Not so Sun Smart

I make a point of slathering sunscreen on Hannah everyday. With the super warm weather we have already had this spring, those harmful UV rays are looking to pose a real threat this summer.

And while I thought I did a fairly thorough investigation of baby sunscreens in the pharmacy aisle, checking for high coverage and sensitivity for eczema-prone skin, it seems that I didn't do a good enough job.

That's because I didn't know about this website.

It appears as though our Neutrogena Baby sunscreen scored a lousy 7/10 while the Aveeno Baby that we used during our entire Cuban vacation in February made the sunscreen Hall of Shame.

So now that we know our sunscreens are no good, what's a mom to do?

Check out the best beach & sport sunscreens. Topping the baby list: California Baby. Unfortunately, this brand is not available in Canada so a trip to Plattsburgh or Burlington may be in order.

Until we have an opportunity for a summer road trip, we'll slather on what we have in the meantime. And give sun hats their rightfully deserved spotlight as the must-have summer accessory.

Winding Down

Summer is here. And seeing as I am not working full time I say the hell with schedules.

Our days are packed full between my 10 hours/week at the office, swimming, gymnastics, playgroup and dog walks. I dream of the day when we can just wake up and see what the day will bring.

Well, that day is not too far away. In just two weeks we will be done with our spring session of activities. So instead of waking up early on Tuesday mornings to hit the pool and resenting the term TGIF as I rush from the gym, to my moms to the office on Fridays, we will have a breather.

The one activity we have signed up for this summer is Music in the Park. With a flexible schedule and music options a few times a day, we can come and go as we please.

So, if we feel like lazing a summer day away in the park, we can do just that.

I can't wait!

A Warm Welcome

Today I welcomed a nephew into the world.

Perfect timing as his mom didn't have to bear the 31 degree weather outside.

After a relatively quick, epidural free labour, out he came weighing in at 6 lbs. 14 oz.

Welcome to the world baby boy! We are so excited to have finally met you!

A Night Off

When was the first time you spent a night away from your baby?

Hannah is 14 months old and we haven't left her yet. Yes, I think she is totally old enough and comfortable enough to spend a night with her grandparents but I suppose the opportunity has not yet come about.

Until this weekend. Seeing as it is a three day weekend and we have a wedding on Sunday night, we were thinking of letting her have a sleepover with her grandparents. I feel completely comfortable with the pending decision but worry more that grandma and papa will be exhausted after close to 18 hours together (we would go to the country and leave Hannah there with them until Monday afternoon).

Then again, it would be good training if we ever decided to take a vacation without her.

Speaking of which, when would you go on a full fledged vacation (ie. 3 nights plus) without your kids? Facebook recently opened my eyes to how many parents take off after only 6 months for some alone time. Seems too early to me, but maybe that's just because Hannah was still sleeping in our bed at that point.

Yes, you need to have a life of your own but I fear that after a few days away, all I will be doing is worrying and longing for a sweet little embrace.

I guess its different for everyone, but for me letting go just for one night seems to be a big deal.

Hannah Speaks

Baby, mama, dad, book, bye, hi.

Those were the words in Hannah's repertoire until last week.

But the chattering has begun and her vocabulary is starting to grow
exponentially. So while imitation is the highest form of flattery,
that means that the four letter words must be banished from our
household.

This week's new words include: Hannah, fish, woof, mommy and sh
(shoe). In the works are bebo (Sandra Boynton's belly button), Winston
and dog.

And while no seems to be number one on her list, I think she is
starting to learn it's meaning.

So hopefully we will start hearing more yes-es along with her other
newly learned words.

Now that she can walk the walk, it's time to get started on talking
the talk.

Non-Stop

I had a revelation today. I have too much to do.

As a working, stay-at-home mom every minute is a precious one and my day seems to be planned out to the very last second.

Between Hannah, Winston (the dog), our activities and, oh ya, work, there isn't a minute to spare. And while nap time may seem like a momentary breather, that's when I whip out my phone and trusty notebook and start getting to work.

