Big News

Charlotte Jane was born on December 2nd ...

I'm on maternity leave ... but hoping to return soon :)

Hasbro Rebate at Toys R Us

File this one under crazy. fabulous rebate!  I just heard about this on my mom's group message board - thanks, Shelly, and thought you'd appreciate the heads-up.

Hasbro and Toys R Us has teamed up to offer classic board games (like Memory, Candy Land, Cooties, Chutes and Ladders) at a HUGE (and dare I say, exciting) discount!

Most of the preschool games cost about $3.99 plus you get a $2.00 rebate on each game.  Are you doing the math?  That's about $1.99 per game, right?

It gets better ... no way, you say?!  Way ...

In addition, Toys R Us is offering a $10 gift card for purchases over $25.00.

Yep, you can buy 6 or 7 games (give them as gifts, donate to a toy drive, play them yourself), get the rebate and the gift card, and end up spending less than a dollar per game!

Here's the link to the official rebate information.

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File this under side note :)  There's also been a mass "recall" of Baby Einstein DVDs and books.  This has been out there for a while, but I mentioned it to someone yesterday who didn't know about it ... so just in case, here's the story.

Oh, and Maclaren is doing a massive stroller recall, too - something about fingertip amputations - yikes!  Here's that story.

Today's Toddler Breakfast: Mini Frittata

I mentioned awhile back that we are in a breakfast rut, which led me to morning smoothies.  But I've also been making a very concerted effort to pack a good protein punch into our morning meal.  Which means we've been eating a lot of scrambled eggs.  That's the only way I know how to make eggs ... scrambled.  Don't know how to fry them or poach them or even turn them green.  But now I do know how to frittata them, and I will be frittata-ing again very soon. 

This recipe was so simple and quick and delicious - that's pretty much my checklist when cooking anything.  Throw in there, toddler-pleasing, and you've got yourself one happy mama!

What?  Your mouth is watering?  You want mini frittatas for breakfast tomorrow morning?  Oh, you want the recipe?  Sure, no problem ... just so you know, I halved the recipe and it was plenty for me and NHV; the leftovers are good, too!

Ingredients:

• 6 large eggs
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
• 1/4 tsp. freshly-ground black pepper
• 2 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley
• 1/4 cup chopped turkey pepperoni
• 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a mini muffin tin with cooking spray.
2. Whisk together eggs, milk, salt, pepper and parsley. Stir in pepperoni.  This is a great chance for your toddler to help :)
   
3. Divide cheddar cheese among 24 mini muffin cups. (Again, I only made 12 - with three eggs.)
   
4. Pour egg mixture into a measuring cup with a spout. Pour egg mixture over cheese, filling cups to the top.
5. Bake 10-14 minutes until mini frittatas are puffed and golden brown on top.  (We snuggled up and read a book while we waited for our "egg muffins" to bake.)
   

Original recipe (no, not the Colonel's) can be found here.

Idea to Try: Flashlight Pointing

This idea comes from what was an attempt at distraction/substitution and has become a  vast learning experience!  I love happy little surprises like this one.

My toddler recently became obsessed with turning light switches on ... and off ... on ... and off.  She'd scoot a stool or turn over a basket to be able to reach the switch.  Much "fun" was being had and maybe a little learning, too ... on and off are opposites, right?

Of course, there were multiple times when she fell off the stool or basket.  And daddy wasn't thrilled with the idea of "playing with electricity."  We needed a compromise.  We needed something that could be turned on and off.  We needed a flashlight!

Brilliant, I know ;)  It took some time for NHV to figure out how to use this switch but she was pleased that it had the same effect ... on ... off ... on ... off.  Of course, that only lasted for about a minute.  And then she started seeing the true potential of this light source.  It can be directed and shined (is that a word?) on all kinds of surfaces.  This light travels all around the room.  It can move fast or slow.  You can see it better when the other lights are off.  Every minute there was a new idea ... you could just about see a little light bulb over her head :) 

Not wanting to be left out of this fun learning experience, mommy got involved and brought in some vocabulary practice. 

I asked her to point the light at ... 

• objects like the floor, the ceiling, the TV, the clock, the door knob, ...
  
• body parts like mommy's belly and her own belly button (that was a huge hit) - but not people's eyes!

