A Week in My Life: Wednesday

GRANDPARENTS, CHIPOTLE, AND PUMPKINS

Today was an improvement over our sick day hibernation yesterday. I had a commitment in the morning, so my mom came down to watch The Arrow for a couple of hours. Even though he was feeling better, there's nothing more comforting to a worried mom than leaving him in such great hands when I have to be away. We're so lucky to have both sets of grandparents only an hour away.

Don't you love how The Arrow is holding her arm? He always does that when someone reads to him! 

Ordinarily on Wednesdays, we go to storytime at our library. The Arrow absolutely loves it. He hangs on Miss Jody's every word, sings the songs, and lives for the little stamp he gets on his hand after it's over. We often spend at least another 30-45 minutes there checking out new books and playing with toys. I recently read this post: Ten Reasons I Hate the Library over at The Stir blog. I guess I can relate to some of her concerns, like bringing home germs. But the library is still one of our favorite things to do. I'm able to indulge The Arrow on all his latest interests (like his current obsession with Blue's Clues) without spending a dime on new books. Someday I'll write a post all about our love for this great place.

When I got home, we headed out to lunch at Chipotle. We sat outside on their patio and it was nice to catch up with my mom. I typically eat lunch out about once a week, just as a little treat to myself. I always enjoyed that aspect of my working life, and so I enjoy continuing it, even if it's on a greatly reduced scale. I like the idea of The Arrow learning to behave in restaurants, and practice makes perfect.

Late afternoon, I got cracking on a special dinner project. We visited a pumpkin patch over the weekend, and I kept telling The Arrow we were going to eat one of the pumpkins we bought. He was totally fascinated by this. This is my Pinterest recipe for the week and it's an Alton Brown pumpkin soup recipe where the soup cooks in the pumpkin itself. It was delicious (of course, I doubled the amount of goat cheese the recipe called for, which always helps). I may have to make it again to freeze before pumpkin season is over.

The Arrow showing off his big boy underwear while watching Curious George on the iPad

The rest of our evening was fairly uneventful. The Arrow was tired and cranky from a short nap this afternoon, and so bedtime came earlier than usual. I'm hoping he'll feel well enough for preschool tomorrow so that I might actually be able to write a blog post about a "typical" Thursday around here. A highlight for me today was the arrival of some great stuff I'll be reviewing on this blog in the next few weeks. I'm excited to try these products out and report back! Here's a sneak peak:

A Week in My Life: Tuesday

FEVERS, PEDIATRICIANS, AND PAMPERING: GETTING THROUGH A "SICK DAY"

Didn't I end yesterday's post saying that I'd be writing about mom's groups and pumpkins today? Check that. If it's one thing I've learned as a mom, it's that things don't always go to plan. Today has been another reminder of that.

Yesterday afternoon and evening, The Arrow didn't really seem quite right. Sure enough around 11 last night, he woke up crying and when I went in his room, he was ON FIRE. 103.5 fever. I ended up sleeping all night curled up on one side of his little bed (not so easy at 8 months pregnant). Needless to say, we spent all day today snuggled on the couch together reading books, watching PBS and trying to rest.

So much for providing inspiration to get out of the house more, huh? We did run out briefly since we were out of children's ibuprofen. And for about 20 minutes, The Arrow actually had some energy and we played outside.

The only other exciting news to report is that I fired my pediatrician. I called this morning just to see if there was any concern over the 103.5 temp or things I should be doing to help him get better. The nurse who answered said to call back in three days if he still had a fever that high, or to wait until it got to 107! 107?! I thought for sure I misunderstood her, but I hadn't. This was my breaking point with this practice, and so I got some recommendations from friends and made the change while The Arrow napped this afternoon.

So what would we have done today? Tuesdays we go to my mom's group meeting in the morning. I get to hang with other moms while The Arrow spends the morning in a class of fellow toddlers where they do fun things like play on the playground, sing songs, color, and have snacks. Pretty sweet gig for both of us. In the evening, we were going to be fans at my husband's recreation basketball league game. It's one of The Arrow's favorite activities, so he was sad to see Dad depart in his bball gear without us. A good incentive to rest and get well, I told him!

