Vintage Dutch Girl

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Butterflies...

Kristen over at We Are THAT Family distributed this lovely award to her commenters for a truly inspired post. She captured some of the reasons why so many Mamas blog. Perspective, sense of community, new relationships, renewed compassion...I could go on and on.

I know many of my family and friends wonder why I spend time blogging and emailing people that I've never really met, you know, in real life. It's my little thing I guess. I can't put my finger down on what drives me to blog.

A close friend said to me yesterday, "WHERE do you find the time to do that?!". I don't find the time, I MAKE time. Most Mamas that I know have a very real sense of time. We are the queens of efficiency, the masters of multi-tasking, the enforcers of order in the midst of chaos.

What do you do with your time? It is a precious commodity. Are you needlessly wasting it?

A

Friday, April 18, 2008

Favorite Find Friday: Franklin School Bus

We have a VERY popular toy around our house. I bought it at a garage sale last summer for $2.00, then took it home and cloroxed the snot out of it. It's been used nonstop since Bubbalu turned eleven months old.

Now presenting....the Franklin School bus :

On the dash are buttons in the shape of Franklin's friends who profess their love of school and learning.

"I want to learn about shapes."

"School time in FUN TIME.

...and my personal favorite:

"I love lunchtime!"

Amen little Franklin friend. Lunchtime was MY favorite part of school as well. Who cares about colors and shapes? Give me the FOOD.

Our Franklin School Bus has seen better days. My Bubbalu has an affinity for sticker peeling, and Franklin is looking naked in some areas, as evidenced by this picture :

Actually, that picture isn't too bad. Since it was taken last week he has removed 3 more stickers from the opposite side.

There is one button that plays the 'Wheels On the Bus' song. If you don't know that song, just wait until you have a kid. You'll know all 37 verses by heart. Really, I'm not kidding.

STILL need to hear it? Click Here.

The song button is Bubbalu's favorite one.

Sometimes, our Franklin School Bus gets LOST. Yep, LOST. We can't find him for HOURS at a time. It is a tragedy. We do manage to find other things to play with, but when we finally "find" the missing Franklin School Bus, happiness and smiles abound.

At least from one of us, that is.

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Excerpts from Bubbalu's Instruction Book...

He likes to scratch his butt. Why am I telling you this? Just saying, diaper changing may be a challenge, is all.

I strip him down after dinner to nothing to “air out” before his bath. He has become increasingly interested in peeing on the carpet. Not the linoleum, the carpet. Just beware. Also, there was a first “dancing in the poop” incident last week that I would rather just forget about. Luckily it was on the linoleum. Once again, beware.

He really likes his yogurt, and will not stop eating it unless you stop feeding him. He’s puked it up before because he is overfull. Lesson learned.

He is fascinated with electrical outlets. He is NOT allowed to play with them, take out the white child protective plug, etc. He WILL try to do this.

He is also fascinated with TV’s, VCR’s, DVD players, etc (what kid isn’t?). I try to block him from them, and don’t allow him to play with them. Remotes are fine according to your discretion. Some of your settings may be changed after he’s done playing with them.

Watch little toy cars around him as he tries to remove and eat the wheels. Actually, watch his mouth for he tries to eat EVERYTHING. Jewelry, buttons, wallboard, dirt, small toys, paper, electrical plug covers, potpourri, etc. Basically, anything that fits in his mouth, he WILL try to eat.

He’s been a daredevil lately, and has started climbing things. Just keep an eye on him as he has been testing heights and climbing ability. He also tends to throw himself down slides without regard to someone catching him. Just so you know.

Know that he LOVES his Grandparents, Aunties and Uncles, and cousins, and you are making memories for a lifetime that he won’t forget!