Below is a letter I wrote to London for her 2nd Birthday, detailing what has gone on in the last year and what she is like, along with my hopes for the next year. Enjoy!
~ Sarah
Dear London,
Yesterday you turned two. In some ways it seems so hard to believe you are already two as I still remember the tiny baby that you were and how scared I was to even change your diaper for fear I would harm you. Dressing you was even worse! At the same time, you are so much a part of our lives that it can be hard to remember what it was like without you.
To celebrate, we took you down to Monterey, CA that included a trip to the Aquarium for the very first time – something your dad and I had been meaning to do with you since your were 3 months old! Knowing the drive would be too long to only do a day trip, we drove down Saturday and spent the night. Luckily, our passes were for two days so you got to experience the Aquarium both on Saturday and Sunday. You could only handle about 2 hours there at a time anyway. And you did so well in the car even though you didn’t sleep as much as we would have liked. You seemed to love the Open Oceans exhibit and all the interactive play exhibits for kids. You definitely didn’t care for the Octopus – one on each day was on full display when we passed by, something your dad and I had really never seen in all the years we have been going. They are usually curled up in a corner and barely visible. This time they were spread out and one even swam a few times in its tank. Something about it scared you, which is interesting as not much scares you.
This trip to Monterey also included the first time you slept alone in a big bed – not a crib or play yard. You’ve outgrown the play yard which means we now need to make sure there is a bed for you when we travel. Luckily, the hotel provided 4 pillows on each bed – especially since your dad and I forgot to bring all our pillows. That happens often. Anyhow, we put two pillows on each side of the bed and I gave you one of mine to use for your own head. We also put the long bolster pillows from the hotel at your feet – all of this under the comforter. You then slept on top of the comforter, under a sheet and a couple of your blankets – probably for all of ½ hour, before you were on top. Good thing I packed your flannel PJs.
But, you slept through the night without falling off the bed! And you were so cute when you woke up babbling to yourself and then heard me move so you rolled over peeking at me over one of the pillows. At least you made it to 7 AM – you’d decided to wake up at 6 AM on Saturday. Guess that was our fault for putting you to bed on time Fridays. We have to let you stay up late if we want you to sleep in some.
This year we also took you to Disneyland, just before Thanksgiving. You had such a blast – loving all the sights and sounds. You particularly loved It’s a Small World, much to your dad’s detriment (he once got stuck on it for 15 extra minutes chasing after a girl, before he met me). You also really enjoyed Dumbo and King Arthur’s Carousel. Unfortunately Pirates of the Caribbean was closed for refurbishment so you missed that one.
This last year brought a few changes in childcare. After adjusting to not having me 24/7 7 days a week when you were 6 months old, you got used to going down the street to stay with Auntie Lauren 5 days a week while I worked. But unfortunately, Lauren could no longer care for you soon after you turned a year due to her back. Your dad and I were sad to see the arrangement come to an end but we also knew we needed to get you somewhere you could socialize with other kids.
Unfortunately, you only lasted at the first place we found for 3 days! It wasn’t anything you did – we solely blame the owner and provider. She was in over her head and was just looking for an excuse to unload some of her burden. She said you were too clingy and not acclimating quickly enough. You were barely 1 year old and we soon found out, cutting 3 or 4 teeth.
The second place lasted much longer until some safety concerns were presented to us two weeks ago. They had to do with the owner/director, not Miss Alisha, who was great with you and your classmates. While we’re sad to say goodbye to her, we suspect the establishment may be shut down as a result of the events that led up to you leaving.
So last week you started at a new daycare, in the Toddlers room. Luckily, you had your friends Evan and Blake to help you get adjusted and all the teachers seem quite attentive and caring, not to mention happy to be there. Everyone has said you are a delight. But, again, change occurred this morning, as now that you are two, you move into a new class – away from Evan and Blake for the next month until Evan joins you. I hope you accept the changes rather quickly but I completely understand if you don’t.
We also had to say good-bye to our sweet Mel Mels recently. You won’t remember eventually, except for pictures and she wasn’t a great dog to have around you. She was 9 when you were born and already experiencing lower back arthritis. And we’d already turned her world upside down by bringing Tulley home a few months before we brought you home. She snapped at you a few times and mostly stayed away from you. But you loved her and referred to her as Mel Mels. You still call Tulley woof woof – as you do all dogs. Occasionally, when you see a dog, or wolf, that resembles Melody, you will say Mel Mel. And when we head home you sometimes mention her and just this morning said “Mel Mel nite nite”. It’s the best way we can explain to you she is gone.
Speaking of our pets, you began to associate all cats as bubbas when you learned that we called Jake that sometimes. You now call any cat a meow – I have no idea why you can’t say cat. But you still call Jake Bubba and we’ve recently gotten you to say Lulu when referring to Kelsey. As for daddy and me, you’ve recently transitioned from mama and dada to Mommy and Daddy – you even called Daddy Dad this weekend! So grown up.
We also enrolled you in swim lessons this year, as you are attracted to water. You’re a ways out from actually being able to swim, but you sure had a blast in swim class. You love water whether its for swimming in, bathing or just splashing around. You actually threw a full on tantrum once this last year when we went up to put you to bed and you went to the bathroom in hopes of a bath. When I said no bath that night, you lost it, and I relented. How can I deny a child a bath when they want one? You just can’t! I just hope you always are up for a bath.
You also have a love for being outdoors. Long walks with your grandpa is one of your favorite activities when he is in town, but you also just try to be outside as much as you can when you are home. Unfortunately, you don’t quite understand why we can’t always be out there, particularly on hot summer days. We try to get you out there as soon as it cools off and your dad and I try to take you for walks in your stroller as often as possible too. Sometimes our evenings are just too busy.