And then we practiced shapes by hunting around the house with our flashlight.

Find the ...

• circle (clock, door knob, ball, Louie's cat toy, ... )
• rectangle (TV, book, drawer, cabinet door, ... )
• triangle - this one was just too hard

We went to her new big girl room and shined the like on all the owls we could find.  I used the light to point to each of the letters in her name as she said the letters aloud.

Finally, I kept the lights dimmed in her room, and we read a story by flashlight.  I could shine the light on certain parts of the illustrations and ask questions.  I moved the light across the text as I read.  My toddler loved it all!

Teacher Thoughts:  This was discovery learning at its finest.  I intended for the flashlight to be a substitute for the light switch, but in the hands of a toddler, it became so much more!  I was just watching a PBS program on "open-ended" learning, and this was a powerful testament to impact of giving ownership to the learner.  "Opening" the door to what a toddler can do with an everyday object.

When I think about learning, I always think about modality - how is the learning being "sensed" - seeing, hearing, touching.  The flashlight covers all three modalities ... NHV was taking in the world through her eyes (enhanced by the use of light), through her ears (following directions and making observations), and through her sense of touch (by holding the flashlight and using motor skills to direct the beam).

BGB Transition - Major Breakthrough

I almost hate to write this post ... don't want to jinx it ... but ...

Natalie has slept in her big girl bed - without any resistance or "game-playing" - for the past two nights!

Attempt 5: Bedtime, Monday

After not napping and playing hard with daddy all evening, NHV was Ready (with a capital R) for bed by 8:15.  We were hoping that would work to our advantage in this whole BGB transition.  And, guess what?  It did!  She snuggled right in and was snoring within about two minutes.

I breathed a huge sigh of relief and hoped it would last through the night ... I really didn't want another repeat of Saturday night's three-hour bed hopping, game playing.  And, guess what?  It did ... last through the night.  She slept for a solid 12 hours!  I actually went in at 8:00 when I still hadn't heard a peep.  She was just waking up, sucking that darn binky, and looking around her big girl room ... with that I am sure was admiration.  Yes, she slept through the night and stayed in her bed "until mommy or daddy came to get her."  Woo Hoo!

Attempt 5: Afternoon Nap, Tuesday

We played at Kid's Quest and enjoyed a lunch date at Five Guys ... Natalie was totally worn out.  During lunch my friend Terri and I chatted about loveys, and I expressed my sadness that NHV had given hers up about a month after her second birthday.  Well, she must've heard us talking about her Kitty (and G's Dudley) because she wanted her Kitty for naptime. I checked on her about 15 minutes after putting her down, and she was snoring away - in her big girl bed - with Kitty tucked under her arm ... brought happy tears to my eyes :)  Love that balance between her still being my baby girl but also tackling big-girl-hood!

Attempt 6: Bedtime, Tuesday

She did it - AGAIN!  NHV slept all night ... 11 hours ... in her big girl bed.  I checked on her like four times - as long as I am awake for a potty break, I might as well steal a glimpse of my big girl!  She was uncovered once, and another time her little booty was almost hanging off the bed between the headboard and the guard rail.  Regardless, she kept right on snoozing.  The best part ... when she woke up this morning, I gave a few minutes to chat and sing - like she did in her crib - rather than rushing in to get her.  And she stayed in her bed until I got there!   When she first saw me, her eyes lit up, she smiled around her (darn) binky, and then said, "I seep in big gurl bed las nite.  I tay in bed til mommy come."

By George, I think she's got it!

I'll be back to reflect on the things we did right and the mistakes we made ...

And if you want to see more photos of NHV's Big Girl Room, click here :)

Easy, Fun, Craft: Apple Turkeys

It's a bird.

It's a piece of ... fruit.

It's super adorable; there's no doubt!

Found this irresistible and edible craft 

at one of my new favorite blogs, Little Page Turners

This delightful blog couples great books with cute crafts and adventures.  

It's a wealth of ideas for parents and teachers; each week is a new theme!

BGB Transition - The Saga Continues

So clearly this Big Girl Bed Transition isn't going to be a weekend deal ... ha, ha ... I am so naive and hopeful and anxious to unpack BGV 2.0's stuff!  After that first night of mixed results - she put herself to sleep,  but then woke up.  We negotiated for almost 3 hours, and she finished out the night in her crib - we are continuing on that same trajectory.

