Toddler Talk Thursday - Favorite Water Picture

Toddler Talk was created as a place for moms and dads of toddlers to come together over a weekly topic and share ideas, go-to toys, or products. It is a great way to meet other bloggers of toddlers. Each week the topic will be different; we invite you to link up, share your weekly Toddler Talk!!

Follow these 3 fabulous mommy bloggers and join them each week for Toddler Talk!

This Week’s Topic: Favorite Water Picture

This pic was taken over the summer, back in August. We were not able to get out to the splash pad as much as I would have liked, but I was glad we had a few Saturday mornings out there. Do you have a splash pad or toddler water park near you? They are so much fun (when they aren't being bombarded by the overly wild kids that cause us SAHMs to ask "When does school start again??")!

Next Week’s Topic: Favorite Apps for Toddlers

Toddler Reward/Chore Chart

I've been contemplating this idea for a couple of weeks now. And, this is the topic for this week's Toddler Talk Thursday, too. So here are my thoughts on this :)

Andy knows that he has to help make his bed, brush his teeth, etc...etc... But lately when we get to the "clean up toys" part the end of the world happens. Maybe a reward chart may be a good idea. He loves getting a "prize" for doing a good job. So hmm...

I want to do something simple.
It needs an obvious picture of the thing he needs to do.
It should have simple words to help with the learning to read.

Here are some great ones I found on my new obsession, Pinterest!

Source: oopseydaisyblog.com via Stacy on Pinterest

Source: biblicalhomemaking.blogspot.com via Debbie on Pinterest

Source: dandee-designs.com via Makayla on Pinterest

Keeping a Toddler Entertained in Difficult Situations

Sometimes you just can't get a babysitter. Sometimes you just have to take the kids to your doc appointment, or make one sit through the other's appointment. Whatever the issue, there are plenty of time when I need Andy to sit quietly, be occupied, etc so I can finish filling out the 500 forms in the waiting room. Luckily, Cheerios are a lifesaver. The best ones for when we are out - Fruity Cheerios!! They are quite awesome :)

Another lifesaver in case of a meltdown...lollipops!

I've been a fan of Dumdums in the past, but the paper stick is so gross at the end. So these Airhead Lollipops are so much better in terms of the stick - it is plastic. 

Other things that are a good help:

Stickers!

Mini coloring books and crayons

Mini Thomas trains

Anything in the grocery cart that is ok for a toddler to hold in order to "help" Mama :) 

Gotta love being a mom! I remember my mom always saying that she felt like a Jack Russel Terrier - always digging in her "bag of tricks"  LOL I definitely understand now... ;)

How We Got Andy Ready to be a Big Brother

Welcome to Toddler Talk Thursday! This week it is all about bringing a new baby home with a toddler in the house. Luckily, I cam from a big family so I stole some ideas from my mom - thanks!! I am the oldest of 6 kids (and the ONLY girl!) and the youngest is starting 4th grade this coming year. Crazzyyy!! Anyhoo! Here's what Jason and I did to help Andy get ready to meet Alex!




Books, books, books! Lots of great picture books about being a big brother! Picture books about babies and what they do. Even my parenting magazines that had pictures of babies, I would show him. He'd kiss them all, too!!

Quiet time: We started having little bits of time in the mornings and afternoons during snack time to learn how to play quietly. This would typically be a mini nap for Alex. Andrew still plays at the kitchen table with his puzzles while eating Cheerios.

Helper Rewards: We really made a big deal whenever Andy helped get the baby toys out and cleaned up before Alex got here. We had him help put the new clothes away - which were mostly his. He even recognized some of them! He would pick up an item and say, "Me." I would always tell him how nice he was to share his baby clothes with his new brother. He smiled big at that! He always got stickers for helping out with anything having to do with Alex.

A fun thing for Andy was whenever we went to the store to get something we needed for Alex (before he arrived), I had him pick something out for his baby brother. He knew that item was for the baby and that he picked it out special for him.

Andy is a superstar big brother! Now, as the months go by, I see them becoming friends each day. Alex laughs at his brothers silly faces and Andy is so happy to see his little brother smile :)

Summertime Toys

Andrew LOVES being outside! 

He loves throwing the football with his Daddy.

