Goal in the Works - Act of Kindness #3

Tonight at An Evening on the Pink Carpet in Jacksonville, I gave 2 extra VIP tickets to strangers. They lived downtown and were walking by wondering what was going on. They were dressed appropriately so I offered them the tickets and they happily accepted. It was a high energy event so I'm sure they had a great time!

Family Road Trip

Family road trip! And by family, I mean all of us, even Dyno. Yep, me and Derrick in the front, Vivian in her giant car seat in the middle of the back seat and Dyno, our 50 pound pup, crammed next to Vivian behind me. I look forward to getting a larger vehicle!

Tonight we're off to Florida. It will be about a 9 hour drive plus an added hour for time change. We probably won't get in until 3 am. Here's to hoping Vivian sleeps soundly. We gotta get those wiggles out first.

An Apple a Day

Please keep in mind that Vivian is almost 14 months and I of course don't expect perfection nor for her to completely understand each concept. I am however fostering language development and sensory exploration while working on focusing on a task and following directions. We participate in each activity for maybe 5-10 minutes at a time, which includes modeling how the activity is done. We do one new activity a day and usually come back to it several times throughout the day. Once she understands how to do it, it is available to continue to play with or to observe (the art projects). I love having a teaching background!

Pom Pom Apple Magnet Picking

I love how smart Vivian is. At least I seem to think so. I modeled how the activity works by sitting her in my lap and having her watch and then I guided her hand to do the same. She got all excited...about the texture of the pom poms in her mouth. (She has played with them before so I wasn't expecting that to be an issue). So the first day I was more of a fisherman, fishing pom poms out of her mouth. I left the activity up and figured we could go back to it the next day and try again. Well, much to my surprise, while Derrick was making breakfast the next morning he hollered, "she's doing it!" She's doing what?! I got up and peeked around the corner to see her taking the pom poms off the tree and placing them on the refrigerator. YAY!!!!!

What I learned: Have a little faith. It may not seem like she is absorbing what is happening in the moment but just give it a minute and you'll see.

Construction Paper Apple

This was a difficult one. It took two days to complete this activity. She just wasn't interested but we finally got some red pieces on and the big green leaf. I slathered on glue stick glue so the pieces would stick no matter where she put them and to prevent her fingers (and everything in her path) from getting gluey and sticky. 

What I learned: Stay calm and don't get frustrated. Remember she is only 1.

Spiced Baked Apple Chips
First, I showed her how to shake the spices.

 
 


Then, she tasted and smelled the spices which turned into a red faced baby because her skin is sensitive to cinnamon. Don't worry, it doesn't hurt or bother her. You can see her smiling behind the container.

Finally, she shook the spices onto the apples. She actually just shook them in one spot making a pile of spices so I had to move the tray around.
 

 Of course then we cooked them and ate them up! They were deliciously appley!

What I learned: Stop and smell the roses....or the cinnamon. Vivian really enjoyed shaking the cinnamon out but she loved sniffing and inhaling it more. Don't underestimate the power of your senses. By tapping in to just one more sense it can take an experience over the top!

Felt Apple Sequencing

This started out as a stacking sequencing game. The goal was to have her put the pieces on top of each other. It turned into peek-a-boo. I placed the little red apple on the grass and then put the big red apple on top. I then asked her where the little apple was and she picked up the big one to find it. In a sense it is still stacking and sequencing, just backwards. It also became object permanence practice.

What I learned: This was a prime example of the importance of going with the flow, thinking quickly and being flexible enough to modify an activity.

Apple Discovery Bin

Here's a song I made up on the fly while Vivian was playing in her discovery bin.

To the tune of BINGO

There was a farmer who had an orchard.

He grew red apples.

A-P-P-L-E

A-P-P-L-E

A-P-P-L-E

He grew red apples.

Variations:

He grew green apples.

He ate red apples.

He ate green apples.

