I just had to post that I finally found a bath towel that is both affordable, and, so far, quality merchandise. I've spent all of my adult life (that's right, from the time I was 18!!) unsuccessfully buying towels. Every single one I have purchased wound up fraying, or losing its color, or just falling apart within a few washes. But finally, I think I've found a nice towel that we can actually afford an entire set.
These are the towels:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Mainstays-True-Colors-6-Piece-Bright-Towel-Set-Violet/5715908
Mainstays True Colors towels, sold at Walmart. I only bought two large bath towels for 5 dollars a piece to try, but I plan on going back and getting more. They passed all the tests- the first wash was successful without fading, pulls, or falling apart,; the first use I found them absorbent, warm, and fuzzy; and they dry quickly. They also come in a variety of colors.... I didn't get this fantastic purple color, but I got a teal color that matches our bathroom and it's equally as pretty.
Awesome towels. I can't vouch for their long-term wear, but so far, they have made me a happy camper. If you're in the market for new bath towels, check these out.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Hairbows
I have a slight obsession with hairbows. I was so excited to find out we were having a girl, and solely because I was looking forward to dressing her up and accessorizing her.
Now, I've gotten pretty good at making some of them. I was intending on learning to make hairbows and sell them online or at craft fairs, so I stocked up on ribbon and dove headfirst into it. Well, Brian sprung an engagement on me and wedding planning sort of overtook my life for six months. By the time the wedding was over, I had started this childcare thing, and bow-making fell to the bottom of the list of priorities. I have made many in the meantime, but they're all for Kayla or her cousin, Emma, and I just don't have the energy left over from everything else to sell them. So I just consider it a nice little hobby to help accessorize Kayla and her cousin (very soon-to be TWO cousins).
Some I've made:
(Both Emma and Kayla are wearing some of them)
... and those are just a few. Her fall outfits already have coordinating bows. But, I still always recommend the website http://fiveblessedbows.com/ especially for newborn bows. Even when Kayla only have about 5 strands of hair on her head, the bows from this site stayed in. They use some grippy material that is awesome, and their bows are incredible. I still wind up buying from them on occasion because their products are professional quality and I'm just not there yet.
Those are a couple of newborn sized grippers from the site. That's not even an early enough picture to show how well they stay in, but our computer only has pictures from May of 2009 and on, no earlier. But these bows were used when she was less than a month old and could have been used from day one had we known about them beforehand!
Kylie (the baby I watch) has been given some of Kayla's hand-me-down gripper bows and uses them, and I fully intend to make sure that Kayla's newest cousin who is on the way, Gabriella, has a nice stock of bows, as well. For her baby shower, Kayla is giving her cousin a NY Yankees bow, to start her collection. =)
Now, I've gotten pretty good at making some of them. I was intending on learning to make hairbows and sell them online or at craft fairs, so I stocked up on ribbon and dove headfirst into it. Well, Brian sprung an engagement on me and wedding planning sort of overtook my life for six months. By the time the wedding was over, I had started this childcare thing, and bow-making fell to the bottom of the list of priorities. I have made many in the meantime, but they're all for Kayla or her cousin, Emma, and I just don't have the energy left over from everything else to sell them. So I just consider it a nice little hobby to help accessorize Kayla and her cousin (very soon-to be TWO cousins).
Some I've made:
(Both Emma and Kayla are wearing some of them)
... and those are just a few. Her fall outfits already have coordinating bows. But, I still always recommend the website http://fiveblessedbows.com/ especially for newborn bows. Even when Kayla only have about 5 strands of hair on her head, the bows from this site stayed in. They use some grippy material that is awesome, and their bows are incredible. I still wind up buying from them on occasion because their products are professional quality and I'm just not there yet.
Those are a couple of newborn sized grippers from the site. That's not even an early enough picture to show how well they stay in, but our computer only has pictures from May of 2009 and on, no earlier. But these bows were used when she was less than a month old and could have been used from day one had we known about them beforehand!
