Aux petits oiseaux

Living in the moment

2012-01-23T16:20:00.034-05:00

I never gave much thought on the way I was going to experience motherhood. Even now, I rarely think about the future in very specific ways. Like Brian's psychologist told us (yes, we hired a dog psychologist a few years ago), dogs live in the moment. This concept recently became my mom motto.

Living in the moment with a baby, especially in a era when we try to cram so many activities in the free time that we have, is challenging. When Alice was about two months old, I somehow managed to semi turn off the "I want to do it all" switch and life suddenly got much easier and more importantly less frustrating.

Ironically, giving my full attention to the present requires certain planning. It will be even more important when I will return to work. As an event planner, I know that a strict schedule is a gateway to disappointment so we try to remain as flexible as possible but with certain boundaries.

Writing a weekly meal planner (Simplicity Parenting)
Doing a quick house clean up once Alice is asleep for the night
Dedicating days for specific chores (baby carrier = easy vacuuming)
Turning off the technologies (yeah, it's a work in progress!)
Paying bills, taking appointments and returning calls ASAP
Doing errands efficiently (errands + baby = can be intense)
Dividing projects (sewing, etc.) into small time segments
Living without too much stuff (stuff is time consuming)
Learning to say "no thank you" to certain activities

Once that "routine" was established, it became much easier to focus my attention on the present and fully enjoy a long bubble bath with Alice, a game of hide and seek around the kitchen island or a nap cuddle together in bed...without worrying about random stuff.

Living in the moment is pretty difficult especially if, like me, you write "pointless" lists as a hobby, over-analyze everything and spend hours obsessively re-organizing the items in your kitchen cabinets. However, I'm 100% sure that it can be beneficial for Alice, myself and our little family. So far so good!

Do you have tips on how to live in the moment as a family?

note: Alice looking at herself in our vintage chrome lamp.

* * * * *

mjb: And wait! I know many other cute European brands ;)

indigorchid: I was freaking out when I looked at their web site the first time. We so don't have stuff like that in Montreal (well, I don't think so).

shannah: This is exactly what I said when I looked at Alice's clothes! Not fair, ah!

sara-ananda: OOOUUUUIIIII! Je veux voir des photos d'August avec ses vêtements d'Alice à Paris! Et si tu veux me donner d'autres noms de boutiques se serait super...j'ai plein d'amis Français qui me servent d'assistants ;)

taryn: Totally!

emily: Thank you. I just learned a new word (swoon).

hello milky: Hopefully they do.

Alice à Paris

2012-01-22T20:43:00.014-05:00

It is great to have French friends who cross the pound once in a while to visit their families in Paris but it is even better when those friends have wonderful taste in baby girl clothes.

Lucky Alice (and lucky me who totally enjoy playing doll with my daughter) scored today some delightful clothes purchased over the Holidays by my friend J and his girlfriend D. Between two meals, probably loaded with foie gras, yummy cheeses and decadent desserts, they went to a little boutique called...Alice à Paris! How cool is that!?!

My heart beat probably got much faster as I opened the bag and discovered some of the most fashionable baby clothes that I ever saw. I like H&M and Gap but Alice à Paris is in a different category...and the price is still very affordable. There is only one problem, Alice is still too small (size 12 months) so I have to wait a bit before she can wear her present!!!

With all my heart, I can't wait for those awesome friends to get pregnant and make stylish babies...after all, I'm sure that Alice won't mind if there is another kid in Montreal with cool sirwal, ah!

Thank you so much J and D
See you soon
xox

* * * * *

bloom right here: I also understand the joy of soft, washcloths...especially if they are warm. Alice dislikes so much paper tissue for nose-wiping.

gillian: Alice is almost 10 months old and no teething for the moment. I have nightmares that she starts school with bare gums! Hope your little Mia will feels better soon. That cushion is so so so cute. Oh, you started a blog :)

sandra: I don't have her chance since I look like crap when I'm sick (like this morning).

olga: Wow, thank you so much for the link. And I still have Lanolin cream (I didn't have any irritation so I pretty much never used it). I actually use it on my dry hands at the moment and it works very well.

thelifepursuit: She feels better now but Dan and I are sick! Oh well, this is life.

lindsey [homegrown spud]: Thank you! At one point she was coughing so much that she vomited her blueberry puree + cereal all over the floor. Poor kitten.

gimbo: I think that she will be top shape tomorrow :)

The snot factory is open!

2012-01-22T11:04:00.003-05:00

Poor kitty cat!

* * * * *

christine: Really? I never saw those products but I don't visit that many salons (and I'm 100% sure that they don't sell those where I have my hair cut). I will investigate!

luke and pamela: For the moment, I love to put mineral foundation. I feel so "adult" using the big brush ;)

linda: The milk duct is fine but Alice is still sick...but looking much better after 3 days.

oscarlucinda: Reading books is so much fun but to be completely honest with you, Alice would much prefer eating the book than having me reading it. Her favorite book is any book that she can put in her mouth...ah ah ah !

The fine art of storytelling

2012-01-19T11:09:00.016-05:00

Storytelling Skills
(from Effective Storytelling : a manual for beginners)

Dialog should make use of different voices and postures for different characters

Voice should create the atmosphere or tension as the story progresses.

Gestures and facial expressions add much to the visualization of the story. Be sure they are appropriate and natural. Practice them!

Pacing involves both the volume and rate at which you speak, and the progression of the action in the story. Dialog slows a story's pace down, while narrating action speeds it up.

Repetition and exaggeration have always been basic elements of story telling.

Most importantly, relax and be yourself.
Develop your own style, one you are comfortable with.

As the very hungry caterpillar became a beautiful butterfly, we realized that Alice was having her first cold...and that I had a bad case of blocked milk duct.

The end.

note: This used to be my sweater (made by my mom 32 years ago).

* * * * *

suite henry : Now that I use mascara, I'm always scared that I might look like a raccoon. I also hate taking it off at night.

martha: Thank you for the link. I watched most of her videos. It looks pretty easy (well, except for the party look). And water rocks :)

new duds: I also look like a living dead in winter. I got a big brush and I love to use it...I love the movement and the feeling on my skin (yes, I'm strange just like that).

verypurpleperson: I agree with you. Sunscreen is so important. Liquid is very tricky. Mineral is so much better and fun to apply. Thank you so much for the link.

christine: I don't think that we have SIM in Montreal. I like your simple routine...totally my style. I also got a red lipstick and I used it last summer at a wedding. It looked pretty cool but I would not use it to go to the grocery store because I'm still to shy.

ali: You are so funny. Lip balm is also very nice.

su: What a great idea your mom had. I will totally do that with Alice...in a few years.

juultje: I'm so like you (picturing my clogging pores during the day). Thank you so much for all the tips that you gave me. You know a lot about makeup :)

indigorchid: OMG, you made your own cheek-tint! You rock girl!!!

the Franglaise: Ohhhh, black Khol pencil. I'm so not there yet. Red lipstick looks so cool, for example, in a JCrew catalog but in real life it is another story...most of the time anyway!

emily: Cetaphil rocks :)

vanessa at lynn david: You are such a pro...everyday since high school, wow wow wow.

anneemall: We are red nose sisters! Dan is also in the club but maybe not as a sister ;) Ah, the magic trick! The only makeup that I had is a green powder. We have La Roche-Posay here but they don't have makeup (mostly lotions). Bye bye red nose!

janet: I also think that going eco (as in eco-friendly and not necessarily economical) is super important. I have very dry skin around my eyes so I don't know if I should try eyeshadow. Maybe when winter will be over? I love Burt's Bees. Thank you for all the info.

uk lass in us: Don't say that you are a failure as a girl! I fresh face without makeup is also super nice (to my opinion). Happy to know that the dog is fine but, wtf, a misdiagnosis!!!

ivana: Go blush go go!!!

dnamtl: Mascara does make a big difference...as you said, I look more alive, ah! I enjoyed the red lipstick that I had last summer for my friend's wedding...but it was for a special occasion (this is my problem).

rebecca: Most women that I know are not too much into "intense" makeup. I think that simple makeup is always a good choice. I also get the "you look tired/sick/like hell" comments at work every once in a while.

clairsy: I have a new obsession : YouTube makeup videos!

thelifepursuit: You are awesome! I love bright red lipstick (in magazines) but not for me at the moment. Maybe next summer when I won't look like a vampire ;)

isa: Le fond de teint minéral semble vraiment très chouette. Pourquoi est-ce que je ne connaissais pas ce truc miracle avant!

new duds: Yeah, I changed my mind about most drugstore products (I like the cetaphil products that I got and the mascara). Makeup is so expensive (even the budget one) that I find it smart to get better quality products and some advices from a real professional. I see it as an investment!

taryn: Happy to know that I'm not the only one that feels useless in the makeup department. I would love to see your makeup drawer ;)

bec hem: Maybe I should ask some of my friends for tutorials...to be continued ;)

denise: As soon as I get a ride, I will visit Sephora (they are all in the suburbs). It looks like a very cool place.

alyson: I don't think that Zuzu Luxe Dual Powder Foundation is available in Montreal. I will take a look online. Thank you for the information hot mama.

gimbo: I don't think that we have La Roche Posay cosmetics for problem skin (I only see lotions and cleaners). Ah, Canada :(

I'm a complete moron!

2012-01-13T20:36:00.013-05:00

First of all, wow, I would love to thank you all for your amazing advice regarding my makeup resolution (I will answer all your comments in my next post to avoid a super long text). I didn't realized how tricky yet fascinating makeup can be.

For example, many of you suggested that I get mineral powder foundation instead of the liquid one that I purchased. Since I didn't use it and I still had the bill, I headed to the drugstore for a quick exchange.

This is when things got a bit ridiculous!

As soon as I got to the store, I headed to the cosmetic counter to talk to the sale person. She didn't look like a floozy. However, she had on her skin a sample of each foundation available in the store that made her face about a 1/4 an inch thicker! "F**k", I said to myself "How can she help me achieved a natural look?" In French, there is an expression that goes a bit like cobblers wear the most uncomfortable shoes (cordonnier mal chaussé). It is when someone doesn't apply their skills to their life. Maybe it was her case?

An hour later I got home feeling like a complete moron. The sale person was not the most sympathetic person but she took the time to answer most of my questions...in a patronizing way but still. After 30 minutes, she looked a bit annoyed so I picked her foundation of choice and a brush. She scanned the items, look at me with her everything but flawless skin and said: "80$". "F**K", I said to myself "Why didn't I asked for the price first?"

Instead of telling her that I changed my mind because this doesn't fit my new frugal lifestyle, I gave her my debit card and even before my transaction was accepted, I knew that I was going to return those products another day...a day when the foundation addicted sale person won't work!

Frugal housewife conclusion
Choosing the right makeup is much more serious than I anticipated...especially when you have sensitive skin (rosacea). I think that in my case (a makeup novice that needs a bit more support than your average woman), it would be wise to visit a more appropriate store and get advice from a more experienced person. I don't want to get an 80$ bill for foundation (plus accessory) but I think that with my skin condition, it is good to invest in good quality product that I will enjoy and more importantly use.

To be continued...

note: beautiful cosmetic bag from Gim Carry

Frugal housewife style - part 1

2012-01-10T11:19:00.020-05:00

I have no excuse but at the age of almost 32, I hardly ever wear makeup or know how to use makeup properly. Once in a while I look at some makeup tips in magazines but I always have the feeling that I will end up looking like a floozy! Don't get me wrong, some people truly master the fine art of applying tons of makeup and managing to achieve a great look but it is obviously not my case.

However, I'm not getting any younger and having a baby that enjoys nightly dairy snacks can make you say: "Oh, I look like crap today". So I decided that 2012 is the year that I will embrace makeup that fits my style (natural look) and my new frugal budget. That should be fun, right?

I discovered a very simple How To: Apply Makeup in 5 Minutes on the Real Simple web site. I presumed that most women would find it too basic but I think that it is a perfect starting point for me:

1) Rinse and moisturize your face
2) Dab on foundation
3) Sweep on black or brown mascara
4) Apply lip color or blush

From what I understand (based on an entire evening of reading on the best budget makeup), you can get drugstore products that are as good as fancy brands. So I installed Alice in her stroller and we headed to the local drugstore where I was welcomed by a non-floozy sale person...perfect!

With my evening worth of notes in hands, I got:
Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser and Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion
Cover Girl Natureluxe Silk Foundation
Maybelline Great Lash Mascara

...and Alice started to get pretty pissed off so I paid and went home. My objective is to get this new "resolution" started by next week so I still need to get the perfect lip color and blush (and maybe some concealer).

Do you have a beauty/makeup routine? What is your favorite product? Are you also shy to wear makeup (especially lip color...it freaks me out)?

note: We finally have snow in Montreal!!! (picture from 2010)

* * * * *

little gray pixel: I like what you said about "aren't worthy" or "not contributing". Taking care of Alice is the best thing ever but it is as demanding as a job...well, I think! I'm so happy to have all that time with Alice :)

anneemall: We are "6-month unpaid extension" sisters, ah! I think that we will do exactly what you said...again, we must be sisters ;)

new duds: We have a joined bank account but, last year, I got my wallet stolen and I never did my joined account card (it is in Dan's bank and not my regular bank). I totally enjoy your money posts. You two are such an awesome couple :)

sandra: I'm so sorry to learn that you are going through a difficult time. Wow, pregnant and no job for the husband...this is scary. We also get most of Alice's clothes second hand and I actually like that concept a lot. I get all excited when I find Gap or Zara clothes for almost nothing. Oh, I can also talk about money for hours. Thank you for your comments.

andrea: Good point. It is true that you can save money by staying at home with the kids. Day care is so freaking expensive...especially with 3 kids. As you said: It's a win win for us! Take care.

emmy lou: You are totally right. I also think that there should always be freedom in a budget. I will take a look at mint.com...especially since they just created a version for Canada. It is such a great idea. Thank you so much for all the information.

uk lass in us: Oups (about the 'our money' - 'his money' situation)! Just like you, I'm not much of a spender but sometimes I get those ideas. Oh, what happened with the vet? Are the pets fine? A few years ago, Brian (our dog) went the the vet and we ended up paying 2500$...NOT COOL!

mariaw: Having an open dialogue is the best because money can be such a delicate subject. We are pretty good but since Dan makes so much more cash than me I always feel like I have to tell him what I get with "our" money. Oh well. Thank you for your comment.

vanessa at lynn david: I didn't know that you were also in a frugal housewife situation. Dan is like your husband. It is actually me who as a little problem with spending his money. I don't want him to think that I'm abusing or something like that. I'm strange!!!

sara-ananda: Poor little A and the horrible luge ;) We only used it once but since we have snow today (!!!), I will try it again. She is not a big fan but she tolerates it. When do you finish school? You are in literature, right? I'm sure that everything will be fine and that you will have an awesome job.

rebekah: But first, I need to figure out how to use the serger, ah!

Ignorant Claudia - Housewife style

2012-01-06T12:40:00.019-05:00

A few days ago, I read over at New Duds, that some bloggers were doing a Spending Fast. Basically, for a specific amount of time (one year according to the official pledge), you get out of whatever debt you have...or something like that.

If you read my blog, you might know that I live in a part of the world that offers a year long paid maternity leave. After much consideration, Dan and I decided that it would be awesome if I could stay with Alice an extra 6 months. Soon, I will find myself financially dependent of my man. I don't really know why but this situation freaks me out a bit.

Basically, I will do a Spending Fast but with slightly different objectives. My goal is not to clear out my only debt (unless somebody drops dead and I inherit a huge amount of cash to pay my home mortgage) but to WISELY spend my money...fine, my husband's money!

IGNORANT CLAUDIA - part 1

If you are a "no income housewife" (or if you want to use your imagination), how do you manage your personal finance? Lets face it, we all need a certain amount of cash to get stuff. Should I get a fixed monthly allowance (I suddenly feel like a teenager!) or just use the common account card and move on with my purchases (Dan really doesn't care)?

Either way, I feel the need to embark on a responsible financial journey with Alice as my loyal sidekick...we are up to the challenge :)

* * * * *

vanessa at lynn david: Well, I still don't know how to use it but one thing at the time!

oscarlucinda: Thank you! However,I have no fabric stash at the moment :(

racheal: Ah you said :"These husbands!". Now, he goes to bed late but he knows that he can't complain...better than nothing!

juliette: So fun that we are in the same situation! I don't think that you have any Canadian Tire in the US. It is like a big hardware store that sells all kinds of things. My mother in law told me that the quality is not what it used to be but it is still pretty good to my opinion. Here is the link but I'm sure that you can get something very similar in the US. I did a amazon search and got some very nice but $$$ stuff! Happy New Year xox

Right this second I want to order...

2012-01-05T16:28:00.006-05:00

...two PDF sewing patterns because one lucky girl got an overlock for Christmas (merci maman)!

for Alice: Neverland Dress from Too Sweets

for me: Scout Woven Tee from Grainline Studio

* * * * *

shannah: Now I just need more snow to use the sled again.

shanon: So many women told me that they will get the book for their husbands. Strange ;)

lila: I think it is sad when people lie about their baby's sleeping habits. Each baby is different and there is no need to create an unhealthy competition between mothers. I'm happy that you like my honesty!

anneemall: I need to get the other books from that collection. C'mon, one is called The Pigeon Has Feelings, Too! Awesome :)

emily: Ah, you are super ("my baby sleeps so well BECAUSE she gets snacks during the night")! I Love it! Have a happy new year. xox

taryn: Wow, 10:30! You are wild, ah ah ah !

Dear 9 months old Alice

2012-01-02T14:57:00.019-05:00

Dear 9 months old Alice,

May I ask you a question? Is your new ability to pull yourself up to stand an attempt to keep me away from writing on my blog? Of course, I could write at night when you are sound asleep but that would only leave me a window of less then two hours since you go to bed at 8pm and I rarely keep my eyes open after 10pm.

Maybe it is just me but I became totally aware that I was a mother when I looked at the clock on New Years Eve and told myself: "Shit, I will totally regret going to bed that late (it was not even 11pm)!"

I should not complain since you are generally a good sleeper but from time to time you still enjoy a sip of warm milk at 1am and another one at 4am. However, I must thank you for making your nightly snacks a breeze. Basically, you made a self service dairy buffet out of me. Let me tell you that your sleeping mother almost had a heart attack the first time you crawled to my bare bosom and started to suck clumsily!

Don't ever apologize for interrupting my snoozing time! I'm well aware that it is perfectly normal for 9 months old babies to wake up during the night. When people ask me if you sleep through the night, I proudly tell them the truth and add that I actually don't mind taking care of you in the wee hours.

For the moment, I have no interest in making you an "independent" baby. Your crib is still in our bedroom and you spend most of the night comfortably tucked between your dad and I (and the cat). As far as I'm concerned, why change something that works well. You are growing up so fast and I have no plans to accelerate the process.

On a side note, I gave your father a book called Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late. It is a subtle message concerning a bad sleeping habit of his. As I told him, I have no pity for tired fathers who go to bed late in the name of computer games!!

Keep up the good work kitten since you are a pure delight.

Mom xox

* * * * *

vanessa - lynn david handbag co.: I hope that you had lovely holidays.

sixorangecarrots: I know. They are so funny :)

a loopy life: Thank you so much.

clairsy: Ah, thank you! I'm so happy that you like my blog. xox

sophie: Thank you. There will be more family adventures in 2012.

courtney: Thank you Courtney. You are not writing on your blog anymore? xox

lina: Merci Lina! xox

bugheart: As you said, now that I have a baby I have this need of doing some good for others. Maybe I'm not as self centered anymore, ah! You should get the DIY nativity set. It is super fun and easy to make. Plus, it looks very cool. Oh, we never did St. Lucia celebrations until this year. Having a little St. Lucia was very amusing and it made my Swedish friend happy.

taryn: I'm happy with how easy the nativity scene was to make and it looks super cute. It was a good investment. I hope that you had a merry Christmas.

kaylovesvintage: Wishing you a lovely 2012 with many wonderful adventures!

the franglaise: Now that Alice is a crazy little crawler, I'm also a zzz ZZZ zzz ZZZ! She can be pretty draining.

daniela: Thank you! I love doing little crafts :)

sometimes life is bliss and sometimes not !: I had such a good time making the pine cones. Very relaxing.

oscarlucinda: They do look magical! Oh, two words for little one who hates to leave her mama's arms : baby carrier!

sandra: You are right, I should take more pictures with cardigans made by my mother. I will do that this week.

bloom right here: So happy that you are also the kind of person that find doing stuff relaxing.

mummabear: Even with dental dog food, Brian smells pretty bad.

anonymous: Ah, don't worry! Brian is in good hands. According to our vets, it is a miracle that our dog is still alive since most people would not want to deal with all his medical problems (time + $$$). We just generally focus on the most "important" problems and his bad breath is not one of those (even according to our vets).

peanut: Yes, it is glue. It is "normal" epoxy glue that you can get at any hardware store. Just be careful with your finger...it is pretty strong.

Happy Holidays! xox

2011-12-21T15:03:00.010-05:00

I applied the last coat of varnish on my DIY nativity scene. I'm super happy with the results, I saved a lot of cash by making it myself and it was easy to do once I got the right system. Installing our little nativity scene in our living room is our first family tradition.

We also went to the Montreal Children's Hospital and donated an awesome wooden baby rattle at the Annual Toy Fair. This is our second family tradition. You are never too young to get involved in philanthropic activities (I also sent a check to the Maternity Ward at the hospital where Alice was born in her name when she was a still a newborn).

Christmas is a time of intense consumerism. If you read my blog, you probably know that I prone a more simplistic approach to the Holidays but it is not my place to tell you how to spend your money...especially if it brings joy to your life and the life of other. After all, giving is pretty awesome :)

On our way to the hospital, in a great philosophical moment, I told Dan how wonderful it would be if each family would take some of their time or their money to help a non profit organization. Think of all the great things that we could achieve as a society.

So, on those "propaganda words", I would love to wish you an awesome Holidays full of delightful traditions and great presents for the kids and the kids at heart!