When we really need to distract you, we turn on a show called Yo Gabba Gabba, which you call Dabba Dabba. You ask for it whenever we are downstairs in the kitchen. Your dad and I do try to limit you to one episode a night, but on days we are particularly exhausted or need your attention elsewhere, we’ve been known to show you 2 or 3 in a row – at least they are only between 20 and 25 minutes long, with no commercials. It’s the only show that holds your attention – you don’t last more than 10 minutes on most anything else, though you did relatively well with the movie Toy Story last week.
For the most part you are a happy, curious toddler that people enjoy. You love saying hello and bye bye to passing strangers and friends the same. You are also very well versed in saying no and I did it, all gone, I don’t know and nite nite. It amazes how much you understand from us and at the same time what you don’t – like when we ask if you like Dog food. You don’t eat dog food, nor do you have access to it, yet when your poop is hard, solid rocks, Miss Alisha would say it looked like Dog Food. Once she said she asked you if you ate dog food and you said yes. When Miss Alisha asked me about it, I corrected her. Just joking around your dad asked you if you liked Dog food this weekend and you said yes.
In reality, you love Mac & cheese, cheese in general, cheese and sticks, hot dogs, bananas and anything you can dip into a sauce. You’re not afraid of spicy foods either – you even ate some peppery cheese grandpa brought on a recent visit, to his surprise. You ate most of it! You also have a curious appetite for food and want to try anything your dad and I are eating. You’ve tried lettuce several times, even straight ginger, though both you quickly took out of your mouth and deposited in my hand. But you keep trying, which is all I ask for.
The next year will, of course, bring more changes. For one, you’ll no longer be an only child. We find out tomorrow whether you will have a little brother or sister. My hope is you embrace your sibling, though at your birthday party last week, you grew quite jealous when I held your new cousin Elijah. With this new sibling is also bringing you a new bedroom. As soon as we get your dad moved out of his office into the new office we are building downstairs, we will be decorating the old office for you. In this new room you will also get a new, big girl bed. That will be an interesting transition. The goal is to have you in there no later than the start of October.
What I hope for you most is that you maintain your curious, outgoing nature as you continue to grow and develop into a little girl. That and I hope you’re potty trained by this time next year.
Love,
Mommy
Showing posts with label Motherhood Mondays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Motherhood Mondays. Show all posts
Jun 4, 2012
Day Care Issues Again!
Thursday evening was not a good one for us. Around 8 PM we received a call from the mother of one of London’s daycare classmates. She hated to be the bearer of bad news, but felt I should know that another child in another class had been hit in the face with a plate by the director and owner of our daycare facility. In front of that child’s mother no less. The director’s whole response to the incident was “Oh, I thought it wouldn’t hurt”.
So that mother and the mother I was talking to spent all day Thursday looking at new daycares and had found one close by to enroll their kids into (all 5 of them), starting Friday. I got the center’s name and went back into the house to talk with Cameron.
We quickly decided London was not going back to her old daycare at all. We both stayed home on Friday to begin our own search, starting with London’s playmates new facility. We toured the new center mid-morning and liked it a lot, feeling comfortable with not needing to look any further. And thankfully, they had space for London. She could start today. And so she did. And I spent a good hour or two on filling out all the paperwork yesterday.
One thing I really dislike about changing daycares is the amount of paperwork involved. I know its necessary and all, but it can be quite redundant too. And sadly, this is the second time we have had to change daycares in less than a year (3rd actual daycare). But what conspired at the last one is just not okay with Cameron and me, losing our trust that our precious little girl is safe, and happy, while we are at work. What frightens me even more is the thought of us putting our pending arrival in the care of the old daycare.
I just hope the new daycare works out for the long haul. And I have thoughts that it will, since it is owned separately from the people that run it, and it’s nationally organized. And London seemed to adjust well, just from what we saw from her during our tour and from what I saw this morning when I dropped her off. She didn’t seem fazed and didn’t cry when I left. I also think it will really help having two of the boys from her last class in her new class! And I am so thankful for the relationship we have created with the first mother and are now creating with the other mother so we can look out for each other.
Licensing has been contacted regarding the plate incident. Did I mention I saw the boy that was hit on both Friday and Saturday or the fact that he had a black eye?! When I was first told about it Thursday night, I was thinking he was hit in the back of the head and had a bruise or bump. Nope, front of the face right below the right eye on his cheekbone. I’m just glad London and the other kids we know are out of that place. All us mothers only wish we had the numbers to several of the other parents of children we know at the old place so we could share this information with them now versus them finding out from licensing when the report is completed.
Poor Cameron has to deal with the old place today. He’s so great for being willing to do it without me. I had confrontations like this, though I would go through it in a heartbeat for London if it was necessary. Finding a new daycare was enough for us to handle on Friday, among other things, so Cameron’s going in today to collect London’s things and tell them we will not be paying them for the next two weeks, even though our contract with them says we will. They broke our trust in protecting our daughter, first. And then Cameron gets to pick London up from the new daycare a little early, which will be nice for both of them, given all the changes so quickly.
Have you had any such daycare nightmares?
~ Sarah
So that mother and the mother I was talking to spent all day Thursday looking at new daycares and had found one close by to enroll their kids into (all 5 of them), starting Friday. I got the center’s name and went back into the house to talk with Cameron.
We quickly decided London was not going back to her old daycare at all. We both stayed home on Friday to begin our own search, starting with London’s playmates new facility. We toured the new center mid-morning and liked it a lot, feeling comfortable with not needing to look any further. And thankfully, they had space for London. She could start today. And so she did. And I spent a good hour or two on filling out all the paperwork yesterday.
