Geeky Entrepreneur and I were brainstorming, trying to come up with healthy snack ideas, specifically snacks that we can bring with us on short trips. Basically, Daddy realized each and every time we are in the car, Amor Chiquito asks for Teddy Grahams and he feels it would be good for her to have other, healthy options.
We came up with this list:
Craisins
Nuts (if you have been able to confirm that your child is not allergic to them)
Cereal
Goldfish
Teddy Grahams
Fruit (but things can get messy fast, particularly in the car!)
Smoothies (We get Danimals and Yoplait smoothies.)
What are some of your favorite to-go snacks?
Friday, January 8, 2010
Whole grain Goldfish, really...!
We went shopping, and, suddenly, Amor Chiquito started saying "apitao, apitao..."
Translation: apitao = pescao = fish in Spanish.
Thanks to one of the grandmas, she has fallen in love with Goldfish. I figured we could get some because the only "junk food" in the house is chocolate Teddy Grahams.
Side note: I have nutrition-related goals and expectations for my family and for our daughter specifically. I am a strong believer that this is the time to guide her and help her form good habbits. I hope to teach her to enjoy food, but in a way that is reasonable and healthy. I don’t want nutrition to be an ongoing internal struggle, as it still is for me.
Back to apitao… We were looking at the options and, there it was, whole grain Goldfish!
Being the reluctant crunchy mama that I am, I fell right for it and got my child whole grain "junk food"! Oops, I meant treat!
For the record, they are not nearly as yummy, but they are close. And, what the heck, my daughter does not know better, not yet, anyways!
I compared the nutrition facts on pepperidgefarm.com. The number of calories per serving is similar. There is more fiber and less sodium in the whole grain version, though.
On a different topic, Geeky Entrepreneur and I thought it was really funny that Kraft now makes "whole grain" mack and cheese! I put that in quotes because the pasta is only "50% whole grain."
We think it is ironic that one would be worrying about whole grains but being ok with eating fake cheese! If you eat and love mack and cheese, don't take it personal! We love thick and creamy Kraft mack and cheese too! We just know it should only be on our table once in a blue moon
Translation: apitao = pescao = fish in Spanish.
Thanks to one of the grandmas, she has fallen in love with Goldfish. I figured we could get some because the only "junk food" in the house is chocolate Teddy Grahams.
Side note: I have nutrition-related goals and expectations for my family and for our daughter specifically. I am a strong believer that this is the time to guide her and help her form good habbits. I hope to teach her to enjoy food, but in a way that is reasonable and healthy. I don’t want nutrition to be an ongoing internal struggle, as it still is for me.
Back to apitao… We were looking at the options and, there it was, whole grain Goldfish!
Being the reluctant crunchy mama that I am, I fell right for it and got my child whole grain "junk food"! Oops, I meant treat!
For the record, they are not nearly as yummy, but they are close. And, what the heck, my daughter does not know better, not yet, anyways!
I compared the nutrition facts on pepperidgefarm.com. The number of calories per serving is similar. There is more fiber and less sodium in the whole grain version, though.
On a different topic, Geeky Entrepreneur and I thought it was really funny that Kraft now makes "whole grain" mack and cheese! I put that in quotes because the pasta is only "50% whole grain."
We think it is ironic that one would be worrying about whole grains but being ok with eating fake cheese! If you eat and love mack and cheese, don't take it personal! We love thick and creamy Kraft mack and cheese too! We just know it should only be on our table once in a blue moon
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Replacing shampoo and conditioner with baking soda, water, and apple cider vinegar, anyone?
I just came across this:
http://simplemom.net/how-to-clean-your-hair-without-shampoo/
I will admit it: I am intrigued!
I will admit it: I will try this!
And, yes, if I like it and decide to move away from shampoo, you can feel free to say I am super crunchy!
Wow, it would be awesome to not spend a ton of money on shampoo! My hair is very special and super greasy, so I have tried many types of shampoo and the one working right now is pricy. I welcome new ideas and experiments!
I can't wait to read what my husband and my friend Yaminette will have to say about this! Come on, tell me I went off the deep end! Because I know I did!
