Well... I've been working on this blog of a bit over a month now. Hard to believe sometimes. I've been making some changes to the template/format. Hope you like them!
Each month I plan on changing the poll, Blake's list and pictures.
I hope you are enjoying reading the many adventures of Blake and the bits and pieces of how toddlerhood can be related to older children. If you have any comments about the posts (positive or negative), pleaseeee feel free to write them. I will not be offended. I recognize that most of what I say is Just MY Opinion!!
The other thing I would like to do is to add a list of blogs at the bottom of the page. Soooo if you have your own blog that is about motherhood (or something else for that matter) and would like me to add a link to it on my blog, just let me know. Either post it in a comment or drop me an e-mail at Lori.Mommyto2@gmail.com
I look forward to another month of adventures!!
Cleaning is fun?
When I was teaching, I always found it funny that children found cleaning (well some forms of cleaning) as a reward. I never had to ask twice to get someone to wash a table... and erasing the boards was like gold! Now cleaning up toys.... that was often a challenge.
I find with Blake it is the same way already. He gets so excited when I start the laundry. He wants to help put the clothes in and close the door. Then he goes and gets out the broom and/or mop and starts sweeping/moping the floor. I just have to laugh.
He wants very much to help out with most anything I do. When you open the fridge he is there to close it (often before you finish getting out what you need). He is great about moving his chair and any other chair that needs to be moved, or that he thinks needs to be moved.
He has even helped pick up his toys from time to time. Now if I could only get him to do it all the time... or even better... get him to empty his diaper pail! (o:
I find with Blake it is the same way already. He gets so excited when I start the laundry. He wants to help put the clothes in and close the door. Then he goes and gets out the broom and/or mop and starts sweeping/moping the floor. I just have to laugh.
He wants very much to help out with most anything I do. When you open the fridge he is there to close it (often before you finish getting out what you need). He is great about moving his chair and any other chair that needs to be moved, or that he thinks needs to be moved.
He has even helped pick up his toys from time to time. Now if I could only get him to do it all the time... or even better... get him to empty his diaper pail! (o:
Teething isn't fun (for anyone!)
You've heard the expression "When Mommy's not happy, no one is happy!" Let me tell you... when a toddler is teething.... NO ONE is happy. Blake recently had 1 molar and 2 eye teeth break through the gum line... finally. Of course, he is still working on the other 3 molars and 2 eye teeth. The last few nights have been a struggle for him. I swear his teeth must break through the gums at 3:30AM! Because that is his miserable time in the night. And if he is awake... I'm awake. Of course he falls right back to sleep eventually with a bit of help), but me on the other hand I'm usually awake and can't fall back to sleep for an hour or so.
I do sympathize with him. I can only imagine the pain of having so many teeth working in the gums all at the same time. And he can't do anything about it himself. But, why 3:30 am... why not 12:45 in the afternoon?
Oh well... it's part of the growing process.
I do sympathize with him. I can only imagine the pain of having so many teeth working in the gums all at the same time. And he can't do anything about it himself. But, why 3:30 am... why not 12:45 in the afternoon?
Oh well... it's part of the growing process.
Exploring is learning
When I was a teacher I fought many an administrator over the concept that play is learning. That children need to have time to explore and experience things just as they need structured time to demonstrate the knowledge. On more than one occasion I explained a lot of my teaching methods and strategies as facilitating the learning process.
Now that I have a child of my own I look at this with even stronger opinions. I listen to people talk about teaching their 1 and 2 year old the colors, shapes, how to do this and how to do that. I just think... they need to play, they need to explore, they need to learn what they will learn. Don't get me wrong Blake is exposed to colors, shapes, body parts, letters, numbers and lots and lots more. I just don't sit down and say "This is red" "This is your nose" I feel it is a lot more natural to say... "You have the red truck." "Look that has blue wheels."
I have yet to sit down and look at what developmental milestones he should be meeting by "X-age" so that I can help him master them by that time frame. Now if I was worried that he was lagging behind would I be searching out where he should be, and where he is.... probably. But, this isn't the case. I watch him learn. I watch him explore. I watch him grow. I provide opportunities to grow and learn... isn't that what a mother does?
Now that I have a child of my own I look at this with even stronger opinions. I listen to people talk about teaching their 1 and 2 year old the colors, shapes, how to do this and how to do that. I just think... they need to play, they need to explore, they need to learn what they will learn. Don't get me wrong Blake is exposed to colors, shapes, body parts, letters, numbers and lots and lots more. I just don't sit down and say "This is red" "This is your nose" I feel it is a lot more natural to say... "You have the red truck." "Look that has blue wheels."
I have yet to sit down and look at what developmental milestones he should be meeting by "X-age" so that I can help him master them by that time frame. Now if I was worried that he was lagging behind would I be searching out where he should be, and where he is.... probably. But, this isn't the case. I watch him learn. I watch him explore. I watch him grow. I provide opportunities to grow and learn... isn't that what a mother does?
Growth
You watch your child grow in so many ways, but it is interesting to see the connection between the various forms of growth. I look back to a year ago and think... Wow he's gotten so big! Wow he's learning so much! Wow his personality has developed and blossomed and you now are seeing who he will be as a person.
