Toddlers | Sophistishe: Finding Zen in Being Human

Toddler Reset

May 25, 2010 11 Comments

Our boy child has been such a handful lately. Yes, I said boy child.

He had been sick from Wednesday through Saturday with a runny nose and off and on mild fever.

During that time, he received extra special care; especially from Daddy. He melts when his little guy isn’t feeling well.

Boy child got use to this special treatment and began to milk it. Remember, children are smarter than we think they are.

He’s been whining about everything, not enunciating (when he is capable of doing so), and screaming bloody murder because we cannot understand him. Most of our days are spent battling melt down after melt down.

Our neighbors probably have DHS on speed dial.

I don’t know how many times I rethunk extending our family of three to four.

I’m hoping after a visit with boy child’s grandparents this weekend – in a new environment, he’ll return to us reset.

Pee Pee In Da Potty

April 18, 2010 17 Comments

So the time has come for us to start actively potty training our little guy. He’s ripping the diapers off and sitting in the potty. He’s been wiping himself and throwing toilet paper in the toilet since he was about 15 months. He knows his body part pretty well, especially his ooo booty. We keep the potty out in the living room, but he never goes in it. We tell him, “Go pee pee in the potty.” He’ll sit down, hop off, and minutes later he’s going on the floor!

My mother said I potty trained fairly easy before I was 2. One day she looked up and I had gone numero dos in the toilet! I do realize boys are different and I’m willing to accept that challenge. We’ve reviewed The Potty Tots system when Jay was younger. I think it is great for older children. Jayden’s unpredictable attention span just can’t handle it right now. I honestly think he’ll train before being able to understand story lines and reward charts. We’re thinking about getting him something like this. Sometimes kids want the real thing. They want to be just like mommy and daddy, so maybe if we put him directly on the toilet, he’ll be more likely to go.

Have you gotten your potty training degree? What worked for your kiddos?

Filed Under: Parenting disclosure 17 Comments

17 Months And Another Pair Of ShooShoos Later…

April 8, 2010 122 Comments

17 Months And Another Pair Of ShooShoos Later... Sophistishe Digital Mom

Winner Announcement: Congrats to Linda Kish!

We were first introduced to ShooShoos during the holiday season of 2008 when we reviewed a pair of their soft soled baby shoes. They were essential. With Jayden being so wiggly, I appreciated having the elasticized ankle which made them easy to slip on – and they stayed on all day! They are still in excellent condition, we’ve put them away for our next. Let’s pause for a quick trip in the way back machine. Look at those chunky thighs! Nom nom nom!

He’s since grown quite a bit! He’s certainly passed rolling and crawling his way through the house. He’s now darting wherever those lil’ toddler legs take him. I can’t believe he’ll be two THIS MONTH. While he was busy growing right before my eyes, Shooshoos had been busy working on their new line of Smiley toddler shoes.

We received a pair of the Brown Sandal Smileys. They feature the same elasticized ankle as the soft soled baby shoes, but they have rubberized non-slip soles. When seeing the elasticized ankle, I was reminded of baby shoes. I wondered if Jayden would look slightly younger in them. After slipping them on with ease, I was pleased to see that he still looked like a mature little boy. Now that the weather has warmed up, he’ll be sporting his Smiley’s frequently. We can never keep him in socks or shoes, so hopefully he’ll enjoy airing out his miniature tootsies.

My love for Shooshoos continues to grow. Their shoes are of excellent quality. They are flexible and lightweight, perfect for my active toddler. They are priced reasonably and they often have great sales. I can vouch for the ShooShoos motto, they really do provide simply the best for growing feet.

Jayden vacuuming grass in his Shooshoos.

Price: $24.95 – I’ve seen other styles as low at $10.95!
Green-worthy Stats: All shoes are dyed with non-toxic dyes.

17 Months And Another Pair Of ShooShoos Later... Sophistishe Digital Mom

Shooshoos started in 1996 in Cape Town to uplift disadvantaged communities. Since then ShooShoos has grown into a worldwide brand with over 3 million pairs sold distributed over 20 countries. They have won 3 iParenting Media Awards and have been selected by Mothercare International (550 Stores worldwide) as a leading leather baby shoe brand.

Giveaway

Shooshoos would like to offer a pair of shoes from any collection to one of you. For a chance to win, visit the Shooshoos range of shoes page and leave a comment with the style and size you’ll need if you were to win. Refer to the sizing chart if needed.

Want another entry?: Become a Facebook fan of Shooshoos. Tell them I sent you! (optional) Leave a separate comment letting me know you’ve at least become a fan.

Want another entry?: Follow @shooshoos and tweet the following message.

Win any pair of soft soled Shooshoos at Sophistishe! http://bit.ly/9V1eWU @sheenatatum #shooshoos #giveaway

Want another entry?: subscribe to my feed (don’t forget to click the verification link emailed to you) and leave a separate comment letting me know you’ve done so.

Want another entry?: Become one of my Sophistipeeps. Follow me on Google Friend Connect (right sidebar). Leave a separate comment letting me know you’ve done so.

Comments will close on April 16th, 2010 at 7PM CST. A winner from the U.S. will then be randomly selected and announced at the top of this post. Good luck!

Site-wide Giveaway Rules

Filed Under: Giveaways, Parenting, Reviews disclosure 122 Comments

Nowali Mocs Rock The Socks

February 15, 2010 73 Comments

nowali moccasins

Winner Announcement: Beth C

Colorful socks. Cute slippers. I just have to have them. So it’s only natural that I dress my little guy in such adorable accessories. Nowali offered to send us a pair of their Swedish moccasins. They fit snug like socks, but they have non-skid slipper bottoms. Let me confess, Jayden isn’t a fan of socks. He snatches them off every chance that he gets, but for some reason, he did not dismiss his froggie moccasins. Could it be because they are visually stimulating? I think so!

Usually, he’ll snatch off his socks to scratch his feet, leaving them behind on the floor. Well, when I replaced his socks with his moccasins, he DID take them off. He let me rub some eczema ointment on his feet and THEN he went to retrieve the moccasins. He ASKED me (in toddlerspeak) to put them back on. I thought to myself, “Whaaat, since when do you want to put your socks back on? Oh wait, these aren’t your everyday white socks with grey heels…” But just like your everyday plain white socks, Nowali moccasins are machine washable. Can you believe that? These mocs definitely rock the socks.

Nowali is introducing four new moccasin styles in time for Spring. Winter may be making an exit, but the tootsies can still catch a draft all year ’round. Check out Jayden in his froggie moccasins. Don’t tell him he’s not cool.

Price: $26.95
Company Info: here
Greenworthy Stats: Hand-stitched, made of yarn and foxing materials that are free from harmful dyes or substances.

Nowali Mocs Rock The Socks Sophistishe Digital Mom

Giveaway

Nowali would like to offer a pair of moccasins to one of you! For a chance to win, visit the Nowali Moccasins page and leave a comment with the style and size you’ll need if you were to win.

Want another entry?: subscribe to my feed (don’t forget to click the verification link emailed to you) and leave a separate comment letting me know you’ve done so.

Want another entry?: Become one of my Sophistipeeps. Follow me on Google Friend Connect (right sidebar). Leave a separate comment letting me know you’ve done so.

Comments will close on February 21st, 2010 at 7PM CST. A winner from the U.S. will then be randomly selected and announced at the top of this post. Good luck!

Site-wide Giveaway Rules