T H E W I L D | Modern apparel for hip kids.

Hello! So I've been alluding here and there to a project that I've been working on for ever (and ever) and it's all finally out in the open. This has been a labour of love to say the least...what an adventure. I'm so SO happy it's all launched!



So, a little back-story. Years ago I had been painting and had created some characters for Ben's room. People started asking for them and things began to snowball. I had this crazy idea that it would be so wonderful to create something really cool with these drawings of mine. 

Countless sketchbooks and notebooks and months (years) later, this is where I'm starting. And seriously, starting is the key word. For now, we are offering baby clothes, kids clothes and accessories. There are so many more things I will be adding. Stay tuned! But for now, check out what we have!!

















This is just a little peek, you can see more on our website here and our Etsy shop here. Also, you can follow along with us:

✚ INSTAGRAM /// @thewildkidsapparel

✚ FACEBOOK /// facebook.com/thewildkidsapparel

✚ TWITTER /// @thewildkidsapp

✚ PINTEREST /// pinterest.com/thewildkids/

We plan on adding more products, different characters, running some fun contests....eee I can't wait!!

This project was not done alone. I could NOT have done any of this without Billy, who has been my sounding board, my constant support, my photographer, my complete partner. I want to do this for him and for our kids. I want Ben and Sawyer to see that Mommy works hard too, and if all goes well I too can be contributing to our family. Taking these years to be home with the boys has been a DREAM and I feel so completely lucky to have been able to do it. It's all because of Billy. But it's time to really seriously integrate work into my life, and balance that with my mom duties. This balance is something I've been really needing and I'm happier than ever when I have work to do. Ask anyone. I'm strange.

My Mom and Dad. Those two. I can't begin to describe how much they help and support me, encourage me, motivate me. It's because of them that I applied to school again, to this amazing semi-secret program that has helped me make this all happen. They are the hardest working people, both small business owners, and they push me to do things that I normally wouldn't think were possible. You guys. Thank you times a billion.

Ben and Sawyer! My handsome little muses. This is ALL because you exist. Not even lying, before you I wasn't sure that I liked kids all that much. Now, I'm sold. Kids rule. You two most of all.

Don, Norine, Cass, Kurt, the family that I married into who are the best ever. You guys are always there for us every step of the way and I don't know what we would do without you. Cass, I'm totally going to need you at my upcoming markets girl. 

To everyone, my family, my friends, everyone who is sick of hearing about this, ALL OF YOU, I'm so very grateful. Not only for being my cheerleaders, for sharing and liking things all over social media. But just for being in my life and for being AWESOME. I never could have imagined I would have the best set of people in the universe surrounding me. It's the best.

Anyway, I love you guys. Straight up for real. You get it.

xo

Early mornings. Like really early.

I've never been great at getting my kids on any kind of sleep schedule. I just go with the flow and complain when they aren't having perfectly timed naps and when bedtime takes forty seven hours. Logical thinking, I know.

The other night I was watching Bill Mahar and Jerry Seinfeld was on, and he revisited his kids' bedtime rant bit. It's hilarious.

"The bedtime routine for my kids is like this Royal Coronation Jubilee Centennial of rinsing and plaque and dental appliances and the stuffed animal semi-circle of emotional support. And I've gotta read eight different moron books. You know what my bedtime story was when I was a kid? Darkness!....Anybody that has kids now, we're just too into it."

I mean, so true, right? Hilarious.

These days Ben and Saeyer are equally not into sleep, and 5 am is the new 6 am. I was alright with 6 am. I had accepted 6 am. Even on Sundays. But 5? Nothing is even remotely interesting before 5 am. Every morning on our kitchen chalkboard we write out the day of the week and the weather. This morning we drew a moon and stars people. And it's still technically summer.

What is going to happen when daylight savings hits? Please helppppp!!

A day out with Thomas!

A little while ago we took the boys down to St. Thomas to see the REAL Thomas! Or a big Thomas slapped on the front of an old train, but still! Ben went nuts, as you can imagine.











It felt like a very parent-y thing to do, taking our kids to something like this. I can't wait to go again next year! Note to anyone who wants to do this, be prepared to spend $678759 on a balloon. Start saving now.

Ben's Birthday Scooter

As it happened, Billy had to work on Ben's actual birthday. So, between his big party and our little birthday outing as a family, his birthday celebration was stretched out for about a week. I don't think he minded a bit!

On Friday we too Ben down to the Pier to give him his present from us, a Scooter! He LOVED IT.









We also got some lunch down at William's, one of our favourite places. I don't think there was one tantrum during lunch, success! I mean, taking a three year old out to a restaurant isn't always fun these days, so we take what we can get!







Such a fun birthday week, just love these boys :)

Benjamin's Three Year Photo

For the first two years after Ben was born I did monthly photos, and after the age of two I decided to continue do them every year for as long as these boys are willing to tolerate it anyway!



Here is Ben, at three years old. My sweet boy! He has grown so much, it kind of kills me. But, he gets sweeter and sweeter the older he gets. 

Every year on his birthday I also measure his height on the door frame inside his closet. I love little traditions like that! 

THREE.

Three. Today our sweet Ben is officially three years old. I know every mother in the world is always saying the same thing, but I can't BELIEVE how fast this went. Please, please slow down time!

