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Friday, September 30, 2016
Our Apple Picking Adventure Fall Funday!
Yay! Its Fall! Such a pretty time of year and always so many fun things to do with your kids like going to the pumpkin patch, playing in the leaves, getting ready for Halloween, and visiting your local orchard to harvest your own apples! We have never done this before so we didn’t have high hopes about Braydon enjoying it, or whether or not we would even know what we were doing! As mentioned in the about section of this blog; we are from the Willamette Valley in Salem, Oregon. There are tons of farms, orchards, and farmers markets in our area that offer you to go and forage for your own produce. We chose to go to a small family owned farm outside of town called Beilke Family Farm. We found out about it through an online local community group. When we arrived it was so nice outside, so we had definitely picked a good day to go!
As we got out of the car a nice girl offered to take our families picture in front of their sign and then she took her time explaining to us what was in season and how the signs point you down each isle that can be picked along with what apples are growing there. We picked a five gallon bucket which only cost us $11.00 and took our time walking up and down the rows. Braydon had such a blast helping pick the apples and he was good about not putting the nasty ones off the ground into our bucket. As we were heading out of the orchard the people working there had informed us that there is a free fall harvest festival starting on October 15th that will have games, apple tastings, and other fun stuff; so we will definitely be heading back that way this fall! It was such a great experience for us all and We were able to score a ton of apples which means tons of activities and recipes with apples!! If you are looking for a fun fall family activity I highly recommend taking your family to go apple picking at your local family orchard. It is so rewarding and an earthy experience. Don’t forget to check back often and subscribe! I will be having and applesauce and fruit leather recipes posted soon since we have acquired so many apples! lots of fun fall posts ahead!
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Potty Training Woes and Bathroom Set Up
We’ve been struggling to get Braydon potty trained for quite some time now, at first we tried getting him a potty seat that connects to the “big potty” and it was Elmo themed and everything! ( his favorite) Every time I tried to sit him on it he would scream and cry for me to take him off. Recently we’ve acquired a small potty that he can sit on by himself and he seems to like that better. I also researched some potty training techniques online and on social media and have decided to go with a “Montessori” approach while setting up the bathroom for him. I know it’s not completely Montessori since a lot of his stuff has “characters” on them but the idea is the same. Basically we set everything up so he could independently access his self care items like his tooth brush, comb, wash cloths, and potty books. He really loves this set up, and although he has yet to actually go on the potty he will now sit there and follow me into the bathroom easily! He is so proud of himself that he can get into his drawer and brush his own teeth or comb his hair while sitting on his potty seat.
This was so easy to do and it has made such a difference for us in the bathroom! So now that I have his space figured out, I need to really crack down in learning how to teach a child to potty! I decided to go online and try to get some real life advice from mommies on the internet. I connected with a few women from some of my favorite mommy support groups on Facebook, as well as participated in a twitter discussion #PottyPartnership with Alyson Schafer and Today’s Parent. I had asked on Twitter; how do you help a non talker potty train? I received a response back from parenting expert Alyson Schafer stating; to watch for body signals, teach sign language, or wait until they are more verbal. Some other great tips she had posted during that discussion was that the best reward children get is your encouragement of being excited for them. She had also tweeted that you should remain consistent, and not go back and forth with diapers since that could lead to confusion. I also took to facebook to ask some real life mommies potty training advise and also what age they started their child in potty training. here are a few quotes I received from these awesome moms!
“I started Elizabeth when she was about one and a half. I left her naked and when she peed on herself it would splatter all over the floor and on her feet and she hated it.”
-Colbie Walls Rooker, from Hey Mama! Facebook group
Although this sounds super messy and scary, I have found that most moms agree that letting your child feel the wetness helps them to know when to go potty. Most moms that I asked suggested to only use pull-ups at night time. Here’s another quote from a real life mommy!
“My son is eighteen months and potty training. He learned from a young stage what pee and poop are, so now he tells me when he has to go for the most part, but still wears a pull up right now. He gets prizes for telling me he has to go and going on the potty. We have a sticker chart and when the week is full he gets to choose a prize and candy out of the went potty basket. It seems to really be working. He is even starting to try to pull his pull-up down himself to go and runs in the bathroom now.”
