Potty Training

Is your child showing signs of readiness for potty training? Here are a few things you will need to make this milestone enjoyable for you and your toddler.


1. Potty seat- There are several different types of potty seats on the market. Some parents like the one piece model where your child has their own potty and they remove the plastic catcher to discard the waste. Others prefer the potty seat that attaches to the toilet seat providing a secure feeling while using the “big potty”. When choosing your potty seat consider the following: Cost, cleanliness, easy care and storage.

2. Step Stool- This is important for little ones who will need to access the toilet by themselves. Also, while children are training they like to rest there feet on the stool and it gives them a sense of security. When purchasing a stool make sure it is sturdy and has a no skid bottom.

3. Training pants- They come in disposable and cloth depending on which one you prefer. Make sure your toddler can pull them up and down easily so they can go to the potty on their own. Training pants leave your child feeling wet and this discomfort encourages your child to use the potty, just be sure to have them change them if they have an accident so not to get a rash.

4. Mattress protection- At first when potty training your child may do well during the day but during sleep it may be hard to wake up to go to the potty. Mattress pads help protect the mattress from becoming soiled. Make sure it is waterproof and fleece topped this helps with the plastic sound.

5. Training targets- Are great for little boys; they come in all kinds of styles from circle targets to fish which encourages them to hit the bull’s-eye!

6. Books and Videos- There are several different books for both parents and children to encourage a positive potty training experience. Here are a few videos and books I recommend:

• Its Potty Time a duck family series on DVD- Great for kids with catchy songs, worked for us!

• Everyone Poops, written by Taro Gomi – This book is well done and shows how all kinds of animals poop and why.

• The potty Book for Boys, written by Alyssa Satin Capucilli- This book has great illustrations and really encourages little boys to graduate from diapers and start using the potty.

7. Incentives- Consider giving incentives which will encourage and provide positive reinforcement. Get a plastic storage bin and fill it with party favor items; toy cars, sunglasses, tattoo’s, bouncy balls and other items your child likes. Each time your child has success allow them to pick from the incentive box. As your child improves encourage longer times between incentives and when your incentives run out Graduation!

Remember your child and you will know when the right time to potty train is. Have patience and provide encouragement, success will happen. Good Luck!

Funny Parenting Tips & Quotes

I thought I would list some funny parenting tips and Quotes that have made us all laugh throughout the years. Of course, we all know laughter is the best medicine and when you feel as though you are at your wits end read these and then return to the sound advice of your pediatrician, Dr. Phil or your wise mother on how to really handle the situation.


No matter how calmly you try to referee, parenting will eventually produce bizarre behavior, and I'm not talking about the kids. –Bill Cosby-

My theory on housework is, if the item doesn't multiply, smell, catch fire, or block the refrigerator door, let it be. No one else cares. Why should you?- Erma Bombeck-

Most children threaten at times to run away from home. This is the only thing that keeps some parents going. –Phyllis Diller-

A two-year old is kind of like having a blender, but you don't have a top for it. -Jerry Seinfeld-

One thing they never tell you about child raising is that for the rest of your life, at the drop of a hat, you are expected to know your child's name and how old he or she is. –Erma Bombeck-

We spend the first twelve months of our children's lives teaching them to walk and talk and the next twelve telling them to sit down and shut up. – Phyllis Diller-

The quickest way for a parent to get a child's attention is to sit down and look comfortable." - Lane Olinhouse-

Think of stretch marks as pregnancy service stripes." - Joyce Armor-

"It is amazing how quickly the kids learn to drive a car, yet are unable to understand the lawnmower, snow blower or vacuum cleaner." - Ben Bergor-

Have a great day, and enjoy those lil rug rats!

Shop lilboyblu.com for stylish and trendy products for boys, we offer boy’s clothing for baby to toddlers age, baby shower gifts, mom and dad clothes and much more. For a unique selection of everything fun and stylish for boys shop www.lilboyblu.com

Tips For Making Flu Shots Easier On Kids... And Parents

Crying, screaming or even trying to run away-these are typical reactions when kids are about to get an injection.