Tissue Paper Apple Stained Glass
This activity, like the construction paper apple took several tries for several days. I thought it was interesting that she didn't focus well on either activity because she loves pincing things up with her thumb and pointer finger and she enjoys crumpling and ripping paper. I figured the texture of the tissue paper and picking it up, it would be a sure win but I was wrong. That's alright because Vivian loves staring at this. I think it might be the vibrant contrasting colors.She enjoyed it on the window so much that it is now hanging from the fan in her room.

What I learned: Mother doesn't always know best. Just when I think I have her figured out she throws me for a loop and basically says, "Just kidding mom, not today. Ha ha ha."

Little 'a' is for Apple Puzzle 
This activity was probably the most advanced but I figured it was worth a try. There are lots of moving parts, each item is a separate piece of felt. After a week or so she did learn that the brown seeds go on the white flesh of the apple. That seems like success to me!


adapted from totally tots

Library Day

On Tuesdays at the Main Library in our Parrish, they have a Read and Sing day. It's really only about 20 minutes. Which is long enough for tiny ones like Vivian. Well this week the theme was apples so we attended. How perfect! They read 2 stories and 1 poem, sang 1 song and did one active poem. Vivian was engaged the whole time, staring at the lady and watching the books as she moved them back and forth. Of course the song that we sang was 'I Like to Eat Apples and Bananas.' We came home with a pamphlet of what we did. From the pamphlet I adapted one of the poems and then made it into a little book. Download yours for free here.


 In addition to all the activities above, we checked out about 10 books from the library featuring apples. We had fiction and non-fiction stories. Of all the stories though, her favorite was 10 Apple Upon Top by Dr. Seuss. She would repeatedly ask me to read it to her and then would intently read it to herself aloud turning each page. It was so sweet!

 

 What I learned: I have a reader on my hands. But I think I already knew that.

Overall I am happy with the way our first theme of Smart Cookie School went. I look forward to many more. As a teacher I always enjoyed watching the light bulb go off when kids got it but to see my own baby learning and figuring life out is truly spectacular. I love it!

Goal in the Works - Act of Kindness #2

I have a relative who is working on overcoming some hardships in his life so I decided to send him some happy mail. I traced Vivian out on a large sheet of paper with her arms stretched wide. I cut it out and decorated it. I wrote on the cutout, "This is my biggest hug for you. Love, Vivian". I mailed it with a card to let him know that I am thinking of him and his journey and that I am proud of him.



Update: A couple of weeks after sending the card, while talking to him on the phone, he said he received the hug and that it made him laugh. He let me know that he has it hanging up on the wall.

Mangia! No Sugar Added Applesauce / Butter

I wanted to make the house smell like fall today so decided to make some Applesauce. I looked around for some recipes. It seemed pretty simple and generic. But then Derrick requested Apple Butter. So I looked up a few recipes. The sauce and butter recipes were almost the same except the butter had more spices and SUGAR (it varied between brown and white). Well, we are not eating any added sugar. What to do to get the extra sweetness? Here's the recipe I came up with.

No Sugar Added Applesauce / Butter

4 Granny Smith apples or other tart apples
2 Gala apples or other sweet apples (this is to replace the sugar)
1 cinnamon stick
2 teaspoons nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon allspice

1.  Peel and core the apples. Cut them into large chunks (about 8).
2.  Stick them in a Crockpot on low.
3.  Add the spices.
4.  Cover and cook for 3 hours. Give a stir every hour.
5.  Mash the apples. Taste for flavor. Add any additional spices
     that you favor at this time. (I added another cinnamon stick.)
6.  Cook uncovered for another hour to get the remaining liquid
     out.
*If you want applesauce stop here.*
7.  Ladle a couple scoops into a blender (I used a Magic Bullet)
     and puree until smooth. Pour into jar. Continue to puree the
     rest a couple of scoops at a time.
8.  Enjoy warm or cool. Over toast or on a pancake.

