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| Baby thug life forever |
Yes, that is a toddler trying to look "hard" with a hot pink dog bandana on her head. She stole it from the "child proofed" drawer and smacked me with it and screamed, so I assumed she wanted to wear it.
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| Peanut thinks I smell AWESOME! |
Running around the house with the bandana took up a solid 20 minutes and I got my ab workout from laughing at her, especially when she pulled it down over her eyes and started running...into walls.
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| Hey Mommy, I need some gin and juice |
After she wore herself out from living the thug baby life, she took a two hour nap. During that time, I ran 4.5 miles on the treadmill (8.5 total for the day including the 4 mile stroller run earlier) and then did like 5 whole minutes of housework and then messed around on the internet for the rest of the time.
Once the kid had woken up, we had lunch together and then went outside in the beautiful 60 degree weather. We didn't really have time to drive to the park, so we stuck to the front yard. She had a ton of fun with a ball (can your kid palm a small basketball sized ball? Mine can) and yelling. She really enjoys yelling when she's outside. I bet my neighbors love me.
She discovered that down by a drainage pipe in our yard, dandelions grow. Holy muddy baby. She was having fun, so I didn't want to stop her. I figure kids are meant to get dirty when they play outside.
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| Proof of a good outside playtime |
So, while I'm on the topic of toddler activities, I have been toying with the thought of taking her to the indoor pool once a week so she can get used to the water and get exercise. I've been on the waiting list for the Mom&Baby swim class for months, and I'm starting to give up hope. Here's the question: what do you DO with little kids in the pool? I'm not a swimming person and without the class, I'm pretty much going to have to wing it. I was thinking of getting her this:
I think she might be a little young for it, but she's heavy enough. My goal is to not make her terrified of the pool, but I'm not sure if the creepy smiling floating thing is going to help or hurt.
Anyone have any kid flotation device recommendations for me?
Does anyone ever ask you what do you DO all day? Do you smack them or answer politely?
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| It smiles while you struggle to swim |
I think she might be a little young for it, but she's heavy enough. My goal is to not make her terrified of the pool, but I'm not sure if the creepy smiling floating thing is going to help or hurt.
Anyone have any kid flotation device recommendations for me?
Does anyone ever ask you what do you DO all day? Do you smack them or answer politely?
Haha, I just assume a toddler is the most taxing 24/7 job one can have...even if you love it. People ask me what I do all day. I train a lot, work from home (contract work), search for "real" jobs and take care of the husband (cook and clean). It really does take up a lot of time!
ReplyDeleteI taught kids' swim lessons for 5 years. There are lots of things to do with them. Teaching them to blow bubbles is fun. Getting them to get their face wet is huge. If you eventually get her to dunk her head underwater, you're a swim teacher's dream. Floaty toys are fun for them at that age...toss and retrieve with her. Any floatation device will work if you'll be holding and playing with her. Some are less safe than others (like the wings can pop), but if you're right there anything will work.
She's already putting her head under water during bath time, so we must be ready for advanced baby swim class :)
Deleteyour new blogging schedule is throwing me off ;)
ReplyDeletei would never answer politely if i got asked that. if you ask a question like that, you are asking for it!
Yes, people ask me all the time what I do all day. I've even had a family member ask if I get sick of taking care of Zain. Seriously?! Who asks that? It's amazing how quickly the day goes by with running, naptime, meals, errands. And haven't people seen how busy toddlers are? It's not like you sit around and do nothing. I don't know about the swimming stuff but I think a class would be fun. I should look into that around here. Also, Zain sticks his hand/arm into all the cabinets and drawers with locks on them and pulls out random stuff all day long. It kind of drives me crazy.
ReplyDeleteAnother example of how Faith and Zain would get along :)
Deletehave you checked out a local Y? They usually have classes for mommy and baby. Not that I would know since I work 100 hours a week and see my kid for about an hour a day. Le sigh. Right now I am SOOO jealous of you being home with your hilarious kid.
ReplyDeleteI hate when people think I do nothing at home all day. I want to bitch slap them and say I probably do more than they could imagine. "Ohh....I ran for an hour, lifted weights, ran a business, fed two hungry mouths, managed a household, and didn't lose my head with two kids screaming. And played 'Pig and Duck' on top of it all. What about YOU, asshat?" Whew. That felt good.
ReplyDeleteHaha, let it out!
DeleteIs there a toddler pool? We were going a lot this summer, just letting her splash around, and then I'd take her to the deep portion and let her "practice" kicking, moving arms, etc... basically what they would do in the class. But that portion didn't keep either of our attention for long. No advice on floatation devices, but if you want to hang out for awhile in a deep section, it seems like a good idea! Yep- hate that question, although I think my least favorite is being asked "what do you do?" in a culture where work is our identity.
ReplyDeleteThere isn't a toddler pool in the indoor pool, so that's why I thought I'd need the float-y things. She's been in the pool before with just me holding her, but she was younger then and I don't think she'll tolerate it as well now!
