Momsense

{activities} dallas farmers market

2011-07-24T19:49:00.000-07:00

One of my absolute favorite things to do in Dallas is to head downtown to the

like we did yesterday morning.

The produce, the sights, the people....it is always a very fun experience.

Taking kids to a market such as this helps children understand where their food comes from, appreciate the effort that goes in to growing it and hopefully entice them to eat healthy.

Our boys love picking out berries, melons and vegetables. Each of them got to hand select one fruit and vegetable to bring home. Cort had eaten nearly half of his blackberries before we got to the car!

Not only is visiting the market fun, but it is also very important to support our local growers.

These are a few of the faces of such farmers.....

We have experienced a record heat wave this summer. Can you imagine what that must feel like for these guys? Many of them drive 150 miles to sell us their goods....

Go pay them a visit, and take your kids too!

{health} skin infections...eeeek.

2011-07-22T19:52:00.002-07:00

We just returned from a lovely trip to the beach. Unfortunately, a nasty infection came back with us. I was bathing one of the boys the night after we returned home when he casually mentioned his foot was hurting. He had gotten a splinter a couple of days earlier, and, being the "splinter expert" that I am, I yanked the dang thing out with a pair of tweezers.

This was ONE BIG SPLINTER. You would think that because of it's size it would be an easy task, but apparently I did't get ALL of it.

I guess that little remnant of wood made itself nice and comfortable as it buried itself deeper and deeper into his foot, and his body was trying its best to rid the foreign element. In just two days an infection had set in. He had red swollen and blistered foot, almost the size of a silver dollar.

It was time to see the Dr.

Her orders were:

1. Don't mess with it any longer. With all of the staph infections and other antibiotic resistant infections, open wounds that are already infected are VERY worrisome.

2. Take lots of baths to encourage it to come out on its own when the skin softens up.

3. Take a 10 day course of antibiotics to clear up the infection, and to hopefully ward off any others.

We are on the mend, still working on finishing the remaining doses of antibiotic, but the infection began to clear 48 hours after the first dose of meds.

Remember to be cautious this summer, with all of the kids running around with bare feet there are a lot more cuts and scrapes and don't forget to inspect your kids for such injuries during bath time bubbles and fun!

exciting news

2011-07-16T13:45:00.000-07:00

I finally launched my photography website!

www.jenniferrobertsphoto.com

but...I will still be mommy blogging too....

{pics} Bright & Vivid

2011-06-14T18:30:00.000-07:00

This week's I Heart Faces Photo Challenge:

Bright & Vivid

I simply couldn't resist submitting this one. It is an all time favorite.

{health} Adenovirus- YUCK

2011-06-13T18:09:00.000-07:00

An unwelcome guest greeted us over the weekend. After a quick visit to the good Dr. Sue we knew what we were in for. His name is the adenovirus and he has brought some nasty boogs, pink crusty eyes, fever, intestinal issues and even a non productive cough with him. Adeno, just like most of us in the summer, likes to hang out in warmer weather and thrives in a swimming pool environment.

Yes, he can easily jump from kid to kid in the swimming pool. The only place we go to escape the heat. GREAT.

Unfortunately, I know this virus well. Holt had it about a year ago. He looked so miserable I even took a photo of him:

Well, today, Cort looks worse. His eyes are crusty, he cannot stop rubbing them and his nose is a waterspout. Holt has a fever of 103, no appetite and snot. Of course, mom is not feeling so hot either, but there is never time for a mom to hang out in bed, drink fluids and rest. Life goes on...

In the mean time. Read up on it, chances are your kids are going to get it at some point so its always better to know your enemy.

Learn about it HERE

and Here

{Recipes} Copper River Salmon and Pea Risotto

2011-06-08T17:22:00.000-07:00

Hooray!

It is Copper River Salmon Season and I am blogging--again!

For those of you who don't know much about how great this fish is, click here or here.

But here is a quick low down:
1. It comes from Alaska
2. It is only in season three to four weeks from around mid May to mid June
3. It is LOADED with Omega 3s
4. A 3.5 oz fillet has more Vitamin D than a glass of milk

For those of you who don't know, I am not a big fish eater. Correction. I am not a big on COOKED fish (probably because I never really ate it growing up...READ: the MOST stubborn child EVER...at some later date, remind me to blog about how my pediatrician cut me off of fried foods in second grade due to high cholesterol)

Anyway, I want my kids to enjoy it, appreciate it and to order it whenever they have the opportunity so now a days, we all eat salmon (and some other fish) together. Remember also, I only like to make one dinner and if the kids don't eat it or complain they go to bed hungry BUT wake up to a really delicious breakfast of eggs, bacon and fruit.

