Living Clean Pt. 1 - Who really cares anyway?

In this post I'm going to talk a bit about why this stuff matters. This is the post to ignore if you just want some ideas of what to buy (which is coming next), or if you've been thinking this way for years and you can't believe someone is JUST figuring this out (guilty, sigh). Believe me, I'll understand. But I want to write this out because in a short period of time it's become really important to me, and I would love it if anyone else decided to make some of these changes too.

I want to make our home as safe as possible for this beautiful boy of mine to grow up in. Bottom line. And so I have major changes to make. I'm starting by figuring out if the products we use in our homes and on our bodies are 'safe' or not. But what does that mean, and how do we find out, and how unsafe are we talking? (And whyyyyy didn't this all register when I was pregnant? Sad face...)

Very simply put, bath and body products, hair products, etc. are all things that are absorbed into our skin. Unlike food, which is filtered in our bodies, these products go directly into our blood stream. Those chemicals are going straight in too, and they build up over time. The fewer we're exposed to, the better. We're less likely to get sick, and that sounds good to me. And it's especially important for babies and kids. Their tender skin drinks it all up and they are even more susceptible to things than we are. Safe is the only way. So, how do we find safe things?

There are many, many factors to consider when it comes to this. You can't trust things like 'all natural' or other such claims. You can't walk in to Whole Foods or Goodness Me and assume everything in there is ok. In fact, my new theory is to trust nothing and always check before I but anything, period. What we need to check are the ingredients, and I know, that sounds like the least fun thing ever. But there are websites that have made this a thousand times easier for us, so we don't really have an excuse anymore.

One of the best and most trusted sites is the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep. This website allows you to search for products and provides you with a safety 'score'. This site isn't perfect, but it's pretty great. I find myself using this along with GoodGuide, and making my decision based on both, though I tend to trust EWG more as they seem to be harder on products. And I will not buy something if I can't find it on these sites unless I'm confident about every single ingredient. It's just not worth the risk.

On EWG you want products that score between 0 and 2, and on Good Guide you want anything above 8. If you'd rather just use one website, that's totally ok. I'm using them both just to cross reference, because I'm crazy(?) but it takes two seconds and I feel better doing it.

As far as specifics, there are some major ingredient no-nos that you should never accept in any products. EWG has a great pocket guide that outlines what to steer clear of. There is also a great list on Ecoholic. And if you want more details on why we need to avoid this stuff, look towards the bottom of this page. 

A good place to start is with your current products, search them and see if they're ok. Maybe you're way on top of this. Or maybe you're like me and you've used scary stuff without knowing it. Once you know what changes you need to make, you can begin, and you can go slow. Replace each when you run out with a safer option. That doesn't sound so awful, does it?

If you want to start a journey to a greener life in more ways than just these few areas, I saw this list today and thought it was pretty great. I decided to start nice and slow with the things I'll mention over the next few posts, but I'm not stopping there.

Anyway, in my next post I will list some products that I've found to use on Ben and for us too that have great scores and wonderful ingredients. It's actually been really fun researching this stuff, and I've discovered some great companies! 

And just to note - none of this will be sponsored. I know people are very leery about things they read on blogs because we're all huge sell-outs but rest assured, no ones giving me a penny to write any of my ramblings. I'm not even close to being that cool. 

One last thing...if you've been reading this blog for a while, I want to say that products I've mentioned in the past were never thought of in this regard, so please search them on EWG if you use them (as I've been doing) and only use what you're comfortable with. 

How to disable the home button on your iPad or iPhone

Ben looooves playing games on my iPad. I try to make it a rare event, more like a special treat, but when I bring it out he literally screams for joy. The problem is, he will only play a game for about 2 seconds before hitting that home button and then he is instantly deleting my apps. Great.

I found a few tutorials online on how to disable this button and I thought I would share it, since its really great not having to download Instagram every other day.

