Tales from the crib....

So for some reason, Little Dude B has been particularly "talkative" during his regular nap-time this week. Typically, he still takes a 2-3 hour nap each afternoon...which is FAB! This week however, he has been perfectly content to lie in his self-crafted nest and converse with...???....his toys? the wall? the closet door? Or perhaps, he has come to the conclusion that mama needs some entertainment during her hour "off" via some good ole' fashioned baby monitor fun.

Without further ado....I share with you, Tales from the Crib (a.k.a. crazy stuff I heard my two year old gabbing about this week while he was supposed to be sleeping).  I promise you, I am totally legit with all of these....couldn't make them up....I'm not that creative

1) A full out medley of Taylor Swift's greatest hits (I know....I know....). His best renditions? "Never Getting Back Together" and "Trouble". Clear as a bell on the ol' Graco monitor.

2) "Well hellooooo Diney! Helloooo Diney....." Imagine it to the tune of Hello Dollie. Yep. That went on for about 20 minutes. (Oh, and Diney is his stuffed dinosaur....again, not that creative around here...)

3) "MINE! No! MINE! My night-night!!!" Not gonna lie, this one concerned me a bit. Because either there is a mystery intruder in his room that is fighting him for his miniature quilt, or he has a split personality. I verified that there was no one in his room....hmmmm....maybe that 529 plan would be better set aside for future therapy bills.

4) "Yaaaaay! I'm pooping! Yaaaaaay!!!" Super excited to change that post-nap dipe.

5)  "I'm DONE! I'm DONE! I'm DONE!" Yeah....rethinking that whole letting him watch "Dance Moms" with me thing. Hey, don't judge.....

And now, exactly 2 minute before I am supposed to get him up for the afternoon, there is pure, serene silence. Of course there is Murphy, of course there is.

Happy Friday All!!

A letter to Little Dude B on his 2nd Birthday....

Dearest Little Dude "B",

Today at 6:27pm, I cried. You didn't know it, but as I kissed your sweet blond head, the tears welled up and rolled warm down my cheeks. Why? Because two years ago, at that exact moment, I held you in my arms for the first time and looked into those kind, honest eyes of yours and made the unspoken promise to hold your hand and your heart in mine, each and every day. But today, as you climbed your way on top of the cooler at your birthday party to get yourself a snack from the buffet table...all by yourself....I saw independence. I saw confidence. I saw growth. I saw all of the things that every parent wants for their child (even if it does make us a little sad). And, my dear, I was so very proud of you.

At two, you are still a bit oblivious to the finer points of Birthday parties. As you will learn as you get older, I get a little crazy over these events. Love it or hate it, I promise to make each birthday a day you won't forget. Today, I made the realization that throwing elaborate birthday parties is my own little way of distracting myself from the fact that no matter how hard I try to bonsai you and your sister, you just keep getting older. Sigh.... But whether or not you fully “got” how to open your gifts or master the party games today, I knew that you “knew” it was your special day. Your innocent face was simply radiating joy. You knew we were all here to celebrate you. You knew (I hope) just how very much you are loved. And that, is what birthdays are all about.

In the past year, you have grown so very much. Not just in dramatic physical changes that occur from age 1 to age 2, but in so many other ways as well. You are so very curious. There is no corner, no nook, no cranny that goes unexplored when you are around. And so smart...learning so much and so excited about your new found skills. You are speaking so well. There are no sweeter words than those you say to me as I put you to bed each night....”I love you mama....Night, Night.” Sweet simplicity. But I do believe that when I am old and gray, I will hear those words each night when I lay my head to rest and think about just how lucky I have been to have you as my son.

You received so many “boy” toys today....trucks, dinosaurs, trains, etc. And I love how much fun you have driving and banging and “rawring”...you know, the boy stuff. But I adore the way you run to me when I am caring for your sister who just got a boo-boo. You ask her if she is OK and don't leave her side until you know she is alright. You give kisses to your new stuffed dino from Nanny before you lay your own head down after a long and exhausting day. You show me once again that you have a heart of pure gold....and that will bring you many blessings in this life my love. I promise you that.

