18 Things about 18 Months

Griffin recently turned 18 months, and it's hard to believe that he's halfway to his second year already!  Time truly does fly and each moment is precious.  I feel so lucky to have the opportunity to spend so much time with my little guy.  It's fun knowing that for now I'm his number one girl because I know that someday he'll want to spend time with his friends rather than mom.  I enjoy watching our special bond grow and hope that it continues for a lifetime.  We recently had our 18 month check up, and G is progressing quite well.  Our pediatrician is very pleased with his growth and development. Here's 18 things going on with the G-Man:

1) G is talking up a storm and using lots of 2-3 word phrases.  One of my favorites is when he says that he's Mama's angel.  I've noticed that his communication has become more deliberate rather than imitative lately. When I ask him a question, I generally get a response that makes sense.  One day when he got hysterical at the hair salon because he didn't like the clippers, I said, "Why didn't you like getting your haircut?"  He responded, "Clippers noisy."

2) G refers to himself frequently by his first name.  It sounds like Gri Gri when he says it.  This happened within the last month.  Prior to this, he called himself, 'baby.'

3) Things that go are some of his favorite toys.  He loves trains, cars, trucks, tractors, planes and construction vehicles.  Since we've been building our house, he is able to name the dump truck, digger, cement truck, and fork lift. He recently had the opportunity to fly on an airplane which he loved.

4) Moving, moving, moving...this boy is always moving around.  His energy is neverending!  He loves the stairs as well as the playground equipment.

5) ABC's and numbers....G LOVES letters!  He now can name all of the alphabet letters and enjoys stating the letters he sees on signs and people's shirts. G also LOVES numbers!  He can count one through five on my fingers and when given objects.  He also likes to count the stairs as we climb.  He states the numbers one through ten in isolation.

6) Showers....G has never been a bath lover.  He enjoys taking showers and has one each morning.  When asked if he wants a bath or a shower, he will respond with 'shower.'

7) You're on candid camera....every morning when G wakes up, I give him his milk and he lies in bed with me and watches videos of himself on my phone.  He has started requesting his favorite ones by name.

8) Puzzles are so much fun!  G enjoys the chunky Melissa and Doug puzzles.  He enjoys making a game out of where the pieces fit by saying 'no' to the incorrect spots and 'yes' to the correct spaces. He also enjoys taking turns with a partner during this activity.

9) Music maestro....G loves music and singing.  Apparently he thinks that I have a decent voice and will say 'again again' when I sing to him.  A lot of the songs I sing are made up, but he has some favorites.  A recent favorite is the Marvin Gaye song 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough.' He walks around the house saying, "Ain't No!"  It's pretty funny.

10) No picky eaters allowed in this house :).  G likes all kinds of food and I try to feed him a variety of tastes.  He loves Mexican dishes especially guacamole.  Other favorites include Zucchini Pie, peanut butter, pretzels, cheese, yogurt, fruit with oatmeal, eggs, turkey burgers, meatballs...there really are too many to name. He likes to dip his foods like chicken in BBQ sauce or 'barbie' as G calls it.  G is a milk lover and calls it 'minnow' for some reason.  He drinks 24 ounces per day and there's no getting between this boy and his sippy cup.

11) Manners are progressing....when G burps or passes gas, he says, 'excuse me.'  When he is given something, he will say, 'Thank you, (person's name).'

12) Naps - G is still taking 2 naps a day which makes me a grateful mom.  But, remember his didn't begin taking a nap until he was 7 months old, so I think he's really just catching up on sleep!  He has his favorite crib comforts like soft blankets and his stuffed Lamby music box.  He requests 2 blankets when he goes to sleep.

13) Colors - G can tell us if something is blue, green, yellow, red, or pink. Until about a week ago, he was calling everything red.  Before that everything was blue.  It's seems like his color accuracy kind of happened overnight.

14) Potty training - We haven't officially started potty training yet, but have introducing the potty chair.  G will usually go peepee on it 2-3 times per day.  I generally sit him on it 10-15 minutes after he's had his milk.

15) Empathy - Signs of empathy have been really apparent.  G is able to identify other's emotions and when you ask him to do happy/sad/angry/surprised faces, he can.  He is a caring little guy and when he sees a friend crying, he goes over and gives him/her a hug.  It's really sweet to see.

16) Hooray for Gymboree!  We are still attending Gymboree once a week.  Griffin loves interacting with his teacher, friends, and other parents.  He runs around like a wild man, and maneuvers the equipment with ease.

17) Social butterfly....G has always been a very social guy. This trait has continued.  He readily engages with familiar and unfamiliar people.

18) Clothes horse....funnily enough, G enjoys picking out his clothes.  He walks into his closet and tells me if he wants to wear jeans, khakis, or corduroys!

Having this little guy in my life is truly a blessing.  It's so much fun to see him evolve into a wonderful person! Motherhood is the best gift I have ever been given.

