Wishing you a pot o' gold, and all the joy your heart can hold. Thanks for reading!
Saturday, June 18, 2011
New 365 Pictures
I've been hoarding these photos and finally have a chance to put them up; more coming soon! On a constructive note, does anyone know of a widget or something else I can use to better organize the photos on the page without having to arrange them in a single line? Thanks in advance!
Wishing you a pot o' gold, and all the joy your heart can hold. Thanks for reading!
Wishing you a pot o' gold, and all the joy your heart can hold. Thanks for reading!
Unstructured Creative Play
Play is an important aspect of development for humans just as it is for animals. Our society today focuses on structured activities and planned time for children such as sports music lessons, extracurriculars and school. Less emphasis is placed on unstructured, creative and natural play in which children have the freedom and time to use their imagination, senses and truly be children. The American Academy of Pediatrics acknowledged the need for unstructured creative play with a report promoting a balanced lifestyle in terms of the type of activities child partake in and how children are affected later in life. Those with time balanced between structured activities and unstructured activities developed character traits for success. Our society is one in which life is hurried, technology reigns and toys instruct us how to play. The amount of time children spend engaging in unstructured play and natural play outdoors has decreased significantly since our parents were children.
Unstructured creative play has many benefits including helping children to manage stress, and reach important social, emotional and cognitive milestones. It allows children to create their own rules and games, not follow a preset. What children learn for themselves through unstructured, creative play is important and cannot always be provided by parents, teachers, coaches etc. According to Tom O'Leary, author of RetroActive: Skip, Hop and You Don't Stop (Games We Played), a book compiling over one hundred old school games from the seventies and eighties, unstructured, creative and natural play teaches children:
Wishing you a pot o' gold, and all the joy your heart can hold. Thanks for reading!
Unstructured creative play has many benefits including helping children to manage stress, and reach important social, emotional and cognitive milestones. It allows children to create their own rules and games, not follow a preset. What children learn for themselves through unstructured, creative play is important and cannot always be provided by parents, teachers, coaches etc. According to Tom O'Leary, author of RetroActive: Skip, Hop and You Don't Stop (Games We Played), a book compiling over one hundred old school games from the seventies and eighties, unstructured, creative and natural play teaches children:
- How to resolve conflict through compromise
- How to be fair
- How to be tolerant
- How to adapt
- Teamwork
- To trust
- To learn to take chances
- To learn to laugh and not take themselves too seriously
- That they are children and play is fun, as it should be
Wishing you a pot o' gold, and all the joy your heart can hold. Thanks for reading!
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Pregnancy Awareness Month
May has been celebrated as Pregnancy Awareness Month, a time to educate families and empower women with resources for having healthy pregnancies. There are many factors which contribute to a healthy pregnancy and reduce the risk for complications including:
Wishing you a pot o' gold, and all the joy your heart can hold. Thanks for reading!
- Proper nutrition (a balanced diet)
- Healthy weight gain (depending on your weight at the time you become pregnant)
- Drug intake (ask your physician before taking ANYTHING while pregnant)
- Alcohol consumption (while this should go without saying fetal alcohol spectrum disorders continue to affect children)
- Anxiety and stress (reducing and eliminating are beneficial to everyone)
- Maternal and paternal age
- Environmental hazards (chemicals, pollutants, radiation, extreme heat/humidity, etc.)
- Proper preconception care and monitoring of fetal development (ultrasounds, embryoscopy, amniocentresis, chorionic villus sampling, preimplantation genetic diagnosis, umbilical cord sampling, maternal blood test)
Wishing you a pot o' gold, and all the joy your heart can hold. Thanks for reading!
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Thoughts from Neverland
I am way overdue on this post, although I'm glad I waited until after Mother's Day because it allowed me to reflect on a few more things about motherhood. Recapping my first year as a mama, I found there to be so many things I never imagined myself doing...ever. Things that I found disgusting, disturbing and even quirky before I had my little guy, somehow fall into the realm of acceptable once you become a mother. For example:
I never thought I would be able to handle being peed on, pooped on, spit up on and chewed on (God forbid any of it get on me!) Now, I don't even think twice about it; I have refined my skills to avoid much of the situations and anything that does happen, oh well. We cloth diaper too (one of our best decisions ever) and I don't even flinch to scrape them, then throw them in the wash. Soap is one of my best friends :)
I never thought I'd be one of those mamas who ate after their children. However, I LOVE sharing with Tray and I love how interested he is to try new foods. He doesn't balk at food, even the most exotic dishes and I have yet to find something he truly does not like to eat.
