Resolutions Update- 2/15

Hi Friends!

I've slowly been chipping away at my NY Resolutions-- yay me! Loving that I'm marking these off of my 'to-do' list and I even fit in a date for B&I--amazing! (Thanks SIL, E for watching our monkey while we saw a coveted movie -- on the big screen. Such a treat, I KNOW! :)

I wanted to update my NY Resolutions progress because some of the activities/products have saved my sanity lately. I was really struggling with Isla's moodiness and general defiance about a month ago--normal two year old stuff I'm told. Most days I got up counting down the hours to bedtime--which made me feel terrible. I finally realized that part of my problem was that my kid was just bored--bored of me, bored of our house, bored of being stuck inside....and who could blame her?! I took it as a sort of challenge to find some fun activities that challenged her and kept me sane during her long and napless days. I have loved experimenting with new things to do during the day and they've really helped during this rainy Seattle season (although this week has treated us to beautiful SUN!)

Here are a couple of ideas in case you're stuck in a rut too!

1. Beans in the Bathtub: This was the perfect rainy day activity and Isla loved it. She kept saying "dis so fun mama'- hahahah :) I loaded up the tub with a small container of dry red beans and lots of containers and utensils for her to practice transferring, scooping, etc. She did this activity for almost an hour--amazing!

2. Mini felt board and shape matching: I combined 2 ideas I found on pinterest into one so I could make a travel felt board (perfect with an Elmo cut out- can you tell I did that free form? Ha! Whatever- she loves it :) and shape sorter on the back. I laminated the shapes and put velcro pieces on the board and on the shape. They sell the little velcro circles at the fabric store and I got the felt from Michael's. All you need for the board is a really sturdy piece of cardboard (which is what I used) or a bigger piece of thin wood/foam board, etc

3. Shake&Find Bottles: I bought little kid trinkets from the dollar store (crap I'd never leave her with unattended). I usually say "can you find the dog" and she'll shake it and move it around until she finds what I'm asking about. Sometimes she just uses them as instruments. There are a ton of pinterest ideas online for these. Just remember to let the bottle dry out all the way and hot glue the top (Very important!) For older kids you can take a photo of everything in the bottle that they need to find and then they mark it off as they find it.

4. Window markers: My Mom actually has these at her house for Isla and they keep her busy for quite a while. She loves nothing more than coloring on our big French doors and seems to understand only these markers go on the glass. They wipe off really easy (on kiddos and glass :) and I like the Window Crayons because they're thicker for little fingers to hold and maneuver. 

5. Holiday sensory bin: I was going to save this for 2/1 but Isla got into the plastic hearts early so we busted them out today. I put a bunch of little trinkety holiday things (plastic hearts, felt hearts, that old red tree skirt with fun fringe, stickers, heart rings, etc-- all from Michael's) in our laundry basket for her to play with. She ended up dumping them out and loading them up in a bag to carry around-- 

6. Play-doh and tools: Isla's played with play-doh for a long time and I always used to give her tools from the kitchen to use. Those worked fine but I've noticed more growth from her in trying to work these smaller tools that I'm sure are less frustrating. I got them from Amazon for under $10. Seeing her manhandle that little rolling pin and crimper is fairly impressive :) 

7. Eric Carle matching game: I printed these from a free printable I found online. You can find it here.  I backed them on brown card stock and laminated them myself. Isla's just getting to the point where she's matching them up (pretty much by color at this point) - they are definitely a challenge for her which is good because they'll grow with her. They also work great for color sorting and an 'on the go' activity! Make sure when you back them the side that 'matches up' is on the edge of the card stock.

8. Matching: Isla loves this matching game I found on pinterest. It's super easy- all I did was pick up animal figurines at Michael's in the $1 bin - I got the big ones but you could use the little pack of figurines too. I found pics online, backed them on card stock and laminated them. She loves getting them out and matching up the animals to their pictures and telling me what their sounds are. Also a great travel game :) 

 I hope your resolutions are going as well as mine (patting myself on the back!) 

xo. 

S

Isla's Gallery Wall

Hi Friends!

I have been slowly chipping away at my list of NY Resolutions (which was more of a 'to-do' list/wishlist for this year :)

One of the things that has been on my list for months has been to hang up a 'gallery wall' over Isla's crib. I kind of put it off because we're moving in May and I didn't have the piece de resistance (i.e.: the one that pulled them all together). Then Christmas hit and B's Uncle generously gifted Isla a beautiful painting he did of the Nutcracker--ballerinas and the most perfect Winter scene-- and the colors matched her room so wonderfully and the painting so exactly perfect for her that I could't have it lounging on a shelf in the living room so on Saturday I hung up her gallery wall.

FINALLY.