Simple No-Cook Lunch

Griffin is a peanut butter fan, so today I debuted peanut butter banana bites.  Griffin called them Pea Buh Nanas :).

Pea Buh Nanas

Banana

Peanut butter

1.  Cut the banana in slices.

2.  Spread peanut butter on one slice and top with another slice.

3.  Cut the banana bites in half for smaller pieces if needed.

I served the bites with pretzel goldfish crackers.  I'd say that this lunch was easy and a hit!

Halloween Books

With Halloween around the corner, we've been enjoying many Halloween books.  We don't have much room for decorations in the apartment, so I created a mantle landscape using our books and pumpkins.  It's been fun to Griffin to sit on the couch with us and ask for certain books that we then read together.  Here are the titles that we're enjoying.

Not the best photo....

• Trick or Treat Babies by Charles Reasoner
• Spot's Harvest by Eric Hill
• Who Will Haunt My House on Halloween? by Jerry Pallotta
• Halloween Night
• Halloween Fun
• Trick or Treat 
• Halloween Jack by Roger Priddy
• Little Jack by Roger Priddy
• Funny Faces Haunted House by Roger Priddy

What are some Halloween books that you are reading with your kids?

Moving with a Toddler - Part 1

Moving is work.  Moving with a toddler is A LOT of work!  Our move is a little different because we have moved into temporary housing while our home is being built.  Our family decided to bite the bullet and fork up the big bucks to live in a furnished apartment for 3 months.  Even though, the apartment came furnished, there were several items we needed to bring with us including Griffin's crib and glider, our clothing (summer and fall), cleaning supplies, beach items for our trip to Destin that we took in September, suitcases for our trip and my husband's weekly travels, laptops and printer, toys, toiletries and bathing items for Griffin and ourselves, leftover food, etc.  Believe it or not, all of this stuff adds up!!  Especially when you are hauling it up to a third floor apartment - lol!  Here are some tips I found that made Moving Part 1 a little easier....

• Embrace and accept the talents of your family and friends!  My mom is one of the most organized people I know.  She was an incredible help with packing up our items that we put into storage. We organized all of our boxes with coordinating labels for the room in our new house.  This will make unpacking much easier! My in-laws own a spacious SUV and were happy to come down to assist me with moving items from our old house into the apartment.  Our generous friends, Bianca and Jose, own a truck and offered to help us move Griffin's crib and glider.  This was incredibly helpful!  
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• Try to do as much as possible packing-wise when your kiddo is asleep.  I planned much of my packing around Griffin's nap schedule.  
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• If s/he is awake, include your kiddo in the packing fun.  Griffin enjoyed playing with bubble wrap and empty boxes while I packed.  I also gave him a Swiffer Duster and showed him how to use it.  This seemed to keep him busy for awhile :).

If I had to do this again, I probably would have gotten some help moving items from our house to the apartment through a company like 2 Men and a Truck.  Lugging everything up the stairs was a royal pain and exhausting....I have no desire to start a moving company soon but if I did , it would be 1 Lady and an SUV.  I don't think it would be very time efficient though - lol!

Garden Turkey Burgers

Let's face it....as parents we are always working to get our kids to eat their veggies.  I came across this recipe on Rachael Ray's site and adapted it.  It is packed with veggies and tastes pretty amazing.  Enjoy!

Garden Turkey Burgers

1 lb ground turkey breast

seasonings: course salt, pepper, basil, and garlic powder, to taste

2 green onions, finely chopped

1 carrot shredded

1 small zucchini chopped

olive oil for drizzling

optional:  your choice of cheese for topping

1. Combine first 7 ingredients in a bowl and form into 4 large patties. I put the carrots and zucchini in my food processor to speed things up a bit.
2. Brush with olive oil and cook 7 minutes each side over medium high heat in nonstick pan.  If you are using a Foreman Grill, cook for 5 minutes total.  Top with your cheese of choice.  I used Chipotle cheddar on mine and Baby Swiss on G's burger.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Served with butternut squash and raspberries
   
   
   
   
   
   

Hooray for Salmon

We've officially settled into our temporary housing situation - a cozy 2 bedroom apartment on the third floor. G and I have been hanging out at our new crib during the week while Michael has started traveling for his job.  It's not too bad, and the three of us make sure to get out and about on the weekends when Michael is home.  Along with mother-son bonding during the week, G and I have been enjoying some pretty tasty dinners.  Here's a twist on yummy crab cakes in which salmon is used.  Kind of reminds me of the days when I went to graduate school in Baltimore :).  Plus it's a great way to get in those Omega-3s - which are essential for brain development, as well as protein.

