A Maybe-Milestone?

I trimmed Noah's hair today. Those of you who know Noah must be going, "What hair??" It's true, my son has been notoriously bald, which Brendan and I think is hilarious and adorable. However, it's also the reason why I have been reluctant to cut the weird wisps of long "old man hair" around his ears, along with his pointy bangs. Did I really want to cut off what little covering my guy did have?

Somehow it feels like it should be a more momentous, ceremonious occasion. I guess it's just hair. His first bestie has had something like 5 haircuts or more already! Anyway, while he was drinking and playing with his magnets on the fridge, I just did it. Luckily he doesn't have enough hair for me to give him a bad haircut, so it was really no big deal.

I feel so weird about it though! He looks exactly the same, but maybe the old wives tale will work in his favour and the trim will make him grow some more hair. Oh my sweet, bald, little man! In almost 17 months, we have used only one and a half bottles of baby shampoo. Thanks for saving us money Noah! ;)

Happy weekend everybody!

This is it. That's what he needed cut, 20 hairs. lololol!

Happily launching himself down our hilly street

Baby Bottom Wash Comparisons

In the world of babies there really is a product for everything. While many people (myself included) scoff at the seemingly millions of things marketed towards parents, I still totally fall prey to some things. It's a toss up as to whether or not things are necessary or superfluous, so it all boils down to choice. Ultimately, at some point everyone knows what kind of parent/person you want to be, and you and the people around you should respect that.

In our house, we don't bathe Small Human every day. Unless he asks to have bath time, or he's been rolling around in sand, or rubbing food in his hair, we just wash his hands and face. There is no way I am going to wash his bum after every poopy diaper but it is vital to me that he remain clean and fresh and comfortable!

To achieve this we have been using no rinse, soapless washes. Noah's Auntie Natalie gave us a big Mustela gift basket before he was born which included their awesome Physio Bebe No Rinse Cleansing Fluid. It has been our go-to for the last 16 and a half months now. It works well, comes in pump form, and is free of parabens, pthalates, and phenoxyethanols. It's bloody expensive though, at $14.50 regular price for 10oz. I can sometimes find it with a 20% discount, but not always. Yeesh.

Then my very beloved Honest Company came out with their version called the Soothing Bottom Wash! I knew we had to try it at least once, and I can honestly say (pun totally intended) that I am pleased with it. It's $9.95 for 5oz though, which puts it at a much higher price point than the Mustela, BUT it can be used diluted with 10 parts distilled water to 1 part Bottom Wash. Not bad if you actually do it. For the sake of the comparison I am using it undiluted.

Initial thoughts on the Honest Soothing Bottom Wash: It's unfortunately really awesome. It makes Noah's bum clean and nice smelling afterwards. The wash comes in spray form, and just one spritz makes him smell like marshmallows. From poop to marshmallows, I kid you not. It's also aloe-based and contains a number of non-scary, identifiable ingredients.

Both washes are hypoallergenic, suitable for the face and hands as well, but the Honest wash is also supposed to be great for cleaning cuts and scrapes. I think I may be leaning more towards the Honest Soothing Bottom Wash, simply for the fact that I can dilute it and get more product out of it in the long run.

The Perfect Nap Recipe

When Small Human was a Tiny Human, he was a nap champion. He could sleep anywhere, anytime: in a noisy restaurant, in a sun filled park, on someone's floor. Now that he's a toddler, nap times have become a bit more finicky.

Most days I can get anywhere from 1 and a half hours to 3 hours out of him. The norm is 2. It has fluctuated a lot in the last couple of weeks, which is making me a bit bonkers. He always has one crappy 30 minute nap every week.

I have discovered though, that it all boils down to a special nap recipe, which sounds ridiculous but is totally true (in my head).

Noah's Perfect Nap Recipe:

1. He must be well fed and hydrated, but not overfed.

2. He must have a bone dry diaper before falling asleep.

3. He must have pooped twice before nap time.

4. He needs to have run around like a hyper human for an hour.

Pretty simple right? The only thing I don't have control over is the two poops, but it's the most vital one in my opinion. That darned second poop always wakes him up early, cause who can sleep with poop in their pants really?

I'm sorry if anyone hates poop talk, or if you thought this was a post about getting your kid to nap for a long time. This is my recipe for nap time success though, I hope it can help you achieve yours!