Anyway here it is, how to disable the home button on your iPad or iPhone to keep your kids within one app:

1. Open your Settings icon
2. Click 'General', then 'Accessibility'
3. Under 'Learning', turn on 'Guided Access'
4. You will be asked to create a password here which is what you will need to code in later to leave an app that you have locked

Now that this 'Guided Access' has been enabled, open any app that you want your child to play with and quickly triple-click the home button, which will allow you to lock the app and disable the home button. When you press 'Start', guided access has begun and will remain that way until you unlock it. To do so, you simply triple click the home button again and enter your password, then end guided access. Ta-da!

Anyone have any favourite kids apps? I love the Eric Carle 'Counting with the Very Hungry Caterpillar' app, and Ben's fav is, of course, the Bubble Guppies app :)

P.S. As I'm sure you've heard Google Reader is shutting down...if that's what you use give Bloglovin a try, it's great!

Toddler entertainment

Today the snow came back, probably because it thinks I'm a big jerk for always complaining about it, so we were indoors and trying to keep busy. 

We started with Storytime at the library which is always fun. When we got home we played with instruments, read seven thousand books, played with trains, had lots of snacks, went through Ben's clothes (99% of which are too small), and watched three episodes of bubble guppies. All this took up about twenty minutes of the day, and Ben was itching for more. It's official. I suck at entertaining my toddler. Feeling like a big failure today. Ben thinks I'm super boring. 



I've been all over Pinterest for activity ideas, and I feel like we've tried them all! Ok we'll not all of them. There was that idea of cooking spaghetti and then mixing it with food colouring and squishing it all over the table to make pasta paintings. NO THANKS. 

We need more ideas, more things to do. The chalkboard wall is only cool for about two, maybe three minutes. 

Tomorrow's mission - get outsiiiiiide. 

The missing post!

You guys! A lovely reader, Julie, had my missing post in her Google Reader and sent it to me! How lovely! Thank you SO much Julie!!!



First - yes, I fail at blogging. I know. I used to be so good with the posting! I don't even have good excuses you guys! I've been very busy doing important things like looking for good recipes on Pinterest and trying to find cute ways to wear my hair. Anyway, last night I read this article and I looooved it! It so symbolizes what I've come to believe about being a parent. 



My favourite line was, "You can't win at parenting or homemaking. If you think you're winning then everyone else thinks you're a dick." SO TRUE. I mean, we all know nothing, it's just one big game of trial and error. P.S. Sorry if there are any delicate ears out there. I'm a big fan of cheeky words. Maybe I should start swearing more on the blog? 



Being a parent to this little munchkin still feels very new to me, even after almost two years, and I don't think I'll ever feel like I have the whole thing down. Every day is brand new. Every tantrum, nap, meal, bedtime, are all different and changing continuously. And that is really frustrating sometimes, but it also keeps me on my toes, which is kind of fun (and kind of not fun). 

I do things that I NEVER thought I would do! I remember before I was pregnant all of my 'plans' for when I was a Mom. All out the window. My son is almost two and I'm still (GASP!) nursing him! No, not all day, but after the first year I decided to let him self wean. So it's a bedtime thing, and that's ok! What else...I fed him baby food from (GASP) jars! Dear God!! And you know what? He's totally ok. And he's happy and healthy and our way works for us. There are Moms who don't attempt nursing at all and THAT'S OK! Some Moms do cry it out, some don't, that's ok too! 



We all have access to the same information, and we all have a right to decide what is best for us and our kids. It's actually pretty awesome that everyone does it a little differently.

Anyway, I thought anyone could benefit from reading this and having a good laugh. Also, I thought I would make up for my absence with a healthy dose of Ben pics.

And we're done with the needles...for a while...

Yesterday I wrote about this article, and a few hours later the post disappeared...a few people got a chance to read it, but I'm afraid it's gone forever. Anyway, the point was to have people read the main article anyway and have a laugh, so I hope some of you do!



In other news, we had our last round of shots the other day, and we're done now until Ben is FIVE. Best feeling ever. Those shots KILL ME. Ben did ok, he wept of course, but we got through it and he bounced back and was laughing within just minutes, so I was very happy to see that. And he had a very special present waiting for him at home that he's still very excited about. Brave little man!



