Monday, September 27, 2010

Sign Language For Your Baby: Special Guest Post

Hello everyone!  Misty of Baby Sign Language has agreed to write a wonderful helpful article to introduce everyone to sign language for your baby.  This is something I've taken a great interest in myself, especially since my son has been showing frustration when trying to tell me what he wants.  It is much easier for them to get across their meaning via sign language!  I hope to have Misty spot light more posts in the future!  Please read below and make sure to visit the web links provided.  The web site is amazing and full of information, videos and flash cards to help you get started, or continue teaching your baby to sign!


How To Adapt Baby Sign Language For Your Baby


Baby sign language is a cool way to communicate with your baby before your baby can actually talk. To learn baby sign language you need to have a signing system that you and baby can understand. The most popular system is American sign language for babies, which is used all over the world. Once you have begun signing, however, don’t be afraid to adapt baby sign language to make it work for you. As long as you and baby understand the signs you are using that’s all that matters! To adapt baby signing to make it work for you and your baby, remember these five simple words…

  1. Fun
  2. Repeat
  3. Encourage
  4. Learn
  5. Adapt


1. Fun
Baby sign language needs to be fun – that is your number one goal. If it’s not fun your baby won’t learn anything and you won’t enjoy teaching baby sign language. To adapt signing to your needs, find ways to include signs in all the fun activities you do every day. Sing your signs, tell stories with them, sign in the car, sign when playing together, sign while out shopping. Create a warm, fun environment when teaching Baby Sign Language – your baby will begin to sign much sooner.

2. Repeat
Repetition is the key to teaching baby sign language. Babies need repetition of a new sign for around two months before they start to use it themselves. Start with your favorite signs and repeat them as often as you can.

3. Encourage
It’s important to encourage your baby whenever he tries to make a sign – even if you don’t know what he’s trying to say be sure to give him loads of encouragement with good eye contact, a positive tone of voice and lots of hugs and kisses. Praise him just for trying. When you understand what sign he’s making, respond by letting him know you ‘get it. This will build his confidence to try again.

4. Learn
Once you and baby have mastered the basics you can start to expand your signing vocabulary. Introduce any new signs slowly, and remember to have fun, repeat and encourage all the time. It’s best to stick to one group of signs at a time, such as food, colors, shapes, or animals. Once these have been mastered, move on to a new group. Don’t forget to use the signs you’ve already learned while you are introducing new ones.

5. Adapt
Remember – Mommy knows best. If you or your baby find a sign difficult or something doesn’t work for you, it’s fine to adapt baby sign language to suit. Make up your own signs. The point of Baby Signing is to improve communication and give your little one the tools he needs to tell you what he wants or how he feels. It’s your language – who cares if no one else understands it? Adapt learning Baby Sign Language to fit your needs, and remember to have fun along the way. 

Thursday, September 23, 2010

I'm A Guest Blogger!

You'll find me over at Good Girl Gone Redneck this week.  I did a guest blog post for her, and I'd really like if everyone stopped by and read it.  I tried to be very open, honest and bare bones in this post.  It is something that reached way down deep inside and I wanted to share it with everyone.  Living More In The Moment is the title of my blog post and something I think all of us can do a little more of.  Just click the link and it will take you too the post.  Don't forget to follow Andrea on Twitter as well!  She is one of my favorite bloggy & Tweety friends, she rocks.  So what are you waiting for?  Go on over and read my post, and don't forget to get addicted to Andrea's blog too!

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Little C at 5 Months

I can hardly believe that she is 5 months old.  This update is a bit late since she turned 5 months old on the 24th.  I'll try to get her 6mo update closer to the actual date!  She is such a happy little thing.  Smiles constantly.  Day & night difference from those first 3 1/2 monthsColic & reflux is such a bitch.  It really is.  I'm so glad it is mostly over.  We still medicate for reflux, but it is being managed really well and under control.  So without further delay, here is the update!
What she is wearing:
- 3-6 months can still wear some 0-3 but anything with feet she is busting out of...lol.
- She is wearing size 3 Luvs.
- Huge smiles on her gorgeous little face!

What she is doing:
-Getting up on hands and knees and rocking violently!
- "Talking" to us.  A lot.  She is very vocal!  Lots of coos and babbles & she can get loud too! 
- Smiling.  Big broad smiles, with and without the tongue sticking out.
- Laughing.  Every now and again I can get her going with some deep belly laughs.
- Kicking, reaching, grabbing, shaking and mouthing on everything she can get her hands on.
- Looking at the TV, watching Big C and anything near her.  Her head is on a swivel!
- Snuggling.  Moreso than before, she really likes to be held to your chest and snuggle.
- Gripping items/toys/blankets/burp cloths.
- Pulling her pacifier out of her mouth with her hand & looking at it.  This cracks me up.  She is so intent with the inspection of the paci.

What she is eating:
- Enfamil Nutramigen - 5 bottles - 7ozs. each.
- Prevacid (for reflux) - 4mls 2x daily

What she is growing:
- Finally getting some thicker eyes lashes.  Hoping she gets K's or she'll hate me.  Big C has his father's long thick lashes.

