Archives for April 2013

Toys for Toddlers

April 17, 2013

As Levi gets older, I find it fascinating to watch how he plays and interacts with his toys. At 21 months old, he’s doing a lot more pretend play, trying to simulate grown-up behavior that he observes. He’s also showing a renewed interest in toys that have been sitting in storage bins for the past couple of months — or perhaps he’s just finally growing into them.

Just this past week, for example, Levi began pushing his wooden cars across the living room floor, something he’s never really been keen on doing before. He also has a new affection for his wooden alligator toy that he received from grandma for Chanukah. Previously, he seemed afraid by its clickity-clack noise, but now he’s so enamored by it that he wants to take his alligator in the car and to school with him!

I try to limit the number of toys that Levi has out at any given time, but if I were to add to his toy collection, here are the things I would buy him now:

1.Hape Coffee Maker and 7. Plan Toys Microwave because his two favorite kitchen appliances are our Keurig machine and microwave!

2. North Star Toys Camera because he’s been trying to pull my DSLR off my neck and up to his eyes.

3. Melissa & Doug Shopping Cart because he loves the ones at the pretend grocery store in the Omaha Children’s Museum.

4. Plan Toys Build-A-Robot because he’s starting to understand the difference between happy and sad, and this toy might be a great way to teach emotions.

5. Little Tikes Turtle Sandbox because he loves playing in the sand, and this beloved backyard sandbox would keep the sand clean and dry.

6. Tegu Blocks because these magnetic wooden blocks can entertain him at restaurants and on airplanes.

What toys are your kids loving these days? Do you own any of the toys on Levi’s wish list? If so, are they just as fun as they appear to be?

P.S. – Nine favorite toys for toddlers, the top 10 toys for infants, and my favorite play kitchens for budding chefs.

Planning a family vacation

April 16, 2013

When Tea asked me to help spread the word about their first line of swimwear, I wondered if April was too early to start thinking about bathing suits. After all, it barely feels like spring in my neck of the woods.

But browsing Tea’s collection of brightly patterned swimwear, I began to daydream about Levi running and playing on the beach while I buried my toes in the cool sand and listened to the waves breaking against the shore. (Tea’s ruffled tankinis and colorful floral prints also had me dreaming about having a little girl…) No, we don’t need any swimsuits today, but we will need them on our family vacation to Hilton Head next month!

With so much happening in the now, I’ve hardly had time to anticipate our week-long trip to South Carolina. However, researchers from the Netherlands, who set out to measure the effect that vacations have on overall happiness, found that the largest boost in happiness came from planning and anticipating a vacation, not during or after the vacation. In fact, the simple act of planning a vacation could boost happiness for eight weeks, according to an article in the New York Times.

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Eight weeks! With our family vacation a mere five weeks away, I’m diving head-first into planning mode in order to make the most of this reported “prevacation happiness boost.” Since I’m sure there’s more to do in Hilton Head than playing on the beach with Levi, I asked one of my very best friends, whose family has been vacationing in Hilton Head for as long as I can remember, for her recommendations.

for breakfast… Southern Coney (“amazing pancakes”)

for dinner… Old Fort Pub (“my favorite restaurant anywhere on the planet”)

for shopping… Radiance in Harbor Town, The Porcupine at the Village at Wexford, and the new Tanger Outlets in Bluffton

for spa treatments… The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa and Le Spa in Sea Pines

I’m also looking forward to riding a bike around the island, playing a few games of tennis, and reading a book or two while lounging on a chaise!

Are you a vacation planner or do you like your vacations to be a bit more spontaneous? If you prefer to plan, how in depth an itinerary do you create in advance of your travels? Also, do you have any additional recommendations of things we should do, see, or eat while in Hilton Head?

P.S. – Our previous family vacation to South Beach last January.

Look for the helpers

April 15, 2013

I took this photo in 2002 as a Boston University senior. My friends and I had made our way downtown to cheer on runners as they neared the end of the Boston Marathon. Although I haven’t lived in Boston in over a decade, I still feel closely connected to that city. My heart is heavy for the victims of today’s tragedy.

{Mister Rogers’ quote via PBS}

On blogging, creativity, and comparisons

April 15, 2013

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Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about blogging, creativity, and comparisons. About the good, the bad, and the ugly sides of blogging. And about becoming a better blogger.

I’m not the only one thinking about what it means to be a blogger. Just last Friday, Victoria wrote about the “faux reality of social media” on SFGirlByBay, a topic that more and more people are daring to discuss. I always appreciate when bloggers with seemingly perfect lives are willing to reveal the cracks beneath the surfaces of their impeccably styled facades.

