TDT: Working on Following Directions & Hand/Eye Coordination

            Hey folks! It's been pretty rainy and gloomy here this week (and quite frankly I've been feeling even more anti-social than normal since I was sick earlier this week), so Myka and I have been working sporadically on more alphabet crafts/activities. She asks to do "cwafts" most days without me even prompting her and I'm totally ok with that. Anyways...
            As most of us know, toddlers aren't exactly good at listening or following directions. It's in their nature. So, other than helping with fine motor control and hand/eye coordination, I like that this activity below is also a fun way to introduce toddlers to the concept of following directions. (In a more formal way, at least.) Plus you can tailor it to whatever you want, not just alphabet learning.

As you can see, the idea is super simple:
-Figure out what you want pictures of.
-Make the objects simple enough that your child will understand/be able to figure out where the pieces go.
-Cut out your pieces.
-Play with them until you get them where you want them, then trace around each piece. (Or, you can draw where you want your pieces first and THEN cut them out. It doesn't really matter. Whatever is easier for you. :) )
-Depending on where your child is at developmentally/how they learn best, you can glue a piece on as an example of what to do, arrange a few pieces where they belong without gluing them on as a guide, or hand them the paper, pieces, and glue and let them figure it out on their own. I pretty much did the latter with Myka and she went to town right away with the first one we did, which was a grape bunch. (She was around 2 1/2.)

            You might be surprised at how well your kids do! And if they don't, that's ok too! That's what the practice is for. Plus, they're still little. They'll have plenty of years of doing structured "school work" ahead of them.

            What kind of learning activities do you do at home with your children?

Blogger Opp: Let's Cook! Prize Pack Giveaway

Let's Cook! Giveaway
First Place Prize Package Worth Over $140
Second Place Worth $45

Makes the Perfect Gift for Newlyweds, College Freshmen, or that Hard to Buy for Cook on Your List

Hosted By: PaulaMS' Giveaways, Reviews, & Freebies

Co-Hosted By: ????


Dates: July 24th 9 AM Eastern Time - August 23rd 11:59 PM Eastern Time

First Prize Package:
Set of 6 1EasyLife Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons
Chef DeTemple Instant Read Digital Cooking Thermometer
BYB E-41 Series Clip-on 4 LED Light
Blue Iguazu Hand-crafted Ripple-cut Gourmet Cheese Slicer
Bitpsy Stainless Steel Citrus Juicer
CasaQoqo Eco Bamboo Cutting Board with Handle
VOS Professional Ceramic Chef's Knife 8 Inch

Second Prize Package
CasaQoqo Eco Bamboo Cutting Board with Handle
VOS Professional Ceramic Chef's Knife 8 Inch

Currently working with some other sponsors that may be added to the giveaway.

Sign Ups End July 20th

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Blogger Opp: Puritan's Pride Jojoba and Essential Oils Set Giveaway

Blogger Opp ~ Puritan's Pride Jojoba Oil and Essential Oil Set (3 Winners!) ~ Free & Paid Options Available

 

Deliciously Savvy is hosting a giveaway for Puritan's Pride and she needs your help again to promote! I cannot do it without each and every one of you! This is a 3 Winner Giveaway valued at $264! Details below! Sign Up Today!

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Total Prize Package valued at $264 for 3 Lucky Winners!

Now…. Deliciously Savvy Needs Your Help Promoting! I cannot do it without each and every one of you so please sign up today! Thanks so much!

As Always, 2 FREE links with announcement post (Facebook Visit, Twitter, Pinterest or Instagram) OR Pay $3 for 2 links minus the announcement to mcushing7@hotmail.com via Paypal

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Baby Mantra Skin Care Set Giveaway

All Natural Baby SkinCare Giveaway

Hosted by Tales From A Southern Mom

Co Hosted by Michigan Saving and More

Sponsored by Baby Mantra

            Many people do not realize how important our skin is when it comes to chemicals and toxins. Developing skin is extremely permeable and a less effective barrier to entry of toxic substances. These are the reasons that natural baby shampoo and natural baby conditioner is so important. Baby’s skin is much more able to absorb everything and we need to be even more careful about using natural baby skincare. Because this is so important Baby Mantra is sponsoring a giveaway for our readers to win 7 of their fabulous products. All you have to do is enter below. Good Luck!

