Do Toddlers Really Understand “Fake” and “Pretend?”

The more I try to understand my toddler, the less I can make sense of what she does and thinks. Kids her age are really getting to be pros at pretend play, and that's awesome. Give her a stick, and it's a wand and she's acting as a sorceress. Give her a blanket and she's …

Newest in the Toddler Poop Obsession

Some kids find shapes in clouds.... My kid finds shapes in her poops. "Mom, I made a shoe poop and a tree poop!" My child is obsessed with poop. Enough said.

Things I Refuse To Do With Children In Tow

There's a lot on this list, like clothes shopping for me (heck, even clothes shopping for them is difficult, but their presence is essential for sizing) and watching some sort of presentation or show. Or trying to fix something around the house.... Tops, though, is grocery shopping when it's raining outside. Let's get real: getting …

Sweet Memories Friday: And the Perfect Baby Age Is …

... 8 months! I've just figured it out, and I'm pretty sure about this. Now that my little baby girl is a day shy of 9m and teething has just began, I think we're passing into a stage where things get progressively harder. Having a 3yo also, experience tells me I'm likely right. Let's think about …

Top 5 Clothing Signs You’re a Mom

Your jeans are worn out in the knees. You can't remember what it feels like to wear an underwire, push-up, or strapless bra. That whole legging trend? You're all about it ... and realize the only other women wearing leggings are other mothers. An unfortunate percentage of your shirts are decorated with spit-up stains that will …

Is Every Child Obsessed With Poop? Or Just Mine?

Seriously, what it is with kids and poop? Why are they so obsessed with it? Talking, seeing, thinking ... it's always on my 3yo's mind! She asks me (why???), "Do you want to poop in my hands, mama?" (There was no prompting here, no talking about poop before this ... we weren't even in the …

Toddler Talk Tuesdays: The Emperor’s New Clothes

Welcome to a new feature on Welcome To The Nursery! Because my adorable toddler says the most hilarious things all day (and that's what toddlers are best at, along with making random, surreptitious messes), I decided to start sharing her wild words. Enjoy! (Background: we've recently read The Emperor's New Clothes from her big storybook …

How To (Or Not?) Give a Kid an Allowance

My husband and I were talking about - okay, joking about - what we should do about our kids' allowances (and no, at 3yo and 9mo they are nowhere close to allowances at the moment), and we came up with a pretty brilliant real-life solution at a todder's level. So let's say we give our kid …

Never Ever Could I Handle Cloth Diapers!

I'd call my 3yo potty trained, but she still has accidents (okay ... I'm almost 33 and ... I admit it, I've had an accident from time to time ... okay, maybe it's genetic ... oh shit what I have done to this child?!) occasionally. Very occasionally (you go, girl!). Pee I can deal with. Poop? …

Sweet Memories Friday: Those Quiet (Boring?) Days

Now with a 3yo toddler and a 9mo baby ("baby"), things can get pretty hectic at home. Even when the baby is napping - which she is still doing three times a day - there is a lot to do between getting my toddler dressed and brushed and to the bathroom, plus doing some dishes …