This gives me some good ideas, especially about age-expectations. It's so hard, isn't it, with your first and only (and maybe all...) to know when to expect certain skills to kick in, when to start teaching certain skills, et cetera? Those are precisely the toys I'm worrying about - things with easily lost pieces or that can get easily lost in a siblings mouth. Or get stepped on by mommy. Of course, all of the above mentioned type toys can only be played with under close supervision here, because he still likes to eat things, but I do have hopes that some day he will eat fewer toys and can enjoy them on his own. I think continuing the system I have now (rotating "safe" toys every 10 days - 2 weeks + having toys that only come out with mom's help) will work for a few more years; he can have more access to the "mom supervision" toys as he gets better at knowing that these are "put away when we're done toys". If I had the space, I would definitely have play "areas". Right now I don't, but there may be a move in our near future that would take us out of the extremely HCoL area we are in now, which hopefully translates into actual bedroom for DS + more play space. Currently we have toys in the family room, our bedroom (just enough to get the laundry folded/get dressed) and, of course, the bath tub. What you described is exactly what I'm thinking - slightly more controlled chaos! The pile of toys doesn't get played with - too overwhelming. I'm all about encouraging imaginative play when we enter that stage, but if every single Lego set-Playmobile toy-train track-stuffed animal is out, the result is a giant mess that's difficult for everyone to clean up AND too much to sort through for play. Organizing doesn't come naturally to me, but clearly it's where I get to start in this endeavor! The visually defined play area may also be a great solution in a few months/years. We have a small space, and as much as I would love to have toy sets sprawling everywhere for days of creative building, it's not the right solution for us at this time. Having a clearly defined "spot" would allow for creativity and toy combining without sending my DH over the edge when he gets home in the evening. Thanks for the suggestion!

I'm definitely not meaning one toy only/one type of toy, but I think more one type of play at a time. But also, we haven't gotten to the sets/imaginative play stage here. We're still at the eat toys stage. The most "toy combining" that happens is that balls get stacked on blocks so that everything can get knocked down. For the time being it sounds like things are about as good as they are going to get, which is not that bad at all - toys in my family room, and a toddler who plays by himself. When lego men are no longer in danger of being cannibalized, I hope I'll have a playroom of some kind where toys can live away from my feet and can actually stay set up for longer play.

I think this is part of the problem - if all the toys are dumped, I have an overwhelmed toddler who doesn't play with anything. Currently I've controlled that with limiting the number of toys out (two baskets of "dumping stuff" - balls, trucks, magnetic blocks - and a few other beloved toys - latch boards, stacking rings) out at one time. But we have a playdate friend with an actual playroom where ALL the toys are out - and usually dumped - every time we are there. Frankly, both boys seem a little overwhelmed, but my DS in particular. As we get older, have more siblings, more toys in the house, etc. I see the need to help him (and me!) control the chaos to encourage the imaginary play.

I figured it was too early to start in real earnest now. I'm thrilled to have a toddler who both can and wants to entertain himself (sometimes he'll shake his head at me when I sit down to play), and these are most definitely his "independent" toys. I do not want to lose that time to get the dishes done/dinner started/floor mostly swept/read the Hive!

... how do you teach this? We are very much in the "all containers must be empty" phase of early toddlerhood, but I'd like to at least attempt to instill the concept that we put away one toy before we play with the next. My family room would thank me for it. Currently, I have a six opening storage piece, which stores six toys/baskets that my 17 month old can play with on his own (i.e. without direct, hands on supervision from me). These toys are in reach all day, and he will happily play with one or all more-or-less independently. It's just that usually all six end up on the floor, with any baskets empty. I have NO expectation that he will clean up after himself independently at this age, but how do I work towards that goal? I have this fantasy that by age 18 my kids will more or less know how to pick up after themselves :-) We do pick up the toys together several times during the day (and I do the final pick up/re-organize after bedtime), which looks a lot like me picking up toys/talking about what I'm doing, and him following behind emptying containers as quickly as possible. So what are the tricks to working on the "one toy at a time" rule? Is 17 months way too early?

I make a no-nut granola that would be gluten free if you use gluten free oats: 1/2 c oil of choice (I use coconut) 1/2 c honey or agave nectar 2 1/2 c old fashioned oats 1 c raw pumpkin seeds 1 c raw sunflower seeds 1/4 c raw sesame seeds 1 1/2 c unsweetened coconut flakes 2 c chopped dried fruit (I like apricots and cherries, but you can use anything or omit if you'd rather) Mix all the ingredients except the coconut and the fruit. Spread in an even layer on a baking sheet. Bake for 45 min @ 275. Stir in the coconut and spread flat again. Bake for another 45 min. Stir in chopped dried fruit and let cool completely on the tray. Break into chunks and store in an airtight container. Great by the pawful or mixed into yogurt (or as breakfast cereal).

