Baby Art

With this post, I am going to introduce you to the mantra: It can be cleaned.

The high chair, the floor, the art smock, the clothes, the face, the hands. It CAN be cleaned!

A lot of parents that I talk to, won't introduce art time with their infants "because it's so messy!" When Jonah and I hosted a playgroup for infants and young toddlers ages 0-2, it was well attended but only a couple of the parents let their children participate in the art project I had planned. Even when someone was inviting them- please make a mess of my house, I will clean the tile and trays and shelves- they still said "that's too messy."

When I worked in daycare, the parents would often tell me "I'm glad you do so many activities with the kids. I'm not brave enough to tackle that mess in *my* house." I wanted to ask them if it looked like my nursery had just had ten kids painting in it (most often the answer would have been no. I kept a tidy room!)

The truth is, it isn't that messy. It takes about five minutes to set up, five minutes to clean up. A couple of rags and some water do the trick nicely. Art, such as finger painting, offers your infant a sensory experience, and it also provides a bit of fun for you (if you let it!)  Not to mention the end product really brightens up the kitchen when hung on the fridge.

I decided that since we brought the high chair back from Grandma and Grandpa's house, it was time that Evie created her first fingerpaint masterpiece. I set the paints in front of her and used the first three colors that she grabbed (pink, blue, and orange.) I like to use crayola paints, because all of their products are washable and non-toxic. I also like to mix just a small drop of Dawn into any paint that I use, because if it does get on clothes, it comes out easier.

I used an old tee-shirt to cover up her clothing, poured some paint directly onto some white printer paper, and let her at it. We started with the pink...

Then we added the orange...

Then finally the blue...

Now that wasn't so messy was it????? But just remember....

it CAN be cleaned! And it was worth it!

My Little Foodie: Finger food and Gourmet Purees

We think that Evelyn is going to be following in her mother's footsteps on the course to being a foodie. Last month, we introduced her (earlier than we had anticipated) to her first purees. Now, just a short four weeks later she is showing desire for finger foods. When the family is at the table eating, she watches our every move. Her eyes flitting from our forks to our mouths, her little jaw chewing simultaneously with ours.

On Friday, I wanted to bake some cookies but wasn't sure if I had all of the ingredients. With Evie in arms, I pulled items out of the cabinets. Coming to the chocolate chips, I popped a couple in my mouth (naughty mama!) Evie's gums, almost like a reflex, began that tell-tale up and down motion. Drool flowed from her mouth. She moved her face in closer to mine until our noses were just barely brushing, and the look in her eyes said "I am going to take that food out of your mouth."

That's it, this little girl is getting some cereal puffs!

 

I was amazed as I watched her go, in just one trial of finger foods, from fist grabbing to the pincer grasp. After exploring them for a minute or two, she began popping them in her mouth as if she were a seasoned pro at this food stuff.

Of course she still loves a good meal of purees. Here is one of her favorites that we introduced to her as a holiday treat. We used the apples that I made for her in the fall; after I made the sauces from the fruit I used an ice cube tray to freeze individual cubes. Each cube is one ounce of puree. I have also included the instructions for Oatmeal cereal, because the "recipe" calls for it!

Oatmeal cereal:

Scoop rolled oats (not instant!) into your blender or food processor. Blend until you have a fine powder. If your infant is older and accustomed to textured foods you can blend the oats to a coarser texture. In a small sauce pan, bring about 1/4 cup of water to a simmer and stir in the blended oats. You'll have to experiment with the amount of water to the amount of oats you use. I haven't been able to pin down a good ratio. Simmer the cereal for a minute or two, until the cereal is a good consistency for your baby, and the oats are a soft mushy texture. I like to add some breastmilk during the last thirty or so seconds of cooking. I don't recommend adding formula (it doesn't cook the same as breastmilk)

Apple Crisp:

2 cubes apple puree

2 Tbl oatmeal cereal (measure dry, then cook)

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

dash of grated vanilla bean (do not use vanilla extract in baby's purees!)

*note about spices: introduce your baby to only one spice at a time. This will help to get your baby used to having spices and avoid tummy aches. And will also give you an idea of how baby's digestive system reacts to spices without overloading it. Keep in mind that extracts contain high amounts of alcohol, and should only be used in baked or highly cooked dishes, as the alcohol will cook out in those instances.

