Must Haves for Babies

So awhile back I wrote a list of items that a mom should definitely have right after returning home from the hospital.  Now, that my baby is almost 9 months, I have new items that I feel are very important for mom's to have. 

Books: J loves books! He will sit and listen to stories for several minutes at a time.  He especially loves touch and feel books and those that play music when you press a button.

Bumbo:  Although, we do not use this much now that he is a crawler, we used it all the time between months 3 and 7!  I would sit him in it when I was in the restroom, eating dinner, and even when he first began to eat real food.  It was so much easier to use this rather than a high chair especially at the babysitter's and grandparents' houses.

Soft Fleece Blankets: J uses these daily even when it is warmer out.  For some reason he would rather cuddle with a soft fleece blanket instead of a thin, cotton blanket.  He sleeps with one and our car seat rides have turned into nice, quiet rides since we started using these blankets for him in the car seat!

Security Blanket: He sleeps with one of these most nights.  It's like his blanket only smaller; therefore, easier for him to grip and carry around.

Onsies and Sleepers: When crawling around the house and playing at the sitter's house, these are much more comfortable than jeans or 'cutsie' clothes.

Ball Pit: He plays in our ball pit more than anywhere else.  He loves it! He even carries the balls around the house. 

Bouncer: We have something like the picture below that hangs on the door frame between our kitchen and living room.  J loves playing and bouncing in it while we are cooking or cleaning.

Walker: A walker like the one below.  We have this one and J practically runs with it! And when he gets tired of walking or running, he crawls on his knees holding on to it or he sits down and plays with.  It keeps him occupied forever it seems like it!

Baby Playtime

When I first tried to think of activities my infant could do, I was lost on ideas; however, after experimenting and trying new activities, I figured out several to do with him.  Since it was so hard for me to come up with ideas when I am an early childhood major, I wanted to share some of the activities. 

Feet Painting: The first painting we ever tried with him when he was only a couple months old was feet painting.  We painted each month of the year a different object or animal.  We then took pictures of his feet and made them into a Shutterfly calendar for the grandparents.  January-snowmen, February-heart, March-chic, April-Easter bunny, May-flowers, June-cowboy (theme of his nursery since it was his birthday month), July-firecracker, August-tractor, September-apple, October-ghosts, November-turkey, December-Christmas tree

Sensory Play with Food: When I first realized he was ready to 'finger paint' he was sitting in his high chair, and he really wanted to play with his baby food (carrots).  I decided to dump the leftovers out on his tray and allowed him to play or 'paint' in the food.  He loved it and if it went in his mouth it was ok and safe for him!

Finger-Painting: We did try regular finger painting as well; however, I only used Crayola paints.  He tried to put his hands in his mouth several times, but still enjoyed it! I would suggest taking off all his clothes and leaving him in only a diaper.  We also only paint in the evenings right before bath time.  I wouldn't suggest trying this if you are planning to go somewhere. It is a huge mess! We have tried painting on the floor with a cardboard box underneath the paper as well as in his high chair.  The cardboard box was much easier to clean.  Pick it up and toss it out with the trash or store it somewhere and reuse it every time you get the paints out!

Easter grass I Spy:  I planned this game for St. Patrick's Day for the older kids; however. he loved playing in it the night before so much that I decided to do this more often with him.  I bought two packs of green Easter grass from the Dollar Tree along with several green items from the Dollar Tree.  I buried the items under the grass in a small blow up pool.  J loved playing with the grass the most, but he did enjoy spying objects under the grass as well.

Grass Sensory Play: J loves playing outside; therefore, I decided to let him explore a little.  He loved touching the grass, dirt, sticks etc.  His favorite were the sticks.  I had to really watch him though to make sure he didn't put it in his mouth.

Snow Sensory Play: When it's too cold and wet to play outside, why not bring the snow inside! J loved playing in the snow.  I added play eggs and plastic spoons for exploring.  He really enjoyed it, but could only play for a short amount of time because his poor hands were getting so cold!

Cardboard Box Play: My husband works for a heating and air company and was able to bring a box home during Dr. Seuss week.  J and E both loved crawling through the box.  J thought it was a game of hide and seek.  He loved poking his head around the corner and would start laughing when he saw mommy or daddy.

Tissue Box Textures: J loves pulling out tissues from the box; therefore, I decided to cut small pieces of scrap material of different textures including a ribbon, netting, jean, fleece, etc.  I then shoved them into an old tissue box that already had a whole cut out of it.  J loved pulling out the material and being able to chew on it without me constantly pulling it out of his mouth!


Water Bottles: I discovered my little guy loves water bottles!  From a very young infant, he saw me drinking out of them and was mesmerized by the water movement inside.  As he got older, he wanted to try and 'drink' from the bottle.  Usually he just chewed on the cap.  (Be sure to make sure the cap is on the bottle is really tight.)  We have also added pom pom balls to the inside of an empty water bottle.  Babies love bright colors! We have added beads to the inside as well.  He loves shaking it and making noise! For Dr. Seuss week, my older son made one with cooking oil, red food coloring, red tissue paper, and red beads.  We called it Pink Ink from the Cat in the Hat story.

All of these activities should be accompanied by an adult.

This is just a short list of activities I have tried with J before the age of one! I hope to add more to this between now and his first birthday.   I hope this list of ideas will help you find ways to play and explore with your little one!

