Milking It

Dad's in charge of tuck in time around here.

So when business trips come up and Dad is sleeping in another state, bedtime can turn ugly FAST.

Fear not.  Pudge is milking it.

If she were REALLY hurting or heartbroken she'd look like the guy from those old "bitter beer face" commercials.

When she's truly crying her face squishes up so much it nearly turns inside out.

Nope.  This is Pudge at her finest.

Working the lip and strategically placing her sorrow-filled episode in front of the freezer...where the ice cream lives.

And...rest assured...she received a scoop of rainbow sherbet.

It was the only way I could get her to move from sitting in front of the door to where the wine lives.

Hello, Monday.

Those would be raisins.

Turns out child locks only work when you use them.

Adding diapers to today's shopping list.  Times TWO.

Sunday Snippets on a Squib

Just a few Pudge details that are noteworthy, but not long enough to fill a post on their own...

1.  You will regularly find Pudge wearing her pajamas at 3 in the afternoon.

Why?

Because, apparently, Little Miss No Nap feels she cannot sleep unless she's wearing the designated attire.

Put the footies on and the girl snoozes.  No footies?  An hour long jumpathon.  You choose.

2.  She was fixated on performing somersaults for awhile.  Then Biggie started attempting the somersaults.  So, of course, she had to up her game.

Lately, she's been doing something very cartwheelish.  And it wouldn't surprise me in the least to find her cartwheeling down the hall.  She's an acrobat.  No question about it.  Get this girl an I <3 Gross Motor tattoo already.

3.  Her latest obsession is a piece of cardboard.  It has four buckles on the front I stole from some booster seats I was throwing out.  You can just see the wheels turning as she flips through her mental rolodex of "Trouble I Can Make if I Can Master Unlocking Skills" as she works with her nose three centimeters from the buckles.

4.  LC has a definite color of preference.  RED.  She constantly points to items that are red...chooses toys that are red...clothes that are red, etc.  She recognizes her other colors, but only offers commentary on red.  This preference may have been heavily influenced by a recent fascination with the movie Gnomeo and Juliet as well.

(Fear not.  Her red artwork in the background was done using Crayola window crayons.  Not that it doesn't look like a small animal met its end on our sliding door.  But drawing on the window had clearance from Mom.)

5.  LC's also started showing more interest in her dollhouse.  She was originally playing with the paperdoll versions of herself and her classmates, but she's slowly preferring her Little People dolls.  Probably because they fit on the dollhouse toilet.

She has lots of dolls and all remain nameless.  Except one.

This is "LC".

I assume LC chose this doll as her namesake due to the ice cream in the doll's hand.

I have no idea what is in the other hand.

Sometimes the people at Fisher Price leave a little much to the imagination.

Adventures in Eating

As most of you know, Biggie has eating difficulties.  Significant ones.

No, he is NOT a picky eater.

Biggie is, essentially, a non-eater. 

No, he will not eat 99.9% of the foods typical toddlers will eat.

Yes, he will go days without eating and allow himself extreme hunger to avoid the act of eating.

There is no tricking him into eating.

There is no starving him into eating.

He does not aspirate when he eats or drinks.  He chews and swallows safely and beautifully with excellent coordination.  His eating difficulties aren't related to an inability to safely get the job done.

For nearly all his life, if Biggie has been presented with ANYTHING that is not a bottle, he has an anxiety-induced meltdown.  Complete and utter "I need to be taken from the room or I will hyperventilate myself into near unconsciousness" meltdown.

I exaggerate not.

This has NEVER been an issue with Pudge.

LC was tube fed for the first 8 months of her life, but she was always VERY eager and willing to try eating orally.  She remained on the tube for the time it took her to learn to hydrate safely.  But eating?  Never, ever an issue.

(Pudge will eat anything except cheese and eggs.  This is Pudge downing her favorite McDonald's order.  A mushroom and swiss angus wrap (hold the swiss, extra mushrooms, please) and a large order of fries.  There were NO leftovers.  My girl can EAT.)