Unfortunately, kids will probably be dismayed to learn that they will need an extra shot this year since recommendations call for children to receive both a seasonal flu vaccine and the H1N1 vaccine.

"The good news is that there are several techniques that parents can use to positively impact their child's experience when getting a needlestick-whether it's a flu shot, a childhood vaccine, or blood work," said Dr. Lonnie Zeltzer, director of the Pediatric Pain Program at Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA. "The key is to be creative and use the right combination of tactics depending on your child's age, the particular procedure being done and the child's fear level.

"Tips to minimize the pain associated with getting a needlestick:

1. With young children, parents can bring soap bubbles and blow bubbles during the injections with the parent suggesting they are "blowing away the hurt."

2. With a crying infant, if the parent places the plastic bubble maker in front of their mouth, as they cry out, they will make bubbles. "I have seen babies stop crying mid-cry because they were distracted by the bubbles," said Zeltzer.

3. For older children and adolescents, bubbles may not be as useful, but parents can help the child to breathe out slowly as if he/she were blowing up a big balloon.

4. Guide the child to use their imagination to experience being somewhere else really fun during the injections, such as at the park or at the beach. Other distraction ideas include jokes, video-games, stories and music.

5. Ask your doctor for a prescription for a numbing cream or patch and put on the areas to be injected. Do this at home before going to the clinic so the medicine has time to work. Ask the office nurse where she/he plans to do the injections, such the thigh or arm, so that you numb the correct spot.

6. If your doctor approves, give your child a dose of pain reliever, such as Tylenol, about one hour before the injection. After returning home, put an ice bag on the injection site to reduce local swelling and pain.

"Finally, do not lie to your child about getting an injection, added Zeltzer. "No one likes to get poked with a needle, but if you reassure your child that there are ways to make the hurt go away, then you can help them achieve a successful, less painful experience.

"Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA, one of the highest-rated children's hospitals in California, is a vital component of UCLA Medical Center, ranked by U.S. News & World Report as the third best hospital in nation and best in the Western United States. Mattel Children's Hospital offers a full spectrum of primary and specialized medical care for infants, children and adolescents. The hospital's mission is to provide state of-the-art treatment for children in a compassionate atmosphere, as well as to improve the understanding and treatment of pediatric diseases.
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This article is from the Medical News Today Website: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/165341.php The information is so important this year due to the H1N1, I encourage all parents to read up and teach your children how to prevent the spreed of the flu this year. This site is a great medical information site.
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Hiring a Babysitter

When I first had my son I did not want to go out or leave him because I was so afraid he would not be in good hands. You read in the papers and see on the news babysitters who have done the unthinkable, so how do you know you are getting a qualified caring babysitter. Here are a few things to consider when picking a babysitter.


Network- Ask friends and neighbors for recommendations. Consider joining an online network such as Sitter City (sittercity.com) to browse available sitters (and nannies)—and access their references and background checks.

Interview- Don’t be afraid to interview your babysitter before hiring them. Find out about their certifications, are they: CPR/First Aid certified, Years of experience and references. Discuss discipline, values and other things that will give you an idea about the character of the person. Talk about payment and if they charge additional if you are later than expected. You may want to introduce them to your children and have them hang out with the family for some time to see how everyone bonds.

Hire- Decide on the babysitter. If using a babysitting service make sure you can book the same sitter each time you go out. This will help in knowing you have the same sitter each time you are away.

Develop a Babysitter Checklist- Make sure you have everything you need for the babysitter in case of an emergency. Contact numbers, doctor numbers, poison control, medications/allergies, etc. Below I have provided a printable checklist website.

Safety- Make sure you have detailed information on your emergency evacuation and meet place in case of a fire. Show the babysitter how and where to find water valve shutoffs, breaker boxes, gas and other items that in case of an emergency she will know how and where to go to handle the situation. Make sure you have fire extinguishers and teach the babysitter how to use them and where they are kept.

Basics- Show the babysitter how to work all electronics in your home, bedtime routines, How to answer the phone, the door and any off limit items. Think about all the basic rules and information she will need while you are away.

