Is baby going to have a cake of their own? How about just doing a really nice cupcake? Or a decorated muffin? That you squirt whipped cream on just before giving it to baby.
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Great idea. I would make a cupcake out of whatever edible ingredients his mom deems acceptable, put some whipped cream on the to as @abasket suggested, stick a fake flame candle in, let the kid smoosh the creation, and take lots of photos. 
Happy upcoming birthday!
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A question. Any Doona owners here? Does it live up to the hype?
Back in the day when we were young parents, wouldn’t it have been awesome to have a discussion forum like this thread? Oh, the pitfalls I could have avoided!
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I’m jealous of my D’s mom-text-chains. Sure, I had a few friends with small kids, but you couldn’t put out a text at 3am and know that someone else is awake who will respond.
Plus all the local FB groups to get advice about schools, docs, activities, etc, in the area.
She has so many more resources. (Not to mention, being up late at night with a very awake baby, would have been nice to have sources of distraction beyond six channels showing maybe something like reruns of Vega$ – not that I remember watching that out of desperation one night…) Parents now have texts, streaming services, 100s of channels, the rest of the internet, etc.
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I don’t disagree with you! I do think though there are pitfalls…as in more comparing your house/parenting/kids with others, feeling less adequate, feeling like you aren’t doing enough…but hopefully yes, better opportunities to build your own little parenting community!
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Here’s a really useful gift for baby showers, new parents, families, grandparents etc
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07J9PK3JJ/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_api_gl_i_SHF55DXVXFKZDB8G4YSD
A picture frame for displaying children’s art! It’s magnetic so you can open like a book to change art and there is even a spot in the back to store children’s art so you can switch out as you please.
I love this!
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I don’t know anyone who has one but I’ve noticed them. It seems to me that it wouldn’t be as versatile as other strollers. I’m have seen ads for a Nuna stroller that is similar concept.
My older daughter ended up with three strollers. She has a heavier stroller that had the bassinet attachment that they use when they walk in the neighborhood. They are in a walkable area and can walk to the market. The basket is a good size. Downside it’s heavy to put in the car. She has a lightweight Uppababy that she uses in the car. The car seat will attach. They now have a used jogging stroller that her husband takes on the trails.
Younger daughter bought a heavy duty Silver Cross stroller on Facebook marketplace. It had barely been used and they sellers had every attachment. My daughter lives rural and the wheels on the silver cross work great in the orchard and also in the horse arena. She has a lightweight Nuna Trvl that she takes in the car. The silver cross is not easy to transport.
Both of my kids have done great finding used lightly used baby equipment on Facebook and on local community resource pages.
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My GD, who turned 2 a few days after Christmas, just started a dance/movement class once a week. I thought it was silly when D told me about it, but I kept quiet. My son-in-law just sent me a short video of GD in the class. It was hilarious. The class has a wide age-range (2-4 years) and the instructor started by asking the kids to name their favorite movie/cartoon??? Poor GD–she didn’t get it. Once they started moving to music, GD did so much better. She followed along pointing her toes, marching, lifiting her knees, moving her hands, etc. I think GD will be fine!!
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My GD who just turned 2 has been in music and dance classes. She loves them. There is going to be a dance recital in June. Let me tell you, it’s the hottest ticket in town. We all want to go and number of tickets are limited.
Both of my girls were ballet dancers, so I have been to so many dance recitals, but this will be extra special.
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I think classes like that are great! Half the purpose is to get SAHMs and caretakers to get out of the house, especially during the winter. The moms and caretakers often make friends. And the kids learn a surprising amount. There is the obvious one of increasing their receptive (understood) language. Often a class like this has someone who plays a musical instrument, e.g., a guitar or more rarely a piano. If nobody in the family plays a musical instrument , it’s a nice way for the kids to be exposed to live music. And of course they move to the beat, clap, etc. All good for them.
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My daughter was in OT/PT music therapy (my favorite) as well as a gymnastic class, several swimming classes a week, regular OT/OP, etc because she was a preemie. ALL the classes taught her something. In the music class not all the kids were ambulatory, but all benefited from the stimulation. Her gymnastic class was just a rec center one, and she would do laps around the gym because she wasn’t very good at waiting for her turn. However, when they turned the music on she knew all the steps because she was listening while she was doing her laps.
I think all these classes are great for developing those toes and the mind - gymboree, swimming, music, ballet, Irish dance.
With the exception of soccer. That was a disaster for us!
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I just finished watching my 3 yo GD do about 20 forward rolls on FaceTime! She and a few other of her preschool classmates started a movement class last year, and are now in what would loosely be called a ballet class. As my daughter was in prepro ballet and company from the age of 8, and started dance class at 2, there was no doubt in my mind that her daughter wouldn’t start early also. She also goes to gymnastic, which I think she like just a bit better.
Both GDs started swimming classes for a while last year, and it is time for them to start back, if they can get them into one. My D stopped as she wasn’t comfortable during Covid at the place they were enrolled, and she said getting into a class somewhere indoors is near impossible.
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In my GD case, it’s the Dad and caretaker who take her to the classes. The nanny goes to the music and dance classes. Dad goes to the forest class and swim classes.
I went to the forest one time (never again). It’s a class at a very large NYC park. Kids roll around in leaves, play in the mud, have homemade bread with jam, and visit ducks at a pond. I said to D1 - you need to pay for that?
My 5-1/2 (almost 6!) yo GS takes swimming and skating lessons. He plays baseball, soccer, basketball, and hockey on teams with his friends. My 3-1/2 yo GD takes swimming and skating lessons and went to a little soccer camp last fall. They are very active outside - riding bikes and scooters, playing on the play set, and playing anything that includes a ball. They’ve been skiing down their back yard for a few years and will take their first official lesson this weekend.
I may have already mentioned this here, but if your grandchildren will be biking, GS and GD ride the woom bike. This bike is so light and easy to ride. They are pricey, but make riding fun and easy.
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My GD has been riding scooter since 18 months. She can go pretty fast now. I am just amazed how she could keep her balance on the scooter. Her dad often calls to her to her, “drag that foot” to get her to slow down. In few weeks they are going to try to put her on ski.
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My S was riding a bike without training wheels before he was 3. He got on a bike and just took off. I am all for letting kids try things we don’t think they can do if they want to try. Some of them will surprise us!
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My friend’s S started a program for toddlers, introducing them to soccer, movement and just having fun outdoors. It’s been doing so well, he quit his job at Costco to focus on it. He has branches at several schools and he has hired several other employees. As his D ages, he’s expanding the age range of kids served and hired more employees. He loves it and had a 1st anniversary picnic of starting the program, with cake!
As a bonus at least one adult must be present while the toddler is there and friendships are being made among families.
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That sounds like a wonderful program. One benefit of any toddler or baby class is the socialization it gives to the caregivers.
My 10 month old grandson started swim lessons. It really water introduction but he is loving it. My son-in-law had to get up early and get online right when the registration opened to get a spot. It’s just 4 lessons but they hope to get him into another session. They also did a music class which he loved. The music class was expensive so they just did one session.
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Three year old GD used to go to preschool on Tuesday and Thursday and took dance on Tuesdays and soccer on Thursdays. Now she goes Mon-Wed-Fri and they don’t offer extra classes. So they signed her up for gymnastics on Thursday afternoons. Her sister (1.5 yo) takes gymnastics Monday morning. They love it. They are not as advanced as some of the other kids but do listen to instructions very well. My daughter’s 9 month old has gone to parent and me swim lessons once a week for several months. Too young to actually learn to swim but he seems to enjoy looking at the other babies. So weird to me that they have swim classes in strip malls!
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