A blog reader recently emailed me and asked me what kind of toys The Hulk plays with. They were wanting to know if I let him have plastic toys or wooden toys. Do his toys play music, etc. Oh what a question. I hate to give my answer but I'll be honest and tell you the whole truth.
When The Hulk was first born I tried to limit his contact with plastic. That dreaded BPA was not going to touch my baby! So I made his toys (cloth blocks and balls), bought him wooden toys, organic toys, etc. Then I got tired and he got a mind of his own. Guess what he loves plastic balls! Seriously loves them! And guess what else I let him have them. In large quantities. He also loves the little people toys, and his little people airplane and dump truck play music that he enjoys dancing and clapping too.
He has lots of toys that play music, say the ABC's, count, etc. But most of those toys have an on and off switch. So I leave them turned off for the most part and let him use his imagination. When I do turn them on is when we play together. We will clap with the music and sing along. I am not against electronic toys but I think they need to be used in moderation. I also think that there should be more quiet toys than noisy toys. Imagination and creativity can get lost in the "noise".
One thing I have been trying to do more of lately is what I call "real toys". Basically these are real objects around your house that kids turn into toys anyways. I try to at least for an hour or so on the weekends pull out those "real toys" and let The Hulk play with them. Not only is this great for his imagination but it's also a "green" way to reuse some items that maybe would have been thrown out. I hate waste!
For example last Saturday I let The Hulk sit inside a big Rubbermaid box (with the lid off). I put all kinds of "real toys" in the box and he played for more than an hour and had a blast. What things went in the box....
A couple disposable plastic cups
Balled up aluminum foil
A few sheets of wax paper
Wooden Spoon
Empty Cool Whip container
A water bottle with pennies in it that was tightly sealed
A few pieces of scrap tulle
A few pieces of scrap felt
He loves all of these items. There are all different textures and sizes of toys. He likes the sounds he can make with the different items. And he loves to hide things under cups and bowls and find them.
So that's the truth about The Hulk' toys....
Clickin Mama
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Monday, June 8, 2009
April Rose.... Fact or Fiction
Wow my email has gone crazy today/tonight with emails about April Rose. For those of you that haven't been following the blog about April Rose I'll give a short version. The April Rose blog was started by "B" a 20 something unwed Christian pregnant girl. She stated she was pregnant with a little girl "April Rose" that had been diagnosed with Trisomy 13. "April Rose" was not expected to live. "B" maintained strict annonymity on her blog but was active in the blog community and has a bunch of followers. Well last night "B" delivered "April Rose" at home and she was born alive. Now today things have blown up and many people believe the blog is a fraud and that there really was no pregnancy or baby "April Rose".
So in answer to many emails I have NO information about "April Rose". I do not know for sure if this story is fact or fiction. I will provide links to various blogs that offer testimony both ways at the bottom of this post. I think the best advice I can give is to read the information available and make your own decision. It is not my place to judge what is true or not.
While I have no direct information about his blog I can give you my opinion on a few of the main issues.
1. Prayer is never wasted. Many readers are upset and feel that if this blog is a hoax that they have wasted time in prayer for "April Rose". My belief is that God hears every prayer and he knows what you will pray before you pray it. So if you are praying for a real baby or not God heard those prayers. In all honesty we all took the risk in praying for an unknown child. God heard those prayers and petitions and took them seriously. We may not have been praying for the "April Rose" we thought we were praying for but there are many children not known to us that need prayers. So that time was not wasted. Any time we spend in communication (prayer) with God is valuable time.
2. Blogging has risks and benefits. The blogging community is a strange beast. If you aren't a blogger you will never understand it. Us bloggers form "relationships" with one another that feel very real but we always have to evaluate how real they are. For example, I have a blogging friend (Julie- Hi Miss Julie) that I feel I have a real relationship with. I have emailed with her, shared pictures with her, and hopefully will meet her in person one day if I can get my butt to Chicago! One of the benefits of that relationship is that we have developed a "relationship" if you can call it that. When my mom died Julie made a donation to the American Cancer Society in my mom's name and when Julie got married I sent her a gift. Those are benefits. Now the risk is that Julie may have made that donation in my mom's name and I could have been lying. Or I could have sent Julie a wedding gift and maybe she wasn't really getting married. You can never be sure. Luckily that has been a good blogging relationship. We each have to weigh the benefits and risks before we get invested in a blog.
So that's what I know. I am in no way going to tell you which way to go with the "April Rose" story. I go back and forth myself. But here are a few blogs that provide some information. I just pray for everyone involved in this deal to find peace and to handle the whole situation with grace.