Big hits in our house: - a small basket filled with balls (most collected from the $ spot at Target). Good for dumping, putting in, and chasing. - B Toys cars (set of four) also found at Target. Lots of pushing around the kitchen. - any set of stacking toys/rings. The old Fisher Price stacker was a big hit at that age; at 15 months, we've moved on to more challenging wooden stackers, but they still hold his attention for a long time. - a bowl filled with water, a wooden spoon, and some scoops. Good for 10 minutes, at least. If you are available to sit with him, add a few cotton balls. We're mysteriously fascinated with cotton balls + water + a spoon here, but I'll take 20 min of sitting still if I can get it. - NeoTobbles: a little spendier, but has been a consistent hit here. Mostly knocking down @ 9 months, but now we stack AND knock down. - large pompons and an empty Kleenex box; the pompons go in the mouth some, but we live sticking our hand in the box.

My eyes definitely changed in high school, so around 15-17. I was blue, blue, blue as an infant/toddler/elementary student, moved to hazel in middle school, and they are distinctly, decidedly green now (and have been since at least senior year in high school). No one knows where the green comes from; both sides of my family have either brown or blue for several generations. My DH also has green eyes, and I'm watching my son's blue change color now at 15 months, although given my history, I have no idea what they'll settle on or when!

:grouphug:

Looks like we're definitely firing up the grill this weekend! Yum!

We do green smoothies for morning snack almost every day (minus DH who is working and greens phobic). I usually sneak shredded zucchini into my sauces/casseroles, but I hadn't considered pureeing it. That opens up some more possibilities.

I agree with the above, but stick your baking sheet in the oven while it's preheating. I have the best luck when the fries "sizzle" as I'm putting them on the pan. Sea salt is our house favorite seasoning, but I've shaken pretty much anything on them before baking and they are usually delicious. I also just love sweet potatoes :-)

I love vegetables. My husband eats precisely two vegetables, three if you count raw carrots (which, I mean, I do, but I can only serve carrot sticks with so many meals in a week), and four if you count potatoes. I'm realizing that I have stopped eating so many veggies, because when I cook with DH in mind, it's meat/starch + one of his approved vegetables (green beans and sugar snap peas, if you are curious). Lunch is often a salad, but now I'm cooking for three littles, and I'm falling back on not-enough-veggies, lots of quesadillas/pasta/grilled cheese. I've got to nip this in the bud! So bring on your favorite summer vegetable recipes - sides or mains, it doesn't matter. I'm looking to re-energize my recipe file, get back in the habit of cooking 2-3 vegetables for every meal, and perhaps encourage DH to actually try something new. (Or at least be polite about it's existence on the table while I encourage the toddlers to actually eat something new.) I'm thinking about focusing on corn, tomatoes, and summer squash for the next few weeks, but I'll take whatever you've got!

This is getting done one day... the floors scuff easily as well as show ever.single.speck.of.dust. They will have to be refinished eventually. I'm hoping to wait until we're slightly past the "bang all the things on the floor" stage of littles. Might as well get as many dings as possible before I start over with lovely medium toned floors.

Thank you all for the replies and sympathy! I do love these floors, but the dark - gah! I just think dust and it appears. It doesn't help that my nephew (age 3.5) and niece (age 2) are living with us for the next few months. I adore them, but in addition to DS 16 mo, it's a lot more littles to keep up with. And I would swear that my nephew is Pigpen; I'm pretty sure he gets out of the bath dirty. I packed all three kiddos up and took them out to lunch (one less meal to cook/sweep after) and to Target, where I procured a Bona and a new Swiffer. I'm hoping a magic combination of sweeping crumbs, followed by Swiffer, with a before-bed mopping will help. I'm not asking for miracles, just 30 minutes of cleanish-looking floors! Everyone is napping (or at least sitting quietly-ish in the napping spots), and I'm positively giddy to break out the Swiffer and the Bona. The stuff that passes for excitement these days :lol:

We have beautiful DARK hardwood throughout our house. I love it, except that it shows everything. The previous owners had two teenage boys and two golden retrievers, so I have no idea what they were thinking! I have two cats, toddlers, and babies. I've resigned myself to nicks and scratches, but oh! the crumbs, the fur, the mysterious bits from outside. I sweep the kitchen/family room at least four times a day and I should mop at least once a day, but my current system is a hassle. What do you do to keep up the floors in between more serious cleanings (and with crawlers/tasters underfoot)?