How cute is he on that tiny scale? He thought that part was pretty cool. Such a cutie!!

He's doing great health wise, we're so proud of him. I love this age, he's so much fun! A handful, but so much fun, and more affectionate every day. He gives me such cute little kisses every morning and all through the day, he hugs and cuddles...oh I love him so. And he's so smart! He knows his entire alphabet (not in order, but he recognizes every letter and says each one when he sees them). Our next big challenge is numbers, which he's not as great with, but we'll get there!

Now let's hope this post doesn't get deleted somehow! Sheesh...

Ben hearts trains

The people behind the Thomas products are geniuses, clearly. Ben is in LOVE with trains. In particular, Percy, but he loves them all. We go to the library a lot to play with the train table, which is sort of the Mecca for train lovers. 









There are usually not that many kids, if any, at our library when we go. And with the issue at the new rec centre (toddler programs only available between 1 and 2, which is the middle of nap time for us) we're in desperate need of some toddler companionship. Kids, where are you??

The day with no naps. Also known as the day that was like many other days.

Every day is different around here. If I were a super awesome Mom, Ben would nap at exactly 12:30 pm for exactly three hours and I would be well rested and looking cute everyday. And I would probably own a pair of Lululemons. Well none of this exists here, I have a cheerio stuck in my hair and Ben naps whenever he bloody feels like it, much to my chagrin. And I'm afraid Sephora doesn't have a single thing that will mimic rest on this face of mine. 

Today was interesting on many levels. After a very sleepless night Ben decided to carry the trend through the day and refuse sleep of any kind. All. Day. Long. And that's no fun on a good day, but on a day following a night of countless wake ups and cuddles and tears, it was hard on both of us. My eyes hurt. 

Most of the day he was a good sport, my sweet Ben. There were a lot of "Mamaaa"s and those sweet little outstretched arms reaching up to be lifted and carried from room to room. And though my back is forever sore and my sweet boy is getting bigger and heavier every day, I carried him every single time he asked me to. We tried many things to find that elusive sleep...long walks, cuddles in the big bed, three episodes of Bubble Guppies. No dice. Sometimes after you've tried all there is to try, the only thing left to do is take a nice long bath smack in the middle of the day. 

The hard days are hard. But I know one day I will only remember that little voice calling my name and burying his tiny face in my neck, hoping I will fix whatever it is he needs fixing. Oh Ben, you make my heart ache. Thank you for being so patient with me while I figure out this Mom stuff. Yes, still. 

Winter

We're in the thick of it these days...it's freezing, it's hard to get out every day, Ben hates his snowpants...winter and being a stay at home Mom can suck sometimes. I know, I know, no one likes to hear the whining of a person who gets to stay home...believe me I know how hard it is working long days in the winter too (up and it's dark, leave work and it's dark, a few measly weeks off each year if you're lucky). But being a stay at home Mom has an entire set of it's own things. There are lots of pluses, the biggest one being getting to be with Ben 24/7. It's why I did this, it's why I gave up my career (for now) to do this. But MAN can it be tough.

I think the hardest part, for me, is feeling isolated. Billy works really long days and nights. So, most days we have all of our meals alone, our outings are just us, and I don't have nearby friends with young kids that Ben can play with. There are drop in centres that we go to, but I have yet to see the same Mom twice if you can believe it. What's a girl to do?

There is a rec centre that has just opened near our house (we've been anxiously watch them build it for about a year now), so next week we're going to check out their 'Tots Stay and Play' program. I'm really hoping it's better than the other programs we've checked out. I have found that almost all of the girls running these programs seem kind of disinterested and hang out on their cell phones. Annoying. 

On the weekends they have a family swim program so Billy and I are going to take Ben to that in the next couple of weeks, I'm pretty excited to see my guys swimming together!

Apart from that, I guess we'll just take each week as it comes, and try to get out as much as we can. I hope all you Moms out there are making it through the winter with your little ones ok. Here's hoping for an early spring!!