In the fall, Biggs willingly ate Chee-tos, warm yogurt and oatmeal.  That's it.  That's all.

Then, four months ago, he started refusing everything EXCEPT Chee-tos.

It's been our greatest trial with the Biggs, without question.

He's been in feeding therapy for MONTHS.  And after hours of evaluation and practice and considering WHY he doesn't want to eat, we still have no idea.  The act of eating just FREAKS. HIM.  OUT.

But all of a sudden...and just lately...Biggie suddenly allowed yogurt and oatmeal back into his diet.

And...even better...he's welcomed in something completely magical.

Peanut butter.

Why is that magical?

Because that sticky goop can be mixed with oodles of other new flavors.  The peanut butter flavor is still powerful enough to overshadow the "new" taste, but it's a lovely vehicle for bringing the "new" to Biggie's tastebuds.

"New" is ALWAYS immediately recognized by Biggs.  You will NEVER sneak something into that mouth. 

No matter how subtle the "new" taste is, he gags...and spews...and rages...and...

recovers.

Which is incredible progress for Bigg.  He revolts against the new taste, but he doesn't melt down completely.

And he goes on to finish the meal.

One of the best strategies our feeding therapist has taught us is using finger swiping.   At meals after he's eaten a "safe" bowl of oatmeal or yogurt, it's time for some food play at the table.  The goal is for Jace to be willing to eat independently and not always have to be force-fed.  We want him to bring something other than Chee-tos to his mouth.  Food swiping allows us to bring flavor to Jace's mouth without putting him in an anxiety-producing "Oh, sweet Lord they're going to make me eat and I must respond with an emotional breakdown" scenario.  Every time he realizes he's physically survived the act of tasting something new, we're one step closer to broadening his food choices.

Here's an example of food swiping from tonight's supper...the "new" taste is applesauce.  It's stirred into the "safe" food...peanut butter. 



Another significant sign of progress in the video is that Biggs is willingly holding a spoon.  Usually, spoons are Biggie's #1 anxiety trigger.  He'll eat off my finger...or a Chee-to...or a pretzel stick, but NEVER willingly take a new flavor from a spoon.

So, this is eating progress with the Biggs...steady and slow...but progress all the same. 

Well done, Biggs.  Today, applesauce.  Tomorrow...the world.

A Tale of Two Grandpas

Today, our Grandpa Charlie is celebrating his 80th birthday.



Many of you are already aware of how instrumental he was in filling our house with squibs.

Quite frankly, without a Grandpa Charlie there would be no Pudge.  There would be no Biggs.

But for more reasons than you think.

I love my Grandpa Charlie...just a little more every time I see him, in fact.

And quite a few years ago, I visited a church I hadn't visited before.

I met this gentleman that day...

I distinctly remember thinking to myself, "This man reminds me of my Grandpa Charlie.  His eyes crinkle up when he smiles.  I believe I shall like him."

And I was right.

I liked him.  I liked that Fred Heigele quite a bit.

I liked him SO much that I tricked his youngest son into marrying me.

This is a story of two grandpas...Grandpa Charlie drives green tractors.  Grandpa Fred's tractors are red.

But they're just alike in the ways that are most important.

My squibs are especially blessed.

To be shared by two sweet grandpas...

...who have back-to-back birthdays.

Happy 80th birthday, Grandpa Charlie.  We wish we were with you today to empty your kitchen cupboards 80 times in celebration of your day.

Happy less-than-80th birthday yesterday, Grandpa Fred.  Eat some ice cream for the Biggs and make it a double for Pudge.

Thank you both for all the happy that is in this house...you've done so much to put it here.  We couldn't love you more if we tried.

iPhone post

Violet had a rough night with her breathing equipment. Extubation is scheduled for 2:00 pm (CST).

Please join us in bombarding her with prayers. So much is riding on how her tiny body responds to this next big step.

