First trip to the Zoo

My husband had Friday off work and so we decided to Braxton to the zoo. There is a small free zoo about 60 miles from us so we headed there about 10 am stopped at my husbands place of employment to enjoy a company thrown picnic, where Braxton decided that a cookie with M&M's was a perfectly sufficient lunch. So we left there and off to the Zoo. We just walked around enjoying each animal. He knew almost every animal as we came up to it. He enjoyed watching the penguins swim, and the seals splashing around. He loved looking at the monkeys and Lemurs, he even picked out a stuffed lemur to bring home which he has named Zaboomies Cousin. I think the best part was when got to the Kangaroos and Brett says Look at the Kangaroo Braxton and he says "No Dadda, RED Kangaroo" Well excuse us!! He was also calling the Bison 'Steaks' because Brett told him the Buffalo make great steaks. He was so tired when we left that he made it to Target and Farm and Fleet(whole different post) but only about 5 minuets after that and slept the whole hour home. It was worth every second to see the look on his face when he realized the giraffe was real not on TV. I recommend every child get a chance to go to a zoo.

Crazy of the day

Well now I am really thinking that Braxton watches too much Zaboomafoo. If you are not familiar with the show it is a very cute show about animals and weird Lemur puppet. Any way at the end of the show they always leave with back packs and say say good bye to Zaboomafoo often times saying See Ya Later. Well any way a couple of nights ago Braxton walked over and picked up is diaper bag (back pack style) and grabbed his Lightning McQueen hat threw it on backward, walked past Brett and I saying See Ya Later Momma See Ya Later Dadda. I am not sure when I have laughed so hard. I asked where he was going and he just said "I see Ya Later" Like don;t worry about I'm good! Oh what a kid, What a kid!!

taking them to Church

I am not really a church goer but on occasion I will go and for special occasions I always go. So Sunday my cousin had his son Baptised and I decided to take Braxton with me. My husband didn't want to and forcing him isn't worth the fight, so I went with my Mom, Dad and Sister (who was the babies sponsor). I made sure I had snacks and toys and a Juice box as well as a pen and paper.

Well as soon as we get there he starts yelling that he doesn't want to sit down but in about 2 minuets he had calmed down. so he was pretty good until my sister went up front and he wanted to go stand by her so he was like a snake on his belly trying to wiggle out of the pew. I did manage to keep him contained with a few screaming outburst. Of course he ate all his snacks and drank his juice( the portion that didn't end up on my pants) before we were 1/2 way done. So then I decided that while we singing if I rocked him he was OK so I did that for a while until he started to yell "momma spin me" so then I stopped that.

Well by the end of service he could see the door to the elevator and kept saying "I no go dark Momma, No take me in the Dark" so that lasted about the last 15 minuets of service. I did get a little help from the nice ladies sitting in front of us that kept playing with him.

All in all he was pretty good and I just have to remember that I have to breathe when he acts up. I was just glad that he stayed in for the whole service and I didn't cave and take him out. We are both starting this whole thing down.

shoe shopping

So today was a super crazy day for us, we had a lot to do and a little time to do it. It started with me trying to get a bank deposit ready for an organization I'm treasurer for, that was a task with a 2 yr old trying to help Momma count. then it was off to the bank, go get my Mom so she could ride with us while we went shopping, got a hair cut, and bought new shoes. So I have a choice of 3 stores that sell children's shoes, and none of them have sandals in Braxtons side. The hair cut went really well, then shopping at Wal-mart, then Lunch. By lunch he was getting very sleepy and decided that only way to stay awake was to run laps around Pizza Hut. So as I follow him around the tables like a mouse in a maze he decides to throw him self on floor and yell, "No Momma I No GO Home." that was really nice. So I get him up and he his filthy so we go to the bathroom and he turns and says I go Pee Pee. GREAT I quick whip off his diaper, set him on the toilet and he Pees all over my hand, the toilet, and his pants, But hey he told me so that is wonderful. So there is a glimmer of hope in the potty training nightmare.

