Count Your Blessings

Day after day we as parents do the following: wake up child, feed child, play with child, feed child again, etc, etc.  Between the routines of feeding and napping, do we stop and say thank you for what we have?  Thank you for the monotonous routine of raising our kids and, along the way, loving them the best we can?  After a trip to the ER last week with my one year old, I feel like all I have been doing is counting my blessings.  I am blessed with two beautiful girls and even if I am stressed to the max, I cannot forget that!  Here is a great book about blessings to share with your little one:

Salina Yoon is a favorite of mine, the pictures are whimsical and the writing is perfect for little ones.  This makes a perfect bedtime story!

Parents, be a lovebug!!  Take it a step further and make a Blessings Book.  With a few pieces of paper, fold and staple on the side. Discuss what you are blessed with in your life.  Your child may choose toys or pets, which is perfectly fine.  Make sure you add family to the list, especially siblings.  To add the educational factor, number them as they do in the book.  For example, four pets or two parents.  Good luck and always remember to what your biggest blessing is:  Your Children!!

Happy Lovebug Day!!

Hello to all you lovebugs out there!  I am celebrating Valentine's Day with the launch of my new blog, Lovebug Literature.  Besides food, clothing, and shelter, the most important thing a parent can do for their child is READ.  What could be better than curling up at bedtime with a picture book and your little one?  Well, maybe add a mug of hot cocoa with marshmallows with that...  Reading with your child gives them a great start on the process of learning to read and the one-on-one interaction helps them feel secure and loved.  Check out my book picks of the week plus a Valentine's activity to try with your little lovebug!

XOXO Meg


Meg's Pick:  "Pinkalicious: Pinkie Promise" 

Pinkalicious is a darling, pig-tailed girl whose favorite color is...Surprise! Pink, of course.  She borrows her friend's pink paint and promises not to use it all.  Whoops, after her pinkatastic pink picture is painted, she discovers she used up all of the pink paint, plus the red and white too.  Her friend is mad and Pinkalicious is upset that she broke her promise, but even more sad that her friend doesn't sit next to her at lunchtime.  Finally, Pinkalicious delivers a brand new tube of pink paint to her friend and finds out that she is forgiven!  This book gives many great messages on dealing with a friend who is upset with you and even better, the importantance of forgiveness.  Written by Victoria Kann, check this one out!

Valentine's Hand Hearts:

Supplies:  Red or pink paint, white paper, and a pair of tiny hands :)

Paint the outside of your child's hands, the part that is soft from your wrist to your pinkie.  Curve hands to make a heart shape and press down on a piece of paper.  Ta da!  A perfect heart for a sweet valentine!



Valentine Scavenger Hunt:

Every year I have a Valentine scavenger hunt for my girls.  After a breakfast of heart-shaped pancakes, I read the first clue to my oldest and she races to get the next clue.  Try to make the clues rhyme and have your child pick out the rhyming words.  Here are a few examples:

Happy Valentine's Day to Lily and Claire,
now go find what we use to brush your hair.

This is a clue to a bed,
a place where Mommy rests her head.