Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Fave Product Friday (but Wednesday)
I've been saying that I'm going to start writing about some of my favorite products. Because really, we all know I love to shop. AND I love a bargain. AND I love "regular" products out there that can do double duty and work great for a special needs kid AKA Xavier. What better way to sing my praises of these products and hope that maybe they will work well for other parents than to write about it. I hope to make this a weekly thing (on Fridays hence the title of this post).
So let's begin. Way back when the Bean was still a bean and not yet a sprout he got the bright idea in his head that he wasn't digging on bottles so much any more. He thought they were great things to chew on but not so much to drink out of anymore. It went something like this: suck suck chew chew cry cry. When people worry you to hell and back about your kid's weight the last thing you want him to do is to take a vow against the bottle.
So began the quest to find the perfect sippy cup. This involved many a trip to Babies R Us, Target, Walmart and just about any place that sold anything with the words "sippy" and "cup".
Many dollars spent later I came across the Tilty Cup. The sun shone, clouds parted, angels might just have sung. Not only does the Tilty Cup keep liquid at an angle for easier drinking (and holding for Mom and Dad) but it has a variety of lids with different flow. What's that? Can I get an AMEN! They have a slow flow, regular flow, and smoothie lid (also a travel lid). We skipped the slow flow and went right to the regular flow. X took it like a champ! Soon we graduated to the smoothie flow. We use this all of the time now because X gets thickened liquids and smoothies. What is really great about their lids is that the mouth piece has been the perfect size. It's not too big nor is it too small (perfect for X and his lip closure) and it's hard. The soft spouts of other sippy cups turned Xavier off; I think because they still reminded him of a bottle.
Daycare and other parents have loved Tilty Cup. I've bought Tilty Cup from these stores:
Amazon
Tilty Cup Online Store
One Step Ahead
I've also been told they can be found at Marshall's and TJ Maxx.
And you may think, what happened to all those other sippy cups that you bought? Funny story. In an effort to clean out our cabinets he took all of the other cups out and decided that they had to be put away with all the other baby stuff (in case there's another Byrd sometime in the future). Great idea! What does he decide to put them in? A brown paper bag. This would not be such a bad idea had he not set the whole bag next to the OTHER brown paper bag that had recycling in it and then took it out to the trash. Yep, all those sippy cups in the trash. Well, the recycling. At least the recycling.
So let's begin. Way back when the Bean was still a bean and not yet a sprout he got the bright idea in his head that he wasn't digging on bottles so much any more. He thought they were great things to chew on but not so much to drink out of anymore. It went something like this: suck suck chew chew cry cry. When people worry you to hell and back about your kid's weight the last thing you want him to do is to take a vow against the bottle.
COPYRIGHT ASTRID PHOTOGRAPHY
Many dollars spent later I came across the Tilty Cup. The sun shone, clouds parted, angels might just have sung. Not only does the Tilty Cup keep liquid at an angle for easier drinking (and holding for Mom and Dad) but it has a variety of lids with different flow. What's that? Can I get an AMEN! They have a slow flow, regular flow, and smoothie lid (also a travel lid). We skipped the slow flow and went right to the regular flow. X took it like a champ! Soon we graduated to the smoothie flow. We use this all of the time now because X gets thickened liquids and smoothies. What is really great about their lids is that the mouth piece has been the perfect size. It's not too big nor is it too small (perfect for X and his lip closure) and it's hard. The soft spouts of other sippy cups turned Xavier off; I think because they still reminded him of a bottle.
Daycare and other parents have loved Tilty Cup. I've bought Tilty Cup from these stores:
Amazon
Tilty Cup Online Store
One Step Ahead
I've also been told they can be found at Marshall's and TJ Maxx.
And you may think, what happened to all those other sippy cups that you bought? Funny story. In an effort to clean out our cabinets he took all of the other cups out and decided that they had to be put away with all the other baby stuff (in case there's another Byrd sometime in the future). Great idea! What does he decide to put them in? A brown paper bag. This would not be such a bad idea had he not set the whole bag next to the OTHER brown paper bag that had recycling in it and then took it out to the trash. Yep, all those sippy cups in the trash. Well, the recycling. At least the recycling.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Sunday Sunday Sunday!
Race fans, hotrodders, 2 year olds! Yep, Sunday is the day my bean turns into a sprout. When he was smaller I always wondered how we would celebrate birthdays or do "normal" things? What the hell did that mean? Seriously, I thought that?! We celebrate them just like anyone else...with ridiculous amounts of sweets, too many presents, and lots of love.
Round #1 of birthday festivities included Mommy (and her oh so bright ideas) to make some treats for school. I wanted to make something fun but also enriching for the kids. So I decided to make cake pops and cupcakes! Cake pops because they were just fun and cupcakes so the little ones who might be tube feed can squish them and play with them. Believe me, when your kid has special needs you look at everything as an experience. The cake pops recipe came from Bakerella. She is amazing!
My venture into cake pop making started Wednesday night with making the actual cake. Thursday I go crackin' at 5 and didn't stop until almost 9. The night actually went by fast because they were so much fun.
Without further adieu, I present the cake pops!
All ready for school!
And the afermath!
