Filed under: Moms, Adventures in Parenting, Childproofing, Walking, Exploring

My family and I were sitting around after dinner last night, popping leftover Christmas chocolates and enjoying the crackle of the fireplace, the tranquil pellets of rain hitting and dissolving into the ocean. Nolan was in his felt pajamas, hugging the dogs and lumbering around the cabin.

I watched him stumble toward the coffee table, and opened my mouth helplessly as I realized that he was going too fast. I reached out helplessly as he tripped on the carpet edge and his eye met the edge of the table with a horrifying crack. Almost immediately, his eye puffed out, red and then purple and black within minutes.

He was fine, easily distracted with a few kisses and a sippy cup. And then I thought, oh, god, a black eye. He always has bumps and scrapes and bruises and now a honking, angry black eye has taken over the whole right side of his face.

Nolan is so unsteady and so accident prone (as I was as a kid); he always has a gash, scrape or bruise. I am paranoid, I know, but I always wonder if people see me with him and wonder if I am negligent, or worse, causing his scrapes. Should I awkwardly explain when strangers stare at him appraisingly? Should I pretend I don't notice the looks?

I think most toddlers go through an awkward stage, and in this time of accusation and critical parenting, I hope to high heaven that no one silently wonders if I have caused his pain.

I am hoping this is an awkward phase, like teenage pimples or the terrible twos. Either that or I need to develop my reflexes.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Read the Full Story Here

Filed under: Feeding & Nutrition, Moms, Dads, Aunts and Uncles, Grandparents, Eating, Marketing to kids

I could have told you this ages ago! But, instead of asking me, the The University of Iowa and University of Michigan health system took a look at what people who live with kids eat. The study showed that "adults living with children ate an extra 4.9 grams of fat daily, including 1.7 grams of saturated fat. Adults living with children also were found to be more likely to eat high-fat foods and snacks."

The researchers claim that this is most likely to do with what's in the fridge and pantry of the average kid household. Snacks, convenience foods, and foods that are marketed to kids, like hot dogs, mac and cheese, and pizza, are generally high in fat. Even though we know it's junk, it's hard to resist that stuff when it's around. Raise your hand if you ever finish off the rest of the mac and cheese or have the last slice of pizza, even when you think it's revolting. (Or, maybe that's just me?)

I do try, though, to keep healthier stuff around. These days my kids are happily snacking on tangerines, raw nuts in the shell (why is it so fun to use the nutcracker? it just is, I suppose) and red bell peppers. What good-for-everyone snacks do you recommend?

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Read the Full Story Here

Filed under: Toys, Children's furniture, Child's room decor

Nicole, over at our sister blog Luxist, has a post up about the BB2 Toy Caddy.

She's certainly right that more toy storage is a welcome thing, especially after the holidays, but since many of us just shelled out the big bucks on gifts, the $250 (U.S. dollars) price tag kinda hurts to look at.

The toy situation at my own house has been steadily getting out of hand for some time, so I finally took some drastic steps. I picked up some inexpensive toy boxes, one for each kid, and about eight big plastic storage bins. First we went through everything, giving away to friends and charity the stuff the kids weren't using. Then, the current favorites went into each child's box and the rest is in storage in the garage.

I think of it as a toy library. They are free to switch up what is in the toy box on a regular basis, but everything has to fit in the box. Exceptions are books, art supplies, and a few (not too many) stuffed animals. It's been so great for the kids and for me. When their rooms start to get messy, I pop my head in and say, "Hey! Time to clean up!" Even if they grumble and drag their feet, they can get their rooms presentable within fifteen minutes.

How is the post-holiday toy storage going at your house?

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Read the Full Story Here

Filed under: Moms, Emotions

I spend an awful lot of time on my computer. Every day, I write posts here, submit the daily best, and conduct a full-time job solely from my computer. I like it: the efficiency, the tracking, the way that I can get tangible things done from my living room or from a cabin in the middle of the Canadian wilderness.

But this week I've reduced my computer time from about 16 hours a day to 2 or 3 max. I am on holiday from my full time job, but I have also streamlined my posting operations so I'm off the computer more quickly and can mingle with family. Truth be told, the dial up sucks, or I might be glued to the screen more.

And I've noticed something about my time away from the computer: the longer I spend away, the more relaxed I become. I am engaging in full conversations, watching small, tender moments with Nolan and his Uncle. I saw a seal's head pop up from the water yesterday...something I know I would never normally see.

I am beginning to suspect that I often sacrifice sacred family moments for too much time on the computer. I know I said yesterday that I don't make New Year's Resolutions, but this one will be small: I resolve to turn off my computer by 8 PM every night so that I can spend more time "in real life."

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Read the Full Story Here

Filed under: Pregnant celebrities, Celebrity babies, Celebrity kids, Rumors, Celebrity parents

Remember when Julia Roberts was queen of Hollywood, making the kind of money that men usually make and turning horrid films like Runaway Bride into hits by virtue of her name on the marquee alone? She let Nicole Kidman have that spot for awhile while she spent time with her twins Phinnaeus Walter and Hazel Patricia, but it was looking like she was back with a hit movie in theaters and another big movie on the way. But now there are reports that Roberts is pregnant with her third child, who will be born next summer. The New York Post's page six is reporting that the pregnancy for the 39-year-old movie star is something of a surprise.