Kylie (the baby I watch) has been given some of Kayla's hand-me-down gripper bows and uses them, and I fully intend to make sure that Kayla's newest cousin who is on the way, Gabriella, has a nice stock of bows, as well. For her baby shower, Kayla is giving her cousin a NY Yankees bow, to start her collection. =)
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Daycare- Why It's Not For Us
I'm not even sure why I'm writing this. I would love to say it's not because I'm trying to defend myself, but sometimes it does feel like I am. At different points in Kayla's life I've encountered people from all walks of life who feel differently that I do about the idea of daycare. Some of them were very well-mannered and nice about voicing their opinions,others have been pretty blunt, and some even down-right rude.
So first of all, I'd like to start by saying that I'm not anti-daycare in general. I know that some people feel that it's good for their families to utilize daycare and have both parents work. I also know that some people, if not most, have to use a daycare because of financial reasons, or being they are a single parents, or whatever the case. I also think that some centers can be pretty bad, while others extremely nice. The employees there, the same. Some are probably grouchy and miserable, and others are probably some of the nicest people you will meet. The way I feel about it isn't based on anything but what I want for my daughter and for our family.
My first gripe about daycare came when I was originally searching them out and came to discover places that had their days broken down into 15-30 minute schedules. Now, I'm no dummy. I understand that when you have 5-10 toddlers per every adult, that there absolutely HAS to be schedules. I know that without routine that a situation like that would most definitely turn into pandemonium. And I'm aware that the schedules are for both the teachers and the children. I've been told that toddlers like schedules, that it makes the feel safe and they like to know what to expect. I have one alteration to that statement to make- DAYCARE toddlers like schedules because they know what to expect. Because not only does it become a part of their lives just as much as being home, but because they are in an environment where they are constantly on the verge of chaos. With so many children to every adult it would be very easy to throw things off-kilter.
But a toddler by nature isn't supposed to be set into a strict schedule. It's in toddler nature to explore. To push the limits and to see what they can do. To discover. And ideally, nurturing a toddlers natural curiosity should be balanced with a sense of stability and comfort, so they can go out and explore while maintaining that sense of safeness.
That's why I just think that the daycare toddler and the non-daycare toddler are two different types of children. Not in a bad way, but it can't be any other way. Daycare children are wired to routines. They need it, and they become a child that needs a schedule that is pretty intense. Several of my facebook friends messaged me to tell me that their children, all full-time daycare children, would throw fits when they weren't kept to their regular routines. They we weary and uneasy and easily stressed because of change. Even at home, simple routine changes were met with some form of apprehension. The toddler that isn't in a daycare, however, is usually not kept on a tight schedule and therefore never becomes accustomed to it. In other words, the non-daycare child is much more open to sudden changes and tend to be more ready for anything. And call me crazy, but if I have the opportunity to choose one of these to opposites for my daughter, I want the latter. I would love for Kayla to have the best chance at being flexible and adaptable.
Would she do well in a daycare setting? Sure, I'm sure she, like most kids, would come to settle nicely in her school. As of this point, she IS pretty easy-going and doesn't seem upset by changes in her days, so I think that enrolling her wouldn't cause any drastic, over-night changes in her. I'm not as confident, though, that keeping her in school full-time wouldn't change that, and create a child that depends on a schedule to feel secure.
All that being said, I do want her in some part-time program soon. If I had my way about it, we would do this gradually, starting with a couple days a week, half days. At two, I just don't think that full-time is necessary. I firmly believe that at two, the most important thing is socialization. Learning to play with other children. Learning to share and be polite. Forming friendships. And not structure so formal that it's broken down into 15 minute intervals, just the beginning stages of a structured day. I think that even now, playing in the park with other children would be appropriate and enough socialization for her. I, however, just can't get to the park regularly enough, so I'm not doing enough for her.
My ideal path for her would be, now, at two, two days a week, half days. Then, closer to three, I'd like her to be up to 5 days a week, half days. By 4, she would be enrolled in pre-school full time, so that by 5, in Kindergarten, she will have had an entire year of full-time school under her belt. I'd rather her have a gradual process of becoming accustomed to the classroom environment than just chucking her in all at once without a very good reason.
