Car Seat Safety

You may or may not know that I'm pretty anal about car seat safety. I wiggle Isabella's car seat regularly to make sure it is secure and doesn't move more than an inch in any direction, I re-adjust the straps every time I buckle her in, and I always ensure that the chest clip is at armpit level.  I don't use additional car seat accessories and she never wears her bulky coat in the car seat.  She has also always been rear-facing and will remain so as long as her car seat allows (35 lbs and until her head is within an inch from the top of her seat). 

Children are proven to be safer when rear-facing.  Even adults would be safer rear-facing, but it's obviously not an option for us. The AAP recently revised it's recommendations on car seats to the following:

"The AAP advises parents to keep their toddlers in rear-facing car seats until age 2, or until they reach the maximum height and weight for their seat. It also advises that most children will need to ride in a belt-positioning booster seat until they have reached 4 feet 9 inches tall and are between 8 and 12 years of age."

I found a great, albeit sad, video on Youtube that demonstrates the difference in impact on rear-facing vs forward-facing seats.  I encourage all parents to watch it before switching their child to a forward-facing seat.



To read the full release from the AAP visit this link.

Menu Monday

I've been in the bad habit of choosing meal that take a lot of time to prep and have seriously slacked off.  You'll definitely see some repeats here.

Sun- chicken enchiladas + rice
Mon- lefotvers
Tue- PW's DR. Pepper shredded pork* + mac and cheese
Wed- leftovers
Thu- loaded baked potatoes + salad
Fri- chicken pot pie*
Sat- parm crusted chicken* + PW's pasta ai quattro formaggi*



*indicates new recipe

Menu Monday

The last few weeks have been hectic and we've gotten a little off course.  Hopefully this week will be more successful.

Monday: leftovers (Italian beef*, or tortellini)
Tuesday: chili
Wednesday: leftovers
Thursday: Pulled pork sandwiches
Friday: homemade pizza
Saturday: Chicken pot pie*
Sunday: Pasta ai Quattro Formaggi*

*Indicates new recipe

19 Months

Isabella is on her way to two years old!  She is such a joy.  We are so lucky to have such a wonderful little girl.  She really is looking more like a little girl and less like a baby.



"So, you're saying I'm closer to TWO than ONE? What?!"

"At least I look cute in my new raincoat and boots!"

Age: 19 months

Weight: Not sure
Length: Not sure
Size: Mostly 24m, can wear some 2T. Shoes are size 5.
Hair: Getting longer

Teeth: Still 14, but she's working on her upper canines
Sleeping: Generally sleeping pretty well. She usually sleep for about 11 hours at night and then a 2-3 hour nap.

Eating: She loves bananas, cheese, and applesauce.  Obviously Mama has to be careful about letting her eat too much.  Loves pizza- she ate three adult size slices the other night!

Movement: Still crazy!  I don't expect her to slow down any time soon.  She can now get on and off her little chairs by herself and she's working on somersaults.

Milestones: First inappropriately placed crayon marks:  I found a small scribble on her bedroom door today.  I think she has some crayons hidden somewhere, so I'm sure there will be more.

Favorite toys/activities: Play kitchen, coloring, playing outside, dolls and strollers, books, cars, and her talking puppies (Laugh & Learn and My Pal Violet)

Dislikes: Other children crying and yelling.  I yelled at Audrey today and oh my!  I've never seen such giant tears!  I felt terrible.

Words/sounds: Too many to count!  A few that come to mind: stuck (when she's having trouble getting up), upstairs, and outside.  She's also using more word combinations like "Dada bye-bye" or "baby night-night."

Update: New Years Resolution

Remember my resolution post about making some economic and eco-friendly changes to our lifestyle?  I thought I'd post an update for everyone.  If you remember correctly, I had twelve goals.  I'm sure I won't meet all twelve goals, but I feel like we're making excellent progress!

Completed:
1. Install a programmable thermostat.

2. Buy a steam mop.  Ok, so this one is sort of give and take in the eco-friendly department.  It will eliminate the use of chemicals, but it runs on electricity.  Ultimately, my floors are not getting clean enough so I'm biting the bullet on this one.

In Progress:
1. Be more proactive about recycling.  We already recycle quite a bit and have really cut back on our trash each week, but I think there are still plenty of things winding up in the garbage that could easily be recycled.
- I am the recycling Nazi.

2. Make re-usable refills for my Swiffer duster and sweeper.
- So far I've made one Swiffer duster refill, and I've purchased the microfiber to make sweeper refills.


3. Cut back on paper towels and napkins by converting to "un-paper" towels and cloth napkins.
- We have some un-paper towels on their way!

Coming up:
1. Plant a vegetable/herb garden.
- Our main issue here is figuring out where to plant it. We don't want to take up room inside the fence, but our annoying neighbors let their dogs roam free and we don't want them to disturb it.  We also need to figure out the best spot for light and irrigation.  I also want to do a raised garden bed, so Clint will need to build that for me. 

I feel like we're on our way to a healthier, more frugal life.  :)

Menu

Nope, I didn't forget about Menu Monday.  I really don't have much to post!  Clint was gone last night, and will be gone tonight and tomorrow night (work, work, class).  I am a little ashamed at how unhealthy Isabella nd I are eating: last night was frozen pizza tonight will likely be Kraft mac & cheese (the kind in the bag), tomorrow will likely be randomness from the freezer.  I just don't have the motivation to do anything too complicated when Isabella and I are home during the week.  It takes so much longer to do anything when I'm alone with her, and it's already 5:30 by the time we get home.  She starts to beg for food around 6:00.  Not to mention she's a picky eater and while Clint is fine with leftovers I hate to go to a lot of trouble for a meal for it to be eaten re-heated.  The first taste should be fresh, you know what I mean?

When I do get around to cooking again chicken alfredo and chicken pot pie are on deck.  The chicken pot pie keeps getting pushed back; it just never sounds appetizing when it comes time to actually prepare it.

18 month checkup

We had Isabella's 18 month checkup today and it went really well.  It seems like she was always sick with either a sinus infection or an ear infection for her past few checkups and this time she was in perfect health!  She was very brave and did very well.  Proud mama right here!  In the past she has screamed anytime a staff member came into the exam room and clung to me with all her might.  She was a little iffy about the medical assistant, but did very well with the NP we saw and the nurse who administered her vaccine.  The only thing she didn't like was lyng down on the exam table.  She cried very briefly from the shot, but other than that she did very well!  I told Clint we hit the Elmo trifect today: Elmo poster in the exam room, and Elmo sticker from the front desk, and watching Sesame Street as a reward for being such a big, brave girl!  She loves Elmo right now.

Weight: 21lbs 7oz- 10th% 
Height: 32 inches- 50th%
Head: 47.4 cm- 75th% (Big brain I tell ya, big brain!)