Treasure Basket: Puzzles

 

Here's what's inside:

:: Chunky puzzle pieces from our Melissa & Doug Sea Life puzzle.

This is the *easiest* basket to put together!  And, not surprisingly, Juliet loves them - the colors, the shapes, and since they're made of wood and non-toxic paint, I have no qualms about her putting them in her mouth.  I often mix and match the pieces since we have several of the M&D Chunky puzzles.

While none of these things are choking hazards, I always observe Juliet while she explores these baskets.

Click here to read my very first treasure basket post for details on the how and why behind treasure baskets. Click here to view my treasure basket slideshow on the Counting Coconuts Facebook page.

~Thank you for your comments!~

Treasure Basket: Sounds

A basket filled with things that make gentle sounds.

Here's what's inside:
:: Glass jar filled with various beans
:: One of the sound cylinders from our set
:: Maraca (from my trip to Mexico)
:: Crocheted bells
:: Cherry teether
:: Baby "rainstick"

While none of these things are choking hazards, I always observe Juliet while she explores these baskets.

Click here to read my very first treasure basket post for details on the how and why behind treasure baskets. Click here to view my treasure basket slideshow on the Counting Coconuts Facebook page.

~Thank you for your comments!~

Treasure Basket: Soft

A sweet little treasure basket filled things oh so soft. :)

Here's what's inside:
:: A large and beautiful rainbow silk
:: Fabric number
:: Counting cookie
:: Knitted bunny
:: Fluffy "pillow"
:: Velour fabric square
:: Wee dolly

While none of these things are choking hazards, I always observe Juliet while she explores these baskets.

Click here to read my very first treasure basket post for details on the how and why behind treasure baskets. Click here to view my treasure basket slideshow on the Counting Coconuts Facebook page.

~Thank you for your comments!~

Treasure Basket: Instruments

Here's what's inside:
:: Rhythm sticks
:: Maraca
:: Clacker
:: Castanet
:: Jingle bells
:: Mini rain stick

LOTS of textures and sounds in this one! I think this was Juliet's favorite so far!

While none of these things are choking hazards, I always observe Juliet while she explores these baskets.

Click here to read my very first treasure basket post for details on the how and why behind treasure baskets. Click here to view my treasure basket slideshow on the Counting Coconuts Facebook page.

~Thank you for your comments!~

Treasure Basket: Spheres & Cubes

A couple more baskets this week. Sometime soon I hope to get around to showing you how these are displayed in Juliet's Montessori bedroom.

Spheres

Here are the types of shperes I selected:
:: Felted wool
:: Large multicolor/texture
:: Wooden (from our Geometric Solids set)
:: Open section sphere within a sphere
:: Knitted
:: Circular holes (so easy to grab on to!)

Cubes

Here are the types of cubes I selected:
:: Purple squeezie
:: Jumbo Lego
:: Wooden alphabet
:: Lacing bead
:: Wooden (from our Geometric Solids set)
:: Cube within a cube

While none of these things are choking hazards, I always observe Juliet while she explores these baskets.

Click here to read my very first treasure basket post for details on the how and why behind treasure baskets. Click here to view my treasure basket slideshow on the Counting Coconuts Facebook page.

~Thank you for your comments!~

Treasure Basket: Wood II

I call this basket... wait for it... "Wood TWO". Ha! Creative, huh? :)

Here's what's inside:
:: Spoon
:: Sound cylinder from our Montessori sound box set
:: Interlocking discs
:: Roped beads
:: Maple rattle
:: Alphabet block

Click here to read my very first treasure basket post for details on the how and why behind treasure baskets. Click here to view my treasure basket slideshow on the Counting Coconuts Facebook page.

~Thank you for your comments!~

New Mother Breastfeeding Kit

I've just learned some wonderful news - my niece is pregnant with her first child! I'm thrilled for her and especially excited because her little one and my little one will be just a year apart in age!

Since my niece has told me she plans to breastfeed, I've already decided what I'll be giving her for her "new mom" gift - a breastfeeding kit.

