(Late) Spring Cleaning Time

This year is off to a late start in regards to a lot of things. We were still getting snow in April for Christ sake! Regardless of how it happened - its now Spring Cleaning Month for my family. I have to start writing out my list instead of keeping it in my head all the time! The backyard is going to be the biggest project, I think. The amount of branches that have fallen from all the winter storms (thanks Mother Nature!) its absolutely disastrous back there. Throw in the size of it and we have our work cut out for us! Once the branches are gone then it will be easier - cut the grass, pick up the rest of the leaves, plant a garden, etc. Its still fairly cool outside which is better than doing all this work in the scorching heat!

I've been on the hunt for the perfect pool for Adriana. I'm still gun-ho on getting more than just a wading pool with 4inches of water but the boyfriend doesn't seen it as beneficial. Clearly we need to make more trips to Wal-Mart together! Adriana loves swimming and has a life jacket so if we did get a bigger one, she would get lots of use out of a bigger pool rather than a smaller one. Plus we could use it more too when its really hot out. A quick dip to cool us off. He fears the dog will put a hole in it.

   

Nothing crazy - this one is 12'x30" and has a cover you buy separately. This will help keep the leaves and sticks out when we're not using it. I think it will be worth every penny of the $170 price tag (plus cover). I have never had a pool (I've always lived near a public pool or had friends who had one) and I would like to keep encouraging Adriana to swim. She will start swimming lessons again in the Fall!

I cleaned out Adriana's room (2 garbage bags later) and now she has a decent size room again! Next tackle is her closet. I have to fish out what still fits her and what doesn't anymore so we can make room for some new stuff. She already has some shorts and t shirts to get her started. Thanks to her Gran she also has some sandals and water shoes too! Our storage was converted from a small third bedroom and I still don't have enough space to keep everything!! Time to make the trip to the Goodwill then or....hello friends?

I can't wait for the summer!! I have some sweet days planned for Adriana and I this year (and if Daddy can get the days off work too). As long as she has her naps - we're golden. I have a shopping trip planned, zoo trip, movie date, swimming and cottage trip so far. I enjoy traveling with her because shes a people watcher and enjoys being on the go. Typical toddler. I refuse to sit inside all summer, sometimes walking down to the park or feeding the ducks - those are good things for the Spring and Fall but not summer! I may even look into a camping trip....oh do I dare?

Adriana wants to learn how to fish but I'm not sure she has the patience to make it through a round of fishing! She would end up scaring all the fish away. The boyfriend wants to teach her and I say Good Luck to you sir! I love fishing, just never had much time to continue it when life happened. He can teach her while I do my own fishing. Pretty sure it was my dad who taught me how to fish - although I'm not very good at it lol

What plans do you have with your kids this summer?

Do you travel with them on road trips? To where?

Toddler Nap Time Troubles

I swore myself to be the luckiest parent alive when Adriana was sleeping through the night after just 10days. Seriously, who else can say that? Not many I'm sure.

Lets face it....I think my luck has run out.

Adriana is starting her "terrible twos" already and part of that is refusing to nap. Do I dare assume my little one doesn't need a midday nap anymore? She's not even two yet! Although this is the third weekend in a row of no nap time. At daycare it seems to be mostly the same thing as well.

She doesn't normally give a hard time when we tell her its nap time. She's very willing to go lay in her bed but shortly after closing the door we can hear her playing with toys. This we don't mind because eventually she will fall asleep (we hope). She's into opening her door to come see what we're doing and that's when I simply take her hand and bring her back to her bed. I explain that she needs to have a nap in order to play longer later - this seems to understood for the most part.

This weekend is far worse than the last. I find myself losing patience in getting her to nap - I understand how important it is but she doesn't want to. So I reached out for some answers. I was sure that this can't be just MY child. The one who never ever had a sleep problem up to now. The child who was in a regular day bed at only 18mths old! No, this couldn't be.

I came across some suggestions although they were geared for older toddlers (closer to three years old) but doesn't hurt to try.