His new favorite is, of course, the sprinkler!

And, when it's time for a break, you have to have a snack outside, too! :D

Keeping a Toddler Busy During those Hot Summer Days

Somehow, even though there was no school for Andrew just yet, our summer has turned into a watch-a-movie-every-afternoon-then-make-a-summer-snack type of thing. That's exactly what we have done. Over the weekend, we had the movie channels for free during some special that DirecTV had going on and so far this week we have watched the Toy Story movies on Disney XD after Dino Dan (because Heaven forbid we miss that...lol).

Pretty much this is Andrew's day:

Breakfast and read 4 books at the table while Alex eats.

Build stuff most of the morning with books read during Alex's feedings (Andrew wants to sit right in my lap, too, whenever Alex needs me - kinda cute, but one leg falls asleep faster than the other haha)

Insert a mid-morning snack and watch Olivia or Looney Tunes (I know, I know...Looney Tunes? I grew up loving Bugs Bunny - don't hate).

Lunchtime and mommy's countdown to glorious nap time for 2 very energetic boys (yep, even the 9 week old!).

NAP TIME!!! 2.5 wonderful, quiet hours of MEEEEEE!! LOL I gotta recharge my batteries somehow. And, trust me...it is much needed to the rest of the day.

This is usually where the chaos begins - you know, the witching hour is making it's appearance very soon. QUICK A MOVIE, DINO DAN, AFTERNOON SNACK, SOMETHING!

Oh, those things don't work? Laundry helper? Help Mommy make dinner/dessert? How about a pillow pile? A fort? When in doubt, the human train on a "world tour" usually works out pretty well. Except for the occasional derailing due to a giggling toddler. Gotta love it! Today the pillow pile worked out quite well.

Keeping a very active toddler busy is hard work! But it is so much fun. If I do run out of ideas, though, luckily I have a "busy box" in the laundry room for those days that you just can't keep up. In the busy box there are bubbles, coloring books/crayons, paper, playdoh, mini trains and a train map, leftover paper towel tubes... Anything that I think he could use as something magical is in that box. I love the busy box.

And, of course, when all else fails - we get in the car. We take a ride to the post office or grab our afternoon snack at Sonic. Love me a watermelon slush! YUM! Or, we head to the library, the zoo (when it is not so dang hot out...), McWane Center, or whatever we can find! But those places are all last resorts. Us mommies with little ones really can't stand the obnoxious summer camp kids (you know the ones I'm talking about...), or the moms who let their kids just do whatever they please at the parks because they are "Real Housewives of Jefferson County" - Lame. Just saying...

Luckily, once a movie is on that he just looooves - time goes by quicker and his best friend is home from work - Daddy!! Sometime they go play outside. Other times they are rolling around on the floor. Whatever they are doing, Andrew is loving it :)

Keeping Andrew busy is hard work, but he is totally worth it!!

Splish, Splash - they love takin' a bath!

Well, just one of them does for right now. Though Alex is coming around now. At first Alex HATED baths. HATED. Hated doesn't even begin to explain how he felt about it. I mean, you would think that something horrible was happening to the little guy. But the past few times he's been quite happy. And for this swimmer mama that is goooood news! PHEW!

Anyhoo! Bath time is our favorite time of the day. That means bedtime is just moments away. Quiet and peace will once again be restored in the house! So, this week's Toddler Talk is about bath time routines! If you want to join in, check out Crazy About My Baybah!

Bedtime around here (due to the stinkin time change) has been moved to 8 now. Andrew realized that at 7 kids were still outside playing. Hello! These were also weeknights. Um, why are those kids not in bed/getting ready for be on a school night anyway? Ok, that and the sun was still kinda up. So, now it is 8pm. And, yes, I do countdown the hours...and minutes until that moment that the bath time routine begins.

7 pm (or whenever dinner ends, but around this time) - Clearing the table and getting prepared! Now, that I'm back to using the infant tub, my kitchen sink area really does have to be cleared. Andrew helps out sometimes with getting everything put away. He likes to fold the placemats :) Cutie pie.  Anyhoo! He helps me get Alex's stuff together and then runs as fast as he can behind his Daddy to take a shower with him. And YES! Jason is even asking Andrew if he needs to go potty before and after the shower. We are slowly working on the potty training. But, hey - we are working on it. :) I would love to NOT hit the Size 5 diapers. Size 4 and then no more. It even rhymes. See? It's meant to be.

