Growing up my family didn't have many family traditions aside from spending holidays with my grandparents.
Hubbs family on the other hand has many family traditions, even ones that happened weekly like Sunday afternoon picnics and weekend game nights. We've spent the last five years together trying to develop our own traditions out of ones we shared with our families during our childhoods.
Now that Monster is born, and Hubbs and I have started our own little family it's time to start making our own family traditions.
What are some traditions you've started with your family, and ones you knew you'd bring from your childhood?
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Friday, September 10, 2010
6 Month Check-Up
10 days ago Monster went for his 6 month vaccinations. Today, he had a regularly scheduled appointment with our family doctor to monitor his growth and development.
As always Monsters shots went well, he flirted with our nurse, squealed with delight whilst playing with his girlfriend and cried when the needle poked his little baby thigh. The routine if fairly straight forward, but this time we had to fill out a questionnaire regarding Monster's physical and social development. He scored well, and the majority of the time was spent discussing food and solids with our nurse.
Today's visit with the doctor wasn't very different. We weighed him (22lbs 8oz -- He actually lost an ounce since his shots) and measured him (29" Long) and discussed his diet and development. Both appointments we heard the term "Picture of Health" tossed around, because apparently being huge is a good thing when you're an infant (if only more weight was good for me too.. :P).
I'm happy with how my little Monster is progressing, now if only his growth would slow and level a little, so that he actually has the opportunity to enjoy his adorable infant fall wardrobe!
Thinking about Mommy Groups
Even in school I was never a big joiner. I had friends, attended classes, but I wasn't one for extra curricular activities. I think that might be changing.
I have a social baby. He loves to be out and about town and loves to be oogled by strangers who think he's the cutest thing since care bears. That goes well with my newest hobby, talking about my baby and my life now that I'm a parent.
How could I possibly combine those two things, and find something fun for the two of us to do together? Join a mommy group. I'm not sure exactly how to go about doing so. I'm not the most open person, and joining a group of mommies who already know each other might be intimidating. I'm not really looking for support or advice, but I love to "quiz" other parents on how they do things with their children (especially if they're Monster's age or a bit older). I'm not competitive, I just like to compare notes. It's very interesting to me to discuss points I haven't thought of (another reason for blogging..).
One thing I've found out, is that our local recreation center holds a "Mommy and Me" swim class. It's approximately $50 for something like ten 45 minute sessions. That would be a good way to meet people, but I'm sure my new "mommy body" might make the situation even more intimidating.
This dilemma is to be continued...
Hand-Me-Downs
When I first heard the words "It's a BOY!" I'd be lying if I said "All I could think about was how many hand-me-downs I'd be getting". Although, the thought did cross my mind after the hospital trip was over and done with.
Monster has a cousin who is a year and a half older then him (Roo), and a soon-to-be best friend Kaders who is about 10 months older then him. You'd think that would mean I'd be swamped with hand-me-down gifts.
Not so.
As you may know I am the proud mother of a Monster (and I say once again, that I use that in the most loving way possible describing his size, not attitude) who is rather large for his age. Therefor, most of the clothes his 2 year old cousin, and 1.4 year old friend are wearing would fit Monster right now. Of course, that's not the case with every single brand of infant clothing. Please Mum, Disney, Carters and Cherokee I've found tend to fit Monster almost perfect for the age suggestion.
Monster and I just got home from visiting in Kelowna, and thankfully we left with one heaping grocery bag of like new hand-me-downs from Kaders. We also left the city with 4 new sleepers, and 3 new shirts. I couldn't pass up Pekkle blanket sleepers from Costco, or the fall sale that Please Mum was having. I live for sales!
I love adding to Monster's wardrobe... But if I can't control myself I will end up bankrupt with only a killer infant wardrobe to show for it!
Note: I realize I am lucky to have any potential hand-me-downs because there are parents who don't have any family or friends living near them, let alone ones that have children close in age. I am grateful!
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Mommy Play Dates!
I discovered that meeting new people isn't as scary as I make it out to be in my head.
