As most of you know, W and I took a little trip to Vegas the end of February and of course we brought along little Haidan babe. At the time he was 9.5months and starting to cut his two top teeth. Fun right? Actually, YES it was great fun!
I have some tips and things to keeps mind when you fly with a baby... As if I'm an expert... I'm not, but this is my experience!
We used W's aeroplan points to buy my ticket so the flight times were super weird. I was also going to fly alone. Neither are ideal but we booked a flight that was during when H would sleep. We left Ottawa at 1pm (he was asleep) and got into Newark during dinner, our ne t flight was at 6 and we got into Vegas at 9pm their time. H slept during both flights for at least an hour, and when we arrived in Vegas he was asleep and had so much fun flying that he stayed asleep all the way to the condo and through the night! Hurray! I didn't bring my suitcase (w brought it the next day on his flight for free) so in my carry on I needed to have the essentials.
In my backpack:
Tooth brush
Contacts case with juice in it already (and eye drops just incase)
Glasses in my makeup case
Tank and undies for me for the next day
One change of clothes for H
10 diapers and a half full pack of wipes
Change pad (diapers, wipes, change pad all fit into a little bag I had so it was easy to take to the planes potty)
One stuffie, Sophie, and teething rings to play with
iPad with entertaining games
Cell phone (on airplane mode so that I didn't get charged roaming)
Passports and letter from W saying I could travel with H alone... Yes I needed it
Wallet with $30 American
6 squeezer food things for H-babe (I ate one when I felt sick and hungry and he was sleeping)
Clearly the bare essentials. It worked and worked WELL! I was impressed by how easy the flight was. I couldn't tell you the tricks to keeping a baby happy because quite honestly, I have no idea how I did it. I offered the boob at any flinch of a fuss, which maybe helped? Haidan is a super social, happy most of the time, easy to please kinda baby anyways so I was very very lucky. The worst thing that happened was he had a poop blow out on our second flight. I waited too long to change him because there was a line up at the bathrooms... Lesson learned!
One of the most important things I would encourage any traveling for the first time parent: keep calm and stay happy. I was smiling and calm and forced myself to just laugh and talk to people (because I was alone and needed conversation) and knew that it could be worse! I also was positive in my thinking "We are lucky enough to go on a trip, I am fortunate enough to have travel experience already, I am social anyways and not afraid to ask for help, I have a happy baby, I am a confident parent (I'm not, but I tell myself I am so that I will be haha ), I CAN do this!!,"
Friday, March 22, 2013
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Time flies
It's so sad isn't it. But also exciting because as the time flies by, things are changing, growing, evolving into something great, and before you know it it's March! I seriously can't get over the fact that in two (really almost 1) I will have a one year old boy! It truly seems like just yesterday he was born. I taught him how to nurse. We coslept for the first time, and every day since. We brought him home to our tiny 715 sq ft condo. He played with bossy on the floor.
Now it seems like that was a million years ago. As if he's been in our lives forever! We know him, whathe wants and how he expresses himself. We know his funny faces, his mood swings, his giggles and his cries. Just Sunday he started to make strange with bossy (we've been without him for one or two months because he's a messy boy) and its so lovely to see them making friends again. We are out growing our little condo now as h-babe is wondering through and discovering where all the fun things are (ahem...dangerous things).
I hope that as time keeps flying by, I continue to cherish every morning and every day that I get to spend alone with my boy. I know I complain about being lonely sometimes but I think about the day that I start my home daycare and other kids are in my care too (I can't wait, but it will also be sad).
This little boy really truly makes life worth living. He reminds me with every curious step to devour life as every day is a gift and is worth exploring. His smile reminds me to stop worrying and live in the moment. His little koala clig reminds me to stop and hug the people I cherish in my life, because its important to feel loved. His cry reminds me that everything isn't always going to be easy, but that I'm doing a good job at keeping him happy. His determination to walk and squeeze between the tightest of places reminds me that everything worth fighting for is a challenge.
I love this little boy, and the man that helped make him... Ok and raise him too! We are the perfect family and there's nothing I would change (ok, maybe I would add another girl...)! And we are pretty darn great if I do say so myself!