First, it was suggested to drop the whole "Nap Time" and call it "Quiet Time" instead. This is understood by giving your child a book or puzzle to have in their bed with the lights off and curtains drawn closed. Eventually, they might nod off on their own but will definitely have the calm down time they need to recharge. I love this idea! Its true....whenever I said nap time to Adriana she would refuse by saying "No nap Mommy". I tried to explain that she needed it but it seemed to make it worst! Definitely changing up my choice of words.

Second, if your little one is still having 2 naps but they're shorter in length every time - try switching to just one solid nap instead. Except to have a cranky baby for a few days while they adjust to a single nap time but they should sleep for a solid 2hrs during this time. I remember Adriana was NOT a happy camper and some nights went to bed a little earlier than normal while she adjusted. Within 1 week she was a happy camper again with a regular bed time 730-8pm and only one nap for 2hrs; sometimes a little longer!

The last suggestion I found was to settle your little one with a good lunch and a quiet movie that will hopefully make them pass out. Perhaps a movie they already saw so they wont force them self to stay awake through it all. Don't forget to give the whole movie experience by darkening the room and cuddling up on the couch or in their bed. We have movies on our tablet which is really easy for Adriana to hold comfortably. Its usually the same movie but she loves it and we don't mind letting her handle the tablet - she's pretty good at holding it steady!

Although, I don't think Adriana is entirely ready to not have a nap at all. I do believe she needs less of one - at least 30 to 45mins of quiet time. I hope this changes our routine for the better. I cannot stress how frustrating it is to get her to nap! I end up looking forward to getting her in bed at night and I feel its rushed instead of enjoyed like before.

I am thankful that our night time routine is bang on. Adriana sleeps from 8pm (give or take) until 7am (give or take) without waking up. Unless she has a cough, then I can hear wake up but quickly settle herself back to sleep. We were never the parents who ran to her every noise she made or even every cry. Of course we woke up but if it wasn't a concern (baby monitor was loud enough to hear everything) I would not go to her. To reassure myself - still do it to this day - before I go to bed every few nights, I will open her door just to see her sleeping. She's so peaceful and quiet - best sight after a long day.

I have been enjoying the amount of growing Adriana has done. It really has been a journey! I'm proud to say that I truly enjoy every moment of having a child. She is my world!
 

Fall is Officially Here

October is just around the corner this coming week! This is exciting for me because its my birthday. It is not a milestone year but another year indeed. I look forward to my birthday regardless of how many years it is - age really is just a number. I feel much younger most days! My birthday is a clear indication that the Fall Season is here.

The weather gets a little bit cooler, the days get shorter, Pumpkin Spice Lattes (haha!), sweaters and boots are out in full force. Fall is a beautiful season - probably my favourite. We have 3 huge beautiful trees in our backyard that I absolutely love to watch shed their leaves. When you're walking up our street these trees stick out just above the houses - just beautiful. I will definitely post pictures soon because most of the trees are starting to change already!

Adriana and I have started to leave the stroller at home again! She is really enjoying the walking everywhere thing and I want to encourage her to do it. She may go through phases so I will let it ride while its still going! Adriana loves being able to sit in the regular seats and not confined to her stroller. Big girl growing up!! We are fortunate to have a child who listens most of the time and understands the concept of the bus system. She is a people person so its actually entertaining on the bus with her. She tries to say "Hello Everybody" but it comes out as "Hello Buddy" Lol kills me every time.

This week is fairly low key - with the small exception of working on Adriana's Halloween costume! I am very excited to get started on my first ever homemade costume. Sorry folks but I won't be sharing what it will be until closer to Halloween! I promise to take lots of pics for those of you who wouldn't mind attempting it. I can't wait!! I promise its going to be worth the wait. It is not a typical girl costume :)

I promised myself last year that I wasn't going to wait until the last minute to start Christmas shopping. Yes I'm already putting the C-word out and its not even Halloween yet. C'mon give me some credit that I'm being proactive! I have a good storage area and will take advantage of buying a little at a time until the big day comes. Then I will only have to worry about wrapping and filling Adriana's stocking when December comes! Go me.

