Wee Love: Frozen Raspberries

Natalie is having a rough time cutting her molars. Girlfriend has cut 3 out of 4 molars in the last 3 months and this last one is proving the most stubborn. I tend toward more homeopathic remedies, though I’ll use Pedia Care or Infant Tylenol on the worst days. But I’m not one for the gels, especially since that means sticking tempting fingers between little teeth that will try to taste them. But thanks to a fellow mother in a Facebook New Moms group, I’ve found a beautiful new soother for her poor gums that lets me keep my fingers.

Frozen Raspberries.

They aren’t the cheapest produce right now, but I will never be caught without a stash in the freezer again. The other night while I was out, Natalie was inconsolable, chewing on her fingers and rubbing her face against my husband’s chest. He got her a few berries, and after a few tentative tastes, she downed them and the crying ceased.

I’ve heard of frozen blueberries and grapes working as well (I’d probably halve them before freezing), but I like that the raspberries break apart easily when they’re chewed.

Hopefully this will be a useful tool in your Mommy (or Daddy) arsenal. Do you have any tried and true soothing methods that you’d like to share? We’re all in this together!

 

Wee Love: Bubble Ooodles from Gymboree

It all started with our story time group at the local library. We sang, we danced, and then…oh, and then…the librarian brought out the bubbles. Kids and bubbles are like peanut butter and chocolate. Two things, that, when mixed, are simply divine. But these bubbles are different. They are sold at Gymboree, and they are super bubbles. They don’t pop as easily as normal soap bubbles. You can catch them, chase them, and when you’re finished playing, fields of bubbles seem to have sprouted all around you. We would have to check our hair and jackets before we left so we didn’t look silly running errands with wayward bubbles clinging to our ponytails.

I knew I had to have some for our playtime at home. A starter set is $6 and includes the wand, dish/holder and 4 oz. bottle of solution. 8 oz. refills are $3.50. But I waited and picked up my starter set and 3 refills as part of my Christmas shopping when they were 1/2 off. The wee princess got some in her stocking, and we’ll be giving the library a couple of bottles as well. She loves them, and has even learned how to blow into the wand and make bubbles herself! At first I was concerned about going through the bottle quickly, but a little goes a long way, so overall I’m pleased.

The solution is non-toxic, but you’ll want to keep an eye out for little plastic skin-like residues left behind. Yeah, that sounded grosser than what I meant…

***Disclaimer: I have not been compensated in any way for this review. As a mother I genuinely appreciate the product, and therefore want to let others know about it.***

Wee Repurpose: Pringles Cups

You know how you buy this awesome toy for your kid, wrestle it out of its criminal-proof packaging, hunt down batteries and the right-size screwdriver, then finally, oh-so-proudly present it to them and they’re too busy playing in the box? In the “Wee Repurpose” column, I’ll share other biproducts that can be given new purpose in the effort of being a little greener.

The first? Pringles snack-sized cups. I bought a bulk size pack of them to send with my husband’s lunches, and to prevent entire tubes of these addictive chips from disappearing in one sitting. Not that that’s ever happened to me…

Anyways. The chips come in these sturdy little plastic cups that I couldn’t bring myself to toss out. Especially since I had an infant who was learning to use her hands to grab, lift, stack and drop. These were sturdy, plastic, lightweight, stackable, and free!

  

They don’t take much room to store, and they have a host of other uses. They can be paint brush holders (imagine the marker in the picture as a brush) or water cups for afternoon water color projects…

Snack cups for other things…

Most recently we used them as pots for our family Michigan rummy game night.

Other ideas for them:

 - seed starting pots

 - sorting cups to teach colors or shapes or sizes

 - office supply organizers

 - write numbers or letters on them and have kids line them up or stack them in order

 - pretend they’re hats and try to balance the tiny stetsons on your head

 - show your infant how to drop stuff in the cup and take it out

Feel free to add to this list in the comments section!

What’s Up This Weekend? – January 4-6, 2013

There’s only so long little ones can last out in the snow before they turn into kidsicles, so what is there to do the rest of the weekend? Here are some neat nearby (to Worcester) places to go to escape the maddening cabin fever.

- Discover the Dinosaurs is in Boston 1/4-6 at the Seaport World Trade Center. What kid doesn’t love dinosaurs? Even I was into Land Before Time when it was new.

- Winter Themed Craft on Saturday between 11 am-12 pm at West Boylston Beaman Library, then let the kiddos play in the fabulously child-friendly second floor

- Legos Club on Saturday at the Worcester Library, Main Branch in the children’s room from 9:30 – 11 am

- January Kids Workshop at Home Depot – Saturday 10 am at the Shrewsbury store

- Old Sturbridge Village is offering kids free admission through the end of January

Do you know of others? Feel free to add on in the comment section!

Bummed you’re not in the Worcester area? Take a look at your local library’s calendar to see what they’re offering, or work with another mom to have a play date or craft day.

Fun in the Snow!

Here in Massachusetts, we recently had our first real snow storms of the season (and by real snow storms, I mean, it’s still there almost a week later). Over 6 inches sits on my lawn, luring me and repelling me at the same time. It makes me feel even cozier while curled up on the sofa with a steaming cup of cocoa, but let’s face it, we live in New England, we need to get out and play in it while it lasts! And with kids, it’s magical.

But if you’re at a loss of what to do with your little ones while out in the chilly white stuff, here’s a list to get you started.

- build a snowman

- have a snow man/animal/beast building competition

- make snow ice cream (just avoid salted or yellow snow!)

- have a snow ball fight

- make snow angels

- build snow forts or igloos

- build a snow village

- shovel mazes in the snow

- go sledding

- go snow shoeing

- go skiing (downhill or cross country)

- build snow benches/couches and drink cocoa around a campfire

- go ice skating at a (solidly frozen) pond or rink (Worcester residents check out the new rink on the common)

- use food coloring to paint in the snow

- race while shoveling snow

Now get out there and have some fun. Don’t worry, the cocoa will be waiting for you when you come back in!

Do you have any favorite outdoor activities for snow days? Add them in the comments sections!

 

 

Childcare Openings

I currently am enrolling part time and full time children 15 months and older for 2013. Contact me at briana.gardell@gmail.com or (508) 341-4118 for more information.

Welcome!

Welcome to Wee Kinfolk, the online home for my family child care center in Worcester, MA. I am Briana, and I am mom to an amazing little girl who changed my life in nearly every conceivable way. When she was born, I knew there was no way I could return to my corporate job. I wanted to be home to raise and nurture her. I know I am very lucky to be able to do so, and that many other moms aren’t able to, so I wanted to offer the best possible second option.

I offer childcare for up to 6 children in a special space within my home. Your child receives the benefits of socialization, a variety of activities to encourage growth and development, nutritious meals and snacks, all with personalized attention and care.

I am located on West Boylston Street (Rte 12) in Worcester, Massachusetts, near the Summit/Burncoat area. We are within walking distance of Norback School and Burncoat Prep.

My qualifications include:

- licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care

- certified in First Aid and CPR (adult and pediatric)

- part of Yours for Children, Inc. (a child and adult care food program)

Your child’s gross and fine motor skills as well as their social skills will be developed through play, activities, and games. Music, story time, and crafts will encourage them culturally and creatively.

If you or a friend is looking for child care and you feel I may be a good fit, please feel free to contact me at briana.gardell@gmail.com or (508) 341-4118 for more information and to schedule a time to come by.