I have a lot on my mind. Must be these long naps now that the babies are sick that gives me too much time to think. Can you believe next month I will have been out of work for a year? That is crazy for a girl that has always worked at least two jobs at the same time. My next thought (going to be very random here, bear with me) is online grocery shopping seems good in theory, but is very disappointing. I order three gallons of milk for Paige (the girl loves her milk) and two gallons of milk for me. I had an order delivered on Saturday. The store brought me a gallon that expired the day before on Friday (WHAT?) and two gallons that expired that coming Monday. I know there is a window after the expiration date where the milk is still drinkable even if expired, but I don’t feel comfortable giving my baby girl expired products. I mean they’re expired for a reason. So all in all, online shopping is disappointing.
My next random thought is this: I can’t find good books to read to Paige and Cole. Seriously I have a book Twinkle Twinkle Little Star about kids playing in the streets at night and pushing others down the stairs, a book Runaway Bunny about a bunny that runs away from home, a book Goodnight about a boy that refuses to go to sleep even when it’s bedtime, a book Mo Monkey about a monkey that refuses to give his sweater to his mother to wash. What am I reading to my kids? Are there not books out there about nice kids that are respectful? Seriously, without getting carried away, are there any books that are great for kids around the 12-15 month old reading level that don’t have too much pictures on a page that anyone recommends? Our library has a reserve in advance online program that I can reserve books if I know the author and/or title.
Next random thought: Paige and Cole seem to be cognitively about 8 months behind their actual age right now. I know they can make vast improvement in their abilities and be ready for school when the time arises. But what if they’re not ready? What if they need to be held back a year for their own benefit? They’d be in the same class as Drew. I can already see it now, “are they triplets?….kind of…..long story”. Since Drew will be bigger than them, “did you hold Drew back a year?….no, actually Drew’s the younger brother”. Uughh. Take it as it comes….
Recent events: Paige’s hair is a disaster in the back. No amount of detangler can fix these knots. Trust me, I’ve tried. Don’t try to wipe noses….ever. It’s grounds for serious tantrums. The babies are not ready for forks and spoons despite repeated attempts. Don’t try to give Cole his formula in a sippy cup; he is not ready. Knocking down blocks are much more fun than building them back up. Paige loves music, she can now do hand motions to certain songs, specifically Twinkle twinkle little star. It’s soooooo cute. Drew loves food. It is such a joy feeding him. I remember asking people how to feed him before I actually did feed him because I couldn’t remember the feeding specialists’ advice from Cole’s therapies on where to place the food for best results. It doesn’t matter for Drew. Apparently normal babies can move the food to their throats just fine no matter where you place the spoon in their mouth. Tennis is like riding a bike, after three years of non-activity, it all comes back to you. I started tennis lessons last night after a three year hiatus and it felt wonderful. Don’t accidentally put something in the mini-fridge while the babies are watching. Nothing will ever be cold again.
End of rambles. Have a great snot-free day.
Related Posts:Posted in: babies
Guess How Much I Love You and Good Night Gorilla are good books. My son really likes both!
hi tobie. you had me thinking on this one as my kiddos are 6 and 3. we had lots of touch and feel board books. all sorts- farm animals,cat,dog,counting. winnie the pooh- there was a collection of books that had a lesson to them and at the end “a lesson a day pooh’s way”,and sometimes we sorta made up our own story to some books. but a current favorite is “what color is your underwear” by sam lloyd.
We love Goodnight Moon, I Love You Through and Through, and the dinosaur books (How a Dinosaur…) that you can buy at Kohls. Also anything Elmo or Sesame Street. I second the touch and feel books. My twins are 18 mos and we’ve just started snotting today!!
Hi Tobi
Long time reader first time commentor. Good books Sesame Beginnings is a great series by age. Single picture pages and action to copy for the kids. With great titles like for Paige and Cole:
It’s Naptime, Little One
Cookie See! Cookie Do!
Hello!/Good-bye!
There some good ones for Drew too. They go all the way to potty traning and getting dressed.
http://www.randomhouse.com/kids/sesamebeginnings/books/
Try Eric Carle books. Kids love them. My kids are grown (mostly) but they loved them when they were little and I recently saw a display of them at Target.
We like the Berenstain Bears. They have some really great books, especially “Think of others first”, and “Bedtime Battle” they are my son’s favs!
Hugs!
I know exactly what you guys are talking about the hair thing. Caitlin has the same thing. I just switched shampoo’s finally for Caitlin and it seems to soften her hair and less frizzy and tangly because there is not to much stuff in it. Its a little pricey but does last a long time and is worth it its just the bay hair and bosy wash by kiehl’s. You can get it at nordstroms or even I think Macy’s m,ight have a little kiehl’s spot in it.http://www.kiehls.com/_us/_en/baby/baby-gentle-foaming-hair-and-body-wash.htm
Also I am curious to see how Cole does with sippy cups. We are in the same exact situation where they want Caitlin off the bottle but Thats always a for sure way to get calories in her especially because she does not like to eat. ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Cant wait to see how the feeding clinic goes. Thats what I want so bad
As others have suggested, all of the Eric Carle books are great (Very Hungry Caterpillar, etc.) and the Berenstain Bears series. And, of course, Dr. Seuss books.
