and which ones are still available. Unfortunately, many of the clever ones are already taken so keep those suggestions coming!I'll announce on Saturday the name I've chosen for my new home-based jewelry business.
Thanks so much for all your help!
Labels: home-based business, Snuggle Bug, toddler
Monday, April 30, 2007
Cracking the Kid Code
I got a call from Oronzo yesterday while I was out shopping.Oronzo: “Can I ask you a stupid question?”
Me: “Sure, go ahead.”
Oronzo: “Snuggle Bug is asking to watch ‘blani book’. What does ‘blani book’ mean?”
Me: “Hmm…is it the Bug’s Life movie?”
Oronzo: “No, I tried that. That’s not it.”
Me: ((wracking my brain trying to figure this out)) “Wait, I’ve got it! ‘Blani’ is his word for Bambi. We have that book retelling various Disney movies and he likes me to read him the Bambi story. So, I think when he says, ‘blani book’ he’s really asking to watch his Bambi movie!”Oronzo: “Okay, Bambi movie it is. I’ll try that. Thanks.”
Me: “No problem. Call me anytime you have more stupid questions.”
Just for fun, I’ll list some more of Snuggle Bug’s unique word pronunciations:
“Boo foder”, translation: move over
“la la”, translation: Baby Einstein movies (it’s a long story)
“bicasil”, translation: bicycle
“woedirt”, translation: yogurt
“ow bout”, translation: how about
So, what fun but hard to understand phrases do your little ones say?
Labels: family, Snuggle Bug, toddler
Monday, March 19, 2007
Toddler products I'm ordering soon
How cute is this??! It's a t-shirt that I'm going to order from Babesta. I have two nephews, with upcoming birthdays, that will be starting pre-school this year. I think this will be a cute gift for each of them! The cost, $20 plus $4 shipping per order. There's some other cute stuff on this website too, so check it out! And if you'd like to receive 10% off, use this code: BABESTA70.
Another thing I'm ordering soon is a couple of solid color Flap Happy sun hats. I'll probably go for one white and one navy blue. These hats are awesome because they protect not only Snuggle Bug's head, but also his neck and ears! And the hat stays on much better than most other hats. Snuggle Bug currently has a fish print Flap Happy sun hat that's cute, but it's hard to match with anything but a solid color shirt. I want some solid colored ones to mix and match better with many of his outfits.
So tell me, what baby/toddler/child product have you ordered lately?
Labels: shopping, Snuggle Bug, toddler
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Uses for your child's wagon
How many of you bought a wagon of some kind for your kids? What do you use it for, besides taking the kids out for a walk?Here are some of the things we use ours for:
1) We're walking distance from a grocery store. Snuggle Bug loves it when I pull him in the wagon to the store. Once we get there, I just take the wagon right in and use it as my grocery cart! Snuggle Bug is content to ride through the store like that, without grabbing at things, and I get my grocery shopping done. It's amazing how many customers and check-out clerks comment on how cute it is that Snuggle Bug is in his wagon in the store. No one seems to mind. Once we're done shopping, there's no lugging of grocery bags involved. It's all in the wagon I just pull Snuggle Bug and our food home to our front door!
2) I use Snuggle Bug's wagon like a wheelbarrow, wheeling grass clippings, weeds, etc. out to the garbage behind our house. I keep meaning to buy a real wheelbarrow but so far the wagon has worked just fine.
3) I use Snuggle Bug's wagon for other gardening work, like transporting big potted plants from the car to the part of our yard where we'll be planting them.
4) Most recently, we had fun using Snuggle Bug's wagon as a cookie transport vehicle on Valentine's Day! I printed out some cute signs that said, "Happy Valentine's Day" and "Cookie Delivery Express", taped them to his wagon, added some streamers, and then put Snuggle Bug in with our packaged cookies. The neighbors that we delivered cookies to loved it!
These alternate uses of Snuggle Bug's wagon work for me. Is there anything else you use your wagon for?
To see what works for others, be sure to check out all the links at Shannon's, the creator of Works-For-Me Wednesday!
My past WFMW entries:
10 Reasons Why Parents Should Not Spank
travel tip
free children's printables
calendar labels
Strawberry Spinach Salad
mesh laundry bag uses
12 lbs 'til Christmas
toddler healthy eating techniques
reindeer puppet
Grocery Game website
No Fear Shakespeare
list of age appropriate children's chores
linking within comments
baptism gift
creating blogger categories
alternate use for pot rack
cake decorating tips
unique way to stay connected
cake baking tip
comforts of home while traveling
quenching the thirst of your little one
pie crust made in bulk
hot chocolate kicked up a notch
Labels: Snuggle Bug, toddler, Works-For-Me Wednesday
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Post Valentine's Day pictures
Well, I never did pictures posted yesterday, as planned. I thought I'd have time to post some at work, but our Internet was down all day, so that didn't happen. When I got home, I was busy right up until it was time to catch some Zss.
Here's Snuggle Bug in his new "Sealed with a Smooch" shirt that I bought him at Old Navy just for Valentine's Day. Can you believe I got this on sale for only $2?!
