Alrighty Sept '10 Toddlers thread! I still can't believe it. - Page 5

[Monkey Keeper]

Huh, interesting!  I will have to try that method, JulieInChicago, for our next diaper change. Those are some epic tantrums!!

So far this morning, T "fed" the dogs--broke into the pantry, opened the dog food bin, knocked it over and was holding court throwing dog food into the air and yelling, "Dogs! Food! Eat!!" And then he and the dogs escaped outside because one of the dogs can open doors that are not latched tightly. He is a whirling dervish of mischief!

Here he is with his jack-o-lantern and as a pumpkin on Halloween:

[porcelina]

This is definitely a method that everyone should have up their sleeves! It may not always work, but sometimes, it is a lifesaver! I remember with DS1, there were stages in his development when it worked, and stages when it didn't. But, in general, the concept of naming their emotion to them, explaining how they feel, showing them you get it, reflecting back to them, is a way to communicate with your children for years!
 

Originally Posted by JulieInChicago 

aw, awesome pics!

just wanted to chime in on tantrums.  We got the Happiest Toddler on the Block DVD (since my husband won't read books) and the method they use (toddler-ese) has been working really, really well for dealing with tantrums.  In short, you get to your toddler's level and repeat in 2-3 word phrases what you think he's feeling/thinking, to show you get it.  

For example, I had to trim nails this morning and got the tantrum.  I sat on the floor next to him, made icky faces, and said "No, i don't want my nails cut!  No no no!  Mommy no!" and I actually got a smile from him before he calmed down enough that I could get the job done.

might work for y'all too, just a thought...

[MaerynPearl]

Halloween DH, Mae and I dressed up together... a little girl with her teddy bear and sock monkey! (big two were Harry Potter and Princess Peach)

Mae is... a comedian... a tattle tale... she loves to ride her little push bikes, sit in that little green car, anything that moves... she loves to dance, she loves to go outside and if she hears the word "outside" will be at the door before you can think twice... she loves talking on the phone but can tell when no one is talking back and dislikes that... She LOVES her big brother and sister to pieces and gets so excited when they come home from school or come back in from outside. She also loves her Daddy to pieces which broke my heart last week when he had to stay at work for 3 days... we stopped to take him a sweater and some snacks and she sat in the van yelling "Dada! Dada! DA... DA!!!!" the whole time.

[RedOakMomma]

You guys are amazing...I was hoping to find a thread still going, and here you are!  Yay!

MP, it is SO GOOD to see you with your dh. :D  Is he home for good?

Here are some recent photos of dd... the first one is on her birthday:

And the rest are from Halloween weekend:

She's such a sweetheart, though she's starting to get into a tantrummy phase.  Anyone else dealing with that?  She has a great receptive vocabulary, but not a ton of words yet (though she's very reliable with yes and no, and uses them appropriately to tell us what she wants)...I'm not sure if her tantrums are because she's frustrated at not being able to talk, or if they're just part of the "learning what no means" phase, or what.  She IS getting all four molars at once, which looks b-r-u-t-a-l :(, so that could be part of it.  Poor kid.  She's been so fussy with molar pain, along with pointing at her head when I ask what hurts, that I took her in yesterday to see if it was her ears.  Nope.  Just molar pain.

I have question about the holidays, too.... what are you guys getting for your little ones?  I'm in need of some age-appropriate gift ideas.  I was thinking of getting her a doll cradle for the kids' dollhouse (really a closet in our house, but it's a doll house to them), but I'm just not sure.  I did find an embryonics sing with me cube on craigslist, which we'll be picking up for one of her presents.  I think she'll LOVE that....it's always been one of the favorite toys for our little ones, but after four kids our other one is kaput.  I'm also going to get her the next size up in that dress she wore for her first birthday...it's my favorite on her, and boatbaby posted that she'd found where to get larger sizes online.  Yay!

http://www.soul-flower.com/hippie/KDZ001/Child%27s+Little+Flowers+Gauze+Sundress.html

What are you all doing for this holiday, though?  I wish I had something that was perfect for her, but I can't think of anything right now.  It's such a strange time to think of gifts....I don't feel like she has any concrete interests yet for me to work from.

Nice to "see" you all...now I'm going to go catch up on the last few pages! 

[Monkey Keeper]

Love the pics, Mae and ROM!!  And ROM, soooo good to see you!  I was just thinking of you the other day.

Holidays:  I haven't gotten that far!  Everyone is asking what my kids want, and if I don't move quickly enough, the good gifts will be bought up by the g-parents :(  DS inherited my nephew's whole trainset, complete with table, so anything in that vein is out. The ILs got him a foot powered car for his birthday, so that is out (he loooooves it). We had a big set of wooden unit blocks passed on to us from friends. Really, we have a TON of toys geared to the toddler set already. So I have no ideas. We still have toys in boxes from LAST Christmas!

