Books for Toddlers - Sandra Boynton

My little one is 15 months old. Finding a good toddler book for him is not always easy. Some books are too wordy, some too long, and others not interesting enough. So when I find a great book at the library I do a little happy dance and add it to my list of books I love.

Today I'm sharing part of this list with you, by starting with one of my favorite toddler authors.  Sandra Boynton is a well published author I grew up loving as a child. I was super excited to introduce her to Baby K. The fun illustrations, catchy rhymes and silly characters grip you from the very beginning.  I love Sandra Boynton, but not all her books are created equal. Yes I do play favorites. Baby K does as well. I can't even tell you how many times I have read these books in the last year.

Our Top Ten Sandra Boynton Books

• The Going-To-Bed Book - Perfect for the bedtime routine.
• Moo Baa La La La - Great for introducing animal names and sounds.
• Blue Hat, Green Hat - My son loves the silly turkey in this book. It is also great for introducing colors and clothing items.
• Oh My Oh My Oh Dinosaurs! - Playful dinosaurs teach all about opposites, colors, and more.
• Opposites - Great to introduce opposite vocabulary.
• A to Z - Explore the alphabet with active animals.
• What's Wrong, Little Pookie? - Pookie is crying. Can mother figure out what is wrong?
• Belly Button Book - Baby K loves his belly button.
• Pajama Time! - Another great book for bed time.
• Birthday Monsters! - An entertaining book book about birthdays!

Do you have a favorite Boynton book?

Pictures credit belongs to: http://childrensbooksguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/the-going-to-bed-book-main.jpg, http://childrensbooksguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/book_ohmyohmyohmydinosaurs.jpg, http://img2.imagesbn.com/p/2940000953495_p0_v1_s260x420.JPG, http://images.betterworldbooks.com/067/Blue-Hat-Green-Hat-Boynton-Sandra-9780671493202.jpg, http://cache1.bdcdn.net/assets/images/book/large/9780/6714/9780671449032.jpg, http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/98/17/c7/9817c72b32d8de5e47d02101fe2aa66d.jpg, http://yourbooksworld.com/images/Childrens/whats-wrong-little-pookie.jpg, http://i.walmartimages.com/i/p/09/78/07/61/13/0978076113799_500X500.jpg, http://images.betterworldbooks.com/076/Pajama-Time-9780761119753.jpg, https://d3hgnfpzeohxco.cloudfront.net/images/bau/97815630/9781563054433/0/0/plain/birthday-monsters.jpg

Baby Food Basics

As a new mother I am learning a lot every day. Baby K is now 6 months old. I can't believe how the time has flown or how quickly he is growing. While he is still small for his age he loves food. He frequently tries to grab mine or anything else he can reach.

After sensing his growing interest in food and frustration with nursing we started him on cereal. Once his body had adjusted to that we introduced more variety. Since his doctor has given us the go ahead we are slowly introducing new items to his diet.  Baby K now loves applesauce, pears, yams, bananas, and avocado. (Please avoid strawberries and honey for the first year.)

My two biggest resources have been other mothers and a book. Hardly surprising since I know a lot of women with babies and I love to read. Cooking for Baby by Lisa Barnes has been very helpful as I have started making Baby K's food. I feel so accomplished feeding Baby K something I made by myself.* I know it was made with organic produce, has no added sugars or fillers, and tastes delicious.

You actually don't need anything fancy to make baby food. Though to be honest I did need to buy a steamer. I know. I know. What real cook doesn't have a steamer? One who was afraid of vegetables until just a couple of years ago and is slowly adding new ones to the menu. My husband had to show me how to use my steamer. :) It's a good thing I have him around.

The Tools:
Steamer*
Good pot with a lid
Blender
Containers

• Steam your lovely produce. Organic if you can manage. I understand that it can be expensive. 
• Blend it into a lovely puree.
• Place into a container. It will last in the fridge for about three days or the freezer for 3 months.

I generally use a large Snapware in the fridge and dish it into smaller bowls when feeding K. I've been using these Ziploc containers for on the go feedings. But they tend to leak with the runnier foods like applesauce or pears. I might need to invest in the Ziploc Twist & Lock kind. I'm still looking into good alternatives for freezing food. Anyone out there have any good recommendations?

*I am not an expert on baby food. Please consult a doctor if you have any concerns.

**A steamer is great for holding in all the great nutrients your baby needs. Not all produce can be steamed. Some like hard squashes and sweet potatoes should be cooked in your oven. If you don't have a steamer you can use a crockpot with a small amount of water.

Quiet and Start Something That Matters

Recently I have been seriously contemplating my life. It all started when I read Start Something That Matters by Blake Mycoskie. He is the creator of the shoe Toms. It is an amazing book! I highly recommend it.

As I read, I felt like something was missing in my life. I felt like I lacked his passion, drive, and determination. I used to feel that way about teaching, but right now I feel that I am waiting. Waiting for my baby to come, waiting for my life to change. I know nothing will be the same.

My contemplation continued last week as I read Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking. Those of you who know me in real life recognize that I am a pretty strong introvert, so reading this book was full of aha moments. Reading Quiet also reinforced some of the principles that I stumbled upon in Blake's book. Susan and Blake both discussed the need to discover what makes you passionate. I've been thinking about that for a while now.

My conclusion?

My passion is my family. I want to be a passionate mother and wife! I realize that a lot of people do not consider those very important endeavors in our modern day world. But I have always wanted to be a mother, a wife, and an educator. I love improving other people's lives. And who could be more important than my family?

In her book, Quiet, Susan discussed the need of honoring your own style and cultivating your own spaces. As a soon to be mother I have been reading and researching like crazy. My husband smiles as I read articles, books, and tips online. I stalk mommy Pinterest Boards. I ask a million questions. And I try to remember everything. (Which is really tough as a pregnant person.) But I know I need to remember this idea the most. I can be the type of mother I want to be. I don't need to copy anyone else.

Both books share the idea of pursuing an activity for it's own sake and not for a reward. Will I be making a ton of money or inspiring millions? No. But I will be changing the lives of my family and the lives of the people they touch. I want to find joy in that journey and live in the moments.

Susan also expressed the need for "deliberate practice," a quiet pursuit of new skills. That is going to be my life once my husband returns to work after paternity leave. I'm excited and scared. I have never been one who chases change and adventure. The only way to learn about motherhood is to try. I have a feeling the learning curve is going to be steep, but I can't wait.