Pre-school Application

Little Bean started Preschool today. She didn't cry plus it took some coaxing to get her to say goodbye. Actually, once she was in the classroom, I think she forgot that I even existed. So, I stuck around a little longer than the teachers wanted. I guess if she cried or clung to me a little, it would of been easier for me to leave at a more reasonable time. Oh well, there is always next year.

Here are some questions from her application, the questions are real, the answers are not... well, for most of them.

Child's Name: (Little Bean)
Name you call her: Bean
What she likes to be called: "Your highness", Princess, Queen

Any problems with eating: Not unless you count throwing food
Food allergies or restrictions: She will not eat anything without cheese, yogurt or sour cream and the promise of ice cream.
Is your child toilet trained: Yes and that is about it.
Words she uses for toileting: "potty", "uh-oh"

In what particular ways can you we help your child?: Teach her to listen to her parents ... actually, there really isn't enough space here to answer that question. However, she really is a good kid. Really.

Are you working on skills at home?: Yes, coloring inside the lines on the wall paper, cutting straight lines in the curtains, writing her name with crayons on the furniture and saying things to push my husband's buttons.

Is there anything else you want us to know about your child?: She already thinks she knows everything like cooking(oh, thats another post), how to use the computer, what is good and bad for your health...etc. So... good luck!

New Vocabulary with Little Bean

New Word: Impossible

Used in a sentence:
#1
While Little Bean is being assisted in the bathroom by her father she stated, "Papa, this is impossible!" (Don't know if that meant she didn't want her father helping her or she didn't really need to go to the bathroom)

#2
Me: "I have an hour to get dinner ready, can you sit in your high chair and help?"
Little Bean: "No, that's impossible"

Birthday Girl!

Speaking of party animals...

Little Bean is passed out after her birthday party this bright and sunny afternoon. She didn't touch her cake, so it's not from sugar withdrawal, but from dancing hard with her friends in their toddler mosh pit. I have always wanted to dance in the mosh pit, but today, I was equally intimidated by the roughness and tackling of 3 super cute, two year old girls. They would start off running in a fast circle, then one would stop and turn to hug the toddler behind her and fall to the floor. The 3rd would pile on top of them. Then they would roll back and forth running in to each other and laughing. See what I mean? Pretty scary.

I bombed miserably with being ready on time, with finger foods and cupcakes. I just put too much expectation on myself. However, I am frustrated that I didn't meet my own expectations. Planning and executing a simple toddler party is not hard and I have done it in the past. So what happened? I could blame my Mother for not helping, dirtying up dishes and watching t.v. while I washed her clothes so she can have something to wear (her luggage hasn't arrived yet). Or my husband was at work, Little Bean refused to let me do her hair, #1 daughter forgot her lunch and needed her homework emailed to her...etc. That said, I have no one to blame but myself.

Now, if either one of my best friends were here to help (or in my shoes) this would of been done with style and grace. Chef B, a pastry chef (hence the name), would of already had the house set-up and the food "product" chilling in the fridge before she went to bed the previous evening. HH is a perfect republican, who always wears the best perfume, and looks great under pressure.... need I say more? (Side note: we rarely talk politics and we don't attack the other with our point of views.Right HH?) I on the other hand had nothing ready, as far as food, but the plain cupcakes that needed to be frosted, before my 1st guest arrived. So, I spent the first 30 mins. of the party scrambling while the mothers talked and the kids played.

My mother hosted, while I prayed in my head, "Lord tie her tongue...take the words out of her mouth and muffle them so no one hears her..."

I should of given up on the finger food or put together cheese and crackers and called it a day. The most appetizing food on the table was the fish crackers, cupcakes and animal cookies.
I tried making new, simple vegetarian recipes that both toddlers and adults would enjoy. But quickly learned that was a big mistake. Only the one mother, born west of the Mississippi River (maybe a little farther west) understood and enjoyed the food.

On the bright side, and in the end

• Little Bean and her friends had a blast!
  