Some days I'm amazed at the new things he is doing. Whether it's opening the doors or climbing the stairs... you think look at the physical development he's made. But, at the same time look at the intellectual development it took to get there too. Just think about opening the door. He had to not only grow tall enough to reach the handle, but he also had to watch how it worked. He had to think about reaching up, pulling the handle down, and pushing the door at the same time. He also has learned what open and close mean. He knows how to close a door without shutting his fingers in it. It's amazing to me!
As a teacher you have to think about the connections that a child needs to make to learn the very simple and the very complex. They can not learn to write a word without knowing how to write a letter. They can not learn to write a sentence without learning to write a word. But, as parents do we really step back and think about what you teach your child now and how it effects the next step? I know I don't always. I just guide him to learn what I feel is next developmentally. Or, what he shows an interest in next. At the same time, it still amazes me the connections he makes without me even trying to help him make them!
Again... again... again
Read it again Mommy... ok he doesn't say that exactly, but he might as well! Blake has probably 20-25 books to choose from, but he certainly has his favorites.
As a teacher, I realize the importance of hearing a story over and over. Or doing almost any task over and over again. It solidifies the knowledge in your brain! But as a parent, after reading the same book for the 5th time in a row... I'm ready for a change!
When Blake decides its time to read with Mommy, he will bring me a book and either say "Book" or "Read" or "Read it". Then he sits down in my lap and we read the story. He lovessss to turn the pages and is pretty good about waiting for the pauses before trying to turn to the next page. He has also learned to turn the pages from right to left (a skill some kids in my kindergarten classes were still working on). [As a side note, when he reads by himself he often goes backwards still.] After we read the book, I close it and "scoot" it across the floor to he area that his basket is in. Then I say... ok get another book. There are times when he will go get another book, but more often than not he will bring me back the same book. And we repeat the process again.... and again... and again.
I love the fact that he loves to read. I just think it is funny that there are some books I can "read" even without looking at the pages. Oh well... all in the name of love (and education!).
Routines
Routines are so important to children. As a teacher, I learned quickly that when children knew what to expect they behaved sooooo much better. The same is true for Blake. Blake set his routine pretty early on, and when we stick to it, he has a great day. Now I realize that he will change this routine as he gets older and needs a different nap schedule, but I again will follow his lead on this one.
When Blake was an infant I went with the sleep, eat, play routine. And this worked for him! He knew when he woke up it was time to eat and then he was ready to play. Granted when he was little the play was short and the sleep was shorter, but it happened all the time!
Now his schedule is... wake up, get dressed, have breakfast, go for a walk (he hates rainy days because that throws off his whole day when he can't go for his morning walk), watch tv for a bit, take a nap. Then after nap we have lunch around 11 (this isn't always right when he gets up because his naps vary), then we play some more until around 12:30/1:00 when he starts to get tired again. Then he takes a nap. When he wakes up we have snack and then play some more (if it's nice we go outside... a favorite for all). Around 4:00 we turn on the tv so Mommy can start working on dinner. He plays/ watches tv until Daddy comes home. We have dinner, go for a walk, come home and have our "shake" while watching the news and Jeopardy then go to bed. Every other night we skip Jeopardy and have a bath... yay! we LOVEEE bath time.
Because this routine has been set for a while, Blake is pretty content in life. He knows what's next and what to expect. I now can ask him... Are you tired? Ready for snoozes (night-night)? and he will stop what he's doing and walk to his bedroom and stand next to his bed. At, bedtime (night-night) he stands at the changing table because he knows he needs to get into his pajamas first.
Yes, it can be hard at times to revolve your life around his routine, but let me tell you... it's sooooo worth it!
When Blake was an infant I went with the sleep, eat, play routine. And this worked for him! He knew when he woke up it was time to eat and then he was ready to play. Granted when he was little the play was short and the sleep was shorter, but it happened all the time!
Now his schedule is... wake up, get dressed, have breakfast, go for a walk (he hates rainy days because that throws off his whole day when he can't go for his morning walk), watch tv for a bit, take a nap. Then after nap we have lunch around 11 (this isn't always right when he gets up because his naps vary), then we play some more until around 12:30/1:00 when he starts to get tired again. Then he takes a nap. When he wakes up we have snack and then play some more (if it's nice we go outside... a favorite for all). Around 4:00 we turn on the tv so Mommy can start working on dinner. He plays/ watches tv until Daddy comes home. We have dinner, go for a walk, come home and have our "shake" while watching the news and Jeopardy then go to bed. Every other night we skip Jeopardy and have a bath... yay! we LOVEEE bath time.
Because this routine has been set for a while, Blake is pretty content in life. He knows what's next and what to expect. I now can ask him... Are you tired? Ready for snoozes (night-night)? and he will stop what he's doing and walk to his bedroom and stand next to his bed. At, bedtime (night-night) he stands at the changing table because he knows he needs to get into his pajamas first.
Yes, it can be hard at times to revolve your life around his routine, but let me tell you... it's sooooo worth it!
Lazy Mommy Look
When I was teaching, I was always dressed in casual yet appropriate attire (remember I taught kindergarten... I wasn't going to wear a suit). Even on the weekends, I always had on jeans and a nice shirt or shorts depending on the weather. Oh trust me many days after work, I came home and crawled into "comfy clothes" and stayed that way until bedtime, but for the most part I was dressed nice.