These days

Fall has been a lot different this year with Benny being a toddler. In ways it's much easier, but in other ways it's tougher. He's more fun now, and I love that he will give us hugs and kisses, and has new words every day. But MAN is he cheeky. And he pushes it every day, like he knows he's being cheeky and likes getting a reaction. So, I have a lotttt to learn about parenting in this respect. As usual, I'm totally unprepared and lost. 

Apart from his little temper, he's pretty much awesome right now. He claps when I mention going to the park, he still LOVES books, and he's learning so much so fast. I love it!

Most days I find myself getting pretty caught up in the routine of it all. I've become terrible at staying in touch with our friends, taking care of myself, the usual things us Moms neglect. But I also find myself taking for granted the moments with Ben, being so preoccupied with the next nap time or meal. I am trying to slow down and take it all in.

It wasn't too long ago though that I had a perfect Mom moment. The kind that I used to picture long before I actually was a Mom. It was a weeknight, pretty late but just before Billy got home from work. I was listening to music and we were playing, and Lay Lady Lay by Bob Dylan came on. I picked him up, we danced in the living room and I sang to him. He loved it. And I think it will be one of those moments that I picture when I'm an old lady. I'll take it.

One Year

Well, it's official. It's been almost a full YEAR since our little boy arrived. A year. If they all go this fast, I'm going to cry.





A year of not knowing what day of the week it is, ever. A year of getting dressed only if someone's coming to the house (and sometimes not even then, you know, if it's my Mom).  Looking back over the last twelve months, I think I can sum it all up by saying just this: being a Mom is the best thing ever.


I've mentioned this before I'm sure, but before I had Ben, I was one of those people who didn't really get baby thing. I wanted one, sure, but I didn't really know what the big deal was. I felt like it was something you do, at some point, like it was just part of the process.


WELL. On that beautiful morning in May when they brought my little Benjamin over to me, I became someone else entirely. There are just no words. I feel like describing that feeling can't really be done. I've tried, all Mom's have at some point, but you can't really. It's a moment that will forever make me teary, and one that I am SO thankful for. I wish I could re-live it every day. Every minute of it was perfect. From having my water break in the middle of the night (even though I was to have a scheduled c section two weeks later) to the dreaded epidural (which wasn't bad at ALL) to having a hospital room jam packed with people for days after. Perfect.


Since those first few amazing days, it's been a huge learning process. I think that will always be the case. But, in particular, this is what I've learned about being a Mom. Being Ben's Mom, that is.

• Don't expect ANYTHING. Sleep schedules, routines, methods....read about them, sure. But toss them all out the window when your baby comes and just see how THEY are. They're tiny humans, not robots. 
• Sleep when baby sleeps, or don't. But find what works for you. I have slept WITH Ben for some naps, but I have never successfully put Ben down for a nap and then gone to sleep myself. That only works at night for me. I'm just one of those people that would rather be sleep deprived in a tidy house. So what.
• Do things for yourself. If I hadn't started ADOP, I probably would have gone a little stir crazy. I need to have something to focus on...something that feels like work. Being off and just doing nothing makes me mental. And although I spend 95% of my time with Ben, I like having a side project. And as it turns out, I have never been as inspired as I have these past twelve months. I have SO MUCH I want to do in my life now. So many plans. So excited :)
• If you don't already, learn to love coffee. And tea. And maybe espresso. Caffeine is your friend. 
• You don't have to join all the mom groups....but it's nice to have some Mom friends. There is one Mom 'hang out' that I know of, and I feel really uncomfortable there. i don't know what it is, I just feel like I'm not part of it. But, there are so many fellow bloggers who I have started talking to, who are Moms, and I LOVE having them to look to for inspiration, advice, the occasional lack-of-sleep complaint. So great to know there are others out there who are up all night with me.
• Teething really sucks. Big time. I had no idea.
• Nothing, no book or advice or website can prepare you for having a baby. I actually avoided most of that sort of thing when I was pregnant, and for the most part I'm glad I did. It was too overwhelming for me at the time, and I think now I would have had too many expectations. As organized and OCD as I am...when a situation makes me nervous, sometimes I like to wing it. In this case, it worked out for me...and I just looked into different things as I went. A lot of things just sort of fell into place, and I think that's a good way to figure things out too.

