Author: Blog-admin

Yep…..sportin the shades!

 

How do I keep up with this inquiring mind and voracious appetite for learning? I have noticed that her play area (s) is filled with toys from when she was only 4-6 months old. It’s time to rotate and learn what she can thrive on. Yes, I have been given some amazing toys and gadgets, but I need to understand what is age appropriate and opportunistic for learning. Plus, when she is in her lobster, she gets bored easily, and I want her to learn to entertain herself instead of relying on everyone around her to keep her entertained. (Although she does recover quickly and make the most of her time)

I scoured blogs and various mommy sites to see what is working for others out there (Thank goodness for other minds since I’m clueless!) Then, I decided to create little “boxes” for each area of the house and just rotate, adding new toys as she grows. Some things I have around the house!
Here are some ideas I discovered:
1. Tape down some wax paper on the island (while she is in her lobster) and let her fingerpaint with pudding or yogurt. I can also tape down paper and get some crayons teaching her to draw!

2. Various puzzles and nested cups keep her occupied and teach her spatial relationships.

3.Empty mini boxes and bandaid boxes. Plus I can add stickers and let her learn to stick things! I figured mini-post-it note tabs too.

4. I am going to make some playdough which does not require cooking: flour, salt, oil and water and food coloring. She can make shapes and I can give her some pasta to make designs.

5. Various mini-pots and pans with lids, whisks, spoons…etc.

6. One of my old purses with lots of zippers..fill with compact, plastic keys, mirror…She loves to rifle through my things!

I am adding to this every day! I have to continue to learn how to help her learn!! 🙂

Here are some of her boxes. I have a ways to go! Today, I am going to get some crayons and a few other accessories for her to play with!

Work in progress to keep up with the Tot!

Trying to find foods Tatum can chew, I’ve been experimenting with all types of veggies. Of course the old stand-by of mashed banana has worked, but now she begs for her green beans and peas. She even said “apo” today when I ate my apple. They have to be canned however since she only has four teeth! Today, we tried edamame and HOORAY! Success 🙂

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So far, she is downing the mozzarella sticks, chicken breast pieces, pasta (I buy the mac and cheese and just make the noodles and then I just add a wee bit of tomato sauce for flavor), sweet potato bits and butternut squash bits.

Well, if she has mastered the finger action, one can assume a fork should not be so difficult. Banana on a fork! She felt so grown up and wanted to do it herself.

All gone!!

She’s whisking up some concoction in her little lobster. I love this little seat! Anyway, she is now in transition into finger foods. This is difficult because now I don’t get to hold her as much! Before, I spent meal times spooning the baby food and holding her bottle. Now, she is moving into more independence and this means ….well, it means so much!

First, what the heck do I feed a one-year old? Before, I just went to the baby aisle and VOILA! All the meals are complete and idiot-proof. Plus, they were pure and preservative free. Now, I have to think and plan. So, what did I do? I perused multiple blogs, websites and AAPA to find what were her needs at this age. Then, I met with Mary and Marla at Temple Chai to see what this would look like at school so we were on the same page. Tatum is just learning to chew so this has not been the simplest of transitions. We have to peel each pea since she spits this part out anyway. Also, the various textures sometimes make her wince! (Ex..egg yolk, broccoli, apple)

We finally got it down to an approximate menu. She needs about 1000 cals/day, and this cannot be more than a 1/3 from milk. I won’t give juice, so she must now get adequate veggies, fruits, grains and protein.

Breakfast:

One scrambled egg, 4-8oz milk, 1/2 banana or other fruit

or 1/2 cup oatmeal made with milk mixed with banana + 4 oz milk

Snack:

Choices: graham cracker, cheerios, fruit cup, string cheese cubes, carrots/peas/beans mix + 4 oz milk, 1/2 whole wheat muffin (pick two but include a veggie or fruit) not too much sweet..

Lunch:

Diced chicken + veggies + 4 oz milk

Snack: See above (with 4oz milk)

Dinner:

Rice or pasta

chicken or ground turkey

veggies (edamame?)

I want to try quinoa with her too!

Her tendency is to want to drink only her baba with milk from her bottle. Forget the cup or anything else besides milk. I have to be persistent in trying other ideas like water and having this in a real cup.

In the meantime, I am enjoying introducing her to new foods. Her palate seems to be pretty diverse at this point 🙂

 

 

It’s been a tough few weeks, I must admit. Tough because Tatum has been sick off and on (more on than off) and with the house in remodel mode (which includes a myriad of obstacles that come with disorder in house), I’m truly spent.

Coming out of Christmas was so refreshing because Tatum finally was getting better. She’s exhibiting her adorableness in her mutterings of “baba, mama, lala…”…etc. Plus, her wobbling as she attempts to take steps is so cute! She’s so close! The bottle (and of course her bear, Coti’s ball and her blankie are close seconds) and all start with B! Baba…

 

My heart just overflows as I watch her enjoy her little attachments. It shows me that she has a big heart as well and loves to love! What a wonderful quality; the ability to pour out love and to love another. She also is attached to me which (I admit) warms my heart. The nice thing is that she recovers quickly and jumps right back into her playing. This is showing her resilience, I hope! So coming back to school this week was difficult. Dropping her off at Temple Chai, although l adore the place and the people, she did not want me to leave her 🙁 BUT, what made it all better?
Marla. Thank you Marla! Tatum is now in the 1-year room with Alex, Will and Malea, and she is thriving in there! Marla is so good with the kids. I can walk away knowing she is in wonderful hands.

The week was going swimmingly as I was accomplishing my work, getting caught up, knowing Tatum was doing great, and the house was getting finished. Then, 3:30, Wednesday, Marla called to tell me Tatum threw up twice and has a fever of 100! WHAT!? Not again. So, she is home today with my mom (THANK YOU MOM!!)

This brings me to a needed reminder of his love. This morning when I awoke, I had a million things to accomplish before I left for work. Of course, I had to get ready, but more importantly, I had to make sure Tatum’s food was ready for the day; that she had somewhere to play in the house since my mom can’t carry her very easily; that all of her needs were taken care of before I left, basically. Plus, I had to get Coti fed and walked. Nothing was easy because I also am getting a cold, so I feel like a bus hit my body. As I walked outside with Coti on leash, my head was down and my mind was racing with tasks tasks tasks…I then looked up and saw it. It was the most gorgeous sunrise filled with a prism of red, purple and pink colors. WOW! It was such a reminder of not only HIS providence and power, but His love. He made this beautiful sky, and He loves us so much to paint it for us. I needed to focus on THIS and not ME and MY problems.

Do I focus on what is good; what is pure; what is lovely; what is righteous? Or do I focus on the negative. It’s a choice….every day.