Blueberries anyone?

g at Johnson Family farm

Mommy confession

9:22 pm - This is arguably the best part of the day. Yes, I admit it. It is quiet in the house. I am watching "The Next Food Network Star". I have poured myself a rather strong glass of plum wine. For the first time in my typical day, I breathe. Not that the day is over but that I can at least work at my own pace. There is still a lunch and/or dinner to prepare. More often there is a document or two that needs to be prepared for work. There is some cleaning that needs to be done. The list goes on and on and on.

As much as I love motherhood, I need this quiet every night.

Disease proof your child

I can't recall anymore how I found this book, Disease-Proof Your Child by Dr. Joel Fuhrman. In the book, he advocates for nutritional excellence. As defined in the book, nutritional excellence is mainly a vegan diet. Though he feels that vegan is the way to go for everyone (including and especially kids who have started solids), he makes a little compromise for some lean meat and some dairy (but only low fat).

There are some tips that are pretty useful in the book. For one, he lists ten super foods which is a great guideline to incorporate. (Excerpted from the book/website)

Avocados are a clean, healthy source of healthy fatty acids. They are rich in cholesterol-lowering phytosterols and high in the powerful anti-oxidant glutathione. Avocados are healthy anti-cancer food. Use it in place of butter, mash it with bananas for young children, and use it in lots of avocado-based dressings and dips.

Blueberries/Blackberries are packed with tannins, anthocyanidins, flavonoids, polyphenols, and proanthcyanidins that have been linked to prevention and reversal of age-related mental decline. They also have powerful anti-cancer effects. Use frozen organic berries in the winter when fresh ones are not available.

Cantaloupes are another vitamin powerhouse. With only 56 calories a cup, one gets a huge amount of vitamin C and beta-carotene as well as folate, potassium, fiber, thiamin, niacin, pantothenic acid, and vitamin B6.

Carrots/Beets are colorful root crops that add beauty and flavor to dishes. Shredded raw in salads, cooked, or in soups, they are high in fiber and antioxidants compounds such as cartonoids abd betacyanin, a powerful cancer protective agent found to inhibit cell mutations.

Flax Seeds are rich in lignans and omega-3 fatty acids, and scientific studies have confirmed that flax seeds have a positive influence on everything from cholesterol levels and constipation to cancer and heart disease. Use ground flax seed in oatmeal, or add them to whipped frozen bananas, stewed apples, and cinnamon and nut balls. Keep in mind that the scientifically documented benefits from flax seeds come from raw, ground flax seed, not flax seed oil.

Green Lettuce is exceptionally low in calories, but contains an abundance of phytonutrients, plant proteins, vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Eat salad with lettuce every day.

Kale is a fantastic high-nutrient green vegetable to add to soups and to serve chopped.

Sesame Seeds are one of the most mineral-rich foods in the world and a potent source of calcium, magnesium, copper, iron, manganese, zinc, vitamins, and fiber. They are also rich in anti-cancer lignans that are uniquely found in sesame seeds alone. Grind some unhulled sesame seeds into a powder to sprinkle on salads and vegetables. Toast lightly and mix with eggplant, chickpeas, scallions, and garlic for a healthy and delicious dip.

Strawberries are high in folic acid, flavonoids, iron, and vitamin C. They provide a good source of dietary fiber and potassium yet contain only 60 calories per cup. Use strawberries and frozen strawberries frequently. Try a fruit smoothie by blending together a banana, orange juice, and frozen strawberries.

Tomatoes have been a hot topic in recent years because their consumption has been linked to dramatic reduction in the incidence of common cancers. One of the tomatoes' heavily investigated anti-cancer phytochemicals is lycopene, which has been shown to be protective against cancer, including prostate cancer, breast cancer, endometrial cancer, lung cancer, and colorectal cancers."

The other tip that I liked is regarding nuts. He liked nuts as an alternate (read - better) form of fat. However it shouldn't still be consumed in large quantities.

There is one point though that he made regarding picky eaters that turned on the "light bulb" for me. His advice was to never coerce a child to eat. Seems like an oft repeated mantra but he follows it up with a new mantra - "I will not be concerned with the number of calories consumed by my child" It finally clicked. I really did just stop pushing s to eat. It was getting more and more frustrating. I've tried many things but often she will eat as much as she wants and as often as she wants. So now I don't push anymore. I stopped completely. I would ask the nanny how much she ate. However much it is, it is enough until she asks for more. That has been such a relief.

In summary, he makes a lot of interesting points though many of his points were made in most health magazines for years. So there is probably no reason the book should have gone to almost 230 pages.

My rating - read through the website. Everything is there and the information is indexed for quick access.

Darfur - a primer in 10 minutes

I know that this is not mommy related but I was so impressed at how clearly and succinctly this short video was able to explain the conflict that even I with my mommy (read - foggy) brain could understand.

Boston, part 3 - Whale Watching

This is one of the few pictures I took. The whale watching trip really went well. I was so hesitant about the whole thing because I was afraid that we would not see whales and that we would all get seasick. This was taken with no zoom lens. The whales were really that close.

We booked a tour with Boston Harbor Cruise. I booked over the phone. It was a little annoying that I never got an email confirm of my booking. I had to call back and get a confirm number. I also like this tour operator because unlike the New England Aquarium tour that was going to charge for every person onboard (so for us. that's 2 adults, 1 senior and 2 kids). Whereas this operator will only charge for adults and seniors. Kids under 4 are free.

Though the tour turned out to be 3 1/2 hours (it was advertised at 3 hours), the time went by really quickly. We had the first whale sighting within an hour or so. It was pretty awesome to see.

Now some words of caution:
Whales don't breach very often. A breach is when the whale basically jumps out of the water. We found out that whales only breach about 10% of the time and usually as a result of trying to get to some "itch" or some irritation that has latched to its skin. It can also be a form of communication. However since it takes a lot of energy to do this move, it doesn't happen often. So adjust your expectations. Because if you came to see jumping whales, you'll be disappointed.

It's colder in the open ocean, especially when the boat is traveling at top speed. When the experts say this online, believe them. I forgot my jacket at home and thought that since it was a warm summer day, I would be fine. I don't get cold much but it was chilly on the upper deck. I should have listened. So if you are planning to be on the upper deck, plan on bringing a sweater or thick windbreaker with a hood.

If you're feeling lucky.... I chose to go with the advice of staking a spot on the upper deck for the best view. However I think everyone got that advice, so it got pretty crowded. Whereas Gmom, G and the kids remained downstairs inside the cabin so that they can stay warm. When the whale sightings began, everyone made a dash for the upper level, leaving the windows of cabin open for viewing. G got some really great video of the whales without leaving the comfort of the climate-controlled cabin. He was lucky. Later on, a bunch of kids came back from upper deck and his clear view got obstructed.

Boston, part 2

After a great time at the Children's museum, the family C retired to our hotel.
for a nice afternoon nap. Instead of the whole production of taking the kids out trying to scope for food, we left them with Gmom napping while G and I tried to find get food. We found Thai Basil Restaurant. I was very encouraged by the amount of local kids (probably university kids) who were piling into the place. Lots of small families too.

