Home made Aquarium

On my big day out to 'Michaels' arts and crafts shop, I came across so many cute little tiny objects that are perfect for introducing Harry to vocabulary. Children love tiny objects but unfortunately they are not safe for Harry's age as he could easily choke on them so I have put them in mason jars in water and plastic bottles of water for now so he can still observe them.

He loves his little 'under-the-sea' themed aquarium that I made for him using jar, rice and water. Jar was only $1 and the sea creatures came to $5. Obviously it's in a glass jar so he's only allowed to hold it under supervision and he must be very gently. (teaching him responsibility early on!)

You could also add some blue food colouring for fun. I just didn't have any in the house but it is on the shopping list! 

Home-made Portable Farm

For children like Harry who have parents that love to travel, this is ideal. The whole airplane thing can be a bit of a nightmare if you are not prepared. By prepared I mean have a load of toys and activities to entertain the little one. It's crazy how much stuff we have to bring with us anywhere we go now. Our recent trip back from LA to Chicago was a bit of a nightmare because I packed his toys away in the suitcase and had no access to them so had to improvise with magazines, walking him up and down the aisle, pressing buttons on the tv screens, repeated by Jonny then myself. I will never let that happen again.  Poor Jonny couldn't cope with all the tears and tantrums and then there were Harry's tears and tantrums too! 

So next time we will bring this super cute farm in a biscuit tin! Made simply with old biscuit tin, felt paper and glue gun. I bought the farm pieces and fence for $9.99 at Michael's arts and craft shop. I just need to find a duck now to put in the pond! Harry loves the duck and spends his days quacking and laughing hysterically at himself. He quacks us all up! haha!

Also, The Farm Game is an important part of a Montessori environment as it exposes the children to various animal names and farm equipment. It is also an important tool in introducing grammar later on. I remember learning grammar in school and it was so boring. Once I heard the announcement '' Ok, let's get out your grammar books!' I would sigh. The Farm Game, on the other hand, makes the grammar fun! With the Montessori grammar symbols you can help the child differentiate between a verb, noun, adjective, pronoun and so on. Harry is a bit young for the grammar game but he loves playing and learning the names of all of the animals and their sounds for now! You could always add to the farm later on by adding baby animals and teaching the names of the young. This is a much more concrete, fun and tangible way to learn the farm vocabulary. 

Montessori Grammar-Language 

Maria Montessori

A lot of people ask me what exactly is Montessori, is it a type of dinosaur?

 Well in a nutshell; Maria Montessori was a wonderful woman born in Italy in 1870. She was way ahead of her time and became, against her father's will, the first ever female medical doctor in Italy! Later she went into the area of child development and designed an amazing curriculum for children that is still being used to this day across the world. She opened her first school in San Lorenzo, outside of Rome in 1907 and went on to be nominated several times for a Nobel Peace Prize. Unfortunately Maria never patented her educational philosophy or curriculum and so now everyone and anyone can call their day care/creche/kindergarten a Montessori even if it does not adhere to her principles and requirements.

Anyway, back to the philosophy; after observing children, Maria Montessori noticed that children from birth until six years of age (in the first plane of development) learnt effortlessly in such an intense way that left them feeling refreshed. She called this phenomenon the “Absorbent Mind”.

This ability of the young child to absorb (combine into itself) information is in direct contrast to that of an older child or adult, who needs to use a great deal of effort to learn new things. This unconscious will to learn is driven and guided by the home, which is present in the child’s psyche at birth and drives the child to become independent. It is the absorbent mind that transfers the helpless infant into a young child with the necessary physical and mental abilities required for human existence.

It is in the First Plane of Development (0-3 years) that Maria Montessori noticed the unconscious learning that was taking place. During this period all details and impressions become engraved into the child’s very being, through repetition and thereby creating his personality. The child makes use of all his senses to observe emotions, behaviours and the culture in his environment forming the mneme or unconscious memory. As the ability to absorb these details is naturally active in each child, they cannot be taught by an adult. Maria Montessori called this quiet absorption “the Secret of Childhood”.

It is through various sensitive periods that the mystery of the absorbent mind is revealed. This is when the child unconsciously desires to learn a new skill. The sensitive periods could be described as internal aids that help in the development of a child’s personality. It is during a sensitive period that a child learns a new skill effortlessly through the process of absorption.