Gibson Twins
Questions Re: Little April Rose
The Ruffle Blog
Clickin Mama
So in answer to many emails I have NO information about "April Rose". I do not know for sure if this story is fact or fiction. I will provide links to various blogs that offer testimony both ways at the bottom of this post. I think the best advice I can give is to read the information available and make your own decision. It is not my place to judge what is true or not.
While I have no direct information about his blog I can give you my opinion on a few of the main issues.
1. Prayer is never wasted. Many readers are upset and feel that if this blog is a hoax that they have wasted time in prayer for "April Rose". My belief is that God hears every prayer and he knows what you will pray before you pray it. So if you are praying for a real baby or not God heard those prayers. In all honesty we all took the risk in praying for an unknown child. God heard those prayers and petitions and took them seriously. We may not have been praying for the "April Rose" we thought we were praying for but there are many children not known to us that need prayers. So that time was not wasted. Any time we spend in communication (prayer) with God is valuable time.
2. Blogging has risks and benefits. The blogging community is a strange beast. If you aren't a blogger you will never understand it. Us bloggers form "relationships" with one another that feel very real but we always have to evaluate how real they are. For example, I have a blogging friend (Julie- Hi Miss Julie) that I feel I have a real relationship with. I have emailed with her, shared pictures with her, and hopefully will meet her in person one day if I can get my butt to Chicago! One of the benefits of that relationship is that we have developed a "relationship" if you can call it that. When my mom died Julie made a donation to the American Cancer Society in my mom's name and when Julie got married I sent her a gift. Those are benefits. Now the risk is that Julie may have made that donation in my mom's name and I could have been lying. Or I could have sent Julie a wedding gift and maybe she wasn't really getting married. You can never be sure. Luckily that has been a good blogging relationship. We each have to weigh the benefits and risks before we get invested in a blog.
So that's what I know. I am in no way going to tell you which way to go with the "April Rose" story. I go back and forth myself. But here are a few blogs that provide some information. I just pray for everyone involved in this deal to find peace and to handle the whole situation with grace.
Gibson Twins
Questions Re: Little April Rose
The Ruffle Blog
Clickin Mama
Not Me Monday!
Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week. As for me these are just a few of the things I have NOT done this week!
I did NOT watch way to much TV this week! I did NOT take advantage of the TV at the hotel and watch hours upon hours of Law and Order SVU, Anderson Cooper, First 48, or CNN nonstop! I would NOT do that.
I also did NOT enjoy a huge piece of carrot cake with delicious cream cheese frosting from the hotel restaurant. I did NOT justify this by thinking that all the walking I did each day would cancel it out.
I did NOT buy The Hulk too many things while I was in D.C. I did not buy him a board book from every single place I visited. I did NOT spend all my "spending money" on him and come home with nothing for me. NEVER!
I did NOT let him sleep with me every night since being home. I have NOT gotten our routine totally screwed up! My goal for this week is NOT trying to get us back on track.
So what have you not done this week?
Clickin Mama
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Couscous Chicken
I tried a new concoction today. I was a little leery but it turned out great! The Hulk and I both give it two thumbs up. If you need a healthy yummy meal in 15 minutes then this is the recipe for you!
Couscous Chicken
1 cup low sodium chicken broth
3/4 cup whole wheat Couscous (I use the near east brand)
1 1/2 cups of mixed veggies
1/2 pound diced chicken
1 T. Olive Oil
Garlic
Heat the olive oil in a skillet, add chicken and garlic and cook until the chicken is no longer pink. Bring the chicken broth to a boil on the stove top. While you are waiting for the broth to boil add the veggies in with the chicken to get them warm. Once the broth begins to boil remove it from the heat and add the couscous, chicken and veggies to the pot. Stir and cover. Allow it to sit for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and serve.
We had this for dinner tonight with some fresh strawberries. It was a great meal and so fast! It seriously was ready to eat in less than 15 minutes. For this reason alone we are adding it to our favorite meals list!
Clickin Mama
Couscous Chicken
1 cup low sodium chicken broth
3/4 cup whole wheat Couscous (I use the near east brand)
1 1/2 cups of mixed veggies
1/2 pound diced chicken
1 T. Olive Oil
Garlic
Heat the olive oil in a skillet, add chicken and garlic and cook until the chicken is no longer pink. Bring the chicken broth to a boil on the stove top. While you are waiting for the broth to boil add the veggies in with the chicken to get them warm. Once the broth begins to boil remove it from the heat and add the couscous, chicken and veggies to the pot. Stir and cover. Allow it to sit for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and serve.
We had this for dinner tonight with some fresh strawberries. It was a great meal and so fast! It seriously was ready to eat in less than 15 minutes. For this reason alone we are adding it to our favorite meals list!
