5 Tips to Survive Dinner with a Toddler ... Featuring DairyPure Milk

This post brought to you by DairyPure Milk. The content and opinions expressed below are that of A Case of the Mundays.

Eleanor is 18m old and quickly approaching those dreaded terrible twos. Though tantrums and time outs are par for the course, here are 5 Tips to Survive Dinner with a Toddler:

1. Invite them to the party.
Feeling isolated from the rest of us, Eleanor suddenly refused her highchair. Thankfully, they make booster seats WITH SEAT BELTS. Eleanor proudly joins us in her "big girl chair".

2. Set the clock.
Any later than 6pm, and it's breakdown central. Bump dinnertime up a half an hour. Share a "meal" with your toddler even if you plan to have a grownup meal after bedtime.

3. Limit grazing.
While toddlers need to refuel frequently, practice a set schedule with 3 meals and 2 sit-down snacks. Limit eating on the run so that your child associates eating with sitting at the table.

4. Play with their food.
Group foods together by size & color. Ask questions. Feed each other. And of course, DIP! Eleanor will eat all her pork if allowed to dip it in applesauce!

5. Pour them a glass of DairyPure milk.
Maximize nutrition throughout the day. Even if your toddler tosses all of their food on the floor, count on DairyPure milk to help your toddler sleep soundly throughout the night.

DairyPure milk is the only milk backed by an exclusive 5 Point Purity Promise:

1. No artificial growth hormones. 
2. All milk is tested for antibiotics.
3. Continuously quality tested to ensure purity.
4. Only from cows fed a healthy diet
5. Cold shipped fresh from your local dairy.

Starts Pure. Stays Pure. 

Learn more about DairyPure. Find DairyPure Recipe inspiration on Pinterest & by visiting DairyPure on Facebook.

eleanor jane - 5 months

mommy is a little late posting this - you keep us very very busy! :)

* side + tummy sleeper (often w/ your face directly into your mattress. let the mommy/daddy heart attack's begin!)

* sitting in your mamas and papas chair

* daddy's girl - he just has to smile or walk into the room to get giggles

* lamb-celot wrestler. you love rubbing his soft side on your face while falling asleep.

* you also rub your hand on mommy while you nurse. sometimes quite violently.

* peekaboo

* 11.5 hours most nights!

* this girl is on a roll (rolling from back to tummy on her left side) = bye bye swaddle (5.28)

* 1st tooth! (6.2)

* 2nd tooth! (6.8)

* you suddenly like tummy time - you do upward dog + "beached whale" (flapping your arms/legs in the air at the same time)

* those eyes are still blue & your hair is a little lighter and slightly red

Eleanor Jane - 4 Months

* you weigh 15lbs 6oz (85%)+  25.5" long (90%)

 * lip chewer = mega drooler (maybe 2 little teeth buds?)

* 1st easter ... spent it in IL with grandma & grandpa vickroy

* giggles when tickled + bounced

* stiff as a board! you're one tough cookie to bend.

* you love your crib music box to soothe you to sleep

* you've rolled from tummy to your back (when you're in the mood - which is rare!)

* you fight naps - either with tears or by slamming your legs into the mattress

* not a night owl. you set your own bedtime btwn 7-7.30

* how did mommy not know about side-lying nursing from day 1?!

mommy can catch up on a little nap while you nurse. and sometimes we both take a little snooze

* after refusing 3 types of pacis - you ♥ philips avent freeflow

* you lift your neck up when on your back

* cow's milk colitis = no dairy for mommy temporarily

* 1st night in your crib (5.5.14)

* houdini has nothing on you! we can't keep you swaddled through an entire night!

* you chose a lovie - lamb-celot!

* your eyes are still blue - just like daddy's

Eleanor Jane - 3 Months

 * you are a perfect 1st baby! bc you are so easy & sweet, we look forward to someday having more!

* you and mommy have this nursing thing down.

* sleeping approx 8pm - 5am. almost 9hrs of sleep every night!

* hello, belly button.

* you think mommy & daddy are silly.

you watch us and when we look over to you, you give us big smiles.

* tummy time success. you hold your head up at a 45º angle.

(you scream & scream. not sure if it's joy or "somebody save me")

* you love to stand & straighten your legs. you are a very stiff little lady.

* sleeping in with mommy in mommy & daddy's bed!

* 1st non-well visit to the doctor (3/25/14). mommy thinks milk is too hard for you to digest.

* you have had a really bad rash all month on your face.

could you have mommy's sensitive skin?

* trip to visit great grandma hammond (3/28-30/14)

* chatterbox! you are very expressive - especially with your eyebrows!

* you are a dare devil! you love jumping and flying in the air.

* mommy goes back to work! jenna nannies on tuesdays.

daddy & eleanor spend the day together on thursdays!

* HANDS! you love to eat your delicious hands!

* you have a slight bald spot that has developed in the back of your hair.

* kicking is your favorite!

* daddy calls you (and mommy + hattie) "bear". mommy calls you everything under the sun. but especially "ellen", "ej" & "eleanor".