Please join me in congratulating Betsy of Fluffy Windover's Diary on her new son.

She even found the time to write about it in this week's Toddler Thursday:

We had a wonderful surprise last Friday when our son, John, was born five weeks early. Even though he is technically preterm, he weighed 6 lbs 1 oz and is doing just fine at home with us!

As for Edwin, he has handled the new addition rather well (so far, that is). He was a little confused about staying at Grandma and Grandpa's without us, and was pretty upset when he visited us in the hospital and realized we weren't all going home together. But he has really embraced Baby Brother and has been very sweet and protective of him. My husband is home this week and next, and they have been spending lots of time doing fun things together, so that has really helped.

There are some issues for sure-- he is definitely put out by the fact that I am now busy feeding the baby all the time. He's also jealous that the baby sleeps in our room (which is where he would prefer to sleep). He's been giving me a bit of the cold shoulder, which I was expecting. But with my husband here it has been easy to hand off the baby so that I can play with Edwin or snuggle him for a while. One of the biggest challenges, I think, is the disruption in his routine. Toddlers thrive on structure and routines, and when they get thrown off it can be upsetting. We've tried to stick to his normal routine, but it's really hard when I am tied down and my husband is constantly doing laundry and handing me things that I have dropped while feeding John!

But it's also been great to see Edwin give his brother kisses goodnight, or say, "It's OK, Baby Brother!" when he cries, or remind me not to wake the baby. I know there will be big adjustments ahead for our toddler, but the first few days have definitely been better than we expected. Of course, he's probably saving up all his challenging behavior for when my husband returns to work.

Posted by Hanah Cho at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

Here's Betsy of Fluffy Windover's Diary with this week's Toddler Thursday:

Babies and toddlers are challenging. There is always something you’re struggling with as a parent: sleep issues, eating issues, potty training, tantrums, misbehavior. The bright side is that they grow and develop so fast, right when you’re at your wit’s end with one challenge, it resolves and a new one takes its place.

The current challenge in our house is underwear. There is a lot of underwear drama going on these days. When Edwin was potty training, I bought him super-hero underwear, each pair sporting a different character. These were a huge hit and really helped him with the diaper transition. The problem now is he doesn’t understand that after you wear Incredible Hulk, he goes into the hamper and you can’t wear him again until Mommy does laundry. When Edwin wants Incredible Hulk Edwin, Captain America just won’t do. And forget about the Thomas underwear; that is so three months ago. (Here’s a suggestion for any parents going through potty training: consider buying plain underwear ONLY, so you don’t find your 2-year old digging through his dirty underwear to fish out Incredible Hulk.)

The other underwear challenge we have is that after Edwin goes to the potty at home, he just runs off without putting his underwear and pants back on. When he was potty training I allowed him to run around pantsless because it made the whole process easier. But now that he’s fully potty trained, there is no reason that I should be subjected to his nether regions while he’s climbing all over me and the furniture. So we have a new rule: he must put his underwear on after the potty, and he can’t play with any toys until he does.

You’d think this would be an easy sell, but no. His latest “underwear tantrum” lasted 30 minutes before he finally gave up and put on the pants. At daycare, of course, this is not an issue. He saves the underwear tantrums just for me. At first, I tried my usual tricks (making his stuffed animals help put them on). But that only worked a few times before he realized that I was the one behind it. Like most toddler behavior issues, it’s just a power struggle. He knows I want him to put on underwear, and therefore he will not do it willingly. And really, for once I’d like him to follow directions because he knows he’s supposed to, not because his teddy bear tells him to.

I don’t know how many more of these tantrums we’ll have to endure before the new rule sticks, but I’m about at my wit’s end, so the new challenge must be just around the corner! I wonder what it will be.

Posted by Hanah Cho at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

Here's Betsy of Fluffy Windover's Diary with this week's Toddler Thursday:

I need some advice from other second-time parents. How did you keep your toddler occupied while you were busy taking care of a new baby?

As it is now, Edwin much prefers to play with one of us than by himself. We build things together, play “restaurant,” read books, paint, etc. He will play by himself a bit, but it’s not long before he starts doing something dangerous or inappropriate that requires my intervention (and believe me, these are carefully calculated moves to get my attention!)

But I will have a newborn to take care of in about a month. As it is, I’m getting uncomfortable down on the floor playing Legos. I am kind of freaking out about how to keep Edwin busy, even though I know from experience that things are usually not as difficult as you imagine they will be. His birthday (he’s turning 3) is just after the baby is due, so some new toys are not out of the question (though I don’t want to overwhelm him with tons of new stuff right when the baby gets here. And I also don’t want to spend a lot of money!)

What toys and activities have you found to be best for independent play? I’m looking for activities that require little parental intervention, don’t make a huge mess and don’t require a lot of setup. Thanks for any advice you may have — I will need an arsenal of activities at my disposal!

Share your advice for Betsy on how to juggle a newborn and a toddler in the comments below

Posted by Hanah Cho at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

Here's Betsy of Fluffy Windover's Diary with this week's Toddler Thursday:

One of the blogs I read often, The Spohrs are Multiplying, had a post a couple days ago about whether or not to use a "leash" on your toddler when you're out in a crowded place. The post was somewhat in jest, but the comments got kind of heated. Surprisingly, most of the commenters were for the use of some kind of restraint on a wayward toddler, especially in situations like airports or amusement parks. Those opposed mostly used the argument that if your child is on a "leash," they will never learn to listen to you and stay close in a public place.

Edwin is generally good about holding hands, and when he refuses, we just tell him he must be carried. But I can see how absolutely terrifying it would be if your child ran away from you in a crowded (or otherwise dangerous) place. I agree that kids should learn to mind the rules and learn to stay close in public, but I also believe that as a parent you must do everything you can to keep your child safe. So, I'm not sure how I feel about the issue.

How about you -- any toddler-leashers out there? Any strongly opposed?

Posted by Hanah Cho at 10:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

Here's Betsy of Fluffy Windover's Diary with this week's Toddler Thursday:

The heat is ON in Baltimore, with temperatures expected to hit 100 tomorrow and this weekend. I’m trying to think of fun things to do with Edwin so we can both stay cool (preferably inside, because I have zero tolerance for heat like this in my current condition). So far I’ve come up with letting him play with his bath toys in the sink, having an indoor picnic, and maybe a nice game of fetch. (You may think I’m joking, but when we’re stuck inside and Edwin is going stir crazy, we pretend he’s a dog and he runs around “fetching” toys that I throw. Or sometimes we play “dolphin show”, where he chases after a ball and pretends to be a performing dolphin. Hey, when you’re pregnant and have a toddler, games where you can sit while your toddler runs around and wears himself out are a real life saver!)

I also came across this fun little recipe for ice cream that you and your toddler can make in a plastic bag. I think we’ll try it out.

Ziploc Bag Ice Cream

1/2 cup whole milk
1 Tbsp sugar
1/4 Tsp vanilla
2 cups ice cubes
1/2 cup table salt
1 small Ziploc bag
1 large Ziploc bag

- Combine the milk, sugar, and vanilla in the small bag. Seal it closed.

- Combine the ice and salt in the large bag.

- Put the small bag inside the large one.

- Seal the large bag and shake it until the mixture thickens (about 5 minutes).

Enjoy, and stay cool!

Posted by Hanah Cho at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

Here's Betsy of Fluffy Windover's Diary with this week's Toddler Thursday:

Much has been written on the topic of children and gender. (In fact, Liz Atwood discussed it in this post.) I don’t want to get into the debate of whether parents sometimes reinforce gender stereotypes from the start. (I’m sort of middle-of-the-road on that issue. I let Edwin play with whatever toys he wants to play with, be it dolls or trucks, but I’m not painting his toenails pink or anything. Then again, he has never asked me to.) But I do want to talk about the natural behavioral differences between girls and boys.

Edwin has become really physical. He wants to run, jump, climb, throw, and smash. If there is a ball, he must throw it. If there is a large stick, he must wield it. If there is furniture, he must climb it (and then try to jump off). In fact, right now he is sporting an impressive shiner from jumping off our front porch steps. Whenever I mention this to someone, the response is almost always, “Well, he’s a boy!” He does enjoy some quiet activities, like painting and being read to. But for the most part, he would rather be running, climbing, or throwing.

So, you parents of toddler girls: Is it true what I’ve heard? Is it true that little girls actually SIT DOWN? Do they really read to their dolls and have tea parties? Because if that’s really what toddler girls are like, maybe I should start painting Edwin’s toenails pink.

Posted by Hanah Cho at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

Here's Betsy of Fluffy Windover's Diary with this week's Toddler Thursday:

This morning I am sporting a bruised, swollen upper lip. No, it’s not from a bar fight (though it might be fun to tell people that, since I’m 7 months pregnant). Rather, it’s from an incident… with my two-year old.

While I was helping Edwin get dressed, he head-butted me. I’m still not sure why he did it (I don’t even think he knows why he did it.) But let me tell you, it hurt. A LOT. First I was shocked (by the pain, and then by the realization that I am raising a violent sociopath). Then I burst into tears (I blame the pregnancy hormones.) Poor Edwin felt terrible and gave me kisses and said “Mom? Are you OK? Mom? I’m sorry! Mom? I give you a kiss!”

I don’t think I’ll press charges this time. He did seem remorseful, and once I composed myself I put him in time out. So now we can put this incident behind us… once my fat lip heals.

Have you ever been visibly injured by your toddler?

Posted by Hanah Cho at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

Here's Betsy of Fluffy Windover's Diary with this week's Toddler Thursday:

We are heading to the beach this weekend with Edwin. This will be his third trip to the beach. It’s amazing how much young children change from year to year.

On his first visit, he was 11 months old and still a few weeks away from walking. He loved crawling around on the sand, chasing seagulls, and splashing in the surf.

Last year, at 21 months, he was cautious about the water and very sensitive to the bright sun. He enjoyed early morning beach time, but once the sun got high, he wanted nothing to do with the beach. We hung out at the pool and took lots of stroller walks instead.

This year, at almost three, he’s more rambunctious and bold. He’s a completely different kid from last year: he’s no longer napping, he’s potty trained, and he wants to run, climb, and throw things. I’m hoping he’ll really let his hair down and have fun at the beach. He will also have 10 older cousins there to play with, so that should help him let loose.

In case he is still too sensitive about the sun to want to spend much time at the beach, we’ll need to find some other activities for him. I really can’t see him getting into a whole game of mini golf (I am picturing him swinging the club at innocent bystanders and kicking golf balls all over the place). And antiquing with a toddler is probably out. He might like the arcade, though. He could throw those skee balls to his little heart’s content. Now just to make sure he throws them at the targets, and not all over the arcade.

What does your toddler like to do at the beach?

Posted by Hanah Cho at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

Here's Betsy of Fluffy Windover's Diary with this week's Toddler Thursday:

Are you your toddler’s playmate?

The other day I was talking to my mom, and I mentioned that I feel guilty because lately I don’t have much energy to play with Edwin or take him places. She said something like, “You don’t have to play with him; you’re his mother!”

This really struck me as interesting. My mom was a stay-at-home mom in the 60s and 70s, before we called them “stay-at-home moms”. I have fond memories of being home with my mom and reading books or playing while she went about her daily household tasks. Though I did go to nursery school, we didn’t do “mommy and me” classes, or playground playdates, or craft projects, or sing-alongs at the local coffee shop. I don’t remember ever feeling like I was bored or wanting to do more things; I was perfectly happy entertaining myself.

I suppose it’s a generational difference in the view of parenting. Today, I think a lot of moms feel pressure to pack every day with enriching activities and bonding experiences. Especially working moms: since they don’t spend every day with their children, they feel they must pack as much into the days they do spend together. Back when staying at home was the norm, perhaps moms didn’t feel this pressure to make the most out of every minute of time with their children.

How about you? Do you feel like you need to be your child’s playmate? Do you feel guilty when you would just rather read a magazine than spend “quality time” playing with your toddler?

Posted by Hanah Cho at 11:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

Mission accomplished: Betsy of Fluffy Windover's Diary discusses the success of potty training in this week's Toddler Thursday:

I thought I would post an update on our potty training progress with Edwin. We are diaper free! (Well, except for nighttime.) I never thought it would happen, but Edwin has been diaper-free for almost two weeks. He can do it all by himself (though we are still working on him putting his pants back on after). I know he may regress, but for now I'm just relieved that he seems to have embraced the new normal of using the potty all the time.

I cannot really take credit for his success; I think he was just ready. All kids are different and I don't believe there is any sure-fire trick to potty training. But I'll let you know what things seemed to help us, in case you are going through it with your toddler and need some things to try. We used a reward system-- I filled a box with a variety of "prizes" (just cheap dollar store crap), and he could choose one prize after he went potty. But I don't even know if this was necessary. We also did a lot of silly games with his stuffed animals "racing" him to the potty. He thought that was hilarious and it always worked to get him to go. I really tried to make it fun for him to avoid giving him the impression that it was something I wanted him to do. Because like most toddlers, Edwin doesn't do anything I want him to do.