It's a work in progress (as is everything in my life ;) - I'm sure I'll add pieces or reframe prints but for now I really do love it. On top of it all I hung it all by myself, with a power tool and I'm completely confident it's not falling down anytime soon--even with a Toddler who hates to sleep! :)

 The proportion in this shot is a little off but the room's a bit tight so you get the idea. The lower white fabric on the left is actually a sheer curtain- I have an irrational fear that those things are going to catch on fire from the heater and I need to take them down. For now--that's my 'parent hack' :) 

 Perfect. Thank you Matt! (You can see his website here.)

 That piece in the middle is from Target's threshold line...something I've had laying around that worked with this arrangement. Love it when that happens! 

 This print is actually a card that Matt did for us after Isla was born. I love it! 

 The 'dream big' print is from etsy. You can find it here.

 That flamingo print is from Rifle Paper Co.  On Black Friday my dear Friend, L sent me a heads up that it was on sale and I couldn't help myself!  I love that the pinks match the painting! 

and last but not least... 

Just in case you were wondering where these are from: The white is from Michael's. I looked at the felt garland on etsy and it was super pricey for a 4-ft string so I hit up Michael's and that string (and there are other colors) was $4.00. I'M NOT EVEN KIDDING! It fit the Winter theme with the painting perfectly and went up first- love when things work out! I made the tassel garland- you can find instructions online- super easy! 

Well- that's it! Time to get to work on the rest of my list of resolutions!

xo. 

S

1.18.15

Hello Friends! 

A quick 2nd Birthday post for our sweet little monkey-- we adore you Isla, I can't wait to see what the next year holds. 

Forever yours- Mama. 

Improvement

Hi Friends!

Yesterday I wanted to write, wanted to ... but I was just completely paralyzed by the kind of day I had with my kid. She made me nuts....and not like the cute 'oh she's being so funny nuts' - No, straight up crazy. She was napless, violent (hitting/kicking/scratching and now biting (F!) and moody. The day as a whole was kind of like watching a big tsunami wave pick up speed, faster and faster and know it's going to crash into you and you'll feel like a shell of the person you know you are. Yep, that happened yesterday.

Needless to say, today I wasn't expecting much. This morning, I made a pact with myself to put on my 'big-girl-patient pants' and make it through the week until I can get help with my crazy child. Surprisingly enough we had a really nice day. Don't get me wrong, there were still struggles-- the running from me at Barnes and Noble, the 10-minute tantrum after our park date and the just general not listening to a damned word I say...but overall Isla was fun. She was super talkative and remembered certain things I said (that's where I knew she was listening  but busy pushing boundaries- the joy of the TWOs right?!) She was fairly good in the morning during our errands, sang and chatted in her room during her 'quiet time and was really fun at the park until we had to leave and then I made it through rough pre-bedtime (napless again) hours that are usually a total circus.

I took advice from my two 'mama lifelines' that I called in total shambles yesterday. Both had great advice that I used and that essentially WORKED today! What a miracle!

 I do think I was focusing on the negative behavior too much and getting really frustrated when 'time outs' didn't work or she didn't understand that she hurt me. It got to the point where I felt like she was controlling our day because it was so out of control and I didn't know what else to use to help her. Today, I really focused on redirecting and keeping my cool....and when I needed to, putting her in her crib for a minute while I collected myself. There was only one time where I really lost it and that's a HUGE improvement from yesterday. In my defense I've told her a million times not to stick her hand in her poo and during a particularly gross diaper change today she did and then had a handful of poop curds and it made me furious. I actually yelled "DAMMIT ISLA" and then explained how touching pee and poop makes us sick (again for like the 1000th time- aiyiyi).

I love that in 24 hours I have turned my completely negative/helpless feelings into positive/recharged ones. I am still tired (exhausted really) and my patience are low and I'm in need of much deserved 'alone time' but I'm also super proud that I kept up with her today. I was the Parent who guided her and helped her find positive ways to channel her naughty behavior (lets just call them the Twos). It felt good.

On a side note -- She made up a sweet little song about Santa during quiet-time-- "Santa-Ho-Ho-Ho, Santa, Santa, Ho-Ho-Ho" ;) and she told me she wanted to 'hug a noodle.' So that was equally as awesome.

xoxo.
S

Mom Stuff

Hi Friends-

Just a couple notes:

1. The reminder that even after a really long-hard-napless day with my 2-year old, rocking her to sleep is restorative therapy for us both. There is nothing like silence and her deep breaths on my chest. The best of things.

2. Did I mention my kid's a shoe addict? This is especially funny when you know that B's family are Nordstrom Alum-- his Dad was a buyer for Women's shoes, Brother's a Manager for Women's shoes and he worked there pre-college as well. When we go to the rack she stops her tantrum and says "SHOES!" ... arm stretched. It's like she's seen a miracle. (This one below may give Daddy a heart attack!)

