Pluggy's First Birthday Party

Being the "creative" freak that I am I was determined to make this a DIY birthday party even if our house is 3/4's packed and my stress level is at a breaking point. We had Pluggy's birthday party at Buca di Peppos and being that I love love love orange on my little son I decided to make it a orange and white polka dot party. We decided to have an intimate party at a nice restaurant with family and close friends. My little man looked dapper in his Bow Tie that I made him.

The cupcakes turned out great I bought the cutest covers from Cupcake Concepts.
For the party favor I made little back packs for the children and stuffed them with some fun toys and a coloring activity to keep them busy at the table. The adults received wonderful little gifts with bath salts and soap, which I bought from weddingandspa4u2u . They turned out super cute.
I topped the tables off with circles I punched out of different orange patterns and then strung them together for a table runner. I added some orange and white Jelly Belly's and white flowers. It looked just perfect and I was proud to celebrate my sons first birthday in such a beautiful way.

Special Moments

The greatest moments in life are watching my children experience something magical. I have not been a fan of most things Disney mostly because of the intense marketing pushed on our children and partly because I want my children to create their own ideas of what a princess is and does. But that is for another post. But of course my daughter is Disney obsessed. We went to Disneyland about 6 months ago and since them my daughter has been obsessed. She talks about Disneyland every day. She has collected Minnie Mouse and "all her friends" from the flea market. Every time we go she looks for another stuffed character and bargains with the vender's to buy them. She hasn't seen any of the movies and the Princesses and Minnie and all her friends go on many adventures in our house. In our house we only watch PBS cartoons and I am grateful for the lace of commercials. However, a "Disney on Ice" commercial appeared on PBS and it stopped Stinky in her tracks. When Daddy saw how mesmerised she was and that tickets were only $15 the first day he decided to surprise her and me with tickets.

Stinky was so excited. She counted down the days till it was time to go. When the lights went down and Mickey and Minnie came out there was magic in Stinky's eyes. Her mouth was agape and her eyes were wide. I have to admit it is times like these that make me proud to be a Mommy. There is nothing sweeter than experiencing an amazing memory with your children.

Letting Imagination Be All It Can Be

Stinky has entered into a world of complex thoughts. With such complexity her imagination continues to grow and expand to foster play that is the reaction of such thoughts and ideas. Spaces to act out such play has sprung up all over the house. Her use of objects, materials and science to construct such spaces are so creative. In the excitement over her new level of play my creative juices begin flowing and I start spouting off ideas in sewing forts that go over the table or hang from the wall. My DH stops mid spinning thoughts (yes my mind works very fast) to remind what is important. Let her imagine and create! But I have so many great projects just waiting in the binder of amazing projects I have collected. My husband points to his annoying yet humours rule "He is always right" , (we let him think that) and concede this time he is right.

In an age where there are toys that make noise, toys that will do tricks at the push of a button, TV's with whatever you want to watch saved for your viewing at any time we have forgotten to let out children imagine. This is so important and this is why we have people who create such amazing toys and technology. It is so important to let children take what they have a create using IMAGINATION. So next time Stinky asks me for the towels I just folded and the measuring tape I was using while sewing, I will happily hand to her, look forward to the creation she is producing. And enjoy the time I don't have to sew that hut pattern I have been holding on to with out guilt because after I watching her brain grow as the towel is draped over the chair.

Pluggy Turns One

It is amazing to think how quickly our little people go from baby to child. In one year with the blink of an eye our little baby has turned into a boy full of expression and happiness. I am in love with his personality. He is cuddly, determined, excited, a little silly (with help from his sister who teaches him everything) and brings so much to our family. He is crawling with great speed, walking with great risk and laughing through it all. His laugh is contagious and makes everyone smile. He is signing "more" with great passion using it to tell us all things he has wanted for so long but didn't know how to tell us until now. He is speaking words that surprise us everyday. Today he said "Happy Birthday" (and yes we actually got it on video). He loves to eat and I mean "LOVES" to eat. His favorite foods include bananas, blueberries, cake and muffins. I couldn't be more in love with this handsome little man.

Happy 1st Birthday Pluggy! I love you!

