Toddler Jerks

This is a really horrible thing to say, but I have come to the conclusion that many toddlers are jerks. I like my friends' sweet kids, and a lot of times I meet very kind children in the street or on the playground, but I meet at least one assholey toddler every single day.

Every time I bring Noah to the playground, there's some psychopath toddler who is mean to him. They'll entice him to come over and play, but then push him away. Or they'll follow him around and try to take whatever it was Noah was trying to play with. Or scream bloody murder when Noah pats them on the back in the friendly way that he does to everyone he meets. (He's just like his Lolo!) Today I met one that angrily insisted I pay more attention to him than to my own son.

Who are these children and where the heck are their parents?! If Noah was behaving this way, he would get the crazy Filipino mom stink eye from me, along with a stern talking to about respecting other people, no matter what their age. Basically, I would know if my kid was trying to step on your kid's hand on the stairs.

I tend not to leave Noah alone on the play structures because he's still little and doesn't understand the consequences of falling from a great height yet. The moms of these other children can often be found sitting there daydreaming or with their eyes on their phones. I'm not saying I don't use my phone when I'm around Noah, but in a playground where playing well with others and safety are main concerns, I am pretty present.

Another horribly surprising thing I learned about deciding to have children, is that I would be reliving my childhood along with them. When someone is deliberately mean to my Small Human, I feel a fire start to burn inside me. It's a fire that is ignited by the memories of every childhood bully I've ever encountered, which makes me feel like I'm a lunatic because I'm supposed to be the levelheaded grownup now. I want to protect Noah from all the bad in the world, but I have to remember to let him live his life. However, you can bet I'm going to equip him with all the tools necessary to deal with bullies.

I'm just glad he's still young enough that I can whisk him away from the "bullies" (regular ol' toddlers) before he gets hurt. He's such a sweet little boy, this is going to be tough for Momie, oy vey!

The hills of Seattle are great for tiring out toddlers! (and their mommies)

It Isn't Thankless

When you're a mother, sometimes it starts to feel a little thankless. It kinda feels like what you do is invisible, like you're a superhero. People tend to take "superheros" for granted, and mothers certainly don't get thanked. The truth is, a million things get done, under duress usually. Boo-boos get kissed away, tears magically forgotten, laundry folded, toys put away, meals made, messes cleaned up, problems solved.

Obviously, we don't do it for the glory! There's no red carpet, no accolades, no one cares. I don't need a medal, but it's hard especially if you're a person who's used to getting praised. I've always been a hard worker, and I was used to feeling proud of my achievements but it's very different now. Now the alleged payoff is in the future, in my child.

I realized that you can't think of it that way though. The payoff is actually constant, but sometimes you're too tired or busy to see it. Also, sometimes you literally cannot see it. Until you do. Then it's one of those things that you can never unsee, in a good way. You understand all over again how and why you are able to do all the things you do every day, and it's magical.

Seeing this picture was all the thanks I needed. He loves me, and it isn't all for naught because I do it for him. I'm going to turn my blog into a book for you one day, my Noah, so that you can see how much effort I put into being your mommy, how deeply I cared about your well being and development, how crazy you drove me, and how embarrassing for you that your mother loves you this much. You'll understand when you have your own Small Human one day, but even then you'll still be my baby.

May you all have a wonderful week, and thank you mommy and daddy for doing all that you did for me.

Later that same day, he peed through his overfilled diaper while sitting on my lap
(I was stupidly holding out for bed time), he looked up at me and said, "Uh ohhhhh".

EWG's Skin Deep

Last year when my blog was brand new, I briefly mentioned a tool I loved that was really valuable and useful to our family. The EWG or Environmental Working Group is dedicated to providing consumers with accurate information about what is in the products that we use on our bodies every day. They developed a database called Skin Deep that allows anyone to search their favourite brands to find out their hazard level to humans. It's easy to use and read: 0-2 is low level, 3-6 is moderate, and 7-10 is high hazard.

At first I was skeptical, but when I researched the lip balm brands that were giving me really bad allergic reactions, they all scored high hazard levels on Skin Deep! From then on I have trusted them, especially with Noah's skincare. The skin is our largest organ and readily absorbs everything we put on it, which goes directly into our bloodstreams. I don't want to live life in constant fear and worry, but I would rather be safe than sorry. We all have the right to make our own choices.

I got really annoyed yesterday because I thought I'd pick up a Neutrogena Baby Faces sunscreen as a backup, but when I looked up the SPF 60 one, it had a hazard level of 7. That's pretty high and considering it's for babies, I find it incredibly irresponsible of Neutrogena. They've got lower SPF levels that score a 4 on Skin Deep in the same line, so it's always good to be aware. I returned the tube.

Here are some of the products I have meticulously researched and trust for my Small Human and myself:

1. Babo Botanicals (0-2 score)

ALL of Babo Botanicals' products are safe and non hazardous, from their diaper rash cream to their sunscreen. They're a great company that says they are baby friendly and actually are, fancy that.

2. Eucerin Smoothing Repair Dry Skin Lotion (2 score)

This is what I trust on my own finicky skin every day, and I would feel safe using it in pregnancy too.

3. Honest Products (0-3 score)

I know I talk about The Honest Company constantly, but I really dig them, from their safe, low hazard products to their simple yet cute packaging. I just wish their shipping to Canada wasn't so expensive so that my Canadian friends can partake without spending an arm and a leg! Noah uses their toothpaste but I prefer the fresh feeling of Toms of Maine for myself.