Attempt 2: Afternoon Nap

NHV and I spent the morning at a baby shower for a good friend of ours who also happens to have a daughter the same age.  Needless to say, Natalie was fairly tuckered out from all that excitement.  We did our usual naptime routine - except she declined my offer to read stories.  She didn't hesitate to climb into her new BGB, but she also didn't hesitate to climb out and be put back numerous times.  After about 40 minutes, she did fall asleep and took her typical three-hour snooze.  I was beaming with pride and possibility!  Perhaps this was the breakthrough we needed ...

Attempt 3:  Bedtime

... or not.  After the usual routine, we played the game for a good hour.  At first she kept climbing out of her bed, but after three reminders and put-backs, she finally resorted to staying put and calling, "Mommy.  Daddy.  Need You."  I promised to check on her when she called, so that's what I did ... over and over and over again.  Sometimes we cuddled.  Sometimes we chatted.  Sometimes I just reminded her that I love her very much and got the heck out of there.  (I am learning that the later strategy is probably the best one!)

All of which was to no avail.  At about 10:00 - hoping to catch up on an episode of Flash Forward (hard to do when interrupted every three minutes or so) - daddy (with my blessing) put Natalie back in her crib for the night.  On the way, she asked, "Seep big girl bed morrow?"

Clearly it isn't a matter of hating her new BGB or room.  During all three of these attempts, she hasn't cried or really even complained.  She just can't put herself to sleep ... and/or stay asleep.

Attempt 4: Afternoon Nap

While I attended my weekly appointment at my specialist's office, daddy gave it a go ... gave it the ol' college try, if you will.  She went in her big girl bed at 1:30, played the up-and-down game twice, but then stayed in her bed chatting, singing, and definitely NOT sleeping for two long periods.  Until I got home at 3:30, gave her another 20 minutes, and then went to "rescue" her.  Which means my daughter, who normally take a three hour afternoon nap, did not take a nap at all today!  This better not be a trend, people, 'cause momma likey those nappies .... you know?!

The Big Girl Bed Transition

Woo Hoo!  The Big Girl Room is complete ... and looking absolutely owl-dorable!  But I am saving all those details for Wednesday's post - over at MommyBrain ... with lots of photos to share!

I did very minimal research concerning the "big girl bed transition" - hey, being super-fabulous crafty takes time and effort!   

What I remember reading mentioned something about allowing 6 to 8 weeks before the expectant arrival of a second child ... I am sitting pretty at 33 weeks right now ... so fingers crossed, I am going to make this deadline ... after going off my contraction-limiting drugs next week ... yikes!

Anyhoo, we got the "big girl bed" ball rolling last night.  We've been talking about it since Labor Day, and she was beyond excited when we presented her with her new bed and room yesterday afternoon.

As I tucked her in - for the first time in her big girl bed - I can only imagine what it must've been like for her sweet little brain to take in all of that excitement and newness and change.  You know that feeling of lying in a bed that isn't yours?  Staring at a ceiling with different shadows.  Longing for the familiarity of your own surroundings.  That's how I imagined my two year olds first attempt at sleeping in her new big girl room.  My senses were so heightened for her.  It felt like having a newborn sleeping in a bassinet all over again.

Attempt 1: Bedtime 

It took Natalie about an hour to fall asleep.  But she stayed in her bed and managed to put herself to sleep with very minimal intervention.  I was completely torn between feeling tremendous pride for her accomplishment and lots of sadness over how much she has grown up ... in such a short amount of time.  

Through the monitor I could hear her breathing settle into it's rhythmic pattern, and I tiptoed in to see her with my own eyes ... stretched out in her twin-sized bed.  It seemed so strange, and my heart ached a little.  I spent the next 20 minutes across the hall - in what was once NHV's nursery and soon-to-be BGV's room - and rocked and cried and sobbed and let the memories of the past two years wash over me.  Change, especially growing up, is hard on me - always has been - and I knowing that those moments are gone just makes me sad ... almost like homesickness, if that makes any sense.

I splashed the tears from my face and went to bed.  Only to be woken up at 1:00 by a cry for "mommy."  I bolted upright and sprinted into her room ... not wanting her to be afraid in her new surroundings.  Wanting to make sure she knows that I am still right here when she needs me.

