My sister in law just sent this to me....

Because we are not home enough we need to make the best of the time we have, so to get my husband's cooperation in this task, i sent this article to him, highlighting in blue what we need to make our first priority from the time we get home til the time the baby is asleep. Once Archer successfully completes the list of abilities in this development chart we can move on to the next milestones, for 12 month olds. I've graded his ability to do each of the milestones.

By 6 months of age does your child:

Motor Skills

1. hold head steady when sitting with your help (I would give him a "C" in this ) reach for and grasp objects (B-)
2. play with his toes (B. he only does it when getting diaper change or in bath. Also seems to favor the right foot, I dont' know why. I've offered him the left foot but he is less inclined to play w it.)
3. help hold the bottle during feeding (C- he can hold it, but then pushes or pulls too hard and only makes it harder to feed him)
4. explore by mouthing and banging objects (A+)
5. move toys from one hand to another (A)
6. shake a rattle (A)
   pull up to a sitting position on her own if you grasp her hands ( the dr tried this when we went there, he wasnt that able to get up) (D- he was barely able to do this, I felt like his arms were going to pop out of hte shoulder when dr tried to lif thim this way).
7. sit with only a little support (D- he needs you to hold his back, otherwise will fall over and/or spit up b/c it's so uncomfortable)
8. sit in a high chair (B- can only do this b/c we have a great high chair w straps that help hold him in place. otherwise wud slump over a little to the side) roll over (F . only happens once in a blue moon)
9. bounce when held in a standing position (A)

Sensory and Thinking Skills

1. open his mouth for the spoon (A.)
2. imitate familiar actions you perform (B - does some, but it's unpredictable)
   

Language and Social Skills

1. babble, making almost sing-song sounds (A+ he loves babbling & singing) know familiar faces (A+ started to recognize us very early)
2. laugh and squeal with delight (A+ did that very early, does it often too)
3. scream if annoyed (A+ can make very distinguishable sounds when annoyed)
4. smile at herself in a mirror (A+ smiles and laughs at himself every time in mirror. )
5. should also be able to say P's B's M's and D's. ( by 8 months latest) (B- he did this before but not consistently)

My _______ sister in law is looking for a nanny in the NYC area! (You fill in the blank)

I just took a snippet out of my sister in-law's must do list for a prospective nanny:

RESPONSIBILITIES (this will be updated at least bi-weekly for changes in diet & activities needed) - & another separate sheet will be written for the dogs & house

HYGIENE

• Change diaper every two hours, ideally just before feeding. If he has a bowel movement, change him immediately, even if you just changed him.
  
• wipe his hands at every single diaper change with either a fresh wipe or damp cloth (there are specific cloths to use for this- do not use just any towel, especially no paper towels or kleenex).
  


• keep every dry part well moisturized w/ aquaphor. Apply every time you change diaper or more often if needed.
• keep a bib on him most of the time. he is teething and the drool will soak his clothes. if his outfit becomes soiled for any reason, drool, spit up, etc, use your judegement but change him into a new outfit from the top left drawer of his dresser only.
  
• close all bib velcro and outer snaps of soiled clothing before tossing them into the hamper. change his bib if it becomes wet.


• use burp cloths on your shoulder when you burp him, do not have his face touching your clothes unless you wash your clothes in Dreft detergent at home. this will also protect you from lots of stains.
  
• you should not wear PERFUME or heavily SCENTED LOTIONS.

ACTIVITY

• at least 2 sessions of music 15 minutes each. I have a playlist in the ipod for daytime music. You can alternate with a few songs from the mozart playlist.
  in his room, on the padded mat do tummy time at least 3x/day, up to 15 minutes each- however long he can stand it. if he slumps his head down or gets fussy pick him up – do not continue beyond that point.
  
• books: morning, afternoon, read at least 5 books – not all at once, spread them out.
  toys- he has a basket in the living room and some in his room- alternate between hard vs soft toys to teach different sensory skills. (don’t just use the stuffed animals)


• mirror time- 3x / day, hold him in front of the mirror in his bedroom, practice arm exercises, talking, etc. you can also use the toy mirrors to play during mat time.
  activity mat (time on back) play with him for up to 15 minutes (no longer) while he has his back on the mat with the toys attached to the top part of activity poles.
  
This is one of my favorites!