Clickin Mama
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Washington Day One
My first day in Washington was pretty awesome. I really just loved taking in the city. As soon as I dropped my bags at the hotel I was off to explore. Day one was my first experience with the Metro. It went much better than I anticipated. So quick, cheap and easy to use. I was very impressed!
My first stop was the national mall. I really loved just wondering around there. So many different things going on in one area. There was a band playing jazz music that I listened to for awhile. People flying huge kites. A carousel that I of course took a ride on.
Once I got done there I went to the Smithsonian American History Museum! If you ever take your kids to D.C. this is the museum for them. Lots of cool entertainment exhibits. The original Kermit the frog and Oscar the grouch were a couple of my favs. They also had a very cool exhibit all about the history of the Star Spangled Banner.
By the time I got done there it was 4:00 and I was starving! I hadn't eaten since 5:00 A.M. when I had a bagel before I got on the plane. So since it seems you can buy a hot dog on every corner in D.C. that seemed like the best plan. So I got a hot dog and some water and found me a bench on the mall to eat and people watch. My great plan shockingly went down the gutter. I dropped my bottle of water so I sat my hot dog down on the bench to pick the water up. All of a sudden I hear a horrible squawking sound. Three pigeons were fighting over my $3.50 hot dog! It was gone in a blink of an eye. Pricey bird food in D.C.
After the pigeons stole my food I wandered on to the Smithsonian castle. BEAUTIFUL! If I lived in D.C. I think the gardens at the castle would be a wonderful place for a wedding. They were just very peaceful and meticulously landscaped. Very impressive. I spent a good hour there in the gardens just enjoying myself.
I decided that I probably ought to head back to my hotel. As I was walking back to the metro station I saw a man that had his penis sticking out of his pants. I hope he knows how crazy the pigeons are in D.C. I don't think I'd want to risk it! I also saw lots of community or "victory" gardens during my stroll that day. In fact they are all over the city. Pretty neat in my opinion.
So here are a few pics from day one!
Clickin Mama
My first stop was the national mall. I really loved just wondering around there. So many different things going on in one area. There was a band playing jazz music that I listened to for awhile. People flying huge kites. A carousel that I of course took a ride on.
Once I got done there I went to the Smithsonian American History Museum! If you ever take your kids to D.C. this is the museum for them. Lots of cool entertainment exhibits. The original Kermit the frog and Oscar the grouch were a couple of my favs. They also had a very cool exhibit all about the history of the Star Spangled Banner.
By the time I got done there it was 4:00 and I was starving! I hadn't eaten since 5:00 A.M. when I had a bagel before I got on the plane. So since it seems you can buy a hot dog on every corner in D.C. that seemed like the best plan. So I got a hot dog and some water and found me a bench on the mall to eat and people watch. My great plan shockingly went down the gutter. I dropped my bottle of water so I sat my hot dog down on the bench to pick the water up. All of a sudden I hear a horrible squawking sound. Three pigeons were fighting over my $3.50 hot dog! It was gone in a blink of an eye. Pricey bird food in D.C.
After the pigeons stole my food I wandered on to the Smithsonian castle. BEAUTIFUL! If I lived in D.C. I think the gardens at the castle would be a wonderful place for a wedding. They were just very peaceful and meticulously landscaped. Very impressive. I spent a good hour there in the gardens just enjoying myself.
I decided that I probably ought to head back to my hotel. As I was walking back to the metro station I saw a man that had his penis sticking out of his pants. I hope he knows how crazy the pigeons are in D.C. I don't think I'd want to risk it! I also saw lots of community or "victory" gardens during my stroll that day. In fact they are all over the city. Pretty neat in my opinion.
So here are a few pics from day one!
Clickin Mama
Friday, June 5, 2009
Welcome Home
It's so nice to be back at home. I do enjoy traveling but I really enjoy my boy and our home! While I'm glad to be home I am feeling a bit overwhelmed. The laundry is out of control and the house is so cluttered that it is making me anxious. And as much as I have to get done I have NO motivation to do any of it. I'm just beat. All I want to do is play with the baby and then crash. Oh and edit the gazillion pictures I took in D.C. That has taken priority over the laundry...
So hopefully this weekend between playing with The Hulk and photo shoots I can get this house in order and feel a little more rested!
Clickin Mama
So hopefully this weekend between playing with The Hulk and photo shoots I can get this house in order and feel a little more rested!
Clickin Mama
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Things I Know For Sure
Most of life still seems to be a mystery to me. In fact there are many areas of my everyday life that fluctuate between the black and white and frequently leave me living in the grey area. But there are a few things I know for sure...
- Holding your baby is one of the best feelings in the world!
- Your own bed is always more comfortable than any other.
- You should never leave your hot dog sitting on a park bench.
- Pigeons will eat ANYTHING!
- And for some reason a sunset is always prettier in your own state!
Clickin Mama
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