Here's hoping it sticks, at least until Baby Brother comes to town and Edwin starts peeing on the floor in revolt.

Posted by Hanah Cho at 9:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

Here's Betsy of Fluffy Windover's Diary with this week's Toddler Thursday:

This past weekend, we decided to bite the bullet and begin potty training boot-camp. We told Edwin (who will be 3 in September) that we didn’t have any more diapers, and so he’d have to wear underwear and use the potty all the time. He was a little upset at first, but I had put all his diapers away when he wasn’t looking, so he seemed to accept the fact that diapers just weren’t available. We had a couple of accidents, but for the most part he really did a great job making it to the potty. Basically, if he was naked or wearing just underwear he always made it to the potty. If he had shorts on, he seemed to forget that he wasn’t wearing a diaper.

He went off to daycare yesterday after four days at home, and he did... not so great. Let’s just say I have a lot of laundry to do. He’s still not great at remembering to go to the potty when he’s wearing pants or shorts. I hope he does better today. I’m feeling a little guilty, like maybe he’s not quite ready and I shouldn’t be pushing this. But frankly, I’m tired of hoisting this 26-lb kid up on a changing table to clean up his man-sized messes. And our pediatrician said that the longer he’s been potty trained before the baby comes, the less likely he is to regress. Also, when it’s this hot it’s so easy to let him run around in his underwear.

I think we’ve reached the point of no return. There may be a little more laundry to do, but we’re just going to push through. Wish me luck!

Posted by Hanah Cho at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

Here's Betsy of Fluffy Windover's Diary with this week's Toddler Thursday:

At what age can you expect your toddler to dress himself?

Remember Dressy Bessy and Dapper Dan, those dolls from the seventies that taught us all how to get dressed? We really need one of those at our house. Edwin can remove his clothes no problem. But I am still getting him dressed in the morning, and I'm starting to think this is something he can and should be doing for himself. He can put pants on (though he prefers not to), but zippers and snaps really trip him up. And shirts? Forget it. His head gets stuck in the sleeve and then it's a one-way ticket to tantrum town. When I ask him to put his pants on (or brush his hair, or put on his shoes) he usually says, "No, I just want YOU to do it." And of course, since I am wrapped around his chubby little toddler finger, I do.

When we're running late in the morning, it's so much easier for me to just get Edwin dressed myself. This is a trap I think many parents fall into. It's quicker and easier to do things for your toddler than to wait while they struggle with their pants and shoes. Patience is just not something we have tons of when we're running late. But when the new baby gets here in a few months, I'm going to want Edwin to do more things for himself. I see a lot of Velcro and elastic-waist pants in his future.   

Posted by Hanah Cho at 9:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

Here's Betsy of Fluffy Windover's Diary with this week's Toddler Thursday:

Like most toddlers, Edwin is fascinated by the potty, what goes in the potty, and which body parts are involved. We have taught him that "potty talk" is for the bathroom and not the dinner table, the playground, or Grandma's house. For the most part, he has been pretty good about that. (Of course, a play date with the five-year-old next door often reminds him that is hilarious to talk about such things, and he usually comes home with a renewed enthusiasm for such language.) Since he knows it is a no-no, he will occasionally throw around some potty terminology when he's trying to get attention (for example, when I'm on the phone... with my mother-in-law.)

The other night made me wonder if I've been too strict in my interpretation of what constitutes potty talk. He was not happy about going to bed (uh, he never is) and was protesting by calling out a string of toddler profanity. I heard him chanting from his bed, "Poop... pee pee... butt..." But he saved the most heinous term for last, finally shouting with a triumphant flourish, "UNDERWEAR!"

I know he'll be learning much, much worse language when he gets older. For now, if "underwear" is the worst he can do, I think we're doing pretty well.

Posted by Hanah Cho at 10:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

Here's Betsy of Fluffy Windover's Diary with this week's Toddler Thursday:  

Lately Edwin has become very inquisitive. He constantly peppers us with questions, and they have gone from pretty simple (What’s that?) to pretty challenging (see below)!

“Mommy, what do otters eat?”
This one really took me off guard. What the heck do otters eat? I have no idea. I think I said that they eat things in the forest, like bugs and plants and… otter food.

”What are birds made out of?”
There is just something morbid about describing the insides of a bird, so I think I just said, “feathers”.

“Where’s your grandma?”
This was a tough one, as she is no longer living. I’m really not ready to explain death to my two-year old, so I simply said she’s not here with us anymore. Thankfully, he was quickly distracted by a shiny object.

“Where is Mother’s Day?”
Edwin has trouble with the concept of holidays, days of the week, and states of being. He thinks everything is a place where you can go. The other day I told him we were dining “al fresco” and he asked where the restaurant al fresco was.

“Does baby brother have shoes on? Does baby brother have a blanket in there (points to my tummy)?”
Edwin seems concerned that the baby in my tummy is comfortable and properly entertained. The other day he asked if he had a book in there!

“Is Elmo wearin’ underwear right now?”
This was a stumper, because Elmo dolls are not clothed. But he likes to watch the Elmo’s Potty Time DVD, and I’ve told him that Elmo is a big boy who uses the potty and wears underwear. (Am I going to have to fashion a pair of underwear for his Elmo doll?) 

If you want to share some funny questions your toddlers have asked, please do so in the comments!

Posted by Hanah Cho at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

Here's Betsy of Fluffy Windover's Diary with this week's Toddler Thursday:

Yesterday, I found myself making a Sesame Street finger puppet (Bert, specifically) talk, convincing Edwin to take more bites of his lunch. It wasn't the first time I have used ridiculous tactics to get my toddler to do something. Edwin rarely takes direction from me (I know, he acts like a two-year old!) But he will happily follow orders given by his teddy bear, his Mickey Mouse, or his stuffed zebra. It got me thinking about all the silly games we play to get Edwin to do things. Here are just a few:

To get him to eat salad, we have him pretend he is a giraffe eating leaves off a tree. In fact, we call lettuce "giraffe leaves" so often that I sometimes call it that in front of other people, when Edwin isn't even there. (Embarrassing at restaurants.)

To get him to hurry up and get out of the car and into daycare, we pretend we are climbing a mountain (which is a very small hill outside the entrance.) If I'm really running late, a bear might be chasing us!

Bedtime always goes smoother when we pretend he is a baby tiger, climbing into his baby tiger den (his bed). For some reason, baby tiger is much more cooperative than my actual son. He gets right into bed and purrs!

To get him to put his toys away, we pretend that he's driving the garbage truck (the toy box) and tossing all the garbage (toys) in there..

I suppose you could argue that Edwin should do what I ask him to without all these shenanigans. But his imagination has really started to take off recently, and I've found that I can use that to my advantage. Besides, pretending I'm a mommy tiger tucking in my sweet baby tiger is much more fun than nagging a whiny two-year old to stay in bed!

Posted by Hanah Cho at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

(Courtesy of Betsy)

Sorry this is late, but here's Betsy of Fluffy Windover's Diary with this week's Toddler Thursday:

I am not one of those parents who is opposed to sugar for their kids. I try to make sure Edwin eats a balanced diet, and that includes the occasional treat. If he behaves himself at dinner and makes a decent effort at eating (sometimes, a rare occurrence) he can have dessert. Dessert is usually a cookie or maybe some ice cream. He also enjoys the occasional popsicle and pudding cup. But while I am OK with sweets sometimes, there is something about giving candy to a toddler that bothers me.

Don't get me wrong-- I have no problem eating candy myself. And I remember eating gobs and gobs of Easter candy as a kid. But for some reason I'm just not comfortable with Edwin eating it quite yet. I worry about him eating too much and getting sick. So Easter posed a bit of a problem. I wanted to go the route of not putting any candy in his basket. But my husband thought that was a little harsh, and besides-- I wanted to enjoy some Easter candy myself! So I went ahead and got all the usual suspects: jelly beans, peanut putter cups, peeps, and chocolate eggs.

This was really the first time Edwin had free access to candy, and he was a fan. I relaxed and allowed him to sample some treats from his basket in the morning. Thankfully, the peeps went completely untouched. I don't think Edwin realized they were edible (are they?) Jelly beans were a big hit, but I was nervous about him choking on those, so I had to remove them after he ate a couple. The peanut butter cups were a favorite. He really liked the whole unwrapping process. We did have a problem later in the day with the candy we put in the plastic eggs for the egg hunt. There was some melting, which lead to a meltdown on Edwin's part. But mostly, his first experience with Easter candy went OK. He didn't overindulge, and since we spent Easter at my parents' house I didn't bring any candy home. (Though I wish I had, if only for myself!)
  
If you celebrated Easter, how did your toddlers do with the candy? 

Posted by Hanah Cho at 10:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

Betsy of Fluffy Windover's Diary discusses the importance of enjoying the outdoors with your toddler in this week's Toddler Thursday:

Like most toddlers, Edwin loves being outside. And now that the weather is finally warming up, we are moving a lot of our activities outdoors. Here are some ideas to get out there and enjoy the weather with your little one, before the Baltimore humidity strikes!

Have a picnic in your own backyard. Edwin is rarely interested in lunch, but when offered the option of dining al fresco, suddenly he’s ravenously hungry.

Take your craft projects outside. The driveway or front porch is a perfect place to spread out and paint something. It’s so much easier to relax when you know you can literally hose down the mess afterward.

Make a tree rubbing. Use the side of a large crayon and a piece of thin paper to make a rubbing of bark on a tree. But don’t stop there—see how many different patterns your child can make on the paper using different things he finds outside.

Go on a nature scavenger hunt. Give your toddler a bucket and head into the woods. Have him look for specific things like pine cones, small sticks, leaves, and stones. (Edwin likes to collect leaves and small stones to paint when we get home.)

Garden. Getting your yard and garden cleaned up in the spring can seem impossible when you are minding a toddler, but even small children can get to work pulling weeds and digging in the dirt. Edwin loves to “help” us in the yard. We give him a trowel and a spot where he can dig and he’s happy as a clam.

Puddle-jump. Even during a spring shower, you can still enjoy outside time. Edwin loves to splash in puddles, so sometimes if it’s raining we’ll put on rubber boots and head out with an umbrella to find puddles to splash in.

Play hopscotch. Ah, a simple game from a simpler time. I haven’t tried this with Edwin yet, but I suspect even a kid his age would have fun with a modified version. What toddler doesn’t love to jump (and throw a pebble)?

Make a water table. As you may know, water is very big with the toddler set. Fill up a bucket or small kiddie pool with a little water, add some toys and cups and your toddler will be occupied for a good half hour. (Just enough time for you to fix the parts of the garden he just dug up.)

Enjoy the spring!

Posted by Hanah Cho at 4:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Betsy of Fluffy Windover's Diary discusses sleep arrangements when her newest baby arrives in this week's Toddler Thursday:

Our house is small (I’m pretty sure the listing said “cozy bungalow”, though it should have said “really tiny house”.) We have three bedrooms, but because of office/guestroom needs, our children will be sharing a room eventually. Turns out we are having another boy, so hopefully that makes things a little easier. I don’t imagine this would happen until the new baby is a year old or so; I wouldn’t feel comfortable putting a young infant in with a toddler. We’re planning to have the new baby stay in our room for most of the first year (not ideal, but Edwin was in our room for about 10 months and everyone survived [sort of]).

It seems to me like it could get complicated with naps, differing bedtimes, etc, but I’m sure families do it all the time. I’d like to know your experience – did your toddler and younger child share a room? How did bedtimes/nap schedules work out? Did your toddler enjoy the company, or feel resentful for the intrusion?

Posted by Hanah Cho at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

Betsy of Fluffy Windover's Diary discusses doctor visits in this week's Toddler Thursday:

As I mentioned in my last post, Edwin had a difficult visit at the pediatrician. He didn’t want to go (what kid does?) and on the way over he kept saying, “Maybe the doctor’s is locked.” He refused to let go of me to get on the scale or to be measured. Eventually I had to hold him and stand on the scale, and then weigh myself to get his weight. As I was struggling to calm him down and convince him to do what he had to, the nurse just stood there and did nothing. Maybe it was my imagination, but she seemed slightly annoyed. Now, I realize that this is my son and I should be able to get him to do what he’s supposed to do. But it’s not every day that I have to get his weight and height when he is scared and in a strange place. On the other hand, it IS every day that this nurse has to get kids’ weights and heights when they’re scared and in a strange place. So it surprised me that she didn’t seem to have a good rapport with kids.