Mangia!

Coloring With Markers? Huh?

We recently gave Vivian some markers to explore. She's not bad on paper but she is better on her body. Not only is it fun to color herself but she I think she finds it more entertaining to put the cap on and take it off. She concentrates really hard and she can stay focused on the task for a good 10 minutes. Luckily the markers are washable and come off very easily with a wipey.

 

Goal Accomplished - Grad School

AAAH! I just submitted my application to University of Pennsylvania for their Master of Applied Positive Psychology degree. I am so excited and so nervous. I have never applied to a University that I actually had to wait to be accepted to. The University I got my Bachelor's in I was able to just transfer in. I don't find out that I am accepted until April, so until then I am going to try not to think about it and just wait for a happy surprise email then. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Little Mind Hard at Work

Vivian manages to surprise me and make me one proud momma everyday. In the past few days she has learned the sign for bird (she now knows 8 signs), has said owl and duck, can point out dogs in books and says 'woof', gives me her right foot when asked and then her left foot when asked when she gets dressed, found the sponges and started cleaning everything even Dyno, and participated in our dinner prayer. The last one was the most impressive.
Vivian usually starts eating once she sees food. Derrick and I have continued to do our prayer before dinner and each time we encourage her to hold our hands but she usually pulls away and goes about her business of eating. Well, she finally let us hold her hands and watched us as we prayed. A couple of days later and we hold out our hands to hers and she places them in ours. It's perfect! She's perfect! You amaze me sweet one!

Sensory Bin - Oatmeal

I've seen a lot about sensory bins so decided to give it a try. I used oatmeal in case Vivian tries to eat it. I also stuck some alphabet foam stickers in with a bucket. I showed her how to get a handful and put it in her bucket. She loves it. She will sit in here for a good half hour. It can get quite messy though. The oats stick to her diaper and she's not very gradeful when getting out. Luckily Dyno doesn't mind cleaning up the evidence.

Look at that sweet face!

20 Minutes

Oh boy! It was an interesting week in the training schedule. Each week I run 3 sometimes 4 times. Each run is the same for the week, until this week. I started out running 5, walking 3, running 8, walking 3, running 5. It wasn't awful but it was a challenge, which is what I need. Then it was run 10, walk 5, run 10. Oh yay! That wasn't awful either but once again, it was a challenge. Well, the third night was run 20 minutes. I had to do a double take when I looked at the schedule although I should have seen it coming. And perhaps I did see it coming I just didn't want to acknowledge it. So I did it. I ran 20 minutes with no walking break. And again, to my surprise, it wasn't awful but it was a challenge. I was so proud of myself! Yay for me! The part that I really love is that my breathing has not been an issue at all this go round. I'm just working on the endurance in my muscles. Perhaps a little more lower body and core workout should be in the works. Next week is similar but I build up to 22 minutes. Inch by inch, minute by minute, quarter mile by quarter mile - I will run the half in February is less than 2 hours and 30 minutes!

Mangia! Fall Apple Pork Chops with Vanilla Reduction

Today is the first day of Fall so tonight I made our first "Fall Meal", Fall Apple Pork Chops with Vanilla Reduction. The recipe s courtesy of the Scotto Family.

 

2 bone-in pork loin chops (about 1 inch thick)
salt
olive oil

3 Roma apples, sliced thin
1 onion, sliced thin
1 large shallot, diced
1/2 c fresh sage leaves
1/4 c fresh thyme sprigs
salt and pepper
4 Tb sweet butter

Preheat oven to 375
1.  Heat olive oil in pan. Season pork with salt.
2.  Sear both sides of pork in pan. Remove and place on cookie sheet.
3.  Finish baking pork in oven for 10-12 minutes.
4.  Melt 4 Tb butter till golden.
5.  Add herbs, apples, onion and shallot. Season with salt and pepper. Cook 5 minutes until apples are soft and onions are translucent. Remove from heat.
6.  Serve pork over apple mixture.

