I’m at the point in my pregnancy where I tend to wear the same few shirts over and over (and over).  It’s not very exciting so I do my best to spice things up.  I’ve been obsessed with making fabric rosettes lately.  It requires limited supplies and little time – which is just my style right now.

SUPPLIES:

• Fabric (lightweight fabric works best)
• Fabric Glue (I used Aleene’s No-Sew Fabric Glue)
• Scissors

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Cut the fabric 1″ wide and atleast 24″ long.  The longer the fabric, the bigger the rosette.
2. Tie a knot at one end.
3. Apply a little fabric glue and start twisting and gluing.
4. Apply glue every 1/2 turn or so.
5. When you get to the end and have about an inch or two of fabric left, apply some glue on the back side of the rosette and adhere the leftover fabric to it.
6. Add a pin, clip, or velcro to the back so you can easily transfer it from belt to headbands, bracelets, etc.

This has been a great way to use fabric scraps laying around my house and also has me thinking of cute headbands for the little girl headed our way.

It’s May so that means new songs for the little ones! This will be the last month for Music Makers (we don’t meet as a group in the summer).   If you’re interested in learning more about the program, start here.  This post will tell you all about the basic layout and structure of the group.  We will resume again in the Fall when school starts back up.  The theme this month is Summer & Bugs.

Here’s a sampling of songs that we’re singing this month:

RHYTHYM STICKS:

“TAP YOUR STICKS” (sung to: “Frere Jacques”)
Tap your sticks.
Tap your sticks.
One, two, three.
One, two, three.

Can you tap your sticks,
Can your tap your sticks,
Just like me,
Just like me?

Tap your sticks,
Tap your sticks,
Way up high,
Way up high.

No-w, bend down,
No-w, bend down,
Tap the ground.
Tap the ground.

THEME SONGS:

Eentsy, Weentsy Spider
The eentsy, weentsy spider went up the water-spout.
Down came the rain and washed the spider out.
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain,
And the eentsy, weentsy spider went up the spout again.

Repeat… The great big spider
The rock and roll spider
“Flutter, Flutter Butterfly” (sung to: Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star)
Flutter, flutter, butterfly.
Floating in the summer sky.
Floating by for all to see,
Floating by so merrily.
Flutter, flutter, butterfly,
Floating in the summer sky.

“Baby Bumblebee”
I’m bringing home a baby bumblebee,
Won’t my mommy be so proud of me,
I’m bringing home a baby bumblebee,
Ouch! It stung me!

I’m squishing up the baby bumblebee,
Won’t my mommy be so proud of me,
I’m squishing up a baby bumblebee,
Ooh! It’s yucky!

I’m wiping off the baby bumblebee,
Won’t my mommy be so proud of me,
I’m wiping off the baby bumblebee,
Now my mommy won’t be mad at me!

STICK SONGS:

There’s A Beetle on the Floor (sung to: If You’re Happy and You Know it)
There’s a beetle on the floor, on the floor
There’s a beetle on the floor, on the floor
Who could ask for anything more
than a beetle on the floor?
There’s a beetle on the floor on the floor.

There’s a beetle on my shoe, on my shoe
There’s a beetle on my shoe, on my shoe
Oh, I donʼt know what to do,
thereʼs a beetle on my shoe.
There’s a beetle on my shoe on my shoe.

Repeat with:
Knee- Heʼs as big as he can be. Just look over here and see
Hip- Oh, I think Iʼm gonna flip. I got a beetle on my hip
Tummy- Oh, it isnʼt very funny, thereʼs a beetle on my tummy
Neck-Oh I’m gonna be a wreck! I’ve got a beetle on my neck
Face – Oh, what a big disgrace! I’ve got a beetle on my face
Head –Oh, the beetles on my head I want to hide up in my bed
“But he jumps off”
There’s a beetle on the floor on the floor (repeat first verse)

“Mr. Sun”
Oh Mister Sun, Sun,
Mister Golden Sun,
Please shine down on me

Oh Mister Sun, Sun,
Mister Golden Sun,
Hiding behind a tree. . .

