Child Friendly Home

I have really been aiming to have a home that has area's for Pookie to play in all over.   Our dining room is a bit of an awkward space.  Too big for just a table, but too small for much else.  We decided that one end would be perfect for Pooks table and kitchen.  That has worked out really well.  Now that she is getting older I want to set up a nook for art supplies.  I grabbed some old shelves from upstairs and brought them down.  It isn't exactly what I had in mind, but it will do.  I love that I can put our boom box on top.  It is leading to lots more dancing!  

In the picture it looks like there is quite a bit of space between the end of the table and where the kitchen is but it is only a foot or so.  I'd love to do something to define the kitchen a bit more but I am at a loss.  Creativity is not one of my strengths.  I just freeze up and think all my ideas are garbage.  

We really need to get some pictures up on the wall.  I was thinking about doing a collage of different sized and style frames (not too small though), with family pictures in them.   We have been in this house for almost 1.5years and I just can't commit!

I am just completely in love with a house I found on MDC... and now this woman's blog is one of my fav's.   I love finding new blogs that are updated frequently and are interesting and inspiring. 

Early Years Centre

We are really fortunate that the Ontario government funds "Early Years Centres".  These are free play centres for children 0-6.  There are some programs you can register for, and times where you can just go in and use their wonderful toys.  All the toys have a purpose - no junky gadgets.  Pookies favourite activity is arts & crafts.  Today they had paints out which she loved.  She also really loved pouring glue on her hand.  I got some weird looks from some of the other parents,  but she was just exploring and it wasn't hurting anyone.  

Today a little girl (3) played with her for a bit, which she really enjoyed.  That is also why I like going to the EYC - it gives Pooks a chance to play with other children.  

Usually the other mom's, grandparents etc. are either quite nice or just fade into the background but there are now two mom's who really get on my nerves.  

Mom #1 is the screamer.  She is always yelling at her kid, who from what I can see is never doing anything wrong.  Her daughter is perfectly well behaved, but the littlest thing sets this mom off.  I feel bad that the poor kid can never do anything right.  It is always awkward because she is so loud and overall people tend to use quite voices in this place.

Mom #2 was there today and she an over controller.  Anything her kids (4 & 6) chose to do she had to tell them how to do it, or what to do.  I never once saw the kids initiate any play.  Her daughter sat down and just stared at the arts & crafts table, and then the mom basically micro-managed her art work.  Even with the play dough she was constantly instructing them how exactly they needed to play with it.  It made me feel incredibly uncomfortable to watch.  Her kids acted like robots and she was proud.  

Phase 2 of sleepweaning

Pooks is so good at going to bed now without nursing I am moving to phase 2.  Now the plan is I tuck her into the twin bed that is against our queen, sing her 2 songs and leave.  I have done it a couple times now, and if she sits up and asks where I am going I just tell her, "mommy is going pee pee".  Which usually is true - I just don't mention coming back or not coming back.  Last night she called for me and I just called in and said I was doing pee pee, and she must of gone back asleep.  I just forsee it being really useful to be able to leave her to fall asleep on her own, once another baby comes into the picture.

Now if I could just have some progress with night-weaning.  Right now I nurse her and try to get her to go back into the little bed for her first two wakenings.  After that she comes in the queen with me and hubby goes into the little bed.  Last night she actually rolled back in those first two times on her own  - although she didn't sleep well until she got into the big bed.  I am hoping the fact that she rolled back in on her own is progress.  I think it will be beneficial to have her sleep in her own bed - even if it is against our.

Making Friends + no TV morning

Pooks just LOVES big girls.  Anyone who is about 3 or older.  Today we went to the indoor play centre and towards the end of our visit some older girls showed up.  She got so excited and pointed to them and proceeded to start following them.  One of them who was 3 or 4, quickly took Pooks under her wing.  This little girl was so sweet and quiet.  She led Pooks through the jungle gym, went down the slide with her, ran around holding hands with her.  It was the sweetest thing ever, and Pooks was so happy.  She was BEAMING!!  Then two other little girls wanted to play with the girl P was playing with.  The little girl told them that P had to play with them too.  Then P started playing with THREE little girls.  I almost got choked up because even though she was a "baby" to them I could see what a big girl she is becoming.  They all played so nice and when we left there were lots of hugs and kisses.  