Tonight we made Tyler Florence's Salmon and Pea Risotto

Serves 4
Ingredients
Sea salt and pepper
3 tablespoons grape-seed oil
1 pound wild Alaskan salmon fillet, skin removed, cut into four portions, and any bones removed
¼ pound whole fresh morel mushrooms, soaked in cool water to remove any grit
4 sprigs fresh thyme
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
4 cups organic chicken stock
1 cup frozen baby peas
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 medium shallot, finely chopped
1 cup uncooked Arborio rice
¼ cup dry white wine
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
3 tablespoons fresh baby mint leaves (OOPS, I forgot this at the store so I garnished with thyme)

Directions
1 Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2 Season salmon fillets with sea salt and pepper. In a large sauté pan, heat grape-seed oil over a high heat until shimmering. Sear the salmon for two to three minutes on just one side. Add the morels, thyme, and lemon juice. Place pan in the oven and cook 10 minutes, or until the salmon is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
3 In a large pot, add the chicken stock and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat and add the peas and cook for one or two minutes, or until bright in color. With a strainer, remove the peas from the stock and keep the stock at a simmer. In a blender, purée half the peas until smooth and set aside.
4 In a large, deep pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat until shimmering. Add the shallot and cook, stirring for one minute. Add the rice and cook, stirring for three to five minutes until the rice has darkened slightly and has a nutty aroma. Stir in the white wine.
5 Gradually add the reserved stock, one cup at a time, stirring frequently until all the liquid has been absorbed before adding more stock. Stir until smooth. Fold in both the puréed and whole peas, butter, and cheese. Season with salt and pepper and stir until well blended.
6 Serve the risotto topped with the salmon fillet and morels and garnished with the mint leaves. Serve immediately.

Bon Appétit

Creek Walk

2011-06-07T18:41:00.000-07:00

Weekly I Heart Faces Challenge

excuse my lack of blogging

2011-05-23T14:34:00.000-07:00

But it's the end of the school year, which means........

parties, teachers gifts, field day, school olympics, cafeteria duty, summer camp sign ups, making travel plans, and much more. I'll be back next week when my head is screwed on again.

Xoxo

{gear} Fun in the Sun- Day Two

2011-05-10T17:46:00.000-07:00

Now you know about Rhett's horrible sunscreen allergy.... what is equally devastating is that all of our children suffer a horrible sensitivity to bug bites!

Below is a photo of one of their knees just minutes after a mosquito had an afternoon snack. The bites themselves swell up to the size of a quarter, and they itch like crazy!

There is an ongoing debate on whether DEET is OK for children. According to the FDA, DEET is ok to use in children older than two months. Interestingly, many parents who are afraid to use DEET turn to "organic" bug sprays but in the same article, the FDA claims that Oil of Eucalyptus (an active ingredient in many chemical free bug sprays) should not be used in children under the age of 3!!
So do your due diligence and READ the labels.

But, in case you don't have time for that....my favorites below are all Oil of Eucalyptus free.

OFF Smooth & Dry $4

BugBand Insect Repellent Spray Lotion $7

California Baby Citronella Repellent $13

And, in case you want even more information, here are some tips from our own pediatrician's website.

-Do not apply bug spray to children under 2 months of age
-Use up to 30% DEET in children, depending on duration of outdoor activities. Avoid the use of higher concentrations in children.
-Apply insect repellent only to exposed areas of skin and/or clothing. Do not use repellents under a child’s clothing. Certain repellents may damage synthetics, leather or plastics.
-Do not apply insect repellent to eyes or mouth, and apply sparingly around the ears. Do not spray directly on the face, spray on your hands first and then apply to the child’s face
-Do not apply bug spray over cuts, eczema or breaks in the skin.
-Have a parent or caregiver apply the bug spray as a child may inadvertently ingest the spray. Do not allow children to handle the repellents without supervision.
-Wash repellents off with soap and water at the end of the day. This is especially important when repellents are used repeatedly in a day or on consecutive days. Also wash treated clothing before wearing again.
-Combination products containing DEET and sunscreen are not recommended, as sunscreen should be reapplied frequently (every 2 hours) and in contrast bug repellents should be applies as infrequently as possible. It is also thought that DEET may decrease the effectiveness of sunscreen.
-Do not use spray in enclosed areas or near food. Avoid breathing the repellent spray.
-There are other ways to beat the bugs too. Try to avoid go outside when the bugs are most active, dawn and dusk.
- When your child does go out cover as much of the skin as you possibly can. Use lightweight, long sleeved clothing and pants. Do not dress your child in bright colors or flowery clothing. For young children use mosquito netting over their strollers etc.
-The use of citronella candles or bug zappers have not been shown to help .
-Eliminating standing water in yards and areas around the house and yard will help eliminate mosquito breeding. Fans do seem to help as mosquitoes have trouble maneuvering in the wind, so buying a fan to use around the picnic table may be useful.