One thing I really dislike about changing daycares is the amount of paperwork involved. I know its necessary and all, but it can be quite redundant too. And sadly, this is the second time we have had to change daycares in less than a year (3rd actual daycare). But what conspired at the last one is just not okay with Cameron and me, losing our trust that our precious little girl is safe, and happy, while we are at work. What frightens me even more is the thought of us putting our pending arrival in the care of the old daycare.
I just hope the new daycare works out for the long haul. And I have thoughts that it will, since it is owned separately from the people that run it, and it’s nationally organized. And London seemed to adjust well, just from what we saw from her during our tour and from what I saw this morning when I dropped her off. She didn’t seem fazed and didn’t cry when I left. I also think it will really help having two of the boys from her last class in her new class! And I am so thankful for the relationship we have created with the first mother and are now creating with the other mother so we can look out for each other.
Licensing has been contacted regarding the plate incident. Did I mention I saw the boy that was hit on both Friday and Saturday or the fact that he had a black eye?! When I was first told about it Thursday night, I was thinking he was hit in the back of the head and had a bruise or bump. Nope, front of the face right below the right eye on his cheekbone. I’m just glad London and the other kids we know are out of that place. All us mothers only wish we had the numbers to several of the other parents of children we know at the old place so we could share this information with them now versus them finding out from licensing when the report is completed.
Poor Cameron has to deal with the old place today. He’s so great for being willing to do it without me. I had confrontations like this, though I would go through it in a heartbeat for London if it was necessary. Finding a new daycare was enough for us to handle on Friday, among other things, so Cameron’s going in today to collect London’s things and tell them we will not be paying them for the next two weeks, even though our contract with them says we will. They broke our trust in protecting our daughter, first. And then Cameron gets to pick London up from the new daycare a little early, which will be nice for both of them, given all the changes so quickly.
Have you had any such daycare nightmares?
~ Sarah
May 22, 2012
Motherhood Mondays: Tattoos
Anyone who knows me outside of work knows I have tattoos – seven currently. I got my first one at age 18 and my last one a few months before I got married. I’m not sure if I’m done either. Only time will tell. People often ask if I wish I hadn’t got them or regret any of them. The answer is no. Sure, a few are ready for some touch-ups but I still love each one and what it represents.
A while ago I read about a mother who was arrested for taking her 10-year-old to get a tattoo. You can read the article here. Now her son wanted to get a tattoo to memorial his older brother who had been hit by a car at age 12. Many tattoos are memorials. And I can see where the child is coming from.
Cameron and I have had discussions about tattoos and what we would do if London came to us asking for one (obviously, we hope this is many years from now). And obviously, I can’t condem them. Cameron doesn’t have any tattoos, so technically he could, but most likely he would refer London to me. So here are my tattoo rules:
- First, London will have to wait until she is 18.
- Then I would want her to think long and hard about what she wants, where and why. The where definitely will be important when it comes to her desired career. I figured I would need to keep my tattoos covered in the workplace before I got my first one, and I do. Which means you will never see me in a skirt, capris or shorts at work. And that’s why I’ve never gotten a wrist or arm tattoo.
- And finally, I have to take her to get her first. I want to make sure it’s safe and that quality work is completed. It’s permanent after all. I’ve seen far too many tattoos I would be highly upset about having with the way the black outlines are almost as thick as the design, taking away from the detail.
How would you handle it if your child came home wanting a tattoo?
~Sarah
May 14, 2012
Motherhood Mondays & Weekend Update: My Mother's Day WEEKEND
Happy belated Mother’s Day! I hope all you Mother’s had a wonderful day doing exactly what you wanted to be doing. My Mother’s Day was more of a Mother’s Weekend, which in some ways started Thursday night.
On Wednesday I had worked an open house for my company down in Modesto. On the way home, I’d picked up some fresh strawberries to make a fresh strawberry pie that I was craving. The problem was the open house and being on my feet all day, not to mention the heat in Modesto, left me tired Thursday. And while I normally love to bake, I wasn’t looking forward to it Thursday night as all I wanted to do was sit. Lucky for me, Cameron took control and had made the pies for me. The house smelled so yummy when London and I got home.
Friday I got home early thanks to a work open house in West Sacramento – I made it home just in time for a migraine to hit and took a 3 hour nap which alleviated the situation. When I picked London up from day care, a cute flower card and photo flip book was waiting for me, London’s Mother’s day gift to me : ). Cameron and I had discussed earlier in the week that this was likely the only way I’d receive a card or gift from London.
Saturday began early for all three of us as we headed to Cal Expo to participate in the Komen Race for the Cure. This had been my request for the weekend – to participate in the walk with my family. The best part – I still fit in the small T-shirt I had registered for before I knew I was pregnant! Cameron and I had fun talking and people watching as we power-walked our way through the crowds. While attendance was down for the event thanks to the Planned Parenthood issues from January, there were still 18,000-20,000 people out there. London was happy once we set out on the walk – waiting is definitely not her forte.
Back at home, Cameron made me homemade waffles which I topped with melted butter, light cool whip and strawberry pie filling. Yummy! This is also when I discovered Cameron though Saturday was Mother’s Day. Worked for me. We all were worn out by London’s nap time, so we all took a nap until my dad arrived for the weekend. He was stopping in on his way to Chico where he will be working for the next couple of weeks. He got to get London up from her nap when she awoke. London was quite excited to have her Grandpa come to her rescue.
