Full Time and Baby Time

Picture Book Parade: Cooking with Henry and Elliebelly

2010-11-17T10:00:00.000-05:00

This book was made for readers' theater. And voices. Every summer we present a short skit based on a picture book. I really wish this book fit with our the international theme for next year so we could use it for our summer reading kickoff. I'll just have to come up with some other excuse to make everyone perform this one.

Cooking with Henry and Elliebelly is written entirely as dialog with different colors and fonts to show the voices of the characters. In this charming picture book 5 year old Henry attempts to host his own pretend cooking show with his 2 year old sister, Elliebelly. It's such fun to see the difference between the types of play for the two children. While Henry attempts to present a structured cooking show complete with commercials, Elliebelly is busy adding in pirate hats and dolls. The results are hilarious. This one will probably be a big hit with preschool children and up. Toddlers may not entirely understand the cooking show concept, but they may still appreciate the simplified pictures and the silliness.

Buy it here on Amazon or check it out at your local library.

I used a library book to write this review.

Picture Book Parade: 10 Little Hot Dogs

2010-11-16T10:00:00.000-05:00

One of the great things about my job is that I get to see all of the new books for children and young adults before anyone else. Including most of my coworkers. Today a new counting book arrived from our central processing location and I fell in love with the illustrations right off the bat. Ten little daschunds bouncing on one big chair make for an adorable cover. Author John Himmelman is the author of over sixty-five children's books including some of my recent favorites (Tudley Didn't Know and Katie Loves the Kittens). His illustrations are bright and cheerful, making for a great reading experience. I think the best part of his pictures is his faces. He can portray a sense of intense joy on an animals face that makes the book that much more fun.

Ten Little Hot Dogs is a counting book that starts with one little daschund on a huge chair. Predictably he (or she) is joined by nine more little dogs. Himmelman goes on to count down from ten until he's back to one. If you're familiar with counting books you know that most either count down or up. They don't usually go both ways so Himmelman is going the extra mile by giving us a little more time with these cute little creatures. I only have one complaint with this book and that's that it would have been great if it rhymed. I think it's only my personal preference since I've read so many counting books that rhyme. It's still a strong book without forcing rhyming into it. Even without rhymes this was a fun book that will be great for counting practice with young children.

Buy it here on Amazon or check it out at your local library.

I used a library book to write this review

Down on the Farm - Leaving the homestead

2010-11-15T10:00:00.000-05:00

About two months ago my sister emailed me with a few questions about pumping. Her daughter is due in January and she was getting ready to register for a pump. She just wanted to ask how I go about this whole pumping thing since she's going to have to deal with it when she goes back to work. My sister hopes to breastfeed directly and only pump when she's on duty. She's a doctor and only works half time at a hospital so she won't have to worry about pumping as often as I do (I'm exclusively pumping). She wanted to know what supplies I considered necessary and what I hauled back and forth to work everyday. She specifically asked about what brand pump I use, milk storage, and bottles. My response is a little long but may be useful to someone out there. Here's what I told her:

I went with the Pump in Style Advanced mostly based on product reviews. I think Baby Bargains called it "the 800 pound gorilla of electric breast pumps." I knew I was going to be using a pump a lot since I work full time (I'm actually using it at work at I type this).
I didn't need the extra features that the Freestyle offered and I thought the price was a bit much to swallow. I didn't need an LED display or a timer and the extra weight didn't bother me. It actually doesn't feel very heavy to me anyway. I have the backpack and it's worked out well for me. The pump itself takes up about 2/3 of the lower compartment of the bag so I also store some tubes of Lansinoh (an absolute must) in that compartment along with the tubes that connect to the breast shields. In the top of the bag I keep the power cord, a short extension cord, a kitchen towel, my hands free bra, and a nursing cover. The pump comes with a small cooler and four bottles to store milk in but I prefer to keep that stuff separate. I use a square lunch sack to carry bottles, ice packs, and the breast shields with connectors. Basically anything that is actually going to touch breast milk is stored in that bag. I keep the breast shield with the connectors in a ziploc bag. I don't know as much about the other breast pumps out there. The Lansinoh and Ameda Purely Yours pumps are supposed to be okay. They're actually the same pump in different colors from what I heard. Don't get the Avent Isis IQ. I've heard that some people ended up with tissue damage from that one.

As far as the hands free thing goes I have two Simple Wishes hands free pumping bras (http://www.amazon.com/Simple-Wishes-Hands-Free-Breastpump-XS/dp/B00295MQLU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=baby-products&qid=1283433241&sr=1-1) I just put one on before pumping because they're not supportive enough for regular wear and I would end up with some funky lines in my clothes if i did. There's plenty of weird strap systems but I prefer to feel more secure so I went for the bra. I don't want to feel like the whole thing is going to come crashing down on me if I turn the wrong way. A hands free bra will work with any pump out there. I definately recommend getting a few because otherwise you're just sitting there holding the shields to your chest for the whole time and you feel like an idiot. Also, pumping isn't as effective as a baby at emptying you so you might have to do some massage and compressions while you pump which are impossible without a hands free bra. I also love the Pumpin' Pals (http://www.pumpinpal.com/) shields because they're way more comfortable and it's easier to drain fully with the angle of the shields. It's probably worth getting them when you get the pump. I wish I had bought them sooner.