However, the advice I can offer is with the transition from two morning naps to one big toddler nap. The only advice I got was to "just cut out the morning nap" which is great if you have a one year old who does exactly what you say 100% of the time.

What no one taught me was the key to doing this is in 15 minute increments. Keep pushing the nap by 15 minutes, until your toddler is sleeping in the afternoon. It's a gradual, non-scary change that is very achievable. This one helpful tidbit has proved to be invaluable.

Hope everyone survives Hump Day!

He chose this flower from the store, himself.

Our Long Weekend In Pictures

This weekend wasn't particularly exciting or event-filled, but it was easy and relaxing, which is good too! We actually ended up finding the magnetic letter A under the fridge, which was a load off my OCD mind, but then he lost two of his magnetic blocks. Aaaarrrgghhh! I found them during nap time though: one in each of my rain boots. Always check those boots!

We did a lot of playing and eating and walking. Brendan worked and I lounged on the couch and watched reruns of What Not To Wear. We really lived it up this long weekend!

Have a great week everyone, it's the last one of May. xoxo

Enjoying his new magnetic block set while wearing his beach robe

Tunnel fun

Serious bagel eating

His lippies drive me crazy, I just wanna squish him so hard when he drinks from a straw!

Watching my Habs lose to the rangers. Not over yet!

Kid loves plants

Noah the gardener

Family shadow selfie :)

Mild OCD

I'm pretty sure I suffer from some very mild form of obsessive compulsive disorder. I do not in any way mean to diminish or trivialize people who are truly incapacitated by OCD, as I have never been professionally diagnosed.

I can't handle mess; all the labels in my house have to be facing out towards me; clutter and disorganization make me feel sick to my stomach; misplacing items can drive me mad; and even if I have an injury, I will make sure things are clean. I vacuumed the house and really hurt myself soon after my C-section cause I was going to lose it if I couldn't clean. Sometimes I even feel like I can't breathe when Noah's area at the table is covered in crumbs and peanut butter after breakfast. I never leave the house if I haven't picked up and put away all the toys or washed the dishes.

Definitely obsessive compulsive.

Now that you know this about me, you can imagine how insane I went yesterday when I couldn't for the life of me, find the brand new stick of sunscreen I had just used that morning. I spent three hours searching every nook, cranny, and crevice in our tiny apartment. Nothing. I even asked my husband to check his bag at work and he discovered a plethora of alphabet blocks and a lion teether, but no sunscreen. He did however, mention that he took out the recycling this morning. Aha! So during Noah's nap I went out to the recycling dumpster to dive for that stupid stick of sunscreen and lo and behold, there it was buried in a sea of bubble wrap.

I thought I was done with the exhaustive searching until Noah decided to lose his letter A magnet. I searched high, I searched low, I made Brendan do an independent search. We used flashlights and overturned everything that could be overturned. Nothing. There was even a breakfast interrogation, but he wouldn't spill.

Needless to say, I feel yucky and crazy. I have to kick this feeling cause it's just going to keep happening throughout his childhood. Parenting never ceases to surprise me.

Have a great Memorial Day weekend! And a great weekend for the non-Americans! Follow me on Instagram for weekend picture updates. :)

Sand box play date with Mary & Wiley!

Mommy Daycare

I now know that I can absolutely handle two kids on a daily basis. Last Friday I had the pleasure of watching Noah's friends, twins girls Beatrice and Vivian for a few hours. Oh man, it was so much fun, a little bit stressful at times but nothing I couldn't handle.

Strangely, the stress wasn't from disasters happening, but from my inexperience with making another child wait. Right now, Noah gets my full attention and it's easy breezy. Having three kids the same age though, felt a bit like I was getting swarmed by hungry squirrels at the park. Literally. I made the mistake of taking out a food packet and I thought a brawl was going to ensue. Lesson learned, wait until everyone is seated and strapped in before showing the toddlers food!

Another good thing to know is that you will most likely get a variety of personalities. Just because you have one hyper kid doesn't mean all your kids will be hyper, just like having one calm kid doesn't guarantee you will have a calm clan. Bea was so great at independent play, happy as can be just doing her own thing with toys and books, while Viv and Noah duked it out over who got to sit in the chair or who was holding the coolest toy.

