tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61183918911256403702024-02-20T11:46:51.473-06:00Little Crunchy MamaParenting with a crunchEscapedMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09086565686999503940noreply@blogger.comBlogger84125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118391891125640370.post-23100503181020256812013-12-26T14:41:00.000-06:002013-12-26T14:41:53.894-06:00Our Christmas MiracleLet me qualify this post by saying my family doesn't celebrate Christmas for religious reasons. We enjoy spending time with our family, exchanging gifts, abiding by decades-old traditions, and watching the children's eyes light up when they see that Santa has eaten his cookies and finished his milk.<br />
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This year, my three and a half year old son had three things on his wish list for Santa: a tower crane, a truck full of tools (you know, the one we saw at that one store, Mama!), and a candy cane.<br />
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With some intense internet searching, one cancelled order, and more desperate searching, we found the tower crane. A little detective work helped me figure out which store we were at when he saw the truck full of tools. I knew this was a very specific item and a substitute would not do. We were all set for Christmas. Just a 30 hour train ride up to Grandma and Grandpa's house (a whole other blog post...), and we'd be good to go. Of course there would be candy canes in Chicago. It's Christmas, there are candy canes everywhere. They practically jump into your pockets this time of year.<br />
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Or so I thought. We survived the 30 hour train ride. We survived the 2 hour drive to my parents' house in Christmas traffic in a Volvo that broke down twice on the way home. No problem. My mom informs me she hasn't found any candy canes in the stores, but I blow it off and figure she wasn't looking hard enough. I wrap presents like a woman possessed. Two days before Christmas, I realize no one has bought a candy cane yet, and we NEED a candy cane or Christmas will be ruined. So, my dad and I run out to the local grocery store for supplies and a candy cane. Except, get this, they're SOLD OUT of candy canes! I mean, really?!<br />
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We leave the grocery store with a cart full of food and no candy canes. This was one of those freezing cold nights. I think wind chill was something like -18. (Side note: I don't think that's even a real temperature. I think that's just what they tell you when it's too cold for the thermometers to work anymore.) As we were loading the groceries into the car, I noticed a Hallmark store next to the grocery store. I ran across the parking lot and ducked inside. Christmas paraphernalia abounded. Three clerks stood bored behind the register and looked up expectantly at me as I walked in. I asked if they had any candy canes. They informed me they were sold out and pointed to the grocery store next door. My face fell and I told them the grocery store was sold out too and that this stupid candy cane was the only thing on my son's wish list that we hadn't been able to get. I told them how proud I was of him for working up the courage to ask Santa for the things on his wish list all by himself. I thanked them and started to walk out. One of the ladies stopped me and told me to wait. She ducked behind the counter and pulled out a gift bag. Apparently there had been a gift exchange amongst the employees and her gift bag had two candy canes in it. She handed them to me and said, "Merry Christmas". Yup, I cried. I walked out into the -18 degree weather and the tears immediately froze on my cheeks (WHY DO PEOPLE LIVE IN THIS CLIMATE?!).<br />
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This random woman in a Hallmark store saved our Christmas and she will never know how much it meant to all of us. The holiday season can bring out the best and the worst in all of us. I was lucky enough to encounter the best this year.<br />
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EscapedMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09086565686999503940noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118391891125640370.post-29050263381504536472013-11-11T11:21:00.001-06:002013-11-11T11:21:42.283-06:00Bad days happenIt's happens to all of us. You wake up on the wrong side of the bed and you just can't shake the grumpiness. This was me, yesterday. After not nearly enough sleep, I woke up to hear the Eskimo shouting "MAMA!!!!!!!" at the top of his little lungs. And for some reason it just made me cringe. Maybe it was a premonition of what was to come. So, grumbling, I dragged myself out of bed to start the day. And what a day it was.<br />
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The Eskimo could sense my negativity from the get go. He asked why I was angry and I said I wasn't angry, just cranky and reminded him that he is usually cranky when he wakes up, too. I tried to shake it off and smile, but couldn't. The day continued in a downward spiral from there. We had planned to go on a family hike, but from that moment forward, the Eskimo decided he was going to do his very best to cause trouble. He's three. He's very good at causing trouble. By this time my husband, who had graciously made us all pancakes, was also starting to feed off my negative energy. More crankiness all around.<br />
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Long story short, yesterday involved a lot of yelling (I hate yelling), a lot of foot stomping, and many tears. All because I was cranky when I woke up. I am fully convinced that my energy dragged the rest of the house down. The worst part is, I knew I was doing it, but I couldn't pull myself out of my funk. Finally, by the time the Eskimo got up from his nap, I had managed to turn my attitude around. I did my best to maintain a smile for the rest of the day, and it almost worked. Almost. We had a disastrous bedtime routine followed by two hours of crying and bargaining before the Eskimo finally fell asleep. The last time I went in to talk to him, I asked him if he thought we could all do better tomorrow and have a better day. He thought we could. So did I.<br />
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Here's what's important. It's ok to have a bad day. It's ok for your kids to see you having a bad day. It shows them that we aren't perfect, no one is, and that's ok, too. It's how you recover from it that counts. We didn't let yesterday's misery bleed over into today. We tackled today head on and forgave ourselves and each other for everything that happened yesterday. I was a terrible mother yesterday; I will be a better mother today. Forgive yourself, forgive the ones you love, and move on.EscapedMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09086565686999503940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118391891125640370.post-25337075188785657322013-10-09T15:10:00.001-05:002013-10-09T15:10:56.633-05:00Care packages for the homelessSometimes you need a three-year-old to remind you of how to interact with others. We live in Austin and there is a large homeless population here. At almost every corner, there is someone holding a sign, hoping for spare change. After having lived in LA for 5 years, I am accustomed to ignoring the man or woman on the corner, occasionally offering a polite smile, but nothing more. It took my three-year-old to remind me that these folks aren't just shadows on the corner, they're real people with lives and needs. Today, at a stoplight, I looked up. There was a man on the corner with a sign and suddenly his face lit up and he started waving and smiling at our car. That's when I realized that the Eskimo was smiling and waving from his carseat. He saw the man on the corner, really saw him, and recognized that he was another person who was JUST as worthy of his smile and wave as any other human being. Three-year-olds dole out smiles to everyone, equally. I love it.<br />
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This turned into a teachable moment for us. The questions started coming immediately. "Mama, what does his sign say? Who is he? Why doesn't he have a home? What happened to his home? Can he build a new one?" Oh gosh, how to answer all of this? There are no easy answers. His sign said, "Anything helps. God bless. (sleeping bag)". That was the only question I could fully answer. Next round of questions, "Why does he need a sleeping bag? Where does he go when the lightening strikes and thunder come?"<br />
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The only way I could think to answer all these queries was to tell my son how lucky we are. Things have been very difficult for us financially lately, but we are SO lucky. We have a home, my husband has a job, we have two happy, healthy children. The Eskimo and I decided to put a care package together for this man. I asked him what he thought we should put in it. He suggested a painting and a drawing and a tool box so the guy could make a new house. Gotta love three-year-olds. The Eskimo loves to share his artwork with others and I think we will include a painting. However, I don't think my husband would be delighted if we were to raid his tools. ;)<br />
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So far I think we will include:<br />
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Toothbrush<br />
Toothpaste<br />
Disposable razors<br />
Soap<br />
Socks<br />
Snacks<br />
Water<br />
Hand-knit hat<br />
Homemade cookies<br />
An original painting by the Eskimo<br />
Sleeping bag (We have spares that haven't been used years. Without a doubt, this man needs one more than we do.)<br />
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I also saw a suggestion to include a stamped postcard that says, "let someone know you're ok". I love this idea and if I can manage to get my hands on some postcards and stamps in the next couple days, I'll include this, too.<br />