Vanilla Reduction
1 c apple cider
1/2 apple cider vinegar
1 piece of vanilla bean
1 Tb mustard seed
1 Tb fennel seed
1 Tb sweet butter

1.  Put all ingredients into a pot EXCEPT for the butter.
2.  Reduce over medium-low heat until syrupy.
3.  Stir in butter.
4.  Remove from heat.
5.  Pour over pork.

Mangia!

Insectarium

I have been wanting to go to the Insectarium for the Butterfly Exhibit and Insect Food. So today we went! The museum on the whole was better than I was expecting. My favorite (other than the butterflies of course) was the Texas Leaf Cutter Ants. Pretty impressive!

I was most excited though when we came across the Love Bug exhibit. 'Why', you ask. Well the story goes a little like this... I call Vivian my Love Bug but that's not all, I realized long after I started calling her that, that her initials are VW. How perfect is that! So anyhow, despite Vivian's attempt to take a nap in the stroller, I had to get a picture of my VW Love Bug sitting in a VW Love Bug splatter with Love Bugs. The exhibit did teach me a few things about the bugs. The females fly through a swarm a males and attach themselves to one. Then she flies him around for about 12 hours while they mate. Unfortunately, Love Bugs are attracted to heat and the smell of car exhaust. This is why if you live in the South, you're car is most likely splatter with them during mating season (May and September).

Onto the Insect Food. You read that right. Insect Food. Not food made to look like insects, food made from insects. We had the pleasure of trying crickets today. We had Chocolate Chirp Cookies, Crispy Cajun Crickets and Cricket Party Dip. You really couldn't taste the crickets in the cookies and the dip. But just the crickets tasted like roasted sunflower seeds. Not bad. They also offer mealworms but they weren't available when we were there.

We topped the visit off with the Butterfly Exhibit. It was pretty decent. We've been to the really big one in Gainesville so it had a lot to measure up to. The butterflies were very friendly; landing on people and one landed on our camera. Thankfully Vivian woke up for this part and I think she really enjoyed it!

 

  

 

 We had a great time at the Insectarium. Luckily the Insectarium is part of the Audubon Zoo and the Aquarium, so I think I'm going to get a family pass for the three of them. :-)

Goal in the Works - Pinterest Craft

We started Fall on a great note today! I made a fall wreath inspired by Pinterest. This is step one of twelve for completing my one Pinterest craft a month goal. Derrick came home and thought it was store bought. I'd say I did a pretty good job.

Goal in the Works - Act of Kindness #1

I was reviewing my goals list this evening and started to jot down some ideas of random acts of kindness. I got to the 6th one and then realized, random is the key word. I'm a decent enough person to see an opportunity and act on it. Then it donned on me, that is exactly the kind of person I am. Today at Michaels, I had a handful of coupons. Unfortunately Michaels only allows you to use one coupon per transaction. I had quite a few items and I didn't want to hold up the line so I just used one. Well I had all these extra coupons in hand so I started handing them to the people in line. They were so grateful. There were smiles all around!

Put Your Right Foot In, Put Your Right Foot Out

I love spying on Vivian when she sleeps. She just looks so perfect, even when she's practicing the Hokey Pokey while sleeping. Silly girl, that's going to hurt when you try to get out.

Fine Motor, Hand Eye Coordination and Problem Solving

The container that Vivian's new fish came in had a small hole on top and I thought, "Surely I could use this for something." On the other hand, Derrick thought, "Do we really need to keep another container?" Yes, yes we do. We can always use another container, especially one that comes designed to have a hole on top. It was going to be perfect for a pom pom activity. After washing the container, I got out some colorful pom poms. The next day I sat down with Vivian to show her how the activity works. Take a pom pom and put it in the hole. I shook the container to show her where it went. I did it one more time and then I was shoved out of the way so she could do it herself. Once they were all in, she tried sticking her little fingers in to get them out. She soon discovered that if she turns it upside down they come out with a little shake.