Compare this to our first visit to the dentist. I was worried, given Edwin’s history, that it would be a challenge. But he LOVED it, thanks to the hygienist. I have never seen my son pay such rapt attention to someone. She knew just what she was doing. She had him wrapped around her finger; he looked at her like she was pure magic. She knew all the tricks to get Edwin’s attention and get him to happily jump into that chair and open his mouth (which he did). The next day he received a Snoopy card in the mail from her which said, “Great job, buddy!” When I told him who it was from, his eyes got so wide and his smile so big, it was like he had just seen Santa Claus.

Continue reading "Fear of the doctor" »

Posted by Hanah Cho at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

Here's Betsy of Fluffy Windover's Diary with this week's Toddler Thursday:

We went for Edwin’s checkup the other day (which is a whole other story—the scale is not made of burning hot coals, can you please just stand on it? Jeez.) The doctor was asking questions about Edwin’s development and habits, and she asked if he has lots of temper tantrums. I had to stop and think for a minute. He certainly has many, many episodes of what I suppose are “temper tantrums” daily. But I wouldn’t describe them that way. I would describe them more as emotional breakdowns.

The past few months he has become very weepy. More often than not, when he doesn’t get his way he collapses into a pathetic heap of tears. He’ll often run into my arms and say, “Mommy, I’m sad! Please wipe my tears?” He’s pretty emotionally unstable. I never know when he will turn on the waterworks. Take this morning for example. Upon waking, he asked where Daddy was and I told him he was at work: tears. Then our dog licked his foot: tears. I told him he couldn’t wear his pajamas all day: tears. I told him we were out of pancakes so he’d have to have a waffle: tears. He put his shoes on the wrong feet and discovered they were uncomfortable that way: tears. Oh, and in the car I didn’t turn up the music loud enough: tears (at this point, mine AND his).

So now I find myself typing “my toddler cries over everything” into Google. My very scientific research shows that it is normal at this age. But, I wonder if I’m giving him too much attention when he cries. I am a sucker for that kid, and when he gets sad and runs into my arms of course I kiss him and hug him and comfort him. Even if it’s over something stupid, like our cat sitting on top of his new Highlights magazine (seriously, this was a recent meltdown trigger). Which is why he probably does this so much. I’m going to try a new approach. I’ll tell him that’s it’s OK to cry, and that I understand that he feels sad. But sometimes dogs lick you and shoes are uncomfortable and you have to get dressed and you have to eat a waffle when you really want a pancake. It’s a tough world out there, even for a toddler.

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Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

Here's Betsy of Fluffy Windover's Diary with this week's Toddler Thursday: 

Edwin has never been a great napper. He has a strong aversion to napping, and he always has. He doesn't know how lucky he is: I often wish I had someone going to great lengths to ensure that I take a nap in the middle of the day. Youth, wasted on the young.

Edwin takes about a 90-minute or 2 hour nap most days. But lately, it's been taking longer and longer to get him settled down (if he settles down at all). He often doesn't fall asleep until 2:00, and then I have to wake him up so he doesn't sleep too late. This past weekend he didn't nap at all. He stayed in his room, but got into all kinds of shenanigans instead of going to sleep. (Note to self: move baby powder and lotion to high, high shelf.)

He is two and a half. I think that he still needs a nap. On days when he does not nap, he often falls asleep in the car if we go out later. He is also VERY cranky and emotional when he doesn't nap. But he seems to be fighting it more and more. My mother-in-law hints around that he's too old to still be napping, so I'm questioning... is he?

At what age did your kids give up the nap?

Posted by Hanah Cho at 9:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

Here's Betsy of Fluffy Windover's Diary with this week's Toddler Thursday:

Toddlers are very observant. They are constantly assessing the world around them. It’s so much fun to watch them notice things about their surroundings. It’s fun, until they gain the language skills to voice their “observations” in public, complete with pointing. Then, it can be pretty embarrassing.

All parents seem to have stories about their kid saying something embarrassing about a stranger. Edwin is just starting to do this, and so far, it’s all pretty innocent stuff. He’s just like your nosy neighbor; he wants to know everything about everybody we see. “Mommy, what’s she doin’?” “Mommy, look at HIM!” “Mommy, what’s she have on her head?” When he sees anyone with white hair he says, “Mommy, that’s Grandpa!” One time, when I told him that no, that wasn’t Grandpa, he said, “That’s Grandpa’s friend!”

I’ve explained to him that it’s not polite to point at people, and it’s not polite to talk about what people look like. But he’s really too young to get that concept. He regularly announces to anyone and everyone what’s going on inside his pants. So I think public decorum is a long way off. I mean sure, he knows “please” and “thank you.” But I think it takes a while to understand the concept that we don’t do things that might make other people uncomfortable. (In fact, some adults I know still haven’t learned it.)

I guess that’s why most parents have embarrassing stories about their toddlers shouting rude things in public: the gap of time between learning language skills and learning social graces. I think they call that gap “toddlerhood.”

Posted by Hanah Cho at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

Betsy of Fluffy Windover's Diary discusses potty training in this week's Toddler Thursday:

The potty is a hot topic at our house. Edwin is two and a half now, and I would love to get him fully potty trained. He, however, has gone back and forth on the issue for the past couple months. For a while he was using the potty all the time, so we went out and bought some Thomas the Tank undies to really get down to business. He was so excited to wear them, I could barely stop him from stripping down in Target. But once we got home and put them on, he said, “I don’t like these. I want my diaper.” So I backed off a little bit. Sometimes he asks to use the potty, and other times he… doesn’t. We have a chart for him, and he gets stickers when he goes. But if I see that he’s about to go and I suggest he try sitting on the potty instead, he gets all upset. Sigh.

I don’t want to push him, but it’s hard to know how to proceed. At daycare, he happily asks to use the potty all day long. His diaper stays dry all day over there, because he uses the potty instead. So I know that he can do it, at least physically. But there is some resistance at home for some reason. I don’t want to force the issue, but I have this terrible fear of missing a crucial window of potty-training enthusiasm and ending up changing a 4-year old’s diapers.

Every kid is different. I don’t think there is one sure way to get your kid potty trained, even though other parents will tell you, “Here’s what you gotta do…”. Should I spend a weekend letting him run around naked? Should I let him decide when he’s ready to stop wearing diapers? Should I hire someone else to take care of this for me? (I’m kidding, of course, but I have read that there are places you can send your toddler to get potty trained in a day. I sure wouldn’t want to work in one of those places.)

I think what’s so confusing to me is that I keep reading that you don’t want to push your child into potty training if he is resisting. I know that he’s ready, but I also know it will take a little pushing from me to convince him to stop wearing the diapers. So what to do?  

Posted by Hanah Cho at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

Here's Betsy of Fluffy Windover's Diary in this week's Toddler Thursday:

Yesterday Edwin was miserable with a cold. He was coughing, whining, and spent most of the day on the couch. He even fell asleep on the couch. Before nap time. This may not seem strange to you, but believe me it is way out of character for this kid. He fights sleep at every turn, so he must have felt pretty awful.

He also was complaining that his ear hurt. Ah, the dreaded toddler ear infection. Edwin has been treated with antibiotics for ear infections twice before. Each time he had had a cold, then woke up with some discharge in one of his ears (though he didn’t complain of ear pain either time, he did have a fever so I took him to the pediatrician). Also each time, his pediatrician said, “Eh, not sure if it’s infected but it looks a little funky so we’ll go ahead and treat it.” 10 days of antibiotics. No fun for anyone, especially when his most recent round of amoxicillin left him with a bad case of hives.

I’m not anti-antibiotics. I know that most bacterial illnesses require treatment with antibiotics, and I always follow my pediatrician’s advice. But soon after Edwin’s second ear infection, I read an article stating that most uncomplicated ear infections clear up without antibiotics (http://www.usatoday.com/yourlife/health/medical/pediatrics/2010-11-17-earinfections17_st_N.htm). What’s more, the risks of side effects from antibiotics (diarrhea, rashes) may outweigh the benefit in some cases of ear infections.

Today Edwin seems better; he has no fever and hasn’t mentioned his ear. If his fever comes back and he complains about his ear, I’ll probably take him into the doc. But I’m curious—have any of you parents ever decided to forego antibiotics for an ear infection and just treat the symptoms?
   

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Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

Here's Betsy of Fluffy Windover's Diary in this week's Toddler Thursday:

Mayim Bialik, whom you may remember as "Blossom" from the early 90's TV series, has recently become somewhat of a parenting guru. If you Google her name and "parenting" you will find all sorts of interviews and writings she has done about her somewhat unusual style (think extreme attachment parenting). I usually like to read what she writes; though some of her choices seem pretty wacky to me, she expresses herself well and is clearly a very caring parent. Since I don't subscribe to any one parenting style and I have an open mind, I'm always interested in reading about all the different schools of thought. 

Now Bialik is a regular contributor to the pretty mainstream TODAY Moms blog, and her most recent post is definitely an attention-grabber (starting with the title: "Why I don't force my kids to say 'please'... or walk on schedule.") She talks about both of her sons' speech and motor skills delays, revealing, "by current conventional standards both of my sons qualified for speech, occupational and physical therapy and I gave them none."

Bialik is clearly very confident in her parenting instincts. She says she knew that both of her boys were just fine, and so she chose to trust her instincts instead of seeking assessment or therapy for them. What do you think: reckless over-confidence or insightful parenting?         

Posted by Hanah Cho at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

Here's Betsy of Fluffy Windover's Diary shares some good news and seeks advice on how to prepare a toddler for a new sibling in this week's Toddler Thursday:

Just after Christmas my husband and I found out that we are expecting a baby late this summer. It's blowing my mind to think of Edwin as a big brother! But a big brother he will be. He doesn't really get what's going on yet, but we've been testing the waters with him. We asked him if he might like to have a baby brother or baby sister, and he said yes. But when I asked him what things he might like to do with him or her, he said, "Take her away. To the neighbor's house." But he has also said sweet things, like that he would share his teddy bear and show him/her his Thomas trains. Generally, he seems amenable to the idea.

Of course, at this point he probably thinks it's just a fun thing to talk about. He doesn't have a real grasp of time yet (try telling a toddler that they can do something "later" or "tomorrow" - ha!) So I know he may not ever really be prepared for what's coming. Still, though, we'd like to get him used to the idea before we show up with a baby and turn his life upside down. My husband and I are both the youngest in our families, so we never had to deal with this growing up. Edwin will be just a few weeks shy of three when the baby is born, so hopefully he won't remember too much about it. But thinking about him feeling upset or neglected or displaced just makes my heart break. I know it's unavoidable, but I want to make sure we do all we can to help him through the transition.

Any suggestions for preparing a doted-on toddler for a new baby?

Posted by Hanah Cho at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

Here's Betsy of Fluffy Windover's Diary with this week's Toddler Thursday:

We have four pets at our house: two dogs and two cats. Our animals were with us long before Edwin arrived on the scene. After he was born, we were very concerned about keeping baby Edwin safe around his rambunctious “siblings”. As time went on, however, the concern shifted to keeping the poor animals safe from this rambunctious toddler. The way Edwin sees it, the animals are pesky nuisances that cramp his style. The dogs steal his cookies and chew up his Legos. The cats are merely furry obstacles that get in his way when he’s in a hurry. So we’ve spent a lot of time teaching him to be gentle with the dogs and cats, not to chase them, or kick them, or whack them with paper towel holders. It’s been a challenge, because he just doesn’t seem to like the animals at all. I find myself worrying that we have a burgeoning psychopath on our hands, and it all started with him kicking our poor cat because she chose to lounge atop one of his books.

Yesterday, however, I learned that Edwin has some compassion for them after all. One of our cats, Lefty, ran under the car as we were pulling into the driveway. She is not the brightest bulb in the box, and I guess she just didn’t move out of the way. I heard a yelp and saw her dart off to the neighbors yard, limping. We brought her inside, and she collapsed just inside the door, panting. I was a frantic with worry, but I didn’t want to upset Edwin. So I just pet her for a while and told Edwin that she might have gotten hurt. He said, “Aww, Lefty” and started petting her gently. Then he went and got his little toy guitar and said, “Mommy, I’m playin’ a song for her.” It was so sweet, and a big relief to see that he is not entirely without feeling for our pets.

After a long (and expensive) night at the pet ER, Lefty is home resting with some pain killers. Nothing is broken, so we’re hopeful that she will be OK. As for Edwin, this morning he was yelling at our dog to “go away, that’s my waffle!” Perhaps his compassion for animals only extends to those in distress. But I guess that’s better than nothing.