Take care xox

Relaxing according to Claudia

2011-12-17T22:33:00.012-05:00

There are many ways to relax. Some people go to the spa or to the movie theater. More rebellious people take a few drinks or smoke some weed! Would you like to know what I did to chill out this weekend? I dipped pinecones, that I gathered a few weeks ago at my mom's house, in latex paint using a pair of pliers! I'm so freaking zen right now ;)

1. Put leftover latex paint that you had in your basement or in your garage in a container!
2. Add a bit of water to thin the paint and mix.
3. Dip pinecones in paint.
4. Remove excess paint using the pliers (or a tool of your choice) to hold the pinecone.
5. Let pinecones dry on a piece of wax paper.
6. Repeat if you want more coverage (I did 2 coats for a "ceramic look").

Other people take naps when they want to relax but this is too easy for me!

* * * * *

vanessa - lynn david handbag co.: Oh yes, I loved "hunting" rabbit or deer hoofprints in the snow. And it was a "party" when we discovered a pile of deer poop ;)

jen: Um? What is helicopter soup? Wow, what a cool cardboard house you had!!!

di: My mom told me that when I was a young kid I really REALLY enjoyed her saucepans, wooden spoons and plastic containers. Dan was really into lego so he can't wait to play with Alice.

gimbo: Thank you so much. It was a fun little project. A pet rock? This is fun!

rita: Oh, send me a picture of your little Lucia.

suite henry: I don't know where my baby teeth are?!?

tania: I'm so happy that you enjoy my blog. I think that I will write more about simplicity parenting soon.

maria w: Wow, this is cool! I didn't know about the fine art of newspaper toy crafting. I must investigate.

the franglaise: Oh, c'mon, you are a very creative person!

pj: You don't have a Christmas tree? This is my favorite thing about the Holidays. You could get a mini (like super small) tree and make a mini tree stand cozy.

ruby may: You could do it with so many things: sea shell, driftwood, pieces of ceramic...of the possibilities.

ele: I love my little stone collection (I have about 30 stones). I don't know what Alice will collect when she will be a bit older.

So easy it doesn't need words

2011-12-16T14:53:00.010-05:00

How to reuse your semi precious stone collection that you had as a kid:

I have nothing against Old Orchard Beach fridge magnet but you know!

Now if I could only get one of those awesome retro fridges.

note 1: I will answer your lovely comments in my next post because a baby crawling at the speed of light is draining!

note 2 : Look at the cute couple on the picture (Dan and I at our prom...14 years ago).

Favorite fucked up toy

2011-12-11T20:35:00.009-05:00

WARNING: You might think that I'm crazy!

Recently, I read an article on a blog called Geek Dad. I'm not sure how I arrived there but the title "The 5 Best Toys of All Time" is probably for something. The first item of the list totally tugged at my heartstrings. A stick.

I remember my beloved stick. Made out the wood, it was about 3' tall and had a "pointy" extremity. I'm pretty sure that I found it in the forest next to my mom's house but it is not clear. I just know for sure that it came with me on numerous adventures...especially during spring when the melting snow would bring the coolest thing ever for a kiddo who wanted to become a veterinarian: a dead semi frozen deer in a semi level of decomposition!

First of all, I have to tell you that my mom's house is situated on a natural deer path. Snowstorm + car + deer in the headlights + badly injured forest critter + more snowstorm...you get the picture. Second of all, my mom really didn't like the idea of her daughter playing with a dead deer and a stick in the backyard ;)

Anyway, back to the stick. If I think about it, I have a hell lot of childhood memories that involves my wooden stick (other then pocking various organs in a deer!). Going on walks in the forest to dig up acorns, making frogs jump away from me (I don't really like frogs), looking for very old pieces of broken dishes in the stream (many many many moons ago, that stream was used as a garbage disposal...you know, that was life in the country in my part of the world), playing "warrior princess" type games or "golf" with snow balls, etc.

Now living in the city, I know that Alice won't have the same stick opportunities than me. And god forbid her to poke a dead cat on the side walk...this is totally different and extremely gross according to my standards! However, I will give her a stick that we will bring at the park, at the country house and, obviously, at my mom's house on a warm spring day!

As a kid, did you have a favorite fucked up toy that you could not find in a Toy's R Us aisle?

And for your information, the 5 toys are a Stick, a Box, a String, a Cardboard Tube and Dirt. Pretty cool don't you think?

* * * * *

I have a friend in Sweden that is going through a difficult time so I made a mini felt crown of candles for Alice. I hope that my very young St.Lucia will brighten her day!

I think that we will also "celebrate" St. Lucia (December 13th) / Winter Solstice with Alice...yes, we are that kind of parents ;)

God Jul!

* * * * *

ali: I love doing (I'm still doing it 95% of the time) the challenge but taking the pictures was really not my cup of tea! Sorry :(

(very) Simple tree stand cozy

2011-12-06T11:41:00.039-05:00

A Christmas tree in a basket looked like an amazing idea but getting a container that could fit my enormous (and ugly) tree stand turned out to be complex and, honestly, I didn't feel like waisting hours in various stores to maybe find a perfect match.

So I had an idea: a wool stand cozy. Therefore, I created the dumbest DIY tutorial ever. It only require 3 things, absolutely no skill and about 5 minutes (and this is if you have to deal with a crawling baby at the same time).

You will need:
an enormous (and ugly) tree stand
a wool sweater (that you don't want to wear anymore)
an elastic (and a pair of scissors to cut the elastic)

1. Pick a wool sweater with preferably cables at the bottom.

2. Insert the stand in the sweater (neck at the bottom).

3. Insert the center in the neckline and warp the sleeves around it.

4. Put your stand on a flat surface and adjust the sweater pattern.

5. Tie the elastic (firmly enough to hold by itself) with a few knots.

6. Fold the sweater (part with the cables) beneath the elastic.

7. Adjust the excess fabric evenly around the stand and voilà!

* * * * *
janet: The dog bowl is the object that made Alice crawl for the first time!

daniela: I know, so cute :)

taryn: I just love forest critters...even better on baby leggings.

regina: I love what you said about "thank you". Good to know your opinion about rewards and grades. Alice is still a baby but I get your point. I might re-evaluate what I said about giving rewards for good grades. Thank you so much for your comment.

Like mother like daughter

2011-12-06T09:21:00.012-05:00

Last weekend, with Alice comfortably installed in her baby carrier, we went to Smart Design Mart.

Luckily for me, Christmas came early since I received a beautiful necklace from Judy. She is an Internet / baby puree workshop friend and happens to make super stylish lasercut jewelry. She was the one who invited me to Smart Design Mart. Therefore, she is also responsible for screwing up our gift budget ;)

Like mother like daughter, Dan got a cute pair of fox leggings for Alice and, also from Supayana, a dress for me...with a fox illustration printed on the fabric. Since the dress is a Christmas present, I can't take a picture but here is a link if you are curious.

However, I had a chance to snap a quick picture of Alice's little forest critters leggings while she was trying to reach the dog food bowls (for the hundred time today!!!).

* * * * *

lina: I think that your little recipe will be a new tradition in our home :) Thank you so much!

jen: There are many recipies (like for each seasons) but, you are right, I'm also the kind of person that would forget it on the top of the stove.

kim u: OMG, you went to Japan with a toddler. You need to write a post or something about it. I would love, love, love to know all about your trip. Going to Japan is at the top of our list but I didn't think that it would be possible with a kid. I must admit that it is a bit bizarre (taking pictures of a blond kid) but at least they were nice! "Our" homeless people are also very interested in our dog!

Lovely Holidays Ideas - n.3

2011-12-06T08:55:00.004-05:00

I decided to write quick little posts about the Holidays. They are mostly for me because I still have "new mom memory problems" and it is driving me crazy. So no personal picture, no blah blah blah, just an idea (in words or in images) !

Idea n.3 from the amazing Lina
(take a look at her lovely blog for more Christmas ideas)

"Mix of all the above ingredients with 2 cups of water and a cup of apple juice in a saucepan. Gently simmer over a low heat for a few hours, making sure that the liquid doesn't evaporate. Once you're done, remove from the heat, let it cool and you can keep it in the refrigerator and re-use it again a few times. There really is no exact recipe, it's just trial and error...you could use cranberry juice, oranges, clementines, add a few sprigs of evergreen...whatever takes your fancy."

This easy Christmas simmer pot could definitely help me feel a bit more Christmassy (I want snow...not rain, rain and more rain)!

More recipes here.

* * * * *

vanessa - lynn david handbag co.: We will get our tree next weekend and I must admit that I don't know what will happen with our curious baby. I will let know how it goes ;)

daniela: Your first Christmas tree ever??? This is so exciting (I'm totally excited for you since it is my favorite part)! I want to see pictures. The 4 gifts idea is also for Dan and I...not just for Alice.

lina: We don't have too much Christmassy clutter. However, it is like that because our cat loves to breaks small objects like ornaments or any cute Christmas items that he could push on the floor.

Lovely Holidays Ideas - n.2

2011-12-01T22:43:00.008-05:00

I decided to write quick little posts about the Holidays. They are mostly for me because I still have "new mom memory problems" and it is driving me crazy. So no personal picture, no blah blah blah, just an idea (in words or in images) !

Idea n.2 : A small tree in a basket with simple ornaments...stylish and much easier to bring in and out of our home than our usual 6' - 7' tree! (Beautiful images from http://tinekhome.blogspot.com)

* * * * *

hoola tallulah: That's the plan! You could always start that after kids are used to many (many many many) gifts but the transition might be a bit complicated (especially the first year, well, I think).

sandra: Oh, thank you so so so much. Sometimes I ask myself why I blog (no real answer yet) but, you know, getting wonderful comments like yours makes me want to write even more :)

lina: Lina, no surprise here, you are the best :)

taryn: Here, we use Christmas stocking to "spoil" kids...and adults. Yes, I still have a stocking (and I love it). As you said, I can't control other people but I can control what I do (and Dan). Better than nothing!

janet: This book is totally my baby-kid-life bible! So happy that you also enjoy it. You are so right, parenting can be intense. Also no TV here but there are some exceptions nothing is perfect).

bess callard: Good idea! We do a lot of handmade stuff in my family so it will be pretty easy to include it as one of the 4 gifts or in the Christmas stockings.

one claire day: Oh, you know me and my obsession for simplicity ;) xox

bec hem: Dan and I decided to do the 4 gifts idea between us (between Dan and I but with a budget limit). In the future (when Alice will be excited about getting presents..obviously she is too young now), it will be fun to each have our 4 gifts under the tree. I like that :)

Rebecca: Thank you for your comment. What you wrote is super interesting and it totally makes sense. I almost completed week 2 with Brian (my second reward : Dan will have the battery in my watch changed...easy, inexpensive but it will make me very happy).

anneemall: While at school, I took a few "world religions" (some fucked up religions were also included...it was interesting but very bizarre) class and it was super cool. General culture is so important.

Lovely Holidays Ideas - n.1

2011-12-01T08:40:00.004-05:00

I decided to write quick little posts about the Holidays. They are mostly for me because I still have "new mom memory problems" and it is driving me crazy. So no personal picture, no blah blah blah, just an idea (in words or in images) !

Idea n.1 from Simplicity Parenting (quote from the author)

"A good friend told me that they just focus on 4 gifts for their children: something they want, something they need, something to wear and something to read. This framework of 4 gifts I think really helps to eliminate potential stuff that isn’t needed."

What Brian taught me

2011-11-29T10:43:00.008-05:00

Part 1

I have a dog named Brian. He is a cockapoo and his breath is HORRIBLE! He has gingivitis written on his forehead. For many years, our vet recommended us to brush his teeth everyday to avoid a dental cleaning under general anesthesia or, even worst, having to give him wet food for the rest of his life in the eventuality that every single teeth in his mouth had to be removed. Lets just say that we are lame dog parents because we pretty much never brushed Brian's teeth.

Part 2
When you read mom blogs, there are often parental confessions regarding bribery. As a new mother with limited parenting experience, I totally disagree with that strategy. Bribing kids backfire because it fails to teach them respect and responsibility.

Part 3
Dan works for a big company. Each departments have specific goals to achieve and it is very common to offer incentives to employees who perform well (they also give generous bonus at the end of the year). In other words: corporative bribery! I also have mix feeling about that strategy but it helps to pay our mortgage.

Part 4
Last week, Brian's gingivitis got so disgusting that I'm sure his breath could have remove paint from furniture. So, half joking, I asked Dan: "What do I get if I brush the dog's teeth every day for a month?" My corporate minded husband answered: "I will get you a little something at the end of each week successfully completed!"

Conclusion
I'm happy to report that the Bye Bye Gingivitis Project is so far a success! I'm amazed to see improvement after only a few days.

I'm not saying that bribery is the solution to every behavior problem. However, after this experiment, I think that certain forms of reward system can be use with children (and with adults) but in moderation and with specific goals in mind.

For example, I don't see anything wrong with doing a special activity (not money) if a little one got a good grade card. I also think that there is a difference between an appropriate reward system and pure bribery.

I'm aware that the Bye Bye Gingivitis Project is silly but, as an adult, it gave me the kick in the butt that I needed to start this long term commitment...and because it is pretty funny when you think about it! Oh, and Dan rewarded me with a beautiful felt pinecone ornament!

* * * * *

hoola tallulah: This is super interesting yet a bit strange that catholic schools where you are do not teach religion. If you don't think about the negative aspects of religions, it is true that there are many positive aspects. As you said: be kind, don't steal, don't hurt, share, etc. I'm not even sure if we still have catholic schools in Montreal.

shannah: Um...today I will "investigate" the celebration of changing seasons/nature. This looks like a pretty cool option to me :)

gimbo: I'm happy to know that I'm not the only one in that situation. I do think that some Christian rituals are great. This is why I want to incorporate the nativity set in our traditions. It is just a little something but I think that it is important.

peanut: Yeah, this is the finished one sold on Etsy. I got the DIY kit so I don't know if it will be as good looking! The music can be nice...unless it is by an 85 years old woman who doesn't remember half the words and seems drunk (it happened to us a few years ago)! And sleeping in on Sunday is a wonderful ritual ;)

su: Super! I didn't know if it was a good idea but, after I read your comment, I think that the nativity scene tradition is a good idea. Thank you xox

kine: I'm still debating about going or not to an osteopath with Alice. I had a few good names but I don't know. This is confusing. Have a lovely day!

To Jesus or not?

2011-11-28T15:15:00.009-05:00

I know that Alice won't remember anything from her first Christmas but I found myself thinking about the way we will celebrate this, lets be honest, fucked up holiday in the years to come.

Last weekend, a friend asked me if Alice was going to sit on Santa's lap at the shopping center? Anti-consumerism Claudia answered "No, not at all, no way"! My friend was pretty disappointed but, as I told her, I'm a notorious party pooper!

Like most people from my part of the world (and my age...this makes me feel old!), I was born catholic but I no longer practice. Back when I was in elementary school, we still had "bible class" (this no longer exist in public school). Our teacher would tell us the birth story of Jesus and we would create nativity scene out of cardboard, glitter and maybe macaroni (as I said, it was a while ago)!

Just like sitting on Santa's lap, I wanted to exclude religion from our holiday celebrations but if I remove the bearded dude in red and the bearded dude born in a crèche, well, there is not much left.

WARNING: I will express my thoughts on religion...dangerous :P

So after consideration, I decided to add a bit of catholicism to our future Christmas traditions. I think that it would be a bit hypocritical to avoid completely the subject with Alice since Christmas commemorate the birth of Jesus. Even if religion doesn't take much place in our life, I find very important to educate Alice on the subject. I want her to understand that there are many religions and that we should respect what other people decided to believe.

So to Dan's great surprise, I purchased to DIY nativity kit. I don't know if he was surprised about the acquisition of a religion item or because it is a DIY that implies painting with tiny mini paintbrushes? Anyway, this should be a fun mother-daughter activity (I desperately count on my mom, who did a wood painting class, to successfully create our nativity scene) and I must admit that the idea of displaying our small nativity scene every year feels pretty cool to me.

Concerning Santa at the shopping centre...the answer is still no. Sorry Marie-Christine!

* * * * *

the franglaise: I know! They could have added another illustration or simply removed the gun. There is also another one that I don't like: Épinard = Ouach ... really?

hoola tallulah: I was also thinking about the little boys playing with bows-arrows-guns-toy soliders. This is why I was wondering if I was paranoid or not! But just like you I still don't like it.

190.arch: You are so right about the classic stories. They are pretty hardcore when you think about it. Ah, what you wrote about the way that italian society treats little ones (written as a lazy sun) is super interesting. How does the story ends?

taryn: Really? This is bizarre! And she doesn't know where he got that from?

sophie: I will probably glue the pages together. It is simple and nobody will know that there was a gun illustration there!

lindsey [homegrown spud]: Oh, what is a worst case scenario (chiropractor)? Thank you! I like to think that Alice is very happy with us...well, since she almost never cries and smiles 99% of the rime it might be a good indicator :)

Are we paranoid?

2011-11-23T17:19:00.007-05:00

Alice has a little cardboard book that associates a cute illustration with a noise (well, the written version...the reader has to make the noise). She finds it hilarious and laughs every single time we use it. However, there is a little problem with the book. Dan and I think that there is some inappropriate content for a baby (5-6 illustrations). I must say that it is not racist, sexist or anything truly bad but you know! For example, yes, a gun makes "pan" (it is a French book from France) but is it crucial for my almost 8 months old baby to know that?

Thus the question: Is it just me or we are getting paranoid?

* * * * *
gemma wilson: Thank you!

tiffany: Lets all agree that grand-parents get so freakin excited when they are around babies that they forget to be rational and can often get on our nerves. However, I just let go and move on...but I know that Alice will be grumpy the next day! I love to sleep nose to nose with Alice but, when she wakes up before me, I can get hit in the face many times...oh, sometimes, she sucks on my nose :)

dorian: A few months ago, Dan's dad was holding Alice and she was clearly not happy about it. The thing is that he didn't care at all that she was about to cry. I also wanted to scream "leave her alone".

gillian: I think that most parents have grandparent neuroses ;) Mia's grandmother, from what you wrote, looks pretty intense regarding baby advices. So annoying!!! Oh, I didn't know that cats were baby killer! I will be more aware of my cat's actions...ah ah ah! Yesterday, a man wanted to get Alice's attention and, yes, it totally looks like if he was calling a dog! Funny because Alice didn't react at all! And I totally agree with you about the "Until then, I'm happy to be puked on; peed on; drooled on and look like a total nerd if it makes her smile."

sara: Oh, mother in law! I don't think that there is anything wrong with your feelings. Mother's instincts can be very strong. Do you see her very often? Are going to her place for Christmas? Take care xox

hoola tallulah: Yesterday, I really wanted to tell a man in the subway to give us some space but it was easier for me to wait the 5 stations until I reach my destination. It was not really a space problem but a "omg, you are so annoying with your baby talk". He woke up Alice because he was very loud and I think that he was also a bit drunk but anyway. Not cool! I think that you did the right thing at the bakery.

a loopy life: I think that it totally counts as sitting when you have to put the baby in the sitting position instead...if not, well, Alice never sat ;)

Too close for comfort

2011-11-19T17:09:00.012-05:00

I remember when Dan and I started dating (back in high school), the first time we kissed felt like a very big deal. I was convinced that the entire school was staring at us. In reality, I'm pretty sure that nobody cared but, for me, welcoming somebody in my personal space was a bit uncomfortable yet totally fascinating.

I obviously still have a personal space but I do like the physical proximity that I can have with my family, my friends and even people that I barely know. I also think that I project my thin personal space on Alice.

Now that I'm living in parenthood land, I realized that many moms (and dads) get very offended when strangers or even family members touch their babies. Of course, I would never let Alice get near somebody that has influenza written on its forehead. I'm just talking about an innocent koochi koo on the foot or a kiss on the forehead.

A few months ago, Alice and I went shopping with a friend and her baby. Alice was in her carrier smiling to all the passerby. One of them happened to be a homeless man begging for money. When he came near us to see Alice and delicately touched the tip of her head, it never occurred to me that our personal space was invaded. However, my friend told me that she would have never let that happened.

This is a bit of an extreme example but this could also apply to grand-parents or the receptionist at work or the waiter at your local brunch restaurant. Recently, I received an email from a lovely reader (sadly, I can't read her blog since it is in Dutch) who wanted my opinion on the subject. Well, I think that it all depends on the parents' values and how comfortable the baby appears to be in that situation.

For example, I love to kiss Alice on her sweet baby lips. Yes, sometimes I find myself "French kissed" and full of baby drool but I think that it is hilarious. At the opposite, Dan told me that he was uncomfortable doing that to his daughter but he didn't mind me doing it to Alice. I totally respect his decision.

And if I was uncomfortable having somebody "invading" Alice's private space, I would simply (and politely) let the person know to back off a bit. Would it be awkward? Hell yes, but you got to do what you got to do as a mother. After all, it is your kid!

Do you have any "too close for comfort" baby stories?

note: Beautiful art work from Theater Clouds (on maternity leave).

* * * * *

little gray pixel: I'm also telling myself to chill out but it is a bit challenging for me ;) Our babies will be just fine...Alexa will eventually crawl and Alice will eventually sit!

kim u: Just like you, I'm not a fan of osteopaths for no actual reasons. This is strange when you think about it!

taryn: You also have a non-sitter. Interesting! Thank you for your comment.

ali: I don't even know what is a cranial osteopath. Well, I figured it out by the name but it was a new thing for me. My friend also went (to a regular osteopath) and her daughter's head completely changed shape in one treatment. This is wild!

sid.: But it is so difficult not to stress :(

gillian: Oh, Alice LOVES to explore. Yesterday, she discovered the dog's water bowl...gross! I'm so happy to know that your girl can now turn her head easily. This is pretty cool.

daniela: Thank you! Rolling is the beginning of the end ;) Alice also seems perfectly content and relaxed about her situation.

lina: How come everybody seems to know about cranial osteopathy? Was I living under a rock?

haramaki love: Oh, you are Bess's friend, right? I must look like such an ignorant person. I didn't know about cranial osteopathy and, after your comment, occupational therapy!!! Thank you for all the information. This is super interesting.

emily: I'm VERY surprise by how active Alice is...especially when I look at other babies her age She is freaking hyper but it is awesome (and she is pretty much always happy).

anonymous: Oh cool! You are pregnant! Congratulations. And a little boy...this is so exciting. I hope that things will go as you planned. Take care :)

sara: J'ai plusieurs amis français qui trippent ostéopathes mais détestent les chiros. Je crois aussi qu'ils ne font pas exactement les mêmes choses qu'au Québec (mais bon)! Oh, j'aimerais bien avoir les coordonnées de ton ostéo. Ben oui, WTF, ils sont dans une clinique sur Décarie je crois. C'est bizarre non?

gimbo: You are right. For example, I'm really don't believe in homeopathy but when you see your baby suffer during the teething phase, you might just give it a try. I didn't try that yet but almost all my friends did with mixed results. And this is true... Alice can do just like all the other babies at swimming and yoga class, I don't think that there is a big problem with her.

bloom right here: Oh, another thing that I didn't know about: cranio-sacral therapy (thank you for the link). And yes, all those changes are part of the fun.

abby: I would also think that the less intervention the better...but grand-ma (my mother) doesn't agree with that at all!!!

sarahvine: Wow, thank you for all that information. It is so interesting to know how other kids are doing. Oh, you are doing such a great job, you should absolutely get a medal :)

sal: Thank you so much! Have a lovely week.

oscarlucinda: You should totally get the pattern. It is so much fun to make. I already made another one (I must take a picture). Yoga rocks :)

Ignorant Claudia - sitting baby edition

2011-11-16T15:40:00.013-05:00

Ok, I'm all about telling people that each baby develop to its own rhythm, that there is no need to compare and that there is no point in rushing anything. However, for the past few weeks, I'm not at all following my own advice.