I laugh at my crunchiness and I was not crunchy in the slightest before becoming a mother. Heck, being "crunchy" is one of those things I said I would never do/be. But, here I am, the reluctant crunchy mama! So be it...!
http://simplemom.net/how-to-clean-your-hair-without-shampoo/
I will admit it: I am intrigued!
I will admit it: I will try this!
And, yes, if I like it and decide to move away from shampoo, you can feel free to say I am super crunchy!
Wow, it would be awesome to not spend a ton of money on shampoo! My hair is very special and super greasy, so I have tried many types of shampoo and the one working right now is pricy. I welcome new ideas and experiments!
I can't wait to read what my husband and my friend Yaminette will have to say about this! Come on, tell me I went off the deep end! Because I know I did!
I laugh at my crunchiness and I was not crunchy in the slightest before becoming a mother. Heck, being "crunchy" is one of those things I said I would never do/be. But, here I am, the reluctant crunchy mama! So be it...!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
When in doubt, tweak it.
I learned, or, relearned, rather, this lesson about two months ago.
As I have written many times, sleep has been an on-going issue for us. I have felt like it is hard to find a solution. I don’t want to be the permissive parent who cannot set boundaries, but I am not letting her cry it out either.
One day, after spending quite a while trying to get Amor Chiquito to nap, it clicked!
As a parent, there is no black and white. There is lots of gray. I need to be ok with that.
There are various parenting styles and various plans we could follow to get Ari to sleep the way we wish she slept. I was forcing myself to choose between no crying or crying it out.
What about saying “ut-oh,” leaving her room for 15 seconds, returning, giving her a hug, singing the song, and putting her down?
Why the hell didn’t I think of that sooner? I wish I had because it worked that time, it worked today, and it will probably continue to work in the future.
There is no need to leave her alone for ever in our case. 15 seconds is enough time for her to get the message that there are boundaries.
Today, Ari used all her old tricks and some new ones to avoid napping, despite the fact she was sleepy and yawning. She asked for socks, said her hands were cold, said she needed to go to the potty… She also tried this strange, fake cry! I could not decide if I was angry or if I wanted to laugh! It was clearly completely fake!
I left for 15 seconds. I went back in and gave her hugs. Six minutes later, she was asleep!
Moral of the story: don’t obsess about following x philosophy completely. Tweak it. Get creative. Do what works for your family. In the end, you and your little one’s health and happiness is what matters.
As I have written many times, sleep has been an on-going issue for us. I have felt like it is hard to find a solution. I don’t want to be the permissive parent who cannot set boundaries, but I am not letting her cry it out either.
One day, after spending quite a while trying to get Amor Chiquito to nap, it clicked!
As a parent, there is no black and white. There is lots of gray. I need to be ok with that.
There are various parenting styles and various plans we could follow to get Ari to sleep the way we wish she slept. I was forcing myself to choose between no crying or crying it out.
What about saying “ut-oh,” leaving her room for 15 seconds, returning, giving her a hug, singing the song, and putting her down?
Why the hell didn’t I think of that sooner? I wish I had because it worked that time, it worked today, and it will probably continue to work in the future.
There is no need to leave her alone for ever in our case. 15 seconds is enough time for her to get the message that there are boundaries.
Today, Ari used all her old tricks and some new ones to avoid napping, despite the fact she was sleepy and yawning. She asked for socks, said her hands were cold, said she needed to go to the potty… She also tried this strange, fake cry! I could not decide if I was angry or if I wanted to laugh! It was clearly completely fake!
I left for 15 seconds. I went back in and gave her hugs. Six minutes later, she was asleep!
Moral of the story: don’t obsess about following x philosophy completely. Tweak it. Get creative. Do what works for your family. In the end, you and your little one’s health and happiness is what matters.
Moving up in the world...
Today was the first time we bought Ari a kid meal. Nothing big, I know. For some reason, I want to remember her first everything, though!
We went to Bertucci’s, an Italian restaurant. Ari enjoyed one of their rolls with olive oil, about 2/3 of her mack and cheese dish, and some tiramisu, of course!
