Aiden's Back Pack

15" Back Pack from Lands End





http://www.landsend.com/pp/ClassMateSmallHaulBackpack~224116_-1.html?bcc=y&action=order_more&sku_0=::FAC&CM_MERCH=IDX_Luggage-_-BackpacksLunchBoxes-_-BackpacksBookBags-_-M36to4&origin=index

Next Friday, my oldest son starts kindergarden.  I am excited and sad all that the same time.  All Moms who have experienced the first day of school understand.  For some reason I spent a lot of time making sure that he had the perfect backpack.  I don't why except that I want everything about this day to be

special for him.

I settled on a back pack from Lands End.  What I liked about their site was that you could pick the back pack by your childs height.  My fella is small, so a larger back pack would be hard for him to lug around.  We settled on a fifteen inch back pack that fits him perfectly.  Land End also embroidered his name on it, which I imagine could be helpful at school.  We were able to get a matching lunch box as well.  What's neat is that the lunch box has a snap, that snaps to the back pack so they'll be easier to carry.  The picture attached is the exact one we chose.

I know a back pack may seem like a small thing and not a big deal in the grand scheme of "first day's of school", but if buying the right back pack gives Mommy a little comfort, then so be it.  This will be a big day for our big boy and I will do my best to make it perfect.

It Takes Patience to Potty Train

I posted a couple weeks ago that it was time to start our youngest potty training.  I thought that it may be time for an update.  It's only been a couple weeks but I must admit that we've had very few moments that made me feel like we were making progress.

We now have our two year old in pull ups and he loves them because they have Diego on them.  To go back to diapers now would be an insult on his new found "big boy" status.  We have our potty seat, and I must say the seat we purchased is fabulous at catching little boys missed aims.  I highly recomment it.  We've been taking him to the potty every two hours. I know consistency is the key to training but I must admit it is frustrating when I take him, he goes, and ten minutes later he's wet.  Really!?!  When he does go we do the pee pee dance and he loves it.  I considering stickers for each potty to make it even more rewarding.

Just when I feel defeated and wonder if we started to soon, he'll do something that makes me believe we're on the right path.  The other day we went to the bathroom on his own and was struggling to get his pants down.  When I came in to help, he went.  That was a big moment for me because he tried on his own and I knew he understood what that strange feeling meant.

Now, those that know me know, I'm a pretty competitive person.  I want my kids to be also, so why can't our little fella potty train quickly?  Shouldn't he be an over achiever?  Shouldn't he hate wearing wet pants? I've come to realize, it's me, he's doing what he should be doing.  I just need to have patience and one day it gonna just happen.  I can't wait for the day he comes to me and ask me to take him to the potty.

Book It

There is a ton of research that says reading to you child is a good thing. It stimulates their imagination, increases vocabulary skills, improves attention span, the list of reason why you should read to your child goes on and on. I think some studies even say it increase their life span.

No wonder, I feel like such a bad Mom when I come home from work, cook dinner, give baths and then sometimes, dread reading. Last night I felt this very way, when my little toddler came up to me with two books to read. I sat down and read them to him and as I was sitting there, cuddled up to this sweet little boy, I couldn't imagine anyplace else I wanted to be.

Interesting enough books he brought were "Elmo's Potty Time" and an "Elmo's Big Bed". He loves Elmo so it's no secret why these books caught his eye. One is about potty training, which we are currently doing, or trying to do I should say, and the other is about how Elmo goes from a baby bed to a big boy bed, which we recently also did. There are books for everything, whether it's potty training, biting, brothers and sisters, whatever your child is dealing with there's a book for it. Take advantage of the message these books have because while your reading, you will have your child's undivided attention.

Research also says that reading nutures a child's emotional development and self-esteem. I woud also suggest that it will nuture your emotional well being and self-esteem. Take this time to bond with your child, relax and enjoy a few special moments together.

These are a few of my favorite books. The Llama Llama books have a topic on every issue and are really cute.

Work Of Art

I have this large wall in my hallway that was calling for a big piece of art. It had to be one really large piece or several small pieces. I spent a lot of time shopping in stores and online for the perfect piece of art. I'm really drawn to abstract paintings.