The next THREE hours was a series of cuddles in our bed, cuddles in her bed, requests for milk, chats about our day, and many return trips to her big girl bed ... despite our clear instructions that she must stay in her bed until mommy or daddy comes to get her.  We'll come when she calls us, but she needs to stay in bed.  Yeah, right!  I can't tell you how many times I would hear the quiet thud followed by the pitter-patter of her feet.  Throughout the entire three hour (admittedly too long) event, she never cried or seemed visibly upset.  I think she was just overwhelmed and excited and oversimulated.  She just could not put herself back to sleep.  And so at around 4:00, she went back in her crib ... so we could all get some much needed rest.  But even as CPV carried her back to her "old" room, she was asking to sleep in her big girl bed.  Being the awesome daddy that he is, Chad explained that all the excitement was making it hard for her to fall asleep and that she could sleep in her big girl bed again tomorrow. It was just what she needed to hear, and she slept until about 8:30 this morning.

I am curious to see how this transition progresses ... and hopeful that continued patience will win the race!

If you have any tips, advice, insight to offer ... please share :)

Foliage Friends

After lots of ... you guessed it ... RAIN and wind, the trees are almost bare here in the NW.

My backyard full of leaves keeps calling ... "craft with me.  Make me into something adorable."

Okay, if I must ...

Today we'll make Foliage Friends because I adore alliteration and just look how cute ...

For all the details, click here.

Check back for photos of our creations :)

Idea to Try: Toddler Tasks

My good - and super smart - friend Carrie - aka Oliver's momma - recently sent me a great idea she stumbled upon here, we'll call this the original idea post.

The basic idea is to use visual chore cards to remind your kiddos of tasks that need to be done.  Cards are laid out or displayed, and as they do their chores, you put the cards in the "done" spot (or flip over the card).

I love the idea of giving toddlers - even as young as my 27 month old - some responsibilities.  And I love the idea of having a VISUAL cue rather than hearing my own voice remind/ask/nag constantly; guessing my toddler could use a break from that as well.  The cards will also serve as a reminder to me that these are tasks Natalie can do for herself, things I don't need to control. I am certain this will take some time (and training) to implement, but it seems like an idea worth trying!

My plan is to take photos this week (see the original idea post) and start one upstairs and one downstairs task ... just to see how it goes.

My List of Possible Toddler Tasks:

Upstairs (displayed in her room):

• put dirty clothes in the basket
• choose socks from the drawer
• put away bath toys
• brush teeth (with help)
  

Downstairs (displayed on side of fridge):

• take off shoes and put away
• wash hands when returning home / before meals (with help)
  
• park play stroller and cart
• put away Little People
• put away crayons / craft supplies 

Carrie's List of Toddler Tasks:

• brush teeth
• put cars in the car bucket
• clear dishes
• put shoes and coat away after school
• clothes in the laundry

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What task is your toddler ready for?  Is this an idea you can see yourself trying?  Do you already do something like this that works great?  Please share!

Halloween Costumes for Little Ones

Google image searches produce the most interesting results.

Don't you agree?

These made me go .... hmmmmmm?!  Your reaction?

Babies already make plenty of their own flatulence and reaction-worthy noises, do we really need to advertise?

Just getting ready for the next big holiday, huh?

The poultry trend continues ... but this one is beyond disturbing!  That's an alien spawn breaking through that adorable chicken's tummy.  Guessing there's a daddy behind this ingenious costume :)

I'm a fan.  Think the man was an amazing performer.

Not interested in dressing my toddler as Michael Jackson - now or ever.

You'd need to have a precocious toddler to pull this one off ...

Can't help but think of Chitown Momma's husband with this one ... he's just ballsy (and hilarious) enough to give this a try (and get away with it) - hee, hee!

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What do YOU think of these costume choices?  Did you laugh?  Cringe?

More importantly, what costume will your little one 

be wearing for this Halloween?

Footprint Ghosties

The perfect - easy and fun - Halloween craft!

Giving credit where credit is due ... this idea came from Chitown Momma ... and I modified it just a bit.

All you need:

• Toddler's foot ... please leave it attached ;)
• Package of baby wipes ... I was so glad I had these nearby! 
  