Other stuff:
Definitely get the Lansinoh bags instead of the Medela ones. They cost half as much, hold more, and can lay flat in the freezer (speaking of which, you do have 2 freezers, right?). You can also find them in grocery stores and pharmacies so you don't have to make a special trip to Target every time you run out.

Cleanup- Breast milk can be stored for 4-8 hours at room temperature, up to 7 days in the refrigerator and around 6 months in the freezer. Since the concern for the pump parts is how fast the breast milk degrades you don't have to constantly be cleaning the thing if you keep the parts that touch milk refrigerated and clean them occasionally. It's easy to clean the shields by hand with antibacterial dish soap. (I used to do this after every use but now it's just once a day. Now I just rinse between uses and clean as needed.) The connectors that attach the shields to the bottles are a littler harder to clean so I run them through the dishwasher. I have two of the Munchkin dishwasher basket for all my bottle and pump parts and I love them to death. (http://www.amazon.com/Munchkin-Deluxe-Dishwasher-Basket-Colors/dp/B000RI8Y30/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=baby-products&qid=1283433990&sr=1-1). When I'm at home I have a little shelf in the refrigerator where I keep bottles of milk and the shields and connectors just sit in a gladware container. You can get the sterilizer bags but I think that the dishwasher does a good enough job.

Creams and pads- Get the Lansinoh. It is awesome and you don't want to run out. I use the Nuk reusable nursing pads (http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_7?url=search-alias%3Dbaby-products&field-keywords=nuk+reusable+nursing+pads&x=0&y=0&sprefix=nuk+reu). I didn't like the idea of running out of pads and just tossing them in the trash. I figured I would run through a few a day (which is especially true in the beginning) and I didn't want to have to constantly run out for more. The reusable pads have a seam that can sometimes show through clothes but at least I don't have to run out for more all the time. I have to hand wash them in the sink. I tried the soothies pads once and just thought they felt funny. There's pretty much no way to be truly comfortable in the first few weeks of breastfeeding anyway. I had better luck with regular ice packs.

Bottles- I've heard the Avent bottles can leak so be careful of those ones. Also, bottles with the standard size neck can attach directly to a pump which is great for storage. I really like the Dr. Brown's bottles since I can attach the large 8 oz bottles to the pump and then use them to store milk in. Jack is still eating out of the 4 oz bottles and will eventually move up to the larger bottles. The only pain is all the parts involved. (Another reason why I love those Munchikin dishwasher baskets.) Another reason why I love them is that there's this little coin shaped piece of plastic you can insert between the lip of the bottle and the nipple to stop the bottle from leaking. Most bottles don't have this and when you take the cap off a bottle that's been rolling around in the diaper bag you can end up with a little milk spilling on you from the leaking. I love that tiny bit of plastic. I also occasionally use the Medela bottles but the nipples are too pliable and Jack sucks so hard they collapse on him. I think your little one should probably be okay with any choice you make for bottles so long as her first experience with the bottle is not on her first day at daycare. The first day is different enough without adding unfamiliar feeding methods.

Picture Book Parade: Dexter Bexley and the Big Blue Beastie

2010-11-13T10:00:00.000-05:00

He's big. He's blue. He wants to eat you. What's a boy to do? Joel Stewart explores an unlikely friendship born out of desperation in this beautifully illustrated picture book. It's no secret that I'm a fan of monster picture books and this one numbers among the best. Not only is it silly, it's also just a little bit heart warming.

In Dexter Bexley and the Big Blue Beastie our titular character is confronted by a giant blue beastie bent on consuming him for lunch. Dexter's only hope for survival is to distract the beastie. With delivering flowers. Starting a detective agency. And a few other things. The outcome is predictable of course, but sometimes the predictable ending is the only one that will satisfy the reader. Pick this one up if you want a charming book about unlikely friendship. And monsters.

Buy it at Amazon or check it out at your local library.

I used a library book to write this review.

Picture Book Parade: Socksquatch

2010-11-12T13:39:00.004-05:00

There's something wonderful about a picture book about socks. Socks are comfortable. They are warm. You wear them every day. Their familiarity can make even the most outlandish character suddenly seem approachable and even cuddly. Like the Socksquatch.

Socksquatch follows a poor monster on his search to find a sock. The story is simple and short enough for young children to follow easily and features cameos by other famous monsters (Frankenstein's monster, the werewolf, etc...). In fact it's only 55 words long (not including sound effects). For all that it's lacking in length, it makes up for in laughs. Socksquatch is perfectly silly and whimsical. Exactly what I love about monster picture books. And the pictures are just as much fun. Their child-like style is sure to appeal to many age groups. Pick this one up if you're looking for a fast, silly read.

Buy it at Amazon or check it out at your public library.

I used a library book to write this review.

