You have a baby and you think 'Finally she's here. Lets get this party started' and 24 hours later reality sets in and you think 'OH MY GOD. I want my life back.' It does get easier and little at a time. With every milestone comes a rebuild of your life because lets face it your life is never going to be the same now that your soul is out in the world but it does get easier. This is what I found.
- At 3 weeks feeding gets on track and you get used to not sleeping
- At 3 months baby usually settles easier and starts to be more reactive and you're understanding the signals better
- At 6 months they can sit and can play for short periods of time independently
- At 9 months crawling and is more mobile and less dependant and sleeping through the night if not before
- At 13 months walking
- At 18 months walking and running independently
- At 26 months talking and can communicate what they want.
- At 2 and a half they can competently fetch things for you.
- At 3 yrs they can turn the tv on then change it to the correct channel themselves and eat snacks without making too much mess
- At 4 yrs old they can get food for themselves and play independantly for hours.
With every milestone your life gets easier.
Showing posts with label babies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label babies. Show all posts
My Body, My Weight
Now I know that I grew up in the 80s and that meant Kraft Dinner and Hot Dogs, canned veggies and McDonalds, then in high school went on crash diets consisting on not eating for long periods of time then gorging on large portions of spagetti or donuts. Well today I know better because now I have spent the better part of my adult life fighting my weight.
In 2000 I joined Weight Watchers because I was over 200lbs and really wanted to get down to a reasonable weight, find a husband and have children. So I succeeded and got down to 154lbs and made lifetime. Then I met my husband and when we got married I had already gain 11lbs and by the time a was pregnant a year later with Madison I was 5lbs heavier.
During my pregnancy I gained 44lbs due to the fact that I was nauseous and depressed and not working because I was so sick and feeling sorry for myself. When Madison was 6 months I rejoined and lost all but 1 pound but then was pregnant a month later and gain another 44lbs. When Jack was one year I joined again and lost all but 3lbs and was pregnant 2 weeks later and gained 34lbs. Now Wyatt is 5 months and I am about 30-35lbs over what I want to be.
In 3 weeks I finish pumping and want to get back to WW and exercising but if anything I can only do WW because it is impossible to exercise with 4, 2 and 5 month old but am going to try. So what am I doing right now, making endless batches of cookies (I love to bake) and eating hidden chocolate bars while my kids nap just to prepare myself for my long long dry spell, lol.
I will blog my progress once I finally get started.
In 2000 I joined Weight Watchers because I was over 200lbs and really wanted to get down to a reasonable weight, find a husband and have children. So I succeeded and got down to 154lbs and made lifetime. Then I met my husband and when we got married I had already gain 11lbs and by the time a was pregnant a year later with Madison I was 5lbs heavier.
During my pregnancy I gained 44lbs due to the fact that I was nauseous and depressed and not working because I was so sick and feeling sorry for myself. When Madison was 6 months I rejoined and lost all but 1 pound but then was pregnant a month later and gain another 44lbs. When Jack was one year I joined again and lost all but 3lbs and was pregnant 2 weeks later and gained 34lbs. Now Wyatt is 5 months and I am about 30-35lbs over what I want to be.
In 3 weeks I finish pumping and want to get back to WW and exercising but if anything I can only do WW because it is impossible to exercise with 4, 2 and 5 month old but am going to try. So what am I doing right now, making endless batches of cookies (I love to bake) and eating hidden chocolate bars while my kids nap just to prepare myself for my long long dry spell, lol.
I will blog my progress once I finally get started.
Sleep its a Health Thing
In my mind sleep is the answer to what ails ya. It is the answer to everything! I have followed this therory for me AND my children but you know what bugs me? People telling me I should be for flexible when it comes to my kids sleeping schedule.
Now I have some really well balanced, well behaved and happy little people. I think there are 3 main things that keep them that way
Healthwise I have seen my children go to bed with cuts or a diaperash and wake up healed. If that is what happens to their skin what do you think happens to their brains and their spirits. Sleep is natures reboot button.
Now I have some really well balanced, well behaved and happy little people. I think there are 3 main things that keep them that way
- SLEEP
- A well balanced and healthy diet.
- Boundaries.
Healthwise I have seen my children go to bed with cuts or a diaperash and wake up healed. If that is what happens to their skin what do you think happens to their brains and their spirits. Sleep is natures reboot button.
Baby Groups to support system.