I am not anti-preschool. I know that it's important for kids to be ready for Kindergarten, especially since they are expected to go into these classes knowing a lot more now. I just don't worry that Kayla won't be able to keep up. She's so smart already, and I do everything I can to nurture that. She knows almost all the letters, can count to 15, and is beginning to recognize colors. Her vocabulary is immense, she uses sentences some of the time now, and she's got great problem-solving skills. In the very least, she is her daycare two year old's equal as far as academics are concerned. I also feel that three years of practice in pre-school, even if it is part-time to start out with, will be more than enough, especially considering she will be full-time before kindergarten.
And most importantly, I feel that right now, there is no better teacher for her than me. I know everything about her- her moods, her strengths and weaknesses, her potential. I understand her more than others, I get through to her more than others. I see the opportunities to teach her things all day long and not based on a schedule or routine. And I also think this is true of every single toddler. The most important person in their lives are their parents (or guardians). And to bring it all back around again, the one thing I can't provide her with is socialization. That's what brought me to the idea of a playschool to begin with, and why I still feel it's time to get her involved for a few hours each week.
I'm not sure why I felt the need to write this. I've always had a sense of pressure on me when it comes to this. And I've always stuck to my guns and done what I felt was best. I so think that I've done right by her by keeping her out of daycare. Astronomical cost aside, I feel as it's been the right choice to stay at home with her. And unless it was some fluke, I look at her right now, smiling at me while playing with blocks and calling out her letters and numbers, and I can't help but think I was totally right.
So first of all, I'd like to start by saying that I'm not anti-daycare in general. I know that some people feel that it's good for their families to utilize daycare and have both parents work. I also know that some people, if not most, have to use a daycare because of financial reasons, or being they are a single parents, or whatever the case. I also think that some centers can be pretty bad, while others extremely nice. The employees there, the same. Some are probably grouchy and miserable, and others are probably some of the nicest people you will meet. The way I feel about it isn't based on anything but what I want for my daughter and for our family.
My first gripe about daycare came when I was originally searching them out and came to discover places that had their days broken down into 15-30 minute schedules. Now, I'm no dummy. I understand that when you have 5-10 toddlers per every adult, that there absolutely HAS to be schedules. I know that without routine that a situation like that would most definitely turn into pandemonium. And I'm aware that the schedules are for both the teachers and the children. I've been told that toddlers like schedules, that it makes the feel safe and they like to know what to expect. I have one alteration to that statement to make- DAYCARE toddlers like schedules because they know what to expect. Because not only does it become a part of their lives just as much as being home, but because they are in an environment where they are constantly on the verge of chaos. With so many children to every adult it would be very easy to throw things off-kilter.
But a toddler by nature isn't supposed to be set into a strict schedule. It's in toddler nature to explore. To push the limits and to see what they can do. To discover. And ideally, nurturing a toddlers natural curiosity should be balanced with a sense of stability and comfort, so they can go out and explore while maintaining that sense of safeness.
That's why I just think that the daycare toddler and the non-daycare toddler are two different types of children. Not in a bad way, but it can't be any other way. Daycare children are wired to routines. They need it, and they become a child that needs a schedule that is pretty intense. Several of my facebook friends messaged me to tell me that their children, all full-time daycare children, would throw fits when they weren't kept to their regular routines. They we weary and uneasy and easily stressed because of change. Even at home, simple routine changes were met with some form of apprehension. The toddler that isn't in a daycare, however, is usually not kept on a tight schedule and therefore never becomes accustomed to it. In other words, the non-daycare child is much more open to sudden changes and tend to be more ready for anything. And call me crazy, but if I have the opportunity to choose one of these to opposites for my daughter, I want the latter. I would love for Kayla to have the best chance at being flexible and adaptable.
Would she do well in a daycare setting? Sure, I'm sure she, like most kids, would come to settle nicely in her school. As of this point, she IS pretty easy-going and doesn't seem upset by changes in her days, so I think that enrolling her wouldn't cause any drastic, over-night changes in her. I'm not as confident, though, that keeping her in school full-time wouldn't change that, and create a child that depends on a schedule to feel secure.