-Chelsea Reed, from Momma Chat Dark Edition Facebook group
I love the idea of doing a reward system and it seems like most other moms agree that it works for them! I have set up a sticker chart above Braydon’s potty seat in the bathroom and when each row is filled he gets a Whopper candy. Rewarding a potty training child teaches them to potty with pride and makes them feel more confident.
“I’ve never put an age on when to start training. I’ve just listened to my kids and started teaching when they showed interest. My oldest was completely trained (even stayed dried through the night) by 18 months, and my 2nd born was completely trained by the age of 2. My son just turned 2 and only recently started showing any interest in learning.
When I started potty training I only used pull-ups at night time or long car rides. I found that putting them in training pants vs. pull-ups made them want to use the bathroom and not just use it on themselves. Mainly, because the training pants don’t absorb like pull-ups, and they tend to not like feeling wet.
I found that waiting until they showed interest to be a lot less stressful and time consuming. Although, it is nice to cut out the expense of diapers, it is so much easier training them when they are ready and not forced.
I rewarded my kids for using the potty with prizes or clapping and showing excitement. I’ve personally never disciplined my kids for soiling the bed or having an accident. Their minds don’t work like ours, and they forget or don’t always realize they need to go, until it’s too late. Also, they sleep soundly and their brains don’t always wake them when they need to potty.”
-Alicia Summers Herbert, from Hey Mama! Facebook group
The quote from this last mother really spoke to me because I am always feeling pressure to get my son potty trained, but every child is different and forcing them or punishing them for having an accident is not going to solve anything and will only result in associating the potty with shame and other negative feelings. It also seems that children really do become ready at all different ages, some moms hardly have to suggest it while others have to implement a reward system. Either way, potty training is a messy and stressful time and I hope these tips and tricks help you and me both with teaching our children the joys of pottying in the toilet and independence.
If you found this post helpful or have some of your own potty training tips and tricks you would like to share please leave a comment!! Don’t forget to subscribe and check back often for other parenting posts, recipes, craft ideas, and support!
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Is it safe to double dip?
Is it safe to double dip?
It's not great, and you should avoid doing it yourself, but don't let it fully deter you from diving into that guac.
September 30, 2016 at 11:30AM
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The terrorist inside my husband's brain
The terrorist inside my husband's brain
Robin Williams' wife Susan writes about the little-known neurologic disease that afflicted the actor in the years before his suicide.
September 30, 2016 at 11:30AM
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Harvesting the Season's Pumpkins
With fall in the air and Halloween just weeks away, it’s pumpkin picking time here at my farm! I have a large pumpkin and winter squash patch that's [&hellip...
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Thursday, September 29, 2016
Product Review: Traditional Medicinals Organic Mother's Milk Tea
Traditional Medicinals Mother’s Milk Tea for Healthy Lactation
Those of us who breast feed may eventually find ourselves at the point of worry: Am I making enough milk? Is he getting enough to eat? Will I be able to pump enough this time? How do I increase my supply?
Enter Traditional Medicinals with their amazing Organic Mother’s Milk Tea. This product is by far one of the best lactation teas I have found in the mainstream grocery store. It’s readily available all the time at both of the locations I usually shop at – Publix super markets and Target Superstore – and I believe the price is reasonable. I believe I paid $4.99 for a box of 16 tea bags.
The main ingredient in this tea that promotes lactation is Fenugreek, an herb which is highly regarded when it comes to breast milk production, and which is also related to legumes. The other main ingredient is organic fennel. The tea itself tastes a lot like black licorice – something most people either love, or hate. Personally, I think it tastes fabulous. I love the naturally sweet aroma and flavor from the addition of anise, and the fact that these particular herbs have been used for centuries around the world to promote healthy lactation. This is important to me because it tells me that this tea isn’t just a money maker that offers false promise; on the contrary, it really does work wonders.
The box says to pour 8 oz. of freshly boiled water over the tea bag and to cover the cup, allowing it to steam for 10 minutes or so. This is much longer than the average time in which you would steep a regular tea bag, but this is to ensure the optimum flavor and as much of the herbs as possible are infused into the water. Once it has steeped for the recommended 10 minutes, squeeze every last bit of deliciousness into the cup, wasting nothing. Then, drink up. You ca have up to 5 cups of this tea per day to promote healthy lactation. The best part? It’s naturally caffeine free and therefore completely safe for you and baby.