• Black marker
  
• Black Construction paper
• Foam brush or paintbrush of some sort
• White paint - I used this ...
  

1. First strip down your little pumpkin down to her/his diaper ... the paint is washable, but I like to keep my mess and my laundry to a minimum. 
2. Put down some newspaper and a sheet of black paper on top.  
3. Sit down just behind the newly prepared "canvas" and put excited toddler in your lap.
   
4. Use the brush to spread white paint all over the bottom of your toddler's foot and toes.  I chanted, "Tickle, tickle, tickle," while applying the paint, and NHV thought it was hilarious!
   
5. Press the foot to the black paper - give it a little side-to-side roll - and lift if off.
6. Turn that footprint upside down ... viola!  A cute little ghostie!
7. Once it dries, grab a black marker and make a ghostie expression :)
8. There are lots of options for what to do with your finished footprint, I trimmed off the excess black paper, glued it to a piece of orange paper, added initials and the date, and made it into a card for the grandparents.  I think Chitown made some sort of wreath with ghostie footprints and pumpkin handprints.

You have exactly one week until Halloween; plenty of time to make your own Footprint Ghosties!  Have fun!

Accidents Happen: Fall & Head Injury

No other age group is as busy, curious, energetic, fast-moving, agile, and fearless as toddlers.  We anxiously await the day they take their first steps and then protectively cringe as walking leads to running and climbing and falling.  Of course with every fall comes a fear of head injury.  I know of a mother who strapped a helmet on her son from the age of 2 to 3 - simply as a precautionary measure!  Yes, toddlers fall ... all the time. They fall off their own feet.  They fall from pieces of furniture.  They fall from atop stools.  They fall from swings and slides.  They fall through ... windows.  

Yep, my best friend Missy - known her since high school, lived with her in college, see her at least once a year despite living in different parts of the country - and her typical toddler, Emmett, recently had the "fall through the window" experience, and she's agreed to share their story with you ... it's a good one!

It was a beautiful, sunny Saturday. We were enjoying a cool breeze in our backyard when our 19 month old son, Emmett, decided that he wanted a snack. Not wanting to lose that fresh, cool Colorado breeze when we went inside, I did something that I never do--I opened the windows. Don't ask why I never do this...perhaps in my gut I knew what would happen if I did. After handing my little boy a treat, I joined my hubby on the couch for a little chit-chat. Behind our couch is a ledge with a wall of windows behind it. I have never understood why this ledge exists. It serves absolutely no purpose. It's just there. A constant annoyance that requires me to say many, many times on a daily basis, "Emmett! Get down from there!"

On this particular day, I was distracted and didn't notice E making the vertical climb up to the ledge. All I know is that about thirty seconds after taking my seat on the couch, I heard a little bump. Not a loud sound, barely audible, in fact, except to a mother's ears. I looked up and noticed that the window screen was torn. And E was nowhere is sight. "Oh, my god, Joe...Emmett fell out the window!"

We immediately bolted out the back door to our patio. Sure enough, there was Emmett...lying on his back and struggling to get up like a turtle that has landed shell-side down. I ran over to him and picked him up (probably too quickly since I didn't know if he was hurt). He didn't appear to be in pain, and he didn't even cry...until, of course, he saw the tears welling up in my eyes and heard the panic in my voice. Then, the floodgates opened..quickly, loudly and without pause, for a good five minutes. Then all of a sudden, he saw our cat walk in front of us, said "CAAAAT!", jumped off my lap and ran to his little feline friend. I thought, "What the heck? Could that be it?" Although my husband insisted that he was okay (typical man), I called the Children's Hospital and spoke with a nurse. She asked how far he had fallen. Luckily, it was only about 3 1/2 feet, but he did land on paver stones. She asked if he had any bumps or bruises...nope. Just one little cut above his forehead. Is he falling down or dizzy? Nope. Complaining of pain? Nope. She said that since he wasn't showing any signs of head trauma and since the fall wasn't more than twice his height, our only course of action was to observe him for 48 hours. He had to sleep with us for two nights, and each night we had to wake him up and make him walk around the room to make sure he didn't have a concussion. Now, unfortunately for E (and us), he is truly like his Momma in that he DOES NOT like to be woken up, particularly for a leisurely stroll at 3 o'clock in the morning. He was mad, mad, mad and he let us know it. After 48 hours, I was finally convinced that we had escaped this little episode unscathed.