I love when she eats like a horse!
Oh, when Ari and Daddy finished their tiramisu, Ari picked up the plate and licked it multiple times! She loved it, no doubt about it!
We went to Bertucci’s, an Italian restaurant. Ari enjoyed one of their rolls with olive oil, about 2/3 of her mack and cheese dish, and some tiramisu, of course!
I love when she eats like a horse!
Oh, when Ari and Daddy finished their tiramisu, Ari picked up the plate and licked it multiple times! She loved it, no doubt about it!
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
We have three-word phrases and verbs!
We are moving up in the language world!
Amor Chiquito started saying three-word phrases about two weeks ago.
Her first three-word phrase: I yo you.
She has been saying it for over a month, but we did not count it because we figured she just learned it from us. She was not putting three words together herself.
Her second three-word phrase: no ‘ouse me.
Lately, when she realizes we are driving home, she says “no ‘ouse me, no ‘ouse me, nana ‘ouse, nana ‘ouse!”
She loves Nana, but Nana is two hours away, so we cannot just go see her. But Amor Chiquito does not understand that yet!
Her third/latest three-word phrase: no night-night me.
Last night, Amor Chiquito used all her tricks to avoid going to sleep: go to the potty, ask for milk, ask for socks, say she was hot… When nothing work, she sat up and said: “no night-night me”!
For what it is worth, she said “no night-night me,” but she stayed in bed, waiting for me to say yes or no. It could have been worse! She could have simply gotten out of bed, opened the door, and left her room.
Back to language, we are also hearing more verbs. When Amor Chiquito was re-evaluated for early intervention, about a month ago, she only had two verbs, which was disconcerting for the speech pathologist. Now, she has about seven verbs: eat, open, close, play, write, cut, clean, and, perhaps, some others I cannot remember right now.
We are making progress.
It is so cool to be able to communicate with our daughter better and better every day!
Amor Chiquito started saying three-word phrases about two weeks ago.
Her first three-word phrase: I yo you.
She has been saying it for over a month, but we did not count it because we figured she just learned it from us. She was not putting three words together herself.
Her second three-word phrase: no ‘ouse me.
Lately, when she realizes we are driving home, she says “no ‘ouse me, no ‘ouse me, nana ‘ouse, nana ‘ouse!”
She loves Nana, but Nana is two hours away, so we cannot just go see her. But Amor Chiquito does not understand that yet!
Her third/latest three-word phrase: no night-night me.
Last night, Amor Chiquito used all her tricks to avoid going to sleep: go to the potty, ask for milk, ask for socks, say she was hot… When nothing work, she sat up and said: “no night-night me”!
For what it is worth, she said “no night-night me,” but she stayed in bed, waiting for me to say yes or no. It could have been worse! She could have simply gotten out of bed, opened the door, and left her room.
Back to language, we are also hearing more verbs. When Amor Chiquito was re-evaluated for early intervention, about a month ago, she only had two verbs, which was disconcerting for the speech pathologist. Now, she has about seven verbs: eat, open, close, play, write, cut, clean, and, perhaps, some others I cannot remember right now.
We are making progress.
It is so cool to be able to communicate with our daughter better and better every day!
Dreams and Nightmares
Amor Chiquito has been having dreams and nightmares lately.
Her dream a few days ago:
“No, please, no, mine, my pen, my pen…” At that point, she reached for her pen and slapped me without meaning to!
She loves to write. Don’t you dare steal her pen, not even in her dreams!
Unfortunately, Amor Chiquito is having nightmares too. She keeps waking up crying. It seems like, at first, she can’t wake up. I hug her and tell her everything is ok and it does not help for the first few minutes. It is as if she does not hear me, as if I was not there. Some nights are worse than others. On some nights, it does not happen at all.
Any suggestions? Do you handle your children’s nightmares differently?
Her dream a few days ago:
“No, please, no, mine, my pen, my pen…” At that point, she reached for her pen and slapped me without meaning to!
She loves to write. Don’t you dare steal her pen, not even in her dreams!
