Category Archives: Mommy Approved

Who Wouldn’t Leap at the Chance to Read with Violet and Cookie Monster?

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Quinn Using Violet Tag Junior

Quinn Using Leap Reader Junior

Even though my soon-to-be- two year old enjoys when her father or I read to her, she really loves feeling like she is reading to herself and controlling what she is reading. She loves flipping through the pages and has even begun to give her own interpretation or variation of the story. I’ve observed her doing this with the Very Hungry Caterpillar, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and Five Little Monkeys by describing what she sees going on in each picture in the book.  When she was about fifteen months, I purchased her the Violet Leap Reader Junior (Scout, the boy dog is available too). Initially, she was more fascinated with Violet and carrying her around like a toy (She has Read with me Violet and just the dog Violet who can be customized to sing certain songs and include her likes and dislikes as well) and not using it to read along with stories, but lately, it has been one of her favorite activities. Quinn enjoys being able to select what aspect of the story she wants to read. For instance, she has the Sesame Street Numbers Book, which is recited by Cookie Monster, and she is quite discerning when it comes to which number she wants to read and hear about. I had some ambivalence when deciding if I should purchase this device for my daughter because I did not want it to take the place of me interacting with her and reading stories with her. On the contrary, I have found that it is a terrific way to allow her to exercise some independence, to see what she knows by asking her to point to certain objects using the Violet Leap Reader Junior and to see what her interests are as she looks through the stories, and I am able to still be fully engaged with her. This is one device I would certainly recommend to parents of young toddlers, and am sure Quinn would too! Here is a video below of Quinn using her Violet Tag Junior.

All the best,

Tanya

You “Go” Girl! Disguising Healthy Food for Toddlers

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Quinn looking for Go! Bars

Quinn looking for Go! Bars

As it becomes more and more difficult to get my daughter to eat vegetables, I have become more and more grateful for healthy food options that have nutrients that are disguised as treats my little toddler will enjoy. While shopping at Walmart shortly after Quinn turned one (she will be two in a few weeks), I came across the Go bar made by Plum Organics. This bar actually contains veggies, less sugar than the typical granola bar and many other vitamins and nutrients. Though it is my preference that my growing toddler eat actual healthy veggies, sometimes it is an ongoing battle that seems like it will never end. As she eats her Go bar and says, “Mmmm good,” I smile to myself knowing that she is getting some of the nutrients she otherwise may refuse to consume. Of course, this is not an everyday snack, (Quinn loves pears and pineapples) but it is great when I am on the go and my little girl utters an emphatic “No!” to healthier options, and I can reach for the Go bar knowing she will willingly eat it. Are there any healthy treats in disguise that you give your toddler? Please share.

All the best,

Tanya

My Little Girl Can Count!

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2015-02-09 09.57.272015-02-09 09.56.45With just a little under two more months to go before my little girl is two, she’s been showing more and more of an interest in numbers. A few months ago, I was blown away with Quinn’s ability to recognize numbers one through ten. Lately, she has been not just reciting her numbers but using her fingers which is an indication that she is already beginning to grasp the concept of counting. Since Quinn is being educated at home, I’ve been using countless resources to help with her intellectual development. Out of the many resources, one that my daughter really loves is the items in a can that I purchased from Amazon: Learning Resources One to Ten Counting Cans.

At the start of each week, she knows we will be opening up a new can and will jump up and down with excitement as I grab it from the shelf. Before she opens the can, she’ll look at the number on the can and shout it out. Then she can barely contain herself as she pops open the lid and empties out the contents. Usually, she will observe me as I count and will repeat after me, but a few days ago she starting counting the pineapples, which look so realistic, all by herself (Of course when I began to film her, she got camera shy). I highly recommend this resource not just for parents of stay-at-home children but for any parent looking for a fun and engaging way to help their toddler learn numbers and how to count.

All the best,

Tanya

Let’s Hit the Gym Baby!