If you click on the picture to enlarge it, you might notice a heart sticker that says, "kiss me". Snuggle Bug loves stickers so I made sure he got one.
He also loves stamps, so he started his Valentine's Day off with a stamp on each hand. When Oronzo took him to a library story time yesterday, he said he got a lot of compliments from the mom's on Snuggle Bug's festive attire. :)
Here's what I had waiting for me when I arrived at work...a box of chocolate! Now that's what I'm talking about!
Here are pictures of Snuggle Bug getting ready to deliver Valentine's Day cookies to our neighbors. It started sprinkling rain just as we were heading out. Luckily, the drizzle subsided fairly quickly! It took us a fair amount of time to deliver 21 packets of cookies, even with declining our neighbor's gracious offers to come inside to get warm. Everyone was tickled pink with their surprise delivery! I think Snuggle Bug enjoyed himself and so did I!
After all the hard work Snuggle Bug did delivering cookies, he deserved a treat of his own! He was quite happy with his Valentine's Day gift.
And if you're wondering how Oronzo made out this Valentine's Day, well, trust me, he was taken care of.
Oronzo got his own packet of cookies, a nice Italian dinner, and at the end of the day, he got a massage and some special attention in our bedroom filled with candles.
All-in-all, our day was hectic but spectacular, how about yours?!
P.S. I'll try to visit your blogs later today. I just didn't get to anyone's yesterday at all.
I hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's Day. Please, tell me how your day went! :) Here are a few pictures from my day yesterday!
The day started off fantastically when I was presented with breakfast in bed (you didn't actually think I was going to show you a picture of me in my pjs, did you?)!
Oronzo got up early with Snuggle Bug, let me sleep in a bit, and made me breakfast! I had pancakes with sausage, milk, and juice. Yummy!
The best part was when Snuggle Bug and Oronzo hopped up on the bed and ate my breakfast with me! :) I certainlyl didn't mind sharing.
Oronzo got up early with Snuggle Bug, let me sleep in a bit, and made me breakfast! I had pancakes with sausage, milk, and juice. Yummy!
The best part was when Snuggle Bug and Oronzo hopped up on the bed and ate my breakfast with me! :) I certainlyl didn't mind sharing.
Here's Snuggle Bug in his new "Sealed with a Smooch" shirt that I bought him at Old Navy just for Valentine's Day. Can you believe I got this on sale for only $2?!If you click on the picture to enlarge it, you might notice a heart sticker that says, "kiss me". Snuggle Bug loves stickers so I made sure he got one.
He also loves stamps, so he started his Valentine's Day off with a stamp on each hand. When Oronzo took him to a library story time yesterday, he said he got a lot of compliments from the mom's on Snuggle Bug's festive attire. :)
Here's what I had waiting for me when I arrived at work...a box of chocolate! Now that's what I'm talking about!The only snag is that I still don't know who left them for me. I asked around all day yesterday and no one is 'fessin up. I did figure out that several of us ladies got boxes of chocolate, so someone decided to spoil a lot of us. :)
Did any of you get any "mystery" gifts this Valentine's Day?
Did any of you get any "mystery" gifts this Valentine's Day?
Here are pictures of Snuggle Bug getting ready to deliver Valentine's Day cookies to our neighbors. It started sprinkling rain just as we were heading out. Luckily, the drizzle subsided fairly quickly! It took us a fair amount of time to deliver 21 packets of cookies, even with declining our neighbor's gracious offers to come inside to get warm. Everyone was tickled pink with their surprise delivery! I think Snuggle Bug enjoyed himself and so did I!
After all the hard work Snuggle Bug did delivering cookies, he deserved a treat of his own! He was quite happy with his Valentine's Day gift.And if you're wondering how Oronzo made out this Valentine's Day, well, trust me, he was taken care of.
Oronzo got his own packet of cookies, a nice Italian dinner, and at the end of the day, he got a massage and some special attention in our bedroom filled with candles.
All-in-all, our day was hectic but spectacular, how about yours?!
P.S. I'll try to visit your blogs later today. I just didn't get to anyone's yesterday at all.
Labels: baked goodies, celebration, family, holiday, home, Oronzo, Snuggle Bug, toddler
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Imitation is the highest form of flattery.
Snuggle Bug is a typical toddler who likes to imitate everything that Oronzo and I do. Normally, this delights us, but I recently learned not always!
This past weekend we had some friends over for a visit. The conversation was flowing smoothly, fun was being had by all. Snuggle Bug was cheerfully darting in and out of rooms throughout the house, smiling as he played.
Suddenly, Snuggle Bug walked into the room where the adults were conversing, in his newest dress-up outfit!
Umm...no, that's not a training bra (barely). Yes, it's mine.
"Hi Mama!" Snuggle Bug greeted me loudly. His face beamed with pride at the accomplishment of dressing himself in an article of my clothing.
As our friends (some of them parents of toddlers as well) chuckled appreciatively and gave me sympathetic glances, I wished the earth would open up and swallow me whole! Oronzo snapped this picture with his camera phone before Snuggle Bug flung off my bra with reckless abandon.
