Category: Toddlerdom

The Last Bottle

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my sweet benny. photo courtesy of staci ainsworth

Ben turned one a month ago and I had fully intended to begin to pull the bottle plug at the one-year mark, as we did with Maya. With her, it was a slow transition to the sippy cup that probably started a tad too late. I ended up ditching the paci first because that had been her crutch, and then working on the sippy cup transition once she had that down. The whole transition took about six weeks and it was not easy; in retrospect I probably should have just cut her off cold turkey from her bottles, too.

Oh well, no harm, no foul: lesson learned for baby #2!

Ben never really took to his pacifier … and by the time he came along, our pediatrician was now recommending water in a sippy from six months on — and so he was acclimated  to it somewhat. He didn’t have a problem drinking water, and when I introduced milk at dinner over the past two months, he would take a couple sips before whacking it to the floor in true baby fashion. I didn’t think the change would be as dramatic for him as it was Maya — even though I was going with a cold turkey approach to weaning, and I was right — but we had a bit of a set-back earlier this month. Continue reading “The Last Bottle” →

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Little Miss Bossy

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Source: mymumdom.com
Source: mymumdom.com

A few weeks ago Maya’s school had a Halloween parade and party. Parents were invited, so of course Luis and I went. All the kids were hyped-up on sugar and racing around like wild animals.

And, in typical 2-3 year old form, they weren’t using their “listening ears.” I felt for her teachers, trying to corral the sugared-up toddlers. Continue reading “Little Miss Bossy” →

Letting Go

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Part of parenthood means giving up control and letting go: never losing sight of our children, but loosening our instinctive grip. It’s daunting and exhilarating at the same time, but it’s a necessary component of being a mom or a dad.

Recently, Maya experienced her first amusement park-type ride — a Ferris Wheel — at Luis’s company picnic (which is really a full-blown carnival complete with a mobile petting zoo including kangaroos, monkeys, a baby zebra …., lots of blow-up rides, games, food booths, and even some real rides … it’s insane!).

As soon as we arrived, she couldn’t take her little eyes off the kiddie Ferris Wheel. We thought we’d ease into it by letting her try going through the big caterpillar tunnel — on ground level —  but after taking off her shoes and waiting in line 10 minutes, and asking us every 30 seconds if it was her turn yet, she got to the entrance … and backed out. I tried gently coaxing her but she wasn’t having any of it. I didn’t want to traumatize her, so I let it be, figuring she’s only two … there will be plenty of other opportunities to push her. Continue reading “Letting Go” →

“THEN I Go To School?”

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When Maya first began daycare at three months of age, I loathed the idea. I knew realistically I had to go back to work for a variety of reasons, but I hated the thought of anyone other than me or Luis caring for our child. And though I loved my job, I hated the thought of returning to the demands and structure of the workforce. But above all, I hated the idea of being away from my sweet baby all day.

I knew it would be hard, but I had no idea just how hard it would be. Those early days back at work were hell, made only worse by the rigorous and stress-inducing pumping schedule I had coupled with normal postpartum emotions. Those first few weeks I wondered every day if I was making a mistake and the only thing that kept me going was knowing I could get a real-time view of her daily life through the webcam at school.

Continue reading ““THEN I Go To School?”” →

Second Time Around

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This pregnancy has been different from my pregnancy with Maya for a whole host of reasons.

1) Anxiety levels = DOWN. While I was an anxious mess all nine months of my pregnancy with Maya (with just cause), this go around, it’s not that I’m not anxious this time, but rather it isn’t consuming my thoughts. To put my mind at ease, I did do the prenatal testing I said I would, but I have a toddler demanding my time (rightfully so) and she is my top priority. In fact, unless I catch sight of my belly in a mirror or someone asks how I’m feeling, aside from the constant need to use the ladies room, it’s easy for me to forget I am six months pregnant. Last time I obsessed over each BabyCenter weekly update; this time I’ve only read a couple and don’t even know what size fruit/veggie Baby Boy is unless someone asks and I check TheBump.com (this week: cauliflower!). Continue reading “Second Time Around” →

The Blue Necklace

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Today I am wearing one of my favorite pieces of jewelry–a long, turquoise blue beaded/pearl-looking necklace from Stella and Dot.

Maya thinks it is hers because once, a couple weeks ago, I let her wear it around the house. But it’s mine, it was not cheap and, in retrospect, I never should have let her try it on because we are at the fun stage where she wants to do everything Mommy does. Some of it is adorable and harmless: Continue reading “The Blue Necklace” →

Little Conversationalist

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For a while now, we’ve been having full-on conversations with Maya. Typically they are observation-related … what did you eat today, who did you play with, what book are we going to read … stuff that requires more than a yes or no response but doesn’t necessarily warrant a full-on dialogue … yet often lately, it turns into that. Dinner-time is getting a lot more fun, that’s for sure! Continue reading “Little Conversationalist” →

My Funny Kid

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Maya is most definitely a little ham … no surprise at all, given her spunky personality and her desire to be the center of attention.

It’s not that she doesn’t play well on her own — she most certainly does; can spend hours coloring and diapering/feeding all her babies — but if ever you’re trying to cook/use the restroom/shower/make a phone call … she’s your typical toddler: wanting your undivided attention NOW … usually at the most inopportune times.

But she’s forgiven for all that because lately, she’s been cracking us up (for better or for worse) with the things that come out of her mouth. Continue reading “My Funny Kid” →

Share, Share, Share … Unless Your Name is Mommy

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One of the reasons I love Maya being in a school environment is that, in spite of not having siblings, she’s had to learn to share with others from pretty much day one. While parallel play is how she spent the first year of her life — playing alongside friends but not really interacting — over the past 6-9 months, especially, she’s been engaging in true play at school. Her daily report cards now say things like, “Today Maya and Leah played with their babies.” Or “Maya and Amelia enjoyed cooking in the kitchen.” Sometimes I’ve been able to glimpse this play via the webcam and it always warms my heart to see her actually interacting with the other kids in her class.

Also with respect to sharing, I’ve see her “problem-solving.” Though the webcam is in real-time, I can’t hear voices. Last week, I watched someone take the truck she was playing with, and though I couldn’t hear her response, I could see her reaction and I could imagine she was telling them, “That’s my truck!” Sure enough, the kid gave it back. And during play dates, I’ve seen her take a friend’s car and then give it back when he/she asked for it. So the concept of sharing — while still not concrete — is something she is learning each day. Continue reading “Share, Share, Share … Unless Your Name is Mommy” →

Things That Go Bump In the Night

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Sadly, I’m not talking about monsters or ghosts … I’m talking about my daughter’s beautiful head … when she somehow climbed out of her crib at bed-time last night and smacked her little noggin on the hard-wood floor covering her room (of course, not in the spot where a large rug is covering the floor …)

The thump was so loud, Luis and I both raced to her room, terrified. Continue reading “Things That Go Bump In the Night” →