It wasn't for very long, but I can't believe I was alone with three beans under two in my house! Once Noah went down for his nap it was the easiest thing on earth, which is why I am convinced I can handle two now.

What a great morning and afternoon! The consensus was that everyone loves dancing to music, reading books, and pretending to talk on the phone. I took a bazillion pictures because it was like a cute explosion. So glad Noah's got so many great friends that he's known since babyhood!

New Occupational Hazard

We all know that kids are goobery and great at making their parents sick, but I have just discovered a new gross thing that comes with having a munchkin: Zits.

I have a bunch of new, yucky pimples, but for a good reason. Small Human is super affectionate and loves to hug and kiss and snuggle my face. It is the sweetest and cutest thing in the world, but sooooo awful for momie's skin! It's a very small price to pay, I suppose, but it's something that never would have occurred to me before.

There is no way that I am going to say no to Noah kisses or to when he wants to point out all my features. He is learning and he is my sweet little babe! But I don't want pimples. I don't know what to do, I guess I'm stuck. I wash my face with a Clarisonic every night before bed, and I use a witch hazel toner, but I need some kind of natural anti-bacterial action too or I fear I may start to look like a teenager with 35 year old wrinkles.

We wash our hands all the time but I think goober-cooties are just completely unavoidable. Ah, the glamorous mommy life! I think I'm going to have to pay a visit to my local hipster health food store. ;)

Happy Hump Day!

My adorable germ carrier, reaching for my face of course.

Parent Club

As much as we don't want to admit it, there is a magical divide that occurs when friends start having babies. It made me feel wistful until I realized that it didn't mean we would necessarily turn into hermits that chose to procreate. There is of course, a period when life is crazy and it feels like a tiny human has taken over your lives, but that soon passes. You are still you, you just require more accoutrements when you travel.

However, you quickly realize that sometimes (not always!), going out with your single friends with your kid in tow can prove to be a bit stressful and often embarrassing. You end up doing a lot of apologizing for your baby's whining/screaming/crying or any other inappropriate behaviour; your conversations will absolutely get interrupted or altogether stopped; you will be distracted; and even if your friends are sweet and understanding, they will never completely comprehend. The worst is when people start talking about how much they really don't want children. You can do whatever you want with your lives, but there is such a thing as tact!

This is why so many parents join The Club. It seems that parents tend to gravitate towards one another, probably as a survival instinct. It feels comfortable to be with your own tribe, people who have gone through similar experiences and are of the same mindset. You don't feel the need to explain yourself or feel ashamed, because they get it.

We had a lovely dinner with friends on Saturday with three other couples that had one kid each. There was a commonality that offered a sense of comfort. Whining was usual, screaming was expected, toddler begging was commonplace. No one had to explain themselves or apologize, this was regular life, going on around us!

It was so nice. Then everyone's kiddos got cranky at the same time and that signaled the end to our evening. It didn't feel sad that we had to make a quick exit because Noah turned into a tired beast while the party continued without us. In other words, we didn't feel like losers.

Hooray for mommy & daddy friends! What a relief.

16 Month Favourites

My Small Human is 16 months old. He understand things, follows commands, and has a sense of humour. He is a real person that I can walk down the street with. How did this happen?

He is also an outdoorsman like his Dada! He gets really cranky and out of sorts if we don't go out once or twice a day. He lets me know it's time to go out by bringing me my shoes and trying to put them on my feet, and then bringing me his shoes to put on his little feet. As if this wasn't hint enough, he then stands in front of the door and points to it. Cracks me up.

These are a few of our favourite things at the moment:

1. Sleep Shorts

As soon as the weather got warmer, I knew I needed to get a few of these sleep shorts from The GAP. I waited for them to go on sale so I got them for between $10 and $15. They are so cute and offer enough coverage to keep him both cool and warm overnight.

2. Peek-a-Boo Who?


I don't know what it is about this lift the flap book, but Noah is obsessed with it. He acts like he's studying it for an exam, but then periodically shrieks and giggles at it and says "Atdit" which we think means "What's this?". So. Cute.