So while Andrew is in the shower, the tiny king of the house is taking his bath. As I said, he really hated it before. But last night, he loved it! He was happy and quiet. Just looking around. But, I kinda cheated...maybe. I sing "Itsy Bitsy Spider" the entire time. And, yep, when I get to the "down came the rain" part, he gets water poured on him. That must be his favorite song. I sang that to him the first time at the yoga class I went to this past Tuesday. So, maybe it really is. Very cool. That's a fun song - you know, with the little hand movements and all. Fun.

Wanna see something fun now? Bath time for my babies - at 4 weeks old. Both of them at 4 weeks old. Who is who? Hmmm? Easy guess.

How cute is that?! 

Topic suggestion for next week: 

Speaking of favorite songs - do your toddlers have a song (or two) that they just love to hear?

When Andrew Wakes Up in the Middle of the Night

It's funny that this is the topic for this week's Toddler Talk Thursday, because, lately, that is what Mr. Man has been doing. He's quit with the occasional rolling out of bed, but has replaced it with late night giggles with Tusker (his favorite elephant). I don't know what those two talk about, but he just laughs and laughs. This goes on for about five minutes and, then, he's back to sleep. It cracks me up! I wish the baby monitor had a translation function sometimes....

This pictures is from a nap time a week or so after being in his big boy bed. I never get a night time sleeping picture. Maybe I should attempt it one day :)

A Toy or Not A Toy? That is the Question!

A million toys. Cars, trucks, blocks, legos, animals, dinosaurs, Thomas playsets, outdoorsy toys... He has is all, right? Yes, but he chose to play with cardboard pieces from the box his dresser came in back in January:

I should have taken more pictures, but he's tricky now. He stops whatever he is doing when I touch the camera now... Stinker. Anyhoo!

He plays with all of the pots, pans, colanders, baking sheets, anything that he is allowed to get into in our kitchen. Though, he gets pretty annoyed when my giant stock pot doesn't fit on his stove. He still tries though. But, out of all of my kitchen things that he has ever gotten into, this is the funniest thing ever:

Wow...he's so much bigger now. This pic was taken back in October (13 months old). Now, he's 18 months. Time flies!

So, anyway, we've learned to not buy so many things now since he ends up playing with odd things. He has gathered quite a collection, too. This is what he has so far:

Taped up grocery boxes for his kitchen. 

Toilet paper/paper towel tubes for binoculars, horns, and whatever else he decides it is supposed to be that moment. 

Empty plastic containers for anything he can put inside.

An old kitchen towel.

He's so funny. He asks for things that he can have, too, if he see me going towards the trash can. He's learning to live green early, I suppose. Good for him!

If you have any odd "toys" that your kids play with, then you should definitely link up with Toddler Talk Thursday today! Good stuff!

Off to enjoy the rest of naptime :)

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Andrew and I made some yummy green oatmeal cookies this morning to have after lunch! I was going to put his green shirt on, but he wanted to wear this one. I give him choices now and he picked the "big brother" one. At least the "brother" part is green :) Anyway, he loves helping me make cookies...really, he loves helping me "cook" whatever it is that I am cooking/baking. He's my little Kitchen Leprechaun! 

 Ready to make cookies!

"I like watching it spin around."

"Why aren't they green yet?"

Added the green food coloring...

"Ooooo....greeeen"

Mixed and ready to be baked

They aren't baking fast enough...

"Hmmm...I've never eaten a green cookie..."

"They do look really good though..."

Munch, munch...

    MMM!

 Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

Big Brother in Training

Andrew is going to be a big brother in exactly 5 weeks (as long as things go smoothly before then...we will see)!

He's been my little helper for a few months now and he is so awesome at doing things that I really didn't know he could help me with. He catches on so fast with stuff. It's quite amazing.