Posted by Hanah Cho at 9:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

Here's Betsy of Fluffy Windover's Diary with this week's Toddler Thursday:

I brought Edwin to my office for a little while on Monday. He was a huge hit with my coworkers (as is any child or baby who comes in and breaks the monotony of a boring day at the office). Everyone was very generous offering him little desk tchotchkes and he was, for the most part, gracious. At one point, however, he spied a particularly colorful display of beautiful, tiny origami boxes on my co-workers desk that her husband had folded for her. His eyes widened and he started pointing and saying, "I want dat! Peas have dat? Dats mine! Mommy! I want one of dose!" It was all I could do to stop him from pilfering the entire display. Thankfully I averted a potentially embarrassing situation with a quick distraction.  But it reminded me of something funny I came across once. Perhaps you've seen it floating around; it's a list of toddler property laws (I'm not sure of the author). It goes something like this:

1. If I like it, it's mine.

2. If it's in my hand, it's mine.

3. If I can take it from you, it's mine.

4. If I had it a little while ago, it's mine.

5. If it's mine, it must never appear to be yours in any way.

6. If I'm doing or building something, all the pieces are mine.

7. If it looks just like mine, it is mine.

8. If I saw it first, it's mine.

9. If you are playing with something and you put it down, it automatically becomes mine.

10. If it's broken, it's yours!

Posted by Hanah Cho at 9:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

I hope everyone is safe today.

Here's Betsy of Fluffy Windover's Diary with this week's Toddler Thursday:

Edwin goes to a small daycare three days a week while I work part time. He's been at the same place (with the same caregivers and many of the same children) since he was only 11 weeks old. We were lucky to find such good care when he was an infant. As he gets older, though, I'm torn about whether to send him to a more structured preschool.

The place he is now has just a handful of children, and they range in age from 9 months to 4 years. He loves it there, and his caregivers are like family. I wonder, though, if he would benefit more being in a place with children his own age, where they have more structured activities. Where he is now is pretty much a free-for-all (I suppose the technical term would be play-based learning). And that's OK with me; after all if he were home with me every day, that's what he'd be doing. And he's barely two and a half (with a September birthday) so he has plenty of time to go to preschool before he starts kindergarten. And, as some other parents point out, kids have a short time to enjoy toddlerhood before they have to begin the rigors of school. Why not let them enjoy the free-for-all? Still though, I think he might enjoy some of the structure of a preschool environment.

Did your kids go to preschool? What age did they start?

Posted by Hanah Cho at 10:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

Betsy of Fluffy Windover's Diary talks about the time-consuming endeavor of leaving the house with a toddler in this week's Toddler Thursday:

The other day, a friend of mine who has a 2-month old baby was lamenting that it takes forever to get out of the house. I said, “Ha! You just wait until you have a toddler!” I know, I know; I should have bitten my tongue. Generally, a sure-fire way to tick off a first time pregnant woman or a new mother is to respond to a complaint with, “You just wait!” But some mornings, I miss those days when Edwin was a portable infant, strapped into a car seat. Back then, I was still a punctual person.

These days, getting out of the house is a major ordeal. First, I have to convince Edwin that he cannot wear pajamas all day. Then comes outfit selection, which is kind of what I imagine dressing a star for the Golden Globes must be like. “No! I don’t like that one! I want the blue one! This one’s itchy! Call my agent!” Next is the shoe production. This is possibly the hardest part of getting out of the house. Finding a matching pair is the first challenge, since he takes them off everywhere. So there is usually one in the car, one in my purse, one in the pantry, one in the bathtub, etc. Getting them on him is pretty easy, provided I can catch him first, because it is at this point in the process when he runs away from me. 

Having tackled him and wrestled on his shoes and coat, it’s time to go to the car. He’s at the stage where he wants to get in the car all by himself, though it takes him 20 minutes to do so. Even though it’s faster for me to just carry him out to the car and get him into the seat myself, his protesting screams might lead the neighbors to call social services. So I usually let him get in himself. Resisting the urge just pick him up and put him in the car seat is difficult, but I have found that toddlers have a keen sense of when you’re in a rush. They can detect stress and irritation in your voice, and this makes them dilly-dally even more. So I play it cool, like I’m in no hurry, and say, “What a big boy getting into the seat yourself! Well done!”

Once he’s fully dressed and safely in the car seat, right before we back down the driveway, he says, “Mommy, I’m thirsty. Please have some milk?” And of course I have forgotten to bring a snack and drink, so I have to go back inside, where I usually discover something else I’ve forgotten. By the time I’m back in the car and ready go to, Edwin has taken off his shoes and one of them is wedged firmly under the front seat. By this time, I’ve forgotten where were we going in the first place.

Happy travels!

Posted by Hanah Cho at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

Betsy of Fluffy Windover's Diary talks about finding healthy and fun snacks for toddlers in this week's Toddler Thursday:

There was a time when I made sure that, in addition to his three squares, Edwin ate two snacks every day, at 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM. Healthy snacks, too—fruit, cheese, plain yogurt, banana slices dipped in wheat germ, that sort of thing. But as he became a toddler (and as I chilled out a little about what he ate) the snack ritual somehow got lost. Sure, he has snacks here and there. But not as a rule, and it’s usually just goldfish crackers. I know I should offer him something healthy, with protein, etc., but when I ask him if he wants a snack, he always says no. So I don’t push it, because as the old saying goes, you can’t make a kid eat, sleep, or poop.

But I would like to reintroduce the snack, at least in the afternoon. By the time dinnertime rolls around, Edwin is often tired and hungry, clinging onto my legs while I try to cook, or terrorizing the cat to get my attention. (Surely, the right afternoon snack will solve this behavior! Ha, ha.) But Edwin is not a really big eater. Like many kids his age, he doesn’t want to stop playing to sit down for a snack. And he’s somewhat picky. Unless it’s a goldfish cracker, he’s likely to be skeptical. So it will have to be something unusual and fun to eat. Ants on a log is the sort of idea he would probably be into, although right now he’s insisting that he doesn’t like peanut butter. (Which is not true; he used to eat it by the spoonful. Literally. Guess he got sick of it.)

Anyone have tips for a healthy, fun toddler snack? What are your toddler’s favorites?

Posted by Hanah Cho at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

Betsy of Fluffy Windover's Diary talks about parents' "thing" aka obsession when it comes to their children in this week's Toddler Thursday:

I got together with another toddler mom the other day, and she was saying that she obsesses about her daughter’s eating habits. She (the mom) had struggled with her weight as a child and didn't want her daughter to face those same struggles. So she bans all sweets and juice. There is no mac and cheese or fish sticks in her house, no packaged snacks. Her 2 year-old daughter must eat the same healthy food as the rest of the family. She said, “It’s just my thing. I guess every parent has their thing, right?”

I started thinking about it, whether I had a “thing” as a parent. I guess my “thing” is manners. My worst nightmare (second, of course, to some tragedy or health problem) is that Edwin will be a rude, disrespectful kid. You know the ones. The ones you see in a store or restaurant and say to yourself, “I would never let my child act like that!” The ones who go to someone else’s house and make a mess, who don’t say please and thank you, and who generally make outings unpleasant for their parents and everyone else.

I realize that expecting perfect manners from a 2 year-old is much like expecting a wild rhinoceros to sit down for tea. But still, I constantly worry that Edwin will be one of “those” kids. Sure, he says “please” and “thank you”. But he also barks orders at everyone (including Grandma), and shouts, “Right NOW!” when he wants something. And you should hear the way he talks to our dogs sometimes. (Dog-owning parents, be careful how you talk to your dogs: there’s nothing like hearing your 2 year-old shout, “MOVE!!!” at the dog and realize it sounds familiar because you just shouted that yourself 10 minutes earlier.)

I guess all you can do is stress manners until they become second nature to your child. Excuse me while I go remind that wild rhinoceros not to throw his teacup across the room when he’s finished.

What's your "thing?"

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Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

Betsy of Fluffy Windover's Diary discusses the continuing struggles of trying to get Edwin to sleep "independently" in this week's Toddler Thursday:

We moved Edwin to a toddler bed a couple months ago, and the transition has been a bit shaky (OK, it’s been a disaster). The first few nights were fine, but once he discovered that he could get up out of bed as he pleased, he did just that. And often. We found ourselves putting him back in bed 10, 15 times a night. Some nights he would request that one of us sit in the chair in his room until he fell asleep.

All of this nonsense was really getting in the way of my TV watching plans, so I knew we had to figure out a solution. We turned all the lights off upstairs, closed the baby gate at the top of the stairs, went downstairs and hid out in the kitchen. He only got out of bed once, then realizing that it was dark and boring and lonely upstairs, he gave up and went to sleep. This routine worked for about 2 weeks.

Until last night. We did our usual nighttime routine, said goodnight and came downstairs. After about a half hour, my husband went up to check if Edwin was asleep. What he found was Edwin sitting on our bed with all the lights on, trying to put a DVD into my laptop. The kid had gotten up in the dark, fished a DVD from his shelf, gone into our room, turned on all the lights, opened up the laptop, and settled in for an evening of Baby Einstein. All while we sat downstairs eating ice cream. This is not really what I had in mind when I wanted to teach him "independent sleep."

Think it’s time to put up a baby gate in his room? Or would a straight jacket be better?

Posted by Hanah Cho at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

Television sets at Best Buy (Sun photo/Barbara Haddock Taylor)

Betsy of Fluffy Windover's Diary discusses TV time in this week's Toddler Thursday:  

We don’t have cable at our house. It’s not because I’m anti-TV; it’s just because after Edwin was born I stopped working full-time, and cable was the first luxury to go. I like to think that this means Edwin watches less TV than his cable-watching peers. But that is probably not the case. He watches more TV, DVDs, and YouTube clips than I’d like to admit. In fact, I was overcome with joy when he developed the attention span to sit through an entire episode of something. It meant that I got to fold laundry and clean the bathroom! (Wow, I really need to get out more.)

Curious George keeps him occupied while I take a shower in the morning. Then there may be some Dinosaur Train on in the background while he plays. I sometimes turn on the tail end of Sesame Street so he can catch Elmo. After dinner, he loves watching clips of Bert and Ernie on YouTube. (Seriously, if you have a toddler I highly recommend classic Sesame Street clips on YouTube. It is comedy gold for toddlers! And their parents.) Mister Rogers also holds his attention (and they offer full episodes on PBS.org). He still requests his Baby Einstein DVDs, and I often set him up with one when I need to get something done.

I always feel a little guilty about it, but he watches less than the 2 hour limit recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics for children over 2. (They don’t recommend TV for children under 2, but that must be because nobody there has ever had a child under 2 and needed to take a shower or unload the dishwasher.)

So how much TV does your toddler watch?

Posted by Hanah Cho at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

Betsy of Fluffy Windover's Diary offers advice on baking with toddlers in this week's Toddler Thursday:

Toddlers have a keen sense for when you’re trying to do something that doesn’t involve them. They can tell right away when you’re busy trying to get something done, and they will choose this precise moment to get into monkey business. Around the holidays this can be particularly vexing. While I’ve been baking, cleaning, addressing cards, and preparing for houseguests, Edwin has been busy destroying the house.

So to involve him in the holiday activities, I got the bright idea to let him help me with a batch of cookies. Baking with your toddler can be fun, supposedly! They love to help out, they love to dump things into other things, and they love chocolate chips. I thought baking with Edwin would be a win-win, but it was not exactly the Hallmark moment I envisioned. Here are some tips that I learned the hard way, so that you may have more success:

Continue reading "Baking with toddlers" »

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Betsy of Fluffy Windover's Diary talks about a funny web site featuring "stuff" kids ruin in this week's Toddler Thursday:

I had not seen the website "Sh*t My Kids Ruined" until I read about it on the Today Moms blog the other day. It was started by Julie Haas Brophy after her toddler spilled a quart of black paint on her Oriental rug. She posted a photograph on Facebook, and the huge response it generated inspired her to start a website collecting similar tales.

The website is a hilarious collection of photographs depicting property destruction inflicted by children (usually toddlers, of course). The website became so popular that it spawned a book that is being advertised as the "strongest visual birth control on the market today." Some of the captions accompanying the pictures are even funnier than the pictures themselves. It's nice to see that these parents were able (at least in retrospect) to maintain their sense of humor about it all.

Edwin can make some pretty impressive messes, but so far his antics pale in comparison to some of the disasters shown on this website. Next time your toddler makes what you think must be the worst mess ever made, take a look at some of the pictures on Sh*t My Kids Ruined. You'll definitely have a laugh, and maybe some assurance that that there are toddlers who have done much, much worse!

Posted by Hanah Cho at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

Betsy of Fluffy Windover's Diary discusses trying to get Edwin to brush his teeth the right way in this week's Toddler Thursday:

There are many similarities between toddlers and wild animals. Never is this more apparent than when you try to brush their teeth. Even domesticated animals don’t take well to teeth brushing (in fact, the vet knocks our cats out before a cleaning, and our cats are generally easier to manage than our two-year old). So what’s an oral hygiene-conscious mom of a toddler to do?

Edwin does brush his teeth. He’s got the cute Elmo tooth brush and mango orange toddler toothpaste. He happily stands at the sink and “brushes” his teeth. That’s not the problem. The problem is his technique. He sucks all the toothpaste off, swipes the brush across his front teeth once or twice, then triumphantly declares, “All done!” when he is in fact nowhere near all done.

