baby travelling essentials

I am so freaking nervous for this plane ride with Avairy in just a couple of days. It's her first time on a plane so I have no clue how she'll handle it. She may sleep the entire time or be a complete nut because everything is so new and exciting.

We have a couple of hours on two separate flights so it may not be that bad, but we have a 4 hour layover that I'm dreading. Who knows though, the weather may be nice and we can do a little bit of exploring!

In the meantime, I want to be ready for anything that may happen while we're travelling. So, here's an idea of what I plan to bring with us.

{check list}

formula 

stroller (sturdy with a lot of extra storage room)

change of clothes 

travel meals 

disposable diaper bags (for soiled clothing)  

toys 

lots of diapers

wipes 

soother 

blankie

How adorable are those Honest diapers?? They're all natural and free of chemicals that give a lot of babies diaper rash and they are so fricken cute! They don't ship to Canada yet, but I would love to get some!

I figure I have to look at diapers every single day so why not add a little sunshine where the sun don't shine? ha. Plus, it would make it a lot more welcoming when changing poopy diapers.

I'm also loving the idea of these Organic Ella's Kitchen pouches. They're great for traveling, even on planes and come in a ton of different flavours. I'll definitely be picking up a bunch for the trip!

By the way, we had day 2 of playing in the grass and it went a whole lot better this time! She was crawling around in the grass a lot, but not after she seriously thought it over.

And I couldn't resist sharing this picture of Avairy during breakfast! A happy tummy makes a happy baby (especially if it's full of blueberries). 

The faces she's starting to make crack me up so much. She's definitely a sassy, little drama queen!

so much to do, so little time!

If you guys remember back to my first post, I mentioned something about a journey involving moving to Saskatchewan. Well that journey is taking a fast track and we're gonna be on our way in just two and a half weeks!

Jordan and I have been busy bees trying to knock down our to-do list everyday this month. Major headache marathon going on at the moment.. We also have been drinking a ton of espresso shots from Tim Hortons to keep us going and they are SO disgusting! I have to chase it with an Ice Capp haha. I'm weak.

Since we're moving a gazillion miles away we had to pick and choose what we could bring. Which means selling and leaving a lot behind. But I'm glad to leave this enormous-nothing-but-trouble couch in the hands of someone who wants it! It's nice, but could you imagine getting this thing in and out of a one bedroom apartment with steep, narrow hallways...what in the hell were we thinking!

I'm also trying to get a lot of good content up for you guys while I can during the next few weeks. So stay tuned!
And just to warn you for next month, I'll only have my handy dandy iPad with me instead of a real computer. Which means there'll be less posts like our monthly favourites and Pinterest Tuesdays, but more posts with pictures of our day to day! But don't worry it'll only be temporary. This wild swinging baby hopes you don't mind!

I also wanted to formally say thank to all the people who take the time to read my blog! If it wasn't for my Blogger stats, I would honestly think the only people who enjoy reading this were Jordan's mom and his Nana (hello!). But you cannot believe how thankful and inspired I am to see daily views from places like Germany, UK and all over the United States. Even if you were just passing through, I'm still so glad to have reached someone so far across the world. And although we haven't officially said hi to each other, I know you are here and you keep me inspired! So thank you!

I can't wait to share this exciting & amazing upcoming adventure with you guys!

Ps. Look what I got had the pleasure of indulging in after Easter!! Unfortunately, it only lasted a day and a half...we have no shame...

The Big Soother Debate

For a while now I've been attempting to wean Avairy off her soother with no success. The first time went really well during naptime, but when bedtime came around it felt like a lost cause. I gave in after about 30 mins of her crying.

I tried again and no word but hell could better describe the experience! It took almost an hour for her to finally fall asleep with out the soother, but it wasn't easy. She cried the entire time and looked at me with eyes that were confused and begging me to make her feel better.

After I had to ask myself if I was doing the right thing. It's the worst feeling wanting whats best for your child and not knowing what best actually is. Gah.

Now the main reason I wanted her to give up the soother was because she started to wake up multiple times during the night to have it put back in her mouth. She's a breeze to put down to sleep (including when she wakes in the middle of the night) but getting up just for a soother was tiring.

So, for new mothers out there wondering whether they should or shouldn't start with a soother, here is my opinion.

• DON'T START. However, there are a few exceptions to where it would be ok. First off, babies are born with natural instincts to suck. The reason I got Avairy a soother was because she was starting to suck on her hands a lot and I didn't want her getting use to it. Ultimately, it's easier to take away a soother than a thumb. Looking back I probably would've waited a bit longer to see how it progressed though. Also, babies that are premature or suffer from acid reflux will benefit from using a soother. It's up to you what you decide, but I would suggest not doing it if you don't need to.