Now it seems like that was a million years ago. As if he's been in our lives forever! We know him, whathe wants and how he expresses himself. We know his funny faces, his mood swings, his giggles and his cries. Just Sunday he started to make strange with bossy (we've been without him for one or two months because he's a messy boy) and its so lovely to see them making friends again. We are out growing our little condo now as h-babe is wondering through and discovering where all the fun things are (ahem...dangerous things).
I hope that as time keeps flying by, I continue to cherish every morning and every day that I get to spend alone with my boy. I know I complain about being lonely sometimes but I think about the day that I start my home daycare and other kids are in my care too (I can't wait, but it will also be sad).
This little boy really truly makes life worth living. He reminds me with every curious step to devour life as every day is a gift and is worth exploring. His smile reminds me to stop worrying and live in the moment. His little koala clig reminds me to stop and hug the people I cherish in my life, because its important to feel loved. His cry reminds me that everything isn't always going to be easy, but that I'm doing a good job at keeping him happy. His determination to walk and squeeze between the tightest of places reminds me that everything worth fighting for is a challenge.
I love this little boy, and the man that helped make him... Ok and raise him too! We are the perfect family and there's nothing I would change (ok, maybe I would add another girl...)! And we are pretty darn great if I do say so myself!
A step in the right direction
Ever feel like no matter what you do things just don't seem to work out? Or work out continuously? That's kinda me right now. Not saying that I will quit trying but it sure is bothersome! Maybe I need to look harder to see the light at the end of the tunnel!
My lovely babe goes through phases in his eating habits, and now that I think of it maybe I'm not listening enough to his ques, but it really is hard to keep track of when he wants to eat a lot vs when he's teething and doesn't want anything. My step in the right direction has been ordering "Squooshi" Squeezable packs but re-usable and freezer/dishwasher friendly! I'm saving $1.20-$1.60/pouch of ready made store bought food and now can mimic their blends and make it myself! While we were in Vegas H-babe loved them, and it's so portable!! I can't wait to get them in the mail!
Check them out here
My lovely babe goes through phases in his eating habits, and now that I think of it maybe I'm not listening enough to his ques, but it really is hard to keep track of when he wants to eat a lot vs when he's teething and doesn't want anything. My step in the right direction has been ordering "Squooshi" Squeezable packs but re-usable and freezer/dishwasher friendly! I'm saving $1.20-$1.60/pouch of ready made store bought food and now can mimic their blends and make it myself! While we were in Vegas H-babe loved them, and it's so portable!! I can't wait to get them in the mail!
Check them out here
So this week (starting Monday aka yesterday) I decided that I want to start weaning him off the boob. By this I mean not feeding him every five seconds and instead offering either other food or a new activity. Yesterday it worked really well. I fed him at around 9am, went for a walk so he would fall asleep at 9:45, fed at 12:30/1:30 ish, slept again at 2:45 (late because we were at a play date), then fed at 7:30 then at bed time. HUGE improvement from every five seconds. I'm not lying, it seemed like every five minutes he wanted boob... Now he gets apple sauce, because that and Greek yogurt is all he will eat. I know, he should get more but I try! Today we both woke up sicker than yesterday, H-babe didn't wake until 8:30 so that set the schedule off a bit, but we are pretty well on track for the days of no boob! Hurrah! Re-direction is key to parenting! Plus it keeps things interesting! So anytime he starts to rip my shirt off I redirect him to food, play, or a walk!
This week is also "get off your ass and workout" week because I have be hugely slacking and though I haven't gained any weight (the scale is a lying whore that cannot be trusted) I do feel jiggle-ier than before. Add it to my list of things to do. This meant that on the super snowy day (Ottawa and area expecting approx. 1 million cm of snow) I walked uphill on the treadmill as fast as I could while carrying H-babe. He lasted about 25 minutes and I went for 40. Sweaty is an understatement. But it's done and over with. Next nap will include stairs, my old friend that has missed me so.
My goals for the rest of the week: workout every day (something, anything!), keep at the no boob in the days (stay strong and don't give up!), clean up toys during every "break". Next week will include cooking more aka at all!!