Large Motor Skills

The challenge for baby number 2 is getting time in those special areas that baby number 1 spent so much time with both parents attention directed toward her. Discovery Museum days are spent chasing a 3 year old around her area with poor Pluggy strapped on my body. The older children are not allowed in the special area designed for the development of a baby. When Daddy is home we make an effort to go special places that give both children an opportunity to learn and grow. For the first time Pluggy was able to spend some time in "his area" and he enjoyed exploring. Developmentally right now he is working on large motor skills and practicing going up and over small bumps (big mountains to him) this is both challenging yet rewarding. With much encouragement he over came his desire to quit and made it up the hills.
We as adults can take a minute to learn from the patience of young children. It takes a lot of determination and patience to learn a new skill and children are masters. Where does that go as we age?
Pluggy was also interested in face recognition. On this day he was studying his own face and body. There is a three way mirror (Yikes for us adults) but for children it is the best place to learn about their little bodies. He made faces at himself, studied what would happen when he lifted one arm, then the other arm, and then both arms. He wanted to see what happens when he turns his face away from the mirror, where did it go, why can't he see it anymore, but then when he turned back he was starring at himself again. Discoveries at the Museum. It was good for him to have his time.

To Experience Water

One of the greatest aspects of living in California is the opportunity to experience 70 degree weather in January. We took this opportunity to give Pluggy some time in the water. He hasn't seen the water table in quite awhile and was excited to experience it as if it was the first time. At first he observed his sister as she, without hesitation, jumped right in and began discovering. His first step was to touch the water. Intrigued by the way it felt he continued to open and shut his hand over and over again. It wasn't too long before the splashing began. He loves to splash in the bathtub and it wasn't too different in the sensory table. Every action was preceded by a, "look what I did" as he would show us his hands as if his hands relayed the previous action on them.
Sensory experiences give children many learning opportunities. It facilitates the discovery of their senses. How materials feel, smell, taste etc. Children learn pre-math skills. Such skills include measuring/volume, spatial awareness, calculations. In science; how different materials react when the are stacked/poured/patted, along with testing and working through the scientific method. Adding materials only heighten this experience.

Christma Traditions

Our family holds strong to our Christmas traditions. Grandpa read The Night Before Christmas and a book about Jesus Birth. My two little ones loved listening to Grandpa read just as I did when I was a little one. Our Christmas books are read right before bed and right after they open a present that consist of special Christmas PJ's.
This was the beginning our Christmas's at home. Now the Stinky has gotten a little bigger we decided that it was important to have Christmas at home. The children get to sleep in their beds and anxiously await Santa's visit. Pluggy was so excited to receive another Taggie Blanket just like the one he always sleeps with. And so was Mommy considering I have been searching and searching for a second one without success. Taggie blankie number 1 was starting to get quite stinky.
The excitement was more than we could bear. For the first year Stinky was more excited about her gifts then we were. We loved watching her unwrap each one and proclaim "Ahhhh It's what I always wanted."

Magic Through the Eyes of a Child

Where is the most magical place in the world?

It's Disneyland!

It's amazing how Disneyland changes when you experience it through the eyes of you child. Somewhere in life that magic that you once felt as a child disappears and while for some (not me) Disneyland is still a fun place it changes. When you bring your children back that magic as you once felt it comes back as you watch your own children experience it. All the little things that you have forgotten to notice, are noticed by your children. Suddenly the frequent stops to gaze with wonder into the little things that as adults we walk right by. To my daughter who found nothing more amazing then the Princesses and their castle. Although it was been a few months still since we visited Disneyland the magic is still alive in our house through the memories my daughter communicates daily.

Where Have I Been?

Time just keeps passing me by so quickly I can't keep up. Where have I been? It started with an amazing trip to China. Petting Giant Pandas, Walking on the Great Wall, Terracotta Warriors, Toilets consisting of a small holes in the ground minus toilet paper and soap, Food Poisoning and most importantly time with family. Was the trip challenging with a 6 month old and a 2.75 year old? Yes! Was it amazing? Yes! Did my children get to experience a whole new world while bonding with her cousins? Yes! An amazing trip to say the least. When we came home we hit the ground running. Halloween, Disneyland, Stinky's Birthday and ofcourse each needing a mommies touch with homemade items and lots of love. Lot's of preparations, late nights, and a little craziness kind of love. But more on the beautiful results of my labor later. So here we are two weeks from Christmas and I find myself in the middle of great Holiday spirits and many half finished projects. Along with the stress of buying a house and DH changing jobs. That's how we role. Busy Busy Busy! But full of fun. So I hope to hit the blogging world again with new ideas and a look at my latest projects and activities.

Daredevil

Something his little is not, daredevil. He loves being thrown, jumping, swinging. These types of activities bring instant laughs and giggles. The first time he went on a swing was pure joy. He grabbed on to the swing with a big smile on his face. Ok so maybe there was one "Oh Sh**" look but after the initial shock he didn't want to get down. He loves to be outside with the wind blowing, the smell of fresh air and all things the gets to see. Walk inside cry cry cry, walk outside silence. It is interesting how different he is when he is outside. It looks like camping, hiking, biking is in future.

