bebestages

Chinese New Year is here, welcome the year of the PIG (what is it? check out this brief description here). Introduce a new culture to your childs life. We live in a world of so many different cultures, instead of celebrating only what you know why not learn together what other cultures have been enjoying and celebrating for centuries.
1. A great start would be to go to your local library. They are filled with stories, fact and fiction to get the holiday started.
2. Enjoy a traditional Chinese dinner, if you're feeling brave cook it up, if not why not order in and set up your home for a family Chinese cultured dinner
3. Craft it up! Check out tomorrows Creative Little Hands to enjoy a fun Chinese New Year Craft

I recently started a part time job at a computer store, and was amazed at the amount of people buying laptops for each of their children! These laptops were bought for each child in the household ranging from age 6 and up. Then I was even more surprised at the fact that parents are buying their 4 and 5 year olds ipods! I even had a mother comment that they had to buy a nano for their 5 year old because she would "freak out" when she saw her 13 year old brother with one. This was told after I suggested she buy a shuffle for her 5 year old since it wasn't as expensive and most likely a 4 year old will probably lose the ipod or just forget about it eventually.
I guess with times changing and everything around us getting more and more technological we have to expect these changes to occur. I have to admit that even I depend on some technology to entertain my 4 year old. She often plays games on the computer (educational ofcourse), she is also learning to read through it, but I must remind myself that technology can't take the place of a good book and a quite place. I think the important thing here is that we have to remember that it is our job to keep our kids happy and entertained not technology.

We took a nice long break for a few weeks to get "in order". Our official 2007 posting will begin on January 15th.
This is going to be a good year, I can feel it.

For all you pregos out there, I've come across a product that I think you're really gonna like.
You know how your pants keep drooping and your scootin around pulling those darn waistbands up?
Check out Belly Ups!

I started watching my sisters 2.5 month old daughter last week. Now, I have read and even spoken to people who say the more kids you have the easier it gets. Well, when I first had Paige I obviously thought it was hard. I was a first time mom with no experience at all, not even as a babysitter. But things got easier and I adjusted. Then we had Rylan, and boy oh boy - it definitely didn't get any easier, especially at the beginning because I just couldn't handle juggling two kids and Rylan NEVER slept or napped. But things got easier and I adjusted. Well a third has entered our home for the daytime hours, and can I say it has been easier then ever! Paige is completely and utterly into her cousin Claudia. She has to be next to her at all time and being a little mommy is her playtime dream come true. She plays with Rylan when I need to feed or change her, oh and did I mention all this little munchkin does is eat and sleep? She makes no peeps unless she's hungry. I sure hope that I am not jinxing this blessing.
Never in a million years did I think I would be doing this for a living. I worked in a huge company, had long hours and loved what I did. When I decided to stay home my whole world changed and life turned around. I'm more focused on doing things for kids now. I enjoy it! I'm stressed about 70% of the time, but it is totally worth it. I shouldn't really say stressed because many people see stress as being a horrible thing, but if there is such thing as a good stress - then this is it. I have many plans ahead of me and plan to continue with my everyday ideas and new adventures that I know will take me to many levels of success. So with that said,-- THANK YOU! to my two beautiful girls and Thank you to my darling niece who have helped me realize that there are so many new successes out there without having to be stuck in an office building.

I'm not one to really talk about organization, I must admit that I am terrible at it. But I am trying, I really really am. I came across this fantastic site- organizedfromthestart. They sell this very savvy baby briefcase which organizes all the essentials.
Your BabyBriefcase® contains:
• Frosted plastic carrying case with handle and sturdy click and snap closure, 11-7/8" wide, 9-3/4" tall, and 1-3/4" deep, can accommodate many standard letter-size file folders
• 15 durable letter-size frosted plastic folders in yummy periwinkle, mint green, and peach
• 20+ preprinted and customizable folder categories
• Thank You Note Tracker
• 2 Baby Wallet Info Cards
• Framed Photo Pocket
• Convenient Pen Slot
There are so many things you will be collecting before the birth and after, from labor and delivery information to birth certificates and social security cards - It's best to keep all this stuff in one place where you're not scrambling in the draws to find them. Take it from me, start early and you'll be ahead.

This toy has been recalled, children have been choking on the screws. Please be sure to remove this product from your home if you have one.

Now that fall is in the air, it's time to break out those fun fall activities.
Some of you may be singing the blues, the thought of having to stay home and the cold chilly weather is starting to sink in. But, you may have forgotten that there's much more stuff to do in the fall than any other season of the year. Here are a few ideas.

Take a walk and see the changing trees
Fly a kite
Go to the park with out dehydrating
Go hiking
Collect pinecones to make a birdfeeder (look for it in an upcoming creative little hands project)
Make a fall wreath with collected fallen leaves (look for it in an upcoming creative little hands project)
Go apple picking (make sure you get enough to make applesauce, apple stamps, apple pie
Go pumpkin picking

Hope you enjoy these ideas!

