Big day at Little Gym....John did the 'skill of the week' with the teacher. He even volunteered by walking up on the mat. Everyone was watching just him. He was smiling and loving it. It was everything I had in me to not bust out in tears (wiping a tear now). I was so proud! He has not done this in almost a year. I think the other Moms and the teacher shared in my pride as they have only seen him be sort of shy. It was a great moment!
Big day on the potty.... we have not been pushing the potty, but he has been showing so much interest. We let him lead the way. Today, after nap he was dry, so we sat on the potty and read books. Then he moved to the floor. Then he looked up at me and said "uh oh, pee-pee" and got up and sat on the potty. He knew he had to pee before he actually peed! And then he stopped real quick, and I told him to push more pee pee out - and sure enough, he thought it was fun to push (picture gritting his teeth and squinting his eyes) more pee-pee out. I think he recognized that he can control when and how it comes out. I know we have a long way to go - but this was big step!
I am so proud of my little monkey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Friday, November 20, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Take me out to the ball game....
Carl and I took a last minute trip to NY to watch Game 1 of the World Series a couple of weeks back... I know, odd, right? We were only therefor 24 hours and I have to say it may have been one of my favorite vacations of all time!
I jotted down notes in the car ride to the airport on the way home in hopes of remembering all of the fabulous things I wanted to include in this post. I wish I had a writer I could employ to narrate this post, as I KNOW I will not do it justice.
To start, I want to give a big shout out to Nana and Da, as they kept the monkey basically for 3 days straight. Thank you so much for letting us take advantage of this opportunity and some much needed Mama and Daddy time!
We started early Wednesday morning, leaving the house with a shared bag and coats in hand, we were traveling light but prepared. The airplane had wi-fi!!! YES!!! Not sure why that excites me so much, but it does. Carl had bought us one of those cameras with the views on both sides, so we practiced using it for self portraits on the plane. It is a really cool camera for trips.
When we landed, we followed the masses to the ground transportation and hopped in the car. I heard Carl tell one of his brokers "I will never again complain about Dallas traffic", I adopted that view as I was praying for our safety. Literally cars would swipe each other within inches. And although we were crawling at a snails pace, I think I held my breath the entire time.
The views coming into the city were less than spectacular due to the clouds and rainy weather, but luckily cleared up later that night. The hotel was awesome, we stayed at "The London" which is where Gordon Ramsey is the head chef. We only packed jeans as we were not going to have time for dinner, but next time! It was very swanky and modern; we were on the 43rd floor, so we had a great view.
One of Carl's friends loaned us a 'walking tour' book of NYC. BEST thing that could have happened to us, this was a lifesaver and I will always get one of these going forward. We had, of course, scoured that thing front to back on the plane ride trying to figure out what all we wanted to do in our short time.
No time to waste, we freshened up and headed down for some lunch. We were determined to try all the authentic foods we could (or at least the ones we see on the Food Network). As luck would have it, there was a restaurant right across the street that had been featured in one of the Food TV shows. The restaurant was called "The Stage". NY has HUGE proportions, and a price to go along with it. After eating less than half our sandwiches, we HAD to get a slice of NY cheesecake. Good stuff.
Our hotel was on 54th street between 6th and 7th, we only had a little time before we needed to hit the subway for the game, so we walked to the famous shopping on 5th avenue. It was raining so we had to stop at one of the many corner stores and buy umbrellas. Having an umbrella opened up a whole new dimension to a city that walks everywhere.... Carl is pretty sure I poked several eyes out on our walk, but I was just tying to flow with the crowd. I actually liked having the umbrellas as it gave me a sense of personal space! The only shopping we did was at F.A.O. Schwartz for a Mickey Mouse and a Polar Bear for John (two big hits in our house right now). And I had to stop at a news stand, because I felt like that was what I should do. I bought Mentos. Carl thought this was really weird.
After realizing I had forgotten my license (shout out to Lindsey Marino!), we ran up to the hotel and then to the subway. The subway was JUST like the movies; EVERYTHING was just like the movies, everywhere we went I could see a scene in a movie, I discovered I am more star struck than I would like to admit.
Sorry for the side note... on to the subway story.... Of all the things I was looking forward to, riding on the subway was high on my list! Everyone on the subway was either sleeping, reading, listening to headphones or eating (nasty!). I am SURE we stood out like sore thumb to the locals, I could not quit smiling, and I don't know why!
We got to Yankee stadium SUPER early due to the fear of the unknown and public transportation, etc. This is the first world series played in the new stadium, so it was cool to be at this game. First thing we did was buy a hot dog and a beer, yep, cliche, I know. It was not very good and we had high expectations.