Picture Book Parade: Llama Llama Holiday Drama

2010-11-11T10:00:00.000-05:00

I'm a sucker for rhyming in picture books. There's just something about reading a rhyming book aloud that thrills me to the core. It somehow feels organic and natural. This is going to sound weird but it's kind of like a tree. This book is a cute little spruce that the author just found waiting for her in the woods. She took it home and dressed it up with her adorable oil paintings. Now it's a Christmas tree.

The Llama Llama books have always been favorites of mine. Their word repetition is great for younger kids. The themes are great for kids suffering from separation anxiety or any child that has ever thrown a tantrum. This book focuses on the busy holiday season and all of the craziness that comes with it. From decorating to shopping to cooking, this book covers all the holidrama your child is going to witness this season. Llama Llama Holiday Drama is the perfect book to pull out when it looks like preparation for the holidays is starting to make your child's head spin. Even if you're having a nice quiet holiday you'll be able to appreciate the story and sympathize with poor llama and mama.

Buy it at Amazon or check it out at your public library.

I used a library book to write this review.

Teen Programming: Another reason why I love my job

2010-11-10T19:55:00.004-05:00

When most people think of librarians they have a very set picture in their head. They imagine Nancy Pearl circling the stacks like a shark. Just waiting to shush them. I am not that kind of librarian. Neither are the majority of the librarians I know and work with. For the most part librarians are fun, quirky people who love reading and learning so much that they just have to share it with the world. This is not to say that they're equally comfortable and capable of sharing with all age groups. When I think of my husband presenting a storytime I recall the episode of the Simpsons when they show Christopher Walken reading Goodnight Moon. I love my husband. And our son loves to listen to him reading. But there's a good reason why he's in the adult department and I'm in the children's department.

Library staff seems to be mostly made up of children's folks and adult folks. There are very few teen folks. This is something I've personally never really understood. Yes, teens travel in packs and can sometimes be a little loud and disrespectful, but they can also be funny, charming people with a relentless energy that can do wonders for the library. Librarians can occupy a privileged place in a teens life because we are not really in a position of direct authority over them. We can number among the few adults that they are able to interact with on an almost peer-like basis. We're not their parents. We're not their teachers. We're the people finding them books and graphic novels to read, getting them on the computer, and presenting cool programs to keep them entertained. We are technically in positions of authority in the library but that can be conveniently forgotten until there's a situation where someone needs to lay down the law. And it's not always because the teens are misbehaving. I've shushed a table full of adults when teens were trying to study.

Since I've started back to work I've spent a lot of time planning the teen summer reading for next year. I know it's really early, but I missed this summer's program due to maternity leave. So now I'm getting all geared up for something that is months and months away. I'm actually really excited about it. We're going to do reading logs where teens will track the time they spend reading and they'll be able to earn all sorts of random prizes. I've been contacting companies already to ask for donations (big thanks to Carmike Cinemas and Right Stuf for being so fast to respond and send stuff). I can't wait to see the teens' faces when they see all of the stuff they'll be able to choose from (I'm very optimistic about the donations. Don't burst my bubble.). I'm also really excited about all the craft programs I'm going to plan. I've been visiting tons of craft websites for ideas so I may post some of my favorites here. I'm also hoping to ramp up the number of anime club meetings each month during the summer. It's by far our most popular teen program and that makes me a happy little geek. Long live teen programming!

Back at Work

2010-11-10T19:49:00.002-05:00

Since I've been back at work it's been difficult finding time to post. This doesn't mean I've run out of things to post. In fact, I'm surrounded by things I'd like to post about. Probably because I work in a library. Every day at work I have been reminded of why this is my dream job. And it's a really good thing that I love my job so much. After all, it's not exactly the highest paying job there is and I have to leave my adorable baby in daycare. So, I think I might just schedule some posts about life since I started working again. Be on the lookout.

Board books worth buying: Liesbet Slegers

2010-08-22T10:13:00.004-04:00

I have some of the most thoughtful co-workers in the world. While I was out sick my buddies at work put aside some copies of brand new board books to check out. After all, they totally understand why I wouldn't want to take the used board books home. Two books by Liesbet Slegers were among the first stack of books. Both books (Eating and Sleeping) are aimed at teaching young toddlers about daily routines. I have to say that they were also perfect for the little guy. He may not yet understand the content of the books I introduce him to but the length and illustrations were perfect for him. As can be seen by the book covers, the illustrations in these books are simple and bold. The illustrations inside the book also feature white backgrounds. This made it easy for my little guy (who is not quite three months yet) to focus on the illustrations. The short length of the books didn't tax his attention span. When he gets older I might buy these books and others in the Clavis Toddler: Daily Life series to keep him on track with routines.

Buy them on Amazon here and here.

