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.