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I am so glad to have been reminded that no matter how difficult things are for us, it could be so much worse, and we really are very lucky. We don't have much extra right now, but we have enough that we can share.<br />
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What would you include in a care package? Have you done this with your kids? What did they think? I'll post updates and pictures of our care package on my facebook page. Follow along there!<br />
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<br />EscapedMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09086565686999503940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118391891125640370.post-3174052103449292922013-09-16T21:50:00.000-05:002013-09-16T21:50:55.261-05:00ContributingWe had dinner with friends the other night and inevitably we started talking about the balance between spending time with our kids and keeping our houses looking somewhat civilized. For my friend, it seemed to be an either/or approach. Either you're playing with your kids, or you're cleaning your house. I take a slightly different approach.While I think it's very important to take the time to sit on the floor and play with your children, I also think it's important to involve them in the day-to-day tasks of keeping the home in order. I want my children to be contributing members of society, and that starts in the home. Also, I want them to know how to clean and keep things orderly. It's a learned skill. :)<br />
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As often as possible, I find something that my three-year-old can do to help and contribute. He puts his dishes in the sink, throws his trash away in the garbage can, and has to pick up his own toys. Those are the basics. But, when I'm doing daily household chores, I involve him. When I empty the dishwasher, he sorts and puts away the silverware. When I do dishes, I fill up one of the sinks with his plastic cups and plates to "wash". Admittedly, this is messy. But it's a good excuse for me to mop the floor when he's done! When I'm wiping down the counters, I give him a spray bottle with vinegar and water in it and he wipes the cabinets for me. Again, this can get messy, but it's not as if he's getting the cabinets any dirtier than they were when he started. At age three, my goal is not for him to be a tiny slave who does all my cleaning for me. My goal is for him to understand that cleaning is necessary and for him to experience the sense of satisfaction you get from doing a job well. This is also a great way for us to spend time together while being productive.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Sorting silverware. This has been his job since he was 2.</td></tr>
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Here's a quick list of chores that kids can do. Keep in mind that you will probably have to do at least some of these over again, but the idea here isn't perfection. The idea is to help your little one be an involved, contributing member of the household and provide learning opportunities.<div>
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Dishes: Give them a sponge, a sink full of water and dish soap, and some dishes they can't break. Also, grab a huge stack of towels, because you will need them. Side note, I always make the Eskimo help me with cleanup at the end.</div>
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Dishwasher: Let them help you load and unload things that are not breakable. Sorting silverware is a great activity.</div>
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Dusting: Give them a duster and set them loose! The Eskimo loves this!</div>
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Laundry: Put the clothes in the washer, throw them into the drier, add the soap. The Eskimo also likes to "help" fold. I also let him put his own clothes in his drawers.</div>
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Wiping baseboards: Give them a damp rag and let them get to work. This can keep the Eskimo occupied while I'm trying to do something like cook dinner.</div>
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Wiping cabinets: Give them a spray bottle with a vinegar/water mixture and a rag. I provide some guidance with this; ie, there are spots on that cabinet, can you get them off? Look at all those spots on the dishwasher! Anytime there is a spray bottle involved, there's the potential that your child may end up having a little too much fun, so I recommend supervision.</div>
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Sweeping: Will he get all of the dirt off the floor? No. Will he get some of it? Maybe. But if he's learning, it's a win. We have a child sized broom that we picked up for about $10 at a toy store. You can also make your own by cutting down the handle on an adult size one.</div>
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General cleanup: We have a rule at our house: any toys left out overnight are going to Goodwill. So, whenever the Eskimo protests picking up his toys at the end of the day, I tell him, that's his choice, but anything left out will be gone the next day. Works like a charm.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Wiping the baseboards.</td></tr>
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A final note: this should be FUN. At age three, the Eskimo wants to help. He loves it. I'm encouraging it as much as possible because I figure it will only get worse as he gets older. But, if he is busy playing a game and doesn't want to do the dishes, that's fine. At some point, I will likely introduce a proper chore chart and allowance, but we're not there yet. My goal is for him to gain life skills and to look back and remember having fun cleaning with Mama. :)</div>
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Do your kids help out around the house? At what age did you start paying them for their work? What are their jobs?</div>
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EscapedMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09086565686999503940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118391891125640370.post-42230258243023667332013-09-11T15:14:00.001-05:002013-09-11T15:14:40.369-05:00Shampoo freeI spent a couple months visiting family with my kids this summer while my husband held down the fort here in Texas. We spent a month staying with my parents near Chicago, and a month staying with my 87-year-old grandmother up in Wisconsin. It was a lot of fun, but it was also shockingly difficult. A full month alone with a 3-year-old, a 5-month-old and and 87-year-old was challenging. I was basically a single mom for that period of time in a house that had no child-proofing what so ever. Yeah. My husband did join us for about a week at the end, so we managed to sneak in a little family vacation, which was wonderful.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7doHolSqeynEXdKl7IKLk_SJvXA-KKotgYLFtwG3UHxPXXl4U1rbJBi9mQ8rIBItQelhm8rzkWX0MnHBP4M3F5JGtTw01Nxw8lJZRuxL3AW204KkwEGA6El1GI28Es-UNuPNHqoJ6LL4z/s1600/IMG_4995.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7doHolSqeynEXdKl7IKLk_SJvXA-KKotgYLFtwG3UHxPXXl4U1rbJBi9mQ8rIBItQelhm8rzkWX0MnHBP4M3F5JGtTw01Nxw8lJZRuxL3AW204KkwEGA6El1GI28Es-UNuPNHqoJ6LL4z/s320/IMG_4995.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meeting Mimi-Mama for the first time</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Eskimo, watching golf with Mimi-Mama</td></tr>
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Anyway, the point of this prelude is that I didn't have a lot of time to do basic stuff like showering. The only time I could shower was when both kids were asleep. And the shower was in my grandma's room, so I had to shower in that tiny sliver of time after the kids are asleep and before she's asleep. So, I ended up showering every other day, at best. Vacation me doesn't mind not showering. Vacation me also stopped washing her hair. I've been wanting to go no-poo for a while now and this was the perfect opportunity. All the chemicals in shampoos and conditioners scare me and a lot of the "safe" stuff is super expensive. I should also note that since we shaved our heads for St. Baldrick's Day back in March, I still have pretty short hair. This has helped make the transition a bit easier.<br />
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Somewhere in mid-August (I neglected to note the date), I stopped using shampoo. I rinsed my hair thoroughly every time I showered, and was kind of surprised to discover that it was ok. My hair never looked gross. When we got back to Texas, I started using baking soda and apple cider vinegar a couple times a week to wash and condition my hair and the results are downright amazing. My hair is ridiculously soft and shiny. I'm kind of amazed.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look, ma! No shampoo!</td></tr>
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When I wash it, I mix about a tablespoon of baking soda with some water into a paste. I massage this into my scalp and then rinse. Then I pour a little bit of apple cider vinegar on my hair. I let it sit for a couple minutes and then rinse. One of these days I'm going to find a spray bottle for the ACV so I can spray it on my hair. I've found that pouring it onto my short hair inevitably gets it on my scalp and it can actually leave me feeling a bit greasy. The ACV serves as a conditioner and the results are shockingly good.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shampoo free for a couple weeks here.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The best family shot we managed to get. :)</td></tr>
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So, there you have it. No-poo is easy, super cheap, and I can't argue with the results. For some, the transition from daily washing can be a challenge. But keep in mind that the oil on your scalp is a supply-and-demand thing (like nursing!). If you strip the oil from your skin, your body will rush to replenish it. Some folks will likely experience a lot more oil than they're used to in the first couple of weeks, but your body should figure it out pretty quickly.<br />
