Playdough Test Run

I used the recipe from Super Baby Food. It turned out really well, Mcclellan liked playing with it but not eating it (although, he had to try it!), and it was way easy. I gotta look up the recipe I used all the time when I taught preschool; it kept forever and was super soft.

Homeschooling the Baby

Mcclellan and I seem to go through bouts of super-organization and education in the home mixed with dry spells of, "Oh well, let's just finger paint...again." Do you moms, homeschooling or not, have any ideas of ways to be organized and purposeful about what, when, and how you play and teach your kiddos? I know there are a lot of great books out there, so what have you read that you found helpful? I am a super-planner (always have been), down to the point where I'd like to write a weekly/monthly activity plan. I have a few toddler activity books back from my preschool teaching days that I use frequently, and there are a few websites I really like as well. I just feel like sometimes I'm not doing "enough" to play with/teach Mcclellan. Maybe if I sit down on Saturdays and write our plans for the next week (book of the day, art activity, songs, dances, etc.) I'll feel more on target. I guess for me, I like to have something physical to look at, like a calendar, to motivate and validate what we've done. Its hard too, cause a 1-yr-old has the attention span of a Jack Russell terrier (Melissa, you know what I'm talking about! Zippah!). How do you gals stay consistent and motivated when it comes to whiling away those daytime hours with toddlers at home?

a soapy mess!

The other day I accidentally put some dish soap into our dishwasher (not much, because I caught myself after I'd put in a teaspoon or so, then finished it off with the correct soap) and started the cycle and went to bed. The next morning, our tile floor had a white film on it. I've tried straight vinegar to get it off, but no luck. Any ideas?

Natural Household Cleaner

I keep forgetting to email you this recipe, Christina. I thought I would post it here.

Hard Surface Cleaner:

2 cups water
2 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon liquid dish soap
1 tablespoon baking soda
1 teaspoon borax

Mix in a spray bottle and shake everytime before using. I've noticed that it doesn't leave my countertops nice and shiny, so I usually rinse with white vineager after I'm done disinfecting.

Playdough

Anyone have a homemade playdough recipe to share??

Thanks!

Brushing Those Tuskies and Keeping the Pipes Clear

Two things I need some advice on:

1. Brushing those baby teeth. Mcclellan has 8 and my biggest problem with them is remembering to brush them! I even have his toothbrush next to ours, but we never remember to brush his. We've tried during bath, on the changing table, at the dinner table. It doesn't help either, that kid hates us trying to stick that thing in there. I've even tried just wiping his teeth with a small washcloth, and he detests that too. Any ideas?

2. Big eater constipation. Kid has always been a great eater and while some of it is probably our fault for "letting" him eat certain things, we have a problem about 2 times a month with constipation. I pretty much let him eat til he stops on his own (which is usually indicated by him sticking his tongue out with the food all over it!), and he eats most everything we do (still no obvious digestive-problem foods like oranges, tomatoes, cucumber, cabbage, lettuce, corn, etc.). I try not to load him up on bananas or bread to avoid constipation, but it seems to happen still more frequently than I'd like. Is this just something normal for big eating kids that I have to get used to, or is there something you could recommend to avoid the painful, fussy F.O.S. baby?

Gracias, chicas!

NEVER get a dog!

I love dogs, don't get me wrong. I just have a problem with owning one. For all of you who are considering getting a dog, DON'T. I'm getting sick of cleaning up pee on my area rugs from my still-incontinent almost-5-year-old dog. Why anyone would want to do that for years and years is beyond me. I know some of you are thinking it might be fun to get a dog, for your kids or just because you think they're cute- which they are. My personal, heartfelt and sincere advice to you would be: Get a goldfish. They drink their pee. Much easier.

Okay, now I feel better. Even though I have my area rug peeled off the floor and folded over to dry...