Free day at "Disneyland"

I have to share this. I was told by a friend and I didn't know so there may be other California families who don't know either.

You can go to Disney.com and register everyone for a free day on their birthday to Disneyland in 2009. Have an adult register first then register and add your children. This is cool because it gives you depending on your family size a few options on when to go and get one ticket for free.

I hope it help some of you plan a fun trip. We took my 3 year old the day before her birthday last year because kids are free until they turn 3 anyway. She had so much fun. So now we can go, maybe for her birthday this year, too. and my youngest will almost be 3 so the kids will both be free.

I just wanted to share because a free ticket can make a difference and Disneyland is always memorable and fun for all ages. We go almost entirely for Pirates of the Caribbean.

Well, Happy 2009 to all and enjoy your children.

A must see movie "The Business of Being Born"

I just recently saw the Documentary, "The Business of Being Born" and am so glad I did. I saw everything about what could go wrong with a pregnancy and had never gotten the chance to see what could go right. I never thought I would consider a home birth. my first two births went fine at the hospital and feel like if there is a third a home birth is probably the way we will plan it. I just hope if any pregnant moms get the chance to hear about this documentary it will be a bit of knowledge they didn't have before.

When I was pregnant with my first baby I wanted to see everything on births that I had time for, mostly from TLC or Discovery channel. I thought seeing all the births would help me to know what the doctors were talking about. When they said something I wanted to know a little bit about what they were talking about. The things I didn't know were what the drugs actually did as far as side effects and the snowball effect each one had and how they can create the potential for that emergency c-section.

I always felt I had to wait 'til the last minute to get to the hospital because if you are there for extended periods of time there is more chance for intervention just based on your progression or lack of. All moms are different and all babies are different but we are all expected to be exactly the same "at the hospital" when having our babies. This isn't right.

Anyway, I just wanted to share a movie title that will give a little knowledge to those of you who want to see a moving documentary on all the births that go right.

That is my opinion. Just seeing some of the babies born makes the movie worth it to me.

Toddlers that Won't Stay Dressed or Keep a Diaper On

I have a toddler that if it snap or zips it's off before you even notice. Next goes the diaper.
For evening we like to wear warm jammies. Well, I have cut off the feet and put the jammies on backwards and it works awesome. If there is elastic band at the ankle I just cut below it. My daughter can wriggle out of just about anything but not the backwards jammies. It keeps the warm clothes on and the diaper on.

Black pants Haloween and play

Well, I was on the hunt to find the 2t and 3T black cotton/yoga pants. It was rough at the mall. My last stop was Baby Gap. Success! So if you need black pants to finish off a costume or just match up with something I found them. Toddler yoga pants 2 for $20. We don't have them at Calamari Baby so these are nice ones and Baby Gap is always quality.

I am actually going to put both kids in Black pants and black shirts with jack-o-lantern faces on the front of the shirts for family pictures at the big pumpkin patch this coming weekend. Should be super cute.

Happy Halloween!

Fun to paint with WATER

This is a trick I just told a fellow mom at the shop while we were fitting her little girl with some new shoes. She thought it was an awesome idea so I thought it would be a great one to share with you.

When I bring my Mia to the shop with me for something fun for her to do I give her a little cup of water and a small paint brush and let her paint rocks. The water makes them change colors and as she paints the first rocks dry in the sun and she can start all over again. This gives my sweetie something fun and creative to do while not being anything I really have to worry about cleaning. It is a win win way to play. Try it, you will both have a stress free little fun session.

Warning!

This one isn't a tip or a trick but a WARNING!

Last night at home we all had a small lollipop. Not going into brands but it is a small ball lollipop that is bigger than a dime and smaller than a nickel. I noticed mine came off the stick easily and then not a minute later my husband ran my 3 year old into the kitchen and said she wasn't breathing. Her face was red and stressed looking. In one swoop I grabbed her and put my hand fight on her diaphram while rotating her to put her upside down and a pop on the back and the ball hit the floor. Mia was crying and scared and we were all relieved that it came right out.

So please just avoid the lollipops all together. Just way to scary.

My daughter had coughed and on the intake of air she sucked the candy back into her throat. I am thankful we were all together when this happened and we were able to quickly save her. Then we gave lots of hugs and she got to stay up late to watch "The Ant Bully". It was fun.

"Picky Eaters"

I wasn't sure what to title this post but it is about feeding your infant solids and how they pick and choose what to eat. If they have a few different items on the plate at once maybe they will only eat one of the items on his/her plate. What I have found to work for this type of situation is to feed the baby in courses. Like if maybe you are feeding them broccoli, pasta and strawberries. I found if you give it to baby all at once they may just eat one of the foods and then start playing with the rest. Start with the veggies not a huge portion but a portion, then move on to the starch and then the desert. If they want more of one thing offer a little choice after they finish a round. This is a good way to get variety. I have really found this to work in some instances. They grow out of it but if you find you need to try something it does seem to work.