Here's what's inside:
:: Lansinoh - this is a vaseline type of ointment that's made of lanolin. It was a LIFESAVER for me in those early days. Definite must-have. Can be found in just about any pharmacy/drug store.
:: Washable cotton breast pads - I purchased these from here and I wore them for about 5 months until I stopped leaking. True, they can be a TAD visible under a shirt, but personally, I'd rather that than a big, wet milk spot (and later, a dried stain!) any day. I packaged these in a laundry bag meant for delicates - keeps the pads all in one place so you're not trying to match up sets like socks!
:: Disposable breast pads - I use these in conjunction with the cotton pads. I know everyone is different, but I had, how shall we say, an abundant milk supply that meant I leaked straight through the cotton pads. Because I didn't want to apply the plastic coated pads directly to my breast, I put these pads closest to my bra. They acted as "back up" support and I never again had leak through issues.
:: Two nursing bras - another MUST HAVE. I purchased a few different kinds/brands and these ended up being my favorite, hands down. Super comfy, soft, supportive, and the strap clasps are super easy to manage - even in a hurry!
:: Snacks and a water bottle - In those early days, nothing made me more hungry or thirsty than nursing my baby! I kept a basket of snacks in every room, and I carried around my water bottle wherever I went.
:: Nursing cover - perfect for moms who aren't comfortable breastfeeding in public. The one in the photo is from here, but my sweet friend, Terri, made one for me also and said it was very easy to do.
:: Nursing necklace - I held a giveaway for this ages ago, long before I was nursing. These necklaces are meant to keep children entertained while you're holding - or nursing - them. Juliet loves playing with my necklace whenever she's near me. You can find them here on Etsy.
:: The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding - this was pretty much my breastfeeding bible when I first started out. Heck, I still refer to it now and then. Everything you need to know about breastfeeding is in this book. I added a personal note of encouragement along with my phone numbers to the inside cover.
:: Breast pump - My niece registered for a pump (the one in the photo is my own and is just present for photographic purposes) because she plans to return to work after maternity leave. A good pump - even when you're not working outside the home - can be a lifesaver.
:: Sanitizing bags - these are for the various parts of a breast pump. You fill the bag with a bit of water, pop it in the microwave, and a minute later everything's clean and sanitized. Total time saver.
:: Soothies gel pads - these are heaven for anyone with sore nipples.
:: Nursing Mother's Tea - this is an herbal tea that promotes milk supply.

This kit is something I was very glad I put together for myself in the days leading up to Juliet's birth. Now it's my go-to gift for new moms. I know it's not everyone's idea of a great gift, but after receiving TONS of help and support all of which put me on the right track for a positive nursing experience, it seems only right to me to pay it forward and support any new mother who is interested - or even the slightest bit curious - about breastfeeding.

One last note: I think it's no surprise to most of you that I'm a huge proponent of breastfeeding. In the past I've shared my own story of the trials and tribulations I've had with breastfeeding (in short, James was not breastfed, Juliet is still being nursed at 10.5 mos. old), so I hope it goes without saying that I'm not knocking anyone who cannot/does not/did not breastfeed their children. :)

~Thank you for your comments!~

Treasure Basket: Reflective

This was a fun one. Juliet loved looking at her reflection and every now and then she'd catch me in the mirror too and she'd quickly look over to where I actually was and smile. SO heartwarming to see her growing and learning.

Here's what's inside:
:: Pocket mirror - this is a foldable mirror that also has a pop out brush attached to it. Really neat - just the right size for Juliet's hand and she really enjoyed the bristles of the brush. I found this in the cosmetic section at our local pharmacy.
:: A handheld mirror
:: A small square mirror - this came from our fabric bag.
:: A round mirror - this came from James' old baby playmat.

Click here to read my very first treasure basket post for details on the how and why behind treasure baskets. Click here to view my treasure basket slideshow on the Counting Coconuts Facebook page.

~Thank you for your comments!~

Treasure Basket: Brushes

A new treasure basket! This one is called "brushes". :)

Here's what's inside: (note: all of these brushes are new.)
:: Vegetable brush
:: Two small hair brushes - one with soft bristles, the other with firm bristles
:: Blush brush
:: Infant toothbrush
:: Paint brush
:: Nail brush

I should note that I tested all of the brushes first, pulling on them to be sure the bristles/hairs wouldn't come loose. And, as always, I monitored Juliet while she explore this basket.

Click here to read my very first treasure basket post for details on the how and why behind treasure baskets. Click here to view my treasure basket slideshow on the Counting Coconuts Facebook page.

~Thank you for your comments!~

Homemade Baby Food

It's the simple things that make me happy. Like this little selection of homemade baby food...

It's the colors, the freshness, the simplicity of it that I love.