I have tried to brush them myself to get a more thorough cleaning in, and let’s just say that it didn’t go well. I’ve noticed that Edwin doesn’t take well to being held down and prodded, so I really like to avoid that if at all possible. But I worry about his teeth. He’s not doing an effective job of brushing, but how concerned should I be? Is it worth me winding up with a black eye to make sure his teeth are brushed properly?

I’m starting to consider sending him to the vet along with the cats. 

Posted by Hanah Cho at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

Betsy of Fluffy Windover's Diary talks about trying to get Edwin to sleep on his own again in this week's Toddler Thursday:

We co-slept with Edwin until he was nearly a year old. This is a somewhat controversial arrangement that is not for everyone (Trust me, I know. I don’t even think it was for us. But I am one of those softie parents and I can’t bear to hear Edwin cry.) And while I don’t exactly regret doing it, I was VERY happy when he finally took to sleeping in his crib without complaint. He became a champion sleeper: we’d put him in there around 7:30 and not hear a peep until 7:00 the next morning. This went on for over a year! I became one of those annoying moms who bragged about how her perfect kid went right to bed and stayed asleep all night. Every night! Until last week.

Edwin has started requesting to come into our room before bedtime. And since we are total suckers, we let him. He comes in to snuggle and read a book for a little while before we put him in his crib. Now it’s becoming a struggle to get him to go to bed in his room. He started pulling out the big guns, saying that there are “scary witches” in his room (Thanks, Halloween!) And once he’s in there, he wakes up a few hours after, crying inconsolably for Mommy and Daddy. Being the softies that we are, we bring him into our room. Which, as any parent knows, is a terrible idea. Super Nanny advice aside, it’s like having a wild boar in your bed, one that talks in his sleep.

Needless to say, nobody is getting any sleep. So, tonight it’s back to independent sleep boot-camp. I told him he could pick out a new blanket and bedtime toy for his bed. I think he may genuinely be a bit scared in his room since Halloween, so I may get him a night light. We were about to transition his crib to a toddler bed, but I’m on the fence about this. It may get him more interested in going to bed, but it would also allow him to get out of bed constantly. (Obviously, we’ll have to transition him sooner or later, but he hasn’t yet climbed out of his crib so I’m really in no rush.)

Any ideas on how to get him more comfortable staying in his own room?

Posted by Hanah Cho at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

Betsy of Fluffy Windover's Diary talks about taking her toddler trick or treating in this week's Toddler Thursday:  

We took Edwin trick-or-treating for the first time this Halloween. We had prepared him well in advance, and he had been practicing for weeks (though sometimes when I would ask him what he’s going to say on Halloween, he would think for a second and then shout, “Happy birthday!”) By Halloween day, he was so excited, even though the concept was still fuzzy. He kept saying, “I wanna go Halloween! I wanna go dere!” as if it were some magical place where you get candy.

We set out with our neighbors, whose 5-year old is a seasoned trick-or treater. I think this was key to the success of the evening, since Edwin worships this kid and would follow him anywhere. We started him off with a couple pieces of candy in his bucket, just to get things going. At the first house we visited, he reached into his bucket, pulled out a Kit-Kat and said, “Here you go!” But after that, he got the idea that it was the other way around. He ran tirelessly from house to house. It was so much fun to watch.

I was worried about him being frightened of some of the scary decorations, but he was fine… until the last house we visited. At this point he was getting tired, so I was carrying him. The place was done up haunted-house style, and we should have steered clear. When we got up to the porch, there was a woman in a pretty scary witch costume handing out candy. Edwin totally freaked out when he saw her; he shrieked and buried his head in my shoulder crying. It was terrible, and I felt so guilty for not scoping the place out first.

But guess what he’s been talking about non-stop since then? “Scary lady, Mommy! I wanna see scary lady AGAIN!!!” I guess he is already learning to enjoy the thrill of being scared on Halloween.

How did your toddler do?

Posted by Hanah Cho at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

Betsy of Fluffy Windover's Diary talks about Edwin playing favorites in this week's Toddler Thursday:

Edwin has always somewhat preferred his dad. This started pretty early, around the time he first started to smile. I would spend all day doing stupid things to get him to smile, and then my husband would walk in the door and it was like the circus came to town. I would impersonate a monkey and get nothing; all my husband had to do was walk in a room and Edwin would fall out laughing. Later, when Edwin started talking, I would get him from his crib in the morning and he would look at me with abject disappointment and say, “Dada! Dada!” And now, when Edwin and my husband are playing or watching a baseball game and I try to join them, I sometimes get a “No, Mommy. Walk away.” It is amazing 1) how rude a toddler can be and 2) how much it can hurt your feelings.

I’ve read all about how babies and toddlers go through phases of favoring one parent over another, and that it’s very common. But it still stings. Edwin sees less of his dad, who works in DC and is gone by the time Edwin wakes up. So I’m sure that’s part of it. And, as my husband likes to remind me, Edwin is a dude. And dudes like to hang out with other dudes, no chicks allowed. But the irrational part of me worries it’s because I’m no fun, or that Edwin doesn’t love me as much.

Of course, all bets are off when Edwin falls down and gets a boo boo. Then it’s me he wants. He will wriggle out of Daddy’s arms and run to find me, yelling, “Mommeeeeeeeeee, Mommeeeeeeeeeee!”. Daddy might be better for playing games and watching baseball, but at least I’ve cornered the market on giving boo boo kisses.

Posted by Hanah Cho at 9:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

I'm delighted to have Betsy of Fluffy Windover's Diary as Toddler Thursday's regular poster. This week, she writes about finding easy activities for her toddler:

One of the reasons I love the toddler stage is that you don’t have to come up with complicated games to entertain them. Edwin is happy just collecting acorns in a bucket, or chasing a balloon around, or using kitchen utensils to pretend to cook. Of course, there are days when he has exhausted his usual activities and I need to change things up a little. Here are a few activities that I’ve found will hold his attention for more than 10 minutes (which, as parents of toddlers know, is like an eternity):

Finger painting. This is very, very big with Edwin. It’s not something we do often because the mess makes me twitchy, but man does he love this. Do it in a place where you can clean up the mess easily (kitchen floor or outside). Obviously, dress your toddler in old clothes or a smock so you’re not hovering the whole time worrying about the paint getting everywhere.

Balloon baseball. Cardboard roll from wrapping paper + balloon = at least 15 minutes of toddler entertainment, in my experience. If you have a toddler, it’s a good idea to keep a bag of balloons on hand in case of boredom emergencies. (Of course, this requires close supervision because popped balloons pose a choking hazard.)

Making caterpillars out of egg cartons. This is a trick I picked up from Edwin’s daycare: cut cardboard egg cartons into different lengths and decorate them with stickers or paint to make a family of caterpillars. You can use pipe cleaners for antennae. This is a good activity to do together, and then ideally, your toddler will play with the caterpillars afterward. (I say ideally because Edwin never seems interested in the caterpillars after we’ve made them. But maybe your toddler will.)  

Continue reading "Toddler Thursday" »

Posted by Hanah Cho at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

Do you have a child that you can't pull away from your iPhone?

It appears that the iPhone has become a favorite toy for toddlers, according to The New York Times.

Apple, the iPhone’s designer and manufacturer, has built its success on machines so simple and intuitive that even technologically befuddled adults can figure out how to work them, so it makes sense that sophisticated children would follow. The most recent model is 4.5 inches tall, 2.31 inches wide and weighs 4.8 ounces: sleek, but not too small for those with developing motor skills. Tap a picture on the screen and something happens. What could be more fun?

Still, the trend is drawing concern about "screen time" from some childhood development specialists. The author notes that the American Academy of Pediatrics advices parents not to let their children watch TV until they are older than two.

But I understand the temptation of parents to keep their children entertained as well as free up some time for them to have an uninterrupted conversation or some time for themselves. At the same time, kids love these devices, too. My almost 3-year-old nephew plays games on my sister's iPhone.

Is the iPhone an educational tool or more like TV? Does your child take ownership of your iPhone? What limits you have set for iPhone time?

Posted by Hanah Cho at 12:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Screen Time, Toddler Thursday
        

Guest blogger Betsy of Fluffy Windover's Diary writes about toddlers and social graces, or the lack thereof: 

My son, Edwin, recently turned two. He is a full-on toddler. I love that every book on child development uses the same words to describe toddler behavior that one might use to describe a crazy person or a wild animal. (And it's all true: they have no impulse control, no empathy, and are often prone to violence.) I love that Edwin says whatever he is thinking. It's usually hilarious. But sometimes it can be a little awkward. Take last week, for example.

We got to daycare in the morning, and Edwin was just chilling on my lap. He's not really a morning person, and he often needs a couple minutes to warm up once we get there. I guess he's not one to socialize before he's had his coffee. One of the other moms came in and cheerfully said to Edwin, "Eddie, I heard you had a birthday! Are you two?" And Edwin held up his hand in a "back off" gesture, and said, "No. Stop. Talking." It was embarrassing, to say the least. I took him aside and told him that was not a very polite thing to say, etc. etc. So he added, "Please."

It's a funny story, but I'm not really sure how to handle this kind of thing. If your child hits someone, or throws food, or pulls the cat's tail, those are pretty definite no-nos. But how do you explain social graces to a two year-old, that we can't just tell people exactly what we're thinking? For now I guess I'll have to settle for, "Stop talking, please."

Posted by Hanah Cho at 9:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

It's Sarah K.K., back to take on the ga-ga-goo-goo set for Toddler Thursday:

A few months ago, I posted asking for advice about flying cross-country with a newly mobile toddler and got lots of helpful hints.

Well, I'm back and asking for more.

Next week, I'm flying with my now-2-year-old -- by ourselves. Thankfully, it's a shorter -- and nonstop -- flight, and I've got some strategies already. But you were all so helpful last time, I figured I'd ask for some updates. 

My flight plan goes like this:

-- A carseat and cot have already been ordered, shipped and delivered to my parents' house, so we don't have to bring any of that bulky stuff with us. I considered an umbrella stroller, too, but I decided to keep the kiddo contained and bring our smallish stroller with us to gate-check.

-- The MagnaDoodle worked magic on keeping Isaac entertained, and it is still one of his favorite things to play with when we go out to dinner or are stuck in the waiting room at the doctor's office. 

-- I'm going to download a couple of (silent) toddler-friendly apps for my iPhone because he loooooves that thing. We have a portable DVD player, but I'm also going to be carrying on some camera equipment, so I'm trying to keep everything else unbulky, so the iPhone it is.

-- Add couple of new books, couple of snacks, favorite blankies, changes of clothes for both of us to the usual diaper-bag load, I think we'll be good.

But what am I forgetting?

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 4:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

 Hi, folks, it's Sarah K.K., back with another installment of Toddler Thursday.

First off, sorry for my absence the past couple of weeks. It's been seriously crazy in the Toddler Thursday household, and I apologize.

Overall, I would say that I am not the most graceful girl in town. I'm definitely more toward the klutz end of the spectrum for sure.

But every so often, the synapses fire appropriately and I pull off what feels like some kind of feat.

The most historic such moment was a few years ago when, at Arundel Mills, my husband and I were sitting at a rickety two-person table, and it started to tip over, taking an almost-full large cup of soda with it. And I stuck my arm out and grabbed the soda out of midair. I didn't even recognize myself, and I waited for my husband to marvel along with me. But he just laughed. Even though it was his soda I saved.

Yesterday morning I had another such moment, and I felt like Ninja Mommy. My 2-year-old and I were about to get into my car so I could take him to daycare, and our feet got all tangled up. (He unfortunately has inherited my klutzy ways. Or else, you know, he's just 2 and doesn't have the equilibrium thing down just yet. Anyway!) He started to fall backward, and his head was going to hit the adjacent car, maybe even the edge of the wheel well. I'm still not sure how this happened, but I somehow saw this, processed it, untangled our feet, turned around and crouched down in time to catch his head before he hit the car. 

Whoa. Who was that? I almost felt like flexing, after I got past my relief that the little guy hadn't hit his head.

Share your Ninja Mommy or Daddy moments below. 

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 3:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

 Hi, folks, it's Sarah K.K., back with another installment of Toddler Thursday.

A couple of weeks ago, I chanced across a mention of Huggies new "jean" diapers, and my first thought was that they were the most absurd thing. And next: "Who would ever buy them?"

Well, the answer apparently was: my husband.

He saw them in the store, and thought they were goofy, and they were on sale, so he figured what the heck? If nothing else, we'd get a laugh out of them.

I did laugh, but mostly because the last person I expected to purchase them was him. Then I laughed harder because, seriously: Look at them. They are being marketed as cool, but it's just a blue design printed on the diaper, which is so dark blue, you can hardly make it out. (And honestly, when you do, it kinda looks like the kid is wearing mom jeans, which might actually qualify as irony.)

