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Kids Say The Darndest Things BTCS Edition

6 May, 2013 Reply

The day after tomorrowThis is one of those small things that isn’t really laugh out loud funny but when you keep hearing it over and over it starts to get a little silly. LTD does not know how to use the word tomorrow or he simply chooses not to say it out loud. What the little guy does do when he wants to do something in the future is say ‘the next day.’ As in Daddy the next day can we go to the playground? It is particularly amusing when he will tell someone else something he is excited about. For instance, he may tell one of his teachers that the next day he is going to the zoo. So we can file this one under cute instead of hardcore laughter.

Book Review – Star Wars Origami

3 May, 2013 Reply

STAR WARS COVER MECH 3rd pass.inddAs long time Beyond the Car Seat readers know well LTD is now heavy into Star Wars or the “original” star wars as I have him referred to it. I could not be more happy that he loves the rebels or constantly dresses as Lord Vader, but we do try and limit his screen time and feed his love of art. In that regard, Chris Alexander’s “Star Wars Origami: 36 Amazing Paper-folding Projects from a Galaxy Far, Far Away….” answers the call. LTD is a little young for the projects, but truthfully with my ripping paper instead of folding it we need The Mommy anyway. Thankfully, the beginning pages focus on basic paper folding before entering the world of young Skywalker. The book has levels from easy to Jedi Master so it works for a lot of different abilities and again we need The Mommy in order to make Boba Fett’s ship.

Coupon Code Alert – BloomNation

3 May, 2013 Reply

bn5Mother’s Day is just around the corner and if you don’t know that then you may be in need of a quick gift idea. BloomNation.com sets you up with a trusted florist in your area but you order on the BloomNation site in a set it and forget situation. In most cases, if you order by a certain time you can get same day delivery. The cool thing is that you get an order email and a delivery confirmation email so you don’t call and ruin the surprise. When I typed in my wife’s office address the site auto-completed to make the process even simpler. Lastly, when picking the actual flowers you choose from real pictures without being overwhelmed. Having a picture is key, since the last time I tried to pick flowers it did not go well (I do know that carnations are bad in case you were wondering). When you are as sleep deprived as I am simple and easy are the big pluses.

Use coupon code: Bloom20 to receive 20% off your order. The code is valid until Mother’s Day (May 12th, 2013)

Nanny Tips and Do You Tip a Nanny?

2 May, 2013 Reply

photo617The International Nanny Association offers some advice from their Nanny of the Year winner.

The INA recently named  Jo Barrow their Nanny of the Year.  A professional with 22 years of experience, Jo is an outstanding example of the nanny every family hopes to engage for the care of their children.  Some of Barrow’s tips include:

Nearly 11 million American children under the age of 5 are in outside care according to Child Care Aware in their 2012 report Families are entrusting their children to caregivers in record numbers when they go off to work each day.

How do parents ensure they are making the best possible choice when it comes to caregivers? Jo Barrow, the newly-named 2013 Nanny of the Year, has great advice and tips for any parents exploring child care needs.

How to Find a Great Caregiver

•        Start the search: by asking the experts – Personal referrals, when a great care giver is leaving her current position, may also be invaluable as they can lead to a wonderful relationship. Agencies, while expensive, can offer the best selection of qualified candidates. The INA is a great resource to tap.

•        What to ask in the interview? Scenario based questions, ‘What would you do if……a b c happened?”  What are your thoughts on discipline, what techniques do you prefer? What aspects of the job do you particularly enjoy/not enjoy?

•        Red flags? Little or no previous experience. No references or weak letters of recommendation. Can’t provide proof of legal status.

•        Check it out: Background checks are a must, even if you’re going with the nanny of a good friend who you’ve known for years.

How to Keep a Great Caregiver

•        Start with the right set-up:  Write a detailed job description.  Dedicate enough time to work with the new Nanny, side by side, to show her the ropes, your preferences and expectations.

•        The hand-off:   Some parents take a few days with the Nanny before leaving her alone with their kids; others may want to wait a week.  Barrow recommends spending 2 full days together.

•        Keep the lines of communication open.  A parent should schedule times for weekly check-in meetings to make sure your children are happy and well-cared for.

•        Make sure your caregiver knows how much you appreciate her/his efforts.

A pretty, intelligent and articulate Englishwoman, Barrow could easily stand in for Mary Poppins on Broadway, but she’s the first to tell you that she doesn’t have any magic up her sleeve. Rather, she depends on great training, her love of nurturing and her ability to establish a rapport with children and their parents.

Children come in all shapes, sizes and personalities. Some are smart and studious, others can be mischievous and fun-loving but they’re all different and pose different challenges,” says Barrow.  “As a nanny you need to understand and work with each individual taking into account his or her needs, capabilities and the overall family dynamic. It’s that ability that defines a really skilled caregiver.”

Yeah, it’s Cool, I’m Batman

1 May, 2013 Reply

IMG_1898We will file this one under I can’t believe I missed it. The Mommy took LTD and BB to a spring picnic hosted by the mom group. All the kids were running around playing with what seemed like new toys (well new to everyone but the hosting child) and releasing a ton of energy. A little while into the gathering LTD stumbled on a Batman costume which as luck would have it was just his size. After he donned the outfit and became the caped crusader here is what The Mommy says happened next. He ran around the house fighting crime, but when he happened on the group of girls who were coloring quietly things took an interesting turn. Even though everyone was only four, the girls giggled and swooned over the Batman. LTD ran off to find The Mommy for guidance as he was now in uncharted waters. The Mommy informed him that the girls need help. His words were, ‘I will go and save them’ and he ran off. The Mommy could hear, from her listening post in the kitchen, the sounds of giggling and ‘yeeee, it’s Batman’. Now the only thing left to figure out about the flirting was if it was the man or the costume.

