Peachy Tip: Birthday Party Toddler Smarts

A few weeks ago, it was Toddler J's 2nd year old birthday. We were especially excited for this birthday because TJ actually showed signs that he KNEW it was his birthday. He had been to a friend's birthday party a month earlier and saw a glimpse of what it means to have a birthday.

As he saw his toddler friend, Ava, blow out candles and open the birthday present we got her, Josh turned to us afterwards and said, "My turn! My birthday!" My hubby and I smiled a knowing smile to each other and later, out of earshot, we remarked, "Hey, TJ actually wants a birthday party! "

So, off we went (me, actually), planning TJ's 2nd birthday party. We didn't want to do something big this year. Just small, with his weekday playgroup. And we wanted to do it during the day, so that kids wouldn't burn out.

The interesting question about the party, though, came from a mom of an invited guest. She was concerned whether we would be opening birthday gifts at the party. She was concerned because maybe other toddlers wouldn't understand the concept that only the birthday boy gets the gifts. And that maybe the other toddlers would feel left out or even get upset that they don't get any gifts.

This scenario didn't even occur to us. We wanted TJ to enjoy the thrill of opening his birthday presents (all part of our early childhood memories), but we soon realized maybe opening them in front of little toddlers, who don't understand the concept of birthdays, might be cause for some meltdowns and stressed out parents. So, we decided to wait until TJ was older to do the opening presents thing.

It actually worked out really well because we were able to open the gifts at home and really enjoyed reading the birthday cards with TJ before opening the gifts. And we could talk about who gave him the gifts, and really appreciate each gift.

If it was at done at the party, it might have been more focused on opening the gifts, rather than who it was from.

In the end, this arrangement worked well. Because appreciating the giver of the gift, as well as each individual gift, turned out to be a peachy present in itself.

Peachy Find: The Great Snack Trap

It's literally been over a year now, and Toddler J (TJ) is still using the SAME Snack Trap he had as a baby!

I wasn't sure if I should post a blog about a product that a lot of moms may already know about. But, just the other day, another mom was noticing TJ sitting in his Just Peachy Baby Shopping Cart Cover, pulling snacks out of his Snack Trap and asked me where I got it. Plus, I remembered that I did not know about the Snack Trap until I asked another mom where she got hers.

The Snack Trap is this great container for little ones who love to dump things out or shove too much food in their mouths. It's a great holder for snacks of baby and toddler sized yummies, like cherrios, goldfish crackers, and even blueberries. It's great because it's freed me to be let TJ have at it with his snacks, without needing hands on supervision from me (It's important to always have our eyes on our little ones when they eat, to avoid any scary choking scenarios).

But, handing the Snack Trap to TJ, allows him to practice his pincer grasp, coordination, and be DISTRACTED while I shop, chat with my friend or hubby when we're having a cup of coffee, or when I need a few minutes on the phone. It's like a toy.

Later when TJ was older and I was confident he could chew his food thoroughly and was a good swallower, I gave him the Snack Trap on our car rides. No more throwing food on the ground while I'm driving or shouts of "Help, Momm!" asking me to get snacks out of the Ziploc bag for him.

BTW, their dishwashable too, so that makes this a Peachy Find!

A Touch of Mayberry

I was hanging out early Sunday morning at Peet's Coffee in Palo Alto, CA (aka Silicon Valley) with my hubby and Toddler J (TJ) a couple weeks ago, when we ran into a touch of Mayberry. You know, the idyllic, small town where life was simple and all the grown ups knew Opie, Sheriff Andy's son, and of course, Aunt Bee who always had pie?

Yep. Right in Palo Alto, where everyone is usually busy going here or there -- where I least expected it...

We had just finished our cup of coffee. We try to make it into a Peet's or Starbuck's on the weekends for some coffee time. We don't stay long because TJ's Toddler-Parking meter usually has a max time-out of 30 minutes. But, it's worth going to because it gives us some semblance of our pre-kid couple time.

It doesn't even phase me anymore to walk up to coffee shops lugging a blue and yellow booster seat over one arm, while heaving a diaper bag stuffed to the max with crayons, drawing paper, tupperware with blueberries, ziploc bags of pretzels and Keebler Bug Bites, loaded with sippy cup and a single serving of Horizon Chocolate milk (I wish Costco would sell the Horizon milk sans cocoa!).

