The Japanese Secret to Raising a Healthy Baby!

Mugi-cha! In English, it's called Barley Tea, though we think mugi (mooghee) cha is much more fun to say.

My friend Kyoko told me that in Japan, mugi-cha is the first drink babies have besides milk. It is unsweetened, so its very friendly to their teeth, and has a taste that is more fun to drink than say, water. It's kind of nutty and smokey, and also super easy to make. You don't need to heat up water. Instead, you just throw the jumbo tea bag into a pitcher of cold water and it steeps just like that. Mommies and Daddies and friend's of mommies and daddies seem to like it too. Very refreshing!

A happy, messy, mugi-cha drinker.

And a cleansed mugicha drinker too? The people say its supposed to be very good for you!

Though, I gotta admit, I did love hearing him say, "ap-po jute" long ago...

The Matching Outfits of Father and Son

It happens surprisingly often. I've seen it all over the place, and not just with my own family. Nevertheless here they are, a superb example of matching, and flying on the lovely grounds of the Pratt Art Institute.

Wheee!

And at the top of the Library steps.

I lost my shoes.

It's a classic look: khakis and tan t-shirts. Hidden from view is a triceratops on Isaac's t-shirt. Jeremy's t-shirt shows a perplexed camel.

Exciting Success in NOT Biting!

My friend Mike was visiting yesterday while Isaac was in a restless rambunctious state. There was lots of jumping, running, and throwing himself over the arm of the couch; It was raining hard and we couldn't go outside.

To this mix, in the past, I definitely would have had to add biting.

Here is what happened yesterday (thank my lucky stars, and internet research):

Mike: "Hey, is Isaac teething?"
Me: "I dunno, maybe not, but maybe?"
Mike: "This is so weird. Isaac was just about to bite my knee, but then he lifted his head up, went to the armrest of the couch, and bit it instead!"
Me: "Hot diggity dog!, A miracle!"
Both of us: "Yeah Isaac! Good no biting! Woohoo!!!"

Isaac, You deserve a gold medal.

Ouch! What to do if your almost 2 year old bites (you).

Note the open mouth and teething ring in Isaac's left hand!

His biting was driving me to the edge, and sometimes over the edge.

At least he was only biting me, and sometimes Jeremy, or a good neighbor friend of ours, and not his park-friends. That would be really really bad.

But it was making me mad, really mad. I timed him out over and over again, but even though that had worked for other stuff like not opening the refrigerator, it didn't seem to make a dent in biting. Sometimes later he would sing a little song that went something like, "Don't bite Mommy, don't bite Daddy, don't bite Dampa....", but it was only a song.

In my despair I turned to the millions of other mommas on the internet and found they had published volumes of biting articles! I felt much less alone, and learned some interesting and helpful stuff too: I learned that little ones are not good at impulse control because the impulse part of their brain is very undeveloped (go figure!). We have major leaps of impulse control growth at ages 1, 3, and 6, and our brains keep improving on this until we are 30! Until we drink or do drugs and then we turn into a toddlers again. Lack of impulse control is one of the things that make toddlers so cute and funny when they say things like, "Mayonnaise is climbing up up up the door!" and of course what also makes them not think before they bite.

I realized I was taking his biting a little too personally.

I also learned that repetition in saying, "no biting." firmly does help, as does removing yourself from the situation i.e. not letting it happen in the first place. All the articles seemed to agree that biting your kid back is a very bad idea (I have to admit the thought did cross my mind) because you should be setting an example for how to behave. They said to explain instead that biting hurts and no one likes to be hurt, but don't explain too much.

All this info seemed very basic, but it was helpful, and implementing a combination of these strategies has really helped. He hasn't bitten me in almost a week!

Here is what I did and am doing:

1. Whenever I know he is about to bite I say, "No biting.", and walk away, or gently push him off of me.
2. I'm not giving him anymore time-outs for biting, unless he really becomes a wild animal and I just need him to calm down.
3. I give myself a timeout if necessary, for example going into the bathroom after he bit me and shutting the door. That took attention away from him and gave me time to splash cold water on my face which felt lovely and healing!
4. He often bites while I'm cooking, so I bring a chair over for him to stand on and help/watch me cook.
5. I offer him other stuff to bite.
6. I ask him what he actually needs and wants.
7. Finally, I stopped getting so mad. I heard that even getting mad gives kids attention that they crave, plus it was making me feel terrible.

If any of you reading are feeling as I felt, I feel for you! Take a deep breath, your wild one will be tamed soon!

First Trip to the Dentist!

I was much more nervous than Isaac was. He was even excited about going hours before we left. Usually, before his nap, we sit on the rocking chair and he puts his head on my shoulder, requesting songs. This time he only moaned, "Go to the dentist!!", over and over again. I finally had to put him down and let him put himself to bed.

I'm not scared of the dentist! I'm happy to be here!

We were called into the examination room by a dental assistant Isaac later called, "A very nice man." The assistant showed him how to brush monkey teeth!

What big teeth you have, Mr. Monkey!

We didn't have to wait very long for Isaac's new dentist, Dr. Ruby Gelman (the best pediatric dentist ever). We both loved her. She was so sweet with him, so patient and steady, and very good at making the chair go up and down! She gave him cool sunglasses to wear, and time to inspect her bright purple latex gloves and the little dental mirror used for counting his teeth (16 of em!). She even polished his teeth with strawberry tooth polish, an activity she said she hardly ever gets to do with kids this young, but that Isaac was a star.

She also said his teeth looked great and that we should keep on doing whatever it is we are doing. Which, in case you are wondering is not very much juice, maybe once a day mixed with water for breakfast, and not much dried sticky fruit. He had been a raisin addict before, but I heard that they are the worst for kids teeth because they are sticky and get caught in the crevasses. He eats big meals and doesn't snack much. We brush just with water and she said that was fine. Her son is almost 3 and she still just uses water for him.

Then Isaac was able to pick out lots of toys (a whole dinosaur herd!), put them in a little bag shaped like a purple tooth, and we were outa there. Oh boy, I was so relieved.

Relieved momma, and Isaac, showin' of the teeth.

Those of you in NY, find Dr Ruby Gelman here ~

Sole Mate

He found her!

I Love Girl Baby Clothes

Poufy!

And delicate.

As I looked through a free box on my neighbor's stoop full of lovely sundresses, I felt sad that Isaac couldn't wear them. He's a boy!
That's when I had an epiphany: I don't have to have a little girl to enjoy these clothes. I can wear them myself!

Ha!