Joys? of Toddlerhood

Question.....

Why don’t ‘experienced’ parents ever tell the 'newbies' about the “joys” (heavy on the sarcasm here..) of toddlerhood?

I read the What To Expect book, I excitedly discussed my growing bump with friends, we chatted about our cute & charming newborns,we gushed about our lovable, adorable & pudgy lil infants…but that’s where the convos ended. Maybe it’s because I’m back at work and barely have time to score a hot date with the Hubby or do any baking (my favorite relaxing hobby), let alone have adult time with other parents to discuss/compare/commiserate our lil monsters...

Now that I'm moving out of the newbie phase I have compiled some info that I've learned and would like to share with all the preggers and parenting newbies out there. 

The Joys of TODDLERHOOD
(and keep in mind, I have not even successfully made it to E's 2nd bday yet.....)

1. They will have 200+ colds within the 1st year at Daycare

I was pretty much beside myself the 1^st few months back at work.. I knew “E” would get sick, pick up gross germs and random bugs from his daycare buddies..BUT SERIOUSLY – sick every 2 weeks! Gah! A-n-n-o-y-i-n-g! I’m pretty sure my boss/work thought I was making up the illnesses just to stay home from work 

 2. They will manage to give themselves pink eye (numerous times) by rubbing their own snot in their eye (during the night.)

A face only a mother could love

3. They will hit and bite

I was clearly delusional in thinking that since we don’t discipline by spanking or biting (obviously!) – my kid wouldn’t do these awful things either - WRONG!

4.  They will not share

Share!? Ok..when you were pregnant did you ever think stop to think about how you were going to teach your kid to share?? I know, right? I totally didn't! Any tips would be helpful

 5. They will learn "NO", "DON'T" and "MINE" way before "YES" and "PLEASE"

I’m pretty sure NO was “E’s” 3^rd or 4^th word, he's now perfecting MINE and this month’s new word is DON’T.. We are on a roll!

6. They will not care if they sit in their own poop, even if you offer to change it

"E" is 23mths and has developed a lovely new habit we call “closet pooper”

7. They will put up a fight every time they get their diaper changed

Apparently I’m the lucky winner of this battle. He does not do this for anyone else. Lucky me!

8.  They will learn to give you the stink eye and roll their eyes before they are 2!

Mid Eye Roll

Classic Stink Eye

9. Will say mom, mum, MOMMA, moooooom more than you think is possible - in a 5 minute span

Enough said

 10. Will develop a complete hatred for food that he absolutely loved yesterday

          WTF? 

TO DO:

* Get cold meds & Kleenex..Another cold has hit our house...

* Read up on tips on how to get your kid to eat more than just PB&J

* Pick up some wine - it's going to be a long year..

Love my lil man but I strongly believe toddlers should come with warnings!

What would you share with parent newbies about toddlers?

Kid Art Hoarding

I’ve got a confession…My name is Ashley (crowd shouts in unison “Hi Ashley”)
My reply: I’m a kid art hoarder.

Well in all fairness, I’ve inherited them back from my mom’s crawlspace where they’ve lived for over 20yrs. I’ve already pitched a ton of it but I just can’t bring myself to toss out the last folder of junk art that’s about 20+ years ago. WHY!?, why can’t I do it!!?

I can just see it now…20 years from now, I will be buried under E’s collection of art.. 

 Don't get me wrong, I love that our lil man does a themed art project EVERYDAY at daycare but C’MON Teacher! Where am I going to store all of the little cutouts, overpainted, scribbled, ripped and random but cute projects in our tiny little house? (“The Mommy guilt” kicks in everytime I try to pitch’em..)

E's Recent Art

Dragon Mask for Chinese New Year/Puffy Paint and sparkles

Learning about China/Fingerpaint

Windmill painted with Marbles

I found the perfect solution! I will display them for a week,
Then I’ll add the artwork to a DIGITAL ART BOOK where they can live clutter free forever & ever!

(Photo source: A Little of This-A little of That ) 

http://alittleofthis---alittleofthat.blogspot.com/2010/11/diy-kids-art-display.html

I’ve been documenting E’s first 22mths in a digital photo album made on Blurb @Blurbbooks

I heart Blurb! It’s free to download & create books, the pricing is decent, shipping is pretty fast and the quality of the books are AMAZING!! (PS this is not a sponsored post - just pure, honest love!)

Check out a sampling of his ‘1^st year’ book here (professional photos are done by the lovely, talented Jacqueline Clement/Method Photography)

E's -1st yr | http://www.blurb.com

To Do’s

*Photograph E’s recent Art

*Start a new Blurb Book for his mounting kiddo artwork pile

*Display ‘said’ art

*Pitch last week’s art – With NO Mommy guilt!

Do Naked Crayons Look Uptight?

With The Hubby away this past week (living it up attending a work conference in New Orleans, LA) I wanted to spend some bonding time with the lil man and make some Valentine’s Day gifts for his new friends at daycare.

What’s a good, non-banana, non-peanut, non-dairy, non-egg..non…non..non thing to make for kiddos under 5? (No freakin' idea..) I figured all the parents were going to overload the daycare center in allergen free cookies/treats, so I didn’t want to follow suit.

I decided to be that cool/different Mom and made Crayon Hearts. (Inspired by Creative Mommas)

(Initially this was supposed to be a Toddler Valentine’s craft idea, however after I did the trial run the night before.. I just didn’t see it going well with "E"…. Exacto Knife – just screams danger! Having my almost 2 year old see me rip off crayon labels and break up crayons…Not a chance!!)

I gathered all my supplies: 4 boxes (24pc) crayons (not chunky crayons), heart shaped candy/plastic muffin molds, Valentine’s Baggies, Exacto knife, labels, bottle of red wine
Yields: approx. 32 small heart heart

Use Exacto to carefully slice off the crayon labels. (I found slicing along the seam worked best. Also recommended, do this part before glass #2.)

Is it just me or do naked crayons look uptight?

Heat oven to 265

Break up each crayon into 4-5 pcs

Put 2 or 3 colors in the each mold*.

*Too many colors doesn’t turn out as nice

Put molds on a cookie sheet

Cook for 10-12 (depending on your oven & thickness of crayon/thickness of melted crayon.)

CAREFULLY/S-L-O-W-L-Y lift out the cookie sheet. (You don’t want the melted crayon to swoosh around/up the sides of the mold)

Let sit until cool/hardened

Pop out of mold

Things I figured out:

• The brighter crayons turn out nicer.. The dark browns, grays, blues – not so much.
• I would recommend layering the crayons approx. 2 high as in the photo for a thicker/more robust crayon.
• Buy more than 2 molds so you can make the whole batch @ one time

Coolin'

Aren't they beauts!

Check out the other craft I did do with our toddler: Mail A Hug

To Do’s
* Package crayons in Valentines baggies

* Bring the little gifts to his daycare on Monday