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Give it a try and let me know if it works for you!EscapedMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09086565686999503940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118391891125640370.post-31055895173491487192013-04-16T16:01:00.000-05:002013-04-16T16:01:02.921-05:00Making Soap<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've had this package of glycerin soap sitting in my craft cabinet for a long time and it's been bugging me. I don't like items to sit around; I think everything should be useful and have a purpose. So, I decided I'd make some colored soap for the Eskimo. He recently received a set of cookie cutters in the shapes of different vehicles and I knew there had to be a way to melt the soap and pour them into these shapes. Here's what I came up with:<br />
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You will need:<br />
-Clear glycerin soap<br />
-Food coloring<br />
-Play-doh<br />
-Plastic wrap<br />
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First, get the mold ready. The only way I could get the soap to stay in the cookie cutter was to roll out some play-doh, put plastic wrap over it, and then press the cookie cutter down to create a seal around the bottom. This actually worked quite well, but if you don't have a perfect seal around the bottom, the soap runs everywhere. Do not despair, once it's cool enough to touch, you can peel it up, melt it, and try again. :) I also did this on a cookie sheet to spare myself the trouble of cleaning up the counter afterwards.<br />
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Next, grab your soap. I used either 3 or 4 cubes, depending on the size of the cookie cutter. Melt in the microwave for 30-40 seconds. Then, add 5-10 drops of food coloring. If you want really vibrant colors, go for 10. You could likely add a couple drops of fragrance at this point, but we tend to be a fragrance-free household.<br />
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Stir the food coloring in, and then very carefully pour the hot soap into the mold. I found it helpful to hold down the cookie cutter with one hand while I poured to keep it from leaking out the bottom. Then let it sit for about 30 minutes, until it's cooled, and there you have it!<br />
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These turned out really well and the Eskimo loves them. Definitely going to have to do something like this for a birthday gift for someone in the future.<br />
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<br />EscapedMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09086565686999503940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118391891125640370.post-56013269117055533942013-04-15T15:29:00.001-05:002013-04-15T15:29:33.637-05:00Coffee Play DoughSo my efforts to keep the Eskimo occupied continue. And this recipe was a gem. I found it <a href="http://kidsactivitiesblog.com/5906/mud-like-coffee-playdough" target="_blank">here</a> through Pinterest. Play dough made with coffee grounds. It looks like mud, which my little construction worker LOVED. Here's the recipe:<br />
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2 Cups of Flour</div>
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1/2 Cup of Coffee Grounds</div>
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1 Tablespoon of Instant Coffee (when it wasn’t dark enough)</div>
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1 Cup of Salt</div>
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2 Teaspoons of Cream of Tartar</div>
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1 Cup of very hot water</div>
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2 Tablespoons of oil</div>
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I found it to be a bit dry, so I added some extra water until it was a better consistency. The Eskimo got to help me make it, which made the whole experience even more fun for him. Word to the wise: do NOT leave a huge bottle of veggie oil uncapped and unattended on the counter with a two year old present. Not even for a second. Oops.</div>
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This kept him occupied for over an hour in both the morning and the afternoon. I sat at his table and played with him part of the time, but he really wanted to be left alone in his imaginary construction zone. Note: since this play dough was a bit crumbly, this was a MESSY activity. There were play dough crumbs all over the floor. We have stained concrete floors, so it wasn't a big deal to clean up as it was dry enough to sweep up the crumbs. But, if you have carpeting, I would recommend putting something down to catch the crumbs. Have fun!</div>
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EscapedMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09086565686999503940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118391891125640370.post-68284728834099638122013-04-14T19:08:00.002-05:002013-04-14T19:08:59.034-05:00Adjusting to life with two kids...Phew! It's been a crazy few months around here! Between having a baby, life with a newborn, and trying to complete my current term for my master's degree, life has been nuts. I take my final test for this term tomorrow morning, and then will be enjoying a well-deserved three month break from school. Hoping to spend that time getting my feet back under me and catching up on all the things that have been pushed to the side... like blogging and cleaning. :)<br />
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So I'm now the proud mother of two beautiful children. We all know the Eskimo, and now we have a new baby girl in the family.<br />
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She's nearly 8 weeks old already and has been a wonderful baby. But, we all know that newborns require a lot of attention. A LOT. We are still in the period of adjustment with the Eskimo. He's fantastic with his new sister, but has definitely been acting out in other ways. So, I'm trying to keep him busy. For my first few days home alone with him and his sister, this involved handing him my iPhone and letting him play games while I nursed and changed her. It worked, but I do NOT want my son turning into a game-zombie at the ripe old age of two and a half. We're kind of anti-screen-time in this house, and letting him spend that much time playing electronic games goes against a lot of what I believe in as a parent.<br />
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I decided I needed to come up with something creative to keep him occupied while I was trapped in the glider nursing his sister. I got out a small plastic tub, filled it up with a couple bags of beans and some diggers, and bam! Instant construction zone. :)<br />
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I can't believe how well this has worked. The beans are big enough that he can pick them all up when we're done with a play session. He also found some stacking cups and incorporated them into his play. I also limit the time that he's allowed to play with this. We keep it in the nursery and the only time he can use it is when I'm nursing and changing his sister. He loves it. I gave him his own special place in her room to store it and he proudly puts it away after each play session. So far, so good!</div>
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Oh, and glad to be back, y'all. ;)</div>
<br />EscapedMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09086565686999503940noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118391891125640370.post-58906275974795307102012-11-07T14:40:00.000-06:002012-11-07T14:43:20.475-06:00"Ice-cream" for breakfastOnce again, a really awesome pinterest find led me to a delicious and healthy breakfast. The pin led me <a href="http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2012/06/20/breakfast-banana-pops/" target="_blank">here</a> and the Eskimo got to enjoy "ice-cream" for breakfast this morning. Check it out:<br />
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Here we have half a banana, coated in Greek yogurt and rolled in organic puffs. Then stick it in the freezer overnight. I used some popsicle holders I had laying around, but you could use a wooden popsicle stick too.</div>
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The Eskimo went nuts for this and he thought he was getting to eat ice-cream for breakfast. I will deal with the consequences of my deception later...</div>
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I can see this becoming a staple in our house. We eat a LOT of bananas around here anyway and the summers in Texas are so unreasonably hot. I was thinking of trying peanut butter instead of yogurt. You could also roll in granola, as the original post suggests. I'm thinking banana, peanut butter, chocolate chip for afternoon snack. Oh yum, this pregnant lady is already getting excited about it. :)</div>
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Best part? These are SO easy. You just have to remember to make them the night before so they are nice and frozen. Ok, back to studying. Which is, by the way, why I've been so absent as of late. Trying to get as many classes completed as possible before baby girl is born!</div>
EscapedMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09086565686999503940noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118391891125640370.post-7476869679174240392012-09-14T22:10:00.002-05:002012-09-14T22:10:38.367-05:00Weaning the EskimoAnother post I have been avoiding is this one: the post about weaning the Eskimo. As far as I can tell, there are two reasons to wean your child: 1. It's the right time for you. 2. It's the right time for your child. If you're really lucky, those two coincide. I was lucky. The Eskimo weaned about a month after his second birthday. The last day he nursed was June 18th. Weird that I remember that, huh? But I do, and I likely always will.<br />