“Impressions do not merely enter his mind, they form it, they incarnate themselves in him” [1]

However if the child’s needs are not met during a sensitive period, the child may become difficult and badly behaved. It is vital that the child is in the care of an adult who has knowledge and can recognize these sensitive periods to avoid this from happening. Once a sensitive period has passed, the child will need to exert great effort to learn the new skill.

In the first plane of development there are three sensitive periods that peak between the ages of one and three years of age, namely those of movement, language and order.

Of all the sensitive periods, that of movement is the most noticeable during the infants first year of life. As the newborn matures, he discovers his hands and feet. This discovery allows him to explore his immediate environment because he is now able to grasp objects and place them in his mouth. This is how he begins to use his senses to explore the nature of these objects. Later on the infant will learn to roll, sit, crawl and finally take his first steps. It is usually during a child’s first year and a half that these changes happen that transform a helpless infant into a mobile toddler. It is only once the toddler has started walking that the hands are free to work, therefore becoming “instruments of the mind” [2].

“His hand guided by his intelligence begins to do jobs of definitely human type” [3]

At the same time the sensitive period for language is also developing. From six months old, the infant is already attempting to imitate the sounds he hears in the human voice. Around the time that he turns two, an explosion of language occurs. During this time the toddler starts to spontaneously speak the language he has heard from his parents.

The toddler’s sensitive period of order is when the child strives to maintain order in his environment so that he can make sense his world and build his inner personality. It is vital to the toddler that his environment remains orderly and unchanging. He also needs to have a predictable routine, because external order in the environment leads to internal order in the toddler.

“absorption is now helped and enriched by active experience ” [4]

He begins to build on what he has learnt in the first three years by refining and perfecting his movements through repetition. With each repeated action the child builds on his existing knowledge and experiences something new with each repetition due to the different stimuli found in the prepared environment. It is the extraordinary nature of the child’s absorbent mind that prevents him from getting bored or tired during this stage of development. It is also vital that the child be exposed to many varied learning opportunities at this stage as his learning requires little effort. In this period the child becomes influenced by the adults in his environment. He starts asking numerous questions and makes use of his will, as his memories are being formed.

In this period of development, the sensitive periods for language and movement are still present. The child’s vocabulary is expanding rapidly at this stage as he learns to express himself and get his needs met. The child is very active and is busy using movement to learn new skills. It is through this active learning and intense mental activity that the child will mature.

It is during the years between one and six years of age that Maria Montessori believed a child needed a prepared environment in which to learn. This environment would be sensorially rich and full of meaningful activities. The environment would also need to be structured in such a way as to encourage independence and therefore stimulate the absorbent mind. In this prepared environment the child could learn new skills whilst feeling secure as this environment would remain consistent and orderly.

Another vital component to the prepared environment is a suitable adult or directress. She holds a passive but vital role in the stimulation of the absorbent mind because a good directress will be able to ascertain when each individual child in is a particular sensitive period and make sure that she provides learning opportunities that satisfy their needs during particular sensitive periods. It is therefore important that a directress spends time observing the children in her class.

In conclusion, I feel that in knowing how the absorbent mind processes and stores information to form the personality and memory of the young child, adults should spend more time observing young children to make sure that they are providing work that addresses a need that the child has. Then we would be able to observe the phenomenon of the absorbent mind in action.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

  1. The Secret of Childhood. Maria Montessori
  2. Montessori A Modern Approach. Paula Polk Lillard
  3. The Absorbent Mind. Maria Montessori
  4. Course Notes

sewing

Home-made, Montessori-inspired, real-life activities

Happy weekend everyone!

So I spent the day making fun, Montessori-inspired activities for Harry to help keep his tiny hands busy! When his hands are busy, his mind is happy :) As Maria Montessori puts it 'The hand is indeed the instrument of the mind'

I found most of these pieces in 'Michaels' art supply shop and also used old clothes that I found in my wardrobe. Some of the cute and colourful, child-sized kitchen utensils I came across in Marshall's home goods section recently.   These practical life activities are really easy to re create in your home too for your little ones. 

Before you take a look at the pictures below, I want to explain to you the rationale of these practical life activities.