Over the weekend Billy and I will be celebrating Ben's first birthday with family and a few close friends, we're so excited. I hope to have pictures to share soon (no promises though, hosting and being the photographer don't work so well together). And I'll also have Ben's monthly photo....can't believe there will be 12 of them!

Next week I'm headed back to work, temporarily. For those of you who don't know, I work in the administration office of a private college, and have for a few years now. I won't go into details on my work situation out of respect for my employer, but I will say that I will be back in my old office for just four weeks, and despite all the guilt/nerves/anxiety, I'm actually looking forward to it. I'll be sure to update what's happening with me going forward once the month is over. In the meantime, forgive me if I'm not posting quite as often...but I'll do my best!

Poor Ben (Plus a few tips on helping sick babies)

We've officially had our first baby cold around here. Ben has been lucky so far and has been perfectly healthy...but the last few days he's had the sniffles. It's been ok, no fever, nothing serious, but he's been pretty congested and unhappy about it. My poor little guy!


I'm not even close to being a wise Mom (yet, one day!), but between looking up parenting articles online and Billy bringing home everything the pharmacist recommended, we have a few ideas to share when it comes to helping out sick little ones. If anyone has any other tips please share!

1. Lots, I mean LOTS, of water. I know, this one goes without saying, but you have to really remember to be constantly giving your little one water, especially if they're not so into doing it themselves yet. Ben will drink from his cup no problem, but he mostly chews on it...I have to really make sure he's also drinking.
2. Hydrasense Ultra-Gentle Mist.When Billy brought this stuff home, the thought of actually administering this nearly brought me to tears. (I know, I need to toughen up). But, if you can believe this....he likes it. When I lay him down and show him the bottle, he literally smiles and closes his eyes, waiting for it. I'm not joking. 
3. Coryzalia. I use the Camilia from this line for teething and so I thought I would try this one, which is for congestion. It seems to really help.
4. Tilting baby's mattress slightly. I mean SLIGHTLY. I was really scared to try this, but I had read everywhere that it was helpful and it makes perfect sense. The first couple of nights I was actually sleeping upright in our bed with him trying to keep him tilted, but that got old really quickly. As recommended by the pharmacist (man that guy was smart) we rolled up a towel and placed it under one end, and so the tilt was just barely there, but it was enough to let Ben sleep a bit more. 
5. Lots of steam. For those of you out there who were prepared and bought misters, good for you. For some reason we never thought to get one...but we have an alternative. Ben and I have a little routine that we do when Billy is working later hours that I call 'Mommy Baby Bath Time'. Yep, I'm the cheesiest mom in the world. Anyway, first I get Ben set up in the bathroom in his bebePod, surrounded by toys. I have my shower (to warm up the bathroom) and then I give him his bath. I have always done this, but I found that it's especially good when he's sick. The steam seems to really loosen everything up in there. 
6. Stay away from dairy. I give Ben yogurt and more recently Baboo, but I found that this made everything worse, so we cut it out for a few days and stuck to water.
7. Say goodbye to your routine for a little while. Naps and sleep schedules went out the window for us. There was one night where he was up SO late, woke up SO early, but slept really well in the day. It's just sort of chaos, and you have to take it as it comes.
8. Baby Vicks. Again, I think Ben likes this stuff. Every night when we put it on him he gets this groggy little smile. So cute. And there is nothing cuter than seeing your husband gently rub Vicks on your baby. I mean...it's the cutest thing I've ever seen.

(Note: No, I'm not a doctor. It's obviously a good idea to talk to your doctor about this sort of thing. But you know us bloggers, we can't help but write about EVERYTHING.)

Baby Gap - The New Little Cubs Collection

Over the weekend Billy and I were out looking for birthday outfits for Benjamin, and we saw this insanely cute collection in Gap. Have you seen it? AH, why didn't they have this when Ben was first born? I would have bought....well...all of it.