So, yes. I cried today at exactly 6:27pm as I kissed that sweet blond head of yours. And I probably will each and every year on August 3^rd. For that will always be the moment when your beautiful soul joined this little family of ours. The moment when I first met the tiny creature that will undoubtedly grow into a man strong in ability and strong in character.

But for now, you are two. Drive, crash, bang, and “rawr” all you can little man. Remember, I will be by your side, holding your hand and your heart in mine, each and every day.

I love you to the moon and back... infinity times.

XOXOXO,

Mommy

RECIPE: Apple, Beet, Cinnamon Puree

Today, I am taking it back to my roots (I crack myself up...you will see why in a minute....) and bringing you all a good ol' fashioned baby food puree recipe. Still, it is quite unlike most that you will find on the shelves at the market. This one is packed with "YUM!"

Apple, Beet, and Cinnamon Puree

(now do you see why I crack myself up?)

Mama Chef Extraordinaire: Sara at www.kidsheartrealfood.com

 

When to Introduce: Despite what your grandmother may tell you, it really is safe (and wonderful) to begin introducing basic herbs and spices to baby at an early age. Cinnamon is one of those basics! This recipe can be enjoyed by little ones as early on as 6 months! 

Always be sure to check with your pediatrician if you have any questions or concerns.

 

Why we Love It:  This simple dish is packed full of good stuff like Potassium, Fiber, and Folate - all dietary superstars that you want you baby to enjoy! And....it is a really pretty color!

 

Ingredients: 

 1/3 cup beet puree (see here for details on pureeing your own baby food)
3 Tbsp of apple puree or applesauce
a sprinkle of cinnamon

Directions: 

1.  Mix beet puree with apple puree or applesauce.
2.  Sprinkle with cinnamon.

Servings: 

This will make one 4 ounce serving. But as you can see, it is so ridiculously easy to make that you can easily scale it up into a much larger quantity and have it on hand for future feedings!

A Place To Grow Childcare

In the interest of full disclosure, I have to say that I have a special place in my heart for today's "Working Girl." You see, when Sweet R was born in 2009, I had to do the agonizing chore that so many new parents must face....selecting a person or place to take care of your most precious accomplishment when you head back to work. Not fun.... We decided that we wanted someone to come into our own home to care for our bundle and so the interviews began....and kept going and going...until we found "her."

Both my husband and I have professional backgrounds that include conducting LOTS of interviews and we both agreed that it was not so much about the answers that were given, but about how the candidate made us feel. In this case, who could we possibly trust as we would ourselves. When Maggie came into our home, after many luke-warm-at-best other interviews, we knew we had our match. The way she cared for and interacted with our daughter...having spent a grand total of only a few minutes with her...left us with no doubts. Thankfully, she liked us too and for the next almost 2 years, Maggie was a part of our family....and still is.

After the birth of her second beautiful baby boy, and our move to Arizona, Maggie decided to make the leap into business ownership and I have to say, I am so very proud of her!!! And I want you all to know about her as well.....

Without further ado, I am honored to introduce you all Miss Maggie....

Tell us about your business...

"We are a small in-home daycare where the primary focus is on play. I feel that through a variety of activities and interacting with others, children can grow in all areas of development. We put more emphasis on sharing, using kind words to express feelings and opinions, and working with others than "main stream" academics. All children will learn math, writing, science, etc. in their own time, but I strongly believe that being properly socialized and obtaining the ability to work well with peers will help them succeed in all areas of life."

 

 What did you do in your past life...before you launched your business?

"Before opening my own daycare, I worked as a full-time nanny. And I loved it! I enjoyed being apart of the family, watching "my kids" grow and getting to play a major role in their development."

 

What made you decide to take the leap into being a business owner?

"I decided to open my own daycare because I couldn't stand the thought of leaving my kids to go care for someone else's anymore. Yet I still wanted to make a difference in the lives of young children."

 

 What has been your greatest professional success to date?

"Opening the business and having it be successful enough to live a comfortable life has been the greatest success by far! I am not the type of person to jump into something that has such an unpredictable outcome. But its been worth the risk!"