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Quinn Having Some Exercise Fun

Quinn Having Some Exercise Fun

At the start of every new year, gyms near and far can count on a serious surge of new members looking to get in shape. While some people are looking to lose weight, others just want to get moving because it helps with endurance and one’s quality of life. This rings true not just for adults but for children as well. When my little girl was just two months, we started doing the “Happy Baby Workout” to not only assist me with getting back my pre-mommy figure back but for us to develop a bond. As soon as she was old enough, at around nine months, we enrolled in mommy and me classes at “The Little Gym” and have consistently enrolled in a weekly class for a little over a year now. Quinn absolutely loves it, and I love watching her walk across the balance beam, with my help of course, and attempt to do the forward rolls at home that she practiced in class along with climbing and crawling through obstacle courses.   Perhaps your new year’s resolution on behalf of your young child is to get him or her moving or to have some time together to bond as parent and child. I would highly recommend this company to anyone, especially those who would like their toddlers to interact with other toddlers if they are not in day care like Quinn.

Best regards,

Tanya

We Hit the Lotto Baby!

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Quinn Getting Ready to Sort

Quinn Getting Ready to Sort

Watching my little 19 month old girl master a skill always puts a smile on my face. She often amazes me and catches me off guard with what she is capable of doing. Since Quinn loves playing on my iPad, I downloaded some  apps through iTunes to stimulate her critical thinking skills. One app in particular which is designed to “enhance vocabulary, hand-eye coordination, categorization, concentration and visual perception” is Tiny Hands Children’s Educational Lotto I. The app involves matching puzzle games where the child drags the object on the card to the identical object on the board. Quinn has been playing this game on occasion for about two months, but she mainly just liked to touch the object so that she could hear the name of it and attempt to repeat it. About a month ago, she figured out how to drag the object across the screen, and within the past couple of weeks, she figured out how the drag the object to the one that matches. Though I still like the “old-fashioned” wooden puzzles and activities that have physical objects she can touch, such as sorting the different color bears as pictured above (as does Quinn), I am extremely impressed with the progress my little one has made in a short duration of time and would highly recommend this app for anyone who has a tech savvy baby like mine. Here’s a video of my little girl matching different clothing items:

All the best,

Tanya

Shake Those Maracas Baby!

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Quinn and her musical maracaRegardless of a toddler’s gender, race or culture, it has been my observation that most children love music. There’s something about the rhythm that makes them want to move, jump, spin, giggle: you name it! Since my little girl already loves dancing and music, we have purposely selected some musical toys to encourage her interest. When Quinn was just a year old, we got her the Leap Frog Learn & Groove Counting Maracas, and they are one of her favorite go-to toys. What I love about these maracas is that she is able to practice her counting and colors in both English and Spanish. Though she is only 18 months, she is already saying many of the numbers in order. “Uno, dos, tres…” comes out “oh no, dotes, twes,” but it is too cute to watch her say them. Of course, when I attempt to record her, she will not say her numbers or colors in either language, but I am looking forward to the days when she is eager to share what she knows. If you are looking for a fun musical toy for your toddler that teaches as well, this may be the one for you.

All the best,

Tanya

A Superhero Party for a Super Girl!

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Super Quinn with her Super Mommy and Daddy

Super Quinn with her Super Mommy and Daddy

Superheros: the theme for my daughter’s first birthday party demonstrated how special she and the children in attendance always will be. Unfortunately, I quickly realized that many companies tend to cater towards “boys,” sending the message that girls can’t be superheroes nor idolize them, but this could not be further from the truth. All children should feel empowered and super special, especially my little girl,  With this in mind, I thought of creative ways to not simply promote the commercialized superheroes but the hero within each child, regardless of one’s gender.