Yeah well... now that I'm a stay a home mom, and don't leave the house much... it is so easy to slip into my comfortable clothes and stay there. I mean come on who wouldn't like to spend there day in yoga pants and a t-shirt. Plus being pregnant it is so much more comfortable. Now, I do change into nicer clothes on the days I leave the house (beyond going for a walk), but 3 out of 7 days I'm in my comfortable clothes.
Most days I don't care... toss on something comfortable, throw my hair up in a pony tail and I'm set! Then I realize... I'm now a prime candidate for "What Not to Wear". I've turned into a slob. And you know what.... I don't care! My theory is I spend my day on the floor playing with Blake or cleaning the house. Why would I want to dress up?
Yeah well... now that I'm a stay a home mom, and don't leave the house much... it is so easy to slip into my comfortable clothes and stay there. I mean come on who wouldn't like to spend there day in yoga pants and a t-shirt. Plus being pregnant it is so much more comfortable. Now, I do change into nicer clothes on the days I leave the house (beyond going for a walk), but 3 out of 7 days I'm in my comfortable clothes.
Most days I don't care... toss on something comfortable, throw my hair up in a pony tail and I'm set! Then I realize... I'm now a prime candidate for "What Not to Wear". I've turned into a slob. And you know what.... I don't care! My theory is I spend my day on the floor playing with Blake or cleaning the house. Why would I want to dress up?
I'm ok!
I'm still sort of shocked that this wasn't Blake's first phase! Blake began walking about 1 week before he turned 9 months. Everyone around us panicked when he would teeter and then fall. Richard and I are not the nervous type of parents, and we totally know when Blake it hurt. Since the beginning (actually since he was crawling) we would always say "You're ok, get up (keep going, whatever)". When others were around we'd look at Blake and say tell them... I'm ok!
I find it funny that he has been walking for over 5 months now and people still panic when he falls. For the most part he just looks at them and you can almost hear him say... "I'm ok!" We have found that when he's in a large crowd and they have that group gasp, he will panic a bit until we can pick him up and tell him "You're ok."
This is something that I really wanted to work on with my children. As a teacher, it often bothered me to see some of these children who were afraid to take chances because they might get hurt. Or if they did try something, even if they weren't really hurt they fell apart. I used to ask them.... "Are you bleeding? Is your ___ going to fall off?" Now, if they were really hurt I comforted them and did what needed to be done (same with Blake), but for the most part they were so used to getting major attention and sympathy over nothing that they expected it from everyone.
Well, my little guys will be taking those risks (trust me... Blake already does!). They will be able to pick themselves up, brush themselves off and start over again!
I find it funny that he has been walking for over 5 months now and people still panic when he falls. For the most part he just looks at them and you can almost hear him say... "I'm ok!" We have found that when he's in a large crowd and they have that group gasp, he will panic a bit until we can pick him up and tell him "You're ok."
This is something that I really wanted to work on with my children. As a teacher, it often bothered me to see some of these children who were afraid to take chances because they might get hurt. Or if they did try something, even if they weren't really hurt they fell apart. I used to ask them.... "Are you bleeding? Is your ___ going to fall off?" Now, if they were really hurt I comforted them and did what needed to be done (same with Blake), but for the most part they were so used to getting major attention and sympathy over nothing that they expected it from everyone.
Well, my little guys will be taking those risks (trust me... Blake already does!). They will be able to pick themselves up, brush themselves off and start over again!
Talking continued
I find it amazing watching Blake learn. For the most part he chooses to babble, but when he does talk, it always makes sense to the situation. And, now he is beginning to put some of his words together in phrases.
Often he will look at Richard and say "Hi Dadda". (yeah he almost never says momma unless he's really unhappy) The other day we were at Church and Blake had his snack container. He handed it to Richard to open. When Richard gave him a snack he looked at him and said "Tank ya Dadda" I almost fell over. We work on saying please and thank you all the time, but for him to just say it on his own was GREAT!
As a teacher, I worked hard on getting the children in my class to see the importance of using their manners. I'm always saying please and thank you around Blake. I feel it is an important thing for my children to grow up with proper manners. So when Blake said thank you to his dad... I could not have been any more proud!
Often he will look at Richard and say "Hi Dadda". (yeah he almost never says momma unless he's really unhappy) The other day we were at Church and Blake had his snack container. He handed it to Richard to open. When Richard gave him a snack he looked at him and said "Tank ya Dadda" I almost fell over. We work on saying please and thank you all the time, but for him to just say it on his own was GREAT!
As a teacher, I worked hard on getting the children in my class to see the importance of using their manners. I'm always saying please and thank you around Blake. I feel it is an important thing for my children to grow up with proper manners. So when Blake said thank you to his dad... I could not have been any more proud!
Getting my point across
As a teacher, you work on helping children get their point down on paper. By the time they get to kindergarten, they KNOW how to get their point across through words. If they don't, then there are issues.
When working with little ones, you work on getting your point across through words. This is not so easy! Hearing your child's first word is so exciting. You begin listening to ever little babble and trying to decipher it as an attempt at a word. Then you begin to realize that a lot of their babbles are just that babbles. This is fine... they are little and learning. The challenge becomes when they are trying to tell you something and you can't understand him/her.