We were still tuckered from our walk and Dad was tired from driving so life in our house was pretty bland that evening outside the Chili Verde Cameron made for dinner. And Mother’s Day itself was pretty low key as well. We skyped with my mom in the morning to wish her a Happy Mother’s Day and tell her we wished she was there with us as well. My dad also took London for a long walk while Cameron and I set to complete the demolition in the front room. This would be a slow, all day process and at one point, Cameron looked more like a ghost than a person, he was so covered in a fine white dust after sawing out some drywall in the ceiling!
We completed the day barbequing with Matt & Lynde. We also pulled out London’s water table after she began playing in the dog water bowl outside – which led to her going between her water table and the dog bowl! She was soaked and needed a warm bath before dinner was ready. We all dined on some delicious steaks, bbq’d corn on the cob, mexican salad and garlic bread. And I spend the rest of the evening working on London’s stocking, instead of worrying about the dishes. Of course I have those waiting for me tonight! At least I can say I am a mere few hours from completing her stocking! About time, considering I have another one to start and this will be London’s 3rd Christmas!
All in all, it was just what I wanted and needed for the weekend after several busy and upcoming busy weekends. The only rough part was saying by to my dad this morning. The second London saw him this morning she ran in to get a hug. She will be a bit disappointed to discover Grandpa is gone when we get home this evening.
~ Sarah
On Wednesday I had worked an open house for my company down in Modesto. On the way home, I’d picked up some fresh strawberries to make a fresh strawberry pie that I was craving. The problem was the open house and being on my feet all day, not to mention the heat in Modesto, left me tired Thursday. And while I normally love to bake, I wasn’t looking forward to it Thursday night as all I wanted to do was sit. Lucky for me, Cameron took control and had made the pies for me. The house smelled so yummy when London and I got home.
Friday I got home early thanks to a work open house in West Sacramento – I made it home just in time for a migraine to hit and took a 3 hour nap which alleviated the situation. When I picked London up from day care, a cute flower card and photo flip book was waiting for me, London’s Mother’s day gift to me : ). Cameron and I had discussed earlier in the week that this was likely the only way I’d receive a card or gift from London.
Saturday began early for all three of us as we headed to Cal Expo to participate in the Komen Race for the Cure. This had been my request for the weekend – to participate in the walk with my family. The best part – I still fit in the small T-shirt I had registered for before I knew I was pregnant! Cameron and I had fun talking and people watching as we power-walked our way through the crowds. While attendance was down for the event thanks to the Planned Parenthood issues from January, there were still 18,000-20,000 people out there. London was happy once we set out on the walk – waiting is definitely not her forte.
Back at home, Cameron made me homemade waffles which I topped with melted butter, light cool whip and strawberry pie filling. Yummy! This is also when I discovered Cameron though Saturday was Mother’s Day. Worked for me. We all were worn out by London’s nap time, so we all took a nap until my dad arrived for the weekend. He was stopping in on his way to Chico where he will be working for the next couple of weeks. He got to get London up from her nap when she awoke. London was quite excited to have her Grandpa come to her rescue.
We were still tuckered from our walk and Dad was tired from driving so life in our house was pretty bland that evening outside the Chili Verde Cameron made for dinner. And Mother’s Day itself was pretty low key as well. We skyped with my mom in the morning to wish her a Happy Mother’s Day and tell her we wished she was there with us as well. My dad also took London for a long walk while Cameron and I set to complete the demolition in the front room. This would be a slow, all day process and at one point, Cameron looked more like a ghost than a person, he was so covered in a fine white dust after sawing out some drywall in the ceiling!
We completed the day barbequing with Matt & Lynde. We also pulled out London’s water table after she began playing in the dog water bowl outside – which led to her going between her water table and the dog bowl! She was soaked and needed a warm bath before dinner was ready. We all dined on some delicious steaks, bbq’d corn on the cob, mexican salad and garlic bread. And I spend the rest of the evening working on London’s stocking, instead of worrying about the dishes. Of course I have those waiting for me tonight! At least I can say I am a mere few hours from completing her stocking! About time, considering I have another one to start and this will be London’s 3rd Christmas!
All in all, it was just what I wanted and needed for the weekend after several busy and upcoming busy weekends. The only rough part was saying by to my dad this morning. The second London saw him this morning she ran in to get a hug. She will be a bit disappointed to discover Grandpa is gone when we get home this evening.
~ Sarah
Apr 23, 2012
Food Dyes and Fake Blueberries
I recently mentioned that we have to be careful with London and candy all because she has a food dye sensitivity. Mainly, after ingesting Red or Blue dye, she breaks out with a knarly and painful looking diaper rash – the girl will run for her life to avoid having her diaper changed and will cry the entire time she’s being cleaned. The only way to clear this up is a combination of baths and Desitin diaper cream.
Cameron and I both read an article on Yahoo a while back about how when you buy a product that says it has blueberries in it, such as Eggo’s Blueberry pancakes, the reality is that there really isn’t blueberries in the product, or there may be some, but could also include red and blue dyes. You can read the article here.
At the time, it wasn’t anything that concerned us. If we wanted true blueberries waffles or pancakes, we would just make them from scratch. And reading this information also didn’t stop us from purchasing Eggo’s Blueberry waffles at Costco one time, as we were finding waffles were quick weekend breakfast selections for London.
The first day London had a bite of these waffles was shortly thereafter and she’d actually only had 3 bites because the blueberry waffles were mine – I had fed her the last of the mini waffles. That evening she had the knarly diaper rash and Cameron and I both speculated it must have been an allergic reaction to something she ate, but what? The thought of the blueberry waffles never crossed my mind, she’d had so little of it.