The atmosphere at the game was incredible, I don't know if it was the people, the ballpark, the energy, or what, I can't quite describe why or how, it just was amazing. I of course choked back the tears during the National Anthem. It was cold, but not unbearable. A very heavy mist stated during the game, but luckily we were under the overhang, so we stayed dry.
It was really cool to me to be in the same company as A-Rod (we are tight like that), Kate Hudson, Mathew McConeghy, The First and Second Ladies, Yogi Berra, Derek Jeter and many more I am sure. Our seats were great, 2nd section above the Phillies batters box. Unfortunately the Yankees lost that game, but went on to win the 2009 World Series.
During the game we tried another hot dog and some fries, everything was disappointing expect for the beer. :)
We left the game and headed for the subway, which was a MUCH different experience this time. It was shoulder to shoulder, literally. We followed the masses and shoved our way into a subway car. Only to discover we really did not know what stop we wanted. As people started to get off at all the stops, I started to get a little nervous. Luckily we asked this lady JUST in time and got off at the right stop.
It was late, but we were determined to see the city that never sleeps. We went to Times Square (still hoping at 2:00 in the morning). We stopped and got some "street meat" from a sidewalk vendor - BEST hot dog, finally! Walking around the city at night was again, just like the movies, with the weirdo people, the steam coming from the man hole covers, the subway rattling underneath you, the lights, etc. We jumped in a horse drawn carriage and went for a ride around the area. One thing that I was surprised by was the amount of trash bags in the street. The trash must come every day and at very odd hours. The sheer volume was incredible. I tried to take pictures, but I was not familiar with the flash on the camera so they did not turn out well. The horse took us right to our hotel.
We set the alarm for 7am (WHAT?!?!?). There was still so much to see. Quick shower and off to the subway again - we had no idea and no masses to follow this time. We asked a couple of people, but decided to basically guess, so we did, and without getting into details, I am pretty sure we were lost and on the wrong trains, but in the end we made it to the Financial District.
We saw the Statue of Liberty from a far (no time for the fairy) and then walked down Wall Street, this was super cool to me. Street vendor coffee and donuts (again, we wanted the full experience!) got us through the morning. We walked and walked and walked. We saw the site of the World Trade Centers, which right now just looks like a big construction site. As we were taking pictures, the wall that Carl was leaning against started to open - it was a fire station and the truck was coming back. The side of the truck and the names of the firefighters lost on 09/11, there were a lot and it was very surreal knowing that some of those very men that we saw could have experienced the tragedy first hand. We also saw a Best Buy commercial being filmed in City Hall Park. Another thing that stood out to me was the grave yards that are smack dab in the center of the concrete jungle. It makes you remember how old this place really is!
On to the next "big city" experience - we hailed a cab (hee hee) and went back down to Rockefeller Center. I wanted to be on The Today Show!!! Unfortunately we had missed the main news time, so they were not outside anymore, but I think we were on TV through the windows. We walked back up 6th street, saw the NY Invesco office, grabbed some lunch, and then back to the hotel and then the airport.
Other things I learned and/or loved about New York
- In a city where walking is one of the main forms of transportation, they should have rules of pedestrianism posted somewhere (if they don't exist, they should!). You must have a death wish if you try crossing the street at the wrong time, walking against the crowd or walking too close the subway tracks - talk about SCARY!
- Rain boots can be very stylish and come in a variety of colors and designs.
- Tights with long shirts, short dresses or skirts and boots are in this season.
- The "GP" (general public) in New York is very different than the midwest. People are not mean, but they are not nice either. Also very international.
- I would be in GREAT shape if I lived in NY, my body hurt from all the walking.
- There is SO much to do in NY and I can not wait to go back!
I jotted down notes in the car ride to the airport on the way home in hopes of remembering all of the fabulous things I wanted to include in this post. I wish I had a writer I could employ to narrate this post, as I KNOW I will not do it justice.
To start, I want to give a big shout out to Nana and Da, as they kept the monkey basically for 3 days straight. Thank you so much for letting us take advantage of this opportunity and some much needed Mama and Daddy time!
We started early Wednesday morning, leaving the house with a shared bag and coats in hand, we were traveling light but prepared. The airplane had wi-fi!!! YES!!! Not sure why that excites me so much, but it does. Carl had bought us one of those cameras with the views on both sides, so we practiced using it for self portraits on the plane. It is a really cool camera for trips.
When we landed, we followed the masses to the ground transportation and hopped in the car. I heard Carl tell one of his brokers "I will never again complain about Dallas traffic", I adopted that view as I was praying for our safety. Literally cars would swipe each other within inches. And although we were crawling at a snails pace, I think I held my breath the entire time.
