B. Curious Toys

(..Continued from previous post.)

The best find of the day, however, was not clothing related at all!

As the three of us were walking towards the bakery, I caught a glimpse of something bright and colorful on an end cap. I walk towards it for a closer look, knowing it must be something baby or kid related and I'm always scouting out new and exciting toys for learning.

To my great excitement, I was RIGHT! I came across a B. Curious Toy called "Times Square". It's a new rendition of a classic toy I've seen many times. It incorporates so many levels for learning, this toy will keep Monster and I busy for a long, long time.

On the packaging the toy boasts 6 sides of learning, and fun. As I examined the toy closer I couldn't contain my excitement for it. I put it in the cart without question, and couldn't wait to get it and my Monster home to try it out. Of course, at 4 months my Monster is a little young to know his letters and numbers, but he does have enough hand-eye coordination to operate the piano and the telephone (somewhat).

This toy is aimed at children ages 1-3, but with some dedication, this is a toy we and his learning can grow with starting even now. Now that my eyes are open to this toy maker, and his potential, I am saddened by the fact that it is primarily sold in Targets. An American big box store.

B. Curious Toys

Shopping for Baby!

eI've said it twice in the last 24 hours and I will say it again! I can not believe I have found someone I love shopping for as much as I love shopping for myself!

Today my Monster, my mother and I ventured off to the city for trip to Costco! The first stop on my Costco adventure was of course the baby clothing section. I absolutely adore the baby clothing brands they stock!

I am not one for baby looking baby clothes. I dislike most soft colors like baby blues, greens, yellows, whites, etc. I like my baby boy to look like a little boy in strips and camo! I love deep colors and fantastic patterns or pictures, which is why Carter's really stands out to me! We were given a couple rompers as gifts at my baby shower, and haven't looked back since!

Another brand Costco Canada has in stock is Pekkle. Today I was able to sift through and find some adorable sleepers that will fit my Monster this fall. All the 6-12 month sleepers I bought him for this fall and winter he is wearing now, so we have to build up our supply. Again.

(...To be continued)

Gender Determination

When I was pregnant with Monster we chose not to find out his gender via ultrasound before birth. We wanted to keep one of the biggest surprises of our lifetime just that, a surprise.

It definitely worked well for us this time, we have 4 nieces and 1 nephew that we're very close with, who are all under 13. We had more then enough hand-me-downs to sift through before and after my Monster was born. We even painted his bedroom a cheery green color, which I at the time thought was gender neutral, but now realize I must have had that motherly instinct I was about to birth a boy.

I will admit, the surprise ate at my insides. Every time I walked by an infant clothing sales rack I died a little because I couldn't shop for gender specific clothes -yes I too hate yellow- at dirt cheap prices (I love a deal, and usually can't pass it up when it comes to kids clothing)!

We have already decided as a couple that next time I get pregnant we will certainly be finding out the gender of our baby. Not to ruin the greatest surprise of our lifetime, but because it will likely determine if that will be my last pregnancy or not. We decided a long time ago that we will have 2 children, the only exception being if we get two of the same gender right off the bat. We will consider a third in order to have a girl and a boy.

Not that I would be unhappy if I had two little boys running around under my feet, that will grow in to strapping men to hug, love and protect me (along side my husband :D)!

Am I crazy?

Once upon a time I wrote a blog on my What To Expect account asking if I was nuts to be worried about separation anxiety after the birth of my child.

The answer? I don't have separation anxiety from my child, but I miss pregnancy itself. There, I said it! It is ridiculous, and I will be the first to admit. I absolutely adore the feeling of growing a baby inside of me, and vow to never take it for granted again!

I say this so candidly, only because my pregnancy was pretty much a breeze. At the end I didn't even feel like the whale most women describe themselves as. I felt mostly comfortable, with a basketball hidden under my shirt. I realize that not every pregnancy is the same, and the next time might be a hot, hot, hell experience. That is one ride I am ready and willing to take... in the future.