Anyways, we were just leaving Pete's, putting together the game plan for the afternoon before Thanksgiving week, and whoa! A BIG, RED FIRE TRUCK was parked right next to our car! TJ's eyes of course was as wide as saucers when he shrieked, "FIRE TRUCK! LOOK DADDY, A FIRE TRUUUUUUCCKK!".

There weren't any firemen around, so we quickly took a walk around the fire truck to check it out, hurrying in case they came back and had to drive away.

When suddenly, a tall, very friendly, very smiley fireman walked towards us and said, "Hi!" .. and even picked TJ up, so that we could take a picture. But, what was totally cool was that another fireman returned to join in and together, they offered to give us, and another pre-school passerby, a private tour of all the cool gear and equipment on the fire truck.

One by one, the firemen proceeded to open up ALL the doors and drawers on all sides of the the vehicle and show us all the gear (yes, even the jaws of life)! TJ's was so transfixed, I knew he was in fire truck heaven.

Maybe a tour of the fire truck at a firestation would have been expected, but out in a parking lot, two firemen and later, a fire captain, gave two boys a hands on presentation. I wish you were there to hear how kind and patient they were to explain what everything was to the two eager beavers.

After some time, we heard someone call to the firemen through the dispatch radio, and after a quick goodbye and few thank you's, they were off on their working Sunday.

Seeing the twinkle in TJ's eyes as he giggled back in his car seat, I turned around and thought, Wouldn't you know it. Right here, in Silicon Valley, my little boy just got a hug from Palo Alto's neighborhood heroes. Just like I'm sure Opie did, in Mayberry, on any given day.

Here's a shout out & special thanks to Palo Alto Firemen C. Stewart and S. Woodfin, as well as Fire Captain J. Amdur (From the Fire Supppression Divsion)!

Cross-posted on Silicon Valley Moms Blog, where Bonnie writes about on-the-go life in Silicon Valley, CA.

Turkey Time!

Hopefully, my posting hasn't come too late. Because I want to save as many endangered Playdoh Turkeys out there as possible. Toddler J came home with some of his Thanksgiving preschool projects and one of them was a multi-colored feathered turkey.

At first, I was like, "Oh, no. I can't throw away J's little masterpieces. But, the pile of 'oh, I can't throw THAT away' J memorabilia is growing at a scary pace. Especially around the holidays.

With eyes shut, I was about to release the little turkey into the garbage canister .. when, wait! I thought of a real, practical reason to keep it. We can use it as a centerpiece on the Thanksgiving table. It'll be a great conversation piece and I'll be getting mileage out of having it around the house.

Whew.. that was close. Now, if only I can save that Jack Ol' Lantern from getting moldy..

A Dentist We Will Go

So, my toddler went for his first dentist check up at 2 years old.

We prepared by role playing at home, with me being the dentist, wearing my dishwashing gloves (I didn't have the latest ones like the dentist), and brandishing the "dentist stick", which was the gum massager with a rubber tip.

I told my son that he needs to say "ahhh" and to not bite, because it would hurt mommy's fingers. I said that the dentist will check his teeth so that there aren't any bugs (germs). I think the bug thing worked because Josh doesn't like anything that crawls (ants especially. But, that's another blog entry about getting Josh to like bugs).

Then, I would get my flashlight and shine it in his mouth. My son understands the concept of flashlight, because we got a Little Tykes flashlight for him to play with in the dark. So, when I told him it was dark in his mouth, and I would need to use a flashlight, I think it helped him know what was going on.

It also helped that one of his favorite Richard Scary books, has a picture of a lion dentist with his patient reclying in the dentist chair.

The big day finally came.. and I'm happy to report that Josh passed with flying colors. I think it helped that he was familiar with everything he was going to see and was told to do. Well, the truth is it also depends on the child's personality. Some children are more shy and wary
of new environments, so I would say it just all depends on the child.

I think it helped me personally to do the prep work of role playing. It made me feel like I did what I could on my part. And that's a big part of easing the trip to the dentist.