I know what you're thinking...
Shan...that's every day
Yes, yes! It is!
But, did you know that it's also an amazing Pre/PostNatal Wellness Centre in downtown London, Ontario?
Actually, it's where I went to be treated and to work through my Postpartum Depression. I have met some really amazingly wonderful people there, namely the woman who owns the fantastic space, Jodi.
Jodi and I connected almost immediately, and I appreciated how real she was. I didn't hide from my PPD, I owned it and wouldn't let it define me. And she helped me, every step of the way.
Now is my turn to help her, and I couldn't be more thrilled!
Officially, I am the newest member of the Life with Baby team! I'll be taking care of administrative duties...emailing clients, sending cards of congratulations and sympathies, researching unique and interesting products for the (soon-to-be) retail space, publishing the biweekly e-newsletter...and anything else that we can come up with that lightens Jodi's load and allows her to de-stress and focus on her practise.
I am so incredibly excited about this opportunity, and do you want to know the best part?
For the majority of it, I can do from home!
That's right! I can hop online when Owen is having his morning/afternoon nap, respond to emails and register clients for classes, book appointments etc. and still tend to Owen when he wakes up! Ah-mazing!
I am so in love with my new life as a Mom...and MOMpreneur!
Monday, January 31, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
I'm an Awesome Mom
Just going on the record to say, I DID IT!
Tonight (well...last night, considering it's almost 1am...note to self: go to bed!) was our first night without Daddy for a few days. He's travelling for business to Winnipeg, Calgary and Vancouver (hi family!!) between Sunday and Thursday, so the bath/bottle/story/bed routine has been left in my shaky hands.
I say shaky because I was really nervous for tonight. I spent the day at Life with Baby (more on there later!) and the evening with the Monster. We played toys...he had a nap...played in his jumperoo...showed me how capable he is at taking his diaper off when playing naked-baby in front of the TV.
Then came bedtime.
8:30pm
Eek! I rushed to fill the tub while putting his humidifier on, laying out his pj's, making his bottle, setting up his Tylenol (he's teething very badly these days and is still sick, so it's the only relief that he really gets), choosing his story and grabbing his duckie-towel.
He was splish splashing away, having a great time. We played peek-a-boo, I snuck up on him over the side of the tub a few times (he LOVES it!) and then he was dried off.
Then the real panic set in. We have sort of a crazy routine with dimming the lights at certain intervals and whatnot...and for the next few days he's just going to have to adjust (and really...maybe this will turn out to be good and shorten bedtime a whole bunch come the weekend!)
I kid you not, maybe 6 pages into his story The Nativity (from Grammy Dale) and the Monster was asleep. I finished the whole story and he was out like a light. Dim the lights to the point where I could barely see...plunk him down, cover him up and turn on his Rock-a-bye Baby Beatles cd and off I went!
He's been asleep since about 8:45...it's 12:45 now.
I'm awesome.
I promptly rewarded myself with q few minutes of peace and quiet, followed by Sex and the City 2.
Again, I'm awesome.
Tonight (well...last night, considering it's almost 1am...note to self: go to bed!) was our first night without Daddy for a few days. He's travelling for business to Winnipeg, Calgary and Vancouver (hi family!!) between Sunday and Thursday, so the bath/bottle/story/bed routine has been left in my shaky hands.
I say shaky because I was really nervous for tonight. I spent the day at Life with Baby (more on there later!) and the evening with the Monster. We played toys...he had a nap...played in his jumperoo...showed me how capable he is at taking his diaper off when playing naked-baby in front of the TV.
Then came bedtime.
8:30pm
Eek! I rushed to fill the tub while putting his humidifier on, laying out his pj's, making his bottle, setting up his Tylenol (he's teething very badly these days and is still sick, so it's the only relief that he really gets), choosing his story and grabbing his duckie-towel.