3. Timberland Closed-Toe Sandals

Now that summer is coming and spring has been just lovely, I knew I wanted to invest in a pair of waterproof, closed-toe sandals for Noah. This way they can also be worn in the water, and I don't have to stress out about my active and adventurous monkey stubbing his toes in regular sandals. I am speaking from personal experience from my own childhood. ;)

4. Crayons

My little guy loves to colour! He even has a couple different techniques. It's a bit tricky though cause you can't just leave him with a whole box of crayons or he will either eat them, throw them across the room, stomp on them, or start colouring things like the refrigerator or the couch. One crayon in each hand seems to make him really happy for now, and we're still teaching him that they are not for munching on. Fun with supervision!

5. Bandana Bibs From Etsy

Noah's been using bandana bibs since he was 8 months old, which is when most of his teeth started to come in. They are in high rotation again because it has been drool city up in here, presumably from molars coming in, or because he likes to stick things in his mouth so it's constantly open. Either way, they are a cute and stylish way to keep his neck and chest dry and are a total must have at our house.

We are doing a bit better with the tantrums because somehow, we are both getting more patient with each other. I'm trying to understand what it is that he is trying to say, and he is trying his best to convey his message. It doesn't always work out but we're getting there. Sleeping has been great, no more night terrors, and Brendan and I are starting to wrap our heads around the possibility of a toddler bed. (!!!) Momie's not ready though!

Have a great week everybody!

Caution: Do Not Fall Asleep

This warning doesn't just apply to when you are operating heavy machinery. If you fall asleep on the couch while your toddler is awake, you could get awakened in bad ways. Wanna know how I was roused from my accidental afternoon snooze? With pain, a bloody nose, and shrieking from everybody involved. I think I was only out for 20 minutes while my Small Human was safely and independently playing and reading, until he thought it would be fun to jump on momie's chest while jamming a finger up her nostril.

I felt terror from being surprise attacked by 25 pounds of human, and pain from a sharp little finger being shoved really far up into my nose, and knobbly knees digging into my rib cage. There was blood (me), crying (me and Noah), and swearing (me). Everyone's fine though, nothing a bit of snuggling and snacks couldn't fix, but lesson learned!

May you all have a happy Friday and happy weekend. xoxo

Never A Dull Moment

Tuesday morning I assumed I would wake up all recovered from the germy cold I had over the weekend, but I was wrong. My healing sore throat had somehow renewed itself, probably from lack of sleep due to bingeing on Orange Is The New Black until 2am, oops. I was so tired but couldn't sit down to have a cup of coffee until noon. NOON.

That is usually when Noah starts to wind down for nap time. He likes to relax on my lap and fiddle with a toy or just lie back on me while I type a blog post or answer emails. Yesterday morning though, I got surprise attacked by a hyper boy as I was taking a sip of coffee. I ended up with coffee all over my hair, face, body, the chair, table and carpet. I was not pleased, but luckily it wasn't hot and not a single drop of it landed on Noah.

Whatever, spills happen and you move on. We went out to run errands later which was fine at first, but then Noah proceeded to throw tantrums at every place we went to. We're talking red-in-the-face-from-screaming-so-hard-tantrums. I don't know when I will be able to go out in public again without getting embarrassed 3 or more times a day.

Then he had custody of my keys for the last time ever, because he chucked them so hard that they almost fell into a sewer grate. After that, I guess he was hot because he started to remove his clothing and throw it from his stroller as we walked, one article at a time. Arrghh!!

This is why I don't bother with the gym, I do plenty of squatting, bending, reaching, pushing, pulling and cardio from going up and down hills and running after Noah.

For those of you who think I only post fake, shiny, happy pictures of our life, here's a very real one for you, complete with makeshift bookshelf barricades and mess. I am not a morning person, especially not when I'm sick. He looks very sweet giving me a blanket, but soon after he tried to put the pot lid on my face.

Don't worry, those are shorts, I assure you. 

Sun Protection

I have no idea if other mothers are like this but I am a bit obsessed with protecting my kid from the effects of the sun. I am aware that the sun offers the incredibly helpful nutrients like Vitamin D that humans need, but I am also aware of its harmful effects. (sunburn, damage, cancer, death)

Even though I have a lot of melanin and my skin tans in the blink of an eye, I still use sunscreen. I use SPF 15 on my face daily, and SPF 30 on any exposed skin, usually my arms, hands, shoulders, ears and tops of my feet. Apparently, anything over SPF 30 doesn't really protect you more, the key is re-application.

