If you’re on the island (Long Island to be exact) and you’ve got your kids tagging along, make a point to visit the Long Island Children’s museum in Garden City, just about a mile or so from Hofstra University.

With exhibits featuring subjects from to marine life to communications technology to bubbles, there’s a lot of learning (disguised as fun) to be had!  Crawlers to cell-toting tweens will get a kick out of all the museum has to offer. 

The hands on exhibits encourage participation and exploration, and the museum even offers age-appropriate classes for children as young as 1 or 2 years old.  There’s even a special area just for toddlers that has a slide, play food, puppets and even books for those too young (or too distractible) to be interested in musical instruments from around the world or telecommunications.

littleQ definitely enjoyed himself!  His favorite exhibit was indeed the bubble area (what 2 year old doesn’t love bubbles?), though he did enjoy the architecture exhibit as well, which featured building blocks so that aspiring architects can try to replicate the design principles that are displayed throughout the room.

Click here for more information about joining the museum as a member (definitely a deal if you plan on attending any classes or going more than once a year— it’s on my to-do list this month).  One of the benefits includes unlimited free admission to the Long Island Children’s Museum, free admission to more than 100 children’s museums in the US, and more.

Technorati Tags: children’s museum, New York, Long Island, Long Island Children’s Museum

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Named the “Baby Yoga Expert” by Newsweek, Helen Garabedian, a certified yoga instructor and founder of Itsy Bitsy Yoga, offers an illustrated guide to simple, health-enhancing yoga sequences for 2- to 5- year olds.

Yoga can help your child have:

 

● Fewer tantrums                                              ● Better and longer sleep

● Increased motor coordination                   ● Improved listening and ability to follow directions

● Better self-expression                                   ● Higher self-esteem

● Easier relaxation                                            ● A healthy and physically fit lifestyle

The book has gotten rave reviews from the Amazon users who have had the chance to go through it, so check out what they have to say about this wonderful resource :)  Check out ItsyBitsyYoga.com for more info about Helen Garabedian, baby yoga and her other books and products (including instructional DVDs!) about yoga for tots.

Technorati Tags: books, yoga, baby yoga, toddler yoga, preschool yoga, health, healthy, toddler exercise

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It’s time to take a day to pamper yourself and relax!

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What is a Handy Burpee exactly?  Well, it’s made of butter soft and super absorbent fabric which goes over your hand, and it can be used during feedings and the subsequent burping of your child to keep the spit up off your baby and off your hand.

It’s truly a help, especially if you have an infant with acid reflux or is just generally prone to spitting up.  The Handy Burpee keeps the spit up and any acidity off of your child and her clothes, and off your hands, so clean up is easier.

The fabric used for Handy Burpees is really super soft, so you don’t have to worry about your little one getting uncomfortable constantly having this held up to her chin.  The design makes it much easier to keep the burp cloth where it belongs.

The unique design also makes it perfect for older tots, too:  If your toddler hates wearing bibs as littleQ does, you can just simply tuck the top part (where your hand normally goes) of the Handy Burpee into your tot’s tee, and the design is so that the top part will stay snugly tucked into the t-shirt’s neckline while the rest of the Handy Burpee protects the front of your tot’s tee.  Because of the way the the Handy Burpee is designed, there won’t be any bunching of any fabric underneath your tot’s t-shirt, so he’ll be less likely to try and remove the Burpee from his shirt.

So if you’re looking to get something for a new mommy or if you’re looking to add something unique and useful to a baby shower gift, make sure you order a few Handy Burpees…. the new mom will appreciate it!

**Use the code PREGGIE at checkout to receive 15% off your order!  Plus, get free shipping within the US on any order over $30.

Technorati Tags: loveprints.net, handy burpee, burping cloth, baby, infant, toddler, bib

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So to sweeten the pot a bit, I’ll be giving 5 random entrants into the Regionz Kidz tee contest each a $5 Amazon gift certificate, and the grand prize winner of the contest will not only receive a tee with her choice of design for her tot, she’ll also receive a $10 Amazon gift card from moi.

Click here to enter the Regionz Kidz tee contest, and remember, just for entering, you automatically get a chance to win one of 5 $5 Amazon gift certificates or the GRAND prize of a Regionz Kidz tee and a $10 Amazon gift certificate!!

Remember, the Regionz Kidz tee contest ends on March 29. 2008, so enter ASAP.

Technorati Tags: win, contest, gift certificate, amazon, Regionz Kidz

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If you’ve been pregnant at any time within the last four or five years, you’ve definitely heard about DHA and all the way this fatty acid complex benefits your fetus, infant or toddler’s brain development.  DHA and ARA are found in breastmilk, but if that is no longer, or just isn’t an option, it can be found in fatty fish like salmon, certain meats like liver, and in specially fortified products. Now, you can also get it built into your daily intake of milk! Horizon Organic has come out with a brand spanking new line of milk that is fortified with DHA to help your newly weaned tot (and yourself, if you’re preggers!) get the DHA you need to promote healthy brain development.