With deepest thanks for coveted prayers...ch & co.

Have You Prayed for Violet, Yet?

The squibs just checked in on Violet's blog.

We think you should, too.

Because your prayers are doing amazing things.

Just like we knew they would.

You never, ever let us down and we're so blessed to have you to share with our buddy who needs you so much.

In the next few days, big things need to happen for Violet.

Incredible things.

Things we didn't dare to hope for this soon, kind of things.

And you're no less needed.

But, since you're doing so much for our sweet Violet by keeping her in your prayers and thoughts, we really feel like we ought to do something for YOU.

So...here's the deal.

1.  Visit Violet's blog and encourage her mom, if you have a moment.  It means so much to hear that her little bit isn't forgotten while Beth is sitting in an isolated PICU.

2.  Leave ME a note in the comments of THIS POST to tell me if you 1.  visit Violet's blog  2.  Blog for Violet  3.  Request additional prayers for Violet on Facebook.

3.  For each of the three criteria, I'll enter your name in a drawing.  The winner gets a personalized toddler book...topic of your choice.  We can work out details via email.  We'll end the contest Saturday at midnight, so just leave your comments by then.

4.  BUT...just to make sure EVERYBODY feels like a winner...if FIFTY comments are left on Violet's blog post dated today (January 26) then I'll send anyone who would like it the files for our transportation and eating activity books. 

Not exactly the lottery, but it's the least I can do to thank you for the very real impact you've already made on the lives of our sweet Violet and her family.

Thank you, thanks, thanks again...

Now go comment already.

Tactile Color Pages

No time for conversation...the squibs and I are headed out to enjoy some sunshine.

Someone asked me to post this so they could pin it.  Happy to help.
It's super simple and won't need much explanation from me.

For a recent prewriting activity, I modified some color pages with hot glue to provide further tactile information for the coloring squib about where the lines were.

Freebie sheet from the internet + hot glue.  Simple.

Biggs is in the earliest stages of prewriting, so we're really just focusing on vertical and horizontal lines.

This is his page o' fun.

Markers + hot glue + plain paper.  Presto.

Helpful glue guides to keep markers and crayons from going out of control.

As all things squib are wont to do.

Happy Writing!

We Need You Wednesday

For those who are unaware, allow me to share a bit about what a parent can expect from a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).

The PICU is where any little one immediately goes following open heart surgery.

In the PICU, a little one has a private nurse assigned to them.  The private nurse is assigned ONLY to one patient, because lots of vigilance is needed for little bodies that have found themselves in the PICU.

Usually, patients in the PICU are heavily sedated.  Especially the littlest, wiggliest ones.  They're sedated because their bodies need those first critical hours to function only on healing and becoming well.

Patients aren't in "rooms" in a PICU.  They're in a curtained off area.  They need to keep the PICU areas able to immediately expand to accommodate lots of staff in emergency situations.  So there is little furniture, other than the occasional chair, for a parent to use while they sit with their child. 

There are some strict PICU rules that parents have to follow.

No holding and minimal touching of the patient.  Even the littlest ones.  Touching = stimulation = bothering the body that needs to focus only on getting better.

No talking to the patient or using your voice at a level the patient can hear.  Talking = stimulation = bothering the body that needs to focus only on getting better.

Preferably only one visitor at a time.  And only parents or grandparents.  Nobody else allowed. 

And usually this is pretty tolerable.  Because little ones generally stay in the PICU for one or two days following open heart surgery.  And then they get moved to a cardiac floor and things become much more comfortable for parents and patients alike.

Unless something unexpected occurs.

And the PICU stay is extended.

From personal experience...may I say...an extended PICU is the worst kind of parental torture I can imagine.

You are in a heightened state of fear and anxiety because you're in this PICU longer than you planned.

You're in this PICU longer than you planned because things...at some point...have gone dangerously wrong.

