Baby lost another tooth. This is still a pretty new event in our house, so Baby dancing around singing about her tooth can be considered pretty normal. She sings and dances about most things these days. But what came next, I wasn’t expecting.

Baby: “What’s the Tooth Fairy’s name?”
Me: “Ummmm…yeah…I’m not really sure. Why do you want to know?”
Baby: “Well, Poppy sent me a note from her that one time. Remember?”

Apparently my daughter has a memory like an elephant.

Straining what little Mommy Brain cells were working that evening, I struggled to recall what she was talking about. Then I vaguely remembered my dad sending her a note in the mail when she lost her first tooth. The Tooth Fairy delivered it to their house in Florida, so Poppy mailed it to her.

Super cute, right?
Except now, I no longer had the note.
It was stashed away somewhere, and I had absolutely NO IDEA what the Tooth Fairy’s name was on the note.

Then a thought popped into my head. I suggested Baby write the Tooth Fairy a nice note asking her name, since she couldn’t remember the original name either. Maybe she would leave a note in return like Elfie, our Elf on the Shelf, did over Christmas.

This idea thrilled Baby to no end. It made me pretty happy too, since I was now off the hook for finding the old note (in the next 8 hours).

Baby awoke the next morning to find $1.00 and a short note from the Tooth Fairy in her special tooth box. When she read the note aloud to all of us, and when she finished, her little nose crinkled and she squinted her eyes. I could tell she was thinking really hard. Darn it! She was really trying to remember if the names matched!

Finally, she read the name on the note aloud again and then exclaimed, “Mommy, it’s not the same as before! The other fairy was named, Toothie!”

Seriously?
Who is this kid?
She’s definitely too smart for me.

I then thoughtfully explained, how there are many Tooth Fairy helpers in the world, just like there are many Santa helpers in the malls at Christmas time. One fairy can certainly not visit all the children in the world when they lose teeth. This seemed to satisfy my daughter.

Whew!
Another childhood crisis averted, and amazingly enough, look what I found the following weekend cleaning up the desk area in the kitchen — yup, the note from Poppy.

What question has your child asked recently that sent you reeling for a quick and believable answer?

I decided to make a TO DO list to make sure our long weekend is full of joy. You may think a TO DO list wouldn’t typically be any fun, but I guarantee this one will be.

1. Make Thanksgiving dinner – using family recipes that will not only fill our tummies, but warm our hearts with the memories of the individuals that inspire them.

2. Watch A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving – a classic from my own childhood that my kids already love.

Photo by FragmentaryBlue

3. Go shopping on Black Friday – I’m usually so wrapped up in spending time with family there is no time. This year I am celebrating with a little me time. I may even follow up with a second outing with Baby to start our own tradition of Mommy/Daughter time.

4. Bake cookies with the kids – I need to try out some new ideas for the office cookie exchange, so what better way to experiment than with my two favorite mini chefs/taste testers by my side.

5. Clean out closets – this may sound like work to some, but I feel so refreshed after uncluttering. An organized closet is pure happiness to me and who doesn’t need more tax deductions in this economy.

6. Picnic in the park – we’ll have plenty of leftovers from our turkey day dinner, so I’ll pack up some of the leftovers and head to the playground.

Will all of the items on my TO DO list get done? I sure hope so, but if I don’t get to the closets, there is always Christmas.

How are you spending this holiday weekend?

I had my first child before I worked for Graco, and my second after. When I found out I was pregnant with the second, I immediately was excited for all the new gear I wanted to buy. My husband, always the cheapskate realist, questioned needing anything new since all of our gear was a) perfectly fine for the first one and b) still in great condition.

Using my new found knowledge of baby gear, I spouted off numerous facts about updated product features that would make our jobs easier as parents. I won most of the battles with facts, and the ones that I didn’t, well, let’s just say sometimes pregnancy hormone tears are very effective for winning battles too.

Jed is almost three, and our home is less filled with baby gear. I have sadly parted with Jed’s playard, Snugride, and Sweetpeace. When I brought home the Trekko to review, DH quickly suggested we donate our original full size stroller. He said I should choose one, since we did not need two.

I did not like this at all. The two strollers featured completely different features. Why didn’t he recognize this? It was completely obvious.

Or was it?

My passion, as well as the way we both use the stroller makes me view things differently. DH leisurely strolls at the park or on walking trails with Jed during the day. I maneuver crowded malls on weekends, almost always, with my daughter in tow. Discussing the differences in use, allowed my husband to see the other side, and to understand what features make things easier for me as a parent.

That’s what baby gear is all about for me, giving products features to allow users to care for children with ease and enjoy the everyday moments.