Unfortunately, Amor Chiquito is having nightmares too. She keeps waking up crying. It seems like, at first, she can’t wake up. I hug her and tell her everything is ok and it does not help for the first few minutes. It is as if she does not hear me, as if I was not there. Some nights are worse than others. On some nights, it does not happen at all.
Any suggestions? Do you handle your children’s nightmares differently?
Mischief, bright and early...
Sleepy me went in the kitchen for a cup of milk. I noticed Amor Chiquito was very quiet.
Me: Ari, what are you doing?
Amor Chiquito: Booboo bum.
She is correct; she has a rash.
Amor Chiquito took her diaper and clothes off. She got a hold of the hydrocortisone and applied some on her “booboo,” on the rest of her butt, on her back, and on her arms.
I am sure she would have done her legs had I shown up two minutes later!
When a two-year-old is quiet, something is most definitely going on!
Me: Ari, what are you doing?
Amor Chiquito: Booboo bum.
She is correct; she has a rash.
Amor Chiquito took her diaper and clothes off. She got a hold of the hydrocortisone and applied some on her “booboo,” on the rest of her butt, on her back, and on her arms.
I am sure she would have done her legs had I shown up two minutes later!
When a two-year-old is quiet, something is most definitely going on!
Monday, December 14, 2009
Another baby?
Ari will be 27 months this Friday. Obviously, there is no deadline as far as by when we must decide to have or not to have another child. But, for some reason, I keep feeling like it is almost time to decide. Silly, I know. I do have a tendency to obsess about things! I am trying not to.
We have no idea right now. Lately, I am feeling that our family is perfect as is. But, at the same time, I don't feel like our decision is final at this point.
I wonder if being an only child will be good for Ari. Any thoughts on that? I wish I could meet multiple people who are only children and are healthy and happy adults. All the only children I have met seem to be clingy and dependent. Is it a coinsidence? Or, is it that growing up as an only child changes one's life for ever in a negative manner?
I found an article about things to think about when considering trying for another baby:
http://www.pantley.com/elizabeth/advice/0809228475.php?nid=360
I plan on researching the impact of being an only child.
Thoughts? Feel free to share!
We have no idea right now. Lately, I am feeling that our family is perfect as is. But, at the same time, I don't feel like our decision is final at this point.
I wonder if being an only child will be good for Ari. Any thoughts on that? I wish I could meet multiple people who are only children and are healthy and happy adults. All the only children I have met seem to be clingy and dependent. Is it a coinsidence? Or, is it that growing up as an only child changes one's life for ever in a negative manner?
I found an article about things to think about when considering trying for another baby:
http://www.pantley.com/elizabeth/advice/0809228475.php?nid=360
I plan on researching the impact of being an only child.
Thoughts? Feel free to share!
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Klean Kanteens on Sale
I posted a while ago about Klean Kanteen stainless steel water bottles. We own several of them and love them. They are currently on sale at backcountryedge.com, if you are interested.
http://www.backcountryedge.com/klean_kanteen-water-treatment-bottles-and-hydration.aspx
http://www.backcountryedge.com/klean_kanteen-water-treatment-bottles-and-hydration.aspx
Sad, yet beautiful story...
Just came across this article:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/12/01/marquette.moms.nursing.moses/index.html
A mother passed away 12 hours after her baby was born, leaving behind her husband, newborn, a 2.5-year-old, and two older children. Twenty mothers came up with a schedule so they could breastfeed the newborn around the clock.
And now I am done before my husband continues to drive me bananas! I know it's midnight, I get it!
http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/12/01/marquette.moms.nursing.moses/index.html
A mother passed away 12 hours after her baby was born, leaving behind her husband, newborn, a 2.5-year-old, and two older children. Twenty mothers came up with a schedule so they could breastfeed the newborn around the clock.
And now I am done before my husband continues to drive me bananas! I know it's midnight, I get it!
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
If you need a laugh, this is a must-read!
Warning: This blog is far from PC. That being said, I love it! She is an awesome, super funny writer.