Round #1 of birthday festivities included Mommy (and her oh so bright ideas) to make some treats for school. I wanted to make something fun but also enriching for the kids. So I decided to make cake pops and cupcakes! Cake pops because they were just fun and cupcakes so the little ones who might be tube feed can squish them and play with them. Believe me, when your kid has special needs you look at everything as an experience. The cake pops recipe came from Bakerella. She is amazing!
My venture into cake pop making started Wednesday night with making the actual cake. Thursday I go crackin' at 5 and didn't stop until almost 9. The night actually went by fast because they were so much fun.
Without further adieu, I present the cake pops!
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Where Has The Time Gone?
Where in hades has the time gone? I've neglected this blog something terrible. But beyond that days, weeks, and months have flown by! In a few short weeks my bean, my little itty bitty boy will be 2! The big t-w-o! As I think most parents of children with special needs would agree, birthdays are bittersweet. We rejoice in how far our children have come but parts of us are saddened that at 1 or 2 or 5 or 10 they aren't doing what their typical peers are. Nonetheless, my electric boogaloo has gone from this:
That's pretty far in my book. Xavier is far from a typical two year old but he is progressing on so many levels. This is thanks in part to his therapists and his wonderful daycare. Not to mention his spirit and determination. He's definitely taking in the world more. So we will celebrate him and everything he is -- from his crazy hippy hair and wobbly little head, down to little feet and stinky toes!
To this:
That's pretty far in my book. Xavier is far from a typical two year old but he is progressing on so many levels. This is thanks in part to his therapists and his wonderful daycare. Not to mention his spirit and determination. He's definitely taking in the world more. So we will celebrate him and everything he is -- from his crazy hippy hair and wobbly little head, down to little feet and stinky toes!
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
1st Day of School
Where has the time gone? I don't know but summer's almost over and it's been forever since I posted anything.
Today was X's first day of "school" (aka daycare). I much prefer calling it school because daycare sounds so gloomy to me. And for a Mommy who was grump-tastic as this day approached, school is the perfect moniker.
Anthony did the drop-off and I will be the picker-upper. I much prefer being the picker-upper. I can run in and scoop my little Boogers up and whisk him away rather than handing him over to someone else in the morning and ripping my heart out.
A few calls from the daycare to check-in about things and to let us know he was doing well. I know every mother goes through this whether they have a child going to daycare, kindergarten, highschool, or college. But you throw your child having special needs on top of that and it's a bit harder. Will he eat enough, will he get enough attention, etc. etc. I know that of course he will. After all he's at a Kennedy Krieger run daycare so I don't think they are going to starve my child or sit him a corner. Nonetheless it's hard after 17 months to let someone else take care of your baby. Good Lord what am I going to do when he does go to school? lol
Here he is with his teacher:
Today was X's first day of "school" (aka daycare). I much prefer calling it school because daycare sounds so gloomy to me. And for a Mommy who was grump-tastic as this day approached, school is the perfect moniker.
Anthony did the drop-off and I will be the picker-upper. I much prefer being the picker-upper. I can run in and scoop my little Boogers up and whisk him away rather than handing him over to someone else in the morning and ripping my heart out.
A few calls from the daycare to check-in about things and to let us know he was doing well. I know every mother goes through this whether they have a child going to daycare, kindergarten, highschool, or college. But you throw your child having special needs on top of that and it's a bit harder. Will he eat enough, will he get enough attention, etc. etc. I know that of course he will. After all he's at a Kennedy Krieger run daycare so I don't think they are going to starve my child or sit him a corner. Nonetheless it's hard after 17 months to let someone else take care of your baby. Good Lord what am I going to do when he does go to school? lol
Here he is with his teacher:
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Summer Fundays
Before it got ubearable outside, we were lucky enough to take a day trip here or there and even sneak in a mini-vacay to Ocean City.
Our first trip was to Sheperdstown West Virginia. A cute little town not too far away. The much loved Byrd pasttime of eating was a must so we had to hit Betty's Restaurant for a Rumsey burger (named for steamboat inventor James Rumsey). After that yummy goodness we walked around town, went into a few stores, then stopped for some dessert.
Our first trip was to Sheperdstown West Virginia. A cute little town not too far away. The much loved Byrd pasttime of eating was a must so we had to hit Betty's Restaurant for a Rumsey burger (named for steamboat inventor James Rumsey). After that yummy goodness we walked around town, went into a few stores, then stopped for some dessert.
X not very enthused about our trip so far.
X and Daddy looking out over the river.
X and Mommy at the "Little House"
(Sheperdstown University was a teaching college and students used the "Little House" to observe children at play).
Doing what us Byrds do best.
We also took a trip to Mount Vernon. We got to learn a lot of neat stuff about George Washington as well as tour the house, the grounds, and museum.
Mooommmyyy, it's too bright out here!
Out tiny revolutionary
And last but not least was our relaxing time in OC (special thanks to Aunt Linda & Uncle Steve). We aren't beach people so we lounged around, went to the pool, to the boardwalk, and all and all just enjoyed ourselves.
Lounging with Daddy
Speedo or trunks? Which one gets more babes?
Margarita at Harborside. What? Did I drink too much? lol
At the beach
Night at the Boardwalk
Friday, July 2, 2010
Happy Birthday United States of America!
Xavier proclaims: Hear ye hear ye, celebrate the birth of our nation safely this weekend!
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