These little children are asking you
To please come out so we can play with you

Oh Mister Sun, Sun,
Mister Golden Sun,
Please shine down on…
Please shine down on…
Please shine down on me.

MOVEMENT TIME:

Can You Move With Me? (sung to: “Do Your Ears Hang Low”)
Can you wiggle like a worm?
Can you squiggle? Can you squirm?
Can you flutter? Can you fly like a gentle butterfly?
Can you crawl upon the ground
Like a beetle that is round?
Can you move with me?

Can you flip? Can you flop?
Can you give a little hop?
Can you slither like a snake?
Can you give a little shake?
Can you dance like bee
Who is buzzing round a tree?
Can you move with me?

To download the entire May program, click below.

For other month programs, click here.

We would be lost around here without our GeoTrax these days.  It’s the perfect toy for those days that my energy levels are low and I can’t think beyond what I’m fixing for dinner. Please tell me I’m not the only one who has those days.

For those of you curious about what age range this toy works for, I would say 18 months-6 years.  We gave a good GeoTrax starter kit to Caden when he was almost 3.  Caden loved playing with his cousin’s tracks starting at 2 1/2 years old. He loved them greatly until he was about 4 and then stopped playing with them for a month or two until Porter started showing interest in them.  At 18 months, Porter can piece the tracks together all by himself (well, mostly… he struggles with the bridges).  I was even impressed when he made a closed circle the other day!  What a great thing for a young mind!  And I’m guessing that most children are done with GeoTrax by age 6.  By then they are into more motorized toys and legos.  Correct me if I’m wrong.

Whenever asked if I would purchase these or the wooden Thomas the Train sets.  I say GeoTrax, hands down!  They are easy to snap together and they stay together.  When Caden was young, we had two different Thomas sets and there was endless frustrations over the bridge and how easily it would be knocked down by the dog, or by Caden stepping out of his sacred train circle.  The trains wouldn’t ever stay together and the magnets seemed hard for him to figure out.  The GeoTrax are easy to use and Porter has little to no frustration, even with how young he is.  Plus, we found investing into two different track systems was silly so why no just start with the real deal.  Just like Thomas, the GeoTrax system has both motorized and manual trains so the child can pick which one they’re comfortable with.

I highly recommend these for any young mind that likes to tinker.  These days, Porter goes straight down to play with them first thing in the morning and they will keep him busy for hours.  I’m not even kidding.  HOURS! I recommend trying to find a used set as these things are pricey.  The starter kit that we gave Caden was found on Craigslist and included about $300 worth of tracks, buildings and trains for $125.  The boys always seem to receive pieces to add to their collections for birthdays and Christmas.

I will say that storing these is kind of a nightmare.  I haven’t found the perfect solution yet.  The tracks aren’t so bad, but it’s the big buildings and bridges that take up space.  Currently, they are stored in a big toy bucket which means there’s usually a dumping party involved when we play with them.  If you have any storage ideas, please share.

|It probably looks like I was paid to write this by GeoTrax, but I wasn’t paid a dime.  I just love these things so much right now.|

GIRL!

We couldn’t be more surprised or thrilled. I’ve been shopping for frills and pink like there’s no tomorrow.

|Taken right before bed time last night|

In case you’ve ever been curious, I have bad days too.  One of the funny things about having this blog is that everyone assumes I’m super woman.  As much as I wish that were true, it isn’t.  I started this blog to help me focus on the positive in my life and as it turns out, it usually involves my children.  I love all the fun projects we do, and I love sharing them in hopes that they inspire you.

