First Claw Game

I obliged my husband and kids and went along to Hometown Buffet. On the way to the restroom a little 14 month old discovered a enchanted room. The first time Lyra and I put the money in the trigger happy toddler started the claw before it moved. The second time mommy was a little wiser and quickly maneuvered the claw. She snuck in her trigger happy finger and before I realized it up came a pink and yellow frog. 

Mother's Day

A day for us mothers, just another Sunday.
For breakfast a trip to eat yummy Mexican buffet at Casa de Bandini. Kids bought me cute purple flowers.

Places to Go with Babies and Toddlers in North County San Diego

As a new mom you are constantly on the look out for places that entertain your baby and toddler. And that get you out of the house. Having just moved to Oceanside a few months before Lyra was born I was really was at a loss as were to go with her during my maternity leave. I could not find any good resources out there on the web so I decided to start a page on my blog that highlight some of my experiences places to go with babies and toddlers in North County San Diego.

Here are a few of the places we have visited from birth to 15 months. We always wish there were more. I really wanted a fun coffee shop with a play room for infants while on maternity leave. Maybe a future career in the making?

Baby Needs
Babies in Bloom - This place was great support for me during my pregnancy and post. I took prenatal yoga and tried my best to go 1-2 times a week. It was a great time to relax and stretch. After Lyra was born I went to Lactation Lounge 1-2 times a week for two months straight. It helped me find out the about baby techniques that work, meet new mom's like myself, and give me a place to go twice a week. Without those weekly meetings I would have struggled even more with the sleepless nights and stressful time breast feeding. It was there that I learned Lyra was tongue tied and lip tied which was causing her not to take in enough milk.

Fun Places
Kidville, Carlsbad- Behind the Carlsbad Westfield Mall is a little place just for kids. We have only had the opportunity to visit here once but Lyra loved it as a baby. There was a separate area just for babies with a slide, balls to sit in, things to climb on, and toys to use to stand up on. We can't wait to go back as a toddler. We had to buy a bag of the plastic balls from Target after this trip.

Get Air Trampoline,Vista- Lyra went before she could walk. She loved holding and throwing the balls while kids jumped on the trampoline behind her.  Parents are good about watching the bigger kids (3-5 year olds). I can't wait to take her now that she can walk.

Museums
Escondido Children's Museum- Lyra has been here twice. Absolutely love this place particularly the lego building fountain and bubbles. There is a large inside and outside area with everything you can think of for toddlers to 10. Best ages I think are 10 months to five years. Especially great was that educators and their families were free the month of April.

Restaurants
1. Carlsbad Clam Jumper- Provides, for free, a plastic mat and baby plate with mandarin oranges, apply sauce, crackers, and cheese.

Beaches
Buccaneers Beach- Lyra has only been to one North County beach. Going to the beach with a baby is A lot of work. Especially by yourself. We went as a family to the beach which was a lot of fun however the older kids were disappointed by the quick visit due to a cranky baby. This beach is easy because the parking, beach, and bathrooms are all easy to access.

Lyra is Ransom Strong

Lyra plays with all toys but some of her favorites are diapers boxes and amazon packing materials.



Listening to her groan as she lifts the diapers is hilarious to her grandparents who stay one week day night to visit.

Favorite Baby & Todldler Apps May 2015

There may be controversy as to when you should allow a child to use electronic devices. When you have a baby screaming in a car you will try anything to get her to calm down. Thus, I starting using my phone as a tool  for distracting my screaming baby in the car at 6 months.

Here are my current App picks for the Android. I know there are many more options with the iPhone but I have a Galaxy Note because of the camera quality and price. It has a large screen so Lyra can easily interact with the apps. She enjoys these apps in particular and are age appropriate. I want to emphasize she is not on the phone long. Just long enough to play the game or hear the song. Lyra is currently 15 months old.

I use an Android widget called, Giganticon, which enlarged the app icon so it is easier for her to select the app she wants. Below is a screenshot from my phone.

6 months-Currently enjoys

PeekABoo BARN- I tried a few apps to get her attention and distract her. This is the only one that worked. It is the best peek a boo app out there. It works well rarely crashes. It is easy for her to tap on only having one function, to open the barn door. The animal sounds are accurate, animal names are pronounced by child narrators, and barn animals are very cute.


PBS Kids- The best tv video app. I just play the intro to Sesame street or Thomas the Train for her to hear the song. The Sprouts app is very disappointing with adds and always crashing. This is not the case with PBS. I am sure she will enjoy the videos one day.

11 months-Currently enjoys

Go Away Big Green Monster- Lyra loves this app. She loves to dance the beautiful woman's voice signing the story. She interacts with monsters and tries so hard to say monster. Lyra loves to wiggle her body to the song. This is always her first pick now if she sees my phone.

13 months-Currently enjoys

PeekABoo Sesame Street- Lyra is starting to get into Sesame street. She is enjoying opening to the door to reveal a Sesame Street character. Not much learning going on. There are some random terms the app highlights beyond the main character names like, "paper clip" and "trash can".

15 Months-Currently enjoys

Itsy Bitsy Spider- I personally love this app because Itsy Bitsy Spider is song by an male opera singer. The song is extremely interactive which is a little over whelming for her but she likes to watch me interact with the app to play out the song.


Wheels on the Bus- After trying and purchasing a few wheels on the bus, her favorite book/song from her cousin Sienna, we discovered this app had an interactive song that was easy for her to use and listen to the song.

Cute bathing suit pictures

May 3, 2015

 March 29, 2015