Continue reading "Toddler Thursday: Nice jeans, kid" »

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 8:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

 Hi, folks, it's Sarah K.K., back with another installment of Toddler Thursday.

Becoming a parent has certainly opened a lot of new avenues in my life -- things to contemplate that I never would have expected. I'm constantly making decisions about food, sleep, discipline, scheduling, toys, sugar, free time, nap time, equipment, and a million other things I can't think of right now.

But all these avenues are also roads to Judgment Day. Sure, I don't agree with everything my fellow parents are doing regarding their kids, and I'm sure the same is true of me. But now that I'm a parent, I've come to recognize that you don't always have the whole story.

Food is one of the issues that seems to cause the most judgments. There are so many camps on such a wide spectrum -- on one end you have the super organic, all-natural, no-processed-food-ever folks and at the other people who will feed their kids whatever they will eat on any given day.

Continue reading "Toddler Thursday: Judge not, lest ye ... you know" »

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 3:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

 Hi, folks, it's Sarah K.K., back with another installment of Toddler Thursday.

First of all, I want to say welcome to the new Charm City Moms blog hostess, Hanah Cho!

So this past weekend, my little guy turned 2. I know, I know, everyone talks about the Terrible 2s, but I didn't think it would be this ... distinct. It feels like a switch got flipped, and where before, Isaac was pleased that he was starting to be able to communicate his needs to us, now when we can't understand what's going on, he goes from 0 to 100 in mere seconds. Thirty-three seconds, to be exact.

Take the above photo. We were shooting portraits on his birthday, and he was having a good time, though he really would have rather been playing. Then, out of nowhere, he lost it. I checked the time stamp on the photos, and there were only 33 seconds between the left shot and the right one. And another 90 seconds later, he was content again. What happened? No clue.

One of my friends whose daughter is almost 2 says lately she's felt as if she's walking on eggshells. She never knows what little thing is going to set off a tantrum. She's hardly the only one.

Continue reading "Toddler Thursday: Welcome to the Terrible 2s" »

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 12:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

Hi, folks, it's Sarah K.K., back with another installment of Toddler Thursday.

This past weekend, some of my family came to visit -- my dad and stepmom and my brother and sister-in-law. For the latter two, it was their first time meeting Isaac. The former two hadn't seen him since December 2008, when he was six months old. So it was a fun few days of getting-to-know-the-toddler.

Between my husband and me, we have eight parents, so when Isaac came along, there was a lot of discussion about what he would call his various grandparents.

My dad had somewhat settled on Grandpa Ron, though my stepmom wanted him to be Granddaddy, which is what I call his dad. But Granddaddy is still around, and my dad didn't want to steal his name. So we've gone with Grandpa Ron.

Prior to the recent visit, Isaac has talked to my dad on speakerphone, even "reading" him his favorite book (which consisted of pointing at things and saying their names -- again and again). When I tried to get the phone back so I could talk, Isaac declared, "No! My Ron!" He really likes saying "Ron." "Grandpa" was just getting left out.

Once Grandpa Ron was here in person, we were apparently asking Isaac fairly often, "Who's that?" "Dat Ron!" soon became my dad's new name, even when we weren't asking.

But that kind of made us stop and think. My great-grandpa Frank (my mom's grandfather) had gotten to know my dad pretty well during my parents' courtship and early marriage. After their divorce, whenever I would see Frank, he would ask after my father, always phrased the same way: "How is that Ron?"

When Isaac started calling my dad "Dat Ron" with frequency, we looked at each other, our faces mirroring each other with this expression: "Whoa."

Oh, sure, it's just a coincidence, but there was still a little moment there that made us both see that Frank, though he passed away a couple of years ago, is still with us.

(Top photo of Isaac and Dat Ron by me, bottom photo of me and Frank probably by Dat Ron)

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 12:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

Hi, folks, it's Sarah K.K., back with another installment of Toddler Thursday.

I talked a couple of weeks ago about how we were going through a major transition with our nearly 2 year old, Isaac. (He joined the 2 year olds class in daycare the last week and has to learn to use a regular cup instead of a sippy.)

Well.

Now, in addition to the classroom change and learning to use a new kind of cup, we've got something else big going on: the move from the crib to a big-boy bed (or, as he calls it, "a boy bed"). We weren't really thinking this was going to happen that soon, but the kiddo is tall and managed to wrangle his way out of the crib twice (thankfully, we have carpet). So, something else new! (Plus, we've got 2-year molars breaking through and a new buzz cut to keep him from ripping his hair out by twisting it around his finger when he gets tired.)

Continue reading "Toddler Thursday: The more things change ..." »

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 3:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

Hi, folks, it's Sarah K.K., back with another installment of Toddler Thursday.

Back in January, I posted here about how I had taken on a new role, as The Confiscator. Today, I present you with visual evidence. 

My son Isaac took a little break from always having something in his hand when he left the house, but a couple of weeks ago, the habit returned in force, and the results have crammed my purse and cluttered the front seat of my car.

So I present you, from bottom left corner going clockwise, a few of Isaac's favorite things:

1) The salt shaker from his toy kitchen. (Sadly the kitchen came with salt, pepper, ketchup, mustard and syrup. No fruit, no veggies. We'll have to get those separately. Maybe for his birthday.)

2) An Easter egg (empty) discovered in front of our house a week after Easter.

3) A package of glow bracelets from a birthday party, still unopened. If you shake the container, it sounds like maracas!

4) A little construction man from his blocks set, who, as of yesterday, is now known as "Baby."

5) A Little Person that's been in my purse for quite a long time.

6) Two pairs of sunglasses (yellow and blue). He always thinks sunglasses sound like fun (just like Daddy) ... for about two minutes.

7) In the center, his favorite book. (I hope I get home before bedtime!)

8) BLUE TRUCK! BLUE TRUCK! BLUE TRUCK!

I can't decide if this means I need a smaller or a bigger purse. 

(Photo by me)

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 4:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

Hi, folks, it's Sarah K.K., back with another installment of Toddler Thursday. 

We got a little surprise at day care this week when we learned that our son, Isaac, will be moving into the Twos class on Monday.

We knew this day was coming -- he turns 2 next month -- but there are a lot of classroom transitions going on right now, and we'd originally been told he was going to move with his teachers into a new toddler room. 

But him moving into the Twos is fine. He has spent a fair amount of time there on and off the past few weeks, and he's comfortable there. But, my husband told me, there were a few rules in the Twos that we needed to keep in mind: 

1) No pacis. No problem, as he'd stopped using one at school months ago. (He just uses it for night time at home now.)

2) Naps are on cots, not in the crib. Also not a problem, since he started sleeping on a cot in his own classroom a few months ago.

3) No sippy cups. This was the one that made me, well, gulp. 

The few times he tried a regular cup at school, it was a mess, and he came home in his spare outfit after dumping water or milk all over himself. We haven't tried much at home. Partly this is because we were delayed in making the sippy cup transition in the first place -- Isaac has to take this liquid medicine every day, and for a long time, the only way to make sure he had it was to give it to him in a morning bottle. But we made the switch to sippies back in October. 

That still seems new, so we haven't been pushing the regular cup much, or really even trying. It would have been really handy to know this was coming so we could have been working on it at home for a while. But these things happen, right?

But does anyone have any suggestions on the whole sippy-to-regular transition? It's funny because I'm basically otherwise unconcerned about Isaac moving into a new classroom, but this has thrown me for a bit of a loop.

(Sippy cup photo by me)

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

Hi, folks, it's Sarah K.K.! After a few weeks out because of some emergency surgery, I am finally back with another installment of Toddler Thursday. 

It's been a strange few weeks in our house. After my medical situation a few weeks ago, I couldn't lift my son, or much of anything else, for a while. But I was home much more since I couldn't really do a lot, so I got to spend more time with my almost-2-year-old, Isaac, which was excellent.

He's in a really funny stage -- he's started putting words together into sentences, and that mixed with near-constant mimicry has meant that he's talking talking talking all the time. It's so amusing. We often find ourselves hiding our faces behind our hands and cracking up at his inadvertent hilarity but trying to make sure he doesn't think we're laughing at him.

A couple of weeks ago, I was at home at dinnertime, which is a rarity most of the time. Isaac was in the highchair, and I walked over to my husband and gave him a hug and a kiss. Isaac looked up at us and said, "Good job!" and started clapping. We didn't quite think fast enough to curtsy and bow, unfortunately.

"Good job," though, has become a familiar refrain. I know the kids get told that often at daycare, and we certainly praise Isaac when he's doing something right.

My last morning at home before my return to work, I was still sleeping, and Isaac and my husband came in to say goodbye before they left. Isaac gave me a hug, and followed it with, "Good job, Mommy! High five!"

I wish I always got that much positive reinforcement for sleeping in!

(Photo by me)

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 1:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

Sarah K.K. gets extra props for filing today's Toddler Thursday post, given what she has been through. I'm sure any mom who's had a Cesarean section with the second child can relate:

Just a short post today, as I'm at home recovering from some emergency surgery over the weekend. But it's exactly that that raises my question. One side effect of the surgery is that I can't lift anything heavier than 10 pounds for at least a couple of weeks. This, of course, means I can't pick up my almost-2-year-old, and he and I are both a little bit confused.

When I got home Tuesday, we told Isaac he had to be careful because "Mommy has an owie tummy." But then later, he didn't want to come over and give me a hug. We weren't sure if we over-emphasized the whole "owie" issue or if he was just really tired and fussy. Or both.

So mostly I'm curious for those parents out there who have had limitations on lifting after surgery or childbirth: How did you explain to your little ones that you weren't as mobile as usual or that you couldn't pick them up?

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 4:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

OK, OK, it's not Thursday anymore. But it's been that kind of week. Let's get back to the post at hand, shall we?

Last week, all over Facebook -- and The Early Show and who knows where else -- this viral video was getting posted again and again: Kid is devastated when his dad tells him he's not a single lady! Sounds cute, right? And it absolutely is. Three kids are in the backseat, and they start rocking out when Beyonce's "All the Single Ladies" comes on the radio, none harder than the 3-year-old boy. His dad off-handedly tells him, sorry, kid, you aren't a single lady, and he dissolves into tears. It's one of those unexpected and hilarious moments that happen when you're raising a toddler. Lucky for dad, he had the video camera on, right?

At the end of the video, the dad turns the camera around on himself after having tried to console his son, and it's then that you realize: He is filming this moment while he is driving a car -- a car with three children in the backseat. Up until this moment, I thought the mom in the passenger seat was wielding the camera. I can't lie. I was horrified.

On his blog, the father, Carlos Whittaker says: I was holding the iphone but watching the road not the back of my iPhone. Just like I hold a coke can and drive. But trust me, next time I’ll hand it to the wife for sure!

I guess I can see how that would work, but honestly, it still feels irresponsible to me. Well, if that cell-phone ban ends up getting passed today, I guess videotaping while driving is going to fall into the category of unlawful behavior.

Personally, I thought that was already covered by common sense.

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 11:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

It's Sarah K.K., back with another installment of Toddler Thursday ...

I just have a short and sweet question for this week's entry. What are your favorite sunscreens for your sensitive-skinned little ones?

On Sunday, we slathered our son with Aveeno for kids SPF 50 (I think that's right), and his little face broke out in red spots a couple of hours later. We'd used it before, but maybe he was more sensitive in conjunction with the heat.

I was sad to realize Isaac has inherited my skin, which will break out like mad with a change of toothpaste or shampoo or scar from the slightest cat scratch, rather than my husband's, which seems to be part Teflon. Sorry, kid!

(Baltimore Sun file photo)

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 3:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

It's Sarah K.K., back with another installment of Toddler Thursday ...

I had a fun assignment on Tuesday, helping coordinate things at a photo shoot for a special fashion section The Sun will be publishing in a few weeks. The stylist was showing me the clothes she'd pulled when she mentioned that one of the items was from this new boutique in town, and had I been there?

Erm. Not exactly. 

I hate to use my son as an excuse, and I hate to be a cliche, but honestly, I'm lucky if I get out the door with my hair brushed and a touch of makeup most days. Shopping for myself hasn't been that high of a priority, and when I do get out there, most of the time I can't find what I'm looking for, things don't fit quite right, and then I get frustrated and go home. Which leaves me with a lame-o wardrobe of mostly jeans, T-shirts and a handful of other pieces that are slightly more interesting but aging quickly.

I said this, in way fewer words, and the stylist looked me over and said, "Maybe you need a Mommy Makeover."

Continue reading "Toddler Thursday: Maybe Mommy needs a new look" »

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 3:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

It's Sarah K.K., back with another installment of Toddler Thursday ...