I made all of James' food when he was little and I was working outside of the home, and I'm making Juliet's food, too. We're using a combined pureed-baby led weaning approach and it's going really well.

If you have a little one, I highly recommend you give homemade food a try! Making your own food is super easy, plus it's healthier and MUCH cheaper (I saved over $100 in just one cooking session!) than store-bought food. Here's are my two favorite baby food cookbooks - here and here - and my go-to website for the whens/hows/whys for making baby food.

~Thank you for your comments!~

Treasure Basket: Rings

I noticed Juliet likes to hang on to things, so I created this basket with that in mind...

Here's what's inside:
:: Mama-made interlocked rings
:: Textured teether
:: Jumbo bead bracelet
:: Cookie cutter
:: Wood napkin ring

Click here to read my very first treasure basket post for details on the how and why behind treasure baskets. Click here to view my treasure basket slideshow on the Counting Coconuts Facebook page.

~Thank you for your comments!~

Treasure Basket: Blue, Green, & Purple

More colorful treasure baskets! Here are blue, green, and purple:

Here's what's inside:
:: Circle shaped cookie cutter
:: Bristle block
:: Baby brush & comb
:: Foam cylinder
:: Mama-made knitted bird
:: Tiny cup with handle
:: Wooden sphere (from our geometric solids set!)
:: 3 nesting cups

Here's what's inside:
:: Textured links
:: Measuring spoon
:: Foam number
:: Duplo lego
:: Soft piece of fabric
:: Nesting cup
:: Sphere
:: Small silky pillow
:: Large square lacing bead

Here's what's inside:
:: Foam triangle
:: Links
:: Wet felted wool egg
:: Stacking bowl
:: "Hidden" brush - that's the purple thing with the black center - you open it up and there's a mirror and a pop out brush inside.
:: Large mirror
:: Squishy block

Click here to read my very first treasure basket post for details on the how and why behind treasure baskets. Click here to view my treasure basket slideshow on the Counting Coconuts Facebook page.

~Thank you for your comments!~

DIY Fabric "Wipes" Toy

Juliet gets a kick out of pulling wet wipes out of their package. Now, while I encourage her exploratory enthusiasm lol, at $35/case of wipes it's a spendy activity she's designed for herself!

So, you can image my delight when I saw this idea on Pinterest. I kid you not when I tell you I had it all put together less than 20 minutes later. And bonus: it cost me $0 (new) dollars to make as I had everything (an old wipes container and some fabric) on hand already.

The verdict?

Kid approved!! I have about 25 different pieces of fabric inside of the container and she, Ms. Tenacious, reached in and pulled out each and every piece, one by one. She also kept closing the lid just so she could push the button that pops it back open again. :)

Funny thing about this Huggies wipes container, I got it a few months ago when I was in a pinch for wipes. Ordinarily, I buy an unscented off brand (Kirkland - LOVE these wipes) because I'm just not a fan of the thick, perfumey-ness of other brands. But I digress. It's the pattern on the container that sold me - it's so colorful! Which is why I saved it, too. I just *knew* there was a craft or project awaiting that box!

As for the fabric scraps, I simply rummaged through my stash and found as many colors, patterns, and textures as possible. I know Juliet is a big young for this now, but I did gather fabrics with some matching themes in mind: fruit, colors, and "softies" (aka the minky fabric -- it's oh so soft!).

Just a few details: I used pinking shears to help reduce fraying. Where the fabric was already seared, I left it. Even if - or especially if - it meant some selvage (I kinda have a thing with selvage... I love those colorful number circles!). I did not cut the pieces with any size in mind and they are in no way shape or form equal or perfectly cut. (I know, that's so rebel of OCD me!) And again, the wipes package came with that fun design - I did NOT adhere anything to the sides (though you could, but then that takes away from the easy-peasy-ness of it all). Oh, and I just tossed the fabric inside - I did not bother to fold them all one into the other as is done with real wipes. The nice thing about this container is that the center part - the part that hold the wipes at the ready - is made of soft rubber, so it's safe for little hands to reach inside.

Now go on and make one too! They'd make great baby gifts, don't you think?

~Thank you for your comments!~

Treasure Basket: Red, Orange, & Yellow

You know me and my love of themes. :) I couldn't resist making a treasure basket for each color - here are red, orange, and yellow. . .