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As I read this story, I realize just how easily something like this happens.  And how scary it can be.  As parents it is tough to cover all the bases of child-proofing, and I think we must accept that falls will happen.  We can somewhat "prepare" ourselves for the more serious falls by knowing how to react, what to look for, and who to call.  This Falls: Safety Sheet from KidsHealth.org is a great place to start and a handy reference to print and keep on hand.

In addition to Missy's firsthand account, I would encourage you to read this article ... for some common sense reminders and tips:

Household Safety:  Preventing Injuries from Falling, Climbing and Grabbing 

Spek-tacular Offer

Remember these guys?  And their delightful sing-along songs?  And this delightful review I posted a while back? And the fabulous giveaway?

Well, if you aren't already listening to, singing-along with, and dancing a jig to the musical talents of The Speks, you are seriously missing out ... and YOU'RE IN LUCK ... as the Irish might say!

I just received this message and generous offer from Quince, one of The Speks:

We had a great response from your Spek-tacular review and to show our appreciation to you and your readers we have created a Discount Code called DVH so that your readers and friends can download our album as an MP3 for 3 Euro (that’s about $4.50) which is the lowest price for our music anywhere in the whole wide world! DVH can be entered as a Discount Code at checkout in Our Shop on our website.

Just to clarify, The Speks are offering readers of ToddlerBrain the chance to purchase their entire CD - all 17 songs - for less than $5!  Just enter the code DVH at checkout.  How can you possibly pass up that offer?!  Original, enjoyable, educational music all the way from Ireland can be yours ... right now ... just click :)

This is how Quince signs his email messages to me ... and I love it ...

As always, sing along and sing loud!

Oh, we do.  We do!  In fact, if I can capture it on video, I will post my sweet toddler singing along to number 16, Homeward Bound ... a song about a horse with lyrcis that go faster and faster.  It is so darn cute!

Caspar Babypants ... In Concert & Camera

I think we're officially groupies.  Caspar Babypants groupies.  How awesome is that?!  Natalie and I - along with a group of our mommy and baby friends - and as many other fans as could squeeze into a local library - saw a live performance of Caspar Babypants.

The songs were fantastic, and I felt super cool because I knew the words to pretty much every song.  Which probably has something to do with the fact that we've been listening to Here I Am! in the car, on the iPod dock in N's room, on the laptop while making dinner, ... all the time!  NHV even sings along in the car, and her sweet little voice just about melts my mommy heart!  And Caspar previewed a few new tunes from the upcoming release of his second CD.  I liked what I heard - and plan to buy More Please! when it comes out November 17.

The energy from the three of them ... Babypants on guitar and lead vocals, Babyshirt on percussion and general silliness, and Babyshoes on keyboards ... was contagious!  The threesome hammed it up for the kiddos and didn't take themselves too seriously.  Parents and kiddos were having an absolute blast!  Natalie danced and stayed happy for most of the hour-long show.  We did take a snack break and shared a "binky cuddle," but overall it was just perfect! 

After the concert, I stormed the stage to introduce myself.  Seriously, I was the first person up there.  I was somewhat starstruck at the chance to meet Caspar (aka Chris Ballew) - hey, I don't get out much :)  Like a dork, I introduced myself as ToddlerBrain - since we've meet via my blog and subsequent emails.  I think he recognized me ... or at least had a vague memory of my blog name.  I then promptly handed him my precious two year old and started taking pictures.  How pushy is that?!  He didn't seem to mind too much, and the pics are priceless.  When we talked about our day, Natalie mentioned Caspar with much enthusiasm, and even said, "Him hold me.  Mommy take picture."

Can't wait for the next Caspar Babypants show ... that's not during naptime :)

Accidents Happen: Choking

I know I've spent an exorbitant amount of time thinking about what to feed my toddler ... what she'll actually eat, what has some good nutritional value, what makes for a balanced meal, ... but I haven't spent nearly enough time considering the dangers posed by those foods.  Especially the danger of choking ... how to prevent it and what to do if/when it happens. 