The purpose and aim of Practical Life is to help the child gain control in the coordination of his movement, and help the child to gain independence and adapt to his society. It is therefore important to “Teach teaching, not correcting” (Montessori) in order to allow the child to be a fully functional member in his own society. Practical Life Exercises also aid the growth and development of the child’s intellect and concentration and will in turn also help the child develop an orderly way of thinking.

Child-sized utensils from Home Goods.

Reasons for Practical Life Exercises

All children are naturally interested in activities that they have witnessed their parents/carers carrying out, such as cooking, pegging laundry, folding clothes, matching socks. Therefore, Dr. Montessori began using what she called “Practical Life Exercises” in the classroom to allow the child to do activities of daily life and therefore adapt and orientate himself in his society. I can see this with Harry at home, how he derives great pleasure from helping me sort the laundry or helping Daddy unload the dishwasher. He just loves it! Remember the saying; 'all work and no play make Jack a dull boy' well I say 'all play and no work makes Harry a cranky boy.' Harry, and all children need to work in the home. They need to feel like they are doing something with purpose. This gives them immense job-satisfaction when they have completed their little tasks and just gives them a feeling of calmness afterwards.   

When I say they need to work in the home, I don't mean forcing them to, I simply mean providing the tools and setting up the environment where they have easy access to a duster, watering can or window wiper so if and when they feel like doing it, they can easily and independently. 

Mini watering can and sponge for watering the house plants and wiping the leaves. 

I usually demonstrate the practical life activity in silence and just show Harry with my movement. Slow movements on how to do the activity. This way, he stays looking at the activity and not at my face. I am right-handed so I sit to his right so my arm doesn't block his view.  
The goal is to show the actions so that the child can go off and repeat the activity in his own successful way. Montessori says, “Our task is to show how the action is done and at the same time destroy the possibility of imitation”. The child must develop his own way of doing these activities so that the movements become real and not synthetic.

During the child's sensitive period between birth and 6, the child is constructing the inner building blocks of his person. It is therefore important for the child to participate in activities to prepare him for his environment, that allow him to grow independently and use his motor skills, as well as allow the child to analyze difficulties he may have in the exercise and problem solve successfully. 

Maria Montessori also saw the child's need for order, repetition and succession in his movements. Practical Life Exercises also help to aid the child to develop his coordination of movement, his concentration ability, his balance and his gracefulness in his environment as well as his need to develop the power of being silent. 

Cheerios on a pipe-cleaner. 

It is important to remember that at this age children love small objects, they have high appreciation for beauty. Their aesthetic sense is developing. They want to know the properties of different materials-for example;wood is different from cloth, glass is different from plastic and clay.  

Our job is to teach them and give them the opportunities, not to correct them. When a child cleans a window or mops the floor, he is not always necessarily doing that to clean the floor, he is actually developing his gross motor skills, refining them and preparing himself for the big world! 

 

Recycling his wipes box and cut-up old clothes to use as a opening/closing and pulling activity. 

The never-ending string of fabrics!

Candles in dry clay

Matching squares. This is a bit advanced for Harry but he likes to watch me do it. He prefers to match socks instead. 

Child-sized colander from Home Goods and pipe cleaners for threading. This is for a bit later on. He doesn't have the concentration level for this one yet.

Harry doesn't use the tongs yet, he uses his hand to pick out the eggs from the bowl and place them in the recycled egg carton. Great coordination is required. 

Pegging with child-sized pegs from 'Michaels'

“The child can only develop by means of experience in his environment. We call such experience work. - Maria Montessori”

This is also a little advanced for harry but it will be very beneficial to him soon to help strengthen his wrists to prepare him for writing later on. 

The proof is in the pudding... Happy as Harry when he feels he is working with purpose. Making Mammy and Daddy their Irish Fry! 

This is very advanced work but at least I have it ready for when he is ready. recycling my old black cardigan and used a glue gun to glue it on to cardboard. 

Object permanence activity. Place the pegs in the top of the painted bottle and then child can peek inside the Monster mouth to see it there! This fascinates Harry so much! 

If I had a daughter...

So I don't have a daughter but if I did, I would also like to teach her what Simpson University Student, Sydney Davis would teach her little girl. Her inspiring words are as follows: 

I would tell her not to wait around for a boy to come sweeping in and save her. I would make it a point to teach her that the world has tried to convince women that they need men to feel complete and that that is a big fat, ugly lie.

