Naptime Blog

 Don’t mess with my Mommy or you’ll have me to deal with, mister! 

It was the day after Labor Day and I had a tough day!

Here is a letter I wrote…
Dear Tuesday,

I know we didn’t have an official Monday due to the holiday. We had that nice long weekend. I sure enjoyed it. But now dear friend, Tuesday, you have decided to replace Monday and act like him. Not cool.

So far I woke up tireder than if I had never slept. My boys were exhausted at school and one had to come home early from Mother’s Day Out due to his sadness and distress. I think he misses his “Dada” who was on vacation last week and is now back at work. They were like peas and carrots all week. Luckily, I got them home and calmed down, fed them their lunch and made them happy by letting them have a rainy day (thanks Hermine) Winnie the Pooh movie day. All is right in their world again.

Mine, well not so much yet. My two dear fur babies decided that rain is a terrible nuisance and they have decided that barking at it constantly will make it go way. It hasn’t worked yet, but they are persistent. Just when I thought I may sit down and have a glass of tea and a sandwich for lunch, the doorbell rings with a mysterious package. Inside is a nice little package of Febreze Set & Refresh. I come to my computer and try to figure out where it came from. I don’t have a review set up for this product and want to make sure I know what to do. About that time I smell a terrible aroma. I follow the putrid scent to my youngest son’s freshly vacuumed and cleaned room to find that my aforementioned wonderful fur babies have chewed up a poopy diaper. Nice. But, alas, I have a mystery box of Febreze to save the day! Coincidence that these two events collided? Not likely!

Ok, I figured out who sent the Febreze… It must have been God straight from heaven. He was throwing me a rope (or a lifeline). Thank you, God, thank you. The house smells much fresher.

You know, He always knows just when to help me out or make me laugh. Another example… this morning a lovely person cut me off in traffic and I had to honk my horn to alert them to my presence so that they wouldn’t hit me. My little Kierbear sweetly mimicked the sound of the horn by saying, “Beep! Beep” from the back seat. He is speech delayed, so something like this is huge. I went from upset to filled with pure joy and pride in a split second. It’s the little things that can make or break a day.

Tell you what, Mr. Tuesday. I will make you a deal. If I can have a nap today I’ll forgive you. Deal?

By Shannon

Potamus Prefers

http://www.potamusprefers.com/

Although we should be aware of baby safety every day, here is a list of things to keep in mind with your little ones.

IN THE HOME

Fire Safety:
Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are a must in every home, especially in the home of a child. Make sure all batteries are fresh and alarms are working correctly. A good rule of thumb is to check your alarms and change the batteries when you change the clocks in the Spring and Fall, helping you to remember their maintenance.
It is a good idea to have a fire escape plan in place in case of fire or smoke. Having a filled fire extinguisher is advisable, and having all adults and older children know how to use it is a good idea. Be sure to have flashlights with fresh batteries readily accessible.
Teach your children what to do in case of a fire. Laying low to the ground and following the “stop, drop and roll” guidelines can be extremely helpful. Covering his or her mouth with a towel or shirt to avoid breathing in smoke are all good tips to share. Your local fire department can help you with more tips for the children.

Electrical Outlets, Plugs, and Wiring:
I cannot stress how important it is to keep your baby away from any electrical hazards. Outlet covers are available in most stores for very cheap. Be sure that your baby does not play near any electrical outlets or pull on any plugs. Be sure there is no exposed wiring anywhere in the house. Consider getting cord clamps so the kids can’t pull on any electrical cords.

Windows and Doors:
It is a good idea to have window guards on all windows, to keep baby from having any window accidents. Be sure they are properly installed.
Check all of your blinds and curtains to make sure no cords are dangling, as this can cause strangulation. Tie them up or cut them off if necessary to avoid a baby getting tangled in the cords or strings from window treatments.
My kids are always fiddling with handles and trying to get doors open.  I have to purchase some doorknob covers.  I also need to invest in a good security gate.

If you own your home, make sure to have smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors and window guards. If you rent, your landlord may be responsible for ensuring these things are in place. Check with your local and state laws.

Kitchen and Bathroom Safety
Be sure all cleaning appliances and cooking ingredients are safely stored from baby’s reach. Safety latches work well.  When cooking, use back burners when at all possible. If you have a pot/pan on the burners, be sure the handle is facing the back of the stove so baby can’t reach the pot and get burned. Be sure all knives and forks are out of baby’s reach at all times.

Never leave water in the bathtub, sink or even a bucket to avoid drowning. As a matter of fact, never leave water running, even if there is no plug, for a playing baby can clog up a drain and this is a potential drowning hazard as well. Bath seats are not safety devices, so do not leave a baby unattended in a tub or with another child under any circumstance. Consider purchasing a toilet lid lock to avoid the baby getting into the toilet unattended.  Prevent bumps with a tub spout cover.  Avoid burns with heat sensing tub guards.