4. Lavanila The Healthy Deodorant (4 score)

I never used to wear deodorant regularly before I had Noah because I didn't have any underarm body odour. I think something changed in my body chemistry though, because I went without deodorant last weekend and the results were really not pleasant. There are several healthy aluminum-free, paraben-free options out there, but none as yummy smelling and cute as Lavanila. They use lemon and tea tree oil to combat bacteria, and they smell lovely. It works for me, but I've heard from several friends that reapplication is sometimes necessary. Luckily they also have a travel sized version. :)

These are all just tiny changes we have made to our daily routines, but I feel good about our informed choices, and that is super important to me. May you all have beautiful, sun-filled and safe weekends! xoxo

Saved By The Sun

I really don't think I would be able to survive this period of Noah's life if it was cold, rainy, and grey in Seattle right now. His energy level is unreal, and he needs to burn it off outside two or three times a day or I'm in trouble. What happens if I don't let him run around and explore outside? I get an overturned house, that's what. He is the smallest hurricane I have ever encountered, but just as destructive.

The destructive behaviour is actually my cue to take him outside because it means he's bored. Pretty self explanatory I think. Brendan and I can't wait until he understands that he shouldn't be throwing our things, and that some stuff is off limits to babies. We have baby-proofed as much as we can and he's mostly respectful, but he's also a toddler so we know there are limitations of course.

Everyone in the neighbourhood knows us now. He's the baby in the blue safari hat that says hi to everyone and tries to hug their dogs! There's a man that plays the violin in front of our drugstore who always changes his tune to either Mary Had A Little Lamb or Twinkle Twinkle; he gets his own cup with his name on it at Starbucks when we go; the folks at the assisted living residence love waving to us as we pass by them on their patio; and the staff of all the groceries in the neighborhood know him very well too.

We get outside a lot.

His most favourite place to go is anywhere I don't have to hold his hand, so big fields with grass and flowers, and he goes bananas over the water fountain at the hospital up the street. The toughest part is getting him to go back home (the screaming starts and people look at me strangely), but it's all worth it in the end cause I get a super tired kid who sleeps from 8pm to 8am.

Plus I get to send his Dada pictures like these. :) Happy Thursday, it's almost the weekend!

Thank You Mamas

I would like to thank each of my mommy friends for being such fun, inspirational, goofy, snarky, loving, sympathetic, calming, hilarious, considerate, crazy-faces. You each bring something different to our relationship and without you, I would be living in my little anti-social world of exhaustion and despair when the going gets tough. You are my partners in crime in the scary world of new motherhood. I often leave you feeling like I'm going to float instead of sink, and yes dear friends, make no mistake that it is because of you!

You all teach me new things and allow me to see situations from a different perspective. Your support means the world to me, your company comforts me, your texts make my day. So thank you, and please know that I appreciate you very much and am grateful to have you in my life and Noah's life, even if you think you haven't done anything at all.

Also, thank you for having such cute, sweet kids that I actually like being around. ;) Here's to many more mommy-baby playdates.

Lilibeth xoxo

Sacred Heart Girls Rule

Last weekend I had the great pleasure of seeing an old childhood friend! This is someone I met when we were 12 years old, in Biology class. We just happened to sit next to each other, became lab partners by default, and were inseparable and extremely mischievous for the next five years. That was twenty-three years ago. This only just drives it in how quickly life goes by.

It was fun to see each other as adults and mothers, and as women with husbands! When we met all those years ago, the idea of kissing boys would have resulted in explosive giggle attacks. Life is very, very different now!

It was wonderful to see each other and while I didn't get to meet her three gorgeous munchkins, she at least got to meet Small Human. Also, it was like no time had passed. There is very little pretense when you reunite with someone who knew you as a child, it's almost like life goes back to being simpler in that beautiful way that usually only siblings know. It was also really incredible to have the opportunity to see each other as adults, because when you're a young teen all you can think about is your future and what it holds for you, and now here we are.

OMG I'm going to cry.

Alright, I'm going to stop now and show you some ridiculously cute pictures instead. Thanks for coming to Seattle Cynthia & Will! Hope to visit you guys in California soon! xoxo

There's a fun surprise at the end. :)

We're still 12 in my mind!

"Um, why is that guy not pointing the camera at us, wtf?" 

Meeting Auntie Cynthia for the first time. He loved her so much, she got a kiss goodbye!

1995 in Stratford, Ontario :D Yes, I am wearing high heeled Guess? jelly shoes.

The Terrible Not Even Twos

I'm not entirely certain what the terrible twos are, but I think we are experiencing the beginning of them. Since our Small Human is unable to communicate his needs in sentences, I think he gets pretty frustrated with us and with himself when he can't achieve what he wants. This manifests in intermittent high pitched, deafening shrieks every minute or two.

He does this in stores, in the house, but never outside. He is definitely happiest outside. When he gets into one of his shrieking moods, nothing can stop him but distraction. We're walking a fine line between him learning that shrieking can get him what he wants, and him forgetting about what he was shrieking about.

Raising a toddler seems to have a lot to do with finding that delicate balance between keeping your child engaged and happy, yet preventing them from becoming horrible, spoiled beasts. Like many parents, Brendan and I have no idea what we are doing, but are using common sense and what feels right. So far, so good I think.

Noah's a good kid most of the time, but it drains all my energy when he throws these tantrums. Especially since his energy level has also kicked up a couple notches. Alternately, when he's happy he's like a Labrador Retriever puppy in human form. Or a wind up toy on speed. I'm starting to have trouble keeping up.

I'm so exhausted but I'm not complaining. Would I ever trade this in for married life pre-baby when we could do whatever we wanted, whenever we wanted, and sleep as long as we needed? Sure, maybe to visit for an hour. But I wouldn't trade having fat little cheeks to kiss, and a sweet boy who rushes into the kitchen to hug my legs while giggling maniacally, as I wash the dishes.

Still, I wouldn't mind an afternoon nap. Happy June, folks!