That she is too full of depth and honesty to “play dumb” for some insecure boy.

I would not let her grow up with the “sleeping beauty” mentality, thinking and expecting some guy to waltz up the ivory tower to wake her up.

I would tell her she is already awake and that she is full of fire that would melt that ivory tower to the ground.

And then I would tell her that when she sorts through the boys that have tried to knock on her door and been denied, that the right one will come. When he does that she needs to thoroughly understand emotional purity. She needs to know that purity comes in many forms and that emotional purity is equally as important as physical purity.

And then she would ask, “Mom, what is emotional purity?”

I would say, “Baby, emotional purity means that you know who you are and what your heart wants. While knowing what your heart wants, knowing that you are in control of your feelings. Your feelings don’t own you. You own them.”

I would tell her that she is not allowed to hide her true self for other people’s comfort.

She is a round house kick to the face of conformity and that that is the best thing about her.

I would tell her if there is an adventure in her heart that she should do everything in her power to make it happen. I will tell her to rally her resources, seek advice from mentors and close friends and then to go fight for what she wants.

I would tell her that the world has been waiting for her since the beginning of time.

I would tell her that she is 1,000 bouquets of roses and a million adventure novels wrapped up into one.

I would sit her in front of the bathroom mirror, like my mother did for me, and make her repeat over and over the things that she loves about herself, even if she didn’t necessarily believe them at the time. She needs to hear that vocally and I’m going to make sure she does.

After our talk, I would hug her tight and say,

“The world is yours. Go get it. I’ll be right behind you the whole time.”

5 friends you need to have as a mum

If there was ever a time when you most need your friends, it's now! Now, more than ever, is when you crave the old days when you were child-free and could stay up so much later than 9pm.  It's important to have those friends to turn to and sometimes vent to about this new human taking up all of your time but so many of mine live back in Ireland. Even if it's only a voice audio on 'whatsapp' or a quick skype call between making bottles and changing nappies, those moments are treasured.  I would not be sane without them so thank you ladies! 

Aside from your child-free friends, you also need to have mummy friends that know what you are going through. I read this article written by Samantha Lande from bumpclubandbeyond. It is so true! These are definitely the top 5 types of mammy friends that you need to surround yourself with as you walk through the tunnel of motherhood. Avoid hanging out with over achieving OCD mums, they only make you feel bad!

The Concierge – Looking for a good pediatric dermatologist? Need to know know where to get the best nut-free cupcakes in town? Snagged a last minute sitter and have no idea where you should eat? This mom always has the answers. She has great taste and has somehow managed to stay in the loop of what’s hip and trendy despite being a busy mom of three. She’s the one that will casually remind you that you’re still wearing that backpack diaper bag even though neither of your kids have worn diapers in over a year. And then she’ll send you a link to a bag that won’t break the bank but will make head turns at the next PTA meeting.

Your Ghost of Christmas Future – This mom has kids a few years older than yours. She’ll become your number one source for all things school, sickness, and milestone related. She’ll be there to reassure you that “this too shall pass.” She’ll remind you that there’s light at the end of the no sleep tunnel. And the potty training tunnel. And the tantrum throwing tunnel. But watching her kids grow into hyper-emotional prepubescent teenagers will make you appreciate your small babies and remind you of the good old saying “small kids, small problems. Big kids, big problems.”

Your Opposite – If you’re a stay at home mom, you need to make friends with at least one working mom. And vice versa. Everybody thinks the grass is always greener but being honest with one another about your daily struggles and insecurities will make you realize that there’s not one right choice or easy way out when it comes to raising kids. When it’s a sunny beautiful day out, she might text you saying she’s jealous you get to picnic with your kids while she’s stuck in a cubicle on the 87th floor of a building. But she’ll feel better after you tell her your kid just had a massive diaper blowout on the one day you forgot a change of clothes and how you had to MacGyver a diaper out of a used paper towel and a bobby pin. Your friendship will make you appreciate all the work moms do and that we’re all in this together.