Choking Hazards
Watch out for loose change, keys, or other small items that can end up in baby’s mouth. Never leave a baby unattended while eating, as choking can occur in the blink of an eye. Be sure all handles, latches, and any other mounted objects are secured to avoid baby pulling and choking on nails or screws.

Furniture
Bolt television stands, bookshelves, hutches, and any other furniture that the baby can pull on to the wall to avoid heavy items from falling on him. Baby superstores sell safety items to bolt these things, so check the baby proofing section.  If you have sharp corners on your tables or other furniture, pick up some corner pads.

IN THE CAR

Car seat safety
You can go to your local fire department to help you install your car seat. Additionally, look around your local baby magazines for other places that install your car seats and help you ensure you have properly installed it. Always be sure your baby is snug in there with safety harness straps securely in place.

Never put a baby in the front seat of a car and follow the laws in your state for rear facing / forward facing. A baby under one and under twenty pounds should be rear facing.

Children up to seven years old and seventy pounds should be in a booster seat in the back seat.

A child under age thirteen should be strapped in the back seat. Be sure to check the laws in your state for more specific guidelines for safety in the car.

In my minivan, I have a three-way mirror so that I can see the kids in the backseats while I drive.  It came factory installed with the minivan.  If you don’t have one, they sell mirrors to see the kids in the back.

BABY GEAR

Always submit your warranty and registration information on all baby gear so you are informed of any product recalls. Additionally, you can sign up on baby sites to get notifications of any recalls that may be in effect. Over the last few years, strict guidelines have been put in place with baby furniture and other baby paraphernalia. Therefore, before using a crib from a friend whose child is now older or that infant seat you found in your garage, be sure it is still ok to do so.

I gave one of my sons a little lion squishy toy not too long ago. It came from a baby boutique, and I didn’t think there was anything to worry about. Luckily I checked in the corral and saw what looked like little bits of Styrofoam on the floor. My son had bit off the lion’s ear and was working on the rest of the toy. Be sure to check all toys are safe, that baby cannot bite or eat them, that there are no sharp points or breakable items in their play area, and that any toys with batteries are not leaking battery fluid.

Check your safety gates, corrals and play yards. Gates should be properly locked in place, especially at the top and bottom of stairs or in doorways. Be aware of the older baby who likes to climb, even with gates in place. The older accordion style gates are now known as a strangulation hazard for babies.

Be sure to never leave a baby unattended in any baby gear. Baby carriers, infant seats, baby seats, Bumbos, boosters among other things should always be safely on the floor or securely fastened by manufacturer’s directions if you intend to walk away even for a split second.

BABY CLOTHING

Be sure to remove all tags, strings and loose buttons from your baby’s clothing. Proper fitting clothing are the best bet in all situations. Clothing that is too big might cause a tripping hazard for crawling or walking babies. Sleepwear should be flame retardant.

IN THE YARD
Pools need to be either fenced in, have an alarm in case of sudden unexpected falls, or a removable ladder needs to be taken out when not in use to avoid a child falling in. Remember to never leave baby unattended near a pool, even in a kiddie pool.

Put away any yard equipment such as lawn mowers and wheelbarrows, and everything in between. An inquisitive baby/toddler can find his way into the equipment and get hurt. Remove ladders as well, both inside and outside the home.

Even the most careful of parents see accidents. Keeping aware of your baby’s surroundings at all times is imperative. Consider taking an infant CPR course in the event of an emergency. And remember, babies and toddlers are very nosy and inquisitive human beings and will try to get into EVERYTHING!

It was recently back to preschool for my Finleypotamus. He just loves riding the big yellow school bus. He started the day after his third birthday in April and attended a little over five weeks last school year. This will be his first full year.

During the summer, we enrolled him in a great local program called P.A.L.S. It was two days a week and taught by a Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) and a teacher from the school district. The P.A.L.S. program features a theme-based curriculum designed to teach academic, language, and social skills to preschool children, ages 2 and a half through five. If you are in the Houston area, I highly recommend it as a way to help kiddos retain skills from the school year or just interact and have fun with others. He LOVED it and really gained a love of music and started interacting a lot more.

I snapped the photo at the top of this post right after he got on the bus his first day back this year. He doesn’t look super smiley, because he was ready to go to school and was over posing for my photos. I think he enjoys it a lot. I say I think he does, because he doesn’t talk a lot, but he shows his excitement, joy and happiness through his smile and body movements. He gave his father and I many hugs and kisses before school and said “Ah zoozoo” (I love you) over and over. He is sweet, precious, innocent and kind beyond words. He sure is growing up fast (but not fast enough to fill out his new back to school jeans… oops!).

I just love how kind and gentle the bus drivers and attendants are with him and the other little ones in their care. Here is the attendant helping my little dude off of the bus today:

His little brother enjoyed time with Mommy and Daddy that day. My husband had the day off. I think Kierbear will enjoy the alone time in the mornings. He started a two day a week program at our local church recently as well. He is excited to carry a backpack and lunch and have the opportunity to play and learn with other children his age. I will enjoy having a few hours of alone time with him three mornings a week to laugh and giggle at his comedic antics. He is my entertainer and keeps us in stitches daily.