He was splish splashing away, having a great time. We played peek-a-boo, I snuck up on him over the side of the tub a few times (he LOVES it!) and then he was dried off.
Then the real panic set in. We have sort of a crazy routine with dimming the lights at certain intervals and whatnot...and for the next few days he's just going to have to adjust (and really...maybe this will turn out to be good and shorten bedtime a whole bunch come the weekend!)
I kid you not, maybe 6 pages into his story The Nativity (from Grammy Dale) and the Monster was asleep. I finished the whole story and he was out like a light. Dim the lights to the point where I could barely see...plunk him down, cover him up and turn on his Rock-a-bye Baby Beatles cd and off I went!
He's been asleep since about 8:45...it's 12:45 now.
I'm awesome.
I promptly rewarded myself with q few minutes of peace and quiet, followed by Sex and the City 2.
Again, I'm awesome.
GIVEAWAY ends MONDAY!
Don't forget to enter the Giveaway over at Sweet Stella's for a customized Board Book! It can be like the one shown, My Family, or can be about shapes...your kiddo...favourite animals...you choose!
Enter today!! The winner will be announced on TUESDAY morning!
Enter today!! The winner will be announced on TUESDAY morning!
Friday, January 28, 2011
Y3W Friday
I think Owen's feeling better!
Oh, and for you nose-pierced Mommas out there...be careful! It hurts when the little Monster grabs my nose!
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Sweet Stella's: Thankful Thursday: Slowly but Surely
Sweet Stella's: Thankful Thursday: Slowly but Surely: "Slowly but surely we're getting back into the swing of things. Today's topic...cold remedies for babies and parents! I am very thankful for..."
Monday, January 24, 2011
My Sick Monster
Oh my poor baby is sick, sick, SICK!
When he refused dinner and started screaming, while blowing snot-bubbles and looking pitiful we took him to the after-hours emergency clinic part of our Doctor's office.
His lungs are clear, ears are okay...just a sick little boy who has a bad cold. Tylenol at regular intervals, Pedialyte and water for extra fluids whenever he'll take it, humidifier (which we were already doing) and lots of snuggles.
Poor Monster...doesn't he just break your heart?
Sunday, January 23, 2011
An Evening in Pictures
Since we got home from Florida, things have been crazy busy...and I've neglected to take any pictures of the Monster!
We've changed a few things up, like his bed time. Instead of 9:30pm bath and 10:00pm bed, we've gone to 8:30pm bath and 9:00pm bed (the whole routine takes no more than a half an hour, so it's usually about 8:50pm when he's out for the count). It seems to be going well! Last night, he was in bed by 8:50ish and...well it's 9:53am and he's just waking up now.
We've also added in some cereal for breakfast, mixed with a little cinnamon to make it more appetizing. That Monster ate. it. up! yesterday. He was very happy with this addition, so I think we'll stick with it.
He's still not interested in crawling, and actually will scream if he flips over onto his belly. Rolling and crawling, apparently, are for chumps. He likes to sit and look, bounce on his bum and play with everything in sight.
Here are a few updated pictures from last night
See the teeth??
Looking oh-so-impressed with all of the pictures
Even upside-down, he's beautiful!
Friday, January 21, 2011
Y3W
That's it!
I surrender
I throw in the towel
I admit defeat
Owen will not...I repeat...WILL NOT...eat apricots! Be they mixed with banana and oatmeal, apples and oatmeal, peaches and oatmeal, or just plan oatmeal...it's not happening.
I give up.
Do your kids have any foods that they absolutely detest?
Thursday, January 20, 2011
He's Got It!
The hang of the sippy cup that is!
Look, Look!!
Honestly, the best tid-bit of advice that I can share is to let them play with it for a little while. I wasn't sure if Owen would even take the sippy cup...so...after a meal I'd plunk him on the floor and put it with his toys. Sure enough...he'd grab it, chew on it...let the water spill down his face and giggle.
