Eliza Sets the Table

Here is my lil E setting the table. I find that if I put only what she needs to set the table in the cabinet it helps her concentrate on the task.

Menu Plan Monday

Sunday- Chicken Fajitas
Monday- Salsa Chicken & Black Bean Soup
Tuesday-Sloppy Joe Manicotti
Wednesday- Leftovers
Thursday-Raviolis
Friday- Panini
Saturday- Dinner Out

Random

Random Weekend Junk

UGH I have a cold or allergies or something. UGH The Netti Pot has helped.

Pete is working again today for the gabillionzillionth time in a row. I think this is the last one though!

I almost snagged a Learning Tower for $25 off of Craig's List but the lady gave it away. Now I am very sad.

We are now using small rugs to help Eliza define her play areas. I find this helps to contain toys with many pieces. It also helps me teach Eliza that we do not put our blocks under the stove etc. We are also teaching her that some toys i.e. crayons, play-doh, markers must be brought to the table. If I find her with them somewhere else I simply redirect her to the table and it has been working well. These toys are left out for her and she may play with them whenever she chooses.

Here is her Play-Doh container.

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I have started working on pouring with Eliza. We have a little 1 oz pitcher and we are pouring lentils. We have also added a little Nature Museum to her play things. It holds some things we have collected outside. The shells are from the Hatteras trip.

We have weaned Eliza from wearing a Sleep Sack to bed at night. She still wears it for naps. I am too scared to mess with naps. Next we will hopefully work on the rocking- although I really love to rock her.

I am currently sampling some WOW Green products. Hopefully will post review soon.

Hope everyone has an amazing weekend!

Fostering Independence

I have been focusing on helping Eliza to become more independent. Lately, it seems that she really wants to start doing things on her own. She discovered that she can turn the water on and off in the tub, take off and put on her own clothes, and open various doors, containers & cabinets. Pete questioned me on why I encourage her to do so much independently. He loves to play devil's advocate. His argument is that she is a kid and should be a kid. I totally agree with his statement. However,I think that kids are very capable and should be encouraged to do as much as they can independently. I don't think they should be forced to do things, but if they desire to do something it should be an option. I would never say to Eliza that she couldn't do something because she was too little- unless of course I felt it was dangerous. I believe that kids feel proud when they can do something without help. I also think they also really love to help out and imitate what they see adults doing.

* I told my husband he is just lazy. (which he really isn't!) Honestly, it is harder to be patient and let kids do things on their own. It is easier to just do it yourself-but they really don't learn anything that way.

Things we have been working on...

Drinking out of a Glass
I have been helping Eliza to drink out of a glass and not a sippy cup. She still gets her sippy, but she also has a glass available to her at meals. It is a very tiny glass that is E sized and perfect for a toddler's small hands. Has she spilled her drink? You betcha! A few time she spilled the contents of the glass down her shirt. She has quickly learned how NOT to spill it when drinking. She holds it with two hands and takes tiny sips. Sometimes she dips her hand in the water. I guess she can't resist! She also dunked her cookie in the water. A future Oreo dunker?

Cleaning!
When I taught K the kids loved, loved., loved to clean. They would sweep at the drop of a hat. They also wanted to use the real sweeper and NOT the fake toy sweeper. They loved to wipe down the tables after messy craft activities. They showed more excitement about cleaning then about any other classroom activity I did. Eliza is also learning to help take care of our house. She has a little pink microfiber dust cloth she uses for dusting, a tiny little broom for sweeping and her own cellulose sponges to use for dish washing. Most recently we bought a carpet sweeper thingy that adjusts to E's size. Here she is in action! Go, E, Go!

Setting the Table
Eliza sets her table for each meal. She uses the placement to help with her setting. She knows the names for everything and she also knows the ASL signs. All of the materials are available to her in a low cabinet. The reason she looks miserable is because she is sitting with a set table and I am taking pictures and not dishing out her lunch. She is very serious about eating.

Here is her cabinet.

and that is all for know because I need to go make some turkey meatballs before little miss sunshine wakes up from her nap!

Wordless Wednesday

I am dedicating this WW post to Christy because I know how much she loves WW- especially the ones with words! :)

May I present to you...

Ozark Hank and Johnny Cash! My Pop- Eliza's big Pop- made this video for E. He read on the blog about her love of the Sunshine song and decided to make her a video of himself singing. He has also sent two videos of himself reading nursery rhymes. Now when he comes to visit her for Easter she will recognize him! I think he will also have to do a concert in person.

Thank Pop! Eliza loves her videos.