What’s your favorite Graco gear item that helps you parent a little easier?

I’ve mentioned before that my husband is now staying at home with Jed. He spends a better part of each day out and about with Jed. One of his favorite things to do is explore the numerous walking trails our area has to offer. Jed is almost three, and even though he loves to walk by Daddy’s side, his little legs tire about halfway through the trail. The Trekko was the prefect product for my husband to review.

First, the visual. Pushing the trendy looking stroller definitely ups his Dad cred on the trail. Trekko has a single, swivel front-wheel, and larger wheels in the back than our usual stroller. It also features never flat rubber tires providing reassurance DH won’t be carrying Jed and the stroller back to the car.

The improved maneuverability provided by the three-wheeled design came in super handy this weekend on our adventure to the apple orchard. Pushing the Trekko through the mixed terrain of rocks and grass proved as easy as apple pie. DH appreciates the height-adjustable handle. He’s taller than I am, so he likes being able to position the handle where it suits his stature. Of course, when we switch and I take over pushing, I move the handle to where it’s comfy for me.

After a hay ride, the animal area, and running in circles around the apple trees picking apples, Jed was back in the stroller and fell asleep easily. The reclining seat lies flat for extra comfort, and the 180 degree rotating canopy provided a nice amount of shade to keep Jed cool in the afternoon sun. Baby was even able to reach into the extra-large, drop down storage basket for a snack of a second apple without waking him. The basket not only fit our diaper bag/backpack and mini soft-side cooler, but also 2 bags of apples. That made me happy since I really didn’t want to carry the apples.

Once back at the car, we unloaded our precious cargo, and used the stroller’s one-hand fold and automatic storage latch to easily place it into the back of the car. Plus, just in case you have a smaller car, the Trekko has quick-release wheels with storage bag that allows for a more compact fold if you need it. I am very thankful the Trekko also holds a child up to 50 lbs. I know we will be using this stroller for more local adventures in the future.

Interested in getting a Trekko for your very own?
Find it in store here and here. Want to know more? Check out the demo.

I’ll be honest and tell you that it scares me a little.

As adults, so much of our current world spent online that we rarely find ourselves completely unplugged. With the current society consumed by blogs, Facebook, and other social networks, are we aware of how this affects our maturing youth? Are you like me, when you finally do detach yourself from your favorite mobile device, do feel like you are missing something? Like maybe…your right hand?

I often think about how different the current technology landscape is for my children. I had my first cell phone in the early nineties. The version I owned weighed about 20 pounds (mainly from the the battery), since I thought I was too cool for the bag phone. I was out of college. The average age for cellphones for kids is now 8. In my mind I am screaming “That is just ridiculous!”, but is it really? A child carrying a phone with built in GPS tracking is actually brilliant (barring they don’t lose it), sounds pretty good to me.

Modern technology is changing the way students are learning. My niece’s textbooks are on her ipad. The used ipad my sister purchased was a portion of what the real text books would have cost. My daughter’s weekly spelling words are online, complete with available games for skill building and pre-testing. School assignments are all communicated via email, and Baby is assigned projects to research online. Shouldn’t our children be trained to use the embossed set of Encyclopedia Britannica we all used? Using a search engine you can easily spend hours trying to sift through the digital rubbish trying to find the facts. We’ve all seen the search overload commercials. It’s frustrating for an adult, let alone a child. Is there a lost benefit from the old school ways?

I’m hoping not.

It is up to us, as parents, to enlighten our children on the value of a real book full of printed pages and beautiful illustrations, but also teach them to appreciate the ease and convenience of using an ebook reader. Just because my daughter’s spelling words are online and the website will test her on them, does not remove the responsibility I have to nourish her desire to learn. Children need parental interaction with their homework as well. The internet is a valuable resource for the development and growth of today’s youth, but we can’t let it be the only one. If we do, there will be an impact when it comes to healthy development of their budding social skills.

Are you up to the challenge to unplug once in a while and go old school with your children?

Seems this bundle of cuteness already has his sense of style and he’s not afraid to share it with his mom.

Do you have a picture of your precious little one that you’d like featured in our ‘Babies, Bundles, and Bumps’ series?

Share it with us at blog@gracobaby.com, and you might see it featured here!

The school is so big. There are so many rooms. Would my baby get lost in the shuffle? Is she escorted to the different rooms when the schedule dictated? My mind was already spinning as we walked into the cafeteria.