If you read my blog, you probably know that Alice started to crawl. It is not yet perfect but if she sees an object that intrigues her, like a camera on the floor, she will slowly but surely reach it to put drool all over it. This is such a big milestone...a milestone that should happen after a "normal" baby learns how to sit without assistance for more then 2 minutes.

Alice doesn't want to sit. It is not her thing! After a few minutes, she generally finds herself on her belly to crawl. She didn't lose balance, no, she just doesn't want to be in that position. Since she doesn't seem to be in any pain our doctor told us that maybe she has a little tension in her back or neck and this is why she is not a fan of the sitting position. She also suggested that we take an appointment with an osteopath.

I have nothing against alternative medicine but I'm always very reticent. I guess that one too many mandatory yet completely pointless chiropractor treatments (allo maman!) as a kid could have done it for me! I have nothing against chiropractors...fine, I will be honest, I dislike them with..."calm down Claudia, this is not the point of this post!"

So I have two questions:
1) What do you think I should do with Alice's sitting situation?
2) What do you think of osteopaths?

Until I figure out what to do, I "practice" Alice in a Bumbo Seat that a friend lent us...perfect because those little plastic butt-shaped sitters are pretty expensive.

* * * * *
one claire day: I also love the Heidi shoes. And it took us so much time to getthem that the store sent us the most adorable mushroom night light as a gift.

ali: I would love Alice to be crafty...I have so many projects for us (I actually have a file with all the cool crafts that I see online).

sophie: Thank you so much

daniela: We are always "go Alice go"....like we are full time cheerleaders ;)

the franglaise: Ah ah ah, well said : "Baby crawling = double trouble and baby walking = endless trouble!" This is funny yet a pretty scary.

hoola tallulah: Fun for her but anxiety time for me ;)

leah: I'm planning to make so many pinafores. It is so much fun and, as you said, it can also make a great summer dress. I'm so happy that you like my blog. I have so much fun writing about my adventures in motherhood. It is even better if my posts can "help" other people :)

shannah: You are the one who introduced me to pinafores. THANK YOU! A few months ago, you sent me a link (that I lost obviously!) but the idea stayed in my head! It is the best sewing project ever because it is so easy and you can be very creative with the fabric.

carlinha : Thank you. I already made another one with some Nani Iro fabric.

Alice's new pinafore

2011-11-13T20:44:00.017-05:00

I had such a lovely time making a little pinafore for Alice last week (just in time for her great grand-mother's birthday celebration).

However, while I was ironing some fabric, a certain baby girl decided to crawl for the first time (across our living room)...and reached the scissors that were on the floor (to cut the PDF pattern)!

Let me tell you that I felt like the most irresponsible mother ever but luckily Alice didn't get injured.

So this week at the agenda: baby proofing a bit our place...and no more scissors on the floor!

* * * * *

hoola tallulah: When you think about it, learning how to walk is incredible!!! This would explain why Alice sleeps so much (lovely naps for us).

little gray pixel: The face-plants on the ground is so sad.

clairsy: Oh, thank you for the link. It is such a beautiful poster.

lindsey [homegrown spud]: Thank you! The battle to keep things minimalist (especially with generous family members) was pretty difficult at first but since I took the time to explain why I wanted to do this and the benefits for Alice (and Dan and I) things got easy. However, I had to re-explain everything a few days ago when Christmas presents became the new hit topic in the family.

gillian: Alice was very intense with the rolling thing. It gave me such anxiety because she would roll on her belly and sleep like that...she was about 3-4 months old. I didn't want to sleep just in case something would happen to her. Alice is very into crawling but she just doesn't want to sit on the floor (even with toys in front of her) for more than 1-2 minutes. We might have to bring her to an osteopath (this is our doctor's suggestion...I don't know much about osteopath) to see if she has tension or something in her back-neck. I'm so happy that you like my little blog...but sad that you are lonely...come to Montreal and we can have tea together. xox

jennifer: People are always giving me strange looks when I tell them that Alice is still sleeping in our bed sometimes, that her crib is in our bedroom and that it will be like that for a while. One step at the time. I love that your little dude is making is own decisions at his own rhythm...you are such a great mom :)

You can do it my love

2011-11-07T14:09:00.013-05:00

Alice's first blog post: , ouii99io kn hyjunopl;.

Seriously, I just wanted to write a bit about the pictures that I printed last week when Alice violently smashed the laptop keyboard with her little hands and hit "publish post".

(a few minutes later)

I finally decided not to write about the pictures since Alice is, at the moment, in an incredible "air humping" session. She really (REALLY) wants to crawl but she still lacks a bit of coordination. She is on her knees and hands, moving back and forth her small butt, and looks like she is about to establish her dominance on poor Brian (super low in the dog park hierarchy). Brian looks very worried!

Seriously, I find it amazing yet almost cruel to watch her works so hard (such frustration) to make this crawling business in operation.

Go Alice Go! You can do it my love :)

* * * * *
hoola tallulah: We cosleep a lot and it is true (in our case anyway) that I don't sleep very well...especially now that she moves a lot in her sleep. So recently, we decided to have her sleep in our bedroom (in her own bed) but she can come to our adult bed in the morning. It works very well :)

emmy lou: Fox News is generally full of s**t!!!

kim u: The funny thing is the video (if you can watch it until the end) is pro cosleeping. I was so surprised!

carlinha: I love cosleeping with Alice but sometimes (like when I got a cold last month or when I was high on pain killer - tooth removed last week) it is good (and very important when I was on pain killer) to sleep in different bed. And for some people, it just doesn't work (same for breastfeeding). Each family is different and this is perfect like that :)

sid: Thank you for the link. I will read it as soon as I finish this post....update: OMG, this is a wonderful article. love love love!!!

190.arch: Wow, you are a toy expert :) Thank you so much. I don't think that we have that store in Montreal (I'm sad).

kate / tinywarbler: I can't wait to create lovely Christmas traditions with Alice and Dan and yes, afternoon naptimes are the best (I will have one asap).

clairsy: This is an awesome train set! I must put it on the list...maybe not for this Chirstmas but the other one. And Alice is a girl and I don't see any problem with her having a good time with that kind of toy.

Sharing bed via Fox News

2011-11-03T12:01:00.005-04:00

Fox (the network not the forest critter, ah!) is not known for its seriousness. I rely on Fox when I look for no-brainer entertainment like Family Guy...hello, our dog is named Brian. However, I saw a little "investigation" from Fox News about co-sleeping and the conclusions were interesting.

I must say that, for anybody with a bit of knowledge in statistics, the research done by the journalist is pretty superficial and combine many elements that work marvelously well for a Fox News video: baby, death, ethnic minority, low income family, segregation, creepy anti co-sleeping publicity...you get the picture.

Anyway, if you managed to watch the entire thing (again, it is Fox News), the conclusions left me a bit perplex. If not, ***spoiler (if you can call that a spoiler)*** do you think that there is a direct link between bottle fed babies and death while co-sleeping?

It does make some sense but it seems just a bit too simple!

* * * * *

190.arch: Oh yes, I saw one of those push thing toy with a trolley at Ikea. Thank you for the suggestions. About the shape sorter, I will ask for it but it will stay in the closet until the time is right. We have a generous family and Alice is the only baby so people all want to get her a little something....and I don't have enough ideas at the moment!

daniela: This is such a funky cool idea. I might do that for her birthday. You are right, I could ask for another swimming class for the winter-spring session. Like you, my personal list is much longer ;)

sara: OMG, that link is AMAZING!!! Thank you thank you thank you :)

lydia: Oh wow, so cute! I will add them to the list.

peanut: I think that I will ask for gift certificates for clothes. I'm sure that my uncles will be happy with that easy suggestion! Totally, our cat always get sick on the most difficult surface to clean. How does he know???

maria w: Yes, Duplo Legos. Love your comment about the clown-hammer! Funny but oh so annoying!

suite henry: The thing with grand-parents is that you better make them happy (and just put the item in the closet after) and move on with your life because they can be pretty annoying ;)

Ignorant Claudia - Baby gift edition

2011-11-01T12:47:00.024-04:00

First of all, I would like to thank you all for your kind words of encouragement regarding my wisdom tooth extraction. My dentist can be pretty anti-social but he knows how to do his job. So after 15 minutes on the chair it was time to put my blue wool coat on and go back home.

As I was walking to the dentist I realized the last time I wore my blue wool coat was on our way to the hospital while I was in labor...almost 7 months ago. So maybe my dentist is not anti-social but he just didn't give a shit about my over the top emotional coat/childbirth story! Yeah, it is more likely to be the case.

Anyway!

So, my dad is the kind of person who annoys you for your Christmas present list even before Halloween. This year was no exception. This is why I keep a little post-it on the fridge to occasionally write gift ideas that could eventually make the cut for my (or Dan's) list. However, I didn't make a list for Alice because, frankly, we don't really need anything...except diapers but my dad said he would not give Alice diapers because it is, according to his values, an inappropriate Christmas present for his only grand-daughter.

I made a tiny list of toys that could suit my dad's idea of a decent Christmas present for Alice but I would like to get your suggestions. What gift (not necessarily toys) do you give to an almost 1 year old baby?

A cute pull along toy

A colorful shape sorter

A creepy yet cute stack and swivel clown

A "not sound aggressive" pound and tap musical bench

* * * * *

No picture...simply words (because getting a camera can sometimes ruin the moment)

Sitting on a rocking chair in a room filled with afternoon sun. Alice resting her head on my shoulder while sleeping. The dog at my feet and the cat snoozing in front of me on the loveseat. Gently moving back and forth while listening to the soundtrack of Amélie. Kissing the top of Alice's head and smelling her sweet baby skin. The soundtrack played entirely (50 minutes)...until the cat woke up and puked on my new rug!

is it a sin, is it a crime
loving you, dear, like I do?
if it's a crime, then I'm guilty
guilty of loving you

* * * * *

dear olive: I honestly don't know that many people that were aware of this condition. And yes, it is so easy to let fear overtake...ah, protective mothers ;)

oneeyedrabbit: It is not necessarily an hygiene question. Some babies have little hormonal imbalance that can also cause fused labia. Anyway, every parent would be freaking out!

hoola tallulah: It is not that I'm well researched. It was simply part of Alice's doctor regular speech about baby girl. I would have never figured that out by myself! I can't look at diseases and stuff like that on Internet...I promised Dan a few years ago...Internet can be pretty intense for an hypochondriac. However, I control myself very well and I almost never go to a doctor unless it is very necessary (like a pneumonia 2 years ago)! Kids should eat dirt...but not slugs ;)

becca: Ah ah ah, a "poop freak". Yes, as long as we have normal happy babies we should just relax and take it easy.

a loopy life: Thank you! She really loves the cat...but the cat doesn't love her that much.

meghan: Oh, you are right, motherhood can be pretty conflicting when you get too many opinions. Instincts come first (for me anyway).

emily: Honestly, this is the one thing that I'm super happy about my motherhood adventure: I totally trust my instincts (but I have awesome blog mom friends to answer my questions...so it helps a lot)!

kate / tinywarbler: I'm a super chicken person so I very rarely watch scary films or tv shows. However, I do love zombies stuff so I should give walking dead a try (I didn't know that show until now). Thank you for the info. Oh, you should make a tent for West Coast Alice...it is such an easy project.

janet: I also love that Alice finds me comforting but sometimes it can be a bit draining...and I'm not working! You rock lady :)

little gray pixel: It is really not that bad. I hope you will get a speedy recovery like me. Get some good pain killer for the night...I was high as a kite (but the pills were ok for breastfeeding).

ali: I still have another one to remove but in a few years...I will take my time.

bec hem: When I came back home I took a long nap but since it was a piece of cake to deal with I didn't get much special treatment from my husband ;)

julia: Pineapple? Really!?! Next time I go to the dentist (I read your comment when I came back home from my extraction) I will ask him about the magical power of that fruit!

bess callard: Actually, it went so well that I had salmon with potatoes and carrots for lunch...2 hours after the "operation". I was simply eating on my left side only. I was so lucky.

taryn: Thank you. I love to take pictures of Alice...all the freakin time!

peanut: I know... we are teething at the same time. It is pretty silly when you think about it. And you are right, it is truly not that bad...just a bit gross. General anesthetic for wisdom teeth is not very common here. A friend from France told me that over there it is usual but you need to have all 4 remove at the same time. I didn't have much aftercare instructions. It was all very basic stuff.

jamie: Thank you Jamie but, honestly, I freaked out for nothing.

bugheart: Thank you. It was great to have some relax time (half a day) but since I was feeling fine things went back as usual asap. Oh well!

jennifer: Thank you for the information. This was not in my book. So yes, she is right on schedule.

sara: Really? This is bizarre. I'm going to the CLSC tomorrow since I have some nutrition questions and I will ask the nice (there is one that I really like) nurse about it. I will let you know what she said. Thank you so much for the information.

A time to rest

2011-10-25T10:22:00.008-04:00

When I look at the past few months, I realize that I totally embraced my new life as a mother. I honestly don't remember the last time that I was that involved in activities and social gatherings. It is delightful but also a bit draining.

Alice is also getting a bit more demanding. She is still an extremely easy baby but requests more entertainment from me. I also have to be more vigilant since her little hands can grab stuff at the speed of light and she is always crawling towards not-baby-friendly objects (ex: to eat dirty dog toys or to use the wooden rockers on the Eames chair as a teether).

Tomorrow, I will get my wisdom tooth removed, so Alice and I are going to take a little blog (and activities) break. I'm totally looking forward to spend some real quiet time with Alice, Dan and the pets...watching movies, reading magazines, taking naps, going for walks...and stealing some of Alice's purees for myself while my gums recover from torture!

Take care!

Do we know too much?

2011-10-24T16:04:00.006-04:00

For your information, I can sometimes turn into an hypochondriac freak. Since I'm well aware of the situation, "logical Claudia" generally takes over quickly. However, last week, I found myself calling Dan in complete panic: "I can't find Alice's vajayjay!!!"

When Alice had her 2 week appointment our doctor gave us the generic baby girl speech. Part of it was regarding a condition called Fused Labia or, as I called it "closed vajayjay".

Basically, the labia are the lips of skin that are located on either side of the vaginal opening. Fused labia are when the lips grow together either partially or completely. This usually does not cause any problems. The labia generally separate as a girl gets older but pediatricians prefer to treat it as soon as possible with a bit of hormone cream.

Long story short, Dan came back home, we did a little investigation on poor Alice and things turned out to be normal. The day after I was sharing my hypochondriac tale to a friend who called me a few hours later: "My baby has a closed vajayjay!"

My mother's comment concerning this story: "I didn't know any of that stuff when you were a baby. Your generation knows too much".

Although there is such thing as too much information, I do not think that knowing about closed labia is futile. However, this made me think about motherhood in 2011. I talked a lot about mom's instinct and how we should embrace it. Does this easy access to information (ex: online baby poop picture dictionary) unable us to believe in our capacity to know what is good for our babies or, at the opposite, does it make us better parents because we have the tools to help us understand and take actions?

Personally, I think that it is all a question of balance and that we can get the best of both worlds. What do you think? Have you also had a case of "hypochondriac mother"?

Oh, my friend's baby really had closed labia...yes, we all need an hypochondriac friend ;)

* * * * *

Daniela: The zombies were sssooo nice! It was hilarious :)

Alice in zombieland

2011-10-23T18:20:00.010-04:00

We met many awesome baby friendly zombies this weekend! Alice especially had fun with a few brain eaters (top picture). We are still alive, Alice's brain is still too small and mine is mushy from too many hours spent using Internet...sadly, Dan didn't make it since he is pretty smart!

Alice was not scared at all of the bloody people but next year she will stay at home with a babysitter while we participate...fully dressed and saying "bbbrrraaaiiiinnnnn"!

photos by Dan...now a zombie (Montreal Zombie Walk)

Also, I have a little favor to ask those that are using Facebook. Alice and I are participating in a little photo contest so, if you have a minute, could you please please please please vote for my picture (does the link work?). Thank you so much! xox

* * * * *

courtney: It was so funny to look at Dan's face when I made him read the crazy sentence. He was pretty confused!

jamie: We already talked about my post by emails. However, I forgot to tell you that I almost died when I had to put Alice's head under the water for the first time. I'm such chicken!

abby: A little dictionary...
SAHM: stay at home mother
EBF: ecological (or exclusive) breast feeding
AP: attachment parenting
CIO: crying it out
BLW: baby led weaning
EC: elimination communication
CD: cloth diaper

little wild moose: I don't frequent forums and online groups much but sometimes I get comments with acronyms and I feel like an idiot because I don't understand. Jamie had a point. Finding moms with the same "label" makes that you don't have to defend yourself regarding your parenting choices.

roberta jane: It was also my case. I was doing lot of "labels" without knowing that it was actually a "thing". And some acronyms are confusing. For example: EBF can be environmental or exclusive (different sources).

taryn: Swimming lessons are a lot of fun. They are only 30 minutes each time but it is very intense for little babies. Generally, Alice sleeps for 2-3 hours after! However, I don't like the singing part. I don't know the words. I look stupid. Oh, and Alice always pees on me right before the class starts (baby swimming diapers are not made to keep pee inside...only poop)!

shine little light*: Ah, I wrote an extreme example but that was the point (and to be funny).

daniela: I can't wait to read it!

A world of acronyms

2011-10-20T22:01:00.021-04:00

note: this is a silly post...not a rant or anything...just stupid me writing !

Why do we put labels on everything...and why each label has an acronym?

I'm French. Do you know how confusing it is for me to understand it all!

So, if you read my blog, you might know that I'm a temporary SAHM into EBF and AP (generally not in favor of CIO) who didn't try yet BLW, who desn't think that EC is very realistic in North America and who feels slightly guilty about not having a CD baby. OMG, WTF with that!?!

Sometimes, I feel like moms are divided into "groups" according to their actions and values. Without realizing it, we compare each other and those "parenting labels" are surely not helping.

Can we just simply say that we are raising our kids with TLC and move on with our life!

Have a lovely WE...um, weekend!

note: The pictures are from baby swimming class with Alice and her BFF (LOL)!

* * * * *

oneeyedrabbit: Thank you! It is just difficult especially when you are a new mom and doesn't really know what you are doing.

taryn: We just ordered "The Baby Book". I can't wait to read it.

luke and pamela: I also get a lot of " you are spoiling your baby" looks (they generally don't dare telling me in my face)! !

kara: Alice still sleep in our bedroom but not in our bed after one too many "punching me in the face" incidents ;) Her crib is, however, right next to our bed. So it is wasy, just like you said, to immediately respond. I also don't mind too much.

jamie: I'm so happy to know that you are also doing that. If i have any questions, I will email you :) It is true that attachment parenting can be a rabbit hole but it is cool with me. I just don't like when people judge us for it. I'm so jealous of your AP friendly doctor.

sid: I don't think that my doctor wanted to hurt my feeling or anything. She is actually pretty cool. She doesn't mind co-sleeping and is also pro alternative medicine. The problem is that I'm so new to this mom thing and I'm a bit insecure about my mom instinct choices.

hoola tallulah: I know! Why do people always want to know about baby sleep schedule? Thank you for your comment, c'mon, you have 4 kids so you have way much experience than me. xox

emily: Ah, funny, I also told my post-natal yoga teacher the same things a few months ago : "I don't need a break and I know how to get one if I need one...now teach me yoga!"

bec hem: You are so right. Babies are not mini adults or robots! Let babies be babies...I like that!

tulsiana: It is awesome that you found a pro-attachment parenting specialist. I will see what I can find in Montreal. You are such an awesome mom. I totally admire you :) Take care xox

sara: This is very interesting (the no baby monitor thing). Honestly, I don't even know why we got one since our condo is not that big...and because Alice is still in our room! I'm so happy to know that you can sleep more. Good for you! Yes, I also don't get the bottle of water. Anyway, we tried the bottle with Alice a few times (I will get my wisdom tooth remove next week and I don't know how much time it will take) and she is not in love with it. So with water...I don't think so! Oh, I want to see the adorable stuffed rabbit.

lili: Merci beaucoup!

abby: Thank you and, yes, I also got teary ;)

Dr. Sears, my new friend

2011-10-19T07:53:00.011-04:00

There is a new situation happening in our home. My sleeping through the night baby (8:00pm - 5:30am) now wakes up at about 1:00am...for the past 2 weeks.

Yes, I'm a bit more tired but this is not the end of the world (especially since I'm not working...hello afternoon snooze). I breastfeed her (10 minutes), put her back in her crib that is still in our bedroom (or sometimes she stays in our bed) and she falls asleep by herself, without fussing, in less than 10 minutes. End of the story...no big deal.

Monday was Alice's 6 months checkup and our doctor asked us about her sleep schedule. I was all happy to report that she has a great routine: naps between 10:00am-11:00am and 3:30pm-4:30pm, goes to bed at 8:00pm, sleeps until 5:30am to drink and falls asleep again until 8:00am...with a tiny nightwake at 1:00am.

This is when we received the talk about baby manipulation, not feeding her at night, giving her a transitional object (ex: baby bottle with water?!?)...blah blah blah! Well, I'm sorry that I, new mother with pretty much zero experience with babies, don't agree with that! However, her speech made me doubt my mom instinct so I started to read on the subject. This is when I found an interesting article from Dr. William Sears web page.