Printable downloads by Purple Lemons Designs

http://www.livinglocurto.com/index.php/2009/08/free-printable-babysitter-checklist/

Shop lilboyblu.com for stylish and trendy products for boys, we offer boy’s clothing for baby to toddlers age, baby shower gifts, mom and dad clothes and much more. For a unique selection of everything fun and stylish for boys shop www.lilboyblu.com

Getting Kids to do Chores

Here are some helpful tips on getting your kids to help out around the house. The sooner you get them involved the better. Not only will they help you out, giving kids chores develops character, responsibility and self esteem.

Chore Charts:
Use a chore chart to provide structure and motivation. Chore charts are simple to make or you can use many of the ones available on the internet. When making a chore chart keep it simple and reasonable. For example morning chores may include: Get up, brush teeth, make bed and eat breakfast. Provide rewards for some chores but for others you may decide they are a requirement and do not warrant a reward (example: Brushing your teeth)

Successful Family Chores has wonderful chore charts and so much more to get you started:
http://www.successfulfamilychores.com/Chore_Charts/

Make chores into a game like who can pick up their toys the fastest or how many toys can you take back to their home. Chores also can include the whole family. After dinner everyone can help clean up the kitchen. One person puts items away in the refrigerator, another put dishes in the dishwasher. Involving the whole family makes the chore easier to get done and it brings the family together.

Provide positive reinforcement when your child picks up after themselves or pitches in without asking. Lead by example if you pick up after yourself or return an item back to its rightful place kids will mimic your actions. The earlier you start this with a child the quicker they will develop the habit.

Create guidelines for when chores should be completed. For example feed the dog before dinner. Make your bed before you head out to school. This ensures the child is not rushing to get everything done all at once which may become overwhelming.

Most of all have patience and provide positive encouragement when your child completes their chores. Thank them for their hard work and let them know how much it really helps when they follow through on completing their chores. Teaching your child to help the family everyday provides them with a sense of responsibility and a clear understanding of what it takes to run a household.

Here is a link to 101 ways to praise a child. Try it, it really works and they will appreciate.

http://www.gesd40.org/mainsite/Parent/pghtm/101ways.htm

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Kids-Sport and Head Trauma

My son is now fourteen years old and is involved in an extreme sport, skateboarding. His goal is to someday compete professionally, travel and make it to the x-games. He is dedicated to his talent and skates everyday, he also takes skateboarding lessons to encourage himself to push past fear and land some amazing tricks which he may not have tried on his own. Both at lessons and at home we encourage him to practice safely and to know his limits. However, when it comes to sports anything can and will happen. He wears a helmet and pads while at lessons but when out of sight of mom he sometimes rides with out one.

Throughout his short skateboarding career he has had scrapes, bruises, “strawberries”, sprains and recently a blow to the head. He skates rails, 14-20 feet bowls, benches and there is not a gravity defying act he will not try. So with that, accidents happen and although accidents are far and few this last one was alarming. My son was skating a rainbow rail, which is a curved piece of metal shaped in a rainbow, he had landed this trick numerous times but for some reason something went wrong and he fell face first onto the cement. Although not high off the ground, the momentum and speed played a huge factor in how hard his face and body hit the ground. He knocked the wind out of himself and went to rest and gather his thoughts. He appeared fine, yet shortly after the incident he started to feel sick, tired and his vision became blurry. It was then we realized he was not snapping back from the fall.

We took him to Urgent Care and right away they took him into a room and started checking him out. They gave him excellent care and ordered x-rays for his head, upper body and shoulder. By now his head and face were throbbing, his neck was stiff and his jaw and body was showing signs of bruising. Shortly after, the x-rays came back and nothing was broken but head trauma was suspected. They call it a closed head injury because you can not see what is going on inside your head. Unlike injuries to your extremities where you may see bleeding, broken bones or other physical signs of injury your head is enclosed and all kinds of things can be going on in there and it can be potentially deadly.

In my sons case after several hours of observation and clear instruction on how to care for him he was released and sent home. For 24-48 hours I was required to check him and his responses to ensure his cognitive abilities where functioning correctly and that he was not developing further complications such as; concussion, brain swelling or bleeding in the head. He ended up very sore and battered but his head injury ended up being more of a scare than life treating thanks to his helmet absorbing the majority of the blow.

