Archive for the 'Babies' Category
Actually, this picture was taken during the daytime, but I couldn’t resist the silly title!! This little fellow was observed in the pond at the Milton Streetcar Museum a few weeks back, where he was sunning himself happily in the warm air.
In addition to our weekend trip to the African Lion Safari, we have observed much wildlife in and around our “neck of the woods” lately. A family of Mourning Doves has set up residence on top of Liam’s play structure. It has been so amazing to watch the little egg pictured below, hatch into a chick, and the concerned parents watching over and caring for their offspring! I can understand first hand the motherly instinct to protect one’s young, and it is so cool to see this new little family living in our yard…
Becoming a parent for the first time, we are inundated with a list of must haves from friends, family and even the media. I wanted to compile a list of things that were life savers for our family with both of our children. These items may or may not be the same hot items you would list as your favorite Mommy picks, but they sure are mine! I’d love to get feedback from other Moms on their fav’s. Please leave a comment and share your favorite baby essentials!
1. A Nursing Pillow. Most women I know that chose to breast-feed their child found this to be so much easier on their back. A good firm nursing pillow allows you to feed your child by bringing him/her close to your body, easily. When you add up the endless hours you devote to this portion of childcare, you’ll be glad to have a couple of these in the house. One on each floor is ideal.
2. A Bouncy Chair. Perfect for those times when you have to pop into the kitchen or bathroom for a couple minutes and need somewhere portable to just “put” baby. Also a great way to settle a fussy little one! Ours has a vibrate function which seems to lull babies to sleep in minutes.
3. A Baby Swing. I found this to be more useful with our son than with our daughter, but none-the-less a must-have item. Liam would sleep in the swing when nothing else worked. In the early days of exhaustion (um, my second child is five months old now, and I am *still* exhausted, but anyhow…) there were times this was a lifesaver.
4. Exersaucer. These great little devices once again allow baby to be independent and upright, but have nifty little toys built right into the tray! A great place for baby to play when they are starting to outgrow the bouncy chair, but not yet able to sit unassisted. We use ours a lot with our daughter, mainly because laying her on the floor when our toddler is running around would surely spell disaster. This way, she can interact with him from a safer place!
5. A “Nipple Ball” (pictured above) We don’t know what this thing is really called, but that is what we call it in our house. It is a little yellow ball that I picked up from our local baby store for about 6 bucks, that is covered in “nipples.” No matter which way a teething baby with limited hand control turns it, they can still get one of the “nipples” into their mouth. I could kiss whoever designed this thing!
6. A Snuggly. We bought the “Baby Bjorn” variety and is it ever great! Stuart is the designated”baby-wearer”over here. I figure that I had to carry our children for 9 months each, so the snuggly is his opportunity to do his share of the carrying! We also bought a back pack for walks, hikes, trips to the Farmer’s Market…etc. and again, it is a simply wonderful invention. I think kids like to be up high so that they can see everything that is going on in their world 
7. Rangehood Fan. Yes folks, you are reading this right. For some reason, the white noise produced by the range hood fan in our kitchen settles fussy babies. Liam had a few months of painful gassy tummy, and the fan worked when nothing else would! The best part is, you already have this in your house! I thought perhaps that I just had weird kids, but we tried this theory out on other people’s children, and the fan always has the same calming affect!
There is nothing *easy* about becoming a parent. The sleep deprivation, lack of spare time, constant feedings, bum changes, crying…the list goes on and on. However, rest assured, these moments will pass so quickly, and you will one day long for this precious time once more.
Here’s hoping that some of the suggestions here help you to transition into the world of parenthood as smoothly as possible!
Sleep? If only!
Actually, we had a not too bad night last night. Gwyneth is following in the footsteps of her big brother, and seems to have her days and nights confused. She has been waking up often for feedings at night, and I was only getting about two hours of sleep until last night, when she only woke every two hours, so I got a much better nights rest.
Day 5, and as the dust is starting to settle in our household, we are completely over the moon with our new daughter. Liam, who thinks she is wonderful, constantly needs to know where she is, and enjoys showing his affection for her. We have to be watchful however, as there seems to be a fine line between “kisses” and “head-butts.”
This week, Stuart goes back to work. I’m not sure which one of us is more sad. I will miss the help, but most of all I will miss the family time we have shared this past week.
Speaking with a health nurse two days after Gwyneth was born, she told me “when you have your second child, you leave home for the hospital as a couple with a baby, and return home as a family.”
What a wonderful feeling family is…
Our daughter is here! Gwyneth Ivy Robertson was born on Tuesday, October 17th, 2006 at 7:20 a.m. at the Guelph General Hospital. She weighed in at 7 pounds 14 ounces. We are thrilled to announce the safe arrival of our little beauty. Mom, Dad, Liam and Gwyneth are all doing well and resting at home…
At 36 weeks into the pregnancy, I have officially reached the “tired of being pregnant, please get this baby out, and let me have my body back” stage. Then again, I will be sharing my body for the next year or so while I nurse, so in that regard, I still have a ways to go yet. The nesting instinct has begun, and in my spare time I am trying desperately to get all of the last minute household jobs completed before the big event unfolds.
I am not exactly sure how one goes about preparing their child for the arrival of a new sibling. Liam is a pretty easy going little guy, and we hope this will mean that the transition to sibling instead of “center of Mommy and Daddy’s universe” isn’t as difficult on him as some children find it. We have told Liam that the baby is living in Mommy’s tummy and that she is coming out soon, and he actually seems to understand (sort of)
In terms of preparing ourselves, well, all we can do is brace for impact and hope for the support of family and friends while we undero this major adjustment. I know we are about to enter what will probably be remembered as some of the most challenging days, months and possibly years of our lives, but I think we are as ready as we’ll ever be.
I stumbled upon this wonderful quote on parenthood tonight. It pretty much sums up my feelings for Liam and I am quite sure it will do the same for our new baby as well.
“Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body” ~Elizabeth Stone
As I mentioned before, we’re pretty sure that our new baby is going to be a girl. Stuart and I have a few names that we *mostly* agree on, but for the most part, we are lacking in any real inspiration when it comes to choosing the name of our future daughter.
I really do find the task of naming a child quite daunting indeed. I’m sure that all the Bertha’s, Betty-Joe’s and Mary-Lou’s of the world are none-to-pleased with the choice that their parents made for them (if this is your name by the way, I do apologise, and offer my deepest condolences!) So I do not want to end up naming our child something that she will not like. I am so happy that my parents chose the name Catherine for me. It is classic, elegant and beautiful (if I do say so myself!)
When Liam was born, we left the hospital the next day, with our little bundle in tow, yet, he remained nameless for days. A new baby doesn’t always look like anyone really. They have yet to show you their personality, and you know virtually nothing about them. In retro-spect, I am glad we chose the name Liam for our son, and despite it’s seemingly enormous popularity, I really do think it suits him.
This being said, if anyone has a great suggestion for a girl name (not you Dad, “Lewanda-Fay” does not count! And Keep them coming Kristi!) please pass them on…we can use alll the help we can get