For the Small Human I use a natural mineral sunscreen of SPF 30, as well as a sunhat that blocks UVA & UVB rays. Mostly I worry about him because he is a baby but also because I don't know whose skin he has. Even though I tan very easily and do not burn (even without sunscreen), his daddy can burn just from a quick walk through the park in bright summer sun.

In any case, we are very safe, especially now that the sun has come back to Seattle. Everyone thinks it rains all the time, but that is just our winter/spring weather. On a sunny day I have to draw all our curtains and blinds in the apartment, or it will feel like the house is going to burst into flames. We even have shades on the balcony as an added heat deterrent. Yes, in Seattle.

This is what Noah and I use, I buy them on Amazon:

Mother's Day Weekend In Pictures

Our little goober Noah made us sick this weekend. Brendan and I both have sore throats and headaches, but that didn't stop us from celebrating. We're used to getting germified now, which is good I think? At some point I'm hoping our immune systems are significantly strengthened. Please say that's a thing.

Anyway, here was our weekend in pictures, minus the runny noses and the blood that Noah splotched all over the cream coloured couch from the finger that he pricked. (he is fine, you can't even see where it is now)

I had a great second Mother's Day, it was even more fun than my first one. As an extended treat, Noah slept in until 9:30 this morning. Thank you baby!

Wearing my jacket

Couple of sickies

Noah's excited face

Like the movie Notting Hill!

Hi five!

Checking out the green house

My silly Maliumpkin

Have A Wonderful Mother's Day!

What's the best way to have a great Mother's Day?

1. Don't have any expectations. Don't let rain or the fact that people forgot stop your celebrating. You earned this day!

2. Live in the moment and breathe. Tantrums and mess happen, no matter what day it is.

3. If you want to do something specific, do it. Sometimes us moms gotta plan it ourselves. No biggie!

4. Enjoy the reason you get to celebrate Mother's Day and snuggle the babes you've been blessed with. xo

This mama is going to enjoy some time at the salon getting her hair done, and then getting a permanent symbol to commemorate her family. :)

Follow me on Instagram for daily and weekend shenanigan updates! Have a great weekend and Happy Mother's day to all of you hardworking mamas out there. Thanks for doing all that you do, especially my mom who has put up with me for 35 years. ;)

Once again for the last minute types: Last Minute Ideas For Partners With Lots On Their Minds :)

Energizer Baby

If I had about one quarter of Noah's energy, I would be set. If only there was some kind of synergistic bond between a mother and her children that allowed you to function as a shared energy unit. After awhile I feel like a zombie when I'm chasing him around town, and he looks like he could keep going forever. Pretty ironic for a child who's name means "rest" and "peace".

Wednesday was especially bad energetic. I pushed his nap to 1:30, but instead he napped for 5 minutes in the car and then for 30 minutes at home in his crib. THIRTY MINUTES. That's about two hours too short. My poor little guy was such a cranky asshole. So off to the park we went. I was hoping to unleash him and he could run around until he passed out but no such luck.

Instead, he ran through fields, attempted to climb trees, flirted with everyone who stopped to talk to him and tell him he was cute, chased squirrels and dogs, collected rocks, tasted rocks, collected twigs, tasted twigs, blew dandelion fluff, climbed up hills, rolled around in the grass and leaves, climbed in and out of his stroller repeatedly, and yelped happily. He never got tired. He ran around all morning in my friend's backyard too.

I was exhausted even with an afternoon coffee, while Noah managed it with virtually no nap. Did he go to sleep early though? Nope, he didn't go down until 8pm. I have so much respect for people with 2+ kids, how do you do it without cocaine?! (Don't take cocaine) Hopefully tomorrow will be normal, cause frankly, it just feels unhealthy to go so long without sleep when you're a tiny, growing, ball of energy.

Before he fell asleep for the night, he reminded me why I love him so much by lifting his head up and aiming a big kiss right for momie's cheek. Well played monsieur bébé, well played. Happy Thursday to all, and GO HABS GO!