According to the article: "Decades ago, every parent just took it for granted that babies wake up at night. It was expected, and therefore, accepted. Sometime in the 70's someone got it in their head that babies SHOULD sleep through the night...Today, parents are led to believe that if their baby doesn't sleep through the night, something must be done about it."

The author, a pediatrician who support attachment parenting, claims that it is a norm for babies of Alice's age to wake up at night and as parents we signed up for this. Strangely enough, this doesn't shock me at all!

Again, I'm a stay at home mom so my situation is not the same as a 9-5 working one. Also, there is a difference between a 30 minutes nightwake and a "omg, the baby wakes up every hour screaming her little lungs out and I feel like putting her in a garbage container" situation.

The web page offers a great list of ways to get your baby to sleep and stays asleep. The first tip: Develop a realistic attitude about nighttime parenting.

I like that! I will let you know how things went in a near future.

Hand Screen Printed Fox in Burnt Orange from Robin and Mould

* * * * *

nadyne k: I should totally call you for an appointment

daniela: Dan said : Oh, thank you!

the franglaise: Totally. I can be a total bitch sometimes! Like you said, I couldn't have done it without my man by my side.

anna of (green gable): And you should see her winter oufit...-40C!

jen: Her little fox hat is awesome. So sad that it is getting too small.

giselle: Thank you so much.

tallulah maggs: Cool, maybe?!? I do, however, get a lot of wtf looks when I wear it.

anneemall: Thank you...those comments are good for my self-esteem :)

This is how Alice and I rock fall in Montreal

2011-10-18T20:50:00.006-04:00

Note: Sorry for the horrible picture but I think it is pretty funny!

Alice is super comfortable in her big cocoon but I always get weird looks from strangers ;)

* * * * *

shine little light*: I also got all teary!

shannah: Oh, thank you Shannah. I love to get his perspective...especially since he is a very shy person who doesn't talk that much.

anna of (green gable): OMG, this is so intense! So happy to know that baby and mama are healthy and happy :) Take care xox

His side of the story

2011-10-18T09:03:00.008-04:00

Yes, we are the one in labor but we are not the only one stressfully awaiting the arrival of our little miracle. I think that men often decide to stay in our shadow and, sadly, we generally forget (understandable...with all the changes brought by a newborn) to acknowledge their feelings. Don't you think that it must be horrible to see your partner in pain...or in my case shaking, vomiting and almost fainting for 6 hours? This is why I decided to share Dan's side of Alice's story...written when she was not even a month old.

She said its been three weeks: "I bet you don't even remember half of it!" I was insulted but I tried to play it cool and not show it. How could I forget one of the most important day of my life?

I was not sleeping well. Work was a little more stressful than usual and I was having trouble shutting down at the end of the day to go to sleep. But not that night. I was sound asleep and for all intent and purposes dead to the world. I half awoke when Claudia got out of bed to go to the bathroom muttering that she thought that she had peed herself. I thought she was joking and took a look at the time: a bit past 3:00 am. Damn, I need to get ready for work in 3 hours. I'll never get back to sleep! That's when Claudia cried: "Shit, shit, shit, I think my water just broke! Brian no!"

All my senses turned up to 100% as I jumped out of bed just in time to see Claudia run again to the bathroom. Brian was licking a puddle of amniotic fluid on the floor. I quickly grabbed some paper towels and started to clean up. I asked Claudia if she was having any contractions. She wasn't. I was starting to panic. This isn't how it was supposed to happen!

When Claudia came back from the bathroom, I tried my best to squash that panicky little voice in the back of my head. Now was not the time to add to her stress. She looked shaken and a little upset, but in good spirits. I was reassured.

She quickly listed off what was bugging her in typical joking/sarcastic fashion:

a) We weren't supposed to go to the hospital right away. We were supposed to spend a few hours at home just like our classes said. This isn't the plan!

b) Our doctor told us two days earlier that it would be unlikely that Alice would come this week. I wasn't ready this week!

c) I was supposed to have a haircut today. What is Alice going to think when she sees my hair ;)

d) Our accountant was planning to bring our taxes forms today. When will it get done now?

I smiled. That's my girl! I gave her a hug and asked if there is anything I could do. There was: a) Call our ride to the hospital. Check! b) Send an email to her hair dresser to cancel her appointment. Success! c) Send an email to our accountant. Failed! Hey, two out of three is pretty good right?

Once our ride arrived, we packed up our stuff and headed out to the hospital, cracking jokes and laughing the entire way. I even made Claudia laugh so hard that she lost more water in the hospital parking lot. Good times!

Once we made it to the maternity ward and Claudia was settled in, I headed out to get her registered. Since it was now around 4:00 am, the registration office was closed, so I needed to go to the emergency waiting room and take care of the paperwork there. When I got there, there was only one person being checked-in. No problem, I thought, this shouldn't take too long...boy was I wrong!

The person being checked-in was drunk. Really drunk. Not I had one too many drunk. More like I don't remember how to spell my last name drunk. Which is unfortunate since that is the type of information needed to get registered. An hour later (45 minutes of which were spent staring a hole through the drunk person's head) the paperwork was taken care of and I dashed back to the maternity ward hoping nothing happened while I was away.

The nurses wanted to keep Claudia under observation at the hospital even though her labor hadn't started yet. At this point she was 2 cm dilated. We thanked our ride and got ready to try to get some rest.

At around 6:00 am, Claudia had her first real contraction. She was in pain, I was worried. They were stronger and coming faster than they were supposed to. We tried the different techniques we learned in our prenatal classes. The only thing that helped a little was a specific position on the exercise ball with pressure points on her lower back. Hours went by. She was unable to eat or drink. Nothing would stay down. Claudia was getting weaker and weaker after every contraction.

Six hours later, things have not improved. After each contraction, she would start shaking. I needed to hold her so she wouldn't fall off the exercise ball. I was worried. She was near exhaustion and I didn't know what to do to help her. After all this time, she was still at 2 cm. I was heartbroken.

At this point, Claudia was offered an epidural. Even though she said was open to any medical procedure if required when we were building our birth plan, I knew that she did not want an epidural.

Throughout her pregnancy, we were basically told that epidurals were bad: they make labor longer, you need to give birth on your back (the worst position), you won't know how to push, your baby will be affected by the epidural. And on and on. Then, ironically, they would tell us they are OK if you really need it. I didn't care about any of this at this point. I just wanted Claudia's suffering to stop. I didn't say a word, but I wanted her to take the epidural. She did. And just like that, her pain was gone. We were both able to get some much needed rest.

I awoke a few hours later just in time to hear the nurse says that it was time to start pushing. Alice is coming! I took a look at the clock 3:30 pm. In 3.5 hours, Claudia went from 2 cm to 10 cm. All she needed was a little rest.

What happened next was the most amazing and surreal experience of my life. Watching Claudia push in a trance-like state, seeing Alice's head for the first time, seeing every one cheer on Claudia with me, are all experiences I will cherish for the rest of my life.

Alice was born in silence with her bright eyes open.

I was and still am so proud of both my girls, I thought my heart would burst.

* * * * *

shine little light*: It is super easy and perfect for kids...and adults!

vanessa - lynn david handbag co.: Happy that you think that I offer great entertainment!

emily: Ramona will love it!

dear olive: Yes, pretty cool, I think.

little wild moose: We have a little ritual. At 7:45 pm, I breastfeed her in our bedroom (the lights are dim and she is in her warm sleep bag). Right before she falls asleep (since she doesn't have a pacifier, I generally let her "use me as one" for a few minutes"), I put her in her crib and it takes about 5 minutes until zzzZZZzzz. I always put her blanket (it is in muslin so safe even if it goes over her face) on her legs. She grabs it in her little hands as she falls asleep. For the past two weeks, she wakes up at 1:30 am...to play! She doesn't need to drink or anything. She just has enough energy to "start her day" so she rolls in her cribs, "talks...lalalayayaya" and play with her sleep bag. It goes like that for about 45 minutes and she falls asleep again. This is why we will move her in her own room...we also need to sleep!

the franglaise: Merci! Avant, je trippais sur la couture. Maintenant, j'aime bien faire des trucs avec du bois. Gros becs :)

liz rose: Thank you so much. xox

katie f: I used the tent for an entire evening while I was using the computer. It was awesome.

jamie: I know Alice will have a lot of fun with it in a few months but I wanted to make it last weekend...because I needed a little project! It is very easy to do.

In the tent

2011-10-14T13:28:00.015-04:00

One of the things that I learned now that I'm a mom is that the less pressure I put on my shoulders the happier I am.

A few week ago, I entered the delightful Kid Clothes Week Challenge hosted by Elsie Marley. I ordered a few patterns and I was excited to use my sewing machine for a minimum of an hour each day during one week (October 10th - 17th). However, since Alice started to wake up randomly during the night for the past few days, the idea looked a lot less interesting.

Since Elsie probably won't come to my house with a baseball bat because I skipped her activity, I decided to take it easy and indulge in a few well deserved naps.

Also, I had a new plan for the weekend. As a kid, I used to love making forts in the living room using sheets and various pieces of furnitures. Do you know what can be cooler than a kid made tent? A small DIY indoor tent made with love by a mother (me...with the help of my amazing husband) who calls a spade bit a thingie that makes bigger holes and a poplar dowel a skinny wooden cylinder. Let me tell you that the dude at the hardware store was impressed ;)

It took pretty much the entire afternoon and evening to accomplish it but it is awesome! I'm writing this post, as Alice is sleeping in her crib, lying on my stomach under my (um, Alice's) tent....and I feel exactly the same way as when I was a little girl.

If you ever want to make your own DIY indoor tent, we used this tutorial but made a few changes: we added two poplar dowels at the bottom because I love when the fabric is nicely stretched, we didn't use elastics to attach the fabric but stitched a fold at the bottom (for the extra poplar dowels) and we drilled 4 holes near the top to add "security" ribbons to avoid a collapsing tent. Ta-da!

* * * * *

janet: I just realized that there is no hope for the shorter socks :(

anneemall: What? Poor little bunny (physical therapy session). Honestly, glue could become a solution ;)

daniela: I know...love ugly pretty cardi! Even the hat with the tie under the neck doesn't work with Alice.

abby: Oh, you are so nice! And your comment about baby sexuality is super interesting. I didn't know that you used to be a nanny. Was it fun?

tallulah maggs: They are also difficult to find here. Well, you can find them in fancy second hand stores but I don't want to pay 50$ for an ugly cool sweater! Thank you for all the links.

jess: I do love her smile a lot. I have to control myself not to get many wool blankets at the op shops...but maybe I should get a nanna-knitted crocheted blankets...don't know if my husband will like that!

bugheart: I'm also still looking for better sources of vintage baby clothes at a decent price. Not that obvious!

kate / tinywarbler: Oh Kate! Thank you. I would love to see more pictures (you can email if you don't want to post them on your blog) of West Coast Alice.

lili: Merci Lili! Heureuse que savoir que tu aimes mon blog. Bonne semaine. xox

olena: Oh, somebody told me about the poop smell thing a few years ago. Bizarre but, yes, normal! I used to love the smell of white glue as a kid but this is a complete different story ;)

anneemall: Oh, how come breastfeeding didn't work...not that it is of my business but you know! Don't judge me but I used to love my high panel maternity denim and I was super sad when they became too big :(

Jackpot!

2011-10-12T11:36:00.007-04:00

After 6 months, I finally discovered that second hand stores located in multicultural neighborhoods are amazing if you are looking for vintage baby clothes.

I'm pretty sure that Alice's great-grand-mother has a similar cardigan! That green...it is so ugly that it is awesome!

Also, now that winter is upon us, should I duct tape Alice's socks to her body (and don't get me started on her hat)?

* * * * *

lola: Oh, I forgot about the doctor thing! You can't go wrong with farm animals to teach you how things are done ;) I like your simple "That's not a polite thing to do in public sweetie".

last day of may: Good point. We also need a name, well, two names. One in English and one in French. But what about the real word? Is it bad to use it?

tallulah maggs: OMG! I can imagine (well, I think)!

lina: Lina, you are the best! Water almost came out of my nose when I read your comment. I think that I will write a post about embarrassing motherhood stories.

uk lass in us: Oh, so maybe for Alice it will be about cats in the alley since deers are kinda rare in Montreal ;)

the franglaise: Oh really? This is funny yet pretty scary at the same time! I must tell my friend who just had a baby boy. Thank you! It is all new to me but I so want to do a good job with Alice. I totally understand. I had to change the way that I make outfits with a baby that 1) is breastfed 2) started to move on her belly 3) spit food at me 4) suck on the fabric! I should start using lipstick because I also love easy stuff :)

su: If Oprah calls it a Vajayjay...!!! I didn't know that you knew a bit of French. This is cool.

A lame mother...and a contest winner

2011-10-10T19:51:00.015-04:00

It is not that I particularly enjoy writing about thought provoking subjects. I also love futile stuff. For example, I just purchased a bottle of "autumn" nail polish color as part of my cutify challenge. However, I don't think that you care that much about the state of my nails to justify an entire blog post about it.

Instead, I will write about something that could lead "teenager" Alice to be really pissed at me if she ever read my blog. I'm willing to take that chance because I would really like to have your output on this delicate subject.

Lets talk vajayjay!

A few weeks ago, I realized that Alice had a new favorite activity during diaper changing time. Looking at her mobile was no longer her priority. No, as soon as she found herself butt naked, my adorable baby girl would grab her lady parts with both hands and pull on it like there is no tomorrow.

New mom immediate reflex:"No!!! Don't do that Alice!!!"

After a few south of the border episodes, I realized that I didn't mind that much the vajayjay grabbing. Exploring her body is a natural process, right??? However, I truly disliked the vajayjay grabbing that could lead to poop on her hands that would find its way to her clothes, face and wall!

So imagine the scene at baby daycare after another puree workshop.
Claudia: "So...um...did you change Alice's diaper?"
Day care worker: "Yes." (looking a bit insulted)
Claudia: "So...um...things went well?"
Day care worker: "Yes." (looking a bit annoyed)
Claudia: "So...um...did she do anything unusual?"
Day care worker: "No." (looking even more annoyed)
Claudia: "So...um...(playing with my hands looking awkward) did she...um"
Day care worker: "Yes and it is normal."
Claudia: "Oooohhhh, really!"

This is when things get a bit confusing for me. She warned me that to avoid future sexuality issues, I should let Alice discover her body. I should just tell her (!), something like: "No, don't do that Alice because there is poop in your diaper". Let me tell you that Alice understood right away ;)

This made me realized that there is more to be done then the classic birds and the bees discussion. Kids have a sexuality and we need to address it as parents. Yes, shocking, I know! Recently, a friend told me a story about a toddler that loved to put her hands in her underwear in the middle of the living room in front of her parents! Unusual...or is it?

Alice is still a baby but, in a few years, I want her to feel that she can come to me if she has questions or concerns about her sexuality. I want to be that cool mom. However, so far, I reacted like a total idiot. C'mon I could not even pronounce the word vagina in front of the day care worker. Lame...totally lame.

* * * * *
And now, the winner of the beautiful custom name print from English Muffin is Heather MK!

She said:
Happy birthday, Alice!! I think breastfeeding and generally getting over the FEAR of not knowing what to do with (how to care for) a new baby was a huge accomplishment. So much of it did come naturally and the rest worked itself out over time. And oh yeah, getting through the million little phases of the first year was pretty huge for me too. (My son will be 1 year old on Saturday, Oct. 8th!)

Congratulations!
Please contact me at clo_wn@hotmail.com to know how to create your lovely print.

* * * * *

taryn: You are right. Some babies are funny looking but I would never say ugly. And yes, I also think that parents are programmed to find their babies adorable.

suite henry: Oh, I was there on Friday. I would have loved to talk to you.

tallulah maggs: Those stats are so sad. At some point, most babies kinda look like Golem. I do find wrinkled newborns totally cute.

alyson: Alice is like a mini Tyra Banks with her big forehead ;) You don't want to google ugly babies...it is sad and most of it is stupid photoshop stuff anyway.

anonymous: A Shirley Temple baby! That should be cute.

kara: I'm just like you. If I see a funny looking dog (or cat), I love it right away. It was a bit like that with my dog but with his personality and his health. He was so fucked up that I had to take him home with me...to give him a good family. Again, don't google ugly babies. Not cool!

ines: I must find that Seinfeld episode. All babies are cute in their own special ways. Take care and xox to your newborn.

marie christine: T'es trop intense pour les gens qui suivent mon blog ;)

celia: We all love to tell other babies that they are cute and I don't think that there is something wrong with that. It is all a a question of balance. Any baby with a big smile is all the time adorable.

bugheart: No, I didn't have my camera! And even if I had my camera, the room was so full of people that it would have been too difficult to take a decent baby picture :) And yes, post pregnancy outfits can be a bit challenging.

anna of (green gable): Um...we only wash Alice 3 times a week. She has very sensitive skin (like me) and too many baths make her eczema worst. Unless she had a big poop accident or if it was a very hot day, we just wash her with a wet face cloth. Now that her neck is strong and that she can "hold" on my body, we occasionally take our shower together. She likes that. Oh, come to Montreal :)

carlinha: I also didn't get it when the doctor told us that Alice had a c-section head (I didn't have a c-section). Anyway, it doesn't really matter since all babies are adorable.

renae: Are you serious about this redhead thing??? This is so inappropriate. I personally love redheads...sssooo cute!

Taboo: an ugly baby

2011-10-04T15:51:00.014-04:00

When I was pregnant, I used to argue with a friend that there was no such thing as an ugly baby. Every single time, she would get the laptop and google "ugly baby" to show me pictures that I would not even consider looking at. The first time she laid eyes on Alice, she happily claimed that she was super relieved that Alice was a cute baby!

However, once in a while, she would bring up the subject of ugly babies and, very seriously, tell me that I was in denial. Even Dan, looking at the scene while making tea, admitted that some kids are not born with the best of attributes but who cares since they will be unconditionally loved by their parents because this is how life should be!

Yesterday, I purchased a special edition of a "hispster" Montreal magazine dedicated to babies. The publication has its share of hipsterism but I was delighted with the articles. One was about ugly babies and left me so confused that I decided to write a little post on the subject.

Lets be very honest, some babies are cuter than other. My friend was "right", I just didn't want to say it because deep down it felt wrong! The article didn't shock me because it claimed that some babies look like a mogwai fed after midnight (aka a gremlin). No, it freaked me out because of the statistics implied in the text. According to a recent study, 70% of babies victim of physical abuses were born with malformations. Another controversial study shows that "pretty" babies received more positive attention from strangers. Finally, another study claims that women are more likely to reject unattractive babies than men.

The other day, at the museum, I joked with a stranger complimenting Alice that babies have to be cute especially when they wake us up in the middle of the night. The woman stopped for a few seconds and admitted that my silly comment made a lot of sense. So, is it easier to love a cute baby? If so, is it a remnant of our caveman days... the weak (aka unattractive one) should not survive (natural selection theory)?

Personally, I hope that all of this is complete bullshit and that every single baby gets all the love and care they deserve...because all babies are awesome!

And don't forget my little giveaway!

* * * * *
emily: I could shower at night but my hair would scare people on the street! I think that it os pretty cool to be (try to be) a hot mama.

indigorchid: Ah, Internet is such a small world ;) You are right, a lot of people struggle with putting the effort in to cutifying themselves...not just new moms.

ali: That would be so fun to be in your group. I will find you on Flickr. I will probably start next week (taking decent pictures will be a challenge...especially with all those dark rainy days).

daniela: Happy happy joy joy :) I will send you an email with my address ! You are sssooo nice!

jen: I live for excel spreadsheets ;) I would love to make illustrations like you but it is not a option! You are so talented. xox

Cutify challenge

2011-10-03T11:30:00.009-04:00

A few weeks ago, the talented lady at Grainline Studio wrote about her autumn wardrobe ambitions. She mentioned in her post a remix challenge initiated by Kendi Everyday. It is pretty simple, you take 30 items and you make 30 outfits.

If you actually look in the Grailine Studio's comment section of that post you will see this:

What I wrote is totally true. I certainly don't fit in my maternity clothes and since I totally embrace my new curves (hello! I have a butt and when you look at my chest you don't confuse me with a 10 year old boy!) most of my pre-baby tops and bottoms are too small.

I will be honest, ever since I gave birth, I don't put much effort into creating cute outfits everyday. Some mothers have challenging mornings but I don't so I have no excuse to neglect my "style". At first, I believed that the 30 for 30 Remix challenge was completely silly. Why make my life complicated when I can just wear the same pair of jean for 2, 3, 4 (you get the concept) days...there might be a bit of baby poop and breast milk on them but this is why dark denim is so awesome!

I opened my closet and remembered that I use to have fun at that dressing up thing. It is so easy to forget about ourself and focus solely on our kids. However, taking some time to "cutify" myself could have a positive impact of my attitude. So I decided to give this challenge a try.

Yes, I admit, I made an Excel spread sheet with the contents of my closet. It is not that bad but I still need to go on a little shopping spree to get a few basic things (8 new items / 30).

This should be a fun exercise, right?

Do you take the time to "cutify" yourself or do you simply embrace the "yoga" clothing lifestyle on a daily basis...not that there is anything wrong with yoga attire?

And don't forget my little giveaway!

* * * * *

jennifer: How can you not love stripes? It looks good on the entire family ;)

one claire day: So far, Alice is not a curious creature concerning food. We just take it slow.

Giselle: Thank you. Going to the museum with Alice was a lot of fun!

Alice and Jean Paul

2011-09-30T22:47:00.016-04:00

Friday, we went to an extraordinary exhibit. I really don't consider myself a fashionista (c'mon, I realized that I have matching shoes with my daughter) but the work of Jean Paul Gaultier always amazed me...especially after taking sewing classes with a teacher that could see the designer's master pieces in his soup!

We were a bit last minute since the exhibit will end this weekend (so many people) but I could not miss the opportunity to see The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.

When I woke up that morning, I had my doubts on the success of this activity. I bring Alice with me everywhere but is going to an exhibit of this caliber pushing my luck a little too far? It is not like if I can change her dirty diaper between a conical bra that belonged to Madonna and a sexy sailor attire!