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I had recently discovered I was pregnant back in June, which explained why it was hurting SO much to nurse the Eskimo. Honestly, it felt like he was chewing on me. I couldn't nurse without cringing and it was reminding me of those first few painful weeks after we brought him home as a newborn. Weaning ended up being pretty simple for us. The Eskimo hadn't been showing nearly as much interest as he used to, and we happened to be heading out of town at that time. I decided the change in routine was a good opportunity to gently wean him. I just stopped asking him if he wanted to nurse, and stopped automatically sitting down to nurse with him at nap and bedtime. If he asked, I nursed him without hesitation, but with the change in our normal routine/location, he kind of forgot about it. He only asked once or twice and then we were done. It made me a little sad that it was so easy, but at the same time I was very grateful.<br />
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I am thrilled and blessed to have been able to nurse my son for so long. When I started our nursing journey, I really didn't expect to make it to six months. I was uneducated and we had a very rough start. But, six months came and went, a year came and went, we survived a couple of lengthy nursing strikes, and suddenly two years had passed. I'm sad that we no longer share that bond; I miss the one-on-one time we had before bed every single night. But we've replaced it with reading a story before bed, cuddling, and he recently learned how to say "I love you", which melts my heart every time. So, with the end of one stage, we begin another.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxFEOOUhkYCpWmQkEsRXw_AmMeO5eg6uI_94n6c4pHh-6cCTGZHqjSCej9ZMkHvGfyTc3sjj0wjW0dDXNVu9zGdEyY0ItSSBkJ64Q2z9yIUA7tqaYaaYIA67aDfJbcPr9bnQO7jdVNQvlR/s1600/IMG_4984.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxFEOOUhkYCpWmQkEsRXw_AmMeO5eg6uI_94n6c4pHh-6cCTGZHqjSCej9ZMkHvGfyTc3sjj0wjW0dDXNVu9zGdEyY0ItSSBkJ64Q2z9yIUA7tqaYaaYIA67aDfJbcPr9bnQO7jdVNQvlR/s320/IMG_4984.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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The Eskimo, nursing while reading his favorite book, back in January.</div>
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The Eskimo knows I have a tiny baby in my tummy and the other day, he pointed at my breasts and said, "Milk for tiny baby". Well, yeah, pretty much! I hadn't explained any of that to him, but he figured it out all on his own. He asked if he could have some milk, but my supply has completely dried up with the pregnancy, so I told him there wouldn't be any milk until the tiny baby got here. He was completely fine with that. Every so often now, he'll pat my chest and say "milk for tiny baby". It's adorable, but a little embarrassing when we're out in public. ;)<br />
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I think this is a really good opportunity to thank my husband for his unwavering support. There were a couple times when I thought I should just give up and wean, and he just looked at me and said, "why?". All the flimsy reasons I had at those times went flying out the window when I realized he not only supported me, but he thought what I was doing was great. We are both looking forward to having a brand new nursling come February!EscapedMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09086565686999503940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118391891125640370.post-67123794771404406872012-09-05T22:00:00.000-05:002012-09-05T22:00:59.307-05:00AnnouncementThis crunchy mama is expecting baby number 2 in mid-February! We're very excited about the new addition to our family and the Eskimo is excited about being a big brother. Well, as excited as a two-year-old can be about something like that. :) I had my 16 week check up yesterday and the Eskimo accompanied me. He saw me lay down on the table while the doctor looked at my tummy. Everything looked great, but when we got home, he spent the rest of the day trying to get me to look at his tummy while he laid down on the sofa. It was cute! He definitely understands that there's a tiny baby in Mommy's tummy, but when I asked him what we were looking for in his tummy, he said "two tiny babies". Umm.... I hope not! ;)<br />
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We had a wonderful summer and spent most of it up North with family and friends. The Eskimo and I head up to Wisconsin and Illinois every summer to visit and avoid heat. This year my husband joined us for the last two weeks of our trip and we all went over to Michigan to visit with friends, hit the beaches, and go canoeing. It was amazing.<br />
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We came back at the beginning of August and jumped right back into our daily routine, with one major change. We started potty training! The Eskimo has been ready for this for a while, but I didn't want to start potty training with him only to backslide when we had to sit in the car for two days in a row (yes, we drove all the way up to Chicago/Wisconsin/Michigan and back). It's been going really well, but some days I really think it would just be easier to leave him in diapers. He's great about using the potty, but only when I remind him. And I hate having to be in charge of reminding him all day, everyday to use the potty. I know, I know, I shouldn't complain as this whole process could have been a lot more difficult, but I really don't enjoy being in charge of when another person uses the potty. I'd rather just wash and fold the diapers and be done with it. But, as I said, it's going very well. We have the occasional accident, but only when I fail to remind him to use the potty.<br />
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Other than that, things have been going normally, if a bit more slowly than usual what with me gestating and all. Between chasing a two-year-old, working on my masters degree, and adding another shift at work, this mama has been tired lately! I hope that y'all had as much fun this summer as we did!EscapedMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09086565686999503940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118391891125640370.post-92116686769155743072012-06-05T14:31:00.001-05:002012-06-05T14:31:40.872-05:00Prep TimeWow, we have had a whirlwind couple of weeks around here. The Eskimo turned two at the end of May and there was much celebration to be had! It started off with a visit from Grandma and Grandpa (hooray!) and our first trip down to the Texas coastline. The Eskimo really enjoyed the "big wa-wa" and the sand. Then, when we got back from the beach, I had to dive right into preparations for his party. Everything went off without a hitch, and we had an amazing time. I'll have to write a separate post about the party sometime...<br />
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But this post is about prepping for this week. My husband is out of town for work, which is fine, but I realized that I've never actually been completely 100% alone with the Eskimo for that long. Sure, we've been away from Daddy for long stretches of time, but always to visit relatives who could take over when I needed a break. Now I know there are a ton of parents out there who do this whole child-rearing thing all on their own everyday and they're awesome at it. Huge props to all of you! But my slightly compulsive need to over prepare for everything has taken over.<br />
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If you don't know, my background is in education. That's what my undergraduate degree is in and I'm currently working on a masters as well. So, I like to plan and I like to be prepared. If there's one thing you learn about lesson planning, it is to prepare way more material than you could ever possibly use. Because there's nothing worse than standing in front of a classroom full of kids with nothing to do. I have taken that same approach to this week. I prepared an extensive list of activities that has a nice mix of outside time, art, learning, and quiet time.<br />
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My husband left on Sunday afternoon, and the Eskimo took this opportunity to skip his afternoon nap. Of course. So, I let him wallow in his crib for a little while, then brought him downstairs and made <a href="http://www.playdoughrecipe.org/playdough-recipes/oatmeal-playdough-recipe/" target="_blank">oatmeal play dough</a>. Normally my little man doesn't enjoy getting messy, but this play dough was a huge hit.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVp3l6JFeHI0lAQAV1TB6u0W-NRBFdf3GkZiadqvfcaVEMqVqWKe2A4R64EdgLN2aN9lS-47J6D1QGAgKRcYH_lH1Yknd1PufZ5W4-WhqMk8Vt6KNCaH9Plo8BcB7Ax7ibwx9oJV5Ocg8E/s1600/IMG_3159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVp3l6JFeHI0lAQAV1TB6u0W-NRBFdf3GkZiadqvfcaVEMqVqWKe2A4R64EdgLN2aN9lS-47J6D1QGAgKRcYH_lH1Yknd1PufZ5W4-WhqMk8Vt6KNCaH9Plo8BcB7Ax7ibwx9oJV5Ocg8E/s320/IMG_3159.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Thumbs up!</div>
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And I can eat it!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOuBPy9M1VJq-VX5aV7Gk53snn16xxtwNUWaOzrpcom3iQdqMTm8CDpsV67IVLhSpNChi701EDWoz0Yg9Fn0TGJaW4-zm3nc7F6-c0LLWk189LviH5zPZIRCN9jMsBZddzk7yPL2rivUJd/s1600/IMG_3177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOuBPy9M1VJq-VX5aV7Gk53snn16xxtwNUWaOzrpcom3iQdqMTm8CDpsV67IVLhSpNChi701EDWoz0Yg9Fn0TGJaW4-zm3nc7F6-c0LLWk189LviH5zPZIRCN9jMsBZddzk7yPL2rivUJd/s320/IMG_3177.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The key here was giving him utensils. An ice-cream scoop, a pastry cutter and a couple cookie cutters had him enthralled. This activity lasted over an hour. When it was all said and done, I didn't have the heart to throw the dough away. I mixed in some more flour, half a cup of sugar, two eggs, a little vanilla extract, baking soda, some coconut oil, and blue food coloring and baked "cookies"in the oven at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. I am not skilled at improvisational baking, but I figured these would work as dog cookies if all else failed. They are definitely not the most delicious thing I've ever made, but the Eskimo thinks they are his special cookies and he really enjoyed watching me make them out of his play dough. Plus, they're a pretty healthy snack, so I guess this one's a win. :)</div>