The food was acceptable Thai. Of course, I made the mistake of ordering a lo mein, thinking that the kids might like that. Instead they took to the Mango fried rice. The lo mein looked a little sickly but everything else was just ok.

After an arduous swim in the hotel pool, it was time for fireworks or more accurately, it was time to wait for the fireworks which did not happen till almost 11:00 PM. For young families who want to watch fireworks, I think this might have been the best decision. I paid more than I would normally for a smallish hotel room but the view to the fireworks were amazing.

From my research, this is one of the few hotels in the area that actually has a view to the fireworks display from the rooms. We played the broadcast on TV to listen to announcements and watched the fireworks through the window of our climate-controlled hotel room. It was fabulous.

Some tips for those wanting to book a room for the 4th of July Fireworks in Boston:
1. The hotel that we used was the Westin Copley Place. There are other Westin properties in Boston, so make sure you have the right one.
2. Request a room on a high floor. We were on the 22nd floor and we are slightly obstructed by the roof of the building next door (check picture above). 22nd floor is the lowest floor to be on for a good view (I think).
3. Request a river view.

Was it worth the extra $$$? I think so. g really wanted to see fireworks. To try to bring the kids to the waterfront in the heat and have her waits HOURS just felt excruciating to me. It was a once-in-a-lifetime expense. She has these pictures. We can check this off the list.

The hotel was clean. The pool was also clean. The staff were easy to deal with. The hotel was also convenient in the sense that it is near the subway.

RIPOFF ALERT - the hotel has valet parking ($42 for the evening) and self- parking ($32 for the evening). Both prices are highly inflated. When we inquired about other parking options in the area, we were told that there weren't much. Driving around the corner to look for the hotel self-parking entrance, I saw another parking garage sign for $9. I parked there. Not knowing that metered parking is suspended because of the holiday. I found out the day after. So I could have parked for free. Lesson learned.

A word on sunscreen

I found this website and found it to be incredibly useful in understanding about sunscreens. It is a huge read for busy moms but well worth it when you consider that it does not recommend some of the most popular brands of sunscreens like Coppertone.

It breaks down each product by toxicity and by effectiveness. It is interesting that it also recommends a common drugstore brand above the leading ones in the field.

This site is not limited to sunscreen but covers all manner of cosmetics and skin care. I also like the fact that this is primarily a research group, not affiliated with any company and not trying to sell any other product of its own.

Cosmetic Database

Boston!!!

The Family C has just returned from a wonderful trip to Boston, MA. We went there for the 4th of July fireworks. g has always liked fireworks. We set out early Saturday morning, hoping to arrive in Boston around 1:00 pm.

With Gmom in tow, we set off more or less on schedule. Almost as soon as the car started, Gmom proceeded to serve up a variety of snacks. Most surprisingly, after an hour or so of snacks, g & s fell asleep at 10:30 AM. I can't remember the last time these kids went to sleep that early but they both did.

Upon arriving in Boston at noon (a whole hour earlier than my expectation. Thanks, Tom tom), we were primed for some of that famous New England seafood. Our first stop was the Barking Crab Restaurant.

Our rating - too much for too little

We had asked about their crab bowl. It's basically 4 lbs of different types of crab "clusters" (not sure what a crab cluster is.) I think there should be snow crab, dungeness crabs and king crabs. All this for the "bargain" price of $80. Hmmm....No. So instead of the crab bowl, we got 3 appetizers, 4 sides and a kid's meal. Our total ended up being $80 anyway which is the irony. The food was ok though not worth $80. It's a shack albeit a glorified one. We had the steamed mussels, calamari and crab cakes. For sides, we had 2 orders of jasmine rice, green beans and bok choy with shitake mushrooms. The portions were really small. Flavorwise, well, it's nothing to write up. I'll leave it at that.

Next stop, Boston Children's Museum

This was not part of the original plan but since we saw a sign for it at the Barking crab, I thought, "why not?" The kids were rested and we needed something low key to do before the fireworks tonight. So we went and it turned out to be one of the best children's museum I have gone to.

It had a ton of things to do. There were the usual animal displays, bubbles, water area and oversized climbing structures. I also liked that there were cultural displays as well. They had a recreation of a traditional Japanese house. A new exhibit for the rest of the year is about Hangzhou, China. There was a recreation of a typical Chinese kitchen (funny, looks a lot like mine - complete with oyster sauce, wok and steamer). There was a video class on working an abacus. There was also a water wall where kids should be trying Chinese calligraphy (ie excuse for kids to play with water and a brush). Costumes and a small stage for a Chinese opera was also available for play. I would post a particularly incriminating photo but for the sake of the marriage, I won't.

The most fun was a "photo souvenir booth" where there was a background set and camera hooked up to the internet and pc. You take the picture, enter your email address and voila!!!

In summary, Love it.

g says the darnest things #251

The back story - The Family C finally got a new set of wheels. It was long overdue considering all the mechanical difficulties that poor civic had and about $1500 in repairs due. One major repair was air conditioning. The AC stopped working months ago. So while driving to a playdate, g and I were talking about the new car. She mentioned she wanted to show her friend, a, her new big car. She also said that a had a small car while she had a big car. Not wanting to make her feel that somehow having a big car was any better than a small car, I explained that our small car's AC had broken down and that is why we needed to get the bigger car. That some people did not want or need a bigger car.

Fast forward to actual story....

G was doing brain quest with g. In one picture, she was asked to identify what was missing from the image. The image was of a car interior with no steering wheel.

So G asked, "what's missing, g?"

g responds, "the car has no air conditioning."

Pumps - info for new moms

I've been asked this a few times this week, so I thought I'd share a list taken from one of my mommy forums. This is by no means comprehensive but these are all mommy-tested and approved.

First and foremost, for information on breastfeeding - go to Kellymom

Now, info on Pumps, parts and all:


Pump Recommendations

Medela Pump In Style


Medela Pump In Style Advanced

Ameda Purely Yours

Avent Isis

Whisper Wear

Lansinoh Double Electric (same as the Ameda Purely Yours)


Milk Storage

Gerber Seal 'N Go Breastmilk Storage Bags

Medela Pump and Save Bags

Lansinoh Breastmilk Storage Bags

Avent Via


Other Pumping Accessories

Medela Personal Fit Breast Shields

Easy Expressions Hands Free Pumping Bra (a lifesaver!!!!)

Medela Micro Steam Bags and Anti-Bacterial Wipes (never used this personally but heard good things about it)

Replacement Valves and Membranes for the PIS


Places to find pumps for less

breastpump.com

Birth and Baby

The Baby Bungalow



Other recommended vendors for replacement parts

Self Expressions

Pumps for Less

NYC people can get their replacement parts, pump rental and all things breastfeeding related at the UpperBreastSide store.

Shanghai noodles

So I bought bag of flat noodles and wondered what to do with it. Off to the internet I went to search for a recipe. I found this site.