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Friends
**I want to start with saying that I value my friends. This is NOT with an intention to hurt anyone's feelings or to have a pitty party. I am simply stating my feelings on a subject that has come up for me this morning.**
Watching Katie Couric this morning her topic was friends, she interviewed women who met online, women that had been friends for 50+ years and even her own best friend. It made me think about the friends I have and the people I consider my friends as of recently and an interesting conversation I had with a mom-friend of mine on Monday. I posted on instagram my instant feelings (haha get it? insta feelings) and decided that I have been away from my lovely blog for too long. Sorry Haidan but for the next 10 minutes you are playing alone!
I have a huge variety of people in my life that I consider friends. I have friends that I've known since public school as early as grade two, I have friends that I've know since high school, I had friends that I met in college (but they are few and far between because I was more concerned with my boyfriend at the time... dumb decision... oh well), I have friends that I've only known for the last three years (that are W's friends and I am lucky to be in their "group") and I have friends that I've worked with, friends that I have made through mom club, friends that I've met in the library.
SO MANY FRIENDS! How lucky am I right? Totally lucky, except when I think of who I actually talk to and feel close with. I ran into a friend that I used to work with the other day and she said something that sparked in my head "I haven't seen you in almost a year, but I see all your postings on Instagram and Facebook so I feel like I totally know what's going on in your life". WHAT!? It's true. There are so many of my friends out there that I don't talk to every day, or even once a week, or even once a MONTH!
WHY? Why am I letting my friends miss out on my exciting life (or at least I think it's exciting, mainly only the Haidan part... but still). Why am I letting "I'm too busy... I've got a lot going on... I've got no time" be an excuse? You have no time to be my friend? Are we really that great of friends anyways?
I might be thinking to far into this but maybe I cling onto my "friends" for so long instead of letting them go because I'm an only child? I can honestly say that for almost every single person I call a friend, I would do ANYTHING for, give them anything I have to help make their life easier, celebrate moments in their life when I am invited to, help them in any way I can... but when it comes to exciting times in my life (Haidan's birth, my wedding etc.) I feel like it goes unnoticed or unacknowledged which makes me feel so unimportant. I often find myself saying to my mom (which totally makes me feel like a loser when I say it haha) "Mom, I try SO hard to do everything I can for _____, I call on their birthday, I buy gifts, I give them time, I go to their house instead of asking for them to come to mine, I do this I do that but they still just seem so busy. And when we do finally get together it feels like nothings changed and I love that, but why does it take SO much effort and work just to get together for an hour or two?" I know life takes effort and not everything is going to come easily, I'm not expecting it to. Maybe I'm delusional and maybe I'm the one that isn't making the friendship work?
People change. I have changed. Maybe instead of wishing and trying to make a friendship work, I need to learn to accept the friendships that have fizzled away? Maybe I need to be cherishing the friends I DO have in my life instead of trying so hard with the ones that aren't? This seems so negative but I don't mean it to be. I am learning to "LET GO". Let go of worries and things I cannot control. Maybe some friendships have an expiry date and I need to accept that we both have grown apart.
Forgive, for they know not what they do.
Watching Katie Couric this morning her topic was friends, she interviewed women who met online, women that had been friends for 50+ years and even her own best friend. It made me think about the friends I have and the people I consider my friends as of recently and an interesting conversation I had with a mom-friend of mine on Monday. I posted on instagram my instant feelings (haha get it? insta feelings) and decided that I have been away from my lovely blog for too long. Sorry Haidan but for the next 10 minutes you are playing alone!
I have a huge variety of people in my life that I consider friends. I have friends that I've known since public school as early as grade two, I have friends that I've know since high school, I had friends that I met in college (but they are few and far between because I was more concerned with my boyfriend at the time... dumb decision... oh well), I have friends that I've only known for the last three years (that are W's friends and I am lucky to be in their "group") and I have friends that I've worked with, friends that I have made through mom club, friends that I've met in the library.
SO MANY FRIENDS! How lucky am I right? Totally lucky, except when I think of who I actually talk to and feel close with. I ran into a friend that I used to work with the other day and she said something that sparked in my head "I haven't seen you in almost a year, but I see all your postings on Instagram and Facebook so I feel like I totally know what's going on in your life". WHAT!? It's true. There are so many of my friends out there that I don't talk to every day, or even once a week, or even once a MONTH!
