fashionless or fashionable

I know, and will be the first to admit, that I don't have the greatest fashion sense. In fact, I think Tim might tell you that at times it's downright embarrassing (I still wear wide-leg pants, gasp!). I have grown even less interested in what I look like over the last several months as the amount of dirt and dust that gathers on my clothes, within seconds of setting foot outside, makes "dressing" (which is to say putting together an outfit) virtually pointless. Friends, returning from home leave in the states, even brought me some fancy new threads, but I have refused to wear them for fear of permanently ruining them with dirty footprints or sticky fingers.

The same goes for Eleanor's clothes: I don't want to stop her from exploring the world around her, so there are some clothes which I just don't put her in first thing in the morning, when I know she'll be spending hours outside - in the dust. Generally I do the choosing of outfits, and she happily dons whatever I select.

This morning, however, Eleanor chose what she wanted to wear, and given my lack of fashion sense I just can't decide: it is totally fashionless or awesomely fashionable?
-kjd

Eleanor's selected outfit (dots, stripes and florals)...

...and "how to mix patterns" examples from a fashion website.

Screen Time

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends zero screen time for children under 2 years. None. Zero. Zilch. Greater screen time is associated with reduced time spent in physical activity, a higher likelihood for requesting advertised products, poorer school performance, increased behavioral problems, and increased risk for "at risk for overweight" and overweight (which are the official terms used for overweight and obesity in children).

Up until a few months ago I wouldn't have thought twice about there needing to be a recommendation for this- we don't have a television in our home and don't own childrens' videos or have portable DVD players or a Playstation or X-Box or Nintedo or an Atari (remember Atari?!) or whatever it is that children have these days.  But then I found the airplane video which I used one day in a desperate attempt to keep Eleanor entertained long enough to get dinner on the table while Tim was out in the field, and since then she has continued to ask for more. 

I realize that I am on a slippery slope here, especially by giving in to her requests, but I also recognize that NO SCREEN TIME, particularly as she gets older, is not realistic (imagine the fun we'd miss experiencing films like Wall-E or UP with our children) and could ultimately have lasting and unintended consequences. Do I really want to completely deny my children the ability to participate in a thoughtful discussion about Seinfeld or The Simpsons as major social forces in the late 20th Century or the opportunity to laugh (for the 100th time) at Arrested Development. No. I do not.

So while I still cringe each time I start up the computer, I...scratch that...we are making a concerted effort to set limits to Eleanor's screen time, which thankfully is very easy to do. At least for now. She is allowed one of two things: "For the Birds" from Pixar or something from Sesame Street. And I have to admit, even Tim and I can't get enough of this Sesame Street video/song called What I Am. I actually look forward to singing along, with Eleanor dancing on my lap. 
-kjd

[NOTE: For those interested, Dr. David Walsh provides excellent information and running commentary on the effect of screen time on childrens' physical and mental well being. You can find his blog here.]

1 little monkey

"One little monkey jumping on the bed..."

Much to her mother's pleasure, she did not fall off. Or bump her head. She did look rather sheepish after doing it though, which reminds me of another song...
-kjd

proud mama, "keep on rollin'."

I know that one of the worst things you can do for your child (and probably, therefore, yourself) is to fill them with ideas about what you think they should be when they grow up. I recently heard a comic relating the story of telling his mother that he wanted to be a comedian, "That sounds like you said lawyer?" she replied.

So, while I know that I shouldn't hold out hope that Eleanor is going to become a famous pastry chef and teach me a thing or two in the kitchen, seeing her handle a rolling rolling pin for the first time (like a pro, I tell you) certainly made my heart swell with pride.

Today, playdough. Tomorrow, French Culinary Institute?
-kjd

fort and beans

Our life here often requires adaptability (as I've written about) and creativity (which feels so much like adaptability lately). Without playgrounds, malls, community centers, parks, walking trails, bike trails, or countless other "things" we might find to amuse ourselves on a lazy Saturday afternoon we are often forced to improvise.

Last weekend, tired to visiting the same two (small) playgrounds and having finished all the groery shopping we needed to do (which least gets us out of the house), dad (aka. Tim) came up with two new ideas: fort building and bean tossing.

Both turned out to be great fun.
-kjd
 

beginning construction.

stretching the sheet.

helping.

supervising.

completion.

inside.

sorting and pouring.

tossing and running.

dads are awesome.