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So, we survived Sunday without too much trouble, in spite of the missed nap. My consolation prize was the fact that the Eskimo crashed immediately at bedtime. Phew!</div>
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<br /></div>EscapedMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09086565686999503940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118391891125640370.post-69151369861875046652012-05-16T15:30:00.002-05:002012-05-16T15:30:58.121-05:00Stir It Up!I accidentally discovered another fun way to teach the Eskimo his letters today. We have this hand powered egg beater that my grandma bought me a few years ago. Frankly, she was shocked to discover on her last visit that I didn't own one and insisted we go out and find one immediately. After much searching, we found ours at William's Sonoma and if I recall, it cost about $20. She was right, I use it all the time when cooking, but I discovered a new use for it today: learning! The egg beater is one of the Eskimo's favorite kitchen utensils to play with. I gave it to him this morning while I was trying to clean up the kitchen, and looked over to see him sitting on his foam alphabet mat, mixing away. I stopped what I was doing and started asking him to mix certain letters: Can you mix the D? Which letter are you mixing now? Look, you're mixing the P!<br />
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We went through about half the alphabet this way before he got bored and wandered off to play with something else. This reinforced the letters with which he is already familiar and gave him a chance to mix up some unfamiliar letters as well.<br />
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If you don't own one of these foam alphabet mats, you could always write the letters out on pieces of paper and tape them to the floor, but I highly recommend purchasing the foam letters. We use them every single day, whether he's using the mat as a runway to jump into my arms (my favorite way to wear him out before bed!), or he's stomping on letters as we call them out. These were given to us as a gift, but I think they are fairly cheap and they are definitely worth it.EscapedMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09086565686999503940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118391891125640370.post-15834411258142281062012-05-09T22:19:00.002-05:002012-05-09T22:19:54.640-05:00Cookie Sheet PaintingI've been a little bored with our regular painting routine lately and decided it was time to shake things up a bit. I started by putting four blobs of paint on an old cookie sheet:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL77Bfx0h6NHQn-g_nMp72O0BkBAP7Z8f1MIgQ13FeA8-_KmIiv5qjJlT8RigPZ8iaKXIO80WuIAeVecowvIPLNE6h7JTOgA2xLpo7qoEgeMojdsJ3a3F4fr2T6CkRoZeZF3XLlvG1-Qr0/s1600/IMG_2809.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL77Bfx0h6NHQn-g_nMp72O0BkBAP7Z8f1MIgQ13FeA8-_KmIiv5qjJlT8RigPZ8iaKXIO80WuIAeVecowvIPLNE6h7JTOgA2xLpo7qoEgeMojdsJ3a3F4fr2T6CkRoZeZF3XLlvG1-Qr0/s320/IMG_2809.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Then, I gave the Eskimo a silicone basting brush that I have never once used for basting... might as well get some sort of use out of it! I let him spread the paint all over the cookie sheet with the brush, and inevitably, his hands. Then, I took some paper and pressed it onto the cookie sheet. Voila!<br />
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These are some of my favorite pieces of art that the Eskimo has created. I apologize for the complete lack of action photos. This very quickly turned into an activity that needed a high level of supervision as the Eskimo was pretty sure the paint needed to be spread to every surface within arms' reach. Great opportunity for him to practice impulse control and for Mommy to practice deep breathing. ;)</div>
<br />EscapedMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09086565686999503940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118391891125640370.post-89557504622914203172012-04-24T14:39:00.000-05:002012-04-24T14:39:13.670-05:00No-Cook Overnight OatmealI've been on the hunt for new breakfast ideas recently. I'm getting a little tired of our usual rotation. We tend to eat a lot of eggs, some waffles, french toast, and whatever else I can dig up. But I find it really difficult to be creative in the mornings before I've had my coffee. And I can never seem to get a cup of coffee until the Eskimo has eaten. So I'm caught in this horrible breakfast catch 22. Or I was, until I found a recipe for <a href="http://www.theyummylife.com/blog/2012/03/293/Overnight%2C+No-Cook+Refrigerator+Oatmeal+--+A+healthy+breakfast+made+in+mason+jars+in+six+different+flavors%21" target="_blank">Overnight, No-Cook Refrigerator Oatmeal</a> on Pinterest. Bless you Pinterest, bless you.<br />
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So far I've made the blueberry maple one and the apple cinnamon recipe. Both were delicious. Though I felt like there was way too much cinnamon in the second. Gave the Eskimo a little rash on his face where he smeared it and the taste was overpowering. I also used frozen blueberries as that was all we had and it turned out just fine.<br />
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Anyway, just a quick post to share a delicious breakfast idea that you can make the night before! Brilliant!EscapedMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09086565686999503940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118391891125640370.post-81657446180207078822012-04-16T14:43:00.001-05:002012-04-16T14:46:23.483-05:00More Discovery BottlesI've been experimenting with some more discovery bottle options. Some of my inspiration was obtained <a href="http://pre-schoolplay.blogspot.com/2011/09/discovery-bottles.html" target="_blank">here</a> and some of it came from the materials I have around the house. While digging through my craft supply cabinet I discovered I had a lot of baby oil. I think some of us was given to us at the Eskimo's baby shower over two years ago and some of it I purchased for activities. Regardless, none of it had ever been opened and I decided to do something with it. One of the bottles I made is filled with baby oil, glitter, a couple drops of food coloring, and some plastic beads. I wasn't really thinking when I put the food coloring in there. It was really late last night, and I had intended on dying the oil. However, food coloring and oil don't mix. But what ended up happening was way cooler. When you shake the bottle, not only does the glitter go all over the place, but the food coloring separates into tiny little droplets in the bottle. And because the oil is thick, the glitter takes a nice long time to settle. I love it. :) FYI, the glitter is silver, so all the green you see in there is the food coloring. I also have lucked out because my sister in law uses these tiny water bottles and has agreed to give them to me when they're empty. We use reusable water bottles in our house, so I would have had to go out and spend extra money otherwise. Score!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMU2Q9rh_Px2nLDj3sbkb6j6zejNCzGpTGHcEeTtDFE89YogLHfE8SzEqaSnk08Vv8LL20F6kYt_OimGiR-NMVLlAPG2SJHH_Q2BsWnJrtQQDPCtc15iL5LN0LVxbvKlTHvDSXMoQKwqOj/s1600/IMG_5870.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMU2Q9rh_Px2nLDj3sbkb6j6zejNCzGpTGHcEeTtDFE89YogLHfE8SzEqaSnk08Vv8LL20F6kYt_OimGiR-NMVLlAPG2SJHH_Q2BsWnJrtQQDPCtc15iL5LN0LVxbvKlTHvDSXMoQKwqOj/s320/IMG_5870.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The second one I made was inspired by the link above. I actually got the Eskimo to help me with this one. We got out the pipe cleaners, I cut them up, and he put them in the bottle. He loves being a helper, so this was right up his alley. Also good for his fine motor skills, even if he did manage to get some of the dog and cat hair in the bottle with the pipe cleaners. :) Then, we went over to Teacher Heaven and bought a magnet wand for $2.09. Check it out:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiy7RVM1qO2mzmBP-_n60Ih-_0Tljy7S-a1Pwfu0pydaR1uvSC8ko1HwuKKq-VEluxx1tUSSnnBRzgabpew6whRwNJsFNX_HM9pjDQK9dD7cijGx56sIzrscWQA6Ug5gQ5YFSQouvQ_aPj/s1600/IMG_5866.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiy7RVM1qO2mzmBP-_n60Ih-_0Tljy7S-a1Pwfu0pydaR1uvSC8ko1HwuKKq-VEluxx1tUSSnnBRzgabpew6whRwNJsFNX_HM9pjDQK9dD7cijGx56sIzrscWQA6Ug5gQ5YFSQouvQ_aPj/s320/IMG_5866.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBz6AHuQcsdYSmzvzSyowONvtmTyRvay4Ggv3wjBCZtiXenVhPoxq3nabr_Mlk77BaCGU3DT3FfGOA4Vj79NUqO1O3OduS6UJVfvvd5NduP6dmmZYjaFUI-c8W0QTaBOHMnaafQ8F8xLEG/s1600/IMG_5868.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBz6AHuQcsdYSmzvzSyowONvtmTyRvay4Ggv3wjBCZtiXenVhPoxq3nabr_Mlk77BaCGU3DT3FfGOA4Vj79NUqO1O3OduS6UJVfvvd5NduP6dmmZYjaFUI-c8W0QTaBOHMnaafQ8F8xLEG/s320/IMG_5868.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Neat, right? This was, of course, completely fascinating. He experimented with sliding the magnet up and down, and pulling it away suddenly to watch the pieces fall. He also experimented with using the front of the magnet, the side of the magnet, and the end of the magnet. I think he got the most out of this one because he was involved from the beginning. He even helped me drink the water yesterday. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Before you ask, yes, I hot glued the lids on. I'm hoping to keep these discovery bottles (and <a href="http://littlecrunchymama.blogspot.com/2012/01/more-discovery-bottle-action-and.html" target="_blank">these</a> and <a href="http://littlecrunchymama.blogspot.com/2012/01/discovery-bottles.html" target="_blank">these</a>) around for a while. I'm slowly adding to our collection with an end goal of having enough to rotate them daily over a 2 or 3 week period. Hopefully that will keep the Eskimo from getting too bored with them. Now that we have a magnet wand, I hope to do many more magnetic discovery bottles. Fun!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>EscapedMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09086565686999503940noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118391891125640370.post-14374156989213601502012-04-15T23:33:00.000-05:002012-04-15T23:33:21.728-05:00Ideal vs Reality MommyI have this picture in my head of the ideal mom that I want to be. Some days I get close to that ideal. Many days I do not. Ideal Mommy cooks a unique breakfast, lunch, and dinner every single day with organic fruits, veggies, and whole grains. Reality Mommy sometimes makes mac'n'cheese out of a box (at least it's organic!) and is not above throwing a handful of Cheerios on my son's highchair tray for breakfast. Ideal Mommy does all the dishes, the laundry, cleans the house, and is generally perfect. Reality Mommy does some of the dishes, a little laundry, checks Facebook and then goes outside to play with the Eskimo. Ideal Mommy is happy! And cheerful! And enthusiastic! Reality Mommy needs another cup of coffee. Ideal Mommy showers everyday, applies makeup, and looks fantastic. Reality Mommy is still in her pajamas.<br />
