Weekly Message 07/29

Hi mama!

After what felt like a week-long journey, we are finally home and settled into our cozy routine.

As I mentioned last week, Emi is transitioning to one nap, so at 16 months, this is what her schedule looks like:

This is what is working for us right now, but every baby and family is different. There are so many toddler routines out there that it's hard not to feel a little overwhelmed. “Am I doing it right?” “My little one doesn’t nap for 3 hours!” “How do they have time for all of these activities?!”

Please remember to be kind to yourself! If your little one seems rested and engaged during the day, you’re doing great. Also, consult your pediatrician during transitional periods; they can be a great resource.

EAT: Last week’s chicken corn chowder was a hit! Papa and Emi both loved it, so I’m on the hunt for another hearty soup we can all enjoy. This Healthy Chicken Pot Pie Soup Recipe looks promising!

Crunchy Tip: I give Emi soups without the broth to make them easier and less messy to eat.

(Link to recipe)

READ: Okay, fine, I get it now. There is something to this Sarah J. Mass craze. I read Throne of Glass during our 24-hour trip back home, and it was pretty good. I also brought back 23 books that I plan to read before returning home in December. Wish me luck—I have 21 weeks, so it’s about one book per week!

CRAFT: I’ve been on an embroidery kick lately, but I want to push myself and learn something new: cross-stitch. For some reason, I've always been intimidated by it, just like how I crochet but am scared of knitting. But this looks like an easy project, and I do need a new bookmark.

MOVEMENT: Is winter down here in Chile, and while we can still go to the park on most days, our Pickler Set is a lifesaver. Now that Emi is a bit older, we're experimenting with more challenging setups to match her skills and keep her engaged.

SENSORY: Texture play has been a favorite since Emi was a newborn. Recently, I bought some Texture Play Cards from Target, which are great for exploring both textures and colors. I'm also planning to make some of my own to include even more variety. Here’s the template I created if you want to create your own.

👉🏼 Click here to download my Texture Play Sensory Card template.

MUSIC: Last week we experienced 35 minutes of bliss! We listened to this video, mama went all out acting out the songs, and Emi was LIVING for it. Check out the video here.

LANGUAGE: I'm starting a monthly reading wrap-up to track Emi’s favorite books. Here are here picks for July:

NATURE: Emi’s room has a big window, perfect for bird-watching. To attract more feathered friends, we’re adding some bird feeders. I love this little bird bistro that doubles as an art project, and this window bird feeder looks amazing too!

MINDFULNESS: Yoga is such a great activity for toddlers! With all our traveling, I fell off the yoga wagon, but I’m hoping to get back into it this week. Here are my two approaches to practicing Yoga with Emi:

1. Passive: I follow an easy routine that I know pretty well (so I can just listen and not watch) and let Emi do as much or as little as she wants. It might not be entirely relaxing for you, but you’ll get a bit of a workout (or at least a stretch) and plant the seed for a future practice. I love this one-week challenge that includes a gentle 15-minute practice and a 5-minute meditation. Link to challenge.

2. Active: If your little one is ready to follow along, you can do a quick routine with simple poses and interactive sounds. Here are five poses that I think work well for toddler yoga: Downward-Facing Dog, Cat-Cow Pose, Tree Pose, Butterfly Pose, and Happy Baby Pose.

ps. All my free printables are available here.

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