Thaw out the cubes of apple puree and heat until it is room temperature. The oatmeal will add some heat, and you don't want baby's food to be hot. It should barely be above room temp when serving. Add the spices to the puree and stir until well combined. Cook the oatmeal and add it to the puree, stirring until all of the ingredients are incorporated.

Here's to Enjoying the Simple Things in 2011

Adios 2010! Sayonara. or as Jonah would say (tries to say) See ya later alligator, after while crocodile!

I am breathing a sigh of relief that 2010 is over. It's over, we have regrouped, and are ready to face 2011 and whatever it might throw at us. I am thankful for every minute I am given on this green and blue rock hurtling around the sun, but let's face it: 2010 was pretty crappy for my family. There were wonderful, amazing, life changing moments as well though. So I wanted to take a moment to look at what 2010 did for my family. I think it's important to reflect on all of the things that have happened in the past year- to smile at the happy moments, and learn from the not-so-happy moments.

We began our new year with a sneak peek of the little person who would be joining our family. We found out that she was a very healthy little bean. It felt more "real" that we were going to soon be a family of four. We tentatively named her Evelyn Clare on the way home from the ultrasound.

Soon Jonah and I ventured to a place we had never visited before- Arizona. It was a nice escape from the snow and cold weather of Ohio.

A few weeks later, we took a rather chilly vacation to Florida. Although it was too cold to swim in the ocean, I felt very much at home and relaxed on the beach. It was warmer here in Ohio that week than it was in Florida, but we still had a wonderful family vacation, and on the last day of our stay it finally warmed up enough to take a dip in the pool! I was really grateful for the chance to visit my grandparents, and Jonah finally began to walk for sustained distances on this trip as well!

Around this time, we enrolled Jonah in the county's Early Intervention program for infants and toddlers who are showing cognitive and physical delays. We started seeing a speech, occupational, and physical therapist, and in late march we began the arduous process of Jonah's casts. As awful as this seemed at the time, I can thankfully say that this was the best thing we ever did for our son. He began walking full-time. Walking, running, jumping. With his feet seemingly "fixed" he began talking and problem solving. Once we got the casts and orthopedics figured out, he was a completely different child.

As the weather warmed, so did our anticipation of baby Evelyn. Spring began to close onto summer, and along with this anticipation of the new baby came anxiety over Jonah's still lagging development. He was diagnosed with Autism and given several bloodtests to shed further light on what might be causing all of his health and development issues.

Just weeks later, we multiplied the love in our house. Little Evelyn Clare was born at home on June 5th, my mother's birthday. We welcomed a healthy little girl into our hearts and family.

One of the "milestones" that parents often look forward to is baby's first visit to the doctor. This visit tells them that baby is healthy, everything is working, and everyone is healthy. Evie's first visit to Dr. T did set our minds at ease about our little girl. She was completely perfect, and one hundred and one percent in good health. However, the doctor had just received Jonah's results from the blood tests, and they showed that he is missing about 40 genes on his 22nd chromosome.

It is a genetic syndrome called 22q Deletion, and can cause many health problems and cognitive delays. While this was a scary diagnosis, because it is so finite and absolute, it also was a relief. Suddenly everything fit. Everything was explained.

And we started the maze of doctors. I'm glad that we are able to keep an eye on systems and symptoms that commonly pop up with 22q, but we have been exhausted with exams, doctor's visits, road trips to clinics, and tests. We have decided that Evelyn, although she is perfectly healthy and shows no signs of having the genetic deletion, is most likely going to be our last child. Which is an extremely difficult pill for me to swallow

In the last weeks of August, Daryl lost his job. This was scary for me in the moment. But now I realize that it allowed us to move on and get to the next step in our lives. We had enough saved that Daryl was able to stay home with me, Jonah, and the new baby. Our family bonded.

We enjoyed this time, but we knew we had to do something for money before our savings ran out. Daryl found a job in Cleveland. Our family that had grown so close, was separated. We celebrated Jonah's second birthday, and Daryl was able to come back to Toledo for the party.

This was really hard for me, and for the kids. But in the meantime, I learned to make time for myself. A special way to clear my head. I picked back up an old hobby of mine- running. I ran my first 5k race just a couple weeks before we moved the entire family back to Cleveland. It was the annual Komen's Race For the Cure Although I had to walk about a quarter of the race, this was a huge accomplishment for me, and a proud moment in 2010. I reached my sponsorship goal of raising $200 for the cause, and just last week I reached my goal of being able to run 5K in a half hour.