Here's the recipe:

Stir-fried Shanghai Noodles Recipe

Ingredients :
1/2 pack thick yellow noodles, fresh ( 7 oz )
1 tsp chopped garlic
4 oz shredded green onions
5 oz sliced button mushrooms
5 oz cut chinese mustard greens ( aka Small Gai Choy )
1 egg
1 tbsp fish sauce
2 tbsp thick soy sauce
1-2 tsp tsp sweet soy sauce (ABC brand, bottleSweet Soy Sauce)
1 tsp sesame oil
1 tsp cooking oil
white pepper to taste

Notes : Sugar and molasses are already added in the thick soy sauce and the sweet soy sauce. Hence, no sugar is needed for this recipe.

Method :
1) In a pot of boiling water, cook the yellow noodles until the required texture is achieved. I like it springier, so I cook the yellow noodles for just about 5-8 minutes. Remove, rinse in cold water, drain and set aside to cool.
2) Add sesame oil and cooking oil to the cooked noodles. Mix well and set aside.
3) Heat the wok until it's smoking hot and turn the heat down to low. Quickly stir-fry the green onions and garlic until fragrant.
4) Stir in an egg, mix the cut mustard greens, sliced button mushrooms, turn the heat back high, and continue stir-fry for 1 minute.
5) Add the noodles, splash in the fish sauce, sweet soy sauce, thick soy sauce, white pepper to taste, and continue to stir-fry for an additional 2-3 minute or until evenly mixed.

Changes that I made:
- I had flat noodles instead of the egg noodles.
- I didn't have mustard greens. I used american broccoli instead and I pre-boiled it.

Verdict - stay tuned for lunch time tomorrow but at initial taste, it seems flavorful but dry.

Updated verdict - it is really dry. Flavor is there definitely. I really like the preboiling technique. Wouldn't be bad with a bowl of soup.

Home Remedies

I read these in Parent's Magazine and thought it seems really interesting.

Honey and lemon juice for sore throat
Mix together a tablespoon of each microwave for 20 seconds until warm (not hot) and have your child swallow the mixture a teaspoon at a time.

Chamomile tea for colic
Steep tea for four to five minutes, let it cool to room temperature and then put one to two ounces in bottle.

Baking soda for bug bites
Mix a teaspoon of baking soda with just enough water to make a thick paste, smear it on the bites, and let it try.

cayenne pepper for nosebleeds
Keep your child's head upright and pinch his nostrils together for several minutes. Then sprinkle a pinch of ground cayenne pepper on a moistened cotton swab and dab inside the nose on the area of the bleeding.

Duct tape for warts
Place a small piece on the skin over your child's wart, but not so tightly that it hurts. Change the tape whenever it starts to get icky: in about a month, the wart should be gone.

A bubble wand for anxiety
Have our child blow long, slow steams of bubbles from the soapy wand.

Fresh Ginger tea for car sickness
add a teaspoon of shredded fresh ginger to four ounces of boiling water and let it steep for four to five minutes. You can add a bit of honey to make it taste better.

A credit card for a bee ting
Use he flat edge of a credit to gently scrape across the area until the stinger comes out.

Stick of gum for indigestion
chew some gym when she complains of a full stomach after a big meal

Don't try these
Whiskey for teething
Rubbing even a small amount of whiskey on a baby's gum can cause alcohol poisoning. Instead, gently massage the area with your finger.

Butter for burns
Petroleum jelly, oil and butter trap heat which can worsen a burn. It's best to soak your child's skin in cool water and cover with a sterile gauze pad. If it's oozing, call your doctor or head to the ER.

Bicorbonate for colic.
Some babies have died or suffered long term cognitive delay from swallowing this.

rubbing alcohol for fever.
It's true that it cools down your child's skin as it evaporates but she can also absorb and inhale the alcohol which could poison her.

Cigarette for tick removal.
The heat from a lit cigarette ca cause a tick to burrow deeper into the skin. Instead, use blunt tweezers to pull the tick out.

A family that wiis together

The family C is definitely WII-ing together. The purchase initially was for me. I wanted to find a way to get healthy within my specific time constraints (READ - no time). I think the WII Fit fever has spread.





Rave:
- I like the variety in the offering. However I am at day 18 ad I have unlocked almost all the games, so I am afraid I am running out of "variety" soon.
- The exercises are fun. The aerobics are the most fun. The yoga is good too. I am horrible at the balance games.
- There is something for the kids to do. The running game is good for both g and s. g can even follow along a step class.
- Hula Hoops - need I say more?

Rant
- I would wish that there would be a workout routine like a whole workout rather than pieces. Most exercises (especially the yoga stuff) has a bit of an introduction and commentary from your "trainer" afterwards. Since I am doing this because of time constraints, this is even more annoying. In the first week, a 30 minute workout would take me almost 45 minutes to get through. I do understand that most newcomers to exercise need the instructions/demo, but why can't I just skip it when I've seen all of this?

Why can't we all just get along?

I am fresh from a big vaccine discussion on one of my mommy groups and I am spent. After that blood bath, I got another email from another mommy "friend" telling me how I was so "wrong" about my thoughts on this zoo (she loved and I hated). It has taught me one thing that when it comes to kids, parenting and things we do with our kids, there doesn't ever seem to be one right answer. However, I would like to submit that opinions (as in like and hate) has very little to do with "right", right?

Like all opinions, I don't think that mine weighs any heavier than the "paper" that this is being written on but like all opinionated people, I chose to write them anyway and share. I also believe in contributing to the "system". I read other people's reviews and get a lot of insight from them, so I think it is only fair that I contribute as well so that people may avoid my pitfalls.

I am wondering now if I should ever share my thoughts. Most people, once a parent, begin to adopt ideas and viewpoints based on their experiences of parenthood. Some then feel that because it had worked splendidly on Junior, then it must be as sacred as gospel. What saved me from that narrow point of view is little s, who firmly rejects being a copy of her older sister. s is fierce in her independence and refuses to follow any of her sister's footsteps. It almost seems like she takes great pains to avoid them.

I find that I have "encounters" with those parents often. However the "reality" is as diverse as the personalities of each little child. "What works" runs the gamut.

In the end, I bowed out of the vaccine discussion with this thought - all parents really have the same goal in mind, "the best for our kids." So as I continue posting my thoughts and opinion on the web, know that I will only be expressing one of the many viewpoints that make this parenting thing an adventure, a struggle and a joy.

Children's Place 20% off coupon - exp 6/30

Just thought I'd share this printable Children's Place coupon for 20% off entire purchase.

It's also valid for use online.

The family C hits DC & Baltimore

Over the Memorial Day weekend, the family c decided to take to the road (with the M family). We went to DC and Maryland. It was fabulous. The weather was warm and sunny. The only bad thing was the crowds. I guess it's inevitable for the unofficial start of summer.

