Unplugged Project: Rockin' Out

Here is our first attempt at participating in the Unplugged Project weekly blog carnival hosted by Unplug Your Kids.

Since I was drawing a blank with what to do for this week's theme, which was rocks, I did a good ol' Google search and came across this.

Perfect! A rock garden seemed just right for a toddler.

So, off we went to Grandma's house to collect some nice rocks!

We didn't have to go far...Grandma's driveway has plenty to choose from!

Here is Little Bit with her shiny red rock collecting pail (i.e. leftover Valentine's Day bucket).  She's starting to lose interest at this point.

So, I helped her out a bit!

Once we had enough rocks we brought them inside for a good scrubbin'. I can tell she'll make an excellent dishwasher one day (yes, I'm ready to start delegating chores).

Back at home we got our supplies together to paint the rocks. Little Bit couldn't wait to get started!

 

And the painting commenced.

Once the rocks were dry, we "planted" them in a nearby flowerbed.

Tadaaa! Here we have a very blurry picture of our completed painted rock garden!

 

I really enjoyed this project. We were able to stretch it out over the span of a few days with each step being nice and short...perfect for a toddler's attention span! And, we got to spend time outside in the beautiful weather we had this week...awesome!

I can't wait to see what next week's theme will be. Sound like fun? Come join us!

 

Pee Pee in the Potty: The Poop

We've got the pee pee thing down pretty good. Little Bit has had very few accidents in her underwear and when she does it's usually because we got caught up in doing something and didn't take her to the bathroom. Also, she likes to play this game where she says "Potty!" and we say "Ok, let's go to the potty." At which point she turns in the opposite direction and runs away giggling with excitement at the prospect of engaging us in a game of chase. Occasionally when she does this we don't get her on the potty in time and she leaks a little.

However....pooping is another issue. She poops in her sleep, during which time she wears a diaper, so we never get the chance to try to get her on the potty. There have been times when it seemed like she needed to poop, but she wouldn't sit on the potty for very long and then she would eventually go to sleep and poop in her diaper.

So, today we had an incident. Little Bit said "potty" so I immediately brought her into the bathroom and helped her pull down her little shorts so that she could sit. She refused to stay seated and her little shorts and underwear came off while she ran out of the bathroom. I figured she just didn't really need to go and was messing with me. Unfortunately, a few minutes later I heard a very upset little girl at the top of the stairs crying, "Mommy, poopy!"

Sure enough, she had left a little dropping in the hallway in front of her bedroom door. I think she then must have felt around her behind to see what happened because she also had poop on her hand. The poop on her hand then made it to my bedroom door as she used her hand to help support herself as she walked.

Keeping my cool, I swiftly scooped her up and placed her on the potty seat that we have on top of the upstairs toilet, which is very handy since she can't get off of it by herself. I proceeded to clean her up and reassure her that everything was going to be ok, while she continued to cry take stock of everything that was taking place:

"Poopy on fingers!"

"Poopy on thumb!"

"Poopy in there!" (pointing to the hallway)

"POOPY EVERYWHERE!!!"

I couldn't help laughing at this point as she sounded like she was channeling Dr. Seauss. It was very cute, and very sad.

And for some reason, I felt very mommish in the midst of this poopy debacle. I don't know that I can explain it, but there was something self-affirming about being able to react tenderly and sensitively to my daughter's vulnerability while wiping away all of the yuckiness. It was like, "Yes, this is what Mom's do, and I am a Mom." Anyway, I kind of liked it (but I'm sure I would be find if I never had to do it again.)

So this is where we are now. Some did manage to fall into the toilet while she was sitting there, which I pointed out to her and explained to her that the toilet is where the poop belongs. Here's hoping that it'll be just like the pee and it'll all just "click" now!

Spreadin' the Word: Yogurt and Rice

A couple of days ago I was grocery shopping and went to the YoBaby yogurt section, which is never with the "normal" yogurt and I have to hunt it down any time I go into a new store....But I digress. So, I found the YoBaby. And, there was something new there:

It's organic yogurt made with 1% milk fat and they've added folic acid, DHA, and vitamin D. Just some of the things that pregnant and nursing Mommy's need. I'm still nursing Bitty Baby, so I picked some up to check it out. It's quite yummy! It only comes in packs of four, though, which can get expensive, so don't forget your coupon!

 

Also, I've been checking out this absolutely wonderful digital scrapbooking blog and I learned about a site that will donate rice to the World Food Program based on how many vocabulary words you get right from a little vocab quiz they give you. Actually, it's pretty addictive. It gives you progressively more difficult words until you start getting them wrong and generates what level you are. You can just keep playing and playing and playing trying to increase your level, all the while rice is being donated for each correct word you choose. Very cool. FreeRice.com

 

Links for New Moms

It seems like a lot of people have been getting knocked-up lately. A couple friends of mine are expecting babies over the next few weeks and one of them is a first-time mom. I recently sent her an email with a list of links that I found myself turning to time and time again. Of course, nothing beats following your own gut instincts on many matters (or a call to your ped), but when you want some quick answers here are some links that get the job done:

http://www.babycenter.com
http://parenting.ivillage.com/  (the message boards are great)
http://www.askdrsears.com
http://www.kellymom.com (awesome breastfeeding resource)
http://www.preschoolrainbow.org/animal-rhymes.htm
http://www.parenthacks.com/
http://www.preschoolexpress.com/
http://www.hipgirlclips.com/forums/  (if you're having a girl you may enjoy making her hairclips yourself)
http://www.oompa.com/  (when Toys R Us just ain't cutting it: "NO BATTERIES. NO BLINKING LIGHTS. NO CARTOON-THEMED TOYS. PERIOD")

And in case you're considering using cloth  ;)
http://www.diapersafari.com/diaperinfo/newtoclothdiapers/
http://www.cottonbabies.com/index.php
http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-ppdiapers
http://www.diaperpin.com/home.asp

 

Ok...Did I leave any out? Tell me which sites or blogs about parenting you have found helpful. I don't have anything to give away, but I will be very appreciative!

And....We're Back!

I hope everybody had a wonderful Easter!  Ours was very full between church and visiting lots of family.

I spent some time last night trying to go through and look everyone's blogs to see if I missed anything. It looks like a lot of people were sick or went on vacation. We had some sick time here, too (but unfortunately no vacation).

 

And, here we go. In a nutshell, here are some things that I probably would have blogged about:

Daddy-O left his posh traveling gig for one a little closer to home (only a 55 mile commute each way). At least he'll be home every night, though! Yay!

I bought my first mei-tai baby carrier from this EBay seller. Her work is beautiful and very well priced compared with others. But, after wearing it a few times I went back to my tried-and-true pouch sling. You just can't beat the convenience that a pouch sling offers and I'm all about convenience!

I started decorating the nursery...finally! My goal is to completed before my girls start voicing their own opinions. I can't wait to post some pictures! It's very girly. Pinks and blues and florally stuff everywhere. I think it will be my favorite room in the house!

I've spent a lot of time perusing Etsy. Can't get enough of it. I think I might start highlighting some of the sellers here every now and then. Ok...since I mentioned it. Here's a little something that makes me smile:

The seller's name is Cotton Bird Designs. If I had an extra $40 laying around I think I would like to perch him somewhere in nursery so he can sing sweet lullabies to my babies.

We have continued potty-training Little Bit. But we seem to be caught some where between trained and not trained. I'll post a more comprehensive update soon.

So we're all caught up...now let's have a bloggaly blogging good time!