Now though...he'll grab it, tilt it, drink a little...and chew alot!
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Sweet Stella's: Whimsical Wednesday: GIVEAWAY!
Want to win something crazy unique and ridiculously awesome?
Sweet Stella's: Whimsical Wednesday: GIVEAWAY!: "Welcome to Whimsical Wednesday! I am so very incredibly excited about today's post! A giveaway!! And not just any giveaway, but a very per..."
Good luck!
Sweet Stella's: Whimsical Wednesday: GIVEAWAY!: "Welcome to Whimsical Wednesday! I am so very incredibly excited about today's post! A giveaway!! And not just any giveaway, but a very per..."
Good luck!
Monday, January 17, 2011
Sippy Cups
Okay...I need some advice.
I was at Walmart yesterday, and happened to glance around when at the checkout. I saw a child, approximately 21-24 months old, with a bottle. A BOTTLE! I quickly thought to myself "Gee...Owen's 7mo now...maybe it's time for the sippy cup??"
We have a couple of different ones (Tommee Tippee Explora, and Nuby No Spill Trainer), and he knows to hold the handles and where his mouth goes. He doesn't quite get that he has to tip it up to get anything out of it.
So, my questions are:
- what sippy cups do you have?
- do you like them?
- what time of day/meal do you offer them at/with?
- what do you put in them?
So far, when we've offered, we've put formula in them. I'm wondering about water and juice, and at meal times.
We're wanting him to get the hang of it, and start using the sippy cup primarily at meals...but is introducing it for snacks the way to go?
His current feeding schedule is:
10am - 8oz bottle of formula
1pm - 2 veggie cubes, 3 fruit cubes (sometimes mixed with homemade oatmeal cereal), 6oz bottle of formula
5pm - 2 veggie cubes, 1 meat cube, 2 fruit cubes, 6oz bottle of formula
8pm - 4oz bottle of formula
10pm - 8oz bottle of formula
We're going to be adjusting that slightly to allow for an early bedtime (another goal for this week) so...we/I am not really sure what to do!
HELP!
I was at Walmart yesterday, and happened to glance around when at the checkout. I saw a child, approximately 21-24 months old, with a bottle. A BOTTLE! I quickly thought to myself "Gee...Owen's 7mo now...maybe it's time for the sippy cup??"
We have a couple of different ones (Tommee Tippee Explora, and Nuby No Spill Trainer), and he knows to hold the handles and where his mouth goes. He doesn't quite get that he has to tip it up to get anything out of it.
So, my questions are:
- what sippy cups do you have?
- do you like them?
- what time of day/meal do you offer them at/with?
- what do you put in them?
So far, when we've offered, we've put formula in them. I'm wondering about water and juice, and at meal times.
We're wanting him to get the hang of it, and start using the sippy cup primarily at meals...but is introducing it for snacks the way to go?
His current feeding schedule is:
10am - 8oz bottle of formula
1pm - 2 veggie cubes, 3 fruit cubes (sometimes mixed with homemade oatmeal cereal), 6oz bottle of formula
5pm - 2 veggie cubes, 1 meat cube, 2 fruit cubes, 6oz bottle of formula
8pm - 4oz bottle of formula
10pm - 8oz bottle of formula
We're going to be adjusting that slightly to allow for an early bedtime (another goal for this week) so...we/I am not really sure what to do!
HELP!
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Friday, January 14, 2011
Y3W
The other day I mentioned that Owen's Gooey Fish seems to be one of the only things that is helping him through terrible teething.
See?
With all of the options of toys in front of him, what does he grab? Gooey Fish!
Now - if you're going to go looking for them...they're not really called Gooey Fish. It's just a name that we adopted from the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.
Here's what to look for
They're called Sassy Jelly Fish Teethers, and they're sold in packs of two! You can get them on Amazon!
Happy teething!
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
A Freaking Terrible Day
Honestly, when it rains...it pours!