You are stressed.  You are sleep deprived.  You are sitting in a silent, darkened room with a child you cannot touch and you are stripped of every resource you would normally use as a parent to comfort, console and heal the silent, tube-covered child in front of you.

I can think of fewer times in my own life when I have felt more alone than when I found myself beside a silent, bloated, dangerously ill Pudge.

And that's why we need you.

This is Biggie's twinnie.

Her name is Violet.

She's a stunner.  I know.

She was born on the exact same day as the Biggs.  Did that day churn out some cute, or WHAT?

Last week, Lady Vi had open heart surgery.

And she should have been home by now.

She should have been with her mom and dad and brothers getting pampered and loved and treated like the princess she is while she healed at her house right now.

But she's not.

Because sometimes the unexpected happens. 

And sometimes the unexpected kicks you right in the teeth.

We're all feeling a little kicked right now.

Not defeated.

Just kicked.

And Violet's family is entering PICU week #2.  With no immediate move in sight.

And that's where we need you.

Because nothing is as lonely as the PICU.

And Violet has a mom who is missing a sick little girl and two healthy little boys.

Violet has a mom who hasn't slept in days.

Violet has a mom who is feeling very alone.

Would you please visit Violet and her mom?

Would you please pray with us for Violet's lungs to jump back into action so she can collapse into her exhausted mom's lap?

Would you please visit the PICU in the only way any of us possibly can?

You can find her blog and updates here.

Thank you so much for always cheering our buddies on.

You're our most precious resource and we're reminded of it everytime we can share you with little ones who need you most.

Thank you, thank you, for keeping our Violet in your thoughts and prayers.

Some Pudge Candy...

Since she came home from school in a talkative mood...


...and also felt like singing.

Homemade Monday: Squib Proofing

I wanted to take back my kitchen.

Like most of the rest of our house, it's blocked off from the squibs with multiple baby gates.

And those have...for the most part...been successful in keeping them out.

But lately they've been using the gates as ladders...or playing pick up games of "Throw the ________ Over the Gate and Listen to It Hit the Kitchen Floor" and that's getting old.

My body is ALSO getting old.  And despite the fact that I have had those godforsaken gates up for over a year and a half now, my legs REFUSE to learn the height of them.  I step over those gates about 50 times a day and hit my shin or catch my foot on the gates about 43 of those times.

So, I wanted to take back my kitchen.

But you know my squibs.

I have MULTIPLE cupboards and drawers that I don't want to find a squib inside.

I have MULTIPLE cupboards and drawers whose contents I don't want strewn about the previously mentioned kitchen floor.

So, it was time to squib proof the area.

I scoped out a few toddler-proofing options and finally settled on this model for the following reasons...

Justin REFUSED to attempt any more installation of plastic childproofing devices.  Not only have they NOT been successful in the past, but they've been hard as heck to install.  The pinch kind, the push down kind, the loopity loop kind...all have failed.  Our Tot Lock system is effective and actually works.  I'll give it that.  But it wasn't cheap and I don't think my marriage could survive the two hour installation process it involved.

So, I needed something adhesive and quick and relatively inexpensive because we have LOTS of drawers and cupboards.

Interrupting myself for those of you who are already thinking it...
Yes.  LC is three and Jace is two and they should respect my directions to simply stay out of the cupboards.  And that will work.  When I'm there to SAY  "stay out of the cupboards".  But they don't tend to generalize overall rules that way.  And I don't want to hourly restock my kitchen cabinets during the learning curve.  So, they'll receive the discipline...and the direction...but I need something that will potentially save their lives and my back in the meantime.

Moving on...

I paid over $50 for multiple cabinet and drawer locks in the style shown above.  I forgave the fact that they had to be installed OUTSIDE my cabinets and drawers.  I forgave the little discs of self-adhesive that will surely remove the finish from the wood in quarter-sized patches when the locks come off.

I forgave all that because THAT is what desperate women do.

What I could NOT forgive was the fact that the blessed things didn't work.

Not for a millisecond.