{gear} Fun in the Sun- Day One

2011-05-09T06:52:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning, checked the weather and wasn't surprised to see that the high today will be 93F.
With temperatures rising and summer break almost here, it's time for me to get my gear ready. Every day this week, I will feature a product that will help prepare you for fun in the sun with you kids.

Today I am featuring:

VMV Hypoallergenics Sunscreens

Our blonde headed, blue eyed, pale skinned little guy Rhett is extremely allergic to almost every sunscreen. Unfortunately for him, finding a sunscreen was always trial and error with different brands, and usually led to red splotchy skin and watery burning eyes. The experience of applying sunscreen was almost as bad as a sunburn itself!

ARMADA is the answer. According to their website, it is:

"The most comprehensive protection — no other sunscreen has measured protection factors against both outdoor + indoor UVA, UVB, Visible + Infrared Light — with some of the highest protection factors like SPFs up to 70-90 and ultra-high PFAs (Protection Factor UVA). Each Armada Sun + Light Screen is lightweight and comfortable even in hot, humid weather, and is non-comedogenic, so your pores stay clear. Armadas are loaded with antioxidants for extra care and repair, and are very hypoallergenic."

and even better....they are offering a 15 percent discount Today thru Wednesday!

Follow Link Here

Happy Mother's Day

2011-05-08T07:06:00.000-07:00

I woke up to my sweet, innocent little boys' snuggles this morning....It didn't take long for one to grab the other's blanket, which resulted in a few jabs, screaming and tears. Less than two minutes later, we were all back to snuggling. Here they all are just moments after they entered this world.

I am feeling very blessed on this mother's day.

Holt

Feb 23, 2005

Rhett

July 9, 2007

Cort

March 6, 2009

outside with the camera on a cloudy day

2011-05-01T13:39:00.001-07:00

{humor} our mornings, our nights

2011-04-16T14:27:00.000-07:00

Our Mornings...

Our Nights....

And the in betweens....

without a doubt, these WILL find a wall in our new home. Buy on etsy here

{gear} Strollerbikes

2011-04-12T06:33:00.000-07:00

Spring is among us. It's time to get outdoors and enjoy the weather!
I recently came across these nifty contraptions. A stroller and bike combo in one! Less bulky than a pull behind bike trailer and definitely more functional. The Taga Bike above (www.tagabikes.com) is multi-purpose.

As seen in the photo above, with optional accessory purchases, the bike/stroller combo also functions as an infant carrier and shopping basket. If you have two youngsters, you also have the option of purchasing a second seat OR a wooden double child seat.

A similar stroller/bike combo is offered by Zigo (www.myzigo.com). A bit more
sporty looking, but similarly functioning. One big difference is that the Zigo not only functions as a child carrier bike and stroller, but the child carrier can be completely removed enabling it to function as a regular bicycle!

What a great way to get outside with your kids and exercise! And...with the gas prices ticking higher, this is an economical mode of transportation...except for the hefty price tags. The Taga base price is $1495, and the Zigo comes in at $1399. I'd really have to commit to riding my bike to get groceries to justify this expense, but don't they look fun!?

{recipes} Fusilli Tartufati (well kind of)

2011-04-06T19:54:00.000-07:00

......There is definitely a back story to this recipe.

As you may or may not know, I am pretty horrible at truly following recipes.
Of course, this also applies to baking, (which is an entirely new story to be told at a later date)
But, I DO believe in something I call "menus from memory."

All I really mean by this is that if you love something you eat, and your take time to savor and engage your senses, you should have enough inspiration and motivation to [attempt] to duplicate it on your own.