I love getting books as baby presents! A few books that I haven't seen mentioned that are a huge hit with my now 15 mo: Hippoposites Peek A Who Tails (Matthew Von Fleet) This is Not My Hat The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney The wheels on the Bus by Paul O Zelinski (I gave to hide this periodically because it is so well loved) the Spot books any of the Baby Lit series (Moby Dick and Jabberwocky have been particular favorites)

I did that! My mom was worried about me, but the pediatrician told her I was fine. I still operate best on about 9 hours of sleep (which, of course, I never get these days). To make up for my good sleep genes, my younger brother didn't sleep through the night until he was 4.

I do make my own, but I either make them the night before and just shake it up in the morning OR I make a big batch of smoothies and freeze in 1 portion ziplock bags. Stick a bag in the fridge the night before (I set an alarm on my phone to remind me) and it's good to go in the morning.

Just popping back in to this thread to let anyone interested know that the final volume in Deborah Harkness' "All Souls" trilogy was released yesterday. I might have, maybe, squeezed in too much reading during the day and stayed up much too late last night, but I really enjoyed it. It was a strong conclusion to a well-written series. Went in a direction I hadn't exactly expected, but not in a jarring way (a la the last book of the Daughter of Smoke and Bone, for instance), the threads were all nicely rounded up without needing every one to be precisely tied off, and the characters had nice growth without feeling like we were shoving them towards the inevitable conclusion of their story. Highly recommended trilogy!

I would have hated it, and let my DH know (not that he would have - he knew me better than that!). It makes me slightly embarrassed to watch other people's vidoes/etc, but if the proposer really knows what would make the proposee happy, then good for them. My DH proposed in his grandparent's backyard, and they were peeping through the window the whole time. I was shocked (and I really shouldn't have been, because we'd been discussing marriage seriously and because I knew he'd talked to my father), but looking back, it was really sweet to have the memory of his grandparents peeking out and watching. They were really excited to be a (very small) part of the proposal, and while I probably would have preferred it 100% private, it's a sweet memory and one I know is special to them.

We had an outdoor wedding in a garden, and this was a huge concern! We actually switched from my "ideal" ceremony spot, because I knew it would be in full sun at 6:00 pm, and that wasn't fair to anyone. We went with a place that was partially shaded (full shade wasn't available). It was 95 degrees the day of my wedding... sweltering!!!! It's the only thing I would have changed. As soon as we saw the forecast, my mom and I scouted the internet for inexpensive parasols (the paper kind) and bought enough to have some for every 2-3 guests in the sun. Best $$$ we spent on wedding materials, even if it was last minute. We also asked our caterer if they could serve water, and they had ice water for guests both before and after the ceremony. The last thing I wanted was any of our grandparents (or any guest, really) being rushed to the hospital for heat exhaustion!

DH and I are having porkchops with peaches and basil: http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2013/08/pork-chops-peaches-basil-recipe.html DS 15 months was offered steamed carrots and sugar snaps with hummus + fruit; he ate 1 nectarine, 2 plums, lots of blueberries, 1 container of applesauce, and 1 graham cracker with almond butter. Good thing tomorrow is Saturday and DH is on diaper duty :-)

I loved The Blue Castle! I don't think I can pick an L.M. Montgomery favorite, but that's up there :-) Kilmeny of the Orchard was another frequent re-read. And the Emily series... Magic for Marigold is very sweet also; one I usually recommend for advanced younger readers not quite ready for the whole Anne series (i.e. not interested in a grown up Anne yet). I'm pretty sure I read EVERYTHING she ever wrote - all the short stories, as many novels as I could get my hands on. I should double check her bibliography and see what I'm missing :001_smile:

I can keep individually wrapped Ghiardelli chocolate squares in my house, because for most flavors, one eaten slowly is a perfect treat. The dark chocolate/raspberry is my favorite. I can't keep either the peanut butter or the dark chocolate salted carmel because one = the whole bag, which defeats the purpose. I make smoothies and freeze little bits of leftovers in this mold: http://www.amazon.com/Zoku-Slow-Pops-Mini-Molds/dp/B00CDL3538# They make nice, small frozen treats. I have to fight the kids over them. I often make hot chocolate (real cocoa and about 1/3 of the sugar called for) at night or hot spiced milk (milk or almond milk with 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp vanila, and 1 tsp honey). Sweet, hot beverages help me because they feel indulgent, and I have to drink them slowly. Plus, calcium and protein! Also, if you don't mind the texture, I make chia puddings for dessert often. Google chocolate or chai - both are great desserts (but more filling than the above treats).