I love these. I was the first of my friends and my family to have children and living in a new city. I made amazing new friends with children the same age from joining this new moms group through my health department. We started with 16 moms and 17 babies all born between October 2004 and February 2005. The group officially ran for I think 9 weeks but 12 moms kept it going by having what we called 'Coffee Club' every Thursday at 1pm. Each person would hold it at their house and supply coffee and tea and some snacks. We would be there for an hour or 2 and just chat. Sometimes during the summer people would hold a parks but because people were on vacations and husbands were home it slowed down but started again in September. Through that we found people that we had more in common with and broke down into smaller groups and some people went back to work and left us with about 6 moms but then about a year later people started having their second babies and returned for another year. The kids were about 3 and a half before it completely stopped. During those 3 1/2 years I slowly built myself a community of moms that have become my support system but when I had none these people became my support system.
I am still friend with a few of them but I personally found one of my bestest mommy friends in this group and even though we don't spend alot of time together anymore I still feel like I am so lucky to have found her.
I am still friend with a few of them but I personally found one of my bestest mommy friends in this group and even though we don't spend alot of time together anymore I still feel like I am so lucky to have found her.
New or Used. I'll give you the skinny.
Well when Madison was born in 2005 Craigslist was not such a big thing and the Buy & Sell was kind of a pain to deal with so unless you knew people who had babies before you you kind of had to buy new or possibly find a consignment store. But now with Craigslist in most areas and instant access to it online you can get some really great deals.
For example, I bought 30 pieces of 6-9 month summer clothes for Baby Wyatt for $5. They were in great shape because lets face it how long do they really wear the stuff. I have a friend who has a little addiction to buying strollers and she has found some great stuff on Craigslist. I bought the Miracle Blanket for $20 when it was new for $40 and it had been used 3 times.
The other option is Kids Only Swap Meets in your local areas. I have bought toys, a backpack carrier and a toilet all for $30. I usually will only buy toys, toilets etc used that I can clean with bleach and hot water. Clothes I wash with detergent and OxiClean or colour-safe bleach to get any stains I might of missed. The only thing I would be sure to check that it comes from a NON-SMOKING home because it is impossible to get the stink out no matter how much you wash stuff.
Personally if you are planning more than one kid I would buy a stroller new. The following are things I prefer to buy new for safety or hygenic reason;
For example, I bought 30 pieces of 6-9 month summer clothes for Baby Wyatt for $5. They were in great shape because lets face it how long do they really wear the stuff. I have a friend who has a little addiction to buying strollers and she has found some great stuff on Craigslist. I bought the Miracle Blanket for $20 when it was new for $40 and it had been used 3 times.
The other option is Kids Only Swap Meets in your local areas. I have bought toys, a backpack carrier and a toilet all for $30. I usually will only buy toys, toilets etc used that I can clean with bleach and hot water. Clothes I wash with detergent and OxiClean or colour-safe bleach to get any stains I might of missed. The only thing I would be sure to check that it comes from a NON-SMOKING home because it is impossible to get the stink out no matter how much you wash stuff.
Personally if you are planning more than one kid I would buy a stroller new. The following are things I prefer to buy new for safety or hygenic reason;
- breastpump
- crib mattress
- sheets
- mattress pads
- soothers
- bottles
- plastic dishes and cups
- carseats
What to wear when you Babywear
Before I had Madison I got a Snuggly front back wearer and after I had Madison I never wore it. One it hurt my back and 2 what else did I have to do but carry her around all day.
Before I had Jack Jack I was making Maya Baby Slings to make some extra money and because I thought I would have less time to carry him around but after Jack Jack was born I found he got too heavy very quickly to be carrying on only one side of my body and my shoulder and back hurt.
Before I had Baby Wyatt I made some Moby Wraps because I was sure I wouldn't have anytime to be sitting around with him and I LOVE IT! Its soft, it doesn't hurt my back and you can wear it so many different ways depending on the baby's age and weight. Its easy to make even if you can't sew but if you make it use a single knit or fabric with low stretch not no stretch or too much stretch. Here are the instructions to make one:
Whichever carrier you choose start early so that they get used to it. If you wait too long you may not be able to get the baby to like staying in it.
Before I had Jack Jack I was making Maya Baby Slings to make some extra money and because I thought I would have less time to carry him around but after Jack Jack was born I found he got too heavy very quickly to be carrying on only one side of my body and my shoulder and back hurt.