• If you do decide to use one, LIMIT THEIR SOOTHER USAGE. This is because it's not recommended for children over the age of 1 years old to use a soother because of their growing teeth. It can also cause ear infections from prolonged use. Keep it strictly for sleeping. Luckily, I already vowed to do this the minute I bought her one.

• NEVER ALTER A SOOTHER or try to use any of those "tricks" to wean a child off of it. I've seen some people suggest putting hot sauce on it or cutting the tip off in hopes they become uninterested. You don't want to risk pieces breaking off and the baby choking on it. If you want it gone that bad just take it away cold turkey and tough it out.

In the end, I've realized that it's not so bad for her to use it or maybe the look on her precious face when she was crying convinced me. haha. I figured since she only uses it at night so it won't ruin her teeth and she won't become overly attached to it. And as she gets older maybe (hopefully) she'll know enough to put it in her mouth herself. I can deal with waking up at night for a little bit longer. Afterall, I've already gone 6 months without sleep so what's a little more gonna do?

If you have any tips you want to share about soother weaning I would love to hear it. I'll keep it in my back pocket in case I dare to try again!

Spring outfits for baby boys

Yesterday was officially the first day of Spring! I would be a lot more excited if it wasn't for the fact that it just feels like another day of Winter. Last year we were lucky and barely had a Winter and then had a Summer for Spring. (That doesn't sound confusing at all haha)

Well, since I brought you Spring outfits for girls, it would only be fair to do one for boys as well. Everything happened to be chosen from the Gap because for some reason I've developed an obsession with their kids clothes. I could be on their website for hours! I also noticed with boys clothing I tend to be more drawn to the bold patterns and colours. Which is a great balance because all I pick out for Avairy are pinks.

The Gap also had this really adorably geeky Hawaiian T-shirt that I so badly want to buy. If I ever were to have a boy he would probably be dressed as a little old man. That's the only way to do it in my opinion. Don't think that would fly with Jordan though. 

Well, happy Spring! I'll be here...still waiting for warmer days...

spring outfits for baby girls

The warmer weather was on its way. The other day we had a nice, sunny day and now we get hit with a snow storm. It's crazy for me to think that Avairy has been bundled in long sleeves and pants since she was born. Or that she doesn't know life outside without a winter coat. So you can only imagine how excited I am to finally be able to pick out dresses and shorts for her!

I absolutely love, love, love the colours that come with Spring, especially the softer pastels. So, to distract those with horrible weather, here are 4 super adorable outfits for Spring!

I was shopping around in Joe Fresh the other day and saw the cutest sailor-style bathing suit! If you've ever seen a baby's bathing suit hanging in a store before, then I'm pretty sure you know what dying from cuteness feels like. If I had no self control then I would've bought every single style they had! I swear, having a baby girl is a life sentence to being broke. Too many cute clothing and accessories to buy.

Which reminds me, I'm starting a new DIY project this week for making your own baby leggings! Even though baby leggings are usually cheaper, it'll be fun to customize them.

Until then I'm thinking happy thoughts every minute for more sun and less snow.

losing baby weight

After having Avairy 4 months ago (5 months on Tuesday!) I vowed to get back into shape as soon as I could! Of course with the lack of sleep, I was extremely unmotivated. I yearned to be those amazing hot mamas that popped the baby out and looked like nothing ever happened. Unfortunately I wasn't one of those lucky ladies. Let's just say when I was pregnant I thought it was all going to my belly instead of my thighs. (I should've known better!) Today I'm trying to eat better and push myself to workout here and there. 

So I wanted to share with you guys some of the things I've been doing to get me a little closer to being that hot mama!

• Of course eating healthier. Try to slowly incorporate healthier foods into your diet over time. Eating healthy is a lifestyle and if you go cold turkey on all the junk foods right away you'll crash hard and binge.Try small steps like having a side salad instead of the fries. Have chocolate 1-2 times a week (this one is easier said then done). Cut out sodas and sugary juices. Have oatmeal with cinnamon instead of sweet cereals. By making these simple choices, you'll eventually start to feel better and not even notice you grabbed a bottle of water instead of the can of pop. 

