10 Ways to Put a Smile on a Cranky Toddler Face

I am a stay at home mom to twins toddlers.  Most days I have happy babies, but there are some days I don't.  I always try new things to help get their moods turned back around.  Here are some go to methods to turning around a bad day.

1. Do an Activity
This is my go to when days are long and cranky.  I have couple things around the house for activities or crafts.  When we get these out it usually helps to turn them around.  You can find more ideas HERE under toddler activities.

2. Bubbles
 Ben and Penny love bubbles!  They squeal and chase them.  It's an easy way to get an improved mood.

3. Balloons
Super easy!  They get so excited when I start blowing them up.  This was Penny mid tantrum, she stopped crying when I blew it up.  Viola!  No more tears!  I love Balloons!

4. Sing Songs
The bubble song and the itsy bisty spider are staples.  They are good distractions and usually get smiles.

5.Reserve Presents
This table looks familiar I'm sure.  They get so many presents for Christmas and for their Birthdays.  I usually give them a good chunk of them on special days and when they aren't looking put some in the closet.  I pull these out for a special treat.  This helps replace the grumps with some grins.

6. Change of Scenery
Sometimes just going on a walk or even just changing the room we are in can make a difference.  They get bored and want a new view.

7. Snacks
A fun messy snack is always fun.  Who wouldn't smile while smearing yogurt all over?

8. Let them Chill
Sometimes nothing works.  They are just crying and fussing and nothing makes them happy.  Then I try laying them down for a bit in a dark nursery with a sippy cup.  They don't usually fall asleep, but that little break and chill time is all they needed.  I can totally relate to that.

9. Dance Party
In this house... we shake our booties.  We will listen to anything and dance.  Our personal favorites are Disney Dance Parties and Raffi Dance Parties, but they will dance to anything.  We love it!

10. Look at Pictures
We have some books of pictures we will take down and look at.  They love to look at their pictures of their grandparents and aunts and uncles and their cousin.  Especially their cousin, they love babies.

What do you do to turn those frowns upside down?

My Thoughts on Birth Order

So last week I talked about my thoughts on gender roles, but another interesting thing about having twins is birth order.  We all know the theories of the put upon middle child, the leader oldest, and the eternal baby of the family.  So what will happen with twins?

I mean if we are going to get technical Penny is the oldest by 1 minute.  I had a c-section with them, so really it was just a minute before they Ben entered this world.  Although I have heard that Penny will be able to hold the fact that she is the oldest over Ben's head as a rite of twin passage.  And if we are being honest Penny is already in charge of the whole house.  Will and I do plan on having more babies, so where does that put them?  Do I have two oldest children?  Or will I have 1 oldest with a bunch of middle?  Or will they make up their own order and rank of personalities?

Until then I guess they will just take turns wreaking general havoc.

I guess only time will tell how it all pans out.  What is your take on birth order?  Do you think it makes any difference?

Happy Anniversary Part 2

For our anniversary I decided to plan a years worth of dates.  Basically I have chosen 12 movies that either mean something to us or movies that Will loves and I won't usually watch with him. I wrapped them and a clue as to what they are and I am making one of his favorite meals.  Tonight is the night for November.

So tonight we are enjoying Chili and Blazing Saddles.  I hate this movie, but the hubs loves it.  Don't get me wrong, I appreciate Mel Brooks.... just not for a whole movie.  Will loves this movie and it is one of his go to comedies.  So tonight we are eating a bowl full of chili and enjoying the movie.... Well, Will is enjoying the movie and I am appreciating the wonderful man who married me and gave me the cutest babies in the world, so for that I can sit thru Blazing Saddles.

Raising Boy/Girl Twins and Gender Roles

Raising boy/girl twins I have a unique perspective on gender roles.  I am told all the time "Oh, Ben is such a little boy" or "Penny is such a little girl."  What does that even mean?  They are only 16 months.  Sure Penny is beginning to show affinity for all this pink and sparkly and Ben already has the patented male select hearing, but that is such a small part of their personality.  Penny also plays with cars and growls while Ben has the sweetest sing songy voice ever and is constantly trying to get me to put bows in his hair.  Right now they are just Ben and Penny who happen to be a boy and a girl.

I think it will be interesting to see what happens.  They are growing up with boy and girl things all around them.  Although Will and I have pretty "traditional" gender roles in our relationship that is the choice we made.  I in no way plan to put any of that on my kids.  If Ben wants a sewing machine and Penny wants a tool box, I will gladly give it them and encourage them to follow their dreams.  There is so much pressure to do things a specific way and be a certain way.  This is my vow to try my hardest to not only allow my child to be who they are, but also embrace and encourage who they are.  I want them to be happy and be who they truly are.  Their will be so much pressure from society dumped on them, they don't need any from me.

So while I am still going to buy Penny baby dolls and pink dresses I will let her get dirty and play with Ben's trucks.  And slightly more controversially, I plan to buy Ben trucks and action heroes, I will let him carry around Penny's purses. 

How Did I End Up with Such a Picky Eater?!

I wrote a post awhile back about things I thought about parenting before I was one.  I even wrote a post about my good little eaters.  Well I still have one good little eater, but Ben has become such a picky little eater.  For lunch today he at 4 blueberries, that is it!  I am not a fan of this phase.

Before I had kids I would see kids who would only eat chicken nuggets and would think to myself, you just need to offer other food and they will eat it.  I was pretty harsh.  Just give your child what you are eating.... eventually he will he when he's hungry.  While I still believe this on some level it really is more complicated than that.

I did my own version of baby led weaning, they got some baby food when we need it for convenience, but they have been eating table food since they were 7 months and nothing else since they were about 9 months.  Ben used to eat EVERYTHING veggies and fruit and would gobble up whatever we put in front of him.  Penny still does for the most part, she has a few foods she doesn't like, but don't we all?  Ben on the other hand will only eat a handful of food.  He will eat most fruit and cheese, hot dogs, mac and cheese and everything else is touch and go.  And he doesn't get hot dogs and mac and cheese much.  For dinner they always eat what we eat and lunch is a little more "kid's food."

So we started young.  We have offered a wide variety of food. We don't make him special meals.  And we keep offering healthy choices. And don't let them snack all day. This was all I though you needed to do.  Clearly once again I had no idea.  Hopefully Ben will eat again soon.

Here is how lunch went.  We had pizza quesadilla, pears and blueberries, and carrots.  All things he has eaten in the past.

He already ate his blueberries.

Penny ate most of and and with the look on her face, I think she like it.

This is all Ben ate.  I'm sorry Ben there is nothing else under there.

So hopefully Ben will learn that toddlers can not survive on Animal Crackers alone.... because I think that is what he is angling for. 

Got any tips to get more food into my little guy?  I would love to hear them!