Sunday, March 31, 2013

Nui Nui's 18 Month Well-Child Immunization Shots

Nui Nui is the master at choosing her own videos to watch on the iPad and, while some of her favorites make sense— ABC songs, Patty Shukla, Sesame Street, and Dream English...— others surprise me a) that she's found certain videos and b) that she's drawn to them— ie. The Saddest Little Cardinal Fan, the one with the little girl upset because her mom says she likes Barbie too, a little girl getting her ears pierced, and even a little girl getting her shots. It's interesting. Does she empathize with the other kids? I mean, she went through a phase where she watched that whiny Cardinal fan over and over again. How do little kids process other people crying?, I wonder...

In any case, I thought it might be interesting to capture Nui Nui getting her shots. I remember the first few times I couldn't take it. I couldn't hold her or didn't trust myself to when she was newborn. Whether I hold her or not, though, always, it feels like voodoo. Even if it's the needle going into her thighs I still feel. As they get older, too, it gets harder. Children are so hyper aware sometimes. At the doctor's, they know what's coming. Wouldn't it be cool if they created doctors' offices to mimic something like the Rainforest Cafe? I think the distraction would definitely help.

But even with the drab setting, I still think Nui Nui is a strong kid and gets over the experience fairly quickly. A tip I'd suggest from my experience is make sure you have something to distract them with after the shots. That really helps. I think the pain is one thing but the fear alone makes it that much greater, *like* on/to a different level.

It's possible Nui Nui's shots left her sore, I suppose, but the sight of her band-aids were way more painful. After the needle pokes have time to heal, I recommend taking the bandages off to help them forget and move on.

Here's my brave little warrior in all her glory...


Have any recommendations on how to deal with kids getting shots? Share below, we'd love to hear! :>

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Eggstravaganza! And Aviation Museum!! :> :>

I've never felt so productive... it was a busy, fun-filled day :> :>

Nui Nui woke up early and still it felt like a mad dash out the door :> But we managed to jet to our first destination— an Eggstravaganza event at a local park, which consisted of an egg hunt, parachute, live animals (though we didn't see any), and, of course pic with the Easter Bunny...

Nui Nui started off by greeting the decor... :>


We patiently waited in line for the hunt...


Nui Nui gathered her eggs...


And filled her basket...


She was excited to see the Bunny. She kept mentioning him ever since I gave her, her new basket...


And the Bunny did his job and scared the buhjesus out of her... :>


Nui Nui eagerly waited with her friends for another hunt...


She tried mending a broken egg...


And continued to fill her basket...


After some fun with the parachute, we headed for the playground... #suchadaiguonui!


She climbed the slide's steps with her friends...


She crawled through tunnels...


She swung free... :> :>


She sat tall with her boy friends... :> :>


We then took a latte, mango, chocolate chip bagel, Target, yogurt break and headed to the Aviation Museum... Nui Nui helped control a flight... :>


She saw helicopters...


She saw big planes...


She was an angel...


She got love patted in the face... :> :>


She showed off her down-dog skills in tight spaces... :> :>


She managed the cockpit... :>


We waited and watched planes lift off and land... :> :> #topgun




It was a beautiful day with beautiful friends... :> :>


She was so happy :> :>


She rode airplanes with friends... :>


She conked out :> :>


I took a lot of pics these past few days... so much so that I had to create new albums just to finish off the rest of March! There are worse things... :> :>

For the full [doting-momma-loves-every-photo-even-the-blurry-ones] album...


Sigh... it's a shame today is over. But it just means tomorrow is another adventure :> :>

What adventures did you go on today? Share below, we'd love to hear! :>

Friday, March 29, 2013

Nui Nui's 18 Month Well-Child Visit! :>

Nui Nui went to her 18 month well-child visit yesterday. Everything went well— never seen a more healthier kid :>

Weight - 86%ile
Height - 94%ile
Head Circumference - 88%ile

We still have a big baby :>

After the doctor went over her growth chart, she then asked us a series of questions about Nui Nui's growth and development. It was interesting. These were the questions I could remember...

  • She's probably running by now, right?
  • Does she play pretend? Imitate things you might do?
  • Is she aware of what's going on?
  • Can she respond to simple commands?
  • Does she know how to say at least 10 words?
  • Can she say 2 or 3 words together?Does she brush her teeth every day?
  • Does she play with other kids?
  • Does she eat vegetables?
  • Can she throw a ball?
  • Does she point to body parts?
  • Does she use a fork or a spoon?
  • Does she sleep well?
  • Does she draw with crayons?

The question that 'shocked' me the most [or one I thought was the funniest...] was: Does she know how to say at least 10 words?