First we went to the Baltimore Aquarium. It was a nice aquarium. It was also rather small, deceptively so. The best part was the Atlantic Coral Reef (a 4 level tank, maybe even 5). They also had a huge tank that you encircle as you slowly make your way up to the Coral Reef tank where there were huge turtles and sting rays. They also had people in scuba gear feeding the fishes. It was great. g got to see them feed the stingray up close. We happened to be at the lower deck viewing area. The keepers brought the food right up to the window. We saw that little mouth just gobble the fish up. This area was really the main attraction for me.

The aquarium touts the Dolphin Show. I was less than impressed, having been to Shedd and SeaWorld. It was more focused on education (which is good, I guess) but I could get the same education watching Discovery Channel. The kids were glued to the Dolphins though. So it was a little below par for the been-there-done-that crowd but for little ones, the wonder was still there.

Some tips for those thinking of heading to the Aquarium:
- Parking - Get there early. There's a lot of street parking to be had for the early bird. The prime spots are the 4 hour spaces. You still have to shell out $1/hour but that beats parking at a lot. In a pinch, there are also 2 hour space and 1 hour spaces. We ended up parking in a lot. For those who would go that route, park a block or two further from the Aquarium for better prices. The parking garage in front of the aquarium was about $25. The one the next block over was $12 for the whole day.
- Timed Entry. On quiet regular days, this wouldn't matter much but on summer weekends and certain holidays (look here for best times to visit), entry time could be hours after your arrival. Unfortunately we were there on the Saturday of Memorial Day. So when we arrived at 11:00 AM, the next entry time was not until 3:00 PM. The next available Dolphin Show was not until 6:00 PM. So plan accordingly.
- NO STROLLERS!!! They rent backpacks but it's probably best to bring your own. To get to some exhibits, you would have to go through several levels of narrow escalators. Some viewing exhibits and tanks are also very small so stroller would have been hellish anyway.

In Summary - I don't think I fully appreciated this aquarium because of the crowds. However because of the cost, I don't know if I would go back. Maybe if we were in the area and there was nothing else to do.

Port Discovery Children's Museum

If we were in the area with nothing to do, I would most likely go here. This place was a lot of fun for g. She took to the multi-level play structure (although she was too chicken to go down the enclosed slide) I wish there were more pictures of her around the structure but I was too busy trying to keep up with her to take any. They had cool exhibits as well. My favorite (g's as well) is the Wonder of water where kids use water to play instruments, move a wheel, squeegee a window, float ducks and more. We attempted the Bubble Hoop together and actually got a hula hoop sized bubble to form for almost 2 feet before it popped. I loved that they provided rain ponchos and crocs for this area. There was no way I was going to keep g from being sopping wet without these.

We also did some art, a Japanese marbling technique called suminagashi.

I don't think we got through all the different play areas because the kids were so happy with the first few that they got to and that's a really good thing.

BTW, they had corporate program of which GS was on the list. So we got in for FREE. YES!!!!


In Summary - we'll definitely be back.

Next Stop - The National Zoo

First off, I love the fact that it is free. We went there last year and found it just okay. We were done in a few hours. This year saw the unveiling of the Asia Trail and I was impressed. Last time we went, the panda viewing area was a foot bridge overlooking the panda enclosure. It looked really great. The pandas are always awesome to see. Both kids liked it.

I liked the National Zoo for the way the enclosures seem to be configured. Though there is a good safe distance between the animals and the humans, there seems to be a sense of immediacy. I get blown away by the scale of the animal especially the elephants and the hippos.

Again since it was memorial day, it was pandemonium. We could have covered the zoo in about 3 hours including lunch but the crowds really make it pretty impossible. So we spent pretty much the whole day there. No regrets. Well, except that g was having a "moment" all day. Eventually we found out that she was just really hungry. She devoured her over-priced chicken nugget meal in 2 minutes.

The only annoyance of the National Zoo is its layout. It is shaped like a banana rather than a circle. So after you have done the zoo, you would have to walk through everything to get to where you started. This might be alleviated by the launch of the Elephant Walk in 2011. Who knows?

In Summary - Love it, but try not to go on a holiday weekend.

Now for the hotel...The Donovan House We got a great deal on this "hip luxury" hotel. "Hip luxury" might be code for "not so kid friendly." It is especially bad for little s. Ok, it is actually bad for us, good for s actually. s loved being able to explore everything and since "hip" seems to mean lots of furniture low to the ground, everything was within reach. She climbed onto the coffee table, knocked over the lamp and hid behind thick blackout curtains. Yes, bad for us, good for her.

The room was small. Thankfully we ordered a double room since gmom was going to be with us. It was just enough space for the beds, the well-appointed furnishings and the little walkway between these.

The "coolness" factor of the room must refer to a circular shower stall which, I admit, was cool until someone had to shower in it. gmom fell, g fell, s fell. They weren't playing either. They just fell because "coolness" doesn't involved putting treads or grooves on the shower floor. When wet, the floor becomes really slippery. Once inside though, the shower felt like a prefab shower (which it was.) For all the hip-ness, it doesn't stand up to close scrutiny.

The breakfast. It was a continental breakfast at its worst. They run out of things fairly quickly. They don't really have staff to manage this but use the front desk staff to refill napkins, muffins and water. No juice. No dining tables. They had coffee tables which is fine except when you are trying to wrangle a toddler (s).

In Summary - I would probably stay there again if there is another good deal. I will get my breakfast elsewhere and tread carefully while in the shower.

peekaboo frog

pic from van saun park visit.

hello?

 

anyone in there?

s at Van saun zoo

a little mental

 

Here's little s looking a little deranged.

Kai Lan

After weeks of checking, I finally decided to bite the bullet. It's been months since little g became a fan. I had wanted to get her a shirt, hair clip...something. Nothing.

I thought that this cartoon-merchandising tie-in was a little more swift than it really is considering the proliferation of all things Dora/Barney/Elmo. I have been looking into iron-on transfers for inkjet printers. The reviews online thus far has been fairly dismal. So I have been really hesitant.

It's not cheap (about $7.00 for a 5 sheet set), but in a moment of weakness (which always seem to strike when I am at Walmart), I bought it.

It sat unopened for a couple of days until I finally decided to go for it. Here's the result.



Not too bad.

I'll report back after a few washes.

Chopsticks

It was an amazing sight this morning. g used chopsticks today. She had been trying for the last few days to varying degree of success. Mostly she ends up eating with her hands because her technique requires her to put the food onto chopsticks she had clutched tightly.

This morning she requested dumplings for breakfast. I had used chopsticks to serve it and had gone to look for her fork. By the time I returned, she had already started. So I just let her try, thinking that she would give up or use her hands. She didn't. Now granted these were pretty even sized, non-spherical shapes that would cling pretty easily to chopsticks, but she had polished off her entire plate without really using her hands. Not bad for a three year old.

So now I was considering getting her some chopstick trainers but since she has done so well, maybe she doesn't need it anymore. What do you think?

Site that we love

but I am warning ya! It's going to be a little scary walking down the baby aisle afterwards.

