JL's P.S. Fest: 11/8/08

p.s. This site keeps us entertained on many a gloomy November day-- fabulous tracing pages!

p.p.s. This free 8" X 10" photo deal (which expires later today- hurry!!) at Walgreen's, shared by Heather, enabled me to get my hands on the portrait shown below in record time!

p.p.p.s. Since I wrote about using up Jello this past week and using up Kool-Aid a couple months ago, I like this recipe for play-dough from Lisa at As Thyme Goes Buy.

p.p.p.p.s. I spend a LOT of time in my apron! I find this toile bib apron at Rick Rack Attack absolutely adorable!

p.p.p.p.p.s. Like Lisa @ Blessed With Grace, we have enjoyed these fabulous board books for years!

(That's little C, second to the left, and our son all the way to the right- aren't they so cute hand-in-hand with all their cousins from their mommy's side??)

Protein to Grow On

Protein is so important. For all of us, really. And it's especially important for babies who grow so very much in those first couple of years.

Because preemies can have issues with mouth (tongue and jaw) strength, severe tongue thrust issues, and sometimes tire easily, eating meats can sometimes be challenging. While my little girl would use her finger to mash bits of steak on her ONE tooth to eat it, not all babies will be willing to go through the effort. They still need protein! Preemies, especially, can be prone to "low tone" and protein is essential for helping to build up their muscle strength and stability.

First of all, do know that as long as your baby is on breast milk and/or formula, most of his or her nutrient needs are being met that way (I am referring for up to one year old, corrected, here. If you choose to breastfeed your child until kindergarten, so be it, but your child needs to have their nutritional needs met through FOOD by that point). Also, even as you introduce table foods and try to wean from baby foods, it is not harmful to your child to "fill-in" nutritional gaps with baby food until your child has mastered the "big people" version. So, for example, your baby may be scarfing down pasta, cheerios, bananas, and peas, but you may fill in with jars of baby food meats or meat/veggie blends. There is nothing wrong with this.

Here are just a few more things I want you to consider. Chicken, beef, and pork are all tasty options. Here are a few more great protein options that, I think, too many parents ignore:

1. Beans- Beans have little to no fat and can be easily mashed up. They can be cooked to a "softer" consistency eliminating virtually any choking risk. Many beans have little flavor on their own and can easily be mixed with familiar, enjoyed flavors or spices.
2. Peanut Butter- Barring a familial history of food allergies, many doctors say it's safe to let your baby try peanut butter at one year old. To be safe, serve peanut butter in sauces or spread in very thin layers. Never offer your baby a big glob of peanut butter. This can be a choking hazard.
3. Eggs- Eggs are a wonderful, mild, economical protein. The yolk is safe for babies as young as 9 months; the white at 12 months. Eggs are soft and easy to swallow. They also contain fats that are beneficial to these tiny babies!
4. Fish- White fish is very mild and easy to chew. I'm not sure why so many people don't offer their babies fish at a younger age... We also chose to let our kids have shellfish at a young age because we don't have a strong history of food allergies. Both fish and shellfish tend to be less "tough" than their land-animal counterparts making them excellent choices for early foods!

When parenting a preemie, sometimes it pays to think outside the box a bit. Don't be afraid to try new things, offer new flavors, and explore new avenues. There are lots of ways to make sure your child's nutritional needs are being met. Try not to get discouraged and enjoy the exploration!

Three Painless Ways to Help

When it comes to hospitalized children and their families, there are few among us who don't want to help in some way. As someone who needed an awful lot of help almost three years ago, I'm glad for that generous, caring spirit that exists in so many!

But it's hard. And we don't all have much in the way of extra funds. Or even extra time.

Here are three things you can do to benefit hospitalized children without breaking the bank or taxing your schedule:

1. Collect Pop Tabs-- If you or anyone in your family drinks canned soda, juice, or beer, don't forget to pull the tabs off. You can still recycle them for full value. Those tabs play a huge part in the funding of Ronald McDonald Houses around the country. Ronald McDonald Houses exist to provide a place for families to stay to be close to their hospitalized children. If you're not close to a RMH or a children's hospital, you can also drop them off at any McDonald's Restaurant. Some even have a collection bin in the drive-thru. Also consider putting a pop tab collection box in your office break room, church hall, or even dorm lounge. These boxes are available from any RMH or, if you'd like, send me an email with your address and I'll pick some up and mail them out...
   
2. Consider buying books and stuffed animals at Kohl's-- Kohl's has a program called Kohl's Cares for Kids that is ongoing throughout the year. During any given season, you can find approximately four different books and corresponding stuffed animals for sale up by the registers. These are often excellent books by renowned children's authors. Each hard-bound book or animal sells for just five dollars. All proceeds go to benefit local children's hospitals and charities. In our state, a good portion goes toward carseat research and programs that help ensure every child is safe. Five dollars isn't "free", but it's a good deal for a book or toy that will make a great gift.
3. Sign the Prematurity Awareness Petition-- Taking 30 seconds to add your name to the list helps show that these tiny babies matter to you. Raising awareness and ensuring continuing research and education is dependent on the voice of many.

Sometimes, it really is the little things that count. Children around the country are counting on us to do those little things.

Hasbro Playskool Busy Ball Popper

This week is a themed Works for Me Wednesday over at Rocks in My Dryer. We're talking about toys that are actually worth the cash.