Blake is pretty good at getting his point across. He has mastered many words that help with his needs (milk, book, walk, truck, up, and some others). He also has some signs that he uses to get other thoughts across (all done, up, etc...). Or on occasion he points (usually hits) what he wants.
But, the challenge becomes when he is pointing at something and you can't figure out what it is he is pointing at. Last night we were sitting at the dinner table and he was pointing at the middle of the table and babbling, but the babbles didn't make sense to anything that was there. So you begin the process of offering him everything he can have, but let me tell you when you show him the wrong thing that makes it worse!
Oh well, we are getting there and he is working on it. Plus most times I can figure out what he wants or offer him something else that interests him. It will be interesting to see when he finally masters the words he wants to use if he talks as much as he babbles. If that is the case, the house will never be quiet again!
When working with little ones, you work on getting your point across through words. This is not so easy! Hearing your child's first word is so exciting. You begin listening to ever little babble and trying to decipher it as an attempt at a word. Then you begin to realize that a lot of their babbles are just that babbles. This is fine... they are little and learning. The challenge becomes when they are trying to tell you something and you can't understand him/her.
Blake is pretty good at getting his point across. He has mastered many words that help with his needs (milk, book, walk, truck, up, and some others). He also has some signs that he uses to get other thoughts across (all done, up, etc...). Or on occasion he points (usually hits) what he wants.
But, the challenge becomes when he is pointing at something and you can't figure out what it is he is pointing at. Last night we were sitting at the dinner table and he was pointing at the middle of the table and babbling, but the babbles didn't make sense to anything that was there. So you begin the process of offering him everything he can have, but let me tell you when you show him the wrong thing that makes it worse!
Oh well, we are getting there and he is working on it. Plus most times I can figure out what he wants or offer him something else that interests him. It will be interesting to see when he finally masters the words he wants to use if he talks as much as he babbles. If that is the case, the house will never be quiet again!
Names are hard! (detour off Blake today)
Having been a kindergarten teacher for ten years coming up with names to name the new baby is HARD! I have so many restrictions based on personal preference, and then there are Richard's thoughts and feelings on the names too. You'd never think picking a name for your little one would be sooo hard!
Teaching taught me a lot about names (not just what ones NOT to pick based on children I had in my class). I do not want my child to have a "trendy name" because you look back and say... hey you must have been born in 2008 because you are named ____. I do not want them to have a popular name because I don't want him to be 1 of 3 boys named ____ in his class. I do not want a unisex name because I don't want him to come across a girl with the same name as him. I do not want him to have a name that can easily be made into a mean nickname.
I want him to have a strong name that will work as an infant, a child and as a grown adult. I want him to have a name that you know what it says when you read it. I want him to have a name that is spelled the way it sounds (he will already have to spell his last name AND tell people how to pronounce it).
All I can say is I hope both my sons like their names when they get older, because I agonized over the naming of both of them!!
Teaching taught me a lot about names (not just what ones NOT to pick based on children I had in my class). I do not want my child to have a "trendy name" because you look back and say... hey you must have been born in 2008 because you are named ____. I do not want them to have a popular name because I don't want him to be 1 of 3 boys named ____ in his class. I do not want a unisex name because I don't want him to come across a girl with the same name as him. I do not want him to have a name that can easily be made into a mean nickname.
I want him to have a strong name that will work as an infant, a child and as a grown adult. I want him to have a name that you know what it says when you read it. I want him to have a name that is spelled the way it sounds (he will already have to spell his last name AND tell people how to pronounce it).
All I can say is I hope both my sons like their names when they get older, because I agonized over the naming of both of them!!
But, I want to!
When I was working you could always tell the children who were allowed to get away with pretty much anything. It seemed like they had never heard "No, you can't do that" or "You have to wait it isn't your turn" or any of those types of phrases that let children know the world does not revolve around them.
Now I realize that at the age of 14 months... yes the world does pretty much revolve around Blake, but we are working on... "Stop! That isn't yours", "Stop! That's not safe" and similar phrases. Yes, I do use the word "No", but I try to tell him in another way first and then it's "No!"
Trust me, when Blake gets his mind set on something NOTHING stops him. For example, lately Blake has been wanting to play under the kitchen sink. Now, it's not what you think... there is nothing under there that could harm him. But, there are all these neat pipes and hoses and stuff. When he gets under there he used to just sit there and look out into the kitchen... that was fine. But not now, now he gets in there and shakes the pipes... and HARD! So now we are trying to stop a behavior that used to be ok... that is hard!
Today he climbing in under the sink. I walked over and said "Please come out" Yeah he looked at me and laughed. I then took his hand and said "You need to come out of there" while gently pulling him out. He comes out without a fuss, but is then trying to get back in within seconds. So, I stand so he can't open the doors. Well let me tell you, you'd think I smashed his hand in the door or something. He starts screaming and crying and carrying on. I get back down to his level and tell him.. "you can't play with the pipes". I stand up and say "Let's go play with the trucks". No go! Distraction doesn't work with him.
Oh well, we will continue to try. But, we will not give in!! I figure sooner or later he will realize that when I say no... I mean no!
Now I realize that at the age of 14 months... yes the world does pretty much revolve around Blake, but we are working on... "Stop! That isn't yours", "Stop! That's not safe" and similar phrases. Yes, I do use the word "No", but I try to tell him in another way first and then it's "No!"