The views coming into the city were less than spectacular due to the clouds and rainy weather, but luckily cleared up later that night. The hotel was awesome, we stayed at "The London" which is where Gordon Ramsey is the head chef. We only packed jeans as we were not going to have time for dinner, but next time! It was very swanky and modern; we were on the 43rd floor, so we had a great view.
One of Carl's friends loaned us a 'walking tour' book of NYC. BEST thing that could have happened to us, this was a lifesaver and I will always get one of these going forward. We had, of course, scoured that thing front to back on the plane ride trying to figure out what all we wanted to do in our short time.
No time to waste, we freshened up and headed down for some lunch. We were determined to try all the authentic foods we could (or at least the ones we see on the Food Network). As luck would have it, there was a restaurant right across the street that had been featured in one of the Food TV shows. The restaurant was called "The Stage". NY has HUGE proportions, and a price to go along with it. After eating less than half our sandwiches, we HAD to get a slice of NY cheesecake. Good stuff.
Our hotel was on 54th street between 6th and 7th, we only had a little time before we needed to hit the subway for the game, so we walked to the famous shopping on 5th avenue. It was raining so we had to stop at one of the many corner stores and buy umbrellas. Having an umbrella opened up a whole new dimension to a city that walks everywhere.... Carl is pretty sure I poked several eyes out on our walk, but I was just tying to flow with the crowd. I actually liked having the umbrellas as it gave me a sense of personal space! The only shopping we did was at F.A.O. Schwartz for a Mickey Mouse and a Polar Bear for John (two big hits in our house right now). And I had to stop at a news stand, because I felt like that was what I should do. I bought Mentos. Carl thought this was really weird.
After realizing I had forgotten my license (shout out to Lindsey Marino!), we ran up to the hotel and then to the subway. The subway was JUST like the movies; EVERYTHING was just like the movies, everywhere we went I could see a scene in a movie, I discovered I am more star struck than I would like to admit.
Sorry for the side note... on to the subway story.... Of all the things I was looking forward to, riding on the subway was high on my list! Everyone on the subway was either sleeping, reading, listening to headphones or eating (nasty!). I am SURE we stood out like sore thumb to the locals, I could not quit smiling, and I don't know why!
We got to Yankee stadium SUPER early due to the fear of the unknown and public transportation, etc. This is the first world series played in the new stadium, so it was cool to be at this game. First thing we did was buy a hot dog and a beer, yep, cliche, I know. It was not very good and we had high expectations.
The atmosphere at the game was incredible, I don't know if it was the people, the ballpark, the energy, or what, I can't quite describe why or how, it just was amazing. I of course choked back the tears during the National Anthem. It was cold, but not unbearable. A very heavy mist stated during the game, but luckily we were under the overhang, so we stayed dry.
It was really cool to me to be in the same company as A-Rod (we are tight like that), Kate Hudson, Mathew McConeghy, The First and Second Ladies, Yogi Berra, Derek Jeter and many more I am sure. Our seats were great, 2nd section above the Phillies batters box. Unfortunately the Yankees lost that game, but went on to win the 2009 World Series.
During the game we tried another hot dog and some fries, everything was disappointing expect for the beer. :)
We left the game and headed for the subway, which was a MUCH different experience this time. It was shoulder to shoulder, literally. We followed the masses and shoved our way into a subway car. Only to discover we really did not know what stop we wanted. As people started to get off at all the stops, I started to get a little nervous. Luckily we asked this lady JUST in time and got off at the right stop.
It was late, but we were determined to see the city that never sleeps. We went to Times Square (still hoping at 2:00 in the morning). We stopped and got some "street meat" from a sidewalk vendor - BEST hot dog, finally! Walking around the city at night was again, just like the movies, with the weirdo people, the steam coming from the man hole covers, the subway rattling underneath you, the lights, etc. We jumped in a horse drawn carriage and went for a ride around the area. One thing that I was surprised by was the amount of trash bags in the street. The trash must come every day and at very odd hours. The sheer volume was incredible. I tried to take pictures, but I was not familiar with the flash on the camera so they did not turn out well. The horse took us right to our hotel.
We set the alarm for 7am (WHAT?!?!?). There was still so much to see. Quick shower and off to the subway again - we had no idea and no masses to follow this time. We asked a couple of people, but decided to basically guess, so we did, and without getting into details, I am pretty sure we were lost and on the wrong trains, but in the end we made it to the Financial District.