Entry-Form

Participating bloggers were not compensated and are not responsible for this giveaway.No purchase required to enter this giveaway and there is a limit of one entrant per household. Void where prohibited. All entries are optional. A new winner will be chosen if the original winner(s) has not responded within 48 hours of email notification. Tales From A Southern Mom is not responsible for shipment of the prize(s). Sponsor is responsible for all shipping this prize. This giveaway is not administered, sponsored, endorsed by, or associated with Facebook, Twitter, Google, Pinterest or other social media outlet. This is posted in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Any questions, email julie.talesfromasouthernmom@gmail.com

My Newfound Hatred of Pocket Diapers

            Hey folks! It's been a very long time since I've done a cloth diaper post because, well, I haven't really had anything exciting or useful to say about them! Plus we've been potty training, so we really haven't used them that much lately.
            Anyways, I recently had my mom pick up a few pocket diapers from a friend of mine who was getting rid of her stash at a yard sale I couldn't make it to. Although I haven't had much success with the few pocket diapers I've tried in the past, I figured with another baby on the way it wouldn't hurt to have a few extras and they might be more convenient for when family is babysitting. And who knows. Maybe pockets will actually work with this kid. I've read from other bloggers who have a lot more kids than I do that certain types of cloth diapers work well with some of their children and not at all with others.
            For the heck of it, I decided to try these out at naptime one day to see if they would even fit Myka. (She's 2 1/2 and about 32 pounds, which is close to the top end of what most cloth diapers will fit.) Plus who doesn't like trying out new cloth diapers, even if they're just new to you? They fit decent, but lo and behold she pooped upon waking up...
            Normally this wouldn't be that big of a deal because, again, she's a toddler and her poops are pretty solid most of the time. She's been having more trouble than usual going lately, so my mom bought her some probiotic things to try out. I don't know if they're what did it or not, but she had a really nasty poop. The diaper was a mess. It wasn't so much that I was mad she had a messy poop, but I was not happy about how inconvenient it was to clean off that style of diaper.
            Now, I am not the type of person who can just throw a poopy diaper in the wash without rinsing it first. Just the thought of that makes me a little sick. Sorry. Just being honest. So, if I had a sprayer like I used to, it might be a different story. I still think it would be somewhat of a pain in the butt compared to what I'm used to, but it would be better as far as ease of pre-cleaning. I'm used to prefolds/flats and diaper covers. Most of the time poop doesn't even get on the cover, so I'm not wading through poop to pull out an insert like with pocket diapers. Blegh! Plus PUL covers are way easier to clean off.
            So, am I saying other people are crazy for using pocket diapers? No, they're just not for me. (The diapers, that is. Not the people. ;) ) I can see how they would be convenient, especially for caregivers who aren't used to cloth diapers/used to disposable diapers. However, I hear that babies who are breastfed have quite runny poop and I can't imagine using these types of diapers during that time, especially with no double leg gussets like this brand! That's one of the reasons I use cloth diapers: so poop doesn't get all over everything! lol
            What is your least favorite type of diaper and why? It's ok if you don't like covers. I won't bite your head off. ;) Though I would love to hear why you don't like them.

TDT: Learning About Letter "H"

            Hey folks! With all of the excitement over the news that we're expecting baby #2 and the shenanigans surrounding the house we're trying to buy here and the one we're still trying to sell in Arkansas, I feel like Myka has kind of gotten the shaft lately! I had initially decided to wait until we moved to start doing "school" stuff with her again...but now that things have been put on hold even longer, I decided to un-bury our craft supplies so we could make some fun things while learning about letters again!
            Doing our letter crafts has kind of been my informal way of (very) slowly easing both Myka and myself into homeschooling eventually. She seems to enjoy our activities more and more as she gets older, I love looking up and making crafts, so it's been fun for both of us.
            This week we picked up with letter "H". As usual, we included a coloring page, a Do.A.Dot marker page, and some animal crafts. I find the majority (if not all) of the crafts we do on Pinterest, so I've included the links to the pins/posts below, if interested.

"'H' for Hat" Coloring Page

"'H' is for House" Do.A.Dot Page

"'H' is for Heart" Collage

"'H' is for Horse" Craft

Hippo Craft

            The next letter should be interesting since it's "I". There aren't a whole lot of things that begin with "I", let alone things my 2 1/2 year old is going to have any clue what they are! lol Oh well. I guess that's why we're learning, right? :)
            How do you help your children learn the alphabet?

Things Moms Don't Warn You About With Your First Pregnancy

            Hey folks! Practically everyone knows that pregnancy usually comes with some interesting, but common, symptoms, such as stretch marks, food aversions (or cravings), weight gain, etc. But, did you know there are lots of other things that can happen to you during pregnancy (some common, some not so common) that many women don't hear about from other moms until after the fact? Below are just some of the side effects of pregnancy that I and my readers found out about the hard way!