Trust me, when Blake gets his mind set on something NOTHING stops him. For example, lately Blake has been wanting to play under the kitchen sink. Now, it's not what you think... there is nothing under there that could harm him. But, there are all these neat pipes and hoses and stuff. When he gets under there he used to just sit there and look out into the kitchen... that was fine. But not now, now he gets in there and shakes the pipes... and HARD! So now we are trying to stop a behavior that used to be ok... that is hard!
Today he climbing in under the sink. I walked over and said "Please come out" Yeah he looked at me and laughed. I then took his hand and said "You need to come out of there" while gently pulling him out. He comes out without a fuss, but is then trying to get back in within seconds. So, I stand so he can't open the doors. Well let me tell you, you'd think I smashed his hand in the door or something. He starts screaming and crying and carrying on. I get back down to his level and tell him.. "you can't play with the pipes". I stand up and say "Let's go play with the trucks". No go! Distraction doesn't work with him.
Oh well, we will continue to try. But, we will not give in!! I figure sooner or later he will realize that when I say no... I mean no!
Choices are a good thing
One thing that always amazed me while teaching Kindergarten was children who could not make choices. I mean come on... pick red or blue...it's not that hard!
I've begun working with Blake on picking out simple things... do you want to wear this shirt or this shirt. Some days, he loves to pick other days it's like he wants to say "Come on Mommy you just pick one out I don't care!"
I will tell you one thing, I wish he could tell me which food he wants to eat! Today is a prime example. It's chilly here today (hey 41 degrees is freezing for Orlando!) so I decided to make him oatmeal for breakfast. Now many days I make him oatmeal and he gobbles it up like it was the best thing around. Not today. I barely got 1/2 a bowl into him. Now if I could have asked him... do you want oatmeal or Cheerios or toast and he got to pick then we may have ate more breakfast. But unlike choosing a shirt I can't show him oatmeal, Cheerios and toast and have him point to what he wants to eat.
Orrrrr I teach him what the box of oatmeal, box of Cheerios and slice of bread look like and see if he can tell me that way... then it's onto lunch!
Sometimes you just have to ignore it
As a teacher you get used to saying "please stop" and it stops. Yeah, well that doesn't always work with toddlers.
Right now Blake is into the whole hmmm what else can I do to get some attention. (Like he's starved for attention already or something?) He went through a phase of biting me. At first I tried my typical reaction as a teacher of, Ouch don't do that it hurts. Well with 5 year olds they know that means-- stop or you will get in more trouble. With a 1 year old it means... hey can I make her yell louder if I do it harder?
Last week Blake was banging on the television, and our first reaction was to move him away and tell him "Stop, we don't hit the tv). But, this just made the game even more fun. It meant Mommy had to stop, rethink and try again. The next day I ignored him when he hit the tv, to the point of walking away from him completely. This worked!
I guess one thing you learn quickly is you have to think of things in a very different light and figure out why are they doing it. And the answer 9 out of10 times with a toddler... because I can and I want to see what will happen if I do it!
Right now Blake is into the whole hmmm what else can I do to get some attention. (Like he's starved for attention already or something?) He went through a phase of biting me. At first I tried my typical reaction as a teacher of, Ouch don't do that it hurts. Well with 5 year olds they know that means-- stop or you will get in more trouble. With a 1 year old it means... hey can I make her yell louder if I do it harder?
Last week Blake was banging on the television, and our first reaction was to move him away and tell him "Stop, we don't hit the tv). But, this just made the game even more fun. It meant Mommy had to stop, rethink and try again. The next day I ignored him when he hit the tv, to the point of walking away from him completely. This worked!
I guess one thing you learn quickly is you have to think of things in a very different light and figure out why are they doing it. And the answer 9 out of10 times with a toddler... because I can and I want to see what will happen if I do it!
Sometimes it's hard not to laugh
It is true when they say kids do the darnedest things! Yesterday Blake and I went to the grocery store, and one of the things we bought was a bag of dog food for Abby. I brought the groceries in while he explored the garage (lots of wheels to be found in the garage!). I had put the dog food on the floor near the pantry. It was still in the plastic grocery bag. Blake came in and immediately started fussing with the plastic bag. So, I walked over, took the bag off, and then went back to emptying the other bags.
I then hear him making "struggling/frustration" noises. So, I stop what I'm doing to see what he is doing. Blake was trying with all his might to pick up the bag of dog food. He would pick up one side and than stretch across to try to pick up the other. He was getting so frustrated because he could get one side up, but not both. I stood there for a bit and watched (he wasn't super frustrated so I figured hey let him figure out that the bag is too heavy!).
He managed to get it off the ground totally once for all of maybe 2 seconds and dropped it again. It was so hard not to sit there and laugh at him trying to pick up this heavy bag of dog food. He finally started pushing it around the kitchen floor.
When I finished putting away the refrigerator stuff I walked over the pantry. He then looked at the bag, looked at me and then smiled. I think all along he was trying to put the bag in the pantry himself. After I put it away, he was much happier! Guess he knew it didn't belong just sitting there on the floor.