First Swimming Lesson and Pigtails

Last Sunday was Adriana's very first official swimming lesson. She's been swimming for some time but I figured it was a good idea to make it official. She's been doing amazing!! Seriously, she totally gets everything that we're doing in the class and today we were dunking babies. She still has to get used to going under water - with her mouth closed. She doesn't mind it but tends to keep her mouth open! Pool water = gross. She has been able to blow bubbles (her favourite!), kick, float on her back, jump off the side and go down the slide by herself. She absolutely loves going down the slide!! On Wednesday, I took her fun swimming and that's all she wanted to do for over 10mins straight. It was good practice considering there were only 6 other people in the pool. It was fun letting her swim around by herself - next time I will get her in a life jacket so she can be more independent. Can't wait!!

I know what you're thinking....melts my friggin heart!! This was my surprise when I picked her up from daycare this week. I have tried everything to get Adriana's hair under control without her ripping it out. Apparently, using the reason "surprise for mommy and daddy" works wonders! She let daycare put her hair in pigtails and kept them in all day. I honestly had a smile plastered to my face ALL THE WAY HOME! Even before I left we were taking pictures of her because I didn't think she would make it home with them - she did. She was proud to show me her new hair do too. Love her to bits and pieces! Definitely going to try this hair do again myself. I hope it stays for at least half the day!

 Adriana was so tired but I was able to convince her to take a pic with me in her new elephant pajamas. I love her willingness to please me even when she's tired!

 Adriana taking a walk in the rain with Mommy and Daddy on Saturday afternoon. She's not afraid to get a little wet! She absolutely loves my umbrella and most people are surprise she knows what it is! The best part of a rainy day is the way her curls become more prominent around her head. Its amazing!

I saved the BEST for last! Not sorry for the baby nude - seriously it was too cute not to take a pictures. Adriana loves to colour so I found her some bath crayons so she can colour more often now. She was writing all over the tub and all over the walls - I wasn't even mad! These things simply wipe off with a cloth. Also noticed that most of her drawing was with her left hand.....possibly like her Daddy and Grandad? Can't wait! Also, I'm not sure if I love her rolls or the amount of dimples all over her bum?!

We had our random Doctor visit this week for a simple check up. Adriana stands at 90cm tall, putting her in the 98th percentile and weights 29lbs, putting her in the 91st percentile. She's definitely going to be like her Daddy - beautiful and tall! Her learning ability is advanced according to the doctor and shes more than healthy. Nothing to worry about, Mommy! She had been slowing down with her eating and I wanted to make sure she wasn't losing weight......definitely not the case. It was 2 months ago that we last visited the doctor for her 18mth check up. Growing girl she is!!

Mommy Support

Sometimes a Mommy needs to know that she is not alone. She needs to feel like she has somewhere to turn to - or someone. Not everyone has their Mom or Dad to turn to. So where do you go? The times have changed and more people are turning to the internet. There's no shame in that!

I hope you find this post useful Fellow Mommies/Daddies!!

 This picture is truer than true. On those bad days, you might focus on the negative things like the number of diaper changes or the amount of spit up you have had to clean. You quickly forget those moments when you see your child smile, laugh, talk, etc....whatever it is - it keeps you going. You forget about those long nights of several feeds on only a few short hours of sleep. I kept my focus by repeatedly telling myself that this wasn't a forever thing. I made a point to get through all those feedings and get back to sleeping (oh! how important sleep is as a new mommy) Although I had the luxury of my boyfriend helping for the first 3 months, I was literally on my own from that point to when she was almost 11months old. His early mornings and late nights of work made it hard to see her but he was always there to put her into bed at night. Always.

It speaks for itself! I mean what other place would you rather be besides with your family? You may not get along with everyone all the time but when you need to feel accepted, relaxed, at "home", you turn to your family. Its a place that no matter what happens - They love you. I promised myself that I would always create the same open door and loving home that my parents created for me. They won't DO things for you but they will definitely help you get where you need to be. It was never easy living there but I wanted to grow up faster than my mom would let me! I will not hold Adriana back from something she wants to do although, just like any normal child, she will have boundaries. I believe in living to learn - its a harsh reality but sometimes its the best way to learn. I could tell her not to do something but if she really wants to do it, then there isn't much I can say.