I was also going to make a great pumpkin soup recipe. I'm hoping to make it tomorrow, so stay tuned.

Looking on the bright side, at least Baby Arrow is perfectly fine and healthy! Now it's time to put a heating pad on my aching back, prop up my feet, and hope for a quiet night in my own bed!

7 Weeks To Go!

Any tips for surviving sick days around the house? Confession: I turned to peanut butter M&Ms and McDonalds Diet Coke for comfort and energy today!

Like what you see? Then "like" Arrows Sent Forth on Facebook!

A Week in My Life: Monday

I'm excited to share my first post as a part of Adventuroo's A Week in My Life link-up. You can read more about why I'm doing this here. I won't go into this much detail every day, but as a starting point I wanted to give you a sense of a typical day around here, from beginning to end.

WAL-MART AND CRAFTS, OH MY!

Mondays are typically one of our flexible days during the week (no commitments or set schedule). Today we desperately needed groceries, so we headed to the store mid-morning. I know a lot of parents try to avoid shopping with their toddlers. I can relate... there's nothing worse than a 2-year-old meltdown in aisle 11. I've experienced a few of them, that's for sure. But for the most part, our hour or two at the store is a relatively enjoyable experience.

Making Grocery Shopping with a Toddler Fun:

• Pretend it's a museum. Even Wal-Mart is interesting to a young kid. The Arrow loves fish, so the first thing we do when we walk in the store is to go and see "Dorothy." (The name of Elmo's pet fish, naturally.) Lately we've been swinging by the obnoxious holiday displays so he can see a gigantic inflatable Santa pop out of a Christmas tree (who buys this stuff?!)

• Let them help. I explain to The Arrow what we're looking for and ask for his help. He also gets to drop fruits and veggies in the plastic produce bags. And sometimes if I'm feeling brave, I let him hold my coupons or my list.
• Snacks. Duh. You might need one of these.
• Let them choose. For the last couple of months, I've let The Arrow pick something to get while we're in the produce aisle. He's much more interested in actually eating the food he picks when we get home. Three cheers for broccoli consumption!

Putting Pinterest to Work

I recently got sucked into the big, deep hole that is Pinterest. And while it's been an enormous time-waster (but also so fun and addicting!), I'm determined to make it a more productive use of my time. So my new goal is to do at least one of the kid-friendly activities and cook at least one of the recipes I've "pinned" each week.

(Interested in learning more about Pinterest? You can follow my boards over here.)

If it's one thing that I've taken away from The Arrow's start of preschool this year, it's that he loves little crafty projects (a boy after his mama's heart, that's for sure!) Aside from coloring, we haven't done any type of artwork or crafts at home. I'm hoping some of the ideas I'm finding on Pinterest will help change that. So today after lunch, I decided to make Leaf Finger Puppets with The Arrow. We made turkeys, and our version turned out like this:

I originally found them at a great kiddie craft blog called Make and Takes. We made them a little more low-maintenance and cheap, but same general idea.

Then came naptime and a snack, followed by those two hours when we try to amuse ourselves while waiting for Dad to get home. All the while, we were smelling this Spinach Lasagna cooking in the crockpot. The Arrow woke up from his nap not feeling all that great, so he was particularly cranky and difficult to please today. Ugh.

Then the heavens opened up, choirs of angels sang, and the sound of the garage door opening filled the room. DAD'S HOME!!!!! We usually eat dinner right away, and then my husband plays with The Arrow upstairs while I clean up and relax amid peace and quiet for 20 minutes or so. Tonight, they capped off their dad and son time with a bike ride. I retired my bike a few weeks ago when it was getting a little too painful (and my thighs were hitting my belly!)

When they got home, we ate popsicles on the front porch. Then, blissful bedtime. Here are a few more photos that captured our day:

Carefully selecting his leaves for his turkey puppets.

Coloring his turkey.

Snuggling with Mom, eating a popsicle

How do you make trips to the grocery store more fun? Any crafts you enjoy doing with young kids? Feel free to leave a comment.

Tomorrow I'll be writing about mom's groups and pumpkins!


Like what you see? Then "like" Arrows Sent Forth on Facebook!