• outdoors: weather permitting, stroll him outside for a walk around the block or neighborhood. you can also take him to city center but DO NOT use the bathroom at Target- he hates it there and the hand drying machines always freak him out. it will not be pleasant for you either.

Good luck to everyone involved because you also have to remember there will be a live feed video camera on you at all times!!!!!

Give an inch and they want an acre!

Just one of many examples...don't exactly know how it started but right before Joe and I got married I started helping my future in-laws out at their dry cleaners. It started as once during the weekend, quickly turned into both weekend days, and then turned into a couple times after work and weekends. Joe and I actually had plans to go to a friend's barbecue one Sunday afternoon and didn't go to the store. They called Joe's cell phone about 12 times and then called mine and demanded that we come to the store and help. They expected us at this point to run the store. I know...I should have run then and been smarter when it came to them, but unfortunately I didn't! Fortunately for you, because I have so many stories for your entertainment!

bok bok bok...mmm...chicken

Every month, my mother and father in-law read something or see something about what is "Healthy" for you.

About 7 years ago they made Joe and I sit and watch a video on how they raise chickens, pigs, and cows for human consumption. For about 6 months I didn't eat any meat, but slowly got back into beef and pork, haven't touched chicken or any other poultry in 7 years!

Meanwhile, my in-laws were so gung ho about being vegetarian, they didn't eat meat for a good two weeks and then thought I was so silly for not eating any meat! Just an example of how these people have a knack for playing with my mind.

The bowl...thankfully not.

My daughter is 2 and a half years old and we have waited a long long long time for her hair to come in. We just started being able to put cute little clips in her hair.

Back in the late 70's early 80's there was a weird phenomenom called the bowl haircut. Don't exactly know why it was so popular...but we all had these cuts and it still traumatizes me.

This afternoon my husband decided to go and visit his parents. He went to grab some lunch, but luckily for everyone's sake came back to his parents' house just in time to find his mother with scissors in her hands about to cut our daughter's hair into a bowl cut!!! My mother in-law found nothing wrong with what she was about to do. Thank goodness for drive thrus!

Merry Christmas 2007

My daughter's FIRST Christmas! Very exciting, Santa came to our house in the morning and brought lots of gifts for her! We went to my in-laws' house for dinner that night. They gave their FIRST grandchild...a teddy bear!

My mom went to the dollar store a few days after Christmas and saw the exact same bear there! Not that that is that bad...except my husband's cousin owns a dollar store...so the inlaws got the bear, the dollar bear....for free.

Ah...the dreaded scarf!!

Back in 2001, I was very excited to be spending our first Christmas dinner together with Joe's parents. I had been knitting a beautiful red cashmere/merino wool scarf for his mother for the last 8 months. (Obviously, I am not a professional knitter) I gave it to her Christmas Day and she was very gracious...a couple of months later, however, she returned it to me and asked me to RE-KNIT it to make it a little less thick.

It has been sitting in my closet for the past 8 years because it is not really on the top of my things to do list. I decided to finish it this year. So we will see...

Surprise!!!!

My mother and father in law came over last night, unexpected of course, to drop off some food for us. You may be thinking...aw that is so sweet...they dropped off some Korean noodles and steamed dumplings. My husband was about to eat the dumplings tonight...and low and behold...what did I see????

It is hard to see, but that little black spot in the picture was an....ANT!!!! The ant is better than the moldy meat she dropped off last month!

Welcome to my in-laws house

Wanted to start by just describing how these people live...

When I first met Joe, they were living in a townhouse. They were coming from a single home with a lot more space and cramming into a much smaller space. So I gave them some slack for that. I came home from my first visit to their house and called my best friend to tell her that I didn't think I could be with a guy who lived like that...something seemn on that show Clean Sweep (the before). She reassured me that that was a better scenerio than if my future mother in law was super clean and anal retentive....hmmmm...

My mother bought them a housewarming gift when they moved to a new house 5 years ago, hence they decided to keep this wonderful Disney one. Welcome!

I am sorry I was looking for the kitchen, not a jungle!

Everyone needs a Crocodile Hunter Bobblehead on their TV along with 3 different renditions of Allen Iverson's bobblehead from when he was with the 76ers!

Let's not forget the fish tank! Fish have not lived in this tank for at least 3 years, yet this is the first thing you see when you walk into their house.

Archie Bunker called and wants his lazyboy back!!!!

The Study. Oh and BTW, no one plays the guitar.