Dealing with Daily Frustrations

This week has not been the best as far as smooth parenting goes....not that parenting is ever smooth, but you get my drift. Aria has recently become more and more mobile - seems every day almost - and with mobility comes "discovery," which, to parents, translates to be massive destruction. From pulling lamps down and cords out of plugs to destroyed magazines, laundry that was once clean now all over the floor and trying to remove my daughter's pinched little fingers from the dresser drawer...and trying to put the VHS player back together after her little fingers discovered it. Now, I know these are basic dangers that most parents have guarded against, but being the first week of mobility, well.... I wasn't really prepared. She's also figured out how to stand up in her crib and change the channels on her monitor, which is beyond inconvenient. Anyways... with all the annoyances, I was getting seriously frustrated and trying not to take it out on Aria, because in all reality, you can't blame a toddler discovering her world for the first time. Now I'm just trying to figure out how to baby proof the entire house...without Aria ending up in a child-protective cage of some sort....

Heat Wave!

Here in Detroit, we've been experiencing some incredibly hot temperatures. Due to Aria's small body size and my lack of desire to deal with the heat, we've been staying inside as much as possible. However, if we do want to go outside and play, but still stay cool, we have the option of heading to the pool, thank goodness! Our apartment complex has a community pool that we can all use and Aria has fallen in love with. While the water is still really chilly for Josh and I, Aria doesn't seem to mind it at all, and keeps trying to escape our arms and go swimming for herself. Her first pool experience was on Memorial Day when we were up north with some family and friends, and she loved it so much, I knew the pool was going to be a frequent destination this summer. Since she's already kicking her legs and waving her arms, I find it a distinct possibility that she'll be swimming around the same time she starts walking! :)

Walk it off

Michigan is just getting to the perfect weather for long afternoon walks, which is something I've been greatly anticipating. Even through all Aria's issues the first few months of her life, taking her out for a walk seemed to calm her down, and things haven't changed much. My mom left this afternoon after being here on and off for about a week, and Aria just falls to pieces every time she leaves. The longer the visit, the more traumatic the end of it is. So, as soon as my mom left, I got us all ready and took Aria out for a nice long walk to take her mind off the tragedy. It works like a charm every time :) What activities do you do that helps to calm your children down?

Shopping with Baby

Since Aria's been born, we have dreaded shopping as a family. One of us would watch her at home and the other would go shopping. But with the advent of her ability to sit up on her own, things have changed. One of Aria's favorite things in the world now is going to the grocery store. So much to see and touch, and people to talk to - she it just in heaven at Meijer (our grocery store of choice.) Aria's enjoyment of the grocery store has brought a new era of family shopping to the Wardell home. Going to Meijer is now an adventure and family outing. Since it's so close, we can walk there with Aria's stroller if we're just picking up a few things, or we can load up in the car and use her "cart cover" when we need to do a big trip. Either way, her outgoing conversations with strangers and love of the ceiling lights and fans makes shopping  a fun trip :) We're just learning to keep the cart far enough away from her curious hands to keep random things from coming off the shelves and into our cart....

This was Aria's first trip in a cart :) Still can't go anywhere without the blankie...

Apologies... and contest winner!

I know, I've been absent from the blog world, and I've had many MANY inquiries about who won the giveaway and I apologize for it taking so long. Due to our-of-townedness and the flu, I wasn't online long enough to do the drawing immediately after it ended but here's the announcement. Congratulations, Margee!!! You won the large utility tote :) Everyone else who entered will also receive either 10% off or free shipping (which ever you choose) off your order the month of June! Also, in case you want your own large utility tote, this month only, for every $31 you spend, you can get one for only $9!! Thanks again to everyone who entered and keep watching the blog for more giveaways and money saving tips!