For our family, the Hasbro Playskool Busy Ball Popper has been worth its weight in gold. We first purchased it in January of 2006 for our older child's first birthday. Though our children are now 2 1/2 and 3 1/2, they are still entertained by this toy. It is also the go-to toy for when younger cousins visit.

Pros?

• Plays lots of different songs including some unique ones like "Rockin' Robin" (and it's not crazy loud).
  
• Amusing for hours thanks to the constant motion of the balls.
• Helps develop some fine motor skills and coordination as children try to capture and properly place the balls on the track.
• Is a nice, easy introduction to cause and effect (i.e. push the red button = balls go flying)
• Keeps toddlers scrambling and on the move as they chase escaped balls around the room.

Cons?

• You can't turn the music off unless you turn the whole toy off.
• Until your baby can walk, you'll be the one chasing balls around the room.
• Some children like to shove things other than intended balls down in there. Ask me how I know. These can removed by inverting the toy and rapping it on a hard surface. Trust me.

All-in-all, this one Works for Me! I would recommend it for children between the ages of 9 months and 3 years though, as is often the case, older children seem to enjoy it too.

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In the midst of all this gift shopping and indulging our wonderful children, why not take a break and indulge yourself? We're giving away a Basket of Indulgence full of candles, snacks, and spa gear!

Basket of Indulgence, Week 1

This drawing is now closed. For a chance to win another basket, please had over HERE. Thanks!

How fun is that?

Lucky little me was so excited to receive this in the mail last week. Lucky family members of mine were thrilled to get to share those Chex Mix bars with me too! I have had the pleasure of being asked to be a part of MyBlogSpark which basically means I get to try fun things like this and then offer a few of you the same opportunity. Not bad, eh? Not only is there a full box of Chex Mix bars in there, but there is also a nail brush, loofah sponge, massager, caramel scented lotion, and three chocolate scented candles.

I am very upfront about the fact that I make just about any kind of treat or baked good from scratch in this house. I make granola bars. I bake our bread. Yada yada yada. But I'm also not "above" packaged treats. And when I read the description of these Turtle Chex Mix bars --"These new snacks combine crunchy Chex pieces, pretzels and peanuts with chewy and indulgent ingredients like caramel and chocolate. And if that´s not enough, they have less than 150 calories per bar and provide at least 8 grams of whole grain per serving (48 grams recommended daily)!"-- there was little doubt in my mind that we would all like them. And we did. I have since purchased a second box of Chex Mix bars using this coupon. They're super handy to keep in the diaper bag for a quick snack for the kids or a last-ditch breakfast for a mommy who rushed out the door too fast!

I am delighted to be able to offer one of these baskets to THREE of my readers. For the next three weeks, I'll be giving away one basket each week. The entry period will run from 6:00 AM Wednesday morning until 6:00 PM Eastern Time on Tuesday.

To enter, please leave a comment answering this question:

What is your favorite quick treat to carry in a purse or diaper bag?

Please be sure your name is "clickable" or you leave an email address so I can contact you.

For a bonus entry, mention this giveaway on your blog then post your link in the comments.

Thanks... good luck!!!

Voting With Little Ones

We headed out bright and early this morning to cast our ballots. Despite our reservations about the choices, it is our civic duty after all.

I feel strongly that we need to demonstrate this act- the right, privilege, AND duty of it- to our children. So it was a no-brainer to take them with us. Sure, we could have gone at separate times and maybe made life a tad easier. But who said parenting little ones was supposed to be easy?

Of course, I can't lie... I did wish for a brief moment that I had gone alone when my 3-year old almost got us kicked out of the polls.

"How 'bout McCain?" he asked every person in line.

Hmmm... perhaps we'll work on election etiquette before the next vote...

Jello Cookies

A recent deal at Meijer has resulted in a rather large stockpile of Jello... and we don't really eat a lot of Jello around here. We don't really dislike it, but I happen to think it's a lame excuse for dessert. I mean, really now... cookie, brownie, ice cream, or Jello? Who picks Jello???

So I set out in search of recipes involving Jello. Namely, recipes that were not for Jello salad. (If any of you have fabulous Jello salad recipes, feel free to share! But if it involves celery, let me just tell you up front... I'll pass, thanks.)

The internet, being the wonderful time-sucker that it is, turned up all sorts of ideas. I decided to try my hand (and four little hands too!) at Jello cookies. I believe I found the original recipe at Recipezaar, but I've tweaked it so much that my recipe no longer closely resembles it. Here's how I make them:

Jello Cookies

3/4 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar, plus extra for coating
1 (4-serving) package Jello, any flavor (note: I don't really think sugar-free would turn out, but if you try it-- let me know!)
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt

1. Cream butter, sugar, jello, and eggs.
2. Add remaining ingredients with the flour going in last.
3. Mix well.
4. Roll dough into one inch balls and roll in white granulated sugar. Place on greased cookie sheet.
5. Flatten each ball with the bottom of a glass.
6. Bake 6-8 minutes at 350 degrees.

These cookies are loads of fun to make! The first batch we made was strawberry (chosen by my 3-year old son) and he and his 2-year old sister watched in awe when I added the Jello powder and the dough turned bright pink. That batch looked pretty, and kiddos and hubby were all fans. I thought they were just okay. The next batch, shown below, were made with lemon Jello. This produced a zingy, delicate flavored cookie with little "color" to it. These taste like a tender sugar cookie with a light lemon flavor. Yum!




See what great ideas others are coming up with at Kitchen Tip Tuesday hosted by Tammy's Recipes!