B I T T E R S W E E T R E T U R N T O T H E C I T Y

As quickly as Summer has left us, Fall is rearing its head just as quickly.  I can say without a doubt that Ben and I have had our best Summer by far and we are having a great deal of difficulty pulling our sweaters out of storage!  For your reading pleasure (or just plain curiosity) let me give you a brief overview of our Summer of 2016…

A small backstory – Ben and I had been searching since early Winter 2015 for a new family home.  As Ben’s job requires us to spend the majority of the year in the city, we wanted our “home” (aka. Not our tiny condo) to really feel like a “home.”  For this reason, we put a great deal of thought into finding the perfect place for us and our little one when we are not required to be in the city. 

Low and behold, after a couple of failed bidding wars and a mental shift in what our idea of “the perfect place” was – we found it!  While friends and family weren’t initially sold on our diamond in the ruff, it didn’t take them long to come around.  Situated on a winding dirt road far from all the conveniences and amenities of life, a tiny, worn-out, well-loved cottage was now ours! After a tearful goodbye from the previous owner, whose heart ached at the mere thought of leaving; we packed our suitcases and headed to our new home.  Said previous owner can rest assured we are definitely taking good care of his beloved oasis!  While the cottage is a work in progress, we spent the majority of the Summer enjoying the treasured space that it was.   In late August, when Ben and I finally decided to tackle the “linens and games closet” (the previous owner left…err….everyyythingg they owned behind) we found some well-used vintage toys we simply couldn’t part with.  While the initial plan was to pitch most of the old left behind – we found new value in the broken cardboard box that stored a 1970’s version of Battleship.  A toy walker which makes the most wretched squeaking sound when pushed across our living room floor is now one of Calvin’s favourite playthings.  As a lover of all “modern” décor, I find myself now hunting for simplistic, classic furniture for our condo to give it the look and feel of our cottage.

Oh, and did I mention our backyard is the beach? YES – our backyard is a BEACH!  By far the best part of our new property is the glorious view I was able to wake up to each morning.  My little one was in absolute heaven at the fact that he could so easily access the outdoors without mom and dad having to pack up the stroller and walk 20 minutes through busy streets to get to the nearest park.  Calvin learned to love the water (despite my apprehensions about the somewhat choppy shoreline).  Once we got him in the water, it was usually a battle to bring him back inside for dinner. 

Another noteworthy part of our Summer – Ben and I got a paddleboard! Although we both have a devout love for the Hawaiian shores of Maui, we had never been paddleboarding (I know right?).  But, we thought to ourselves, who needs a lesson and we went ahead and bought the paddleboard.  To our relief, it wasn’t too difficult to learn and we both LOVED taking turns making sandcastles with our little guy and drifting down the shoreline. 

While we have now retreated back to the city as Ben has returned to work, and sadly, so have I, we have the fondest Summer memories and I cannot wait to return.  Ben still often makes the eight hour drive to tie up some landscaping odds and ends before the weather turns too cold to comfortably stay the night.  Calvin and I are still re-adjusting to life in the city with new anxieties that didn’t exist this Summer. As I become re-acquainted with life is a working mom, Calvin is acquainting himself with his new caretaker five days a week.  I still notice his longing for our inherited baby tree swing every time we visit the nearest city park.  I’ve also noticed his new love for dogs (or, as he would say, “daw”) every time we see a furry friend on the street as we saw so many this Summer on the beach.  It’s bittersweet to say goodbye to a place we love so much until the warm weather returns in the Spring, but until then, we will enjoy many cozy, snowy nights nestled in our condo.

NOTE: As a tribute to Calvin’s 1^st birthday party, I took it upon myself to build a montage of video footage taken at our new home to remind myself of all the wonderful memories made this past Summer.  Feel free to critique my amateur videography skills here.

As always, please visit again soon friends.      

B L O O P E R S

Photo Credit: Sierra Duffey (@s_duffey)

Even though EVERY move I make these days is based on an immense love for my child, I am far from perfect and I’m not too embarrassed to admit I’ve had my fair share of errr…. “learning experiences.”  By “learning experiences,” I’m referring to those times my little guy’s curiosity took him 2 inches too far off the bed, when he climbed up our unstable bar stool in the kitchen, or decided he wanted out of his sling when I was distracted paying the cashier at the grocery store.  Let’s face it, parenthood requires two watchful eyes on your little all day long and while we get pretty good at it, we simply cannot save our babies from every slip and fall they might make.  As Justin Bieber would say “is it too late now to say sorry?”    