5 Year Ago Today!

5 years ago today I married who has become my best friend and the love of my life. It is amazing how much you can grow together in just 5 years. We are great co-workers in our family and with every child we have become that much closer. I say co-workers because truly that is what two parents are when leading a family. We work together to find the best solutions in the raising of children, we plan short term and long term goals for our family unit, we lean on one another to get through busy/tough times, and we celebrate together when our work pays off. A marriage is a full time job and in order to succeed at it you must work at it. I am privileged to have a partner that feels the same way. And in that I have a happy marriage, forever evolving as our family ebbs and flows. I am so thankful to look forward to my husband coming home every night because I get to spend time with him and being excited for the weekend so we can hang out together. To you honey, I love you so much and can not think of a better way to walk through life but standing right next to you.

Sand Play

Stinky has been asking to go to the beach to play with her "whale". (It's a sand toy that makes whale figures.) I figured it was time to change up the sensory tub. She has been playing with rice for the last two months and it appears she has lost a little interest. I added sand to her sensory table. The digging, filling, dumping, scooping and all else that can be done with this open ended sensory activity has been the object of her interest almost daily for the last few weeks.

Pluggy is at a different stage in his development and has enjoyed picking up the sand, tasting the sand and seeing what happens when he fall into the sand. Falling into the sand has been his favorite type of exploration as noted by the giggles it produces every time he flings his body back.

Children from the day they are born are wired to learn through their senses. Providing a sensory experiences whether through nature or a sensory tubs can give children the opportunity to easily engage their senses. Exploring different textures of materials through touch, listening to the sounds they make as they are manipulated, the smell of the different materials and sometimes (more often then I want) through taste. What does sand taste like? Come on we all taken in a handful of sand probably more than once. It is a part of the scientific process developing an idea of how a new object (sand) tastes like, looks like, feels like, smells like, sounds like, testing this idea and then forming conclusions.

Blocks, You Can Do Anything With Blocks

I love love love blocks. I can not say enough about how enriching blocks are. The are the greatest open ended toy spanning over every age group. Blocks are a great tool for developing language. They facilitate story telling, using objects representative of real life experience, they give children the opportunity to retell real life events acting out problems and facilitating solutions and they give children the opportunity to explore language that is useful in peer situations. They provide opportunities to explore spacial awareness; using patterns, symmetry, geometrical shapes, colors, textures and other forms of tactile situations. They help children explore mathematics through spacial understand and reasoning. Children explore science to gravity, properties of materials, theorizing, predicting, and solving problems. They provide creativity through mapping, building, and planning. There is so much learning going on when children play with blocks. It is so simple to add new ideas into blocks as well. Animals, people, cars, even simple recycled materials can add new dimensions to the play. Children start by stacking and knocking it down. Their play leads into lining blocks up and then structures are erected. Blocks provide endless amounts of play and the play becomes more intricate as they get older.

Stinky recently pulled these soft blocks out and began building little pedestals for each animal to stand on. When she was finished she enjoyed knocking it down. We picked them up and put them away only be re-introduced ready for an entirely new experience at a later time.

"My kitty Coco"

While visiting family we were informed that one of our family members had a cat who had kittens in their back yard. We went to look at the kittens and Stinky fell in love with them. When she said, "Daddy take one home" I knew we were taking one home. I love cats and have been longing for another cat since our cat had died 5 years ago. I picked most of the kittens up and this little kitten was so sweet. It reminded me of a cat I had growing up. I hoped with a little persuasion that she would pick this kitty. And she did! When we asked her what she wanted to name her, she first said Pink, the second time we asked her she said Pink Flower and the third time we asked her she said Coco. We asked her quite a few more times and Coco was the name that stuck. Stinky has fallen so in love with her. She feeds her everyday. When we come home from being out the first thing she says is, "Coco Stinky is home". When she wakes up she says, "Good morning Coco". We have taught her how to carry Coco around and she loves to hold her, dance with her and give her kisses. She constantly says "I love my kitty Coco ". When people come over she is so excited to introduce her kitty. "This is my kitty, kitty Coco." I love seeing her love on her kitty and take care of her kitty. It brings back so many memories of my kitty Melissa when I was a young child. I think it is so important for children to have pets; to learn to take care of them and to have something to love and interact with. I look forward to allowing Coco to sleep with Stinky as soon as she gets a little bigger. I look forward to watching them grow up together and Coco being a comfort to Stinky when she has had a bad day. This is the beginning of wonderful friendship and experience that Stinky will take with her for the rest of her childhood. Memories that she will remember far into her adulthood.