This is a classic and definitely my favourite book every to read. Before Adriana was even born, the boyfriend and I made a point to get her some classic books to get her started. Every year we add to the collection of classics and make them accessible to her for reading whenever she wants. This particular book is a little higher up - its paperback - but every so often, I will take it down and read it to her. Just a few days ago, I was reading it and made it to the second last page before I broke out in tears. That's a new record!

I had a good chuckle when I read this! Always remember that those Mommies and Daddies who seem to be doing everything perfectly: well, they're not. They have bad days just like every other parent out there. Those are the moments of weakness and they don't share that with the public. Every parent wants other parents to think they are just the Super Mommy and/or Daddy of the Year! C'mon lets be realistic here; its just not possible. There are no ways to be PERFECT parent but there are a million ways to be a GOOD parent!

September is Here

I hate to burst everyone's bubble but September is here. You know what that means. Back to school for the kiddies of course but it also means Fall is just around the corner!! After such a wickedly hot and humid summer I'm actually looking forward to Fall. The crisp air, the leaves, my birthday (oops!) lol So I threw that one in there because its happening in exactly 1month today. Yikes! Of course I am probably one of the only people I know that still get excited for their birthday. Not because its this huge extravagant party celebrations filled with booze, dancing, gifts, etc. (i wish!) No, I get excited because I'm one of few friends that haven't hit the big 3-0 yet (sorry - not sorry). I don't mind celebrating my age! I have come a long way from the big celebratory ages of 19th and 21st birthdays - those days are gone but boy did I make them worth it! Now I'm a Mommy who just simply enjoys celebrating her birthday with her daughter, boyfriend and dog. I don't need anything crazy: just a card, some wine and company. Its nice when people just remember when its your birthday!

I know its been a little longer than normal since I wrote something. I'm sorry! Life gets busy, you know how it is. I am actually in a bit of transition period. With no work and a much harder time that I thought finding a new job again - I have looked at the option for returning to school on a full time basis. I will continue to take my online program but need to make a change bigger than just part time courses. I still have some things to smooth out before its official. Very excited about this actually!!

Little Miss Adriana is still in daycare and loves it! She has learned to say the other kids names and loves singing songs. She's getting so big too! I've been working on a cute little Fall wardrobe for her. Just need rain boots, umbrella and perhaps a pair of jeans. Can't wait for some great Fall pictures!!
Speaking of pictures: we had our family pictures done again. It's amazing how much we've changed in one year. I actually had the same pose of Adriana taken and compared them - wow!!

 Adriana went on her first camel ride! MuslimFest was happening so we went to walk around. When she saw the camel she actually called it a horse! But wasn't afraid at all to get on it for a ride. She was nervous of the height - thats why I held on to her the whole time!!

Helping Mommy make some Jello Chocolate Pudding. She was really good at stirring the mix but she didn't care to lick the spoon. Crazy!!

We have some great things coming up for our family. Some big changes, some great news to share, and some new goals to make. Although this is a scary time for us, it is really going to change things for the long term. I am a firm believer in keeping faith, especially when times are hard, and remembering to keep focused on the end results. It's never too late to make the necessary changes for your family - for yourself!

Creating Toddler Friendly Dinners

When your little one starts eating table food, its important to make sure its healthy choices! Remember "Monkey see, Monkey do" so if this hasn't been you lifestyle, you may want to look at adapting new healthy meals. This will encourage your child to eat their whole grains, protein, fruits and veggies! We had always ate fairly healthy - of course we ate McDonalds! but that didn't stop us from cooking real meals. We don't buy much junk food (i.e. chocolate chip cookies are a treat, chips are limited, freezies when required). Adriana's deserts consist of fruit and/or 1 chocolate chip cookie if she's good. Its not like we don't give her candy, we teach her moderation. I kept track of her meals for 1 week to give you an idea of balanced meals. We do have a pizza night which consists of meat and mushrooms as toppings.