The next weekend, I fed London her own blueberry waffle. Sure enough, by late afternoon the rash had reappeared. That’s when Cameron and I dissected what she ate and determined it must be the waffles. So now we have a freezer full of Blueberry waffles that we don’t dare eat in front of London.
Then we went rash free for a while. Until London had Jello at daycare for the St. Patrick’s Day party – Jello I had prepared. It hadn’t occurred to me to worry about Jello. But Saturday morning, the day after, she had the rash. That’s when we decided she was really sensitive to the dyes and needed to be much more mindful of her intake of such colors.
We’ve since had to educate the daycare on the issue - when we first tried to explain it to them, it was because they were serving her blueberry pancakes. They didn’t grasp that it was dyes, not blueberries she had an issue with. We even had to get a doctor’s note to put the sensitivity on record with them. And they have not always been cognizant of it, as she came home with that same rash over Easter Weekend – I’m sure she had something with the dye from their Easter party – maybe a frosted sugar cookie.
I definitely hope this is something London grows out of, as she will be quite limited in what she can have when it comes to sweets – but maybe that’s not such a bad thing, either.
~Sarah
Cameron and I both read an article on Yahoo a while back about how when you buy a product that says it has blueberries in it, such as Eggo’s Blueberry pancakes, the reality is that there really isn’t blueberries in the product, or there may be some, but could also include red and blue dyes. You can read the article here.
At the time, it wasn’t anything that concerned us. If we wanted true blueberries waffles or pancakes, we would just make them from scratch. And reading this information also didn’t stop us from purchasing Eggo’s Blueberry waffles at Costco one time, as we were finding waffles were quick weekend breakfast selections for London.
The first day London had a bite of these waffles was shortly thereafter and she’d actually only had 3 bites because the blueberry waffles were mine – I had fed her the last of the mini waffles. That evening she had the knarly diaper rash and Cameron and I both speculated it must have been an allergic reaction to something she ate, but what? The thought of the blueberry waffles never crossed my mind, she’d had so little of it.
The next weekend, I fed London her own blueberry waffle. Sure enough, by late afternoon the rash had reappeared. That’s when Cameron and I dissected what she ate and determined it must be the waffles. So now we have a freezer full of Blueberry waffles that we don’t dare eat in front of London.
Then we went rash free for a while. Until London had Jello at daycare for the St. Patrick’s Day party – Jello I had prepared. It hadn’t occurred to me to worry about Jello. But Saturday morning, the day after, she had the rash. That’s when we decided she was really sensitive to the dyes and needed to be much more mindful of her intake of such colors.
We’ve since had to educate the daycare on the issue - when we first tried to explain it to them, it was because they were serving her blueberry pancakes. They didn’t grasp that it was dyes, not blueberries she had an issue with. We even had to get a doctor’s note to put the sensitivity on record with them. And they have not always been cognizant of it, as she came home with that same rash over Easter Weekend – I’m sure she had something with the dye from their Easter party – maybe a frosted sugar cookie.
I definitely hope this is something London grows out of, as she will be quite limited in what she can have when it comes to sweets – but maybe that’s not such a bad thing, either.
~Sarah
Mar 26, 2012
Motherhood Mondays - To Child proof or Not
A while back I read an article about whether it is necessary to child proof or not. You can read the article here.
In it, the author details what they did and didn’t do for their son, but it never really delved into the argument of whether to child proof or not. I’ve heard both extremes. One friend, while she was still only pregnant and taking the responsible baby courses, was actually told to bolt her windows down since she lived in a second story apartment. To me this is a bit extreme.
Then there is the argument that when you take the child out of your child-proofed home, into other people’s homes, including grandparents’ homes, that these homes won’t be child-proofed, so why set your child up for behavior failure in other people’s homes by child-proofing your own.
Cameron and I fall somewhere in the middle of these two arguments, although I’d say we align closer to the non-child-proofing side than the extreme child-proofing side. For the most part, our child-proofing has involved the good-old fashioned wooden gates that even adults have a hard time opening, closing and tightening, that you can get at Walmart for $5. We bought two of these gates when Tulley was a puppy, to corral her to specific areas of the house and have kept them in place for London.
We also purchased a wider, plastic gate to put between our carpeted family room and tiled kitchen when London was crawling and learning to walk. At this same time, we had a blanket folded up over the granite tile in the family room and removed such hazards as the iron fireplace tools and bucket full of drift wood. Items we don’t want London getting her hands on as well, first moved up in the room and eventually out of the room for the most part. She then has learned what she can and can’t tough in the family room. Toys = good things to touch. Electronic box buttons and items on the side table between the couch and chair = no touch.
We have employed those famously frustrating plastic electrical outlet covers that are almost as adult-proof as they are child-proof, but only in London’s room and the kitchen and family room. We also purchased and installed an oven lock, not so much to save London from burning herself, but after she scared herself opening the oven door trying to take down one of our kitchen towels> She almost knocked herself out doing this and we felt it was a necessary precaution, in case she tried to do this when the oven was on. Now our hand towels are rarely on the oven handle as London likes to take them off and use them to “tuck” Tulley in for “nite nite” (not that she doesn’t have plenty of access to blankets in the family room for this!) We started going through towels so much it’s just necessary to keep them on top of the counters and wash them more often.
Last, we bought the famous cabinet locks and actually began installing them but never finished. Our cabinets are made of some hard particle wood on the inside that made installing the tiny screws nearly impossible. Yes, I’d feel better if the under the sink cabinet was baby proof, but then again, London really isn’t left unattended downstairs for any period of time – it’s just as easy to take her with us, or she stands at the gate crying to be with us any way. I also just need to address this cabinet and see if I can’t move most of it to the upper cabinets of our laundry room.