Roberts has reportedly signed to do the film "The Friday Night Knitting Club" and it's unclear how the pregnancy will affect filming. Roberts took so much time off after her first pregnancy, and it's likely that she'll do that again. I say good for her.

Roberts' spokeswoman, Marci Engelman, couldn't be reached for comment.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Read the Full Story Here

Filed under: Media, Pregnancy and Birth

A UK woman stands to gain a significant wad of cash if she has her baby today.

Wendy Legister has three other children, whom she gave birth to on December 26,27 and 28. She's now convinced in the power of the sequence, and has placed a bet on the belief that she'll give birth to her newest arrival on December 29th.

I hope she does win the cash, that's quite an expensive family birthday week!

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Read the Full Story Here

Filed under: Health and Safety, Sleep, 4 years, 5 years, Beds, Willow, Sophia

I wonder how many other families do this? It's a little embarrassing, but my girls sleep on a mattress on their bedroom floor. I know. I feel like a rotten mother. But, the reason is that they used to roll around so much at night, they'd crash out of any bed that was on a frame. Better a mattress on the floor than a head injury.

Now, however, they are a little more stable while they sleep. I told them that it was time to get them real beds, and even showed them the ones I had in mind to see what they thought.

They balked. They want bunk beds. Bunk beds? Aren't you too young? I asked them.

I think what I'll do is try and get this set, which comes apart into two twin beds. That way, if the top bunk proves too challenging we can have two beds a little closer to the ground. My boys do have bunk beds, but the bottom is a double bed, and no one ever sleeps up top. In fact, that is where all the stuffed animals live.

So, readers, do you think that your average kids, ages five and soon-to-be four, can handle a bunk bed? The idea makes me mighty nervous, but they do have lots of experience playing on the boys' bed.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Read the Full Story Here

Filed under: Toddler, Nolan, Baby clothes

We've always dressed Nolan in Robeez - those soft-soled slippers that are flexible and easy to slip on to his slippery little feet. They're excellent for dry climates like ours, but out here they're kind of useless.

Nolan is drawn to puddles like our dog to bad smells, and he wants to jump in puddles and explore the moist grass. The Robeez, even the lined boots, soak through in about 2.3 seconds.

We bought Nolan some little rubber boots yesterday. We made sure they fit and thought he'd love them, but his confusion was palpable. He stood in one place and tried to take a shaky step, only to burst into tears.

He's used to the flexible soles of his familiar shoes, but he can't be wearing Robeez when he's a teenager. This isn't the first time he's rejected other shoes, either - he won't wear running shoes or his "normal" hard sole winter boots.

Have any of you had this problem?

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Read the Full Story Here

Filed under: Sleepover

For tonight's sleepover post I decided to take some advice. I began with a favorite, Finslippy, and picked one site in the blogroll that I'd never been to. Then, I picked another site from that person's list, and then repeated that a couple more times. A little bloggy hopscotch, I think you could say. Honestly, I am afraid to do that as a rule, because I don't have enough time to keep up with all the blogs I already adore; it's scary to add more -- the pressure! But, I found four great new-to-me reads, and a few of the writers I loved to check in on regularly have recently retired, so I think it all balances out. In any event, here's what I have for you:

First I read One Good Thing. This post, about the cat who ate the bar of soap, made me laugh -- out loud, even. "As it turns out, Ivory soap isn't terribly toxic, so we decided if she takes a liking to it, we'd just keep her in the bathroom as a soap dispenser, using her tail for a pump." Now that's the sort of humor that makes me swoon.

From there, I went to Daddy Zine. He's got a great post up about his daughter's creative tree trimming. I may have to try making one of the newly-patented fifteen-minute sock bunnies myself. Also, what a relief to find another parent who loves books, good ones, who also will admit that they let their child watch those creepy Barbie animated things.

Daddy Zine led me to Name That Mama, where I got to laugh again while reading this post about Christmas tree shopping. The Post-birth relationship post is insightful and right on the mark. And I'm now really curious about what, exactly, Big Secret could be.

Last stop tonight is The Twinkies. As a somewhat-recovering attachment parenting mother, I *loved* this post. Starting Solids was great as well, and make sure to watch the video!

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Read the Full Story Here

Filed under: Gear, Health and Safety, Joggers/Strollers/Trailers

Regal Lager Inc., of Kennesaw, Georgia, in cooperation with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, is voluntarily recalling Phil & Teds e3 Strollers with doubles seats. Children riding in the stroller's rear, add-on seat can touch the rear tires. This is an abrasion hazard to the children. The company has received one report of a child who scraped his arm by touching the tire while it was in motion.

The recall is for the e3 Buggy, a three-wheeled stroller with a black frame and assorted colors of fabric. The "Doubles Kit" is a second seat which can be added behind the main seat, allowing a second child to ride. When the seat is mounted on top of the rear axle, a child can reach the wheels. The strollers were sold in baby stores and online from July 2005 through November 2006 for about $380. If you have one of these strollers, do not use the second seat in the lower position where it is mounted on top of the rear axle. Contact Regal Lager for free rear wheel guards to prevent children from reaching the wheels. For more information, contact Regal Lager at (800) 593-5522 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, e-mail the firm at info@regallager.com, or visit the firm's Web site.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Read the Full Story Here