Blog Entries

Starfall is Great

brett@snugfits.com — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 16:00:00 +0100

If you have toddlers that are thirsty for learning, we have found the best thing for them in the world. It is called Starfall, a website just for kids learning to read! It is so awesome, and free! Garrett and Gavin absolutely love it, and can't get enough of it. (See photo - Saturday, pre-breakfast!) It is an incredible tool. These kids literally spend a full hour at a time on Starfall, and its a great hour [...]

Personalize a Snugfits Tee for Tots Contest!

brett@snugfits.com — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:00:00 +0100

Life around here isn't crazy enough, what the heck, let's do a onesie contest! Sara is busy updating this website to a newer, improved version while nursing a finicky 4 month old. Bodie has been so fussy lately during the day, Sara can hardly put him down. He spends most of his time in her lap on the Boppy pillow, cuddled up to the mammaries. Life is good for him.

I spend most of my free time, which is usually from 3:30 to 6 AM, stocking up for the [...]

True Cuddles Has Launched!

sara@snugfits.com — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 20:00:00 +0100

We are so excited (and honored) to have been picked as an upcoming "Cuddle of the Week" at the brand new www.truecuddles.com website. True Cuddles features unique, hard to find items for babies, kids and moms - all made or founded by 'mompreneurs' like myself. They've got sweet deals on uncommon goods every week. It is kind of like Woot! for babies (exce [...]

Toddler Nightmares

brett@snugfits.com — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 20:00:00 +0100

Our little toddler, Garrett, has been having nightmares lately. I'm not sure why. He doesn't see anything scary on TV - we almost never even watch TV! They say you need to have a good, calming routine before bed. Bedtime is almost always the same regimen - Bath, Brush teeth, Books, Bed. The books we read are good, funny bedtime books! Sandra Boynton, not Steven King. I don't know what's causing these scary dreams. I've read different articles about the subject, but haven&# [...]

Signing for Babies

brett@snugfits.com — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 20:00:00 +0100

Signing Time came to Gavin's school! Rachel and her daughter Leah of the awesome PBS program Signing Time put on a show for all the kids last week. Their story is pretty amazing and inspiring. You should read about them on her website: SigningTime.com. Sara has been a fan of Rachel's blog since she started it. Now Rachel's made videos to teach babies how to sign. Some babies can start signing as [...]

You Can't Stop the Tantrum

brett@snugfits.com — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 20:00:00 +0100

Garrett's terrible two-ness has gone off the charts recently, coinciding with the arrival of Bodie. He's always had a little nonconformist attitude, a born maverick. Now he's the epitome of rebellion. Tantrums have become the norm now when things don't work out for him. Its obvious that he's going to have a hard time adjusting to not being the baby anymore. Its hard to see him go throug [...]

A Day at the Beach

brett@snugfits.com — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 20:00:00 +0100

As always, Surfers Healing was awesome this year. It was huge turnout, bigger than ever! Gavin even had his own little fan club there to "Ooh and Aah" over him! It was an unforgettable day, especially since Sara was starting to go into labor with Bodie! We knew from the previous two births that she labors slowly and methodically, so we felt it best to spend the beginning stages of labor at the beach [...]

Bodie has arrived, Extra Large.

brett@snugfits.com — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 20:00:00 +0100

What a week we have had! Baby Bodie has finally arrived! Sara started going into labor the day of the big Surfers Healing camp. She woke me up at about a quarter to 3 and announced that we'd be having the baby that day. Well, that was just the start of a very long labor. Bodie wasn't born until 30 hours later! The labor was progressing so slowly, I didn't think it would ever happen. Sara felt we [...]

Kids and Cats

brett@snugfits.com — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 20:00:00 +0100

Our cat, Laya, hasn't yet become completely comfortable with the boys. Four years ago when we brought Gavin home from the hospital, her life changed in every respect. Her peaceful, lazy existence made a giant shift. I remember the look on her face the first time she approached our new baby and gave him a couple sniffs - it was pure disdain. She hid under the bed for awhile, as if the baby would throw off his swaddling blanket and get her. It took awhile, but when Gavin grew and beca [...]

How to Get Kids to Share

brett@snugfits.com — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 20:00:00 +0100

As the father of a 4 and a 2 year old, lack of sharing is the number one source of friction in our house. My 4 year old son, Gavin, has autism, which adds another element of frustration to the the equation. Garrett, the terrible 2, is really taking on his own little freethinking personality right now. It's an important time in both of their lives developmentally. Sharing is part of that developmental process.