Whoa! So many people! So many lines! I had NO idea what the heck I was doing! Commence panic! I wanted to leave and take her back to her old adorable little school, where I knew everyone. There were tables for PTA, there were tables with credit card signs, and there were tables of spirit gear. Spirit gear? Really? Was I there to buy clothes with my child’s new school on it? Yeah, apparently I was, and I would do it and like it. I just left a school with a uniform code, to come to another that offered spirit wear to wear every Friday. Other than the variety of the t-shirt design, how is that different than a uniform? Do you really think I would not want my child to be included in her new class by wearing the same t-shirt as everyone else? Can you say immediate exclusion?

Then I had an epiphany.
This was not about me.
This was about Baby and her needs.
This was right for her.
I knew that in my heart and just had to let go.

So I joined the PTA, bought the t-shirt, pre-ordered the yearbook and handed over my credit card to pay for it all. Because honestly, who can so no to their child when it comes to their well-being and enjoying school?

Baby is six years old. She likes to read, learn and loves school. I want to keep it that way. Anything I can do to maintain that is worth it to me.

As a parent, what is the biggest challenge you face when sending the kids back to school after summer vacation?

Do you have a picture of your precious little one that you’d like featured in our ‘Babies, Bundles, and Bumps’ series?

Share it with us at blog@gracobaby.com, and you might see it featured here!

Personally, I am partial to options that will entertain my children and this park does not disappoint. There are two separate play areas targeted to age. Now of course that doesn’t stop my toddler from trying to keep up with his big sister on the play set geared towards older children.

I love that there is a large pavilion if you need space for a group outing, and also four smaller pavilions if you wanted to have a fun family picnic. Full facilities are also available and a close proximity to the play ground areas. This is very handy since once you are there, you may not want to leave, or for the child who claims to have gone before leaving the house.

Another nice feature is the is a paved waking path for easy strolling. The path circles a raised area of the park and overlooks the pavilions and play areas, and along it are signs where children can read and learn along the way. The stations are part of a larger group of 10 trails within the seven parks in the community. The stations were created as part of the Born Learning Trail project.

Other facilities the park offers are baseball/softball fields, tennis and basketball courts, a skate park, and the trail head for the 6.8 mile Big Creek Greenway. A few of the park’s features are still in progress but there is a track and a 1.5-acre dog park for you proud puppy parents out there too! There is definitely something for absolutely everyone at this park.

So go on!
Get out there and get active!
Enjoy the great outdoors…and don’t forget to pack your picnic basket!

* Fowler Park is located in south Forsyth County at 4110 Carolene Way, off of Atlanta Highway across from the intersection with Castleberry Road. More information on hours and renting facilites can be found here.

One of the first places you think to get out of the heat is a mall. A trip through our local mall for Father’s Day is NOT what my husband wanted given the usual eye rolling he gives when I ask him to go on a non-dad focused holiday. Then I had the brilliant idea to go to the Atlanta History Center. It met my top (and only) two requirements…it was 1) close to home and 2) air conditioned.

The Atlanta History Center is located in the heart of Buckhead, contains so many different exhibits everyone is bound to find something that interests them, including two historic houses, the Swan House and the Smith Family Farm. The exhibit halls are inside and are a great escape from the Georgia heat, and if you go early, crowds are non-existent, which is pretty awesome if you are worried about your kids forgetting to use their inside voices. Our family’s favorite exhibit is the Centennial Olympic Games Museum.

Baby walked Jed around in his stroller on the indoor track, but was quick to ditch him for the interactive computers offering trivia questions stationed all through the exhibit hall. Once set free out of his stroller, Jed wandered around checking out everything. Personally I love the video of the opening ceremony. The costumes, music, and the parade of athletes bring the memories flooding back, but it was a little hard to watch with one eye, since the other was on my now free little mischief maker.

Jed was also mesmerized for a short time by the assortment of small toy cars in an exhibit case. Luckily they were behind glass, or they would have been racing up and down the indoor track.

Next we made our way towards the Civil War exhibit. Jed’s freedom from the stroller was short lived after a lightning fast bolt under a velvet rope to bang on an antique drum. Completely embarassed, I wrangled Jed back into his stroller and ducked from the Civil War hall over to the next, featuring American golf legend Robert Tyre “Bobby” Jones Jr. I’m not even a golfer and I was fascinated by his achievements in such a short window of time.

Now since this day was all about Dad, I gave him some time to wander and read some of the great information in the rest of the halls with Baby. I stayed put in an out-of-the-way area, and rocked Jed to sleep for a nap in his stroller. This of course was a bonus for me too. We left a little while later, and headed to try a new restaurant for an early dinner. Dinner was wonderful, bellies were full, and we were home for bath time by 6:30 pm. Our fun family day came to an end with plenty of time to unwind and prepare for the start of a new week.

What did you do to celebrate Father’s Day?