Birthday Wishes for our Son
May you greet every day with your enthusiastic “Wake up!” and impish grin…
May your kind and giving nature grow and grow…
May the bright-eyed smile you wear so often never fade away…
May your curiosity always lead you to wonderful surprises…
May your “Oooh-HO!” laughter always echo in our ears…
May you continue to sing your songs just as you like them…
May the words of stories you’ve grown to love sink down deep into your memory…
May the joy you find in singing about Jesus always fill you…
May you continue to bless our lives for years and years to come.
Happy Second Birthday, dear son.
Love, Mom and Dad
***
A birthday morning in photos:
Second Birthday – special breakfast at First & Last Bakery – with pretend blow-out-the-candles!
Second Birthday trip to Lutz Museum (Manchester, CT) – fun with turtles! (And a museum membership as a birthday present so we can go again and again!)
Second birthday carousel ride at the mall!
Second birthday stop at the bookstore to visit the trains! (He got a train table for his birthday but it’s not set up quite yet!)
How do you spend birthdays with your young ones?
Pregnancy Journal – 17 weeks
Missed week 16 due to being at the Toy Fair the day before… took me awhile to get back on my blogging routines! Pregnancy can slow ya down a bit! Here’s how it’s going 17 weeks in!
Symptoms: Only one small headache that was over in a few hours with no need to take anything. Hip pain comes and goes – very annoying because I really am feeling the itch to get out and walk since the weather has been nicer than usual for February. Bouts of nausea are getting shorter and farther between – what a relief!
Weight Gain: I am 131.5 – so only gained a 1/2 pound the past 2 weeks. I’m hoping this is normal – last pregnancy I think I gained a steady pound a week, but this time I seem to be holding steady. Can’t say it’s because I’m not eating, because I pretty much eat everything in sight!
What I like: Honestly, it might be weird, but I LIKE watching my belly grow – it’s kinda fun to have that little soccer ball shape sticking out in front now – makes it feel more “real!” But I am really popping out already – I got pretty big with my first, so I expect I’ll be the same this time! Of course, different outfits give a different profile and that’s not a maternity shirt I’m wearing so maybe it makes me look a bit bigger?
What I don’t like: Sleep is getting less comfortable, as is turning over to switch sides. And I often wake up to find myself on my back, which I know I’m not supposed to do the bigger I get, but my body just LIKES being more flat instead of flopped on my side (I am typically a stomach sleeper, so sleep does not come easily in pregnancy for me!).
Things to Consider: After my last doctor visit, and a few impersonal ones prior, I am seriously considering switching practices. I’d also have to deliver in a different hospital, so that is a concern for me. I’m wondering if any of my readers have switched doctors mid-pregnancy? Also, I’d like to take a Bradley method birthing class – I need to prepare!!
Looking foward to: Finding out the gender (yes, unless we have some last minute reversal, I think we are finding out!). Also, feeling the baby move – I’ve felt a few tiny gurgles that I think *might* be the baby, but not 100% sure! That’s my favorite – all the little kicks and nudges!
And … visit Happenings of the Harper Household for more pregnancy journal link-ups!
Tot Explorations: DIY Colored Pasta
So last week I showed you my Valentine’s Sensory Bin… did I mention I dyed the red pasta myself? I think I did!
It’s so easy, I want to do this with more colors. Here’s all you’ll need: Pasta, rubbing alcohol, food coloring, zip-seal bag.
The steps are as easy as the ingredients. Put the pasta in the bag. Nearly cover with rubbing alcohol. Squeeze in many drops of desired food coloring. I’m certain I used at least a dozen drops, maybe more. The liquid needs to be pretty dark to make sure the pasta colors richly. But it’s not a science – the lighter the liquid the paler your pasta will be, so just adjust accordingly!
Let sit for a good while – say 30-60 minutes. Dump out fluid, then spread pasta to dry on newspaper sheets.
Use for sensory bins, sorting games, necklace stringing and more! I think older toddlers would be good at measuring pasta, squishing the bag around, or sorting out shape afterwards, so it’s definitely something you could do together.
How do you use dry pasta for kids’ projects?
