RookieMoms Blog

How many of the board books in your house have you memorized? Half of them? All of them?

I think I have all our board books memorized. In fact, I even have the same tone and rhythm for certain books so that they sound funny to me when I hear my husband read in his own way. Sad but true.

An easy remedy to Crazy-lady-memorizes-board-books-itis is to get all new books. A more reasonable solution is finding a great (preschooler) magazine to come once a month and bring new stories into your world.

High Five Magazine is the little sister magazine of Highlights from when we were kids (or maybe it’s the grandchild… since Highlights is 60 this year!). About a week before I was given a High Five subscription (via Parent Bloggers Network), we got a little sampler copy in the mail.

The sampler included four sets of hidden pictures with varying degrees of difficulty. I had a blast trying to find the paintbrush in the secret location and — just like I try my best not to assemble Holden’s puzzles for him — I tried to be encouraging while not giving all the answers away. He liked finding the pictures and he really liked circling them with a pencil (”Big boys can use pencils, Milo can’t use this pencil”).

When we got the full magazine, it had other puzzles and short stories (including a regular feature in Spanish with phonetic pronunciation). Holden really liked going through the activities, poems, and looking at the craft projects.

His favorite pages, by far, are all about the pictures. For example, we must have read through a 2-page story about a construction site about 7 times in a row (so he could memorize the rhyming pairs) because he is really into “workers” right now. Unfortunately, he was almost inconsolable when he realized that the book with the train on the cover had absolutely nothing (else) to do with trains. Poor thing was trying to judge a book by the cover… sorry Holden, this is a magazine! The rules are different.

High Five is much better as a wake-your-brain-up-while-sitting-still activity than a bedtime story. Alec likes that he and Holden can sit down for some quiet time on the weekend and noodle on a few brainteasers while we’re housebound during Milo’s morning nap. I like to see him thinking and problem solving — basically going beyond the “which animal is the penguin?” problems we’ve been throwing at him. His brain is stretching in a new way, which is cool.

Of course, he can’t figure out all of the activities and that causes some amount of frustration, but heck, the kid’s not even 3 yet and the magazine is good until age 5. And that also gives me a chance to 1) practice my restraint and 2) praise him for his efforts and not just his talents (the verb and not the noun).

Related Links:
> Check out High Five Magazine for a two- to five-year-old that you love.
> Find out with other Parent Bloggers think and join the blog blast on 3/7 to win your own subscription (to either High Five or Highlights).

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The fine print: I was sent a subscription of High Five in order to provide a review for you. My opinion is my own. I don’t even know if Whitney agrees with me. I think educational magazines are good gifts for kids, especially ones with too many toys already. I also wrestled with the title of my post and decided that “High five for High Five” was too embarrassing.

We hosted a little playdate at our house for the under-two set to celebrate Milo’s birthday for the camera. A very little playdate. In fact, I accidentally invited more people than I meant to because I copied the evite guest list from Holden’s big O-1 and then had to uninvite a bunch of people… oops! Maybe if it weren’t such a darn rainy time of year, we could have gotten wild in the backyard, but it is what it is.

We put the kid in a party hat and let him mangle some wonderful cake. Done and done.

With the obligatory photos out of the way, I focused on “Celebrating My Way“: glamming it up at an Oscar Party and remembering how just last year with seven “go into labor” cookies in my belly, I went into labor after Whitney’s Oscar Party… ahhh memories.

I wore the bridesmaid dress from Whitney’s wedding in 2001 and forced Alec into his best suit (the one we got married in, if you’re wondering) and we sat in the front row cheering and booing with the rest of the silly people. Good times.

This past Thursday, when Alec had his Dad’s Night Out, I decided to really roll the dice and take both boys out to a restaurant by myself. It was pretty fun.

I tried to call it our Big Adventure, but Holden said we shouldn’t call it a ‘venture. So I asked, “what should we call it then, mom and boys dinner date?” and he said, “we should call it a family”. Cute, but that wasn’t really what I was going for.

Didn’t Holden understand what a big freaking deal it was for me to bring both of them out in public to a restaurant to eat an actual meal with no adult back up? What if there was a poo’splosion (like last time), or a cup being thrown (like last time), or if I just needed to cry? I guess when you’re three, your job is not to worry about that stuff, so he didn’t.

We arrived at Picante (super duper child friendly, for those of you not in Berkeley) with perfect rock star parking — right in front of the door on the correct side of the street! I let Holden out first and asked him to please wait on the sidewalk and be my big helper; he agreed. I loaded Milo into the Hip Hammock, handed Holden the diaper bag, and grabbed my purse and extra baby food right as it started pouring. Buckets! We ran inside. Holden thought that was really fun.

Because we arrived around 5:30, it wasn’t too crowded. Holden darted around the line area, not exactly standing where I asked… and I tried to play it cool. We ordered well and got a table. Holden waited near our table while I struggled to set up two high chairs while still wearing my curious one-year-old. I probably could have asked for some help at that point. Next time.