WHY? Why am I letting my friends miss out on my exciting life (or at least I think it's exciting, mainly only the Haidan part... but still). Why am I letting "I'm too busy... I've got a lot going on... I've got no time" be an excuse? You have no time to be my friend? Are we really that great of friends anyways?
I might be thinking to far into this but maybe I cling onto my "friends" for so long instead of letting them go because I'm an only child? I can honestly say that for almost every single person I call a friend, I would do ANYTHING for, give them anything I have to help make their life easier, celebrate moments in their life when I am invited to, help them in any way I can... but when it comes to exciting times in my life (Haidan's birth, my wedding etc.) I feel like it goes unnoticed or unacknowledged which makes me feel so unimportant. I often find myself saying to my mom (which totally makes me feel like a loser when I say it haha) "Mom, I try SO hard to do everything I can for _____, I call on their birthday, I buy gifts, I give them time, I go to their house instead of asking for them to come to mine, I do this I do that but they still just seem so busy. And when we do finally get together it feels like nothings changed and I love that, but why does it take SO much effort and work just to get together for an hour or two?" I know life takes effort and not everything is going to come easily, I'm not expecting it to. Maybe I'm delusional and maybe I'm the one that isn't making the friendship work?
People change. I have changed. Maybe instead of wishing and trying to make a friendship work, I need to learn to accept the friendships that have fizzled away? Maybe I need to be cherishing the friends I DO have in my life instead of trying so hard with the ones that aren't? This seems so negative but I don't mean it to be. I am learning to "LET GO". Let go of worries and things I cannot control. Maybe some friendships have an expiry date and I need to accept that we both have grown apart.
Forgive, for they know not what they do.
Monday, January 7, 2013
Day 1 Week 2
I don't really like this whole work out to be skinny thing. It kind of really isn't fun, and is hard, and kinda makes a bitch out of me. I mean, who really WANTS to workout all the damn time and sweat and never wear make up or have your hair done nice (because I quite frankly don't have time for that anymore...) and then not reward all your hard work with a cupcake or ice cream or chocolate? People actually enjoy this? OH wait, I used to be one of those people.
Thats the 22 flights of stairs I'm back to doing every other day after the gym... gurrrr
Don't get me wrong I have always loved cake and ice cream and sweets of any sort, but I used to really love working out and being active. What's changed? ME... my life, my priorities, my stamina, etc etc amen. I remember the good ol days when I worked for GoodLife at night (5pm-12pm) and I had all day to sleep in a little, work out for 2-3 hours doing a little cardio, a class, some weights, whatever I felt like! I felt SO good about myself and didn't see it as "working out", but more as "going to the gym to see my friends". Then when I started working at lululemon my love for fitness fit right in! AND I got to go to MORE classes and expand my fitness horizon. Now I just don't have hours on end to go and do fun things at the gym. I know what you're thinking: "Stephanie, you need to start making time for yourself you know" but it's not that easy!
WAIT
One of my new years resolutions was to stop complaining. So this isn't a complaint but just an observation. Life isn't the same, and thank goodness it isn't, because now I have a wonderful (sick, sleepy, cranky) perfect little baby who thinks I'm the coolest thing in the whole wide world. THAT is pretty great!
Ok now back to "going to the gym".....
Don't get me wrong I have always loved cake and ice cream and sweets of any sort, but I used to really love working out and being active. What's changed? ME... my life, my priorities, my stamina, etc etc amen. I remember the good ol days when I worked for GoodLife at night (5pm-12pm) and I had all day to sleep in a little, work out for 2-3 hours doing a little cardio, a class, some weights, whatever I felt like! I felt SO good about myself and didn't see it as "working out", but more as "going to the gym to see my friends". Then when I started working at lululemon my love for fitness fit right in! AND I got to go to MORE classes and expand my fitness horizon. Now I just don't have hours on end to go and do fun things at the gym. I know what you're thinking: "Stephanie, you need to start making time for yourself you know" but it's not that easy!