CASE IN POINT:

Fusilli Tartufati

Last weekend, I was lucky enough to have my husband whisk me away for a quick weekend away. (And by whisk, I really mean a weekend away without kids). Our destination? Santa Barbara, California- where we were married almost seven years ago. We couldn't believe we hadn't been back....Oh wait, that's right....we were busy having kids and our leisurely travels were few and far between. (no complaints from this momma)

ANYWAY, as they say, absence makes the heart grow fonder. We grew so fond of a recipe that we ate at a local Italian restaurant (Ca Dario) that we canceled our reservation for the following night (at the place we held our rehearsal dinner, and one of the top rated local restaurants!!!) to return to the little Italian spot and eat this dish---again. We liked it THAT much.

So here is my version, that I prepared tonight for dinner

1pound of fusilli pasta
3 leeks
8 ounces pancetta
1 cup diced tomatoes
2 cups porcini (or shitake) mushrooms
2 cups diced tomatoes
1/2 bag or 8 oz. frozen green peas
3-4 tablespoons of black or white truffle oil
extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper, to taste
shaved parmesan

Put water on to boil and add pasta to salted water.

Meanwhile, chop pancetta and mushrooms. Crisp pancetta in a heated nonstick pan, add mushrooms and cook until browned.

Remove from heat.

Add a drizzle of (plain) olive oil and chopped leeks (white and light green parts only)
Saute until translucent, about eight minutes. Return mushrooms and pancetta to pan and combine. Remove from heat.

Remove al dente pasta from heat, drain, and pour into a large serving dish.

Add tomatoes and peas to sautee pan with mushroom leek mixture, stir to combine.

Return to medium-high heat until warm and peas are cooked through. Drizzle vegetables with 3-4 tablespoons of truffle oil, add salt and pepper to taste. Pour mixture over pasta stir to combine. Garnish with Parmesan cheese.

Serve along side a simple arugula salad dressed with extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, parmesan, salt and pepper and sliced mushrooms.

{tips} road tripping

2011-03-11T06:52:00.000-08:00

tomorrow WE (three adults, two kids ages 6 and 3, a lot of luggage and maybe even a dog)
embark on a road trip to Colorado.

If you caught the two kids note, my wonderful mother has agreed to take our two year old as a lap child on the flight with her, and we will meet them at our destination on Sunday. What a blessing.

Anyway, it is our first big family car trip. Scott and I have made the drive on numerous occasions without the kids, driving 14-15 hour in one day. But with two small bladders in our car, this trip will be a little different.

We changed our route to a longer, but safer route through Oklahoma and Kansas, then head West to cool, colorful Colorado. This way we will avoid the small country roads and two lane highways, and more importantly, the longer route provides constant cell phone reception. We also will spend the night in Kansas a little under the half way point.

In preparation for this journey I read up on some road trip advice at momsminivan.com which I found to be an extremely powerful resource for my purposes.

and I bought these books earlier in the week to read to the boys:

It's 8:45 a.m the day before our trip and I still need to clean out and wash my car, stock up on snacks and drinks for the cooler, pack my bag, make some playlists, pay bills, take a shower, and about 20 more things I am sure I'm forgetting.

Wish us luck, I am sure there will be some humorous stories to blog about next week.

{humor} pee happens

2011-03-08T08:45:00.000-08:00

I'd like to take a minute to let you know how much and how often pee happens at our house. But before I get into it, could YOU please take a minute and google the word "pee"? The most fascinating things pop up like:

1. "How to pee in the pool without getting caught"
2. A "Go Ask Alice" article about someone yearning to drink urine (uh, ugh speechless)
3. A desperate mom's clever invention called my pee pee bottle - it can even be personalized!
4. "How to hold pee when you can't use the bathroom" (now THIS could be useful)
5. Www.runpee.com ---an actual website dedicated to provide good restroom break times during movie watching. This. is. simply. brilliant.

Alright, I've entered into the endless abyss of the internet. Back on topic......

Last Week:

On Manic Monday morning, we were exhausted because we had THREE bed wetting incidents that night
(maybe that extra big gulp size cup of apple juice WAS a bad idea?)

Tuesday
My half baked attempt at potty training--Cort ended up with 5 accidents on the floor. I decide to go over my own methods and re-attempt when I have had some sleep and can take on the monster. Do as I say, not say as I Do?

