We were in Wal-Mart earlier tonight (where else?) and were getting ready to check out when we heard a baby of about 12 months crying.
At first, I thought it was just one of those whiny “I don’t want to be here” cries, but as the little girl screamed harder and louder, shoppers began to ask.
Turns out, she had gotten one of her fingers caught in the conveyer belt at checkout. She was sitting in one of the shopping carts, and must have reached over to touch the conveyer when her finger got caught in the small gap at the end before it whips around.
A manager tried to put a Band-Aid on the finger. The checkout girl said the little girl might need stitches.
As we headed out the door, we saw the ambulance pull up. Although the little girl’s finger didn’t seem that bad as we left (no blood, just lots of screaming), it reminded me that you have to be careful with your kids near those conveyer belts. Kids are always reaching out from the shopping carts, and it only takes a second for a finger - or worse a hand - to get caught in that gap
So do us all a favor and watch those little hands!
I’ve heard horror stories about kids not wanting to use the potty. Why, my own niece is going on 4 and just recently started using the toilet.
But it’s been pretty easy for us. I haven’t had to buy diapers in over a month. I purchased a 20 pack of White Clouds at the last pay period, and we’ve still got about 17 left to go.
Could it be my last?? The gods could only be so kind…
In lieu of diapers, though, I’ve invested heavily in underpants. The oh-so-cute tiny pink and purple panties imprinted with flowers or kittens. What a mess when dealing with accidents, but they sure beat Pampers — you can’t wash those.
Grace has taken up potty training unbelievably well. So well, in fact, that at 2 years, 3 months, she’s practically there. On good days, we sail through high and dry. On bad days, we might have one accident.
So my mom suggested we graduate to the next and final level: Underpants on outings.
I have been putting her in a diaper for jaunts to the store and Saturday morning errands. (The thought of sitting her rear on one of those Wal-Mart toilet seats makes me cringe.)
But I decided to go diaper-less for a few hours out one afternoon. The agenda: doctor’s appointment for Grace, allergy shot for me.
Yay! Today is Thursday. But it’s not just any ol’ Thursday. It’s the Thursday that Grey’s Anatomy returns to ABC for its new season.
I can’t wait to see if George is going to dump Callie and finally hook up with Izzy. And the Patrick Dempsey withdrawls have been tough since the show last aired.
You better believe I’ll be on the couch right at 8 o’clock for the season premier, as I assume many others will be.
Which leads me to wonder, how many poor little tykes will be put to bed early tonight?
Grace normally hits the pillow around 8:45, but tonight we’ll be expediting the bedtime routine. Hope she cooperates.
If not, thank god for Tivo!
Every fall, we go through the toys, sort out the ones that need to be thrown away, and we donate the ones in good shape to kids who can use them.
We don’t get rid of ALL the toys, but when kids get to be 9 and 11, there aren’t many that they are still interested in. We measure this by what we have seen played with over the past year (i.e. left out on the floor) and what hasn’t moved from those sturdy, stacking Rubbermaid storage boxes. I love those boxes.
The selections get slimmer as they get older, but I have found that it is a good idea to limit toy purchases to Christmas and birthdays. Yes, even if everyone’s birthday is in the winter. If they make do with what they have, you will find they use their imagination and creativity more.
Grace made cupcakes for Daddy’s birthday on Monday. I don’t know what she liked more — licking the batter from her fingers or the icing from the spoon.
Needless to say, she’s been begging for them for the last two days.
So this morning I go upstairs to get dressed. It took me a little longer than usual to decide what to wear, but I finally picked out a dress and headed downstairs. And there was Grace, sitting on the coffee table watching Oswald with a half-eaten cupcake in her hand and crumbs on her face.
At 2 1/2, Grace doesn’t seem to need much help these days. And like most toddlers, she loves opening the refrigerator. If she wants a slice of cheese, she’ll open the door and dig one out of the drawer.
So I assume that’s just what she did when she decided she wanted a cupcake at 6:45 this morning.
Ah well, I don’t think a cupcake for breakfast ever hurt anyone.
“Hi, my name is Antonio Young, health reporter for The Daily Journal. I’m calling to get an interview with …”
“Well, hello Mr. Young. How’s that baby doing? I bet she’s getting big, huh? Is she crawling all over the place yet?”
If you’re confused about the first two lines of this blog, I just let you in on telephone calls that I’ve recently made while trying to reach several local doctors for medical insight for my upcoming articles.
Before getting in touch with the physicians, I had that type of conversation with their receptionists — whom I’ve never met or talked to — but know me very well. At least through the newspaper, that is.
Grace and I have been going to Wal-Mart every Saturday morning since she was 3 weeks old. After 2 1/2 years of the ritual, she’s come to recognize the big blue building every time we pull into the plaza.
Grace holds the list and we storm the aisles, talking about the soap and shampoo we buy that keep us clean, the milk and cereal we eat that make us big and strong, and, of course, the occasional toy (or pair of high heels) — because special treats make us happy.
As a working mother, it’s difficult finding time to spend with your children. Time was never of the essence when I first started working at The Daily Journal 10 years ago. But, fresh off of maternity leave with my first child, I was given a huge promotion: Lifestyle editor.
My name is Rochelle Simpson. I am the youth pages coordinator at The Daily Journal. My other full-time job is being the parent of an 11-year-old girl and a 9-year-old boy.
I have been in the newspaper business for 17 and a half years.
My journalism degree is from Eastern Illinois University. While there, just like many of you others out there, I also met my spouse, Tim, while I was there in Charleston. As of July, we have been married 15 years.The first full-time job out of college was with the Central Kentucky News-Journal in Campbellsville, Ky., where I was a full-time general assignment reporter and photographer.
I’m Antonio Young. I was hired as a full-time lifestyle reporter for The Daily Journal in Sept. 2003, only five months after my wife, Alicia, and I tied the knot.
Many of you may know me as “The Healthy Guy,” the name of my tongue-in-cheek, biweekly men’s health column. I also produce four health centerpiece articles for each Monday of the month, and cover a variety of community issues.
Occasionally, I’ve been fortunate to share stories that vividly describe my super busy, yet blessed life. Such articles have included the wildly popular “Diary of a First-Time Dad,” series, which ran in spring 2007 shortly after Alicia and I had our first child, Zion.
She is now eight months old, and every day with her is a new adventure. Zion has certainly brought joy into our lives, as we tried for nearly four years before she born.
She was certainly worth the wait. Just read my upcoming blogs, and you will see.
