Monday, January 26, 2009

So I have a confession. I am in love with the Disney Channel. It's the only thing I watch anymore. Not really surprising with 2 kids, but I watch it without them as well. My absolutely favorite show is Phineas and Ferb, followed by Imagination Movers. I really like all the teeny-boppers music from the Disney Channel, too (well, most of it). Yeah, I know, I love hard core music, screamo, but, I really am digging the Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus (but not Hannah Montana, ugh), and Demi Lovato.

I really like the Disney Channel because they're family friendly, I don't have to worry about language, nudity, sex, alcohol, or the like. It seems like no matter what you watch anywhere else, even commercials, contain unnecessary sex, drugs, and alcohol, no matter the time of day. Some of it borders on porn, some of it is porn (have you seen the Levi's commercials?). Even though it doesn't "show" anything, it doesn't leave room for imagination. I don't want to watch that, let alone my children. So Disney it is for us.

Monday, January 19, 2009

Teaching Time

I have decided that the babies and I need to get some structure, and some learning time in. I need to make a schedule that we stick by, I kind of have a schedule but it needs to be better. I found this really cool website that gives you weekly ideas on how and what to teach about. Letteroftheweek.com starts from age 0 to age 8.

The week 1 theme for 2 year olds is cows. Then you can print out coloring pages, there's a vocabulary word, book suggestions, activities, colors, shapes, numbers, and so on. Every week is a new learning experience.

Since I plan on homeschooling, this should get us to a great start.

Friday, January 9, 2009

Potty training. A stressful time for parents, and toddlers alike. It is no fun, and the first time going through it is scary. So, when do you know it is the right time? I love Parents magazine, because they always have helpful tips, so here goes.


If you're not sure when to introduce the potty, consider more than your child's age. Watch for these six important signs, says Elissa Levine, MD, a pediatrician in Charlotte, North Carolina. (It may still help to know that girls are typically ready to start training at around 2 1/2 and boys at about 3.)


Your child shows an interest in the potty process. For instance, he follows you into the bathroom or wants to flush.

She tells you when she's about to poop or pee or you can see from her squatting, grunts, or facial expressions that she's about to go.

He wants to be changed after pooping.

She's not constipated.

You have a reasonable amount of time and energy to devote to this intensive, sometimes frustrating process.

There aren't any major events going on in the family, such as a new baby or a recent move.


Cool, so we're ready. Where do we start? Here's more advice from Parent's:


After your child understands what she's supposed to do on the toilet, follow up with these strategies:

1. Provide your child with her own potty chair so she's low to the ground and her feet touch the floor.Some children have a fear of falling in the toilet or of just hearing it flush, notes Maria Luisa Escolar, MD, a developmental pediatrician at the Center for the Study of Development and Learning at the University of North Carolina. Although a potty chair is generally placed in the bathroom, you could also put it in the playroom or child's bedroom, where she'll become comfortable with its presence over time.

2. Place your child on the potty seat at the same time each day so this becomes a regular part of his daily routine. You may want to try this first thing in the morning, says Dr. Escolar, but other times of the day may work better for your child. Leave him there for a few minutes and see if he goes; then take him off, even if he hasn't.

3.Ask your child regularly if she has to go to the bathroom, and encourage her to tell you if she does . Adopt a consistent lingo for words associated with toilet training. Whether you say "poop" and "pee" or "urinate" and "defecate," choose words that are not offensive or embarrassing or that describe toileting functions in a negative way.

4. When your child does go in the potty, be sure to reward him. Hugs, praise, or small rewards (like placing stickers on a calendar to mark his achievement) all help to reinforce the behavior. Don't use food as a reward.

5. If your child fails to go in the potty, don't scold or punish her. And if she's had an accident, simply clean up and encourage her to keep trying. Then move on to another activity without making a fuss.

6. Once your child has been successful at toileting a few times, consider dressing her in underwear so that she becomes keenly aware of being wet or dry. Some parents prefer to put their kids in disposable training pants until they're fully trained. But, Dr. Wolraich warns, training pants are still absorbent enough that they may delay the process.

7. Continue toilet training even if you go on outings. Take along a potty seat, if possible, and remember to ask your child if she has to go to the bathroom. Take an extra pair of clean underwear, too, in case of an accident.

8. When your child has learned to use the toilet consistently during the day, you may be able to take her out of diapers at night. Avoid giving her too many fluids before bedtime, and make sure she uses the toilet so that she's less likely to wet her bed.

Above all else, remain calm and matter-of-fact about the entire process. Keep in mind that accidents will happen, and when they do, avoid making a fuss or criticizing your child.

For more information on potty training go to http://www.parents.com/toddlers/development/potty-training/

More adventures to come. Wish us luck.

The Babies

Ahhhhhhh, my babies are growing up. They are so amazing. They are learning new things everyday. I have quite lengthy conversations with my 2 year old (is she supposed to talk and understand this much?), she sings and learns songs extremely fast. I do believe she has a very musical future in store for her, and I plan on helping her learn as much about it as she can. She my 2 year old comes up with the craziest things. Her new favorite phrase is "That's terrible." Now, I don't really know where she picked that up from, but its funny because everything is terrible. "O my gosh" is another new phrase. I say that all the time, so no questions there.

Yesterday, I sat them down for lunch, and walked away to make a bottle. Here's what I heard, "OK buddy, let's pray. Jesus thank you for food... some unrecognizable words... thank you for mommy and daddy... more unrecognizable words... amen." I'm not really a sappy person or a crier, but that made me almost cry.

The boy is learning all sorts of new stuff, too. He's been walking for a couple months now. He's so proud of himself, too. He walks so cute, like he just got off a horse, and always has to carry something while he walks. The other day he tried to swipe food off his sisters tray, I told him no. He looked at me, shook his head and said "NO" And he's showing more interest in talking real words, now. His vocab. consists of Mama, da, mamama (grandma), papa, poop, and dude (I think he thinks that's his name, we call him that so much).

A Day In The Life, one of my favorite Beatles songs. It shows the tragedy of life. All you have to do is look at the headlines in the newspaper and see tragedy, fear, uncertainty... and yet, I still find joy in the little things. The smiles my children give me, the looks my husband gives me (yes I do still catch him checking me out, and yes it makes me smile). My babies are growing up too fast. Granted one's almost 2 and one just turned 9 months, it's still too fast. I love watching them learn, watching them play and interact with each other. I think we adults could take lessons from them. Everything should be a learning experience, we should love others unconditionally (even if they just took a toy from you).

The two year old is starting to become afraid of everything. Toys she used to love just freak her out, a small noise and she'll come running, the phone rings and she is in my lap for a half hour. The world is a big, scary place, the unknown and sometimes even the familiar are scary (hmmm... I don't think that ever goes away). I'm trying my best to help her not be afraid of everything, to still take risks, but I also can't dismiss her fears. So, for now, the world is scary and mommy will hold you for an hour if needed, but I'll also be egging you on to jump on the bed, play in the rain, and have a little independence.

Back to adulthood, the world is scary, the unknown and familiar are scary. Just look at the headlines, nothing is safe anymore. Who knows if this time next week we will still have our houses, or jobs (well, I will still have my job). If the stock market crashes, what next? So I guess I will just have to trust God, because I can't trust anybody or anything else right now (or ever), and try not to be afraid of the unknown (but honestly I am and don't know how not to be). What happens in next weeks headlines? Well, I can't worry about that.

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