The site is called Safemama. (Thanks for the tip, Y!) Great stuff all around about the safety of baby products. The most informative post I have found is the one about safe plastics in sippies. It actually lists down all the safe sippies which is a whole lot better than trying to figure these things out. Most sippies and bottles don't have the telltale recycle number at the bottom that will tell me whether or not it's safe. BTW, 1, 2, 4 and 5 are the safe ones.

I have only begun to read but it talks about the plastic in toothbrushes (didn't think about that one) and teethers (thankfully past that stage now) and a whole host of other things to be panicked about.

So enjoy!

It's "just" another recall - Munchkin food warmer

This is getting too annoying. There have just been too many of these now.

FYI

sisters

 

I love you forever

I had just given her a shower. g and I were going through our normal bedtime routine of shower, toothbrushing, story and song. We had just finished brushing her teeth. I had a nice layer of aveeno cream on her face (to ward off the eczema monsters) when she reached out for a hug. We held and hugged for a few seconds when she said, "I love you forever." This was completely unprompted. My heart melted into a sloppy pool that would have difficult to remove from the tile floor. Thankfully, she was too young to realized that at that very moment, she could have had whatever she wanted. (g: mama, can I have a tattoo? me: sure._)

Clueless in America

An op-ed piece in the New York Times shines a light on one of worst fears since becoming a mom. Education is failing in America.

The Op-ed piece by Bob Herbert:
We don’t hear a great deal about education in the presidential campaign. It’s much too serious a topic to compete with such fun stuff as Hillary tossing back a shot of whiskey, or Barack rolling a gutter ball.

The nation’s future may depend on how well we educate the current and future generations, but (like the renovation of the nation’s infrastructure, or a serious search for better sources of energy) that can wait. At the moment, no one seems to have the will to engage any of the most serious challenges facing the U.S.

An American kid drops out of high school every 26 seconds. That’s more than a million every year, a sign of big trouble for these largely clueless youngsters in an era in which a college education is crucial to maintaining a middle-class quality of life — and for the country as a whole in a world that is becoming more hotly competitive every day.

Ignorance in the United States is not just bliss, it’s widespread. A recent survey of teenagers by the education advocacy group Common Core found that a quarter could not identify Adolf Hitler, a third did not know that the Bill of Rights guaranteed freedom of speech and religion, and fewer than half knew that the Civil War took place between 1850 and 1900.

“We have one of the highest dropout rates in the industrialized world,” said Allan Golston, the president of U.S. programs for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. In a discussion over lunch recently he described the situation as “actually pretty scary, alarming.”

Roughly a third of all American high school students drop out. Another third graduate but are not prepared for the next stage of life — either productive work or some form of post-secondary education.

When two-thirds of all teenagers old enough to graduate from high school are incapable of mastering college-level work, the nation is doing something awfully wrong.

Mr. Golston noted that the performance of American students, when compared with their peers in other countries, tends to grow increasingly dismal as they move through the higher grades:

“In math and science, for example, our fourth graders are among the top students globally. By roughly eighth grade, they’re in the middle of the pack. And by the 12th grade, U.S. students are scoring generally near the bottom of all industrialized countries.”

Many students get a first-rate education in the public schools, but they represent too small a fraction of the whole.

Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft, offered a brutal critique of the nation’s high schools a few years ago, describing them as “obsolete” and saying, “When I compare our high schools with what I see when I’m traveling abroad, I am terrified for our work force of tomorrow.”

Said Mr. Gates: “By obsolete, I don’t just mean that they are broken, flawed or underfunded, though a case could be made for every one of those points. By obsolete, I mean our high schools — even when they’re working as designed — cannot teach all our students what they need to know today.”

The Educational Testing Service, in a report titled “America’s Perfect Storm,” cited three powerful forces that are affecting the quality of life for millions of Americans and already shaping the nation’s future. They are:

• The wide disparity in the literacy and math skills of both the school-age and adult populations. These skills, which play such a tremendous role in the lives of individuals and families, vary widely across racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups.

• The “seismic changes” in the U.S. economy that have resulted from globalization, technological advances, shifts in the relationship of labor and capital, and other developments.

• Sweeping demographic changes. By 2030, the U.S. population is expected to reach 360 million. That population will be older and substantially more diverse, with immigration having a big impact on both the population as a whole and the work force.

These and so many other issues of crucial national importance require an educated populace if they are to be dealt with effectively. At the moment we are not even coming close to equipping the population with the intellectual tools that are needed.

While we’re effectively standing in place, other nations are catching up and passing us when it comes to educational achievement. You have to be pretty dopey not to see the implications of that.

But, then, some of us are pretty dopey. In the Common Core survey, nearly 20 percent of respondents did not know who the U.S. fought in World War II. Eleven percent thought that Dwight Eisenhower was the president forced from office by the Watergate scandal. Another 11 percent thought it was Harry Truman.

We’ve got work to do.

s & daddy

 

Feeling silly

 

g was feeling extra silly today. This was a continuation of a discussion we had yesterday. Yesterday, she declared that only cows made milk. I corrected her and told her that a lot of different animals make milk. I even went further and reminded her that she was breastfed and so was her sister. She listened. I told her lots of different kinds of mommies made milk.

Today she was taking a swig of milk when she told me that lots of animals make milk. She started naming animals that made milk until she got to turtle. I told her that turtle mommies don't make milk. She took that information in and then responded, "Turtle mommies don't make milk. They make lemonade."

I was too busy laughing to correct her. So as far as g is concerned, turtle babies drink lemonade.

Journal entry of a 2 month old - hilarious!!

I Can't Imagine Why Anybody Would Want To Stop Crying

- from Onion.com

(By Emmet Henson, 2-month old)

Life has so many wonderful experiences to offer. Like sleep. Or ingestion and evacuation. But I find life offers few opportunities more rewarding than screaming like a maniac until your voice cracks with the strain, so that the entire universe can share in your distress. That's what life is all about, right? The sheer exhilarating thrill of nonstop crying at the top of your lungs. It's such an important part of why we are here—why would anybody ever want to do anything else?
Don't get me wrong—I like squirming, drooling, and sporadically attempting to focus on colors and shapes as much as the next guy. But of all the various activities one can choose to pursue in life, crying is tops as far as I'm concerned. In my opinion, I find nothing is more fulfilling than a good steady holler. It takes no experience to begin, and within moments, all one's needs are instantly met! It's my favorite part of the day.

Heck, I'm crying right now!

I suppose some people might enjoy wasting their days with sleep or gentle cooing, but not me. No, sir. Not when there's all that fantastically loud crying to do. In fact, I love crying so much, sometimes I wish I could be awake 24 hours a day, just to hear the crying I miss out on hearing when I am asleep. I mean, I assume I cry in my sleep, too. Whoa. There's a strange thought: What if I stop crying for a moment when I'm asleep? That would be tragic.

Yes, there's nothing like a good, healthy, air-raid-siren-style bellow to renew one's red-faced passion for living. What you want, I've found, is to pitch your voice at about the decibel level of your standard jet engine and then hold it as long as possible before taking in air. That's the sweet spot right there. That's the ideal volume for a good cry—the kind of crying that isn't so much melancholy or sorrowful as it is a full-throttle roar of earsplitting shrillness.

