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1. It snowed. IN THE DESERT. And Sophie didn’t think it was as amazing as I thought she should. On the upside, Milo looks adorable in his snowsuit (which is more of a fluffy, soft snuggle bag, let’s be honest).
2. I’m running out of creative ways to entertain Sophie inside. Before Milo was born, I hid about half of her toys. I’ve been slowly bringing one out every day or two, as she loses interest in her usual toys. We’ve also played with markers, water, play-doh, pipe cleaners, a huge tub of oatmeal, and everything else I can think of. We’re down to kitchen appliances. SOS.
3. In case you wondered, you can still totally have fun dressing up a baby boy. Girls may be easier, in that there are 1,000 cute outfits for girls, plus ruffles, plus headbands, plus bows and flowers. But boyfriend looks dynamite in moose jammies (courtesy of Grandma & Grandpa’s Alaskan cruise) and a to-die for moose hat. See also a tie-applique onesie for church.
4. I love baby rolls, smiles, and dimples. Seriously.
5. Being a family of 4 is a lot of fun. It’s crazy, we’re exhausted, and some days it seems like someone is always crying, but I couldn’t love these babies more than I do.
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
Milo looks absolutely adorable. And sweet little Sophie, I’ll have to ask my sisters how she entertained her little ones at that age and get back to you. Love the last picture! Once again your posts simple make me happy. Have a great day!
Ana – Thank you! I’d love to hear any ideas you and your sisters have to share!
Congratulations (a little late) on your new little bundle!! What a precious boy.
So, I really feel for you on the whole “how do I keep my toddler entertained indoors” thing. My second baby was born in 2011 right at the start of freezing cold Utah winter. And there were many days I thought my 2 year old and I would go crazy! You already mentioned a lot of things we did, but a couple other ideas I’ve used….
- Color water. I lay down a bunch of beach towels on the kitchen floor and then get two mixing bowls and put water in them. Then I use food coloring to make each bowl a different color. I give my daughter the bowls of water on the floor, plus measuring cups, stirring spoons, etc. and she has a ball pouring water from one bowl into the other and watching the colors mix. When both bowls eventually end up the same color I dump out the water and start again with new colors. She seriously loves it!
- Masking tape games. I’ve used masking or painters tape to make hopscotch on the floor, or I’ve also done circles out of the tape and we try to roll balls into the circles, etc.
-Cutting paper. This one is obviously up to each parent’s discretion, but my mom gave my daughter some little kid scissors a year or so ago and she will happily sit and cut paper for quite awhile. But she is a big time rule follower so I don’t worry about her cutting hair or other things. My second daughter, on the other hand, probably won’t get scissors til she’s 15.
Anyway, hope at least one of these will help. You are definitely in a challenging (yet rewarding) phase. Two kids rocked my world at first, but it is so fun watching them interact and laugh with each other now. Good luck!!
Gina – I LOVE the idea of color water! I’m sure Sophie will love it. I’ve been wondering about child scissors. She’s pretty coordinated and is pretty good about following rules. Maybe I’ll give them a go! Thank you, thank you for the ideas!
Em- you are doing great! You just have to tell yourself that… those babies are so lucky to call you momma. Have you dabbled much in forts with Sophie? My kids adore all things couch cushion and blankets. My oldest (who is a girl who then had a little brother too) took baths 2 or 3 times a day during the winter when her little brother was tiny. We would get out get bathing suit, bubbles, let her take in necklaces and strainers. It was essentially swimming in the tub multiple times a day. She loved it and I could sit on the toilet and nurse the baby while she played.
Just some thoughts. Take them for what they’re worth
Melissa – Forts are going on our list of things to try this week! THANK YOU FRIEND!
Beautiful photos! Are you in southern Arizona by any chance? I am, and we got snow a couple of days ago!
Cute cute pictures!
Here are some of our favorites around here: A giant plastic bin filled with dry beans, play tent or tunnel (or build a fort if you don’t have either of those), balloons, coloring books and stickers. Kids love cardboard tubes (like wrapping paper tubes) because they can talk into them or drop toys down into them, etc. Also two toys I recommend: “Moon Dough” which is really fun, and “Do-A-Dot” paints. Also toddlers love seeing themselves so you could make a little video of her and let her watch it.
Ally – Oh, thank you! I think we’ll give moon dough a try and see if I can find some Do-A-Dot paints. Sounds like fun!
Emily, you have smart and clever friends! I wish I’d had some of those ideas a long time ago…
Yet again, these are such fun pictures this week! Milo is getting SO big and has absolutely lost his ‘new born baby’ look. (Yes, that’s a little sad, but on the upside you can’t hardly beat those real true smiles!)
Sophie. She continues to be a beauty that melts my heart. I loved watching her ‘work’ all day long. How these little people (and their parents) brighten my day!
Oh. My. Word.. He is SUCH a little doll baby! I can’t believe I haven’t met him yet. It’s literally killing me, I think. Those eyes, those cheeks, THAT DIMPLE, that amazing hair! I love it all.. We need to be better about virtual playdates again.. That would help entertain Sophie AND Luke/Sadie! Can you see my “Preschool Ideas” board on Pinterest? There are looooots of fun ideas there. I have another link I’ll send you with some good ones. You’re doing a WONDERFUL job! Oh, PS I can’t believe it snowed there! PPS (Vector) I love seeing Milo in that jacket!! Makes me want to have another boy who can wear in when Milo grows out of it!
Oh, and I loooove Sophie’s bunny tails!! That look so lush and perfect
Also WELL DONE on recreating that smoosh kiss picture 
I die.
Such cute photos!! Such a blessing. Our daughter is almost 27 but as I recall, we entertained our little girl with books, educational toys etc. She loved the little Disney dolls that were rubber and you could take them in the tub. She used to line them up and sing each song. She used to love to sing. We also got these cards that were hooked together at the top and they were made for each age group. You can get them today at Costco. Say for the two to four year olds, on these cards they would have pictures with letters and each one was different and you sit down a few times and explain then our daughter just took over and started looking at them on her own. I think they may be called Brain Thinkers or something similar. She was more of a book reader and educational toy type little girl rather than toys. She wasn’t interested in each toy for more than a few minutes but these books and things we got her had her good for quiet a while. I love your blog and your children are simply beautiful.
Kelly – Thank you for your suggestions! I haven’t thought of those Brain Quest cards in ages! I’ll have to see if our Costco carries them. Thank you!
Oh my – that dimple and the onesie with the TIE! You’re killing me.
Both your kids are cuties! I don’t have kids of my own, but one of my regular babysitting clients very occasionally let her daughter sit in her (all-plastic) high chair, wearing only a diaper, and then she would give her a bowl of chocolate pudding (Jello instant) and she would paint the table with it, and eat it at the same time. Hahaha – it was sort of crazy and definitely a last-chance attempt to have a little silly inside fun!
I second the idea of forts – best thing to do inside on a bad-weather day. Well, besides baking :-B
Bronwen – LOVE that pudding idea! That’s great! I’ll have to try it sometime.
I just found this link for sensory balloons – I think I am making some for my two year old next week…but I also thought of you and Miss Sophie!
http://tottreasuresnorthbay.blogspot.com/2012/01/sensory-balloons.html