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Sometimes I torture myself with Ideal Mommy. But mostly, I keep this image around as a goal. I never expect myself to achieve perfection in all arenas at the same time. We all know those moms who seem like Ideal Mommy. They have a spotless house, are masterful chefs, throw beautiful parties, and always look gorgeous. Maybe they know something I don't. Perhaps they've latched onto the secret of Motherhood and someone forgot to send me the memo. We all do it to some degree, but I try not to measure myself against other mothers too much. I look to my child to see how I'm doing. He's happy. He's thriving. He's having fun. I must be doing something right.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMO5o-5HiwUwKL0YZZJBbwsch8EwTDwc7L1oJ2ERDcuezN5A1Md72CVgKlTTiM806iSfsEJKeE-XT-gyJA_d1S5rp_vw5_TMdSvRV8hQC7izbR2Oe18LCGOjNnqEtBFVZqSpWWm1q8D9o/s1600/IMG_5669.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMO5o-5HiwUwKL0YZZJBbwsch8EwTDwc7L1oJ2ERDcuezN5A1Md72CVgKlTTiM806iSfsEJKeE-XT-gyJA_d1S5rp_vw5_TMdSvRV8hQC7izbR2Oe18LCGOjNnqEtBFVZqSpWWm1q8D9o/s320/IMG_5669.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>What. Haven't you ever seen mac'n'cheese out of a box with frozen veggies?</i></div>EscapedMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09086565686999503940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118391891125640370.post-30173051123280193932012-04-13T14:43:00.001-05:002012-04-13T14:48:31.686-05:00Bathtub PaintingAs the Eskimo gets older and more independent, I'm having to work harder to find things to entertain and challenge him everyday. Because when he's bored, all of us have a miserable day. For some reason, he seemed to really be missing Grandma and Grandpa today. Unfortunately, they live halfway across the country, so a quick visit is not really an option. We called them and chatted for a few minutes, but this didn't quite satisfy the Eskimo. So I needed a distraction. And a good one at that.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I decided to try something I've been meaning to do with him for a while now: painting in the bathtub. First, I got him really excited about it while I gathered the materials. I asked him if he wanted to paint (yes!). Then I asked him if he wanted to paint in the bathtub (YES!!). I told him that he was going to get to paint all over the bathtub and the walls and he started getting really excited. I had him help me pick out the paints and the paintbrushes and by this time, he was practically tearing down the baby gate at the bottom of the stairs. We went up to his bathroom, stripped him down, put him in the tub, and gave him his paints. I gave him no instructions or guidance. I let him do whatever he wanted to do with this one.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMY0WI_pMPd6Bd_G4oLO3Uws7GLR4qkyOe6-TGw4Qx5auDUmWPlLzpVZGf-2verS34fkjOZ7TWTyvJTMO8DlaLkmpugPtoaRj79ZV9kxhGcEvWKTIyVM8ns6vrLTX98Zh3ch7yRzwVm8ve/s1600/IMG_5793.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMY0WI_pMPd6Bd_G4oLO3Uws7GLR4qkyOe6-TGw4Qx5auDUmWPlLzpVZGf-2verS34fkjOZ7TWTyvJTMO8DlaLkmpugPtoaRj79ZV9kxhGcEvWKTIyVM8ns6vrLTX98Zh3ch7yRzwVm8ve/s320/IMG_5793.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We put the paint in separate bowls, although next time I will likely just pour it on the floor of the tub for him. :) I also provided him with brushes, but the only thing he really used them for was painting himself.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_sZ5xCRG5WvBX648P9grVyCjUZ_85PFgTO1dRgDZRiQO0aQmx7IjT0TgwsxCoCqx_zG7wgWF7JrVEanqoCGXLpLg15l8KX3H6ZIqv3JbGKEH23dtPq76x1Gm_-8bAEeyhAMsBT5O8d8vt/s1600/IMG_5807.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_sZ5xCRG5WvBX648P9grVyCjUZ_85PFgTO1dRgDZRiQO0aQmx7IjT0TgwsxCoCqx_zG7wgWF7JrVEanqoCGXLpLg15l8KX3H6ZIqv3JbGKEH23dtPq76x1Gm_-8bAEeyhAMsBT5O8d8vt/s320/IMG_5807.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Lots of finger painting. He LOVED spreading the paint on the walls and layering the colors. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidwt6FSVikgJNqMAsTC6wT0DxTdmo8YXYwV2s7DvvRLbkhOmsbf11a-_2LiphT5tuvj5Nq8hGnVxgXxgVUDdgqqGbICiXIv3u6IMCl6u__Q-i2u8cCZCeuDhJizsJj4tiDD9wj3-slYXLs/s1600/IMG_5825.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidwt6FSVikgJNqMAsTC6wT0DxTdmo8YXYwV2s7DvvRLbkhOmsbf11a-_2LiphT5tuvj5Nq8hGnVxgXxgVUDdgqqGbICiXIv3u6IMCl6u__Q-i2u8cCZCeuDhJizsJj4tiDD9wj3-slYXLs/s320/IMG_5825.jpg" width="316" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Don't you love how he managed to paint a heart shape on his tummy?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCWE8RtQOw0G5XpZNhggMYLoCJCaYGlpSPwZDcYhBooFXWAbH5Wg6tLTXgVNoP6_pufkX7cJrSUaiByl1sx4GgO5M0btyriwFa4VvbGL-PVL-G2ppqTocP7FKGYdSdFB3SYALEuWcOdOHN/s1600/IMG_5822.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCWE8RtQOw0G5XpZNhggMYLoCJCaYGlpSPwZDcYhBooFXWAbH5Wg6tLTXgVNoP6_pufkX7cJrSUaiByl1sx4GgO5M0btyriwFa4VvbGL-PVL-G2ppqTocP7FKGYdSdFB3SYALEuWcOdOHN/s320/IMG_5822.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sorry, all my good, smiley photos of him involved a lot of full frontal nudity and I'm not <i>that</i> liberal. ;)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As you can imagine, this was a MESS. But here's where I get bonus points for efficiency. It was time for me to clean that bathtub anyway, so I figured we might as well make an even bigger mess before I bothered. Also, we have one of those lovely shower head hose attachments that make cleanup a breeze. We actually got it long before the Eskimo came along so I could give the dogs baths in the tub in the winter. :) The other thing you can use for cleanup is your diaper sprayer if your bathroom is set up properly. The toilet with our diaper sprayer attachment is right next to this tub, so it would be super easy to spray it down. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Anyway, this was a TON of fun and the Eskimo loved it. If you do this with your little ones, be sure to post pics on my Facebook page! I'd love to see them!</div>EscapedMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09086565686999503940noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118391891125640370.post-6547978803586448002012-04-12T14:32:00.000-05:002012-04-12T14:32:43.234-05:00Goodbye WisdomAs stated in a previous entry, I had my wisdom teeth removed this week. Let me start by saying this is an event I have dreaded since high school, when it seemed all my peers were having their wisdom teeth removed. Mine have always seemed to be fine, and I am of the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" mentality. But sure enough, here I am, a couple months shy of 30 (!!!), and I get a big old cavity in one of my wisdom teeth. I opted to have all four removed at once so I'd only have to go through this whole ordeal one time.<div><br />
</div><div>My appointment was for 8:30 in the morning. I was instructed to stop eating and drinking 8 hours before my surgery. I chose midnight as my cutoff and as a result found myself chugging massive quantities of water at 11:45 at night. I have this really weird thing about being dehydrated and the thought that I wasn't allowed to drink water or I might DIE during surgery was freaking me out.</div><div><br />
</div><div>My alarm went off bright and early the next morning and I dragged myself out of bed to turn on the shower. Showering in the morning is this super-rare luxury for me these days and I was kind of excited at the prospect. But apparently I was being punished for something because our hot water heater decided to take a crap. Which meant, on the morning of my surgery, I was forced to take a COLD shower. Not happy.</div><div><br />
</div><div>We arrived nice and early for my appointment, just the way I like it. I was pretty sure I was about to die from dehydration at this point, but no one else seemed concerned. I was ushered into a room and set up in a chair where they took my blood pressure and gave me some laughing gas. The nurse asked me if I'd ever had laughing gas before and I said no. Now I know why I've always turned it down. It just feels wrong. Like you're floating a couple inches above your body, but in a bad way. Also, it smells funny. But they didn't actually give me an option here, and since I was on the brink of death from dehydration, I didn't argue.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Things started to get fuzzy after this. I remember a rather large nurse telling me how great I was doing. All I could think was, yeah, I'm doing a great job of laying here. I should get a gold medal for this. The other half of my brain was furiously plotting my escape route. Another nurse came in and told me again how well I was doing, and that they were right there with me. Um, where else would they be? I know this was supposed to be comforting, but when you're floating two inches above your body and are severely dehydrated, you kind of just want everyone to shut up so you can concentrate on how to escape. Am I right?</div><div><br />