I have found my supply has nearly doubled from drinking 3 cups of this tea every day. A double in volume from a tea alone is pretty spectacular, in my opinion!
Women who have an allergy to the parsley family, or the daisy family, should not consume this tea.
I love to brew a hot cup of Mother’s Milk as often as I get a chance – which, let’s be honest – with a 7 month old isn’t always the easiest thing in the world. But, on the rare occasion I do get to enjoy just a few minutes to myself, either late at night or while taking the rare bath with candles, I will always have a fresh cup by my side.
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CDC Urges Americans To Get A Flu Shot As Soon As Possible
CDC Urges Americans To Get A Flu Shot As Soon As Possible
Federal health officials are urging all Americans to get their flu shots as soon as possible, and are especially concerned that too few elderly people are getting vaccinated.
September 29, 2016 at 07:03PM
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Sometimes Puberty Doesn't Hit Until 27, And Other Facts
Sometimes Puberty Doesn't Hit Until 27, And Other Facts
Welcome To What We Learned This Week, a digest of the most curiously important facts from the past few days. This week: What it's like to be a late, late, late bloomer, the iPhone 6 Plus' "touchscreen disease" is real and why you should never, ever, share earbuds.
September 29, 2016 at 06:29PM
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Will The Next Pandemic Come From... Bushmeat?
Will The Next Pandemic Come From... Bushmeat?
Bushmeat, from wild animals captured for food, is a staple in parts of Africa and a delicacy in Europe and beyond. And it could be the source of the next major infectious disease.
September 29, 2016 at 06:27PM
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These Medical Terms Still Bear the Mark of the Third Reich
These Medical Terms Still Bear the Mark of the Third Reich
Once terms are well-established in the medical community, it’s impractical to make them vanish right away.
September 29, 2016 at 05:37PM
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Your Digestive Track Has Its Own Brain
Your Digestive Track Has Its Own Brain
And the microbes in your gut are deciding how happy and hungry you are. Time to get your Jamie Lee Curtis on.
September 29, 2016 at 04:00PM
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Can Money Buy You the Perfect Diet?
Can Money Buy You the Perfect Diet?
The website, splashy and white, promised locally sourced, plant-based meals, and it cost $420 for five days, about four times as much as I spend on my weekly meals. It was clear to me that I wasn’t just subscribing to a food service, I was signing up for a lifestyle, an aesthetic.
September 29, 2016 at 02:00PM
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Why Silicon Valley Is Obsessed With Blood
Why Silicon Valley Is Obsessed With Blood
Beyond our macabre associations, scientists and startups are investigating the power of blood to combat degenerative diseases. But don't get carried away, just yet.
September 29, 2016 at 02:00PM
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Edging the Carriage Roads at My Farm
Early fall is a great time to start on all those lawn maintenance chores. Here at my farm, my outdoor grounds crew is busy edging all the interior [&hellip...
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The First Documented Case of Zika Spread by Physical Contact
The First Documented Case of Zika Spread by Physical Contact
It appears the virus was spread through the tears or sweat of a patient with a particularly severe infection.
September 29, 2016 at 08:36AM
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Wednesday, September 28, 2016
Scientists watch an immune system fight the flu in real time
Scientists watch an immune system fight the flu in real time
To date, biologists have typically had to study the progress of a virus through indirect means, such as studying the antibodies — actually tracking the viruses themselves has been difficult. However, researchers say they've found a way to follow the progress of a virus in real time.
September 28, 2016 at 07:57PM
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The Things You Should And Shouldn’t Share With Pals
The Things You Should And Shouldn’t Share With Pals
Towels, toothbrushes and even bars of soap: these are the things you should and should not share with friends.
September 28, 2016 at 06:58PM
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Here’s What We Actually Know About What Gadgets Do To Our Bodies
Here’s What We Actually Know About What Gadgets Do To Our Bodies
More people are using more devices more often than ever before. Increasingly, that’s a pain point.
September 28, 2016 at 06:07PM
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The biggest lingering questions about SpaceX's Mars colonization plans
The biggest lingering questions about SpaceX's Mars colonization plans
Musk might have explained the transportation side of things, but he failed to address the most important part of bringing humans to mars: the people.
