This is the set we got for $5!!! :)

THANKS Ladies! For the links & the tips! :D I have been watching my little ones play with them & become more familiar with how these work today & I can see a GREAT advantage w/ my 4yo who is left handed & does EVERYTHING backwards, include write his letters in the opposite direction! These only snap together 1 way so he has to go L-R when he's spelling. The perfect solution to our problem w/ the moveable alphabet. :)

I have been selling our "junk" on a facebook garage sale page for our area. Search facebook for a garage sale page in your area and if there is not one already available, START ONE!! Ours started in August & now has over 1500 members and we are constantly having to delete pics because they get over 5,000 pictures posted in a month's time! Stuff sells CRAZY fast on there, my house is becoming less & less cluttered & my kids are getting clothes like crazy for so much cheaper than I would pay for new. Try it. =)

Reflux is not caused by an outside source, it is a physiological, developmental issue. Her gut (enzymes, possibly structural, etc) is not completely mature yet.

If it IS reflux, the longer the baby goes without getting treated, the worse the esophagus is going to be burned & the longer it is going to take to heal. It's important to take the baby in NOW if she thinks reflux is a possibility. The screaming/crying (PAIN) is only going to get worse before it gets better. And as for gripe water, that is the only thing that got us through those first 5 weeks with Julie but it even says on the water that the more you use it the less effective it becomes. That was exactly how it worked for us. It worked really well for about 3 weeks and then the effectiveness was less & less until I knew we just needed to take her to the doctor. Also, the gripe water sort of scared me because it seemed to make her sleep deeper, and I don't like messing with babies' sleep cycles (SIDS fear).

My vote is reflux, the baby needs meds. Also, dairy & soy make my babies scream bloody murder. I know it can take up to 6 weeks for dairy to get out of your system completely. My last baby had reflux though and screamed the entire time she was awake until we finally got her diagnosed & on meds at 5 weeks. We did the meds daily for 6 months & she weaned off them completely by her first birthday. She's never had issues since.

Has anyone used them? I would love to hear ideas and experiences. We got a set for CHEAP this past weekend & I am excited to get started with them with my 4 year old. They look like they will tie in nicely to our montessori spelling lessons!! Just wanted to see what others had to say. TIA! =)

Both boys (10 & 4) each get their own play-away at the library each week. They just plug right into the unit and each have their own story to listen to. Sometimes they'll listen to the other's story later in the week. We were having the same problem so this was my solution. It's worked so far and everyone is happy! :)

LOVE the cosmos tower idea ~ I want to try to find that set of nesting cans soon!! I have tons of stuff posted over at Play with me, Mama! most of it is Montessori centered, and sensory, play-based learning for Pre-K & up! If you would like to join the group, please send me a PM here first & I will add you if you request membership. You can see pics & description though, even if you're not a member!! :) The photo albums are chock full of hands-on eye-candy goodness!! :D

I nursed #2 through #3s pregnancy and then tandem nursed them for 9 months before weaning #2. I couldn't wean him before then without feeling like he would resent the baby still nursing. He ended up potty training and weaning all in the same week at exactly 30 months ~ when he was ready! :) He has never once asked to nurse again or acted like he was upset about the baby still nursing. So my advice would be not to rush the little one. They will seem soooo big once the baby gets here, but really? They're still a baby too!!!! :)

I have two little ones I have to keep busy so my eldest can work in peace (most days) ;) There are lots of Montessori-style & Sensory activities posted on my blog (in my siggie)! :D HTH!!! For your babe in particular ~ maybe some bean bag toss games? I know they have a bean bag tic-tac-toe type game on Oriental Trading's website... and ring toss games are there too. :)

I've been watching montessori videos before the littles get up and it helps me SO MUCH with my patience with them. Not to mention all the wonderful ideas I get!! e-how has lots of videos, and youtube, of course. Just search montessori on those sites.

I don't know how I would live without mine. Once you have one, you will FIND THINGS to laminate!!! :D That's the same one I have and it has never failed me! :tongue_smilie:

I got those last year in Target's $ spot! :) They work perfectly with the blue tacky stuff! They haven't fallen off once! WOOT! :D

:thumbup: I'm so glad it was helpful to for you all!! :)

We do now! :D http://momschools.blogspot.com/2011/08/preschool-morning-board.html I plan on using this for Pre-K through 1st grade. HTH! :)

The best thing you can do for reading is read to her and have her read what she can to you. Play math games with her. We use a lot of Montessori type activities with my preschoolers (one is 4K) and I have just started a blog about it! ;) The link is in my siggie. :) HTH! :)

Me too. Must be that southern drawl! ;)

This is the desk I want for Braden's room! :)

I wouldn't get ANYTHING accomplished if I didn't write it down. I have to have a plan before I know what books to get, activities and materials to gather, etc... It also helps DS to have a check list to mark off as he goes. It totally stopped the bickering about what he needed to accomplish each day. Now I just point to the list and he knows what to do next. It totally takes the blame off me! :D

My two little ones LOVE to sing. My mom actually commented when I picked them up today that Julie sang all day long! :) Caleb has been able to whistle since he was two (my 10 year old is TOTALLY jealous b/c he still has a hard time trying to whistle! :tongue_smilie:) and I swear that kid could hum a tune at 3 months old! :D They watch Barney sometimes, and know all sorts of songs just from that. We also have a subscription to More Starfall and they have song players that we just pretty much leave on during preschool hours. It beats having the TV on all day (which is distracting), and it helps move our day along to have some fun songs to listen to! HTH! :)

K12 has an app for that in the iTunes store. It's free for the 1st child but you can upgrade to the full version to add extra students. it's for grades K-4. HTH! :)

We're working in 5A now and ds just works the IP right along with his Textbook & Workbook. I schedule it so that we have about a week of instruction/textbook/workbook exercises and then I bring in the IP Book and work it right along with whatever we're covering. We don't use the CWP because there are so many word problems already in the textbook/workbook & IP ~ CWP would've been overkill for us! HTH!! :D

That's exactly what we use for my lefty!! NO erasing his work as we go! :) You have to actually put some "elbow grease" into erasing the crayons (though they are not hard, they just won't accidentally erase ~ which is what I'm after!!! ;) We love them!!!

I have a 12" cast iron skillet that I use in the oven. LOVE it. I also have a baking stone that I use ALL the time ~ I haven't used a cookie sheet or pan in the oven since I got the stone. Maybe I do just need to invest in a new skillet for the stove. I think I messed mine up frying potatoes :confused: I didn't know that about not washing non-stick pans ~ maybe that's why mine is not working right anymore? We NEVER put them in the dishwasher but we do wash them in soap & water and they usually require a good scrubbing (with something plastic-y ~ usually the plastic scraper that came with the baking stones) I haven't ever rubbed the oil in the pan though... maybe this one can be salvaged? It's not like the non-stick part is GONE, it's like it's coated with burnt on food and now everything I cook in it gets all black and burned looking. :(