It was actually very striking today the differences between the boys and girls.... it made me really scared to have a boy!!  They are so energetic, and pushy and crazy.  I usually figure this is mostly because people often parent boys differently.... but when EVERY boy is that way it certainly seems part of it is just that boys are different?!

This morning I fought the urge to go watch TV when I got up.  I was really tired and just wanted to vege, but I resisted and actually enjoyed our morning much more.   I think after a couple of weeks I should be out of the TV habit.

No TV this week

Pookster really only watches kids TV with my husband.  I will occasionally show her something on youtube - like some ballet, or horses etc.  I do however wake up, grab my breakfast and vege in front of the TV.  Pookie really doesn't pay that much attention to the TV, but she doesn't fully ignore it.  I also started watching Little House on the Prairie (I admit it I love that show), with Pookie while Jeff makes dinner.  

I want to stop .  It isn't that I think TV is evil or anything but I do want to avoid it for as long as possible when it comes to Pooks.   So I am blogging about this to keep me accountable.  I am going to aim to go this entire week without letting Pooks see any TV at all, and hopefully I can rework my morning routine.  

We will see how it goes!

Alien/ Robot Dance Party

Today we went to this family dance party which took place at a fancy downtown nightclub.  I didn't really have any expectations, other than that I thought it would be in a one room club and be good but not super fun.  It was so much fun and so well put together.  The club was huge with multiple levels, and different rooms.  There was a big room for dancing where they had people dressed as robots and aliens, and they would have dance offs.  There was a smaller room with more dancing, and beach balls to play with and glow in the dark drawing to do.  Downstairs they had cardboard castles (big!) to draw on and a book nook.  It had a Yo Gabba Gabba theme - a show my husband loves to watch with Pookie on the computer.

We went with our couple friend, who have two children - we went to the Zoo and pool with them last week.  It was funny being at a club with them because they often went to the same club Jeff and I used to go to.  Who knew all those years ago... a decade ago... that we would be hanging out at a club with our kids.

Pookie had a lot of fun.  She just loves our friend's older daughter who is a year older.  She can even say her name already - which is HUGE for Pooks.    Now if you mention her buddies name her face lights up... SO CUTE!!

There were a lot of slings, and carriers and breastfeeding mom's which was nice to see.  Actually there were a lot of Dad's wearing carriers.  Jeff has always enjoyed wearing Pooks but we have only seen one of two other Dad's using a carrier since Pooks was born.

I had fun talking to T.  She is also an AP mom, and the first I know with a child older than mine, so it is nice to listen to her experiences.   She also makes being a mom of 2 look easy... which I think puts Jeff at ease! 

No more nursing to sleep... well almost

Today my husband calls me into the bedroom to show me what Pookie is doing.  She is sitting with her newest Corolle baby doll, with her arm around it her shirt up (well as up as she could get it, and was reading a book.  This is exactly what we do everynight before bed.  She even had her arm around the doll in the same way.  She loves nursing her babies, and also likes me to do it.  She even makes her little plastic animals nurse from each other.  The pig is a big favourite because it clearly a mommy pig with all its teets. :P

Anyways it has been almost a month and Pooks no longer wants to nurse to sleep at bedtime.  I nurse her for about 30 minutes+ while we read books then when I reach to turn off the lights I unlatch her and we are done.  She snuggles into bed and acts like she will just go to sleep... but usually it takes another 10 minutes.  First I sing to her and then I just lay there with her until she dozes off.   It has made bedtime SO much less stressful.  It was just too hard lying there for so long nursing her and fighting to stay awake.

We have made no progress with nightweaning.  I attempted to get her to sleep in the twin bed, which she does fine until the second time she wakes up at night.  Then it is miserable.  I think we will start her out in there and only try to keep her there on the weekends, and let her slowly get used to it.  She doesn't outright object but the past two nights she has been so restless.

More good news is that she seems to be staying asleep until Jeff and I go to bed.  This is AMAZING!  It is so nice not having to run up to her half way through a TV show. :)

I bought the "No Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers" and I am finding it helpful.  Most of the tips I already was aware of but it is motivating to read and I feel like now I can come up with a realistic plan.