The Treat Yo’ Self Mom – You’ll definitely want to make friends with a mom who always finds time to take for herself. No matter what life throws her way, she still manages to get a daily workout in, has a fresh manicure, and maintains an active social calendar. Although you might not be able to keep up with her, she’s always there to remind you that it’s important to take care of yourself. Necessary, actually. It’s not selfish because you end up being a better version of yourself which usually leads to being a better mom. She’ll also be the one who responds “HELL YES” to your group text “Mayday” asking if anyone wants to grab a last minute drink after bedtime. But she’ll show up in sweats because she’s coming straight from yoga.

The Anti-Crafter – We all know this mom. She’s notorious for being late to school drop off….and pickup, her house always looks like a tornado blew through it, and uses dry shampoo more often than is probably recommended. But guess what? Her kids are healthy, happy, and most importantly, loved. It’s a good reminder that your kids don’t care if things around them look perfect. And neither should you. Plus, you can invite her over on a moment’s notice because she won’t be judging you either. So don’t worry about the unwashed dishes in the sink and the lack of organic produce in the fridge. Send the kids to the messy playroom, pop open a box of Franzia, and relax.

Each one of these moms brings something different to the table but they all share some of the same qualities. Every one of them is going to check up on you when they know you’re dealing with a sick kid. They always offer to drop off Pedialite and chicken soup, and although you may not need anything, the offer means so much. Because as we get older and live further away from our families, our friends really do become our family. The whole notion of it “taking a village” isn’t an outdated one. These women and all of the special roles that they play in your life, ARE your village. They’re going to be there and lift you up when you feel like you’re failing as a mother. And then they’ll be right there with you to celebrate you and your child’s successes. They’ll listen to you vent for hours about your kids and your husband and your in-laws and then pretend like it never happened when all is good again. They’ll remain your friend through your child’s terrible biting stage and through your terrible Whole 30 Stage. Because they love you and they love your children. And that’s some serious #squadgoals.

Stay home or back to work?

Here is a wonderful article I read lately from Carolyn at 'The Healthy Doctor' that I wanted to share with you. It is often a big dilemma we have as mums. Should we stay home or should we go back to work? But what would people think if I decided either way? What would happen to my baby? Which would be the easier choice. I'll let you read on and figure which one you would prefer for yourself! 

Dear Stay-At-Home Mum

Some people have been questioning what you do at home all day. I know what you do. I know because I’m a mum and for a while I did it too. 

I know you do unpaid work, often thankless work, which starts the moment you wake up, and doesn’t even end when you go to sleep. I know you work weekends and nights, with no discernible end to your day or working week. I know the rewards are joyous but few.

I know that you seldom have a hot cup of coffee or tea. I know that your attention is always divided, often diverted from a moment to moment basis, and you cannot ever count on completing a task in the one go. I know that you probably don’t get any down time when you’re on your own at home, unless you have a single child who still naps in the daytime.

I know the challenges you deal with daily, usually with no peer support or backup. The toddler tantrums, the toilet training accidents, the food battles, the food on the floor, the crayons on the wall, the sibling rivalry, the baby that never seems to stop crying. I know how the work seems incessant, like an endless cycle – you shop for food, prepare it, cook it, attempt to feed it to your children, clean it off the floor, wash the dishes, and repeat in three hours.

I know you fantasise about having an hour to yourself to eat your lunch in peace, or about having an afternoon nap. I know you sometimes wonder if it’s all worth it, and feel envious of your friends who are having coffee breaks at work. I know that sometimes when your partner gets home in the evening after his work is done, he wants to put his feet up exactly when you need a break the most, and this can bring you to tears. 

I know that you are misunderstood by so many who do not appreciate the difficulties of caring for small children on your own, all day, and refer to you as joining the “latte set”. They imagine you spend your day sipping coffee while your children play quietly. I know you miss your financial independence. I know you feel amused and sometimes annoyed when others proclaim “TGIF!” because to you every day is the same – there is no Friday, no break from your job. I know that many people do not understand that you work – you simply work an unpaid job at home.

SAHM, I don’t know how you do it. I admire your infinite patience, your ability to face each day cheerfully and bring joy into your children’s lives even when they wear you down. I admire your dedication to being a constant presence in your children’s lives even if it isn’t always easy. I admire the way you work without expecting any reward – no promotions, no fame, no salary. I know you want your children to feel important and loved, and SAHM, you do this the best.

I just wanted you to know that I understand. We’re both mothers. And I know.

