cherylp's Profile

LOVE the HABA Blocks. Such a nice quality block. We have the Russian set as well as the chunkier wooden blocks (just as smooth finish though and both sets build nicely together). I am waiting for my kids to get a little older before investing in the marble runs that are compatible with the block sets as well. My experience with HABA toys - wooden teethers, music boxes, blocks, and young child board games have been excellent and have received great customer service when I've had any problem. Love the company.

Worked in a museum setting and KEVA blocks are excellent. I have some KEVA as well the cheaper Citibloks here at the house. KEVA blocks are American made I believe.

Gatorade/something with electrolytes to help you rehydrate faster. Water and food of course, but those happen every day, hungover or not.

I would use it according to what you are substituting or as the author said in context with your recipe. As a sub for room temp butter or shortening - soft but solid, sub for a liquid oil melted of course. I would measure the solid form the way my mom taught me to measure shortening in a measuring cup with water. I scoop the tablespoons that I need which you could easily do with only 1/4 cup (4 Tablespoons).

LOVE Bruder. Such great movements for what looks like a big, bulky, and simple toy. Rubber tires.

I agree... to some extent. My 4 yr old helps with almost every meal and loves helping with real food. I certainly see the impact it has on her interest in new foods. Then, after she's done eating, she play cooks at her toy kitchen until I'm ready to cook the next meal. I just can't cook enough and sometimes she has her own pretend recipes she wants to make (and I'm not making cupcakes 10 times a day)

I also love this party idea. I can't wait to throw something similar for my girls.

We enjoyed Chloe (as well as Henry in Love). But we really like Peter McCarty in general. Hondo and Fabian is my favorite.

So with every mobile post, I hope to see a mobile that I could swear I saw on ohdeedoh a few years ago - maybe around 2009. It was a mobile with viking ships that my husband fell in love with. When our second was born he wanted to find it, but we couldn't. It wasn't the Flensted viking mobile though (but similar in style). Can anyone out there point me in the direction of some viking mobiles?

I have an experience similar to KtA78. It wasn't easy and maybe not ideal, but I look back fondly on those days now that they are gone. My experience was largely positive. I loved having my baby at the office with me. I think it has a lot to do with the nature of the office - both the work you do and your coworkers - and the temperament of your baby. I think my girl was born knowing what she needed to do. She came to work with me every day from 6 weeks until 11 months, including meetings and conferences.

I should say that my occupation was very child friendly, as I was one of three (women) directors at a children's museum. Our business was children and families, so it seemed natural that children were welcome in the office. The three of us shared a single, open office. My boss/head director was the mother of five and the leader of the local La Leche League chapter, so it was a breastfeeding friendly office in addition to a child-friendly office. The other assistant director had young children, who would also spend time in the office when not in school. We had children in and out of the office constantly, with ages varying from my infant to teenagers. It was wonderful, but again, it was our business, and we were all comfortable working with interruptions. It was how we operated with or without children present as we were a very small full-time admin staff. We were all very grateful to not need to choose between our family lives and work, and appreciated our flexible schedules.

I agree that I felt more productive during the time I was working as I was very focused on work when my child was napping. My child spent a lot of time in a sling/baby carrier when she was little. It was comforting to her and allowed me to work at my computer or operate out on the museum floor or see to operations at the front desk/register. Having my child in the office made me very aware of our schedule - naps, feeding, etc. - and remarkably, by keeping notes on what was happening at what time, I noticed that she had her own rather strict schedule. It gave me a chance to know when I could expect to have productive times throughout the day and know that I could schedule my work around her schedule. I would plan for work that required me to be up and away from my computer right before her nap, I'd put her in a carrier, and essentially walk her to sleep. Then I'd return to my desk to work while she napped. Taking notes made me aware of when her schedule would change as well.

I'll admit, I was very conscious of my child's behavior, and occasionally someone's comments would get to me and I would question the decision to bring her. I was lucky to have supportive coworkers, especially the ones that count (my boss).

I think you should try it out if it is something you are interested in. It could work out very well for you, it just depends greatly on your situation and your attitude in approaching it. I think it you are willing to make it work, it is possible to do so and have a good experience (aside from forces you cannot control like coworkers, which I can see how that would greatly interfere).

Equipment I'd recommend keeping at the office:
• A pack n play
• An exersaucer when your child is old enough (I had one that folded up out of the way to save space when not in use)
• A nursing cover if you are breastfeeding
• A baby carrier
• Diaper changing pad (I had a great bag that folded out into a station that held all my diapering needs and sat on my desk - http://www.lillygold.com/products/nap-sac.html - but wow, mine was not that expensive at the time) I would change pee diapers quickly in the office, and seek out a restroom for more serious matters.

I also kept a second of everything I'd use daily at the house at the office as well - blankets, pacifiers, burp rags, a few toys, sippy cups, spare outfit, diapers/wipes/cream, snacks/food, etc. to avoid hauling things back and forth all the time.

I hope this helps and I wish you a wonderful experience in working with your child!

@Meg Whalen - we repurposed our bumpers as seat cushions for our wagon, just so happened to fit perfectly with little modification needed. Made our wagon so much comfier and cuter.