People told me that it would be impossible to have my pre-baby life back. They were totally right. Obviously, things are different. Maybe I would have spend more time reading the descriptive texts and I would not have had to hold a 15lb baby on my hips for an hour. However, it is all fine with me.

The exhibit was delightful but the fact that Alice was with me made it a million times better. She had her little Jean Paul Gaultier inspired outfit (black and white stripped onesie) that turned out to get us a lot of attention from many visitors. Since she was not tired, I showed her the exhibit as if she could understand me. I told her about the fabric, the design, the inspiration behind each collection...and I obviously made sure that she did not grab anything in her little hands!

I can't predict the future and focusing on possible "problems" with Alice won't do me any good. It is always smart to be farsighted for stuff like an extra outfit in case of a poop accident or a stroller cover in case of rain but I won't let negative "what ifs..." control my life.

I had a wonderful time and from all the smiles and giggles that Alice made that day she certainly appreciated the exhibit. And as many visitors told us: "You are never too young to visit a museum"...especially when it involves beautiful stripped outfits!

And don't forget my little giveaway!

* * * * *
emily: I started baby yoga class when Alice was 6 weeks old. We didn't do any class during the summer because there was nothing available. We went to our first swimming class 3 weeks ago. It is all very fun. You sing to Ramona? So cool! I "sing" to Alice but I'm not very good at it ;)

dear olive: Thank you so much!

ally: I also think like that but maybe it is part of the process or something like that.

uk lass in us: Until 12 months old? I didn't know that this could be possible. And how can you not like olives ;)

daniela: Ah, thank you so much. Sometimes, I ask myself if I share too much information about my life but I get so much positive feedback and I honestly really love blogging.

courtney: I'm very (VERY) well aware that I'm super lucky to get 18 months with Alice :)

sara-ananda: Oh non! That was not the point!!! I knew that you would say that (not jealous of my 18 months) and it is perfectly cool...we are all different.

tracey: Thank you so much for the amazing comment. It is wonderful to learn about other women's experience. I must say WOW (10lb 11.5 oz baby)...as I told a friend who got a big baby : you have an awesome vagina ;)

Alice is hosting a GIVEAWAY!

2011-09-29T18:14:00.031-04:00

Alice is hosting a little giveaway to celebrate her 6 month birthday!

It is also a chance for me to thank you all for following my motherhood adventures and to be so generous with your advice. I can't thank you enough!

Alice and I decided that it would be awesome to giveaway a custom name print from my talented new friend and soon to be mother Bess from English Muffin. Alice really enjoys her own custom name print that will be on her nursery's door...as soon as I have a ride to IKEA to buy a "Ribba" frame.

Bess will create a unique design using the letters from your child's name (or the person of your choice!) and the corresponding animals from her adorable animal alphabet poster. You can choose 2 colors for your design and provide some information as to the feeling you would like your design to have (bright, fun, colorful, muted, pastel, soft & sweet, etc...).

To have a chance to win, simply leave me a comment at the end of this post, until October 7th (it is next Friday) at 5:20pm - Montreal time (Alice was born at 5:20pm)...but there is one little catch (if you want)! You have to tell me one of your accomplishments as a mother...or if you don't have kids, as a woman. Don't over think it, most of the time, the simplest things have the greatest impact.

But you can also just say hi ;)

* * * * *

clairsy: Baby led weaning is totally new to me. I think that it is not in Canada yet. I like the idea of doing a similar approach but with the puree and also add some pieces of food. Looking at the blocks in my freezer makes me all happy...so much colors!

mjb: A lot of people told me that sweet potato is a winner with babies. Don't judge me but I never cooked sweet potatoes until last week. I'm still reading about baby led weaning since it is very new to me. I must admit that I'm a bit afraid.

lola: Very interesting! I didn't know about saturated fat, choline, natural iron, fermented foods and omega 3. I don't even know where I can buy fermented cod liver oil!!! Oups, the links are not working.

little gray pixel: Alexa is so freakin cute! Wow, she had so many different types of food. This is so cool! I love that you said that Alice will guide me. Pretty nice.

taryn: I'm planning to do a mix of purees and baby-led weaning since it made sense to me and I feel comfortable doing that. I will totally get the little mesh thing. This should be fun. I'm also excited for cute photo :)

montague: Where was I? Everybody knows about baby led weaning except me!

emily: I also love the idea of exploring food by picking up, feeling, tasting, smelling...and smearing all over the place but the more I think about it the more I realized that I'm not totally comfortable with the idea...I'm too chicken at the moment but maybe things will change.

julie alvarez: It is a super concept but since it is totally new to me I still have to process the "what? the baby won't choke?" thing. But so many people did it and it looks like a very fun experience. Maybe I just need a bit of time to adjust.

190.arch: Thank you so much about the information concerning the iron reserve. Very interesting. Oh, yes, I would also enjoy good food if I was in Italy! I did what you told me and this morning, she played with her spoon and empty bowl. It was fun to watch! Take care.

hoola tallulah: Wow, you are such an awesome mom. I have to tell you that I totally admire you :) You rock!!! I don't know if girls have better dexterity. Maybe I should investigate a bit :) Thank you for the book information. I will try to find it at the library this weekend.

ingrid: I agree. Plain grains look so boring! Why do you always start with carrots? Are carrots that cool?

erstwhiledear: This is awesome. I would love to take a photography class. It is one of my dreams. You are lucky :)

jamie: Let me know how it works...when you start.

lina: Thank you for the pear info. Hard poop sucks ;) The red bell pepper was part of the menu created by the community centre.

kara: I would love mashed avocado...with shrimps...but just for me ;) Annie's mac-n-cheese is a very good option!

kim u: Why is everything so different! Each person has a theory! Oh yes, I will totally make butternut squash puree. There is a infant/child first aid course at the community centre. I will see if it is available next week. I'm actually curious about the poop.

rita: I actually love to make puree for Alice. I will try to find Super Baby Food at the library. Wow, you made your own cereal. You are pretty intense :)

janet: I'm just like you. I think that I will do a mix of puree-cereal and baby led weaning. I'm also afraid of choking...and the mess. I didn't know that you are a teacher...just like my parents. When I was still living with my them, they would often talk about neglected kids and it would always break my heart. This video is awesome since it tells an important message and is beautiful to look at.

lin: The cantaloupe was cooked before we made the puree. And the banana/pineapple was simply blended together. No lemon juice or anything.

daniela: Avocado rocks!

lara kasabian: I don't know what your boyfriend said but I have the feeling that he is right! Well, you have 2 options: you can use a breast pump (I don't like it but I do it anyway) or you can do it manually. I always have the feeling that I'm a cow when I do that!

newbiedad: Hi dude :)

m: I will try not to get discouraged. It is just that I so want her to love food...like me! But it doesn't work like that! We also have to give vitamin-d supplement.

one claire day: We often forget how smart babies are. This is why I like so much this little video.

dear olive: Welcome Kellie. Ah, Claire is the best. She is so amazing. xox

oscarlucinda: Thank you so much! The workshop was so fun that my friend and I decided to go again next week.

the franglaise: I would have reacted just like you :) Now, I should get the hungry catapillar book...it is a classic!

kristin: Why is it going to be easier to raise a bilingual child in Switzerland? I'm curious!

shanon: I would react just like you. The only difference, with my stroller, Alice is always facing out towards the world. One less thing to cry about ;)

Dear 6 months old Alice

2011-09-29T17:54:00.001-04:00

Dear Alice (aka kitten),

Six months ago, we welcomed you into our life. Ever since, watching you grow has been our favorite hobby. Each milestones, large or small, is a celebration. You are a delightful little lady and we could not be more happy to have you by our side.

I thought that it would be nice to tell you how life in our little family is on a daily basis.

The day starts generally at 5:00am when you open your big gray eyes and turn your head to look at me from your crib. Eventually, you will sleep in your own nursery but for the moment I think that we are all (including the cat and the dog) happy to share the same sleeping space. Breastfeeding early in the morning is one of my favorite moments of the day...when we all cuddle in bed as the city is about to wake up.

At 9:30am, rain or shine, we go for a walk with Brian. You are not in love with your stroller but I understand that the safety straps can be a bummer for a baby full of energy. I'm now a pro at "driving" the stroller (or as your dad calls it the USS Kitten-prise...your dad is a geek, but not a trekkie). I can go up and down stairs, while opening doors and making sure that you still have your socks on.

We are two busy bees. I often joke that I should hire a personal assistant to make sure that I don't forget anything. We have swimming class at the Montreal Olympic Stadium, massage class at the Community Centre, various activities with the Hot Mama Club lovely ladies, appointments at the clinic and since you are pretty popular we often spend time with family and friends.

I'm happy to report that the entire neighborhood saw me breastfeeding : the coffee shop, the movie theater, the park, on the sidewalk, even at church during a wedding! I often let you use me as a pacifier since you don't have one. Luckily for my nipples, you hardly fuss. It is completely silly but I have great pride knowing that for the moment, you never shed a tear. However, I must inform you that I will probably cry with you when that day comes.

I love that your face brightens when your dad comes back from work. I gave up trying to feed you when he opens the door because suddenly your priorities change! You are now very active and eager to discover the world. You easily grab objects (please, go easy with the pets) and you laugh at the most unexpected sights. For example, you find Brian hilarious when he barks to get fed. Because looking at you laugh is, for us, the most extraordinary thing in the world, poor Brian now finds himself barking for many minutes before we put food in his bowl.

Your nightly routine is pretty simple. We wash you, apply a lot of lotion on your eczema prone skin, put on your footed pj, feed you one last time and you quickly fall asleep on the bed while your dad and I play UNO on the mattress. After, I delicately transfer you in your crib. It is now 8:00pm.

Alice, you should also know that this adventure would not be the same without the support that I get from many amazing women...most of them we never met in person. However, their impact on our day to day life is enormous and we should forever be grateful for their generous commitment. Thank you so much blog friends!

I'm so lucky to have a year long paid maternity leave but I have a scoop for you Alice. Your dad and I have being talking and I'm happy to tell you I will take an extra 6 months at the end of my maternity leave. Consequently, you will start day care at 18 months. This news fills my heart with so much joy!

To many adventures,

Mom xox

p.s. I still stare at you when you sleep!

* * * * *

To avoid a forever long post, I will answer all your helpful comments about baby food (and other posts) in my next post...and there will be a giveaway to celebrate Alice's 6 month birthday :)

A phenomenal capacity for learning

2011-09-28T18:21:00.001-04:00

A delightful little video from Help Them Grow.

From their web site:

"During the first years of life, a child’s brain develops at an impressive rate. Thousands of neuron connections - the very source of language, emotions and learning - take place at specific times during this period. Far more than we can imagine.

But it’s important to note that there are certain moments when your interactions have the greatest impact. You must therefore concentrate on these windows of opportunity."

Ignorant Claudia

2011-09-26T16:11:00.020-04:00

This week, in 4 days exactly, Alice will be 6 month old...half a year! And what comes, in theory, when your baby reaches that age? You introduce solid food. From what I understand, you start with baby cereals (mixed with breast milk...if possible) and slowly you add more variety to the menu.

As far as I'm concerned, as a kid, I was a picky eater. Maybe all kids go through the "I only want pasta" but, sadly, I find that some people never really leave that boring phase. I have nothing against the classic "meat+potato+vegetable" combo (I actually like it quite a lot...once in a while!) but food is an amazing universe full of possibilities: from homemade bread to wild blueberries, from chickpea dishes to seal stew (I lived up north for a summer), from raw cuisine to Kraft Dinner (do not judge me)...it is endless!

I hope to share with Alice my curiosity and love of food. Her culinary adventure starts this week and I could not be more happy! However, like most baby related topics, there a many theories on how to introduce food to a baby's diet and I must admit that I'm a bit confused! Do you have any advice for me? What was your kid's favorite puree? When did you start? What schedule did you use? How much food did you give at first (1tbs seems so little)?

On a "related" subject, I just want to point out that community centers are amazing resources for new mothers. Last week, with a friend, I went to a baby food workshop. For 2 hours, we peeled, cut, mixed, blended and divided in ice trays nine types of baby food. Alice has now more than 200 little cubes in our freezer...for the low price of 10$. Pretty awesome don't you think?

On the menu:
pear
roasted pepper
banana & pineapple
broccoli
cantaloupe
turkey & vegetable
beef & vegetable
lentils

* * * * *
one claire day: It is truly an amazing book. I was not sure about the meal planner thing but it is actually pretty cool. I made a little Excel sheet and during the weekend I do the planning. It is my motivation to try new recipes. And I get all excited for, for example, fish night or whatever...it is pretty funny. The daycare went very well. I'm happy that it was just 2 hours and I must admit that I was thinking about Alice all the freakin time.

j: As you ca see, I just wrote a post about baby food! I'm very excited but I'm also freaking out! It is such an important step. I think that I have to write the way to pronounce my blog's name somewhere...it would be fine ;)

barbara: Thank you so much!

lina: That your be lovely! When? Where? What? xox

little gray pixel: Thank you! Now I just need to buy spray varnish to finish it.

megan: Not silly at all! If it was just me, I think that I probably would have canceled my inscription to the workshop but since I was with a friend, well, she gave me a lot of mental support ;)

We all deserve a second chance!

2011-09-24T18:23:00.010-04:00

Today, I gave a second (or 3rd or 4th or 5th) chance to a cheapo vintage nightstand that I purchased a few years ago. There were water stains and kitty damage on the top and was in great need of a little makeover.

After I read this simple tutorial, I picked up a can of white spray paint and a lace curtain at the second hand store. In less than 30 minutes, I had a "new" nightstand! Now, how can I stop the cat from clawing the wood (damn destructive kitty...but I still love him anyway)?

* * * * *

erstwhiledear: It is such pretty cool article!

sara-ananda: You should not feel guilty! I know a bit about your situation and it totally makes sense that you need some time alone to finish your project. You know what is best for you and baby A. And you are doing such a wonderful job. It went well for Alice. We just had a little milk problem. She was so excited when we got there that she didn't want to drink. When I came back after 2 hours, poor little bird was grumpy. Oh, talking about time to do stuff, we should have coffee soon.

bec hem: It went very well. It was a nice place with very professional people. I felt safe for Alice (and for me)!

lola: Good point! I didn't realize that people could not pronounce my blog's title. It goes a bit like that :
aux - letter O
pe - pe(dicure)
ti - letter T
oi - wa(ter)
seaux - zoo

taryn: I'm exactly in the same situation. I will write an "Ignorant Claudia" post about solid food this week.

luke and pamela: I was so happy to read that article. I had to share it asap :)

SEO Services UK: Thank you so much!

Baby milestone!

2011-09-19T16:08:00.014-04:00

Or maybe it should be a mom milestone! Today, for the first time, I will let Alice in the hands of perfect strangers. Ok, they won't be junkies or homeless people (no offense to junkies and homeless people) but daycare workers at the community clinic. They know (in theory!!!) what they are doing but I'm still freaking out. Should I place my head between my knees and breathe...would this help me or is it normal to fear this milestone?!?

All of you, readers from the U.S. (and most places in the world), you can laugh at me as much as you want. I'm well aware that most of you had to go back to work full time when your baby's neck was not strong enough to hold is/her head up. Alice is almost 6 months old and, last night, I had a bit of insomnia because I would be without her for a small 2 hours while I go to a baby food workshop.

My friend (the one breastfeeding her baby under an apple tree) will be with me and her daughter will be with Alice at the daycare. This should give me just enough mental strengths to make delicious baby food without cutting one of my finger in the process ;)

Note: Take a look at this great article about breastfeeding in Mongolia.

* * * * *

jen: Same thing for me! Ah, I love treasure hunts. So much fun. A few years ago, for my birthday, Dan made a treasure hunt for me and it was awesome. Some things never change.

lin: I'm so happy that you enjoy my simplicity posts. I will eventually write more about simplicity because it is such an interesting subject.

little gray pixel: Really? Well, I'm telling you to be bored at least once a month ;)

lina: Well, my mom tutorial is mostly in Hudson so you can imagine the over scheduling! I just can't believe that we never had coffee together...you should organize something!

uk lass in us: Ah ah ah! This was written in the book (they complain of being bored when they have to clean their rooms). So funny!

It is that simple - Part 3

2011-09-16T11:11:00.008-04:00

Previously on aux Petits Oiseaux: It is that simple! - Part 1
Previously on aux Petits Oiseaux: It is that simple! - Part 2

Shedule
My mom is a retired elementary school teacher but because she is so dedicated (and because it is always nice to have extra cash) she took a few tutoring jobs. Her "clients" are in a wealthy area but I'm sure that this situation can happen anywhere. We all know some parents (or maybe it is your case) who can't financially afford hockey/ballet/music/painting/photography class for their kids but for the sake of giving them all the possible opportunities they charged it, without hesitation, to their credit cards...but this is another story!

In our academic system, it is common for a school to allow a kid with learning difficulties to graduate as long as he or she takes private summer tutoring class. A) Taking summer tutoring class sucks! B) Taking summer tutoring class right before swimming class sucks even more! C) Taking summer tutoring class right after tennis class and right before swimming class is the end of the world for a 10 year old kido. Even though my mom is an awesome teacher, she was really doubting the success of this tutoring class! After all, this was a case of "over-scheduled kid"!

Activities are good for kids but, according to Simplicity Parenting: "Too many scheduled activities will limit a child's ability to motivate and direct themselves". Most parents have good intentions but "I'm bored" time is crucial for kids to be creative...out of frustration!

While I was reading that part of the book, Dan told me about an article written by Scott Adams (Dilbert) regarding this societal problem. His text, on the benefits of boredom, claimed that our brain needs boredom so we can process thoughts. Good ideas generally don't come in moments of over stimulation (including endless moments on Facebook, Internet and...um...blogs!).

So boredom is truly a gift. It will be difficult to do but when Alice will look at me and say :"But mom, I'm bored", I won't always rescue her. She will have activities like swimming or whatever but she will also have "doing nothing" times.

Anyway, if she is like us (especially her dad!), this should not be too difficult to accomplish ;)

* * * * *

lola: OMG, twins!

lara kasabian: Ah, thank you.

You are marvelous!

2011-09-14T18:45:00.010-04:00

Yesterday, out of the blue, I found myself taking care of an adorable 2 month old boy. For a little hour, I was the sole responsible of the wellbeing of two miniature humans (and way too many pets since Dan and I were dog sitting an extra pooch this week). If you read my blog you might remember that I never, in my whole life, took care of another baby except Alice. So let me tell you that even if I was up to the challenge I was still a bit worried about certain technical aspects. For example, what if both babies were hungry at the same time? Is it possible for me to breastfeed Alice and bottle feed Arno simultaneously?

Long story short, everything went very well but my reflexion in the mirror felt pretty surreal. I had "regurgitation prone" Arno in my Ergo carrier and teething Alice balanced on my right hip...while bouncing on a big blue exercise ball.

So I would like to take this opportunity to tell all the mothers who are taking care of more then one child one thing: You are marvelous! You must have a sense of organization that would make any event planner (and I'm one) jealous. During my little adventure, I found myself praying a few times that both kiddos won't request milk or too many diaper changes and would hopefully sleep during the entire time. However, when you have many kids, prayers like that are pointless because, well, because this is probably how normal life is for you.

So just to make this very clear: You are marvelous!

* * * * *

new duds: I love that our place is pretty much always "clean". Also, every night, I take a little 10 minutes to put our stuff back to its place...much better to wake up to a organized home!

emily: Thank you! The only thing I didn't like about the book: the words are sssooo small. It was difficult for me to read it for long periods of time (maybe it is just me?).

bec hem: Oh, believe me, it is a peaceful place to be!

daniela: A raincoat is a must (+ rain boots). I'm telling you, you will love the book. And little toes are also a favorite toy for Alice.

olena: Oh wow, thank you so much! You made my day with your comment :) xox

taryn: Well, according to the book : yes! Alice is still too young but the author said that generally kids love to listen over and over again the same story...as long as the book makes the kid uses its imagination...like fairy tales and stuff like that. He also said that most books, these days, are less for kids and more for adults (pretty illustrations but the story doesn't say much to kids). You can have many books (and toys) but you should just have a few favorites in your kid's room. You can create a "library" in your closet and sometimes bring a new book (or toy) for a while. I does make sense, well, I think!

sometimes life is bliss and sometimes not: Thank you so much! Also...dummy French Canadian in not sure that she understands this part of your comment "your blog translation is a little loose from french to English".

anneemall: Super! I know, it is just that when you write about simplicity it is a bit silly to post a picture of a newly purchased item. And yes, you are good at making the guilt disappear!

giselle: It is such a great book with many many many good ideas.

sara-ananda: C'est certain que si j'étais (ou Dan) un chef les choses seraient TRÈS diffétentes!!! Je suis jalouse :)

magpiesandmagnolias: Can lavender cross the Canada - US border? Here, lavender grows like weeds in gardens.

It is that simple! - Part 2

2011-09-12T22:18:00.021-04:00

Previously on aux Petits Oiseaux: It is that simple! - Part 1

Environment
When people come to my place, they often comment that we don't have stuff lying around everywhere. When we moved in, 3 years ago, we selected functional pieces of furniture and added meaningful decoration accents. We now ask ourself "Do we really need this?" before buying something new and dispose responsibly of outdated items. Obviously, we did the same to create Alice's nursery.

A lot of stuff leads to a lot of choices. But what is wrong with that? These choices are distractions from a kid's natural growth (neural, social and physical) and create a false feeling of "power" (more more more!!!). According to Simplicity Parenting: "A smaller, more manageable quantity of toys invites deeper play and engagement. An avalanche of toys invites emotional disconnect and a sense of overwhelm".

Dramatically reducing the amount of toys (even those awesome vintage ones on Etsy!) is a good starting point. However, it also works for books *sigh*, clothes *sigh* and all the other rooms because a minimalist nursery would be completely inefficient in a cluttered home *sigh sigh and sigh*.

By selecting a small amount of appropriate toys (touch, imaginary play, nature, art, etc.), kids should become more attentive, imaginative and creative. As the author wrote: "Imagine watching your children create new worlds and new ways to play with their toys, instead of their requiring new toys to play with."

I remember, as I kid, I loved to recreate the world of A nne of Green Gables. I would braid my hair, dress up in old "costumes", grab a picnic basket and pour milk in a glass jar. Just like Anne, I would keep the milk cold by putting the jar in the little stream next to my mother's house. At the time, this was my definition of a perfect afternoon.