This post is about her baking cookies with her daughter:
http://dooce.com/2009/12/08/featured-community-question-accompanying-wacky-antics
This post is about her baking cookies with her daughter:
http://dooce.com/2009/12/08/featured-community-question-accompanying-wacky-antics
Monday, December 7, 2009
The transition to crunchiness continues...
I have been looking for recipes for tasty and healthy breads, cakes, and cookies (banana bread, carrot cake, oatmeal cookies, etc.).
Last week, I made carrot cake and everyone liked it. I did not mention the fact that 1/4 of the flour was wholewheat flour to certain people. They still ate it and loved it. Success!
Next time, I'll try having 1/3 of the flour be wholewheat flour.
I might also try using honey instead of sugar.
Lastly, I will be substituting half of the oil or butter with apple sauce or apple butter.
If you have any suggestions, any websites you like, anything... Please share!
Last week, I made carrot cake and everyone liked it. I did not mention the fact that 1/4 of the flour was wholewheat flour to certain people. They still ate it and loved it. Success!
Next time, I'll try having 1/3 of the flour be wholewheat flour.
I might also try using honey instead of sugar.
Lastly, I will be substituting half of the oil or butter with apple sauce or apple butter.
If you have any suggestions, any websites you like, anything... Please share!
Mischief I could have done without...
The other day, we were at my mother's and Ms. Mischief figured it would be a good idea to wash her and her cousin's toothbrushes. Very sweet, right? Except she used the toilet bowl to do this!
I could not help sounding like a teenager! Eww, eww, eww!
I could not help sounding like a teenager! Eww, eww, eww!
Sunday, November 29, 2009
My child is a nudist.
Amor Chiquito has been able to take all her clothes off for almost a year now. She used to do that a lot when we first started putting her in her crib at 13 months. After a while, she stopped doing it.
Once Amor Chiquito began using the potty consistently, her nudist tendencies returned! She just loves being naked. I don’t know how else to put it! She is often only wearing a shirt, or socks, or simply nothing. The funny thing is that when we tell her we are going to put a shirt on, she complains about the shirt being cold! Kids…!
Personally, her being naked does not bother me, as long as it is just us, obviously. I do want her dressed if we are at someone else’s home or if we have guests, of course.
It is my job to teach her that some behaviors are acceptable in certain settings but not others. From what I have read, this is a controversial topic. Some parents think it is a non-issue; others feel strongly that a child being naked at home is a bad thing. To be honest, I am torn on what I should be telling her about this.
I am curious. How do you feel about this? If you have kids, do they do this? Is it common? Let’s have a conversation, so to speak, about a controversial topic. I am confident that we, as grown-ups, can do this respectfully. If someone gets a little crazy, there is always the delete button!
Something else I have noticed is that Amor Chiquito does a great job going to the potty if she is naked from the waist down or if she is wearing only underwear. If she is wearing pants, she has accidents almost all the time. Any experiences with this? Is there an explanation for it? It is only a matter of time, is my guess.
My goal is to help her get better about this, but, in the meantime, I started buying dresses! They proved particularly useful when we spent the weekend with the in-laws. Amor Chiquito was dressed and did not have accidents.
Once Amor Chiquito began using the potty consistently, her nudist tendencies returned! She just loves being naked. I don’t know how else to put it! She is often only wearing a shirt, or socks, or simply nothing. The funny thing is that when we tell her we are going to put a shirt on, she complains about the shirt being cold! Kids…!
Personally, her being naked does not bother me, as long as it is just us, obviously. I do want her dressed if we are at someone else’s home or if we have guests, of course.
It is my job to teach her that some behaviors are acceptable in certain settings but not others. From what I have read, this is a controversial topic. Some parents think it is a non-issue; others feel strongly that a child being naked at home is a bad thing. To be honest, I am torn on what I should be telling her about this.
I am curious. How do you feel about this? If you have kids, do they do this? Is it common? Let’s have a conversation, so to speak, about a controversial topic. I am confident that we, as grown-ups, can do this respectfully. If someone gets a little crazy, there is always the delete button!