The same weekend as the race, we looked at a house for rent. We were enamored almost immediately with the quaint house sitting on two acres of pine tree speckled land. It seemed to have everything we needed, everything we dreamed of having in a home.

The rest of the year has remained somewhat uneventful, which we are dearly thankful for. We moved into the house, continued with Jonah's doctor's appointments and therapies. Evelyn has been growing, learning and thriving. And Daryl and I continue to support eachother in this crazy partnership called parenthood.

We are hoping that 2011 remains as uneventful as the last couple months of 2010. We are looking forward to starting to home school Jonah with a preschool curriculum this year, even if it is only part time while he goes to a specialized or co-op preschool part time. We are looking forward to seeing Evie walk, hearing her say her first words, and her first birthday party. We are looking forward to trips to the zoo, planting our garden, and playing basketball in our driveway. We are looking forward to enjoying the simple things. Cheers to 2011.

Lemony Clean

A few months ago, a friend and I were talking about how many people waste money on tons of cleaning solutions. Advertising is a very powerful thing. Walking down the cleaning chemical aisle, you suddenly believe that you need a chemical to clean the bathtub, one to clean the bathroom sink and then a different one for the kitchen sink, one to clean the mirrors, one to clean the floors (of course all different if you have more than one type of floor- tile, laminate, etc,) the toilet gets its own cleaner, there's one for mold, one for bacteria, one for "extreme fungus" (I'm not kidding, I found it in the closet when we moved into this house!) All of these cleaning chemicals take up so much space, and they cost a lot of money! It just seems like somewhat of a waste.

Not to mention the safety concerns over having these chemicals in my house with a toddler who is into everything, a baby who can suddenly move and get into everything, and a doggy who is always asking for trouble.

So I'd like to take some time every once in a while to feature natural cleaning components that most people already have right in their kitchen and don't even realize it. The first one that I'm going to look at, happens to be my favorite. Lemon. Lemon tends to be my all purpose cleaner. I like to buy the large bottles of lemon juice in bulk because it is much cheaper, and ensures that I don't run out of my favorite cleaning agent. I'd like to highlight a few of the uses I've found for it!

Cleaning counters, table, and stovetop: I put straight lemon juice into a spray bottle and sprinkle surfaces very lightly with baking soda (a small amount will do, you don't need to cover the whole surface. If you use too much, it will be difficult to wipe away and then your surfaces will feel gritty) Spray the juice onto the counters generously, and use a damp rag to wipe into the surface. Use water and a rag to wipe the solution away. I love giving my surfaces a quick scrub this way before we have company, even if they aren't particularly dirty. It gives the house that nice "clean" lemon scent. Smells much better than lemon-scented cleaners!

Microwave: Microwaves can get really gross. And who wants to use potentially harmful chemicals in a place that we cook our foods? I love this method of cleaning the microwave. It works even better than commercial cleaners, and has absolutely no harmful chemicals. Slice a lemon in half along the equator and place directly in the microwave, cut side up, and cook for about 10-15 seconds (might be more or less depending on your microwave) This actually loosens the stuck-on food particles in the microwave! When it's done, use the lemon half to scrub the walls of the microwave. Then, use a wet rag to wipe the microwave out. Don't forget to use a bit of the lemon to disinfect the handle on the door, and the buttons!

Garbage Disposal: Cut a lemon into wedges, then cut the wedges into thirds once a weak, drop a couple of the lemon chunks down the empty disposal and run it, to disinfect and keep it smelling fresh. Store the chunks in a covered container in the fridge until you use them. I use a washed yogurt container to store them.

Laundry Freshener and Stain Removal (especially of the diaper variety): Because we use a natural laundry detergent that does not contain any disinfecting agents or perfumes, I like to add about 1/4 cup of lemon juice to the final rinse on our laundry. It makes everything come out of the wash smelling wonderfully clean, and adds an antibacterial component to our wash. I add a little more to heavy loads such as towels and diapers. When there is a stain in an item, I treat the stain by pouring lemon juice directly onto it and then rub a little bit of detergent into it. The stain washes right out. With our diapers, I pour the juice directly onto the stain on the diaper and then place the diaper out in the sun for a few hours. Voila, you couldn't tell that diaper had ever been pooped on! When you do this though, you need to rewash the diapers to make sure the lemon juice is no longer on the diaper (and then your baby's skin!)