And I know we’ve been lucky, as London as learned through trial and error, which cabinets she can get away with opening at all. So now, she really only opens the drawer that holds her bibs, plates and bowls, and the silverware drawer now that she is tall enough to reach in and grab her silverware from it.
For the most part, London isn’t allowed to be anywhere in our house unattended because we know we can’t trust her completely, just like we couldn’t trust Tulley when she was a pup and like we can’t trust Melody now.
Maybe we’ll child-proof more if we’re blessed with a second child, but for now, we only have one to watch after, and the worse she does is close herself in the pantry or bathroom, knowing full well we’ll be in to retrieve her shortly – and this is usually because she wants a little privacy to do her business. If only she’d show some interest in potty training.
London knows that if she closes herself in these two areas it too much she’ll get placed in a time out, though we first try to distract her into doing some other, parent-approved activity.
And maybe we have been blessed with a non-child-proofing necessary child like the author in the article concludes. But at the same time, I think it also has a lot to do with what the parents allow and don’t allow to go on in the household and the boundaries they set for their children. I guess you could say Cameron and I take a child-proof as you go approach. No way do we see the need of child-proofing something before it is an issue. A newborn isn’t going to get into anything right away. We didn’t use the plastic plug covers until London showed interest in an electrical socket. We did have them ready for the day she did, but had we not, we would have left for the store immediately. And maybe we’re lucky with our house set-up that we can use baby gates to prevent access to the rest of the house so that we only have a few rooms to truly baby-proof at this time and keep a close eye on London almost all the time.
The one child-proofing item I could not live without are the chimes on our doors and windows when they are opened. We recently turned them off when we were going in and out of the garage in the middle of the night to deal with the puppies while my parents were visiting, mainly because it was interrupting their sleep. But these chimes have been turned back on now that London has learned to open some of our doors, including the front door. She doesn’t usually have access to the front door unless we are already headed out the door, but its peace of mind for Cameron and me. And she still can’t reach the sliding glass door handle or lock, but we know some day she will.
Our friends Pat & Kim have an alarm that actually tells you which door is being opened in their house and is one we would consider if London gets into a habit of exiting the house (which I hope never becomes the case).
So what child proofing do you feel is absolutely necessary and which kind do you think merely play into the fears of parents to make a little extra money for the child-proofing companies?
~Sarah
In it, the author details what they did and didn’t do for their son, but it never really delved into the argument of whether to child proof or not. I’ve heard both extremes. One friend, while she was still only pregnant and taking the responsible baby courses, was actually told to bolt her windows down since she lived in a second story apartment. To me this is a bit extreme.
Then there is the argument that when you take the child out of your child-proofed home, into other people’s homes, including grandparents’ homes, that these homes won’t be child-proofed, so why set your child up for behavior failure in other people’s homes by child-proofing your own.
Cameron and I fall somewhere in the middle of these two arguments, although I’d say we align closer to the non-child-proofing side than the extreme child-proofing side. For the most part, our child-proofing has involved the good-old fashioned wooden gates that even adults have a hard time opening, closing and tightening, that you can get at Walmart for $5. We bought two of these gates when Tulley was a puppy, to corral her to specific areas of the house and have kept them in place for London.
We also purchased a wider, plastic gate to put between our carpeted family room and tiled kitchen when London was crawling and learning to walk. At this same time, we had a blanket folded up over the granite tile in the family room and removed such hazards as the iron fireplace tools and bucket full of drift wood. Items we don’t want London getting her hands on as well, first moved up in the room and eventually out of the room for the most part. She then has learned what she can and can’t tough in the family room. Toys = good things to touch. Electronic box buttons and items on the side table between the couch and chair = no touch.
We have employed those famously frustrating plastic electrical outlet covers that are almost as adult-proof as they are child-proof, but only in London’s room and the kitchen and family room. We also purchased and installed an oven lock, not so much to save London from burning herself, but after she scared herself opening the oven door trying to take down one of our kitchen towels> She almost knocked herself out doing this and we felt it was a necessary precaution, in case she tried to do this when the oven was on. Now our hand towels are rarely on the oven handle as London likes to take them off and use them to “tuck” Tulley in for “nite nite” (not that she doesn’t have plenty of access to blankets in the family room for this!) We started going through towels so much it’s just necessary to keep them on top of the counters and wash them more often.
Last, we bought the famous cabinet locks and actually began installing them but never finished. Our cabinets are made of some hard particle wood on the inside that made installing the tiny screws nearly impossible. Yes, I’d feel better if the under the sink cabinet was baby proof, but then again, London really isn’t left unattended downstairs for any period of time – it’s just as easy to take her with us, or she stands at the gate crying to be with us any way. I also just need to address this cabinet and see if I can’t move most of it to the upper cabinets of our laundry room.
And I know we’ve been lucky, as London as learned through trial and error, which cabinets she can get away with opening at all. So now, she really only opens the drawer that holds her bibs, plates and bowls, and the silverware drawer now that she is tall enough to reach in and grab her silverware from it.
For the most part, London isn’t allowed to be anywhere in our house unattended because we know we can’t trust her completely, just like we couldn’t trust Tulley when she was a pup and like we can’t trust Melody now.
Maybe we’ll child-proof more if we’re blessed with a second child, but for now, we only have one to watch after, and the worse she does is close herself in the pantry or bathroom, knowing full well we’ll be in to retrieve her shortly – and this is usually because she wants a little privacy to do her business. If only she’d show some interest in potty training.