You may have noticed my blogging has been light recently.  Right now, I’m exhausted.  Seriously exhausted.  I can’t find my energy and it’s the most frustrating thing.  I’m not one that naps or relaxes much so when the only thing I can think about upon waking up is if I will get a nap or not that day is super frustrating to me.  I feel like a terrible mother and can be really hard on myself during times like these. Needless to say, my creative juices are not flowing like usual which only adds to my frustration.  I read this article, “Connecting with Kids When You’re Exhausted” yesterday and wanted to pass it along for anyone else that might be interested.

I hope to be back soon to share some fun things.  In the meantime, feel free to tell me in the comments what’s inspiring you these days.

xo

Here’s a sampling of songs that we’re singing this month:

RHYTHYM STICKS:

“Hickory Dickory Dock” – instead of rhythm sticks this month, have the leader bring along a shaker and triangle to keep the rhythm of the clock
Hickory Dickory Dock,
The mouse ran up the clock. (child with rattle shakes it)
The clock struck one, (child with triangle strikes it)
The mouse ran down! (child with rattle shakes it)
Hickory Dickory Dock.

THEME SONGS:

“In the Leafy Treetops”
In the leafy treetops the birds sing good morning.
Theyʼre first to see the sun.
They must tell everyone.
In the leafy treetops the birds sing good morning.
In my pretty garden the flowers are nodding.
How do you do today?
How do you do they say.
In my pretty garden the flowers are nodding.

“Look for Colors” (sung to: “Are You Sleeping”)
Look for (yellow), look for (yellow)
On your clothes, on your clothes
If youʼre wearing (yellow),
(Wiggle like Jell-O)
I found (yellow), I found (yellow)
Repeat with: Red…put your finger on your head
Purple…spin in a circle
Green…find a place to lean
White…close your eyes goodnight
Brown…make your face frown
Pink…give your friend a wink
Blue…hold up number two
Black…clap behind your back

“Flowers in the Spring” (sung to: “Farmer in the Dell”)
Flowers in the spring,
Flowers in the spring,
Hi, ho! Oh, yes I know,
There are flowers in the spring.
They stretch, grow and bloom.
They stretch, grow and bloom.
Hi, ho! Oh, yes I know,
They stretch, grow, and bloom.

“Raindrops” (sung to: Skip to my Lou)
Raindrops, raindrops falling down, (hold hands high, flutter fingers)
Pitter, patter on the ground (tap fingers on knees)
Softly, softly do they sound, (finger to lips)
April raindrops all around! (hold hands high, flutter fingers)

GLOVE SONGS:

“My Easter Basket” (sung to: A Tisket a Tasket)
A tisket, a tasket
I have an Easter basket.
Come and put an egg inside
My pretty purple basket.
A basket, a basket
I have an Easter basket
Come and put an egg inside
My pretty Easter basket

“Five Little Easter Eggs”
Five little Easter eggs, lovely colors wore,
Mother ate the blue one, then there were four.
Four little Easter eggs, two and two you see,
Daddy ate the green one, then there were three.
Three little Easter eggs, before I knew,
Sister at the yellow one, then there were two.
Two little Easter eggs, Oh, what fun!
Brother ate the red one, then there was one.
One little Easter egg, see me run!
I ate the last one, then there was none

MOVEMENT TIME:

“Letʼs Go Fly a Kite”
Each child gets a plastic bag kite and runs through the gym while the music plays.

“Ring Around the Rosies”
Ring around the rosies
A pocket full of posies
Ashes, ashes,
We all fall down
A ring of springtime flowers
Made from April showers
Tulips, buttercups,
We all pop up!

To download the entire April program, click below.

For other month programs, click here.

I love coloring Easter eggs and I also love finding new and inventive ways of playing around with textures so I enjoyed this activity just as much as my children.  I think Caden (4 yo) loved getting messy and playing around with colors.  Porter (18 mo) played around with his shaving cream a little, but mostly enjoyed watching us.