To help out other parents who are eager to put together an unforgettable superhero party for their little girl or just a gender neutral party where all children feel like superheroes, I’ve provided some of the companies and ideas I employed for Quinn’s party.  (All images can be enlarged after clicking on them, and the links to the company web sites are in purple)

Super Quinn InvitationIllustrations: Rather than use existing superheroes, why not make it extra special with a personalized illustration of your child as a superhero? Sandy Ford, of Sandy Ford Design is an awesome illustrator I located through Etsy. She does far more than just illustrations of superheroes in your child’s likeness, and her prices are extremely reasonable. I was able to get an entire party package with the digital invitations, poster, coloring page, thank you card, banner, the iron on for my super mommy t-shirt, etc. for approximately $25. She’s in London and I’m in the US; nevertheless, I received everything electronically within 48 hours, and I certainly will use her services in the future for other illustrations. 

Superhero GirlsI found another company, Clip Artopia, that supplies superhero illustrations at nominal fees, ranging from $2.50 to $5.00 to use as you wish. Since I have a digital design background, I was able to modify some of the illustrations to have them reflect the likeness of the children attending Quinn’s party.

 

 

Super QuinnSuperhero Capes: Though most of the children attending the party came dressed as their favorite superheros, the birthday girl’s outfit had to be original. I located another fabulous company through Etsy, Shooting Kisses, who makes superhero capes with many colors to choose from for toddlers, older children and adults. The cape was a little over $50, and there are many companies to use at a cheaper rate, but it was well worth it. The stitching on the cape and emblem is professionally done, the satin material is high quality, and the cape is reversible.Quinn certainly will be wearing this cape for Halloween or just for fun.

 

Klassi Kreations Superhero CapesYes, I’m one of those “over the top” party planning moms, and I wanted to send the children home with something special as well, so I ordered a party package with capes and matching masks from Klassi Kreations, another Etsy shop. Each set was approximately $15. They arrived ahead of schedule, were good quality and a big hit with all of the children.

SupermommyI also got a little creative and purchased some materials from Joann’s Fabric and made my own cape for the special occasion after following the free instructions for making a superhero cape from Sewing With Nancy. I modified it some to fit an adult, but it is an awesome resource. Just to give you an idea of how easy it was, I created the cape with my arm in a cast from a broken wrist and used “no sew” tape to get it done quickly. (In the picture, you can actually see the cast sleeve I created)

 

 

Super Quinn and Super Mommy

Personalized crown: This little superhero needed a crown to top off her outfit, and Oh So Sweet Creations, another company found through Etsy, was perfect! I was able select the appropriate colors and design with no problem. This company has crowns for many occasions, and I’ll more than likely use them again.

 

 

2014-05-03 13.41.51Personalized Party Supplies: Though I was able to use the banner and other materials from Sandy Ford Design, I was able to take it a step further by personalizing the table center pieces and plates through Birthday Express

 

 

2014-05-03 13.20.22Personalized Birthday Cake: I looked at several specialty superhero cakes which were fabulous but very expensive. Then my husband said, “What about BJ’s; don’t they have birthday cakes?” BJ’s Wholesale actually has really good cakes with butter cream icing, so I was able to take the illustration I got through Sandy Ford Design and have it put on Quinn’s cake. It turned out great!

DIY Projects: Super Hero Shield Superhero Shields: These are relatively easy to find by simply doing a search online, but the quality may not be the best because many of them are at a low resolution. So if you have Adobe Photoshop or another program, you can recreate them if you need a larger size. I was able to make the iron-on shield for my daughter’s shirt as well as some of the party favors.

Superhero Coloring BooksColoring Book: Getting the coloring page from Sandy Ford Design and illustrations from Clip Artopia inspired me to create coloring books for each child. Adobe Photoshop actually has a feature where you can take just about any illustration and turn it into a sketch for coloring.

Superbaby

Tattoos: I was also able to use the illustrations to order special temporary tattoos from Sticker You for the children. This company allows you to upload your own illustrations or to use illustrations they have available. You can also order stickers and other products as well to customize party favors.

 

superquinnand friendsposter 20x30Masks TemplatesParty Games: Rather than pin the tail on the donkey, I customized the game and made it “Pin the Mask on Super Quinn.” I located superhero mask templates and modified them through Adobe Photoshop and printed out a large poster, laminated and mounted it myself.

Another game was a maze for helping Super Quinn get to her cake.

