Formula and Pecan Pie

Sophie Blackall illustration in Pecan Pie Baby by Jaqueline Woodson

I fed a newborn for one month on Day 3 of The Happy Day Project, thanks to Compassion's Christmas Catalog.
I didn't hesitate to support this non-profit, because I've heard so much before about Compassion International from Tsh at Simple Mom. I think I'll send my five-year-old niece something handmade for Christmas, and ask her if she'd like to pick something out for a child in need, like a playground or school supplies!
 
I've been blessed to feed my baby (breastmilk, formula, and now strawberries and oatmeal) every day of her life, and my mom-heart breaks to think that babies go hungry. I think Baby A would like to help babies--she tries to peek in every car seat carrier and stroller to see a baby, and many of her frequently read books feature babies.


We recently checked out Pecan Pie Baby by Jaqueline Woodson, illustrated by Sophie Blackall. I liked the idea of it--a reluctant big sister-to-be tires of hearing about the new baby coming, but her mama helps her feel loved. It centers on a hard but real part of growing a family, without unrealistic expectations, and with warmth. The text wasn't my favorite, but I would like to read other Jaqueline Woodson books anyway, because I have a hunch I'll end up a fan. 
The illustrations have the charm I expected from Sophie Blackall. She never over-complicates, but plants back story details in all of her pictures. Don't you think?


Now I'm craving pecan pie. We'll wait on the baby sibling, though.


What are your favorite books about babies? Any second (or third or sixth or grand) babies coming your way? And are you going to pick something out at compassion--a goat, perhaps?

Mums and Christmas

For Day 1 of The Happy Day Project, I decided to Shop for Sharlie. I have handmade Christmas gifts on the brain, so I decided to get the Mum Flower tutorial from The Pleated Poppy. Won't that make a sweet stocking stuffer?

I'll be visiting the shop again, for sure!

What do you think about Christmas starting in October? I started my lists and activity planning weeks ago, hoping that if I prepare now I can glide through December, sipping cocoa while admiring lit trees and mulling over the Bible. Or, do you think I will just be starting the bustle early and miss out on the last leaves to crunch under my boots?

I can't decide, so I'll just go back to thinking about mums. 

Remember Chrysanthemum? Of course you do, Kevin Henkes' books are enduring.

There are Lilys everywhere (Henkes also wrote Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse), but I still only know one Chrysanthemum. I'm glad she came around to her name! Do you ever find fictional characters appealing or relatable enough that you imagine their past or their future? Chrysanthemum went by Chrys in middle school (in my imagination), but don't worry, she's still proud of her whole name.

Are you having a scattered, but happy day like I am? Tell me your thoughts on early, early Christmas prep, flowers, and unusual names! Or, you can choose a focus, but I can't promise that I will!

The Happy Day Project: Why Not?

This week, I'll be jumping out of the ordinary and into The Happy Day Project.

I might tweak the daily tasks to fit with children's literature. I decided to join in the project because I know someone who is close to Sharlie, of Sharlie's Angels for Monday's suggested charity donation, and because Thursday's tasks is to give a book to a friend. It should be fun! Would you like to jump in?

Pumpkin Stencils

I'm still in San Diego, but I wanted to drop in to let you know about this:
(You can't download these adorable stencils from the image below--I just wanted to share the info.) Go to Better Homes & Gardens Online to download as many stencils as you'd like, and BH&G will donate to March of Dimes and other charities. The "catch" is that you enter your email address to register, but you can de-select the free newsletter offers. Then you enter your address for March of Dimes post mailings, which I don't mind, because they don't over-solicit and they give good health information about pregnancy and infants. After that, you choose the stencil you want to download (I chose both "Holding Hands" and "Butterfly") and you get a .pdf with the stencil and directions. 

It only took a few seconds, and I donated to a cause I care about, plus I have an alternative to my standard crooked smiley-face jack-o-lantern. If you want more stencils, you can download other fun designs to support  Rebuilding Together, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Humane Society of the US, and Susan G. Komen. 

Happy carving!

Taking Candy from a Baby

 

Are you trick-or-treating this year? I have been debating whether a nearly one-and-a-half-year-old is too young to solicit gluttonous portions of candy from strangers. But then a friend of mine pointed out we could keep her candy for ourselves... I mean, she could have the lollipops. She's been eating lollipops for months, thanks to a friendly neighbor who carries them around in his pocket just in case. I wasn't going to give Baby A candy until she was two, but apparently I did not have the willpower to stop my well-intentioned neighbor from introducing the one thing other than a pacifier that will quiet a toddler forced to go along for one more errand. 

When do you think kids should get candy? And did you wait for a certain age to start trick-or-treating?

P.S. I'll be playing hooky in San Diego the rest of the week! Maybe I'll find a new picture book at Sea World. Let's catch up Monday, yes?

Fall Leaves

That was Monday. We had quite the summery start to fall. But by Wednesday, it turned from sunny and a high of 78 to rainy and a high of 60--with a chance of snow later this week. I'm happy for fall, but soon I'm going to get tuckered out and want to curl up in the leaves for hibernation like this sweet bear:

Baby A reading Leaves with her Mummi, who gave her the book

His naive concern for the leaves falling off the trees is endearing, and the illustrations are a lovely combination of crisp colors, soft lines, and whimsical shapes.

Baby A is mildly interested in the leaves here and there in our apartment complex yard. But we'll have to go on an adventure up the canyon to get proper piles of them. Maybe even when all the leaves have fallen onto the frosty grass, I'll be having too much fun to hibernate. But I'll still greet the spring as cheerfully as the bear. Curl up somewhere cozy to read David Ezra Stein's Leaves. Then go find all the crunchy leaves.

What's your yard like? Any favorite fall reads?

Back to School Books

I don't  "formally" educate Baby A yet. Mi esposo is in school all year long, and I have just started to recover from English major burn-out and have started reading for pleasure--books for grown-ups!

But all around my bloggy universe for the past month, it's been back-to-school talk. This, naturally, prompted me to go on a back-to-school clothes shopping spree. And it also got me wondering, are there any must-read picture books for back-to-school? 

I came across a few OK back-to-school-jitters books, but nothing really stood out. I do have some nostalgically favorite schoolchildren:

Madeline

Arthur

Ms. Frizzle's class

Surprisingly, I haven't come across any picture books about homeschooling, online school, nor particularly urban/rural school setting portrayals. There are a lot about U.S. suburban public schools (like Arthur), and Madeline attends a small private Catholic girls' school in Paris. 

Do you have book suggestions? 

How is your family educated?

Nothing will ever be as cool as a magical school bus, but I'd love to discuss the options.