I mean, they were installed and set and good to go and Biggs walked into that kitchen and opened every cabinet like I'd hung little white signs that read, "Biggie...Trash Me Next".

I wanted to weep.

But, insomnia once again proved useful.

And I came up with a method that DOES, indeed, work.

Better yet, it's cheap.

And quick.

I mean I had the kitchen squib-proofed in under 20 minutes for less than $8 kind of cheap and quick.

I don't know if it will work for everybody...but as cheap as it is, it's worth a shot.

Here's what you need:

1 package of heavy duty/industrial strength self-adhesive velcro
1 pair of scissors

QUICK DISCLAIMER:  In case you didn't already NOTICE...our cabinets are in desperate need of replacing.  But if you lived with my toddlers, "new woodwork" wouldn't be on your short list of major purchases to make either.

Moving on...again...

You can decide if you want one "lock" or two for your drawers.  I used two on the drawers that are directly squib accessible.  For the drawers they can only shimmy open on tiptoe, I thought one lock would suffice.  So far, it's done nicely.

Cut two strips of fuzzy velcro.  I think these were about an inch thick.  Or something.

Take the paper off the back and stick them above your drawer's opening like this:

Now, get the long strip of hook-side velcro and attach it to one of the velcro strips you just stuck up there.

Decide how far you want the drawer to be able to be pulled open.  The "lock" is more effective if the strip has a bit of length to it.  At least 3 inches or so...

(Yes.  I'm wearing a Spiderman band aid.  If you aren't living with a demographic that utilizes cartoon first aid supplies, I'm not sure you're at the right blog.)



Now, make two marks on the hook side strip of velcro.

This step won't be necessary once you get going...you'll be able to eyeball things more closely, but it's a helpful step on the first few.

Cut the strip at "Line B"

The space between "Line A" and "Line B" is the amount of adhesive you should remove from the BACK of the velcro.  You don't want the velcro sticking to stuff IN the drawer.  You only want it to adhere TO the drawer.  So you'll leave the majority of the velcro strip covered by plastic on the back.

This is what you're left with after you've cut both strips.

Now, attach the exposed sticky part of the velcro to the inside of the drawer.  Leave one end attached to the fuzzy side, so you know WHERE you need the velcro to attach to the drawer.

Once you've stuck it on the drawer, it should look something like this.

When you want to "lock" the drawer, push the drawer nearly shut.  Slide your finger underneath the hook side of the velcro and push it up until it meets the fuzzy side.  The remaining length of velcro will fold as you push the drawer shut and the door will shut, nice and snug.

When you want the drawer to be unlocked, you'll just push down on the velcro, near the point where it's attached to the fuzzy velcro, and your drawer can be opened.

You don't see any velcro on the outside of the drawer.

When you're done with the locks, you'll pull them off and you won't remove the finish from the outside of your cabinets or drawers.

And, because the majority of your velcro is still covered in plastic, you can reuse it for other stuff.

And who doesn't love velcro?

Although I didn't show pictures, the velcro technique also works on cabinet doors.  Just flip the set up on its side.

We're on Day Two of this system and it's working well.  To further endorse the method, it should be said that Biggie operates developmentally at about the twelve month mark...in a 3 year old's body...with a 7 year old's strength.  He's strong.  Super strong.  And not in a "Brag him up, isn't he wonderful" way.  But in a "God sent this child to knock my house down" kind of way.

And it's worked with him.

So, if you're at the same point of desperation I was...give it a go.   Let us know if it works out. 

I know I'm keeping my fingers crossed this remains a winner...

Gender Confusion

One of LC's rewards for potty progress was to pick out new underpants on a recent shopping trip. 

She is mildly motivated by fashion and more prone to keeping her pants dry because "we don't want Minnie Mouse to get wet" than she is likely to keep them dry because "we don't want Mommy to develop a drinking problem". 

Fact:  If you're not a fan of Dora the Explorer or the Disney Princesses, there are NOT a lot of motivational underpants available to you.