Hubbs and I met while working at our high school job at a local gas station. We worked together often, thoroughly got to know each other and then started dating. He was my first (and obviously only) boyfriend so I never experienced the pressure of meeting someone for the first time in a one on one experience.
I thought that I just would never do it. I would never meet someone blindly on my own. Until I became a mommy. Apparently my new favorite thing to talk about is my baby, and parenting.
Today I met a lovely lady (for privacy blogging purposes I will call her KK) for a coffee/shopping date. Since we didn't know each other before hand we made it a short appointment, but it went so well! KK's son is 2 days older then Monster and he is her first as well. We have a bunch of random things in common over and above our little boys.
Meeting and talking to her was so relaxed and easy that it's made me think that it's actually not as hard as I thought. Hopefully we will be able to keep in touch, and not let the distance prevent more mommy play dates!
Thank you KK!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Hubbs and I met while working at our high school job at a local gas station. We worked together often, thoroughly got to know each other and then started dating. He was my first (and obviously only) boyfriend so I never experienced the pressure of meeting someone for the first time in a one on one experience.
I thought that I just would never do it. I would never meet someone blindly on my own. Until I became a mommy. Apparently my new favorite thing to talk about is my baby, and parenting.
Today I met a lovely lady (for privacy blogging purposes I will call her KK) for a coffee/shopping date. Since we didn't know each other before hand we made it a short appointment, but it went so well! KK's son is 2 days older then Monster and he is her first as well. We have a bunch of random things in common over and above our little boys.
Meeting and talking to her was so relaxed and easy that it's made me think that it's actually not as hard as I thought. Hopefully we will be able to keep in touch, and not let the distance prevent more mommy play dates!
Thank you KK!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Fall Fair
When it comes to fall, I can not contain my excitement.
Everything about the season is absolutely amazing to me. Fall means relief from crazy hot summer temperatures, it means the leaves begin to change and drop, and Halloween is just around the corner.
Fall also means the Fair is coming to town! I often refer to the beginning of fall as "Fair Season". This year will be Monster's first fall, first "Fair Season".
The fair runs all weekend, but the beginning is marked with a parade first thing Saturday morning. Attending the fair (and spending far too much money...) and the Saturday morning parade has been a tradition for Hubbs and I since we've been together. A sweet tradition we plan on carrying on as our family grows.
I'm sure now that Monster is 6 months old, and a social-butterfly-flirt he will be thrilled to be in a large crowd with new sights, smells and sounds.
As a Fall Fair enthusiast, one can only hope Monster will happily share our tradition starting this year. Only 3 more sleeps until we find out for sure!
Monster modeling his Fall Fair attire
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Everything about the season is absolutely amazing to me. Fall means relief from crazy hot summer temperatures, it means the leaves begin to change and drop, and Halloween is just around the corner.
Fall also means the Fair is coming to town! I often refer to the beginning of fall as "Fair Season". This year will be Monster's first fall, first "Fair Season".
The fair runs all weekend, but the beginning is marked with a parade first thing Saturday morning. Attending the fair (and spending far too much money...) and the Saturday morning parade has been a tradition for Hubbs and I since we've been together. A sweet tradition we plan on carrying on as our family grows.
I'm sure now that Monster is 6 months old, and a social-butterfly-flirt he will be thrilled to be in a large crowd with new sights, smells and sounds.
As a Fall Fair enthusiast, one can only hope Monster will happily share our tradition starting this year. Only 3 more sleeps until we find out for sure!
Monster modeling his Fall Fair attire
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Monday, September 6, 2010
Infant Naps...
... Or lack there of!
Every parent knows one of the bright shiny parts of their day is infant nap time!
Don't get me wrong, becoming a mother was the best decision I ever made and each day with my Monster makes me love him more and more. Having said that, when Monster sleeps, I can get chores done and have "mommy time".
That means, for the last two weeks I've spent little time actually doing chores. Monster has decided he only needs a couple 5-20 minute naps a day. This wouldn't be too much of a stake in my house hold chore list except that while Monster is sleeping so is Hubbs.