• Record everything you eat. I know, it sounds like a huge drag and I use to hate whenever people suggested this, but seeing the good and the bad of what you eat on a day to day basis really gives you a reality check. I've been using this app called My Fitness Pal and it's amazing! You put in your weight and height and it gives you the proper amount of calories you should be eating. You then record your meals and your workouts and it lets you know how many calories you have left. Super handy!

• Workout with your baby. Believe it or not, when I first started using workout DVDs I had to do it while Avairy was awake! I would put her in her swinging chair and she would watch me jump and hop around. To her I was being silly ol' mommy and it made her laugh and she loved it. For me it keep me energized and positive trying to make her laugh while I did jumping jacks. Not to mention the bonus of seeing her happy and smiling. Then before I knew it, my workout was done! Also it might help to make sure baby is fed and comfortable so they don't get fussy in the middle of your workout. 

• Don't eat too late! Have your last meal well before your bedtime and if you must snack on something try to make it fruits or vegetables. Even some apple slices and oranges will surprisingly hold you off until lights out. Me and my boyfriend use to have dinner a couple of hours before bed and then wake up feeling so full and bloated that we would skip breakfast. By lunch we would be so hungry that we would grab something quick to eat like fast food. Then eat more crap after work because we were tired, making the cycle repeat itself. It's just not a good feeling!  

• Stay motivated. It's hard to keep the big picture in mind, so you have to constantly remind yourself everyday. It helps to keep a picture scrapbook of what you're striving towards. It can include celebrity bikini bods, inspirational words or pictures of your family. This is just for your eyes only so it can be as personal and honest as you want. I found an awesome account on Instagram that specifically posts pictures to motivate you towards exercising. You can check them out @reasonstobefit

Let me know if any of these have helped you or if you have any tips for me! And if all else fails you can always use the excuse of just having a baby so you're still working on losing weight. Although if you're still trying to make this excuse work 18 years later you might be outta luck! haha

getting ready...

I thought I would share with you what I've been doing to prepare for Avairy's first foods. Since she's turning 5 months on the 19th, I think now is a better time than any to introduce her to something with more taste to it. Not to mention she is definitely ready. She's always so curious and anxious to get her hands on whatever mommy and daddy are eating and you can't run from the waterfall of drool that I have to mop up when she sees someone eating something!

This is probably one of the most fun and exciting milestones babies will go through. But the best part about it all is choosing what to feed her first. I'm so excited to see the funny faces she'll make when she first tries a banana or some green beans! Don't worry, there will be plenty of pictures to show when the time comes.

So to prepare I've been read tons of books and websites on what to do and I've always come back to these two books. If you want to do some of your own research, I would suggest Cooking for Baby by Lisa Barnes and The Wholesome Baby Food Guide by Maggie Meade. But my all time favourite one would have to be Maggie Meade's book. If you don't feel like buying her book, her website is just as informative. Check it out at http://wholesomebabyfood.momtastic.com she has awesome tips and recipes for every stage of feeding.

I've also been looking into some foods that are the most nutritious and easiest to digest. I wanted to stay away from the traditional (might I add myth) of feeding bland first foods like rice cereal. So far the top three fruits or vegetables are avocados, bananas, and sweet potatoes. They can be made into smooth and chunky consistencies very easily and pack a lot of punch in the nutritional department. 

In the meantime, I'm gonna leave you guys with this adorable picture. Try not to roll over and die from cuteness haha I'll keep you guys posted and let you know how everything turns out with Avairy!

here's to the beginning...

Let's just be honest with each other from the start. I was extremely intimidated to start a blog. I've had blogs before, but most were just wandering rambles. This blog was different. This blog was a mommy blog! 
I sat and I typed then I deleted, then typed some more and then got distracted with the smell of spit up somewhere on my shirt...or on my pants...or was it in my hair?

Either way, after many days of cowering in the shadows of the graveyard of abandoned blogs, I wasn't going to let mine go down this way. I've finally gotten enough courage to throw myself into the world of mommy blogs. 

So here I am, just a creative soul looking for an outlet. A new mother of a beautiful baby girl. A baby mama to one of the hardest working persons I've been lucky enough to have in my life.

And with this blog, I hereby dedicate it to writing about my life, family and creations I may spontaneously decide is a good idea. To share tips and any advice I've learned so far to help new and young mothers. As well as share our journey of moving from Ontario to Saskatchewan in hopes of making the best future for our family.

With a new baby added to the mix, life is far too precious to not document every last bit I can.
So as I sit here in the dark, trying not to tap the keyboard too frantically so as to not wake the sleeping baby, I hope you will join me on this journey...to raising dreams.