Preschool STEM opportunities with Snapology

Raise your hand if you've encountered the term STEM. It is the acronym that stands for: 

SCIENCE

TECHNOLOGY

ENGINEERING

MATHEMATICS

Chances are if you have a child in school than you already know what I'm talking about. 

As a Preschool teacher and mom to a three year old, I am constantly aware of the activities I share and make sure to include aspects of STEM learning whenever possible.

But why is STEM important? As explained here it is the foundation for a well rounded education and supports organic learning while making it fun!

And this is where Snapology comes in! It provides a place to go to engage in STEM learning and caters to ages 1 to 18! By incorporating the use of fun building blocks (think LEGO!) and being hands-on, it helps set the stage for life long learners.

"Snapology provides interactive, STEM / STEAM programs for children featuring technology and popular building toys such as LEGO® bricks and K’Nex®. Kids have so much fun in our programs, that they don’t realize just how much they are learning."

Snapology is a budding new program and unfortunately there are no locations close to us but there are franchise opportunities available, any takers? :)

This blog has a great roundup of STEM activities for toddlers and preschoolers. For more information about STEM visit here. 

This post is a partnership with Nakturnal.

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Growing up Clark // first month edit

The first month always goes by so quickly but also feels like a hard won battle due to sleepless nights, crazy feeding schedules and general life-living. It is a crazy- hectic, sacred- beautiful phase of life that I cherish and am blessed to have experienced three-fold (or thrice, as Kinsey likes to say.) This post contains affiliate links, if you make a purchase using one I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my blog!

Birth weight: 8.11 — Current weight: 11.7 = 84th percentile

**Let that sink in: Clark has almost gained a pound a week this first month!! I’ve never had a chunky baby, its mind blowing. 

For comparison: Kinsey’s birth weight 7.12 at one month 9.10

Brielana’s birth weight 7.12 at one month 9.7

Birth length: 20.5 — Current 22.5? (measured at one week old. Yup, grew two inches in a week!) = 99th percentile

Clark is a very serious baby. He has this furrowed brow expression that makes him look very concerned the majority of the day. He also has an amazing double chin that he likes to tuck into, its pretty darling. I would say he’s our needy baby- is that a boy thing?

I’m still trying to figure out who Clark looks like. He has Brian’s hair line (though he denies it, men.) and my ears. His facial features are so similar to both Kinsey and Brielana, its amazing. He has blue eyes. Brian and I are 0 for 3 on the brown eyed baby front. Who would have guessed?

Poor baby has been seen by the doctor every week for random ailments. First there was a weird rash (which resolved itself in 48 hours), a clogged tear duct, then a staph infection on his finger which was yucky but is now fully healed. And then a seborrheic dermatitis condition (think cradle cap, which both sisters had for years, but on his beautiful face.) Mama apologizes now for giving you bad skin. Maybe he’ll be lucky and gets it all out of the way now? ;)

Forever grateful for God’s blessing of a little boy. In the words of Ne-yo from The Princess and the Frog, “you're the best thing I never knew I needed.” 

                  

Solly wrap // snap tops short sleeve, long sleeve // Mustela foam shampoo // Vaseline // booties 

Solly wrap- Wear all the babies!!! It's how I get stuff done when I need both hands.

Snap tops- So easy to put on and they look adorable.

Mustela foam shampoo- Love this foam shampoo!

Vaseline- Add another use for this old time staple, diaper cream. It does a wonderful job protecting delicate skin from rash.

booties- these June & January booties stay put!!! Doesn't get better than that, amiright?! **Bonus- use my referral link and get 15% off a $50 first-time purchase!**

Cloud Island reverse zipper footie pjs (not pictured)- this is a game-changer when it comes to middle-of-the-night diaper changes! The zipper is at the bottom of the pjs so baby doesn't get completely naked (and cold) and is less disturbed making going back to sleep easier.

Brielana's One Month Update

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N I N E

Happy 9th Anniversary, Mr. Smith

Our Wedding song

So amazing as You paint the sky

So amazing, makes me wonder why

You love me like You do

You love me like You do

That You love me like You do

So amazing, so amazing

-Vineyard Songs

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Getting to know you

The last three weeks with Clark have been a blur (and I'm sure that has nothing to do with lack of sleep, harhar) In those days and nights I have gleaned some important information about this little person I brought into the world. Lessons learned:

Crying because its time to eat. Crying when a new diaper is needed. Crying when tired. Crying when overtired. Clark seems to be a crier. This threw me for a loop. But I'm so relieved to report that the crying is now down to the necessities like eating and a full diaper.

Bath time is enjoyable. First of my kids to actually like reclining in the warm water and having his hair washed.

That it is indeed possible to fill a diaper every time you pass gas. This trait was most definitely inherited from the other man in this family ;)

Nursing is his favorite past-time. I guess that's to be expected I've just never had a baby gain weight so fast!

This boy LOVES to nap. Like his mama. Once we can sleep through the night (and you know how elusive that is for my kids here) we will be a force to be reckoned with. On the weekends ;)

Swings and sitting things hold no appeal. But lounging in the Solly gets the seal of approval. 

The carseat is a love/hate relationship. As is the pacifier.

A big dislike? Nail clippers/file. Though to be honest I hate using them so maybe its the users problem(?) Tiny nails are so very hard to see how to cut properly, amiright?

Diaper changes are a strange endeavor with a little boy. Clark has peed into his face several times already. I thought he was dying the first few days at home because he didn't have any pee diapers. Then I realized he was peeing up into the diaper and not down, like his sisters. #rookieboymom

But I think my favorite lesson of all is knowing I have a lifetime of loving him.

“There has never been, nor will there ever be anything quite so special as the love between a mother and a son.” Author Unknown

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Clark + DockATot // a review

I am not blessed with great sleepers. I don't know if its because I ADORE sleep and pretty much need 8+ hours of it to function (to which my kids says, “ha”). So when the rave reviews for the DocATot started flying all over the interwebs, I was intrigued. And naturally HAD to HAVE it. Thanks to DockATot for providing a sleep lounger for Clark to use. All opinions are mine alone.

swaddling blanket

I’m not sure it’s improved Clark’s sleeping, he is definitely following in his sisters footsteps er, sleep print, but it IS very handy as an extra set of “arms”.

I’ve used the DockATot as a safe holding spot when:

• filling up his bathtub and when drying him off afterwards.

• having him within arms length and sight when spending some time with his sisters.

• and the occasional nap.

**I'm looking forward to using the DockATot as a tummy time prop too!

Maybe he’ll surprise us all and take to sleeping longer stretches but for now I’ll take all the newborn snuggles I can get!

Linking up here.