If you are local to Kansas City, you may remember a night in November 2007 when the breaking news on all of the stations was the tragic death of a little boy who had died after pulling a dresser over on himself. As more details were released, we learned that the little boy was 2-year-old Charlie Horn - a triplet - and his mother worked with a friend of mine. What I didn't know until just recently, was that dresser was only 30 inches high. 30 inches! That is 9 inches shorter than my 3 year old. I had always heard about anchoring furniture to the wall, and for the big stuff, we did. Look around...how many 30 inch pieces of furniture do you have that are unsecured? Scary, huh?
I was recently at my pediatrician's office, and he sat down to talk to us about Charlie's House, a non-profit organization to raise awareness about children's safety in the home. Dr. Grossman told us that he had been Charlie's family's pediatrician, and he is now a member of the Charlie's House Board of Directors. Charlie’s House has become very active in the community, spreading the word about the importance of making your house and surrounding areas safe for your children.
By the end of 2013, the organization plans to open a safety demonstration house in the KC Metro where parents and caregivers can visit to learn how to safety-proof their homes. This is in addition to various tools they offer on their website (See ‘Charlie’s Checklist’ and ‘Charlie's Virtual House’ - a 3D virtual tour through a safety demo home). This is, of course, all dependent on donations from the community. If you are interested in supporting this cause, the information is included on the website. www.charlieshouse.org
Our house is still not as secure as it should be. I look around and think, “there is no way he could pull that (insert furniture description here) over.” Sadly, I'm sure little Charlie's parents didn't think he could be killed by a 2 foot, 6 inch dresser either.
I'm not suggesting we shelter our kids to the point that they never get to experience the fun and adventurous side of things, but rather that we make the places they experience those things as safe as they can be. After visiting the website and viewing the checklist, I see I have a lot of work to do!
www.charlieshouse.org
Friday, March 9, 2012
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Primo Eurobath - Bath Time Made Easy
When my cousin first recommended this giant baby bathtub to me, I thought she was crazy. I should have known that a full time working mother of three - each a year apart - wouldn't be wasting her time with baby items that didn't make sense. I truly believe this is the best baby bathtub on the market. We started out with a small tub when T was a newborn. For first time parents, the tiny tubs give that important sense of security (What if I drop him while he's slippery wet?). Since my kids grow at the speed of light, however, it was soon time for the next step. The Primo Eurobath allows you that same security, is fun for the kids, and best of all, you save on water! Just put the Primo in the big bathtub, fill it up, and you're set. The unique design of the tub allows infants from birth to six months to recline on one end of the tub. I'll admit, Z, even at 3 months old, requires the big teddy bear sponge we used for his sponge baths under him to keep him steady. Soon, however, he'll be reclining with ease. Around six months, or whenever they can sit up fairly well, you can switch them to the other side where they sit in an upright position. Their back is supported, and there is molding between the legs to prevent "slippage". We used the Primo for T until he was almost 2 years old. He loved it because it was like his own mini tub, yet big enough to play with his toys. We loved it because we saved on water, and it kept him in one place so we weren't constantly having to hold on to a wiggly toddler while bathing him in a big tub. When bath time is over, you just release the plug and drain the water to the tub drain.
My cousin told me that she would have one of her older daughters sit on the "big" side, while the infant reclined on the opposite side. We all know how much older siblings like to help out with the babies, and mom gets to kill two birds with one stone. I tried it with my 3 year old and 3 month old while my husband was out of town. Ha! Three year old T whined the whole time that Z was touching him with his feet (Come on, really?? He's 3 months old!) I guess three year olds are too big for sharing! Had they been a little closer in age, though, I think this is a great idea – sibling bonding and time savings all in one!
A word of caution...it's big! If space is at a premium, or if you have a shared bathroom in which the Primo can't be stored in the big tub when not in use, this might not be the tub for you. If you can swing it though, I highly recommend it!
The Primo Eurobath retails for $27 at baby specialty stores.
BCuzWeSaidSo
Gram&Dun - Yum!
Having had terrible dining experiences in my last two outings, the only way to go was up! Gram & Dun was definitely up. The third eatery from the Bread and Butter Concepts group, Gram &Dun stands above them all. BR:GR and Urban Table in the Corinth shopping center are both very good, but nothing melted in my mouth like the Loaded Baked Potato Gnocchi and Short Rib Grilled Cheese I tried on this visit. Located on the Country Club Plaza in the old Baja 600 space, you would never recognize it as a former Mexican restaurant. It’s very hip, a bit dark, and pretty loud, but nothing took away from the dining experience - just don’t expect to whisper secrets with your dining companions. It doesn’t appear to be a kid-friendly place, although I’ve never let that stop me before. I didn’t see a kids’ menu or high chairs, but I wasn’t really looking for them either. And let’s face it – there is nothing wrong with saving a few locations for “adults only” dining!
On to the food – wow. A friend and I split two entrees to sample the best of both worlds. The Short Rib Grilled Cheese sandwich ($12) is described as “Provolone, arugula, pickled onions, blackberry jam and nine grain bread”. It was the perfect mix of savory and sweet. It was served with house fries, and though I’m not a fry connoisseur, they were pretty close to perfect! The Loaded Baked Potato Gnocchi consists of “chive gnocchi (potato dumplings), house-smoked bacon, cheddar curds, and sour cream sauce” and is served between two very large potato skins. I wasn’t lying when I said this food melted in my mouth, and I didn’t want the experience to end. However, as good as the gnocchi was, it was very rich. There was no way I could have eaten the whole thing, and I am glad we split the two entrees. The menu selection is big, and the concept is a trendy spin of the “Soul Food” dining experience. There is a wide variety of choices ranging from shrimp cakes to the CFC and Waffles (Corn Flake Fried Chicken and Herb Waffles). I know I should try something new next time, but it will be hard not to order that sandwich again!
What made the meal even more enjoyable was the availability of a recent wine find of ours. Santa Julia Malbec is a cheap bottle of wine ($8 - $10 in a liquor store), but a very good one! A couple of glasses rounded out the meal perfectly. With their extensive bar menu, you too will find the perfect pairing to complete your meal.
Those dining with me also tried the Beer Can Chicken Sandwich (Big!!), Blackened Shrimp and Grits (Good, but perhaps not worth the $19 price tag), and the Fried Goat Cheese & Avocado Salad (“Really good, but will try something more substantial next time.”)
Country Club Plaza
600 Ward Parkway
Kansas City, MO 64112
816-389-2900
I can’t wait to go back!
BCuzWeSaidSo
***Update***
We visited G&D again this past Sunday evening after taking the boys to see the Easter Bunnies on the Plaza. Ginormous double stroller and all, we walked in to the restaurant and asked if they could accomodate us. Whether or not they wanted to, they did, taking our stroller and putting it in their storage room. They don't have a kids' menu, but said they modified some dishes for kids - Chicken Tenders, Grilled Cheese, and Buttered Noodles. No idea on price - we opted to have T eat from our plates, as he's not big on eating these days. The milk we ordered for him was $2.50, so I have a feeling they weren't cheap. I had the Catfish BLT with the Creamy Brussel Sprouts with Bacon side. Dave went with my suggestion of the Baked Potato Gnocci. All were good, but the sandwich didn't really compare to the Short Rib Grilled Cheese from the first visit. There wasn't a lot of fish, and it had a hint of lemon. The brussel sprouts were awesome though...if you like brussel sprouts, you'll love these. As I said, this was a Sunday evening, so I'm sure they were more accomodating than they would be on a weekend night. With our unseasonably hot weather this March, the huge patio was full, and oh how did I long to be one of the cool people sipping their drinks out there!!
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