I think the time has come to shoo Snuggle Bug out of my bedroom room before trying to get dressed. And, do I need to worry about this latest cross-dressing phase? :)
Oh, and the concept of imitation being the highest form of flattery...well, in this case, not so much!
This past weekend we had some friends over for a visit. The conversation was flowing smoothly, fun was being had by all. Snuggle Bug was cheerfully darting in and out of rooms throughout the house, smiling as he played.
Suddenly, Snuggle Bug walked into the room where the adults were conversing, in his newest dress-up outfit!
Umm...no, that's not a training bra (barely). Yes, it's mine.
"Hi Mama!" Snuggle Bug greeted me loudly. His face beamed with pride at the accomplishment of dressing himself in an article of my clothing.
As our friends (some of them parents of toddlers as well) chuckled appreciatively and gave me sympathetic glances, I wished the earth would open up and swallow me whole! Oronzo snapped this picture with his camera phone before Snuggle Bug flung off my bra with reckless abandon.
I think the time has come to shoo Snuggle Bug out of my bedroom room before trying to get dressed. And, do I need to worry about this latest cross-dressing phase? :)
Oh, and the concept of imitation being the highest form of flattery...well, in this case, not so much!
Labels: humor, parenting, Snuggle Bug, toddler
Monday, January 29, 2007
I've been spending more time in the bathroom.
I'm becoming quite acquainted with one of our bathrooms lately. It's the one that has Snuggle Bug's potty chair in it.Each time that Snuggle Bug decides he wants to sit on his potty chair, he insists that I go with him and that I sit on the big potty to keep him company. Is this typical? I never imagined that I'd have to sit on the toilet to appease my son as he sat on his. This isn't exactly my idea of fun, but if it'll help further the efforts of potty training, I'm all for it!
Earlier this month I gave a review on the Royal Potty chair by Fisher Price and my initial impressions weren't so favorable. Well, I think I may be revising my view.
Snuggle Bug is no longer frightened by the music sounds coming from his potty chair. And, although he's inclined to stick his hand or toys into his potty to hear the music, we're working on dissuading him from doing so.
This past Friday evening, I had taken Snuggle Bug in to the bathroom for a bath. Not about to pass up an opportunity, I asked him if he wanted to sit on his potty before getting into the bath. He said, "Yeah!" and willingly went and sat down. Now, I'm not sure if it was the running of the bath water that was the impetus but Snuggle Bug actually went pee for the first time! When I heard the sound of the trumpet music, I whipped around, ready to chastise him for throwing a toy in. Imagine my surprise when he stood up and I peered in and saw pee, not toys, in the potty!! I guess that music is good for something.
I lavished lots of praise on Snuggle Bug and asked him if he wanted a stamp on his hand, since he went pee in his potty. He loves, loves, loves getting stamps on his hand so he was excited and asked me to stamp both hands! I think stamping his hand is going to be a better reward system for him than the sticker chart that came with the Royal Potty, but we'll see.
I still don't think that Snuggle Bug is truly ready for serious potty training but I'm willing to encourage his use of his potty chair at any chance I get. And I guess the Royal Potty chair isn't so bad after all, but I'm still glad I got it on sale!
Labels: family, parenting, potty training, product review, Snuggle Bug, toddler
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
WFMW (free children's printables)
It's time to post yet another WFMW tip. 
Not long ago, as I was reading my January 2007 issue of Parents magazine (yes, I'm playing catch-up and still trying to get through my January and February issues), I stumbled across a most valuable link. I felt like I had hit the jackpot!!
Parents magazine has compiled a list of free children's printables. It includes roughly 65 printables for your children: games, puzzles, stickers, bookplates, and much more!
Needless to say, I got sidetracked for quite a while looking at all the fun stuff that was being offered.
Here are a few of my favorites:
1) Mother Goose memory game cards
2) Insect memory game cards
3) Lunch box love notes
4) Mother Goose bookplates
5) Happy stickers
Note: For the Mother Goose bookplates or the happy stickers, you can use glue or tape, or you can print them on full-sheet labels, like Avery 8165 White Inkjet Address Labels, 8 1/2" by 11".
If you haven't seen this list of printables already, go check it out. I know you'll love it as much as I do!
To see what works for others, be sure check out the links over at Shannon's, the creator of Works-For-Me Wednesday.
My past WFMW entries:
calendar labels
Strawberry Spinach Salad
mesh laundry bag uses
12 lbs 'til Christmas
toddler healthy eating techniques
reindeer puppet
Grocery Game website
No Fear Shakespeare
list of age appropriate children's chores
linking within comments
baptism gift
creating blogger categories
alternate use for pot rack
cake decorating tips
unique way to stay connected
cake baking tip
comforts of home while traveling
quenching the thirst of your little one
pie crust made in bulk
hot chocolate kicked up a notch
Labels: children's activites, parenting, toddler, Works-For-Me Wednesday
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Relationship-Building Activities for You and Your Toddler
Last Friday Thingamababy published a post entitled, Bonding without Toys: Ten Interactive Activities for your Toddler and You. His post has got me to thinking and wondering, what relationship-building activities do I do with Snuggle Bug that don't involve toys?