All that being said, I do want her in some part-time program soon. If I had my way about it, we would do this gradually, starting with a couple days a week, half days. At two, I just don't think that full-time is necessary. I firmly believe that at two, the most important thing is socialization. Learning to play with other children. Learning to share and be polite. Forming friendships. And not structure so formal that it's broken down into 15 minute intervals, just the beginning stages of a structured day. I think that even now, playing in the park with other children would be appropriate and enough socialization for her. I, however, just can't get to the park regularly enough, so I'm not doing enough for her.
My ideal path for her would be, now, at two, two days a week, half days. Then, closer to three, I'd like her to be up to 5 days a week, half days. By 4, she would be enrolled in pre-school full time, so that by 5, in Kindergarten, she will have had an entire year of full-time school under her belt. I'd rather her have a gradual process of becoming accustomed to the classroom environment than just chucking her in all at once without a very good reason.
I am not anti-preschool. I know that it's important for kids to be ready for Kindergarten, especially since they are expected to go into these classes knowing a lot more now. I just don't worry that Kayla won't be able to keep up. She's so smart already, and I do everything I can to nurture that. She knows almost all the letters, can count to 15, and is beginning to recognize colors. Her vocabulary is immense, she uses sentences some of the time now, and she's got great problem-solving skills. In the very least, she is her daycare two year old's equal as far as academics are concerned. I also feel that three years of practice in pre-school, even if it is part-time to start out with, will be more than enough, especially considering she will be full-time before kindergarten.
And most importantly, I feel that right now, there is no better teacher for her than me. I know everything about her- her moods, her strengths and weaknesses, her potential. I understand her more than others, I get through to her more than others. I see the opportunities to teach her things all day long and not based on a schedule or routine. And I also think this is true of every single toddler. The most important person in their lives are their parents (or guardians). And to bring it all back around again, the one thing I can't provide her with is socialization. That's what brought me to the idea of a playschool to begin with, and why I still feel it's time to get her involved for a few hours each week.
I'm not sure why I felt the need to write this. I've always had a sense of pressure on me when it comes to this. And I've always stuck to my guns and done what I felt was best. I so think that I've done right by her by keeping her out of daycare. Astronomical cost aside, I feel as it's been the right choice to stay at home with her. And unless it was some fluke, I look at her right now, smiling at me while playing with blocks and calling out her letters and numbers, and I can't help but think I was totally right.
Day Off
Ok. I have nothing really life-changing to say at the moment. I'm just sitting here, pretty much refusing to clean or do anything productive, and Kayla's watching some Dora. It's one of 'those days' to the max, and I'm enjoying it. I generally get a sense of total guilt when I purposely decide to NOT clean, or keep some form of order around here, but not right now. And after two years of training myself to need to be on the constant prowl for dirt, grime, dust, stains, smells, spills, or any of the other countless reasons that I never seem to stop moving while awake, I think I'm entitled to a day where I just don't care.
Last week I only babysat for Kylie Monday through Wednesday. I also don't get her back until Tuesday. They decided to go on a vacation before school starts, ironically, to NJ. They asked me some advice about heading to the Jersey Shore and I came up blank. I'm so not as New Jersey as I think they think I am. Just because I don't like pumping my own gas, that doesn't mean that I like to necessarily be associated with the state in other ways. I went to the boardwalks of NJ as an adult probably a total of 10 times, and all of them were uneventful except the two times I went to Wildwood when there was threat of tornado. I'm sure that visiting there is different than having lived there your whole life, but I just can't really imagine planning an entire vacation around it.
I spent the time off looking into places that I can bring the two babies during the week. I can't really bring both of them to the park by myself. I've taken them when I had Brian or my friend, Emily, with me to help, and realized that it would be impossible to chase Kayla while holing the baby. And she needs to be chased because she finds the tallest things to climb on every single time.
