Posted on February 2, 2010 in family fun, small moments

Lately, naps are getting shorter. And shorter. 

This means one thing: I had better come up with some pretty cool things to do. Or else. . . 

So I dusted off the black patent leather shoes that are sadly reserved for holidays, scotch-taped quarters to the bottom of each shoe, and voila!, instant tap shoes. (I’m not brilliant; Rookie Moms came to my rescue.)

I find that most toddlers love music. They love movement. They love newness- anything that deviates from the ordinary. Ahem, anything slightly chaotic. 

Our homemade tap shoes didn’t disappoint. Stomp. Flap. Giggle. Stomp. Pitter-patter. Hoo-ray. Stomp. 

Oh, yes, I stomped too. Who knew that simple driving mocs second as tappers? What started out as a sanity-saving time-filler turned out to be a whole lot of fun! At least 20 minutes of fun, not that I was watching the clock or anything.

P.S. Please stop by to enter a handmade doll giveaway from Blabla kids. You’ll be glad that you did!

**This post is part of the Moms’ 30-Minute Blog Challenge at Steady Mom**

Posted on January 5, 2010 in small moments

Photo by andrew.petro

Dear Jet Blue Friend in Seat 22B,

Mommy says that it’s proper etiquette to apologize when you make a mistake for which you are sorry.  And I am sorry. Very sorry. I’m sorry for peeing all over our seat, not once but twice, during our long airplane ride to California. I guess you don’t have to know that I did it twice, but I’m terribly honest at two years old. 

See, I’m not capable of sitting in one seat for six hours. I’m just a tot. A squirmy, curious, fidgety tot. And I guess that while wiggling from Mommy’s seat, to my seat, to Daddy’s seat, to my seat, to Mommy’s seat, my diaper shifted, just enough to . . . well, you know. Darn shifty diaper. Maybe Mommy and Daddy need to move me up to the next size, or maybe they should have put on a nite-nite diaper. Either way, I’m not quite at the age where I blame them for things.

To make matters worse, knowing my diaper’s saturation point is not my strong suit, although I must say that I felt a funny warm sensation between my thighs. It should have been a red flag, but I was engrossed in my ABC book at the time. To be honest, I think Mommy and Daddy were more startled and humiliated than I was. They both went into crisis mode. Mommy frantically dug into the diaper bag while Daddy lifted me from my warm puddle of pee. I’m not talking about a little trickle here. I was dangling from my armpits over Lake Erie. You probably didn’t have to know that either. 

There is good news. You’ll be happy to know that they used Wet Ones to clean up the mess. They are anti-bacterial, disinfecting wipes, so I’m confident that the seat is just like new. Maybe even better. Just to be safe, though, Mommy says that you ought to wash your clothes before wearing them again. I say do whatever makes you happy. 

Your Jet Blue Friend in Seat 22B

**This post is a part of the Moms’ 30-Minute Blog Challenge at Steady Mom**

Posted on November 17, 2009 in small moments

Photo by jekert gwapo

My daughter and I attend a Mommy and Me class once a week. I thought this would be a nice transition into preschool, since Liza is shy and cautious, rarely venturing out of my sight. Initially, she hesitated to sit at the children’s table for snack time while I chatted with other moms about hot toddler topics (well, as “hot” as they get). 

That was until she comprehended the word snack. 

More recently, I’ve caught her glancing over her shoulder for reassurance: Mommy isn’t leaving me. She’s right over there. And as soon as I’m finished with this delicious cookie, I’ll give her some love. But, really, cookie first. Love later. 

Here’s what I learned (by the way, it’s part of every grandparent’s arsenal of tricks, those sneaky folks): If you give a toddler more graham crackers, she’ll do whatever you want. Yup, that’s right. She’ll stuff her little face with sugary goodness. And she’ll keep asking for more. And it won’t matter where Mommy is, or where anyone is, in fact.

Because today, she was the last one left at the table. I laughed, slightly embarrassed (for her and me). Nobody wants to have the kid who’s always asking for more. Look where it got poor Oliver! But I have to say, she didn’t have a care in the world. She was doing her own thing, and she was perfectly okay with it. 