This post was written by my good friend Deann.  Her daughter Sahara, a cautious and neat eater ... uses utensils like a pro, takes one bite at a time and barely needs a bib (the complete opposite of my own toddler) has had two recent choking incidents. 

It was a routine lunch time. My girl was having some dinosaur style chicken nuggets, green peas, and some other yummy lunch item that I can't remember now. I was trying to get the nuggets cut up a bit smaller when my sweet Sahara grabs my fingers and looks at me with eyes wide open in a mix of shock and fear. She was choking on one of those darn chicken nuggets. I tried not to panic and whacked her on the back a few good times and the chunk came up, thankfully!

It was a scary moment for both of us! I am so thankful that I am usually very close when its a meal time, I would have felt more than horrible to have walked away for too long during that one crucial moment and not been there to help her. The realization of the possible outcome is more than I can bear to think about.

We recently had a second choking experience at dinner with my in-laws and husband present. Sahara was doing so well at chewing up green beans, loving eating them as a matter of fact, when suddenly she was choking on one. She didn't quite get it chewed up well enough and most of the bean was intact and stuck in her throat. My husband actually did a mouth sweep to get it out and that also worked well, especially for the bean scenario. Once again, we were reminded to make sure that things are cut up, even if they seem to be handling chewing the food item with ease.

So, some rules that I've set up are 1) always cut up food in smaller pieces, even if you think that he/she is old enough to handle bigger pieces; 2) DO NOT walk far away!; 3) Keep an eye on the kiddo while they are eating; 4) DO NOT let them walk around with snacks, make them finish them sitting down while you are nearby

Here are a few tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics:

What can I do to keep my child from choking?

Do not feed children younger than 4 years round, firm food unless it is chopped completely. Round, firm foods are common choking dangers. When infants and young children do not grind or chew their food well, they may try to swallow it whole. The following foods can be choking hazards:

Hot dogs, Nuts and seeds, Chunks of meat or cheese, Whole grapes, Hard, gooey, or sticky candy, Popcorn, Chunks of peanut butter, Raw vegetables, Fruit chunks, such as apple chunks, Chewing gum

Dangerous household items

Keep the following household items away from infants and children:

Balloons, Coins, Marbles, Toys with small parts, Toys that can be squeezed to fit entirely into a child's mouth, Small balls, Pen or marker caps, Small button-type batteries, Medicine syringes

What you can do to prevent choking

Learn CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) (basic life support).

Be aware that balloons pose a choking risk to children up to 8 years of age.

Keep the above foods from children until 4 years of age.

Insist that children eat at the table, or at least while sitting down. They should never run, walk, play, or lie down with food in their mouths.

Cut food for infants and young children into pieces no larger than one-half inch, and teach them to chew their food well.

Supervise mealtime for infants and young children.

Be aware of older children's actions. Many choking incidents occur when older brothers or sisters give dangerous foods, toys, or small objects to a younger child.

Avoid toys with small parts, and keep other small household items out of the reach of infants and young children.

Follow the age recommendations on toy packages. Age guidelines reflect the safety of a toy based on any possible choking hazard as well as the child's physical and mental abilities at various ages.

Check under furniture and between cushions for small items that children could find and put in their mouths.

Do not let infants and young children play with coins.

Published online: 2/07

Source: Choking Prevention and First Aid for Infants and Children (Copyright � 2006 American Academy of Pediatrics, Updated 4/06)

Blogging Adventure of the eebee Kind

If you don't recognize this adorable little baby, you and your toddler have been missing out on the greatest thing to happen to developmental learning!

This is eebee ... and eebee's Adventures (videos, books, and more) are founded on the philosophy that every baby learns by doing.  Through the eebee lens, parents and little ones are able to see the power of play and the importance of discovery learning.  "eebee’s adventures focus on the developmental skills that babies are working on and use as the foundation of all future learning."

I've been a fan since discovering the eebee videos On Demand (when I still had cable).  NHV has her very own eebee doll, and our eebee DVD is one of her absolute favorites!  I've blogged about eebee before, and I recently mentioned eebee as one of my favorite options for toddlers watching TV.  Because of the blogging I've done - and the networking power of link back-tracking, I've also been in contact with Stephen Gass, the creator of eebee. 

