Of course, Dolly had to come too!
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Baby This Week: 32 weeks
By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.
Toddler This Week: 19 Months, Week 4
You're no doubt getting plenty of unsolicited advice on disciplining your child from relatives, friends, and even strangers. It's understandable if you're confused: Is occasional spanking ever okay? Do time-outs work at this age? How many rules can your child handle?
Whatever approach you adopt, child behavior experts say that consistency coupled with unconditional love is the key to raising a confident, well-behaved child.
What does discipline mean to you? Your definition of this fundamental part of parenting will determine your approach to it. If you think of disciplining your child as training him to do what you want him to do, you will be frustrated. On the other hand, if you think of discipline as teaching your child the limits of acceptable behavior, you will help him develop into a responsible and independent person. To cut down on power struggles as your toddler strives for independence, make sure you treat him the way you'd like to be treated. Try compromise instead of commands — he'll respond more amicably. "You can't go outside right now," you might say if it's time for a nap instead, "but we can read a book now and take a nap and go outside later." Instead of "You must pick up the blocks before dinner," make it "I'll pick up the puzzle pieces if you pick up the blocks."
What you can do
• Establish rules, but keep them simple and limit yourself to a few — a toddler isn't capable of keeping track of more than a few basic expectations. Make your enforcement of household rules consistent.
• Maintain a sense of humor. Remember that your toddler is a work in progress and you can't expect him to always act the way you want him to.
• Spanking does not teach children anything but fear, and that aggression is a way to solve problems.
• You must find ways of setting limits (and use your words) to assure him that even when he is doing something you don't want him to do you still love and accept him. You can kindly and firmly stop him from hurting himself or someone else by saying, "No, I can't let you do that," and remove him physically from the sandbox or top of the couch, and then reassure him that you love him.
While every child operates on his own sleep schedule, the average toddler sleeps between ten and 13 hours a day. By 19 months most children have given up their morning nap, but still sleep for about two hours in the afternoon. If you find that even one nap rejuvenates your toddler to the point that he won't go down at night without a fight, you might opt to trade afternoon "quiet" time, reading or playing quietly indoors, for a nap. Even a tired toddler will try to postpone bedtime, at least occasionally. He loves being with you, and once he realizes that going to bed means he's missing out on some household action, he'll test you with a variety of delay tactics. "More books," "Drink of water," and "Sing a song" are common refrains. These antics may be amusing at first, but they will quickly grow tiresome. Your best bet is to find a bedtime routine, such as a bath, a story, and a song, that works, and stick with it. Does your toddler still sleep contentedly in his crib? Count your blessings! He may be perfectly happy to go down in his crib until well past his second birthday. Or he may be such a determined climber that he's already discovered he can scale the side rails — much to your dismay. To make crib-hopping as difficult as possible, be sure to remove the padded bumper and any stuffed animals or other toys that your child could use to give him a leg up and over; the mattress should also be set on the lowest level by now. Since crib climbers are at risk for injury, if your child refuses to stay in his crib you may have to put him into a bed. Or you could invest in a crib "tent," a mesh cover (they're used in hospitals) designed to keep a toddler safely in his crib.
-BabyCenter.com
What does discipline mean to you? Your definition of this fundamental part of parenting will determine your approach to it. If you think of disciplining your child as training him to do what you want him to do, you will be frustrated. On the other hand, if you think of discipline as teaching your child the limits of acceptable behavior, you will help him develop into a responsible and independent person. To cut down on power struggles as your toddler strives for independence, make sure you treat him the way you'd like to be treated. Try compromise instead of commands — he'll respond more amicably. "You can't go outside right now," you might say if it's time for a nap instead, "but we can read a book now and take a nap and go outside later." Instead of "You must pick up the blocks before dinner," make it "I'll pick up the puzzle pieces if you pick up the blocks."
What you can do
• Establish rules, but keep them simple and limit yourself to a few — a toddler isn't capable of keeping track of more than a few basic expectations. Make your enforcement of household rules consistent.
• Maintain a sense of humor. Remember that your toddler is a work in progress and you can't expect him to always act the way you want him to.
• Spanking does not teach children anything but fear, and that aggression is a way to solve problems.