• The mommies will probably have interesting facts about me to tell their hubbies and friends.
  
• I learned that cranberry cream cheese is not a crowd pleaser.
• I will never do this again, without one of my best friends. So, put it on your calendars Chef B and HH.
  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LITTLE BEAN!

Ah that child!

"Mom you like my butterfly wings?"

I looked over to discover she had my bra on backwards like ..."butterfly wings".

How do I respond to that?

5 minutes after posting, she put her bottoms to her dress (they look like underwear, but the same fabric as the dress) on her head and said, "Bye Mom, I going to office now!".

Toddler Fashion

Motherhood Lesson #64,000:

There is a right way and then there is a toddler way.



Bindis

-------------------------------------Toddler fashion tip - If you can't find a bindi, use raisins




Sunglasses

Crafts with Little Bean (22 months)

I love doing craft projects! Last week, I figured out a new way to keep Little Bean busy while I'm cutting and gluing ( I guess my recreation therapy degree is kind of handy). I found these Kumon books at Target, in the activity book section (looks like they are a $1 cheaper online). She loves them. They are simple activities that help build fine motor skills.

If you decide to use them:

• Check the front of the book to see what other resources you need(glue, kid scissors..etc).
• Read the material and try them out with your child 1:1.
• Make sure you cut out enough pages to keep your toddler busy before starting your own project. I recommend the sticker and paste books, the cutting books needs 1:1 attention.
  

Other activities that have worked in the past:

• Paper and crayons (click here to see our favorite. Twistables are impossible for Little Bean to break and are erasable.-- Another option check-out Does Mommy Loves It)
  
• Paper and stickers (her favorite) or sticker/color books
  
• A variety of empty containers with lids. Little Bean spends a lot of time trying to twist off/pop off lids and trying to placing them back on. She also like putting things in them.
  
• If all else fails, try finger painting with baby food ;)
  

Please note - all these activities , as you know, still need your supervision. Some of above objects are choking hazard. Since, you know you child, use your best judgment and modify as needed. I put Little Bean in her highchair at arms length away, so I can reach her for any reason.

A Good Resourse for Getting your Baby/Toddler to Sleep

I am still struggling with getting Little Bean to sleep through the night in her own bed. I don't mind co-sleeping... but lack of sleep is starting to take its toll on Bean, my husband and me. I read this in the Parenting magazine last year and tried it out. It was working for Bean, but unfortunately, traveling put us back at square one x2 (nice math equation). Recently, I decided I will try again... 3rd times a charm right? I couldn't find my magazine but was able to find the "Sleep Quiz" on their website. Take the quiz and it will describe the method that is best for you and your child.

I'll keep you posted on the method and how it works for Little Bean... that is, if it still works on a toddler.

If you have tried and/or trying any method, please comment and let me know how it is going and what you did.

Don't put that in there!

"Little Bean!"
"...Ernie, Elmo, Vidya (giraffe), and all the rest of your dolls & toys do not belong in the potty!"

(photo is just for effect... I just washed her toys)

Later that evening Little Bean, after her bath, made a verbal list, "I took a bath... Mama took a bath, Papa took a bath., Didi took a bath... Elmo, Ernie, Vidya....etc"

Little Bean on Politics

Like everywhere else in the US, Obama and Clinton were in town recently . My husband and #1 daughter decided they were going to try to see both candidates before the caucus. One being for Clinton and the other for Obama. Myself, undecided. I told my family, I will go with the popular family vote, at the caucus. Little Bean was the deciding vote.

So, I asked her directly, "Who are you going to vote for?" without missing a beat, she said, "Burrr-ock Bama!".

Needless to say, we were all in shock that she answered. No coaching, no prompting no nothing.
I did notice, with the heavy ad campaign, Little Bean was practicing quietly to herself, saying the candidates names each time they were mentioned. I was still surprised that she answered correctly.

Now, if we ask her who she is voting for, she says, "Burrr-ock Bama and Illery Clinton".