Fast forward, everyone ate pretty well, Milo tried to teach himself to use a spoon, and they probably hosed down the area after we left… but that’s standard procedure for Picante. I think we’ll be back. Yay me!

Holden, at 33 months, is really getting the why why why thing down pat. I try to be patient and answer the questions he’s asking, but he (invariably) reaches a point where I don’t know the answer.

Questions from this week:

• Why is the moon red? (asked because his preschool teacher had mentioned the lunar eclipse) Ummm, I don’t know, maybe something’s in front of it like the earth or a star. (Alec said it was the earth’s shadow, oops!)
• Is this your underwear? (while holding up a sports bra) It’s a sports bra, like an undershirt, kind of. (Alec said I didn’t answer the question; he’s just looking for a yes or no)
• Is that an iPod, and a phone, and a computer? (to my iPhone) No, it’s a camera, and an iPod, and a phone. (Alec says that because we check email on it, he thinks it’s a computer too. Fair enough)
• Why don’t you have a penis? ummmmm (Alec, where are you when I’m getting these questions?!)

Despite my fumbling and occasional loss for words, we want to encourage his natural curiosity and tried on two different occasions this week to get extra science-y and go for the real hands-on experience rather than just talking.

The adventure of the lunar eclipse
So Wednesday night, we made a big deal out of putting Baby Milo to bed, brushing teeth, getting into jammies, and bundling up in a blanket to go out in front of the house and look for the lunar eclipse. I guess the next one isn’t going to happen for another almost three years. Only Big Boys can go out like this in the cold with Mommy and Daddy and look for the red moon. We saw it peeking out of the clouds, sort of pinkish, and then went to bed?

Too young for a science museum?
My husband, Alec, and I were both engineers in college. We’re both fairly geeky compared to most parents and hope to raise kids with a healthy love of math and science. In my opinion, “healthy” means that Holden is too young for video games and chemistry sets, but he’s a great age to work the cd player and help in the kitchen.

On Monday, we joined the nearby Lawrence Hall of Science because we think we’ll get a ton of learning disguised as fun over the next twelve months. And just because my first visit with two boys ended with a major pee-through within twenty minutes of arrival, I don’t think every visit will end that way. And if it does, a membership really softens the blow of a visit-cut-short with the knowledge that you can come again soon.

More info and links:
Nasa Lunar Eclipse Page
Cool Photos of eclipse from Wired
What other Parent Bloggers think of Science and Kids
Zula Intergalactic Inquirer PBS science show for kids

As eager as I was to have another child after Julian, my uterus felt otherwise, and we ended up with two kids under three years old, rather than two years old, and are really happy with the spacing. Heather was equally eager and hit the jackpot with the famous “two kids under two” status. (She has already lost her chance to have three under three, BTW).

It turns out no matter how close or far apart they are, if they are both under-age for independent street crossing, there are a lot of logistical questions to be worked out. I am undergoing the true test right now with my temporary living situation that lacks a parking space. Sometimes I have to park on the next block and then walk, in a sidewalk-free neighborhood, with two kids and all the stuff that goes with them. Sometimes, it just cannot be done.

Just today I had to stop the car in front of my house, leave the groceries there, then go find a parking space, and then make the walk. If I had kept the groceries in the car, they may have had to stay there until my husband got home.

If you’re pregnant with your second child, this is going to be you soon. Don’t miss Amy’s helpful post about “How to do two”.

> Pretty Babies: How to do Two

And if you’re onto number three, you’ll love Jennifer’s series of essays on the topic.

> Having Three Kids

First, let me acknowledge that buying the Good and Non-Toxic baby bottles are super expensive. But that the alternative is really scary.

Back in September, I read Mom 101’s post on how Plastic #7 is the new 666 and I decided to take very small and limited action. After using the evil polycarb bottles unknowingly on my first son, I couldn’t continue the trend in good consciousness. Even my cheap frugal husband agreed, we needed to get some safer baby bottles.

So we got the BornFree Trainer (sippy) cup model and bought the extra pack of bottle nipples so that we could get more bang for the buck: a large bottle shaped bottle that Milo could one day hold himself without any additional cash outlay! The handles come off and the mouthpieces are interchangeable. We felt pretty brilliant.

When he was around 7 months old, Milo started drinking bottles more regularly (first the breastmilk, then the breastmilk formula cocktail); around 10 months old we auditioned him on the sippy lid then backed off; and now at almost 12 months, he’s exclusively on the sippy nipple. Bravo us. The experiment worked.

Safe, smart, scary-plastic free. What a good mommy I must be. Too bad that when our two BornFrees are dirty, I still resort to those ancient Avents.

What you can do:

1. Buy safer bottles like the Born Free Trainer Cup.
2. Sign a petition to show you care about safer baby products: League of Maternal Justice
3. Learn more about bpa-free bottles and cups on the SafeMama Cheat Sheet.