I then hear him making "struggling/frustration" noises. So, I stop what I'm doing to see what he is doing. Blake was trying with all his might to pick up the bag of dog food. He would pick up one side and than stretch across to try to pick up the other. He was getting so frustrated because he could get one side up, but not both. I stood there for a bit and watched (he wasn't super frustrated so I figured hey let him figure out that the bag is too heavy!).
He managed to get it off the ground totally once for all of maybe 2 seconds and dropped it again. It was so hard not to sit there and laugh at him trying to pick up this heavy bag of dog food. He finally started pushing it around the kitchen floor.
When I finished putting away the refrigerator stuff I walked over the pantry. He then looked at the bag, looked at me and then smiled. I think all along he was trying to put the bag in the pantry himself. After I put it away, he was much happier! Guess he knew it didn't belong just sitting there on the floor.
When Mommy's not home...
As a teacher I dreaded being out of my classroom. Now, I almost always had a great substitute, but you never know what's going to happen when you are away. The same is true about leaving your child with a baby sitter... even if the baby sitter is your own mom.
My mom watches Blake whenever Richard and I have to do something away from Blake. Which has been a lot lately between football games in the fall and now my Dr. appointments. I trust my mom with everything... hey I trust her with my son.
But, yesterday was one of those days that all I could do was laugh and say I'm sorry! I had a Dr.'s appointment so my mom came over to watch Blake. No problem... he was asleep when I left. I told her what was for lunch and then I was on my way. Well... Blake decided to make life a bit more difficult than that!
When he woke up from his nap he needed to be changed, typical! Well because he is teething his poops are worse than normal. Blake is NOT the easiest child to change... ever since he learned to roll over diaper changes have be interesting to say the least. Yesterday he decided to roll everywhere... that meant poop got everywhere because he even managed to roll into the dirty diaper. Now what to do...
I know a bath. Well in the process of getting the stuff ready to give him a quick bath in the sink (I have a 60/40 sink so he still fits in the sink), Blake proceeded to pee on the kitchen floor. When it rains it pours... lol
Oh well... my mom was a champ about the whole thing and told the story to me laughing the whole time. Richard and I got a good chuckle out of it too. And, if you tell the story around Blake he has a good belly laugh over it.
All I can say is Thanks Mom... and hopefully the next time won't be so... umm messy!
My mom watches Blake whenever Richard and I have to do something away from Blake. Which has been a lot lately between football games in the fall and now my Dr. appointments. I trust my mom with everything... hey I trust her with my son.
But, yesterday was one of those days that all I could do was laugh and say I'm sorry! I had a Dr.'s appointment so my mom came over to watch Blake. No problem... he was asleep when I left. I told her what was for lunch and then I was on my way. Well... Blake decided to make life a bit more difficult than that!
When he woke up from his nap he needed to be changed, typical! Well because he is teething his poops are worse than normal. Blake is NOT the easiest child to change... ever since he learned to roll over diaper changes have be interesting to say the least. Yesterday he decided to roll everywhere... that meant poop got everywhere because he even managed to roll into the dirty diaper. Now what to do...
I know a bath. Well in the process of getting the stuff ready to give him a quick bath in the sink (I have a 60/40 sink so he still fits in the sink), Blake proceeded to pee on the kitchen floor. When it rains it pours... lol
Oh well... my mom was a champ about the whole thing and told the story to me laughing the whole time. Richard and I got a good chuckle out of it too. And, if you tell the story around Blake he has a good belly laugh over it.
All I can say is Thanks Mom... and hopefully the next time won't be so... umm messy!
Teething!
While working with kindergarteners we talk about teeth because they are falling out. Some children find this a great thing and others are scare of the process.
Well let me tell you losing your teeth is NOTHING compared to having 8 teeth decide to start working their way through your gums all at the same time! My poor little guy is working on all 4 molars and all 4 eye teeth. Now, none of them have broken through the skin, a few are close, but not there yet. But let me tell you his poor gums are soooo swollen.
But with little ones, teething doesn't just effect the mouth... oh NOOOO it effects, the temperament, the sleep cycle, the "poop" factor, eating... you name it teething as effected it in one way or another.
One way Blake deals with teething is to chew in the sippy cups with water... all well and good except then he is wearing the 5-7 oz of water on his shirt! There are days where I've changed his shirt 3 and 4 times for the shear reason that it's soaked with water.
I look forward to the day that his teeth have all popped through... and dread the day when more than one is breaking the skin at the same time... I'm going to need a numbing agent that day instead of him!
Well let me tell you losing your teeth is NOTHING compared to having 8 teeth decide to start working their way through your gums all at the same time! My poor little guy is working on all 4 molars and all 4 eye teeth. Now, none of them have broken through the skin, a few are close, but not there yet. But let me tell you his poor gums are soooo swollen.
But with little ones, teething doesn't just effect the mouth... oh NOOOO it effects, the temperament, the sleep cycle, the "poop" factor, eating... you name it teething as effected it in one way or another.
One way Blake deals with teething is to chew in the sippy cups with water... all well and good except then he is wearing the 5-7 oz of water on his shirt! There are days where I've changed his shirt 3 and 4 times for the shear reason that it's soaked with water.
I look forward to the day that his teeth have all popped through... and dread the day when more than one is breaking the skin at the same time... I'm going to need a numbing agent that day instead of him!
I can do it!