DeleteI think staying at home seems like a tough job. Challenging to set up a routine that allows for things to get done without forgetting to enjoy being able to actually raise your own kids.
ReplyDeleteLBM using a whole suit floatie thing. He likes being able to jump in and I like not worrying the he could slip out of something. He is fear less.
People at work ask me what I do. Then I smack them.
ReplyDeleteDo you think they make baby sized zuba pants? I think Faith could rock the hell out of some.
I have no idea what zuba pants are, but zuba is fun to say.
DeleteAll the f'in time. "You're a professor. You teach, like, 9 hours a week. What do you do with the rest of your time?" Ugh...
ReplyDeleteMy friend uses puddle jumpers for her twins, they're a bit older buy fly around a pool with no concern for their safety :)
ReplyDelete*but, it's too late.
ReplyDeleteI got that a lot when I was just in school and not working. Now that I'm working AND in school it's more like "how the hell do you manage?"
ReplyDeleteDo you ever get bored? Do you plan on going back to work soon? Or is baby #2 next on the schedule? :)
No, I don't get bored. I was bored often working in an office, but not now. I don't have any immediate plans to go back to work and yes, we will eventually add another kid. We don't want Faith to grow up as a spoiled only child. :)
DeleteI think people think that grad school means I just sit around and read all day like a regular college student when I actually work a GA position that requires me to be at work from about 8-5. Anyways, I just assumed SAHMs were crazy busy because toddlers need constant stimulation. I actually feel like staying home will be more work than now when I'm working and we share the house work. And, uh, I know nothing about pools. I was traumatized as a child when another kid died in the pool, so I never actually learned to swim.
ReplyDeleteI think Trial-By-Fire. Wait till she's 5, then just throw her in the pool. (Shallow end, or else you'll be arrested or something.)
ReplyDeleteIs this a more annoying question than what you do all day: "How old is your cute little boy?"
People just assume they know what I do all day because they were once in elementary school and it's exactly the same. "Oh, how nice, you color and sing songs all day, what a fun job!". Yep, it's exactly like that. I also like how you realize shoes of kids may get dirty, kids are constantly telling me "Oh I can't play in these sneakers, they're new and my mom says I can't get them dirty". They have to stay snow white because they were super expensive. Even though the kid gets free lunch. Awesome.
ReplyDeleteHi, just found your blog. Your little one reminds me of my oldest (who is now 9!!!) I miss the days of being home with her all day and just going where the day takes you. Enjoy this time you have with her, it's gone in an instant.
ReplyDeleteI hate when people tell me I'm so "lucky" to work from home, because that must be "fun". No. It's work. Yes, I get to wear PJs, but I'm not eating ice cream and watching TV. And, um...I have no child flotation device suggestions. At all.
ReplyDeleteOh I hope you can get in the class soon. Clara is 1 now and started the classes (with Scott, her sahd) at 6 months. I think the teacher's guidance on getting them used to the water, "swimming" free, holding breath, etc is really helpful. The goal is that if they fall in, they can make it to the side. Good stuff.
ReplyDeleteI don't know this for a fact, but seems like using a floaty thing all the time would keep your child from learning to swim (since they wouldn't sink). maybe?? report back and let us know what you decide.
OMG the DOG bandana pix are hilarious
I grew up with a pool. The best thing ever was standing on the steps with a bucket and a shovel. The 99 cent variety kids are supposed to take to the sand box or something. Kids can have a lot of fun pouring water. :)
ReplyDeleteIsn't getting dirty supposed to be good for the immune system? That's what I tell the husband anyway.
And yes - being a mom is a full time occupation!!
Highly recommend the pool. The swim instructor we have doesn't advise on putting anything around their arms but use a waist belt instead & one of those noodle things under their pits. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've had anyone ask me...
ReplyDeleteHonestly, when it came time for swimming, I just went right in there with her. She loved it and asks to go back constantly.
I looked into swimming classes when my son was 5.5 months, but they wouldn't let you in until 6 months, so I said, forget them, I'll do it myself. So we go on our own, but the classes are always going on next to us. Since he's a baby still, it's a lot of me swishing him back and forth in the water, but the toddlers will hang on to the edge, or a person and practice kicking, putting their face in the water, if they're a little more comfortable, they'll push off the wall and see how far they can go. Um...can't remember what else. It's not too crazy.
ReplyDeleteAs someone who learned to swim later in life (and struggles with it), I would have loved if my parents had started me young in the water.
ReplyDeleteLove the Thug Life pictures. Too cute :)
I was once asked what my average day is like, and I wrote out a detailed schedule and made a long list of activities Ramsey and I enjoy. I think being a SAHM is pretty awesome, and it's great to be able to tell other people what all it entails. I finish grad school in June and will be working by the end of the summer, so I'd really just like for time to slow down so I can fully enjoy my final five to seven months at home with my boy.
ReplyDelete