SO sweet! I am so in love with everything from Gap for kids and babies. We ended up going with this cute denim romper...love it! 

The Conflict by Elisabeth Badinter

Everyone up for a little Mom ranting? I have some. Ok, I have a lot. Feel free to ignore this one...sometimes I get carried away.


The other day I was reading an article in Marie Claire magazine about a controversial book on motherhood being released later this month called The Conflict by French philosopher Elisabeth Badinter. In her book, she writes that the things we consider to be key elements of motherhood and parenting (attachment parenting, baby wearing, home made baby food, breastfeeding, the list goes on) have limited us as women. That we lose ourselves in the process. That these things tether us to the home. Um. Ya.


The article included an interview with Elisabeth, and gave a great deal of insight into her position. Some points I thought were actually ok, such as, "homemade baby food is terrific...but why demonize commercial baby food, which is balanced, quick, and accessible to fathers?" whereas other points...not so much.


For example, while Elisabeth admits to the known benefits of breastfeeding, she seems to feel that women should forgo breastfeeding (or drastically shorten it's duration) in order to maintain their freedom, and for their marriages to survive. Now, granted, it's a huge change for couples, the first year or two of parenthood. But in my opinion, the health of the child should always be number one. So whatever you feel that is, whether it be breast or bottle, the decision should be made with the child in mind. Period. (Note, I am NOT anti-formula whatsoever. But I don't like being made to feel guilty because I chose to go another way and nurse my son.) Also, I would like to know just how many divorces cite "My wife breastfed" as the reason for the split.


There are many other points made, including the fact that we must "be able to survive without a man" and her concern about "the effects of the long-term fusion between a mother and child beyond the first few months", but the general feel of the article was that as women, we have lost ourselves to motherhood and have reduced ourselves to animals (yes, she says animal). Huh.


Well, I will say that there are portions of this that I feel are important to think about. While I get her point about dependency in a relationship, I also think that making decisions as a family are very different from 'being dependant on a man'.  Also, I agree that women need to hold on to a part of themselves that is just their own, that we should be independent, and stay true to who we are. That we are more than just mothers, that we are well-rounded people with interests and views and that all of these things need to be fostered. But...I also think we can devote a HUGE portion of ourselves to being mothers, without losing the rest. It can be done. It's being done all the time.


As I thought about everything I had been reading, and after the annoyance had subsided, I thought that there are women out there that I see, everyday, who are mothers, AND who are doing what it takes to stay true to themselves. They are wives, friends, bloggers, shop owners, designers, writers, musicians, artists, teachers...AND mothers. THESE are the modern mothers, the women who are smart and strong and brave enough to take on the role of being a mom, but refuse to 'lose themselves' in the process. They merge it all together and are living the lives they were meant to live! I thought about all of these ladies that I admire, and I felt inspired. 


I guess my point here is that I would like to say thank you, to all of those women, including of course my Mom, Billy's Mom, our friends, family, bloggers that I follow, people I look up to...for inspiring me to be a good Mom, and to not be afraid to stay true to who I am while simultaneously devoting my life to being Benjamin's Mom. 


And thank you to Billy, my sweet husband, for supporting my decision to breastfeed my son without waving the divorce flag! And for letting me spend so much of my time doing what I need to do to stay true to who I am. Be it painting, redecorating the house (againnn) or watching television shows that are clearly made for people much younger than me. Thank you babe. You're my favourite.


Alright. That's enough of me and my soapbox. Sorry friends!


(Note: I have not read this book, just the article about the book. Perhaps the book has a ton of hidden wonderful things, so this should not serve as a bad review, to be fair. Also, I have no plans on reading this book. I'll be too busy breastfeeding and making home made baby food. I know, I'm a terrible Mom.)


Image via Amazon

Elusive Sleep

 


Our baby doesn't sleep. Ok, well he does, I guess. But he doesn't sleep well, or consistently, and preferably not alone. Poor guy. 