As for the expired and nearly expired milk, I would have called the store and had them bring new ones. If they’re going to send expired ones, I’d might as well send my husband to the store….because he doesn’t check the dates either! lol
Tobie,
I’ve followed your website for quite sometime, and enjoy reading about your family. The two of you just seem very “normal” (that’s a compliment!), and with all that you’ve got going on, you both just take it in stride and your sense of humor is never lost, even in tons of snot! After reading your latest post, and hearing about your “school” concerns, I thought I’d post this comment. Has anyone (your pediatrician) ever mentioned Cole and Paige going to preschool? I’ve been an Early Childhood Special Education teacher for 12 years (a preschool program provided by the public school system for children ages 2-5 with developmental delays), and C and P are just the kind of kids who really benefit from it. The program is available nationwide, it’s FREE(a nice bonus), and would provide your kids with an educational opportunity before they become school-age. It’s a great way to “get your foot in the door” should Cole and Paige require special education support once they enter kindergarten and beyond. With their 2nd birthday just around the corner, they’d be able to start next school year. Systems vary, but in ours (Virginia Beach), they can start the school year following their 2nd birthday. I’d be glad to tell you more about it if you’re interested, or you could call your school board and I’m sure they could lead you in the right direction…my very best to you and your adorable family!
–Lisa
DEFINITELY Eric Carle books! They are AMAZING!!! And when the kids get a little older and can more appreciate the meaning of the stories, read them all of the Henry and Mudge books…my kids are grown now, but when they are 3+ years old, we read Henry and Mudge books…Henry is a little boy and Mudge is his St. Bernard dog. My kids adored the books so much (at this point there are probably 20 in the series) that when we got a dog, we named her Mudge!!
These are some of our favorites:
The Very Hungry Caterpillar (our favorite!)
I Love You Through and Through
I Like it When…
Fuzzy Bee and Friends
Squishy Turtle and Friends
Where’s Elmo?
Where is Baby’s Belly Button?
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
Okay, I’ll stop now :).
Snot sucks. It’s especially ironically demoralizing when trying to use th nose bulb on a screaming child pushing you away doing her best to convince you you’re the anti-christ, then later walking around laughing as she tries to put the bulb up her own nose.
Wow. Lots of stuff going on. Longer naps mean you get to take naps too. Right? Right?
The way I see it, the very fact you’re seeing these things & that they’re bothering you makes you a good parent. Keepup the good job!
We love the Eric Carle Books here (Hungry Caterpillar), also Brown Bear, Brown Bear what do you hear?
Polar Bear, Polar Bear what do you see?
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
Corduroy
Guess How Much I Love You
Touch and Feel Books (the kids still love all of them)
Sandra Boynton Books (there are a ton - they are board books)
Nursery Rhyme Books (my first nursery rhyme book, etc)
Curious George
Sesame Street
Goodnight Moon
Goodnight Gorilla
Ten Little Fingers
Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
The Rainbow Fish
Wheels on the Bus
Big Red Barn
Also - if you go to Amazon.com and go to the children’s books section, you can specify and age range and they give you hundreds of book choices.
Also wanted to say that we had the same problem with sippy cups with M and he finally ended up drinking through those straw sippies (the ones where the straw pops out yet they don’t leak too much, supposedly spill proof - they will still spill a bit if tipped upside down or shaken, but it isn’t much). I think they are the Nuby Grip and Sip cups.
We also use The First Years Take and Toss No Spill Sippys (but we put them through dishwasher). Kids love them because they don’t have to suck too hard.They will spill if you knock them over for too long though. There is the First Years Take and Toss Straw cups too that the kids like.
Most of our books are DK books or Priddy Books. Dylan is really into touch and feel books, and books with words that he can say. I don’t know about you guys, but I can’t keep anything with real pages anywhere around. It has to be board books.
Dylan’s hair, which is not that long! Has been getting tangled in the back (where his cute little curls are) and I have just been putting a little of my Burt’s Bees conditioner on it in the bath. That way I’m not worried about build up or chemicals in his hair. I use their baby wash too. It smells so good!
Geez, I can’t believe that Drew is big enough for solids yet! (Well I guess not BIG enough, old enough. We all know he has been BIG enough for quite some time!)
I haven’t had time to read through the other comments, but we love:
Yummy, Yucky!
Leonardo the Terrible No Good Monster (something of that nature) that features a monster who is not very scary and a little boy who is a geek–the two end up in a beautiful friendship. It’s by Mo Willems. Also by Mo Willems is the fabulous Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
Perhaps too juvenile is “Peek a Who” which is Hallie’s all time fave.
And finally, she loves the Diaper David series by David Shannon. He’s a bit dennis the menacy but well meaning.
That’s all I have time for now!
We love “Pat the Bunny”. It is a really old book but my kids both love it! Also…
Goodnite Moon
Brown Bear, Brown Bear What do You See?
That’s Not My… (Lion, Bear, etc.) - fun furry, fuzzy, textured books
Guess How Much I Love You
Dr. Seuss has some fun board books - I’ll Teach My Dog a lot of Words, How Many Different Feet we Meet
On the sippy cup - my kids didn’t do well with those until they mastered straws first. I would recommend the Nuby straw cups where the straw pops up. Those have worked really well!