London knows that if she closes herself in these two areas it too much she’ll get placed in a time out, though we first try to distract her into doing some other, parent-approved activity.
And maybe we have been blessed with a non-child-proofing necessary child like the author in the article concludes. But at the same time, I think it also has a lot to do with what the parents allow and don’t allow to go on in the household and the boundaries they set for their children. I guess you could say Cameron and I take a child-proof as you go approach. No way do we see the need of child-proofing something before it is an issue. A newborn isn’t going to get into anything right away. We didn’t use the plastic plug covers until London showed interest in an electrical socket. We did have them ready for the day she did, but had we not, we would have left for the store immediately. And maybe we’re lucky with our house set-up that we can use baby gates to prevent access to the rest of the house so that we only have a few rooms to truly baby-proof at this time and keep a close eye on London almost all the time.
The one child-proofing item I could not live without are the chimes on our doors and windows when they are opened. We recently turned them off when we were going in and out of the garage in the middle of the night to deal with the puppies while my parents were visiting, mainly because it was interrupting their sleep. But these chimes have been turned back on now that London has learned to open some of our doors, including the front door. She doesn’t usually have access to the front door unless we are already headed out the door, but its peace of mind for Cameron and me. And she still can’t reach the sliding glass door handle or lock, but we know some day she will.
Our friends Pat & Kim have an alarm that actually tells you which door is being opened in their house and is one we would consider if London gets into a habit of exiting the house (which I hope never becomes the case).
So what child proofing do you feel is absolutely necessary and which kind do you think merely play into the fears of parents to make a little extra money for the child-proofing companies?
~Sarah
Mar 12, 2012
Motherhood Mondays: Depression after Weaning
Today I wanted to share something I recently read in two places: Depression after Weaning. I’d never before heard of it until I read this first blog post by Joanna Goddard, author of the Cup of Jo blog, one of my favorite blogs to follow. She was so nervous to share the depression she experienced for two months after weaning her son Toby from breast feeding. She never connected the dots until after the depression had ended and she’d gotten her period. The Huffington Post did a similar story and actually interviewed Joanna for the piece.
You hear about Post-partum depression all throughout your pregnancy and in news headlines after a famous star has experienced it. But never had I heard about this kind of depression. And while I was fortunate after having London to not experience either of these, I think it’s still important to be aware for myself in the future and for my friends who are starting or increasing their families. So this is me doing what I can to pass this information on. Please read both pieces.
Judging by the overwhelming amount of comments Joanna received from her post, she definitely is not alone in this kind of depression.
~Sarah
You hear about Post-partum depression all throughout your pregnancy and in news headlines after a famous star has experienced it. But never had I heard about this kind of depression. And while I was fortunate after having London to not experience either of these, I think it’s still important to be aware for myself in the future and for my friends who are starting or increasing their families. So this is me doing what I can to pass this information on. Please read both pieces.
Judging by the overwhelming amount of comments Joanna received from her post, she definitely is not alone in this kind of depression.
~Sarah
Feb 21, 2012
Motherhood Mondays: Puppy Love
Please bear with me, as I cannot garantee that my next few posts will be on time or make any sense. Sleep deprevation will be the culprit. With 12 puppies, Cameron and I need to help supplement their food intake and save Tulley's health. This means bottle feeding them every 2-3 hours for at least the next couple of days. Problem is, they don't like the formula and bottle over mama. Only one or two of the pups get their fill on the bottle. But Tulley's health is at stake so we will do whatever it takes to ensure she's ok.
Cameron took the crew to the vet this morning and all the pups got a clean bill of health, which is remarkable given how many of them there are. They all had their declaws removed as well. Tulley is ok right now but was prescribed more food, including wet to help with hydration and more calcium via 3-4 Tums a day.
To help Tulley relax, I took her away from the pups when I got home, slipping on her "in heat" diaper (since dogs are just like women after they give birth) and had her lay on the family room floor while I was petting her and giving her some much deserved love.
So again, please bear with me while we get through the next week.
~Sarah
Cameron took the crew to the vet this morning and all the pups got a clean bill of health, which is remarkable given how many of them there are. They all had their declaws removed as well. Tulley is ok right now but was prescribed more food, including wet to help with hydration and more calcium via 3-4 Tums a day.
To help Tulley relax, I took her away from the pups when I got home, slipping on her "in heat" diaper (since dogs are just like women after they give birth) and had her lay on the family room floor while I was petting her and giving her some much deserved love.
So again, please bear with me while we get through the next week.
~Sarah
Feb 13, 2012
Motherhood Mondays: Too Much Moo
We have a battle raging in our house right now. A battle of wills. Cameron and I versus London. The litte girl wasn't feeling well Thursday night and by Friday morning was suffering from a fever. She refused to eat much and only wanted her moo (read: milk - in our house its called moo because that's what London calls it). By the end of the day, we'd realized she'd barely eaten but had probably drank half a gallon of moo. At first we assumed she wanted to drink more because her throat hurt like ours had last week, but by the end of the day it was just too much even for a sore throat.
Saturday we couldn't do too much about this as we had plans that involved London spending most of the day with her Grammy who did try to feed her. The report back was that much of any food offered ended up on the floor. Which meant we spent yesterday battling with London. We would only give her moo after a meal or before a nap or bed. And we succeeded, for the most part, but it made for a very looooong, whiny day. We were exhausted by the time we crawled into bed last night.