As a teacher you try very hard to encourage each child to do things on his/her own. Independence and autonomy were goals I had for all the children in my class. I don't have to worry about Blake in that aspect!
As a mother of an infant you get so used to doing things for your child (they can't do much on their own at that stage). Let me tell you... my son lets me know he CAN do it on his own now! He may not be able to say "Blake do it" or something on those terms, but boy can he let you know he wants to do it on his own... and HIS WAY!
To give you an example... eating. Blake is learning to use a fork on his own and is very proud of this fact (even if it is frustrating to him at times). He will let you help him stab the foods, sometimes, but don't you dare try to take the fork out of his hand! If you try to hand him a piece of food 9 out of 10 times he will not take it from you. But, if you put that piece down on his tray he will pick it right up and eat it himself.
Two qualities that people always point out in Richard and I are independence and "stick-to-it-tivness" yeah well Blake already has both of these qualities. He wants to do it on his own and will not give up until he figures out a way to do it! Even if that means climbing in and out of the cupboards over and over and over again!
As a mother of an infant you get so used to doing things for your child (they can't do much on their own at that stage). Let me tell you... my son lets me know he CAN do it on his own now! He may not be able to say "Blake do it" or something on those terms, but boy can he let you know he wants to do it on his own... and HIS WAY!
To give you an example... eating. Blake is learning to use a fork on his own and is very proud of this fact (even if it is frustrating to him at times). He will let you help him stab the foods, sometimes, but don't you dare try to take the fork out of his hand! If you try to hand him a piece of food 9 out of 10 times he will not take it from you. But, if you put that piece down on his tray he will pick it right up and eat it himself.
Two qualities that people always point out in Richard and I are independence and "stick-to-it-tivness" yeah well Blake already has both of these qualities. He wants to do it on his own and will not give up until he figures out a way to do it! Even if that means climbing in and out of the cupboards over and over and over again!
Nap time
When I was teaching full day kindergarten I never liked nap time (and didn't have it if I didn't have to). As a teacher, I saw it as a waste of time... so much to do so little time to do it in.
As a Mommy, I look at nap time in a whole different light! I know 5 year olds and 13 month olds are very different ducks. Trust me I can not leave my 13 month old alone for any length of time where as 18 five year olds can work independently (after a few months) and I know no one is going to get seriously hurt.
I find it sad that one of the reasons I look forward to nap time right now is so I can get some housework done. You'd think I'd use it to watch tv, read a good book, take a nap, something enjoyable... nope morning nap time is used to do laundry, wash the floors, sweep, vacuum, dust, oh and take a shower! If I finish everything before Blake wakes up, then I get to surf the net. First I check my e-mails, then I check my message boards, then post on here, and if there is still time I can do other things too... wooo hoo! Right now I use his afternoon nap time to get dinner started and then catch some tv time.
I know that once baby #2 is here and Blake is older, then my time alone will get cut significantly. Oh well... I will enjoy nap time while I can take it... now if I could only squeeze in a nap of my own from time to time life would be even better!
As a Mommy, I look at nap time in a whole different light! I know 5 year olds and 13 month olds are very different ducks. Trust me I can not leave my 13 month old alone for any length of time where as 18 five year olds can work independently (after a few months) and I know no one is going to get seriously hurt.
I find it sad that one of the reasons I look forward to nap time right now is so I can get some housework done. You'd think I'd use it to watch tv, read a good book, take a nap, something enjoyable... nope morning nap time is used to do laundry, wash the floors, sweep, vacuum, dust, oh and take a shower! If I finish everything before Blake wakes up, then I get to surf the net. First I check my e-mails, then I check my message boards, then post on here, and if there is still time I can do other things too... wooo hoo! Right now I use his afternoon nap time to get dinner started and then catch some tv time.
I know that once baby #2 is here and Blake is older, then my time alone will get cut significantly. Oh well... I will enjoy nap time while I can take it... now if I could only squeeze in a nap of my own from time to time life would be even better!
Read, Read and Read some more
As a kindergarten teacher I was often asked, "What can I do to help my child learn to read?" My answer was always the samething... "Read, read and read some more!"
I began reading to Blake the day we came home from the hospital. People thought I was crazy, but I read him at least 1 book a day often more than one. It soon became a very special time for the two of us and as early as a few weeks old he would get excited when he saw me take out his favorite books.
Fast forward 13 months and now my little guy often can be found sitting in a pile of books flipping through the pages. I often say that I know when he's quiet the first place I should look is over with his books. He gets more exited over seeing a new book than a new toy. Blake has books in his crib, on his bookshelf in his bedroom, in a basket in the living room, in his diaper bag, and then there are Mommy's books which are brought out as a treat.
Book was one of the first words that he mastered outside of Mommy, Daddy, Abby and milk. I can only hope that this is the beginning of a great love of reading and learning!
Try, try again
As a teacher your job is to teach children as many new skills as possible and show they how these skills will help them in future learning and life. As parents we do the same, just with different types of skills. As teachers, when a child learns a new skill you get excited because that means you can move on to harder skill and it will be easier because the child has background knowledge. As parents we get so excited when our children master skills for the first time and then we step back and say... WAIT! now my job just got harder!!!!