Dr. Alan Greene, a nationally renowned doctor, speaker and researcher has always been a strong proponent of DHA, and is one of the reasons why Americans have access to DHA fortified infant formulas, like Enfamil Lipil for example. DHA wasn’t actually added to infant formula until 2002, and Dr. Greene was one of the forces behind getting the FDA to approve the additions. Now, Dr. Greene is also the poster child for Horizon Organics’ brand new line of milk with added DHA. He offers up great insight, information and advice to visitors of the Horizon Organic web site.

Personally, I love the flavor of Horizon Organic milk; it always tastes so uber fresh and creamy. Now, Horizon Organic has provided us with a new option that’s even better for us than regular milk, with all the great flavor and health benefits they’ve always offered up.  Don’t worry, Horizon Organic Milk + DHA tastes just like their regular milk.

During pregnancy, I actually took DHA ARA supplemental pills and I ate a LOT of salmon (something not quite recommended), but with this new DHA fortified milk, none of that is necessary.. it’ll be breakfast as usual for all the pregnant ladies out there to get that extra boost of DHA to your baby. For tots already weaned off of breastmilk or formula, this is a GREAT alternative to regular milk, because not only is it organic, but your little one will continue to receive all the power of supplemental DHA in his diet.  Anyway, DHA is something that people of all ages can really benefit from.

We were recently provided with a sample of Horizon Organic Milk with DHA, and I’m pleased to offer THREE of my readers with the same opportunity! I’m giving away three coupons for a carton of Horizons Organic with DHA (each valued @ $4.99 each). I’ll be more than happy to mail the coupon to you, and to enter all you need to do is comment on this post with a valid email address so I can let you know if you’ve won. The deadline to enter is March 31, 2008, and I’m willing to mail the coupon to anyone with a US mailing address.

Technorati Tags: dha, milk, organic, ara, dr. alan greene, coupon, discount

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Yeah I know: you’ve been dreading the day for that fateful birds and bees convo with your newly high-school-ified son or daughter.  Trust me, if that describes you, the facts and figures found by this referenced study should give you that resolve to just get that conversation over with, stat.  I don’t care if you’re in denial about the fact that your teen has some raging hormonal activity going on (or will very soon), because the fact of the matter is, nothing is more powerful than knowledge (though whether that’s a good or bad thing is debatable), and it’s important your teen is aware of the possible consequences of engaging in unprotected sex (which of course includes not only the possible contraction of an STD, but preventable unwanted pregnancies as well), how to NOT get an STD (abstinence -the only foolproof way- OR proper protection, duh) and well, why she should really think about waiting.  Seriously.  But hey, it’s common knowledge that sometimes…. the hormones… the… yearning… the….  forbidden quality… the entire mix gets the best of everyone, not just teens, and not just randy adolescents with raging hormones. 

The best thing any parent can do is arm your teen with knowledge, support and maybe add a dire warning of what could be if he or she chooses to listen more with what’s down there then what’s up here.  Ultimately, each person , whether that person is 15 or 50, is in charge of his or her own body.  With the right information, access to resources and access to preventative tools, you should be confident that your teen will make the right decisions.  (If by chance she doesn’t heed your sagely advice and guidance, well, just remember what little orphan Annie said.)

For further information:

• Adolescent Health @ CDC.org (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• About Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) @ KidsHealth.org
• MedlinePlus: Sexually Transmitted Diseases @ NIH.org (National Institutes of Health)
• STDs and Teens @ CFOC.org (Campaign for our Children, Inc)

Technorati Tags: std, sti, sexually transmitted disease, sexually transmitted infection, sex infection, teenager, teen, girl, boy, adolescent, puberty, hormones, parenting

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I’ve got a weak spot for brown shuga’ cinnamon Pop Tarts®, a preference that littleQ has no doubt acquired, if he hadn’t inherited it, already.  They’re so delicious, but considering I’ll gladly snack on them all day long, they’re really something of a guilty pleasure for me.  Yes, I love them that much.

So, how happy do you think I am that Kelloggs® has come out with Brown Sugar Cinnamon and Strawberry Pop Tarts® that are made with WHOLE GRAINS?  It kicks butt, because although I definitely still need to moderate my intake of the deliciously delectable toaster pastries, it’ll no longer be such a guilty pleasure for me to eat munch on them during the day, because I’ll be getting more out of each Pop Tart than just my carb and sugar fix.

Whole Grain Pop Tarts have less calories than regular pop tarts do, and they also have less sugar and more fiber.  As you would expect, the primary ingredient is whole wheat flour, and each pastry has one full serving of whole grains.  I have to admit, I absolutely hate wheat bread… I can’t stand it, even though it’s healthier for ya’, but Whole Grain Pop Tarts taste sooo much better than regular pop tarts, so if you’re worried about that, just don’t. 