Today started off like any other day...
I woke up, got out of bed...dragged a comb across my head (okay, not really, but to any Beatles fans' out there, you know what I'm talking about)
Owen got up, all smiles and ready to start the day. We watched a little Handy Manny, had breakfast, continued our day with Johnny and the Sprites while playing on the floor with many a toy.
I tidied up the house a little, knowing that Grammy was coming for a visit, and started to fill the sink to wash bottles, and plunked Owen in his crib for a nap (which he hated every second of...it's hard to nap when you're cutting teeth!)
This is where the whole day went to hell.
I returned to the sink...oh...about an HOUR LATER when I went to make Owen's lunch...and found our kitchen in about an inch of water!
Shit shit shit!! (earmuffs!)
I called C in a panic, who tried very hard (bless his heart) to calm me down (to no avail, I might add...I was beyond help) and then proceeded to get every towel that we own to dry up the mess. I was worried about damage to the dishwasher and cupboards...and our Turkish rug.
Owen didn't seem to notice one bit that his lunch was 15 or so minutes late and was totally content to play on the floor. He ate like a champ...until it was time for his bottle at the end. His teeth are bothering him in fine fashion today...so he would not take one stitch of his 6oz bottle.
At this point, I said screw it, had a good cry from frustration and he played on the floor while I made some lunch for myself and stepped on sopping towels.
I looked over at Owen on the floor, and he was being incredibly cute...scootching forward on his little bum and trying to catch the sun on the floor. Adorable.
You'd think that would be the worst right?
Nope. After my lunch, I sat on the floor with Owen and gave him his bottle. He took it like a champ and I was a happy momma.
Then he projectile puked on my freshly clean jeans.
I stayed in my pj's for the rest of the afternoon.
C'est la vie!
Today started off like any other day...
I woke up, got out of bed...dragged a comb across my head (okay, not really, but to any Beatles fans' out there, you know what I'm talking about)
Owen got up, all smiles and ready to start the day. We watched a little Handy Manny, had breakfast, continued our day with Johnny and the Sprites while playing on the floor with many a toy.
I tidied up the house a little, knowing that Grammy was coming for a visit, and started to fill the sink to wash bottles, and plunked Owen in his crib for a nap (which he hated every second of...it's hard to nap when you're cutting teeth!)
This is where the whole day went to hell.
I returned to the sink...oh...about an HOUR LATER when I went to make Owen's lunch...and found our kitchen in about an inch of water!
Shit shit shit!! (earmuffs!)
I called C in a panic, who tried very hard (bless his heart) to calm me down (to no avail, I might add...I was beyond help) and then proceeded to get every towel that we own to dry up the mess. I was worried about damage to the dishwasher and cupboards...and our Turkish rug.
Owen didn't seem to notice one bit that his lunch was 15 or so minutes late and was totally content to play on the floor. He ate like a champ...until it was time for his bottle at the end. His teeth are bothering him in fine fashion today...so he would not take one stitch of his 6oz bottle.
At this point, I said screw it, had a good cry from frustration and he played on the floor while I made some lunch for myself and stepped on sopping towels.
I looked over at Owen on the floor, and he was being incredibly cute...scootching forward on his little bum and trying to catch the sun on the floor. Adorable.
You'd think that would be the worst right?
Nope. After my lunch, I sat on the floor with Owen and gave him his bottle. He took it like a champ and I was a happy momma.
Then he projectile puked on my freshly clean jeans.
I stayed in my pj's for the rest of the afternoon.
C'est la vie!
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
So Grey
It's so incredibly grey out today...it just makes me feel pretty blah.
Owen's been cutting teeth like made lately, and has been a little psycho for the most part. His naps are few and far between...and are about 30 minutes...unless he is sleeping on C or I, and then we can get nearly 2 hours out of him.
Poor little guy. While I love his toothy grin, I hate to see him in such pain and discomfort.