Ten words?! She's been able to identify probably about 10 of her stuffed animal friends since she was one (or earlier!) :> That's something I would have never thought of and am glad to have Mom in Nui Nui's life. It was Mom's natural :> idea to name her stuffed animals and she comes up with the greatest names... :> :>

Nui Nui's recent vocabulary has definitely been putting two words and three syllables together: See you, love you, thank you, carry you [she really means 'carry me' but hears me say 'Do you want me to carry you? :>], sit here [when she demands I be somewhere :>], momma love, I want, give me...

conditioner [sounds like condinana], ladybug [sounds like laybugbug], heavy [it's only a two-syllable word but she said it randomly today.. remembering it's what I say when I pick her up :>], aquaphor [she's known this for a while because we've been using it for so long], banana [sounds like manana], Cheerio, Alpha Bit [sounds like alpha beh], stoller [sounds like strorer]...

Even a few days ago, with me helping her with 8, she counted to 10! When she wants, she can say the alphabet and mumble/sing the end part of the song too :>

What's fun now, like this morning and like when Mom told me a story about this week when she woke up from a nap... she doesn't cry or anything. She either says 'Momma'— calling for me— or, more recently, says 'Hi!' Sleep does a child so good and she's happy as a button when she wakes up and ready to greet both you and the day :>

Anywho, I tried looking up some general milestones/questions doctors look for at 18-month well-child visits and thought this was an interesting read amongst others, in case you're interested... http://children.webmd.com/milestones-for-an-18-month-old-child

I guess there were a set of these kinds of questions at the 1 year mark but a) I forgot or maybe didn't realize what they were and/or b) probably had more questions for her than she had for me :> Must be a good sign, I think. ...getting this parenting thing semi-down :> :>

Currently, these are some of the things I'm working on with her and some things I have in mind...
  • Identifying colors correctly
  • Identifying left vs. right
  • Yes, please. No, thank you.
  • Solidifying the ABC song
  • Counting to 20
  • Playing the ABC/Twinkle Twinkle Little Star song on the piano
  • Saying the days of the week and month
  • Telling me 'poo' before she has to go, not after :>
  • Reading words— I spell LEGO for her all the time, amongst a few others. Now I plan on putting post-its up all over the house on objects... we'll see how long the post-its last.
  • How to read a clock? I was thinking about this today— about the hand ones— but thought digital might make more sense...
  • ...

Anywho... it's late and I'm getting old... well, we have 6 months til our next well-visit and a lot of time to meet at least some of our goals :> :>

In the meanwhile, here's what some of our 18 month well-visit day looked like :> Enjoy and thanks for reading and watching!



What goals have you set for yourself or little one these next few months? Share below, we'd love to hear!

More 18 Month Birthday Photos! :>

I keep finding more and more photos, it's so funny. Between two memory cards and, now, an iPhone, I'm all over the place and clearly cannot keep up :> :> On the other hand, it's kind of fun and that's what cameras are for, right? Capturing moments and memories that your regular old brain can't all remember. The joys of parenthood and aging :>

On Nui Nui's birthday, after the park, we lit her a candle, sang her Happy Birthday, and shared a cookie monster cupcake :> Nui Nui was mesmerized with... or scared of? the fire. Either way, she just sat there, blank face, staring at it :>



It turns out Mom bought trick candles and didn't know it. It was funny. We tried several times to blow it out and Mom didn't know what trick candles were. Video eventually to come :> :>

Funny stories with trick candles? Share below, we'd love to hear! :>

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

The Unlidded Cup Continues! :>

Chug a chug a chug a chugga... :>



Nui Nui loves to drink milk. Especially if it's out of a regular (unlidded) cup:> What's your beverage to drink out of a regular cup? Share below, we'd love to hear! :>

Pasta Is In My Blood :>

I think I'm part italian— pasta is in my blood :>



What cuisine do you think you are? **wink** *giggle* *smirk*. Share below, we'd love to hear! :>

NUK Sippy Cup Review!

Another sippy cup review! :>



This video was also posted on HealthyButJuicy.com! :>

Have you tried the NUK? What did you think? What do you look for in sippy cups? Share below, we'd love to hear! :>

Monday, March 25, 2013

Mannequin Live! :>

Nui Nui doesn't know not how to have a good time :>

We were casually looking for some tops for Nui Nui and Gymboree was having a sale. Nui Nui was all about it :> :>



Where do you shop for kids clothes? Share below, we'd love to hear! :>

Applet: Genius In Front Of The Bar :>

When you watch Nui Nui— look into her eyes and watch how pointed her finger is— you can see she is really getting the iPad. The apps, the videos, the layout, everything. Mom is not surprised. She introduced her since she was two months old, she says :> Back home, she said she used to hold Nui Nui on her lap and find videos for her to watch at her desk. So funny. My oldest memory is Nui Nui in her bouncer on the floor with Mom and the iPad on the piano bench which dubbed as our table/foot rest at the time :> That was only about one year ago... :> :> Time flies.



What're your thoughts on toddlers and tech? Share below, we'd love to hear! :>

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