Fact:  LC is not a fan of Dora the Explorer or the Disney Princesses.

But, just when our reward shopping trip threatened to be a bust, Pudge found a set of underpants that she immediately loved.

Loved to the point that she removed them from the packaging as we shopped. 

And proudly wore them over her pants for the duration of our shopping venture.

This morning, she woke up and immediately signed she needed to sit on the toilet and put on underpants.

Sigh.

She's a big fan of Buzz and Woody.

What are you gonna do?  Motivation comes in many forms...

Just to make sure he didn't miss out on his contribution to our daily dose of weird, this is what I found when I entered Biggie's room this morning.

The Biggs...in his Liberace bedding (not the weird part)...with his Rapunzel doll...(not the weird part)...

wearing his blanket/security blouse (the weird part).

Seven minutes into the day and Monday's off to a roaring start...

A Few Goodies from this Week

We're working on reinforcing some math concepts around here.  More, less, one, some, etc.

We're also working on counting to five and recognizing groups of 1-5 objects.

Since we're collecting box tops for school anyway, I made a chart to help keep our boxtops organized and regularly provide a chance to talk about some math concepts.

Laminated chart...

Paper strip taped to the front with rolls of tape pre-applied to the five oversized boxes...

New boxtops go on the strip...filled strips go in the pocket.

Reinforces counting to five...groups of five...and easier for our teacher to total 'tops when she's counting them all up.

Yippadoo.

Next up...prewriting. 

Again.

Pudge's nemesis. 

But add a blacklight to the mix and she was ALL IN.

Activity Table + Clipboard + Regular Paper + Highlighters + Blacklight =


Sorry you can't really see her artwork.  Rest assured it was glow-ish and wonderful.  We'd used our blacklight in the past with puzzles and pegs to increase both Pudge and Biggs' visual attention to what they're working on, but it's probably been one of the most successful prewriting strategies we've used so far.

Of course, the blacklight is also handy in revealing a nasty habit that Pudge thinks she's doing in secret while papers are being changed on the clipboard...

There aren't a whole lot of perks to being a toddler with a mom in grad school.

An overwhelming supply of highlighter markers may just prove to be one of them.

Reason #94

On the "Why Justin is Rarely Left Alone with the Squibs" list.

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

Probably worth including on the "Why Biggie Barfs All the Time" list as well.

Potty Diaries...Year Two

You'll find an update on Pudge's potty progress here.

Happy reading!

WW: Back to the Doctor We Go... *With Update

Updating to let you know Biggs is quite fine and in good spirits.  He truly doesn't realize he has a disgusting abomination growing on his eyeball and hasn't complained in the least.

The bubble is not an infected mass...just a blister that formed because the surgery disrupted the delicate layers of his pretty blue eyeball.  It happens in fewer than 2% of strabismus corrections...which is exactly why it happened to him.

Thanks to a personal call from Biggie's ophthalmologist, Dr. Lueder, and some shared email images, we were able to have a prescription for eyedrops called in to our local pharmacy...saving us a trip to the pediatrician and even better...keeping us from having to drive five hours back to the ophthalmologist's office.

We love our entire team at St. Louis Children's Hospital and are lucky to have them watching out for our little fans of the 2% statistic.

Toddler Book Tutorial

I apologize for being back on this subject so soon after promising to abandon it.

But, based on the emails we've been receiving, it seems there's some interest in knowing how to go about creating your own toddler books.

So, I'm warning you now.  For those of you who came for anything directly squibbish...

abandon all hope.  You won't find it in this post.

But posting a tutorial on how I make our books was easier than sending bunches of emails.

So, bear with me and check back in a bit for Pudge and Biggie's return.

Why I make lots of books:

1.  It's sort of therapeutic.  I can't sew or knit.  I don't have the attention span required to enjoy television or movies.  I can't read books anymore without immediately falling asleep.  So, I make stuff for the squibs.