Love from the trenches

Working Mum

Dear Working Mum

I know you sometimes get judged by others for leaving your children in the care of others to work. Some people imply that you don’t love your children as much as us SAHMs do, and that it’s best for children to be at home with their mothers.

How can they say this about you? I know you love your children just as much as any other mother. I know that going back to work was no easy decision. You weighed up the pros and cons, long before you conceived a baby. It has always been one of the most important decisions of your life. You thought about this even while you were in high school and were choosing subjects for Grade 11.

I see you everywhere. You are the doctor I take my children to when they are sick. You’re my child’s allergist, the one who diagnosed her peanut allergy. You’re the physiotherapist who treated my husband’s back. You’re the accountant who does our tax returns. My son’s primary school teacher. The director of our childcare centre. My daughter’s gymnastics teacher. The real estate agent who sold our house. What sort of world would it be if you hadn’t been there for us? If you had succumbed to the pressures of those who insisted a mother’s place had to be in the home?

I know you weigh up every job to see if it will suit your family. I know you wake up an hour before everyone else does, just so you can get some exercise done or some quiet time. I know that you have attended meetings after being up all night with your toddler. I know that when you come home in the evening, your “second shift” begins. The nay-sayers don’t understand that you run a household AND hold a job. You come home, cook dinner, bath your children and read them stories. You tuck them in and kiss them goodnight. You pay the bills, do the grocery shopping, the laundry, the dishes, just like every other mother does.

I know that you often feel guilty about having any more time away from your children so you sacrifice your leisure time. I know you can’t bring yourself to take a “day off” for yourself when your children are at daycare. I know you accept that work is your “time off” for now. I know that when you are at work you don’t waste a single minute. I know you eat your lunch at your desk, you don’t go out for coffee, and you show complete dedication and concentration to your job. You chose to be there after all. You want to be there.

I know how discerning you are about who is looking after your children, and that many long daycare centres offer excellent care. I know you only leave your children in a place where you confident they are loved and well looked after. I know that you spend many days caring for your children at home when they are sick, and sacrifice your pay. I know that you secretly enjoy these days, and revel in being able to be with your children.

I know that sometimes you feel guilty about not being there all the time. But WM, I know this. You are setting a wonderful example to your children. You are showing them that a woman can have a career, contribute in some way outside the home, and still be a loving mother. You are showing your daughters that they can do anything they want to do in life. You are displaying strength, endurance, dedication, tenacity, and you do it with so much joy and love.

I just wanted you to know I understand. Because we’re both mothers.

Love from the trenches

Stay-At-Home Mum

Not always a walk in the park

I came across these captions and they really struck a chord with me.

I think a lot of us are guilty of looking at other girls' social media accounts and thinking they have everything and are so lucky. I am also guilty of this, thinking their lives look perfect. How do they manage to look so good after having a baby and I look and feel like crap. Well, guess what. It's not real! They capture the good moments and that's it. I guess we all do it. Well let me tell you, there are days that I just wanna run home crying to Ireland and get away from my life here in Chicago. I have home-sick days where I just wish I had my mammy to make me a roast beef dinner and bring me a cup of tea and cadbury's chocolate fingers. I miss my friends from home and now have to think of time differences before I can pick up the phone for a rant. There are days when I think I am going insane, that my life is out of control when I haven't slept properly in days and Harry is teething but I just try to remember that this is just a phase and it will pass. I have started a gratitude diary to help me count my blessings and to help me remember that I have so much to be thankful for; A wonderful supportive husband, (who I feel like killing at times-apparently it's normal after a baby), a beautiful healthy happy Harry and a lovely life in Chicago with great friends. Above all, I have my health, which my granny Alice used to say, was your wealth. I try to treasure and appreciate everything and everyone around me but it's not always easy to see clearly when your head is fuzzy from tiredness. Thank God for coffee and photo app filters, that's all I will say!

Nursery Inspiration!

Loving Twinkle Twinkle Little One and Land of Nod for Nursery inspiration! I really like the gallery wall idea. Since we live abroad away from grandparents, I would like to print some black and white photos of the family to place over Harry's crib in different frames. I found the pictures and paintings pretty pricey but they pushed me to go out and buy some art supplies to re-create my own gallery at home. 