Tell me all about your kiddos’ first day. I would love to see photos and hear stories from proud parents. Aren’t these children such blessings? Praying that all kids have a wonderful and educational 2010-2011 school year!

Sounds funny?  Well, I am not making it up!  Today was Juliana’s first day of school and I was so proud of myself for having everything in order.  Her school supplies were all neatly labeled and bagged, her folders and notebooks and everything she needed was neatly placed in her new schoolbag, her uniform was ironed and her underwear, socks and shoes were neatly laid out for her so we wouldn’t need to scramble in the morning…  And then, I remembered the pencils.

We had forgotten to sharpen the pencils (and she needed to bring 50!), so I sent Juliana to my husband’s desk to get the electric sharpener.  She brought it back to me and I guess whoever unplugged it last time pulled it from the cord and the plug was bent (I probably did it!).  So I tried to wiggle the plug straight and get it in the outlet.  In doing so, I accidently opened the shavings tub and YUCK!  Pencil shavings ALL OVER MY BED!

I didn’t want to move (I had shavings all over me, too, so moving an inch would have made it worse!), so I asked Juliana to get the vacuum.  She brought it in and I grabbed the hose to vacuum all the shavings off my legs and my nice clean comforter (well, it was!).  I was cleaning the shavings when I heard a strange noise and started smelling something burning.  When I shut off the vacuum I realized my favorite flip flops were under it, and the left flip flop was now in pieces!  In the garbage went the shoes, and vacuuming up the flip flop pieces was next on my list. 

Needless to say, we only sharpened five pencils.  What do they say about the best laid plans?  Hope all your children are enjoying their first day of school!

This year is going by way too fast! Is it because we have kids that time literally flies by us? I swear it was just January. So our son will be 2 next month and I can’t believe what a little man he has become and hos quickly he learns things. It’s true when they say their brains are little absorbent sponges. I can tell Shaughn not to do something once and he will listen (the majority of the time anyway). We can teach him something and he will pick it up quick. My mom is teaching him spanish right now which he seems to be understanding quite well already. The kid probably understands more spanish than I do! Maybe it will be good for the both of us so I can learn along the way too. Hey, maybe Brent will catch on too! Do any of you teach your children other languages? Shaughn also knows some little phrases in sign language but that was before he could actually tell me what it was that he wanted. Now he can say the words and will sometimes say them along with the sign to make sure he gets his point across to us. I love how he also now mimics sound effects he hears either on the tv, or on my phone. Every time a Verizon Wireless commercial comes on and says the “Droid” sound, he says it and then laughs so I now have that sound on my phone as a text message so he can hear it quite often! Just one of the things that amuse us

When you have little children, it becomes an absolute necessity to have a daily routine…  and when that routine gets interrupted, it can be a nightmare.

How do you handle when the daily routine is interrupted?

With four children, three babies, we have a daily routine.  The kids get up at seven, the boys each get their milk.  I take my shower and get dressed while Paul takes care of them.  He leaves for work at 7:30.  Then the kids play a bit, and have breakfast at about ten.  The boys take their naps (usually) at about 10:30, and during the summer months Juliana plays or reads, or gets a chance to watch her shows while they nap.  I get my work done in these morning hours.

When the kids get up, we take baths and get dressed.  They watch a little TV and play a bit while I finish my work.  I like to wait until about 2pm, when the sun is gone from the yard, and we go outside.  The kids play in the kiddie pool or their slide, or they play trucks.  Juliana loves to play with her brothers, and she runs around and enjoys herself with the boys.

By about 4:30pm, we go back inside, and my mother comes to help me with the kids while I prepare dinner and finish up any laundry or cleaning I need to get finished.  Paul gets home at 5:30, we have dinner about 6, then the kids play a bit while we clean up dinner and finish up any chores we need to do.  At 8ish, we begin the night routine, get the kids ready for bed, give them their milk, and the boys are in their cribs at about 8:30.  Juliana gets to stay up until 10 on non-school nights (9 on school nights).  Paul goes to get our Dunkin Donuts iced coffees, and we sit in the living room and get some time for each other.  He usually checks his email while I do some more work, then we try to watch a little TV together for a bit before we go to bed. 

And then it starts all over again the next day.  But it is our routine, it works for us, and we enjoy it.  Weekends are different, as we have plans and parties and other things going on.  It all works for us.

We are spending the week on vacation with my family.  Seventeen of us in a huge beach house…  And of course because everyone has their own routines, my kids routines are disrupted…  My kids want to go with everyone else, they want to play, they want to be with the adults…  and it gets chaotic.  So we need to adjust to the change and deal with the different personalities and routines…  But it isn’t easy.  I just have to keep reminding myself that we are all on vacation to enjoy the beach and each other, and the week will fly by… We really are enjoying each other.