Something else I have noticed is that Amor Chiquito does a great job going to the potty if she is naked from the waist down or if she is wearing only underwear. If she is wearing pants, she has accidents almost all the time. Any experiences with this? Is there an explanation for it? It is only a matter of time, is my guess.
My goal is to help her get better about this, but, in the meantime, I started buying dresses! They proved particularly useful when we spent the weekend with the in-laws. Amor Chiquito was dressed and did not have accidents.
Mischief and cuteness...!
Amor Chiquito does many silly things and gets into interesting mischief often. So much that I would like to remember, many memories I would like to keep. But I quickly forget, so I will write about it so that in the future we can look back and laugh.
Ink on microfiber, anyone?! While I went to the bathroom this morning, she wrote on two of our dining chairs. This I could do without, really. But the next few stories are pretty funny, in my biased opinion.
Amor Chiquito stole one of my Activia yogurts. She was doing a great job eating at first. At one point, I got busy on the computer and, suddenly, I realized it was too quiet. That is always a sign that serious mischief is taking place! Her arms were covered in yogurt, from her shoulders to her fingertips!
Amor Chiquito has recently decided that she loves cats, stuffed ones and real ones. She named her stuffed cat Anna. She brings the cat everywhere.
Amor Chiquito loves going to see her uncle’s cat. She mentions him every day. “Tat, meow, Bobby.” She pets him and any stupid thing the cat does makes her smile.
We just came home from visiting my mother at the hospital. Amor Chiquito said “oh no, tat, Bobby.” Who wants to go home when there is a cat to see and pet?
The irony in this is that I could care less about cats. Heck, I will be honest; I hate them! They almost have the ability to kill me! I have ended up in the ER thanks to them. I remember one time we went to see the in-laws. We ended up running to a walk-in clinic because I could not breathe and the swelling on my mouth was extending, getting closer and closer to my throat. I ended up getting a Benadryl shot and a Pregnazone script. Basically, if I want to spend a long night with asthma, I need only spend 30 minutes at a place where there is a cat.
But, back to stories on the little one… She is obsessed with Elmo and Barney, Barney more so at the moment. She grabs our hands, starts to sing the “I love you” song in her own little way, and starts to dance with us. She much prefers that the three of us dance together. The song gets old fast, but I love the moments when the three of us spend time and laugh together. It’s the little things in life, as they say.
Amor Chiquito knows the alphabet now. She likes to look at signs and name the letters she sees.
Amor Chiquito recently learned the difference between shoes and boots. The other day she insisted that all three of us wear boots! She has been wearing her new boots every day since then.
Like every other parent of a two-year-old, we go through the “put your coat on” fight every day. The minute we put our coats on, she starts saying “hot, hot.” The ironic thing is that she loves her hat and mittens. Silly kid!
More later… A child is looking for some before-bed mommy milk...
Ink on microfiber, anyone?! While I went to the bathroom this morning, she wrote on two of our dining chairs. This I could do without, really. But the next few stories are pretty funny, in my biased opinion.
Amor Chiquito stole one of my Activia yogurts. She was doing a great job eating at first. At one point, I got busy on the computer and, suddenly, I realized it was too quiet. That is always a sign that serious mischief is taking place! Her arms were covered in yogurt, from her shoulders to her fingertips!
Amor Chiquito has recently decided that she loves cats, stuffed ones and real ones. She named her stuffed cat Anna. She brings the cat everywhere.
Amor Chiquito loves going to see her uncle’s cat. She mentions him every day. “Tat, meow, Bobby.” She pets him and any stupid thing the cat does makes her smile.
We just came home from visiting my mother at the hospital. Amor Chiquito said “oh no, tat, Bobby.” Who wants to go home when there is a cat to see and pet?
The irony in this is that I could care less about cats. Heck, I will be honest; I hate them! They almost have the ability to kill me! I have ended up in the ER thanks to them. I remember one time we went to see the in-laws. We ended up running to a walk-in clinic because I could not breathe and the swelling on my mouth was extending, getting closer and closer to my throat. I ended up getting a Benadryl shot and a Pregnazone script. Basically, if I want to spend a long night with asthma, I need only spend 30 minutes at a place where there is a cat.