I never imagined I would make it breastfeeding him for what has now been 14 months. This has been the single best decision I made for us and I plan to continue until he self weans; he has decreased his feedings since starting solid foods but we still share morning and before bed sessions. The bond we have created through breastfeeding is an incredibly close one and most of the time indescribable. Aside from all of the nutritional, developmental and physical benefits, I never knew how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I never thought we would cosleep. There is so much negativity that surrounds cosleeping that the benefits and valid research supporting it are often over looked. The doctor that discharged me from the hospital (not my OB or regular doctor) told us not to start it, the media warns against it and in nearly every baby magazine you open there is some advertisement or article about the hazards. People don't take the time to do research for themselves and find out the truth. There are many resources for educating yourself about safe ways to cosleep and sound supporting research; for more info. check out my post on sleeping arrangements. Cosleeping has saved my sanity! It allows all of us to get more sleep, ease in breastfeeding, promotes bonding and a sense of secureness because I know Trayton is safely near. While the addition was being added to our house Trayton did not have his own room. I had his crib and accessories bought but no where to put anything. When I brought him home from the hospital I felt like I had missed out on getting these things ready and for him to use them. Little did I know at the time that this would have worked out so wonderfully for us!
I never realized just how little time I would have to get myself ready to go out, even to the grocery store. The simple solution to that was chopping off my hair (and I loved it!) I must say, as Tray has gotten older I do seem to have more time for this, whether I use it wisely depends on the day!
I never saw myself as one of those people who would dance or act like a crazy person to get their children to smile and giggle. Now I understand and I have joined the group! Baby giggles are addicting and I will do just about anything to get a reaction from my little guy when he's feeling grumpy! I've never been so happy over a simple little grin.
Before I had my son, I had never looked into someone else's teary eyes and felt my own well up as it happens with him and I never felt my heart break into a million little fragments when I couldn't stop the hurt. I guess it correlates to our bond because he has the ability to evoke an intensity if feelings I didn't even know existed within me.
I never knew I could give myself so easily to someone or love someone so much. I never imagined I would love being a mama. The past year has been such a growing and testing experience for me as a person. The knowledge is invaluable. I went from a very independent, confident, self-sufficient and self-centered lifestyle, to motherhood which is humbling, sometimes scary and demanding, interdependent and focused on my son and his best interests. I am so blessed to have this wonderful opportunity in life and I am looking forward to many more years of discovering the "I Nevers" of motherhood!
Wishing you a pot o' gold, and all the joy your heart can hold. Thanks for reading!
I never thought I would be able to handle being peed on, pooped on, spit up on and chewed on (God forbid any of it get on me!) Now, I don't even think twice about it; I have refined my skills to avoid much of the situations and anything that does happen, oh well. We cloth diaper too (one of our best decisions ever) and I don't even flinch to scrape them, then throw them in the wash. Soap is one of my best friends :)
I never thought I'd be one of those mamas who ate after their children. However, I LOVE sharing with Tray and I love how interested he is to try new foods. He doesn't balk at food, even the most exotic dishes and I have yet to find something he truly does not like to eat.
I never imagined I would make it breastfeeding him for what has now been 14 months. This has been the single best decision I made for us and I plan to continue until he self weans; he has decreased his feedings since starting solid foods but we still share morning and before bed sessions. The bond we have created through breastfeeding is an incredibly close one and most of the time indescribable. Aside from all of the nutritional, developmental and physical benefits, I never knew how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I never thought we would cosleep. There is so much negativity that surrounds cosleeping that the benefits and valid research supporting it are often over looked. The doctor that discharged me from the hospital (not my OB or regular doctor) told us not to start it, the media warns against it and in nearly every baby magazine you open there is some advertisement or article about the hazards. People don't take the time to do research for themselves and find out the truth. There are many resources for educating yourself about safe ways to cosleep and sound supporting research; for more info. check out my post on sleeping arrangements. Cosleeping has saved my sanity! It allows all of us to get more sleep, ease in breastfeeding, promotes bonding and a sense of secureness because I know Trayton is safely near. While the addition was being added to our house Trayton did not have his own room. I had his crib and accessories bought but no where to put anything. When I brought him home from the hospital I felt like I had missed out on getting these things ready and for him to use them. Little did I know at the time that this would have worked out so wonderfully for us!
I never realized just how little time I would have to get myself ready to go out, even to the grocery store. The simple solution to that was chopping off my hair (and I loved it!) I must say, as Tray has gotten older I do seem to have more time for this, whether I use it wisely depends on the day!
I never saw myself as one of those people who would dance or act like a crazy person to get their children to smile and giggle. Now I understand and I have joined the group! Baby giggles are addicting and I will do just about anything to get a reaction from my little guy when he's feeling grumpy! I've never been so happy over a simple little grin.
Before I had my son, I had never looked into someone else's teary eyes and felt my own well up as it happens with him and I never felt my heart break into a million little fragments when I couldn't stop the hurt. I guess it correlates to our bond because he has the ability to evoke an intensity if feelings I didn't even know existed within me.