So, do you think that you can embrace a more simple environment for your family?

* * * * *

I don't want to contradict myself here but look at my new rain coat...because pushing a stroller with one hand and holding a dog leash in the other doesn't leave me much option to hold an umbrella! It is indeed necessary :)

* * * * *

lola: Really? You are so right. It does make grocery shopping so much easier.

daniela: It is an awesome book!!!

lydia: What was your favorite part? Are you going to try some advices from the book?

little gray pixel: How come men never decide what is for dinner??? Wow, you work until 8pm. This is a long day. I hope that you will have your family dinner time. xox

becca: Thank you. It is truly a wonderful book.

lindsey [homegrown spud]: Oh, could you please tell me more about the Montessori versus Waldorf thing. I don't know much about Waldorf and I just started to learn more information about Montessori.

luke and pamela: Your library should have it. It is very popular.

jacinthe: T'es trop hot :)

allie: Thank you so much for the information. I usually over-think stuff like that all the time. I will also try to use my mom instinct on that subject.

It is that simple! - Part 1

2011-09-12T13:58:00.012-04:00

If I had to write a book about my values regarding how I want to raise Alice, well, it would be a complete waste of time because this book already exist: Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne. The book is basically a solution to overscheduled and overwhelmed kids (and parents). The author, a Waldorf educator, divided his theory in four levels of simplification: environment, rhythm, schedules and filtering out the adult world.

This book is so awesome that I decided to dedicate the next few posts to it. Each post will cover an aspect of "Simplicity Parenting" that I want to incorporate in my family life. However, since Alice just turned 5 1/2 months, it is difficult for me to judge, at the moment, how efficient "Simplicity Parenting" is in reality...or is it just nice on paper?

Rhythm
Saturday morning is probably my favorite moment of the week because we all go for brunch...at the same restaurant. And I won't lie if I tell you that I pretty much order the same thing every single time. It is our little ritual!

A big part of the Rhythm section is dedicated to food: family dinner (a necessary comeback for happy and healthy kids), simplifying tastes (did it exist 50 years ago or is it "new" food products?) and simplifying dinner (What's for dinner?).

I don't know of you are like me but "What's for dinner?" might as well be my baby's first words. It may sounds stupid but "What for dinner?" always come with its share of unnecessary stress:

Me: Dan, you decide.
Dan: No, you decide.
Me: I don't know!
Dan: Well, the public market closes in 30 minutes.
Me: Shit, really???

So Dan and I decided to apply a suggestion given by the author. Strangely enough, I find that this attempt at "simplification" is putting us right back in the 60s and I know that many of you (including me) will raise eyebrows : regular meals on regular nights...you know, Pasta Monday, Chicken Tuesday, Fish Wednesday, etc.

However, this quote from the book totally made sense to me: "Instead of marshaling tremendous energy, inspiration, ingredients, and creativity every evening, certain decisions are already made. There can be variation within each night's staple; pasta night could include a range of possibilities. But you are not staging a new Broadway production, from concept to performance, every night."

Silly or logical?!? Oh, and Monday is now pasta night :)

* * * * *
joeynomad: I totally agree with you. You will always find people who will think you are doing something wrong regarding childbirth. I hope that you will have what you desire but, as you said, a healthy and happy birth is what is truly important.

j: It is crazy the amount of women in this situation! It is wonderful that you had such a good midwife.

erstwhiledear: Oh, just like me (ten months reading about the birth and almost nothing on postpartum).

oscarlucinda: If I was pregnant again, I would still try to go for a natural childbirth. However, I would be more "relax" if things don't go according to my plan. I hope that things will go smoothly for you and baby :)

daniela: It was also the right thing for me at the moment. We have a lot in common!

mirella: Totally agree! It is wonderful to have options. C'mon, I gave birth to Alice on a birth stool! I just think that women should focus a little bit more on the baby and less on the way the child was born.

kim u: Hurray for healthy mom and healthy baby :)

ashley: Ah, thank you so much. Parenting is difficult enough without us comparing each other all the time and putting unnecessary pressure on us.

sarahvine: I totally agree with you. A natural childbirth, if possible (and we each have our definition of possible), should be a the best option. Oh, and totally true about the doula and her own agenda. And maybe I'm a bit negative but in practice, I do think that motherhood is too often a comparison game. I try to stay out of it but sometimes it is very difficult. Oh really, good to know that first births are notoriously difficult. Thank you so much for all the info. You rock :)

su: Thank you Su. Your mom's comment is actually pretty interesting. xox

sara: You did good Sara. You are awesome my friend! You are so courageous and strong. You have no idea how much I admire you!!! xox

one claire day: Oh Claire, I didn't know your birth story. You are so brave and, omg, 23 hours! And it is so sad that nobody told you about Lalie's position. This is so unprofessional. Don't feel sorry about your comment. I would NEVER (and I'm pretty sure that none of my readers...they are all so nice) judge you. You are such a incredible mom :) xox

roberta jane: You are awesome. I really hated myself when I asked for the epidural. Now that I think about it, I find my reaction pretty silly. I was so happy that my doula told me to be happy with my decision. So, just like you, my child's birth was a beautiful, mind-opening experience.

anna of (green gable): Thank you! I had a very good time traveling with Alice. I just changed a few things (no fancy restaurants for example) and voilà!!!

anneemall: Really? Oh no! This is horrible (bad, bad business practice)! I hope that the product that you will get will, at least, be safe to use with your baby.

Childbirth revolution rant

2011-09-02T14:57:00.014-04:00

Every generation needs a revolution. This is how the film One World Birth starts. This social media project, if I understand correctly, called itself a revolution in 2 parts: one regarding the way that women give birth around the world and other one in the way that films are distributed.

The creators of One World Birth asked the most amazing birth experts, such as Michel Odent and Ina May Gaskin, to be part of their project. I'm not here to rant about One World Birth. It actually looks like an awesome resource and I know that, when pregnant, I would have looked at the entire thing with great interest. No, I'm actually going to rant about something that bugged me ever since I gave birth. The film trailer just gave me the pretext to write about it : childbirth guilt!

There is indeed a "revolution" happening in the world of childbirth. Women are getting more aware of their options and their rights. Films such as The Business of Being Born by Ricki Lake helped to start this "revolution". I highly applaud that. However, I personally find that there is a downside to that "revolution". Women of our generation hire doulas, invest in alternative child birth class, read a multitude of books on the subject, make birth plans and day dream about their own personal revolution. I know what I'm talking about since I was one of those women. Don't get me wrong, if I had to do it again, I would not change any of it but I would add a very important chapter to my childbirth and postpartum preparation.

I would add a great big chapter dedicated to the eventuality of a "failed revolution". I find that women have a tendency to be perfectionist...even while planning the way that they will welcome their child into this world. I'm an event planner so, believe me, I was more than prepared...would it be great if I I could have emailed fetus Alice a copy of the "procedure" that I planned for that big day: the Holy Natural Childbirth ;)

As usual, I will be honest with you. After I asked for the epidural I felt like a total failure. Luckily for me, I had people around me who quickly helped me move on and taught me how to be proud of what I was going to achieve. However, it happened a bit as a crash course. I find that we are not mentally prepared for a "failed revolution" and that many new mothers keep a bad taste in their mouth about their childbirth.

Contrary to the women in The Business of Being Born, we are not bitter because we got "forced" to take an epidural. No, we are bitter because WE asked for an epidural and this, my friend, can f**k up any new mother who spent ten months focusing on a natural childbirth.

So yes, I love all those trendy documentaries and books about how women should embrace childbirth and I encourage you to pursue your dream if this is what you want. I just don't want this "revolution" to bring sadness and guilt during one of the most magical moment of your life.

The end!

note about the pictures: Alice's "date" (we were going to a wedding) with her unofficial godfather...our friend who gave us a ride to the hospital at 3am when I was in labor.

* * * * *

courtney: Not funny ;) Well, I do have a wolf t-shirt!!!

lola: I also think that Alice is a classic name. It was on a list of old baby names.

bugheart: A name is important but generally it is not the end of the world (unless you have a very stupid name like, um, Blanket!!!).

di: Ah ah ah! Arlo is, to my opinion, a much better choice!

little gray pixel: Oh, thank you so much :)

one claire day: Totally but still very funny!!!

anonymous: Ah, funny that you are also on that silly list. Wren is super cute.

emily: Ah ah ah!!! I like the good lube comment ;)

jennifer: Oh, sleeping = a happy mom and eventually a happy woman! We also share the bed with Alice (exactly like you and Guy).

paola zakimi: You are so very talented :)

lola: Oh, move to Quebec! We can have tea together :)

sara-ananda: Oh, totally, French grammar and spelling is much harder. And, since I didn't go to an English elementary school, Alice has to go to French school. Anyway, it is not a bad thing!

sarahvine: Hebrew looks like such a fascinating language. About sign language, some people love it and other think that it is not that good. I will take the workshop and see how it goes. Thank you for sharing your experience. Very helpful for me :)

maz: I'm honestly not very good with languages. Yes, I'm pretty much perfectly bilingual but it was not easy for me. I hope, as you said, that since kids have an amazing ability to learn other languages, it will be easier for Alice. Thank you. I would love to learn Norwegian but it looks so difficult :(

luke and pamela: It would be great if Alice could eventually speak Spanish but one thing at the time!

rita: I can't wait to see how the sign language course will work! I know there is a lot of songs and it looks pretty funny. So far, I know how to "say" more milk mom (it was on their website)!

daniela: Let me know how it works for you...not that our babies will speak that soon but you know...in the future.

megan g: Yes, you are right, Scaredy Squirrel was in French first.

lindsey [homegrown spud]: Thank you so much for reading my little blog...and leaving me super nice comments! Don't worry, life is awesome and not that different with a baby...well, for me anyway. Oh, the geese were saying "shit, it is so freakin cold here"!!! xox

This is not serious?!?

2011-09-01T11:44:00.004-04:00

Dan and I are devastated ;)
You really can't compare Alice with Atticus or Saraphina!

You speak Frenglish

2011-08-31T21:31:00.009-04:00

I come from a traditional Québec family. That means that I was raised speaking French. For your information, Québec is a Canadian province where people originated from France and not from England like the rest of Canada. In Montreal, most people speak or at least understand a bit of English. However, most of the country side is purely French.

I met Dan in highschool. We were 16 and it was in chemistry class. He was basically part of the only English family in the area. Ah, my lovely "maudit anglais" ("damn English"...you should also know that there is a bit of friction between "French Québécois" and "English Canadian").

Anyway, long story short, I ended up going to an awesome English college. To my parents' (they are both teachers) great dismay, Dan and I have been speaking Frenglish for the past 10 years!

People told us that the best way to raise a bilingual kid is to have one parent speak French (me) and the other English (Dan). Easier said than done! So far, we failed miserably!

When we go book shopping, things are getting ridiculous. For example, I love the Scaredy Squirrel books. Does this mean that if we get a book in English I would never be able to read it to Alice? So far, we got half of the books in English and the other half in French!

And I also want to take a Wee Hands class (sign language class: "Long before your baby can speak, she has the ability to understand speech & wants to communicate with you. Most babies are able to sign back to you by the time they are 8-12 months of age") and the class will probably be in English...but I'm supposed to communicate only in French with Alice!

And how does it work when we have visitors speaking only French or English? Suddenly, I (or Dan) will switch language? Ahhh!!!

Oh, and what about those cute animal Alphabet prints in English (well, the "R" works in both English and French)?

CONFUSING! Are any of you are raising bilingual kids? Is it working?

* * * * *
kara: I don't think that I'm brave from writing about the subject! If it happens to me, well, it probably happens to other women. The thing is that people are shy to talk about sexuality so you can feel pretty lonely, especially after having a baby, if you are in that situation. Maybe with time, things will change...hopefully :)

courtney: But I'm badly intolerant to alcohol!!!

new duds: I'm going downtown this afternoon and I'm planning to get that book. It looks super interesting. Thank you for the info. And you are right, baby or not, sex funk can happen ;)

lina: I'm totally with you about the boob thing. Thank you so much for the video. It is so freakin funny. And Dan told me that they also have a TV show. Cool!

clairsy: As I wrote, my mom reads my blog. But my mom also knows that in order to make a baby, well, I needed to have sex in the first place so, you know, it is not a big secret!!! Good point about the second child = having sex ;)

lila: I also think that patience is key but how long will it takes?

sara: Je pense que beaucoup de femmes sont dans la même situation. Après tout, il y a quand même un bébé qui est passé par cet endroit! Ah, ta sage femme a bien raison. Ah, mais pourtant tu es super belle :)

taryn: Thank you! Well, no situation is perfect! You are very funny :)

bugheart: Each post-baby delivery is different. Maybe you will need a lot of actions in the bedroom...we never know!?! Thank you for the link.

peanut: Hi Shelley, as soon as I have some free time (probably tomorrow) I will send you an email. What you told me really touched me so I want to take the time to answer you properly. Take care xox

The challenge of getting back to business

2011-08-29T08:48:00.012-04:00

If you read my blog, you know that I had a baby. You should also be well aware of the "normal procedure" required to get pregnant: sex, intercourse, love making, fornicating, the birds and the bees! Some of you might think that this post might be a little too personal but, again, I said that my blog would be honest and any subject can be discuss as long as it is done properly...especially since my mother reads my blog!

When I was pregnant, I often encountered local advertisements for informal group counsellings about post pregnancy sexuality. Every single time, I said to myself : "Really? You had a baby so obviously you know how it works! What kind of weirdos attend those activities?".

Tomorrow, Alice will be 5 months old and I now understand why such activities exist. It turns out that getting back to business can be pretty complex!

After I gave birth, I lost blood for approximately 6 weeks. I had a 2 weeks break and got my IUD installed. For your information, an IUD can also cause bleeding. In my case, it lasted exactly 1 month. I told Dan that if after 30 days I was still bleeding, I would get that glorified florist wire removed and he would get a vasectomy! The vasectomy never happened and I still have my IUD.

Alice was at the time 3 months old, her crib was (still) in our bedroom, we were (still) doing co-sleeping..and her vision was getting much better! Is it me or all those things are major mood killer? Add the fact that at the end of the day, the only thing I want to do is to get in bed...and sleep until Alice gets hungry at 5am.

On a less logistical aspect, when I became a mother, an intense emotional attachment with my baby was created. As wonderful as it is, this emotional attachment can also have a negative effect on the relationship (aka sexuality) of the "old couple" (high school sweethearts) that we are. Dan and I often jokes that dogs think one word at the time (food food food, play play play, sniff-butt sniff-butt sniff-butt). If I was a dog my constant thought would be Alice Alice Alice.

At the moment, I'm trying to find the right balance between our role as parents and our role as husband and wife (wow, that sounds so cheesy but what can I say).

This morning, I took a big breath and decided to write this post because I'm pretty sure that I'm not the only one in that tricky situation. Having a baby requires a lot of adjustments and feeling guilty because I unintentionally neglect my (I will say it) sex life won't do me any good.

As they say, the first step is admitting that you have a problem. Now, what is the second step?

If you want to leave me a comment but are too shy (totally understandable) you are always welcome to write me an email at clo_wn@hotmail.com

UPDATE: Lina sent me this super funny video that is totally related to my problem!!!

note: Alice received this morning by the mail a super awesome wood rattle from future mama Tiffany. Thank you "sister", you are the best! xoxoxoxox

* * * * *

shine little light*: Thank you so much!

one claire day: It was a surprise for me when I looked at my Google Reader that day :)

Lavender Lemonade

2011-08-27T14:47:00.008-04:00

If like me your are stuck with a beautiful box full of dried lavender and you often ask yourself What the *blip* Am I going to do with that?, I have a lovely little recipe for you (and you will look all fancy serving lavender lemonade to your friends!).

Lavender Lemonade
2 table spoons dried lavender (or 1/2 cup fresh lavender)
1 cup boiling water
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup lemon juice (2 lemons)
4 cups cold water

Place the lavender into a pot and pour boiling water over it.
Cover with a lid and allow to steep for 15 minutes.
Strain out the lavender (the color won't be pretty).
Mix the sugar into the hot lavender water.
Squeeze the juice from the lemons into a pitcher with the cold water.
Add the lavender water and stir (the color will magically be pretty).

Enjoy!

If you have other recipes with dried lavender, please, let me know since my box is pretty big!

Bonus (!): A silly picture that we took at our friend's house last evening using her computer. Note that Alice regurgitated on the second picture!

* * * * *

ali: I didn't know that you lived in Japan (jealous)!!!

barbara: Thank you. Sahsiko is so fun to do.

courtney: I'm pretty sure that Dan didn't do a background check to see if I knew how to do Sashiko before we got married...ah ah ah!

leslie: Another lucky lady who lived in Japan!

indigorchid: You should absolutely try.

daniela: Thank you. I noted: landing + breastfeeding = happy baby (and happy mom).

kim u: I would love to visit a craft store in Japan...wow wow wow!

kate / tinywarbler: Wait a few more weeks and you will have for sure a minute or two to be creative :)

bess callard: Thank you! We should talk, if you ever want some of Alice's stuff that we don't use anymore (too small).

claire: Oh, thank you. We had such a good time. Can't wait for our next vacation.

last day of may: It is such a lovely box. We also got it second hand. I know that it would be great to have another baby but I think that one kid is best for us. Take care :)

lindsey [homegrown spud]: Hi Lindsey and welcome to my little blog. Congratulations for your pregnancy. You should do whatever YOU want (tell the news or not). I'm also a very positive person (yet a lot sarcastic!) and I always try to focus on good things. Some days are a bit difficult (hello teething) and each babies and families are different but with the right attitude, things are always much better. Now I must take a look at your blog. Take care!

Sashiko

2011-08-25T15:35:00.004-04:00

During our vacation, when Alice was sleeping, I discovered the fine art of Sashiko embroidery. I was looking for a no-brainer activity for those quiet evenings at the country house and Purl Soho had the perfect craft idea for me. I purchased a little kit a few weeks ago and read their Sashiko tutorial approximately ten minutes before we started our road trip.

From what I understand, Sashiko embroidery is from Japan (of course!) and passed down from generation to generation. I read that this skill would also be used to judge a woman's suitability for marriage, ah! It is generally done in white cotton thread on navy blue fabric. Since I'm a bit rebellious, I used white and pale blue thread (but you can't really see it on the pictures).

Have you ever tried Sashiko embroidery?

* * * * *
jamie: As I told you earlier this week : peadpod tents rock :)

taryn: The first day or two were difficult since I wanted to do certain activities but I knew that Alice would not be happy there (too long and not kid friendly). As you said, I will be fully ready for the next trip.

daniela: Alice doesn't have a pacifier but I think that this could have helped her with the ear-popping incident. We tried to find a drugstore or a grocery store on our way but nothing! What did you do with Olivia during the airplane trip?

sara-ananda: Parfait :)

Alice in Charlevoix - part 2

2011-08-22T08:42:00.019-04:00

Our first family vacation started with the unexpected return of aunt flow. I knew this day would come sooner than later since Alice has been sleeping through the night (6-8 hours) for the past 3 months. Luckily, my IUD took care of it in less than 48 hours! *sigh*

Going on a 8 day trip with a young baby was a bit of an adaptation for me. Alice was, as usual, delightful to live with but, like every baby, she needs a clean diaper, a full belly, a few restful naps and a lot of entertainment.

Things went pretty smoothly as soon as we accepted that some activities would have to be put on hold for the moment. For exemple, I believe that a fancy terroir restaurant might not be a good setting for a 4 1/2 months old baby and that hiking in a land of black flies and mosquitoes could be pretty harmful for a little one's delicate skin.

So we decided to simply enjoy our stay at the country house and make sure that this first family vacation was full of good memories and not full of failed expectations. We played board games, tried the BBQ many times, used the spa as much as we could, read on the porch, roasted marshmallows and went for lovely walks. Alice was all smiles during the entire time except when we started the two hours drive in the mountains. The poor thing was pulling her ears with her little fingers and screaming every time we would go up or down a hill. As a new mother, it took me a while to figure out that it was the ear-popping sensation that was causing her such discomfort.

Oh, we almost had to call 911 when our rented car got stuck on a very remote "road". We were looking for a "non-touristic" beach when we decided that it was realistic to drive over those big rocks. Is there something more disgusting than the noise of rocks smashing the metal parts underneath a car?!? We made it but it implied a lot of sweat, insects bites and dirty hands from pulling rocks manually out of the way! We never found the beach. Maybe next year!

Now, I would like to show you my top 5 items to bring on a country vacation with a baby:

Bummis Swimmi
PeaPod Tent
Ergo Baby Carrier
Perlimpinpin Organic Nap Sac
Pronto Changing Station
* * * * *

anneemall: Thank you so much!

the franglaise: Merci beaucoup! We also have a beige one but for a strange reason, it is too big (even if it it the same size as the red one)!?! We had such a good time taking silly pictures with Alice (and the dog). xox

sara: Merci Sara. Il faudrait bien prendre un autre café et discuter livre de photos. Oh, as-tu facebook (oui oui, le Hot Mama Club a une page facebook)?

one claire day: I know, I freak out whenever you put a picture of Dottie on your blog ;) The "big mouth" picture is pretty funny (well, I look like s**t but it was so freakin early in the morning). xox

celia: OMG, thank you so much for that awesome comment. It is super interesting to read about all the phases. I must admit that I would love to go to your place during the "baby dance party" :) And, I almost cried when I read the part about the choking-puking incident. That must be terrible for you to see your adorable baby girl like that. You are an incredible mother and you are doing such a great job. You totally rock. xox

courtney: You should go on family vacation. It is really not that complicated. The country house is a pretty good option with kids...especially when there is a spa ;) xox

shine little light*: Thank you. I needed to get a new swimsuit that could fit my new...um...full of milk boobs! And baby swimming class starts in September.

lila: We played Uno like crazy since it doesn't take forever to finish it. It is perfect when you have a baby...and Alice had a lot of fun with her card (the one with nothing on it!).

luke and pamela: Thank you so much :)

Alice in Charlevoix - part 1

2011-08-21T21:44:00.014-04:00

Going on vacation with a baby is, by itself, an adventure. Your traveling schedule might change completely, your sleeping routine might become inexistent (my eyes on the 3rd picture says it all!), your desire to accomplish certain activities might vanish but in the end, you realize that going on vacation with a baby just opened the door to a multitude of delightful moments full of belly laughs, drooling smiles, warm cuddles and quiet times...well deserved quiet time!