We saw the Statue of Liberty from a far (no time for the fairy) and then walked down Wall Street, this was super cool to me. Street vendor coffee and donuts (again, we wanted the full experience!) got us through the morning. We walked and walked and walked. We saw the site of the World Trade Centers, which right now just looks like a big construction site. As we were taking pictures, the wall that Carl was leaning against started to open - it was a fire station and the truck was coming back. The side of the truck and the names of the firefighters lost on 09/11, there were a lot and it was very surreal knowing that some of those very men that we saw could have experienced the tragedy first hand. We also saw a Best Buy commercial being filmed in City Hall Park. Another thing that stood out to me was the grave yards that are smack dab in the center of the concrete jungle. It makes you remember how old this place really is!
On to the next "big city" experience - we hailed a cab (hee hee) and went back down to Rockefeller Center. I wanted to be on The Today Show!!! Unfortunately we had missed the main news time, so they were not outside anymore, but I think we were on TV through the windows. We walked back up 6th street, saw the NY Invesco office, grabbed some lunch, and then back to the hotel and then the airport.
Other things I learned and/or loved about New York
- In a city where walking is one of the main forms of transportation, they should have rules of pedestrianism posted somewhere (if they don't exist, they should!). You must have a death wish if you try crossing the street at the wrong time, walking against the crowd or walking too close the subway tracks - talk about SCARY!
- Rain boots can be very stylish and come in a variety of colors and designs.
- Tights with long shirts, short dresses or skirts and boots are in this season.
- The "GP" (general public) in New York is very different than the midwest. People are not mean, but they are not nice either. Also very international.
- I would be in GREAT shape if I lived in NY, my body hurt from all the walking.
- There is SO much to do in NY and I can not wait to go back!
Friday, November 13, 2009
Halloween 2009
Inspired by our trip to SeaWorld, John was a penguin this year (“Pete”). I think this is the last year we will get to choose his costume; I suppose next year he will have an opinion. :) Which also probably means the end of the big, bulky, full body suit costumes. :(
We started the festivities on Friday, the Waters had a neighborhood Halloween play-date at their house. The kids went trick-or-treating by using a map of fun characters that they had to find in the house. Once they found the character they could get candy out of its bowl. It was a really cute idea and John caught on to putting the candy into his pumpkin pretty quick! We attempted to get a group picture, but as you can imagine, it was nearly impossible (see pictures below).
Saturday morning Daddy carved a pumpkin while John watched with interest for all of 2 minutes, but then loved the finished product. Then we went to the HOA’s Halloween Party at the park. It was extremely successful party, but John was not a fan. There were a TON of people and kids in scary costumes, loud music and a lot of chaos. I think it was overwhelming for him. We tried to hang out for a bit, but we vacated early.
Shortly before dark we got our first trick-or-treater. We stayed home and half way watched the OU game and kept John in his costume to hand out candy. Once the first big group of kids came and went John proceeded to take the candy out of the bowl and put it back inside the house and said “all gone”. He CLEARLY did not like me giving away his candy. But by the end of the night, he was putting the candy in the kids bags – one….at….a….time. I didn’t care it was taking so long, but I am sure the kids did. We had to turn out the light; we ran out of candy….and I bought A LOT of candy.
Overall a very successful Halloween and probably our last with no actual trick-or-treating.
We started the festivities on Friday, the Waters had a neighborhood Halloween play-date at their house. The kids went trick-or-treating by using a map of fun characters that they had to find in the house. Once they found the character they could get candy out of its bowl. It was a really cute idea and John caught on to putting the candy into his pumpkin pretty quick! We attempted to get a group picture, but as you can imagine, it was nearly impossible (see pictures below).
Saturday morning Daddy carved a pumpkin while John watched with interest for all of 2 minutes, but then loved the finished product. Then we went to the HOA’s Halloween Party at the park. It was extremely successful party, but John was not a fan. There were a TON of people and kids in scary costumes, loud music and a lot of chaos. I think it was overwhelming for him. We tried to hang out for a bit, but we vacated early.
Shortly before dark we got our first trick-or-treater. We stayed home and half way watched the OU game and kept John in his costume to hand out candy. Once the first big group of kids came and went John proceeded to take the candy out of the bowl and put it back inside the house and said “all gone”. He CLEARLY did not like me giving away his candy. But by the end of the night, he was putting the candy in the kids bags – one….at….a….time. I didn’t care it was taking so long, but I am sure the kids did. We had to turn out the light; we ran out of candy….and I bought A LOT of candy.