Salmon Cakes

5 oz. package Chicken of the Sea Skinless & Boneless Pink Salmon
1/4 cup finely chopped green onions
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 T. lemon juice
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
Dash of cayenne pepper (or more depending on your liking)
1/4 cup finely chopped yellow pepper
1 egg, beaten
1 cup Panko breadcrumbs
cooking spray

1.  Combine all ingredients with only 1/4 cup of breadcrumbs in a medium sized bowl.

2.  Form mixture into into 4 balls.  Roll in remaining breadcrumbs & flatten into salmon cakes about 1/2 inch thick.

3.  Cook on skillet coated with cooking spray over medium heat until golden brown on each side.

4.  Serve with veggies and starch of your choice.  We love to have oven baked sweet potatoes with our salmon cakes.  I usually serve a salad for my husband and me and a green veggie for G.  Sometimes I'll serve with stewed tomato casserole which also go well with it.

Checking in with Griffin at 15 Months

15 months ago, a precocious baby joined our family.  Things have not been the same since!  Watching Griffin develop into a little person has been an amazing experience…he’s packed full of personality and smarts.  My husband and I often joke that Griffin is going to be tutoring us someday!  Griffin recently had his 15 month check up and he’s developing quite well.  Here’s a little information about how the G-man is doing…..

Height:  33 ¼ inches (95%)

Weight: 29 lbs. 3 oz. (90%)

This boy is growing like a weed.  The doctors says he’s the size of a 23 month old....Griffin’s father is hoping for a sports scholarship someday – lol!

Gross/Fine Motor

• G is running around everywhere!  He is much more fluid walking over uneven surfaces and is developing an awareness and caution for them.  He continues to climb up the stairs and can alternate his legs to climb when an adult is holding his hands. 
• One of G's favorite things to do is walk around carrying things as well as to push chairs around our house.  When you ask him if something is heavy, he grunts when trying to pick it up!
• Griffin is able to open all of our door handles – scary!  We haven’t had any major accidents until this past week.  He opened our garage door which does not lock and fell from the stairs.  He did a full flip in the air and landed on his back.  He was scared but okay with a little bruising.  I told him that he would have won and Olympic gold if it hadn’t been for the landing – ha!
• Griffin’s height is an asset to him when he wants to reach for things.  We have to make sure that we push items far enough back on our tabletops, top of our dresser, and top of our bathroom vanities. 
• Griffin is able to brush/comb is hair and brush his teeth.  He looks forward to brushing his teeth and runs to the bathroom saying ‘tee tee’ each morning and night.
• He’s able to use a toy hammer to hit a variety of objects.  He hasn’t hit his finger yet, but he’s hit mine and boy did it hurt!
• Griffin will use a spoon/fork with assistance to eat.

Vocabulary – Griffin’s receptive and expressive vocabulary are immense. 

• He is able to identify and say several body parts including: head, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, teeth, leg, knee, foot, toes, fingers, nails, & hair on himself and others. 
• He follows simple directions (i.e. Bring your shirt to the laundry room, Put the nail file in Daddy’s drawer, Find the ________ book) and answers simple questions related to wants and needs (i.e. Do you want to go outside?, Are you all done?, Do you want more?, Where is (specific toy, book, person)?)
• He is a walking dictionary – lol!  I have been taking a word inventory of what he says, and it is now over 100 words!  I really think that his interest in books as well as our family’s verbal nature have helped Griffin’s expression.  However, I also feel that he’s always been a verbal kid and quite social, so these factors have helped as well.  It’s really cool to take a word inventory of what your child says.  Remember - do not focus on word pronunciation but on the fact that your child is using the same word to name an object.  For example, if your child consistently calls a butterfly “buh,” that counts as a word.  The pronunciation and articulation of speech is developmental and ‘buh’ will eventually become ‘butterfly.’  If your child is not using a consistent sound or word to name something, it should not be counted on his/her word inventory.  Words that your child imitates should not be counted.  Words that are counted should be ones that your child independently states.  Give it a try, and you’ll be amazed at how many words s/he is actually expressing!
• G states the names of family members and familiar friends.  He is not saying his own name yet and calls himself ‘baby’ when he sees a picture of himself.
• Griffin sings e-i-e-i for Old McDonald as well as 'row, row, row' for Row Your Boat.  He also likes this Country song where the chorus is "Girl, you make my speakers go 'boom boom'!" and he fills in the boom boom part.
• G is filling in the words of favorite books.  This is so cool to see!  It’s also neat to see what books he gravitates to as well.  I hope it continues as it’s important for kids to develop a love of reading.
• Some letter recognition is emerging and G identifies and names the capital B and D consistently.  He can identify and state the letter G from his name.