His gooey-fish helps, and he still likes to chomp on his linking rings, plush toys...fingers...Tiko the cat.
We're very much hoping to get our smiley baby back soon!
Owen's been cutting teeth like made lately, and has been a little psycho for the most part. His naps are few and far between...and are about 30 minutes...unless he is sleeping on C or I, and then we can get nearly 2 hours out of him.
Poor little guy. While I love his toothy grin, I hate to see him in such pain and discomfort.
His gooey-fish helps, and he still likes to chomp on his linking rings, plush toys...fingers...Tiko the cat.
We're very much hoping to get our smiley baby back soon!
Saturday, January 8, 2011
New Year's Goals
Everyone's posted their resolutions by now but not this girl...
I dread resolution time, but I figure I should probably make some. Why? Well...why not?
I'm going to call them goals, however, as that sounds a little more positive to me than resolutions.
Here we go...
- Organize the disaster that is my Sweet Stella's studio. This will include, and not be limited to, setting up the shelving unit that Santa left me and organizing my multitude of markers in the awesome organizer that Owen bought me (he's so very thoughtful). I am also looking for a stamp pad tower from Close to My Heart, ribbon organizer (or dowel artfully displayed on the wall) and perhaps a desk of some sort...
- Drink more water, at least 2.5L a day
- Eat out less
- Limit intake of sweet to once a week, and don't overindulge just because it's limited to once a week (I am eating M&M Peanuts as I type this...)
- No alcohol, unless it's a special occasion
- Take one evening per week for hot yoga
- Take one afternoon per weekend for me...to do whatever I want to do
That's a decent list right? Not too big, not too small...
and after all, they're goals. One's that I won't beat myself up for if I slip up and have Starbucks every once in a while, or decide to go out for a girl's night and have bellini's with my girlfriends!
It's about being positive, not perfect!
*Edit - one more goal to add! I want to read 25 non-children's books this year! Already done 2 so far!
I dread resolution time, but I figure I should probably make some. Why? Well...why not?
I'm going to call them goals, however, as that sounds a little more positive to me than resolutions.
Here we go...
- Organize the disaster that is my Sweet Stella's studio. This will include, and not be limited to, setting up the shelving unit that Santa left me and organizing my multitude of markers in the awesome organizer that Owen bought me (he's so very thoughtful). I am also looking for a stamp pad tower from Close to My Heart, ribbon organizer (or dowel artfully displayed on the wall) and perhaps a desk of some sort...
- Drink more water, at least 2.5L a day
- Eat out less
- Limit intake of sweet to once a week, and don't overindulge just because it's limited to once a week (I am eating M&M Peanuts as I type this...)
- No alcohol, unless it's a special occasion
- Take one evening per week for hot yoga
- Take one afternoon per weekend for me...to do whatever I want to do
That's a decent list right? Not too big, not too small...
and after all, they're goals. One's that I won't beat myself up for if I slip up and have Starbucks every once in a while, or decide to go out for a girl's night and have bellini's with my girlfriends!
It's about being positive, not perfect!
*Edit - one more goal to add! I want to read 25 non-children's books this year! Already done 2 so far!
Friday, January 7, 2011
Y3W
We're leaving...on a jetplane...tomorrow!
Homeward Bound!
(and yes, I realize Goodbye, Florida is only two words...but the picture is stinking cute!)
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
One Fish, Two Fish...
look at all of the fish!!
We took Owen to the Florida Aquarium yesterday down at the Channelside pier in Tampa. C was skeptical that Owen was going to get anything out of it, but I just knew that the Monster would love watching the fish swimming, looking at the bright colours and getting up close and personal to some interesting creatures.
Boy! Did he ever!
Saturday, January 1, 2011
At the Pool
We had a blast today with Owen at the pool. He wasn't too sure what to think at first, and did not like getting knocked over by the jet from the bottom of the pool, but after a quick nap...was ready for round two!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)