2.  I can control the content based on what skills they're focusing on in their respective therapies.  And sometimes, that's easier than finding what I need at a bookstore.

3.  I can control how durable the books are.  While they're definitely the least attractive books in our possession, they're also the only books I'm completely comfortable leaving with them unattended.  They're pretty darn durable.

4.  I can use subject matter and illustrations that are pertinent to the squibs.  The less abstract thinking required to master a skill, the better.  So our photograph collection comes in pretty handy.

On to the book making...
I'll show you two types of books I make when I'm doing the whole show...writing, binding, etc. 

The first is a laminated book with duct tape binding.  (Incredibly classy, I know.)

1.  I use a word processor to write the text and determine the size of the book I want.  Typically, I like our books to be about 8 in x 8 in. but we have books in all different sizes.  To make things easy, I just create an 8x8 table on Microsoft Word and type my text in, leaving room for the photographs I'll use to illustrate the book.




2.  Print the pages on cardstock and cut them down to size.  Attach the photos to illustrate the text.

3.  Laminate the pages.  You can purchase your own laminator or have them laminated somewhere.  I do both.  If you don't have a personal laminator, don't use a copying center for laminating.  Take your pages to a teacher supply store or bookstore that sells educational materials.  Often they'll have a laminator that you can personally use or they'll laminate the pages for you for a minimal fee.  (The local suppy store I use charges 25 cents/square yard.  SUPER cheap compared to having them laminated at Kinko's, etc.)

When you laminate your pages, leave additional inches of laminate for the binding.  The additional space will allow the book to lay flat once it's opened.

4.  Reinforce the extra space with duct tape.  You'll be punching holes in the laminate and it will probably hold up just fine.  But, if this book's going to be left alone with the Biggs...reinforce it with duct tape.

5.  Punch holes in the duct taped strip and lace the pages together using ribbon or string or floral wire or whatever you have.  You can probably use those brass fasteners, too.  My books are usually too thick for those.  So, I use LC's extra hair ribbons.

6.  I cut a thinner strip of duct tape to cover up the ribbon I used and go around the whole binding once, just to make sure everything's nice and secured.

7.  And there you have it.  A book that's personalized to the Biggs...reinforcing vocabulary and concepts we're working on...that he can't rip the pages out of...and lays flat when he opens it.

Duct Tape Book #2
I use a slightly different style of binding if I'm doing a book that needs a sturdier cover.  Usually books that are more interactive with matching pieces and whatnot.  It's also a style you can use if you don't have the extra laminating space necessary to make your book lay flat.

This style of book starts out just like the other.

Create the pages...laminate the pages...leave some extra space...etc.

The change comes with the duct tape binding.

1.  Rather than sticking the duct tape entirely to plastic, you'll place the duct tape on the edge of the page and fold the duct tape back over onto itself.  This creates extra page width made entirely of duct tape and it's what you'll be punching the holes into.

2.  Punch holes in the duct taped edge of the page.  I punch four instead of two, since the material is flimsier than the laminated cardstock you were punching through with the other style of book.

3.  Another difference with this style is that I attach a cover.  It can be made from ANYTHING.  I like to use recycled cereal boxes or tagboard I have laying around.  For this one I used some laminated file folders that I had left over from another project.

(front of the book)

(back of the book)

4.  Now, you'll fold the front and back cover.  Because the duct tape is a bit flimsy, I use a fold-over technique with the covers to give the book's spine a little stability.  I don't think you'd have to.  But it's what I do whenever I've punched the holes only through duct tape.

Fold both covers like the one above, run a strip of thin duct tape over your string, and you'll end up with a binding that looks something like this.

Like I said, I don't take the time to put covers on most of my books, but it's a handy way to add some reinforcement and especially useful if you're doing an activity book that has loose pieces and requires a pocket to keep everything together.

There you have it!

Thanks for the oodles of emails...hopefully this will be useful in creating some toddler reading material of your own!