The House of Pestilence

2010-08-10T08:08:00.002-04:00

So, if you've been following this blog you may have noticed that I haven't been posting anything for a little bit. There is a very good reason for this. A little over two weeks ago the little guy woke up with a horribly swollen eye. It was gruesome, red, and crusted over and I was more than a little freaked out. I swept him off to the doctor without delay where he was prescribed eye drops for a truly horrendous case of pink eye. Unfortunately for him the eye drops didn't help much so we had to make another doctor visit a few days later where he was given a shot and a prescription for oral antibiotics. The poor kid has a really awful case that didn't seem to respond to any medication. And about a week after he got it my husband and I were able to share in the misery. It has now been about two and a half weeks since pink eye first entered our home and the only good thing about it is that our six year old never had to experience it. The little guy is all better. My husband is all better. But I can hardly see. It is taking a lot more effort than it should to type this.

I was actually supposed to return from maternity leave last Monday but I can't go back because I'm still infected. Still infected after trips to Urgent Care, the emergency room, and an opthamologist. The opthamologist has reached the conclusion that the infection is viral and therefore there isn't really anything much to be done. I've been given my fourth prescription in two weeks and I can't even fill it because Walgreen's ran out of my eye drops. The one thing that's supposed to at least cut down on the amount of time I'm ill though it can't cure me altogether and they ran out. This will never end.

Picture Book Parade: The Luck of the Loch Ness Monster

2010-07-31T13:45:00.001-04:00

I just love a good monster book. Many of my favorite picture books that I pick up again and again involve monsters. "The Monster Display of Monster Books" is also my favorite picture book display to set up when it's my turn. And boy do those books just fly off the display. Because I'm not the only one who likes monsters. It's just another reason why kids like to check out Halloween books all year round. Of course, this doesn't mean that young children love scary books. My six year old stepson has always loved monsters but he can have a low tolerance for truly scary monsters. There have been several times when we have had to put a monster book down because it was just a little too scary for him. It's just that he isn't quite ready for conspiracy theories about dangerous cryptids or poetry where monsters attack people. Still, he's just fascinated by creepy (but not too creepy) creatures. That's what makes monster picture books so wonderful, and this one in particular is great.

The Luck of the Loch Ness Monster: A Tale of Picky Eating by Alice Weaver Flaherty is an amusing origin story for a well known monster. The story opens with a little girl named Katerina-Elizabeth boarding an ocean liner to visit her grandmother in Scotland. Even though she is sailing unaccompanied, her parents interfere with her meals from afar by ensuring she is constantly served oatmeal. Poor kid. No wonder she throws it out the porthole. The oatmeal sinks to the bottom of the ocean, where a very tiny worm finds it and eats it. The overwhelming nutritional value of the oatmeal causes the worm to immediately grow. Soon the little guy is following the ship in the hopes of finding more of this miracle food. This story combines humor, monsters, and a nostalgia for times I'm too young to have experienced. These are a few of my favorite things.

Buy it at Amazon or check it out at your public library.

I used a library book to write this review.

Picture Book Parade: The Spiffiest Giant in Town

2010-07-26T13:13:00.004-04:00

I have to say that I'm more than a little in love with this book. Parents and caregivers often come into the library looking for morality stories, most often pertaining to sharing and kindness. Often the books available to give them are a little too boring and preachy for children to truly enjoy. I think that most authors of such tales put the message before the story and end up with a boring and forgettable book. I would think that the moral of the story sinks in a little better when kids actually want to listen to the story first. Just a thought. Anyway, one morality story for children that they'll actually enjoy is The Spiffiest Giant in Town by Julia Donaldson. I know they'll enjoy it because I read it to a classroom of 1st graders when they visited the library. It's easy to tell when a book is a flop and this was most decidedly NOT a flop.

The Spiffiest Giant in Town is the story of George the giant. At the beginning of the book he is the scruffiest giant in town, dressed only in an old sandals and a patched-up gown. One day he notices a new shop. A new shop with giant-sized clothing. Soon he's decked out head to toe in the finest the shop has to offer. However, soon after he leaves the shop he runs into a giraffe with a very cold neck. And, wouldn't you know it, his tie would make a lovely scarf. I'm sure you see where this is going. The Spiffiest Giant in Town is a fun story that kids can really get into. I'm sure that some would complain about the predictability of the tale, but that just adds to the appeal for many children. Kids can guess (with the aid of rhyming text) how the giant will help the next animal he meets. This one can't miss.

Age group: 4-8 years old

Buy it on Amazon or check it out at your local library.

I used a library book to write this review.

Check it out! May Bird and the Ever After

2010-07-24T13:00:00.001-04:00

Sometimes it's difficult finding a good adventure story for girls. It seems like all of the really exciting stories for kids feature boys. Gregor the Overlander. Percy Jackson and the Olympians. And, of course, Harry Potter. For the most part girls are secondary characters in adventure stories. That's why I get kind of excited when a great adventure story with a female character shows up. One of my favorites is the May Bird series by Jodi Lynn Anderson. I recommend this book to people at least once a week at the library.