Overall a very successful Halloween and probably our last with no actual trick-or-treating.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Mama down time
John is down for a nap and I should be updating qicken, or checking work emails, or cleaning, or laundry, or writing a letter to the medical insurance people, or wittling away at the to-do list... but instead I am going to type this, catch up on blog reading (as I have so desperatly missed), start on some other blogs and half-way watch the 'John and Kate Plus 8 - favorite viewer moments' in the background.
Yeah for some mama down time, even if it is only an hour or so. :)
Yeah for some mama down time, even if it is only an hour or so. :)
Monday, November 2, 2009
20 months
I am a little late and I feel like I did not keep a good track this month, but here are some things I can remember. Pictures to come in following posts....
- started to hang from bars at little gym and the park. I always have my hands on his wrists, but he does it by himself! I never realized what a big task this was until you see a baby learn how to do it after so long!
- will repeat whatever he is talking about until you acknowledge him. Example - John: "airpane, airpane, airpane, airpane". Mama: "Yes John airpane". Silence.
- asks for "melk" or tells you he is hungry when he is trying to avoid doing something (i.e. bedtime), because he knows I will not deny him those things. Sneaky little angel.
- Still LOVES his stuffed animals, and his collection has grown. Seriously, I have never seen a kid that loved stuffed animals more.
- Uses a spoon well.
- Uses more and more words and some of his existing words are a little clearer, but still a lot of Mama interpretation needed. My favorite or most used words/phrases - "Mama hold" ("hold me"), "I get more", "bubbles"(just the way he says it is super cute), "pak" (Park), "Po bay" (polar bear), "ass paus" (applesauce).
- Knows his shapes and colors (attributable to toddler i-phone applications and wooden puzzles). He brings them or points them out correct every time, but sometimes will not match up the words exactly. Not so much on numbers or alphabet just yet.
- Knows all of his Arctic wildlife including seal, polar bear ("po bay"), sea lion, sea otter, walrus, dolphin, dugong and the difference between an orca and a beluga whale.
- Sucks his thumb all the time.
- started to hang from bars at little gym and the park. I always have my hands on his wrists, but he does it by himself! I never realized what a big task this was until you see a baby learn how to do it after so long!
- will repeat whatever he is talking about until you acknowledge him. Example - John: "airpane, airpane, airpane, airpane". Mama: "Yes John airpane". Silence.
- asks for "melk" or tells you he is hungry when he is trying to avoid doing something (i.e. bedtime), because he knows I will not deny him those things. Sneaky little angel.
- Still LOVES his stuffed animals, and his collection has grown. Seriously, I have never seen a kid that loved stuffed animals more.
- Uses a spoon well.
- Uses more and more words and some of his existing words are a little clearer, but still a lot of Mama interpretation needed. My favorite or most used words/phrases - "Mama hold" ("hold me"), "I get more", "bubbles"(just the way he says it is super cute), "pak" (Park), "Po bay" (polar bear), "ass paus" (applesauce).
- Knows his shapes and colors (attributable to toddler i-phone applications and wooden puzzles). He brings them or points them out correct every time, but sometimes will not match up the words exactly. Not so much on numbers or alphabet just yet.
- Knows all of his Arctic wildlife including seal, polar bear ("po bay"), sea lion, sea otter, walrus, dolphin, dugong and the difference between an orca and a beluga whale.
- Sucks his thumb all the time.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Go Diego Go!
John is absolutely IN LOVE with the show "Go Deigo Go!". He sits still and completely focused on the TV during the show, with the occasional "Whale!" "GRRRR!" or "Pete" depending on the animal that Diego is saving in that scene. As soon as the credits come up he says "more, more" and hands me the remote.
The first time he did this was after nap and we were cuddling, so I went ahead and played it again; just KNOWING he would not sit through it again. "More, More" all over again. I have to admit, it is nice to have it if I need a few minutes!
Here he is while I made dinner:
The first time he did this was after nap and we were cuddling, so I went ahead and played it again; just KNOWING he would not sit through it again. "More, More" all over again. I have to admit, it is nice to have it if I need a few minutes!
Here he is while I made dinner:
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Product/Service/Website/etc. review
My Learning Tower (thumbs up)
(I know I did a dedicated post to this already, but I thought it was fitting to throw it in here as well)
This is a ‘must-have’ for an older toddler and I am sure we will get years of use out of it still. It gives them so much freedom and Independence and lets them feel like they are a part of we are doing. But it gives us the comfort that they are safer than climbing on a chair or bar stool. Don’t get me wrong, there are still ways they can hurt themselves, but overall pretty safe. The website is http://www.mylearningtower.com/ but I am sure you can find one or put a ‘want add’ out for one on Craigs List.