But, back to stories on the little one… She is obsessed with Elmo and Barney, Barney more so at the moment. She grabs our hands, starts to sing the “I love you” song in her own little way, and starts to dance with us. She much prefers that the three of us dance together. The song gets old fast, but I love the moments when the three of us spend time and laugh together. It’s the little things in life, as they say.
Amor Chiquito knows the alphabet now. She likes to look at signs and name the letters she sees.
Amor Chiquito recently learned the difference between shoes and boots. The other day she insisted that all three of us wear boots! She has been wearing her new boots every day since then.
Like every other parent of a two-year-old, we go through the “put your coat on” fight every day. The minute we put our coats on, she starts saying “hot, hot.” The ironic thing is that she loves her hat and mittens. Silly kid!
More later… A child is looking for some before-bed mommy milk...
Potty Training Update
We realized that we got used to her going to the potty. We were not providing nearly as much positive reinforcement as we provided at the beginning. Positive reinforcement is back, big time!
Also, with all the running around I have been doing lately, I have not spent a lot of quality time with her. Working on that.
So far so good.
Thanks Mol for your comment/suggestion.
Also, yay for emails from Love & Logic with tips (on potty training this week, what a coincidence) that my husband forwards!
Also, with all the running around I have been doing lately, I have not spent a lot of quality time with her. Working on that.
So far so good.
Thanks Mol for your comment/suggestion.
Also, yay for emails from Love & Logic with tips (on potty training this week, what a coincidence) that my husband forwards!
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Review: BabyBjorn Little Potty
I got this potty chair for car trips and for the times when we spend the night away from home.
For a picture and reviews, check out this link:
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2309032
Pros:
small, portable
easy to clean
feels sturdy, does not feel like it will break easily
only $13, rather than $28 like the other two potties
Cons
The splashguard is useless, despite the fact there is no penus involved! I guess this means I would not recommend it for boys? I guess it depends on how well your little one knows how to point, as my mommy puts it!
It is extremely low and does not have back support, so it doesn't look comfortable. Then again, if you only plan on using it two or three days a month when you go to grandma's, this is not a big issue.
Overall, I am happy with it. I have had an intimate relationship with baby poop for over 15 months thanks to cloth diapers and being visually impaired, so a few drops of pee do not scare me! :)
For a picture and reviews, check out this link:
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2309032
Pros:
small, portable
easy to clean
feels sturdy, does not feel like it will break easily
only $13, rather than $28 like the other two potties
Cons
The splashguard is useless, despite the fact there is no penus involved! I guess this means I would not recommend it for boys? I guess it depends on how well your little one knows how to point, as my mommy puts it!
It is extremely low and does not have back support, so it doesn't look comfortable. Then again, if you only plan on using it two or three days a month when you go to grandma's, this is not a big issue.
Overall, I am happy with it. I have had an intimate relationship with baby poop for over 15 months thanks to cloth diapers and being visually impaired, so a few drops of pee do not scare me! :)
Suddenly, two steps backwards...
Amor Chiquito peed on the rug just because... Weird... Not sure how to deal with that.
Do I remind her to go on the potty? Do I not make a big deal out of it and hope for the best?
Do I sing the ut-oh song? What consequence would I deliver? Something about that approach does not feel right with potty training... Can't put my finger on it...
Another alternative is to completely avoid the potty subject and pretend like going to the bathroom is exciting, just huge. Silly, I know! But positive reinforcement does work well for us.
Not a big deal... I am not going to stress out over an accident. Mostly just thinking outloud, I guess. Comments/suggestions are welcomed, of course.
Do I remind her to go on the potty? Do I not make a big deal out of it and hope for the best?
Do I sing the ut-oh song? What consequence would I deliver? Something about that approach does not feel right with potty training... Can't put my finger on it...
Another alternative is to completely avoid the potty subject and pretend like going to the bathroom is exciting, just huge. Silly, I know! But positive reinforcement does work well for us.
Not a big deal... I am not going to stress out over an accident. Mostly just thinking outloud, I guess. Comments/suggestions are welcomed, of course.