With resent celebrities and my own son’s incident I wanted to remind parents of the importance of protecting your child from head trauma during sports. Always require them to wear a helmet and if they hit their head or sustain any form of jarring to their head please look for the signs of trauma and have your physician check them out to make sure there are no problems as a result.

What signs to look for with Head Trauma Injury:

· Confusion or change in alertness
· Lethargy or Sleepiness
· Loss of memory for events before or after the injury
· Headache
· Nausea or vomiting
· Repeatedly saying the same thing or asking the same questions over and over (“Perseveration”)
· Loss of balance or coordination
· Trouble concentrating
· Seizure
· Irritability
· Insomnia
· Tearfulness, crying or emotional ups and downs

If your child becomes unconscious

Do not try and move him. Try and keep his head stable and wait for paramedics. Spinal cord injury could be present

Get Help, Call 911

If your child begins to vomit or have a seizure remain clam and stabilize head and roll them over to their side to prevent choking.

If your child is conscious:

Talk calmly to your child and encourage him to remain calm.

Call for help, 911

If they are bleeding apply bandage on wounds

If head is bleeding apply a dressing around head but do not clean wound. This may further damage the injury. (fractures, further trauma to brain)

Do not remove any objects that may have penetrated your child. This object acts as a plug and removing it can be more devastating then leaving it in for the professionals.

Preventing Head Injury:

Wear your helmet at all times !

Inspect Helmets regularly for damage

If a helmet has taken a direct hit, replace helmet since there maybe hairline fractures in the helmet. Another accident, the helmet may not stay together for protection.

Make sure the helmet fits properly and is strapped securely.

Talk with your coach, trainers or review activities to ensure all safety percussions are being met.
Know your limits within your sport and do not take unnecessary risks without proper training and support.

With any sports comes risk but with proper equipment and clear understanding of the activity or sport your son can minimize his risk of receiving a head trauma injury. In the event an incident occurs remain clam and seek medical care. With my own experience the doctors and nurse acted quickly and provided me with the tools necessary to help my son get through his injury.

Article Written by: Sandi Lopez Lilboyblu.com, rights reserved.

Shop lilboyblu.com for stylish and trendy products for boys, we offer boy’s clothing for baby to toddlers age, baby shower gifts, mom and dad clothes and much more. For a unique selection of everything fun and stylish for boys shop http://www.lilboyblu.com/

Tardy Again

Now the kids are back in school and everything is alright, right? If your house is anything like mine it can be chaotic, busy and sometimes completely out of control. I have two kids to get out the door at different times and different schools.

I used to scream and beg them to get ready and finally when we got to school someone would say,”I forgot my…..” back home we would rush and then back to school where I would have to sign them in because we were late. I got tired of that routine, moreover, I got tired of my kids lacking in responsibility. So, we created a morning routine and although it is not perfected we are less stressed and on time.

A morning and night routine is vital to keeping things moving smoothly. It also teaches self discipline and responsibility which are traits we want our kids to have. First I sat down with my kids and we talked about everything we needed to get done before heading out to school. We then created an outline on paper of each persons responsibilities and when we all agreed it was fair I typed it up and posted it on our refrigerator.

Here is our Night Routine:

All backpacks must be packed and ready by the front door

Shower before bed
Check for specials, activities and if you need to bring your Instrument,have ready by front door Set alarm

Here is our Morning Routine:

Both
6am- Wake up
Make Bed
Get dressed
Brush hair

Both
6:30am- Eat breakfast
Brush teeth

7am- Feed Cats – My Daughter
Feed Pond Animals- My Son

7:30am- 7:45am- Free time

7:45am- In the car and on our way to school.

Planning is the key to a stress free morning. It takes time for everyone to get into the routine but before you know it your morning will be running like a finely tuned machine. Best of all you won’t have to go into school with your PJ’s on & Alice Cooper’s makeup and apologize one more time why you couldn’t make it to school on time.