Crayon Removal: This is my new favorite. Jonah loves to color. He is like Harold and the Purple Crayon. If he finds a crayon, he will color on whatever surface he can find! To remove the crayon from tile floor, the fridge, our wooden cabinets, and a few painted surfaces, I mixed baking soda and lemon juice in a small bowl to make kind of a foamy paste. I used a damp rag to scrub the crayon with the paste, and it came off with very little effort. I would recommend testing this on an inconspicuous area of the painted surface, first, to make sure it doesn't strip your paint. I haven't had any problems with it, but I could see how the acidic lemon juice might remove paint along with the crayon.

Transition and Activity Songs

Sometimes it can be pretty hard to get Jonah to focus. Sometimes it can be pretty hard to get any toddler to focus. No matter what they are doing, it seems like their minds are on something completely different, or they are already rushing three or four steps ahead. In my preschool room, I started to sing songs during certain activities, or to transition into activities, to help them focus on what is at hand. I've found that Jonah benefits in the same way that my preschoolers did. It keeps his mind on what he is doing in this moment, and also holds his attention for the length of time needed. Some of the songs I've made up, and some of them have been used for ages for this purpose. Here are some of the songs we use to keep our bedtime routine running smoothly!

Going potty (to the tune The Farmer in the Dell)
Is Jonah gonna go?
Is Jonah gonna go?
Will he go pee in the big boy pot?
Is Jonah gonna go?

Washing hands:
I sing the ABC song but at the end I change the words to "Now we've sung our ABC's and our hands are squeaky clean."

Drying hands (also to Farmer in the Dell)
Dry off your hands
Dry off your hands!
It helps us to kill the germs,
dry off your hands!

Brushing teeth (to Row Row Row your Boat)
Brush, brush, brush your teeth
get them squeaky clean!
We make them white
and make them bright
until they shine and gleam.

Brush brush brush your teeth
scrub the germs away!
brush the top
and brush the bottom
now we're done, hooray!

Picking a book (If You're Happy and You Know It tune)
pick a book
pick a book
pick a book!

pick a book
pick a book
pick a book!

find a story that you like
and we'll read it before bed (nap/lunch/etc)

pick a book
pick a book
pick a book!

quick and easy lunch

This time of the year, it is so easy to fall back on fast food for convenience. We've all been there: out running errands, standing in lines much longer than we anticipated, traffic worse than we imagined, and all of the sudden a little voice peeps from the backseat. "Hungry. Eat lunch!" Is it lunchtime already? Holy moly, it's twenty minutes past lunch! Frantically, we look around and find relief. Golden arches are just a traffic light away. And the kids cheer for their chicken nugget kids meal as we drive away from the carry out window.

I've lived this scenario both as the child and as the mother, repeatedly. Although we don't eat fast food terribly often, Daryl and I have decided to cut out as much fast food as we can from our family's diet. So what can we do to replace Jonah's beloved "Chickie nuggies" as well as keep convenience and timeliness in the picture?

Golden Nugget Chickie Nuggies:
boneless skinless chicken breast
Cheese Nips
bowl of warm water

Fill a gallon zip top bag about half full of the cheese crackers. Don't close the top of the bag or it will break. Use a rolling pin to smash the crackers into fine crumbs (I suppose you could use a food processor as well, but it's more fun to smash stuff, in my opinion!) Cut the chicken into nugget sized pieces. I usually make mine 1 1/2 inch by 1 1/2 inch, approximately. Dip each piece of chicken into the water to moisten it, and place them in the bag of cracker crumbs. Don't over crowd the bag, you can do it in batches if you have a lot of chicken. Place on a cookie sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes at 350 F.

One of the chemicals we are trying to avoid by cutting out fast food, tbhq, is found in most cheese crackers but not cheese nips which is why I list the brand name. I've been making these in large batches and freezing them, so we have frozen nuggets that can simply be heated up at lunch time. I buy the chicken when it is on sale and stock up on nuggets that way! They are so much tastier than any commercially frozen or fast food nugget, and they pass the picky toddler test!

Fantastic Foto Friday

 Evie is enjoying the Jumparoo she got for Christmas

Jonah is enjoying the Lights Before Christmas at the Toledo Zoo

 

Jonah's reindeer hat that he made at the zoo