What's inside:
:: Small (new) hairbrush
:: Mama-made knitted ball
:: Apple shaped cookie cutter
:: Silicone texture teether
:: Wooden disk
:: Piece of silk
:: Squishy block
:: Oval clip ring

What's inside:
:: Two oval clip rings
:: Knitted sample
:: Silicone spiked teething toy
:: Thick foam letter G
:: Squishy block
:: Textured bowl
:: Castanet

What's inside:
:: Two cups
:: Bit of ribbon
:: Tiny book
:: Wooden screw
:: Oval clip ring
:: Crochet flower
:: Triangular container

Click here to read my very first treasure basket post for details on the how and why behind treasure baskets. Click here to view my treasure basket slideshow on the Counting Coconuts Facebook page.

~Thank you for your comments!~

Treasure Basket: Wood

Now this one may look a bit boring (to us, anyway - this was one of Juliet's faves!), but there are all sorts of shapes, textures, and even sounds in this basket.

Here's what's inside: (all wooden)
:: bowl
:: maraca
:: train track (from James' train set)
:: owl teether (handcrafted by my friend's father!)
:: sheep
:: jumbo die
:: the basket itself!

Read my first Treasure Basket post for more details on the how and why behind Treasure Baskets.

~Thank you for your comments!~

Treasure Basket: Kitchen

This one could also be dubbed "shiny". : )

Here's what's inside:
:: Whisk

:: Small measuring cup
:: Spoon
:: Small tin w/ cheerios inside (in case it opens, the contents are edible!) that make a nice "tinking" sound when shaken.
:: Pretty napkin - Juliet likes playing peek-a-boo. :)
:: Cake mold
:: Tiny creamer w/ handle

Read my first Treasure Basket post for more details on the how and why behind Treasure Baskets.

~Thank you for your comments!~

Treasure Basket: Black & White

For about the past two months or so I've been making treasure baskets for Juliet (8 mos.). I read about this idea ages ago in the wonderful book How to Raise an Amazing Child the Montessori Way by Tim Seldin. I thought it might be fun to share a new treasure basket with you each week. :)

The idea behind a treasure basket is simple. It's basically a gathering of 5-10 objects of various characteristics (shape, color, texture, etc.), all contained in a basket (or box) for your child to explore with their senses.

This is the very first basket I made. Juliet LOVED it and explored it for a good 30 minutes!

Here's what's inside:
:: Fabric spider (from this funny doll)
:: Crochet rattle (from this lovely set)
:: Knitted rabbit
:: Breast pad - ok, I know this sounds weird, but Juliet loves these things. I'm sure it's because they remind her of our nursing sessions (btw, we're going on 9 months of breastfeeding over here - wohoo!).
:: Poached egg cup
:: Soft scrub brush
:: Large crochet flower
:: Bit of ribbon
:: Star shaped cookie cutter
:: Cow

This has got to be one of the most frugal ways to "entertain" your child. All in all I've made quite a few baskets already - about 25, I think. Some Juliet has used, others are on hand ready to go for the coming weeks/months. She plays with her basket every day and I change the "theme" every 4-5 days. I definitely plan to repeat the baskets and I keep all of the items together in one large bin.

One thing you'll notice in my baskets is that I reuse a lot of items (e.g. the cookie cutter in the "black and white basket" also works well in the "kitchen basket"). Also, I purchased very few new things for these baskets and that's only because it was unsanitary not to. 99% of the items were already in our home.

Oh and I make sure the items aren't harmful (i.e. sharp, broken, too small, toxic), but it's important to note that Juliet explores these baskets under my supervision. You just never know. I'm also careful not to interfere with her explorations. A treasure basket can be very stimulating and there's lots of learning going on in the process of discovery!

I have a "Treasure Basket" board on Pinterest, so be sure to visit for more ideas and links. If any of you are interested in sharing your treasure baskets, please feel free to add your link in the comments section. : )

~Thank you for your comments!~

Baby Knit In Action

It's such a treat to see my little girl *finally* wearing some of the baby knits I made for her during my pregnancy. She's just about outgrown these little booties! Here she is wearing the milo vest...

Since she arrived I've knitted another bonnet, a cardigan, and a sweet little pair of sheepy pants. I hope to photograph them and come back soon to share with you!

~Thank you for your comments!~

Just Stopping By...

Hello, friends! Remember me?