SUNDAY - 1/2 striploin steak (medium rare), Asian medley mix (baby corn, peppers, zucchini, and snow peas), roasted potatoes. For desert: a bowl of strawberries and pineapples
MONDAY - 3/4 chicken breast (boneless, skinless), Italian medley (broccoli, carrots), cucumber slices. For desert: blueberries and raspberries
TUESDAY - Smart KD (veggie), Italian medley (broccoli, carrots), celery pieces. For desert: strawberries and pineapple
WEDNESDAY - sliced beef cooked in butter with pepper, lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumber. For desert: blueberries
THURSDAY - Pizza night. bacon, pepperoni and mushrooms with drinkable yogurt. For desert: sliced Grapefruit (a first for Adriana!)
FRIDAY -Smart Catelli pasta with meat sauce. I use Extra Lean ground beef and Ragu sauce (good serving of veggies!). For desert: 1 chocolate chip cookie with drinkable yogurt.

We make sure to give Adriana what we have for dinner. She is more inclined to eating it if she sees we all have the same thing. This includes all her veggies! Actually on Thursday night, I gave her a chocolate chip cookie after her grapefruit but she didn't even take one bite. It was a treat but she didn't want it so I will use that treat for the next night. She's a pretty good eater so when she doesn't want to finish her entire meal - that's ok. We do NOT give her something else!! This is a common mistake parents make but it really does more harm than good. This will only teach the child that if they don't want something they can refuse it and be given something they do want - this is how you create a picky eater! Adriana will have choices but more like would you want more veggies or more meat!

She is at the perfect age to start figuring out what she does and does not like. That's perfectly okay too! Adriana has pushed away her plate but I just put it to the side and wait. Sometimes she just needs some time to realize this is dinner and you're not getting anything else. We don't believe in catering to their every needs - Who's the boss anyways? The Parents should be. So teach them to be thankful for the food they have and enjoy a different variety of foods too!

Although, I don't like certain foods - I still make a point to give them to Adriana. For example, I absolutely despise cucumber, seafood, and grapefruit. However, Adriana loves all of them! We never made a big deal of what she was eating, just gave it to her and acted like it was a normal meal. After she ate it I would explain what it was and asked if she liked it. So far so good with everything! There are things she just doesn't care for too, like melons (cantaloupe, honey dew and watermelon) or bananas.....seriously - bananas. I am going to try a different way of giving them to her though. I found a recipe to fry the bananas in honey and add cinnamon. They make them crunchy and a bit sweet!

I hope Adriana stays a good eater for awhile. Not for the nutritional value but the experience. The ability to explore new foods is a talent in my eyes. I wish I was adventurous but where I lack the boyfriend makes up for it! He has a great appetite for new foods and I envy that. Clearly, Adriana is on the same path as him - Good Job!

We also had our family pictures done over the weekend. I can't wait to share them with you!! Adriana is such a photogenic little girl which makes our family pictures turn out amazing!! Thank you Sears Canada :)

Toddler Hair Craze, Learn to Relax

Its been a week since our trip and we're both still adjusting. I find that Adriana and I are sleeping more in order to get back on the same schedule. I need to sleep for a week straight if I could - I know Adriana could!

An update on Adriana's Toddler bed: So far she's been doing amazing!! We found her on the floor next to her bed with Cookie Monster twice. Both times she climbed out (not fall!) and laid down on the floor instead of back in the bed. No big deal - she loves her "big girl bed". She will tell people about her bed if they ask her about it. She seems proud to be at this stage :D I am a Happy Mommy.

OK. Am I the only Mommy that has some serious problems with their daughter's hair? I'm not just talking first thing in the morning either. Adriana has beautiful curls and sometimes they're just insane to tame! I've tried hair clips but she pulls them out, pony tails - pulls out, headbands - pulls off! I really don't want to cut her hair just yet. If I do, she will lose her curls for sure!! Any suggestions???

 Example of a good hair day for Adriana! She was taking pictures for Auntie Kim again

 Sliced Steak cooked in butter with pepper, sitting on a bed of lettuce and tomato with Ranch Dressing over top - DELICIOUS!!

 Adriana wearing her flower belt - she loved it!!

 $1 drinks at Mc Donald's - she was really thirsty!! ps. its iced tea NOT pop

She's all geared up for the Zoo in a few weeks! I got her this zoo hat last year when we took her and she never wore it until now - she must be excited lol

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Sometimes you need to just sit back and Relax. Breathe. Think. Being a Mommy (or Daddy) can be a hard job. Probably the hardest job out there! But at the same time it can be the most rewarding. Throughout all my babysitting jobs, I always knew I wanted to be a mother. There wasn't anything that could change my mind. No matter the amount of dirty diapers, tantrums, tears, throw up, etc. I knew in my heart it was definitely something for me.