Loving these slippers for a little girl! Would love a pair for myself :) 

Here are my paintings that I recreated at home and are great for baby shower gifts! I think I like pink a little bit too much! 

Thrift Store Treasures

Here are some wooden Melissa and Doug toys that I stumbled upon during a recent visit to Kangaroo Kids on Clybourn. This is a local consignment store that stocks only children's clothing, toys and books. Everything in here is in such great condition and very reasonably priced! It is perfect for helping me to set up my home Montessori activities. I am also in the middle of creating a library for Harry. I picked up a beautiful book here too for just 2 dollars! 'God Bless our Fall'. I just love the beautiful illustrations throughout the book and it really captures the traditions of Fall, or Autumn as we say in Ireland.  It is now his bed-time reading story for the season.

$10

Harry loves the wooden bead maze and it keeps him occupied and focused for a good while so I can get other chores done in the house. The animal puzzle is for a bit later on. For now he just likes to chew on the giant puzzle knobs.  Whatever keeps him quiet! 

$6

$2

A few of Harry's favourite things.

So here I will include some of the essential baby items that we bought that we actually got great use out of and that we needed to have in the house for Harry to keep him safe and happy! Some things you definitely don't need to buy, I feel, like for example, a changing table or feeding rocking chair. I survived without them to be honest. I felt safer changing his nappy/diaper on the floor on his changing mat. I also didn't use a diaper/nappy bag. Instead I preferred to use my oversized handbags! It was way more convenient as then I just needed to carry one bag instead of two. Also, I want to mention, most of these items I found second-hand on craigslist but some I did buy new from Target or were given to me as gifts. I don't think it is necessary to spend big bucks on baby items as they grow out of things so fast!! It is such a waste of money to buy brand new everything! Second-hand items that look as good as new are all over the place online and in consignment stores so get out there and browse! 

Below here are my must haves; 

Fisher Price Bouncer. Harry is 8 months now and still occasionally sits in here! I can't get rid of it yet...he still loves the little dangling animals!

Floor Activity Gym- deal for tummy time. Harry would talk to the animals from the time he was a few weeks old and then get mad that they weren't talking back! Hilarious to watch. 

MAM pacifiers...also known in our house as 'the pipe'. These saved my life and help Harry start sleeping through the night. He no longer takes these but they were a life saver in the first 5 months!

Snot Sucker by Dr Frieda from Target. Not Harry's favourite thing but really helped in clearing out those snots!

Munchkin Diaper Pail or a Nappy Bin as we would call it in Ireland. Helps keep the bad smell locked inside. Essential if you live in a small apartment like we do. Ok, so not Harry's favourite thing but is a must have in my opinion!

The jumparoo or also known as the 'Harry gym' in our house. This is a great and safe place to have Harry if I need to use the bathroom! Usually I limit his time in this to maybe just 20 mins a day as he just ends up super hyper and sweaty if he's in it too long. Usually just 10 mins each time max. 

Wooden teether from Land of Nod. 

Boppy Cushion. An essential for breastfeeding. I found it absolutely brilliant for when I wanted to eat my dinner at the table but also hold Harry hands free. I could prop him on this comfortably and safely while I ate! Also is a life saver on the plane. He could lie across me on it and sleep as he was way more comfortable as was I. 

Changing pad with sheep cover from Land of Nod. Irish touch for an Irish boy! i would usually just lie this on the bed or on the floor in the living room and change him. Worked out great! 

Tunes with Tim

Harry loves his weekly music classes with Tim at Monica and Andy and to be honest, I think they are great too. Feels so uplifting singing along to all the great golden oldies and he always mixes it up with a new song at the end of each session. Harry has graduated from the Tiny Tunes class to Tunes for the crawlers and is now using instruments in the lesson! He is actually able to bang the drum, shake the shakers and not just eat them like he used to! Tim ends the class by blowing bubbles in the air which mostly end up in Harry's hair! This is probably his favourite part to the class! Need to buy some for the house to keep him occupied! 

Painting with Harry

In order to keep Harry happy during tummy time, i put some paint and paper into a ziplock bag and let him mush all the colours together. It's a really fun and safe way for them to paint at just a few months old and also is great as it keeps the carpets clean! Must be supervised though as not all zip lock bags are safe enough in Harry's strong grip!