shopping

I have decided that from the age 18 months until 18yrs children should not be allowed to come shopping with their parents. Because I do daycare part time i decided now was a good time to get a membership to Sams Club. There are many things that buying in bulk will be easier for me. especially meats and snacks. So Saturday morning my parents were busy and I didn't have time to call a sitter so Brett and I decided we were going to get a membership and take Braxton with. That was a HORRIBLE idea, a 2 yr old in a giant store with toys, chairs, TV's and so many other things to play with. Well needless to say we weren't there very long still managed to spend enough money, and didn't get half of what we wanted. There is nothing more relaxing than a Saturday of chasing a kid around a warehouse while you husband screams at him for not listening. Can't wait for our next trip!

Crazy of the day

Just too cute not to share. Braxton was sitting on floor next to our dog playing with his paws and saying something about the puppy's toes. So I say "Braxton can you tell Momma how many toes Puppy has?" "Lets count them." He looks at the dogs toes and says "A, B, C, D." I just laughed and said "Not quite buddy we'll work on it."

This weekends Parade

So Sunday my husband had to drive a truck in a Parade for his boss. We decided it would be a fun family event, and it was, although a little tricky. We started out getting to the office at about 10:00am (it's an hours drive) then we had to help his boss and his wife get stuff ready, and moved from their vehicle to the one they were driving in the parade. Then we get to where we have to line up and it is 1 hour before the parade starts, so we have to occupy Braxton for that long without letting him get run over by floats full of Packer fans or walking Cell phones. It was all going OK as some of the other guys had their kids and wives their so he had someone to play with. When he finally got restless we just put him Brett's work truck and he was fine.

So now the Parade finally Starts and one of the girls from the office wants to ride in the back end of the truck Brett is driving and she wants Braxton and I to ride with OK fine so we hop up in the dump Box (Brett does Landscaping so not a standard truck) so we can throw candy I even had Braxtons Car seat sitting back there so he could sit down, Well before we got too far he wanted to ride with Daddy so Brett had to stop and get him and let him ride up front with him.

As we are going along I hear people in the crowd saying "Oh my Goodness how cute is that" and "Oh he's so adorable" so I look over the side and into the side Mirror and I see Braxton on Brett's lap leaning against the door just like Daddy waving at the crowd. It was so adorable. Well about 3/4 of the way through the Parade he started to yell for me so Brett Stops Jumps out throws him up to me and he got to throw candy out the back for the rest of Parade. It was so much fun and he was so well behaved I can't wait to do it again next year.

TV

Another hot topic in the parenting world is TV. Should you let your kids watch or not, what should you let them watch, how much should they be allowed to watch?
Here are my answers
1. I think they should be allowed to watch TV
a. they will learn TV isn't real
b. they get a chance to see a world beyond their own front yard
2. I let my son watch anything I watch.
a. No Porn
b. No War/gun violence
3. My TV is on from the time I wake up until I go to bed
a. Creates background noise
b. Occasionally he will sit and watch 20 min of TV so I can get something done

I grew up in a house where TV wasn't a forbidden thing. So we watched it quite a bit, however we owned a farm so we spent a majority of our time outside working. Braxton and I go outside for no less than 3 hours a day and if possible we go to my parents to work in the garden so we don't watch TV at all. My parents allowed us to watch pretty much anything. In fact I saw Children of the Corn when I was 5 or 6. I think it is just important as they get older that they learn TV isn't real (news being the exception) and they will be fine.

I don't believe behavior is learned from TV I don't think kids shoot people because they watched Toy soldiers. I don't think someone is going to become a serial killer because they watched silence of the lambs. I actually hope shows like CSI open his eyes to future job opportunities and that THS investigates gives him some historical in sites to unsolved crimes.

I believe TV can be beneficial in the fact that now we have the History channel, and Learning channel as well as Discovery to allow our children to "go" to places in the world that we only saw in books.

Right now he mostly pays attention to Zaboomafoo, and Sesame Street, but when the time comes and he really pays attention to the other I won't limit him too much on what he is allowed to watch.

