MOMumental!

I’m not sure whether to call this clever, innovative...or just plain lazy parenting.  The other day, my husband was watching our daughter while I had a shower.  I can’t help but listen for her cry anytime I’m not with her...just part of being a mom I guess.  Not a peep from either of them...great...the entire shower...great...the entire time I got dressed...great...the entire time I brushed my hair etc...not a peep!

After about an hour passed, I started to think that perhaps I should check on them.  I started to walk down the hallway of our home.  All I could hear were the sport highlights on TSN...not a peep...strange.   Then, I heard a “WHOOOOOOSH” across the floor. 

I walked into our family room...picture this...my husband sitting on the couch, feet up by the way, TSN on the tube, a cup of Joe in one hand and shoelace in the other!?  Many thoughts are running through my mind at this point...Firstly, “what’s with the shoelace?”... Secondly, “how is he getting away with TSN and a quite babe?”... Thirdly, “where IS the little babe?”

I looked about a meter and a half away from my husband and there sat my daughter in her walker.  Attached to the front of the walker was a shoelace.  You see, my daughter can only move the walker backwards, which was away from my husband.  So, while I was in the shower, my husband must of gotten a shoelace, attached it to the front of the walker...so that every time my daughter moved backwards across the room in her walker, all my husband had to do was pull the shoelace and “WHOOOOOOSH” my daughter would travel back across the room right back to my husband!...no footwork required (for my husband that is!).   She seemed to really enjoy it!

My initial reaction... “how do you explain that to family?...or better yet company?” 

Go on...take a pull...she loves it!  I admit, at first, I was quick to judge... “what kind of parenting technique is that!?” I asked.  My husband was proud that he discovered a way to relax, watch his TV program and entertain the babe! 

Sadly, I admit that I too pull that darn shoelace....every now and then...LOL!

As a mommy, I believe that you have to do whatever works best for you and your babe.  However, I think I may have some regret sharing that thought process with my husband...I wonder what concoction he’ll come up with next?!

Valentine Cupcakes!

Valentine’s Day was a great day.  My daughter and I baked cupcakes for daddy!  My tummy still hurts from playing the quality control role for the day...I’m not sure I actually consumed an ounce of nutrition!  Check out those treats!!!  Yummy yummy!

"Aha MOMent"

When my husband and I had our daughter we had a wonderful experience.  I remember we were on a huge high...I remember being so happy that I couldn’t eat or sleep, I just wanted to stare, kiss, hold and love my little girl.  I also remember asking my husband if we could have another one (LOL)!   We were also in disbelief that this little sweet bundle was ours for keeps.  We felt so blessed that she was healthy, but we also felt the weight on our shoulders to be the best parents we could be!  We had a lot of support through friends and family and so the first few weeks were what I call the honeymoon phase!

Day 5, we had our first doctor’s appointment...no big deal...no problem!  My husband and I get up with plenty of time to spare for the two of us to get ready and get out the door.  As we are getting ready to go, my daughter needed to be fed, burped, changed, clothed and of course loved...our time is slowly running out.  My “aha MOMent” happens and I realize that we definitely did not prepare and plan for this morning (mistake #1 forgetting to allot time for our daughters’ needs!!!...ha...amateur parents!)  Panic starts to settle in and my husband and I start to realize that we are probably not going to make it on time (mistake #2 running around the house in a state of panic and getting ready without communicating...every man for himself mentality).  Just when we thought we were out of the woods, ready to leave, we go back up the stairs...we forgot to pack the diaper bag (mistake #3...not packing a diaper bag in advance/not knowing what goes into a diaper bag)!  Time is really starting to run out and my husband and I are running around our daughters room grabbing diapers, wipes, cream, burping blankets, regular blankets, sleepers, onesies, another outfit, socks, bibs, a toy...everything but the kitchen sink...stuffing it all into our little diaper bag!  By this time our daughter starts crying from being in the car seat and having to witness her parents in frenzy-like state!  The clock is ticking...but we rock her, sing to her, hold her tiny hand...awesome...she’s back to sleep...we are heading out the door.  My husband gets to the front door and stops...he asks “where are the car keys?”  I look at him, he looks at me...we stand at the front door looking at each other (mistake #4...staring at each other...thinking...waste of time)!  Next thing you know, we are both running around the house looking in all the usual places for the keys...we meet back at the front door...still no keys.  My husband has an “aha MOMent” (dads can have them too you know!) and says “the keys are in the car, I forgot that I already started the car when we were running around getting ready!”  We take a deep breath, we leave the house, we get into the car...we take another deep breath...we looked at each other with a sense of accomplishment and pride...we smile...we start to laugh...we both agree... “at least we didn’t forget the baby!” 

Although the honeymoon phase lasted about 2 weeks, this was our first real parenting experience that made us realize that our life was going to be different from here on in...a good different, but nonetheless different! 

Bedtime Boogie

I consider myself pretty easygoing and flexible when it comes to motherhood.  We had a challenging first 4 months with my daughter.  She had colic and was an extremely fussy babe!  All the “rules” and “advice” went out the window and my husband and I went into survival mode.  In a short time, we learned that we need to do what’s best for us and our babe...so that’s what we did...no regrets! 

However, one of the things that we haven’t quite figured out yet is bedtime!  We have started to develop this crazy routine...it makes me laugh just thinking about it!  I thought you all may be interested...if all else fails...you can try the bedtime boogie...lol!