Shop lilboyblu.com for stylish and trendy products for boys, we offer boy’s clothing for baby to toddlers age, baby shower gifts, mom and dad clothes and much more. For a unique selection of everything fun and stylish for boys shop http://www.lilboyblu.com/

Choosing the right child care provider

When it comes to finding child care it is one of the hardest things a parent is faced with. You’re entrusting someone else with your child and you want to ensure their safety, happiness and well being while you are away. We all hear of the horror stories of children being neglected or abused while being in child care. It is up to the parents to interview and investigate the childcare facilities their children will be attending. Here are a few things you should be looking at while interviewing child care centers.

· Ask friends and co-workers for recommendations

· Conduct phone interviews, asking the following:
What age do you accept?
Do you have availability?
What are your hours of operations?
What is your staff to child ratio?
How do you ensure staff to child ratio?
What is your policy when staff calls in sick?
What are your staff’s qualifications and how is that verified?

These questions are very important, for example if a staff calls into work due to being sick who will care for your child. Will they combine classes? If so, will they be out of ratio? If another staff person takes responsibility for the class are they just as qualified and responsible as the original staff person. If providers are unable to give you clear answers to these questions I would be cautious as to how well your child will be cared for.

· Make a visit to the facility (once in the middle and once at the end of the day)
Look for cleanliness
Staff to child ratio and over all happiness of children
Scan the environment looking for safety concerns
Talk with the staff encourage them to share what they like and dislike about their job
Tour the kitchen
Check for current licenses/registrations
First aid kits, smoke detectors, fire extinguishers

When you step into the facility you want to review everything you can. Have time to spend and observe how everyone interacts together. Talk with the staff and director to get a feel for their personalities. Review curriculum and watch to see if they are following the curriculum. If they are not on or close to the curriculum more than likely they are giving parents the smoke and mirror treatment. Lesson plans are written to provide structure and education if they do not follow them then what’s being done to subsidize the learning process.

· Ask to Interview Parents
A quality facility will have no problem letting you interview parents. When someone comes in to pick up their child ask them how they like it. Parents will give you indicators in their description as to how well they like the facility.

For example:
O’ my son’s teacher is great when she is here?
(Teacher is out more then she is there- parent is concerned but deals with it)

My son has learned so much since he has been here; I really like how they get them involved.
(Happy parent feels she has made a good choice)

Listen to all of what they are saying and you will be able to pick out the key words that shed light on the pros and cons of the facility.

· Check public records to see if they have any violations

· Check your state child care information and referral program, they list quality childcare facilities


Most importantly, after picking a child care facility stay involved. Check up on them and let them know you are a proactive parent. Never be afraid to ask questions when things look strange and always listen to your child. If behaviors or moods change investigate right away.

Staff and directors change frequently in this business and what once was a quality center can quickly change. It is your job to ensure they are doing theirs. I wish you luck on your journey and always remember you’re in charge of your child’s well being.

The Big Kid Dream Room!

If you’re reading this, chances are Junior has been begging you to get rid of the Winnie the Pooh characters gracing every square inch of his room. Redecorating can be a daunting – and expensive – task but it doesn’t have to be! You can enlist your child’s help and ideas for creating a personalized space all their own and not break the bank in the process.

Before you get started get rid of all the remnants of babyhood. I know, I know, you won’t want to throw out a thing, but wipe the tears, grab a Rubbermaid tub, and toss it all in! Remember: This is a new phase, not the end of anything, so approach it with joy and fun – and a clean slate.

Gallery wall

The idea is to have a space to display art – a blast for any kid to have. You can go about this in a few different ways, so pick whichever way (or combine them) works for your home. You will create an ever-changing wall of fun and art on places such as an entire wall, part of a wall, or on a closet door. If you choose to use a wall line it with small shelves bought from a craft store (usually around $5 each, unfinished). Spray paint the shelves in a rainbow of colors and fill them with art supplies.