 

 How about the biggest "lesson learned"?

"I am learning daily. When working with children you have to constantly be flexible and willing to change when change is needed. Finding a schedule that works on a daily basis was a trial and error at first, but now have found a routine that works for all ages!"

 What is next on the horizon for your business?

"As the demand for childcare increases, my goal is to open a daycare location that is out of my home and that will be used specifically for childcare."

 

 Where can we find you when you are not being Super Business Owner Woman??

"When I am not working, I spend most of my time out on adventures with my family. Since I am home all day during the week, I like to spend as little time at home on the weekends :)"

 

 If we were to run into you at a cocktail party, what would be your "party trick"?

"Karaoke. Get me warmed up and I can't resist a good belting out 80's song!"

When someone asks you to tell a joke, what is your "go-to" one-liner?

"I have the worst sense of humor and never get jokes! Seriously!"

 

 If you could go back in time, what would you tell your 18 year-old self?

"Be patient and enjoy life. Don't rush to grow up cause there are blessings beyond your wildest dreams waiting ahead for you!"

Inspired? Want to learn more?

Visit "A Place To Grow" at

https://www.facebook.com/aplacetogrowchilcare

 

RECIPE: A Feast For Baby

Today, I am so excited to share with you a recipe that I found that will make you feel better about feeding your baby mush....because, let's face it, sometimes mush isn't all that fun. But as anyone who has made their own baby food knows, the options are infinite and it really is up to YOU what you give your little ones to fill their tiny tummies! 

The recipe I am sharing today is aptly named because it is jam packed with yumminess, good nutrition, pretty colors, and most importantly, flavor.....HEALTHY flavor!!!

You will want to whip this one up for sure!

A Feast For Baby

Mama Chef Extraordinaire: Caitlin at www.healthytippingpoint.com

 

When to Introduce: Because there are quite a few ingredients in this recipe, you may want to wait until about 9 months or so to introduce....although there are no highly allergenic ingredients, you will want to be sure baby has tried most of these isolated before combining into one meal.

 

Why we Love It:  This meal has the perfect trifecta of complete nutrition....protein from the beans, vitamins and minerals from the veggies and fat from the oil! Check, check and CHECK!

 

Ingredients: 

1 can white kidney beans

1 can red kidney beans

1/4 cup chopped carrots

1/2 cup chopped broccoli

6 cherry tomatoes

1 handful raw baby spinach

Dash of garlic powder (or you could use curry powder)

2 tablespoons olive oil

1/4 cup water

 

Directions: 

1. In colander, rinse the beans to remove excess salt and sauce.

2. On the stove top, lightly boil carrots and broccoli for five minutes, until soft.

3. In a food processor or blender, combine all ingredients under smooth. 

4. Scoop into pouch when baby is ready to eat.  Store remainder in fridge for up to three days or put in freezer in individual portions to keep longer.

 

Servings: 

Somewhere between a lot and a LOT.....but never worry mamas, you can freeze for up to 3 months in sealed portion containers! That's right rockstar mama....you are PREPARED! 

Felicity Birth Services

Since starting my journey with this business/blog, I have had the opportunity to learn about so many fascinating aspects of the pregnancy/childbirth/newborn world. In the past, my frame of reference in this arena was pretty narrow....I admit it. In reality, there are so many options out there for mothers and mothers-to-be and it really is about exploring all of the options out there and choosing what makes sense for YOU. No right...no wrong....no judgement from others about what is best.

Today, it is my pleasure to introduce you all to another Working Girl who is bringing the beauty of childbirth options to local mamas here in the Phoenix area. Her passion for what she does is evident and the mamas who she has accompanied through the journey of childbirth are so very fortunate to have the chance to have her in their life....

Without further ado, I welcome Cheyanne of Felicity Birth Services.....

Tell us about your business...

"I am a licensed home birth midwife in Phoenix Arizona. I offer complete prenatal, birth and postpartum care with a holistic and individualized approach. I can perform or order any tests desired and understand basic newborn care as well."