First and foremost, I wish I wasn’t familiar with what the lighting in my house looks like at this time of night. Sadly, having been in this house only 6 nights, I already know too well how to navigate the route from my futon, past the couch, turning a corner, past two doors into the children’s room.

So I wish I had nothing to say at 4.42 AM. I had already been awoken at 11.30 by Scarlett and then again at 3 am by Scarlett who, after an uneventful nursing session, went easily back to sleep.

But then at 4.40, I heard a small voice in the night call out, “I have a poopy diaper.” I went to change MR. ICANTHOLDMYPOOPUNTIL7AM and it was a false alarm. I was pissed. I put him back in bed and returned to my room. I heard him open his CD player, pop in The Beatles and turn it on.

I quote myself, “If he f***ing wakes her up I am going to kick him in the head.”

For those of you who know me well, this may not be news. But I have only *not* been pregnant or nursing for a mere six weeks of my marriage.

I got pregnant 4 weeks into our marriage / round-the-world-honeymoon and then again 2 weeks after weaning Holden.

It’s the kind of stat that makes me feel special. “Special” in that hormonally anxious mama bear way that we get when our mother-in-law wakes up the baby to get an extra cuddle when we know it is naptime. But also “special” in the way that makes me wonder if I’ll be special anymore after six or so more weeks pass and Milo is done with nursing.

• Will my husband still like me? We’re counting on YES.
• Will I be super fun and have a flat stomach like I used to? Ummm, maybe and probably not.

I know from last go that weaning was roughly on my timetable (just over one year) but not at all like I imagined (I planned a one week phasing out involving distractions, sippy cups, and cow’s milk but instead Holden bit me, saw a bottle on a shelf, and never looked back).

Will it be like that again? Will Milo forget about it/me in an instant? Or will we still be going strong in another four months because we both want to hold onto breastfeeding beyond my set timetable? Sometimes life events get in the way and sort of force the issue. My upcoming weekend to Miami might be one of those events.

I’m just hoping that the hormones are on my side making me cool and fun for the weekend and not weepy and enraged (not to mention leaky and engorged!).

Here’s hoping.

My old former roommate Marla has two daughters, age 3 and 4 and a new baby expected within the next couple weeks. Her sisters-in-law (one with three kids and the other with twin one-year-olds) knew exactly what she needed in lieu of a baby shower: food for the freezer!

Jen and Julie combined a few of my favorite ideas into one and I attended the “Let’s make dinner for Marla (and ourselves)” not a shower party last night! I’m only sorry I didn’t think of it first.

Between having fun chatting it up with Marla’s friends and leaving with three dinners and side dishes, it was absolutely brilliant. Am I gushing? Sorry, but come on…

[dinner prep place] + [food for new mom] x [fun evening out] = genius

Related activities:
#54 Cook and Play
#378 Stock your freezer

“Not spending money”

I’m still observing my “compact month” of February with the added requirement of avoiding take-out food, but I’m pretty sure that I’m spending more money than usual. Some highlights:

• Started exercising with the Ice Chamber (bad ass name, right?). It’s hard and bootcampy and totally what I need right now, but dang, it costs $$. I used to have a corporate discount to a gym that was $25 a month so I got used to that as being reasonable. Try ten times that. Ouch!
• In order to prepare for next week’s dinner/witching hour, I stocked up on grocery delivery and food prep. Planet Organics: $32; Week of Dinners 4 pack: $72 (including a baby gift for my pal’s third baby); Three Stone Hearth 4 meals: $68. Not dealing with cooking all week: priceless!
• Booked a flight for a girls weekend away to Miami at the end of the month. One of my best girl friends is getting married this summer and all she asked for was the gift of TIME. That fits into our theme nicely… and costs almost $500 before you count any hotel, taxi, or food on the trip. Exciting times though! It will be my first weekend away from the family. Eek. The only time I was away from Holden was one overnight to go to my Grandpa’s funeral and two overnights to have another baby.
• In less spendy news, I held my 8th clothing swap yesterday. After parting with 5 bags of my own clothes, I scored 3 tops and 2 pairs of jeans for myself. With the giving, taking, and swapping complete, I drove 18 bags of clothes and shoes to Goodwill this morning. I feel great.
• Sadly those bags also included 7 pairs of shoes. I’m not what you’d call a shoe girl, but those were the last cute, dressy little shoes that I had been clinging to and I finally had to admit that they’re all just too tight after baby-having. And they’re not going to fit me ever again. Shoes are an allowable expense on the compact, but Whitney already told me she wouldn’t be very impressed if I couldn’t go a month without buying shoes, so I think I’ll wait. And pout.
• Alec just got a cool ukulele kit so he can build a mini guitar for Holden (a late Christmas gift), but now we need to scare up some wood glue. Can you freecycle for that? I guess we should at least try, but it’s so ingrained in us to just run out to the store for that stuff.

Cheats this week: one lunch out with carry-out paper bag (they refused to put it in my hand), one paper cup for cocoa, one little box for cupcake.