I never knew I could give myself so easily to someone or love someone so much. I never imagined I would love being a mama. The past year has been such a growing and testing experience for me as a person. The knowledge is invaluable. I went from a very independent, confident, self-sufficient and self-centered lifestyle, to motherhood which is humbling, sometimes scary and demanding, interdependent and focused on my son and his best interests. I am so blessed to have this wonderful opportunity in life and I am looking forward to many more years of discovering the "I Nevers" of motherhood!
Wishing you a pot o' gold, and all the joy your heart can hold. Thanks for reading!
Thursday, April 28, 2011
MIA and 365
I have been away from my blog for so long that I feel really disconnected and at the same time so happy to be back! Classes have been CRAZY and I'm glad to be wrapping the semester up tomorrow and Friday; I have written some form of paper, critique or lab report almost every day since Trayton's birthday at the beginning of April (posts coming soon!) I feel like I've been missing out on all the action and have some major catching up to do in reading all of your blogs which I'm saving for one of the rainy days we are supposed to have within the next week.
Aside from the writing I have planned for Trayton's birthday, I also wanted to share my photo project! I know many people are undertaking some sort of 365 photo project and I thought, what an awesome idea! I decided to start mine on Trayton's birthday and write notes To My Son With Love up to his second birthday. I am a complete amature and I would love to take a photography class to learn how to get the most out of my camera and build skills. The editing process is picking up but for now here are the first three days! Hope you enjoy!
Wishing you a pot o' gold, and all the joy your heart can hold. Thanks for reading!
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Easy Canvas Prints Review!
Easy Canvas Prints, a BuildASign company, is a manufacturer of top quality canvas products. Easy Canvas Prints allows you to turn your photos into beautiful pieces of art with the click of a button! I was very excited when they contacted me to try a product and got started right away with their easy canvas creator. In four simple steps I was able to select my canvas size and wrap thickness, upload my image, choose a border style and decide on additional design options. Canvas sizes range from 8" x 8" to 30" x 40" and there are two thickness options .75" standard or 1.5" gallery wrap. The image uploader automatically checks the resolution to make sure it is high enough for a canvas print, so no guessing if your photo will look great! You can select from three border options mirror image, image wrap or chose a border color. Finally you have the option to enhance you image by changing it to black & white or sepia and minor or major retouching of the photograph. Photo experts will work with you if you chose to have the photo retouched from removing imperfections, red-eye and scratches to restoring old, faded or damaged photographs. Prices are affordable ranging from $29.99 to $170 (before enhancements) and the site is easy to navigate; a complete FAQ page answers many common questions related to canvas printing and caring for your artwork.
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Your canvas is custom-printed and assembled by hand in the United States and then shipped with care directly to you. If your custom canvas isn’t absolutely perfect, call us and we'll make it right. Our team of canvas experts is dedicated to making sure your experience is the best. Easy Canvas Prints
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I chose to create a 16" x 20" canvas of our family from a photo taken and released by AG Design Photography. The canvas is a 1.5" gallery wrap with an image wrap border. The turnaround time is 3-4 days on top of shipping but I received my canvas within a week and just in time to use at Trayton's first birthday party!
The canvas arrived in perfect condition, well packaged in a box with a bag to resist moisture and protected by bubble wrap. It was stretched tight, fully and clearly displayed my photo and was ready to hang with sawtooth hangers attached to the back. When hanging canvases 24" x 36" and larger, a Beehive Hanger and instructions are included. I love this site and can't wait to have our addition done so I can make a few more pieces to accompany this one! If you're looking for a creative way to display wedding, baby, family, pet, vacation or any other memorable photos, check out Easy Canvas Prints!
The product for this post was sent to me free of charge by the company for the purpose of this review and advertisement. Receipt of this product did not influence a positive review. The opinion expressed here is 100% my own and I always give my readers full disclosure
Wishing you a pot o' gold, and all the joy your heart can hold. Thanks for reading!
........................................................................................................................
Your canvas is custom-printed and assembled by hand in the United States and then shipped with care directly to you. If your custom canvas isn’t absolutely perfect, call us and we'll make it right. Our team of canvas experts is dedicated to making sure your experience is the best. Easy Canvas Prints
........................................................................................................................
I chose to create a 16" x 20" canvas of our family from a photo taken and released by AG Design Photography. The canvas is a 1.5" gallery wrap with an image wrap border. The turnaround time is 3-4 days on top of shipping but I received my canvas within a week and just in time to use at Trayton's first birthday party!
The product for this post was sent to me free of charge by the company for the purpose of this review and advertisement. Receipt of this product did not influence a positive review. The opinion expressed here is 100% my own and I always give my readers full disclosure
Wishing you a pot o' gold, and all the joy your heart can hold. Thanks for reading!
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