Chalkboard paint – This is paint that mimics a chalkboard once painted on the wall. This is a permanent option until you paint over it.
Peel & stick chalkboard or dry erase board – There are adhesive options that peel & stick (Google “wallies”). They come in sections and can be cut to fit. Remember that they are adhesive, so can damage the wall underneath when removed. They make these in shapes as well, such as clouds or animals, so it would be really fun to place them in various points around the room.
Magnet boards – You can buy magnet boards and place fun magnets to display art, schoolwork, or notes. You can also affix a large piece of tin or light metal to achieve the same affect.
Corkboard – There are different types of corkboard but the easiest is to buy it framed at a local office supply store. You can also buy rolls of corkboard that can be adhered to the wall – very permanent and can be tough to remove, but very cool once in place!
Create a “Showcase” with the corkboard or magnetic board to showcase the current art piece(s). Use wooden letters above to spell out “Kayleigh’s Art” or “Graham’s Gallery”.

Personalize the space

Go to your local craft store and buy some wooden letters. You can spell your child’s name or whatever they would like as the theme. For example, if you want to create a themed room you can buy blocks that spell out “Art” and have an art section, “Sleep” for over the bed, “Clothes” or “Dressing Room” for the closet. Buy some acrylic paints and paint them with your child. (Hint: Acrylic will wash off hands but not out of clothes, but is the best to use for wood.)

Create a personalized quilt or blanket. You can buy fun blocks of fabric and create them together using paint, sewing, markers or finger paints. This will create a keepsake for the child – or for the parent! Once you have enough blocks decorated they can be sewn together to create a great wall hanging, too. This does require some sewing skills – glue and a stapler won’t work!

Buy some inexpensive white or solid-colored throw pillows. Buy some fun stencils and stencil paint and personalize them with your child’s name (make sure it’s fabric paint). Use the same stencils and paint and personalize lamp shades or curtain swags.

Have your child create some original art pieces and frame them to be placed around the room. You can also create one of your own to give to your child to hang along side.

Use polymer clay and together create door and drawer pulls for the room. This is a more adventurous option, but you should be able to find a kit or How-To book at the craft store.

You can use any of the above suggestions and put your own spin on it. Get creative! Browse websites for ideas and realize that there’s not much you can buy that you can’t create yourself. Throughout this task remember to have fun! Let your child help with all of the stages of decoration and listen to what they want to have at the end. Your child will feel invested in the space and proud of her accomplishments once it’s all complete, and you will get some really great quality time together and a big kid room where everyone can feel proud.


About the Author:

Jennifer Kirkpatrick is a mom turned entrepreneur who creates and sells unique items for kids of all ages. Visit her online store Pipsqueak Boutique for great gifts for boys and gifts for girls. And check out her new clothing line, Define*Me Clothing for fun personalized kids clothes.
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Shop lilboyblu.com for stylish and trendy products for boys, we offer boy’s clothing for baby to toddlers age, baby shower gifts, mom and dad clothes and much more. For a unique selection of everything fun and stylish for boys shop www.lilboyblu.com

The Secret To Creating Fantastic First Birthday Memories

The day has arrived, quicker than you could ever imagine, your baby’s first birthday! You want to make this first celebration of life fun, significant and memorable for both your little one and your guests, but how? We suspect you still find it challenging to shower and dress by noon, let alone plan an elaborate complicated party.
Your baby’s first birthday should be a day more about fun and celebration and less about stress for Mom, so we’re going to give you a few ideas to create affordable, unique, once-in-a-lifetime party memories in a snap – and free-up more time to clean-up the mountainous piles of diapers, wipes tubs, toys, and peas splattered on the wall next to the high chair before your guests arrive!
Picture/video montage
Chances are you went and purchased a digital camera sometime ‘round week 13. Admit it – you have a ton of pictures on your camera that you haven’t yet uploaded, right? Now is the time!
· Check the software that came with your camera;
· Use pictures from birth to present;
· Add your favorite tear-jerker songs and let it run during the party on your PC!
· Or create a DVD for playing on your television!
If you want to get really ambitious use some cute font from your word processing software, insert your favorite picture, and print out “CD covers” to create additional CDs or DVD’s for your guests to take home. If you need help a quick Google search will give you some great pointers.