And when she was done, she showed me some love- bringing me the napkin to wipe up the cracker crumbles pasted to her cheeks.

**This post is a part of the Moms’ 30-Minute Blog Challenge at Steady Mom**

Posted on November 1, 2009 in parenting

Photo by Tammra McCauley

When the phone rings, my daughter inevitably holds her hand up to her ear and exclaims, “Me-a!” (She knows that it’s likely to be Aunt Mir from California.) When the remote control is laying on the couch cushion, she grabs it and points to the television. When I’m brushing my teeth, she reaches for her toothbrush. When I dance or jump, she too bends at the knees or gets that hip going.  

She’s learning, and it’s all the result of observation and imitation. Notice how I didn’t say that it’s the result of Baby Einstein or flashcards or Leap Frog’s latest talking, flashing toy. I think we’ve overcomplicated matters. It’s time to get back to basics and to simplify our teaching methods. Our children are watching, so don’t be caught picking your nose. But do consider using everyday objects, routines, and tasks as learning opportunities. 

1. Walking up the Stairs: Since my daughter is just learning how to navigate stairs, we’ve started counting them. Now it’s a routine, and she lights up when I start to count. Nine is her favorite number these days. It often sounds something like this: Me: One, Her: Nine, Me: Two, Her: Nine, and so on.   

2. Washing Hands: While you’re hanging your child over the ledge of the sink, why not sing the ABCs? It’s just the right amount of time to wash away those germs before mealtimes or after playing in dirt. If you have to wash up, you might as well sing!  

3. Diaper Changes: From chatting with other moms, it seems that diaper changes can often be a source of frustration for parents as even the sweetest toddlers transform into wiggle worms with a will (Think skid marks in undies are bad? Now multiply that across your living room floor.). I’ve found that distraction is key. I either sing a song she’s heard before or talk about our day. During this time, I focus on enunciating clearly, as my daughter is generally in tune with the movement of my mouth and lips.  

4. Driving in the Car: Depending on your family situation and schedule, you might spend a significant amount of time in the car. The other day I heard this coming from the back seat: “Lello (yellow), re (red), bo (brown), lello.” It finally came to me that my daughter was naming the fall colors on the trees. She’ll do this with cars as well. Point out the train, trucks, stop signs, supermarket, and other landmarks in your neighborhood. Just stay focused on the road so you don’t have to cover the red and blue flashing lights lesson. 

5. Real World Objects: I’m willing to bet that your children know the difference between the real cell phone and the Fisher-Price one. Same thing with your keys. They want to be like us, and they’re not fools. Get out an extra broom, hairbrush, mixing bowl, washcloth, and let them explore and learn. 

6. Playtime: Human interaction trumps all. Nothing can replace encouraging exploration and imagination by playing with blocks, dolls, or cars. I find that many stay-at-home moms struggle with this, because it’s easy to feel that we should be managing household chores and tasks first and foremost. We could be playing (By playing, I do not mean a rousing game of “scrub the tub.”). And our little copy cats would be, without a doubt, observing and imitating.

Posted on October 20, 2009 in family fun

It’s not unusual for me to be spent by 4:30 in the afternoon. So, this weekend I found a fun toddler craft from Here We Are Together (via The Crafty Crow) It’s simple, cheap, and kept my daughter busy for a whole 45 minutes (which is unheard of). 

1. Gather supplies: Elmer’s glue, construction/colored paper, a few different spices from your pantry, paintbrush (optional). I used red pepper flakes, rosemary, celery seed, and poppy seeds. This is a great way to clear your kitchen of outdated spices that should have been tossed years ago. 

2. Apply Glue: Dribble glue on the construction paper or encourage your child to make paint strokes on the paper with glue.  

3. Sprinkle Spices! It’s that simple. My daughter made three of these pictures and kept asking for more. This activity appeals to a child’s sense of touch, sight, and even taste if he/she is adventurous!  Plus, the mess is mom-friendly and can be easily cleaned up with a vacuum! 