</div><div>At some point the oral surgeon came in to put an IV in my arm. This was the reason they had given me the laughing gas: because they didn't think I could handle getting an IV without it. Really? I don't know what kind of people they see on a daily basis, but I'm not that scared of needles! He too told me how well I was doing and I finally resigned myself to the fact that there was no escaping this situation. The nurses and the doctor were too efficient. Too quick with their needles and blood pressure cuffs. The last thing I remember is a nurse putting a heart monitor on my finger.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Next thing I knew, I was sitting in a chair in some sort of recovery area with my husband and the Eskimo sitting next to me. My cheeks were stuffed with gauze and I really WAS about to die of dehydration. I somehow managed to communicate this fact through the gauze and the haze of the anesthesia and a kindly nurse brought me a bottle of water. I immediately spilled about 70% of if down my front, but I did manage to get some in my mouth. The Eskimo must have been totally freaked about by the way I looked because he didn't even try to steal my bottle of water. </div><div><br />
</div><div>It's been a couple days, and I guess I'm recovering well. My husband took two days off work, partly for me, and partly because he had to replace our hot water heater. Thank goodness he's so handy since we just spent our life savings to have four teeth removed from my head. I think the best part is that I got to laze around in bed for TWO DAYS with no feelings of guilt. I didn't spend the entire two days in bed, but I could have! And I managed to finish up my schoolwork for the semester before my surgery, so there's been nothing hanging over my head. I guess it hasn't been quite as awful as I was anticipating, but I do kind of miss my teeth.</div>EscapedMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09086565686999503940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118391891125640370.post-52430713255466218542012-04-08T21:51:00.000-05:002012-04-08T21:51:48.647-05:00Medications and BreastfeedingI want to share with you an invaluable resource for moms, especially breastfeeding moms. <a href="http://kellymom.com/" target="_blank">Kelly Mom</a> has time and again answered questions for me that my doctors couldn't. Believe it or not, ladies, a lot of doctors don't know a whole heck of a lot about breastfeeding. In fairness, for most doctors, it's not their specialty. But every time I've had to go into a doctor's office and have required a prescription over the last two years, I've needed to ask if the medication is safe to take while breastfeeding. Cue the blank stare and the overly-cautious "no".<br />
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For example, I am getting my wisdom teeth removed on Tuesday. I had a consult with the oral surgeon last week and he gave me a list of prescriptions. I immediately asked if they were safe to take while breastfeeding. He said no, and that I should plan on pumping and dumping for an additional 3-4 days after I stopped taking the medication. He said the narcotics transfer into breast milk and that's bad for the itty-bitty guys. I told him my nursling wasn't itty-bitty, and that he was going to be two. He had a look of undisguised shock, and stuck to his original answer. I tried to get additional details out of him, but he was in a rush and headed out.<br />
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Okay then, time to turn to the wisdom of the internet. I took the list of medications prescribed to me and looked them up on Kelly Mom. All of them were rated as relatively safe. In fact, all but one were rated as completely safe to take while breastfeeding. The narcotic prescribed was rated as "moderately safe". This is where you need to make a judgement call and decide how much you trust your doctor. Honestly, I don't know my oral surgeon. I've spent a grand total of about five minutes with him. I'm far more willing to put my trust in the collective wisdom of Kelly Mom than I am in him. Maybe I'm being stupid, but I've not been steered wrong by Kelly Mom yet. And due to bad experiences and advice I've received in the past from various doctors in regards to breastfeeding, I hesitate to take them at their word. I will likely take a day or two off from breastfeeding and hope that I don't need the narcotics any longer than that. But I doubt I will wait the full 3-4 days after I stop taking them to start breastfeeding again. I haven't had to pump in a really long time and I'm not keen on dusting the old breast pump off now.<br />
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Before you start to feel hopeless about finding a good doctor, I would like to say that my GP has been awesome. I found him about a year ago, after having gone through multiple doctors, and he has been unbelievably supportive. He has told me multiple times how wonderful he thinks it is that I'm still breastfeeding my son and always relays stories of how his wife is still breastfeeding their child, who is of a similar age to the Eskimo. He has always been knowledgable and has gone the extra mile to find medications that are safe for lactating mothers.<br />
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The point of this post is not to convince you that you shouldn't listen to your doctors. You should. But you should also be an advocate for yourself and your child. Ask LOTS of questions. And if they can't answer them, do some research and come back and ask again. I plan on talking with the oral surgeon again when I go in on Tuesday. If nothing else, maybe I can convince him that he should offer alternative pain relief for lactating moms. Maybe the next one who comes through won't have to go through all of this. :)EscapedMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09086565686999503940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118391891125640370.post-87161501386378288462012-04-04T14:56:00.000-05:002012-04-04T14:56:35.667-05:00Keep them busy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you have a toddler, or have ever had a toddler, you probably know the key to keeping them happy is keeping them busy. Like I said in a previous post, sometimes <a href="http://littlecrunchymama.blogspot.com/2012/03/do-over.html" target="_blank">household chores</a> are the perfect way to occupy a toddler. We had a repairman out to our house today to fix some trim that had some pretty severe water damage. The Eskimo was fascinated by this stranger with a tool belt and a saw. Of course, he wanted to help, but that wasn't really conducive to the repairman safely completing his work in a timely manner. Plus, I recognize that while I think my child is adorable and I love having him "help" me with tasks, strangers probably don't want a toddler underfoot while they're trying to get their work done. As a compromise, I got out the Eskimo's tools, and let him "repair" a 2 by 4 at a safe distance. This allowed him to watch the repairman without having to be underfoot. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHxsjyOdMaoamkqpqTV_hQrFeCQbKEoIBgqLvuyKrHo2zvMidPGAFQURMz9M8H9v9-1mSGjXrWGYkRe2hmB4QCr4tskWqB3zbMcOSf8ltub4sWWFfVH1vgSnbjx9zOHLuG9eX83GugCkOu/s1600/IMG_5695.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHxsjyOdMaoamkqpqTV_hQrFeCQbKEoIBgqLvuyKrHo2zvMidPGAFQURMz9M8H9v9-1mSGjXrWGYkRe2hmB4QCr4tskWqB3zbMcOSf8ltub4sWWFfVH1vgSnbjx9zOHLuG9eX83GugCkOu/s320/IMG_5695.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Letting your toddler help you with daily tasks is another way to keep them busy. I know this can be really annoying. Believe me, I know. But the Eskimo wants so badly to do whatever I'm doing and I have a feeling this eagerness to help will not last long, so I'm taking advantage while I can. This morning I was stuffing the dogs' Kongs for the week. To do this, I fill them up with dog food and put a little plug of canned food on them and stick them in the freezer. I don't really enjoy this task, but it's something I have to do at least once a week. Normally I try to occupy the Eskimo with something else, but he wouldn't leave me alone today. I looked down at him today and realized there is absolutely no reason why he can't "help" me with this task. All he had to do was put kibble inside the Kongs. This was great fine-motor practice for him and the only real "danger" involved was the possibility of him eating some dog food. And if dog food is the most disgusting thing that goes in his mouth today, I'm going to call it a win.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Yes, it's easier to do it yourself. It always takes longer to do something when there's a toddler involved. I think that's written in stone somewhere. This is where it's important to remember that you're the grownup, and it's your job to teach the child (I have to chant this to myself sometimes). But if you don't give your toddler opportunities to practice, he'll never learn. One day, the Eskimo will be able to take over the task of stuffing the Kongs every week. Now if I could just get him to clean the bathrooms..... </div>EscapedMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09086565686999503940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118391891125640370.post-85543698755020631762012-03-09T15:32:00.000-06:002012-03-09T15:32:02.741-06:00Wall artWe have this gigantic calendar in our house that we use in a desperate attempt to keep our lives organized. Once a month, I get to rip of an enormous calendar page, and the Eskimo gets a great big blank canvas. This month, I taped February to the wall and gave him some crayons. He was coloring "on the wall", and he thought it was amazing.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyBuiY01Vc6rVLtGtntqQ7Ex__t_pzGl4l58l6nJm75-NsLZNiCjIWXiCep0Qk2qi1uZ5b0kQOfSHKcMZFKHOYDIFaLsCeMYwNgNZDdDs3zkLqKWhe1zY77a3-lwY1h-pCKUjsLqTo5Ql-/s1600/IMG_2437.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyBuiY01Vc6rVLtGtntqQ7Ex__t_pzGl4l58l6nJm75-NsLZNiCjIWXiCep0Qk2qi1uZ5b0kQOfSHKcMZFKHOYDIFaLsCeMYwNgNZDdDs3zkLqKWhe1zY77a3-lwY1h-pCKUjsLqTo5Ql-/s320/IMG_2437.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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A couple of qualifiers: I don't leave crayons/markers/paints/etc laying around the house. Some folks do, and that's their call, but the Eskimo gets plenty of opportunities to be spontaneously creative; he doesn't need free access to art materials. He also knows where I keep them, so he can come and ask me for access at any point during the day if he'd like to color. So, teaching him to "draw on the wall" is not super dangerous in our house. This was also a highly supervised activity, as are all artistic endeavors in our home. I don't just sit there and watch, I will usually get in there and color with him, whether it's on my own sheet of paper, or sharing with him.<br />