Capturing "A Week in my Life"

When I read Melissa at Adventuroo's post about her upcoming week-long link-up chronicling your everyday life for an entire week, I just thought it would be fun reading material to entertain me this week. And then something about the post nagged at me for the next few hours. While I know blogging everyday for an entire week will be a lot of work, I think the timing is just perfect, and so I've signed on to participate.

What are we up to this week, Mom?

We're due to have a baby on December 1. For the last 2 1/2 years we've been a family of three. Aside from this blog, a couple of Snapfish photo books, and a sorely incomplete baby book, all of the memories from this time period are trapped in my head. What better way to capture this moment in time, before it changes quite drastically, than by writing about our average days during an average week.

It also fits well with two of the reasons that I blog. One is to serve as a record of sorts for my own family. I hope The Arrow and his soon-to-be younger brother/sister look back at what I've written and appreciate some of the details I've captured from trips and outings. The other reason I blog is to hopefully encourage other moms and dads to get out more and explore with their kids. So perhaps by sharing a typical week around here, I can accomplish both those things. I plan to include some tips and ideas throughout the week to make it worth your while.

Besides, I'm big, fat and pregnant (and often barefoot, come to think of it). I definitely don't have much planned to do during The Arrow's naps this week. I'm certainly NOT cleaning my house, that's for sure.

So that's what I'll be up to this week.

Thanks to Melissa at the Adventuroo for hosting those of us crazy enough to blog daily this week. If you're a blogger and are interested in participating, she's giving away a pretty snazzy camera bag to one lucky participant, so be sure to link up.

Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory in Photos

On Monday, I shared highlights and info from our trip to the Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory in Fort Wayne. As typically happens to me whenever I'm in a beautiful place like this, I got a little photo happy. So here are a few more pictures from our time there.

I was particularly taken with the Flower Power exhibit (pictured above). I liked the balance between the 60s inspiration and Mother Nature's own rainbow of colors. It's only at the Conservatory temporarily, through November 13, when it will be replaced with a holiday exhibit. So get there while you can.

I just happened to catch my husband in a moment of peace and quiet in the Tropical Garden. A rare thing when traveling with a 2-year-old. But that's exactly why I enjoy visiting places like this, where everyone is free to wander and marvel at their surroundings.

And while most of the exhibit space is indoors, ensuring that all this gorgeousness can be enjoyed year-round, there is some outdoor garden space. They were setting up for a wedding while we were there. (If I were the bride's florist, I'd be awfully nervous that my bouquet just wouldn't measure up!)

This post is a part of Photo Friday at Delicious Baby. I'm also linking up to Friday Daydreaming at R We There Yet Mom?

Disclosure: My family's admission to the Botanical Conservatory was provided by Visit Fort Wayne. I was under no obligation to write about our time there, and all opinions are my own.

Like what you see? Then "like" Arrows Sent Forth on Facebook!

Playgrounds Put the Play in Vacation

If you're the parent of a two-year-old, then spending time at your neighborhood playground is practically a weekly, if not daily, outing. It's not always my favorite way to spend time... sometimes it is downright boring to push a swing over and over again, it can be brutally hot in the summer, and I certainly don't enjoy the "it is time to go home now" battles. But even I will admit that it can be a great time-killer and energy-burner.

But when we're on vacation? I always love finding a good playground. There's a certain element of discovery (not just in tracking down the location itself, but The Arrow loves exploring some new equipment).

Playgrounds with palm trees in Florida

Sometimes the scenery itself is gorgeous, like this playground that bordered the ocean in North Redington Beach, Florida. Being from Indaina, we don't often play under the shade of palm trees afterall. It was a perfect place to let The Arrow get the wiggles out before we sat down to a nice dinner during our trip to Tampa/St. Petersburg.

Pitstop playground in Peoria

A roadside playground can be a lifesaver on a long road trip. Some fresh air and lots of body movement opportunities! This playground in Peoria, Illinois was attached to a Joe's Crab Shack right on the riverfront area. At the halfway point on our drive from Indiana to Iowa City, we all needed a little break.

Playtime Boston-style

Our Boston trip was jam-packed with sightseeing, which often meant The Arrow was confined to a stroller or sitting still on the T. The playground in Southwest Corridor Park just outside our Jamaica Plain rental house was such a great way for him to burn off steam.

