Dolly Parton's Imagination Library

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library

If you have kids 5 and under or know someone who does, this is a great program for every child! The Imagination Library joins forces with local agencies to sponsor this literacy program that strives to get books into the lives of children under 5. A free book is sent out every month until your child reaches their 5th birthday.

Our son received his first book last month, The Little Engine That Could, and just loves it.

Thanks Dolly!
It'sABusyLife,
Danielle

Rainy Day

It was great to have friends over last night to grill and play on the patio a gorgeous summer evening (Thanks again Monica!)...until the first signs of rain cut our outdoor fun a little short. It rained steadily here in New York all night, all day and is expected through tomorrow. Days like this make me sleepy...but not my toddler! He's raring to go as I'm reaching for another cup of joe!

I ain't gonna lie...there was some television viewing while I got my bearings. After that, a trip outside to the sand table in the rain was a nice change of pace, then a trip with Daddy to the Museum of Natural History to visit the dinosaurs filled the rest of the morning. TimeOutKids has more great rainy day ideas in NYC. Here are some great lists of Rainy Day Activities from Family Fitness and Rainy Days with Toddlers from Toddler Toddler.

Now {yawn} off to nap with the rest of the house.
It'sABusyLife,
Danielle

Useful Links - Site Redesign!

Between moving homes, pick up on the markets and some good old spring cleaning, the blog has been neglected. Would love to re-focus and add more value rather than blather on about me me me, so....this blog now enters phase II - Parent Scout

As a parent, I've found that there are a bazillion resources for information. Some are so vast it's impossible to find what you want. Some are so message board intensive it's all chatter with little content. And some have great content but are only focused on one small aspect of our lives.

I am hoping to start a new project with Parent Scout, which is to put together a place to find what parents are looking for that is broad enough to be a single resource you use while focused enough to provide answers to questions you have.

As a parent, it's not just about child development or just about where to go about town. You're a whole person who has little time to be combing the Internet looking for answers your family needs like ages & stages, managing work/life balance, quick recipes, how to travel with your kids, networking, crafts with your child that don't require hours of brain damage on your part, and more.

Over the years I have amassed a wealth of little tidbits, useful Internet links and great information from every corner of parenting and household management resources that I'd love to share with you!

Until I can pull something meaningful together, here are a few of my favorite things, in no particular order, that other parents have found helpful recently...

• Hiding nutrition:
  Toddlers are a peculiar bunch, with strange eating habits. My oldest loved mashed potatoes, so I hid all kinds of things in there (powdered milk for protein, shredded cheese, shredded carrots). Her younger brother won't eat mashed potatoes, but loves breads, pancakes and yogurt. Baking in the fruits and veggies helps. Think zucchini bread with part whole-wheat flower and a few tbsp ground flaxseeds for omega-3, hide some finely chopped spinach, add flaxseeds and bananas to pancakes. For more stealth nutrition, try peanut butter playdough!
• Real Simple's Time-Saving Tips
• Great NYC Mom resources from Big City Moms
• 5 Simple Ways to Make Your Toddler's Day from BabyCenter
• Though your first though when you hear eating disorder is teenage girls, anyone can have an eating disorder, and most start early. Learn more from KidsHealth on Kids and Eating Disorders
• Someone has finally brought manners back en vogue! Learn more about Etiquette Workshops for Kids from Socialskilz and NewYorkFamily.com
• My favorite designer discounter for kids! The Mini Social
• We bought a ton of stuff for our little one recently from KidSurplus, a discount website for all things kid

Til next time,
It's a BusyLife,
Danielle

Some days...update

After my much needed rant session yesterday, the day improved moment by moment, and many of you helped remind me that perspective is important, and, as my sister reminded me, "life ebbs and flows."
The progression from bad day, to ok day, to great evening:
- 11:15am baby up, at doctor's moved appointment, and no ear infection (yeah!)
- 12:30pm still upset in general, argued with husband, realized mid-argument not to argue with person trying to help you
- 12:50pm at Apple store genius appointment wonderful husband made and found running chip fix (buy new one...love/hate Apple!)
- 2pm great stroll home on bright sunny fall day through park with happy baby
- 3pm naptime for everyone
- 4pm finally get out for that 5-mile run, best time in three years!
- 6pm daughter returns home from weekend away, dinner, family time
- 9pm Yankees game on, quality time with husband
- midnight Yankees win game and in world series!
- 12:05am off to bed with smile, great end to the day

'til next time,
It's a BusyLife.
- Danielle

Some days just don't go your way

Ah, the beauty of a blog - someplace to vent! It's been one of those days, and it's only 10:26am, sigh. I'd like to think of myself as a positive individual, but I'm going to lay it all out there, if for no other reason, to feel like it took alot to get to me today!

- it's dreary

- woke up with a headache

- baby refused to nurse, started pulling at ear (maybe ear infection?)

- went back to sleep after some tylenol (thank you wonderful husband!), still woke with headache

- missed 8:30am race, but planned on 'virtual race' with nike+ ipod chip

- chip not working, blogs contradict each other and still not working!

- spent 1/2 hour searching for ipod armband to no avail (still no breakfast)

- baby would not go down for nap for 1/2 hour (I hope he's sleeping in there)

- now headache, hungry, grumpy, and no run to count toward marathon entry requirements

- baby sleeping through doctor's appt to see if he has ear infection (10:30)

- found out friends who came to visit got parking tix (sorry guys!)

Ugh, just one of those days and it's not even noon. Did get an email from a friend that is helping snap me out of it (thx Lynn!). It had this picture:

Uh...sorry, I know this was supposed to be cute, but just disturbing, no?

Anywhooo time to scrap it and find time for that book about how to find time :)....serenity now - ommmmmmmmm.

'til next time,

It's a BusyLife.

Danielle

new parent...again

On December 14, 2008 we welcomed our happy little addition, Martin Moore Akeakamai Jarnot. As we celebrate him turning 2 months, appropriately on Valentine's Day, I've got enough sleep to reflect on the past 8 weeks and gather thoughts to look beyond the next naptime.


Being a new mom again is much different than I remember from 12 years ago. First, the gear is SO much better (a bazillion luxury strollers, more velcro diapers, and sleep sacks!). Second, the rules are different (no crib bumpers??). Finally, the baby's different...they really are who they are from the start, no?

new parent...again

On December 14, 2008 we welcomed our happy little addition, Martin Moore Akeakamai Jarnot. As we celebrate him turning 2 months, appropriately on Valentine's Day, I've got enough sleep to reflect on the past 8 weeks and gather thoughts to look beyond the next naptime.


Being a new mom again is much different than I remember from 12 years ago. First, the gear is SO much better (a bazillion luxury strollers, more velcro diapers, and sleep sacks!). Second, the rules are different (no crib bumpers??). Finally, the baby's different...they really are who they are from the start, no?