• You must find ways of setting limits (and use your words) to assure him that even when he is doing something you don't want him to do you still love and accept him. You can kindly and firmly stop him from hurting himself or someone else by saying, "No, I can't let you do that," and remove him physically from the sandbox or top of the couch, and then reassure him that you love him.
While every child operates on his own sleep schedule, the average toddler sleeps between ten and 13 hours a day. By 19 months most children have given up their morning nap, but still sleep for about two hours in the afternoon. If you find that even one nap rejuvenates your toddler to the point that he won't go down at night without a fight, you might opt to trade afternoon "quiet" time, reading or playing quietly indoors, for a nap. Even a tired toddler will try to postpone bedtime, at least occasionally. He loves being with you, and once he realizes that going to bed means he's missing out on some household action, he'll test you with a variety of delay tactics. "More books," "Drink of water," and "Sing a song" are common refrains. These antics may be amusing at first, but they will quickly grow tiresome. Your best bet is to find a bedtime routine, such as a bath, a story, and a song, that works, and stick with it. Does your toddler still sleep contentedly in his crib? Count your blessings! He may be perfectly happy to go down in his crib until well past his second birthday. Or he may be such a determined climber that he's already discovered he can scale the side rails — much to your dismay. To make crib-hopping as difficult as possible, be sure to remove the padded bumper and any stuffed animals or other toys that your child could use to give him a leg up and over; the mattress should also be set on the lowest level by now. Since crib climbers are at risk for injury, if your child refuses to stay in his crib you may have to put him into a bed. Or you could invest in a crib "tent," a mesh cover (they're used in hospitals) designed to keep a toddler safely in his crib.
-BabyCenter.com
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Maternity Session Part I
31 weeks, 3 days pregnant
So I've been doing a lot of photography lately, and I figured I'd try to do my own maternity photos with my sister Cathy's help. She was wonderful! She was so patient and did everything exactly as I asked - and more! I would have her stand where I would stand, I would set up the shot, program the settings in the camera and then we'd switch spots. Worked great! She captured exactly what I was looking for! I'm so happy with how these turned out! Thanks so much, Cathy! xoxo!
So I've been doing a lot of photography lately, and I figured I'd try to do my own maternity photos with my sister Cathy's help. She was wonderful! She was so patient and did everything exactly as I asked - and more! I would have her stand where I would stand, I would set up the shot, program the settings in the camera and then we'd switch spots. Worked great! She captured exactly what I was looking for! I'm so happy with how these turned out! Thanks so much, Cathy! xoxo!
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Mila's Wheels!
Lately, Mila has really gotten into dressing up Dolly, so much so, that she's even trying to put her own clothes on Dolly! So we thought it'd be a good idea to get her some doll clothes for her to play. Well, we went to Toys R Us for doll clothes and left with this...
a Powerwheel! It was 40% off! It was too good to pass up!
Of course, Dolly was in the driver's seat!
a Powerwheel! It was 40% off! It was too good to pass up!
Of course, Dolly was in the driver's seat!
Dolly checking under the hood
Dolly taking it for a spin!
Uh oh... Dolly's asleep at the wheel!
Friday, August 19, 2011
Pretend Play: Grocery Shopping
Daddy came up with this great game for Mila - grocery shopping! We set up "groceries" around the house, which consists mostly of her toy fruits and vegetables, as well as some empty boxes and containers of oatmeal, puffs and baby cereal, and she goes around the apartment with her shopping cart and she "shops."
Full shopping cart!
Looking for her wallet
Paying at the "register" with her "credit card"... cha-ching!
Packing up the groceries in the grocery bag
All ready to go!
Out for a Walk
Mila is soooo sweet! When we go out for a walk, she insists on holding both of our hands. I love it!
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Baby This Week: 31 Weeks
This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. She weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. She can turn her head from side to side, and her arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath her skin. She's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Toddler This Week: 19 Months, Week3
Now that your toddler can sit still for longer periods of time, reading together is more fun than ever. Asking your child to point to objects on a page is a good way to find out how much she understands, even if she can't say the words yet. And she may be able to pick out differences between similar things, like a red and a yellow balloon or a big and a small truck. Don't worry if your child doesn't say many words: A vocabulary of anywhere between ten and 50 words is normal for this stage of development.