It's so easy. Getting started can be as simple as being startled by your own hand.

In my opinion, anyone who isn't screaming his lungs out is just letting life pass him by. You'd think, after seeing how happy crying makes me, people would follow my example. But all around me there are tall, shadowy figures who seem to actively avoid the most pleasurable part of existence. Everywhere I look I see them: standing behind my stroller as they walk around town, or leaning in over me in my crib and making faces. Whole loads of people, not crying. Don't they realize what they're missing?

Look, I'm not a purist. I understand there are times when it might be perfectly acceptable to stop crying. Like when something is placed in your mouth for you to suck on. Or when somebody jiggles you for 40 seconds. Both are perfectly understandable and justifiable reasons to stop crying momentarily. But to be completely silent for more than, say, a minute? That's just crazy.

Take my parents, for example. If it wasn't for my tireless efforts, they'd sleep through the night! Can you believe it? I don't think it's because they're too old—I suppose I don't know how old they are exactly, but I can't imagine it's any more than, say, one. They've still got plenty of life in them. Yet they hardly ever cry, and when they do, it's usually softly, in the middle of the night, and exhausted-sounding. What happened to their lust for life? Don't they realize that every moment they waste sleeping, fiddling with the car seat, or holding picture books in front of my face is precious time they could be screaming their heads off?

How can I get them to embrace life and really make the most of wailing like a mythical banshee for hours on end?

I just don't understand these people—and not only because I have yet to grasp the concept of others as separate selves outside of me. Don't they know that all they'd have to do is take a good deep breath, let her rip, and the air would be filled with glorious noise? They can't be having a good time just sitting there, grinning slightly, and communicating through facial expressions and this bizarre series of coded grunts I have yet to decipher.

What do they spend their time doing? Comprehending spatial relations? I'd die of boredom in a minute. They must've been young once. Surely they can still remember the good times they had, splitting the very air with sonic knives of nigh-unendurable intensity. I would hate to think that someday I might be so jaded and cynical as to turn my back on wriggling and panting for breath, using every ounce of my being to emit a general, undifferentiated distress signal to all within earshot.

Spending entire days without crying? Why, it goes against the very thing that makes us human.

God, I hope I never become like them.

a near perfect shot

A near perfect shot, if only s didn't look so startled.

There have been moments in the last few weeks when I finally begin to feel that there might be a chance for some sisterly love. There was a time when g would actually share her toy without being told or when s would willingly give something up to her sister. We're a long way from there.

Little Lady

I am so thrilled I actually got a reasonably good shot of her in a dress. This is little s.

smilin' s

Smile!!!

Songs to remember

It's G again. I've been meaning to post this info for a while but I keep forgetting whenever I'm in front of a computer. For a while now I've been singing songs to put both s and g to sleep.

For g, of all the songs I sang to her she seemed to settle down on just two. And I've been singing these to her for over the last year now.
- Under the Boardwalk by the Drifters
- Changes in Latitude, Changes in Attitude by Jimmy Buffett

For s, since she has no say, I just arbitrarily chose a couple of songs to sing to her while I initiate her sleep routine. Somewhere around 6 months ago as she was about 1, I started singing her these songs.
- My Way by Frank Sinatra
- Carolina in My Mind by James Taylor

Maybe when s gets older she'll protest and ask me to sing more modern songs. But for anyone looking for song suggestions for their kids, you should consider the above.

ahead or behind?

This post can be subtitled as "using sibling as a benchmark". I guess it is inevitable.

I have never thought that g was precocious. She was always such a responsive little kid. She liked flashcards and being read to. Though s really liked being read to as well. she thinks flash cards are a form of big confetti that were meant to be strewn about.

At this age (17 months), g knew how to put on her socks, spoke more than 20 words pretty clearly and "reads" to herself. One very clear memory I had of her was one early morning on a Saturday. She had awakened and I wasn't ready to be awake yet. So I took her out of her crib and just allowed her to roam around our bedroom. She typically picks up a book or climbs around the bed. On that day, she took her polar bear book and read loudly to herself. It was so cute. It came out as "po bear, po bear, wat you 'ear?" (translation: polar bear, polar bear, what do you hear?). My favorite is when she got to the part about the bo-sicker (translation: boa constrictor).

Little s seems content to have her small collection of sounds. Though a quick check of developmental milestone chart revealed she is even a little ahead of schedule on everything, it is hard for me to not expect her to be at the same level as her sister at this age.

I have to keep reminding myself that they are different. That they are unique and as such will take their own paths.

World Autism Day

For something that has become so pervasive, autism is still a mystery and deeply misunderstood. I thought I was so well-informed and can even rattle off the telltale signs of this disease, but not until I saw this documentary on HBO did I realize that I didn't know as much as I think. The title of the movie, Autism the Musical, seems like an oxymoron but it truly is not. From this movie, I learned that autism is a broad spectrum of disorders. I was most struck by a little boy named Wyatt. He speaks clearly and with such maturity. He makes eye contact and can communicate effectively. He laughs and has feelings. He is not what I thought autism was.



So I am here to say that as a mom, you have to go out and learn more about this disorder. CNN has been running special articles and features all week. One of them was written by a CNN staffer who was recently diagnosed at 48 years old as having Asperger's. More stories can be found here .

all grown up

Philippines 2008 photo

The picture makes my little girl look so grown-up. If it were not for her height in reference to the window, I would have thought that it was someone else.

Little Pea - the book

I am really loving this book. The illustration is so whimsical.

It is the story of Little Pea who lives a fabulous life except for nightly dinner. He is "forced" to eat candy for dinner. He has to finish all his dinner before a yummy dessert of spinach.

Kai Lan - hmmmm

Personally, the jury is still out on Kai Lan. Now who is she? Why, she's the Chinese Dora and g's new love.



I found her purely by accident one morning and I was struck that she was using some mandarin words. So I allowed little g to watch. s showed some enthusiasm for it as well. Thus far, I don't find it her annoying yet. (That qualifies as a "good" rating as far as kiddie shows are concerned). I like that she pronounces the Chinese words properly rather than it being Anglicized (though depending on the context, pronunciation of her name is typically Anglicized which makes the "lan" in Kai Lan sound like land without the ending d sound.

I do find it odd though that she seems to only live with her grandfather. Where's her parents (maybe working in the city)?

Another request for improvement is the musical quality of the show. They use the same melody for every song in every episode. At times, it is obvious that they are just trying to get the words to fit the number of notes.

On the whole, I like Kai Lan. g is besotted. I reminded g that she was Wai Lan (her chinese name). After that little tidbit, I tied her hair up "kai lan" style and tuned in to an episode where Rintoo once again has a tantrum, quite a temperamental tiger he is.

For more Kai Lan info, there's this NYTIMES article.