*Your feet can grow. In fact, I used to wear an 8 1/2 in women's shoes and now wear a 9 1/2-10!
*Your nose can become stuffy...a lot. My nose was mildly stuffy the entire time I was pregnant with my daughter. I've been having sinus problems lately and I'm hoping it's not starting all over again!
*You start feeling like a human furnace. With all of your raging hormones, you may find yourself asking often, "Is it hot in here or is it just me?"
*You can also turn into a bloodhound. This also happened to me when I was pregnant with Myka. Unfortunately, it never went away and is more of a curse than a blessing!
*Body parts will get bigger, even ones you might not suspect like your butt!
*You can actually be allergic to your growing baby! Quoted from reader:

"PUPPPs. Short version is that your body is allergic to the baby, large percentage of time a male, but not always. I broke out in an inconsolable itchy rash from my belly button down. Dig until you bleed and it still itches. Nothing cures it but giving birth. Good times. This was my 5th baby that I discovered this fabulous disease exist." Wow! Most of the time it occurs in first time mothers, but as our reader stated, that's not always the case.

*Some women actually go temporarily blind while pregnant due to hypertension, inflammation in the eyes, etc. Who knew? Luckily, it seems to be more common for your vision to just change slightly during pregnancy, then go back to normal afterwards. So hold off on getting new glasses or contacts!

*Many women report issues with constipation while pregnant.

*That swelling in your extremities? It doesn't always go away as soon as the baby is born. My feet didn't stop swelling for a good week after Myka was born.

*Hemorrhoids: Very real and very uncomfortable. One reader stated she got to the point where she didn't even want to eat! Ouch!

*Baby bellies are not always perfectly round like you might imagine. Some babies just really like hanging out on a certain side!

*"Hiccups in the crotch", one reader responded with. I think I have an idea of what she is referring to as well. Especially near the end of my first pregnancy, I would get random "twinges" in my crotch. It's an interesting experience, to say the least.

*Legs randomly falling asleep.

*It becomes damn near impossible to shave "down there". Your legs aren't much easier.

*Some women experience cramping in their abdomen during the first trimester...and it is totally normal most of the time as your uterus expands.

            What pregnancy symptoms did you experience? Did you have any uncommon ones not listed above? I'd love to hear from you in the comments section below!

Lansinoh Double Electric Breast Pump Giveaway

Win the Lansinoh Signature Pro™ Double Electric Breast Pump!

Hosted by: Capturing The Moment

Sponsored by: Lansinoh

            I have the old model of Lansinoh's Double Electric Breast Pump. And, while I didn't get to use it for long due to issues with breastfeeding, I am a fan! It's easy enough to use with plenty of options without getting complicated. It's suction was definitely a lot better than a cheaper brand I had bought before this one too! You get what you pay for! -MBM

            This awesome breast pump is new and improved from Lansinoh. With so many features available, you will have ease while pumping your liquid gold. Lansinoh is dedicated to breastfeeding women and has a variety of amazing products that will help you along your breastfeeding journey. They not only have products that will help you if you are struggling while breastfeeding, but they also have groups that you can join with women who are in the same situation as you!

            So, why not splurge a little and pick up their beautiful Double Electric Breast Pump. It's easy to use, and easy to take care of. If you are a mother who is pumping your milk, or planning on pumping after your baby is born, check out these important guidelines over at Capturing The Moment.

            The Lansinoh Signature Pro™ Double Electric Breast Pump can be purchased for $140 online or at your local retailer who carries it.

            Thanks to the amazing bloggers who are helping promote this, and a big thanks to Lansinoh for sponsoring the giveaway so you awesome mommies out there have the opportunity to win it!

Enter to win below!

Giveaway starts June 20th and ends July 6th at midnight. Open to US residents, 18+ only. CTM and other bloggers are not responsible for prize fulfillment. CTM will follow up with the sponsor if the prize is not received within a timely manner. Winner will have 24 hours to respond to winning email or forfeit the prize to a new winner.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 
 Disclaimer: CTM received product from Lansinoh and is a Lansinoh sponsored blogger, this does not alter their opinion in any way. Bloggers associated with this group giveaway are not responsible for prize fulfillment and are not affiliated with the product or sponsor in this post. This giveaway is not associated with any social media platforms, including but not limited to Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

Jungle Roo Cloth Diaper Giveaway

Welcome to the Jungle Roo Cloth Diapers Giveaway

Hosted by Pocket Diaper Details

 

• One Size Pocket diaper with a modern design
• Soft and Stretchy fabric provides a comfortable fit for baby
• Snap closure for quick and easy diaper changes
• Waterproof, yet breathable outer fabric (TPU) is both soft and durable
• Super Soft fleece inside
• One 3-layer microfiber insert included with every diaper
• Wash on warm or hot, tumble dry low
• One size fits 9-30lbs.
• Leg Gussets

For a full product review and the cutest baby modeling photos, visit Mommy & Love

Jungle Roo on Facebook

Jungle Roo on Twitter

This giveaway runs until June 30 at 11:59pm and is open to US residents, age 18+. I wish you all lots of luck!