Okay, bear with me, I'm going to do a bit of brainstorming here and just toss ideas out as they come to me, in no particular order of importance. I realize that some may be duplicates of what Thingamababy has listed. What can I say, great minds think alike.
Okay, bear with me, I'm going to do a bit of brainstorming here and just toss ideas out as they come to me, in no particular order of importance. I realize that some may be duplicates of what Thingamababy has listed. What can I say, great minds think alike.
- Visit the library. Oronzo and I been taking Snuggle Bug to baby and toddler story times since he was about 6 months old. He loves them! Oronzo is usually the one that takes him to a couple of different ones each week, since he's the one home with him during the week, but occasionally I get to. The story times involve singing, dancing, coloring, playing with other children, and of course, stories. Best of all, the parents get to socialize as well. The kids have fun, the adults have fun. It's a win-win situation. After the story time is finished, I like to take Snuggle Bug into the children's area of the library and let him pick out books to read.
- Visit neighbors. We moved into our house about a year and a half ago. It didn't take us long to realize that when we were out walking with Snuggle Bug, neighbors enjoyed stopping us for a chat. We've gotten to the point now where we'll walk over to a neighbor's house, ring the doorbell, and know that we'll be invited in for a chat and a snack. Many of our neighbors are elderly and they dote over Snuggle Bug.
- Take walks. We love taking Snuggle Bug for walks. Sometimes he rides in his stroller or wagon, sometimes he walks, sometimes he does both. I make sure never to be in a hurry because it's amazing what he likes to explore along the way. A caterpillar inching it's way across the sidewalk can provide several minutes of enjoyment!
- Go to church together. We go to mass nearly every Sunday. Snuggle Bug has always been right there with us, since he was 3 days old. Now that he's a bit older, he imitates us by kneeling on the kneeler, looking at the missal, and repeatedly singing "alleluia" with gusto. He loves observing the pianist and the older children singing in the children's choir (we hope one day he'll join), he can't wait for his turn to put our donation envelope in the basket, and even the priest's "clean-up" duties after communion fascinate him. He also has fun flirting with the members that surround us. After mass, we treat ourselves to brunch at our favorite local cafe.
- Go for a bike ride. Not long ago we bought a children's bike seat and attached it to Oronzo's mountain bike. We also bought a children's bike helmet. Snuggle Bug absolutely loves to go on bike rides. Often times we will bike a mile or so to a nearby Starbucks and stop for a muffin and hot chocolate. Biking as a family is a lot of fun!
- Go shopping. Yes, that's right, we purposely take our toddler shopping with us, and not just when we have errands to run. Sometimes we go shopping just to get out and explore. Because we've been doing this with Snuggle Bug from day one, he's actually well behaved in any store that we go into. He doesn't break things, he likes to look and touch, but we're careful and so is he. His favorite place to go is Jo-Ann Fabrics and Crafts where he loves to feel all the different textures of the bolts of fabrics. The varying colors attract him too!
- Cook meals and eat together. It never ceases to amaze me how interested Snuggle Bug is in cooking. Pull a chair up to the counter, tie an apron on him, and give him a mixing spoon, and he's happy as a lark. We try to eat at home often and when we do, we make a point to sit down at the table and eat as a family.
- Read books together. This should be a given, but I'm going to list it anyway. Not a day goes by that we don't read a book to Snuggle Bug. Despite the fact that he has 3 bookshelves of books all his own in his room, he also gets more books weekly from the library. He has a huge, stuffed turtle in one corner of his room and that's where he likes to take books and thumb through them. He has books in nearly every room of the house and often brings us books for us to read to him. Snuggle Bug's vocabulary is growing by leaps and bounds and I attribute the largest part of that to the time we spend reading with him.
- Go on excursions. We have annual memberships to our local zoo, children's museum, and the botanical gardens. We use those memberships frequently! We also go to parks to feed the ducks or to attend outdoor concerts, school playgrounds to play on the slides, aquariums to pet sea lions, on trails to do some hiking and exploring, and to pet stores to touch lizards, turtles, birds, hamsters, and even snakes. Going to bookstores is a favorite treat as well, even when we don't buy a thing. I find myself looking at our city calendar of events to see what is scheduled each week. This past weekend we attended a local Family Arts Festival that I found listed on the calendar of events.
- Dance, sing, and get dizzy together. Snuggle Bug loves when we sing together at home or in the car, especially if it involves hand actions (like the Itsy Bitsy Spider and Wheels on the Bus). Most of the time, we sing a cappella and make up the lyrics as we go. As for dancing, he can shake his diapered bottom like there's no tomorrow! Oh, and he loves when the dance involves jumping, which it nearly always does. He gets giddy when I make him dizzy by holding his hands and twirling him 'round and 'round in circles until we both fall over laughing.
- Have a tickle tumble on the bed. Snuggle Bug loves being tickled and our big bed seems the perfect place on which to roll around and tickle each other. Most of the time, we're still in our pjs and sometimes bopping each other with pillows gets mixed in with the tickles. Laughter swirls high into the air and we take frequent rest breaks where we snuggle together with legs, arms, or fingers, tangled together in a cozy twist. Tickle tumbles are one of my personal favorites.