What did you do in your past life...before you launched your business?

"I have loved horses ever since I was a little girl and as young women I owned horses and rode them all the time. I am the oldest of 9 children and I spent a lot of time with my family. We camped, adventured and enjoyed the great outdoors. I married my wonderful husband."

 

What made you decide to take the leap into being a business owner?

"Though there are some midwives who are in a partnership, many have a solo practice so that is what I anticipated when I began my apprenticeship. Owning my own business and working for myself is a part of being a midwife and part of the reason I wanted to become a home birth midwife."

What has been your greatest professional success to date?

"Well, I would say being a mother but, other than lots of side jobs, this is my first professional success. :)"

How about the biggest "lesson learned"?

"My biggest lesson learned is how much I need and value the support of those who love me as well as those who have gone before me in this profession. Midwifery is a calling not just a job."

 What is next on the horizon for your business?

"Owning a home where I can have a home office! I can't wait to walk next door for 'work' and then walk back 'home' to take care of my family."

Where can we find you when you are not being Super Business Owner Woman??

"Spending time with my husband and two little girls. We travel, hike, swim, garden, take care of our little urban farm, cook, bake, work-out, read. Ok, lots of things!"

 If you could go back in time, what would you tell your 18 year-old self?

"Listen more, talk less"

Inspired? Want to learn more?

Visit Felicity Birth Services at:

http://www.felicitybirthservices.com/

Fabulous Four!!

(This post was originally published on 7/8/13 on www.westvalleymomsblog.com)

They say that as your children get older, you appreciate each and every stage in it’s own unique way. Obviously, the newborn stage is glorious for the pure awe you have of that little creature that curls so perfectly into your arms and the sheer pride you have in yourself for producing such a perfect being. The infant months are spent hanging on every “first” your little love has….first smile, first roll, first crawl…..you get the picture. At one, you are celebrating the fact that you have managed to keep your tiny human happy, healthy, and alive for 12 whole months – go you!! Although, chances are, you cannot imagine your family without them.

And then, two comes along…..the dreaded “terrible twos.” You have heard about them for as long as you can remember and as that 2nd birthday approached, you cringed with each whimper, cry, or tantrum, thinking, “Is this it? Have we arrived at the terrible two’s?”  (Trust me, my youngest turns two next month….I am on high alert for sure) Now, I know I can’t speak for all mamas out there, but I can certainly speak from my own experience when I say, that with my oldest, Sweet R, two was definitely challenging….but mainly because this is the year she found her voice. She not only learned how to tell me what she wanted, but also learned to tell me, very loudly, what she didn’t want. And although it had its moments, I think I spent more time rejoicing in her newly acquired skills that year, than finding ways to deter them.

But then came three….oh three. No one warns you about this one, but for us, it was a doozie. Not only was her voice loud and clear, but she also discovered the elements of sass, whining, and total devastation at the slightest change in plans. Yikes…. Sufficient to say, we honed our discipline skills, our patience skills, and our just-try-to-keep-sane-at-any-cost skills. We muddled through and took  more photos of her dress-up shenanigans, her silly faces, and her joyful moments that we can count…but I will admit, it took a concentrated effort to focus on the good some days.

But then, like magic, we turned a corner. She turned 4 on May 12th of this year and it was as though a fog had lifted. Now, don’t get me wrong, we still have “those days”, but I will scream from the rooftops, that 4 is my new favorite age!!! Her interest and curiosity in everything around her is inspiring to me (even despite the constant flow of questions). The conversations we have about our day when I tuck her into bed at night melt my heart. The care and affection she shows toward her baby brother warms my soul on a daily basis. She is funny…and I mean REALLY funny. Her personality and sense of humor has taken flight and I feel as though I am getting a glimpse into the person she will be 20 years from now….and I like it. I am proud of it. Four, has made me feel as though I have done a good job as a mama so far….at three, I had some doubts.

So, yes, I LOVE Four!!! It is indeed fabulous!!! So hang in there mamas who are muddling through the two’s and three’s….it get’s better real soon. And when it does, it is Oh So Good!!!