Wednesday
Cort (2) has woken up totally soaked at 6 am. Dear husband brings a naked, smelly baby to me in bed. 15 minutes later Holt stumbles in announcing he too has wet his bed. I now have two urine soaked kids in my bed while I muster up the energy to GET UP. Sadly, I'd rather lay amidst a waft of urine for 10 minutes than get up.

Thursday-nothing new to report

Friday-the icing on the cake
Busy with errands to run, my mom and I decided to pick Rhett (3 1/2) up from school and take him to the lighting store with us to pick out light fixtures. It is 2 p.m. and Rhett falls asleep in the car on the 25 minute drive. Seeing as we drove all the way out to the store, I pick him up and carry him around asleep on my shoulder until my arm goes numb. Then, brilliantly, I push two chairs together and sit down next to him while I begin flipping through catalogs. Not 10 minutes later, I look over and watch as his khaki pants begin to turn a darker shade as they are being saturated with pee. I quickly grab him (mid stream) and run out to the car, totally embarrassed. HE IS STILL SLEEPING. Left my awesome mom to clean up the mess, apparently he not only soaked the two chairs, but pee was dripping through to the carpet as well. Capital P(ee) for Perfect.

Saturday/Sunday
Nothing new to report. a few more pee soaked beds and wet diapers, but nothing like my experience Friday. So I'll leave you with that.

{recipes} ratatouille

2011-03-04T06:17:00.000-08:00

No. not the movie with the cute mouse.
A hearty, healthy and vegetarian dish!

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large diced yellow onion
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 cups diced eggplant (1 large eggplant)
1 1/2 cups diced zucchini
1 tablespoon minced garlic (3 cloves)
1 (8-oz.) can tomato sauce
2 cups cherry tomatoes
1 1/2 teaspoons fresh rosemary
1 ½ teaspoons fresh thyme
Chopped parsley
Salt and pepper, to taste

Heat oil in a large non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Add onions garlic ; season with salt and pepper. Sauté 6 to 8 minutes or until onions become translucent. Drop in cherry tomatoes so they will begin to blister.

Add eggplant and sauté 5 minutes, or until eggplant begins to soften. (I ran out of room in my pot and had to transfer to my dutch oven...oops!)

Add zucchini and sauté until hot. Add tomato sauce and herbs; sauté until zucchini and eggplant are cooked through. Season again with salt and pepper, if needed.

Serve over warm creamy polenta (click for delicious recipe by Michael Chiarello) or white rice.

{tips} potty training

2011-02-26T13:25:00.000-08:00

A few of you have asked about potty training.

Let me first say that I, of course, am just a mom and do not claim to be any sort of expert in the matter.
That being said, all three of my boys started using the potty well before their second birthday and the first two were potty trained before 24 months. Our youngest turns two next week, and it's time for us to get our act together and get him out of diapers too!

Babycenter.com posted these signs of potty training readiness. We definitely did NOT have all of them when we potty trained, but the most important factor was that the boys were displaying signs of independence and taking pride in their potty time visits.

So....what worked for us?

After a few successful attempts and checking off some of the readiness signs, I carved out a few days in my schedule when I could be at home monitoring them. (Summer is a great time to do this, since they will be out of school or daycare and can run around without pants on!)

I stocked up on some cotton gerber training pants AND cool character cotton underwear that THEY picked out. (pull ups are just modified diapers and wick away the wetness, therefore making it difficult to distinguish when to use the restroom)

Starting out with the plain white extra absorption duds, I explained that for each successful visit, they would get one single m&m. The first day, we probably had 8 accidents and 2 m&ms. When we did have accidents, we simple walked out lil man to the potty right after, sat him down and said "next time, try to go potty here."

Repeat again on day two. Accidents cut down to three and about 5 m&m visits. On day three we switched to the character underwear and explained:

"These are your new big boy pants, but try not to pee on buzz lightyear, he doesn't like getting wet"

One accidents, and about 15 m&m visits (we started going potty and squeezing out one drop to earn that m&m)

By day 5 we had the routine down.

Now, there IS a downside to this method. You will have to keep m&ms around for a while and like bottles and pacis, cut them out of the routine entirely not too long after potty training. None of my boys had an issue with this because we switched the reward from m&m's to letting them flush the toilet and saying (even waiving) goodbye to their "business."