Social skills

• This child has never met a stranger…he readily engages with people and seeks them out.  Griffin has been very interested in reading emotions of people’s faces, faces of characters in his books, as well as faces of models in advertisements (getting the mail is one of his favorite things).  He is able to make a happy, sad, and mad face.
• We’ve started doing some 1 minute timeouts this month.  I’m not really sure they are making a difference.  The harsh voice and ‘no’ really don’t make a difference either.  Our pediatrician says that some kids get really upset and hurt by the harsh voice and ‘no.’  I guess Griffin carries his ‘happy-go-lucky’ nature to the disciplining as well.  We’ll have to keep trying different techniques to see what he responds to best when it comes to discipline.

New and favorite foods

• G’s pediatrician says that he can eat everything now.  We tried peanut butter on some whole grain bread yesterday, and it was a hit!
• G continues to enjoy all kinds of foods, but favorites are black beans, guacamole, cheese, blueberries, yogurt, and a variety of quesadilla creations.  He likes chicken and hamburgers especially when they are dipped in BBQ sauce J.

Sleep Patterns

• G has always fought sleep and it’s been an ongoing battle in our house.  Everyone has his/her own tolerance to listening to a baby cry!  I’m happy to say that G has been going to sleep at night without any tears for the past 2 months.  I read him 3 books and then put him in his crib with some of his favorite books.  I turn on the sound machine for 45 mins and play a song from his musical lamb.  He is generally asleep between 7:30 and 8:00.  It has been nice for both mom and dad to have an evening finally!!
• As for naps, I think G is a reverse napper…..he catnapped up until 7 months old.  Then, he took his first real nap.  Well, it seems that now he will go down for 2 naps a day.  These naps are generally 1 hour in length, but sometimes longer.  I guess he’s finally wearing himself out – haha!

That's our little nugget in a nutshell.  He certainly keeps me on my toes!!

Rockin' Rotini

A quick recipe from the other night that incorporates all of the basic food groups....enjoy!  I know my little guy loved this!

Rockin' Rotini

serving of cooked rotini pasta
ground sausage crumbled and cooked (I used half of package for the three of us)
2 cups of sauce (your choice - jarred or homemade)
1.5 cups of cooked peas

1) Cook sausage in a skillet and combine with tomato sauce.  Cook and simmer.

2) Add sauce to pasta.

3)  Add peas.

4)  Eat and enjoy!

Mangia Mangia!

Let's Get Together!

Socializing is so important for children of all ages and starts when they are babies.  You don't need a ton of toys for your baby to learn social skills.  S/he will learn a lot by observing your behaviors and those of others.  Finding other children that same age as your little one can be challenging for SAHMs.  Thankfully there are many programs available such as these nationally based programs:

• Gymboree
• The Little Gym
• Kindermusik
• The Music Class

Many cities also have their own programs and you can find them using Google and typing 'programs for babies (city name).'

I decided to begin classes at Gymboree when Griffin was 4 months old.  He began classes at The Little Gym as well when he was 7 months old.  Both programs have been wonderful!

Gymboree creates a fun environment for children to explore.  All of the equipment and props used are in primary colors - which is ideal for babies.  The star of each session is a puppet named Gymbo the Clown...the power that this clown has is amazing!  Each child is mesmerized by the movements that Gymbo makes.  Now that Griffin and his friends are older, they often can be seen looking for Gymbo when he plays 'peek-a-boo.'  It really is cute to watch!  Gymboree sessions are language rich as well as exploratory based.  The teacher engages the children in several songs that feature rhymes and basic concepts.  When exploring the gym area, the babies are exposed to a weekly theme (i.e. tunnels, slides, etc.), and there are several stations to visit.  During the classes, the teacher also works individually with each child or in small groups on a specific motor skill.  I must say that Griffin truly loves his Gymboree teacher, Ms. Liz.  Liz has been teaching the class for several years, and you can tell that she truly loves what she does!

The Little Gym is another program that has a highly concentrated focus on gross and fine motor development incorporated with music and social play.  This program works on developmental milestone goals which they introduce at the beginning of each class.  It lives up to its name and the babies are encouraged to use real gym equipment (i.e. balance beam, uneven bars, rings) with help and spotting of course.  Here is a video of Griffin  on the balance beam.

Here's another video of Griffin receiving his award at the end of the class ceremony.

Forming friendships with other moms has been an added perk to participating in these programs.  We have a great group of several moms who take turns hosting get togethers in which the dads are also included.  I know that my husband has enjoyed getting to know the other fathers as well as interacting with other couples who have kids the same age as Griffin.  Always a good sport, he's enjoyed getting in on the fun on many occasions!

Happy 4th of July

Happy 4th of July to you!  Hope you are staying cool :).  Just wanted to quickly share a great lunch recipe that I made for Griffin today.....scrambled egg, cheese, and broccoli quesadilla.  It's super easy.  Just scramble one egg, cut up some steamed broccoli, and add to half a tortilla (I buy the ones that are whole grain with extra fiber).  Sprinkle shredded cheddar on top of the egg and broccoli and fold over the tortilla.  Brown each side of the tortilla in a skillet.  Viola!  You have lunch!  I served Griffin's with some fresh cut up pineapple.  Enjoy!