This story reads like a Tim Burton movie. The tone is sort of dark and creepy, while at the same time it's filled with entertaining and whimsical characters. At the start of the story May Bird is a lonely 10 year old girl whose only friend is a hairless Rex named Somber Kitty. Over the years many people have disappeared into the swamp near her home. One day May discovers why when a creature pulls her into a pool and she ends up in the world of the dead. Too bad she's still alive. And the living aren't allowed in the world of the dead. She has to find a way back home before the Bogey finds her. She might get some help in the form of the Lady of the North Farm. Or the Lady might be more interested in having May help her instead. This starts as a simple ghost story, turns into an adventure, and by the time you hit the third book it's an epic quest to save the afterlife.

Age group: 8-14 years old

Buy it on Amazon, read part of it here, or check it out at your local library.

I used a library book to write this review.

Board books worth buying: I Am a Bunny

2010-07-23T13:00:00.004-04:00

This was one of the first board books I ever received for my little guy. It's such a classic I actually have two copies now (one from my mother and one is a hand-me-down from my stepson). I've always been a fan of retro graphics and, with a 1963 copyright, this book isn't just vintage. It's downright antique. The text by Ole Risom is fairly basic ("In the spring, I like to pick flowers.") and short which is perfect for reading to the very young. It also can be a good introduction to the seasons as it describes Nicholas the bunny's favorite seasonal activities. Even thought the text is charming, that isn't what makes this book a classic for young children.

The illustrations by Richard Scarry (you know, the guy who did the Busytown books) are detailed and saturated in color. With any other illustrations it would be easy to just breeze through this book in a few minutes. Just check out his meadow of flowers...

Or the sky full of butterflies...
I'd just love to have these framed and hang them on my nursery wall. Who cares if they wouldn't go with the safari theme. If you're a fan of eye candy and want to instill an appreciation for art at an early age I Am a Bunny is a good place to start.

Find it here on Amazon.

I was not compensated for this review.

Down on the Farm - Why I shouldn't watch Cake Boss

2010-07-23T13:00:00.003-04:00

When I was pregnant with the little guy I didn't really have any craving to contend with. I was nauseous for the first trimester and in trimesters one and two I pretty much ate what I would usually eat, just in larger quantities. Minus the things I wasn't allowed to eat. I really missed spicy tuna rolls. I figured that once I had the baby I would be able to go back to normal. I had no idea what breastfeeding would do to me.

It's estimated that each ounce of breast milk produced burns 20 calories. Most newborns consume between 20 to 25 ounces a day. Dietitians and doctors recommend consuming 300 to 500 calories more a day than what was needed to maintain a pre-pregnancy weight. For those of you who aren't aware, they recommend an extra 300 calories during pregnancy. So once the kid is on the outside you'll be working even harder to support him while you're breastfeeding. As I mentioned in a previous post, I'm a high volume pumper. In fact I produce over 70 ounces a day. That's over a half a gallon of breast milk every day. I could open a dairy. My husband makes jokes about selling it at the farmers market. So, if you do the math, that's about 1400 calories I'm burning a day just by hooking myself up to a machine. And lately I've been getting closer and closer to 80 ounces. As a result I've been completely ravenous.

I've been watching a lot of TLC while I'm home on maternity leave, both during the day and in the middle of the night while I'm up pumping and my husband is feeding the little guy. My new favorite show is Cake Boss. (Just ask my in-laws. I spend 20 minutes last week explaining to them why it's so much better than DC Cupcakes.) Last week I saw an episode where Buddy visited a deli and not only did he take a six foot sub back to the bakery, they created a giant replica of the sub out of cake. In the same episode the bakery was also making tons of zeppoles. I wanted to climb inside my TV and eat my way out. Imagine. I could have eaten a giant sub, with a side of sub cake, and finished with a dozen zeppoles. It would have been awesome.

Lesson - If you plan to breastfeed or pump keep some healthy snacks around to fill you up and take care of cravings. Or you can do what I did this morning. Have a slice of cake for breakfast.

Baby Time (the storytime, not the blog)

2010-07-22T13:00:00.000-04:00

For the last five years I have been a children's librarian in Raleigh, NC. Almost since day one Baby Time has been my responsibility. This is a weekly storytime for infants and pre-walkers which is built around interaction between caregivers and children. Strong emphasis is placed on repetition, rhythm, and tone of voice. Since I began presenting Baby Time I have made a few changes to the format, but not many. At only 20 minutes, it clocks in as our shortest storytime in deference to the limited attention span of the audience. Of course, most of the activities we do at Baby Time are easily transferable to one-on-one time at home. In fact, even though it is a librarian leading Baby Time, the babies should be more focused on their parent/caregiver who is mimicking the leader. Here's what we do in a regular Baby Time storytime:

- "Baby Hop" - This is an interactive song found on the Diaper Gym cd from Kimbo. This is one old school record (originally released in 1985) but the interactive songs for babies can't be beat. Why do we use this song? It only has a few movements, it's repetitive, and the tone is pleasant.

- Lap rhymes - We usually do several rhymes (usually Mother Goose, some others have been recently added) and clap along to the rhythm of each rhyme. Rhymes are repeated three times with all parents/caregivers repeating if possible. If the caregivers don't remember the words, clapping along is something everyone can do.