What she likes these days:
- Music -  Especially my singing, but enjoys the music channels on TV and likes the radio too.
- Books - She is very engaged with Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar .
- TV - I usually have to turn it off because she gets distracted and won't take her bottle.
- Getting raspberries on her belly.
- Playing with her feet.
- Me playing with and sniffing her feet and telling her they stink...lol.
- Shaking her rattles, toys that crinkle and jingle.
- Being carried upright since she has much better head control now.
- Still loves her swing, but starting to get bored some days.  She is ready for more action.
- Massages after bath.
- Being swaddled.  I pretty much have to swaddle her every night to get her to go to sleep in her bassinet. Way different from Big C.

What she is saying:
Babbling & cooing up a storm.  No words.

What we are working on:
- Tummy time to strengthen neck muscles.
- Rolling over strengthening back muscles.
- Sitting more upright to practice for when she tries to sit by herself.
- Rocking back & forth on knees

Friday, September 3, 2010

I Have Another Addiction

Its no secret.  If you know me you know that I have several addictions.  Some I was able to give up.  I quit smoking as soon as I learned I was pregnant with Big C and never went back.  I was never addicted to alcohol, but I did drink socially and that has stopped nearly completely.  I did have 1 glass of wine a month ago and was borderline nackered from it.  But there are those that no matter how hard I try, I'll never be able to give up.  Carbs for example.  I've tried and I've failed miserably.  There is just no way I am ever going to be willing to give up bread.  I can't do it.  Yes, I am fluffy.  And if being thin means having to give up bread....forget it.  I'll stay that way.  My kids.  I'm hopelessly addicted to them and I never want that to change.

When I was younger though.  I was addicted to reading.  I loved it.  I was a voracious reader.  Then, I don't really know what happened.  I began slowing down.  Honestly I think the computer began taking up more of my reading time and then I just kinda stopped altogether.  Maybe I would read 1 book a year.  When I was usually reading 1-3 a week  I found myself lately really missing it.  I've yearned to read again.  But I just never seemed to find the time.  I mean, have you ever tried to read a book and bottle feed at the same time?  It is virtually impossible.  You just can't hold the book open and do that.

So here is where I will sing the praises of my husband and gush about how I love him.  For our anniversary, he bought us both Motorola Droid phones.  I think I died and went to heaven.  I wondered how I kept my sanity without it!  The apps are amazing and help me keep organized.  From the Baby ESP application, to the Jorte to keep all my appointments at my fingertips to the grocery list my K and I can share.  This thing rocks!  But then, then I found out that I can read books on it.  Are you freaking kidding me?  I can read a book on this thing?  Like, really?!

Oh yes!  I love, love, love it!  I don't have to fumble with the pages of a book trying to hold it open and do other things.  I can stand at the stove stirring and cooking dinner and read at the same time!  I can bottle feed the baby at 4am and read because I can set it down and not worry about pages closing.  I never have to *remember* to bring a book with me to the doctor's office....it's right on my phone!  In the last 2 weeks I've been able to read 3 books!   I'm on the second book of the Twilight series....and before you snort about that, the books are really good so far. 

I am so excited to be able to read again.  And I honestly thing it has made me happier.  It has been really good for my PPD too.  It gives me a few minutes to myself that I need.  Even if I read for only 5 minutes in between tasks, just those few minutes help me get centered and reduce my anxiousness to a level I can easily deal with.  I have been even more attentive with the kids and I have been enjoying them more than ever.  I cannot count how many times I've looked at them both and felt my heart swell and nearly burst out of my chest with love for them.  They are amazing.  I always knew they were, but now I am keenly aware of just how blessed I am and I'm able to live much more int he moment with them.  Who would have thought that being able to take some time to myself reading for just a few minutes at a time could create such a wonderful, positive change.  The kids are feeling it too.  Big C and Little C both even seem more at ease, easier to put to bed/naps and they both just seem happier because I am happier.

K, I really love you for helping my get some of my life back.  Even though you didn't realize you were doing it, you did.  I'm so glad you are mine! I love you!

What helps you live more in the moment?  What do you do to give yourself some *me* time?

-MoM-

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Snakes On A...Kitchen Floor?

Er, yes.  This morning J, told me he found a snake slithering across the kitchen floor.  I nearly had a heart attack!  He had it trapped in a cup on the kitchen counter.  I peered into the cup and saw that it was a teeny little thing, about 4 inches long.  I looked it up on the computer and identified it as a Southern Ringneck.  Small, harmless, bug/worm eater.  But still, I wasn't happy about it being in my kitchen.  Where did it come from?  I called A to ask where the bag of baby clothes she gave me Tuesday were sitting in her house.  It may have been coincidence but the snake was close to the bag that I brought into the house yesterday from my van.  It could have wandered into the bag from her house, or just found its way into mine.  Either way it was better I let her know in case some of its brothers/sister might be exploring.  Fortunately they are harmless little things and surprisingly rather pretty.  It was an exciting morning.  I mean really, how often do you find a snake in your kitchen?!

 

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