Okay, I've listed many of my frequent relationship-building activites that don't involve toys. Now you try. If you decide to do your own post on this topic, or if you want to just offer me a few of your favorites, please leave me a comment!
Thanks!
Labels: children's activites, family, Oronzo, parenting, relationships, Snuggle Bug, toddler
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Royal Potty review
Snuggle Bug has been showing some interest in the potty lately. Although he's just turned two less than a month ago, I thought it might not be a bad idea to invest in a potty chair and at least introduce him to the concept.In talking with other moms, and knowing what a wiggle worm my little guy can be, I decided against starting out with the type of seat that attaches to the top of your regular toilet. I knew I wanted a stand-alone potty chair.
I went to Target earlier this week and my attention was captivated by the Royal Potty chair from Fisher Price. It sounded neat with a reward system that is built right in. It plays different tunes to reward your child for their potty deposits. I noticed it also included a storybook and reward chart with reusable stickers. What sealed the deal was that Target had it on sale for $13.92 (regularly $19.99). So, I purchased it for my little prince, proving Oronzo right once again that I'm easily influenced by marketing ploys. I also bought a pair of training pants (cloth on the inside and rubber on the outside) to try out for $5.95.
Excited, I rushed home and assembled the potty chair while Snuggle Bug napped. The chair seemed sturdy enough, once I figured out how to snap the legs onto the core seat. Apparently you can use just the core seat part on top of your regular toilet but that doesn't seem stable enough to me, so I doubt I'll be trying that anytime soon.
After getting the chair assembled, the deflector shield in place, and the narrower-than-I-expected container slid under the seat, I took out the chart, reusable stickers (2 sheets) and the book. The chart and stickers looked neat. The book was a bit flimsy and there wasn't much substance to the story. It also didn't fit very well into the slot behind the chair that the set of instructions noted was designed for that purpose.
I wrote Snuggle Bug's name on the chart, I even drew on a crown next to his name. I taped the chart up on the wall next to the potty chair, at eye level for Snuggle Bug to access. I tucked the stickers safely in one of the vanity drawers for future use.
When Snuggle Bug woke up from his nap, I cheerfully suggested that he go try out his new big boy potty chair. He dutifully followed me into the bathroom, where I proudly displayed my new purchase to him. He cautiously approached, peering at it curiously. I took off his pants and his diaper and attempted to set him on the chair.
The first problem I had was the deflector shield. It got it in the way, making it hard for Snuggle Bug to sit down comfortably. He protested so I removed it.
The next problem I had was the very feature I thought would be the most appealing, the music. The royal potty seat plays a quick, snappy tune (involving the sound of trumpets) when your child sits down. The music startled Snuggle Bug and made him scramble off quickly with a loud protest. It took some coaxing to get him back on the potty again, and he didn't stay on for very long.
I now realize that the sticker chart may not be of much interest to him at this time. I also realize that we probably won't be using the deflector shield. And most disappointing of all, I may be taking the batteries out that power the laser sensor that triggers the music when Snuggle Bug successfully uses the potty. Snuggle Bug has quickly figured out that he only has to wave his hand in the container, or touch the laser point to trigger the music. So, now he goes in just to play with his potty chair and, so far, has no interest in using it to actually go potty.
If I had it to do again, I think I'd buy a plain Jane potty chair. The bells and whistles that this royal potty chair touts, just aren't worth it. I'm glad I got this chair on sale!
Labels: parenting, potty training, product review, shopping, Snuggle Bug, toddler
Monday, January 08, 2007
Keeping children fit and active
How many of you parents make a conscious effort to keep your child active and outdoors as much as possible, weather permitting? I'll bet most of you do!
With childhood obesity on the rise, Oronzo and I are doing our best to keep Snuggle Bug active and fit. We feel that it's not just about trying to prepare healthy, well-balanced meals and limiting TV time, it's about lots of active playtime as well.
This past weekend we took Snuggle Bug to a park to feed the ducks. He ran, jumped, climbed on short walls, and enjoyed the outdoors.
We also visited Oronzo's parents over the weekend and took Snuggle Bug for several long walks, let him commune with horses and donkeys and we even went to a National Park for a picnic and to take a hike up to see some neat cliff dwellings.
The best part about our efforts to keep Snuggle Bug fit and active is that, by default, we working on that for ourselves as well! Oronozo and I try to lead by example, knowing this will be important as Snuggle Bug grows older.
I'm curious, what do you do to try to help keep your child fit, at any age?
Labels: children's activites, family, health, parenting, Snuggle Bug, toddler
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Christmas & Toddler Bed
Hello everyone! Sorry I've been out of commission for a while. It's been a busy few days.
Christmas at our house was quite exciting. Now that Snuggle Bug is older, he's more aware of what Christmas involves. He didn't quite make the connection between Santa and Santa bringing him gifts, but he sure had fun opening presents. In fact, today he saw his Christmas stocking and said, "Presents?" I had to show him that it was empty and that the presents were all gone. :)
We took Snuggle Bug to Christmas Eve mass at 10 p.m. and he pretty much slept the whole time. Thankfully, he went to back to bed after mass with no problems.