There's also a mess of them already on YouTube.

cousins

This one is for little g. She misses her di-chi and an-ya (it's supposed to be ah-hia - big brother). She found her old elmo birthday candle yesterday, so we got to talking about her birthday party. This is months away but she plans these things with the same immediacy as this weekend. I asked her who she would want to invite. The first people she mentioned was her di-chi and an-ya. She hasn't really mentioned them in the last 2 weeks.

That seems to be her way. She may not say much at time but she seems to absorb all this information.

What would you do?

This is a continuation of the "mean" discussion that is currently going on in my head.

I have read this article and saw a feature on CNN about this kid. It is a story about the horrors of bullying. This kid has been a target for a few years with his bullies (yes, plural is intentional here) even putting up a MySpace page devoted to the "cause". This seems really extreme. <>

What would I do if I were Billy Wolfe's mom (that will not land me in jail)?

Though there were suggestions all over blogsphere that the mom should just pull the kid out of school, which I admit would be my course of action, there is an implicit defeat in that move. What would she then be communicating to her son? What is the message she's sending to administration and teachers who don't seem to want to do anything?

What would you do?

In Billy's case, his mom filed a lawsuit against the creators of the MySpace page.

Phthalates in J&J products

There's been a whole flurry about Phthalates (pronounced as thowl-ates) in the last few months. A study has found in elevated levels in the urine of babies who'd been recently shampooed, powdered or lotioned with baby products. Read more here.

Someone in one of my mommy groups actually wrote J&J and got this response. It was a thorough response but not exactly a very reassuring one. I am posting the response here.

Thank you for contacting the Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies,
Inc. Information Center. It is always important to hear from our
consumers, and we appreciate the time you have taken to contact us.

Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies would like to reassure parents
that their children's safety is our utmost priority. For more than
100 years, we have been known as a trusted health care partner, and
we value highly the trust that parents place in us.

Phthalates are a large family of compounds used in a wide variety of
everyday products.
Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies uses only one of the many
phthalates-diethylphthalate (DEP) -in some of its personal care
products as a component of fragrance preparations. Both the Cosmetic
Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel, an independent, nonprofit panel
of scientists and physicians who assess the safety of personal care
product ingredients in the U.S., and the Scientific Committee on
Consumer Products (SCCP), the body that advises the European Union
Commission on safety matters related to cosmetics, have determined
DEP to be safe as used. DEP has been extensively researched and is
not linked to reproductive toxicity or endocrine disruption.

The study in the journal Pediatrics references seven phthalate
compounds, yet only DEP is used in baby care products. This suggests
that most of the phthalates found in the urine samples came from
another route of exposure. The researchers for this study did not
test baby care products for the presence of phthalates or control for
other possible routes of exposure.

Again, thank you for your interest in our company. Should you have
any comments or questions in the future, please contact us via our
website or by calling our toll-free number, 1-888-638-5242. Our
specialists are available Monday through Friday between 8 AM and 5 PM
EST and will be happy to assist you.

how to deal with "mean"

This happened quite a few months back but I still remember it and it still saddens me.

We went to a costume party. There were other kids there (2 boys and a girl). g had never met them before but she seemed willing to try since they seems to be having so much fun running around. As usual she proceeded cautiously, sort of running close to the group but not really with the group. Then a little closer and then closer. I stood nearby talking to the parents of the kids. The two boys were brothers and the girl was a friend of theirs.

As g was finally within touching distance from the group, the girl loudly declared to "her" group, "let's not play with her. " The "her" was little g. I was so crushed. Yes, I was crushed by a 3 year old's comment. I looked around to the parents. I didn't think they heard her because they were in the midst of conversation. (Now that statement does not begin to approach the textbook definition of mean but she was referring to MY BABY!!!!)

Though this seems to be one of those things that every child has to learn to deal with, I can't help the impulse to give that kid a good talking-to.

Thankfully, I don't think g heard.

I wonder though what I would do or say when the day comes when she will hear a comment like that.

Shyness - nature or nurture?

This is a surprise. I have seen it for a while but I am still amazed at how shy little g is. At home, she is a rambunctious, playful and all-around nutty little girl. Outside and in public (this could be a "public" of one other person, she retreats into her little shell. This was something that was apparent since her first birthday. At the time I had thought that maybe in time she will just grow out of it. She has not.

It is most evident when we take her to her gym for a regularly scheduled class. She has been coming to this same location for the last year and a half. Granted that in that time, she has been through many classes and many different instructors, but on a whole, she sees the same people.

Every week without fail, when we bring her to the class, she will spend the first 10-20 minute clutching my or her dad's leg. She will insist that we sit beside her in the classroom. This also happened with her dance class last year but she grew out of it when two-thirds of her semester was over. So I thought that since she sort of "got over it" that last time, this time will be cinch. Not so.

I have done everything I have thought of to gently nurture a more independent spirit but she still remains really closed and slow-to-trust.

How does a parent encourage a more forward child?

Summer is coming

OK...I admit that I am being a little hopeful here given the cold wet weather today, but I am beginning to look forward to warmer times.

So I am once again collecting things to do nearby and places to see a little farther out.

For those interested in indoor pools (while it is still a little chilly out), Manhattan has a cool assortment of indoor pools that fit the bill. I found this article in the NY Magazine site with surprising locations for indoor pools all over the city.

Now when the heat finally arrives but the family prefers a quick jaunt into the city rather than a lengthy trip to the beaches, this article lists the best outdoor pools around town.

I have to dig around now for some jersey equivalents.

The Solo Flight

Last Saturday, in a fit of bravery, I decided that since G was still sound asleep, I would take the kids out alone. I think this is the first ever substantial outing of its kind. I might have taken them out on a short walk or maybe a drive to our local Targay but this time we went to the MALL.

It was a spur of the moment decision really and was not meant to have monumental implications. As all things monumental, it started with a relatively small idea. Typically our Saturday morning consists of waiting for G to wake up. This Saturday, the sun was shining and I was so over this winter-freezing thing. So I thought, "how about a jaunt to Targay?" g was amenable. She likes going there. s just liked being out. I checked the time and realize that if I had gone out that very minute, I would not make it back to prepare lunch. Well, then we'll have lunch there. Seems reasonable.

I packed some diapers and juices. In my walk to the car, I realized that Target was pretty horrible as far as food choices. The thought of having to pack the kids back in the car to go to another place for food really tired me out.

I decided on the mall. It turned out to be brilliant. I went there early in the morning before the typically mall rats would get there. We walked around and window shopped mainly. We ate at the food court. Lastly we checked out the pet store. the kids loved looking at animals though s seemed really nervous about getting up close to it.

So it is brand new day. I am excited that it actually opens up Saturday mornings for short field trips (other than the mall). Anyone want to playdate?

What Makes Finnish Kids So Smart?

Wall Street Journal Article here.

Greetings from the Philippines

 

an s update

s new stats:

@14 months
weight - 19.1 lbs - around 10th percentile
height - 29.13 inches - around 25th percentile
head - 18.11 inches - around 50th percentile

I should stop obsessing about s's weight. I thought that if she gained a little in percentile that I could finally let it go. It's hard, very hard. Well, for one, she didn't gain in percentile. She is a little below 10th percentile which she once was. However she did gain everywhere else. I got upset with her this morning because of food and intake.