Another very important note: if this doesn't work, or your child develops potty anxiety, don't push it. Give up and re-attempt in a couple of months.

Oh and remember, all of us were potty trained in high school. Don't stress...

Best of luck. Fun times ahead.

{tips} toddler discipline

2011-02-24T06:49:00.000-08:00

last night our almost two year old threw a tantrum at the dinner table.
you know, the kind with a blood curdling scream at the top of his lungs...the one where everyone in the ENTIRE restaurant turns to look!?

good thing I woke up with these tips on my news feed from The Kids Dr

Toddler Discipline Secret No. 1: Be Consistent
Order and routine give young children a safe haven from what they view as an overwhelming and unpredictable world, says Lerner. “When there’s some predictability and routine, it makes children feel much more safe and secure, and they tend to be much more behaved and calm because they know what to expect.”
Try to keep to the same schedule every day. That means having consistent nap times, mealtimes, and bedtimes, as well as times when your toddler is free to just run around and have fun.
When you do have to make a change, it helps to warn your child in advance. Telling your child, “Aunt Jean is going to watch you tonight while Mommy and Daddy go out for a little bit” will prepare her for a slightly different routine, and will hopefully prevent a scene at bedtime.
Consistency is also important when it comes to discipline. When you say “no hitting” the first time your child smacks another child on the playground, you also need to say “no hitting” the second, third, and fourth times your child does it.
Toddler Discipline Secret No. 2: Avoid Stressful Situations
By the time children reach the toddler stage, you’ve spent enough time with them to know their triggers. The most common ones are hunger, sleepiness, and quick changes of venue. With a little advance planning, you can avoid these potential meltdown scenarios and keep things relatively calm.
“You have to anticipate, which means you don’t go to the grocery store when your child needs a nap,” says Lisa Asta, MD, a pediatrician in Walnut Creek, Calif., and associate clinical professor of pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco.
Try to make sure your child is home at naptimes, bedtimes, and mealtimes. If you are out, always keep food on hand in case of a sudden hunger attack. Keep excursions short (that means finding another restaurant if the one you’ve chosen has an hour-long wait, or doing your grocery shopping at times when the lines are shortest). Finally, plan ahead so you don’t have to rush (particularly when you need to get your child to preschool and yourself to work in the mornings).
You can ease transitions by involving your child in the process. That can be as simple as setting an egg timer for five minutes, and saying that when it rings it’s time to take a bath or get dressed, or giving your child a choice of whether to wear the red shirt or the blue shirt to school.
Toddler Discipline Secret No. 3: Think Like a Toddler
Toddlers aren’t mini-adults. They have trouble understanding many of the things we take for granted, like how to follow directions and behave appropriately. Seeing the scenario from a toddler’s perspective can help prevent a tantrum.
“You might say, ‘I know, Derek, you don’t like getting into the car seat … but it’s what we have to do,’” Lerner explains. “So you’re not coddling, but you’re validating their feelings. You have to set the limit, but you do it in a way that respects the child and you use it as an opportunity to help them learn to cope with life’s frustrations and rules and regulations.”
Giving choices also shows that you respect your toddler and recognize the child’s feelings. Asking your child if he or she wants to bring a favorite book in the car, or take along a snack, can make the child feel as though he or she has some control over the situation while you remain in charge, Lerner says.
Toddler Discipline Secret No. 4: Practice the Art of Distraction
Make your toddler’s short attention span work for you. When your child throws the ball against the dining room wall for the 10th time after you’ve said to stop, it’s pretty easy to redirect your child to a more productive activity, like trading the ball for a favorite book or moving the game outside.
“Parents need to create an environment that is most conducive to good toddler behavior,” advises Rex Forehand, PhD, the Heinz and Rowena Ansbacher Professor of Psychology at the University of Vermont and author of Parenting the Strong-Willed Child. “If they’re into something they’re not supposed to do, the idea is not to punish them but to get another activity going or pick them up and put them in another room.”
Toddler Discipline Secret No. 5: Give Your Child a Break
Time-outs are one of the foundations of child discipline, but they may not be the best approach for the toddler stage. The negative implication of being sent away can teach kids that they’re bad, rather than promote good behavior.
If you do give your child a time-out, limit it to just a minute or two at this age. Instead of calling it a time-out, which can be confusing to children under 3, refer to it as something more positive.
Lerner suggests creating a “cozy corner,” a safe place, free from distractions and stimulation, where your child can just chill out for a few minutes until he or she can get back in control. That time away can help you regroup, as well.
Correct bad behaviors, but also take the time to praise good behaviors. “If you don’t tell your child when they’re doing the right thing, sometimes they’ll do the wrong thing just to get attention,” Asta says. When you tell your toddler he or she has done something good, there’s a good chance your child will want to do it again.
Toddler Discipline Secret No. 6: Stay Calm
When you’re standing in the middle of the mall, looking down at your child who’s screaming on the floor, and trying to ignore the stares of the shoppers around you, it’s easy for your blood pressure to reach the boiling point. It’s hard to stay calm, but losing control will quickly escalate an already stressful situation. Give yourself some time to cool off, advises Forehand. “Otherwise, you’re venting your own anger. In the end that’s going to make you as a parent feel worse and guilty, and it’s not going to do your child any good.”
“I call it the “Stepford Wife” approach,” Lerner says. As your child screams, say, ‘I know, I know,’ but stay completely calm as you pick him up. Don’t show any emotion.
Sometimes the best tactic is to ignore the behavior entirely. “You just literally act like they’re not doing what they’re doing. You ignore the behavior you want to stop,” Lerner says. When your child realizes that his screaming fit is not going to get him a second lollipop or your attention, eventually he’ll get tired of yelling.
Your child may drive you so close to the breaking point that you’re tempted to spank him, but most experts warn against the practice. “When we spank, kids learn that physical punishment is acceptable. And so we are modeling exactly what we don’t want our kids to do,” says Forehand. At the toddler stage, redirection and brief breaks are far more effective discipline tactics, Forehand says.
Toddler Discipline Secret No. 7: Know When to Give In
Certain things in a toddler’s life are nonnegotiable. She has to eat, brush her teeth, and ride in a car seat. She also has to take baths once in a while. Hitting and biting are never OK. But many other issues aren’t worth the headache of an argument. Pick your battles.
“You have to decide whether it’s worth fighting about, and about half the time it’s not worth fighting about,” Asta says. That means it’s OK to let your son wear his superhero costume to the grocery store, or read The Giving Tree 10 times in a row. Once he gets what he wants, you can gradually get him to shift in another direction — like wearing another outfit or picking out a different book to read.
Finally, know that it’s OK to feel stressed out by your toddler sometimes. “Realize that none of us as parents is perfect — we do the best we can. There are going to be days that we’re better at this than other days,” Forehand says. “But if we parent consistently and have consistent rules, then we’re going to see more good days than bad days.”