Taking a Beating

I am quickly learning that this pregnancy will not be nearly as easy as E's. Having a bouncing toddler to keep track of is kicking my butt or more accurately my belly. I didn't realize my belly wold be getting bumped, kicked and pushed quite so much. As much as I try to avoid this it seems unavoidable. When the doctor asks me about domestic abuse I always want to ask if getting my arse kicked by a toddler counts. Frankly, it is totally freaking me out.

On Saturday I was playing with Eliza at the playground. She was being a daredevil and decided to walk down the slide. I was standing on the ground next to her and reminding her to sit. When I saw she wasn't going to sit, but was instead going to tumble down the slide head first, I thrust myself forward to grab her, catching her just in time and jamming my belly into the play set. It hurt and I was very upset. My husband and mom told me to just relax. It felt better shortly afterward and I was able to relax a bit.

On Sunday I started to get scared that something terrible had happened. I wasn't spotting or cramping or feeling out of sorts at all. However, my head was convincing me that I hurt the baby. My head is a powerful thing. It can make me VERY crazy. It can make my husband very, very crazy. When E's nap time rolled around at about 1 I had totally lost it and was a mess. I ended up calling the doctor to leave a message. I was then able to compose myself and move on with the day. Of course I missed the doctor's call today am they have not called me back again. FUN!

I have mentioned before that I rented a Doppler while pregnant with Eliza. I did not feel her move that much and I was constantly panicking. I would become a zombie just sitting in a daze trying to feel her move. It wasn't healthy. Finally, the doctor suggested I get a Doppler. I was far enough along that I could easily find the heartbeat. So, I rented one from BellyBeats and used it a few times. Having it made me feel better and after using it those few times, E was big enough that I felt her move often.

I was hoping to get though this pregnancy in a more relaxed state. I figured I would be too busy with Eliza to worry and I have been doing much better so far. But lately all this bumping and jostling is making me a nervous wreck. I didn't plan on renting a Doppler but my husband thinks I should for peace of mind.-his peace of mind maybe. :)

What keeps me up at night...

Lately I haven't been able to sleep. I wake up around one and my brain just starts going. Last night I was up thinking about circumcision. Crazy right? We are not even finding out the sex of the baby but here I am up at night thinking about circumcision. So I figure I will write about it and try to get it out of my system.

You probably won't be surprised to hear that I am against circumcision. I am known for having strong opinions. I was a gender studies minor and studied genital mutilation in many cultures. I believe circumcision is GM and that just because it is done in a hospital by a doctor does not make it OK. I think we are all born beautiful and should be left as is unless something is medically wrong. I think little Robin should keep his Hood.

Now that you know I am against this practice please do not ask things like, "So your not going to circumcise if you have a boy?" My answer is No and it is not going to change.

I have given this issue a lot of thought. It is not a decision I made lightly. I have nothing against people who circumcise. I think it is a very personal decision. Here are some of my recent readings on circumcision for anyone who is interested. I am sure there are people who are on the fence or want to learn more about what the practice entails.

Marcy over at Life is Good discusses her decision to not circumcise her son.

Excellent article and video over at Natural Papa- Will You make the Cut?

Pen and Teller on Circumcision

11 Reasons Not to Circumcise

Caring for the Intact Penis

Hopefully I will be able to sleep better now...unless of course my anger towards that horrid super nanny keeps me awake.

Happy Half Birthday

Eliza turned 18 months old yesterday! The weather was beautiful so we decided to hang outside most of the day. So here is a belated Happy Bloggy Half Birthday to my sweet little girl.

Her current favorites are...

Favorite Books- Brown Bear, Brown Bear, Go, Dog, Go, any book with picture of things.

Favorite Toys- balls, rocking caterpillar, play dish set, stuffed animals, slide

Favorite Song- Who Let the Letters Out by Dr. Jean, Elmo's Song and You are My Sunshine!

Favorite Food- Any green vegetable, all fruit except blueberries and of course CHEESE!

Favorite Animals- Walrus, Horse, Monkey and Cat

Favorite Color- Red

Favorite Number -2

Favorite YouTube Videos- Elmo and Bocelli, Very Hungry Caterpillar, Brown Bear, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, and Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly


One day I tried to write down everything Eliza can say and then realized it would be impossible. She is a little parrot and is trying to say everything we say. She isn't putting words together yet-but I am sure she will start soon. We are still signing a lot too!

My lil baby is growing up! :0

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Today when I turned my back Eliza stole my pear. I guess I don't have to worry about peeling it and cutting it into tiny little pieces anymore! It is beautiful outside and I have been inside babysitting my Corned Beef. I sure hope it is done soon so we can go find a four leaf clover or maybe a pot o' gold.