Christmas morning, Snuggle Bug walked into our living room and found a Imaginarium train table set waiting for us. When he saw it, his eyes widened with surprise and he turned to me and said excitedly, "Mommy, trains!" As you can see from the picture, he's had fun with his train table!
When it was time for Snuggle Bug's afternoon nap, we asked him which bed he'd like to sleep in. He chose the toddler bed. After a bit of stalling, he finally laid down to sleep. I turned on his music and left the room. I listened outside his door for several minutes to figure out if he'd get out of bed to play or not. He chatted with his bunny for a bit and then the only sounds I heard was the music playing.
15 minutes later, I snuck into his room and snapped the 2 pictures below of him napping.
Christmas at our house was quite exciting. Now that Snuggle Bug is older, he's more aware of what Christmas involves. He didn't quite make the connection between Santa and Santa bringing him gifts, but he sure had fun opening presents. In fact, today he saw his Christmas stocking and said, "Presents?" I had to show him that it was empty and that the presents were all gone. :)
We took Snuggle Bug to Christmas Eve mass at 10 p.m. and he pretty much slept the whole time. Thankfully, he went to back to bed after mass with no problems.
Christmas morning, Snuggle Bug walked into our living room and found a Imaginarium train table set waiting for us. When he saw it, his eyes widened with surprise and he turned to me and said excitedly, "Mommy, trains!" As you can see from the picture, he's had fun with his train table!
The train table wasn't the only new thing Snuggle Bug got this week. Oronzo and I have been discussing getting Snuggle Bug a toddler bed and have done some research, but since Snuggle Bug wasn't attempting to climb out of his crib, we weren't rushing out to buy his toddler bed.
Yesterday, while I was doing some post-Christmas shopping, I found an adorable sleigh-style toddler bed. I called Oronzo and asked him what he thought about me buying it, he told me to go ahead.
Below is a picture of Snuggle Bug helping Oronzo to put together his new "big boy" bed. We simply moved Snuggle Bug's crib to the opposite wall in his room, still fully intact, and put the toddler bed in it's place.
When it was time for Snuggle Bug's afternoon nap, we asked him which bed he'd like to sleep in. He chose the toddler bed. After a bit of stalling, he finally laid down to sleep. I turned on his music and left the room. I listened outside his door for several minutes to figure out if he'd get out of bed to play or not. He chatted with his bunny for a bit and then the only sounds I heard was the music playing.
15 minutes later, I snuck into his room and snapped the 2 pictures below of him napping.
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He seems to like his new bed but I guess it's a bit early to be certain, isn't it?.jpg)
Last night he did the same thing, he picked the toddler bed to sleep in, stalled a bit (asking for extra hugs and kisses) and then settled down to sleep, or so I thought. I checked with him later in the evening to see how he was doing and found his jammies and diaper tossed on the floor next to his bed. He was sleeping, naked, wrapped up in his blankie.
Last week I tried a commenter's suggestion of putting him in a onsie and then putting his jammies on over that, to discourage him from stripping. That seemed to work. Last night I didn't think to use this trick and so he stripped. Tonight I will use the trick.
So, wish us luck on the toddler bed transition. I'm hoping it will continue to go well.
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!
Labels: celebration, church, faith, family, holiday, Oronzo, parenting, sleeping, Snuggle Bug, toddler
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Cute pictures of Snuggle Bug
Well, as we're trying to decide what to do with Adoption #2, I thought I'd share some cute pictures of Snuggle Bug.
This is Snuggle Bug and me in the airport walking to catch our connecting flight to Nebraska (for our Thanksgiving trip home). Snuggle Bug is fascinated with moving sidewalks and escalators. Those proved to be a great way to entertain him during our layover! He's such a good little traveler though.
This is Snuggle Bug and me in the airport walking to catch our connecting flight to Nebraska (for our Thanksgiving trip home). Snuggle Bug is fascinated with moving sidewalks and escalators. Those proved to be a great way to entertain him during our layover! He's such a good little traveler though.
Here's Snuggle Bug braving the moving sidewalk on his own. It didn't take him long to get up the courage to walk on them without holding my hand. Isn't he cute with his little boy backpack on? We filled it with some of his favorite toys and books.
Here's Snuggle Bug with one of his cousins. This cousin is 7 months older than Snuggle Bug and the two of them love spending time playing together. They like to hold hands a lot as they're walking.
Okay, that's all the eye candy for today. I need to get back to work. Tomorrow I'm off and I don't return to work until 12/27, so I'll get a nice long weekend with my family!
Labels: family, parenting, photos, Snuggle Bug, toddler, vacation
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
What's a mama to do?
Snuggle Bug lying on his turtle in his reading corner.So, I found Snuggle Bug in a precarious position late last night. Let me explain.
Each night, when I put Snuggle Bug to bed, he has to have "blankie" covering him. He loves it when I tuck it in around him tight. Blankie was made by one of my aunts. It's got his name and birthday embroidered on it. It has a matching pillow. It's a beautiful set and this past year Snuggle Bug has become quite attached to it.