3. After that really long day mentioned above--realizing Hubby left the white wine you deemed necessary in the freezer overnight. #amateur

4. Isla telling me "Nah-kay" -- which apparently means "no thanks." We think it's genius and would like to adapt it into our everyday language.

5. This master builder and her proud smirk. (That sloping tower on the right is ALL her)

6. Confession: My Christmas Tree is still up. (Even worse--it probably won't come down until Easter).

7. My kid LOVES to FaceTime with cats. She got the pleasure yesterday with my Sister's cats, Max (see below with Min's BF, Chris) and Leo. Pretty classic.

8. I had the kind of day last week where I called B, broke into a sob and ranted about how terrible our child was and how she was single-handedly ruining my life (that was after being hit, scratched, bit and kicked multiple times--she's such a bully these days!) My friend, Janae who works with B sent me a text of support and a reminder that the doll below that scares the crap out of me (it's her Daughters) is always there for me. BAHHAHAHAH! A perfect laugh!

(Yes, that dolls body is a barn with animal heads poking out--how freakin' creepy!)

9. My kid conquering new sh*t. Last Summer she couldn't climb this wall alone and today she scaled it like a Navy Seal. Go Isla!

10. The fact that my kids' hand is ALWAYS in my food. It seriously never fails, she's quick and tries to charm me with sweet little chatter and then *BAM* my spring roll's gone-- #catlikereflexes

Last but not least..... 

A VERY warm and loving welcome to our Friends' new little angel, Vienna Marie. We adore you sweet girl and can't wait to meet you soon! I can't wait to see her pal'ing around with Isla in years to come! Congrats Moo&Time. xo. 

2015 Resolutions

Hi friends!

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. We're still sad that the holidays are over and we're back to the grind around here-- boo! We are definitely missing all of the time we got to spend with B.Daddy around. It was so nice to be able to get things done and not have to 'helicopter' my kid all day (she's really been INTO things lately so the 'helicoptering' is extra necessary at the moment).

Today, as I was going through my to-do list... you know, the usual drudgery of making calls you don't want to (Hello IRS, don't you sound pleasant today- NOT!) and paying bills you don't want to (ug!), I decided to put my New Year's Resolutions in writing. I'm really excited about some of them! I'll update this blog as I knock these out-- lets hope I'm 8 for 8!

1. Cut Isla's 'screen time' 

Now, I will say I don't think Isla watches a ton of TV or is on the phone a lot because it's off almost the entire day besides in the morning (I can't turn off the Today show) and in the evening when she's getting ready for bed but I do think we could do better. I have decided a reasonable way to get this done is to focus on her iPhone/ipad and computer use. It sounds CRAZY to say my Toddler uses these devices but that's life in 2015 I guess. I am making 'busy bags' as a means to move her attention from the games on my phone or songs on the computer to hands-on activities that she will get much more from in terms of development. Lets hope this works!

2. Put up Isla's gallery wall in her room

A long overdue project that just needs to get DONE already!

3. Design (and PRINT) our 2012-2014 Family Yearbooks

I decided to give up on scrapbooking since I'm literally 9 years behind and to make family photo yearbooks at the end of each year. I went through 3 years of pics and have them all sorted but I haven't designed the books yet. Time to get down to business and get it done!

4. Stick to 1:30 "Quiet Time" for Isla

I have given up on naps for my 23 month old but 'quiet time' in her crib worked for us before the holidays and it's time to get back to it. For the most part she does great for 45-60 mins of hanging out in her bed with books, stuffies and her light up stars (not to mention how much I need the break!) Today she even slept--YAY! The girls needs her sleep and time to relax. I just read about how important it is that little ones get enough sleep and how too frequently busy parenting schedules get in the way of it. Time to get my schedule in check!

5. Crochet Isla a blanket

For some reason my kiddo is really short on stroller blankets. I am not sure how that's possible since I swear I received 17 at her shower but it's a real thing. I was going to ask my Mom to crochet Miss Isla a blanket but I know how and so I decided to take-on the project. Time to pick colors and get to work- I'm thrilled to see how this one turns out :)

6. Photograph our 'everyday'

Even though I may not have sessions right now I know it's important that I pick up my camera to stay connected to what I love to do. Time to blog about our everyday and the beautiful images I can pull from it :)

7. Save our receipts

I decided this year I'm saving all of our receipts and using them as a write off. It's always been something I've needed to do that hasn't taken priority since it seemed like a big job but B's Business Partner does it and shared her organizational system so I'm giving it a shot. Lets hope it helps us out with the IRS in 2015!

8. Make time to date my Hubby

This is pretty much always on my list but I think it's important it remains there. Life is busy and work is crazy. Sometimes it feels like it's not a good enough reason to find a babysitter so we can have a kid-free dinner together or go run errands together (even grocery shopping together is exciting these days :) but I am working on reminding myself that it is. Keeping 'us' in love and in a good place is an incredible gift to Isla- I definitely know that :)

xo.
S