There are so many things in the house you can use for quick clean-ups. check it out.
1. Baby wipes: Excellent for stains on clothing! As soon as you can rub gently with a wipe, more often than not the stain will completely disapear
2. Powder: Now powder has multiple uses; 1. sandy feet, sprinkle powder on any sandy part of the body and the sand rolls off like water; 2. splattered oil, immediatly put powder on the area, leave for about an hour then throw in wash;3. B.O., yes we all get a little B.O. once in a while, especially if we've been playing in the park, so if you can't get home to shower right away sprinkle some down the shirt and your good to go.
3. Murphy's Oil Soap: Great cleaning agent if you've run out of laundry detergent and can't get to the store. Beleive it or not, the clothes doesn't end up with the strong odor.
4. Glad Press and Seal: Use press and seal to cover your table before the kiddies start painting or crafting.
5. Windex: I probably use windex for just about ALL of my everyday cleaning. I know how nice it is to have all these different antibacterial cleaners, but if you're a constant cleaner those antibacterial wipes, and sprays can get expensive. Use those 1-2 times a day and in between the antibacterial cleansing use windex its inexpensive and kills a good amount of the germs you want to kill.

Last week I was having some issues with my older daughter Paige. She didn't want to listen to me, she would throw these major tantrums out in public and it was just getting out of hand. Now let me say that this didn't happen over night, it has been building up for a few months now. And through out the day she would ask why daddy wasn't home and cry that she wanted daddy. So we came up with a plan, we had to spend more time with her, but not just be around but to do things that meant something. So hubby has decided he would do something special with her every week, yesterday they built a bird house together. If I tell you, that smile never left her face and she was such a good girl all day!
Sometimes we forget that just being there isn't enough. We may be tired, we may be grumpy but it is so important to do something where there is an outcome that they can appreciate. I realized that she wasn't seeing her dad as often as she used to and this was really taking a toll on her. She's daddy's little girl and it seemed that she may have felt she wasn't getting that attention she craved. So next week they will be building a doll house.

I've been troubled for a few days wondering "why oh why isn't Rylan doing the things that Paige did at this age?" She is a happy, funny, rambunctious 11 month old. She is always laughing, hardly ever sleeping, and always chasing her big sister around. Paige on the other hand, by the age of 9 months, was able to say purple, yellow and bue (blue). It was quite funny how she could perfectly pronounce purple but had such a time pronouncing blue. Any hoo,as I began to worry that Rylan still can't quite show me where her eyes, nose and ears are I realized, helloooo she's totally normal - it was Paige I should have been curious about. Paige is 3.5 years old, she knows half her state capitals, the entire alphabet and has quite an opinion. I worked full time by the time she was 8 months old, so the person who watched her had older children that I am quite sure Paige picked up a handful of what she new. Rylan has been home with me since the day she was born, and is definitely babied because I didn't have this time with Paige.
So my question, do you dare compare? Definitely not! I realized after pondering their differences, these are the things that make them who they are. These are the things we will remember when we are grandparents telling our grandchildren the stories of their mommies and daddies. So if you're like me and run into that frantic mommy mode thinking their might be something wrong, remember that kids learn at their own pace and we can't expect them to be like each-other all the time.

This week is world breastfeeding week. For a celebration near you visit the La Leche League website

"MINE!! MINE! MINE! " Its so funny how kids are. I've been watching my nephew for a few days to relieve his father of daddy duty's for a couple of days, and spend time with the new mommy and baby in the hospital. My nephew is 2.5 years old, my darling daughter is 3.5. That 1 year is such a big difference in attitude, sharing and a whole lot of other things. Everything he wants to play with turns into his, and darling Paige freaks out and comes running to me every 5 minutes, "Mommy, mommy! Noah said that's his!" and I try to explain to her that no matter what it will stay in this house and its just his for that minute he is playing with it. She gets it for like 10 minutes and then comes running again to tell me another toy he is playing with has turned into his. Oh and did I mention the constant fighting and crying and hitting! I tell you, this job is exhausting! I never really appreciated the thought of a SAHM, but now I see how hard it really is. To tell you the truth, when I was working full time and coming home to my daughter, that was the easiest job, but that's just me. I have to say that any SAHM, or WAHM is definitely a Super-mom in my book.

I'm realizing that personal "alone" time is so very important. I still have not done that myself, its been about 3 years. But I have to say I'm going to start today and all you moms and dads out there should too. Its so important to relax, and just be by yourself. Lets all give it a go and make a promise to do this atleast once a month. Because if you don't you will regret it. Sanity is important and if you can't keep yourself sane than your doomed.

Beach Days
A few tips to keep the kiddies safe and having fun at the beach:
Always apply sunscreen before and after they go in the water.
Be sure not to get sunscreen anywhere near the eyes, once they begin to sweat the sunscreen will get in their eyes and you will have a screaming red eyed baby.
Always bring an umbrella or sun tent.
Water shoes are a must, the hot sand and jagged shells can harm those perfect little toes.