I’ll give you a “for instance”: A few nights ago, Calvin woke up only an hour after I put him to bed (I believe teething was to blame for this early wake-up).  Although he tried and tried, he was having tremendous difficulty soothing himself back to sleep – enter MAMA!  While I thought I could easily get my little guy back to la la land with a bit of rocking and a few cuddles, he was up and decided he would try the whole sleeping thing in another few hours.  As I watched the clock creep passed midnight, I was convinced I was starting to make progress in my endeavor to get him back to sleep.  The classic eye-rubbing, yawns, and fussiness was starting to set in as he struggled to stay awake with me in my bed.  And finallyyyy…I HAD DONE IT…my little night owl was back to sleep snuggled up next to me.  While I love his snuggles, I knew it was time to transfer him back to his bedroom and get some zzz’s myself!  Just before I picked him up, I snuck quickly out of bed and tiptoed to my ensuite bathroom with his dirty diaper in hand that had been gracing my nightstand – I’ll just throw this dirty diaper in the garbage and off to bed we both go! Suddenly – a THUD!  My little guy had noticed his mama leave his side and in an effort to follow suit, he leapt from the bed….without the cooperation of his legs.

For a few minutes following the fall, my little daredevil was inconsolable and I mentally punished myself as I wiped his tears away.  How could I have left him there to throw away a diaper? I should really be more attentive! What kind of a mother am I?  As I flicked on the light to check him over for bumps and bruises, he shot me a bashful smile even though I did NOT deserve it.  Thank goodness he was okay, but I’m still sort of struggling with the guilt.

Look, I know that at only eight months of age Calvin will have MANY bumps, bruises and spills ahead and I won’t be there to catch him or console him each time.  We as mothers can often be much harder on ourselves than the rest of the world can be on us.  I really need to practice daily positive mantras with regards to motherhood.  I am however happy to report that upon my frantic google search of “baby falling off of bed,” I found feed upon feed of supportive and encouraging mothers documenting the SAME THING with obvious concern for their little one.  After reading each of their stories I felt much better and heartened by the support of the online parenting community.  We all need a little more reassurance and praise in this voyage through parenthood, even after a little blooper. 

P I Q U E - N I Q U E

It’s a rare occasion in our household when we are graced with sunshine, warm weather, and nothing on the agenda for the day!  This past Sunday, we were lucky enough to have all three stars align and Ben even took a red-eye flight back to Ottawa to be with us when we woke up on Sunday morning. 

So as not to waste a perfectly nice day holed up in our condo, we didn’t waste a minute! As soon as Calvin went down for his morning nap, Ben and I made some sandwiches and veggie trays and loaded up the stroller for a family drive into Gatineau, Quebec.  We weren’t quite sure where we would end up but we knew we wanted to find a nice park for a picnic that wasn’t too crowded (warm weather in April tends to draw large crowds at the park!).  Thankfully (due to Ben’s superior navigation skills) we ended up at Chutes De Luskville – a beautiful park setting with the option of 2.5 hour hike up a rocky slope for the seasoned explorers….which wasn’t us!

Though we couldn’t stay too long (have to keep that nap game strong!) we had a lovely time soaking up some sunshine and watching our little man explore his new surroundings.  It also served a fitting occasion to use our new Gathre Playmat (my newest obsession!).  These mats are perfect for catching the crumbs under highchairs, picnics, and the beach (bonus: they are super easy to clean).  I’ll need to stock up on more of these!  Also helping to make our picnic more baby-friendly was our Munchkin Snack Catcher (snacks + ants = yuck!).  If you’re a mommy-to-be, these musttt make it on to your registry.

Time is flying by but simple family outings like these help me to forget about my day-care searching woes and enjoy every moment.  Can he just stay little forever?  

Note: None of the brands recommended above are paid advertisements – I just really enjoy the products.