Kid friendly tilapia

Back again with another quick recipe for the whole family!  This recipe is so easy and takes no time at all.  The bonus -- It's delicious!

Kid Friendly Tilapia -- My Way

Tilapia fillets
Panko bread crumbs
Seasonings:  I use basil and garlic powder
Butter or margarine

1. Rinse fillets.

2.  Spray a glass or Pyrex pan with cooking spray.

3.  Place Panko bread crumbs in a bowl.  You can eye how much you will need depending on how many fillets you are cooking.

4.  Add seasonings.  You can eye this as well.

5.  Add 1-2 T of butter or more depending on how many fillets you are preparing.

6. Microwave at 10 second intervals until butter is melted.  Stir until bread crumbs are coated.

7.  Cover fillets with bread crumb mixture.

8. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes.

9.  Another way of making this is to put spaghetti sauce on the fillet and then cover with the bread crumbs.  It is quite delicious!

Enjoy, friends!!

 About a half of fillet shown here.  This was my son's serving.

Paired with sliced sweet potatoes - yummy!

One in a Flash Birthday Party

We recently hosted Griffin's first birthday celebration.  I was so excited to plan his party and went with the theme 'one in a flash.'  I chose this theme because I am a crazy picture taker, my kid is full of smiles, and I wanted to have a fun photo booth for party guests.  Here are the highlights of the party and how I did it on a budget.....

Invitation -- from Photo Affections....got them 50% off with a special they were running.

Our dining room consisted of the food and main decorations.  The color scheme was primary colors.  I made a balloon wreath using coupons for Hobby Lobby (1/2 price ribbon) and Michaels (foam wreath and floral pins).  The balloons I bought from Party City.  I saved the leftovers to be inflated with helium on the party day.  The picture in the middle I printed on my computer and laminated.  The party hat that's on Griffin's head was obtained through a clip art search.

I posted month to month photos on either side of the wreath.  I found two packs of birthday die-cuts at the Dollar Store to use for the pictures (5x7's printed at Walmart 1 hour photo).

We have a great group of friends!  Throughout the year, we've had several gatherings for our kids.  I created a poster with pictures of Griffin and his friends to hang in the dining room.

Everybody loves good food!  Since the party was from 2-4:00, I served finger foods and treats.  Finger foods consisted of two fruit and cheese platters, veggies and hummus tray, veggies and spinach artichoke dip, Tostitos scoops, and pita chips.  The treats were as follows:

 Cupcakes from The Cupcake People in Lawrenceville, GA.  I bought 3 dozen in Birthday, Oreo, and Turtle Flavors.  I had purchased cupcake holders at Walmart in the clearance section after Valentine's Day for $3 a piece.  I made the cupcake toppers by printing pictures of Griffin, clip art number 1, and clip art party hat from the wreath above.

 Camera cookies were made using sugar cookie dough, cookie icing, and oreo cookies.  I purchased a set of 3 rectangular cookie cutters on Amazon.com for $6.

 My mom made G-shaped cookies using a recipe that my Italian grandmother and her aunt made up years ago.  Typically, the cookies are made into an S-shape.  My grandmother used to make L and P-shaped ones for my brother when we were younger.  These cookies are good to have with coffee...secret ingredient - cognac.

I printed labels for each food item and put them on primary colored cardstock purchased from Target.

To go along with the theme, I had a craft table where the kids and their parents could decorate a foam picture frame to take home with them.  Each child had a ziploc bag with his/her name on it. Inside the bag, I placed the frame and ten birthday themed stickers.

I put the craft table in front of our fireplace to prevent any adventurers from climbing up!  The mantle was simple decorated with streamers from the dollar store and some of Griffin's cards he'd received in the mail.

Next, I had the photo booth set up in our sun room.  I hired Tammy from Lasting Moments by Tammy Photography.  I purchased a backdrop from LemonDrop Stop for $70, and Tammy loved the backdrop so she kept it and subtracted it from her fee.  I purchased funny props from the Dollar Store.  I am really glad that we had the photo booth.  The kids could be silly, and what parent doesn't love having professional photos taken of his/her child?!  I plan to use the photos as enclosure in thank you notes. I haven't posted the individual child photos for privacy reasons, but you can get the idea from our photos below :).

We also had some outdoor activity options....I filled our Munchin inflatable duck tub with bubbles and purchased a variety of bubble blowers. Two of our older guests (ages 2 and 3) had a ball with this activity and were soon soaked in bubble solution! I purchased a bubble machine for Target for about $15 and put it on our deck.  The kids loved watching the magical bubbles and many tried to pop them.  I put several beach balls on our lawn and the kids also enjoyed this activity.

