Part of why the “twos” can be so “terrible” is because these quick-growing toddlers are starting to realize they're their own person, and they want autonomy. It's almost as if they're saying… Don't TELL me to wear that blue dress. I want to wear a green shirt with a yellow tutu! And I want two… Continue Reading
Category Archives: Montessori
Designing Your Home With Montessori in Mind
What is Montessori? Maria Montessori created a framework for education which focuses on independence and freedom within boundaries, “following the child” (respecting the child as an individual, with unique personality, strengths, and preferences), and a carefully prepared environment. Classrooms are mixed-age, so that children can teach and learn from each other, and teaching younger children… Continue Reading
How Toddler-Accessible is Your House?
One way to save on a lot of frustration in the toddler years is to encourage the independence these little people so fiercely desire. When the toddler feels as if, “I can do that,” instead of “The world is intended for people much bigger than I am,” there is less struggle and angst in daily… Continue Reading
Anneliese’s Big Girl Bed
One of the things my husband and I decided to do as Anneliese’s second birthday approached (it’s today!) was to change her room around a bit, adding a “big girl bed” for her, and a floor bed for Joey (so hopefully he can take some naps in there). I had found this great twin storage… Continue Reading
Montessori Toddler Room Tour
I’ve had the Montessori baby room tour linked in the sidebar of the blog for…forever. But we haven’t even been living in that house for the last year and a half! And lots of things have changed with Anneliese’s room. Plus, she’s a toddler now, not a tiny baby. This weekend, my husband and his… Continue Reading
Handmade Christmas–Part 4: Hand-painted Rainbow Matryoshka Nesting Dolls
This handmade Matryoshka project took about a week of evening sketching and painting, but the labor of love was well worth it! A little rainbow nesting doll set for my daughter was the result, and I hope she loves playing with it as much as I loved nesting dolls when I was a kid.… Continue Reading
Handmade Christmas–Part 3: Wooden Matching Game (Pegs and Cups)
Here’s another little gift I made for Anneliese. I haven’t really made much of an effort to hide them as I made them, because she’s a year old and doesn’t really “get” Christmas yet, so she has already seen them and has been VERY interested in playing with them. I’m excited to set them up… Continue Reading
25 Handmade Gifts for Toddlers (or Preschoolers)
I had a list in my head of things I wanted to make for Anneliese for Christmas this year. Then I kept adding to it, so I had to jot it down on paper, but after a bit the list was quite long, and some of the projects were a bit complicated for me to… Continue Reading
Barefoot and Pregnant in the Kitchen–Week 8+
Just the Facts: Weeks pregnant: 8 weeks, 4 days. Adjusted to 4 days further along with my ultrasound on Friday. Weight: 134 pounds Gain: -1 Waist: I still haven’t measured. I need to find my tape measure. Size of the baby: .5-.6 inches Weight: very very light. Other pregnancy related crap: Emotional crap: Definitely more… Continue Reading
My Little 10-Month Old
Two days ago, Anneliese turned 10 months old. It’s hard to believe she’s almost a year old! (Sorry in advance for the weird color in these pics… fluorescent gross lighting at night. ew) Anneliese is just. So. Cool. I can’t get over her. The babbling has begun. She doesn’t do it constantly, but when she… Continue Reading
Anneliese’s First Easter Basket
For a long time (since she has been sitting up), I’ve been meaning to create a treasure basket for Anneliese. Full of things that are beautiful to look at and touch, that feel different from each other (unlike her plastic toys, which all feel the same), things that are interesting for her to explore. Instead,… Continue Reading
Hi! I'm Emily. I'm a Navy wife and stay at home mom of two beautiful children. I cook simple, delicious, grain-free recipes, do crafts, decorate my home on a budget, and keep a happy household. I tandem breastfeed, babywear, cloth diaper, practice elimination communication, homebirth, and co-sleep, but I'm not a hippie.
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