 

2014-04-27 13.34.13Bubbles: Children love bubbles, but I’m sure they love personalized bubbles even more. I used the illustrations provided by Sandy Ford Design and was able to print them out on sticker paper and adhere them to the bubbles I purchased at Target for just $2.00 for six.

 

 

Superhero Place MatsPlace mats: Superheroes have to eat, but sometimes it gets a little messy, so I created customized place mats using contact paper and scrap book paper as a party favor that the children can use long after the party is over.

 

2014-04-27 13.31.17Party Favor Bags: I want the children to always remember how super they are, so I customized superhero canvas bags with iron-on superhero shields and a little puffy paint and glitter for the girls for them not carry around all of there super items and feel empowered.

2014-05-03 14.20.14Party Location: Even though children are able to have fun at a party just about anywhere, if you are in the Philadelphia, PA area and looking for a place that is age appropriate for a one year old up to age ten, Kix and Giggles is awesome.  It is reasonably priced, and you have the option of paying a bit more to make the party private. Though there were additional fees, they made all of the arrangements for Spiderman to make an appearance as well as a face painter. They also have a toddler area which is perfect for younger children.

It certainly was a lot of work planning Quinn’s party, but it was also a lot of fun. I hope that some of the information I provided is helpful for you in planning a superhero party for you child.

All the best,

Supermom aka Tanya 🙂

Wow! My Baby Loves This Cup

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Quinn Wow Cup

Quinn trying out her Wow Cup for the first time after eating her snack

My little girl has been using a sippy cup occasionally since she was four months old, but the big milestone came when she turned one a few weeks ago: no more bottles! On Mother’s Day, we did some window shopping and stumbled upon the “Wow Cup” in Boscov’s “As Seen on TV section.” After reading the label, “from ages one year and up,” I couldn’t resist getting it for Quinn. Oftentimes, we see these infomercials and chuckle at how exaggerated they are and how the product probably doesn’t work, but if you ask me, my husband, my mom and especially Quinn, we’ll tell you the Wow Cup is awesome and left us saying, “Wow, it really works!”

Since Quinn has only drank from sippy cups, some with straws and some without, I was very impressed when I gave her the Wow Cup, and she knew exactly what to do with it. I’m amazed that the company targets mainly older children and makes no mention of how this product is excellent for teaching toddlers how to drink from a cup without messy spillage. Just yesterday, Quinn spent the day with her Nana (my mother), and my mom just raved about the Wow Cup and said that she wishes they were available when I was younger since I was such a “Messy Tessie.” I’m hoping when I go back to Boscov’s that they still have some Wow Cups left where they’re only $10, without the $6.95 shipping and handling fee you’ll incur in ordering it. I just might get one for me too!

All the best,

Tanya

My Baby Loves Food Fights: It’s all organic!

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Quinn eating her organic waffles and strawberries

Quinn eating her organic waffles and strawberries

 

Peas and carrots go flying! Tomato sauce smeared on the table. Smashed blueberries scattered on the floor. Green beans mushed, chewed up and spit out. No, this isn’t a food fight at an elementary school; it’s my baby girl Quinn expressing her emotions towards eating solid food.  Sometimes she loves them, and other times she loathes them. From her eating habits alone, I can see that my little one year old is formulating her own thoughts and figuring out that she can choose what she likes and dislikes and if she wants more or has had enough.

Prior to Quinn being born, my husband and I decided to go the organic and non-GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) route as much as possible and have been conscientious in selecting and preparing her baby food. Now that she’s eating more solid foods, putting together a variety of toddler friendly meals has become an arduous yet exciting task. Though I enjoy shopping at Whole Foods, coming out with just one bag of groceries worth $50 or more to prepare one week worth of meals for my daughter is not something I’m looking to do on a regular basis. So I’ve been compiling places and brands that have been helpful on my quest to keeping Quinn’s food organic as well as non-GMO when possible.