Not a bad idea.

Just a few of Little Bean's Antics

Little Bean regarding:

• Hunger

• Most mornings (sometimes as early as 3am), she wakes up and declares she want to go downstairs to eat breakfast. And Lists off foods she wants to eat "...peaches, cheese, blueberries, yogurt, cereal, pizza, toast, bagels, cream cheese, ice cream...."
• Nibbling is good, even if it means pulling all the blueberries out of muffins and yogurt.
  

• Independence
• Independence is important to her and very tiring for me. Much patience is needed for me to watch her climb down a few steps only to climb back up to check to see if her sister is coming downstairs and down and up again to check if her papa is coming.... a few more times for books, paper and clothes...etc.
  

• Name calling
• Mama is my usual maternal name, but lately Bean has developed a variety of names to call me depending the situation
• Mom - When she is serious and wants something done fast like. "Play CD Mom... put in Noodlebug Cd Mom"
  
• Mommy - When she is clingy or in a cuddly mood. "Maaameee" usually says this with a big smile and a high pitched voice.
  
• Jenny-Honey (Who calls me Jenny?) - When she is being just plan devious!

Note: She also does this with her Papa-Father-Dad-Honey and Sister-Didi-Honey

• Interior decorating (!)
• Color scheme - She has decided orange crayon would be better for an accent wall and multi colors for our couch. I guess she didn't like beige.
  
• Centerpiece - She thinks the flowers are out of date and she should be the centerpiece on our dining room table. How she got up there? I don't know... you just can't blink with this child.
  
• Other Decor arrangement - This mean arranging her dolls and stuff animals on the multicolored couch.
  

• Social behaviors
  
• Greets everyone... which is pretty typical for a lot of children. However, sometimes she says "Hello Moto"!
  
• When music is playing, insist everyone dances or sings, depending on the beat.
  

• Intellectually
• Enjoys reading most books but specifically enjoys the ones with a little spunk.
  
• Skippyjon Jones by Judy Schachner (Thanks Amelia at Mommycrowd for the recommendation... I mean it.... really) Bean aspires to be like the frisky kitty by jumping on her bed and coloring walls, calendars and potty chairs. Skippyjon is her inspiration for interior decorating.
  
• Fancy Nancy by Jane O'Connor. - The prestiges Bean can't resist wearing sunglasses (even smugged and at night) and fancy accessories. This is the time when Jenny-honey is heard the most.
  

In general Little Bean is happy and lets me know, "Mama, [I am] happy" (she also lets me know when she is mad, crying and being funny).

By mid-day she reflects on her morning activities before taking a nap. Well I like to think shes reflecting... but most likely shes planning her afternoon.

Move on back!

Do you know the song, "The Wheels on the Bus"? Little Bean loves that song and all the actions that go with it. If you don't know it, click here and listen. One of her favorite verses in that song is ...The driver on the bus says "Move on back" . When you sing this verse you motion with your fingers in a fist and your thumb sticking up, swinging it back toward your shoulder. Indicating the passengers should move on back.

With that in mind....

We traveled a little bit this past summer and one of the airlines we took was Southwest. If you are not familiar with Southwest, they don't assign seats. In a way it is nice, since they let all the small children and their families on first. In most cases the families tend to sit in the same area. So, when Little Bean kicks the back of a seat, she is only bothering the toddler in front of her.

While everyone was looking for seating, one flight attendants made an announcement. "Folks, there are plenty of seats in the back, so move toward the back.....move on back..." As she repeated "move on back" several more times, Little Bean could not resist to assist. She stood up in her seat looked sternly at each passenger as they approached and motioned for them to move on back.

Clever girl.

Eat your chocolate

Yesterday, I was having trouble getting Little Bean ready to go the Dentist... so I bribed her with chocolate. Is that wrong?

Mom, (I) peed in the bathtub

Ah... to be that young, honest and free again.