WAIT
One of my new years resolutions was to stop complaining. So this isn't a complaint but just an observation. Life isn't the same, and thank goodness it isn't, because now I have a wonderful (sick, sleepy, cranky) perfect little baby who thinks I'm the coolest thing in the whole wide world. THAT is pretty great!
Ok now back to "going to the gym".....
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
New Years Resolutions 2013
Day 1 week 1:
Today sucked.
I mean it was a beautiful sunny day outside (not that I left the house at all...) and after a fun gathering of friends the night before we all got a decent sleep. Today was the first day of operation "no more flabby mommy" and it was not fun my friend. We woke up at 8:45am, headed to the gym in our building for a half hour cardio session, ate a delicious breakfast, cleaned the house, and by 1pm Haidan and I were both ready for a serious nap. Slept from 1-3:40pm then got at gym session number two of the day (weights and abs) and had another delicious meal.
I mean, I shouldn't really be complaining (one of my many new years resolutions) because I have a hubby who likes to cook delicious and healthy meals and train my big butt. I love that he is so willing to help me, but I hate that he's so damn good at it. I know it will get better, but seeing that light at the end of the tunnel is hard. Sometimes harder when you're trying to take care of a sick baby.
I think the big part of my misery today (and let me admit, I was a bitch today. Sorry Wayne!!) was that I knew "I'm on a diet, I'm hungry" I kept saying to myself. Was I really hungry? Or was I just thinking of all the delicious foods I will be trying SO SO SO hard not to eat for the coming year. Damnit I want cake and ice cream every day! Is that so bad? Yes.
Well that's all I have to say about that. (Thanks Gump!) (I also have to help my sick-ie baby and try to figure out how I'm going to start his routine again, and try to wean the boob, and get him sleeping in his crib and......)
Today sucked.
I mean it was a beautiful sunny day outside (not that I left the house at all...) and after a fun gathering of friends the night before we all got a decent sleep. Today was the first day of operation "no more flabby mommy" and it was not fun my friend. We woke up at 8:45am, headed to the gym in our building for a half hour cardio session, ate a delicious breakfast, cleaned the house, and by 1pm Haidan and I were both ready for a serious nap. Slept from 1-3:40pm then got at gym session number two of the day (weights and abs) and had another delicious meal.
I mean, I shouldn't really be complaining (one of my many new years resolutions) because I have a hubby who likes to cook delicious and healthy meals and train my big butt. I love that he is so willing to help me, but I hate that he's so damn good at it. I know it will get better, but seeing that light at the end of the tunnel is hard. Sometimes harder when you're trying to take care of a sick baby.
I think the big part of my misery today (and let me admit, I was a bitch today. Sorry Wayne!!) was that I knew "I'm on a diet, I'm hungry" I kept saying to myself. Was I really hungry? Or was I just thinking of all the delicious foods I will be trying SO SO SO hard not to eat for the coming year. Damnit I want cake and ice cream every day! Is that so bad? Yes.
Well that's all I have to say about that. (Thanks Gump!) (I also have to help my sick-ie baby and try to figure out how I'm going to start his routine again, and try to wean the boob, and get him sleeping in his crib and......)
Monday, November 12, 2012
Honest Monday
Today was a rough day, I don't know what it was about today but it was rough. Yesterday was not only Remembrance day, but also Haidan's 6 MONTH BIRTHDAY!!! WOW as if right? I seriously can't get over it... but moving on, let's get to the point here. I'm going to be honest...
I'm still living in September, back when Wayne was away for work for almost two straight weeks and I haven't worked out since then. I had convinced myself that I was ok with not working out and was feeling great because I was feeling a different kind of energized. I feel like I've been living my life a lot more and enjoying time with Haidan and our new mommy-baby friends every day. I've been finding new activities every day to do with Haidan and have truly been enjoying that. BUT... (my big ol butt) I'm not getting any smaller and I haven't been achieving any goals, and I'm starting to feel shitty again. I think about when I was pregnant (or even in the few weeks post post-partum) and I would say "OH by the time Haidan is 6 months I'll be so skinny again..." Yeah. friggin. right. friend.