Smash cake time!  Instead of ordering a cake, I made a carrot cake for Griffin from a recipe I adapted in one of his baby food cookbooks.  I bought a Wilton 6-inch pan from Michaels using a 50% coupon (approx. $3) and I also bought a pan from the Williams Sonoma Outlet that had 6 4-inch cake pan slots (approx. $12).  I made a bottom layer with the six inch, a middle layer with the 4-inch, and I used my 'one' cookie cutter to make a number one for the top.  I frosted with homemade cream cheese icing - a recipe I got from allrecipes.com and decorated with the cookie icing I had purchased for the 'one' cookies.  Griffin enjoyed his cake!

This adorable felt birthday hat was a random find at Tuesday Morning for a whopping $4.99!!

I'd say this party was a success!  Our family had a great time, and I think our guests did too!  The best part was seeing this happy birthday boy!

Baby Sign Language

As a speech language pathologist, I am a big proponent of using baby sign language.  Prior to saying real words, a child must master rather complex movements of his facial muscles.  Teaching sign language to your baby enables him/her to communicate wants and needs as his/her language develops.

While using sign language with babies is not a new concept, some are wary of introducing it to a baby who is not deaf or hard of hearing.  Teaching signs to a baby will truly promote and encourage language and speech development.  I recently found a great website on baby sign language  http://www.babies-and-sign-language.com/baby-sign-benefits.html.  The benefits listed on the site were:

Promotes the development of language skills

Reinforces language skills already developed

Reduces frustration at not being able to express needs

Increase speed of spatial reasoning development

Develops understanding of language for communication of emotions

Creates feelings of satisfaction and accomplishment!

May increase IQ

Increases creative thinking

Teaches a 2nd language that is formally and nationally recognized (ASL)

Reduces unexplainable emotional outbursts

Increases early literacy skills

Teaches baby how to start (and participate in) a conversation

Teaching sign language to your baby is recommended when the child begins to use his/her hands to signal 'bye bye.'  At this time, s/he is ready to connect a sign to language.  Since I am a crazy speech language pathologist, I've been using some basic signs with Griffin since he was a newborn!  At about 11 months old, he began independently using the sign for 'more' at meal time to request.  Here's a video of Griffin signing for the first time....

There are some really great baby sign language books that I'll post links to on Griffn's book list.  He really enjoys them, and it's amazing how he pays attention to the signs as his dad and I do them.  If you're interested in learning some basic signs, visit this website for some free printable materials  http://www.babysignlanguage.com/.

Spaghetti Squash a la Bolognese

I've been MIA from the blogging world...busy planning Griffin's 1st birthday party.  A blog on that will be coming soon!  In the meantime, here's another recipe for the whole family to enjoy.  Have you ever made or eaten spaghetti squash?  It is delicious!  When cooked and prepared, the squash resembles spaghetti strands.  Spaghetti squash is a great low carb alternative to pasta as well.  It's a favorite dish in our house, and now Griffin loves it too!  Here's the recipe and I'll even share my Italian grandmother's bolognese sauce recipe with you.  Feel free to use any type of sauce you'd like though :).

Spaghetti Squash a la Bolognese

1. Use a fork to prick the outside of your spaghetti squash.
2. Put squash in oven at about 425 degrees and cook until the outside is soft -- about 45 mins to an hour.
3. Cut the squash in half vertically.
4. Remove seeds.
5. Hold one half vertically and using a fork pull down on the squash from top to bottom...hard to explain.  See picture.

6.  This is what the squash will look like in your serving dish.  Continue to make strands until all squash is used.

Bolognese Sauce

It's best to prepare this sauce ahead of time so that you can put it directly on your squash strands.

Ingredients:

1 large can crushed tomatoes

1T olive oil

1 finely chopped onion

3/4 lb ground beef (I use the leanest cut)

1 T chopped fresh basil or you can use dried basil (about 1-2 tsp)

salt and pepper to taste

1/2 T flour

1T bread crumbs

1T butter

1/4 cup parmesan cheese (I usually use more than 1/4 cup)

1. In a large frying pan, saute onion with olive oil until soft and lightly browned.
2. Break up ground beef and add to onion.  Keep stirring meat until lightly cooked - still a little pink not browned. Add tomatoes, basil, salt, and pepper.  Mix well and saute for about 5 minutes. 
3. Sprinkle flour over mixture and keep stirring.  
4. Add bread crumbs, cheese, and butter.  Stir frequently and let simmer until some of the liquid is evaporated - about 15-20 minutes.  Mixture should be thick, but not dry.

Doesn't this look delicious?

Spanakopadillas

We are up and running after a week of ear and sinus infections.  Although we're not 100% yet, we all feel much better!

Here's another family friendly meal for you that will please all palates.  I found this recipe in Family Fun Magazine and decided to give it a whirl.  I added some shredded chicken to the hub's meal for some added protein.  He said it was a nice touch!  The result was 6 thumbs up in our household :).