I, M E, M Y

Photo Credit: Sierra Duffey (@s_duffey)

If there’s one thing I must note about motherhood: it’s easy to get in but hard to get out.  Call it what you want to call it but since becoming a mom, I’ve become somewhat of a “baby-a-holic.”  I spend most nap times and evenings perusing social media in search of baby clothes, nursery décor, and reading my favourite mommy blogs.  If you are pregnant or have a new baby, I will probably cry tears of joy for you when I hear the news!  I am quite truly obsessed with all things “mommy” and “baby” and while this leaves me feeling fulfilled, it does occur to me from time to time (usually at 1a.m. when I’m still browsing baby sites) that maybe…I need a little “me” time.

Before little Calvin came into the world, I was quite religious about bi-weekly mani/pedis.  I looked forward to this time all to myself when I could stow my cell phone in the bottom of my handbag and turn off for a little while.  I didn’t have to think about work, or any of the stresses in my life, I could just be.  While I have managed to squeeze in a total of two…yes TWO pedicures in seven months (manicures are out of the question with a baby in the household), I do need to focus on spending more time doing things that aren’t all baby-esque. 

  

I think part of the reason I don’t do more for myself is because I truthfully enjoy spending as much time as I can at home with my son.  When I do break down and get a babysitter, or Ben is able to watch him for a couple hours I spend much of my time apart from my little one staring at my phone waiting for the “he fell asleep without any tears” text.  I should also note that I read as many parenting books as I could prior to becoming a mother and each one noted the importance of allocating time away from all things baby for at least some time every week.  While this widely circulated advice still regularly torments me, I can say with absolute certainty that mommy guilt is a very real phenomenon. 

In an effort to truly incorporate change into my life, I have made a promise to myself to spend at least five hours a week doing something just for me.  This doesn’t necessarily need to involve calling up a babysitter, but it should involve stepping away from all things baby for a short while; after all who doesn’t love looking down at freshly painted piggies….I mean TOES once in a while?

I’ll update you on my progress in a couple of months!  How do you spend your time away from your little?  Thank you once again for visiting!   

T H E N E W N O R M A L

Oh how I long for weekend road trips with Ben, morning walks to Starbucks, and my absolute favourite…BRUNCH!  Since becoming a mom, some things have changed a little bit….errrr…. okay A LOT.  So I don’t always have time to grab a chai latte from the Starbucks that so happens to be located just below our condo, the new “normal” has now kicked in…but it’s pretty fun too!

Do you ever notice how most of your days (pre-kiddo) revolved mostly around…well..you!?  You’ve probably heard your parents tell you at least once in your life that “the world doesn’t revolve around you”… but if you think about it, without kids…it sorta does!  My weeks used to be organized quite nicely – weekdays I went to work and enjoyed evening chats over a lovely warm meal with Ben and weekends were eclectic but always a blast.  I had so much freedom to do whatever I wanted to do.  I could enjoy a book without racing the nap-time shot clock…I could eat my dinner while it was still WARM…I didn’t have to waittt to sip my morning coffee, my day was organized to suit me and me alone.

Since Calvin has come into my life, a new rather rigid weekly structure has come into my life as well and for the first time…it’s not about me.  You may be reading this thinking “this woman has some serious regrets about her new life!” but I’m going to tell you this is most definitely not the case.  It is true that my days are a bit more monotonous, but it’s not a monotony I don’t adore with every fibre of my soul. 

Here’s a look at my new day:

6:30a.m. – 7:00a.m. WAKE UP MA! (he can’t talk yet…but you get my drift)

7:00a.m. – 7:30a.m. Feed Calvin oatmeal and his morning water while I sneak in bites of my cereal

7:30a.m. – 9:00a.m. Play time, read stories, roll around before naptime

9:00a.m. – 10:30a.m. After nursing Calvin to sleep, I sneak in a quick shower, slap on some make-up and grab my laptop to catch the morning news

10:30a.m. – 12:00p.m. Nurse Calvin, go for a walk, resume playtime, LOTS of peek-a-boo (he loves it!)

12:00p.m. – 1:00p.m. Begin naptime wind-down, read books in bed, sing songs (he loves music), lots of cuddles!