So many of you have very sweetly sent me mails wondering and hoping that we're settling in. Thank you for your warm thoughts - you're all very kind! I'm not ready to come back to full time blogging just yet, but I thought I'd pop in to say hello and to give an update on how things are going with us.

~my two loves~

I'm happy to say all is well! Life with two kiddos has definitely been an adjustment, though. Thankfully, James has accepted Juliet whole-heartedly and that alone has made the transition easier. It's finding time in the day that's been the real challenge for me. Especially when Juliet first came home - the days just flew by. I think last week was the first week when I finally felt like I had a grasp on time. I actually managed to read, knit, and take a shower!! (The latter being the real luxury!)

~we call this look "the church lady" ;D~

My husband was off work for three weeks and then my wonderful sister in law flew over to help for two weeks. And oh my goodness was she ever a help! Not only did she cook, clean, and take care of the kids whenever I needed her to, she found the energy to do school and a variety of fun projects with James (I'll share more about those later). She was also an enormous source of wisdom and support with regard to breastfeeding and childcare. She just left on Saturday and I'm already missing her!

~(at the beach) *yawn* this is the life!~

So, with hubby back at work and my SIL gone, I'm officially on my own now. That was a scary concept to me at first, but after some thought I now feel really good about it. I realized there's not much we haven't already done so there really shouldn't be any major surprises. We've ventured out many times for errands, meals, appointments, fun excursions - in fact, Juliet has already been to the beach and had her little toes dipped in the ocean! I've nursed in public several times (a huge anxiety overcome!), and I've experienced the joys of both kids having a public meltdown at the same time. I'm ready for life with two - bring it on!

~itty bitty feet~

I can't believe our little girl is already 5 weeks old! She's a sweetheart, a cuddle-bug, and one very determined girl. She has one of the loudest cries I've ever heard from a baby! As of last week she weighed 8lbs., 13oz. - up over two pounds from when we left the hospital (she lost some weight during our stay there)! Needless to say she's eating well. :) I'm exclusively nursing her on demand around the clock. She only wakes up a couple of times in the night to eat and then, thankfully, always goes right back to sleep. We're co-sleeping and I think that's the reason I feel surprisingly well rested each morning.

~teeny tiny hands~

My body is still resetting to its pre-pregnancy state. It's strange and amazing at the same time to feel things shifting back into place. Recovery-wise I'm still a bit sore from the c-section, but otherwise I feel quite normal. One thing that's not normal for me is just how hungry I am. Like all.the.time. I feel like I eat non-stop! I've heard this hunger is common for breastfeeding mothers and thanks to the huge calorie burn that occurs while nursing, I've lost over 20 pounds since giving birth!

~beach bum~

James is doing well, too! He's been such a good boy, so helpful and sweet. He's still very much in love with his sister and dotes on her constantly. She's very taken with him, too, and whenever she hears his voice she'll move her head around until she finds him. James has also been enjoying our mini-units and so have I! I love how compact and portable they are.

Well, that's about all for now. I'll try to update again in another few weeks. I have SO many ideas and activities I want to share with you all and I often find myself writing blog posts in my head! Oh, but there is one last thing I do want to mention... in the last 6 weeks I've received dozens of emails with questions - I apologize for not being able to respond to any of them. I can't say exactly when I'll be able to as life is a bit busy for me at the moment. :) Thanks for your understanding and patience! In the meantime, please be sure to check my FAQ post to see if I've already addressed your question(s).

Hope you're all doing well and that your school year is off to a wonderful start!

~Thank you for your comments!~

Our Littlest Coconut

She's here! She's here! Ohmygosh she's here!!!!

(clearing throat) Sorry, I'm still just a little excited. Our sweet and wonderful baby girl is finally here with us and let me tell you she is nothing short of amazing! Of course I'm not at all biased. ;)

Meet our little Juliet

Juliet came into the world on August 22nd at 12:52pm. She weighed 7lbs., 8oz. and was 18.5" long. She has soft brown hair and the most kissable cheeks ever!

James is absolutely head over heels in love with her. His first words to her were: "I love you, baby sister!!". He has showered her with so much love and affection that it has brought me to tears on more than one occasion. It's heaven seeing the two of them together.

My husband and I are just as proud as can be and feel so very blessed to have these two loves in our lives.

PS: I am beyond happy to report that, despite a very rough start, exclusive breastfeeding is going beautifully!! I owe so much to my friends and local La Leche League consultants for their support!

~Thank you for your comments!~