SUPPLIES:

• Vinegar
• Food Coloring
• Shaving Cream
• Hard Boiled Eggs

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Dip the eggs in vinegar to help the colors stick and brighten.
2. Put a little (or a lot) of shaving cream on a plate and add various dots of food coloring around the shaving cream.
3. Mix the colors as little as much as you like (we used a craft stick to mix it).
4. Roll your egg around in the color and set aside.
5. Let sit in the refrigerator overnight and rinse with water in the morning.  Voila!

Caden’s shaving cream turned into almost a solid color and I worried it would make the eggs looks gross, but I was wrong.  His eggs are by far my favorite.  I was way too careful choosing my colors.

After we were all done with the eggs, Caden had a lot of fun playing around with the shaving cream.  Porter was a little unsure of it after I told him we couldn’t eat it, so then he rubbed a little on his tummy.  The food coloring slightly stained their hands, but it was gone after bath time.

Note: I’m not sure these are okay to eat, but they sure are pretty.  We used expired eggs so I don’t feel too bad about not eating them.

I’m 18.5 weeks and growing faster than I ever remember with my other two.  If there’s one thing I dread, it’s maternity clothes.  I try to go as long as possible without purchasing kangaroo pants and maternity tops.  Luckily, I have a lot of form fitted shirts that are nice and long.  There are a few other items I love keeping on hand.

1. Bella Band- I love being able to wear my same pants that I know fit me well.  I have always struggled finding maternity pants that suit me so the Bella Band is something I love having around.
2. Extra Long Cami.  These give me a little extra support and also a little added length over the top of my pants.  I don’t like feeling exposed to the world, and this makes sure everything stays in place where it should.
3. Leggings- I love wearing leggings under dresses.  I haven’t really tried this with any other baby, but I’m pretty sure I will love leggings this time around.  They have an elastic waist so they will fit for the duration of my pregnancy.
4. Comfortable shoes- I’ve been wearing flip flops and flats like there’s no tomorrow.  I usually swell like a balloon the last 6-8 weeks of pregnancy so I’m enjoying cute shoes while I can.
5. Dresses- these are the easiest (and most comfortable!) to wear while pregnant.  I actually spotted this maternity dress at Target the other day and I think I’m going to get it.
6. Cocoa Butter- I put lotion on my growing belly every morning and sometimes night.  I don’t know if it helps prevent stretch marks, but I’ve been pretty fortunate to have minimal marks.  My first pregnancy I didn’t get any, my second I got a few.  Let’s hope my third is kind to me as well.
7. Chocolate.  Trust me, I’m a much happier pregnant when I have chocolate around.

What did I miss?  What are your pregnancy must haves?

Yesterday, I was reading through some of my posts on my old blog, Mumbo Jumbo.  Some of you have stuck with me through my transitions (thank you!) and know my old blog was a much more of personal journal for my thoughts and reflections on what was happening in our day-to-day life.  I blogged over there very sporadically, but I really enjoyed reading through my posts last night.  It was interesting to read my thoughts during our recent move and about how stressed I was about bringing a second child into the world.  I can’t believe how worried I was for Caden!  I’m sure it was totally normal, but it’s almost comical reading it now.  Caden is a much better person for having a sibling and I couldn’t imagine our family without cute ol’ Porter.

It made me realize how much better I need to be about journaling.  Do you keep a journal?  I have a journal that I keep all to myself, but I write in it ever month or two (or five).  I don’t do it nearly enough.  I am much better when I can sit at a computer and write my thoughts. In the wise words of Gretchen Rubin, journaling doesn’t have to be an elaborate thing.  It can be just a sentence or two.  I like that and I’m going to try and do better.  I’m challenging myself to write two sentences a day and if I can keep that up for a month, I will order a journal for Caden and Porter.  I would love to document what fun things they are saying and doing.

Do you have any ideas to help motivate yourself for journaling?  Do you keep a journal online, or privately?  Do share.  I’d love to hear your thoughts.