Ta Da! Time flies when you’re having fun!

**This post is a part of the Moms’ 30 Minute Blog Challenge at Steady Mom**

Posted on October 7, 2009 in food and nutrition, parenting

Photo by Michael Headrick Photography

I’m beat. We had a mealtime meltdown tonight. For a few minutes, my toddler was beside herself, virtually inconsolable. Then, suddenly, like the flip of a switch, she was eager to eat the turkey burger that she had just blatantly rejected. Once my daughter settled back into her highchair, my husband took one look at her and smiled, “Welcome Back.” 

Was she just “off” tonight, or is this a new phase?  Somebody please tell me it’s the former.  

For the most part, I’ve been pleased with my daughter’s eating habits. It’s something that I’ve diligently worked on from the start, and it’s certainly come with rewards; I have a happy, healthy, generally adventurous eater. These past few weeks, however, she’s proven more challenging. She has refused old favorites and seems to be exercising her will and voice. I find myself annoyed and frustrated: Who is this child and can somebody please return mine? It’s hard not to take it personally when your toddler is throwing homemade Chicken Parmesan overboard.  

Leave it to Dr. Sears to shed some light on a complicated developmental issue. In his article, 17 Tips for Pleasing the Picky Eater, he reaffirms parents about this challenging phase: 

For young children, what and how much they are willing to eat may vary daily. This capriciousness is due in large part to their ambivalence about independence, and eating is an area where they can act out this confusion. So don’t be surprised if your child eats a heaping plateful of food one day and practically nothing the next, adores broccoli on Tuesday and refuses it on Thursday, wants to feed herself at one meal and be totally catered to at another. As a parent in our practice said, “The only thing consistent about toddler feeding is inconsistency.” 

Aside from a lot of deep breaths (SERENITY NOW), there are a few strategies that seem to be carrying me through this picky period, and I wanted to share them with you:

Food Frenzy

1. Dip and Dunk. Get creative. My daughter loves hummus and pesto. Those have been two of our go-to dips when we’re eating chicken or fish. She won’t eat them plain, but either of those dips usually do the trick. Some kids love ketchup, mustard, yogurt, even pureed fruits. Let them dip and dunk!

2. More Cheese Please! Thank God for cheese. It makes everything taste better: spinach, broccoli, beans, hamburgers.  

3. Put it on a Cracker. Last week, I made a delicious Spinach Gratin and my daughter wouldn’t touch it (Mind you, in the past, it’s been a hit!). Once I offered it on her favorite whole wheat crackers, she was open to the idea. Crackers are often a great way to get the veggies down.  

4. Serve a 3-Course Meal. If I put a veggie, meat, and fruit on my daughter’s plate at all once, she’ll only eat the fruit. I always start with the least desirable food and finish with the most desirable food.  This way she is eating the least desirable food when she is the most hungry.

Mind Games

1. It’s probably NOT about the food. Sometimes it’s hard to believe that my sweet little toddler is exercising her will or asserting her independence. It wasn’t that long ago that she was completely reliant on me for everything. Knowing this helps me to approach mealtime with perspective and to avoid a power struggle or hurt feelings.  

2. Keep Your Cool. Your toddler is watching you- your every move and reaction. Don’t get angry. Be matter of fact: I see you don’t want peas tonight. That’s fine. Then, remove them fast before it’s raining peas. Tomorrow night offer them again, maybe with an enticing dip. 

3. Choose Your Words Wisely. My daughter is pickier right now, but I’m not going to tell her that. If I tell her that she’s picky, she’s likely to live up to that expectation. I think a lot of parenting is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Stay positive and roll with it. The experts say this inconsistency is just a phase, so don’t give it more power than that.  

4. Don’t Be a Short Order Cook. I usually have a few options for dinner that include a veggie, protein/meat, and fruit. That’s it. Bribery doesn’t work for me (If you eat this, then you get this.) As much as it pains me to let my child go to bed hungry, I feel that it’s the most logical consequence for choosing not to eat. It’s her choice.  