Flubber

Children learn through their senses. I wanted to provide a new sensory experience for Stinky; Flubber. Instead of making it and introducing it to her I decided to include her in the cooking process. Cooking can be a great way to provide opportunities to enhance pre-math skills. Children learn the idea of measurement, volume, fractions, counting. Together we followed the recipe and Flubber was born. Flubber is really cool. You can bounce it, cut it, roll it and then it sticks back together to form a big blob. It starts out white but it's inevitable that little hands will eventually turn the Flubber a little brown. So the next step is to experiment with color and what happens when you add/mix color into the Flubber.

This activity as also given Stinky a new opportunity to practice her cutting skills. Flubber has a different consistency and depth then paper and provides a totally different experience in cutting.

If you want the recipe leave me a comment and I will send it to you. Flubber is pretty cool stuff.

Dramatic Play

Dramatic play is one of the most important types of play for children. This is where they learn how things work around them. Children are the greatest observers, they notice things that adults don't take the time to notice or things that adults take for granted as everyday occurrences. Children need to take what they observe and practice it to get a better understanding as to how and why things work the way that they do.

I bought a basket at the flea market and in the basket were some picnic items. I only wanted the basket so I placed the picnic items in a open basket with a handle, along with some napkins, straws and plastic silverware. Stinky took this opportunity to practice setting the table; an activity she observes mommy do every night before dinner. Once she had set the table I suggested her play food as an option to enhance the activity.

"The serious side of life, with all its demands is daily work, is re-enacted in deep earnestness by the child in it play." Rudolf Steiner, The Child's Changing Consciousness and Waldorf Education

Reach For It, Reach For It

Pluggy has started reaching for toys and Stinky enjoys handing them to him.

He has begun exploring the world in the way a four month old knows best. Oral exploration is one of the beginning stages of learning about the world around us. Putting items in the mouth gives babies a chance to test out the taste and texture of different items. Sofie the giraffe is Pluggy's favorite item right now. He can make her squeak and he love chewing on her limbs.

Stinky Loves To Sing

From the beginning Stinky has loved music. She has gotten to a point in her development where she wants to memorize songs. She will listen to a song over and over and over again until she has memorized the whole thing. Her latest favorite song is what she calls, "Daddy's Song". Why? This is the song that she hears on my phone when Daddy is calling me to tell me he is coming leaving work. Coincidentally (or not) this is our wedding song as well.

When Pluggy was born Stinky received a boom box from us as a "I still love more than anything" gift. We had put a bunch of familiar songs on the boom box so when were at the hospital she could listen to songs that she listens to with Mommy and Daddy. One of our main goals is to give our children as many opportunities to be independent. The boom box/mp3 player is made for children to easily manipulate the stop/go and up/down keys. She is able to turn it on, listen to whatever she wants and then turn it off.

She carries her little boom box around listening to "Daddy's Song" and singing along. She wants to sleep with it on, she loves to sing to Pluggy, and she loves sitting on our front porch listening to the song and singing it over and over again. It is so sweet to hear her little voice singing. Every time I hear her singing I have to stop and inconspicuously listen to her. Some of my greatest moments as a parent.

Putting Myself Out of A Job

I was given a great idea from a wise mom in my mommy group. She was telling a story about how much her daughter likes to help and that her goal was to put herself out of a job by training her daughter to do all the chores. I liked that. At this age children like helping mommy with chores. I have started looking for opportunities for Stinky to help me in my everyday chores. She has really enjoyed not only the process of doing the chores but the time spent talking and working along side Mommy. I have enjoyed letting her explore the world of cleaning. Other chores she enjoys is moving the laundry from washer to dryer, handing me dishes from the dishwasher and bringing folded clothes from the living room into her bedroom. If only she enjoyed picking up her toys and putting them away.

We Love Animals

I love love love farm animals. If San Jose allowed me to have a farm in my little condo I would start with a pig and a cow, but unfortunately it's against the law. Whenever given the chance I love exposing my children to animals. And we get as close as they let us. Even though we live in the city I plan on involving my children in 4-H. I think learning to take care of these animals and understanding where I food comes from is important. Stinky loves goats. Anywhere we go she wants to touch, watch and laugh with the goats. The fair was Pluggy's first up close and personal experience with horses.