Before I had Baby Wyatt I made some Moby Wraps because I was sure I wouldn't have anytime to be sitting around with him and I LOVE IT! Its soft, it doesn't hurt my back and you can wear it so many different ways depending on the baby's age and weight. Its easy to make even if you can't sew but if you make it use a single knit or fabric with low stretch not no stretch or too much stretch. Here are the instructions to make one:
- Cut a piece of fabric 5 metres long and 20 inches wide. Make sure that the stretch is on the short sides.
- Finish the edges to stop unraveling and over-stretching. You can sew or use a flexible fabric glue to glue the edges down.
- Sew tag in the exact middle of one long side. That will be the top.
Whichever carrier you choose start early so that they get used to it. If you wait too long you may not be able to get the baby to like staying in it.
Things I needed in the first year.
1. 15 flannel receiving blankets per week
2. 30 face clothes
3. Lot of bibs for my spit-upper.
4. My changing table is on a different floor so I found having a playpen with changing table downstairs incredibly helpful. Get a playpen sheet.
5. Diaper genie with Stage 1 refills till 6 months and the baby is on solid food. I go through one every 2 weeks.
6. Swing. You probably won’t need it for long so don’t bother buying an expensive one unless you plan to have 5 kids.
7. Baby monitor with 2 receivers and light alert. So you don't have to listen to the baby cry when your trying to get her to sleep.
8. Vibrating bouncy chair.
9. Crib with sheet, and water proof mattress pad
10. Glider with ottoman.
11. Nursing pillow even when I’m not nursing.
12. Stroller with car seat and base for car. The one I have has a pull-down underbasket, which was brilliant when the baby was sleeping in the stroller.
13. Only one package of Huggies Newborn diapers and then a case of Huggies #1s or 1/2s. I tried every other diaper and Huggies and Kirklands are our choice.
14. Kirkland wipes from Costco. A whole case is under 20 bucks.
15. Chest of drawers or some sort of storage.
16. A baby bath that fits a double sink (if you have one), Gerber lavender baby bath, 2 thick terrycloth towels. Don’t get the cheap, thin ones, you will regret it. It will be like trying to dry your baby with a paper towel, lol
17. I found t-shirts ride up and diaper shirts or rompers, whatever you want to call them, work better at least until there are one.
18. Until they are 3 months, they wear sleepers most of the time. I suggest 7 sleepers, 5 diaper shirts, 1 dress, a toque, 3 pairs of socks, and a hooded sweatshirt jacket to start with. Don’t buy lots of Newborn unless you are planning on having a baby under 7lbs because they grow out of them so quickly. They may not even fit when they are born.
19. Pants and overalls that open in the crotch make for quick diaper changes.
20. Robbeez slippers in 0 to 6 months and 6 to 12 months. They don’t fall off.
21. A travel sleeping bag or bunting with hole for car seat strap. Doesn’t matter what season it is.
22. A baby sleeping bag for the crib.
23. OxyClean powder and a big bucket to soak poopie clothes in because it stains.
24. One box of Ivory Snow laundry detergent and one box of any other detergent that is something “Free” to use after that. Example: Cheer Free, Tide Free, Sunlight Free. Ivory Snow is expensive.
25. A car blanket (thick), 2 fleece blankets (to alternate) and afgan for crib, so the baby doesn’t suffocate when its sleeping.
26. Backpack containing: Changing pad, re-fillable travel baby wipe container with wipes, 2 receiving blankets, 4 diapers, 1 diaper shirt, 1 sleeper, lots of face cloths, bib, socks, a bag for soiled stuff, diaper cream, baby Tylenol, Band-Aids, hand cream, lip balm, water for me, a pen and paper, a sweater/sweatshirt, formula (if needed) and my cell phone and wallet. What is the point of carrying a diaper bag and a purse?
27. If bottlefeeding, wide, slow nipple bottles are good because it is more like the breast and causes less nipple confusion. I would get four 4-6 oz bottles to start with and four 8 oz bottle for later. Madison doesn’t like the Avent bottles. We liked Playtex Ventaire.
28. Breastfed babies need Vitamin D solution (1ml daily) till 1 year for or until they are on at least 16oz a day of formula. You can put it in formula or bottled breastmilk if they won’t take the dropper.