Here's a few things he helps me with (for real):

1. He helps me with the putting the clean dishes away. He knows to wait until I get the "bad things" out - like knives. He knows where the cutting boards, pans, pots, snack bowls, and baking sheets belong. He used to just wait for me to give him something and then tell him where it goes. Now, he just takes things out and puts them where they go. He gives me the silverware one piece at a time. He gives me plates (I know...scary...but he waits for me to take it from him. He's pretty patient with this). He's a great help with this stuff!

2. He helps with laundry. He gives me clothes to put into the washer or I give him clothes to put in the dryer. He picks up clothes on the floor and puts them in the "dirty box." I haven't come up with something better yet. For now, it's the "dirty box." LOL

3. He cleans up his toys with my help before naptime, bedtime, or when we are getting ready to go out the door.

4. He gets himself ready to go when I ask. He doesn't know how to put anything on, but he will get his shoes and socks for me.

The list goes on I'm sure, but it's late and prego brain is terrible. But isn't that just amazing? He is the best helper in the world!

He's even started doing things to be a big brother. Like, when he needs a diaper change...I ask him to get a diaper for me. Or if it is bedtime, I ask him for his pajamas. Sometimes, I throw in some things like "Can you get Alex's pajamas?" He knows where his stuff is and where Alex's things are, too. And he does it. He is so great!

 At first, I thought that he'd be confused with me asking for Alex's things, but he must know more about this new baby thing. I guess he would have to, right? There's another bed in his room. And, his rooms that used to just be blue with elephants now has some green with lions. I'll ask him where Alex is, too. He looks at his tummy first and makes a face, but then comes to me and pulls my shirt up and pats my tummy. Such a silly guy! We are learning about babies, too. He knows that he has to be quiet when a baby is sleeping - if he sees anyone (or Max, our dog) sleeping, he puts a finger on his nose and says, "Shhhh...." very softly.

I can't wait to see his face when he sees Alex! That's going to be so much fun (and super exhausting....lol)! Oh well, I guess I will know all about that in 5 weeks :)

Healthy Toddler Snacks

I don't know if you know or not, but...(I'm gonna brag for a second here...) I was the highlighted blog over at Crazy About My Baybah!! How awesome is that?! Lolo is the super mom who puts this "Toddler Talk Thursdays" together with two other great blogs every week, Sippy Cup Mom and Family and Life in Las Vegas. If you have a chance to check out these mommy blogs, do it! They are pretty awesome.

Anyhoo! There's been a lot of crazy going on here lately, but somehow it all works out. Must be magic. That is the only answer that I can come up with for most of it. But, for the healthy eating...as much as I have tried this (not that it hasn't worked, but there are picky eater moments...) every single day, Jason is the one that is making us all eat better due to his P90X. He has now started week #3 and is doing great :)

But how's this helping us? Our grocery shopping has gone from prepackaged yucko to yummy homemade goodness!

Andrew has always been a great little eater, but now that he is entering that lovely stage of knowing what he does/doesn't want and trying to get away with things... He was becoming a little picky. But, that quickly changed when he saw what his Daddy was eating!

So, snacks that used to include goldfish and similar things have now changed into this:

Mid-morning snack - Multi-grain Cheerios or Dan-o-nino Yogurt (these are the cutest little yogurts for tiny guys that I have ever seen!)

Afternoon Snack (after naptime) - Cut apples or grapes

Drink to go with the snack - PediaSure Sidekicks (we are still trying to figure out which flavor he likes more...)

And!! The amazing thing is that because we have done this consistently for 2 weeks (now starting the 3rd), he asks/wants those choices over other items.

Though, I'm sure if he saw chips or something he would be just fine with that, too. LOL. :)

See? Mr Healthy Eater Man! He's got turkey, cut apples, cut bananas, and some yogurt on that adorable plate. :) YUM!

So, now that we've got out snack habits down... I wonder about teaching manners at the table. LOL - that could be tricky!

Update on the Big Boy!

It has been 6 days of the big boy adventures in real toddlerhood! We set up the new crib as a toddler bed and moved Andrew's original crib to the other side of the room for Alex to use when he's a month old (6 1/2 weeks to go people!). If you missed that post, you can click here.

Andrew has been doing SO well sleeping in his bed! He gets in for me with no problems at all for naptime and bed time. He STAYS in there until I come to get him. I guess he hasn't realized he can get out of it. He gets out on his own when it is time, but otherwise he's in there happy as anything.

