Cool Toothbrush for Kids

Need help getting your little ones to brush their teeth? Check out "Dr. Fresh Firefly Blinking Children's Toothbrush". I originally bought this as a 2 pack in Target for like $2.00 (one for the Toddler, one for the Infant who has 2 teeth as well). I got it because I thought it was a good price. When I got home and opened the package, the toothbrushes started to blink (hence the name "firefly"). My toddler was very interested in this. To get her to brush her teeth longer and (hopefully) better - I told her she had to keep brushing her teeth until the light stopped blinking (it lasts about a minute). I wanted to pass this tip along to all of you parents who might be having a hard time trying to get your kids to brush their teeth. Good luck and happy smiles!

Sunshine Day!!

The sun has finally made it's way to our part of the country! It's warm and comfortable to take a walk, go to the park, feed the ducks, go fishing, you name it - it's a great day to do it! So get outside with the kids today! Even just for a little while! We've already went for a walk to the library (which didn't last long because the toddler didn't want to sit still today for story hour - I don't blame her - it's too nice outside to be inside!). Took a walk around town. Rode bikes and colored with sidewalk chalk. I'm thinking blowing bubbles will be a good one for after nap time too! And tomorrow - here we come to the pond to get our toes in the sand and water and feed the ducks and fish!!

Cool Flowers for Mother's Day

I originally found this in one of the parenting magazines (cannot remember which one right now) but I thought it was a cool art & craft for Mother's Day. Daddy & Toddler (mostly Daddy) ended up finishing them but they still came out great! Basically, you cut 1 inch strips of construction paper, take a 3 hole punch to make 3 holes in each strip, thread a pipe cleaner through a button then thread 4-5 of each of the construction paper strips (folded over so the holes line up) through each pipe cleaner until you have a full head of a flower. Ta-da! There you have it! We used old Gerber Puffs and other containers around the house for vases - covered them with wrapping paper and stickers to pretty them up.

The Toes Have It!

I love the warmer weather - it means pretty painted toes!! And cute, chubby baby toes, and long, awkward toddler toes too!!

Potty Fairy - UPDATE

And so I'm finding the thrill of the "Potty Fairy" to be very short lived at this point. We have had no more attempts or even desires to use the potty. She's actually gone to the opposite end of the spectrum in that she seems almost afraid to use it at this point. My thoughts are to back off for awhile and try again in a month or when she seems more interested. I'm not big on pushing kids into something they are not ready to do yet especially at such a young age (she will not be 3 until July). Some people may not agree with me on this but I feel that she is going through a difficult stage right now where we have a lot of "No's" coming from her and defiance - partly I think due to the fact that her young sister (now 9 months) is more active and requires more attention as well as all of the new information she has learned (colors, letters, numbers, etc.) so I think it's a lot for a 2 1/2 year old toddler to deal with right now. I'm hoping by the summer she will be more interested (and have more success) in the Potty Training area. But for now I'm OK with her still being in diapers (as much of a pain as it is at times). She is my first baby and so maybe some milestones will come later than others.

The "Potty Fairy" Has Come

O.K - So I'm trying a new thing for trying to get my 2 1/2 year old to have some interest in using the potty - The Potty Fairy! Hey - I've heard of the Binky Fairy so why not the Potty Fairy? My toddler was just about to get into the tub when she announced that she had to go "poo poo" so I told her to grab a book and sit on her potty to go (she was already in her birthday suit so let's see if it'll work this time?). While I washed up her younger sister, she sat and read her book (her beloved "Good Night Moon" which is now drying out since it ended up in the tub by accident right after), my girl when potty all by herself! We praised her afterward and told her "Great Job" and all. Then, while my husband got her dressed into her PJ's - I snuck downstairs with the baby to write a letter to my toddler from the Potty Fairy saying what a great job she had done and to keep up the good work! I had bought some small items in the dollar section at Target for small prizes for these type of situations so I choose a small book that she could keep by her potty to read next time she went. Hopefully this is the beginning of something good - we'll see! Now my only problem will be how to explain why the Potty Fairy will stop coming around once she is fully potty trained!!!

Toddler Sleep Issues - A Phase??

I'm wondering what this new phase my toddler is going through...

We put her to bed (usually without argument) around 8:15-8:30pm every night - but she does not fall asleep until 9:30-10:00 pm most nights (like tonight - she is still awake right now doing whatever possible to not sleep!). She sings to herself, she calls for "Dadda & Momma - I lost my binky!" after she threw it on the floor. Or "Dadda! Momma! Where are you?" I don't get it. She sleeps fine throughout the night once she does fall asleep but it's like she can't get herself to sleep for a good hour after she is put to bed.

There are so many phases to children these days - I never know what's going to pop up next!

Elmo Tower by a Toddler & Mom

So Sick of Cold & Flu Season!!

When will we be done with this winter and therefore this awful cold and flu season!?!? Less than a month ago we were dealing with two ear infections (both my girls had them - my poor babies!). I was also the lucky one to get that cold then - ugh! Now we are dealing with what the doctor's term RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) - in my mind it's a cold. Coughing, wheezing, sticky mucus (yes - tons of fun) and temps for several days. My kids have been through enough already! Let's be done with this year's cold and flu please!!! (On a side note, this cold seems to have bypassed me and gone right to my husband - let me knock on wood just to be safe!)

Fun with McDonald's

Fun with Glitter

More Lovin for Hailey

My toddler decided that Hailey also needed the comfort of her beloved "Maverick" stuffed dog.

Extra Lovin for Hailey Puggy

My toddler decided our pug, Hailey, needed a little extra lovin' today. So she gave Hailey her blankie and kitty to maker her feel better.

My Girl Jamming

My girl jamming to "Caillou's Rock and Roll Band" on Sprout with her homemade guitar.

My Toddler's Old (but still Favorite) Bedtime Story

My toddler likes to read this to her little sister too! It's still her most favorite bedtime story!

My Toddler's New Favorite Bedtime Story

My toddler's new favorite bedtime story. I've been reading it to her the past week or so and she already has it memorized and reads it to her little sister. Kids are amazing!

Snowflake by My Girl

My toddler made this "snowflake" out of Popsicle sticks and colored rice while at the Ayer Family Partnership playgroup with her friends.

Homemade Car by a Toddler

My girl kept asking if she could drive while we were out on errands today so I had an idea to make her a car out of a box for her to "drive" around the house.

Snowman Fun by My Girl (courtesy of Ayer Family Partnership - Playgroup)

Teddy by a Toddler