My Top 12 from Toy Fair ’12
Last Monday I went to NYC for the huge Toy Fair ’12! I always have fun going into the city, and this time was no exception! I got to wander through aisles of toys, games, balloons, crafts, and more all day! What could be more fun? Well, besides meeting former and upcoming sponsors in person, and strolling through acres of toys, I got to see prototypes and not-yet-released toys for 2012!! I always love a good scoop! Here’s my Top 12 Toys of ’12 (note that in one day I was hardly able to get through even 1/3 of the show, but I aimed for toys and brands I thought would be of most interest to my readers!).
Natural and Creative Play
My first stop was the Eco-friendly toy aisle, which I hear is shrinking in recent years because most companies (especially those trying to make and source in the USA) can’t afford the certification fees. It’s too bad, because I noticed how many of our toys come from China or overseas, and how many are made with plastics and unknown substances. There were about two dozen toy companies exhibiting natural, organic, or eco-friendly toys in this aisle. A few worth noting:
I enjoyed the cute baby and toddler line at MiYim – perfect for transitioning babies away from the pacifier.
Check out the fun natural rubber toys at BeginAgain – especially the bathtub scuba diver and company with its own storage ball!
And couldn’t resist the delicious rosemary smell of Eco-Kids paints, crayons, and doughs, all made with fruits, vegetables and other natural ingredients. (Sold at EcoMom.com – get 15% with my referral code to the right if you’re a 1st time customer!).
Wouldn’t it be fun to design your own pirate ship or playhouse with Box Creations cardboard playhouses? (They weren’t in the eco-friendly aisle but their sets are made in the USA with recycled materials).
New Toys for 2012 (Available now or by August 2012)
My son has been falling asleep to the new Lullaby CD from Putumayo Kids - A soothing collection of melodic, instrumental tunes for bedtime and relaxation. I love the familiar tunes arranged in soft and gentle tones.
More than a full generation of children have enjoyed trying to find Waldo, and to celebrate his 25th birthday, Where’s Waldo is releasing seven new items this year. My favorite? The Where’s Waldo Pocket Packs - mini take-along packs have a classic Where’s Waldo? scene split into nine cards, each with a search list on the back. Find the hidden items on each card, then put the cards together to reveal the full picture and hunt for bonus items.
While they seemed beyond my skill level, I imagine kids will love playing with Codee - a fidget toy, puzzle, activity toy, and collectible all in one. Stranded of flexible blocks have codes anyone can follow to create animals and objects, or imagine and design their own creation. (Not yet released).
Wooden toys are my weakness, so I had to tour the Melissa & Doug booth and check out their new Whittle World toys – lightweight wooden vehicle sets with fun moving parts and accessories! I also loved the beach and pool items coming out this year.
HAPE toys (made in Germany) releases several new items this year including this lovely wooden play gym! They also have gorgeous screen printed 9-block wooden puzzles, and detailed felt and wood play food.
I loved the creativity at Neat-Oh! International - their functional yet fun lunchboxes and backpacks are sure to be a hit this year! Check out the backpack that turns into a basketball hoop!
And then…
Being the sweet tooth I am, I had to stop by Jelly Belly, and I’m glad I did (I confess I am a buttered popcorn Jelly Belly lover!)! First to discover their new Snapple flavors made with real fruit juices and colors from natural sources. Then to sample the oh-so-delicious Dips – imagine the soft center of a Jelly Belly covered in chocolate – absolutely delicious!
And… the final stop of the day? My Own Pet Balloon – I left with an inflatable ladybug walking behind me! You should read the story behind the balloons for yourself – you will be amazed! This ladybug has been the star attraction for my son for the past week!
I shared MY favorites… which did you like the best?
WIN IT: Two readers will win a toy sampler including 1 Codee toy, 1 Waldo item, and 1 Waldo Carabiner wand! To enter, just leave any topic-related comment below! Share the giveaway if you like (but no extra entries for sharing the love!).
GIVEAWAY RULES: Giveaway ends at 11:59 EST on March 2, 2012. 18+ to enter. US only. Winners will be notified directly via email and have 48 hours to reply before another winner is selected. No duplicate winners in the same giveaway. Fulfilled by myself using samples received at the show.
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