Leap Day

Today is Feb. 29th, a day that only comes every four years. In honor of Leap Day, we're planning some special activities!

Just Like That...

Babyhood is so fleeting, so swift. We were reminded of this fact yesterday, when Little L took his first unassisted steps. We had gone to get his 1-year portraits taken and decided to go earlier than 12 months for the simple fact that he WASN'T walking yet! No sooner had we told the photographer that he should be all set for L staying in the frame, off he went! We were astounded.

(Taken in December--well before L decided to walk!)

Yet another reminder that babyhood and childhood pass so quickly. In just over a month, L will reach his 1st birthday. I can't even believe that we're coming to that point already! I am making a point to really treasure moments from these days because I know that too soon they'll have disappeared and be only memories... I want to make sure I have some awesome memories to look back on.

Valentine's Day

It is so easy in the winter months to find 'special' holidays to celebrate with young kids! Most of the time, the celebrations turn out to be nothing more than a new drawing, simple and cheap decorations, and maybe some kind of treat.

This year, the boys and I made suncatchers for our windows from shredded crayons and wax paper.

Very simple and very free: the best kind of craft!

The boys also did some crafts at daycare for Valentine's day, making special keepsakes for their Mama!

And what holiday would be complete without cupcakes with pink frosting? 

Cupcakes are our new favorite baked item. 

Next up: St. Patrick's Day in March! What are your ideas for easy, fast games or activities for young children on that day?

Wordless Wednesday

The Trials of Co-Sleeping

A grouping of images from the blog 'How to be a Dad' has been passed around several friends in the past week.

*image credit: www.howtobeadad.com*

The author is writing about the trials associated with co-sleeping with a young baby. I have to admit, when I first saw these cartoons, I laughed REALLY loudly! Some of it is just so true, especially when sleeping with Little L. 'Jazz Hands' and 'The Stalker' are his current favorite positions, followed closely by 'The Neck Scarf'.  It's nice to see that other families who utilize a family bed are having the same issues with getting a good night's rest as we are, but it highlights a problem that we are facing more and more.

Winter Doldrums

It's the end of January, we've come down from our holiday excitement, the weather is cold, and there seems to be a long stretch of cold, wintry weather ahead of us before spring comes. We're in the mid-winter slump, and keeping the boys occupied, interested, and their parents sane is the latest challenge in our household!

The Importance of Free Play

We don't do very much structured play around here. The boys don't go to any music or art classes, no sports activities (at least yet), and we really don't play by any book or rules. There's something so magical about the art of free play, with seeing their imagination come to life and the wheels turning in their little heads. We've found that if we simply provide time and materials, the boys will continually amaze us with their versatility in play.

Thomas and the Froggy Potty

Yesterday, we took the plunge and Big B wore Thomas underpants all day long. He did really well at keeping 'Thomas' dry, but not so well at keeping him free of... well, you know. After the 4th time changing a #2-filled pair of underpants, I asked Big B, "Do you want to wear a diaper? You know we don't poo in our underwear." He looked at me and said "No, Mama. I want to wear Thomas, 'cause I'm a big boy."

2012 Parenting Resolutions

So it's a new year. As always, we start to think on December 31st about what we have accomplished in the past year and how we'd like to make the new year a better one. Most of the time, our resolutions are personal ones. I want to lose that baby weight. I resolve to take some time just for me. I will have a more positive outlook.


This year, in addition to my own 'personal' resolutions, I decided to make some parenting resolutions. Our family is entering a year of huge growth, both physically and emotionally. On the one hand, we have a 2 1/2 year-old toddler who is learning to have his own ideas and desires. More often than not, these can lead to tantrums and wailing when things don't turn out exactly as he desired. On the other hand, we have a 9-month old little boy who is meeting physical milestones every day. It's not enough to crawl now; he also wants to cruise furniture and climb stairs and stand all on his own! It's exhausting and exhilarating, all at the same time.

To better meet the needs of these two fantastic boys, I resolve the following:

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