For the last few days Blake has been working on some new skills... climbing into and out of everything! He has learned to climb into his wagon, we are still working on getting out without doing a face plant. Tonight he figured out how to climb into his toy box... he can't even come close to climbing out of that. Now I can't have him out of my sight for a min or two until I know he has mastered safely getting out of the wagon and the toy box... so much for going the bathroom alone (Oh wait I haven't done that in over a year), so much for getting a drink of water.
He also figured out that part of our gate had velcro on it... he finally figured out how to get through that. Soooo I had to sew the gate's velcro closed. He did NOT like this at all! Wonder how long it will take before he starts pulling the thread out and I have to come up with some stronger way to keep the gate a gate??
For the last few days Blake has been working on some new skills... climbing into and out of everything! He has learned to climb into his wagon, we are still working on getting out without doing a face plant. Tonight he figured out how to climb into his toy box... he can't even come close to climbing out of that. Now I can't have him out of my sight for a min or two until I know he has mastered safely getting out of the wagon and the toy box... so much for going the bathroom alone (Oh wait I haven't done that in over a year), so much for getting a drink of water.
He also figured out that part of our gate had velcro on it... he finally figured out how to get through that. Soooo I had to sew the gate's velcro closed. He did NOT like this at all! Wonder how long it will take before he starts pulling the thread out and I have to come up with some stronger way to keep the gate a gate??
I think he looks like you
Guess what... My son looks like me! I've heard it since the day he was born. I just think it's funny that whenever we go anywhere people feel the need to ask me if I know he looks a lot like me. Today Blake and I went to the grocery store, something we do every Friday, and we got stopped by yet another employee of the store who said... "Wow you won't question that he's your son. Do you know he looks a lot like you?" All I want to say is "Noooo way... thank you for point that out to me! I didn't know." But, being the good mommy I am, I just say... "Thank you."
The good thing I guess is Blake just looks at them and smiles away. Stranger anxiety... what's that? I don't think he'd go with anyone since he won't go near people without checking my husband or my facial expressions first. But, he will wave, smile and all out flirt with anyone he sees. Guess that's a good thing. Friendly children usually seem to be more well liked in school.
The good thing I guess is Blake just looks at them and smiles away. Stranger anxiety... what's that? I don't think he'd go with anyone since he won't go near people without checking my husband or my facial expressions first. But, he will wave, smile and all out flirt with anyone he sees. Guess that's a good thing. Friendly children usually seem to be more well liked in school.
Thinking outside the box
Trying to get children to look at things in a different way always seemed hard while I was teaching. They seem to get in this rut of... this is what it is and how it is used. Well... I'm not sure what happened to them, because if my son is any indication of typical toddler behavior then they should be very good at thinking outside the box.
I wonder sometimes why I buy Blake toys. Some of his favorite things to play with are empty diaper boxes, anything and everything he can pull out of the kitchen cupboard, and shoe laces. Blake get so excited when we go to BJ's because he knows he is going to get to play with a new diaper box. Before you even get the diapers out he is climbing up on top of it trying to use it to get to anything and everything out of his reach. This can be dangerous, but there is a fun factor in that too... right?
But, it's even more fun when it's empty... then you can climb on, in and under it! Blake loves to get inside the box and use the flaps to play peek-a-boo, doesn't even matter if someone is playing it with him or not. Blake will spend more time playing with an empty diaper box than he plays with all the rest of his toys combined.
You never know what happens next
Having taught kindergarten for 10 years one thing I learned was just when you think you've figured it out... it all changes. Well the same is true for raising children.
I have a 13 month old son, Blake, and during those 13 months I've come to realize that there is no such thing as a set schedule for a toddler! To give you a good example for a long time he would wake up at 6:30, go down for a nap around 8:30, sleep for 2-3 hours (yes that was a blessing!). When he woke up we'd have lunch, play for a bit then around 1:30/2:00 he'd be ready for another 1-2 hour nap. He'd then be good to go until around 7:30pm. All was good... we had a schedule we had a plan...
Guess he changed his mind. At first he tried out the whole 1 nap thing, but I guess he decided he missed having a morning nap. So that went out the window. And, he went back to taking 2 naps. But, now he's decided that 5:15am sounds like a great time to wake up in the morning... and we'd like to go to bed around 7pm. All well and good if you go to bed at 7pm, but what about mommy who doesn't go to bed at 7pm... 5:15 is veryyyy early!
Oh well... we will see what change comes about next!
I have a 13 month old son, Blake, and during those 13 months I've come to realize that there is no such thing as a set schedule for a toddler! To give you a good example for a long time he would wake up at 6:30, go down for a nap around 8:30, sleep for 2-3 hours (yes that was a blessing!). When he woke up we'd have lunch, play for a bit then around 1:30/2:00 he'd be ready for another 1-2 hour nap. He'd then be good to go until around 7:30pm. All was good... we had a schedule we had a plan...
Guess he changed his mind. At first he tried out the whole 1 nap thing, but I guess he decided he missed having a morning nap. So that went out the window. And, he went back to taking 2 naps. But, now he's decided that 5:15am sounds like a great time to wake up in the morning... and we'd like to go to bed around 7pm. All well and good if you go to bed at 7pm, but what about mommy who doesn't go to bed at 7pm... 5:15 is veryyyy early!
Oh well... we will see what change comes about next!
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