Blogging is hard. It’s hard when it’s a hobby you try to fit in between work and family obligations, and it’s hard when it’s a job you try juggle alongside other responsibilities. Besides requiring a lengthy time commitment, blogging can be creatively and emotional draining. There’s a constant pressure to come up with engaging yet unique content on a daily basis that will entice your readers to keep coming back for more.

Then there’s the (often unspoken) competitive aspect of blogging — Why is this person getting more comments than I am? Where does she come up with all of her great ideas? Is her family really happier than mine? How does she eat so much yet stay so skinny? — More power to you if you know how to avoid these types of comparisons. I sure don’t. The truth is, I get jealous. A lot.

I could go on and on, but instead I’d like to share some interesting posts I’ve recently read covering these topics (and more). These writers do a better job articulating some of the feelings and frustrations I have about blogging, as well as offer some advice and solutions.

On online burnout…

“I can watch for the cues: Oh, I’m not feeling like I’m enough? Or I don’t have enough things? I’m not doing enough? Time to get offline. Go outside. Hang out with friends. Make things. Cook. Read a book. Regenerate. Time to stop and smell those proverbial roses.”

On competition amongst creative professionals…

“There’s an abundance. A massive amount of opportunity. There’s a big enough pie that we’re not even competing for slices. Collaboration is the name of the game.”

On conquering procrastination…

“Psychologists assert that procrastinators actually sabotage themselves. They put obstacles in their own path. They actually choose paths that hurt their performance, and avoid success in life. It represents a profound problem of self-regulation.”

On blogging perspective…

“But one thing I can’t help but notice in blogger-watching (including observing myself) is some of the not-so-subtle shifts that come as time rolls on. The wonder and gratitude and enthusiasm that we had as beginning bloggers has the potential to slowly give way to a sense of dissatisfaction, hurt feelings, and discouragement.”

On Instagram’s envy effect…

“And then on some days, I feel like I have nothing to offer, like I must be the only one who isn’t a graphic designer and hasn’t yet managed to display her entire darling life online with lots of chevron and mint accents. I feel so certain that my life is a lot less darling than other peoples’ lives.”

On being creative and productive…

“The theory boils down to the fact that we can’t increase the hours in the day, but we can increase the energy with which we make the most of those hours. Taking short, scheduled breaks throughout the day rejuvenates and restores us physically and mentally, helping us plow through those assignments and to-do lists in a third of the time.”

Do you have any thoughts to share on blogging, creativity, or comparisons? Have any posts on social media struck a chord with you lately?

This is 21 Months Old

April 12, 2013

Today Levi is officially a 21 month old! We are getting closer and closer to the two year milestone. How the heck is that possible? Wasn’t I just planning his first birthday party? Sigh. Time goes by too quickly.

I suppose I’m feeling extra nostalgic because we recently received our finished leather-bound album from Kameron Bayne Images of Levi’s first year, which includes photos from my maternity session plus Levi’s newborn, 6-month, and one-year portrait sessions. (I just realized I never shared Levi’s one-year photos. Must upload those ASAP!)

Sniff.

At 21 months old, Levi…

…refers to himself as “Beebi”

…is starting to say “mine!” (much to our frustration)

…has discovered the joy of sandboxes

…still loves playing with pretend kitchens, whether at home, school, or the Omaha Children’s Museum

…is getting better and better at coloring with crayons and tinkering with stickers

…thinks the answer to any question with “name” in it is “Max” (except for Sesame Street characters, of course)

…wants to drink from a cup like a big boy

…has started asking for water instead of milk

…frequently wakes up with damp pajamas despite wearing extra-absorbant overnight diapers

…knows that two comes after one

…thinks the answer to any question with “how many” in it is “two”

…prefers his peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on “Elmo bread“

…almost always says please and occasionally says thank you

…is starting to make three-word sentences like “More cookie book“

…is beginning to show an interest in lining up his toys

…asks for a plate, bowl, fork, and spoon during mealtime

…wants “gucky book, gucky book!” (his sucky and a book) before bed

…only uses his sucky when he’s in his bedroom

…will nudge, push, or pull me if he wants me to move

…does not have any more teeth than he did at 20 months old

…likes to snack on cheese, yogurt, applesauce, and cookies

…still won’t eat meat or vegetables

…holds your hand while he walks (“awk! awk!”)

…mostly calls me “mommy” rather than “mama”

…experiments with walking backwards

Yes, these are all iPhone photos. Can you believe that I only took photos of Levi with my DSLR once this entire month, and it was when he was sick earlier this week?!

P.S. – Go back in time and check out all the monthly photos from Levi’s first year.