He still sleeps super awesome through the night, as he had done since about just about 5 months old. Yep, 11-12 hours and going strong! Sweet! And, naptime is still holding at 2 1/2 hours. Very nice break for me in the middle of the day!

I did hear on Monday night something that sounded like a little monkey. Of course, when I went to go see what Mr. Man was doing, he was back under the covers with a very sneaky smile on his face... Hmmmm.... LOL!

Even though we have had such a great time with this change, we did have a mini-accident. Yep, he fell out. Oh, but he was fine. Scared the mess out of me and Jason. But, he wasn't crying because he was hurt. He was MAD THAT HE FELL OUT. He was seriously annoyed with the whole thing. He was ok with a QUICK hug from us, but then he climbed back in and shut his eyes. While we were still in there. What a sillypants! He was annoyed, not hurt. That just cracks me up. Yes, I'd be mad, too. But, he's still a little guy, ya know? Very funny. Wow. He's like me I guess. I HATE to be woken up when I don't need to be...

Other than that, everything has been going so well with the new bed. He loves it!!

Our rules:

1. NO JUMPING! Even a tiny bounce and he's off. I'm only going to the hospital to HAVE a baby...Not get one "repaired" after an accident.
2. NO TOYS in the bed, on the floor, etc. Everything must be put back into the closet during sleepytime. He is allowed to have Tucker, his favorite elephant. Also, during the day, he can read or play with a puzzle on his bed. But that's it.

Simple for us and simple for him. He knows the rules, too. He catches on to things so fast. It is amazing.

What is our next adventure? Potty training. This summer will be our potty training adventure. We've already started talking about it to him...especially when he's getting his diaper changed. He hates it. He has things to do. So, we always tell him, "A big boy goes to the potty." or "If you don't want to have diapers, you have to be a big boy and go to the potty." Things like that. He's started to get it a little bit. We aren't going to rush it or anything, but we do hope that it will be another easy change... He's a pretty easy going guy. So we will see!

There's A Big Boy in Our House Now

The moment has come. The moment when your little baby becomes a big boy. A for real big boy. No longer does Andrew (17 months old now - wow!) have to think he's one because he is one. He totally knows that a change is happening to his room other than just a big boy bed, too. He wonders about the other bed and just who this "Alex" person is that we talk about. But, he will know within 7 weeks! :D For now, we have 1 big boy in our house!

Oh, what a mess! But, a good one!

Aw, how cute!! It looks pretty cozy, too! Wish I could take a nap... ;)

I had to do it. I took a pic during his nap. Hey, it was his first time sleeping like a big boy. What a cutie! I wish the binky hadn't been in his face, but I was already risking waking him up so I didn't move it. He looks quite comfy!

This morning, after breakfast, we played and played! Now that he has a big boy room, he is always in here! Don't worry. All the toys are neatly tucked away in his closet during sleepy times. No access = no trouble (thank you to my mommy friends who told me that trick!).  Oh, and this is just the first of many shared room pics to come. The dresser is on the wall to the right, facing the window. And the crazy lamp has one more light on it with a green shade. Nice that I didn't have to change that. Oh, and art work and accessories are coming soon. Isn't their room going to look great!?

Now for a fun pic...

This cracks me up! I knew I couldn't see my feet really, but to "lose" a kid under there! HAHAHAHA!

*No kid was actually lost during this picture LOL

Outside is the Best!

This week has been wonderful! Perfect weather - great temperature, sunny skies, sweet breeze! Andrew's favorite thing to do is be outside anytime, anywhere. It really doesn't matter to him what the weather is like. He wants to be outside. Me, on the other hand... I like days like today with a high of 71. Andrew also love animals of any kind...so how about a day at the zoo!

Loves to watch the train go by.

Checking out all the birds.

 Our turn on the train :)

Listening to the "engineer" tell us about the animals we are passing. 

Loves the squirrel monkeys!

They are pretty cute :)

We fed this guy. As soon as Andrew saw the ducks, he instantly said, "quack! quack! quack!"

I like the flamingos. Most were sleeping at the time though. 

Lunch at the zoo :)

We had to go say "bye-bye" to the zebras before heading home.