• 6 tsp. olive oil
• 1 9-ounce bag of baby spinach
• 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
• 1/2 cup minced scallions
• 2 tsp. minced garlic
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. pepper
• pinch of nutmeg
• 2 T minced fresh parsley (I used dried and only used 2 tsp.)
• 2 T minced fresh dill (I'm not a fan, so I omitted this ingredient)
• 2/3 cup crumbled feta
• 4 tortillas
• 3/4 cup shredded mozzarella

Heat your oven to 425 degrees.  Warm a large nonstick skillet over medium heat.  Add 2 tsp. of oil swirling it to coat the pan.  Add the spinach (in batches if needed) and saute it until it is just wilted.  Transfer the spinach to a plate to cool.

Add another 2 tsp. of oil to the skillet and saute onions, scallions, and garlic until they have softened.  Let cool in the pan for about 10 mins.

Lightly beat an egg in a medium bowl, then whisk in salt, pepper, nutmeg, dill, and parsley.  Stir in the cooled onion mixture.  Gently squeeze handfuls of spinach over the sink to remove the excess moisture.  Add the spinach to the bowl, then add feta, stirring gently.

Brush a large baking sheet with 1 tsp of oil.  Arrange the tortillas on a work surface. Sprinkle a generous tablespoon of the mozzarella over half of each tortilla - you can eye this!  Top the mozzarella with a quarter of the spinach mixture, distributing it evenly and leaving a thin border at the edge.  Sprinkle another tablespoon of mozzarella over the spinach.  Fold each tortilla in half and place on baking sheet.  Brush the tops and edges with a little olive oil.

Bake on the top rack for 10 minutes. Make sure they cool a little before serving.

The First Ear Infection

So, we've done pretty well...the first ear infection at 11 1/2 months old.  Not too bad. Aside from the common cold, ear infections are the second highest diagnosis in children in the United States.  Research states that 3 out of 4 kids will have had at least one ear infection by the time they are 3 years old.

As a speech language pathologist, I had to take a course in Anatomy where we studies the brain, ear, mouth, and throat.  Yes, I had to memorize and draw all of these babies.  If you ask me today, can I draw them?  Heck no!  I refer to my trusty diagrams all of the time and use them as handouts for parents.  Here is a diagram of your ear in case you are interested.

This is what the ear normally looks like.  Here is an comparison of a normal middle ear and one that has an infection.

Kids develop ear infections more frequently in the first 2 to 4 years of life for many reasons:

• Their eustachian tubes are shorter and more horizontal than those of adults, which allows bacteria and viruses to find their way into the middle ear more easily. Their tubes are also narrower and less stiff, which makes them more prone to blockage.
• The adenoids, which are gland-like structures located in the back of the upper throat near the eustachian tubes, are large in children and can interfere with the opening of the eustachian tubes.

A number of other factors can contribute to kids getting ear infections, such as exposure to cigarette smoke, bottle-feeding, and day-care attendance.  Ear infections also occur more commonly in boys than girls, in kids whose families have a history of ear infections, and during the winter season when upper respiratory tract infections or colds are frequent.

How do you know if your child has an ear infection?  Here are some things to look for:

• The fluid in the middle ear may push on the eardrum, causing ear pain. An older child may complain of an earache, but a younger child may tug at the ear or simply act irritable and cry more than usual.
• Lying down, chewing, and sucking can also cause painful pressure changes in the middle ear, so a child may eat less than normal or have trouble sleeping.
• If the pressure from the fluid buildup is high enough, it can cause the eardrum to rupture, resulting in drainage of fluid from the ear. This releases the pressure behind the eardrum, usually bringing relief from the pain.

In Griffin's case, we really had no idea.  We thought he had the common cold because he was not exhibiting any of these symptoms.  This was his disposition the night before we took him to the doctor.

Yeah - this kid had an ear infection?!?  

Many people think that ear infections are contagious.  However, they are not contagious, though a cold that may lead to one can be contagious.

Middle ear infections often go away on their own within 2 or 3 days, even without any specific treatment. If your doctor decides to prescribe antibiotics, a 10-day course is usually recommended.  When we visited our pediatrician, Griffin was diagnosed with an ear infection in his right ear and fluid was present in his left ear.  He also presented with a very runny nose and thick congestion.  Griffin was prescribed a 10-day course of antibiotics and ear drops for any ear pain or discomfort.  He was also given a nasal spray for the congestion to be used after being on the antibiotic for a couple of days if nasal congestion was still present.  Our pediatrician does not prescribe decongestants for babies because he says that research supports that they are not effective in babies. He also recommended Baby Vicks Rub, the humidifier, and ibuprofin because Griffin has many teeth coming in which could add to his discomfort.  The antibiotics took effect very quickly.  We've only been using the ear drops at night.  He continues to exhibit congestion, so we will use the nasal spray this evening.