I looked online today and found this Nutritional Guide for Toddlers where they listed a standard portion size for 1 year olds. I discovered something that I probably subconsciously knew....that g is the ODD one. Based on this guide, s has been eating more than what is required. I have just been so used to g eating her adult-sized portions that I felt that s was always starving when she probably wasn't.

Though it is true that she is more picky than her sister was, she is not as picky as some of the horror stories I have read online. s loves flavorful foods. She does not like bland, but if she's hungry she will eat a minimum amount of food in order to satiate herself and then she'll start to reject. However if it is something she likes, she will definitely eat more and be easier to feed.

Armed with this new knowledge, I will try harder to let this go PERIOD For the record, the pediatrician has never expressed a concern, has not recommended that we start replacing milk with ice cream or anything like that. I am just going off the deep end about this rather than letting her be herself. The stress of this is probably not helping her feel excited about meal times.

I guess that is the price of being second born, there's more to live up to.

Updates...Now reading this article makes me feel extremely guilty about literally trying to shove food into her mouth.

Going Light Green

I know I am joining the green "revolution" rather late but I have always been reticent about joining in what is being touted as a "big deal" (or at least I try to be .... see post on bisphenol bottles). Anyway the past is the past. Now I am trying to figure out ways to go green without a complete overhaul. Thus light green.

Some thoughts for those who want to go "light green"
1. Avoid buying individual containers of anything (ie juice boxes) Buy a safe plastic sippy or a stainless steel option and just refill. This will save money as well since you "pay" more for individual packaging.
2. Cut down on paper napkins. Apparently doing this will save a whole bunch of trees, even if you cut down your consumption by one napkin a day. I have decided to use washcloths as napkins for the kiddies. It actually is gentler on their faces. Just dampen and clean that ketchup stain off their little chin.
3. Saving "graywater" for reuse. This is a cheapskate thing that I have been doing for a few months now. Since the kiddies have fallen in love with baths, I have been saving the bath water to use to flush the toilet. The combined amount is almost enough that we don't have to use the flush mechanism on the toilet.
4. There's the obvious "use compact fluorescent bulbs"
5. For my daily x cups of coffee, I still use a paper cup because no "normal" mug will fit under our office machine. I have made an effort though to reuse the same cup for the whole day rather than getting a fresh one each time.
6. When I do the wash, I wash everything in cold water. One good side effect - less shrinkage.


Some things that I am not ready to try yet:
1. Unplugging all electronics that are not in use. I would just hate losing all the clock times and the settings. Though I do unplug chargers.
2. Using a cloth (non-plastic) grocery bag. I need those grocery bags for my garbage. So I guess I do recycle them.
3. Signing up for Greendimes For a $20 fee, this service will stop 70-90% of the junk mail that comes into your homes. I have heard about this but have not been able to find any other reviews of it. So I am skeptical.

Of course, for more ideas on green living, there's treehugger

Any more tips are welcome.

Liberty Science Center

Thanks to Mr. GS, we got into Liberty Science Center for Free. Well, thanks to Auntie K too.

The LSC has been under renovation for almost a year and has opened sometime late in the summer.

 

The kids had a really great time. The place is really set up for young kids. There are quite a few interactive exhibits like the skyscrapers exhibit where bigger kids can walk a beam (with safety harnesses, of course), maneuver a small crane trying to move small part of earth from one pile to another.

 

There was a cool Hudson river exhibit. There was just a lot of fishes but the cool part is you can navigate a small underwater camera through a large aquarium. You can see on the video display what you are focusing on (or trying to focus on).

 

There was also an iExplore exhibit for the younger kids where most of these pictures were taken. It was great to just let the kids lose throughout the entire area.

 

On the whole, it was great to get out of the house. There was a lot of open space there for the kids to just meander for a bit.

Some tips:
Come early. We were there at around 10:30 and noticed that there wasn't a lot of cars in the parking lot. I just thought that maybe the place wasn't so popular, but the crowd began to build around noon. By the time we left at 2:30, the place was packed.
Bring a lunch. Although I have to say that their cafeteria has a lot more choices than most, it isn't a cheap place to eat. One entree and a sandwich with one drink came up to almost $20. At the very least, bring stuff for the kids.
Try to use the corporate discount.

Time Out New York Parents Choice Awards

This is for some of the local moms who might be looking for tips for things around town.

This is the results of a readers' poll taken by TONY for the best playground-shoe store-clothing store-salon-etc around town. All for the little people in our lives.

Travel Toys

If you have been reading along, thefamilyc is planning our migration back to the motherland (well, my motherland) in a few weeks. So I thought I might put the question out there for what toys should I bring for amusement for my 3 and 1 year old.

Any ideas????

The S word

I am unsure as to how to react to this. Gmom had started calling s stupid. I am not sure of the exact context since she is speaking cantonese, but I think it has to do with s not being able to listen, eat by herself and speak clearly. She says (progressive tense intentional since she has done it more than once) this usually when she is trying to urge g to do something, calling her smart and then comparing her to her one year old sister.

Far be it for me to say that g is not smart which I think she is. I don't think that it is good nor is it a fair comparison. I admit to doing comparisons but usually I contextualize it as g being the big sister needs to help s out on things. Like, "you can pick your toys. s needs help picking up her toys because she is still a baby." or "you can use your words. you have to help s learn words so that she can tell us what she needs."

However it really hurts me to hear her call s stupid for not knowing a word or mispronouncing something, as in she would say "te te" or jie hie (mandarin for big sister). She knows exactly what she is referring to though.

How would you react? I have asked G that if it comes up again that he should tell Gmom that she shouldn't use that word. G doesn't think it's a big deal since that is how he was raised. I don't think I want to raise them like this.

Another Sleep Experiment

In preparation for our migration to the homeland (we're going to the phils), we had decided (ok, I decided and G sort of went along with it) that we had better train s to sleep in the same room with us and her sister. To those who do not know, s had been sleeping in her own room since her birth. She and I shared the room for the first 4 months but when we started sleep training, she slept alone. I have found that whenever I tried sleeping in her room with her, she tended to wake up more because she wants to be held or carried. My reasoning is that back home, we would probably all be in one room anyway and it'll be hard to have her crying all night there. I won't hear the end of it from my parents, I am sure.

So we did it. We took advantage of G's time off and we just did it. We moved her crib into our room and put her to sleep the same way. I was surprised actually that she slept the same way in our room. G would do the same routine and put her down awake. She slept. Of course, she awoke a few times at night. The first night, she cried loudly and incessantly at 5:00 AM, waking up her poor sister. We have a rule that we don't go to her before 6:00 because I don't want to encourage her waking up any earlier than that.

So far it's going better than expected. It hasn't been quite so hellish. However I do have to get used to her numerous nightwakings, her grunting and random 2 second cries. However my experience with s has taught me that the only constant with her sleep habits is that it is bound to change sooner than later.