Confessions of a Mom

Lately, I have been overly tired and lacking creativity (note the slow post production).
Why? Well... we can't get our 21 month old daughter to sleep in her own bed!

When we are out and about, Little Bean can really shine and impress people. Her communication skills are excellent, she does somersaults, walks backwards with her eyes closed and displays her ability to use the potty. A true toddler star (too innocent to be a show off). I often hear from other Mothers and Grandparents about their children/grand children's lack of speech at 18 -24 months and their shock that Little Bean is already potty trained.

I smile big in hopes to hide the bags under my eyes and answer their questions on her amazing skills. I usually fail to tell them, the inside story. The struggles at home, that cause turmoil inside me ... as for Little Bean, she is happy with her set-up.

I don't mind that Little Bean shares our bed, it is just hard to admit to other mother's who have children in their own beds, in their own rooms and no longer breastfeeding by 6 months. (Hopefully you can't see that last part. Thats another confession.)

We never set out to intentionally co-sleep or breastfeed beyond 1 year, like some families. It just worked out that way. Now what do I do?

Why is there so much pressure to start detaching from our children when they are 6 months?

Even Doctors are trained to put pressure on parents. Our family Dr. did. After a year of well-child check-ups, she confessed that she had similar issues with her daughter who is 6 months older than Little Bean. At Little Bean's 18 month check-up, she continued with the cautions and pressure, but also added, "eventually she will decide to stop when she is ready... "

I guess right now, I just need to accept and embrace our lifestyle. Especially knowing, we have a healthy and very happy little toddler.

Now I ponder

Just received my new Wondertime Magazine today. For those who don't know this magazine, it's a (breath of fresh air) Parenting magazine. I love reading this magazine, when I find time.

...Well, I had a little bit of time the other day.

So I skimmed through my copy and came across an article about "Why babies throw things" . Little Bean, loves to throw things, so this article was worth my time. Basically, the answer to the question was curiosity with gravity; and cause and effect.

...hmmm....okay.

Doesn't answer why Little Bean narrows her eyes, aims and pegs us with her peas. Well, maybe cause and effect. Effect: we jump and duck to avoid the flying object, Cause: Little Bean's target practice; all of this affects her in a way that she laughs so hard!

Little Beans Favorite Dish

I sometimes make this dish for Little Bean's lunch . It takes about 15 minutes to make and is very easy. It is actually a very simplified & modified stir fry (but no frying).

Veggies & Noodles

1/2 cup of dry noodles
1 carrot diced
1/4 cup of frozen peas
1/4 cup of frozen broccoli
1 tbs of soy sauce
1tbs of honey

Boil the noodles and vegetables together until soft; strain and cool; mix soy sauce and honey together and mix in with the vegetable and noodles.

My Micro-Managing Supervisor

Pre-Blog Definitions: Fridge DJ - -radio that magnetically sticks to your refrigerator and features lively learning songs, such as, the ABC and Old McDonald


My supervisor, wears a lopsided pony tail, has rolled up jeans and carries a Fridge DJ around with her. Why she doesn't leave it on the fridge I don't know. As the singer croons out "ABC" for the 5th time, I try to vacuum the room.

I kind of miss the days when my Supervisor, Little Bean, was afraid of the Vacuum. (Oh did I say that out loud? ....I guess not, so that doesn't make me a bad employee).

My Supervisor has to stand right in front of me when I vacuum. Which kind of makes it hard. She searches the floor with her eyes and points to small objects to assure I see them too and vacuum them up. I kindly ask her to move and she does, to stand right next to me, on my left side. Then proceeds to hug my legs. Now, how am I going to finish this task?

Now I Ponder - Why isn't there a vacuum out there, that is also a toy? A vacuum that looks like a car or horse with a seatbelt and/or handles, would work great in this situation. ....please don't answer that. I know it would be recalled as soon as it hit the market... I am just wishing.

Now my Supervisor looks up at me with her big, brown eyes and says "Hold you Mama". So I pick her up. Kind of hard to vacuum with a child on your hip, but I do and for my hard work my supervisor gives me a big sticky kiss.

