Toddler Proofing

And I thought baby proofing was tough enough in our wee space?!  But toddler proofing?!

This has been quite the task - everything from sticking chef's knives on the wall to toddifying (if it wasn't a word before, it is now!) Soren's bedroom.  We have undergone many changes in the last couple months.

1  We are now equipped with a new sofa sleeper couch from Ikea - much closer to the floor for easy toddler take-offs (needed anyway since our old one was from my college years and having guests in town is a thousand times more comfortable)

2  Soren is now in bumGenius diapers as he dabbles in training (easier removal and Flip,makes a fantastic training diaper that the bumGenius inserts fit!)

3  Placing good, wholesome RAW food into Soren's eating cycle has forced me to be even more creative (with help from Weelicious - check it out! great site for feeding wee ones like Kale popsicles in the pic below!)

4  My little buddy is now attending shows with me and has the appropriate head gear to do so, an easy, inexpensive ($6!!) solution from Meijer

5  Of course he is 2-wheel bound at 18 months, he's my kiddo!!  Anyone that knows me in the Nati, knows my enthusiasm from cycling - now that my balance is back I will be on my steel steed soon!  This Strider was a MUST from Campus Cyclery.  Great for ages 18 months to 5 years!!

6  Like I said - Knives up and away!!!  Far, far away from those long stretching hands on the countertops.  A quick $17 fix from Bed, Bath and Beyond

7  And finally - one of the true signs he is getting older.  The toddler bed (yes, a tear just fell).  Soren learned how to climb out of his crib and thus, it was time to convert.  Unfortunately, he IS only 20 months, so rolling out was a bit of a problem with the conversion and it was still pretty high off the ground.  So, we had to look at alternatives and pack the crib away (hopefully for #2!!) - which was a sad day.  I never knew how much I would miss the gnaw marks on the rail....  Alas, we opted for a toddler bed from Ikea - it was decently priced, sturdy and well made and since we are dreaming of a second and we live in a small place - it seemed like good size.  The Ikea bed also made strong enough for even me (clocking in at 120 pounds) to cuddle with him and sneak in a few stories before bed time AND long enough it should last a few years.

So there you have it - toddler proofing...

What sort of things did you do to make way for your running toddler?  

A House of Hugs

In my quest to coze our quant home with repurposed fun stuff, Soren and I created my favorite wall as of yet:

Total: $0.00

1. Repurposed hooks from old doors in the gardening shed
2. Extra clothes line and pins
3. Some of our favorite prints of our family and Soren's fabulous artwork

Ends up in a wall so uniquely us.

Before embarking on a supplies shopping spree, remember to look around first. Especially in these old homes, you never know what you might find.

Apartment Living

Don't get me wrong - is great and do to sites like Apartment Therapy I am reminded of how AWESOME it can be.  But living in the midwest, there is definitely this insane pressure to buy a home.  Me, especially - in our dynamic duo, am feeling the social pressure these days.

We've had our wonderful, beautiful son, our family has become a strong, amazing thread and I couldn't be happier.  BUT, I would be lying if I said I never wanted to secure this family in a home.  The thought of working on a house: painting rooms, putting up shelves, gardening - that all of it were towards our home.  That I would love to hear Soren running down the stairs for dinner or up to his nightly bath.  That I see gorgeous hardwood floors and tiled kitchens with my favorite appliances.  Really, what it comes down to - I need to stop reading blogs and get back to writing mine.

Because, after trying to set a goal budget for a down payment, I started making my collages for future posts and it became clear why we continue to rent.  For us, it's about convenience, about NOT worrying over a mortgage or home equity loan.  We have a wonderful place as it is with great stainless appliances, HE washer/dryer and, yes - hardwood floors.  We have a back yard we have been planning a garden for next spring and even a tree swing.

From the pictures, it's become clear to me that we don't need a house, at least not just yet - we do a fine job living outside of the home and I am reminded of what that word really means to this family.  We are home.  Soren, Rick, August and I - are home.  It becomes even more evident as I thumb through our adventures to parks, spray grounds, pools, the zoo and more.  Sometimes I just need a gentle reminder.

Still plan on painting the kitchen though -

Much like these chalkboard cabinets and eggshell finish on the walls.

To accompany some delicious, simple cuisine.

...and in the spring, we will start this garden.

And remember to take a step back and fall in love with our apartment, our home and feel the warmth of my family around me.

Alive One

'tis Cincinnati these days.  But seriously - quite literally, Alive One in Mt. Adams has been hosting every third Thursday of the month an Ultrasessions show presented by the All Night Party and curated by Ms. Venomous Valdez herself.

These Thursdays have been amazing!!! With the Ridges last month and this (tomorrow night!) Joe Hedges from July for Kings, yes, Joe Hedges himself!  Tomorrow evening.  Rick and I are on a quest for a sitter - and you should go to.  It's gonna be a great show, seriously.  If you are in anyway shape or form an Imogen Heap fan - then, well, Joe is the male version for you.  Here is a snidbit of our interview with V. last week. (with Joe Hedges at the top from his album Alchemy)

On top of all that - Cincinnati has been wicked crazy this month.  The bonanza episodes for LX have been a blast to create - and we are not even close to short on material.  Check out the site!  More fun stuff to come.  Our check list so far includes:

Ozone Zipline Adventure
The Cincinnati Zoo
Pyramid Sculpture Park
The Kentucky Symphony Orchestra
Venomous Valdez presents:
Wussy updates
Alive One Third Thursday Concert Series
Fountain Square Indie Music Series
AND
Midpoint Music Festival
The All Night Party presents:
Bunbury Music Festival

It has been crazy fun - up next the Cincinnati Opera and some great wrap ups and reviews of events to round out the summer!

Special thanks to my partners in crime, my wonderful family.  Thanks for tagging along with me, you guys rule!

Spray Grounds

...are so rad!  Soren and I investigated one the other day and ended up having a blast.  They are typically near a park too, so when the lil' ones get sick of the water - they can go up to the playground or over to the basketball courts.  I was kind of hesitant to support these, since they took away the pools to install them (cheaper to maintenance and no life guards...) - but for the really tiny guys, like Soren who are just getting used to water - they are perfect.

Put it on your to-do list in Cincinnati this summer!  Find one close to you at CRC Spraygrounds.

what are some of your favorite water-baby memories or experiences?