I have a lot of love for children, and now that I have one of my very own I really could not ask for anything more. I believe this was my calling all along. Adriana was planned but we never expected her personality to woo us over the way that it has. I still agree that babies change you: either for the better or for the worst. It is what you make it. Of course its not easy but you don't give up the first time he/she spits up on you, or cries, or throws a tantrum. That's all part of being a parent. It is just the not so glamorous part!

Take your time and remember they are learning too. Learn to have an abundance of patience stored away for those less appealing times and enjoy the good times as is. Learn to laugh more with your child, join in the goofiness of their ways, encourage independence and more importantly - LOVE. Love not just your child but your spouse and yourself. These are the people who make your day real. Don't worry about work - its work. Don't worry about society - its overrated anyways!!

Crib to Toddler Bed Transition

So we are trying this new thing with Adriana where she sleeps in a big girl bed. Yup! its that time! Last week she was sleeping in a single bed by herself and she did really well. She was able to stay on the bed and when she did wake up she just sat up. This was a good test to see how she would react to the change. We told her it was a Surprise for her after daycare. She came home and ran to her bedroom. The first thing she did was sit on the edge of her "new" bed. After a few minutes she was jumping on her bed!! I explained this was her new big girl bed and she was going to sleep here just like every other night. She nodded her head and said "Big bed"....a sign she actually understands? Love it.

We didn't change any routine with her either. We always had let her walk to her bed when it was bedtime. The only difference is she could climb in herself. So after her bath, brushing teeth, pajamas, and bottle, she was off to bed. At first she couldn't settle into this "new" bed but once I picked her up, gave her a hug and laid her down, she was good.

Now the real test will be tonight. I'm not usually a fan of sneaking in after she's fallen asleep but I will have to. I mean I don't have a choice. My curiosity will definitely take over every ounce of will power I have. Therefore, no choice. I was so happy she didn't give us a hard time! I like using the word "surprise" because it gets her excited to new changes that most kids have a hard time with. I also show my excitement so she knows its a good thing! I encouraged her to lay down in her bed and I knew it was good when she asked for her blankie!

Sometimes parents are not so lucky with the transition. This could be for a number of reasons. A few recommendations I have are:

• Purchase a Convertible Crib if possible. This seems like less of a transition for your toddler and may make it easier when the time comes.
• Be excited about it! Put your worries aside and BELIEVE this is a good thing. Kids know when you fake it...so recite all the reasons this is good for your little one.
• Try naps in a different place like your bed or a single mattress on the floor or even a sleeping bag!
• Show them the bed - Don't just put them in it! Its a new thing and they need time to adjust too. A bit of play time in their room with the "new" bed set up will help. They see the bed there and realize its not much different than their crib was.

Taking your time really does help the situation. Adriana showed signs she was ready for a big girl bed and I watched for those signs. That really helped us decide when it was a good time for us and for her. She's fairly good with adjusting and this was a big milestone! We will have to watch how the next few days go for her in her "new" bed. I think this was the perfect time for the change. A key point to know whether your child is ready for the transition is if they climb out of their crib - not just once but several times. This becomes a safety hazard and necessary to change to a toddler bed. It also means you might have the challenge of keeping them in their bed at night. You may find yourself repeatedly going in their room to take the toys away and put them back into bed. Remember to keep your patience as much as you can!


There's no set time when you have to replace your child's crib with a regular or toddler bed, although most children make the switch sometime between ages 1 1/2 and 3 1/2

First Time Flyer to Newfoundland

Adriana finally went on an airplane!! As nervous as I was, that little girl proved to me that she could totally handle it. It was about 3hrs of flying and she sat with me for 2hrs of that. The other hour was going back to visit her Grandad, Ian and Uncle Gary. She walked around the aisle saying Hiya to everyone. One person even stopped her to play Candy Crush!! She was a hit on the plane going there. Of course we got the looks from people (omg a toddler on the plane - sitting beside me - oh no!) Those same people were thanking us for a pleasant trip when it was time to get off. They were just as surprised as I was by her ability to handle flying better than her Mommy!
We were well prepared too. I had Finding Nemo on my phone for her to watch, some new toys, her markers and colouring books, plus some snacks to keep her occupied. The movie helped her a lot to stay seated on the way up and down. We also had a window seat - her Aunt Jill and Uncle Pat were sat beside us so when we did have to get out, it was pretty easy. I really cannot complain about how well she did flying for the first time.

