More words to songs

* Sleep O'Sleep
Sleep, o' sleep
my darling baby.
Bye o' bye o'
Bye o' bye o'

*Ring Your Bell
(sung to If You're Happy and You Know It)
Ring your bell in the air, in the air.
Ring your bell in the air, in the air
Ring your bell in the air,
for you haven't got a care.
Ring your bell in the air, in the air

*Jingle Bells
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way
Oh what fun it is to play
an instrument today!

*Let's All Play
(to: Barney is a Dinosaur)
Let's all play an instrument.
Let's all play it LOUDLY
Let's all play an instrument and
put it on our HEADS
(play it softly, fast, slow, etc
and put it on various body parts)

*Frere Jacques
Frere Jacques, Frere Jacques
Dormez vous? Dormez vous?
Sonnez les matines; sonnez les matines.
Din, din, don. Din, din, don

*Brother John
(to: Frere Jacques)
Are you sleeping
Are you sleeping
Brother John
Brother John
Morning bells are ringing
morning bells are ringing
Ding ding dong. Ding ding dong

*We Love Grandmas
(to: frere Jacques)
We love Grandmas
We love Grandmas
Yes, we do
Yes, we do
Grandmas are for hugging.
Grandmas are for hugging.
We love you, Yes we do
(you can also use, Daddy, Sister,etc

* Where is Baby
(to: Frere Jacques)
Where is Baby (you can also use your child's name)
Where is baby
There (s)he is.
There (s)he is
I'm so glad to see you
I'm so glad to see you
I LOVE YOU! I LOVE YOU!

*Noble Duke
The noble Duke of York
He had 10.000 men
He marched them up to the top of the hill
and marched them down again
And when you're up you're up
and when you're down you're down
and when you're only halfway up,
you're neither up nor down.
He marched them to the left.
He marched them to the right
He marched them all the way upside down
Oh what a silly sight!
(bounce the baby on your knees according the the song)

*Ha Ha This Way
OHHHHHHHHHH
Ha ha this away, Ha ha that away
Ha ha this away all day long
Here we go a-clapping, a-clapping, a-clapping
Here we go a-clapping all day long
(waving, bouncing, etc)

*Where Oh Where
(to:Paw Paw Patch)
Where oh where is little baby
Where oh where is little baby
Where oh where is little baby
They've come to boogie with us today!

Tidy outdoor toys!

I don't know if you ladies are like me and the amount of toys have taken over the indoors and now the outdoors!  I was reading in Parent mag and they had some ideas on the outdoor toy drama!

*Sort the small stuff - Give the little items (wipes, sunscreen, and goggles) a home in a vinyl over-the-door shoe organizer.  Don't forget to poke holes in the bottom of each pocket so the water can drain out.  You can then hang it from your deck or fence!

*Put it out to dry - Store water and sand toys in a laundry basket so the kids can carry it where ever you are going!  Plus, the holes help things dry out and shake off the dirt easily!

*Round up the balls - Turn a lidded garbage can into a custom container for sports equipment and playground balls.  Label it with outdoor paint so everyone knows it is for toys not trash!

*Park your ride - Use strips of colored duct tape to mark off parking spots on the pavement for bikes and trikes.  You can personalize spaces by adding your kid's initial in the center. 
                 (my own note, I don't know is duct tape would leave a sticky spot when taken up.  I would   
                   think you could use sidewalk chalk to draw it out and decorate.  It won't last as long but it
                   would be fun!)

*Hang it up - Position a freestanding coat rack outside so wet towels and bathing suits can have a place to drip dry.

Frozen Yogurt

Check out this idea I got from Wholesomefoods.com I want to do this for me!!!

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=6240455&id=300954305978

Sorry it would not let me copy the picture.  If you click on the link it will take to you to the pictures.  What they did was take a little yogurt cup and stick a Popsicle stick in it, without taking off the foil lid.  Then put it in the freezer.  Once frozen you have a yummy cold treat on a stick!  Sounds fantastic!!!

http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/news/?p=1282  I found the directions from the woman who came up with this great idea!  Click here to read just how she came up with the idea.

gift

Gianna and I made this for my father and we made a bigger one for my husband for father's day.  It was not very expensive but priceless all the same.  We got the kit for the stepping stone from Michael's.  This will be a tradition we do for my husband every year for this special day!

Some great ideas from Parents Mag

* To get a child to drink water add some watermelon slices or orange segments to the pitcher.  This makes the water sweeter than juice with a lot less sugar.

* If you child hates having his sticky hands cleaned after eating. wipe down the tray and pour a little water on it.  Your child will have a blast splashing around and his hands will get clean without a fuss!