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Teaching the Eskimo that it was okay to draw on the wall as long as he kept the crayons on the paper was fun, too. He started walking around the house, pointing at different surfaces, waiting for my reaction. Cabinet? No! Floor? No! Paper? Yes!!! Big smile. He's still working on boundaries and self control, so this was great practice for him.<br />
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We left the calendar sheet up for a couple of days and he went back to it many times, adding to his beautiful scribbles. Maybe next month we'll paint!EscapedMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09086565686999503940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118391891125640370.post-84722655646438454632012-03-09T15:15:00.001-06:002012-03-09T15:16:20.542-06:00Get to work!The Eskimo had a rough day yesterday. Not for any particular reason as far as I can tell, but he was just cranky all day. We all have days like that. What really stuck out to me was the trouble he was having transitioning between activities. He was fine when we visited Daddy at work in the morning, but had a fit when it was time to leave. He had a great time Skype-ing with Grandma and Grandpa, but melted into a puddle of tears when they had to go. Outside time was a blast until we had to come in for lunch and because it had started raining. All day was like this. Luckily, he took a two hour nap, so I got a break for a couple hours. But he woke up from his nap in a similar mood, and the "fun" continued.<br />
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We reached a breaking point when my husband was trying to prepare some food in the kitchen and the Eskimo was underfoot around the very hot stove. That's when I decided that this was the perfect opportunity for the Eskimo to learn how to do the dishes. That's right. I filled the kitchen sink up with warm, soapy water, dumped a bunch of his plastic cups and utensils in there, and let him make a huge, soapy mess. It worked.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnMZZxLVsDqGOMgjkn4ylnsT0Pwq2z2iJj6-9rRoM9BKIpK3Fk5k5wJROExHIm9pzCbJ9ds3n67PorsbOAEATEdenSKz2U-rgbOBOEJvbDjWJhWdVm66iJf8Uer19RmLRbBYsTmsvmzZK9/s1600/IMG_2451.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnMZZxLVsDqGOMgjkn4ylnsT0Pwq2z2iJj6-9rRoM9BKIpK3Fk5k5wJROExHIm9pzCbJ9ds3n67PorsbOAEATEdenSKz2U-rgbOBOEJvbDjWJhWdVm66iJf8Uer19RmLRbBYsTmsvmzZK9/s320/IMG_2451.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You see that? Yeah, that's an enormous smile on this boy's face. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSawo5v3UunqhZCbRFqxDXfmkWH-4QO1-FboxeBRR_kkRbZCsFjPWAdlx1_dmwJP8vVwPeo1Tc6nmdS2Azx5JGrJDR_EL2KWJPoVDXFTH-AJx06MI6Y1oZP-BooFZBNfjlpXb-WsVYvK2z/s1600/IMG_2457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSawo5v3UunqhZCbRFqxDXfmkWH-4QO1-FboxeBRR_kkRbZCsFjPWAdlx1_dmwJP8vVwPeo1Tc6nmdS2Azx5JGrJDR_EL2KWJPoVDXFTH-AJx06MI6Y1oZP-BooFZBNfjlpXb-WsVYvK2z/s320/IMG_2457.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here he was experimenting with squeezing the sponge. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8RFm4BAzRpgR-zSegtPWhLtnDFtqMJmJv9R6w_W_0b160hpg7AePBxMBObJsRLSvtmaZZPFG8-D_3AT_oFdR-dYJmrVqtjjbPG45-hB1FtRTjyI0gmI8wdy_lhOxDHcG4L61JJjoKMqwF/s1600/IMG_2463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8RFm4BAzRpgR-zSegtPWhLtnDFtqMJmJv9R6w_W_0b160hpg7AePBxMBObJsRLSvtmaZZPFG8-D_3AT_oFdR-dYJmrVqtjjbPG45-hB1FtRTjyI0gmI8wdy_lhOxDHcG4L61JJjoKMqwF/s320/IMG_2463.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And filling the cups and dumping them was also enormous fun.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This kept him going until Daddy was done in the kitchen and it was safe for him to wander around being cranky again. He did start to pitch a fit when we emptied the water from the sink, but then I gave him a towel and asked him to help me clean up the (enormous) mess he had made. He really enjoyed wiping up the floor and it distracted him from the fact that his fun was over. I'm always amazed at how entertained the Eskimo is by doing regular household chores. I need to keep this in mind for the future! Play doesn't have to involve toys. When you're a toddler, everything you do is a form of playing and learning. Might as well teach him how to keep house!</div>EscapedMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09086565686999503940noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118391891125640370.post-51166708317728615852012-02-28T20:46:00.001-06:002012-02-28T20:48:17.016-06:00Lacing CardsThe Eskimo and I made a trip over to Teacher Heaven today. More like stay-at-home-mama heaven! Wow, I could have spent a small fortune in there! Luckily, I refrained, and stuck (mostly) to my list. I wanted letter flashcards in English and Spanish as we're going to be starting a letter of the week theme around here. The Eskimo has already shown a lot of aptitude for and interest in letters, so I thought we'd make it official. However, it was one of the things NOT on my shopping list with which we had the most fun this evening: lacing cards!<br />
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</div><div>If you've not seen these before, they're basically a picture printed on heavy card stock with holes punched in it. The idea is for the little one to lace a shoelace or similar string through the holes, practicing fine motor skills. You could definitely make these yourself very cheaply, but the set was only $3.99 and I kind of knew I was never going to get around to making my own. This has been on my to-do list for a while, so I was pretty excited to see them at the store.</div><div><br />
</div><div>I showed the Eskimo what they were for and let him at it, trying to give as little guidance as possible. By the way, the whole process made me twitch. I wanted so badly to reach in there and "help" him by doing it for him. Incidentally, this would not actually be helping him. Doing it for him robs him of the experience of figuring it out. So, I modeled the behavior and then gave minimal verbal instructions for his first couple attempts. Then, I sat back and watched. Yes, he laced! No, he did not do it perfectly or sequentially. But that wasn't really the point of his first attempt. The point was for him to learn a new skill and work on his fine motor skills. And one day, when he can sew his own button on his shirt, he'll thank me (okay, he probably won't actually thank me, but he should!).</div><div><br />
</div><div>Look at that concentration:</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1IphRDiLaG062NmNOqXRmiTque9UcMsTWtP5FX7iXaAwVz7sdEO8ZRRtsi1KAqcZVN6M5uV-zdrOuIaYcw_FizSP1s_2mgTNiy6mzbGp2osrLXHTCC89EIMrtbodGzbIrQV2h2Oohlfhg/s1600/IMG_2395.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1IphRDiLaG062NmNOqXRmiTque9UcMsTWtP5FX7iXaAwVz7sdEO8ZRRtsi1KAqcZVN6M5uV-zdrOuIaYcw_FizSP1s_2mgTNiy6mzbGp2osrLXHTCC89EIMrtbodGzbIrQV2h2Oohlfhg/s320/IMG_2395.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm not going to lie, the Eskimo also tried to turn this into a fatal weapon. He was swinging that zebra card all over the place. He was also whipping the extra shoelace around until one end hit him in the face. Natural consequences, eh? I did warn him it was going to happen, but some things you really have to learn on your own. So, the Eskimo's lessons for the night: basic lacing skills, and plastic-tipped shoelaces sting when they whack you in the face. My work here is done.</div><div><br />
</div>EscapedMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09086565686999503940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118391891125640370.post-42200425412936430972012-02-27T21:02:00.001-06:002012-02-27T21:04:50.796-06:00Popcorn!So I read <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/12/01/7-foods-should-never-eat/" target="_blank">this article</a> on seven foods to avoid. On the list was microwave popcorn. It's not something we eat often, but I do enjoy the simplicity and deliciousness of a bag of popcorn. However, I'm not keen on ingesting chemicals that can cause cancer and infertility. We found a simple solution. Here's what you need:<br />
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Popcorn Kernels<br />
Paper lunch bag<br />
Tape<br />
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Put about 1/4 cup of popcorn kernels into your paper bag. Fold the top over once or twice and put a piece of tape on it to hold it closed. A word to the wise: do NOT fold it down too much. Your popcorn will need room to expand and it will make the bag explode if you aren't careful. Don't ask me how I know this; I just do. :) Microwave for 2-3 minutes, or until there are a few seconds in between pops. It took about 2 minutes in our super-powered microwave.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkDW1PMS-qPI_swns_QH39IhB0P-7_RRrjoYKz9lMyM4ygW3IWtEohN-ZLWgPzgXPPkPBP9nPxefuCIzzA0Nc0NSc4X_8ngQ1bnL2mITCqDTYzn8Fc6M3nI2i9vHqohTd98JDyAJHQo8Ah/s1600/IMG_2380.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkDW1PMS-qPI_swns_QH39IhB0P-7_RRrjoYKz9lMyM4ygW3IWtEohN-ZLWgPzgXPPkPBP9nPxefuCIzzA0Nc0NSc4X_8ngQ1bnL2mITCqDTYzn8Fc6M3nI2i9vHqohTd98JDyAJHQo8Ah/s320/IMG_2380.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
We ate ours plain, but you can add whatever seasonings make you happy. I think I will put a little Lawry's Seasoning Salt on it next time. This is a great snack for the little ones. The Eskimo got a huge kick out of listening to the popcorn POP. Enjoy!EscapedMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09086565686999503940noreply@blogger.com2