Teaching Toddlers 103: Water Exploration Day

One impossibly hot summer afternoon, Nico and I decided to go outside to play. We don't have a fan in the living room/play area, so we roamed into the side yard hoping to catch a breeze. After watching Nico sweat it out for a few minutes, a brilliant idea occurred to me. 

I could turn the broiling day into a teachable moment! Nico already knew it was hot, he told me as much several times in both English and Spanish, so I came up with a fun way to cool him off without leaving the house and without wasting too much water. 

I went inside and grabbed a milk carton that I had been saving for a spontaneous craft, and using scissors, a sharpie, and a stapler, I turned it into a "watering can" and a "water house"!

It's okay if the pitcher has holes in it! The point is for the little one to see and feel the water fall out

The hole in the front is so that water can been seen going through the carton

The flap on the side is so that the toddler can see the water pouring off onto the ground

  

Once our supplies were assembled, I went inside and gathered water from the sink into a large pitcher. 

That's when the real fun began! 

Nico learned about pouring water, and that though it is tangible, it cannot be grabbed, only felt and contained. Of course I wasn't trying to explain those complicated concepts to my 23mo, he was content to figure it out in his own way.

Please excuse his naked lower half, we are still potty training =)

 

 He also learned that some things sink in water, while other things float, and that if you put enough force on an object in the water, you can push it to the bottom.

 

By the end of our little experiment, he was cooled down and soaked! 

He ended up running free in his birthday suit without a care in the world, and the hot hot sun was long forgotten! 

It was just another day of trying to keep my Gummy Bear from melting! 

Mommy & Me Monday!

The reason behind the Mommy and Me posts is to remind myself that Nico always comes before work. During the day while I'm writing, Nico crawls on my lap, craving attention, and I take a few minutes to snap some pictures with him to make him feel loved and special. 

 

He's growing up so fast, I refuse to miss a single second of it!

 

He will always be my baby!! 

 

 

Happy M&M Monday ;)

Don't forget to cherish the ones you love every moment of every day! 

7 Ways to Say NO to Stress This Summer

Whoever said summer was carefree had no idea what they were talking about. This summer has been as busy and demanding as any other time of the year, with one exception; it's blood boiling hot! If we're not careful, the stress of every day life can drain the fun right out of summer. Avoid loosing your cool this year with these 7 happiness hacks:

Laugh at least once a day - The reason behind this is the Law of Attraction. If you laugh at least one time every day you will be generally happier in life than those who don't because you are emitting and attracting positive energy! Laughter is also good exercise for the abdomen; laugh your way to a healthier you! 

Take advantage of the SUN - During the summer we actually have TIME to go outside and enjoy being in the sunshine! Absorbing vitamin D makes us feel better; it's hard to be stresses when you're feeling amazing! 
 
Avoid Negative Gossip - You know who I'm talking about, that face that popped up in your head as soon as you read the word gossip. The person who always has something to say about everybody. You have enough on your plate, you don't need to spend any time focusing on other people's problems. 

Take a weekly day trip - This doesn't have to be a spa retreat of anything, just go out for the day to someplace nice with someone you love! The beach, the pool, the park, the possibilities are endless and adventure awaits you! Its okay to take a step back, healthy even. 

Treat yourself once a week - This is not the same as taking a weekly day trip. This means making time to do one thing for yourself. A self manicure, or setting aside an hour to read a novel, or even to spend time surfing Pinterest!

Get extra sleep - TAKE NAPS! Whenever you can, even if for only an hour. Because it's summer and you can. Sleep is directly linked to happiness!

Take a lot of fun pictures - No matter what you are doing, you can always snap a selfie. Whether its watching TV all day or working, you can take a moment to let loose. Make a silly face, and stop taking everything so seriously, at least for a minute. Then remind yourself what is really important. Life is beautiful!

What to Pack Fast For a Last Minute Beach Trip

Summers in Puerto Rico are absolutely beautiful! 