Getting Ben to sleep is a daily challenge. He's SUCH a light sleeper. He can be totally exhausted, rubbing both eyes, up for hours on end, but if you don't put him into his crib just so, he wakes up and is WIDE awake. Or, you can be rocking him for half an hour, he's out like a light, and then the bloody phone rings. And it's over.


I have spent months being jealous of Mom's whose babies sleep through the night (Ben has done this maybe three times, three glorious times). But I think I'm coming to terms with the fact that Ben is his own little person who is learning how to sleep in his own time. No schedule, or 'method' will work. Just time. So, we're trying to give him that.


I may have mentioned this before (sorry, Mom-brain really does exist and is in full effect over here) but I like this article a lot about getting baby to sleep. I find that I'm in agreement with most of the things on this website, which is rare for me. 


Here's hoping to a good night sleep tonight! I on the other hand am looking for ways to do more on less sleep. Anyone know how to function on roughly 2-3 hours? Maybe then I could get everything done...

Modern Kids and Baby Shop - Citizen Kid

Down on Locke Street in the Hamilton area is one of the cutest kids shops I've ever been in...Citizen Kid. I've been in there a few times and every time I've had a hard time not spending a fortune. There is so much to see. I can't WAIT to take Ben into this shop when he's old enough to really appreciate it.






They also have an online shop, so even if you're not local, be sure to check it out! Some of my favourites include their Raccoon Storage Bins, Magnetic Prism puzzles, and their amazing music collection!

Happy 10 month birthday Benjamin! And a list of must-haves for Moms

My little Benjamin is ten months old today. In a way the time has flown, but it also kind of feels like he's always been with me, life without him seems so long ago.


These days Ben is doing so well. There are ups (he's so easily entertained, and has the best laugh I've ever heard) and downs (he sleeps for about 5 minutes in a 24 hour period) but overall he's amazing. Two little teeth have made their appearance, with more on their way (hence the sleeplessness days/nights) and I don't think I ever realized just how ridiculously cute baby teeth are!


I thought I would gather a little list of must-haves that I find I'm totally dependent on these days. If you're a Mom with a little one, I highly recommend grabbing these if you don't already have them! 

1. Jungle Exersaucer - I remember registering for this thinking "Man this is hideous". And yeah, it is. But I thank god for it every single day.
2. Winnie the Pooh Slide and Learn Book - Ben got this book from his Great Grandma as a present before he was born, and I think it may be his favourite toy of all. He's been playing with it for months and can't get enough.
3. Bead Roller Coaster - We just got this for Ben and he LOVES IT.
4. Rubber Duck - Ben's Aunt Cassie bought this for him and he can't have a bath without it.
5. Stacking Cups - For $2.99, you'd be surprised how much little ones get a kick out of these. I really feel like Ikea rules when it comes to toys.
6. Baby Spoons - I love these so much...we go through a LOT of them (Ben needs his own to play with during every meal time.
7. Superbibs - These are such a good size and they keep baby dry (especially one like mine who gets 90% of his water in his lap.
8. Sleepsack - I didn't even really know about this (somehow) until Ana told me about them, and Ben's been sleeping in one ever since. 
9. Playmat - This thing is so cute, and being on the living room floor every day I have to be able to tolerate looking at it.
10. Activity Triangle - This is the perfect toy for babies who are sitting but not standing yet. 

Happy shopping!  And happy birthday once again to my sweet Ben. I love you more than I love M&M's. For real.

Being a stay at home Mom...

 ...is so sweet. Too sweet, maybe. It's the greatest thing ever, but then you get all spoiled not knowing what day of the week it is and wearing pajamas all day, every day. But, the end is near for me, and I have to start thinking about getting myself back out in the working world. Blech.


I know I'll bounce back pretty fast, I like a busy pace anyway, always have...but it's more Ben that I'm worried about. Really worried. He doesn't seem to like change much. So, I want to spend the next few months incorporating changes slowly for him, to make it a little less horrible. I'll be looking closely at all the mom bloggers out there who seem to have this down for ideas and tips, and I'm going to read through this entire series. 


And...I'm going to try to get excited about this instead of wanting to cry in my room. No promises though.