See you next week

2011-08-11T10:39:00.006-04:00

Our small family, minus the cat who stays at a friend's house, is going on vacations for a week. It will be Alice's first long car trip (5 hours + little "boobies time" breaks). We rented a cottage in the country (with an outdoor hot tub...oh yeah!!!) and are planning to just take it easy: crafts, BBQ, board games, good books, hammock, walks, picnics...you get the picture.

I have many post ideas and little giveaways...but first things first: vacations!

See you next week and xox

* * * * *

~mama e: So true. Some people forget that having children requires sacrifices and it brings big responsibilities. Babies are not just cute little creatures. They have needs and it is our job, as parents, to take care of them. Thank you for all the book tips :)

clairsy: Blurb is so much fun. Creating the design is always pure joy for me! The quality is pretty good (well, I only ordered one book) and the price reasonable.

One Year, 39 Weeks and Five Days

2011-08-09T21:05:00.013-04:00

Like for most mothers, the arrival of a brand new baby implies the beginning of a never ending collection of pictures. I can't explain it but, in my case, it is visceral!

But, I asked myself, what to do with those adorable portraits?
Simple, you make another* Blurb book :)

As the title implies it, the book will focus on my pregnancy (39 weeks and 5 days) and Alice's first year with us. There won't be much text (only a few dates and my birth story) but I hope that, as the expression suggests it, a picture is worth a thousand words.

* A few years ago, I made a Blurb book with 100 of my favorite pictures from my first 365 photo challenge.

* * * * *

tassy: There is a baby Whisperer Book?!? This technique looks pretty good. I love what you wrote about :"You will leave but you will always come back. They trust you. So they go to sleep". Knowing that my baby would not trust me anymore would break my heart!

little gray pixel: CIO is such an interesting subject. I never got comments that were that generous before. You are so right. There is no "ONLY and BEST method" since each baby is different. For my friend, as you said, it will work with practice. Um, this situation is a lose-lose situation: let the baby cry or don't let the baby cry. Yes, people can be a bit judgmental...even if they are doing that to "help" you! Take care xox

lina: Alice didn't have colic but, OMG, you have no idea how much I admire mothers (and fathers) who had to deal with colicky babies. It must be horrible to feel so powerless while your baby is crying...every evening. You rock Lina :)

j: I didn't know Ask Moxie. I will look at it now. I can't wait to read about the tension releaser vs. tension increaser. It sounds very interesting. There is a difference, I think, between a bit of crying and true CIO method. Anyway, you know your baby and what is best for your situation. What is your bedtime routine? So, you are going back to work soon...enjoy every moments until you go back teaching.

peanut: Thank you so much for the story. It is very interesting! I'm so happy that you enjoy my blog. I always try to be honest and positive at the same time. Not always easy but so far so good. Are you doing any special treatment to have a baby? You don't have to answer me if you don't want to talk about it. One of my good friend is in that difficult situation. Take care.

~mama e: I think that I'm also turning into a baby book freak. I really love to read about that subject (especially cultural stuff). The teething necklace is good since it is small enough for Alice to keep it in her mouth or play with it using her little fingers. I just have to be careful if I use it when Alice is in the Ergo. If she falls asleep, she gets it in the forehead and, well, not cool for her ;) xox

courtney: Already 11 months? Wow, crazy how time flies!!! If I can ask, you must be pretty tired going to work and having cut nights. You are truly a super hot mama :)

daniela: Oh, you have a sleep routine. We don't really have one at the moment. Alice normally sleeps at 8:30 and I feed her one last time at 10:00 but I know that some babies go to bed at 7:00 and I don't know how to do that. I think that if books are stressing you, well, go easy with them. Too much information can be pretty bad! Good luck and take care xox

melissa: I'm getting an amazing book list. Maybe I should start a "baby book" book club! That could actually be cool. Anyway. Oh, 1:30am! This must be pretty difficult for you and your husband. How did it go? A sleep plan (I must read about that)?

joeynomad: Thank you! I'm so happy that, for the moment, Alice is a super sleeper. But things might change and I hope that I will never have to try the CIO method.

pj: Yes, the next meeting is tomorrow. Take a plane right now...we are waiting for you ;) I love the "The Happiest Baby on the Block" (well, I have the DVD since I didn't know that it was a book in the first place). Wow, 4 weeks already!?!

maya: You can do it hot mama!!! xox

Anonymous: You are so right. I'm very happy to do the African way (it works for us) because, as you said, time will go by so quickly. It is more demanding but, oh, so much better!

Channelling Africa - part 3

2011-08-09T20:09:00.005-04:00

Previously on Aux Petits Oiseaux : Part 1 and Part 2

A message from a hot mama:

Hi! I'm the hot mama member who had experienced the CIO technique this week with my 5 month old! First I wanna thank u all for the suggestions, support and stories!

We decided it was time for the Marquise (as we call her) to do her nights in her own bedroom because she was already usually sleeping for 10 hours straight + my BF is on parental leave for the next 3 weeks before starting school and work again! The main reason we thought of the CIO was because since we had big heat in Montreal...the Marquise wouldn't go to sleep unless I breastfeed her over the crib...yeah yeah I was bending over the crib with my nipple in her mouth for few minutes until I would take it out and I would have to do it 4 to 5 times before it worked!!!

However...so we decided that it was time to stop that bad habit...and have done the CIO the first night...our hearts were so broken we have now change the way we deal with it. The Marquise still needs to learn to sleep in her room alone...but we have install the same sheets she had in her bassinet in our room and I have left one of my breast pad next to her so she still have the same smells around her. Also, we go see her every time she wakes up during the night...which happens 3 to 4 times a night now (compared to maybe 1). No need to say we are exhausted but I think in this case we need to stay strong because I would not be able to deal with this alone when BF is going back to school and work in September! It sure is a big change but it has to be done at some point and for us, its now or...lol never!

Again! Thank u for not judging :)

Channelling Africa - part 2

2011-08-07T07:01:00.006-04:00

Previously on Aux Petits Oiseaux : Part 1

Once a week, a friend from prenatal/posnatal yoga class and I hang out at a bakery. Last week, we decided to each invite another new mom and create the Super Hot Mama Club (it's not really a club...especially with a name like that). This get together is a privileged moment where we can vent about baby stuff and eat delicious croissants while breastfeeding and changing diapers.

At one point, we talked about the pressure, from family and friends, to practice the Cry It Out (CIO) method. When Alice was 3 months old, I was with my mother-in-law when Alice fussed a bit in her bassinet. I responded immediately and soothed her with great success. Then, my mother-in-law told me: "Don't ask yourself why Alice doesn't cry. You don't ever let her cry". This could have been a compliment but the tone in her voice implied otherwise.

At first, Part 2 of this post was supposed to be about why I don't prone the CIO method. I wanted to tell you that channeling Africa really works since I can count on my two hands the number of time that Alice cried (for more then two minutes) over the past four months. Well, I can quickly tell you that in order to do so, you basically need paid leave from work, serious support from your family and friends, understanding the importance of breastfeeding and meeting your child's needs even before crying occurs...so pretty difficult to do in most Western societies where you have to go back to work asap!

However, last night, I received a phone call from a "member" of the Super Hot Mama Club that made me truly realized that each family dynamic is different and that channeling Africa is maybe not the ultimate answer to a cry free baby...and a happy mother!

For that Super Hot Mama, bed time is a challenge. Her five months old daughter, cute as a button, made the sleeping routine physically and psychologically difficult. Honestly, for her, channeling Africa is not the solution. Offering the breast when her baby is upset is counterproductive since she wants to get rid of the "nurse my baby to sleep" situation.

When I hung up the phone, I knew that the next few nights would bring its share of anxiety for her daughter but I was mostly worried for my friend...how her mother's heart must be crushed while listening to her daughter's cries from a distance.

Do you have any suggestions? Did this situation happen to you? How did you manage?

* * * * *

vanessa - lynn david handbag co.: I don't know why people are always saying stuff that is going against maternal instinct. It is driving me crazy!!!

emily: I simply can't do it...maybe when she will be a toddler but not at the moment.

lara kasabian: I'm with you, cry = there is a problem. Since I have a year paid maternity leave, I can take the time to listen to my baby and help her even before she starts to cry. So happy to live in Quebec (my part of Canada). No problem with your English (it is very good), you know, I'm French. Take care xox

uk lass in us: Well, some people use CIO for other moments. Not my cup of tea but sometimes you maybe have to take drastic measures!?! Oh, are you talking about the 5-10-15 sleeping method?

lila: I never did CIO. It looks cruel (for the entire family) but maybe you have to do it for certain situations (ex: baby sleeps in its room alone)!?!

zel: Africa rocks :)

giselle: Really? Good to know that from somebody actually living in Africa!

kara: Wow, we must be sisters ;) We are doing the same mama stuff! Let me know what happen with 2-3 years old kid fits. I should get some Dr Sears books at the library. Take care xox

taryn: I also love "read your baby, not the books". And yes, mother's intuition rules.

~e: Thank you so much Erica. I actually started to read baby books after I gave birth. More a curious thing than a "I don't know what to do" thing. I also don't like labeling parenting but I like the attachment parent theory. I took what felt good for us. I loved The Happiest Baby On the Block (the only one I had while I was pregnant). I don't know the other book...to google now! Thank you again xox

anonymous: I got the fabric via Purl Soho a few years ago to make that dress. I didn't see that fabric available online in a while. For cute fabric in Montreal (but not Nani Iro) there is l'Effiloché on St-Hubert street (bad service but good selection) and I recently read about a great place in NDG but I don't remember the name (pretty pointless sorry).

Channelling Africa - part 1

2011-08-01T22:37:00.020-04:00

First of all, I'm aware that this post could also be titled "You don't know what you are talking about !"#$%?&*" or "You !"#$%?&* are such a pretentious mother". My point is that you are about to read my most...um..."controversial" posts (there are 2 parts)!

When I was in my last trimester, I read an article titled Why African Babies Don't Cry. The author, who grew up in Kenya and Cote d’Ivoire, was describing her quest to figure out why African babies are said to cry less than European and American babies.

Her first observation was that African babies are literally cocooned from the stresses of the outside world. They are well wrapped up before being carried or strapped onto their mother.

However, after she gave birth, her grand-mother told her the following:
Offer the breast every single moment that your baby is upset
Co-sleep
Drink water to keep you hydrated and the milk flowing
Make feeding your priority
(and my favorite) Read your baby, not the books. Breastfeeding is not linear – it goes up and down and also in circles. You are the expert on your baby’s needs.

If you read my blog, you might know that until I gave birth, I had pretty much no contact with babies. Consequently, I had no idea if this "African theory" made sense or not. So I read Dangers of Leaving Baby to Cry It Out (CIO) and the debate about how to respond to a baby’s cries : the “cry it out” method versus the “attachment parents” method (respond immediately to crying baby and attempt to soothe her using various methods).

The article also presents cross-cultural studies that show that parents in non-Western societies are quicker to respond to their crying babies. For exemple, !Kung people respond within ten seconds over 90% of the time during the baby’s first three months, and over 80% of the time at one year. In contrast, American caregivers have been found to be deliberately unresponsive to an infant’s cries almost 50% of the time during the baby’s first three months.

When we came home from the hospital, I didn't really know how to respond to Alice’s cries. This is when, out of the blue, I decided that channeling Africa would be the way!

My next post will explain how this method worked for us so far, how difficult it is to incorporate it in Western societies and how my part of Canada (Québec) makes channeling Africa possible for new mothers.

* * * * *

lara kasabian: Hello vintage treasure hunter friend :) Wow, a crib is such an awesome piece of furniture to find in the "trash". I love that you called it the crib of luck! Take care xox

lin: I'm planning to eventually do a photo "home tour" but I have a hard time taking proper pictures. Oh, bedbugs are the most evil type of bugs. Very (VERY) difficult to kill. You don't want bedbugs !

sophie: Merci beaucoup Sophie. Tu peux trouver le tissu (qui est présentement en solde!!!) online via purl soho. Il est encore plus beau que sur le site web. J'adore ramasser des objects abandonnés mais je reste prudente car c'est terriblement difficile (et $$$) de se débarasser des punaises de lit. Je suis très heureuse de savoir que tu aimes mon blog. xox

su: The fabric is very pretty and most of all...on sale! The staple gun is so intense!

clairsy: Thank you so much!

leslie: Yes, the car seat is pretty black/white ;) Gray areas are a bit more complicated but they make much more sense since babies/mothers/families are all different.

Don't let the bedbugs bite

2011-08-01T07:58:00.006-04:00

They say that somebody's trash is someone else's treasure. I totally agree! Most of our stuff is second hand from thrift stores or websites similar to craigslist. However, finding a "treasure" in the trash (for free!!!) is the Holy Grail of consumerism.

Sadly, like in most cities, Montreal has a problem with bedbugs. We are always careful and only select items that are "safe" but, last week, I saw an "unsafe" item next to a garbage bin at the public market (I know, why would you bring a piece of furniture there?) and after much considerations I took it with me. Don't worry, we are not infested with evil little creatures but you should have seen me: Alice sleeping in her stroller, Brian attached to my wrist with his leash and me kicking the top of the little stool with my foot to remove the suspicious fabric cushion (I only kept the metal part). I probably looked like a mad woman but upholstery was on my craft to do list for years. This was finally my chance!

There are many (re)upholstery tutorials available online and the material that we needed was easy to find (fabric store and hardware store). It was a simple and fun little project...especially without the bedbugs! The only thing is that I screamed pretty much every time we used the staple gun. It is not called a "gun" for nothing.

Total budget for this project: 10$
(note: it is good to know a friend that owns a staple gun)

* * * * *

marie christine: Ah, merci Marie! Et Alice était avec toi le jour de ses 4 mois.

anne: J'aime bien écrire des trucs "sentimentals"...je dois retenir de ma mère!

ulla v.: Thank you Ulla. I hope that you are right and that it will always be fabulous.

pj: Already 4 months. I almost cried that day!!!

one claire day: Thank you so much Claire.

joeynomad: Oh, I didn't want to make anybody cry ;)

emily: I'm just like you. It is so lovely to look at babies sleep.

daniela: Big hugs and kisses to you and your lovely baby from Canada.

Dear 4 months old Alice

2011-07-28T14:47:00.023-04:00

Dear Alice,

Four months ago, when I looked into your big gray eyes for the first time, I didn't know what to expect. I could simply not believe that, during 10 months, you transformed inside me...from a minuscule dot on the first ultrasound at 6 weeks to a long and lean brunette at 39 weeks and 5 days.

So far, you made the beginning of this motherhood adventure a pure delight. It is a privilege to take care of you and I'm well aware that, until now, you have been an extremely easy baby with a wonderful personality.

Like most mothers, I'm in awe of each and every single one of your accomplishments: a smile, a stronger neck, a foot in your mouth, a belly laugh, an attempt to crawl, etc.

I profoundly cherish the quiet moments that we share together such as a morning stroll with the dog, an afternoon cuddle in bed or a relaxing evening bath.

I'm always moved to see that holding you against me and talking to you can make your frustrations go away in the blink of an eye. And your smiles, there are no words to tell you how much I appreciate them.

Oh, I can also be a bit creepy! I will confess that I can't stop staring at you...especially when you sleep. I love the calm movement of your little body as you breath.

However, one of the thing that I love the most is looking at you interacting with your daddy. When you two are sound asleep on a Saturday morning, when he uses the dog as a horse for you, when he struggles to attach all the snaps on your pj while your kick your little feet in the air but mostly when I see that you recognize him when he comes back home from a long day at work. His eyes lights up as he covers you with kisses.

So, after 4 months, I now know that when two people love each other very very very much they can create together the most amazing thing in the world and bring even more love into their lives...but, Alice, you are way too young for me to tell you about that kind of stuff ;)

Mom (wow, I'm a mom...your mother!!!)
xox

* * * * *

PJ from the lovely blog Bunny and Dolly asked me to be a guest blogger while she takes some time to bond with her brand new little boy, Levi. If you want, as of today, you can take a look at my post "ready or not".

Have a wonderful weekend xox

* * * * *

courtney: I try to enjoy each seasons but I simply can't control myself...I always want the next one!!! And at the country house, in two weeks, I will knit a fall hat for Alice. xox

taryn: You are totally right about the winter coat situation. The first month (April), we had a few cold days (not winter cold but I needed a coat) and I had a carrier over my jacket. It is ok...but it doesn't work with all jackets.

uk lass in us: Ah ah ah, you are so funny (kid face planted in the snow)! I can't wait to see that (um, bad mum moment)!

Cold weather cocoon

2011-07-28T07:56:00.017-04:00

Season wise, I'm never totally happy! In winter, I daydream of sandals, ice cream cones and picnics at the park. So obviously, now that we had a few 40C (104F with humidity factor), I often think of wool sweaters, warm tea and afternoon walks surrounded by colorful fall foliage.

But how do cold seasons work with a baby? There are two issues: how will I keep Alice warm without making her sweat buckets and how do I transport her when the streets will be covered with snow (we don't have a car)?

Last winter, when I was pregnant, I was fascinated yet traumatized by numerous women pushing their stroller without much success after a snow storm. Their kids, paralyzed by too many layers of clothes, were often screaming their little lungs out. That normally a 5 minutes walk to the local bakery suddenly turns into a mom nightmare. Anyway!

Last evening, I received an online shopping epiphany: a carrier cover designed with !"#$%?&* Canadian seasons in mind (and on sale)! Alice will be so comfortable (and totally adorable) in her cold weather cocoon!

* * * * *

lin: Thank you so much for telling me that there is actually a name for that condition!!! Sometimes, I take my shower and I honestly don't recall washing my hair but I know that I did because it smells like shampoo! Crazy!!!

marina: Thank you! I can't wait for Alice to fit in your criss cross reversible dress...that pattern is on my list :)

little gray pixel: Totally genius!

la franglaise: Ouin, pour le moment je ne rigole pas mais éventuallement, j'espère, je vais en rire (pour le moment je suis frustrée)!!! Ah, Paris, tu n'es donc pas une ville parfaite ;)

daniela: Really? Oh, I want to see a picture of the hat on Olivia.

uk lass in us: It is "good" that I'm not the only one with that stupid memory problem. I also do the "what did I come in this room for anyway" thing. This is bad!!!

peanut: You lived in the High Artic? So awesome! I worked up north for a few months and a lot of mothers were using amouti (didn't know it was the name, thank you!). I love it :)

marie christsine: Ah, t'es donc gentille m'tante Marie :) xox

baby poop chart: Ah, funny but totally true (you can never trust your baby's poop)!!!

Motherhood side effect

2011-07-23T13:18:00.015-04:00

Maybe I'm the only one but now that I have a baby I, sometimes, experience some little memory problems! Nothing serious...just annoying enough for me to get pissed off when it happens.

Anyway, one of the great thing with having a motherhood blog is that I can "record" some information that could be useful in the future...much more reliable than a little post-it on the fridge!

A while ago, an awesome mama (allo Jacinthe!) showed me a pretty nice product: a fabric travel high chair. I know that Alice is too young to use it at the moment but since I can't fully trust my memory until I purchased the seat...well...the link is on my blog. To quote the manufacturer, "this super cute and always trendy seat will make your life so much easier and always get you noticed". I don't know about the last part but it would indeed make my life easier!!!

* * * * *

lola: I'm also not a super big makeup+fashion person but I do love a cute little outfit. I don't know if Alice will be a "princess" but I will also go for the cheesy "you're a beautiful kind person on the inside and that's what matters".

lina: Thank you! My mom's house is pretty awesome :)

ali: Um, boys probably also have "issues"...I just don't know what?!?

oscarlucinda: Thank you so much! I hope that Alice will be a balanced girl...fingers crossed!

daniela: Glad to know that you also believe that balance is key. I'm sure that you will teach wonderful values to Olivia...to super cool mamas :)

kara: You rock! I'm all for traveling, volunteering and learning about other people...especially the not too much tv or facebook. You are my idol :)

lila: Thank you so much! What you said (you run the risk of them looking for that validation elsewhere) is super smart. Each child is different and I will do my best to make sure that Alice has a balance life.

kim u: I think that you are so right about the media setting up "wars" about mom stuff! We each have different approaches, as long as it works.

taryn: Thank you so much!!! I'm curious, what are the boys issues? I will tell my mom that you said that she has a beautiful home :)

one claire day: You are totally right and I love how you said it (more about their childlike innocence, the twinkle in their eye, the way their emotions are completely genuine). I love to find interesting (with a bit of controversy) articles! Thank you sssooo much for what you said about Alice but, must of the time, I don't know what I'm doing!!! Pretty scary when you think about it!!! Thank god that I can get inspiration from wonderful moms like you...you are doing such a great job with your daughter! xox

rita: This is where I grew up. It is a pretty cool house! I will try to find the book Cinderella Ate My Daughter. Thank you for the info. This is so cool that you don't have a TV! We have one but rarely watch it. I'm also worried about the princess culture. I also think that it’s up to the parents to make sure that little girls (and boys) get a balance life.

kate: I hope that you have a lovely pregnancy. The toy is from IKEA. Alice loves to play with it! Oh, your blog is Habibi. If I'm correct, this is "my love" in Arab, right? Take care :) http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/70108177

ella: Oh Ella, I think that it is good to have strong opinions (also guilty). But I realized, now that I have Alice, that each babies are so different and what works for Alice might not work at all for other babies! Oh well, it makes talking with other moms much more interesting (love to learn new stuff)! xox

Little girls

2011-07-18T12:00:00.013-04:00

Recently, an article titled How to Talk to Little Girls found its way to numerous motherhood blogs. Basically, it says that in a society were 25% of young women would rather win America's Next Top Model than the Nobel Peace Prize, people, when interacting with young girls, should not compliment them on their appearance. Instead, they should focus on more intellectual things...such as the conflicts in the Middle East (aahhh, me and sarcasm!!!).

I would be devastated if Alice would rather impress Tyra Banks instead of heading to Oslo to receive her Nobel Peace Prize! On a more realistic level, I would also be devastated to see a tween Alice wear mascara, eyeliner and lipstick to go to school (according to the article, 15% to 18% girls under 12 years old wear makeup regularly).