Prvcy jeans (thumbs up):
I am a SUPER picky jean person. I bought the brand "prvcy" at Nordstroms and I highly recommend them. They do not stretch out as you wear them. I love "seven" jeans, but an hour after I wear them, they are a size too big and become baggy in areas I don't want to be baggy. :) The Prvcy brand truly fits like they do when you try them on! They are a little pricey, but for a good pair of jeans - totally worth it!
www.Shopathome.com (thumbs up):
If you are an Internet shopper, and/or with Christmas coming up, I highly recommend that you become a member of this site. It is free. You get a certain % of cash back when you buy from their participating store. Stores will use this as a form of "advertising". The list of participating stores is pretty big. I have received 2 checks now, it is legit. The best thing, if you add them as a toolbar, it will automatically search for you, so if you forget to go here first, it still counts your purchases.
'Nuby' sippy cups (thumbs down)
Maybe it is just the type that I bought, but for a toddler that likes to explore things, I do not reccomend. The soft tips that do not really attach to anything SCREAM for a mess. They might be agood tranistion cup, but once they are fully weaned from a bottle and master the sippy cup, pack these away! I MUCH perfer the cups with a straw or some sort of blocking device. :) (I stopped using these a long time ago, but just packed them away, so it was fresh on the brain)
Target: (thumbs up)
I know that Super target does not have the widest selection when it comes to groceries, but for your basics, you can't beat their price. And now... literally! They have started price matching competitors print adds! I tried it out this week, it is a bit of a pain, as you have to completely check out and then go to guest services with your receipt, but in the end, it is worth it. More coupon type savings on top of the coupons.
With Christmas coming up, this might come in handy instead of running from store to store for toys and what not.
Monkey Preschool Lunchbox (iphone application): (BIG thumbs up)
We have a couple of toddler games on the iphone including peek-a-boo barn, sea life flashcards, teapot, shapes and colors, etc. but the monkey preschool lunchbox beats them all in John's eyes. This is a great distractor in the car, on a plane, trying to cook dinner, etc. A must have!
www.MPIX.com: (thumbs up)
This is a picture printing website. They have great prices and great prints. I have not tried any of their "products" but their photo prints are great. I know a few professional photographers that use this site for their prints. Again, keep in mind for Christmas ideas.
Wiggly Play Center: (thumbs down)
I am not sure if these are everywhere or not, but I am not fan of the one I went to. I am sure we will be back because it is a popular "playdate" area, but not by my choosing. Seemed dirty and all the big kids ran over the little kids.
Morning Star frozen foods: (thumbs up)
Quick, easy, healthy meals for John that keep in the freezer. Can't beat it.
http://www.morningstarfarms.com/products.aspx?coid=23|59&family=934|674
(I know I did a dedicated post to this already, but I thought it was fitting to throw it in here as well)
This is a ‘must-have’ for an older toddler and I am sure we will get years of use out of it still. It gives them so much freedom and Independence and lets them feel like they are a part of we are doing. But it gives us the comfort that they are safer than climbing on a chair or bar stool. Don’t get me wrong, there are still ways they can hurt themselves, but overall pretty safe. The website is http://www.mylearningtower.com/ but I am sure you can find one or put a ‘want add’ out for one on Craigs List.
Prvcy jeans (thumbs up):
I am a SUPER picky jean person. I bought the brand "prvcy" at Nordstroms and I highly recommend them. They do not stretch out as you wear them. I love "seven" jeans, but an hour after I wear them, they are a size too big and become baggy in areas I don't want to be baggy. :) The Prvcy brand truly fits like they do when you try them on! They are a little pricey, but for a good pair of jeans - totally worth it!
www.Shopathome.com (thumbs up):
If you are an Internet shopper, and/or with Christmas coming up, I highly recommend that you become a member of this site. It is free. You get a certain % of cash back when you buy from their participating store. Stores will use this as a form of "advertising". The list of participating stores is pretty big. I have received 2 checks now, it is legit. The best thing, if you add them as a toolbar, it will automatically search for you, so if you forget to go here first, it still counts your purchases.
'Nuby' sippy cups (thumbs down)
Maybe it is just the type that I bought, but for a toddler that likes to explore things, I do not reccomend. The soft tips that do not really attach to anything SCREAM for a mess. They might be agood tranistion cup, but once they are fully weaned from a bottle and master the sippy cup, pack these away! I MUCH perfer the cups with a straw or some sort of blocking device. :) (I stopped using these a long time ago, but just packed them away, so it was fresh on the brain)
Target: (thumbs up)
I know that Super target does not have the widest selection when it comes to groceries, but for your basics, you can't beat their price. And now... literally! They have started price matching competitors print adds! I tried it out this week, it is a bit of a pain, as you have to completely check out and then go to guest services with your receipt, but in the end, it is worth it. More coupon type savings on top of the coupons.