Swinging in South Haven

We've even celebrated some "firsts" while checking out playgrounds on vacation. When we ran out of baby toys to entertain then six-month old Arrow during our first family vacation in South Haven, Michigan, we ventured to the park and he got to experience the thrill of his first time on the swings. He may have been wee bit too small for it, but it was love at first sight, as he's still swinging to this day!

Sometimes unique playgrounds can be destinations themselves, especially combined with a short day trip somewhere close to home. I've profiled a couple of favorites at Visit Indiana:

• Playscape Playground at Danville's Ellis Park (Danville, Indiana)
• Freedom Field: Where Everyone Can Play (Columbus, Indiana)

Resources for finding playgrounds while traveling:

• KaBOOM!'s Playground Finder
• Delicious Baby's Tips for Finding Playgrounds While Traveling

So if you find your kids are getting a little cranky on a trip, ask yourself if you've incorporated enough play. And then hit the local park or recreation area and let them loose for an hour or two! You may even get a feel for what it's truly like to live in the area you're visiting by talking with some local moms and dads.

Any favorite playground memories from your travels? Please share them in the comments!

This post is a part of Things I Love Thursday at Diaper Diaries.

Like what you see? Then "like" Arrows Sent Forth on Facebook!

Fort Wayne's Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory

Just as I was surprised by the quality experience we had at the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo, I was equally blown away by the amazing Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory just a few minutes down the road in downtown Fort Wayne. The Conservatory is essentially an indoor/outdoor botanical garden. Such a great idea in the temperamental climate of northern Indiana, ensuring it is enjoyed year-round. (In fact, I think it would make a great winter outing, as the vibrant plantlife would surely cure even the worst winter blues!)

Visiting the Botanical Conservatory
The facility itself is gorgeous. Beautifully cared for, absolutely spotless. The staff that greeted us was extremely friendly, gave us an overall sense of how to experience the Conservatory, and even pointed out what would be of greatest interest to The Arrow. That type of service is so helpful to a family visiting an attraction for the first time.

Types of Plants
I really liked the variety that the Conservatory provided. Unlike many botanical gardens which focus on a particular genre of plantlife or climate, here you'll find everything from native Indiana flowers and trees, to varieties found in the rain forest, to desert dwellers. In the photo below, you see The Arrow welcoming us into the Flower Power Summer of Love exhibit.

Later, The Arrow led us through the Desert Gardens. (You'll sense a trend here... he was always so excited to see what was coming next that he spent the entire visit about 20 steps ahead of us.)

Focus on Kids
Another feature that makes the Botanical Conservatory such a great spot for families is the effort made to interest kids. There were several educational play areas throughout our walk through the Conservatory, where we could stop and let The Arrow explore at his level.

He was taken with the garden, where he could plant some veggies of his own.

In keeping with the farm-to-table trend that's all the rage these days, he could later pay for his produce at the grocery story.

There's also a talking tree and a giant tunnel where kids can pretend to be worms. They've set up these play areas in such a way that it's not intrusive to the other Conservatory patrons, but yet it also enhances the visit experience for young kids.

This post is a part of Mondays are for Dreaming at The Mother of All Trips. My husband teases me relentlessly about my love of botanical gardens (he's convinced I try to visit one in each place we travel to). Guilty as charged. What are some of your favorites? This one in Fort Wayne is definitely on my list (as is the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix), but I'd love to daydream about others!

I'll be posting more photos from our visit to Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory on Friday, as part of Photo Friday at Delicious Baby, so be sure to check back.

If You Visit:
Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory
1100 South Calhoun Street, Fort Wayne
Hours are listed here. Note: Closed Mondays.
Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for kids 3-17.
Insider Tip: While the Conservatory is accessible and strollers are allowed, this was definitely a place where The Arrow preferred to walk. We wished we had left the stroller in the car.

Disclosure: My family's admission to the Botanical Conservatory was provided by Visit Fort Wayne. I was under no obligation to write about our time there, and all opinions are my own.

Like what you see? Then "like" Arrows Sent Forth on Facebook!