The other day, a friend of mine posted a picture of her son on Facebook. He was crawling up the stairs, but his PJ pants were falling off, and his diaper was hanging out.

That's sadly a pretty common sight around our house. My son, Isaac, is a tall and skinny guy at almost 21 months old, and I'm starting to think that kids' clothing sizes might be even more messed up than women's clothing sizes. And that is saying something!

When he was born, we were given clothes in a variety of sizes, which was great because it meant we weren't drowning in tiny onesies he'd wear twice and then outgrow. But it's become a running joke that every few weeks, I put this pair of Carter's pants on him, convince myself that now, finally, they fit, and then they start slipping off again. They're marked 18 months, and the length is great, but that waist? Still too big.

For ages, he lived in American Apparel karate pants, these knit, elastic-waist, comfy pants in neutral colors that went with everything. But now, the 12-18 month ones are too short and the 18-24 month ones just fall off. Sigh.

It seems we're reduced to high waters (as seen at left) or Pants on the Ground.

I asked around among some of my friends, trying to get a handle on what places and brands run bigger or smaller. We've had decent luck with Old Navy's regular and boot cut fit jeans. I also bought a pair of fleece pants and a pair of brown slacks there, but we haven't tried them yet. To me, Carter's seems to run bigger in the waist. We've had the same issue with Gymboree -- too big in the waist and often featuring what appear to be drawstring waists, which would totally help with our problem, but then it turns out they are faux. Le sigh. While ordering something unrelated from One Step Ahead, I added a pair of clearance 18-month pants to my basket to reach the level of free shipping (I'm so compulsive about that. Am I the only one?), and they look like they will fit in the waist, but they are too long, of all things.

I'm looking forward to the warmer weather for a lot of reasons, but especially because the kidlet can wear shorts again -- a lot of his 12-month stuff will still fit, and we ought not have as much of a length issue. Whew!

But still, I'm curious what brands you've found to fit your various sizes of toddler. Feel free to leave a comment below.

(Oh, and an aside: Regarding last week's potty post? He's shown not one speck of interest in the potty since then, except for sitting on it once, clothed. So maybe he's not as ready as we thought. We're OK with that.)

(Photo by me)

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 6:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

It's Sarah K.K., back with another installment of Toddler Thursday ...

Yesterday, a box arrived at our house, and in it was a training potty. I don't really think I'm ready for this. 

In fact, my husband and I hadn't really discussed a time frame for potty training, except for some vague notion of ... future. But lately, Isaac, who's 20 months old, has been acting interested by the idea, so, we figured, why not?

There is one boy in his class at day care who is starting the process, and I'm sure Isaac's noticed when he gets taken to the bathroom throughout the day. At home, he's taken an interest in the concept as well, declaring, "Bye-bye, pee-pee," whenever he hears a flush and occasionally indicating a desire to sit (fully clothed) on the (closed) toilet.

So: We have a potty. The current plan is to take it slow, follow his cues and just get him -- and us -- used to the idea. For now, that involves having him sit on it before bathtime and taking it from there. I'd be interested in hearing your experiences with training, and any suggestions, too.

On my way out of day care this morning, one of his teachers stopped to tell me a little story. He'd been on a walk with another teacher, and she was using "Red Light, Green Light" to get them to go and stop as needed. Teacher said, "Red Light," but Isaac wanted to keep on walking, so he looked back at her and said, "Green Light!"

I guess the lesson of the week is, when he wants to go, he wants to go. I suppose this means his dad and I better get with the program!

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 1:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

It's Sarah K.K., back with another installment of Toddler Thursday ...

A funny thing has happened the past couple of weeks. My son, Isaac, at nearly 20 months old, has had an explosion of vocabulary. 

Saturday morning, he slept in (oh, that was so glorious!) and my husband and I went in to say good morning. We scooped him out of his crib, and he gestured toward the changing table and said, "Diaper?" My husband and I eyeballed each other, like, "Did he really just say that?" While he was being changed, he looked up at us and said, "Milk? Juice?" More sidelong glances. Then, after the change, he pointed and declared, "Downstairs!" 

It wasn't that he hadn't used these words before, it's more that he usually said them when prompted, and this was a string of understandable, appropriately-used words, delivered one right after another. We were floored.

In the days since then, it has continued. "Babies!" he says when he wants to read "What Does Baby Say?" "Bears," he says when he would like to read "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" And yesterday, "Oli-LEE-Ah!" he said to request "Olivia." (That last was entirely a new one.) Then he sat on the floor reading a book about peekaboo, saying, "Peekaboo, I see you!" again and again. Another new one.

The best side effect of this (besides the total sense of wonderment it's fostered in me and my husband) is that Isaac is so pleased when he tells us something and we understand. I think it's because of that sense of connection that the explosion has continued.

I don't mean to suggest that he hasn't been using words or that he's been unable to get any points across whatsoever. But it's happening more often, all of a sudden. And it's amazing. I've read in "Happiest Toddler on the Block" and elsewhere that between 15 months and 2 years can be one of the hardest times because these little ones have so much going on in their heads, so many opinions that they can't quite express. And of course, it's so frustrating for them.

So it's been a joy to see not only that my little guy is learning, but also his sense almost of relief when he has something to tell us and we get what he's saying. Oh, we're still running into tantrums here and there -- the vocabulary hasn't increased that much yet -- but we've forestalled a couple of them by talking him through and helping him find the words he is looking for. 

It's just such an interesting time! I'd love to hear your stories of when your toddler started making language breakthroughs, too.

(Photo above by me, Isaac requesting "BOOK!")

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 2:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

It's Sarah K.K., back with another installment of Toddler Thursday ...

Sorry I missed posting for TT last Thursday. We were having a sick day at my house, and it really wasn't that exciting.

Isaac was home sick Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday last week, so we were all already experiencing some cabin fever with round one of the snowstorm this past weekend. 

This round two hasn't been too bad, actually. Now that last week's weirdness (I think he is starting to get the two-year molars, and he was not happy about it) is past, Isaac's been in a great mood, so these days home have been pretty fun. I won't lie. We're watching too much television (I might have nightmares about Brobee and Foofa from Yo Gabba Gabba tonight). We're probably all snacking too much and not eating regular meals enough. (That said, even though in this picture it looks like he's been munching Cheetos all day, it was really just a couple of baked Doritos.) 

Lots of blocks, lots of books, lots of coloring, lots of mini dance parties, a fair amount of chasing the cats, far too much staring out the window at the snow ... that's what we've been doing.

There have also been some fits pitched (no, we cannot go "ousite" in the whiteout), some boundaries stretched (no, you may not climb on the vacuum cleaner), some naps skipped. But it has been so much better than the feverish, cranky sick days last week that I ought not complain. Among other things, it's a bit easier to get work done from home when the toddler doesn't demand to sit in your lap for hours on end, then crying because he doesn't know what he wants. (What he wanted was to feel better. So glad it happened.)

How have you been dealing with your toddler and cabin fever? I'm thinking the blocks, books, coloring and even the mini dance parties might get old here pretty soon.

(Photo by me)

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 3:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

It's Sarah K.K., back with another installment of Toddler Thursday ...

This morning when I got to work, I had two plastic balls in my jacket pocket. Monday I showed up with two jingle bells -- and a miniature remote control.

I'm not a hoarder or a kleptomaniac, I swear. I'm just acting in my new role as The Confiscator. Every morning, not long before time to head out the door, my toddler Isaac becomes fixated on some random toy or book. I made the mistake a couple of times of taking the items away after we got to daycare. Dealing with The Confiscator and The Dropper-Offer at the same time was too much for him to handle at once, I quickly learned.

So now I ease the items out of his hands before we leave the house or before we get out of the car -- but somehow they keep ending up in my coat pockets. Or my purse. I just switched bags and haven't cleaned out my old purse yet, but I'm quite sure there are a couple of Little People, a block or two and a magnet shaped like the back half of a pig in there. (My car? Let's not even go there.)

I'm not the only one with this problem, right? Make me feel better: Tell me about the random items you've found on your person. Bonus points if you just found it today.

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 12:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

It's Sarah K.K., back with another installment of Toddler Thursday ...except that Kate didn't post this until Friday. But it's still operative!

My husband called me at work the other afternoon. When I answered, he said, "And the Worst Parent of the Year goes to ... both of us."

Gulp.

I asked what had happened. Turned out our son's daycare had been trying to get a hold of us for three and a half hours.

WHAT?

My first worry was that Isaac was ill or injured. Thankfully, neither was the case. They'd had a power outage, and the facility was closing at 3 due to lack of heat. Well, they were trying to. It was a little after 3 when my husband glanced at his phone and noticed all the missed calls.

My next thought was: How?

I'd been away from my desk for most of the day working on an unexpected project. My husband's cell phone clip had broken, so he wasn't wearing it, and it turned out that his new case was so protective that it absorbed the sound when it vibrated to signal a call. Plus, he's changed jobs, and daycare didn't have his updated work number. Great.

I felt so terrible. My husband felt worse since he was the one who picked up Isaac, the last kid left there, wearing a sweat shirt and his jacket. (It wasn't that cold, but they weren't taking any chances, of course.)

I still feel so bad. It was such a fluke that we both missed all the calls. The next morning, I apologized to the director, and she said they knew there would be a couple of people they would have trouble getting in touch with, "but we never thought it would be you guys!" That made me feel a little better. Until Isaac started crying when I tried to leave. Worst Mommy ever!

But lessons learned, right? My cell phone goes with me everywhere now, and when daycare called earlier today, I picked it up in half a ring, so fast Isaac's teacher wasn't quite ready to talk yet.

And my techie husband came up with another solution, too. He signed us up for a Google Voice number that people can use in case of emergency, and it will ring to both our cells, both our desks and home, and voice mails will get emailed to us. That will hopefully prevent any of those flukes in the future. And it makes me feel a tiny bit better. But the Mommy guilt almost always wins.

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 11:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

It's Sarah K.K., back with another installment of Toddler Thursday ...

This past Tuesday marked a year since my return to work after maternity leave, which left me rather reflective, as you can imagine. One of the things that I was thinking about, regretting, feeling guilty about and therefore avoiding was that my personal blog, which had been serving as a digital baby book of sorts for my son Isaac, had gone pretty much ignored for about eight months.

In fact, after I came back to work, the only time the blog got much action at all was a two-week stretch when Isaac was in the hospital and we used the blog to communicate updates with our family and friends. For a little while, I had month-by-month updates (inspired by Dooce's monthly letters to Leta), but that fell apart pretty quickly.

But instead of dwelling on it for too long, I realized that I had been posting frequently on Facebook and that my posts were about Isaac on a fairly regular basis. So this past Sunday night, I made a project of forcing my Facebook page to load older and older status updates and I compiled them into one big blog post ranging from September 2008 through the end of 2009.

It was fun (except when the blog software ate the post and I had to start all over), it was interesting (to me, at least), it was revealing. First off, I noticed that I tended to post the cuter things as photo or video links and that the status updates were sometimes kind of whiny, usually about sleep, or lack thereof. Secondly, I realized that Isaac and I had both been sick a lot more often than I remembered. (I blame the lack of sleep for that one. And teething.) But it was fun to re-create the record in a more permanent way. It seems like Facebook saves everything forever, but sometimes it's really hard to get to it. And who knows what Facebook will look like in a few years?

My goal this year is to keep up better with the blog. I take a ton of photos, and it's easy to post them with a few sentences every so often than to think I have to write up some wondrous literary masterpiece about the past few weeks of his life every few weeks. I recognize that I don't have time for that. 

Here's an excerpt of some of those Facebook updates through the months, a little snapshot of the past 15 months:

Continue reading "Toddler Thursday: Baby book? What baby book?" »

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 1:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

It's Sarah K.K., back with another installment of Toddler Thursday ...

I saw Terri Peters' snow haiku entry, and just had to write about it this week:

Toddler's first big snow
Bundled up and headed out
He cried the whole time

My toddler wasn't quite as traumatized, but, as you can tell from the photo above, he wasn't into it. I took Isaac out on Sunday (his half-birthday, as it turns out), and he was pretty much mystified. He looked around and then looked at me like, "What the heck do you want me to do here?" I showed him that he could stomp around in it and knock down the drift against the fence. He half-heartedly kicked some. I ran into a waist-deep pile of snow and twirled around and tried to get him to walk over toward me through the path I'd made. I threw some snowballs. No go.

Finally, I looked at his red little face and asked if he wanted to go back inside, and he did an about-face and started booking it back toward the front door. This from a kid who has "outside" high on his list of favorite concepts.

Maybe next time!

(Photo by me)

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 12:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

It's Sarah K.K., back with another installment of Toddler Thursday ...

Just a quick, back-from-vacation-and-trying-to-catch-up post today. But I'm wondering: What are folks doing to protect their Christmas tree from their toddler ... and vice versa? We have a skinny, artificial, Charlie Brown-ish tree in the living room, and at the moment, the base is surrounded by tall boxes so the kidlet can't get to it (pretty much).