Unfortunately, Snuggle Bug refuses to sleep with any other blanket. His room can get a bit chilly, even with the heater on, so I attempt to cover him with a warm quilt, on top of blankie. He'll have none of that! He shoves off the quilt, pulls blankie close to him and says, "Dis one!"
I've made it part of my bedtime routine to tiptoe into his room and put the warm quilt on him, after I know he's fast asleep and won't protest.
Last night, I tiptoed in his room and the first thing I noticed out of place was a diaper on the floor next to his crib. I picked it up and noticed it was slightly wet. I peeked over the side of his crib rail and what do you think I found?
There was Snuggle Bug, sleeping on his stomach, with his arms tucked under him and his legs drawn up close and his adorable baby bum sticking up. Oh, and did I mention he was naked as the day he was born! Not only that, he was sleeping on top of his blankie, not under it. His zippered footed sleeper was discarded at the far end of his crib.
I've started to call him my little "Houdini" because no matter what jammies I put him in, he can get out of them and often decides to take them off at some point during the night. Usually I find him sleeping in just his diaper, but occasionally, like last night, I find him totally naked.
Unfortunately, I had to wake him up as I put a new diaper on him and put his jammies back on. I couldn't just let him sleep naked in the crib, that might have caused problems.
So, how do I teach him not to take off his jammies and diaper at night? Any ideas?
Labels: family, parenting, photos, potty training, Snuggle Bug, toddler
Monday, December 11, 2006
Snuggle Bug's 2nd birthday party
It's hard for me to believe, but this past weekend we celebrated Snuggle Bug's 2nd birthday with a party held at our house.
Where have these years flown? I kid you not, it feels like just yesterday that I held him in my arms at 2 minutes old and marveled at how light he felt and how much thick, dark hair he was born with. The memories of his birth day are still so vivid!
Now, he's a walking, talking, sometimes sassy, very sweet little boy who has Oronzo and I wrapped around his little finger.
We love this child so very much! He's brought such happiness and contentment to our lives. We truly enjoy parenting energetic, often funny toddler. We're so very thankful that we've been blessed with having him as the center of our little family.
For his 2nd birthday party, we went with a Thomas the Train theme. Snuggle Bug is very enamored with trains. Anytime we walk into Barnes & Nobles or Toys R Us, he makes a bee-line for the Thomas the Train table sets that each store has set up for little ones to play with. He also loves playing with the one Geotrack set that he got for Christmas last year and the other miscellaneous trains he has about the house. And the times when he's gotten actual train rides, he's been excited beyond words!
I thought I'd share some pictures from his 2nd birthday party. I hope you enjoy them.
Here's Snuggle Bug opening a gift from his aunt and uncle. It was an ambulance with a removable driver. He's been carrying this toy around everywhere for the past 2 days. He even wanted it on the table next to him as he ate breakfast this morning.
Here's Snuggle Bug playing with his new Geotracks train set. Oronzo picked this out because he liked the remote operated train engine that it came with. He and I both know that he bought this train set more for him than for Snuggle Bug, but I guess that's one of the perks of being a parent.
Where have these years flown? I kid you not, it feels like just yesterday that I held him in my arms at 2 minutes old and marveled at how light he felt and how much thick, dark hair he was born with. The memories of his birth day are still so vivid!
Now, he's a walking, talking, sometimes sassy, very sweet little boy who has Oronzo and I wrapped around his little finger.
We love this child so very much! He's brought such happiness and contentment to our lives. We truly enjoy parenting energetic, often funny toddler. We're so very thankful that we've been blessed with having him as the center of our little family.
For his 2nd birthday party, we went with a Thomas the Train theme. Snuggle Bug is very enamored with trains. Anytime we walk into Barnes & Nobles or Toys R Us, he makes a bee-line for the Thomas the Train table sets that each store has set up for little ones to play with. He also loves playing with the one Geotrack set that he got for Christmas last year and the other miscellaneous trains he has about the house. And the times when he's gotten actual train rides, he's been excited beyond words!
I thought I'd share some pictures from his 2nd birthday party. I hope you enjoy them.
Here's the front part of his party invitations. I made this on Photoshop, then I cut it out and pasted it to colored cardstock, and finally pasted it on more colored cardstock folded into a card. I did the same type of thing for the inside details. The cards turned out cute!
This is Snuggle Bug's train cake. Believe it or not, this was actually made from scratch by Oronzo's mom, Aleiza. She came to our house Friday night and showed me how to make this cake. It only took about 3 hours! She's made train cakes like this for the past 40 years, beginning with Oronzo's 1st birthday. Each of her children have had train cakes at one point in time, and now she's making them for her grandchildren. She taught me how to make this so that I can take over the tradition after she's gone. I took a lot of pictures along the way to jog my memory later.
Here's the table set, in preparation for the beginning of Snuggle Bug's party. I was so excited to find a 50% off sale going on at Party America! I got all his Thomas the Train supplies for 1/2 off. Hooray! The stickers were well received. I gave one to each child when they arrived and I was surprised at how excited they got.