September 28, 2016 at 04:01PM
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You're Probably Gonna Die A Very Boring, Shitty Death
You're Probably Gonna Die A Very Boring, Shitty Death
You probably won't die in a jumbo jet crash or get mauled by a hippo or in a rocket launch, according to statistics. That said, you weren't statistically supposed to ever be born so maybe you'll buck the odds yet again.
September 28, 2016 at 01:31PM
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Bippity Boppity Pregnancy Freebees!
If you don’t already know, I am expecting baby number 2 at the beginning of January! While researching where I wanted to set up my registry I found out that target offers you a free swag bag upon signing up for a registry with them! I set my registry up online and then went into target to their customer service department and told the lady I had just set up my registry and would like a swag bag. She handed me the bag and that was that! Inside there was a sample pack of honest company diapers and wipes, a bottle, a pacifier, several foil packet samples for diaper creams, coupons and lots more goodies!
After Target I decided to go and check out Babies R Us and they were so helpful and accommodating that I decided to register there as well! It was so much fun going through and “beeping” all the cute baby stuff with their fancy little pricing gun. When I went to turn in my “beeper” the sales rep told me she had some goodies for me and I was like, “heck yeah!” So she went and grabbed me a cute little paper bag full of more Freebee goodies including another bottle, breast feeding samples, more coupons and foil packs! Who doesn’t love free stuff?! Especially baby stuff!! Target doesn’t advertise their swag bag so you have to ask for it at customer service, so if you are registering at target I strongly recommend going into the store and picking up your free bag!
A couple other places to find free baby items are through companies directly, Infamel sent me several samples of formula just for signing up with their email list. You can get a free months trial of honest company supplies by signing up on their website as well, so do your research and contact companies for more Freebees! If you enjoyed this post please like and subscribe, leave me a comment if you have any questions or feedback.
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Gearing up for "Tot School" Apples, hygiene, and independence!
Since fall has just started and my son is going to be 3 in January I thought it would be a good time to start some “tot school” and home preschool activities with him. My goal with this is to not only give him a head start in academic areas but to also boost his independence, confidence, and life skills. Since his little brother will also be showing up in January we need to really crack down on his vocabulary and teach him some responsibly before he becomes a big brother!
For our first couple of weeks of “tot school” I wanted to start with a couple basic themes, so I decided to base our activities around ”Apples” for the letter A and “Hygiene” because he is also potty training. Our activities include listening to theme based music on our Spotify (ex. Bath time radio, healthy habits station). Our book of the week is “Mickey’s Alphabet Soup” so I read that to him during story time and any other time he gravitates towards the books. I set up two activities for him that encourage sensory exploration, literacy, sorting, fine motor skills, colors, and counting.
Activity 1 – Pom Pom sorting
Excuse Braydon’s Tarzan ways! Potty training boys require little to no clothes, the beauty of raising boys! Anyway, this activity is taking him some getting use to since he isn’t very familiar with sorting activities. There are a lot of ways to set this activity up; you could use it to introduce colors, numbers and counting, and/or fine motor skills. Right now I just let him play around with it and see what he does (mostly sorting with his hands and examining the tongs), after a while I will encourage more structure with it but as of now he’s just becoming familiar with it and is having fun. This activity is super simple and cheap to put together, all you need is a marker, some pompoms (dollar tree sells them!), coffee filters, tongs or scooping utensil, and a tray if you want to keep the activity more contained.
Activity 2 – Salt Tray Tracing
Now this activity is one of his favorites! It holds his attention and is stimulating his senses with touch. All I did was spread some salt on a plate, place it next to a print out of the letter “A”, drew with my finger the letters in the salt, and let him explore! Of course he wasn’t drawing perfect letters, but he was repeating how to say the letter and doodling with his finger. The key in introducing new activities while trying to educate your kiddo’s is to not force the activity on them, let them have fun and ask questions! (And trust me they will!) they are learning whether it seems that way or not children are like sponges and they absorb so much just through play.
Later this week I will have a couple of our fall kids crafts posted as well as our trip to a local apple orchard! If you like this post or have comments, questions, or any other input please comment below! Don’t forget to subscribe for more fun home preschool/tot school updates!
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