Tomorrow I am getting back to the gym. I have been eating fairly healthily as I always do, but that's just not enough. I feel like this is a battle I might just be fighting for the rest of my years... is the light ever going to be at the end of this fatso tunnel? Gurr...
I think another reason why I suddenly feel like crap is also because I'm getting married in 5 weeks and I KNOW that I won't look my greatest in pictures that are going to be shown for the rest of my life (and photo shop can only do so much... ha). I want Haidan to look back at pictures of our little city hall wedding and say "WOW mom you looked great!" but I know that won't happen... unless I get fatter by the time he would ever say that about me haha...
I miss my lululemon life that was full of working out either in sweet gyms, at the yoga studio of my choice, on a run with my friends or Wayne, etc etc... all things I am not doing. I used to set goals and achieve them. I used to strive to be an amazing person every single day. I used to try to inspire those around me. I used to dream big and shoot for the stars... I used to be a different person. My life has changed a lot, and I know that it's something that was obviously bound to happen (espicially since having a beautiful baby is WAY different than anything I've ever done) but sometimes I think about how much I wish I could have just a little bit of it back. I look at pictures of myself (when I thought I was fat then...) and think WOW I look so damn small... not encouraging to say the least but in a weird twisted way it is a little bit of an inspiration. If only I could get to the gym as much as I would like...
Here are my new goals that I am going to try my hardest to achieve.
I'm still living in September, back when Wayne was away for work for almost two straight weeks and I haven't worked out since then. I had convinced myself that I was ok with not working out and was feeling great because I was feeling a different kind of energized. I feel like I've been living my life a lot more and enjoying time with Haidan and our new mommy-baby friends every day. I've been finding new activities every day to do with Haidan and have truly been enjoying that. BUT... (my big ol butt) I'm not getting any smaller and I haven't been achieving any goals, and I'm starting to feel shitty again. I think about when I was pregnant (or even in the few weeks post post-partum) and I would say "OH by the time Haidan is 6 months I'll be so skinny again..." Yeah. friggin. right. friend.
Tomorrow I am getting back to the gym. I have been eating fairly healthily as I always do, but that's just not enough. I feel like this is a battle I might just be fighting for the rest of my years... is the light ever going to be at the end of this fatso tunnel? Gurr...
I think another reason why I suddenly feel like crap is also because I'm getting married in 5 weeks and I KNOW that I won't look my greatest in pictures that are going to be shown for the rest of my life (and photo shop can only do so much... ha). I want Haidan to look back at pictures of our little city hall wedding and say "WOW mom you looked great!" but I know that won't happen... unless I get fatter by the time he would ever say that about me haha...
I miss my lululemon life that was full of working out either in sweet gyms, at the yoga studio of my choice, on a run with my friends or Wayne, etc etc... all things I am not doing. I used to set goals and achieve them. I used to strive to be an amazing person every single day. I used to try to inspire those around me. I used to dream big and shoot for the stars... I used to be a different person. My life has changed a lot, and I know that it's something that was obviously bound to happen (espicially since having a beautiful baby is WAY different than anything I've ever done) but sometimes I think about how much I wish I could have just a little bit of it back. I look at pictures of myself (when I thought I was fat then...) and think WOW I look so damn small... not encouraging to say the least but in a weird twisted way it is a little bit of an inspiration. If only I could get to the gym as much as I would like...
Here are my new goals that I am going to try my hardest to achieve.
- Work out for a total of 150 minutes each week (That's 2.5 hours in a 6 day week... sundays off!)
- Sweat once a day
- Maintain my Haidan-mommy adventure activities each week
- Register for a running room half marathon clinic (18 week training program)
- Breath and let go. Live in the moment and don't dwell on the past
- Choose happiness each day (even when the fussy boy comes and invades my beautiful little baby's body over night)
- LET GO
I feel like these might be silly but they might just help.... I am also going to register for the lululemon sea wheeze half marathon that will be August 10th 2013 in vancouver. I CANT WAIT because I've never been out west, and what better reason to go than the most amazing half marathon of my life. I know I can do it because I've done it before (and more) so the training begins tomorrow. ( Tonight, I eat pasta and bread and beer)
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