With Christmas coming up, this might come in handy instead of running from store to store for toys and what not.
Monkey Preschool Lunchbox (iphone application): (BIG thumbs up)
We have a couple of toddler games on the iphone including peek-a-boo barn, sea life flashcards, teapot, shapes and colors, etc. but the monkey preschool lunchbox beats them all in John's eyes. This is a great distractor in the car, on a plane, trying to cook dinner, etc. A must have!
www.MPIX.com: (thumbs up)
This is a picture printing website. They have great prices and great prints. I have not tried any of their "products" but their photo prints are great. I know a few professional photographers that use this site for their prints. Again, keep in mind for Christmas ideas.
Wiggly Play Center: (thumbs down)
I am not sure if these are everywhere or not, but I am not fan of the one I went to. I am sure we will be back because it is a popular "playdate" area, but not by my choosing. Seemed dirty and all the big kids ran over the little kids.
Morning Star frozen foods: (thumbs up)
Quick, easy, healthy meals for John that keep in the freezer. Can't beat it.
http://www.morningstarfarms.com/products.aspx?coid=23|59&family=934|674
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
18 months pictures
Look on the left column of the blog. I added a new slideshow for his 18 month pics. My friend Ashlea took them for us. THANKS ASHLEA! You did a great job!
Seaworld
We will be making Seaworld a regular trip! I loved it and I am pretty sure everyone else did too! It was sort of like the safari day, where John seemed sort of out of it the whole time, but I know he loved it. I can tell by the way he reacts to his new stuffed mammals/souvenirs (whale, 3 penguins and a dolphin). And he INSISTS on reading his whale book every night, nothing else will do.
We flew down with John on Friday, it was only a 45 minute flight, easy! He played with the window shade most of the time and then games/videos on the iphone. Once we landed, Nana and Da were there to swoop us up and head over to the RV. The park was literally 2 minute drive to the front gate of Seaworld, it was THE way to go!
After nap and lunch, we headed out for John's favorite dinner.... Mexican! After dinner, we headed home and tried to go down for an early night, but John had other plans....I think he was finally asleep around 10:30 or so, but was up and ready to go in the morning! I did not get a picture of it, but I bought this zip up travel bed thing. I recommend it for when you have limited space, although I think it is meant for a little smaller baby, it was perfect because John loves to curl up.
Saturday morning, after breakfast, we headed out to park. I of course had looked up the schedule and all the exhibits and had a general plan for the day (no I am not horrible to travel with!). Only to find out that the online show schedule was not updated! I panicked to myself for a split second and then moved on :). We spent the morning walking around to all the exhibits, we fed the dolphins, went through the shark tanks, bought flip flops for Nana, saw the alligators, fed the ducks, and lastly went to see our friend Pete the penguin.
Especially after lack of sleep, we headed to the RV for lunch and nap. I seriously had to dance him to the car to keep him awake. After nap - back to Seaworld.
We practically RAN to the dolphin show because I was BOUND and DETERMINED John was going to see that show! :) It was full of acrobatics with a little dolphin thrown in. It was okay, but I think I was expecting more. John stood on the bleachers or in one of our laps and sucked his thumb, but reacted when the dolphins went away; he wanted them to come back. He has never sat still for 30 minutes, so I am pretty sure he was into it.
Next up - SHAMU!
After Daddy poured water on his head and cooled him off a bit, I think John was more comfortable. When we got into the show, John sucked his thumb and starred at the all the people (I like to people watch too). Once the whales came out, he loved it, he laughed and pointed and kept saying "more" when they would go under water, etc. His reaction to Shamu was worth it all!
As soon as we got back to the RV, he was himself again. I am not sure if it was the heat or all the new things and the crowds that had him overwhelmed, but I was glad to see a smile on his face. He was back to normal in the RV; hats off to Nana and Da for making it so comfortable and easy!
We flew home on Sunday, another event less flight, he is such a good little flyer!
Here are some pics.
We flew down with John on Friday, it was only a 45 minute flight, easy! He played with the window shade most of the time and then games/videos on the iphone. Once we landed, Nana and Da were there to swoop us up and head over to the RV. The park was literally 2 minute drive to the front gate of Seaworld, it was THE way to go!