Framed “Guest Book”
Let your guests write “guest book” entries on a canvas and create a piece of art your baby can keep for a lifetime. Any craft store will sell art canvases (those for acrylic paints work best) you can use for this project. The same store will usually have open wooden frames (no glass) that fit the canvas size you choose.
· Decide on your color scheme: dark blue and silver, dark red and gold, or light pink and purple, for example.
· For the background, choose any of the multitude of acrylic paints (Hint: The most expensive isn’t necessarily the best; you shouldn’t pay more than $5 per tube for this project, and one larger tube will paint a large canvas.).
· Select one or more paint pens and choose colors that will show up well against the background.
· Allow your guests to write a message to the baby with the paint pens on the canvas as they arrive.
After he party, use the wooden wedges provided with the canvas, place the canvas in the frame, and with a few whacks with a hammer you have professional looking framed art!

Life Predictions Scrapbook
At the same craft store, go to the scrap booking section. Before you do this however remember that you could seriously go nuts, so unless you want to spend a chunk of Junior’s college fund we suggest picking a theme and keeping it to a couple items.
· Choose some great looking card stock paper and a blank scrapbook (Hint: You may be able to find cheaper scrapbooks at the dollar store and make sure you check out the clearance section at the craft store.).
· You can get some additional decorating accessories in this section if you want to jazz up the pages a bit.
· You’ll need scissors and Tacky Glue later.
· Cut the paper into note card sized pieces and hand them out to your guests. (Hint: Use the paint pens but make sure they have something underneath the paper when they’re writing.)
· Ask your guests to predict what the baby will be later in life, either their personality, job, anything they want to say.
· Encourage them to have fun with it – and make sure they sign their names!
After the party, glue the notes into the scrapbook. It will be a blast to go back and read the notes 17 years later!

First Birthday Time Capsule
A final idea is to ask each of your guests to bring one inexpensive item to add to a time capsule to be opened on baby’s 18th birthday. Allow them to choose anything they want and only place the restriction that it can fit in a sandwich-sized Ziploc baggie – you’ll be happily surprised at what they come up with! Use some of the leftover card stock and label each of the items, seal them up and place them in a sealed box.
Remember, this day is about fun and celebration, so don’t knock yourself out creating a 5 course spread for 100 people. Invite your closest family and friends, fire-up the BBQ, toss the little tyke in a walker with their own cake to destroy (patio & hose work best for clean-up – both the patio and the baby), have fun, and don’t forget the camera! Using the suggestions above you can create lasting memories of this day – and a yearly tradition - with fun items you can go back to reminiscence with year after year.

About the Author:
Jennifer Kirkpatrick is a mom turned entrepreneur who creates and sells unique items for kids of all ages. Visit her online store Pipsqueak Boutique for unique first birthday gifts. And check out her new clothing line, Define*Me Clothing for fun first birthday shirts.
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Lilboyblu, LLC would like to thank Jennifer for contributing to our Parenting tip/post as a guest blogger. Thanks again, we look forward to seeing your wonderful articles.

Preparing for Kindergarten

It’s hard to know just how your child is going to act on the first day of Kindergarten. He may cling onto you, shedding tears trying to keep you just one more second or he may smile as he heads off ready for the challenge. It’s a big step for you and your child filled with; emotion, excitement, fear and uncertainty. Just remember this is a normal part of development and you are both going to make it through with flying colors. With that said there is still ways to ease the transition from home to kindergarten.

Talk
Talk with your child several weeks before school starts about going to kindergarten. Express enthusiasm and excitement about all the new things your child is going to learn and be exposed to. Engage him in conversation so you can see where his anxieties maybe. The more you talk about the school, teacher and fun your child is going to have the better prepared they will feel attending on their first day.

Play Date
During the summer, families and friends become separated due to vacations and camp activities.
Try scheduling a few play dates with your child’s friends prior to the first day of school to rekindle friendships. Consider talking with a few of the moms and plan on meeting at the school on the first day so the kids can walk into school together. This also can be a great support system for you, go have coffee with them and talk about your fears and excitement of having your little one head off to kindergarten.

Bring a little piece of home
Have your child bring something from home that is small to remind them they are safe and home is with them. I gave my son my key chain that used to hold my keys and attached it to his backpack. I told him if he missed me to rub the keychain and remember I would be driving over to pick him up as soon as the bell rang. They may have a small toy or memento that also can provide comfort.