I definitely don't plan on trying to conceive again anytime soon. My last pregnancy ended with a C-Section, so it is best for me to wait at least a year before we start trying, two if I plan on trying for a natural delivery. Something I am interested it, but is not a necessity. I don't know if I can hold off that need to feel pregnant again for that long.

I can just hear my mother now: "Enjoy the baby you have now... Enjoy the baby you have now... Enjoy the baby you have now..." Not that she wouldn't love another little Squeaky Monkey to squeeze.

Breast is Best...

... until you've grown a beast.

A month before I delivered my Monster the doctor was shocked while doing the regulation tummy palpations. "Oh Christine... This is NOT a small baby" she said sympathetically with a slight smile.

No, he was not a small baby, and he has been growing by Monstrous proportions since!

I believe very strongly that breast is best, and adored nursing my son. The closeness, and just knowing the fact that I was his sole nutritional provider warmed me to the core. Then the 3 month growth spurt hit. From the beginning of Monster's 3rd month of life, to the beginning of his 4th month he gained 3lbs 4oz and 2 inches in length.

My mommy guilt began setting in when the days started where I would nurse him until I had nothing left, and he would still drink a 6 ounce bottle of infant formula. The more he needed supplements, the less I produced. At the point when I could only nurse twice a day, I had to make a decision. One or the other, I couldn't keep stressing about how much milk I will produce, and how much he'd need in a bottle after.

The choice to wean my Monster was not an easy one, but with solids in sight, I knew it wouldn't be long before he started getting supreme nutrients from a pureed version of our Earth's bounty. The only thing keeping my mommy guilt at bay is knowing that I did everything humanly possible to keep my supply going for as long as I could, and the support of my loving Hubbs.

The Sippy Cup!

I'm sure it seems a little young, but in my opinion, you can never stop teaching your little ones new things.

I decided when we started feeding Monster solids that it was also time to start practicing with a sippy cup. I put only an ounce of infant formula into the cup for practicing purposes, not thinking we'd actually get very far.

The first time we tried it, Monster wasn't even 4 months old yet, so it didn't go over well. The spout on the sippy cup is slightly larger, and harder then the nipple of a breast (of course) or bottle but requires a similar sucking motion.

We tried the sippy cup again about two weeks ago, and Monster was very enthusiastic once he figured out that "milk" came out of it! The only real benefit to him learning to use a sippy cup is independence when drinking. If it's not easier for me to help him with his cup, then it is to feed him a bottle, it won't be the primary liquid source but merely a way to "wash down" his food while eating.

At least he is willing to learn, so maybe my goal of being strictly on a cup during the day by 6-9 months isn't far off.

Quest for Baby Food

Interior Health Authority (among others in North America) suggest that an infant needs nothing more then breast milk or infant formula until the age of 6 months. At least that's what they're supposed to tell you.

We decided long before Monster's 4 month shots/check up to start him on solids. He was showing all the classic "I'm SO ready to eat!" signs. Watching us eat with and enthusiastic smile, opening his mouth whenever something came towards it, are just a few. He has also had champion-like strength in his neck, making it easy for him to hold his head up on his own.

At 3 and a half months we started Monster on rice cereal despite my knowledge that it has no real nutritional value. I will admit, I had some mommy-guilt in starting him on solids so soon, so I wanted to play it as safe as possible and stick with rice cereal. We fed him the rice cereal once a day for a week before we began introducing another food.

We started with rice cereal, moved onwards to banana's, apple sauce, and now squash on Monday. The apple sauce was by far my absolute favorite, he makes the cutest sour face I've ever seen, and the best part is, it's sporadic like only one in five bites are sour.

My goal until we reach six months is to try as many "beginner" foods as possible, so that he can have a wide variety once he reaches the time when solids are slightly more dominant in his diet then infant formula. Right now, Monster eats three small meals a day in addition to his infant formula. Fruit and Cereal for breakfast, Veggie for lunch, veggie and cereal for supper.