The train cake was a HUGE HIT with Snuggle Bug and all his little friends. All of them wanted to touch it and when we cut it up to serve it, the lollipop wheels were the first things to be eaten, even before the cake and ice cream. The picture above shows Snuggle Bug (right) with one of his cousins (left) happily devouring their suckers. This is a rare treat for both of them, so they were quite thrilled.
This is Snuggle Bug playing with the Little People farm set that Grandma and Grandpa gave him for this 2nd birthday. Yes, my house looks like a Toys R Us store. It always does this time of year, with Snuggle Bug's birthday being so close to Christmas.
Here's Snuggle Bug opening a gift from his aunt and uncle. It was an ambulance with a removable driver. He's been carrying this toy around everywhere for the past 2 days. He even wanted it on the table next to him as he ate breakfast this morning.Here's Snuggle Bug playing with his new Geotracks train set. Oronzo picked this out because he liked the remote operated train engine that it came with. He and I both know that he bought this train set more for him than for Snuggle Bug, but I guess that's one of the perks of being a parent.
Here I've taken the birthday party invite design and changed it a bit to use for making "Thank You" cards that I'll send out this week for all the great gifts Snuggle Bug got at his party. You have to love Photoshop for quick and simple designs!
((Sigh)) My baby isn't a baby anymore. He's now an adorable 2 year old. Thank you, God, for your many blessings...most importantly Snuggle Bug.
Labels: baked goodies, birthdays, celebration, children's activites, family, memories, parenting, photos, Snuggle Bug, toddler
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
WFMW (toddler healthy eating techniques)
It's time to post yet another WFMW tip.Early this month I offered a Quick & Healthy Toddler food list and in return I got a lot of great food ideas from those of you that shared in the comments section.
As a follow up to that post, I'd now like to offer a How to get your toddler to eat more healthy foods list. This list, from one of the many parenting websites out there, deals more with techniques rather than food ideas. For example, one of the suggestions is to Go to the Source. Take your toddler on an outing to an orchard, berry farm, or dairy so he can see where the food that he eats and the milk he drinks comes from. At this age he won't truly understand the concept, but the experience might inspire him to try something he wouldn't otherwise be interested in. I did this! I took Snuggle Bug apple picking and that day he ate several apples that he picked from the trees himself. Previous to this outing, he had no interest in apples, no matter how often I offered them to him. Now, he asks for them!
If you'd like a copy of this 2 page list of techniques, just leave me your email and I'll send it to you. I promise not to use your email for spam purposes.
If you'd like to share something that works for you, please leave me a comment. And be sure to link yourself over at Shannon's, the creator of Works-For-Me Wednesday.
My past WFMW entries:
Reindeer Puppet
Grocery Game website
No Fear Shakespeare
list of age appropriate children's chores
linking within comments
baptism gift
creating blogger categories
alternate use for pot rack
cake decorating tips
unique way to stay connected
cake baking tip
comforts of home while traveling
quenching the thirst of your little one
pie crust made in bulk
hot chocolate kicked up a notch
Labels: health, toddler, Works-For-Me Wednesday
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
We're in Nebraska
Yes, most of my side of the family lives in Nebraska and this is where we're currently at for the Thanksgiving holiday!
Traveling to get here was time consuming, but thankfully there were no delays, our luggage was waiting for us, and Snuggle Bug was a fantastic little traveler! He played, slept twice on the 2 flights we took, and had a wonderful time watching all the planes take-off during our 3 hour layover.
Being home with my family has been fantastic thus far! The weather is mild for this time of the year. Snuggle Bug is right now playing with 5 of his 6 cousins. My older sister's house is a tangled jungle of toys strewn all about the house, but the kids are having a blast! Thankfully, Snuggle Bug has shown no signs of shyness around his aunts, uncles, and cousins thus far. He just gets in there and plays with the best of them. I'm getting some cute pictures which I'll try to post later.
Tomorrow our entire family is getting together for a huge Thanksgiving feast. I can't wait! Of course, naps will follow shortly thereafter. :)
I'm off to eat dinner. More another time!
Have a great Thanksgiving everyone! I'd be interested in seeing some Thanksgiving leftover recipes this Friday for my Favorite Ingredient Friday recipe exchange!
Traveling to get here was time consuming, but thankfully there were no delays, our luggage was waiting for us, and Snuggle Bug was a fantastic little traveler! He played, slept twice on the 2 flights we took, and had a wonderful time watching all the planes take-off during our 3 hour layover.
Being home with my family has been fantastic thus far! The weather is mild for this time of the year. Snuggle Bug is right now playing with 5 of his 6 cousins. My older sister's house is a tangled jungle of toys strewn all about the house, but the kids are having a blast! Thankfully, Snuggle Bug has shown no signs of shyness around his aunts, uncles, and cousins thus far. He just gets in there and plays with the best of them. I'm getting some cute pictures which I'll try to post later.
Tomorrow our entire family is getting together for a huge Thanksgiving feast. I can't wait! Of course, naps will follow shortly thereafter. :)
I'm off to eat dinner. More another time!
Have a great Thanksgiving everyone! I'd be interested in seeing some Thanksgiving leftover recipes this Friday for my Favorite Ingredient Friday recipe exchange!
Labels: family, holiday, Snuggle Bug, toddler, vacation
