Library Time: Toddler Challenge

With Munchkin in school in the mornings, Peanut and I have a little time to kill. On Monday, we headed to the library. While we went to get books for Advent, I thought it would be a good time to let Peanut play. He had a blast exploring, before finding the train table. He definitely had a lot of fun, and was very interested in the books that we brought home. Now that the weather is getting iffy, I have a feeling that we'll be spending more mornings at the library.

One Rookie Mom Toddler Challenge done!

Going to the Zoo: Toddler Challenge

Activity 37 of the Rookie Moms Activities is going to the zoo. We are lucky enough to live relatively close to the Bronx Zoo, and we've actually had a membership for the past couple of years. We love going to the zoo and since there was no school today, we figured that it would be a good time to go. The weather was perfect, although it was very crowded, and not the usual quiet afternoon that we usually experience mid-week.

Peanut is a huge fan of the zoo, and in the past couple of trips has started to actually notice the animals. He especially loves the petting zoo (the full children's zoo has been closed this past year for renovations although I am sure that he would love that as well). Today there was no petting zoo as it is closed for the season, but Peanut was happy enough seeing the animals that were out, and were very active in the warm fall weather. He was thrilled with the deer, giraffes, zebras and flamingos. I wasn't able to get pictures today, as I was by myself and still not feeling 100%. (Photos from our trip to Boo at the Zoo at the end of October.)

This is probably one of the last trips for us before the end of the year, and I am so glad that we were able to make it today.

The Rookie Mom Challenge Part Two: Before They're Two

Last year, Peanut and I took the Rookie Mom Challenge, and while we came no where near completing all fifty-two challenges, we did enjoy our time together. The Rookie Moms have recently posted a list of activities for before they turn two. Peanut and I have a little less than four months until that happens, and we are going to try to complete as many as possible.

Some things we have already done, such as sitting in boxes, but there are quite a few that I am looking forward to trying.

Let the fun begin.

Time to Smash

This day went as quickly as it came. And while I don't know what the future may bring, as of right now Peanut is my last baby, and this was the last first cake. It was not the prettiest cake, the buttercream made from scratch, the cake from a box, but it was all his. At first he wasn't sure, but it didn't take long for him to dive in. While our family and friends enjoyed their cupcakes, Peanut went face first into his cake.

Of all the ways to spend our birthday, this small party with the focus on this cake "ceremony" was perfect.

And while technically this is the last of the Rookie Mom Challenges, I might still go back and try a few of the many that I missed.

Pumpkins, Pumpkins Everywhere: Rookie Mom Challenge

I know that I posted about it before, but I recently realized that I did complete another Rookie Mom Challenge (of which I have completed so very few). I don't ever remember going pumpkin picking as a child, so it is one tradition that I love doing with my children. Right now, they are still too young for these trips to really have a lasting impact, but I want them to grow up remembering. Every year I've taken pictures of Munchkin with pumpkins, but this year our usual trip just didn't work out for us that way. I am so glad that I was able to take them later to another pumpkin patch and get my pumpkin pictures with both boys, but especially with Peanut. Another challenge done (and done weeks ago).

Inside-Out: Rookie Mom Challenge

Over the weekend, Peanut reached 39 weeks 2 days, which means that he has now been an outside baby longer than he's been an inside baby. I am not throwing myself a party, as is the suggestion in the Rookie Mom Challenge. With the holidays and everything else going on right now it just doesn't make sense. But my husband and I did acknowledge the milestone.

Peanut, I can hardly believe that this day has come, nine months ago it seemed so far away, yet it has gone by in a flash. I love you more than you will ever know. And while I would love to freeze you in time and keep you my baby forever, I am very much looking forward to watching you grow.

Baby in the Water: Rookie Mom Challenge

This challenge happened a little ahead of the Rookie Mom Challenge schedule, but it happened, so I'm recording it now (since I've been failing at doing so many of these). Munchkin was never a fan of the pool. He took swim lessons at eighteen months which he pretty much cried through. We went to the Bahama's last year, and he refused to enter the water areas, didn't want to get wet. We recently took both boys to visit their grandparents and tried to get Munchkin to go in the pool. He was still a no go, but Peanut (being only 4 months old) didn't have much of a choice when we took him in.

At first he was a little hesitant, but he very quickly warmed up. Turns out he loves to splash and kick. We were very careful to not dunk him or make it a traumatic experience and it seems to have worked out well for us. We have brought him to another pool since this trip, and he still loved being in the water.

And I loved being in the water with him. The pure joy on his face as he got to splash with me, and then his father was wonderful to see. I am very much looking forward to our next pool trip.

Adventures in Grocery Shopping: Rookie Mom Challenges

Week five the of Rookie Mom Challenges calls for you to go to the grocery store for just one item. I love that I was fourteen weeks late with this. I guess I've been lucky to have Hubby really do the grocery shopping, especially since I always seem to have two children with me. But now Munchkin spends the mornings in summer camp, and I needed beef for that night's dinner, so to Trader Joe's Peanut and I went.

Photo by Joe+Jeanette Archie on Flickr

I'm sad to say that even though Trader Joe's has been in our neighborhood for years, I really have never shopped there. It was great, and so much more convenient than our usual shopping trips. Even better was that Peanut was great, very happy and relaxed. Not that I plan on doing all the shopping from now on, but it's nice to know that it isn't a terrible ordeal to get something done.

Cafe Culture: Rookie Mom Challenge

Not only am I late in completing this challenge, but I am late in posting it too. Challenge 1 of the Rookie Mom Challenges is to pretend you are in Europe. One morning (about two weeks ago, blogging FAIL), I had a little time to kill while running errands, so I stopped at our local Starbucks. I know that there are better breakfast places, but none were nearby and Starbucks does keep a few tables outside. It was so nice to sit and relax for a little while with a sleeping Peanut before I had to run off and pick up Munchkin.

In the next few weeks, while the weather is getting even nicer, I might have a redo of this challenge at a new breakfast place. I'm kind of hoping that it is something that I'll be able to do through the summer, but that's going to depend on plans not yet made.

One challenge down, fifty-one to go (and I'm still playing catch-up).

The Rookie Mom Challenges

I'm not exactly a rookie mom, but I've been feeling like one recently. So I've decided to try the Rookie Mom Challenges, and my plan is to post weekly as I complete them. Obviously, I'm starting a little behind, but I'm hoping to catch up on the first few weeks. I will officially start next weekend with week six, but I try to get a few of the earlier weeks in first (some will be easier than others). So while I focus on Easter with the family this weekend, I'll start catching up during the week.

If you haven't already checked out The Rookie Moms, you should. I didn't discover them until Munchkin was a little older, but they have a lot of great advice for moms, rookies and veterans alike.