[Guest Blogger Post] - Baby Sign Language

I would like to welcome Misty, Editor in Chief from Baby Sign Language.  She contacted me about doing a guest post on my blog and I'm so happy she did.  I've been researching their product a bit and can't wait to start my own 7 month old on Baby Sign Language.  I think my almost 3 year old would also really love this and benefit from it.  Check out her article below and in no time your baby will be signing away!!!



Is My Baby Too Young For Baby Sign Language?

Is your baby too young for Baby Sign Language? No! No baby is too young for sign language, as long as your expectations of her are reasonable! Many moms start signing to their babies long before their babies can actually sign back.

Your baby will still learn from watching you sign, and any time you interact with your baby, at any age, you help his little brain to grow and develop. And of course, Baby Sign Language is a fun, simple, painless, affordable way to bond with your new person!

The majority of mothers start introducing sign language when their babies are 4-8 months old. That is quite a range, which just goes to show you that this is not an exact science!

 However, the majority of mothers also sign to their babies for months before their babies sign back. So, if that is okay with you, then go ahead and get started!

Your baby will start to sign back, when he is ready! You will know that he is gaining on ready when he starts to point to things that he wants, when he makes eye contact with you, and when he is able to pick up small objects from a flat surface.

If your baby is not doing these things yet, there are a few things you can do to “warm her up!”

1.  Encourage your baby to use both hands to handle objects. Encourage him to move an object back and forth between each hand. 
2. Encourage your baby to play with toys that require fine motor skills, such as toys with knobs, buttons, and dials.
3. Play peek-a-boo! This helps a baby learn to make eye contact.
4. Help your baby point to objects as you name them. Say, “Is this a book?” and encourage your baby to point to the book.
5. Put Cheerios in a muffin tin and allow your baby to pick them up and move them from cup to cup.
6. Read to your baby. This is probably the best gift you can give to your child. When you read to your baby, you introduce more words to him than you would in normal, everyday speaking. You also help to foster a love of and desire for language and communication! 

Remember before you begin: If you are going to get frustrated, then it is not worth it! If you show your baby that you are frustrated or disappointed, you might cause your baby to be scared of trying. This is supposed to be fun. It’s not supposed to be about pressure, benchmarks, or lofty goals. There is no hurry! Start when you want to start, when you feel that you and your baby are ready. It’s always the right time if you think it is!

   

Thanks again,

Misty Weaver

 Chief Editor, Baby Sign Language

 http://www.babysignlanguage.com/
 http://www.facebook.com/pages/Baby-Sign-Language/135339096490587

CHANNELLOCK 3-Piece Tool Set [Giveaway Winnder]

This giveaway felt like the longest one ever ffor me becuase I was wthout internet for so long!  But finally I can announce a winner.  And the winner is......Our Little Group!!!





Our Little Group on August 16, 2010 1:12 PM said...

I follow Fifi's closet via GFC

couponinggirl at gmail dot com


Congratulations!!! Please contact me within 24 hours with your mailing information so I can get your prize out.  Thank you as always to all who participated !!!!!!!!!!

Finally!

AFTER READING CHECK OUT MY FIFI'S CLOSET BLOG TO ENTER MY GIVEAWAY


So I have my internet connection back FINALLY!!! UGH I was dying without it! and yes.....this means I can finally finish the current giveaways going on. The Channellock giveaway  will be announced Friday morning around 8 am  and the one on Fifi's Closet will run until I get 80 followers....so get your last comments in over the next few days!!! And dont forget to vote for me on TMB too!

Extended Giveaway

AFTER READING CHECK OUT MY FIFI'S CLOSET BLOG TO ENTER MY GIVEAWAY

I'm typing this super fast right now because the internet connection i have right now is horrible!! Because of this I will be extending the giveaways on both of my blogs until next week !!! Start commenting away and remember everytime you vote for each blog you get 1 entry ....so if you vote for each blog thats 2 entries and you can get 2 entries per day on each giveaway just by commenting !!!

[CHANNELLOCK] - Review/Giveaway

This giveaway is now closed. The winner will be annouced at 8 am on 8/27!!!

I'm proud to announce that this is my first company sponsored giveaway.  The company Channellock contacted me to host a product review and giveaway for a 3 piece tool set. 

