Reteaching What My Daughter Learned In School [MOMLIFE]

I wish I could say my daughter is a romantic but, instead, she's been hanging out with boy toddlers in school and this is what she had to say about these dinosaurs:

'Mama, look! They're tongues are fighting!'

Yesterday actually got me a little concerned about the boys she's recently been hanging out with. I'm guessing this happened during optional dance class, which she is not taking (despite my hope for her to) while every other girl in the class is. Ok. Gender stereotype, I know, that's why I didn't force her to take it and she's not.

Everyday, we make it a habit to talk about our day during dinner. She was excited to talk about hers. 

She began:

I played with [Boy1], [Boy2], and [Boy3]!

Me: O, cool! What did you guys do?

Her: We made weapons!

Yikes. This is not the first time this has happened and made me uneasy. It was a different school and a kid who had older brothers. She became besties with a girl for a while so this hadn't come up again until now.

Other than these kids, there would be no reason why she would know anything about things of this nature-- guns, weapons, 'psh psh psh'.

Unfortunately enough, amongst other things, she's learning about things that kill-- in school, no less. I'm pretty upset about it but this is amongst the first bitter tastes of reality that this is the world we live in and I just cannot protect her forever from knowledge of these things. So, we've started to begin to unlearn or reteach things at home, as I try to keep the conversation open and flowing and learn about what she's picking up out in the big scary world when she isn't with me. xo

Kids Clothing Haul! - Baby's First Outfit [VIDEO]

When I brought Nui Nui home from the hospital, I can't remember if I packed her a 'going-home' outfit. I probably did but didn't end up using it. A first time mom, I brought her home in her hospital shirt and cap, no pants. I swaddled her throughout her first few days of life, pantsless. It was a warm day. I probably covered her with a blanket. I thought she was fine.

I remember, though, the nurse commenting— 'you don't have an outfit?' Must've stung a little, since I remember it to this day.

Recently, I've been seeing a number of friends on Facebook posting pics of their newest family members and noticed these outfits. Apparently, it's a thing? So, the pressure was slightly on. So ridiculous, I know.

I asked a couple of friends if they had these 'going-home' outfits. One said yes. The other said probably but she couldn't remember what it was exactly. Honestly, I'd have brought my kid home swaddled if it weren't for the driving/carseat/safety issue.

So, I said to myself, with just a little over a week before my due date, that I'd try to look for an outfit but won't kill myself over it. I did go to a number of places but all were local and not out of the way.

This weekend, on a mother-daughter/(big sister-to-be) outing, I did end up finding something...

I think the most important thing is, is that I ended up having a great day with my firstborn on this outfit hunt. I think the other important thing to realize is, as my friend reminded me, that I just need to do me, no one else. Love hard, be me. The rest will fall into place.

That said, H&M has a really good, affordable kids selection of clothing, if you're on the market. Just saying :> xo

Our Love Grows As My Belly Does [MOMLIFE]

A couple of nights ago, I felt like my belly just popped! (as I was nearing the end of 36 weeks).

I was about to take Nui Nui to bed and she began to hug me (in chinese, it's called 'deh', which means when a child cuddles close, just like little kids do, with the ones they are closest to) and play with the baby. That's right. Every once in a while, she will kiss, tickle, touch, or rub her nose (what we call 'ugga mugga') on my belly, her sibling. It's the sweetest and one of the signs why I believe she's going to be a great big sister.

It was late and she (as was I) was tired. Nevertheless, the girl still has got a lot of love in her no matter what time of day it is. These are the days. xo

Pregnancy Update - 34-35 Weeks! [VIDEO]

It's been a busy couple of weeks. Nui Nui started her new school, had her first dentist appointment, and continues nighttime potty training.

As for me, I finished the last of my 'manual labor' baby-prep tasks, though still have more setting up to do.

In my 34-week OB checkup, I got a little educational session, as I asked my OB about a bunch of labor and delivery questions, so if you're expecting, hopefully it might be helpful information for you, too :>

In my 35-week OB checkup, I didn't gain any weight from the previous week and I talk a little bit about that.