Here are some recommendations I have for other Mommies/Daddies flying with a toddler:

• Know your kid and be prepared. You know when they need a nap, if they're easily distracted, hungry often, restless, etc. I had to use Gravol on the way back for Adriana because I knew she would need a nap but would be distracted by all the new faces. It worked like a charm and I got in some cuddle time while she slept on me.
• Movies. They don't always show the best movies for kids. I used my phone and was able to lock the screen so she could hold it herself and not press any buttons. She loved the freedom of holding the phone by herself.
• Pacifier. Not all kids do well with taking off and landing so be prepared. If they're not willing to snack all the way up/down then hand them a suckie and blankie until you get up in the air or on the ground. This helped keep Adriana calm when we were landing since it was a bouncing ride!
• Markers and Colouring books. This really helped her sit in one spot! I made sure to bring activities that would keep her calm and when all else fails - showing her pictures of doggies really helped!
• Be flexible. Remember they are toddlers and are probably not going to sit in a seat for the entire time. Especially with new people around. They may even try your patience but you have to treat it the same way anywhere. Don't let the stares get to you - they don't know you or your life! Smile and keep going :D

We definitely had a great time in Newfoundland!

Eighteen Months and Counting

Adriana went for her 18mth check up this weekend and - of course - she did AMAZING!! This little girl stands at 85cm and weighs 26lbs (i don't trust that scale though.....) She's always been at 95th percentile for pretty much everything. That's not even the best part. Wait for it. Adriana had to get one needle and she did not even cry. Not even once. No whine. Nothing! She did so well, it almost mad Mommy cry!! I love her.

If you're wondering about this picture, well, I had to keep her occupied for over an hour in the waiting room. The doctor's office has maybe 5 kids books and 12583265763243209568547 pamphlets on old age care and disability. She did well during the long wait but it was expected for a Saturday afternoon.

Our fun didn't stop there. For the rest of Saturday we were at my parents house so she could go swimming in her pool. She literally spent the rest of the day in her pool - no nap. I was expecting this cranky, whining, tantrum throwing little girl. I consider myself very very lucky. She was in and out of her pool, taking time to lay down in it too! But nothing melted my heart more than seeing twin boys and Adriana giving them kisses!!

Meet Lucas. He is one of the twin boys that are just 5mths old and I had the great pleasure of finally meeting this weekend!! No relation just family friends from so many years ago that just happened to grow up over night. Loved these two little guys!! Carter, his brother, was so relaxed looking around at everything - including my crazy child running around without a nap. They were mostly looking around at everything!

Sunday was a great house warming get together for my cousins Chris and Kendra! Congrats on your lovely home :) Just need a hot tub in that backyard and some babies in those rooms!! lol <3 <3 <3

How to Introduce your Dog to a Baby

This is strictly my personal experience. I read many articles online, many books, and offered advice from friends/ family.

If you don't know yet - My boyfriend and I have had a Rottweiler named Tyson. He was 7yrs old by the time our daughter, Adriana was born and had never been around other babies. Ever. So we knew we had to work on this as soon as possible. After we found out I was pregnant, I started researching "How to introduce a dog to a newborn" and anything else that was similar to that. Call me crazy but I actually sat my dog down and gave him the "talk" about a new baby on his/her way. I actually talk to my dog a lot - he's a very loving animal, despite his intimidating breed - he was my baby boy.

I never ever pushed my dog away. In fact, I would encourage him to come lay his head on my belly in hopes the baby would kick him. She never did. I would lay with him for hours in the bed or on the couch, watching TV or reading a book. Every time I bought something for the baby, I would let him sniff it out and explain that it was for the baby. He was able to sniff out almost anything that was going to be hers. Blankets, clothes, diapers, teddy bears...whatever! This allowed Tyson to get used to the smell of the baby without the baby actually being there. We even set up the crib while he watched from the doorway. He sniffed that out too.

