Top Toddler Secrets: REVEALED!

Little Biscuit's Biggest Fears:

1. Hearing someone cough
2. Elevators (but he's getting over this one)
3. Going to bed with (or following) a cold
4. Anything new (a change to his room or routine, a new bowl or plate, etc.)
5. The bulb syringe or toothbrush

Health Hints:

• won't eat, won't sleep through the night, won't play for long, more dirties, more chewing, more fussy, more clingy=more TEETH

• slightly elevated temp, runny or stuffy nose, croupy cough, rough nights, more clingy=another VIRUS

• all of the above=more teeth AND another virus

• head-banging, tantrums, eczema=possible environmental allergy and/or result of eating a problem food (milk or corn?); the eczema seems to get worse with any immune system response (even just a cold, but also shots, etc)
  

• ear-holding, slight fever, inconsolable at night=probable EAR infection
  

Hush-Hush Sleep Tricks: (what works right now when nothing else will)
1. A back rub (or behind-the-ears massage)
2. Rocking and a lullaby (hummed not sung)
3. DVD or Newsboys "Go" CD (but these are losing their effect)
4. warm milk (I know, I know)
5. prayer and divine intervention ;)

Baby Talk Translator:
tea: EAT!
ba-ba-ba: bounce, bounce, bounce!
dee: drink
wuff: dog
diddy: DVD
puh: puffs
deh: yes
bah: ball
dih, dih: kick, kick
t-t-t-t: light!
buh: book
wa-wa-wah: WALK!
ra-ra-rah: rock, rock, rock (as in, a rocking chair)
mmm: this tastes good
woo, ooov: fire truck siren
ooua, oooooooua (grunty noises): uh-oh, a dirty diaper
nana, nana: wipe my nose or no, no, no! or banana, or help me!

Baby-proofing the TV buttons

Biscuit has discovered a new hobby of playing with the buttons on the TV - he loves flipping the power on and off, turning the volume up and down and fiddling with all the screen settings. A firm "no" and distraction is not enough to keep him away. Baby stores sell guards for electronics panels but it was just one more thing I didn't want to buy. I figure there's almost always a way to improvise...so here's our workaround: I found one of those el-cheapo, one-piece clear plastic 8x10 photo frames I already had (my mom had given it to me - the kind with a little stand at the bottom). I took out the pic that was in it and slid the frame under the TV, so that the stand section covered the buttons. The TV still works fine with the remote (which I can store out of Biscuit's reach!) Looks like he's stumped...for now! ;)

Teddy averts tantrum ;)

no apples, mommy!
Well lately Biscuit's been particularly finicky about his mealtimes (okay, he flat out refuses his food most days, especially if it is being delivered on a spoon). Usually if I can get him to sample the first bite he's good to go...but that first bite can be a bear to get him to eat. Well this week one of the strategies that actually does work somewhat effectively (at least for now) had a pretty cute resolution, so I'll share it here (and I'm sure this one isn't original). I started feeding one of Biscuit's teddy bears his apples on a spoon and Biscuit got a little curious: he musta been thinking, hmmm, if Bear doesn't mind the spoon, maybe it's not so bad...so Biscuit ate too, and eagerly too! He just wanted me to take turns feeding bear and Biscuit throughout the meal. After it was over I caught him feeding Bear puff snacks during playtime - he's starting to really like sharing his food too ;) The other day I was working on something and suddenly had a sippy cup shoved into my mouth outta nowhere! :D