The day Ben was born, everything changed. Our hearts literally exploded with love for him. I remember being so terrified when I was pregnant, the entire time. Terrified. It just was unimaginable to me, being a Mom. Having this third person around, all the time. But, as those same moms are always saying, it was the best thing that ever happened to us. When I'm old and grey and looking back on my life, Benjamin (and Sawyer, but this is a Ben post) will be what brought so much sunshine to our lives. Billy and I were happy before he came along, but I don't think we knew just how happy we could really be in life until we laid our eyes on his tiny face.

When I think about holding him for the first time, rocking him to sleep all those nights, watching all of his firsts, ugh, SOB. I could just ball my eyes out. Every day he surprises me, impresses me, (drives me mental), and kills me with his sweetness. 

Seeing him now, as a brother, is something I could have never prepared myself for or imagined. He LOVES Sawyer. Like, it's ridiculous. If hes upset or having a bad moment, he just has to remember Sawyer is there and then all is forgotten, and he just wants to kiss him. It's too much sweetness, and it's the best thing in the world.

Benjamin is our gentle little soul. He's the most kind, loving person in the world. He loves to have a 'nice hug', and loves to hold hands and snuggle. He is so smart it scares me, and equally cheeky (just like his Dad...and maybe his Mom too...). 

We adore him more than we will ever, ever be able to express. Happy third birthday, our sweet sweet Benjamin. Thank you for being such an amazing kid. <3

Benjamin's Third Birthday Party

Earlier we had friends and family get together to celebrate Ben turning three (THREE!!!) years old. The weather was supposed to be horrific but turned out not too shabby. Cool but no rain, so we can't complain. Such a fun day!



The four of us in a photo together...this never happens!



This picture seriously warms my heart. Little children holding hands and running through a field is the best thing you can ever see happen in real life. And when one of them is your own little one, no less. Ugh, my heart!!!!













Spoiled rotten, yes he was. But very very grateful for all of it, I promise!







Was it a Thomas cake? Of course it was!







Selfies with my mom and boys, the best kind of selfie!

After everyone left we stayed a bit and Ben played in, well, the dirt for a while. But I couldn't complain, he was pretty into that dirt.



Thank you SO much to everyone who joined us, Ben was over the moon! We are so lucky to be surrounded but such cool people. 

And here is proof that Ben had a thoroughly fun and tiring day. Dirty knees and all. <3

Almost three months and almost three years.

Over the next few days, Sawyer will be three months old, and Ben will be three years old. YEARS. How on earth we got through three years so quickly I'll never know. Is it weird that I still feel like a new mom? Where's all my mom wisdom? When do I get really good at this?

Being a Mom has been the best thing that ever happened to me, but if I'm being honest, it's been really, really hard for me too. I always wanted to be that mom sitting on the floor singing songs with her babies in a cute dress looking great and wearing lipstick. Ya, no. We sing a lot in this house, but the rest isn't quite so cute. Not on most days anyway. I wear leggings (aka the new track pants) 24/7 and there is always, always baby spit up on my shoulder. And there is lipstick in this house somewhere, but Ben's hidden it on me. I miss you Ruby Woo.

I feel like it will always be a learning process. Every day something new to figure out. Having two is especially tricky. I mean, how on earth do moms get their babies to sleep with crazy three year olds running around playing with their super loud fire truck toy? And why does Ben always always want to play with his musical instruments when Sawyer is finally starting to settle? ALWAYSSSS. 

Obstacles aside, having these two boys is such a special thing. I want so badly to be a good mom to them, and many days I fail miserably. But I'm trying, so maybe that's enough? Is that all any parent is ever doing? 

One of the biggest things that I've learned is that our expectations of parenthood are so completely different than the reality, and you can never prepare yourself for it. You just have to throw yourself in and see what happens. And never ever ever get yourself into the mindset that being a parent will look like it does in magazines or on blogs or on tv. So much of what we see doesn't represent the real day to day life with little ones. I wish it did! I wish I had time to wash and blowdry my hair on ALL THE DAYS. I wish Billy and I could take off to Toronto and see concerts and drink beer until the wee hours like we used to. But there will be a time for that again. I wish that life looked like the videos on Love Taza. Man those people are doing is ALL right. (Or so it seems, of course). At least she has lipstick on!

Billy and I actually had a really good long talk about this earlier and it was such a good reminder of the fact that we still have time for so much! There are stages to life and not every can happen in every stage. Right now our time is focused on getting these little boys through their first few years. But things will change, and we will have our independence again, and we will miss this time terribly.

And so. For now, we focus on our little family, trying to keep everyone healthy and happy and connected. Trying to soak up these quick years with the two kindest little souls we've ever known. And trying to be the best parents we can be.

Anyway, I'm getting all weepy thinking about how old Ben is and how I'll never rock him to sleep again and how soon he will stop letting me kiss him 563284 times a day. Birthdays are weird when it's your own kid! So I guess I better put the laptop away and get back to stuffing loot bags for the kids who are coming to celebrate with him. I'm hoping loot bags haven't changed so much that they're expecting iPhones or something. Sorry kids, you're getting the same dollar store crap that I got and loved as a child. ;)