At the end of the day, I think it’s important to have a flexible game plan that you can live with, one that’s congruent with your belief system. What is working for you right now, or what has worked in the past?  

Posted on October 5, 2009 in giveaways

Happy Monday! Today I’m psyched to share a little bit about the lovely, talented Kristen Sutcliffe of New House Project. Kristen has a passion for crafting, and she’s always making things in her home. (This is not the point where you beat yourself up for not being the crafty-type. I won’t if you won’t.) In fact, her Jumping Cup Handmade Toy was recently featured on Bloesem Kids. 

I’d like to invite you to visit Kristen’s Etsy shop, where she uses local and re-purposed materials for many of her shop items. Her latest addition to the shop is a collection of soft and sweet 6″ x 6″ art pieces with vintage fabric appliqued and hand-stitched onto thick canvas. Kristen recently hung a small collection of wall art in her daughter’s bedroom. What I love is that this simple decorative collage adds warmth and happiness to the home.  

You can also find some beautiful vintage ribbon in her shop, like the pink and green floral embroidered ones pictured below. 

And now for my favorite part: Kristen is sharing her talent right here with us today! She has generously offered to give away a toddler apron to one lucky turnitupmom reader. Kristen’s aprons are handmade from vintage re-purposed fabric. If you have a toddler who likes to paint, cook, or make a mess (I think that covers all of them), then this one’s for you! Here’s how to win: 

1.  Explore Kristen’s Etsy shop, New House Project, and then leave a comment on this post, telling me which apron you would like to win.  

2.  If you’d like to earn extra entries, you can Facebook, twitter, or blog about New House Project and this giveaway. Then come back and, in a separate comment, tell me how you’ve spread the word!

On Monday, October 19th, 8 p.m. EST, one winner will be randomly selected by Random.org. You must be a U.S. resident (18+) to enter. Good luck!

Congratulations to #50, Sarah C! 

Posted on August 10, 2009 in small moments

Today, I wanted to report back on my daughter’s participation in The Great Kindness Challenge.  Since she’s only 21 months old, I had to exercise my creative muscles for this one.  I wanted it to be a challenge.  Well, sort of. I mean, I didn’t want to choose something ordinary; taking our pup to the park was too vanilla. I wanted to think outside the box and, at the same time, make a memory.  That, right there, may sound overzealous to you.  Go ahead, snicker.  I deserve it.  

I have always wanted to share the abundant beauty of our garden. So, on Saturday morning, my husband was “on duty,” while I cut my best-looking mums, black-eyed susans, and daisies and arranged sweet little bouquets held together by cloth ribbons from recycled gift wrappings.  I figured that my daughter would love carting these around our neighborhood via her little red wagon.  

With the video and still camera ready, we loaded up the wagon with fresh cuttings and  . . .she was off.  My daughter scampered down the driveway, her chin bent towards her chest and her eyes focused straight ahead.  She was in the zone, on a mission, not to be interrupted.  

After passing a few homes, we made our first stop. “Do you want to bring these to Tony?  Look, he’s outside!”  I pointed, excitedly.  

She waved her arms at me and shook her head no, no, no, no.  She had no intention to stop.  The occasional delivery was not a part of her game plan.  Perhaps I should have explained our purpose.  

“Come with Mommy,” I urged, reaching out my hand.  She pushed it away and dropped towards the ground, irritated by my ridiculous ways.  When I picked her up, she fought hard to break free, kicking her long limbs and turning on the water works.  I was ruining the mission, which I now understand was all about how far we could push the wagon.  Silly me.  

After a skinned knee and lots of tears, we returned home with an empty wagon.  I delivered our small bouquets as my little peanut and her daddy watched from the sidelines.  Hopefully, in the end, we made a few people smile.  It really was never about us.  

My 21 month old doesn’t quite get the concept of giving yet, at least not with flowers (Though, I must say she generously blows kisses to even the oddest of characters.)  So the final word is that The Great Kindness Challenge was just that- a challenge.  Oh well, there’s always next year.   That, and golden retriever who loves a leisurely stroll through the park.