Menu Plan Monday

I have had no motivation to menu plan. Maybe the onset of spring will give me a boost. I forgot about St. Patrick's Day! OOPS I have made changes to the plan.

Monday- Salisbury Steak /w/ Sweet Potato & Asparagus

Tuesday- Corned Beef, Cabbage & Potatoes

Wednesday- Wacky Mac Chicken Skillet

Thursday- Veggie Ravioli Dish

Friday- Curried Lentils /w/ Brown Rice

Saturday- Homemade Pizza

Bed Transition Update

I have been meaning to update everyone on our bed transition progress. The truth is we haven't made much progress. :) and that is OK. It has been a really rough two months with Eliza's daddy working late hours. This is tough for me and for E. So I am guilty of putting her in bed with me and not on her own. When we did put her in her bed she would usually sleep there for a few hours, would wake, up and then crawl into bed with us. Pete's hours will lessen before too long and it will be easier for us to make transitions when we are all home at night.

and if it takes a while than that is OK too. We will figure it out. There is no point stressing about sleep time. Everyone needs to sleep and we are going to get it in a way that makes everyone happy. I would be lying if I said I didn't love her warm little body curled up next to mine.

So maybe next time I update there will be ore interesting news. And maybe not!

Weekly Winners March 8-14

March 8-14

Manning the Fort

Washing Dishes

Exploring Pinecones Found on Nature Walk

Learning to Feed the Cats

Baby Love

Check out Sarcastic Mom for more weekly winners!

The Balancing Game

Yesterday I taught Eliza to walk on the wood around the playground. I figured it would be a fun way to improve her balance. I had no idea she would become obsessed. She wanted to go around and around and around. She was so determined it cracked me up. I shot this video with my phone. Sorry for the poor quality.

Pregnancy Update- 16 weeks

I had my appointment yesterday and I heard the little bean's heartbeat. What a precious sound! I have gained about 4-5lbs so far. I think I am probably gaining a pound a week now. A random urine sample showed some bacteria so I had to go pee in a cup early this morning so they can check it out more closely. I am hopeful it is nothing. I scheduled my level 2 ultrasound and my 20 week appointment. I can't believe I am almost halfway. Time seems to be flying. Even though I have a while to go I have already started feeling guilty that Eliza will have to share her mommy. I think I have been giving her extra kisses and hugs lately and just loving up my little sweetie as much as possible.


And now for the belly comparison pics. I decided to sport the exact same outfit this time. I am a big dork like that. Luckily me pregnancies are only a month apart so I can reuse all my maternity clothes.

Here I am at 16 weeks and 5 days with Eliza.

Here I am at 16 weeks and 3 days with baby #2

and if you were going to ask...the answer is NO! We will not find out the sex of the bean. I like the surprise.

Where We Play!

Half Pint Pixie shared Little Pixie's play areas the other day and I have decided to show you all where we play. Eliza does have some toys in her room, but for the most part we play downstairs. I am really trying to teach Eliza to clean up one thing before moving on to another. She has a habit of spilling blocks/balls/etc. on the floor and then running off to play with something else. I am starting to realize that by being so relaxed about her making a mess I am not teaching her to respect her things. I am not crazy about being clean but she is old enough to start learning how to take better care of her things. There must be a happy medium! I have found that having less is more when trying to teach about clean-up. I also like to rotate toys weekly so I don't have too many things out at once.

Her E sized table is great for tons of different activities!

Here is her little house, dog and vacuum.

Book Nook!


The shelves where we keep her toys.



The stuffed animal basket.

We don't really have that many craft supplies yet. She has the recycled crayons I made her, some stamps and some play-doh. She isn't into art that much yet.

I am planning on getting her a wooden kitchen for her second birthday. Also, I am starting to put together a make-believe/dress up box for her. I found some old handbags, a handkerchief and a sun hat so far. I also have my wedding veil I never wore because some man stepped on it and ripped it in Newark airport on the way to Mexico. If you have something you would like to donate to her box let me know.

Wordless Wednesday

Words can't describe the way I look first thing in the morning!

Beans, beans they're good for your...

brain! :)

Here are some pics of E playing with her beans. I watch her closely to make sure they do NOT go in her mouth. I am only bring it out once or twice a week because it seems that she does not seem as interested if I bring it out more.

I'm inspired...

Lately, I have become interested in Montessori parenting. This video was recommended to me by Marcy! It is a little long, but really quite fascinating. It shows a typical day for 20 month old Edison who lives in a Montessori inspired household.

As I watched I kept thinking that Eliza i only two months younger than this little boy. I am really trying to help her become more and more independent. This video was very inspirational to me. I now have a clearer vision on how I can create an environment that helps Eliza to be more independent.