1:30p.m. – 3:00p.m. Calvin’s second nap, I clean up, have some lunch and browse my social media feeds

3:00p.m. – 4:00p.m. Nurse Calvin upon wake up, have a little cuddle and some quiet play time while trying to prep some dinner

4:00p.m. – 5:00p.m. Dinner time for baby…he’s still learning how to eat so this can be a messy time but full of laughs! (I’m always trying to make meal times FUN)

5:00p.m. – 5:30p.m. Bath time (depending on how tired I am, sometimes I hop right in with him)

5:30p.m. – 7:00p.m. Evening wind-down, watch a favourite cartoon, read some books, have some family laughs

7:00p.m. Bedtime for Calvin….although I tend to see tiny little eyes opening on my monitor somewhere around 3a.m. (time for a cuddle with my little man to go back to sleep until morning)

And there you have it – a “normal” day in my household with Calvin.  Although some days won’t call for Starbucks or spontaneous country drives, I adore my new days.  My new days revolve around him and he is my new purpose to get up every day.

Thank you for dropping by once again.  Good company is always welcome!    

A S T I C K Y H O M E I S A H A P P Y H O M E . . .

I would love to say that this past week has been rainbows and butterflies but truth be told, it has not.  My little one is …. Wait for it …. Teething.  For existing mommies, this word never brings a smile to our faces (unless of course you were one of the lucky ones whose child rarely showed any signs of discomfort).  As a new mama to the game, I am trying to acquaint myself with the reality that this uncomfortable stage of life may stick around for a while and therefore, I need to find ways to bring my little ray of sunshine some solace.

Firstly, I must note that there are some tried and true relief mechanisms that are no longer safe for your little one; in particular – Baby Orajel.  This was one of my mother’s first suggestions and upon research…I found it unfortunately is not a wise decision.

I have tried Baby Tylenol but aside from giving him a bit of relief to fall asleep, it doesn't give me more than 5 hours of sound sleep at night.  The other downside of using pain medication is that it's so temporary, and teething can last a LONG time, that you may find yourself reaching for the stuff multiple times a day/week which also may not be good for baby.  While it may cause baby discomfort, teething is just another part of life that will pass.

So what worked for me? Well, here are my very own tried and true teething tricks:

Teething jewellery – works AMAZING on airplanes or anywhere that baby has to be glued to your lap for long periods.  My absolutely favourite teething jewellery has got to be Mama and Little.

Soothers – While my little one didn’t take to a soother initially, he is now starting to come around to it.  The sucking helps to ease his gums and staves off urges to nurse around the clock.  This may not work for everyone however as some babies are 100% against pacifiers from day one.

ZoLi Bunny Teethers – There are many teethers on the market but this one is a household favourite.  It is easy for Calvin to hold onto and the rubbery ridges seem to give him some relief.  Expert tip: Throw it in the fridge for half an hour for additional comfort.

Teething Snacks – If you have never given your baby Mum Mums, these are excellent at keeping baby’s temperament at bay.  My little one can suck on these for fifteen minutes straight and it buys me some time to unload the dishwasher without hearing the dreaded “I’m sore” whine from the living room floor.  While the bits of chewed on pieces that plague my living room floor seem to make everything sticky, the relief they provide makes for a lovely happy home!

While these devices worked for me, I’m sure many of you experienced mamas also have some great tips to deal with teething and I encourage you to share!

Note: None of the brands recommended above are paid advertisements – I just really enjoy the products.

A B O U T C A L V I N...

Meet my son, my love, my muse - Calvin (we call him "Cal").  What an honour to be his mother! This little one is so full of life.  The title of this blog "Curious Cal" fits his personality so well.  Staying home with mom and dad is nice and all, but his true colours show themselves best when we're out and about.  My "curious" little man wants to see it all - people, places, you name it!  When we travel to a busy mall or a bustling airport, he is truly in his element - observing, listening, learning.  He loves to be engaged whether he is familiar with you or not.  Sing to him, and you have his full attention!  His favourite hobbies include (but are not limited to) reading with mama, playing "peek-a-boo", visiting his grandparents, cuddling with his parents and attending playgroup.  Oh, and he loves to hold the channel changer - don't even think about turning the news on dad!  

Come visit us at our blog as often as you like.  We would love to share more of our adventures with you!