I'm officially LESS THAN 4 weeks away from my due date! It's been quite a journey and I look forward to keeping you updated. Thanks to all of you who have supported me along the way! This is the #dream. :> xo

Singing The Xmas Song! - VLOGMAS 16, 2014 [VIDEO]

Gingerbread House Decorating! - VLOGMAS 14, 2014 [VIDEO]

Xmas Tree Lighting! - VLOGMAS 8, 2014 [VIDEO]

How To Clear Out Snot! - VLOGMAS 7, 2014 [VIDEO]

Toddler Chef Caesar Salad! - VLOGMAS 4, 2014! [VIDEO]

Black Friday Toddler Clothing Haul! - VLOGMAS 2, 2014! [VIDEO]

Afterschool Car Ride + Relationships - VLOGMAS 1, 2014! [VIDEO]

How To Brush Teeth With A Toddler [VIDEO]

It's called a toothbrush, not a 'bite-brush' - something I always find myself saying.

Prepping Our After-Dinner Fruit Together! - VLOGUST 8, 2014 [VIDEO]

Every night, after dinner, we eat fruit. It's just something we always did when I grew up, and I guess you can say it's something we're passing down to Nui Nui. She almost always wants fruit after dinner. Recently, she's been very eager to help me prepare the fruit— grapes and strawberries are her current favs.

What's your favorite after-dinner treat? Share in the Comments below, we'd love to hear! :> xoxo

Watch Nui Nui Complete Her 25-Piece Sesame Street Puzzle! :> [Video]

The Perks Of Hearing Loss

See the positive in everything...

Melissa and Doug's Stir Fry Slicing Set!

OOTD, Happy Walk, Chair Dancing, Tired Tantrum Toddler - VLOGMAS 21, 2013!

How I Teach My Kid To Read - Stage 0?

Nui Nui still doesn't know how to hold a pencil/crayon properly. I need to do better working with her on that.

On the reading front, I've been teaching her how to read the first letter of words and associating sounds with letter. With that, she's been doing quite well, 'M' being the easiest (obviously) :>

This is how it goes: She got this sheet of Thomas and Friends and there's probably 30-40 trains with names and, for some reason, she loves identifying Thomas and all his friends, so she asks me 'What's that?'. I correct her and say, 'Who's that?' and proceed to ask her what the first letter is. I know she knows all the letters. If she doesn't read it, she's just being lazy. When she does, though, I ask her what sound the letter makes. She sometimes gets it, sometimes doesn't. Once established, I start saying words that start with the letter for her to make the connection with the sound and other words that start with the letter— trying to help her identify commonality (first letters) of words.

She's slowly becoming more confident in reading that first letter and getting better at associating sounds with letters and sometimes even coming up with a word with that letter too. Progress :>

These are a few of my favorite learning moments of this week :> [Pulled from my Vlogmas videos— check those out if you haven't already :>]



Any tips on learning how to read or hold a pencil?

Share in the Comments below, we'd love to hear! :> xoxo

Xmas Came Early This Year... OOTD, Trader Joe's Grocery Haul! - VLOGMAS 14, 2013

Nui Nui woke up at 7am this morning, saying 'Blanket'— for me to cover her. She woke up again at 7:44am for good. From 8-9am we spent the hour cleaning down the early Christmas present I got her— a kitchen playset. I feel bad about the non-surprise factor— I had to take her with me to go pick it up (plus it's way to big for me to hide)— and a little bit about the early factor, but in the end, hopefully, the memory will be that she got it for Xmas on 2013. In the meanwhile, I'll have to work on hiding things better from her— first world problems, I know :> Fortunately, though, we cleaned it together.

Given that on top of an exhausting week, I was kind of tired today— it shows in the vlog. I better go to sleep :>



What fun did you have today?

Share in the Comments below, we'd love to hear! :> xoxo

Black Friday Haul! Old Navy, H&M, Marshalls - Toddler Goodies

Be on the lookout for Part 2, or my stuff, coming soon! :>

What did YOU get for Black Friday?

Share in the Comments below, we'd love to hear! :> xoxo