I always find this part of the story amazing....On my due date, my waters actually broke and I remember the night before very clearly. Tyson usually sleeps at the foot of the bed on the floor or in the living room. The night before he slept right beside me, on the floor. I actually stepped on him when I went to get up in the morning! He was so close that his head was under my nightstand and some of his back was under the frame of the bed. I thought it was weird because he doesn't usually lay there, but it wasn't until later when we went to the hospital that it all started to make sense. He knew.

When I got out of bed the first time and made my way to the bathroom, he was right outside the door waiting for me. Then I sat in the glider to relieve some back pain. He sat so close he was literally on my foot. I went back to the bathroom to run a shower and he sat on the floor until I was done. Then I went to lay back in bed and he returned to his spot right beside me on the floor. To this day, I am convinced he knew what was happening. He knew the baby was on her way and was trying to comfort me by being by my side the whole time I was at home. If that isn't dog love....then I don't know what is!

After the baby was born, my boyfriend took her original receiving blanket from the hospital and brought it home. He showed it to the dog and laid it on the table for him to sniff it out. Apparently, he did for a few minutes and then went to lay down. This was a good sign that he was used to the smell at least. My boyfriend went back late that night to keep Tyson company - we wanted to make sure he was calm when we brought the baby home. The next day, late morning, we walked through the door with our baby girl in her car seat. Inevitably, Tyson was excited to see me and very curious about this little tiny person wrapped in blankets. My boyfriend held Adriana, who was still strapped in her car seat, while I said hello to my baby boy. Once he had a few minutes of my time, he went straight over to the car seat. Sniffing like crazy, while she slept away. Then he slowly stuck out his tongue and gave her a soft lick on the face. No word of a lie - I had tears in my eyes. I think we were both relieved by his reaction towards her. Not a growl, not a huff, or anything...he loves her.

For the next few days, we were very careful with them together still. I mean, she was a newborn and he's a hundred pound dog! A few times while I held her wrapped in her blankets, Tyson was allowed on the bed while my boyfriend watched him. He was always very curious about her; wanted to be near her with everyone else. At night when she made a noise, he would be right by her crib whimpering because he couldn't see inside, couldn't see her. Very cute. He would give her soft licks on her face or her feet. He was gentle with her. Very different than what everyone thought would happen.

My parents have a long haired chihuahua, named Miko. Like Tyson, he is my mom's baby boy. He was NOT ready for the baby and even to this day has a hard time with her around. He literally runs and hides, especially since she started to crawl around. We try to hold him near her and let her pat him softly but it doesn't work. Miko literally shakes and claws to be away from her. Small dog syndrome?
My sister has a black lab puppy named Tango. She's a hyper dog but does well with Adriana considering she's still learning. Only one problem: Tango likes to lick - a lot. That's all fine and dandy except she does it in her ears. Could potentially be a problem if Adriana gets ear infections. Still, I give her credit for the fact she mostly ignores the baby - too busy running around with her toys, bone, or to get my sister's attention.

Best advice I can give is make sure you allow your pup as much time as possible to warm up to someone new being around. Make sure they can be gentle, have their tail tugged at, ears pulled, and paws touched. These are good starter points. Don't forget to introduce the smell of a baby, use the word "baby" a lot to associate her things.

"That's the Baby's crib"
"The baby is on the way"

Give your pooch some time. Be confident in them. and never, EVER, push them away when they try to get close to the baby. Include them in that time, a little bit at first and more as they deserve. Dogs just want attention and love from the same people as before the little bundle of joy came along. It's different for them - one day its just him and two people and then there's a baby. I was always confident in Tyson. I knew how loving he really is and how he would love her just the same. He very gentle with Adriana and she with him. It's crazy to see them play together - while sitting in her highchair, she'll stick her little hand out with some food on it and Tyson will lick it off. She even goes one step further and tries to play with his tongue! He is not bothered by it at all, he thinks its a game while he tries to lick her fingers. Not once getting frustrated. I love our rottweiler. He will be 8 years old in a few months and although he doesn't have much time left...I hope she really gets to play with him like we really want her to.