Trader Joe'sTrader Joe’s has been one of my favorite “go to” places. I can get organic fruit, vegetables, cereal, etc. at a reasonable price for the entire family. One of my favorite deals is the bag three pound bag of organic sweet potatoes for a little over $3.00

 

Simply BalancedTarget actually has a nice selection of reasonably priced organic foods in their grocery section. Not all but some of their Simply Balanced line is organic and may even be non-GMO. I’ve been able to use some of the frozen organic fruits and vegetables to prepare meals for Quinn instead of going the “prepackaged route.”

 

Annie's HomegrownAnnie’s Homegrown is actually a line I stumbled across at Target. Many of their foods are non-GMO and organic. They’re great when I need to prepare a quick meal. My daughter, like most children, loves their macaroni and cheese, and the pasta noodles are small enough for her to chew without choking being an issue.

Earths BestEarth’s Best has far more than breakfast, but their organic waffles with no growth hormones  are the perfect size for my daughter, and this is the first solid food breakfast item that Quinn happily eats up with little to no assistance from me.

 

Ella's Kitchen

Ella’s Kitchen has been wonderful in helping Quinn transition to eating solid foods that require more chewing. She loves the perfectly pleasing tomato-y pasta with plenty of vegetables. I love this meal because it has many nutrients unlike the few organic options Gerber has for toddlers. Though I’ve been successful at replicating the meal by purchasing my own organic ingredients, it is great to have it readily available when Quinn wants dinner “now.”

 

 

Tots Teensy Fruits Plum Organics is our “go to” not just for quick dinner meals but for healthy snack options as well. Though many of Quinn’s snacks are fruits such as bananas, strawberries, blueberries and kiwis, occasionally she gets a packaged snack. When comparing the organic snacks Gerber offers with the ones Plum Organics offers, the latter has more nutrients an less empty calories. (I want to instill the importance of eating healthy with Quinn from the very start)

I’ve located two toddler meal recipe books for preparing healthy, organic meals:

first meals

First Meals by Annabel Karmel

Start Fresh by Tyler Florence

Start Fresh by Tyler Florence

Perhaps my list above will help out some mommy’s and daddy’s going the organic route and looking for more reasonably priced alternatives. If you have any suggestions for me, please feel free to share.

All the best,

Tanya

Baby Got the “Drop” on Me!

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When a baby reaches a milestone, what parent doesn’t get excited? Unfortunately, we can’t witness them all, but there is a way to keep a watchful eye and listening ear even when we are not present (or just not mentally present). Instead of carefully listening to a garbled and static-filled baby monitor as parents did years ago, technology allows us to not miss a crystal clear moment. What would I do without my Dropcam?

A few weeks ago, Quinn was restless but did not want to sleep during her usual bed time, so I sat by her crib playing Lumosity (a great web site with brain games) until she relaxed and went to sleep. Little did I know, my Dropcam captured Quinn pulling herself up to a standing position for the first time in her crib. This let me know that it was time to put her crib to the lowest level. It also confirmed that I’m extremely happy with the camera we’re using as a baby monitor.

If you are looking for not just a baby monitor but a monitor in general, I highly recommend the Dropcam which is “Mommy Approved” by me! I must, however, give my husband credit as he was the one who conducted research for the best baby monitor and selected this one. Here’s a few reasons we went with this monitor:

  1. The video and audio can be viewed from anywhere in the world by using a computer, iPad, iPod or Android. You do just need to have a Wifi connection.
  2. It has a two way microphone feature so that I can listen and talk as well from anywhere, not just inside the home.
  3. The night vision feature is awesome too, and the baby is clearly visible throughout the course of the night.
  4. For an annual fee, you can actually review and save clips from the past.  Without this, I would not this video of Quinn reaching a milestone.
  5. Lastly, it can be used for more than just a baby monitor. Though I’m sure there will be something even more hi tech, it may come in handy when my baby becomes a teen.

If you are going through the process of looking for a monitor, I suggest that you check this one out.  It may be a bit pricier than the basic baby monitors, but it can be used long term. I hope my insight helps.

All the best,

Tanya