*Teach your child to pull up on the triangle flaps on the sides of juice boxes so you can use them as holders.  When your child grabs those "handles" juice is not squeezed out of the box. 

* To help your child learn to tie their shoes. Thread the shoe with 2 different colored laces.  It is much easier to understand what is happening, and to do it themselves, when practicing with contrasting colors. 

MIL website

http://www.motherinlawstories.com/

Here is a website that you can read or write stories that deal with Mother In Laws or any family members.  There are some good ones on here! 

Dad Blogs for Father's Day

Since it is Father's Day here are some Blogs for the Dads to check out!

*Daddy Dialectic
This blog is by Jeremy Adam Smith.  He is a creative-writing Lecturer and author of the Daddy Shift.  It is a smart, thoughtful site with many good writers.
daddy-dialectic.blogspot.com

*Dads and Daughters
Founder Joe Kelly knows that dads are at a disadvantage when it comes to daughters.  They have no experience of having once been a girl.
dadsanddaughters.blogspot.com

*Dadcentric
The bios for the creators, such as, founder Jason Avant, make them seem like the rowdiest row at a Cubs game. But their postings are filled with heart and detail about the profound and the mundane.
dadcentric.com

*Dadwagon
It looks and reads a little better than most blogs-perhaps because it's penned by four magazine writers, including Matt Gross.  Sample topic: Should bars let you bring in your baby?
dadwagon.com

*Dadtalk
This was created by former Los Angeles Times systems analyst Brett Levy.  He blogs about life as a dad and comments on news stories that tough on intriguing parents topics.
dadtalk.typepad.com

Words to kid's songs

I don't know about you guys but there are some kid's songs out there that I make up my own words or just hum.  Neither one of those things are bad but just frustrating for me!  So I found some words to common songs and some remakes of song we love!

*Little Mouse
There was a little mouse. (creep up leg)
He was looking for a house. (creep up tummy)
And there it was!!!!  (tickle under chin)


*Mommy Takes Good Care of Me
(to: Mary Had a Little Lamb)
Mommy takes good care of me,
care of me, care of me.
Mommy takes good care of me, becuase she loves me so!
(you can also do Grandma, Daddy, etc)



*Pop Goes the Weasel
All around the cobbler's bench
The monkey chased the weasel
The monkey says it's all in fun
POP!! Goes the weasel



*My Baby's Up So High
My baby's up so high.
My baby's up so high.
Oh my, just watch him fly.
My baby's up so high.
My baby's down so low
My baby's down so low
Oh no, just watch her go,
My baby's down so low


*Patty Cake
Patty cake, patty cake baker's man
Bake me a cake as fast as you can.
Pat it and prick it and mark it with a "B"
And put it in the oven for (Baby) and me!


* Hickory Dickory Dock
Hickory Dickory Dock (clap 3 times)
The mouse ran up the clock
(run fingers up baby's arm)
The clock struck one (clap once)
The mouse ran down
(run fingers down baby's arm)
Hickory Dickory Dock (clap 3 times)



* Jack Be Nimble
Jack be nimble, Jack be quick
Jack jump over the candlestick


*Baby Be Nimble
(calling child back game)
Baby be nimble
Baby be quick
I need a hug....
Quick quick quick!


*Love you forever
(Refrain)
I love you forever. I like you for always
As long as I'm living my baby you'll be
(La-la verse after this)

flash cards

Today I made Gianna some flash cards.  I used pictures of animals that we have seen at the Zoo, Grant's Farm, and other places.  I taped them to a cut up cereal box and wrote the name underneath.  In the picture I made them so they would stand up, I think I will end up cutting them apart so they are flat soon.  I need to take more pictures!  ;)

Please excuse my finger in the upper corner!  Oops! 

In this picture it shows some of the other cards I have made with facial features.  Gianna and I look at them for short times ever so often.  She love looking at faces.  Don't forget when you look at the mouth or nose cards to point to your child's mouth and nose!

battery acid

I have a bubble blower that has been around for years.  Well when I got it out this morning I realized a battery has corroded the inside.  So I looked was to clean it on line.  I found that if you use baking soda and water mixture to clean it first then soap and water.  I also read that a cola soda will clean it up as well.  So here goes nothing!