St. Patrick's Day

My niece and nephew were in town, so I decided to throw a St. Patrick's Day party at the last minute. 

First, I surprised E with Lucky Charms with green milk for breakfast and decorated the kitchen with green!

Then, after school we played games, made a craft and ate a fun green snack:

I Spy something green.  I had the five kids around a small blow up pool. I filled the pool with all kinds of green Dollar Tree items as well as Easter Grass instead of water.  (Some of the green items included: sparkly ball, light up ball, foam shamrocks, shiny shamrocks, watering container, foam blocks, pencils, snake, insects, camo Easter egg, green Easter egg, gold coins, bubbles, green links, clapper, beaded necklaces, headband.  All items were green or St. Patrick's day related except for the gold coins. I also had two different colors of green Easter grass to make the items harder to find.)  I would shout out something they had to spy.  The first person to find it, got a point.  At the end we counted up points and they all 'won'! Therefore, they all got to pick out their favorite item from the pool.

 

 

We tossed coins into a leprechaun's green top hat. (In my classroom earlier that day, they tossed them into a pot.) Again, they were all winners and got a gift bag with lucky charms and a golden dollar sign necklace.  I made these bags out of small paper bag lunch sacks.  I cut zigzag on the top, glued a sparkly foam shamrock on front, and placed items inside! Simple and easy, but theme related. 

 

They then made necklaces out of Fruit Loops.  I think they enjoyed eating them more than making them!

Last, I was originally going to make green pancakes, green eggs, and green milk; however, my mom decided to make a big dinner for everyone instead, so we are postponing the pancakes until later this week.  Instead we made leprechaun floats.  I wanted to make it with green sherbert and sprite, but since I had troubles finding green sherbert, we made it with chocolate mint ice cream instead.  Most of the kids loved it!  It was very unique tasting!

Picking up Toys for the 15 Time!?!?!

I have really been struggling lately with not spending enough time with the boys.  I am so tired and wore out by the time I get off work, my evening goes by so quick, I regret not spending the quality time with them like I feel I should be.  I have made it a point the last couple of weeks to plan a special activity with them each evening.  With Dr. Seuss' birthday being on March 2nd, it has helped a lot.  I picked out a story to read them every evening, planned an activity or art project to do with them as well as planned a Dr. Seuss birthday party and invited their friends.  Despite the weather, we still had seven kids and babies show up!  With that week being over, I feel much better about the time I did have with them; however, I still struggle with those little, extra moments such as feedings, diaper changes, car rides, etc.  Am I making the most of the moments I do have with them? Am I spending too much time on my phone while feeding?  Am I not making him smile and laugh while changing him enough?  I watch my husband with the boys and how he never seems to miss a moment to make them laugh. even if it's just changing his diaper.  I will go into the room when he is changing little man's diaper, and little man will be giggling and laughing.  He never seems to give up those small moments he does have with them in the afternoons. Today on my way to work I heard the song "Do Everything" by Steven Curtis Chapman on the radio.  It reminded me of the Bible verse I am constantly trying to teach my students.  "Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people." Colossians 3:23  My challenge this season leading up to Easter is to make the most of all the moments I have with my children, not just adding special activities into our day, but focusing on those car rides, feedings, and diaper changes as well.  I want every minute of every day I have with my children to be worth it! I want them to know it is the small things that I will miss some day.  I will miss cleaning up spit up, changing diapers, giving baths, receiving smiles and hugs and kisses.  I will miss those words and sounds coming from the back seat.  I want to cherish these moments now and know I did all I could for my family because it does matter.  It matters to God! I pray that everything I do, I do %101 for the Lord!  God sees what we do, and I believe it really does put a smile on his face!  I want to love my children and husband like He loves me!

Do Everything
Steven Curtis Chapman

"You're picking up toys on the living room floor for the 15th time today
Matching up socks
Sweeping up lost cheerios that got away

You put a baby on your hip
Color on your lips and head out the door

While I may not know you,
I bet I know you
Wonder sometimes, does it matter at all?

Well let me remind you, it all matters just as long
As you do everything you do to the glory of the One who made you,
Cause he made you,
To do
Every little thing that you do
To bring a smile to His face
Tell the story of grace
With every move that you make
And every little thing you do

Maybe you're that guy with the suit and tie
Maybe your shirt says your name

You may be hooking up mergers
Cooking up burgers
But at the end of the day

Little stuff
Big stuff
In between stuff
God sees it all the same

While I may not know you
I bet I know you
Wonder sometimes, does it matter at all?

Well let me remind you, it all matters just as long
As you do everything you do to the glory of the One who made you,
Cause he made you
To do
Every little thing that you do
To bring a smile to His face
Tell the story of grace
With every move that you make
And everything you do

Maybe you're sitting in math class
Or maybe on a mission in the Congo
Or maybe you're working at the office
Singing along with the radio

Maybe you're dining at a 5-star
Or feeding orphans in the Myanmar
Anywhere and everywhere that you are

Whatever you do
It all matters
So do what you do
Don't ever forget

To do everything you do to the glory of the One who made you,
Cause He made you
To do
Every little thing that you do
To bring a smile to His face
And tell the story of grace

As you do everything you do to the glory of the One who made you,
Cause he made you
To do
Every little thing that you do
To bring a smile to His face
And tell the story of grace
With every move that you make
And every little thing you do

In every little thing you do
In every little thing you do"