I know I know....you are probably thinking what on earth I would do with a tool set but I'll have you know I am pretty handy when need be!  I was super excited too when I found out that Channellock is a family-owned business located in Meadville, PA right outside the town of Erie, PA where I grew up!  My fiance is a tool fanatic and he knows a thing or two about tool and he was happy to let me know that Channellock has great quality tools which he already has a few of himself!

The GS-6 tool set I received is 3 pieces shown here and retails for $56.96 on their website and 1 lucky reader will also win the same gift set:

It includes one 7" cutting plier 

One 10" tongue & groove plier

And my personal favorite, these 8" long nose pliers

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am an avid bow and jewelry maker and lately I've been in the market for a paid of good pliers to make some head pins.  These pliers were a perfect fit for me and good the job done perfectly.  My fiance even used these tool recently when working on his motorcycle.  Unfortunately I don't have pics of us using the tools because my laptop (which has my pics on it) died last night and I can't upload pics from my work computer :( I will try to get them up though before the end of the giveaway !!!  BTW this would also make a great gift for that special guy in your life!!! So people ...COMMENT AWAY!!!!

Heres how to enter:

1. Visit Channellock's Website and take a look around and comment what you like about their products. (1 entry)
2. Follow my blog publicly and comment the post to let me know, and if you already follow just comment that you are already a follower (1 entry)
3. Follow my other blog "Fifi's Closet" and comment this post to let me know, and if you already follow just comment that you are (1 entry)
4. Blog about this giveaway and link back to me....comment this post that you did (1 entry)
5. Vote for this and/or my other blog on "Top Mommy Blogs" by clicking the vote for me button and comment that you did. If you vote for both blogs leave a separate comment for each (1 entry per day)

***This giveaway will be open to INTERNATIONAL readers as well!***

This giveaway will begin today and end a week from today on 8/18/2010.  The winner will be chosen using random.org.  Good luck to all!!!

Late Vacation Pix

I know I'm a bit late in posting these pics from our vacation in July but better late than never.  We first drove down to Destin, FL and OMG love that place!!!! We're even considering relocating there in a couple of years.  We stayed at the San Destin Beach and Golf Resort and it was absolutely amazing!!!!!! It's a resort but aklso a gated community you can live in and they have homes for every budget...it was heaven!!!

Here are just some of the pics from Florida....I will post the ones from Alabama later.  I didn't take many of myself because unfortunately the Florida weather and my wild curly hair don't really see eye to eye and my head was a hot mess!  Anywho enjoy the pics of everyone else though ....

  Alberto  

Mama


Little Alberto


My Baby in the Treehouse 

Little alberto ready to go on the zip line

Daddy-Daughter Time

Bonding with Tio Franco


Me and my love

Hungry Fishy!

Baby Tico with Tio Franco

Happy Family

(too much light in this pic...need a better camera HINT HINT alberto!)

Weekend Mornings

Even though I'm not a morning girl by any means and sometimes I'm super grouchy (especially at 5 AM!!!), nothing makes me happier than waking up to these faces on my weekends.

Popsicles for breakfast...yep I'm that Mom! So what!

Learning to Crawl!

You can finally see my baby's teeth!!!

Minnie Mouse 3rd Birthday

OK OK I promise this is the last time I'm changing the birthday theme. We went from "Popsicle Party" to "Princess and the Frog" to the now "Minne Mouse" theme! This change came about last minute this week when I went on ETSY to get her birthday dress and it was sold and unfortunately the vendor no longer had that fabric available to make it. I couldn't find anything else that I loved loved loved ....until I ran across this gorgeous dress from the ETSY shop AnneMagrock!!!!

  

I still want to kick myself for not having a sewing machile because these pillowcase dresses are so simple to make!   I have to do some heavy convincing at home for one ......but hopefully it will pay off around Christmas time!  ***Hint Hint*** to Alberto if you are reading!

We are going to throw her party at her Uncle Alex's house in Massachusetts this year so all her little cousins can be there since down here we have no family.  I'm working on so mayny decorations myself so I will post them as I finish them.  I even am attempting to make this Minnie Mouse Pinata which I will post later.




I'm hoping to have a nice dessert/candy table too just like this Minnie Party on Heavenly Blooms.