No cook menu

http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/holidays-and-entertaining/entertaining/summer-center/everyday-summer-recipes/nocookmenu.aspx


Here is a link to Kraft's website for a list of no cook ideas!  I thought these sounded great for the hot days of summer! 

changing table

For Gianna's changing table I used a little antique dresser that was in my room as a child.  So needless to say it was not meant to be a changing table and there was no way I was going to put holes in it to attach the changing pad.  So to keep the pad in place I cut a piece of what you use under rugs to keep them from moving, and put it under the pad.  The pad does not move and the dresser is still in good shape! 

slimy baby pool

http://www.edubook.com/natural-ways-to-clean-a-kiddie-pool/20158/

Gianna's baby pool is slimy so I need to clean it.  I try and change the water often but it has been rainy so now it is slimy!  I found this website that talked about a non chemical way to clean.  I am looking for something to put in the water that will let it last longer.  No such luck yet.  If you know something please comment and let me know!

edges of table

I recently acquired a table for Gianna that was my nephew's.  Gianna loves it because it is low so she can stand and play with balls on the top.  I was concerned about the edges of the table since they are hard.  So I was thinking I can use swim noodles to cover them!  I cut down one side of the noodle and slipped it over the edge!  The noodles fit snug over the lip of the top so now Gianna's little forehead is protected!

Under the table her toy bins fit!  So now Gianna can reach whatever toy she wants to get!  She is so proud of herself when she can choose and get to what she wants!  Love it!  Who knew I would be happy to have a living room that is solely a playroom!  Man a baby changes everything!  :)

Toddler Truffles

I was looking around the Internet for some new foods for Gianna.  This recipe would be great for a treat of a child over a year, but I thought it looked yummy!  So I put it on the blog so I will have it for later!  ;)  If you make these comment on how they turn out!

Toddler Truffles
from the cookbook The Toddler Cafe

They look like chocolate, taste like cookies, but shhh! These sweet treats are actually made from fiber-rich black beans! (Bake them in secrecy and tell them it's mommy's magic ingredient. We won't spill the beans! )



1 (15-oz) can black beans, drained

½ cup sugar

½ cup brown sugar, packed

½ cup finely chopped nuts

4 tbsp butter at room temperature

½ tsp baking powder

pinch of salt

2 eggs

powdered sugar for dusting



Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray or butter an 8X8 inch pan, set aside

In large, deep bowl, combine the beans, sugars, nuts, butter, baking powder and salt. Using a stick blender or food processor, start to work the ingredients around. When they are fully blended, add the eggs and blend to combine. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan.

Bake for 30 to 40 minutes until firm and the edges get slightly crisp. Cool and cut into small cubes, or take a spoon and gently roll into small balls with your palms. Dust with powdered sugar.

Store for up to 5 days in the fridge.

backyard

I forgot to post this idea!  Once it started getting warmer I wanted to have Gianna outside playing but our patio is concrete!  That would hurt her knees!  So I put the padded squares that you can get a Lowes, Target, but I found them the cheapest at Sams.  Her knees are saved not to mention my butt from having to sit out there with her!  ;)  Since this picture I have added another 8 squares so her area is even bigger!  Summer is so much fun!

Thinking of the soldiers

If you are looking for something different to do this fourth of July think about the soldiers.  I found an address where you can send your letters that you and maybe your party goers write this 4th for the soldiers over seas.  Bundle them up and send them to Operation Gratitude, 17330 Victory Boulevard, Van Nuys CA 91406

Keep the bugs away

While reading Better Homes and Garden I came across this tip for keeping ants away from your picnic table.  Put each table leg in a shallow bowl of water, the pests can't make the climb!  Who knew!!  Another trick is to sprinkle talcum powder on the grass around your picnic!  Hope this helps!

moment

This is only a moment not the rest of your life.  - unknown

I have had this saying on my bathroom mirror for almost a year now.  I put it up to remind me that I could get through the last stages of pregnancy.  Time passes and is short.  Now it means to enjoy every min because time goes to fast!  It is funny how the meaning of a saying can change by just a few short months.  Pregnant I wanted time to move fast, now I want it to stand still so I can enjoy every second. 

new use for bumper

I have a fireplace that is marble, I do not want Gianna to hit her face/face/body on it. Well I was brainstorming ways to cover it and came up with the bumper from the crib. I never put the bumper in the crib because of SIDS so it was not being used. The bumper is the perfect height to stand up next to the fireplace the folded in half so the other half is on top of base. I don't think I am describing it well so I included a picture.

I recently stitched the 2 pieces together so there is no hole down the center. 

When the slip n slide breaks

When the slip n slide has seen its last day cut off the strip with the holes and recycle it to be a sprinkler in your garden. The water from the holes does not drown the plants, plus the flexible design makes it easy to roll up!

drinking from a glass

Here is an idea to help little ones learn how to drink from a glass. If you us a shot glass it is easier for the little hands to handle and only holds a little amount of liquid. Something to think about.

A fun shopping site

6pm.com

I was reading in allyou and they listed a website called 6pm.com It is a site that has all kinds of different items for sale! I have not bought anything from this site but it was a lot of fun looking at all the designer items!