What am I going to do with you kid?

At some point there will be a day when you ask this question over and over again. For me yesterday was that day. So there will be No, Crazy for the Day as the whole day was crazy. It all started pretty normal, B-man waking me up at 7am, asking to go outside and play before he had eaten or changed. Sq we sit down, eat breakfast, clean up the mess created by breakfast, change out of our Jammies, finish up our milk, and watch a little Zaboomafoo.

Well then one of my friends called and wanted to go for a walk so I said sure. I got outside and wanted to clean out the wagon so the boys could ride in that. Any way B-man has a very small pool to splash in that had some water in from the rain, and he spotted it, he looked at me and says "Abwa" (water) and look straight at him and say "NO, Stay out of the water we are going for a walk" As I sprint toward him he does a 5 star Frog Splash into the pool, clothes and all. So needless to say I am very displeased and tell him we have to go back in the house, call my friend tell her we aren't going, and strip him naked on the porch.

Nothing makes him angrier than being outside and having to go back in, so it works great as punishment for not behaving when he is out there. Well it was a total meltdown when we got back in the house, there was yelling, screaming, bawling and dome over the edge dramatics, which he has flair for. Well during the fit he wanted Juice and I told him No he needed to calm down first, as I wasn't in the mood to clean juice stains off my carpet when he spit out like a water fountain in protest of his captivity. Well he decided he was going to go get it himself even if that meant crashing through a baby gate into the kitchen, so he screams, lowers his shoulder and took out that gate like Reggie White used to take out quarter backs, needless to say he made through but fell, and pinched his arm under the gate so the Screaming continues.

I decide at this point to call my husband at work and see if he can calm him down before the dog or cat became the next victim of his "I can't believe you made me come in the house" rage, because they shed enough without the help of a 2 yr old pulling their hair out one handful at a time while he sits on them. So Brett talks to him for a min and seemed to help for about 2 min, then back to the fit. Well after about 30-40 min he finally wore himself out, or just realized I wasn't paying attention, and quit.

So know I decide we are going to go see my Mom for a while,s o it's off to the grocery store to buy some Muffins for her for breakfast ( she works a weird shift and wakes up about 11am) and some Juice boxes for Braxton to take with him up there. Well the store has a cart just for little kids that is shaped like a car so they can drive while you shop, I love it when I have a lot of shopping but it is very clumsy, so I figured right in and right out, but NOOO we have to get the stupid "school bus cart" for a juice box and a 4 pack of Muffins.

Well needless to say it didn't get any better once we got to my Moms, the dogs water dish is now a place to swim and he tried to wash his clothes while he was still wearing them. I think I will let you use your imagination on that one, as it can't be far from what actually happened, If you decide you really need to know, Just ask.

Crazy of the day

I think one of my most memorable moments from infancy will be my Crazy today. When B-man was about 1 month old I had him laying in the floor one day while I was cleaning. Well he would always try to stretch to reach the dog (even at that age he was after the dog), and he was on his tummy when I went into the kitchen and on his back when I came out. So not only did my son roll over for the 1st time at 1 month old but the dog was the only one who witnessed it. Needless to say he did roll again a few days later so I could see it. Although if I put him on his back then he looked like a turtle on it shell trying to get up, that was entertaining, and i often used it for my own amusement, I know bad Mommy.

Diaper rash

Some where along the line diaper rash is going to be a big issue. The first time we had issues with it I found out that was plums that caused it. Now i wouldn't call it a food allergy as he had no problem eating them and he didn't break out, swell up or anything like that but it casue irritation in his diaper. That one was an easy fix....Stop feeding him plums. Not all cases of diaper rash are this easy to fix unfortunatly. There were instances where I had used diapers that were the problem only I didn't realize it until i finished that pack of diapers. Diarrhea is the number one cause and also makes it the most difficult to get over. There a few tips I learned along the way.
1. Try to use a wash cloth instead of wipes
2. Make sure he was completely dry before putting the diaper back on
3. if it is bad to make sure you are giving a bath every night to help keep it extra clean.