(1) Jungle Roo Cloth Diaper Giveaway 

 

Mixed Bag Mama was not compensated for this post or responsible for prize shipment. This giveaway is not associated with any social media platform, including, but not limited to, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

A Minimalist's Guide to Packing Your Hospital Bag for Baby

            Hey folks! I'm sure many of you, especially you ladies who already have children or are expecting one soon, have come across blog posts and articles on what you should pack in your hospital bag for the arrival of your baby. This is another one of those posts...with a twist.
             Now that we're expecting baby #2, my well-meaning mother sent me a pin on Pinterest the other day linked to one of these very posts. It's not the first time I've seen one of these posts, but I still found most of the items on the author's "essential list" to be, well, a bit silly, in my opinion, and superfluous. So, it got the gears turning for me to come up with my own list. After all, I can't be the only one who doesn't consider makeup a necessity, right?

*Comfy Clothes-Whether you have a vaginal birth or c-section, you'll want some comfy clothes to mill around in after you're able to take a shower. I'm mainly talking about pants, of course. If you have a vaginal birth, I'm guessing you probably don't want them too snug in the crotchal region. If you have a c-section, make sure the waist fits away from your incision so it's not rubbing or pressing against that area. (Most incisions are made very low these days, so unless you're wearing hoochy mama pants, you should be ok.)
*Slippers/Warm Socks-I always thought this one was silly when I came across it before I had Myka, but it actually makes sense. Hospitals are cold. Even when you're not walking around, those blankets and sheets aren't exactly thick. Plus, if you end up getting a c-section, the anesthesia can give you the chills, bad! (Like, uncontrollable shaking chills. Trust me. It was annoying more than anything.)
*Camera-Even if you take the majority of your pictures and videos on your phone (and who doesn't nowadays?), still take your camera! You can easily save them to a cd or your computer and/or take them somewhere to make prints right away.
*Chargers for Camera, Phones, Etc.-Don't forget the chargers! It defeats the purpose of having your camera, phone, iPads, etc. to take pictures, let the whole world know about your bundle of joy, keep yourself entertained during the quiet times, etc. if you let the juice run out! I think the birth of a child would be just about one of the worst situations in which to not have a camera of some sort!
*Clothes for Baby-From what I have gathered from my own experience and that of Facebook friends, some hospitals let you use your own clothes for baby during your stay and some don't until you leave. So, if you're not sure, bring enough outfits for a couple of days. (That means extras because babies can be messy. :) )
*Blankets-Even if you have your baby in the middle of summer, I would still at least bring a receiving blanket or two because, again, hospitals are cold!
*Cash for Snacks, Drinks, Etc.-Hubby needs to eat too. ;)
*Car Seat!-Ok, obviously you can't fit this in a bag, but it's still very important to remember, of course! You won't be getting far from the hospital if you do.

Optional
*Toiletries-I was hesitant to put this on the optional list since some of you may not think they are, but most hospitals can provide you with soap and shampoo while you're there. And towels and wash rags, of course.
*Nursing Bra & Pads-If you're planning on nursing, you definitely might want to bring these items. Leaky boobs happen. Heck, even if you're not going to nurse, you may still want to bring some nursing pads just to be safe.
*Postpartum Pads-You'll get some of these from the hospital too, of course, but you might want to bring your own (can you say "way more comfortable mama cloth"?) for comfort's sake.
*Entertainment-Unless you just have a bajillion guests, let's face it: It can get kind of boring in a hospital, especially if you have no visitors, the baby is sleeping, or you just can't sleep. You might bring something to keep you occupied in the down times, such as a book, a craft, Kindle, etc.
*Cloth Diapers-If you're planning on using them and really hardcore about using them right away, you might go ahead and bring them. Honestly, I don't know what most hospitals' policy is on them since I'm guessing they're probably "weird about it" like daycare centers, so you might check ahead of time.

            What did you take with you to the hospital? Did you stick to the basics or did you bring everything but the kitchen sink?