Figuring out how a six month old babies diet should look is the next nutritional mountain of information I plan on climbing.

Looking into Infant fun at the public pool!

Monster has a girlfriend. Ok, so he's a little young, but we like to play pretend.

Tomorrow we have a date with friends of ours, the same friends who have a beautiful little girl born only 10 hours after my Monster. We're planning to visit the local swimming pool for the toonie swim.

Now to begin the checklist in order to take our infants swimming. The recreation center is equipped with a warm enough "kiddie" pool. Check. We have swimmer diapers, and little baby (adorable) board shorts!

As for professional health approval or advice, there really isn't any. After speaking with two public health nurses that openly admitted they just couldn't find any written rules or regulations regarding the chemicals and their effects on infant skin, they suggested I "use my best judgement". According to my schooling, I do not have a PhD, so I don't really consider my judgement the best possible judgement on the subject.

Alas, I turn to Dr.Google who could offer me nothing more then random (possibly completely uneducated, therefor having possibly less sense on the subject then myself) peoples opinions ranging from Earth-Mother "A baby was meant to be free in the water", to the uptight "The chemicals are far to harsh for a babies skin before they are at least one".

Where do I stand? Some place in the middle. When speaking to my family doctor at Monster's last appointment he said all is well as long as he is completely supervised. I should hope a mother would completely supervise her 4 month old whilst enjoying the pool.

It took a lot of preparation for this one evening of fun, I hope now that Monster enjoys the pool as much as he enjoys his nightly bath!

Today my ambitions were to keep my Monster occupied, and happy with new and exciting things to do and see.

One of our adventures today avoided the fussy drown of inside our living room by taking a bright and shiny walk outside to soak in the Vitamin D! I slathered Monster in baby sunscreen, and equipped him with his hat and sunnies (as well as myself). The trickiest thing was to sling my Snugli over my shoulders and strapped him in all alone. With my puggy princess at my feet, and a baby on my belly, we were off!

Each new sight, sound and smell Monster encountered he greeted with a squeaky squeal in delight! Every time he caught a glance of Lola's curly pug tail walking along in front of us he would shoot out a loud giggle! We stopped to chat with an old lady outside weeding, because they always love seeing and touching (ugh) my baby. Each new piece of nature we saw we stopped to talk about, and "pet".

This short walk, only took us 30 minutes, but the effects of seeing new and exciting things lasted all day. I didn't have a fussy moment, that was of course until bedtime hit.

Now, new ideas for tomorrow?

Walking on Sunshine

Every single day my Monster changes, yesterday I discovered that he has become bored with the view inside our house. I have to admit, we do spend a lot of time in our house, playing games, bouncing in the excersaucer, and reading stories.

Of course I started by blaming his fussiness on four month sleep regression (he has been fighting his naps lately), teething pain, and growth spurts without thinking things through. Monster is a contented, happy little man who doesn't usually fuss unless something is genuinely pissing him off.

After trying his Hyland's Teething Tablets, which often works very quickly, he still wasn't a happy camper. I finally made a last ditch effort to help him nap by taking him for a car ride to pick Hubbs up from work. The soothing ride, seriously, works every time! Instead of going straight home we ventured down to our local big box store to check out some teething rings and toys.

Once we parked and left the vehicle Mr. Monster woke up with a huge smile on his face! Could it be? The happy little baby I've been waiting to see all day? We walked around that store for well over an hour enjoying the smiles, laughs and coo's of our little boy. He stopped to talk to everyone he saw, and looking with interested smiles at everything I had to show it.

Then it hit me... A new interesting environment = An interested, happy baby! Of course! The ever expanding brain of my Monster was merely bored with the sights he sees day in and day out.

I guess it's time to put my mommy pants on and think of new and exciting things for us to do together!

Welcome to Mommyville

I hate introductory blogs.