It's Daddy Trip time! That means my husband and six of our kids -- yep, SIX this year -- are off gallivanting all over the country while I stay home with the littlest ones and get caught up on projects.
They'll be gone for ten days. It's been wonderful so far. I cleaned my kitchen right after they left. It's stayed clean. I've started organization projects and left them out without completing them. No one's messed them up. I've taken naps. No one's woken me up.
No one's talked back to me, had to be reminded to do their chores or clean their room, whined, or demanded anything of me. There have been no sibling battles, no large meals to prep and clean up after, no sticky floors, and lots of peace and quiet. It's been heavenly.
There's just one little hitch. Harmony. She'll be two next month and up until this week, I didn't know that she doesn't know how to entertain herself. I've never noticed that she's not interested in toys. Nope, this week all she's been doing is following me around, mimicking everything I do. She bangs on the computer keys, smears peanut butter on the counter, pushes herself on my lap when I'm feeding Katie, runs to Katie when she cries and tries to shove her pacifier in her mouth, and refuses to play with toys. I've seen her play with them before, and I've gotten plenty out, but I guess they're only fun when she's playing with siblings.
And here's the thing: I don't remember how to entertain a toddler! Oh, sure, I've read her a few books and we've gone for walks and to the library, and I've talked to her and handed her crayons and such, but there are sure a lot of hours in the day. So, here's your chance, all you young moms -- remind me how to entertain this little gal so I can actually get some of those projects completed?
One of my projects is to make our 2009 book. Every year I pull together my weekly newsletter emails, blog posts, and pictures and throw them together in a book using Blurb. I do some scrapbooking of the pictures along the way. This year, I've switched to 12 x 12 size and I'm really enjoying the way I can fit so many pictures on the page. I'm currently working on May of 2009, with the goal of doing two months a day. In the last three days, I've done 18 pages! I'm not a perfectionist with pages; throw them on, balance it out, add a cute background and a few elements and I'm done. But still, I think they look great; don't you agree?
They'll be gone for ten days. It's been wonderful so far. I cleaned my kitchen right after they left. It's stayed clean. I've started organization projects and left them out without completing them. No one's messed them up. I've taken naps. No one's woken me up.
No one's talked back to me, had to be reminded to do their chores or clean their room, whined, or demanded anything of me. There have been no sibling battles, no large meals to prep and clean up after, no sticky floors, and lots of peace and quiet. It's been heavenly.
There's just one little hitch. Harmony. She'll be two next month and up until this week, I didn't know that she doesn't know how to entertain herself. I've never noticed that she's not interested in toys. Nope, this week all she's been doing is following me around, mimicking everything I do. She bangs on the computer keys, smears peanut butter on the counter, pushes herself on my lap when I'm feeding Katie, runs to Katie when she cries and tries to shove her pacifier in her mouth, and refuses to play with toys. I've seen her play with them before, and I've gotten plenty out, but I guess they're only fun when she's playing with siblings.
And here's the thing: I don't remember how to entertain a toddler! Oh, sure, I've read her a few books and we've gone for walks and to the library, and I've talked to her and handed her crayons and such, but there are sure a lot of hours in the day. So, here's your chance, all you young moms -- remind me how to entertain this little gal so I can actually get some of those projects completed?
One of my projects is to make our 2009 book. Every year I pull together my weekly newsletter emails, blog posts, and pictures and throw them together in a book using Blurb. I do some scrapbooking of the pictures along the way. This year, I've switched to 12 x 12 size and I'm really enjoying the way I can fit so many pictures on the page. I'm currently working on May of 2009, with the goal of doing two months a day. In the last three days, I've done 18 pages! I'm not a perfectionist with pages; throw them on, balance it out, add a cute background and a few elements and I'm done. But still, I think they look great; don't you agree?
Comments
One thing my little ones love is a BIG Rubbermaid container full of dry pinto beans. They dig in them and play with measuring cups, etc... Good luck- I always miss the older ones entertaining the toddlers too!
Have you tried play-doh and cookie cutters yet?
Saw your blog on MMWB. I'm Lisa, nice to meet you.
My two year old is the same way. She is bored to tears with her older brother and sister off at summer camp each morning. I've been taking her for lots of walks and little trips to the park...it's kind of fun just to have the two little girls with me for once. When we're home she sticks to me like glue though. I sit on the couch with the baby and she sits right beside me and brings me piles of books and papers she wants "help" coloring. I guess doing all that wouldn't help you get any projects done though! There's always nap time, right?
Good Luck!!!