As my husband and I were getting Griffin ready for bed last night, I thought about all of the effort that goes into his normal bedroom routine even when he's not sick -- bath, special lotions for body and face, saline nose drops, combing hair, diaper change, story time....it can be exhausting!  It made me think about how some children don't get this kind of care due to poor home situations or uneducated parents.  Give all of your sweet kiddos extra hugs tonight!  They are lucky to have such great parents!

Bye Bye Breakfast

Today, I hosted a farewell breakfast for Griffin's friend, Mary Alice and her mom Heather.  They have become great friends of ours and wonderful additions to our 'Mommy-Baby Group.'   They are relocating to the Pittsburgh area, and our group wanted to give them a proper send off.

Mary Alice and Heather - the guests of honor

The breakfast menu featured the following: blueberry muffins (my grandmother's recipe); zucchini quiche; mushroom, bacon, and shallot quiche; mollete (courtesy of Liliana); chocolate covered strawberries (thanks to Michelle & Dale); homemade biscuits (my husband Michael's specialty); and mini quiches (thanks to Adrienne). The recipes were all baby friendly except for the chocolate - an wonderful indulgence for the adults!  Beverages were coffee, juice, and mimosas.  Recipes and pictures are below.

The M A biscuits were made especially for Mary Alice!

Blueberry Muffins

• 2 cups Bisquick
• 1 cup flour + 1/4 cup flour
• 1 t. baking powder
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 1/4 cup milk or buttermilk (I use and prefer buttermilk)
• 1 egg, well beaten
• 4 T. butter
• 1 1/2 cup blueberries

1. Mix 1/4 cup flour with blueberries. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, put Bisquick, flour, baking powder, sugar, egg, butter, and milk.
3. Beat with mixer until well blended. Dough should be thick. Add blueberries. Fill 2/3 way in muffin cups in pan. Sprinkle the tops of the muffins with sugar.
4. Bake at 400 degrees about 20 min or until golden brown.

Mushroom, Bacon, and Shallot Quiche

• 8 thin slices bacon, about 6 ounces
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 pound mushrooms 
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more for seasoning
• 6 medium shallots, finely chopped, about 1/2 cup
• 1 clove garlic, chopped
• 2 tablespoons minced flat-leaf parsley
• 2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 cups half-and-half ( I used fat free half and half)
• 2 large eggs
• 2 large egg yolks
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Generous pinch freshly grated nutmeg
• 4 ounces grated Gruyere or Swiss cheese, about 1 cup (I used Swiss cheese)
• 2 tablespoons snipped fresh chives

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cook the bacon in a medium skillet, over medium-high heat until just crisp. Transfer to paper towels to drain. Discard all but 2 tablespoons of the fat in the pan. Add 2 tablespoons butter, the mushrooms and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring over medium heat, until the mushroom juices evaporate, about 7 to 10 minutes. Add the shallots and cook until tender and mushrooms are golden, about 3 minutes more. Add the garlic and parsley. Remove from heat, cool slightly.  

Brush a 9-inch glass or ceramic pie pan with the remaining butter and sprinkle evenly with the grated Parmesan. Place pan on a baking sheet. Scatter half the Gruyere into the pan and crumble the bacon on top. Add 3/4 of the mushrooms, then the remaining cheese.

Whisk the half-and-half, eggs and yolks in large glass measuring cup. Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg to taste. Pour the custard over the fillings. Top with remaining mushroom mixture and sprinkle with chives.
Bake until the quiche is just set in the center, about 40 to 50 minutes. Cool completely on a rack before serving.

Zucchini Quiche

• 3 cups grated and skinned zucchini
• 1 medium onion - chopped
• 4 eggs
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 tsp. oregano
• 1 cup Bisquick 
• Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Saute onion in a saucepan over medium heat.  In a large bowl, beat eggs well.  Add oil, Parmesan cheese, onions, oregano, salt, pepper, zucchini, and Bisquick.  Combine all ingredients well.  Coat a 10-inch pie pan or an 8X8 glass pan with cooking spray.  Add mixture.  Bake for 45 minutes or until golden brown.  This can be served with apple sauce or sour cream if desired.

Note:  The quiche can also be made with 1/4 cup shredded Gouda cheese and 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese.

The kids all played together nicely and had fun!

 Griffin knows where the good stuff is!

Since Mary Alice won't be here to celebrate her 1st birthday, the kids got her a Go & Grow Giraffe by Little Tikes.

All of the kids had a blast playing with Mary Alice's tissue paper!

Griffin wanted to help his best friend out by pushing her around on the giraffe.

After the party, I cleaned up quickly because we had a house showing at 3:00.  Whew...I was exhausted.  Perhaps the best part of the day was during Griffin's afternoon nap....

I got to enjoy another piece of Liliana's delicious mollete!!