Last Minute Mother's Day Ideas for Partners

FYI, Mother's Day is this coming Sunday. For many people, this will have either slipped your mind or just completely escaped you. No big deal. Not all moms want a physical material thing anyway, but an acknowledgement of their awesomeness. So it's vital that you do not diminish that, but rather give it fanfare.

Here are a few things that I would personally be happy to receive!

1. Child-Free Time

If you don't have the luxury of doting grandparents, aunts, and uncles nearby, this is like the mythical unicorn of motherhood. You hear that it's beautiful and wonderful, but is seemingly non-existent.

2. Starbucks Gift Card (or the like)

Gift cards seem like a cop out, but not if they will be put to good use. For me, getting a latte is like going to get my daily dose of sanity. Plus it's delicious.

3. Groceries & Dinner Without Consultation

I think this is pretty self-explanatory. As the homemaker and primary cook, I get really tired/bored of thinking of what my family should eat next. A break from this would be totally welcome.

4. Anything At All Made By My Baby

I know that I can look forward to many years of weird and wonky Mother's Day presents from my Small Human, but I don't have many of those yet, so I would love this. (Framed would be even better!)

5. Spa or Salon Treatment

Anyone would enjoy some pampering or getting a fresh new haircut or dye for spring. Seems so simple, but is a really nice gesture. This is a double whammy of awesome, cause it presumably also includes child-free time.

6. Just Remembering Her

A simple, heartfelt and genuine "Happy Mother's Day to the best mother to my child" would suffice, followed by a big smooch. :)

Those Stinkin' Hormones

On Monday, I was the most impatient, angry person that walked the earth. When I feel like this it's usually because of hormones, but unfortunately even though I can correctly identify the cause, it doesn't make me able to control the situation any better.

Since I work in the home, I no longer subject office co-workers, architects, fellow servers, fellow actors, or directors to my surly wrath. Now it's my baby son, which is way, way worse. He needs to be nurtured and loved and made to feel safe. Instead, I become strict mommy who is extra mean when he does something he shouldn't be. Come to think of it, I guess I did this to my architects too. ;) (The Perrier Incident of 2010 comes to mind)

It has been a real test of strength and character, because I love him so much. I would rather be here with him, helping him grow into the best person he can be than receiving accolades as an actor, or tying my worth to a paycheck like I used to. This may be the hardest thing I have ever undertaken because I have never loved a job so much I would die for it, kill for it, or throw myself in front of a speeding truck for it. Nothing has ever been this important to me.

This is what I think about when I'm a raging, hormonal beast of a woman, and you know what? It really helps me. Yes, sometimes I feel like I would rather shoot myself in the head than sing the Itsy Bitsy Spider for the 75th time in 24 hours, or want to strangle Noah when he repeatedly tips the stroller to the ground to make a loud banging sound, but the storm can go as quickly as it came. In a split second, I could have a very sweet little boy who loves to give Momie kisses and make me laugh with his silly dance moves.

Hardest and most fulfilling thing I have ever done.

Not So Happy When It Rains

I wish weekends were always bright and sunny and warm. Unfortunately, this past weekend's weather sucked, and therefore so did my mood. I was tired and headachey all day Saturday, yet still managed to vacuum and do laundry, clean out the rabbits' kennels, and chase a whiny boy who was not pleased with being cooped up for the whole day.

Small Human and I were supposed to go to the food trucks in our park and eat all the foods, but it was pouring rain for the whole day. Every time I thought it was stopping, we'd go out and get soaked, so I gave up and ordered pizza after our third try. Noah enjoyed our impromptu pizza party though, which was fun. He fed momie and babbled and shrieked like a happy little man.

Then later that night he broke a favourite beer glass, and at 11pm woke up with gas and nightmares and didn't go back to sleep until 1am. He did not sleep in the next morning either. Blerg.

Sunday was better, there was a bit less rain and I got to pamper myself at the salon. It was time to cut off some of my 26" long hair. I only chopped off 6" so it's still plenty long! It'll be nice to not get strangled by it when I'm sleeping. ;)

We got to have a bit of outside time before the rain returned though, which always helps. And in true Seattle fashion, the sun (or at least the drier weather) came back for Monday. You have a horrible sense of humour Emerald City, but nevertheless, happy Monday friends!

I love how he looks teeny with his dada...

...and so big with me!

My new hairdo!