Of course, that's when London woke up. And proceeded to whine and whine. First, I went in to rock her. As soon as I closed the door she was crying again. And we tried to let her soothe herself. But Cameron couldn't resist any longer when we heard London cry "Mommy, Daddy". How could he not? This is a child who usually says Mama and Dada - not the words mommy and daddy. And she is soooo cute the way she placed emphasis on the mee and dee parts. So he rocked her. London lasted 10 minutes after Cameron came back to bed. So finally I hoofed it downstairs and filled a sippy 1/3 full of moo. And that was all she needed. Slept like a baby the rest of the night.
Cameron and I hatched a new plan of attack for our moo war as we fell asleep. First, we need to invest in some new sippy cups that have straws versus the sipping function - its too close to the bottle which London definitely used as a soothing mechism. And hopefully we can get her to consume water more often this way. I'll even offer her a little juice. Although so far she isn't a fan of juices (we know this is a blessing).
But any suggestions out there we might be able to steal on getting her to eat more and drink less moo? I know it's a weird problem to have but it's one we are faced with currently.
~Sarah
Saturday we couldn't do too much about this as we had plans that involved London spending most of the day with her Grammy who did try to feed her. The report back was that much of any food offered ended up on the floor. Which meant we spent yesterday battling with London. We would only give her moo after a meal or before a nap or bed. And we succeeded, for the most part, but it made for a very looooong, whiny day. We were exhausted by the time we crawled into bed last night.
Of course, that's when London woke up. And proceeded to whine and whine. First, I went in to rock her. As soon as I closed the door she was crying again. And we tried to let her soothe herself. But Cameron couldn't resist any longer when we heard London cry "Mommy, Daddy". How could he not? This is a child who usually says Mama and Dada - not the words mommy and daddy. And she is soooo cute the way she placed emphasis on the mee and dee parts. So he rocked her. London lasted 10 minutes after Cameron came back to bed. So finally I hoofed it downstairs and filled a sippy 1/3 full of moo. And that was all she needed. Slept like a baby the rest of the night.
Cameron and I hatched a new plan of attack for our moo war as we fell asleep. First, we need to invest in some new sippy cups that have straws versus the sipping function - its too close to the bottle which London definitely used as a soothing mechism. And hopefully we can get her to consume water more often this way. I'll even offer her a little juice. Although so far she isn't a fan of juices (we know this is a blessing).
But any suggestions out there we might be able to steal on getting her to eat more and drink less moo? I know it's a weird problem to have but it's one we are faced with currently.
~Sarah
Jan 30, 2012
Motherhood Mondays: The Great Vending Machine Debate
On January 20th, Parenting Magazine’s Show &Tell blog posted that a study has come out that vending machines in schools do not have a direct affect with a child being obese. Read all about it here.
Cameron and I had a great conversation about this one. Mainly, we laughed that a study was needed to prove this. We are both firm believers that childhood obesity starts with and ends with the parents. The parents are the ones that teach their children bad eating habits and allow much of the food found in vending machines into their homes. More often than not, when I see an obese child I find an obese parent not far away.
Here’s another thing – what child carries so much change around with them on a daily basis that they could consume enough vending machine food to affect their weight? And if they are carrying around that much, don’t you think they’d likely spend it on something else that they want, like the latest video game?
I’ll admit I made my fair share of visits to the vending machine at my high school. But not before. This study followed kids from kindergarten through eighth grade. I think I grabbed a soda or energy drink from the vending machine in junior high only on the few mornings I had basketball practice at 6 AM. And in high school my choices definitely weren’t healthy (a pepsi and either chocolate cookies or chocolate covered donettes) but I also was playing basketball or soccer or running track and burning more calories than I could consume, so I was still a skinny, (somewhat) healthy kid. But I digress.
We are doing what we can to teach good habits to London
What do you think? Do you think vending machines affect childhood obesity? Or are you like me, and think it all starts at home?
~Sarah
Jan 23, 2012
Oh the Invisible Mother
Can you find the “Hidden” Moms in these pictures?
Hello to my first installment of Motherhood Mondays. The first blog to turn me on to such a weekly topic is Cup of Jo. She’s a professional writer, who lives in Manhattan with her husband and toddler son. Her blog covers everything and anything that comes to her mind or happens in her life.
Last Monday for her Motherhood Monday piece, she featured a link from Retronaut, which showcased old-time photos of children. In actuality, the mothers of the children are in the pictures as well, covered up by what often looks like a sheet, blanket or rug. This was so that child would hold still so a focused picture could be taken. Remember, taking a picture back in these days required patience, stillness and time.
All in all, these are hilarious but I also can’t help seeing the truism in the picture. How often do you feel invisible as a mom? And not only by your children but by the people around you who are too focused on your children?
Make sure to go to the original link to see all the pictures Retronaut has gathered (I’ve only picked out 3 to show you), and check out Cup a Jo for some great blogging and insight.
Tootles,
Sarah
Hello to my first installment of Motherhood Mondays. The first blog to turn me on to such a weekly topic is Cup of Jo. She’s a professional writer, who lives in Manhattan with her husband and toddler son. Her blog covers everything and anything that comes to her mind or happens in her life.
Last Monday for her Motherhood Monday piece, she featured a link from Retronaut, which showcased old-time photos of children. In actuality, the mothers of the children are in the pictures as well, covered up by what often looks like a sheet, blanket or rug. This was so that child would hold still so a focused picture could be taken. Remember, taking a picture back in these days required patience, stillness and time.
All in all, these are hilarious but I also can’t help seeing the truism in the picture. How often do you feel invisible as a mom? And not only by your children but by the people around you who are too focused on your children?
Make sure to go to the original link to see all the pictures Retronaut has gathered (I’ve only picked out 3 to show you), and check out Cup a Jo for some great blogging and insight.
Tootles,
Sarah
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)