One day it hit me, I have the perfect abstract painter in my house, my five year old son.  I went to the art store and bought the largest canvas I could find, acryllic paints in the colors I wanted, and a bag of inexpensive foam paint brushes. I gave these to my son and he had a blast making me a masterpiece. This has become my one of my favorite decorating items in the house. I get so many compliments on it.

I have some advice if your interested in your little one doing a masterpiece for you. One, be sure and buy the acryllic paints. They dry quickly and wash off quickly. Two, the cheap foam brushes work best, no need to purchase expensive brushes because you'll be throwing them away when you're done. Lastly, and very important, make sure you put each paint color in a separate bowl with one brush for each color. If you don't do this, you will have your little one mixing paints and you'll end up with a beautiful mud color. When you're done, you'll have a cherished piece of art for under $100.

I hope that you enjoy your masterpiece as much I've enjoyed mine. I love it so much that our oldest has now done art for our entire family. It makes a great gift.

Worth The Wait

A year ago, our oldest son and I waited in line for thirty minutes to ride this mouse looking roller coaster at Beechbend Park, only to get our turn and find out you had to be forty two inches to ride. I have to say, even though it was a small defeat, it broke my heart to see him so disappointed.

Over the next year, we measured every inch on his growth chart. When he hit forty two inches, we celebrated. That meant big things to a five year old and in his world, big things are the mouse roller coaster. Today the wait was over, we went to Beechbend Park and waited in line about fifteen minutes to ride the mouse roller coaster. When we got our turn the guy said, "I doubt he's forty two inches", and I replied with assurance, "I'm quite sure he is, measure him," and he was. Our oldest is kind of a little fellow, so looks can be deceiving. It was worth the wait ans he was so excited and the ride lived up to his expectations.

I suggest all parents either purchase a growth chart or find a good door seal to keep up with their growth. They grow up so quick. Land of Nod has some that are my favorites and they can be personalized.

http://www.landofnod.com/search.aspx?query=growth

Found Time

When your a working Mom with a two year old and a five year old, getting individual time with them doesn't happen often. I had started feeling like I wasn't really communicating with my two year old, because it's easy for the five year old, to monopolize our conversations.

Recently, we changed part of our morning routine and now my husband takes our oldest to Y camp and I take the youngest to daycare. I have to tell you, those fifteen minutes in the car with our two year old each morning have become priceless. I have enjoyed visiting, singing, and pointing out new things with him.

This morning we sang "Jesus Loves Me", over and over and over. I loved the way he hit the last word of each line as loud as he could and even though I still can't understand him completely, I understood he was singing. Being so interactive with him, warmed my heart and started my day perfectly.

It reminded me that we need to make the most of each moment. When you work full time, your a wife, and your a Mom, you have to make each opportunity count. My car ride to work, with my boys, will now be one of those precious opportunities. We'll sing, I'll point out motorcycles, tractors, we will play Eye Spy, this found time is about them.

It's Potty Time

As a working Mom the idea of potty training is exhausting. It's just one more thing to add to my daily "to do" list. Potty training can be tricky, you don't want to start too early, you don't need to wait to late, and you need make sure your child is ready. This morning I got a very clear picture that my two year old, is ready to start the process. When he woke up, he proceeded to stand up in his bed, pull off his diaper and pee all over his bed, pillows, Elmo and all. Poor Elmo, got blasted!

How do you know when it's the right time to start potty training your child? I did some research and here are a few of the signs your child is ready.

• Your child has an awareness they need to go, squats, goes to a corner or pulls off their diaper and pees all over their bed.
• They urinate a lot at one time.
• They have regular bowel movements.
• They can pull their pants up and down and attempt to dress themselves.
• They can follow simple instructions like "throw this away", "sit down", etc.
• They understand what words like potty, toilet, wet, and diaper mean.
• They are able to imitate others behavior.
• They like to assert their independence saying stuff like, "I can do it", or "me".
• Your child desires their parents or others approval.

Your child probably won't show all these signs but if they show just a few then your child is ready to start. My child, shows several. I'm not really looking forward to the process and am lucky to have the help of my daycare. Little boys don't have the best aim, making for nasty toilets. I found this potty that is perfect, it is large but not to large, has a soft seat and best off all a large cup to catch all my little fellas quirts. It's working well.

http://www.amazon.com/Disney-Pixar-Cars-Soft-Potty/dp/B0010P5Q7Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1310676552&sr=8-1