29. A dropper to get rid of snot (yuck! I hate that word) by putting saline or warm salt water up its nose.
30. A mirror for the back window of the car to check on baby when they are facing backwards.
31. The Miracle Blanket for swaddling. Expensive but worth it.
32. Soothese soothers, 2.
33. Exersaucer
34. Jolly Jumper.
35. Bumbo Seat if your kid is getting a flat head.
2. 30 face clothes
3. Lot of bibs for my spit-upper.
4. My changing table is on a different floor so I found having a playpen with changing table downstairs incredibly helpful. Get a playpen sheet.
5. Diaper genie with Stage 1 refills till 6 months and the baby is on solid food. I go through one every 2 weeks.
6. Swing. You probably won’t need it for long so don’t bother buying an expensive one unless you plan to have 5 kids.
7. Baby monitor with 2 receivers and light alert. So you don't have to listen to the baby cry when your trying to get her to sleep.
8. Vibrating bouncy chair.
9. Crib with sheet, and water proof mattress pad
10. Glider with ottoman.
11. Nursing pillow even when I’m not nursing.
12. Stroller with car seat and base for car. The one I have has a pull-down underbasket, which was brilliant when the baby was sleeping in the stroller.
13. Only one package of Huggies Newborn diapers and then a case of Huggies #1s or 1/2s. I tried every other diaper and Huggies and Kirklands are our choice.
14. Kirkland wipes from Costco. A whole case is under 20 bucks.
15. Chest of drawers or some sort of storage.
16. A baby bath that fits a double sink (if you have one), Gerber lavender baby bath, 2 thick terrycloth towels. Don’t get the cheap, thin ones, you will regret it. It will be like trying to dry your baby with a paper towel, lol
17. I found t-shirts ride up and diaper shirts or rompers, whatever you want to call them, work better at least until there are one.
18. Until they are 3 months, they wear sleepers most of the time. I suggest 7 sleepers, 5 diaper shirts, 1 dress, a toque, 3 pairs of socks, and a hooded sweatshirt jacket to start with. Don’t buy lots of Newborn unless you are planning on having a baby under 7lbs because they grow out of them so quickly. They may not even fit when they are born.
19. Pants and overalls that open in the crotch make for quick diaper changes.
20. Robbeez slippers in 0 to 6 months and 6 to 12 months. They don’t fall off.
21. A travel sleeping bag or bunting with hole for car seat strap. Doesn’t matter what season it is.
22. A baby sleeping bag for the crib.
23. OxyClean powder and a big bucket to soak poopie clothes in because it stains.
24. One box of Ivory Snow laundry detergent and one box of any other detergent that is something “Free” to use after that. Example: Cheer Free, Tide Free, Sunlight Free. Ivory Snow is expensive.
25. A car blanket (thick), 2 fleece blankets (to alternate) and afgan for crib, so the baby doesn’t suffocate when its sleeping.
26. Backpack containing: Changing pad, re-fillable travel baby wipe container with wipes, 2 receiving blankets, 4 diapers, 1 diaper shirt, 1 sleeper, lots of face cloths, bib, socks, a bag for soiled stuff, diaper cream, baby Tylenol, Band-Aids, hand cream, lip balm, water for me, a pen and paper, a sweater/sweatshirt, formula (if needed) and my cell phone and wallet. What is the point of carrying a diaper bag and a purse?
27. If bottlefeeding, wide, slow nipple bottles are good because it is more like the breast and causes less nipple confusion. I would get four 4-6 oz bottles to start with and four 8 oz bottle for later. Madison doesn’t like the Avent bottles. We liked Playtex Ventaire.
28. Breastfed babies need Vitamin D solution (1ml daily) till 1 year for or until they are on at least 16oz a day of formula. You can put it in formula or bottled breastmilk if they won’t take the dropper.
29. A dropper to get rid of snot (yuck! I hate that word) by putting saline or warm salt water up its nose.
30. A mirror for the back window of the car to check on baby when they are facing backwards.
31. The Miracle Blanket for swaddling. Expensive but worth it.
32. Soothese soothers, 2.
33. Exersaucer
34. Jolly Jumper.
35. Bumbo Seat if your kid is getting a flat head.
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- CFS Fairy
- A Canadian Stay-at-Home mom of 3 beautiful and awsome golden cupcakes. I have been a mom since 2005. This is the best job in the world but it is sure tough sometimes, don't you think? This is my journey.