So far, I've found a place called Jumping Jungle, that Kayla loves. We went last Thursday and I know I'd be able to bring Kylie with us. It's an indoor place with giant inflatable things and padded floors. There's no need for me to hover over her, because there's virtually no chance she can get hurt. Even though she's the smallest child there, she keeps up well and the other kids were very aware of her, taking care to not play too rough. My only complaint was that there was no air conditioning, so even I left feeling pretty disgusting and I wasn't even jumping around.
There are also a couple of places in Binghamton that I think I could work. One is a small zoo, The Ross Park zoo. It's a very small zoo, but plenty of entertainment for a two year old. There is also a place near the zoo called "The Discovery Center". I need to go there before I have the two of them by myself to make sure if it would work, but it seems to be one of those hands-on museums where children can just get into whatever they want. So I have two good options and one potential. Kayla's getting a little stir-crazy in the house so I really have to keep looking.
I feel bad that we don't spend a lot of time outside, but it's just seems to not work out. I had an entire paragraph written here explaining the problems, but realized that it just sounds like I'm making excuses. I don't THINK I am, but I guess I could be. I won't lie- I despise the summer and hate being outside. I also hate bugs, and setting up the yard for Kayla is a pain. It's very frustrating to go through setting everything up, only to find it down-pouring anyway by the time I get it ready, which does happen more often than you'd think. To make a long story a little longer, this is why I needed to find places to bring her. I don't mind taking them out to stores or the mall, or anywhere that I can leave them in the stroller, but I also want some places where Kayla can really get involved and active.
Ahh, the search will have to continue.
Last week I only babysat for Kylie Monday through Wednesday. I also don't get her back until Tuesday. They decided to go on a vacation before school starts, ironically, to NJ. They asked me some advice about heading to the Jersey Shore and I came up blank. I'm so not as New Jersey as I think they think I am. Just because I don't like pumping my own gas, that doesn't mean that I like to necessarily be associated with the state in other ways. I went to the boardwalks of NJ as an adult probably a total of 10 times, and all of them were uneventful except the two times I went to Wildwood when there was threat of tornado. I'm sure that visiting there is different than having lived there your whole life, but I just can't really imagine planning an entire vacation around it.
I spent the time off looking into places that I can bring the two babies during the week. I can't really bring both of them to the park by myself. I've taken them when I had Brian or my friend, Emily, with me to help, and realized that it would be impossible to chase Kayla while holing the baby. And she needs to be chased because she finds the tallest things to climb on every single time.
So far, I've found a place called Jumping Jungle, that Kayla loves. We went last Thursday and I know I'd be able to bring Kylie with us. It's an indoor place with giant inflatable things and padded floors. There's no need for me to hover over her, because there's virtually no chance she can get hurt. Even though she's the smallest child there, she keeps up well and the other kids were very aware of her, taking care to not play too rough. My only complaint was that there was no air conditioning, so even I left feeling pretty disgusting and I wasn't even jumping around.
There are also a couple of places in Binghamton that I think I could work. One is a small zoo, The Ross Park zoo. It's a very small zoo, but plenty of entertainment for a two year old. There is also a place near the zoo called "The Discovery Center". I need to go there before I have the two of them by myself to make sure if it would work, but it seems to be one of those hands-on museums where children can just get into whatever they want. So I have two good options and one potential. Kayla's getting a little stir-crazy in the house so I really have to keep looking.
I feel bad that we don't spend a lot of time outside, but it's just seems to not work out. I had an entire paragraph written here explaining the problems, but realized that it just sounds like I'm making excuses. I don't THINK I am, but I guess I could be. I won't lie- I despise the summer and hate being outside. I also hate bugs, and setting up the yard for Kayla is a pain. It's very frustrating to go through setting everything up, only to find it down-pouring anyway by the time I get it ready, which does happen more often than you'd think. To make a long story a little longer, this is why I needed to find places to bring her. I don't mind taking them out to stores or the mall, or anywhere that I can leave them in the stroller, but I also want some places where Kayla can really get involved and active.
Ahh, the search will have to continue.
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