The sun is usually shining and the water is always refreshing, whether you're headed to the river or the beach. 

But boy, is it HOT! 

90 degree plus weather almost everyday definitely calls for spontaneous trips to cool bodies of water, aka the BEACH!! 

Whether you have one week or 10 minutes, this list includes just about everything you need for an impromptu sandy getaway:

Essential

Beach Bag

Sandals 

Bathing Suit cover-up

Change of clothes (extra undies)

Sunscreen

Lotion

Brush

Leave-in hair moisturizer or conditioner

Light Weight hair spray

Hand Sanitizer 

Finger foods! (Snacks, sandwiches, hotdogs, etc.) 

Bottled Water 

2 Towels (always bring an extra)

beach chair/ mat 

Shady hat

Sunglasses  

Optional

Baby powder (For easy sand removal) 

Soccer ball/ Football/ Volley ball

Beach Pail (Sand castle is a MUST)

Reading material 

For Toddler/Kids

Sunscreen

Shady Hat

Beach Toys

Life Vest/ Water Wings

Sandals

2 Changes of clothes 

2 towels

Snacks! 

Sippy Cup 

Mini beach chair

Giant beach ball 

5 Fabulous Outfits For Young Moms

Fashion Friday returns for its 2nd edition! 

Here are 5 more outfit ideas to get your creative juices flowing:

 Flowy Salmon Sleeveless Top with Dark Skinny Jeans

Red Corduroy Jacket, Tank Top, with Faded Jeans

Short Sleeve White Jean Jacket, Printed Cami, Skinny Belt, and Jeans  

Long Checkered Print Shirt, and Mock Velvet Black Skirt 

Over-sized Wonder Woman T-Shirt, and Black Leggings

{Staying home doesn't mean I have to wear PJs all day ;) } 

 

Puerto Rico Adventures: El Yunque

My family and I are blessed to live on an island that is rich in history and diverse in nature and landscapes. From the rainforests, to the caves, to the beaches, to the salt plains, there is always something new to see! 

During the month of July, we planned a few affordable day trips around the island to take in as much of Puerto Rico as we can before we move back to the States later this year. 

Our first stop was El Yunque rainforest! 

Since we got a late start we did not have time to stop at the observation tower and viewing spots on the way up to the river. Our main priority was taking a dip in the cold Yunque water! If you want to see everything the mountain has to offer I recommend leaving early; the park is open from 7:30am to 6pm. 
Start heading down 45min. before they close to avoid getting left behind. 

When we arrived we were interested in going to the peak, but the hike is much too difficult for our 22mo, Nico. 

(My husband and I agreed to go together later) 

 

Instead, we tried to tackle the hike from the gift shop down to the waterfall. The path was steep and narrow and there were dozens of tourist passing by on the way up and down. Needless to say, Nico got very tired and when we realized we would have to carry him all the way back up the mountain we turned around.
(Again, we agreed to save this hike for another day) 

Nico and I suffered a minor accident when I stepped off the path and slipped on a rock, falling face forward, with Nico in my arms. 


 


I came down with his weight and mine on my forearms and elbows, and learned to never leave the path. The 30 or so people around me were very concerned about Nico, who was terrified but not hurt, and shot me "bad parent glances" when they passed around me, as I was now determined to never leave the path.

We eventually made it back up to a picnic area we had spotted on the way down, conveniently close to the parking lot and a tranquil shallow part of the river. 

We ate a delicious lunch of turkey, Swiss, and salami sandwiches with barbecue chips, then suited up for Nico's very first river bath!

 

He was freezing but excited and more than comfortable as long as he could cling to Daddy or me. 

I guided him up stream.... 


 

And before we knew it, it was time to go home. On the way down the mountain, Nico fell asleep...

and we were able to stop at a looking point with a view that is much better in person. 

Where the ocean and sky connect <3