Become familiar with the classroom
Spend some time in your child's classroom on the first day. Introduce your child to the teacher and the other kindergartners, and point out the bathroom, the lunch area, and your child's cubby and coat hook. If the teacher has set up an arts and crafts activity to occupy and engage children, try to get your child involved in the activity.

Saying Good bye
Don’t leave with out saying goodbye as this will only confuse and cause more anxiety. Make sure your goodbyes are upbeat and brief. Once you leave do not return, you want your child to feel comfortable and secure. If you return they will feel your uneasiness and wonder why you don’t feel safe leaving.

Return
Remember to be on time to pick up your child and establish a routine for the drop off and pick up of your child so that everyone knows what to expect the rest of the year. Ask questions and provide praises for a great first day. Be ready to do it again tomorrow and have patience this is a big step for both of you and it takes time.

Healthy lunch Ideas

Back to school and that means packing lunches once more. The challenge, provide variety and healthy choices that they will want to eat.
One of the biggest problems parents face is making it convenient and healthy at the same time. A lot of prepared foods are high in fat, sugar and sodium content and few provide the fruits, vegetables and whole grains needed to sustain energy and performance through out the day.
So, what’s a parent to do when it comes to getting them ready and out the door with only a few hours to spare? My best advice is to think ahead, my child prefers to take his lunch the majority of the time. However, there are days he likes to eat at school so we plan the week out on Sunday. He marks the days he wants to eat at school on the school lunch menu. Then I know the exact days he will be bringing a packed lunch. From there I plan the lunches he will be taking. Since my mornings and weeks are always very busy I pack up little bags of fruits and vegetables and place them in the refrigerator so I can just grab them and place them in the lunchbox. I also do this with crackers and use cheese sticks making it quick and easy to assemble the lunch. The only thing I have to do is make the sandwich, since I don’t like the tastes of one sitting for several hours.
Items great to pack up ahead of time and can be used for lunch or as a healthy snack after school.
• Grapes, strawberries, oranges, melon, etc.
• Carrots, celery, broccoli, etc.
• Make trail mix with dried fruits, crackers and nuts.
• Low sodium pretzels, baked chips, low-fat cheese crackers, nuts, sunflower seeds, etc.
Don’t forget when making your child’s sandwich to avoid fat and sodium. Use whole grain bread, low in sodium lunch meats or fat free versions. Don’t forget the cheese and condiments can also carry unwanted calories, so be sure to use fat free cheeses and go light on mayonnaise and other dressings. Try to add lettuce or tomatoes to the sandwich getting more vegetables throughout the day.
Keeping lunches exciting and interesting is going to be difficult. So, try packing a variety of foods, make it fun with encouraging notes, surprise them with a sweet treat once and awhile and get them involved in the planning of their lunch. Encouraging your child to be active in this process will teach them healthy choices and provide them an opportunity to take control over their heath. This will benefit them for years to come.
If you have easy tips or great recipes for school lunches submit them to sandi@lilboyblu.com and I’ll pass them along.

House Rules

Here is my version of the house rule poem based off of my fun loving teenagers.

If you sleep in it and plan on wearing it the next day, at least place it in the dryer to get the smell out.
If you leave your stuff lying around, it’s free for me to throw away.
If you eat off a plate, bowl or saucer, it goes in the dishwasher not on the counter above it.
If you take something, don’t make me go look for it.
If you empty it, yah right teens always leave just enough at the bottom to put it back into the refrigerator for the next person to fill it up.
If you lose it, don’t ask me to replace it.
If you break it, to bad it’s gone.
If you borrow my remote control, put it back before I have to hunt it down.
If you turn it on you better turn it off, because I will take your light bulbs
Just eat dinner without complaining that we have way too much chicken.
When opening up the bag of chips, use the clip to close it. Not the twist and smash method.
If you make a mess, don’t blame it on your sister.
If I call out to you, don’t shout back WHAT! It means come hear.
Yes, the animals eat and poop everyday, crazy I know.

If you have your own take on this beloved poem, send it to sandi@lilboyblu.com and I’ll share it.