Thinking back to all my work supervisors, I think Little Bean is the best one.

Potty training update

I consider the Potty training over, because Little Bean understands the concept, she is just still working on meeting the expectation. Now (and it has been that way for a few weeks), I just help her go to the bathroom. She still announces "Diaper" and occasionally I chase her around for fun, but on the most part she goes when she needs to. She still has a daily accident and wakes -up on most days with a wet diaper, but continues to poop 100% in the potty. I can live with that. Yeah!

I must have slept through that class

I took Child Development in College. However, I don't remember anything about the belly button stage. Little Bean and her friends have to show and check out each others belly buttons before they begin to play. Its kind of like when dogs meet and they sniff each others.... well you know what I mean. The other day I felt a little bad, when the toddlers met up at the swimming pool. They all had 1 piece suits and didn't know what to do. It took them awhile to warm up to each other, but not as quick as their usual belly button greetings. Interesting uh?

Well, I think I need to write a letter to Erickson and Piaget. Are they still alive?

Come to think of it, I don't remember learning about the "got to use and check out every bathroom, in each store and gas station theory" either. Its kind of like how dogs grace every yard (I got to quit comparing my children to dogs). Anyway, my older daughter went through this stage for sure. It lasted from when she was 4 years old until she was 10. .... very long stage. During this time, I got to see bathrooms, I wish I had never seen. We even were offered bathrooms at gas stations, that have signs saying "No public restrooms". That should of been my first clue.

A quick way to move on from this stage is to travel to a developing country and use the bathroom at the Zoo. They will never do it again... trust me.

Note: Make sure they are aware of smells and are disgusted by really uncleaned bathrooms . Also note: take wet wipes and a clean set of clothes for your child to change into (but clean up somewhere else). Also take a mask and gloves, if you go into the bathroom with them (you might not once you approach the building and smell and realize it wasn't the animals' cages) .
Oh, one more note: Once they move on from this stage, they move onto another interesting, just as frustrating stage that these Theorist don't mention in their text books. So, if you are afraid to move on to the next stage, don't try this method.

Alright, forget Piaget and Erickson, I am writing my own stages of development.

It might be too early to say....

I think Little Bean gets it. In the afternoon, yesterday, she was dry until bed time and made 2 deposits into her potty before and after dinner. What worked? I am not sure. I keep playing back the day.

The morning started off at play group. She did her usual, yelled, "diaper!" and continued to go before I can get her to a bathroom. Since, we were not home I didn't force the issue. After her nap, that was different. I put her in her cloth training pants and took her into the bathroom with me and asked her to listen while I used the bathroom (yeah,admit I did this). Later that afternoon, she would yell "Diaper change" (which is the same as diaper) and we would put her on the potty. After a couple of minutes, she got up and ran back to her toys, as she usually does. This time we let her play and run around without her diaper. Within 10 minutes she decided to sit down and go. Same thing happened after dinner. I think either: a) she wants the control; b) we are not giving her the attention while she is sitting on the potty; c) she can go with no one watching her; Or d) all the above.

24 hours later:
Today, was interesting. Nothing happened until dinner time (how does she hold it that long?) She decided to lay down (on her back) on the floor in front of her potty chair and pee. She looked like a cherub water fountain that was knocked down in the middle of our kitchen floor. She seemed more amused by the fact that she could make her pee go up into the air. I think she would of continued, but I quickly picked her up and put her on the potty where she finished. Later, while running around with her training pants off, she realized she better sit down a little too late. However, she did get most of her poo-poo into the potty. I am just thankful both accidents were easy clean-ups. Little Bean still scored 2 stickers as well. I decided to reward her for trying.

Just before bedtime she wet her training pants, trying to get Papa to help her. None of us understood what she was saying. It was almost like she was talking in code, hoping that only her Papa understood, to avoid having me rush her to the potty.
So, at this point, I think it is too early to say, "The secret of our success was..."