Right now, I don't think either of these boys have the reasoning [...]

A New Word: Summertime!

brett@snugfits.com — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 20:00:00 +0100

It's funny how children learn words sometimes. It's hard to teach some words to Gavin that aren't tangible objects. Especially abstract words like "summertime".

His first impression of that word came as we were leaving the local Jungle Rapids amusement park. The water park section was closed, and he saw the huge slides with colorful flags at the top and said "Flags!" [...]

The Climbing Tree Fell Down

brett@snugfits.com — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 20:00:00 +0100

Our big, nice climbing tree came down last night in the wind. The boys haven't seen it yet, they're at Grammy and Papa Geno's with Sara. I'm not sure if I should cut it up and take it away before they get back, or should I let it lay there on it's side for the boys to see. It's a Wax Myrtle, which is a very common tree here that grows like a weed. These trees can withstand almost any storm, which is why I was so surprised to see this one laying prone when I let Laya (t [...]

Stress Free Disney

brett@snugfits.com — Fri, 16 May 2008 20:00:00 +0100

Disney World was a magical place for this family to visit. It really was extraordinary. These boys were just as high as a kite for the whole week. The plane rides were fantastic! Waiting at the terminal for the gate to open was a bit tumultuous, as is anything to do with waiting for a child with autism and an unruly two year old. It was about 5:45 a.m. at the airport in Raleigh, and these boys were running roughshod over the entire Terminal A. We just pretty much let them go at a full t [...]

Natural Stain Removal for Baby Clothes

sara@snugfits.com — Thu, 08 May 2008 20:00:00 +0100

As the parent of a newborn baby, its natural to feel apprehensive about all the chemicals contained in laundry detergents and stain removers these days. You've got good reason to be worried. Those chemicals can cause bad rashes and skin irritations on your little one's sensitive skin. It seems like every other week there's another warning about the harmful chemicals in baby items. The focus here is on laundry, something I'm terribly familiar with as the mother of two boys, aged 4 and 2. My [...]

Preparing a Child with Autism for a Trip

brett@snugfits.com — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 20:00:00 +0100

Getting a child with autism ready for a big trip is essential to the trip's success, I think. We haven't ever really tried it yet. We're going to Disney World, and these kids couldn't be more excited. All that Gavin talks about now is Disney World. Every day, he thinks we are going to go there immediately. He understands that we have to take an airplane, but I think he [...]

A Second Baby Shower

brett@snugfits.com — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 20:00:00 +0100

We are going to have our third (and final) child in August, and I've been wondering about the concept of having some sort of pre baby party. Not necessarily another baby shower, but just a celebration of these awesome blessings we've had in our kids. And to celebrate the end of a long road of pregnancy for Sara! She's tired of being "with child". I think a third [...]

Easter Egg Hunters

brett@snugfits.com — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 20:00:00 +0100

This year's Easter Egg hunt was the first one Garrett actually participated in with enthusiasm and zeal. Last year, at 11 months old (upper photo) he was content to crawl to the first egg he saw and park there with it. Finding no great tastiness in its plastic yellow shell, I'm sure [...]

Toddler Modeling

brett@snugfits.com — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 20:00:00 +0100

My son is a model in a calendar! He's Mr. October! Sara entered him (Gavin 4yrs) into a contest for the National Autism Association annual calendar and he was picked! I just thought I'd use this little platform to brag a bit. We always knew he was a handsome devil, but wow. And now he's also on their advertisement for the big spring sale email. We had no idea they did that until it just popped in [...]

Embarrassed

brett@snugfits.com — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 20:00:00 +0100

Gavin was embarrassed today! For the first time ever, I saw Gavin get red in the face and look very self conscious. He's nearly four (next week!) and he has Autism, so it is kind of a big deal to me. I feel like he's really healing when he shows tangible signs of a unique personality like that.

Here is what happened: We were at Fit for Fun, a cool little place downtown for toddlers and babies to hang out and play together. It's a great place. It's kind of a Saturday morn [...]

Potty Training Tips (needed)

brett@snugfits.com — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 20:00:00 +0100

On the subject of potty training, I am really mystified. Gavin was using the toilet for about a week. He loved it! It was his favorite thing to do.

"Gavin, do you have to pee pee in the potty? Yes or no?" I'd ask.

"Yes!" he would shout with great enthusiasm.

Now, when I ask him the same question, he pretends not to hear, or runs away. What' [...]