He's still fascinated by the whole thing, though mostly he just wants to reach out and touch the ornaments. Under supervision -- with reminders of "Gentle!" -- he's been doing OK. And that wall of boxes helps, too.

Some friends from my moms' group were talking about buying one of those big baby gates to put all the way around their tree, but I don't know if anyone actually did.

Anyone have any other suggestions?

I think, as usual, the tree is probably most at risk for attack by the cats, not the kid. But we'll see!

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 12:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

It's Sarah K.K., back with another installment of Toddler Thursday ...

As the holidays approach, everyone's starting to ask what Isaac wants for Christmas and Hanukkah. (We do both at our house.) 

What does a 1.5-year-old really need, anyway? He has lots of books and plenty of toys, and he's doing OK on clothes, too. But he also has eight grandparents, so inquiring minds want to know. 

One of his sets of grandparents already got him a gift, which is waiting in our basement until Hanukkah begins next week. It's a toy kitchen, which we decided on after seeing how much fun he had playing with similar toys at friends' houses on our recent vacation. 

Other than that, though, I'm stumped. He loves books, trucks, music, musical instruments, Little People ... so I'm thinking more of the same. Maybe some blocks or Lego blocks?

But I'm wondering what the 1.5-year-olds in your life have particularly enjoyed. Or practical things I'm just not thinking of. Any suggestions for me? I'd appreciate the help!

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 11:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

It's Sarah K.K., back with a Thanksgiving installment of Toddler Thursday ...

This week, for pretty obvious reasons, I've been reflecting on the things I'm thankful for, and moment by moment, the list has been growing. Here are some of the highlights:

-- I'm thankful for my amazing son, Isaac, whose adventures are often recounted here. He is my joy.

-- I'm thankful for getting the chance to see my husband be such a loving, caring, thoughtful and fun father and to have him as my partner in this thrilling challenge called parenthood.

-- I'm thankful for our parents and step-parents, who have given us so much love and support over the years and are all amazing grandparents. I just wish we didn't live so far away from all of them.

-- I'm thankful for all the little moments in Isaac's toddlerhood that make me stop and notice things and recapture my own sense of wonder. 

-- I'm thankful for my favorite sounds in the world: Isaac's hysterical laughter and his nascent attempts to say, "I love you."

-- I'm thankful for my fabulous moms' group, which has given me so much support and reassurance and many new friendships. It's been so fun watching the little ones grow from newborns to toddlers together; the coming years should bring even more of that joy.

-- I'm thankful for my circle of Internet friends, many of whom are also now parents, too, who have shared advice, support, laughter and tears for the past several years. 

-- I'm thankful for the caring teachers at Isaac's school, who provide him -- and us -- with comfort and knowledge and fun. 

That's just the start of the list of things that have made me feel so blessed this year, as a person and as a parent.

What are you thankful for?

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 8:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

Sarah K.K. here, back with another installment of Toddler Thursday: 

That's how the old saw goes, right? "You've got to walk before you can run"? Someone forgot to tell toddlers.

When my son first started to walk (right around his 1st birthday), he was understandably pretty unsteady. They call walking a controlled state of falling, and when you observe a child learning the skill, you can definitely see that. Unfortunately, far before his sense of balance was ready, he turned into a wannabe speed demon, rushing around faster than his little legs (or his growing brain) could take him.

That began the bruised-forehead stage of his life, and it hasn't ended yet. A couple of weeks after those first unsteady steps, I got a call from daycare. Isaac had been running on the playground, totally misjudged the blacktop and face-planted. He scraped his forehead and his nose, and when I went to pick him up, they even warned me before I saw him, telling me that he had hardly cried. I, however, almost did when I got my first glimpse of his injuries, even though he was beaming at me at the time.

Continue reading "Toddler Thursday: You've got to walk before you can run" »

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 5:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

Sarah K.K. here with the next installment of Toddler Thursday!

I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that my toddler son, Isaac, was just starting to imitate our intonation now and then. In the past couple of weeks, but especially the past few days, he's taken it to a whole new level. He's babbling all the time, and while most of the time, it's nonsensical, he's learning words and sounds like crazy. The cat says "mao," and "milk," "go" and "whee" are in the repertoire now.

He's a sponge!

But the big news of the week was that night before last, he said, "I love you." Well, it kind of sounded like, "I love the boo," but we'll take it. I, sadly, was on the phone instead of in person, but my husband got it on video, and I'm thrilled I got to hear it in real-time, too.

Sure, right now, it's just a repeating of sounds -- he apparently wandered around his class saying it again and again yesterday. But I know the meaning will sink in, too. No matter what, that was a moment for the highlights reel of my life.

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 12:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

This is Sarah K.K., back with Toddler Thursday after a short hiatus for that vacation I mentioned a few weeks ago.

I was concerned about flying cross-country with my son, who had learned to walk since our last cross-country flight. I was also a little worried because he got sick during our trip to California in the spring, but I wasn't overly concerned since I figured that was a fluke puke.

Well ... maybe not so much. We got on the plane, an early morning departure with a change of planes in Chicago, and I had my Bag of Tricks at the ready, filled with many of your suggestions, plus a few of my own ideas.

Continue reading "Toddler Thursday: Flight report" »

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 4:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

Sarah K.K. returns with this week's installment of Toddler Thursday:

There is something about this age (closing on 16 months) that just feels so momentous.

I mean, every stage of my son's life, even from the moment I learned I was finally pregnant, has felt this way to an extent. But there is just so much growth going on now, it's hard for me to get my grown-up mind around it.

Isaac just feels like a ball of potential -- who knows what his life will be like, or what the world will be like, but right now, everything feels so ... possible. Every day, he's saying a new word, grasping a new concept, doing something new that is funny, finding something new hysterical.

Even since last week's post, he's understanding and responding to "no" (and, of course, saying it more. Much more). A couple of days ago, one of his toys started playing the song "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" while we were reading a book, and he suddenly stood up from my lap and grabbed his head. I didn't even know he knew that yet!

A few days ago, he started calling me "Mama" on purpose (*swoon*) and running over and giving giant, heartfelt, laying-his-head-on-your-shoulder hugs. After Mr. Independent's stint of not being into cuddling, these new breakthroughs have been particularly gratifying.

I can barely begin to imagine how fast the synapses must be firing in his brain as he's making connections and learning so, so, so much every day. It's an amazing time, and I don't want to miss a second of it. Sometimes, I just want to wake him up in the middle of the night so we can hang out, but I resist the urge.

I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings.

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 4:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

Here's Sarah K.K. with the weekly installment of Toddler Thursday:

I'm not sure how we got to 15 months old without Isaac knowing what "no" means, but here we are. He'll run into some forbidden corner of the basement, and I'll call out, "NO-NO!" But he just keeps on doing what he's doing until I go over to him and get his attention.

It's not as if he doesn't get the concept at all. If we're trying to feed him something he doesn't want or get him to go somewhere he's not interested in, he shakes his head wildly and even sometimes says something vaguely resembling "nue."

But for the moment, this communication seems to be going in one direction.

One of his favorite activities that I have to dissuade him from is causing a bit of a conundrum. He loves to run into the bathroom (we keep the doors closed, but the cats like to drink from the sink in the half-bath -- clearly Isaac isn't the only one we've had trouble communicating "no" to -- and they know how to open the door). The other day, I sprinted after him into the bathroom, only to find him singing "Hi-iiiiiiiii" into the toilet bowl, totally taken by the echo of his own voice.

"No! No-NO! Dirty!" I said to him as I pulled him away from the bowl (and immediately washied his hands, of course). But then it occurred to me: If I manage to communicate that he needs to stay away from the toilet because it's dirty, won't that pose problems later?

"So, kid, you know that nasty, gross, icky, disgusting, germ-ridden thing I've told you time and time again to stay away from? Yeah, well, now you have to sit on it. Make sense?"

For the time being, I'm leaving "DIRTY" out of the "no-no" equation where the toilet is involved. These are the complexities that never would have occurred me until they were staring me in the face.

But that's toddlerhood in a nutshell, isn't it?

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 3:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

 Sarah K.K. is back to take on the ga-ga-goo-goo set for Toddler Thursday:

We're flying cross-country in a few weeks with the little one, and frankly, I'm worried.

This won't be Isaac's first time on a plane, or even his first cross-country journey, but it will be his first time flying since he started walking and discovered the joys of mobility.

His previous flights have posed their own challenges.

When he was nearly 4 months old, Isaac and I flew solo to Oregon to visit my mom, who had been ill and unable to travel to us after his birth. Leg 1 was a packed flight, and he got a little antsy, but the father of a 5-month-old was crammed into the seat by me, and he just kind of rolled with it, thankfully. Leg 2, we had more space, and he slept like a log for most of it, but since it was getting late, the pilot started the descent without making an announcement. In Portland, you go kind of over the mountain and then doowwwwn to the river real quick to land, and even on a grownup head, it can be brutal. I didn't have a chance to get Isaac his pacifier or bottle and he woke up in screaming pain. I was desperately trying to get him to calm down when a flight attendant unbuckled herself, came over, and helpfully told me that although crying would eventually clear his ears, if I could get him "to take a bottle or pacifier or something, that would really help." I looked at her with a crazed expression, three kinds of pacifiers hanging off my fingers, a bottle tucked under my arm, a knuckle near Isaac's screaming mouth being ignored, and tried to clear the white-hot fury from my brain to form a sentence when my seatmate saved me. "She's offered him everything she's got, OK?" Rarely have I felt such gratitude toward my fellow man.

At 6 months or so, we flew solo to Texas, but it was pretty uneventful except that the carseat didn't quite fit between the rows, so even though we each had a seat, I had to share mine with part of his carrier for most of the flight. Eh, whatever, he slept most of the way.

Just shy of a year, Isaac accompanied us to California. The flight out was going really smoothly (we had the row to ourselves!) until he choked a bit on a goldfish cracker after drinking a full bottle of milk. Let's just say I wished I had followed my initial instinct to pack an extra outfit for myself into the carryon. (I have to say, though, the flight attendants were so good after the vomit incident and helped us clean up remarkably quickly and efficiently. I was impressed. And relieved.) On the way home from California, the planes were completely full, but strangely, Isaac slept for about three-quarters of our time in the air. Speaking of relieved.

But now ... I don't know. Every second his feet are on the ground, he is on the move. If we have to hold him still, and he doesn't want to, he kind of freaks out. He's at that stage (15 months old) where he easily gets frustrated because he's just figuring out that he can communicate with us, but we often don't understand. The good thing is, he sometimes spends ages playing with his books, and one of his new favorite things is to plop down in one of our laps. So maybe with a snacks, a few new interesting books and his favorite stuffed animal for naptime, we'll be OK.

But if anyone has suggestions for flying with toddler, hit me in the comments!

(Photo of plane wing by me, taken a while back, and not while flying with child)

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 12:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

Something I've noticed recently about my almost-15-month-old son, Isaac (whom you met last week): The kid's got opinions.

Unfortunately, he doesn't always have the means to express them, and this means it's meltdown time.

Food or drink -- or rather, the desire for such -- is often at the center of these breaks from reality. I always feel so silly when I realize that the kid just wants some milk and it's taken me so long to figure it out.

We started working on the baby sign for "more," hoping that would give Isaac a way to let us know when he was hungry or thirsty. And we really thought he had it figured out. But the other day, my husband was feeding him dinner, and Isaac was signing "more" -- and saying it -- but every time he offered him more of the food options he had there, Isaac shook his head and cried.

At a loss, my husband handed him his bottle of milk, and voila! Happy again! In Isaac-land, "more" appears to mean "bottle."

So who's teaching whom here?

(Photo by me)

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 10:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

Hello, all. This is Sarah K.K. from over in Reality Check land. A while ago, Kate and I had talked about me guest posting every so often about my return to work after maternity leave, but I was so overwhelmed by the transition, I couldn't quite manage it. But now that my little guy and I are in a little more of a groove, I volunteered to write about toddler-dom.

Let me back up a bit: My toddler in question is Isaac, and he's closing on 15 months old. (When do you stop with doing the ages in months and just start round off, anyway? I think that's a post for another day.) He started walking right around his first birthday, while his dad (my husband, Judah) was out of town for two weeks, unfortunately. Lately, he's upgraded to running, even though his balance isn't quite ready for that yet. And, hence the headline on this post, his favorite word in his limited vocabulary is "hi," which he likes to say a lot. (True to his mom's Southern roots, he manages to turn it multisyllabic.)

After that none-too-brief introduction, here's what I want to talk about today: In an attempt to distract your toddler, have you ever given them something to play with that you later regretted? ...

Continue reading "Toddler Thursday: Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi!" »

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 9:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)
Categories: Toddler Thursday