[RedOakMomma]

lol...looks like a lot of you are dealing with tantrums!  I'll have to try the idea of vocalizing their feelings.  I've been using extinction...basically just ignoring her when she throws her head back and screams, but then giving her hugs and comfort when she chooses to interact again or come to me in a more appropriate way, even if she's upset.  It's helped, but it hasn't solved the issue of tantrums.

ETA: Hi PinkBunch! :D  We're dealing with the same issue...lots of toddler toys already.  It's a great "problem" to have, but I still would like to have something special for dd under the tree.  I wish I knew what she'd like in a few months!

[Amanda_Reyasmom]

Lila used to have a great vocabulary.. She's abandoned all her words other than mama, mum, and Mommy.  *sigh* 

For Christmas she's getting a wheely bug shaped like a little mousie, a couple of books, some reusable snack bags, some baby legs, probably a diaper, (I've had my eye on a cheshire cat one) She'll get candy, fruit and nuts in her stocking with some lotion, she's obsessed with lotion! And probably some bubble bath. (And Christmas pajamas that everyone opens on Christmas eve along with some custom made slippers)   I think I'm about done with shopping for her.  Oh and probably a snowsuit, if we can keep it packed up til then lol.  Ohh and another amber necklace.  I forgot about that.  

Here she is being sooooo silly :D

[MaerynPearl]

He's got two 3 month training things next year but they are split up by about a month of home-time. 

Likely to be stuck on another deployment the year after that... and after that we dunno, it depends on if he picks up his next promotion. If he's in for "life" he's going to be gone a lot.

[jenifera2]

We've got walking here for about a month. And by walking, I mean running! And yes, some tantrums. So far easily defused by toddler-ese and distraction.

For holidays, we're doing/suggesting Little People, a slide if I can find one I like, maybe a wagon, maybe another doll. She has a doll sling, so why not? :) Basically, the next step up in age-appropriate toys since we have a lot for babies but not much for toddlers.

[Kelly1101]

Ozzy loves all that (luckily stuff we got for his sister, so, he gets sloppy seconds as far as toys are concerned).  Stuffed animals are pretty big right now, too, and balls of all shapes and sizes.  We don't have a wagon but we have (2 thankfully) of the little "ride along cars" that you sit on and push with your feet.  

We're thinking about getting them one of those big play houses for the backyard, like this thing:  http://littletikes-slide.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/little-tikes-playhouse1.jpg  There's a few at a playground we go to, and the kids love them.
 

Originally Posted by jenifera2 

We've got walking here for about a month. And by walking, I mean running! And yes, some tantrums. So far easily defused by toddler-ese and distraction.

For holidays, we're doing/suggesting Little People, a slide if I can find one I like, maybe a wagon, maybe another doll. She has a doll sling, so why not? :) Basically, the next step up in age-appropriate toys since we have a lot for babies but not much for toddlers.

[MaerynPearl]

We want to get Mae a playhouse too.

No clue what all we're getting her for Christmas though... 

[MaerynPearl]

Well, looks like I'm going to the July 2012 DDC!

[Amanda_Reyasmom]

Congratulations! I'm so jealous! 

[MaerynPearl]

We discussed at her first birthday and decided not to try for it and not to NOT try for it and I guess that did the trick.

[Amanda_Reyasmom]

I still have to lose 40lbs and remove an IUD.  *sigh* 

[MaerynPearl]

You can do it! I had the 40 pound goal before next baby as well, it took me 6 months but I did it :) My hubby is now proud of me because I hadn't put any weight on since he got home in June, I've been hovering between 200 and 210 this whole time (at 5'8"... and it's way better than the 242 I started at)

[Kelly1101]

Congrats!  I'm not jealous.  lmao.  Will be good spacing, though, happy for you.
 

Originally Posted by MaerynPearl 

Well, looks like I'm going to the July 2012 DDC!

[Monkey Keeper]

Congrats Mae!!!! :D

[MaerynPearl]

Thank you all :)

Also, we are sort of excited, we found DD1 on the mothering.com front page! (her picture is down under editors pics as the illustration for "Homeopathic Remedies for Cold and Flu")

[JulieInChicago]

Originally Posted by MaerynPearl 

Well, looks like I'm going to the July 2012 DDC!

WOW, congrats!  My best mommy friend and I both have the same outlook - we will think about #2 when this gets easier.  HA!  right?

That said... I still have yet to STTN, even just once.  It's such a struggle.  I have a feeling our only possible solution is night weening and maybe CIO or a long process of No Cry/Pantley.  I just want my sanity back, but I keep telling myself that his comfort and trust is so much more important.  He's down at 7, then up at 11, 3, 5, and 6.

Anyone else still in the sleepless boat?