I won't do an article review. Actually, the article inspired me to write a little something about "parental gray area". How come every aspect of motherhood (and fatherhood) seems to be black or white? Pacifiers, diapers, breastfeeding, co-sleeping, etc., It seems to be 100% good or 100% bad....nothing in between! However, life is full of gray areas and finding the right balance is, to my opinion, key.

We do, as a society, put a lot of emphasis on beauty standards and it obviously has a drastic impact on the way that little girls perceive themselves. However, I don't think that lecturing a passerby who told Alice that she is as cute as a button will have changed the way that my daughter will grow up.

I think that, as a mother, it's my job to make sure that Alice receives the right balance of physical compliments and, as the author wrote, intelligent conversation that respects her brain.

So the next time I meet a little girl, I might ask her what her favorite book is but I might also compliment her on the lovely dress that she is wearing. Even better, I could do both!!!

note: pictures taken at my mom's house this weekend...Alice's first trip to the country!

* * * * *

one claire day: I think that I should do a cat and dog photo session this week. I don't want them to think that they are not photogenic anymore ;)

anonymous (jRob): It is from...IKEA! http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/70108177

courtney: But it is sssooo much fun to take baby pictures. They are sssooo cute!

ali: Ah, thank you Ali xox

astrid: I also can't wait to see your baby pictures.

tiffany: Wow, thank you so much Tiffany. I hope that you will take A LOT of baby pictures...soon soon soon :)

lila: I get pretty much all of Alice's clothes second hand. I'm always happy when I find something adorable and in perfect condition for 3$ - 7$.

shine little light*: ah ah ah, glad that you like them :)

kate / tinywarbler: I try not to take too many pictures that are humiliating...like her pooping face (oh, wait, I did that already!!!).

joanna goddard: Thank you so much!

Alice and Ro-bear

2011-07-15T17:06:00.007-04:00

I used to take "not baby" pictures...but baby pictures are sssoooo much fun! Maybe I should take one "not baby" picture a week or something like that?!? Yes, I can do that!

Have a lovely weekend my friends xox

* * * * *

jacinthe: Alice veut aller au Tex Mex!!!

bess callard: My mom told me that I didn't sleep like that at all! It looks pretty comfortable!

giselle: Ah, all babies are cute :)

taryn: Thank you!

Good morning

2011-07-14T10:52:00.004-04:00

I woke up to find a sleeping kitten in the most unusual position.
I find it fascinating yet scary!

* * * * *

lola: Good! I'm not the only one who freaked out by the "sleep on belly" thing. Thank you for the book title. Oh, I really don't get (I understand it but I don't get the point) of the Freudian thing!

one claire day: I had to control myself when I saw all the beautiful colors. The navy ones are superb and the mint green is so retro. Is Lalie ok (you said you were rushing to the doctor)? After a few days of belly rolling, Alice doesn't freak out anymore and I know that she can breath in that position. However, I can't wait for her to learn how to roll on her back!

j: Alice also does it in her sleep. Dan, as a joke, told me that he considered attaching Alice on her crib so that she can't go on her belly!!! Ah, husbands ;) Baby Houdini! Super cute mental image.

supergirl: I think that I will try, as you said, parent training!

ella: Oh yes, I remember this picture! I know Alice's poop face. However, it is always (like always) while I breastfeed her! So I don't know what to do about that!?! I still have to get her pee face. Happy to know that part-time EC works for you.

A stylish kido :)

2011-07-11T13:20:00.018-04:00

A while ago, I came upon the blog One Claire Day. Claire lives in Australia with her family. She also has a dog that looks just like Brian, well, a clean version of Brian.

Claire has a little girl named Eulalie. She is pretty much a style icon! However, since bloomers would make my adult butt look rather big, I concluded that it would be wiser to draw inspiration from her style and adapt it to the way I dress Alice.

As I was reading her latest post, I saw the cutest pair of baby shoes ever. Claire told me they are from an Australian company called All About Heidi (and when I could not find them online, one of her lovely readers wrote me a comment telling me where I could get a pair).

I know that shoes are not necessarily the most useful item in a 3 months old baby's wardrobe...especially not when it is 35C (95F). This is why I ordered a 6-12 months old size. The handmade shoes are supposed to give good grip for crawlers while helping socks (!"#$%?&* socks) to stay on. Every shoe is adjustable by loosening the tie at the front and or the velcro. Perfect!

On a side note, Alice knows how to turn on her belly. The thing is, she doesn't know how to return on her back. Since her little 14 weeks old neck is not very strong yet, she eventually can't keep her head up and plopped her face on the mattress. FREAKING OUT MOM! How can she breath like that???

Also, when on her belly, she eventually starts to "cry" out of frustration. I roll her on her back and, ta-da, in less than 5 seconds she is back on her belly freaking out! Poor little bunny :(

* * * * *

lola: I think that I will get a book. As you said, I can use some of the concepts for potty learning. What is the title of your book?

little gray pixel: Pee is always without warning for Alice...unless I don't "read" her properly.

taryn: This is so interesting. I love learning those kind of cultural stuff. How was life in China...especially pregnant? I would love to see a picture of the bum less pants.

kat - housewife confidential: So happy to know that EC is not an urban legend ;)

joeynomad: I didn't know about the musical poop device! I must google it because it looks super funny (not that I want one but just out of curiosity).

lina: Thank you! I didn't realized,when I wrote that post, that I would get many Freud references (I vaguely studied that a long time ago). Now, I must refresh my memory on his poop-sex-all the rest theories. Oh, where are you from? I don't have any access to your blog (if you have one). And please, don't be sorry for the long comment. It was super interesting :)

clairsy: Thank you so much for the link. Motherhood is full of "what to do" dilemmas. Well, it is part of the fun, right? I still don't know what to think of EC for Alice.......

daniela: Oh! Thank you for the links. Your comment came just in time since I'm going to a last yoga class tomorrow and I didn't know if I should talk about it with the teacher. And don't be sorry for the "long comment". Not to sound like a call centre message but your comments are important to me :) xox

kim u: Yes, it is interesting but not for everybody.

sarahvine: Hi Sarah, I'm a bit sad! I really want to know your opinion (and, omg, you are a doula...I love doulas!!!) and I don't want people to feel "not welcome" to write something on my blog. Learning from so many wonderful women is honestly such a privilege for me!!! So thank you thank you thank you for telling me your EC story. And yes, I'm having fun :) Take care.

Ignorant Claudia

2011-07-11T08:23:00.015-04:00

When I was pregnant, Dan and I watched the film Babies. Later, while making our list of things to buy for the nursery, we added a dried corn cob. Why? Well, in the film, the Namibian mother cleans her baby's butt with a dried corn cob. Aside from the fact that Dan and I are immature (!), my point is that there are many ways to deal with the "joy" of baby poop and pee.

I will confess that, until 14 weeks ago, I had never changed a diaper. The concept slightly horrified me especially knowing that on certain (multiple) occasions I gagged while picking up my dog's poop on a hot summer day or trying to catch my long hair kitty cat to remove a piece of poop stuck to his tail (not cool)!

Anyway. It turned out that changing Alice's diapers is really not a big deal. I actually get satisfaction looking at a brand new diaper perfectly installed on Alice's little body (don't tell Dan but sometimes I re-adjust Alice's diaper after he changed her...yes, I'm a perfectionist freak)!

If the Namibian mother was next to me while I perfectly attached the "velcro" on Alice's diaper she might tell me: "How come Alice is not a diaper-less baby like Ponijao (the Namibian baby)? You should try elimination communication"!

Elimination communication is a toilet training practice (inspired by traditional practices of diaper-less baby care in less industrialized countries ) in which a caregiver uses timing, signals, cues, and intuition to address an infant's need to eliminate waste. Caregivers try to recognize and respond to babies' bodily needs and enable them to urinate and defecate in an appropriate place like a toilet (thank you Wikipedia).

However, if the Namibian mother was next to me I would probably ask her: "Really? Do you think it is realistic to try elimination communication in an industrialized country not really open to the concept of a 3 months old diaper-less baby?" I would also add in a sarcastic voice: "I can't wait to try that next Saturday during brunch!"

Dear blog friends, since I don't know the Namibian mother at all, may I ask for you opinion on the subject? Have you tried elimination communication or are you a believer in "traditional" toilet training?

* * * * *

little gray pixel: As soon as I get it, I will let you know.

taryn: Yes, hopefully it will work!

one claire day: Ah, if only I could be Scandinavian ;)

fast times in münchen: THANK YOU!!! Because of you, I know a little girl who will get adorable shoes very soon!!! xox

The alternative!

2011-07-10T10:22:00.008-04:00

Alice started to pull on my necklaces, with her tiny yet very strong hands, while I breastfeed her. Now that my necklaces are stored in my jewelry box (for an undetermined period of time), Alice found a new victim. In less than a week pretty much all my tops have deformed collar. And when she is not attached to my breast, she can spend hours drooling on whatever soft material she can get (especially when she is traveling in her Ergobaby).

I strongly believe that less is more but sometimes it is good to splurge a bit...especially when it can possibly solve a small grabbing/drooling situation. Consequently, Alice will soon be able to entertain herself with an adorable mommy necklace from the Finland based Etsy shop Koukku.

* * * * *
woolandthebear: Wow, we are really sisters. You should find it in the states. It is not at all a Canadian product. Hope unicorn cake will have a perfectly normal skin (because normal can be good).

bess callard: It is 100% sure that Pharmaprix has it.

courtney, anne and oneeyedrabbit: Thank you so much :)

ella: Oh, "blip" yoga teacher!!! What you said totally make sense. I won't do this exercise anymore. Thank you for the info. And both your kids look super happy (from the pictures you post), with and without the mama baby classes!

We get it!

2011-07-08T14:26:00.002-04:00

A burp cloth could be practical...but that would not be funny!!!
Have a lovely weekend my friends.
xox

I really love...

2011-07-08T08:50:00.006-04:00

...Glaxal Base Moisturizing Cream.

Alice might sleep like her dad but, sadly for her, she probably inherited my sensitive skin. Poor little bunny has eczema on her face, knees and elbows.

Glaxal Base to the rescue!!! You won't find it in the baby section of the drugstore. It is actually in that remote area that screams "I have skin problems and I think that paying 50$ for moisturizing cream is wwwaaaaayyyyyyy too much".

When I self-diagnosed Alice with eczema (yeah, eczema and I are long time enemies) and told our new family doctor that I was using Glaxal Base to control the damage, he was amazed that I knew this "magical" product.

The cream is hypoallergenic, lanolin-free, non-greasy and it doesn't smell like a teenage girl on a Friday evening (perfume-free). It is also pretty inexpensive. Oh, and it works like a charm on Alice's delicate skin.

* * * * *
190.arch: We are going to try aqua baby, with two friends+babies, in September. I hope it is going to be fun. Why didn't you have a good time with aqua baby?

a loopy life: You should try. It is crazy how fast babies learn stuff!!!

renae @ theredwren: I Love you is amazing...Alice doesn't burp much but, wow, that baby can fart!

one claire day: You are probably right but I can't help it at the moment! I love it when she does new things.

kara: Ooooohhhh, music baby and art class (especially with chocolate pudding)! I must investigate to see if we have that in Montreal. Thank you for the suggestion.

clairsy: It is so much fun to have mom friends. I made two mom friends at yoga class and in the fall we are all going to try aqua baby.

Alexandra Durão: I hope that Alice won't be snoring like her dad ;)

Yoga baby - part 2

2011-07-05T11:15:00.016-04:00

As I filled the registration papers at the front desk, I told myself that yoga baby could just be another "take money from naive new mom" thing! Well, it tuned out that it is not entirely true...or false!

Yoga baby is a wonderful opportunity for Alice to connect with her body. For example, we did some exercises that were aimed to help her figure out how to turn on her side. The day after...surprise...my little lady was on her side! Yes, I know, this could simply be chance but I like to think that my 125$ investment has something to do with it!

Now, lets talk about my investment. Realistically, my baby and the baby next door, who doesn't go to a fancy studio every week, are both going to figure out how to be on their side, how to put their feet in their mouth, how to roll on their belly, etc. Yoga baby is something that I decided to do because I felt that socializing with other moms could be fun (it is the case)...and even better if Alice and I could benefit from it physically and mentally (it is also the case).

To conclude, I'm happy that I tried yoga baby (7 weeks session) but there are so many other fun activities that Alice and I can do together: salsa baby, aqua baby, baby massage, cardio baby, etc.

So, have you tried any of those baby + mom activities?

Starting at the top of the head, use both hands to outline the baby's body. Finish with the feet. Repeat the exercise but finish with the hands.

Bring the knees to the belly. Maintain the position a few seconds. Repeat a few times.

If possible, bring the toes in the baby's mouth. Maintain the position a few seconds. Repeat with the other set of toes.

Take both hands and slowly (and carefully), lift the baby in a upright position (sitting). If baby is not happy with this movement...well, ignore this exercise!!!

Take both feet and slowly (and carefully), lift the baby's body until desire state.

Just for your information, in yoga class, we did it all the way until the baby was completely upside down. However, some mothers looked freaked out and we don't do it anymore!

Baby is on the back. Take one ankle and slowly rotate the baby on the opposite side (like on the picture). If you feel like it, rotate until the baby is on the belly.

I - (L)ove - U : With you hand, trace "I" (purple), after a "L" (green) and finally "U" (blue) on the belly. It works magic for babies with little belly full of gas!!! Oh, work clockwise.

note: Always say : good girl/boy! you are doing a great job! woo hoo (using some sort of Homer Simpson voice)! Also add many kisses :)

* * * * *

bess callard: I know!!! And the story is so freakin cute :)

giselle: I was scared the first class but not anymore. It is a very small group and the teacher is always there to make sure that everything is super safe (for mom and for baby).

woolandthebear, one claire day, ali, courtney, kate / tinywarbler: Thank you so much! You are so nice! xox

a 3 months old and her dad

2011-07-02T07:06:00.006-04:00

Same old, same old and I love it!

Yoga baby - part 1

2011-06-29T10:26:00.025-04:00

Ardha Navasane - Half Boat

Setu Bandha Sarvangasana - Bridge

Adho Mukha Svanadana - Downward Dog

Prasarita Padottanasana - Wide Legged Forward Bend (move baby from side to side)

Sukhasana - Easy pose

One of my favorite activities of the week is to go to post-natal yoga with Alice. Well, no, let me rephrase this. My favorite activity of the week is the part of post-natal yoga that involves Alice (about half of the 75 minutes class). Honestly, during the other part of the class, I'm always a bit annoyed at my new lack of flexibility and strength...but this is another story!

Alice and I started post-natal yoga about six weeks after I gave birth. It is not the most efficient class considering that on average I have to feed her once and change her diaper twice but the exercises that we learn are great. I do most of them at home and sometimes, drum roll please, my anti-yoga husband also does some of the exercises (proof in part 2 of this post)!

So, even if there are tons of baby yoga books/web sites available, I decided to channel the Jane Fonda in me and do a mini baby yoga presentation that you can try at home with your kido. Have fun :)

And if you love yoga and Babar (perfect combo!): Babar's Yoga for Elephant!

note: Of course, do the positions safely (for you and for baby) and don't push it!!!

* * * * *
kate / tinywarbler: You should totally make a few pair of pants. Instant gratification.

anonymous: This weekend, the "big girl bed" is moving to our bedroom. This is very exciting!!!

new duds: Pretty sure your cat does the same ;)

mjb: When we were shopping for baby monitors, I didn't get the reason why video baby monitors existed. Now I know but it is good that we didn't get one because I would always be looking at it during the night. I can be a bit intense!

oneeyedrabbit: Same value here: I'd rather comfort my child as fast as I can rather than have her wait and cry and cry.

vanessa - lynn david handbag co.: I don't think that separation anxiety is a bad thing as long it doesn't get out of control. And if our monitor is "full blast" the dog barks...not cool!

susanna n.: Co-sleeping rocks :)

little gray pixel: What kind of strange noises? I'm just too curious!?!

joeynomad: I cursed in both English and French during an entire evening...I think that more "how to" illustrations could be pretty useful in that book!

checks and spots: Thank you! Denial is not that bad, right!?!

renae @ theredwren: Oh yes, Alice turned 3 months old yesterday! The crib is moving in our bedroom this weekend. I feel super happy about it!

daniela: I really like her books (I have 3 books from her) and all the projects are super cute. It took me forever to make the first bloomer but only 1.5 hour for the other one.

190.arch: Oh, thank you so much. You are so nice :)

sarah ahearn bellemare: This is so "funny" (well, not funny ah ah!!) that she was sleeping on a cheap pack n play thing when there was a fancy organic mattress available! This is the kind of thing that would happen here! Thank you so much for your lovely comment. xox

clairsy: Perfect! I will keep the gang together.

taryn: Thank you so much :)

Denial

2011-06-28T08:15:00.017-04:00

Initially, this post was supposed to be about the struggles that I had with my latest sewing project: baby bloomers (or my difficulties with !"#$%?&* elastics)!

However, when I looked at the pictures that I took to illustrate the final product, I realized that I was in denial. It is getting ridiculous! Alice is too big for her wooden bassinet and she would be much more comfortable in her "big girl" bed...in her nursery...without me...far from the pack! I say pack because when night comes, we all sleep in the same room. Dan and I in our new queen size bed, Alice in her bassinet next to me, Brian in his dog bed next to the bassinet and Mr. Poon (cat) on Dan's head ;)

Soon the pack will be divided and, honestly, it breaks my heart. It has nothing to do with practical reasons (ex: night breastfeeding) since Alice sleeps, without interruption, from 10:00pm until 5:30am. It is purely emotional. Yes, I suffer from separation anxiety with my baby.

Dan suggested that we temporarily put her crib in our bedroom until my mother instinct tells me that it is right to separate the pack. Or maybe I'm just buying time until the official transfer to her nursery...in 5 years!?!

Pattern from Simple Sewing for Baby

* * * * *

little gray pixel, claire, peanut: Perfect! I love economical yet effective solution. Thank you so much :)

taryn: Oh, totally! Babies are little furnaces. I always bring extra t-shirts for me and extra outfits for Alice in my bag when we go somewhere with the ergo.

leslie: I want to see what you make with the Nani Iro fabric.

intwosometwiminds.com: Coconut oil??? I didn't know that it was a natural anti fungal. I should also get some for my husband (smelly feet)!!!

oscarlucinda: Everything made by Nani Iro is wonderfully pretty...but so $$$.

bugheart: According to the comments that I got, buy cornstarch. And yes, it can smell very bad! I don't use the baby carrier when it is very hot unless I have no choice (going to yoga class).

claire: Love the idea (up with books and down with smartphones).

joeynomad: Ergo rocks :)

Anonymous kitten

2011-06-23T21:23:00.012-04:00

This story main character shall remain anonymous in order to protect her identity...and because in a few years she might be mad because her mother wrote a blog post about her private area and her stinky armpit (ah ah ah)!!!

The main character, that we will name Kitten, has some little problems. Upon examination of certain areas (aka diaper area and armpit), Kitten's mom recently discovered two skin rashes.

If kitten is like her mother, she probably has sensitive skin and doesn't tolerate very humid (or very dry) environments. Kitten's mom goes to baby yoga class once a week and takes an ergo baby carrier to reach her destination. For a strange reason, on yoga day, it's always extremely hot (38C / 100F with humidity factor) and both mother and daughter get soaked wet. Kitten doesn't seem to care but her little bum and pubic area get red and irritated. Also, Kitten's armpit, with all of its lovely extra layers of fat, gets red and produces a Camembert like smell!

Kitten's mom carefully washes the areas (as soon as they are back from yoga class) and things get better. However, since summer just started, kitten's mom is worried that things might get out of control.

Do you have any tips that could help Alice...um, this anonymous baby?

note: I made a little pair of pants for Alice using lovely Nani Iro fabric.

* * * * *

bec hem: Technology freaks me out a bit (a lot)! I don't know how we are going to "control" it with Alice.

oscarlucinda: I didn't know Press Here.I just looked it up on amazon and it looks awesome. I will order it asap :)

anneemall: OMG, this is a killer list! I just added it in my favorite and I look at each book

kate so: Let me know how Nelson likes camping.

a loopy life: Feet pictures....a classic!

rosessimone: Wow, you are a breastfeeding queen ;)

It's a book

2011-06-21T08:28:00.012-04:00

It is not because I have a blog that I'm into technology. As a matter of fact, I have the gift of systematically ruining any computer/camera/printer/fax/scanner/cell phone/GPS/MP3 player/video game console that crosses my path. Consequently, I developed a certain aversion for technology.

For example, during Father's Day lunch, I asked my dad a question that he could not answer. He immediately took his smart phone, between two bites of chicken fajitas, opened Google and started typing. This is when I shouted "no cell phones allowed during Father's Day lunch"!!!

I'm not saying that I want to move to a remote shack without electricity and communicate with pigeon post. I'm just saying that, to my opinion (and of course, you may have a different opinion) technology should be use in moderation.

So imagine how delighted I was when I discovered It's a Book by Lane Smith. The story, whose main characters are a book loving monkey and a techie donkey, has a great message: you should focus more on books and less on electronic gadgets (and that books are simply awesome)!

What a perfect addition to our little kid book collection! And if you are curious, the author also made an animation film based on the book.

* * * * *
kim u: This is a great product (placemat). Thank you so much for the link.

all lit up: It is perfect since Dan and I were breakfast/brunch people anyway!

pennies for luck: Yeah, since we didn't know that Alice was a girl until the last echography, most of her clothes are with neutral colors. Generally, I enjoy the "cute boy" comments because it is funny.

taryn: I like that advice (just stick to my normal routines/activities and include the baby in them). We are also doing that but sometimes I get a bit nervous. Dan has to tell me to relax because my "freaking out energy" is not good for Alice!

la franglaise: I don't know why but I'm actually not surprised by your comment. Paris is wonderful but I can totally visualize the "ah, ben voilà l'invasion des poussettes!". Be strong :)

intwosometwiminds.com: Thank you for the info :) I still have to get better at holding the baby with one hand and using my fork with the other one, ah!

anonymous (tibi): I would love to be more like you but I just can't. I get the concept but, deep down, I would still feel horrible if Alice was crying at the restaurant. I'm such a chicken!

uk lass in us: We almost never go to fancy restaurants anyway (even before Alice)!

one claire day: When we go out, just like you, we make sure that everything is "perfect" to have a happy baby. Anyway, baby or not, I could not go on without Saturday breakfast at the restaurant ;)