Thank goodness they have to take naps too!
Showing posts with label Toddler. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Toddler. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Keeping Little Hands Busy - Three toddler activities and how they worked for us
Having a toddler is exhausting, as any parent will tell you. Short attention spans and the need for mental stimulation demand creativity but, as much as I hate to admit it, entertaining a rambunctious 15-month-old doesn't come easily to me so I went looking for some ideas on Pinterest.
I picked three activities for Max and I to try this week, all simple and inexpensive. I found all the supplies either in my own home or at Dick Blick (an art store) and paid less than $10 for everything I needed.
First up, we tried pipe cleaners and a colander. This activity actually kept Max busier than I expected it to, keeping his attention for about 40 minutes or so, which is/was unheard of for him! My only complaint is that the pipe cleaners aren't easy to pick up when done, so I have a ginormous pile of 100 pipe cleaners in the closet.
The next morning we tried a Ziplock container with a small hole in the top and 100 pom poms. NEVER have I seen this kid concentrate so hard! We have done this activity three times already and it's one I am sure we will do again and again. Hands down the winner of the three.
Lastly, we tried felt pieces cut and rolled up (like baby wipes) inside a coffee container with a large hole in the lid. I actually thought this one would be too easy, but it turns out to be rather difficult for little hands that can't hold a container stationary while grabbing the felt pieces. Much more difficult than you'd expect! Max asked me for "elp!" multiple times and ended up sitting on my lap while I pulled the felt pieces out of the container. We might try this again in the future, but it's a little too difficult for him for now.
Do you have favorite activities to keep little ones happy and busy? Tell me or link to them in the comments!
I picked three activities for Max and I to try this week, all simple and inexpensive. I found all the supplies either in my own home or at Dick Blick (an art store) and paid less than $10 for everything I needed.
First up, we tried pipe cleaners and a colander. This activity actually kept Max busier than I expected it to, keeping his attention for about 40 minutes or so, which is/was unheard of for him! My only complaint is that the pipe cleaners aren't easy to pick up when done, so I have a ginormous pile of 100 pipe cleaners in the closet.
The next morning we tried a Ziplock container with a small hole in the top and 100 pom poms. NEVER have I seen this kid concentrate so hard! We have done this activity three times already and it's one I am sure we will do again and again. Hands down the winner of the three.
Lastly, we tried felt pieces cut and rolled up (like baby wipes) inside a coffee container with a large hole in the lid. I actually thought this one would be too easy, but it turns out to be rather difficult for little hands that can't hold a container stationary while grabbing the felt pieces. Much more difficult than you'd expect! Max asked me for "elp!" multiple times and ended up sitting on my lap while I pulled the felt pieces out of the container. We might try this again in the future, but it's a little too difficult for him for now.
Do you have favorite activities to keep little ones happy and busy? Tell me or link to them in the comments!
Friday, August 23, 2013
Dear Birth Mother - Growing
There are many times when Max does something amazing, funny, or something that touches my heart and I immediately want to tell one person- his birth mom. Although we send regular updates to his birth parents, we don't as of yet have a face-to-face relationship with them, so many of the things that I would love to tell her go unsaid, so I am beginning this series to share what I wish I could say to her myself.
Please note that I am using "birthmother" to protect Max's birth mom's privacy, not because I don't know her name or don't want to address her personally.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Dear Birthmother,
Every morning when I go to get him out of his bed he sits up, points to his face and says "nose."
We move onto eyes, ears, head, hair, hands, fingers, and toes. Some days he remembers to say "knee!", others he forgets or points to shin instead. He also loves to talk about belly buttons and gets frustrated when he's in a onesie or a romper and can't find his.
He's such an extraordinarily smart kid that it blows my mind. I know a lot of it is because I'm home with him to work on things like shapes and colors, but I have a hunch that you are the one he really gets his smarts from.
He talks all the time. A month or so ago I decided to count all the words he uses on a regular basis; I lost count after 30 or so, and he's added many since then. He says "up!" dozens of times a day, but my favorite to hear, of course, is "mama!"
He is such a strong-willed little boy, which I also have a hunch comes from you. There's no getting him to do something he doesn't want to and you will likely have a huge meltdown on your hands if you try. With his strong will also comes tenacity, though. He never gives up when he wants to accomplish something, a trait I hope he carries into adulthood.
Every day when I am holding our son, mine and yours, I think of you. I want you to know I don't take the gift you gave me for granted; it is my honor and privilege to be his mother, even during the times when I am exhausted and drained.
I want you to know, too, how much we love you. You, dear birthmother, are forever in our hearts.
Love always,
Please note that I am using "birthmother" to protect Max's birth mom's privacy, not because I don't know her name or don't want to address her personally.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Dear Birthmother,
Every morning when I go to get him out of his bed he sits up, points to his face and says "nose."
We move onto eyes, ears, head, hair, hands, fingers, and toes. Some days he remembers to say "knee!", others he forgets or points to shin instead. He also loves to talk about belly buttons and gets frustrated when he's in a onesie or a romper and can't find his.
He's such an extraordinarily smart kid that it blows my mind. I know a lot of it is because I'm home with him to work on things like shapes and colors, but I have a hunch that you are the one he really gets his smarts from.
He talks all the time. A month or so ago I decided to count all the words he uses on a regular basis; I lost count after 30 or so, and he's added many since then. He says "up!" dozens of times a day, but my favorite to hear, of course, is "mama!"
He is such a strong-willed little boy, which I also have a hunch comes from you. There's no getting him to do something he doesn't want to and you will likely have a huge meltdown on your hands if you try. With his strong will also comes tenacity, though. He never gives up when he wants to accomplish something, a trait I hope he carries into adulthood.
Every day when I am holding our son, mine and yours, I think of you. I want you to know I don't take the gift you gave me for granted; it is my honor and privilege to be his mother, even during the times when I am exhausted and drained.
I want you to know, too, how much we love you. You, dear birthmother, are forever in our hearts.
Love always,
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
New series - Dear Birthmother
There are many times when Max does something amazing, funny, or something that touches my heart and I immediately want to tell one person- his birth mom. Although we send regular updates to his birth parents, we don't as of yet have a face-to-face relationship with them, so many of the things that I would love to tell her go unsaid, so I am beginning this series to share what I wish I could say to her myself. Please note that I am using "birthmother" to protect Max's birth mom's privacy, not because I don't know her name or don't want to address her personally.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Dear Birthmother,
I was taking pictures of our son, mine and yours, the other day. He has this precious dimple on his right cheek, gorgeous long lashes, and amazing almond-shaped brown eyes. I wonder when I look at him which one of you he got his beautiful features from (probably both!).
Max is so incredibly smart. Every day I am amazed with the things he knows and picks up on. I know that some of it is because I work with him on things like identifying shapes, sounds, and colors a lot each day, but I can tell there is so much natural ability in him. He astounds me every day and I know he's going to do amazing things in his life.
I know he doesn't understand yet, but I talk to him about you a lot. The other day while we were playing in his room he picked up a toy that Dan and I had bought while on vacation while you were still pregnant with Max.
I told him how we had been praying for a baby of our own and bought the toy in hopes that we would someday soon have a baby of our own to give it to. I told him that even though we didn't know about you and Max yet we prayed for you every day, prayed for safety, for wisdom, and that you would know how much we love and cherish both of you.
I told Max about how much you love him and how I know you think about him all the time, about how he has two moms who would do anything in the world for him.
I wish I could tell you face-to-face how much I love our beautiful son. You gave me the most amazing gift, Birthmother, and I wish I could explain how much it means to me. You are, and always will be, my hero.
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