I want to teach Eliza to set the table but our table is very high and she wouldn't be able to reach. I have some idea on adaptations I can make to our living space to make it more Eliza friendly. I have already started teaching her to help with the dishes, housework and the laundry. I think it really makes her feel important and grown-up. She gets a look of accomplishment when she puts the dirty cloths in the washing machine. Anyhoo,I hope to make improvements and share them with you in upcoming months.



Edisons Day -

Spring Preview

This past weekend was BEAUTIFUL! This meant lots of walks and playing outside. Too bad it is rainingnow. Oh well-It is a good thing I have these pics to look back on with fondness!

Cloth Wipe Trials

I know I have blogged about cloth diapers before but I don't think I mentioned that we also use cloth wipes. I have NEVER been a fan of commercial wipes. I don't care if they claim to be sensitive, they contain chemicals and I didn't want to use them of my daughter's most sensitive areas. I think it is a huge waste of money to buy wipes. I understand they are convenient for when people are out of the house but to use such a convenience item when I am home all day seems silly.

I was told at the hospital and by my first pediatrician to use wash cloths and gentle baby wash instead. So although I have used commercial wipes here and there I am huge supporter of cloth wipes. I have to wash my cloth diapers so I just throw my wipes in too. It also takes me about two cloth wipes to clean what would take about five commercial wipes. I also love how I can pat E's bum dry with a wipe and re diaper without worrying about diaper rash.

I love them. My husband does not. He felt the wipes I purchased were not soft enough. He is a man who loves commercial baby wipes. It is a good thing I am in charge of the diapering decisions in this house.

Here are the Kissaluvs Baby Wipes I have been using. I purchased them from Cotton Babies.

Recently I won a set of cloth wipes from 5MinutesForGoingGreen. They are Bummas wipes and although i haven't used them yet- they seem awesome. However, i will report back after using them. You can check them out at the Bummas site.

I currently use California Baby wash with the wipes. However, there are tons of DIY wipe solutions online. Personally, I would love to get my hands on some Baby Wipe Juice!!

Tub O' Fun!

I have written before about how E loves to play with the cat food. She manipulates it in her hands and transfers it from bowl to bowl. However, I really don't like her playing with cat food so I started thinking about how I could make a mini sand/water table for her. This was always one of my favorite activities for kids in Kindergarten. I think it is a great sensory activity. However, the actual table is not realistic for my condo and sand and water-Um NO! We do the bath tub for water fun. And I am very relaxed about mess but sand is a whole different story!

So I figured I'd get a smaller tub and fill it with other materials- along with measuring cups, spoons and scoops. I ventured out and picked up a decent sized bin to use. I would consider getting a bigger one but that would mean buying a larger amount of filler. I also picked up a zillion dried beans.

However, before getting brave with the beans I decided to fill it with Popsicle sticks. E really like these sticks and will play with them for quite a while. I also hid some of her rubber ducks in there, which she had to find and put in another container. I will say that I turned my back and all the sticks were on the rug- but they were very easy to clean up.

Here are my plans for other fillers:

• beans
• rice
• macaroni- Thanks Dana!
• oatmeal
• ice cubes
• sunflower bird seed
• sea shells

Please let me know if you have any other suggestions.

Proud Wifey!

My husband did his first infant shoot this past weekend. I think he did a wonderful job and I am so proud of him. He is very talented and never fails to amaze me. If you have time check out his Flickr page. The photos are adorable.

Pete's Flickr Page!

and if you would like more info you can check out his photo blog!

Wordless Wednesday

Snow Day, Menu Plan & Muffin Tin Crayons

We are having a snow day here in Jersey!

We are also celebrating Dr. Seuss's B-Day!!

Here is my menu this week! Short and Sweet!

Sunday- Pizza

Monday- Dinner at mark & Rose's!

Tuesday- Sweet Potato and Black bean Enchiladas

Wednesday- leftovers

Thursday- Pasta with Peas and Ricotta

Friday- Baked Lentils /w/ Rice AGAIN! Pete's request.

Saturday-??

Sunday- Dinner with Nana and Pop

now that the boring stuff is over...

I was having problems with E breaking all the crayons I bought her. She would snap them within minutes of using them. And she is not a fan of those plastic toddler crayon thingy things that Crayola makes. So what is a mommy to do with lots of crayon bits? Make some muffin tin crayons. I like to think we were recycling in the spirit of The Lorax

First, take off the paper and put them in the tray.

Bake at 250 until they melt. It took about 10 minutes.

Let them cool (I was impatient and put mine in the freezer).

Pop them out and Viola!

Time to color!