Early Intervention Update
Wow, I neglected my blog again… I just realized I had not posted in over three weeks. I hope to make up for it in the next week!
Here is the early intervention evaluation update.
The re-evaluation took place yesterday. Three people came out: the woman who comes every week, a speech pathologist, and an occupational therapist.
Amor Chiquito did very well. She was not extremely shy at the beginning, as she typically is. I am guessing this might have been because she knows one of the three people well.
We are continuing services because of a delay in receptive and expressive language. Amor Chiquito has many words and says two-word phrases. However, at this point, she should be saying three or four-word phrases. She is able to answer some questions, like “what is that?” But she is not able to answer questions like “who is that for?”
Another thing we will be working on is motor planning. Basically, Amor Chiquito knows what she wants to say, but the words either do not make it out of her mouth or, if they do, they are hard to understand. Also, she has a hard time repeating unfamiliar sounds.
We will be getting a hearing test to find out if there is a hearing issue. Hearing loss could affect language development.
Amor Chiquito has a strong personality. In other words, she is one stubborn kid! So, if she does not feel like doing something because she wants to do something else, she just won’t! For example, she was asked to hug her stuffed animal. We know she understands “hug” and “kiss.” But she did not feel like it, so it did not happen! She lost some points, so to speak, due to her stubbornness! To be honest, I cannot throw stones!
Amor Chiquito did well in the other areas. Here is the quick version:
Receptive and expressive language: 21 months
Cognitive: 23 months
Social and gross motor: 26 months
Fine motor: 31 months
Self care (average of toileting, bathing and feeding): 34 months
We will be seeing the woman we have been seeing next week. I will get some tips from her on how to help Amor Chiquito with cognition. The speech pathologist will give us yet more tips on how we can help Amor Chiquito.
Apparently, early intervention shares our info with our town’s school system and a spot at preschool is held for Amor Chiquito in case she still needs services after she turns three.
I must go on a rant about how difficult it is for a child to qualify for services, but I will do that at another time. My mother just had surgery and I want to make her a chicken soup before Amor Chiquito wakes up.
Here is the early intervention evaluation update.
The re-evaluation took place yesterday. Three people came out: the woman who comes every week, a speech pathologist, and an occupational therapist.
Amor Chiquito did very well. She was not extremely shy at the beginning, as she typically is. I am guessing this might have been because she knows one of the three people well.
We are continuing services because of a delay in receptive and expressive language. Amor Chiquito has many words and says two-word phrases. However, at this point, she should be saying three or four-word phrases. She is able to answer some questions, like “what is that?” But she is not able to answer questions like “who is that for?”
Another thing we will be working on is motor planning. Basically, Amor Chiquito knows what she wants to say, but the words either do not make it out of her mouth or, if they do, they are hard to understand. Also, she has a hard time repeating unfamiliar sounds.
We will be getting a hearing test to find out if there is a hearing issue. Hearing loss could affect language development.
Amor Chiquito has a strong personality. In other words, she is one stubborn kid! So, if she does not feel like doing something because she wants to do something else, she just won’t! For example, she was asked to hug her stuffed animal. We know she understands “hug” and “kiss.” But she did not feel like it, so it did not happen! She lost some points, so to speak, due to her stubbornness! To be honest, I cannot throw stones!
Amor Chiquito did well in the other areas. Here is the quick version:
Receptive and expressive language: 21 months
Cognitive: 23 months
Social and gross motor: 26 months
Fine motor: 31 months
Self care (average of toileting, bathing and feeding): 34 months
We will be seeing the woman we have been seeing next week. I will get some tips from her on how to help Amor Chiquito with cognition. The speech pathologist will give us yet more tips on how we can help Amor Chiquito.
Apparently, early intervention shares our info with our town’s school system and a spot at preschool is held for Amor Chiquito in case she still needs services after she turns three.
I must go on a rant about how difficult it is for a child to qualify for services, but I will do that at another time. My mother just had surgery and I want to make her a chicken soup before Amor Chiquito wakes up.
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