Right now Monster's day looks something like this:
5-7am : Wakes up, eats bottle and falls asleep next to me in bed
8-10am : Wakes up for the day
7-9pm : Bedtime Routine
(With 1 or 2 very short naps in between)
I'm torn about whether I should feel lucky or not. Having a great sleeper during the night and a messy house, or a good napper and a cleaner house? How do you, as a parent make sure everything gets done? Especially if you're a working parent?
In the end, this dilemma is irrelevant because everything will change again soon. As infant milestones are reached and surpassed, so are infant routines.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Every parent knows one of the bright shiny parts of their day is infant nap time!
Don't get me wrong, becoming a mother was the best decision I ever made and each day with my Monster makes me love him more and more. Having said that, when Monster sleeps, I can get chores done and have "mommy time".
That means, for the last two weeks I've spent little time actually doing chores. Monster has decided he only needs a couple 5-20 minute naps a day. This wouldn't be too much of a stake in my house hold chore list except that while Monster is sleeping so is Hubbs.
Right now Monster's day looks something like this:
5-7am : Wakes up, eats bottle and falls asleep next to me in bed
8-10am : Wakes up for the day
7-9pm : Bedtime Routine
(With 1 or 2 very short naps in between)
I'm torn about whether I should feel lucky or not. Having a great sleeper during the night and a messy house, or a good napper and a cleaner house? How do you, as a parent make sure everything gets done? Especially if you're a working parent?
In the end, this dilemma is irrelevant because everything will change again soon. As infant milestones are reached and surpassed, so are infant routines.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Professional Photo Shoot
I blogged yesterday about having a professional photo shoot done by our personal photographer Marijanel Knight in order to celebrate Monster reaching 6 months old!
Of course an hour worth of photos takes some time to edit, so we don't have all of them yet, but Marijanel is amazing at giving a "taste" of the shoot to her clients to make the wait a little easier.
Here are a couple of photos from Saturday (Unfortunately, most of you are already on my facebook page, so you've already seen them), enjoy!!
Sharing the Love
If you enjoy reading my blog because it's related to parenting and children, then I'd like you to check out my friends blog.
Enyo is smart, hilarious, well researched, and a crazy blogger!
Direct link to Motherhood Looms
Enyo is smart, hilarious, well researched, and a crazy blogger!
Direct link to Motherhood Looms
Sunday, September 5, 2010
A Photographer for Life
Hubbs and I got married just over a year ago, and one thing that wasn't difficult about the process was choosing a photographer.
Some couples don't share the same enthusiasm when it comes to having professional photos at their wedding. We decided early on in the planning process that professional photos were a necessity because in the end after the flowers die, and the food has been eaten the photos are all you have left.
We were referred to Marijanel Knight by my brother in law who had worked with her husband. When I saw the photos on her website and met with her in person the decision became easy.
We had to have her (in the most unstalkeresque, non creepy way possible).
What I didn't know was that I was choosing my photographer for life. Marijanel has gone out of her way to be creative, inventive, and accommodating for all three photo shoots she's done for us.
Just Saturday she did a mini family photo shoot with us in celebration of Monster turning 6 months on the 6th. She traveled to us from her home 2 hours away, and was understanding when our 6 month old was all but cooperative. Thank you MJ!
Photos coming soon!
Some couples don't share the same enthusiasm when it comes to having professional photos at their wedding. We decided early on in the planning process that professional photos were a necessity because in the end after the flowers die, and the food has been eaten the photos are all you have left.
We were referred to Marijanel Knight by my brother in law who had worked with her husband. When I saw the photos on her website and met with her in person the decision became easy.
We had to have her (in the most unstalkeresque, non creepy way possible).
What I didn't know was that I was choosing my photographer for life. Marijanel has gone out of her way to be creative, inventive, and accommodating for all three photo shoots she's done for us.
Just Saturday she did a mini family photo shoot with us in celebration of Monster turning 6 months on the 6th. She traveled to us from her home 2 hours away, and was understanding when our 6 month old was all but cooperative. Thank you MJ!
Photos coming soon!
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