- Bubble time - After two lap rhymes we move on to our bubble song. Small bottles of bubbles are passed out to caregivers before storytime begins. Caregivers blow bubbles while I sing the "Bubble Song." Bubble time is one of the most popular parts of Baby Time. The babies are always fascinated by the floating bubbles and it helps to improve their tracking skills.

- Stretch/Flying baby - This is a rhyme that ends in a lift, examples would be Pop Goes the Weasel and Icky Bicky Soda Cracker. Typically the beginning of Baby Time is sort of a warm up, the middle is more active, and toward the end we wind down. The stretch rhyme marks the beginning of the action and is repeated three times.

- Baby Hokey Pokey - This song is off the Baby Face album, another oldie originally release in 1983. This interactive song involves arm and leg movement as well as some tickling.

- Bounce rhyme - This is a rhyme during which the caregiver will gently bounce the baby. Just like earlier rhymes it is repeated three times. Check out The Book of Bounces by John Feierabend for some great examples.

- Action rhyme - Action rhymes (as the name implies) include movement. Baby Time action rhymes stick with large movements that are mimicked by the caretakers. An example would be Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes. One of my personal favorite is called Tall as a Tree.

- Book of the Day - We only read one book during each Baby Time. All of the books chosen share the following characteristics: they're short for limited attention spans, they have large text so caretakers can read along, and they're usually gender neutral.

- Skinnamarink - Our closing song is Skinnamarink from the Elephant Show. We also do the motions found here on YouTube.

After Baby Time is over, social time begins. For some, meeting other caretakers and babies is the whole point of showing up for storytime. Check with your local public library for similar programs.

Down on the Farm - Look Ma, no hands!

2010-07-21T13:00:00.004-04:00

Even though I have a dual pump, when I first started pumping I only used one side at a time. I just couldn't work out how to hold the shields so I could adjust the suction without dropping something. (In the early days of pumping I was making a lot of adjustments. I'm pretty sure that's normal for everyone.) Once I was comfortable with a setting I could keep for a whole session I started both sides and I mastered the balancing act of holding both shields up with one arm across them while I turned the dread machine on. After all, the suction wasn't such that I could place them one at a time or put them on after the machine was started and expect to get placement right. Even after I figured this part out there was still another problem. I felt like an idiot sitting there for 15-20 minutes at a time holding suction cups to my chest. I don't like feeling like an idiot in general, but feeling like an idiot seven or eight times a day just was not on. Not only that, while I was pumping I was absolutely useless for any other task. This is especially not cool when the little guy was in need. Something had to be done.

That's when I decided it was time to get a hands free pumping bra. I ended up with a Simple Wishes hands free pumping bra (pictured above) and so far things have been going well. It's easy to adjust and holds the breast shields up even when the attached bottles are getting full. Even an eight ounce bottle. This is pretty important for a high volume pumper like me. The best part is that now I can pump and still do other stuff. The only thing I can't do is comfortably hold the little guy with the pump attached to my chest. It's just too awkward. Still, I can set him up in his Boppy (we use it as a baby lounger since it's not in use as a nursing pillow) and feed him his bottle or comfort him if he's upset. I can also use my computer while pumping and actually get stuff done.

There are plenty of other pumping bras out there, I just ended up with one because I won it from Penelope's Oasis (Thanks, Penelope!). I ordered another one off of Amazon since it works well for me, it's inexpensive, and it has great reviews. In the description it says that this bra can be worn under clothing and even includes removable straps to allow changing the configuration. However, unless you're wearing your bulkiest sweater that just isn't going to work with this bra. Not only does this product not lend it self to stealth, it's also not so great with support. I put it on for every pump session and it lives in my pump bag when it's not in the wash. I did notice one piece of advice from a customer in the reviews on Amazon. She suggested instead of ordering a pumping bra sewing elastic into regular nursing bras to turn them into pumping bras. Now that's ingenuity. Check out her advice here.

I purchased all products mentioned in this post myself.

Board books worth buying: Byron Barton

2010-07-21T13:00:00.003-04:00

There are three types of books that toddler boys seem to ask for the most. Dinosaurs, trucks, and construction. The second two are sort of related which makes my job even easier. Even better, Byron Barton has written books for all these themes and they're perfect for infants and toddlers. Barton's books seem to focus more on the pictures than the text. The illustrations are simplified but accurate and the colors used are bright and cheerful. High contrast black outlines on the figures make it especially easy for infants to focus on the illustrations. The text is always printed in a large font and features many sight words for early readers. Most of Barton's books are printed in board book as well as picture book format so you can preview his books in the picture book section of the library without risking the board book germ bomb. I actually have used several of his books in my Baby Time storytime at the library. This author is an overall hit for young children who love big machines. Now if only he would write a book for that kid who came in looking for one about a lawnmower. I still haven't had any luck with that one.

Find Byron Barton on Amazon.

I was not compensated for this review.

