Kiwi Crate Review

A while back I signed up for Kiwi Crate for Hunter and I have to say that I was extremely impressed with the service and would HIGHLY recommend (Hint hint it would make a GREAT gift)

 



 

Within the box there are two main activities that revolve around the theme of the month. The theme for this box was glowing animals and Hunter had a glowworm friend and racing jellyfish to make.

 

Below the theme introduction that you see above there was a little welcome note and some scissors to use with this box and for future boxes... I thought that this was an extra special touch.

Below the scissors there was a booklet with activities and lessons that enforce the theme of the month.

and now for one of the activities...

I love that the box is split in two sections with a colorful instruction booklet on the top of each side which provides all of the details for the activity along with details describing parental involvement, etc. and materials under the instructions.

We decided to make the glowworm friend...

The box came with everything that we would need... Hunter was VERY excited about the markers...

He helped stuff the cotton into the fabric tube to form the worm body...

After the worm was stuffed it was time to color...

Mom... why do you keep taking photos????

He also liked coloring on the other sheets included.

I think that he really enjoyed his first activity...

Here were the instructions for his glowworm.

After we finished the worm we held it up to the light and went into a dark room to see it glow... this concept was a bit over Hunter's head.

Overall, I was very happy with the crate. My first thought was that while Hunter had a great time crafting the worm and completing other activities... the actual theme of the box was over his head and too old for Hunter Man. Which isn't surprising because the crate is intended for kids ages 4-8 and Hunter is only 2...

WHICH IS WHY I'M SO EXCITED about Koala Crate which is a NEW subscription option for kids 3-4... When it was revealed I instantly sent an e-mail to Kiwi Crate asking to change my subscription to the box catered for younger kiddos. Hunter should be getting his first box in the mail within the next week or two and I will be sure to share it with all of you.

** Please know that I was not compensated by Kiwi Crate in any way for this post. All thoughts are 100% my own and I just wanted to share with all of you as it would make a GREAT gift for a kiddo!

Family Photos

Have you missed me???? Work has been crazy and the Park family has been under the weather.

Today I am happy to share some great family photos that were taken at the end of July by the AMAZING Virginia Leslie of House of Maps Photography

October Goals

So we are READY almost 1/3 of the way through the month so these are some very belated goals... There are not a lot of them.

1. Run the Army 10 Miler-  I honestly have been thinking about blowing this off but if a bib magically falls into my lap I will do it. I have promised Matt that if I do not do the 10 miler I will sign up for a 1/2 marathon.
2. Focus on Family- We have a TON going on at work right now and I've been taking work home daily to work into the night, after the boys go to bed. So I'm making every effort to really unplug when I'm home... the result will be less blogging. 
3. Continue to Rock Out my PTA responsibilities- The fall is my busiest time... This weekend the directory will be compiled, Spirit Wear sales start TODAY, This is the first week for extracurricular activities, and Matt and I had a successful first meeting of the Beech Tree Robotics Club. 
4. Trip to Savannah- I am once again having to cancel a planned trip to savannah (due to work this time) but I hope to take a three day weekend to head down there at some point this month.
5. DIY Gifts for Christmas - I would like to cross off at least 5 items on my list of Christmas gifts to make... 

Here is a photo from our first Robotics club meeting. 

September Re-Cap

Here is a run down of my September! I shared my goals for the month here

Via

COMPLETED

1. Run a 5 Miles Race... I completed the Navy 5 Miler in 53:10.
   
2. Maximize Family Fun Time... I'm happy to report that the last month was action packed when it came to family time...
   
   
   
   
3. Start Christmas Shopping/DIY... I have a plan of a few gifts that I need to DIY... First I need my etching kit to arrive!
   
4. Be a PTA Superstar... work in progress. Robotics club and other after school activities start next week and once those are rolling things will get easier.
5. Throw an awesome Construction Birthday Party... DONE! Hunter had a blast with his friends!
6. Become a LEGO master... I'm officially signed up as a leader for the Robotics club...

INCOMPLETE

1. Finish reading nook in playroom... Still need to do this.
2. Trip to Savannah... Didn't get a chance to go down due to medical issues with Gibson.

Gibson at 6 Months

Last week Gibson turned 6 months! Time is just flying by!

Here are a few photos that I managed to snap just the other day (he was NOT excited about it)! First time in JEANS... such a cutie!

 At 6 Months Gibson:

• Continues to have his tongue out all the time and does not suck his thumb or a pacifier
• Eats almost double what the "average" 6 month old eats in a day (in terms of breast milk) plus two extra scoops of formula in each bottle of breast milk.
• Loves bananas, broccoli, quinoa, and strawberries
• Sleeps 13 hours a night (7:30 p.m. - 8:30 a.m.)
• Rolls all around
• Sleeps on his tummy most of the time but will sometimes roll to his back
• Laughs ALL the time and LOVES to just stare at Gibson and Emma
• No stranger anxiety... homeboy will go to anyone.
• Continues to have weekly "playgroups" with his doctor
• Celebrated his big brother's 2nd Birthday

So here is the run down on Gibson and his weight. We still have no clue. We have discovered that Gibson eats about DOUBLE the amount of the "average" child his age. He typically eats 45+ oz and will down a 10 oz bottle like it is nothing. Our current feeding regimen (we have tried many in the last month) is to feed him two 10 oz bottles of my breast milk each day with two additional scoops of formula added into the milk bottle to add even more calories to his diet. After he gets those two bottles I'm able to breast feed on demand.

We continue to see our main doctor on a weekly basis for a weight check, nutrition re-evaluation (trying new things to get him to gain), and testing. Last week we went to a GI specialist at Children's hospital but she doesn't think that his lack of weight gain is GI related... but on a side note she plans to follow his progress because she has "never seen a baby his age that eats so much..." I mean that is really the main issue.... Gibson continues to be super happy and hits all other developmental milestones. If he wasn't gaining and consumed normal amounts of food I really do not think that anyone would be alarmed and heck I don't think I would be either... we would all just agree that he was a small guy and was likely going to be tall and skinny like his Daddy... The most alarming part to everyone seems to be that he drinks SOO much over the normal amount and that even with the addition of formula to my breast milk his weight just doesn't go up and even falls...

Here is a caloric comparison

•  "typical" baby consumes about 25 oz a day at 20 calories per oz = 500 calories daily in milk
• Gibson eats at least 45 oz a day at 20 calories per oz + 40 calories added from additional formula= 940 (at least) calories daily
• We had one good week when we gained, which was exciting. However, once the doctor saw how MUCH he ate daily it was determined that he had made a mistake and added too much additional formula in because he was consuming over 1,100 calories a day for that week... After talking with a nutritionist to get the levels correct his formula was adjusted to just 4 additional scoops per day (equal to 40 additional calories).

Every week when I put him on the scale I just feel so defeated when he doesn't gain. Next week we are going to Children's in D.C to see a metabolic specialist . I'm looking forward to seeing what they say because these every week "playdates" to the doctor are not my idea of a good time.

Here is a look back at the last few months:

5 Months

4 Months

3 Months
2 Months
1 Month

Birth Day