Leaf and Steel

motherhood - growth - living

The Best Books about Bugs for Babies

Whether your kid is the one playing with words in the garden or screams when they see a spider, they’re sure to love these bug themed books!

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Spring is the best time to introduce these bug books.

Insects and bugs make excellent preschool topics for spring!

I know when I was a preschool teacher, I loved teaching my kids about the parts of an ant. They enjoyed learning about silly spiders and sweet lady bugs too!

Another fun idea for spring is to read these books outside and then go on a bug hunt in the garden!

The Best Butterfly Books for Babies

Why should you read to your baby everyday?

Read to your little one every day. The easiest way to do this is to tack on reading to another routine, like reading before bed, before mealtimes, or after a nap.

See this answer from Zero to Three (click for reference):

Reading together when babies are as young as 4 months old increases the chances that parents continue reading to babies as they get older. Beginning early is important because the roots of language are developing in a baby’s brain even before he can talk! The more words your baby hears over time, the more words he learns.

Zero to Three, “Read Early and Often“

Should you read to your baby when pregnant?

Yes! I began reading to my daughter when I was pregnant, even though I felt pretty silly doing it.

See this explanation from the Cleveland Public Library (click for reference):

Additional research suggests that third-trimester babies not only pick up on language patterns, but after birth, they can recognize words they first heard in the womb. Though the extent to which babies in utero can learn has yet to be determined, prenatal reading is nonetheless a wonderful way to kick-start healthy brain development.   

Cleveland Public Library, “Born to Read: Reading to Your Baby in the Womb”

Ten Little Ladybugs by Melanie Gerth

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Little Love Bug: Finger Puppet Book by Chronicle Books

Hello, Bugs! (Black and White Sparklers) by Smriti Prasadam

Some Bugs by Angela DiTerlizzi

Walter’s Wonderful Web: A First Book About Shapes by Tim Hopgood

Backyard Bugs – Touch and Feel Board Book by Little Hippo Books

Hello, Garden Bugs: A High-Contrast Book by Julissa Mora

Mrs. Peanuckle’s Bug Alphabet by Jessie Ford

The Honeybee by Kirsten Hall

You’re My Little Cuddle Bug by Nicola Edwards

Do you read to your baby everyday?

Do you know any of the books on this list?

Let me know below!

O.

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February in Review

Can you believe that February is over? I know, I know, it’s the shortest month, of course it went by fast. Maybe it’s the whole getting older thing, but time really does seem to be flying by.

We have almost made it to spring! I can’t wait until the birds start chirping and I can bring Baby M out onto the lawn to explore. We’ve had a few 60 degree days here, so I feel like I missed out on winter. I love the promise of March. It’s never quite “spring”, but we do get a few teases here and there.

So long, February.

Here’s a wrap up of my month.

The Not-Great:

  • I fell off of the early morning train. Oh, how I’m looking for the willingness to be willing to wake up at 5:30am again. I miss my quiet mornings!
  • I didn’t write as much as I wanted to. I would love to say that this is a direct result of missing my early morning writing window, but the truth is that I have numerous pockets of free time during the day. Writing consistently was a habit. Like most habits, once I stopped for a week it was difficult to get back into it. Restarting now!

The Good:

  • I’m continuing my Instagram break. It really does feel pointless once you step away. I check now and again, but I’m not interested in posting anything or seeing what’s going on in the lives of peers I haven’t spoken to in 10 years. Pass.
  • I read a book. I stuck with my girl Liane Moriarty and read The Husband’s Secret. Highly recommend if you like mysteries stuck in suburbia.
  • I lost weight. I started using My Fitness Pal and was in shock to see how many calories I needed (like, double the amount my body needs, triple on the weekends). By simply making better choices, my pre-pregnancy pants began to fit!
  • I went into puppy prep mode. I feel like I’m having a baby! All month I’ve been getting ready for our little guy’s arrival. We have the huge crate, the harness, the Chuck It, etc. Knowing that we’re pretty much going to have another toddler running around here has given me motivation to wrap up some home projects that I may have started when I was pregnant (like, 2 years ago…).

March Hopes

  • Survival mode. Freezer meals, takeout, paper plates, babysitters, and Netflix. That’s my March plan. House training a puppy is pretty close to breastfeeding. Let me tell you, I am not looking forward to dragging myself out of bed every 3 hours to wander into the depths of my dark backyard with a puppy. At least with the baby, I never had to leave my warm room or put on pants…
  • Turn the lights off. I want to get into the habit of turning out the light when I leave a room. I also want to be more conscious of how many lights I keep on when I leave the house.

How was your February?

Did you check anything big off your list? Learn anything new?

What are your hopes for March?

Let me know below!

O.

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The Best St.Patrick’s Day Books for Babies

St.Patricks Day is almost here- what better way to celebrate with you baby then with these charming books!

Picking up a new book is a special way to mark your little one’s St.Patricks Day.

Keep reading to see the best titles for the holiday!

When is St.Patrick’s Day?

St.Patricks Day is on March 17th, 2022. It will be on a Thursday this year.

Is St.Patrick’s Day always on March 17th?

Yes! St.Patrick’s Day is always on March 17th.

Who was St.Patrick?

According to History.com (click for reference):

“St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, is one of Christianity’s most widely known figures. But for all of his prevalence in culture—namely the holiday held on the day of his death that bears his name—his life remains somewhat of a mystery. 

He may be known as the patron saint of Ireland, but Patrick was never actually canonized by the Catholic Church. This is simply due to the era he lived in. During the first millennium, there was no formal canonization process in the Catholic Church. After becoming a priest and helping to spread Christianity throughout Ireland, Patrick was likely proclaimed a saint by popular acclaim.”

History.com, “Who Was St. Patrick?”

What is St.Patrick’s Day about?

“St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated annually on March 17, the anniversary of his death in the fifth century. The Irish have observed this day as a religious holiday for over 1,000 years. On St. Patrick’s Day, which falls during the Christian season of Lent, Irish families would traditionally attend church in the morning and celebrate in the afternoon. Lenten prohibitions against the consumption of meat were waived and people would dance, drink and feast–on the traditional meal of Irish bacon and cabbage.”

History.com, “History of St. Patrick’s Day”

How do I celebrate St.Patrick’s Day with my baby?

There are so many ways to celebrate St.Patrick’s Day with your little one! If they are eating, why not start the day with shamrock pancakes? You can then read some of the books below to stay on theme. Cutting up a small portion of corned beef and cabbage works too.

What are the best books on St.Patrick’s Day?

See below for the best books on St.Patrick’s Day for babies and toddlers!

I’m a Leprechaun by Mallory Loehr

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Clover! by Lucille Colandro

How to Catch a Leprechaun by Adam Wallace

Baby’s First St. Patrick’s Day (Baby’s First Holidays) by DK

Pete the Cat: The Great Leprechaun Chase: Includes 12 St. Patrick’s Day Cards, Fold-Out Poster, and Stickers! by James Dean

The Night Before St. Patrick’s Day by Natasha Wing

The Itsy Bitsy Leprechaun by Jeffrey Burton

You’re My Little Lucky Charm by Natasha Marshall

The Berenstain Bears’ St. Patrick’s Day by Mike Bernstain

Jack and the Leprechaun by Ivan Robertson

Do you celebrate St.Patrick’s Day?

Are you familiar with any of the books on this list?

Let me know below!

O.

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