19 to 24 Months By now, your child can understand simple questions such as "Do you want more milk?" Though he may only be using 50 to 75 words, he actually understands as many as 200 of them and is capable of paying attention to what you say. Around this time he'll start showing off his knowledge by putting together simple sentences. These sentences will likely consist of a noun and a verb and be directly related to his life, like "Dog bark" or "Go car." When you're reading a picture book to your child, ask him to point out particular items. You'll be pleasantly surprised when he can pick out a cow or a duck. Though he may not use the word in his own speech, he knows what it is. Your child is also beginning to understand that his wants may not necessarily converge with yours. When you disagree with him — perhaps over which toy you want to play with during your afternoon play session — he'll understand that you may have a different favorite toy than he does. He may start to feel possessive of his favorites, letting you know which toys he thinks are "his." He'll also try to assert himself — folding his arms resolutely under his armpits when you want him to hold your hand, for example.
-BabyCenter.com
19 to 24 Months By now, your child can understand simple questions such as "Do you want more milk?" Though he may only be using 50 to 75 words, he actually understands as many as 200 of them and is capable of paying attention to what you say. Around this time he'll start showing off his knowledge by putting together simple sentences. These sentences will likely consist of a noun and a verb and be directly related to his life, like "Dog bark" or "Go car." When you're reading a picture book to your child, ask him to point out particular items. You'll be pleasantly surprised when he can pick out a cow or a duck. Though he may not use the word in his own speech, he knows what it is. Your child is also beginning to understand that his wants may not necessarily converge with yours. When you disagree with him — perhaps over which toy you want to play with during your afternoon play session — he'll understand that you may have a different favorite toy than he does. He may start to feel possessive of his favorites, letting you know which toys he thinks are "his." He'll also try to assert himself — folding his arms resolutely under his armpits when you want him to hold your hand, for example.
-BabyCenter.com
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Baby This Week: 30 weeks
Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.) Toddler This Week: 19 Months, Week 2
Toddlers love to feel like they're making an important contribution to any activity, and chores around the house are no exception. You may find your child's help makes chores more fun for both of you — or you may find yourself dismayed by how long it takes to get anything done. To avoid frustration, save important tasks for times when your toddler is asleep or away. When he's around, let him help with small chores like putting his plastic cup and bowl into the dishwasher, or tossing wet clothes into the dryer.
As you've observed, your child has learned much by imitation and is interested in doing many of the things he sees you do — especially if the jobs seem important. He may insist on helping you wash the car, empty the dishwasher, fold laundry, and so on. His desire to help, as you know, far outweighs his ability, but the more you insist that you don't need his assistance, the more he'll demand "Me do it!" So your challenge is to find ways to let him in on the act. Toddlers don't see the difference between work and play, so you might as well encourage him to help you while he's willing.
Let your toddler toss the dirty clothes and dump the scoop of detergent into the washing machine, for instance, or give him a rag so he can clean the tires on the car (or better yet, let him hold the hose — always thrilling for a child). Show him how to put dirty spoons into the silverware basket in the dishwasher, or stow his plastic plates and cups in a low cupboard so that when you're emptying the dishwasher he can put those things away himself.
-BabyCenter.com
As you've observed, your child has learned much by imitation and is interested in doing many of the things he sees you do — especially if the jobs seem important. He may insist on helping you wash the car, empty the dishwasher, fold laundry, and so on. His desire to help, as you know, far outweighs his ability, but the more you insist that you don't need his assistance, the more he'll demand "Me do it!" So your challenge is to find ways to let him in on the act. Toddlers don't see the difference between work and play, so you might as well encourage him to help you while he's willing.
Let your toddler toss the dirty clothes and dump the scoop of detergent into the washing machine, for instance, or give him a rag so he can clean the tires on the car (or better yet, let him hold the hose — always thrilling for a child). Show him how to put dirty spoons into the silverware basket in the dishwasher, or stow his plastic plates and cups in a low cupboard so that when you're emptying the dishwasher he can put those things away himself.
-BabyCenter.com
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Ft. Lauderdale Museum of Discovery and Science
We went to the Ft. Lauderdale Museum of Discovery and Science today with my dad, Cathy, Cindy and Justin. So fun! They had tons of things to do for kids, and even toddlers.
There was an aquarium where we saw lots of fish and even sea turtles!
There was an aviation section
Cathy flying in the wind tunnel
Mila in the wind tunnel
My dad and I in the kids animation exhibit
Mila and Daddy in the sound booth
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