Also, I am a proud Habs fan but I have to admit that these games are taking up way too much of my time. Sure, I write this post between the 2nd and 3rd periods, but 20 minutes isn't nearly enough time to accomplish any given task at hand.

So the bottom line is that I need more time. Namely, a little more time for myself (to exercise, eat and, yes, breathe). While I somewhat loath the prospect of going back to work full time, I have to admit that I find just a little bit of serenity in knowing that I can sit behind a desk for two consecutive hours. So that's what "me" time has come to mean, has it?

An Ode to Moms

Sunday was our day.

A day to be waited on hand and foot.

A day to have breakfast in bed (and then sleep on the chocolate croissant crumbs that evening).

I hope your mother's day made you feel like a million bucks. Because you're almost worth it.

I know, I know, a mom's job is priceless...but a recent survey found that stay at home mom's are worth just over $135,000. Part housekeeper, part cook, part psychologist, part driver...the sum of our parts is invaluable.

And we amazingly log 99 hour work weeks (for those of us who work from home its even more!). So there, lawyers and bankers have nothing on us! And though we may be covered in food and spit up...we know our co-workers will always make us smile.

A belated mother's day to moms, grandmas and caring women everywhere.

Babies - The Movie

Opens today at the AMC theatre, just in time for mother's day.

Don't MESS with Mommy

I like to call myself organized. Things have their places, tidy-ness is a plus and clutter is confusing.

No, I'm not a total neat freak (although my husband thinks I am when I walk around the house with a broom trying to clean up the leaves that Winston has left behind). But I seem to have gone a bit OCD now that its summer and Hannah's pretty clothes are pretty dirty by the end of the day.

Yesterday, in celebration of her grandma's birthday, she had ice cream and played in the park. That means chocolate stains and sand everywhere. Oh, and let's not forget about the morning's outdoor playgroup that consisted of muddy knees.

I know, a kid is a kid and she's going to get dirty. That's what they invented pre-treater and Baby Oxi Clean for but I can't seem to let it go.

I got laughs from the other moms at playgroup as their kids had faces, shirts and hands full of yogourt and it was no sweat off of their back. I'll admit it, I have wiped off Hannah's new white running shoes twice since we bought them on Tuesday.

Ok, so maybe I am slightly obsessed. My husband tried to calm me down by saying that I am a good stain soaker and remover but all I can think about is if we have another girl, she won't be getting hand-me-downs in clothes that are 12 months plus since they are all stain-ridden.

Maybe it's time to bring the back-up outfit back into style. I totted one around forever in my diaper bag until I realized that Hannah had outgrown it months ago. Now, it might be a daily requirement. Yep, right along with my anti-neat freak mom pill....

The Shoe Saga Continues...

31 degrees.

That's how high the thermoter went today on our drive home from a weekend in the country. Needless to say Hannah's brown leather boots were not the ideal footwear for such warm weather. So, she rode home barefoot.

A few weekends ago we had bought her a super cheap pair of jelly sandals from Toys 'r Us to keep her from sliding in the wading pool. Well, after a day in her pink flower sandals she had red marks all over those cute feet.

I guess that's what you get for shoes that cost $1.80, right?

In an effort to protect those tootsies and keep her comfortably cool, I am once again on a hunt for cute sandals that will fit.

Hannah is currently wearing a size 18 shoe (equivalent to a 2 US) and through my online search I have learned that size 4 is really the starting point for walking shoes. Sure I could get cute crib shoes but they wouldn't give her the support that she needs. So while I was hoping to find a deal online from cute brands like See Kai Run and Livie & Luca, I've come up empty handed and am convincing myself that once again its ok to spend $60+ on a specialty pair of shoes that will last a few mere months.

Looks like we'll be visiting some of Westmount's expensive kids' shoe stores tomorrow. Unless a good deal magically pops up online...