Most recently, he bestowed on me a great honor and asked me to write a post for the eebee blog.  I wrote about the eebee-inspired Play Dates I've hosted through my moms' group.  This was a very exciting opportunity for me, and I hope to write for the eebee blog in the future! 

It would really mean a lot to me if you'd hop on over to the eebee blog, get a few ideas for hosting your very own developmental play date, and feel free to leave a comment, too :)

Whooo can resist these adorable owls?

Natalie has been all about owls for at least the past 6 months.

The current season and cooler weather seems like the perfect opportunity to share our favorite owl books as well as several variations on a Pinecone Owl craft idea.

Here's the basic idea ...

And several How-To Variations on that idea ...

Variation #1

this one came from Chitown Momma

Variation #2

Variation #3

Variation #4

Accidents Happen: Emergency Consent Form

No matter what kind of Accident Happens to your toddler, it's important that his/her caregivers know essential information and have your official permission to seek appropriate treatment.

The best way to have those things all in one place and in the hands of the caregiver ... an Emergency Consent Form.

This is one that was passed along from a friend. I tweaked it a little. This is what I use for my toddler. I found it especially helpful when hubby and I went out of the country - for our 10th anniversary - and Grammy came to stay with NHV.

The form can be downloaded as a Word document. Save it to your computer, edit it with your information and print it out. Or just print and hand-write the information.

Hope you find this useful!

Question of the Day - 2

As moms (and dads), we are suppose to have ALL the answers, right?! The big ones like the hows and whys. And the more mundane wheres - like my shoes? I tell ya, Alex Trebek's got nothing on the moms of the world!

It's a good thing we have each other to rely on. To share what works and what doesn't. To suggest a new approach. To tell about the latest and greatest and the oldies-but-goodies. To speak from experience. To learn from mistakes. To impart wisdom. To provide ah-ha moments :)

Allow me to pose a few toddler-related QUESTIONS for you to ponder. If you have some insight, please leave a comment ... start a dialogue ... let's build up our arsenal of ANSWERS.

What does your toddler eat for breakfast?

I am in a total breakfast rut. And I know I rely too much on carbs because that's what I like in the morning. Typically, my toddler eats multi-grain pancakes or waffles, half a banana or a few apple slices, and about 8 ounces of milk. Some mornings I make scrambled eggs with cheese or french toast. Sometimes NHV will tolerate a bowl of oatmeal, but it's not her favorite. Any ideas? Does your toddler eat the same thing day-after-day? What options do you offer?

Can't wait to get some ideas about breakfast for toddlers!

A Little Luck of the Irish ...

I had so much fun with this giveaway! Almost as much fun as traveling to Ireland for a weeklong getaway ... almost!


Thank you for humoring me with Skittle flavors, pot of gold finds, baby girl name choices, and most delightful, the heartfelt proverbs - you can read those at the end of this post!


The Winner ...
It seems my dear friend Chitown Momma (who has also done a guest blog for me) had the luck of the Irish on her side ... or maybe it was her numerous entries ... either way, she's our winner! Woo Hoo!

And here are those Proverb Entries I promised ... so sweet and creative!

Miss Mel said...
May you always have your silkies and sockies for the tearsrubber pirate and mermaid boots for the rain, warm milk in your Snow White cup,endless tickles to cheer you you, those 100 stuffed animal you each love near you,and all your heart might desire.

Raising Z said...
May you always have a smile that lights up the room,a George to cuddle, sunflower butter on toast,good friends to cheer you, family members who love and cherish you, and all your heart might desire.

Terri said...
May you always have magic kisses to heal your wounds, ice cream for the tears, prayers to calm your fears, a warm bed to crawl into, the power of love around you, and all that your heart desires.

Chi-town momma said...
This is for my toddler...May you always have cars for racing, your dog for snuggling, books for reading, music for dancing, giggles to cheer you (and everyone around you), those you love (who love you back even more!) near you, and ALL your heart might desire!!! Each night our prayer is "Dear God, Please keep Benjamin/Taylor Happy, Healthy and Safe. Amen!" If my kids are always blessed with these three wishes, life is perfect!!!

Epiphius said...
A house is not a home, but you'll always have a home in our houseWe'll give you everything you need, but not everything you wantWe wish for you unconditional love, enless belly laughs and a life full of light.