Firstly, we don’t really have a set bedtime for our daughter (perhaps this is mistake #1), she typically dictates when she wants to go to bed (mistake #2?), which is totally fine with us, but there are some definite cues that tell us she is ready to start the bedtime boogie.  She starts to rub her eyes, burry her head in our shoulder or chest and she gets fussy...to the point where she starts to shriek and cry, arch her back and ultimately fight it off!

Up until these past few weeks, I would start with my version of the “fox trot”.  I would hold her and literally dance my way down the hallway of our home, up and down, back and forth with babe in my arms.  She would cry, kick and fight every second of it...but I just kept up with the dance, making quick rhythmic steps up and down the hallway (hoping that my neighbours weren’t watching the show!).  When my arms and feet got tired, my husband would be waiting in the wings.  I would hand her off like a football and my husband would start his version of the “cha cha”!  Moving quickly around the kitchen and TV room (so he could keep his eyes on the football game), hips’ swaying and feet moving...now she’s sucking vigorously on her soother with eyes closed.  ...We are not there yet!  Next thing I know, she’s back in my arms and we are “tangoing” down the hallway.  Holding her tight against my chest, she starts to relax...yay!  About 30 minutes into this performance, my husband has the last dance...the “waltz”.  The rise and fall movement around the kitchen and TV room, allows her to finally settle down...she’s asleep...soother is out and mouth is open!  We put her down in her crib and walk away...we finally did it...yes!  Exhausted, my husband and I relax after that huge ordeal...feeling a sense of accomplishment! 

...5 minutes later...our daughter starts to cry and we are back at it!  We cut the performance time in half and back into the crib she goes!  Tip-toeing out of her room, we sit down and rest in silence...hoping that she is finally down for a solid sleep...yay...5 minutes pass...10 minutes pass....15 minutes pass...we are in the clear!  As proud parents we look at each other and say “we did it”!...all we can think about is how much more successful we would be if we actually took ballroom dance lessons...perhaps this would cut our time down in half?!

So if you are ever in a jam, we suggest you try our bedtime boogie...no previous dance experience required!

Love this Product!

Since the last post was about poop, I thought it was only fitting to share a product I use all the time.  This product is called “Stain Remover” by Buncha Farmers.  It is 100% natural and biodegradable and it’s a Canadian product! I cannot tell you enough...this product is awesome!  It’s the best stain remover I have ever used and it is really reasonable!  There is not a single stain it hasn’t been able to remove...I am totally hooked!  The website gives you a ton of ideas on how you can use this product.  Check it out!  You won’t be disappointed!

“Painting the walls” MOMent

As a new mom, I find myself in situations that make me stop and think “how did I get here?”  This story is definitely one of those situations!  Changing diapers is part of parenthood...no big deal.  Changing a baby girl is easy...no need to have a peepee teepee handy...or have to tag team it...right?...that’s what I thought!

About 3 weeks into this parenting bit, my daughter needed another diaper change...no big deal.  We were going about our usual business when all of a sudden, like a bolt of lightning, poop was propelled across the room.  Splat...onto the wall...drip...drip...dripping down the wall, onto the baseboard and then the floor!  Somehow she also managed to get me and the furniture in the process!  First of all, the sound itself was shocking!  It sounded like she was squeezing the last bit of ketchup out of the bottle.  Second of all, I was looking at her, then looking at the huge mess... thinking “how is this even possible?... how could an 8 pound baby,  so sweet, so tiny,  propel all of this across a room?”  Third of all, “where do I begin?... baby...wall...floor...myself? ...does this situation warrant a distress call?”

The crazy thing about this “MOMent” is that it was played, paused, rewound and re-played more times than I would like to admit!  I can honestly say that it would catch me by surprise every single time!  Changing a diaper went from a mere 5 minutes to half an hour extravaganza!  Grandma was one of the lucky ones to have her walls, blinds and carpet painted a lovely shade of chartreuse...on numerous occasions!  The car was another one of her targeted attacks.  It got to the point, that it took a tag team effort to try and contain it...and I honestly thought that it was never going to end!

Finally, I can say that she has stopped painting the walls, reupholstering the car and frosting the furniture...thank goodness!  I’ve learned that motherhood can be unpredictable, messy, hilarious...shall I say full of adventure!?...and just when you think something is never going to end...I remind you to stop and say “this too shall pass...eventually.”

Links I Like...

Recommended by a very close friend, kiwi crate is a fabulous idea for a rainy day...or makes a great gift for children ages 3 to 7!  Check it out.

p.s. only for my American friends for now, but kiwi crate said they would contact me when it makes it out to Canada!

Let me introduce myself...

Well...I`m brand new to the mommy world...and taking it all in stride!  I have been blessed with a healthy baby girl, who instantly enriched my life!   I am only 5 months into this job...far from calling myself seasoned! 

Although hard for me to admit...sigh...(mommy guilt...as you all know, starts the day you find out there`s a bun in the oven),... but this blog is selfishly motivated.   It`s a simple equation really...sharing my thoughts & stories + YOU = a daily dose of mommy time!  A pause that only lasts a few minutes before we have to push play again and carry on with our busy schedules, but a pause none the less!  We take what we can get...right?

My hope is to enlighten you with a guilt-free mommy moment (hence the word MOMent) to connect, share, laugh, advise and empathize!