I also found this article on screaming from babycenter.com interesting.

{activities} The Dallas Zoo

2011-02-22T09:04:00.000-08:00

It looks like a fantastic weekend is ahead for us Dallasites! Why not plan a trip to the

The last time we took our kids to the zoo was in early 2009, and we drove all the way to the Ft. Worth Zoo. What we didn't realize was that the Dallas Zoo, only a few miles from home, was undergoing a major expansion to include an 11 acre, safari like experience in an exhibit called "Giants of the Savannah." The habitat includes giraffes, elephants, lions, and other African species.

Here are some zoo facts from www.dallaszoo.com

Zoo Facts:

The Dallas Zoo was founded in 1888, making it the first zoological park in the Southwest.

Our park covers 95 developed acres! In terms of landmass, it’s the largest zoological park in Texas.

The giant giraffe sculpture marking the Zoo’s entrance is 67½ feet tall!

We provide care for a wide variety of animals and are involved in conservation and breeding programs for numerous endangered species.

The Dallas Zoo is widely recognized for our outstanding Lacerte Family Children’s Zoo, Wilds of Africa exhibit, and award-winning Jake L. Hamon Gorilla Conservation Research Center!

I might be more excited for our field trip than the kids! See you there!

{gear} simple human dish rack

2011-02-20T11:33:00.000-08:00

Have you ever noticed how sippy cups and plastic plates often remain wet after the drying cycle in your dishwasher is complete?

Well, it's probably because plastic doesn't retain the heat needed to evaporate the water like our plates and cups do. I read all about it here.

Anyway, I recently splurged ($70) on this amazing drying rack at The Container Store. It is a fantastic place to store those still damp neon pieces of plastic (that your kids love so much) until they are dry enough to put away. Who has time to hand dry things these days anyway?

*Bonus* It can actually hold plates, cups and knives that adults use too!