Product Review – Bodywell Chip

30 April, 2013 Reply

page_sidebar_design-specsLTD frequently uses my old iPhone and BB now uses my iPod (just kidding, but he did grab my phone the other day and make it all sticky). So with all this “i” technology floating around the house it is time once again to discuss cell phone radiation. As mentioned earlier I don’t want to get into the debate, except to say that if cell radiation is bad there are simple fixes out there to deal with the issue and ride the safer than sorry train. One simple way to handle the things so that your kids don’t transform into the Hulk is to use the Bodywell Chip. You just place the small square on the back of the phone and go about playing Words with Friends. The Chip works by blending frequencies that counter cellphone SAR radiation without affecting service. The process is similar to that of noise-canceling headphones. The best part is that even if the radiation turns out not be the danger that some say, the Chip is easy enough to use and frankly when I write the word radiation as many times as I just did it doesn’t sound like something I should be ignoring.

Nothing Compares to a Child’s Imagination

29 April, 2013 Reply

imagination4One of the great joys of watching LTD grow has been seeing his imagination develop first hand. If you listen carefully you can hear what sound like the ravings of a lunatic when LTD is in bed about to go to sleep. Sometimes the stuffies talk to each other and sometimes he “reads” books out loud. As long time Beyond the Car Seat readers have always known LTD does love his costumes and role play. Thankfully, he does not get lost in the characters he portrays for if you say, ‘are you Batman?’ he will reply no I am just dressed up in a Batman costume. A healthy attitude that allow him to keep his feet on the ground, but his eyes on the stars. From making up words to making up games his imagination seems to get more and more developed by the day. However, I would be remiss if I did not point out that when he makes up a joke they don’t really land the way you would like but he does get a sympathy laugh.

Bottle Episode

26 April, 2013 Reply

formula-baby-bottlesBB takes a bottle film at 11. And then doesn’t. In preparation of The Mommy going back to work we started giving BB a practice bottle weeks before the big day. He was reluctant to say the least. He just would not suck but after awhile the situation did. Advice was that it just takes time. So when the day finally arrived I had to feed BB like a bird. He had no problem with the dropper when taking his Vitamin D so I used a dropper to feed him like a baby bird. One suggestion was to use a cup, but too much was spilling and this stuff is liquid gold and The Mommy works hard to make it. By the third day of drops even BB had had enough and took the bottle and drained in fast. I was back in business and all was right with the world. Then Monday arrived and BB having spent the weekend with the real thing rejected the fake. It was dropper time again. But this tale has a happy ending as I finally figured out that BB doesn’t like a cold lunch but wanted a warm meal all along. This boy won’t accept even room temperature, it has to be north of warm and then he goes to work like he gets paid by the ounce. Like a shark, BB is now a perfect eating machine as long as it ain’t Gazpacho.

The Sleep Late Contest

24 April, 2013 Reply

00c076e0-c30c-41d3-9c86-c704ae3995deThe Sleep Late Contest

Enter Beyond the Car Seat’s Sleep Late Contest. Winner will receive The Stoplight Alarm Clock. If you have the same problems that we have dealing with LTD in the AM, then this cool prize is a must have.

The Stoplight Alarm Clock features a friendly, beautifully-crafted sculpted figure next to a stoplight. The stoplight features red and green lights that can be easily set by parents. A digital clock and optional beeping alarm function are also included.

When the red light is on, kids will understand that it is still time to sleep. When the green light turns on, kids will know that it is time to get out of bed.

For a chance to win this great prize, simply fill out the contact form and write “Sleep Late” in the subject line.

The Fine Print

How to Enter:
Enter your information using the contact form. Please fill out all the information and don’t forget your email address. Winner will be chosen at random.

Stoplightclock.com graciously provided the prize. Any opinions I might have about the toy remain my own and have not been influenced by Custom Quest..

Eligibility:
Contestants must be at least 18 years of age at the time of entry and legal residents of the 50 United States and District of Columbia. Void in Puerto Rico, and where prohibited by law or regulation. All entries become the property of beyondthecarseat.com.

The Contest begins on April 24, 2013 and ends on May 15th, 2013. Contest winner will be announced on May 16th, 2013.

Copyrights:
By entering into the Contest, each contestant agrees to grant beyondthecarseat.com and its owners/operators permission to copy and publish to beyondthecarseat.com any and all writings submitted by the contestant. NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN.

Book Review – “I See Me” Personalized Books

23 April, 2013 Reply

1myveryownname_2258_6039745When I was the age LTD is now I had I pretty cool personalized story book about a talking trash can (I think). There is something neat about seeing a real book with your name in it. My book had typed inserts for my name and info but we are in the future now and I See Me! has perfected the seamless art of personalizing books. The I See Me! books strive to make the illustrations and stories as interesting as possible with a desire to not have your name in it be the only thing cool inside. The books are available in traditional story form featuring Pirates or Fairies, but you can also get coloring books, holiday or birthday books and big brother or sister books. The books put a focus on the letters in the child’s name so unfortunately kids named JP don’t get their money’s worth but those named Bartholomew make out like bandits. And of course this being modern days you can even get a personalized book for the iPad.

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