I recently received both flavors, Brown Sugar Cinnamon and Strawberry, to try, and while I much prefer the brown shuga cinnamon, I found that both flavors were more pleasing to the palate than their regular counterparts.  There’s substantially more flavor in the whole grain version (it definitely comes from the adjusted pastry recipe!), and it also tastes healthier.  They don’t really have that prepackaged-starch flavor present in regular Pop Tarts, which you probably don’t mind or even notice right now, and you won’t until you taste the Whole Grain versions.  The combination of the new pastry recipe and the fillings (especially the brown sugar!) definitely make the Pop Tarts taste more like what they are : delicious, satisfying pastries with yummy fillings. But..  I have a feeling that until you taste them yourself, you won’t really know what I’m talking about… but you will when you try them.

Technorati Tags: kelloggs, pop tarts, whole grain pop tarts, brown sugar cinnamon, strawberry, toaster, pastry, pastries

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If you’ve had to or are dealing with this, how did you or are you dealing with it?

littleQ, at just one month past his 2nd birthday, has a vocabulary which isn’t quite as extensive as it should be, with the bigger issue being that he hasn’t really begun to speak in short sentences or phrases (with the exception of “thank you”) yet, and so his pediatrician recommended having him evaluated for speech therapy.  His sessions should be beginning within the next few weeks, and to supplement the speech therapy, we’ll also be attending a class which is almost like a mommy and me separation class, but specifically geared towards developing cognitive, speech and social skills.

Call me silly, but I’m convinced that part of the issue may be that he just doesn’t want to talk, or just doesn’t feel like it.  I feel this way because with a word definitely in his vocabulary, sometimes he’ll say it and other times he’ll just outright refuse to say anything.  He may instead just smile and shake his head “no”  when we ask him a question that requires a one word answer that we know he knows the meaning of.  Instead, he’ll bring the object to us, or bring us to the object.  He follows directions pretty well, and he definitely understands us when we ask him to do something, get a toy or go somewhere.  He knows.  And…the words he does say are pretty clear.  It’s not like he’s mumbling them or barely getting them out… and although he’s had a few ear infections we already know there’s nothing wrong with his hearing.  Hmm.. do I have a stubborn tot on my hands?

We’ll see how the speech therapy goes.  The goal is 6 months to have him at his age level completely, so we’ll be working hard here at home to make that happen.  The worst effect this is having on littleQ is that he gets completely and totally frustrated when he’s unable to verbalize what he wants and is unable to get his message across by “showing” us, so I’m definitely looking forward to eradicating that stress from his life, not to mention from mine and mrQ’s.. have you ever been in the presence of an angry tot in the midst of his terrible twos who isn’t getting what he wants.. and to top it all off, can’t even let you know what it is he wants?

A few days ago, I posted about Baby Einstein DVDs.  Honestly, I was floored by the positive effect the First Signs DVD had on him a few months ago.  As I’ve stated in previous posts, dvds, television shows and toys are by no means suitable replacements for parental interaction and instruction, but that DVD definitely helped us… I think there was just something about the way the words and information was presented that triggered a sort of “wow I can do that too!” mind set in littleQ.  I’m also going to look into any other class we can do outside of this particular program, and we’ll take it from there.

Well, just like we go to the doctor at least once a year for a checkup and to take preventative measures, with speech delay, it’s much better to tackle the issue as soon as it even looks like it might be an issue, than to have to deal with bigger problems later on that could have been prevented or mitigated if treated earlier.

For further reading:

• Speech development: what’s normal for your child might not be normal for mine - Brief Article
• Why isn’t my toddler learning to talk?
• Milestone charts: What you can expect from birth to age 3
• Speech and Language: Developmental Milestones

Technorati Tags: speech development, parenting, toddler, development, cognitive, baby, speech

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Thanks to Kim from Little Ladybug Designs for tagging me on her blog

I have added the 5 on the very bottom so please visit their wonderful blogs! Here’s the details that are passed along with this meme:(Do not replace, just keep on adding! Yes we hope it will be a long list!)
It’s real easy!
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My View, My Life
A Simple LifeJuliana
RWMom Knows Everything
Beth & Cory’s Mom
A Mind Forever Voyaging
enjoying the ride
Jennifer’s thoughts
Mom of 3 Girls
Amanda
Don’t Make Me Get The Flying Monkeys
ExPat Mom
Just Jessie
Wilson Six
Kristin
Nuttier Than You
Shonnte
Summer’s Nook
Laura Williams Musings
Melissa’s Idea Garden
Eve at Confessions of an Everyday Housewife
ChristiS of the Blah Blah Blog
Stephanie at Stop the Ride!
Diane at Soap, Blings & Girly Things
Amanda at Amanda:Mama’s Musings
Kristin at An Ordinary Life
Mama Zen at The Zen of Motherhood
Atomik Kitten
The Sassy Southerner
A Room of Mama’s Own
Exploring Autumn
Immoral Matriarch: Catechizer
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Boogiemum
Living and loving every minute of it
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Peace is Every Step
Life According to Lizzy
Following Forward
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A Quest for Relevance
Not Trying for a Boy
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My Life with Boys
The Truest Thing
The Potter’s Hand
Permission to Peruse
Live Laugh Blog
Pianomomsicle
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Technorati Tags: linky love, blog tag, meme, tagged, mom blog, mommy bloggers, blogging

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