Fine Motor

Hand Eye Coordination

Problem Solving

1 Fish 2 Fish Red Fish Blue Fish

Vivian has recently started doing a fish face so we took that as a sign that she was asking for a fish. Off to the pet store we went and today we got Vivian her first pet, a bird. Just kidding, I was being silly. We got a red Half Moon Beta fish. What he lacks in size he makes up in beauty. His fins are so full and flowy. This is my third Beta and I must say he is one active fellow. He starts dancing when we sit down at the table like he wants to participate in our conversation. Vivian of course gets a hoot out of watching him swim around. We named him One Red Fish, check him out.

Goal Accomplished - Acupuncture

My first accomplished goal may be the most important to me right now, which is why I didn't waist any time getting to it. We are ready to have another baby and have been trying for nearly 7 months but things haven't been going very smoothly on my end. I have been having some ovulation issues. When I approached my OB/Gyn she automatically wanted to prescribe fertility drugs without much discussion. Derrick and I already discussed that we didn't want to force my body through drugs that could potentially harm me. So after some research, we found a more holistic way to go about it, acupuncture and herbs. Chinese medicine has been proven effective for over 3000 years. I figured why not give it a try. If it doesn't work then at least I won't be harmed or negatively altered by it (meaning awful mood swings, depression, etc.); the same type of thinking that I had when I decided to have my placenta encapsulated. Even if it's just a placebo and I feel better afterwards, it still worked.

So today we had our first appointment. When we walked in, the office smelled of a pretty medicine cabinet if you will. Not like Tylenol mixed with perfume but rich with a deep almost incense smell but more green (herbs of course). It was decorated with Asian inspired furniture in a way that I would think is Feng Shui - everything symmetrical and in order. Vivian found a giant jar with marinating root vegetables and snake skin. The herb room was off to the right. There was easily over 100 barrels of different herbs all labeled with Chinese Characters.

We were called back to the room after a few minutes. The nurse was very thorough which was a positive difference from any other doctor I had been to. She asked very detailed questions and wrote everything down. Then Dr. Lam came in. He has been practicing Chinese Medicine, mainly acupuncture, for 35 years. I reminded him that we were not taking fertility drugs and asked if that decreases the effectiveness. He reassured that it wouldn't, in fact, the more natural the easier. He was very optimistic and confident. I felt at ease.

Dr Lam had me get comfy on the table, face up. As he was inserting each needle starting at my knees working down to my toes and then to my fingers, he described, in Chinese and English, what each point was and how it will effect me and my body. I wish I had a notebook and paper or a voice recorder handy. I don't remember all the details but he targeted my stomach, kidney, liver, spleen, and of course my Qi (pronounced chi). He said that the body is like a blender, it needs something in it in order to do its job. My blender was on but nothing was in it so the points that he targeted were to help my blood, hormones and Qi make their way to my blender. Sounds silly but it's nice when a doctor can break down something complicated into a metaphor you can relate to and understand. The last needle (number 13) went into my 'third eye', the top of my noes between my eyes. This was to help me relax and release tension and stress. I know I needed that one. He placed a warm lamp (that didn't have light) over my belly to draw all the good stuff that was now flowing through me to my reproductive system. He turned the lights out and left me in the room with soft music for about 20 minutes. When he was inserting the needles I didn't feel it but there were two points that were tingly and itchy for a while, one on my right toe and one on my left finger. Apparently this is one of the sensations of the 'arrival of energy' or Qi.

Well after being with my thoughts for 20 minutes he came back in to remove the needles. He topped it off with an upper neck and head massage using herbal oils. It was a great experience. I was full of energy afterwards.

I have another appointment next week for more acupuncture and my herbal blend, which Dr. Lam says will taste disgusting but I have to use it. 'No problem,' I said.

Now all we need is time and love. ♥