There was one instance where it was so severe I thought nothing would help, and the poor baby couldn't sit lay down, sleep or anything and then someone recommended using asadophalis (sp) or a pill called Florijen. It can be used at any age, just break it open and mix it in food. You have to go to the pharmacy to get it but is not a prescription. If this is not an option because you can't get to a pharmacy or they don't have it and you need something ASAP then buy some athletes foot cream, I know it sounds gross but it works so well. I do still keep the regular stuff on hand for minor irritations but when it gets bad these are the things that worked for us. I hope it is never an issue!

Diapers

I think that diapering is a topic that often comes up when you are expecting your first child. Will you use cloth diapers, or disposable, if you choose disposable what brand will you use. So there are some questions to ask to help you decide.
First is what diaper is the most appealing to you. I personally never even considered cloth diapers, I think it is a toss up between the amount of energy used to clean them and the amount of garbage you create by using disposable. If you have a diaper service available then it might be different.
Second would be, are your kids going to be in daycare, and will they allow you to use the cloth diapers? Some will require that children are in disposable ones when they are at daycare.
Third of course is cost, I am sure that disposable will cost you more in the long run but if you figure in time, laundry soap, water, electricity, a diaper service,and the possibility of still needing the disposables you may be surprised how close the costs are.

That being said the money issue also comes down to the type of disposable diaper you choose to use. I ended up using Targets store brand diaper, they were by far the best value and work great for us. I think the best thing is that most people will receive many different brands of diapers as gifts so try them all out, if you are registering for gifts register for different brands of diapers. It took me until B-man was 8 months old before I found the ones I loved but, each child is different, and you may even run into irritation issues so it is a trial and error processes.

Weight gain

A conversation I was having with a friend today got me on this topic. Trying to lose the baby weight, and as a stay at home Mom trying to not to gain more. That is the exact problem I had. For me it got worse when my son started to eat the solid foods, like hot dogs, nuggets and fish sticks. Of coarse children are supposed to have higher fat foods, however my problem was eating with him. I wish I could say there was a simple answer to the problem but for me it was very hard. I have finally started to lose some but still have a long way to go. I say just try to stay focused on yourself without taking away from the kids.

Crazy of the day

So today wasn't something wild or crazy just adorable and I felt like sharing. My husband was getting ready for bed and he cam over to the couch and gave B and I our good night Kisses as usual. Well as soon as he got in the bedroom B says " I kiss Daddy night night more, Pleeeeeze Daddy" Needless to say my husband had to come back out and give another round of hugs and kisses.

Games to Play

I know as a stay at home it actually becomes a task to decide what kinds of activities to do with my son. You sometimes just can't figure out what you haven't done in the last 3 days. A few things that I've always had problems with is that mine likes to eat the crayons more than actually use them the way they are intended. He doesn't like to play with toys by himself, he much prefers someone playing with him which can be daunting if you have house work to do.

So a few things that I have found that seem to help are his V-tech learning computer, even though he is a bit young to fully understand it's functions, he does love to play on the computer "like Daddy". Another thing that work, although for a short time, is to let him pic out a picture he wants to color. I go to Sprout Online. com and they have ALL the TV characters from PBS and he gets to sit on my lap at the computer and pick out what picture he wants then he gets to color it. As he started to show interest in Stacking things I bought wooden blocks then for his 2nd birthday I bought him Mega Blacks and he now will let me clean for 10-15 min without interrupting.

Bragging rights

I think all parents have the right to brag about the accomplishment of milestones that children reach. I also think that Aunts, Uncles and Grandparents have those same rights. I do not however think that constantly comparing two children is healthy. If you and your friend or relative have children close in age I think it is great to share stories and discuss how you handle situations but I despise when I'm talking to someone and all I hear is Oh Yeah my child did that at 6 months old not 8, or My child can count to 10 your can only count to 5?

I also despise when people talk about my child's development or temperament to other friends and family. Don't make child raising a competition. Everyone will raise their kids how they choose and each child will progress at their own rate. Just enjoy parenthood!