Board books worth buying: Gossie and Friends

2010-07-20T11:11:00.002-04:00

One thing about most librarians is we like to organize things. We like to plan. We like to arrange. We read reviews. We make lists and check things off. At least all the librarians I know do. So, one of the first things I did when I found out I was pregnant was start up an Amazon baby registry. It wasn't so much that I wanted people to buy things for me right away. It's just that it was the easiest place to list all the things I thought I might need or saw reviewed on a website and didn't want to forget. It's also where I listed my absolutely must have board books. This set is the first thing I added. It's that cute.

I've been a fan of the Gossie series for ages. The stories are short and simple (great for babies and toddlers) and the illustrations are adorable. Every time a new book in this series comes in at the library my coworkers and I have to spend at least 15 minutes cooing over the artwork. I would have loved to decorate the little guy's nursery in a Gossie theme but they only publish the books and if your lucky you can find the one plushie that was produced. Anyway, these books are seriously cute and the little guy and I have really enjoyed our set.

Find it here on Amazon.

I was not compensated for this review.

Down on the Farm - The hunt for breastshields

2010-07-19T13:00:00.002-04:00

This post may fall under the category of TMI.

Okay, so look at the breast shield on the left. Now look at your nipple. Think about what will happen if you stick that sucker on your chest and suction is applied. It worried me too. And with good reason. If the shield is too small flesh ends up rubbing against the sides of the flange and the breast doesn't drain completely. If it's too big the areola gets sucked up in there too and supply can get blocked. Either way you can end up with clogged ducts (which hurt like a mofo), decreased supply, and bruising of an already super-sensitive area. That's why it's a good idea to shop around for breast shields if you suspect yours don't fit.

Medela and other name brand pumps include size medium (and only that size) breast shields with each breast pump they sell. While many women can make due with that, many women find a larger flange size to be more comfortable. The problem with finding the right size is that there's a lot of guesswork involved.

When I first started pumping the medium shields seemed to work just fine. About a week later it was a different story. I dreaded turning on the pump and my chest hurt even between sessions. It felt like the pump was trying to pull my nipples off. Not fun. So the little guy and I made a trip up to Target and bought the next size up. Satisfaction was immediate but not long lasting. After a few days the pain was back and seemed to be getting worse. It looked like a lot of the areola was getting sucked in the flange and now I was swollen in addition to being bruised. I went online and trolled forums for information and manufacturers for sizing guides. My next thought was that maybe I should go another size up. Unfortunately Target only carried medium and large so I was going to have to order them online and wait impatiently for relief. That's when I found Pumpin Pals mentioned in a forum. And I swear that I was in no way compensated for this post.

I love Pumpin Pals. The shape of their breast shields features a gradual slope into the tunnel of the flange to limit pinching and an angle to eliminate the need to lean forward while pumping. What I loved the most was that all three sizes could be ordered as a set so I didn't have to stress about which size to get. Not only that, someone on Ebay had bought a set and then ended up not breastfeeding. Nothing had even been opened and I got the whole deal at half price. Score. I ended up using the large Pumpin Pal shield (same size as the Medela which was causing so much pain) and sticking with that one. I haven't had any supply problems, I haven't had as many clogged ducts, and I'm way more comfortable when I pump.

Lesson: Shape and size of a breast shield can really impact your pumping experience. Next time I would skip over the guess work and just get the Pumpin Pals shields. I still swear that I wasn't compensated for saying that.

Side lesson: Once again, Ebay rocks.

I was not compensated for this review.

Check it out! MVP* Magellan Voyage Project

2010-07-19T10:32:00.006-04:00

Some books just don't get enough attention when they're first released. They aren't written by a famous author. They're not part of a new and clever series. They don't fall into whatever category is hottest in children's literature (fantasy, vampires, etc...). Stores don't push them and they're hardly noticed when they make it to the shelf at the library. This doesn't mean they're not worth reading. They're just not as appreciated or hyped as other books. As a librarian it is my duty and privilege to introduce people to these books. It's one of the many reasons why I think I have the best job in the world. So, it is with great pleasure that I recommend MVP* Magellan Voyage Project by Douglas Evans.

MVP is the story of twelve year old Adam Story (appropriate name) and his attempt to become the youngest person to ever to circumnavigate the globe. For years Adam has poured over maps and made lists of places he wants to visit. Unfortunately for Adam, as the son of a single mom struggling to make ends meet, his chances to travel have been pretty much non-existent. Until he is approached by Prince Olioli Oh XL of the former kingdom of Babababad. The prince provides Adam with a challenge: circle the globe in forty days without adult supervision and without setting foot on a plane. Not only will the Prince provide Adam to live out his wildest dreams, if he can make it back before the forty days are up, he'll win four million dollars. Of course there's more to this offer than the Prince originally reveals and Adam's journey is much more difficult than expected. But that's just half the fun.

Why I loved this book: Adam is a likable character with an interesting story and over-the-the-top enemies. It's just as much fun as any Roald Dahl book I've ever read.

Age group: 9-12 years old

Buy it on Amazon, read part of it here, or check it out at your local library.

I was not compensated for this review.

