Monday, October 31, 2011

Halloween Squirrel





Okay, so this past Monday marked June Apple's first Halloween. She helped pass out candy and stayed content in her little squirrel costume for much longer than I expected. All the hub bub clearly wore her out because she fell right to sleep instead of playing on our bed for 15-30 minutes like she usually does before bed. Having a baby too young to care what they dress up as is awesome, because before we know it, she's going to be like I was, and insist on being a boring old "punk rocker" for 4 years straight. 
Amos and I were very disappointed over the lack of homemade costumes (except for one very cool Teen Wolf), particularly those made from cardboard boxes. Come on, kids! Cardboard is the magic key to endless costume possibilities! Case in point: Here is a picture of my brother Josh (Crest), a neighbor (card) and his half sister Lynn (present), from the 1980's:
Awesome, right?! Where have kids creativity gone?! Or rather, where have parents creativity gone?! My mom and I made June Apple's costume out of a bear suit and an old mink coat. I envision many more homemade costumes to come, hopefully with cardboard.


Even though June Apple didn't eat any candy this year, Amos and I certainly did! With reckless abandon! Halloween officially starts the season of abundance and, at times, overabundance. I came across an awesome blog, "Its Not About Nutrition: The Art and Science of Teaching Your Kids to Eat Right", written by food sociologist, foodie and mom, Dr. Dina Rose. Her recent post talked about how to deal with all the candy and your kids and I think it makes a lot of sense. Her strategies include:


1. Think of Halloween as a big buffet. Teach your kids to be browsers not loaders. Encourage then to scan their stash- perhaps by sorting by category first- so they choose to save (and eat) what they like best.  


2. Encourage your children to take a taste test.  Have them sample one bite from any ( and every) candy that looks interesting and compare how different candies look, taste, smell, and how they feel in their hands, in their mouths and in their tummies.


3. Teach your kids to think BIG. Proportion- eating foods in relation to their healthy benefits- is, hands down, the most important thing you can teach your kids about eating. Especially in today's environment where sweets and treats (read crap) are everywhere. Rather than getting caught up in the control struggle, teach your kids to think BIG. Talk to them about proportion and how to integrate inferior foods into their diets in a way that works. Its only by talking about sweets in context of the overall diet that kids can learn to manage their eating.


Dr. Rose also has other great tips, including resisting becoming the Sugar Police which results in the following unintended lessons:


1. I am going to throw it away so you better eat as much as you can now.


2. Candy has power.


3. Feel guilty when you eat candy.


4. Its best to eat candy when your full- (which leads to them overeating).


5. You're not to be trusted around candy.


This all makes so much sense to me, as I want to raise June to enjoy and savor good food, including sweets, as a part of a varied, healthy, balanced diet. Read more of Dr. Rose's great post at:
http://itsnotaboutnutrition.squarespace.com


And also check out this HILARIOUS video of what happens when you don't follow Dina's advice, and instead eat all of your kid's candy:


http://devour.com/video/i-ate-all-your-halloween-candy/


Happy Halloween!

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Longer out than in.....



Dear June Apple,

It is unfathomable to me that you have now officially been outside of my body longer than you were inside! These past 9 months went by so fast in a whirlwind of laughter and squeals (with a few tears thrown in). You continue to be so, so delicious. These days you are so close to crawling and you scoot all over the house and climb over Papa and me so you can get to Rosco, who still views you with a general wariness reserved for older brothers. Now that I am away long days for half the week, you move in closer and reach out for me, not wanting others to hold you. Once in my arms you strain to turn around a face the world, so eager to go go go! Wanting to hold on tight, but rarin' to run.
You seem to enjoy good food like me and I aim to make a foodie out of you yet. You savor each morsel, like its a truffle, even when its just a cherrio. You and Papa spend your days growling and prowling the neighborhood, as he pulls your stroller behind him with a rope so he can simultaneously wrangle the dog. You love bath time, especially when I flick water in your face (who, but you, likes this?!). You like to bend down and put your whole face in the water and blow bubbles until you sit up sputtering and laughing. People are always remarking on what a happy baby you are. And while you do have your moments of anger and frustration, you are, by and large, very happy. And what more could I ask for?
Your current stats at your 9 month doc visit were as follows:
Weight: 15 pounds, 14 ounces
Height: 28 inches
Head Circumference: 43 1/4 cm
Your weight holds steady in the tenth percentile while you shoot to the 75th percentile in height. SO basically, you're a super model. I can't believe you have grown 10 inches taller since you were born. Even when I was growing like a weed in early adolescence, I never grew 10 inches in 9 months. That's crazy talk! I hope it didn't hurt too much, and if it hurt and you cried, that Mama and Papa made it better.


I love you. I adore you. You remain to be, awesome.

Mama