After nap and lunch, we headed out for John's favorite dinner.... Mexican! After dinner, we headed home and tried to go down for an early night, but John had other plans....I think he was finally asleep around 10:30 or so, but was up and ready to go in the morning! I did not get a picture of it, but I bought this zip up travel bed thing. I recommend it for when you have limited space, although I think it is meant for a little smaller baby, it was perfect because John loves to curl up.
Saturday morning, after breakfast, we headed out to park. I of course had looked up the schedule and all the exhibits and had a general plan for the day (no I am not horrible to travel with!). Only to find out that the online show schedule was not updated! I panicked to myself for a split second and then moved on :). We spent the morning walking around to all the exhibits, we fed the dolphins, went through the shark tanks, bought flip flops for Nana, saw the alligators, fed the ducks, and lastly went to see our friend Pete the penguin.
Especially after lack of sleep, we headed to the RV for lunch and nap. I seriously had to dance him to the car to keep him awake. After nap - back to Seaworld.
We practically RAN to the dolphin show because I was BOUND and DETERMINED John was going to see that show! :) It was full of acrobatics with a little dolphin thrown in. It was okay, but I think I was expecting more. John stood on the bleachers or in one of our laps and sucked his thumb, but reacted when the dolphins went away; he wanted them to come back. He has never sat still for 30 minutes, so I am pretty sure he was into it.
Next up - SHAMU!
After Daddy poured water on his head and cooled him off a bit, I think John was more comfortable. When we got into the show, John sucked his thumb and starred at the all the people (I like to people watch too). Once the whales came out, he loved it, he laughed and pointed and kept saying "more" when they would go under water, etc. His reaction to Shamu was worth it all!
As soon as we got back to the RV, he was himself again. I am not sure if it was the heat or all the new things and the crowds that had him overwhelmed, but I was glad to see a smile on his face. He was back to normal in the RV; hats off to Nana and Da for making it so comfortable and easy!
We flew home on Sunday, another event less flight, he is such a good little flyer!
Here are some pics.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Safari Saturday
John has a true love for stuffed animals of any kind! Back to back weekends in September we visited 'Land' and 'Sea' to get John up close and personal with the live version. Seaworld post in the works.
We took him on a local safari at the Sharkarosa Wildlife park in Pilot Point Texas. (If anyone local is reading this, you should go! It is about 30 minutes North for Frisco and only $8/tckt, under 2 free). We walked around and saw all the small animals up front including, capuchin monkeys, lemurs, deer, african porcupine, kangaroos and wallabies. We even got to pet a baby kangaroo and lemur.
Then we got on a safari choo-choo train and went out to feed the big animals. The train was open on all sides and the buckets of food were literally 6 inches from us. These huge animals would come up and we got to pet them as they ate (expect we could not touch the camels; apparently they spit and it smells). I thought this was so super cool! I have never seen anything like this, we were literally up close and personal! We saw Clydesdale horses, camels, zebras, buffalo, emus, lamas, pot belly pigs, and a half zebra half horse! There were a lot more that I do not remember, but it was SO COOL.
John's was more than a bit hesitant with all of this, but I truly believe he liked it. He had his thumb in his mouth the entire time, except once I think we got him to reach out to a camel. He got to pick out his own souvenir, and of all the stuffed animals that he did not have yet, he picked another monkey! The minute we got in the car he was saying "llama". I know he liked it, but he gets so shy when it comes to something new. I think as long as we keep exposing him to new things he will come out of this shell in his own time.
We took him on a local safari at the Sharkarosa Wildlife park in Pilot Point Texas. (If anyone local is reading this, you should go! It is about 30 minutes North for Frisco and only $8/tckt, under 2 free). We walked around and saw all the small animals up front including, capuchin monkeys, lemurs, deer, african porcupine, kangaroos and wallabies. We even got to pet a baby kangaroo and lemur.
Then we got on a safari choo-choo train and went out to feed the big animals. The train was open on all sides and the buckets of food were literally 6 inches from us. These huge animals would come up and we got to pet them as they ate (expect we could not touch the camels; apparently they spit and it smells). I thought this was so super cool! I have never seen anything like this, we were literally up close and personal! We saw Clydesdale horses, camels, zebras, buffalo, emus, lamas, pot belly pigs, and a half zebra half horse! There were a lot more that I do not remember, but it was SO COOL.
John's was more than a bit hesitant with all of this, but I truly believe he liked it. He had his thumb in his mouth the entire time, except once I think we got him to reach out to a camel. He got to pick out his own souvenir, and of all the stuffed animals that he did not have yet, he picked another monkey! The minute we got in the car he was saying "llama". I know he liked it, but he gets so shy when it comes to something new. I think as long as we keep exposing him to new things he will come out of this shell in his own time.
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