Down on the Farm - Pumping at home

2010-07-18T12:50:00.005-04:00

When the little guy was born a little under two months ago I had every intention of breastfeeding him in the traditional way. Unfortunately things just didn't work out that way. His latch was both painfully strong and woefully ineffective. We tried different positions and shields to try and solve the problem but he just seemed to get hungrier and more unhappy. When we got home from the hospital my husband and I had to feed him some of the formula samples the hospital sent home with us. I was not very happy about the prospect of feeding my son entirely on formula. I have nothing against moms who take that option, but I knew I was producing milk and gosh darn it I was going to use it. I also didn't ask my parents to get me a breast pump for my birthday just so it could sit in a closet unused. That sucker was expensive. So, that night I decided it was time to bust out the dread machine.

Since that first time pumping (and thank you Medela for not including any instructions with your product) I've continued to bottle feed the little guy breast milk. Sure, I feel a little like a jersey cow considering how often I'm hooked up to the pump, but I know that my son is getting enough to eat. Small price to pay for peace of mind. It also turns out that I'm a high volume producer. This is incredibly helpful since the little guy is a high volume eater. Still, I produce about twice as much as he eats every day. Anything that isn't consumed goes into the freezer for later use. There's already over 1000 ounces in there and I haven't even finished my maternity leave yet.

Since I didn't want to pony up the cash to talk to a lactation consultant after leaving the hospital I depended on the internet for a lot of the advise I received on exclusively pumping. I found the forum on iVillage especially useful. Still, I thought another person's input on pumping might be useful; so I'm going to record my experiences here in a series of posts I'm calling "Down on the Farm." Even if you don't plan to pump exclusively some of this information might be useful if you're planning on using a pump at all.

Board books worth buying: Dinosaur's Binkit

2010-07-17T11:09:00.003-04:00

As a librarian, I usually tell everyone to go to the library for all of their book needs. If we don't have it at the library we can find a way to get it to you through interlibrary loan. We're cheaper than the book store (FREE) and we'll introduce you to items you could never find there anyway. And do you really want to find a place to store all the books your child is going to read in their lifetime? Go to the library. For everything except board books.

Board books can get seriously disgusting over time. Every kid they're checked out to drools on them or chews on them. Some of them have weird fur on them that ends up matted, crusty, and horrible. Don't even get me started on the potty training ones. The only ones I would take home would be the new ones. I have that option because every new children's book that comes to our library goes through me first. Odds are that you don't have that advantage. You may be able to find some board books that haven't been through every baby in your county, but it's also a good idea to start your own board book library at home.

The first title I'm suggesting you add to your personal board book library is Dinosaur's Binkit by Susan Boynton. The plot involves a dinosaur who can't get to bed without their "binkit" and spends the book trying to find it. This book is absolutely adorable and it features real fabric as the "binkit" in question. I love this book but I really don't want to think about the grossness that can happen to that fabric when it's in a public library. Pretty much any Susan Boynton board book is worth reading but this one is my favorite. This one is a keeper.

I was not compensated for this review.

What I've learned so far...

2010-07-17T10:33:00.000-04:00

The little guy has only been here for about eight weeks, but even in that short amount of time I have managed to learn a few things. I'll be recording a few of them here for use by my preggers friends and family (seriously folks, did we all really have to do this at the same time?). Here's my first lesson:

-The more bottles, the better -

Due to my plan to breastfeed, I thought I wouldn't need very many bottles right off the bat. However, the little guy had a few problems with his latch and rather than put him on formula I busted out my breast pump and have been expressing milk ever since.

I use the larger bottles to store milk in the refrigerator before it's transferred to bags for the freezer. Little guy eats a ton so we're constantly filling bottles. In the beginning I only had the bottles that with the pump (4- 5 oz bottles, but only one collar and nipple from Medela) and a newborn starter set from Dr. Brown's (6- 8 oz bottles and 4- 4 oz bottles). With so few bottles I was constantly hand washing to be ready to store more milk or for the next feeding. The Dr. Brown bottles were also a real pain to hand wash. It was a lot easier to use the Munchkin dishwasher baskets to take care of all the little parts but I didn't want to waste water running the dishwasher several times a day.

First I sent my husband to target for more Medela bottles. They weren't ideal since the nipple sometimes collapses during feeding, but they had fewer parts to clean by hand. And I didn't have to spend a bunch of time explaining to my husband which brands would fit directly on my breast pump. He brought home a set of 3- 5 oz bottles and that helped a little. In the end I went on Ebay and ordered several lots of Dr. Brown's bottles. The large lots of bottles on Ebay were usually Dr. Brown's or Avent so it was easy for me to choose which to bid on (Avent bottles are known for leaking problems and don't fit my pump). I have to say that I really love Ebay. Now I have a ton of bottles and no more worries. Problem solved.

Lesson: If you don't want to spend all of your time hand washing, consider how often you run your dishwasher. If you run it once a day, have enough bottles to make it through at least a day and a few extra just in case. If you don't run it that often you'll obviously need more. Don't forget, even if you are breastfeeding, if you plan to go back to work full time you'll still need enough bottles to make it through your baby's time at daycare during the day.

Side lesson - Ebay is your friend.