Holiday Hiatus

After a week plagued with Roseola, the potential for new business prospects and parking lots jammed with last minute shoppers, it is officially time for the holidays.

Taking a short hiatus until the New Year so I will take the opportunity now to wish you and your families all of the best for 2010.

May all of your dreams come true in a year that promises much health, happiness and success.

Hopefully this midnight mom will make it past midnight to ring in the New Year.

Early Bird

Sticking to the theme of my last post, another little baby entered the world today. In a rush.

In a rush to get his mommy into the delivery room.

In a rush to set his eyes on the wonders of the world.

In a rush to meet his parents.

But at 35 weeks, this young man might have just done his mommy a favour, weighing in at 6 lbs 8 oz. With 5 more weeks in the womb, those newborn sleepers probably wouldn't have fit. So, he made an early debut to truly give his parents a reason to celebrate this New Year.

Welcome baby boy. We can't wait to meet you!!!

Tick Tock

Today we met our friends' new baby.

One month old and almost double Hannah's birth weight, he looked absolutely tiny. It was less than a year ago that we greeted our 6 lbs 14 oz daughter into the world but for the life of me I can't remember her ever being that small. Blame it on lack of sleep, hormones or denial, but I can barely picture her nestled in the bend of my elbow.

Time is fleeting. I wish I could hold on to every second. Luckily, we have over 5000 photos in our iPhoto library to capture those moments (thanks dear) but unfortunately those memories are not as vivid as I wish they were.

It would be great to freeze frame back to the days when we ourselves were in the single digits and days seemed like weeks, weeks like months, months like years. Now, they all seem to merge into one.

It really does remind us that every so often we need to take a step back, take it all in. Savour the moment. Because before we know it, they will be looking at those very same pictures, thinking how did I get myself such a nutty set of parents.

Nutty, perhaps. Loving, totally.

Middle Mercy

Welcome to teeth #5 and #6.

First were the two lower centers, then the fangs, and now the middle top two have decided to make their debut.

She really is a cute toothy monkey until it comes time for a snack.

It's not that she's biting but with a mouthful of chompers, the angles at which she chooses to suck are quite painful. So what's a mom to do? 9.5 months into and it seems a shame to stop now. We have proudly avoided formula thus far. Not that there is anything wrong with it but since we are just a few months away from cow's milk, it seems pointless to introduce it now. Plus, nursing is still totally soothing to her.

At first it was a real bonding experience but now that she is all over the place. It seems that she barely has time to savour what she is sucking. Aside from pre-nap/bedtime, her snacks are a game of on and off, drops of milk streaming down her cheeks, leaving mommy in slight pain in the process.

The early days of nursing were hard enough and I imagine weaning will be just as tough. So what's a mom to do in the interim?

I wonder if they make baby sized mouth guards...

Hump Day

We're never bored on Wednesdays. In the company of some wonderful moms and their babies, Wednesday is a day we look forward to.

But in reflection on what has been a great 9 months of sharing and caring, its interesting to step back and see how we have evolved as a group.

At first, babies immobile, they would lie around, eat and we would scream in delight for the occasional roll or smile. Plenty of time to catch up on their most recent developments, our postpartum weight loss & fatigue and to get our minds back in (somewhat) top form post pregnancy mush brain.

Well, in the two moments that I had to myself at today's play group, I realized how times have changed. With movers and shakers from left to right and a prompt high chair war at noon, we moms barely have a moment to ourselves anymore. With feeding duties, attempts at lessons in sharing and a new position as referee running interference for a slew of offenses (pulling hair, sitting on top of each other, the occasional kiss) we're lucky to get a bite, let alone a moment to catch up.

I guess, in retrospect, those first few months were really playgroup for mommy. Well, it's only fair that they should have their turn too.

But with barely a moment to get a word in maybe it's time for a mommies night out on the town. Let the daddies do the work (ear to the monitor) and the girls can get out and have an actual conversation (without lingering scents from a dirty diaper and spit up clad sweaters).

All those in favour of mom's night out 2010, say 'yea'.

Mum on the Mum Mums

Finger foods are Hannah's new favourite thing. The cauliflower, sweet potato or pear may not always make it into her mouth but the thrill of the challenge keeps her going. Especially when the newly introduced Cheerios are involved.

But her real first taste at texture was a Baby Mum Mum Rusk. Quick dissolving, easy to hold and fun to throw on the floor, the minute these cookies come out of the cupboard, Hannah is on high alert. When she hears the rustling of these rusk wrappers she knows she is about to get a sweet treat.

Well, I admit it. I have been using the Mum Mums to my advantage. To soothe moments of crankiness, to keep her quiet during business calls, to get those few last dishes in the sink washed. Yes, Baby Mum Mums are my solution to keeping Hannah mum (for 3-5 minutes).

I don't call it bribery. Just a saviour for a few much needed mommy moments. It's not like I'm painting my nails while she crunches away...its just a chance to catch up on all of those things I have been dying to do throughout the day. So I'm adding Mum Mums to the list of mommy time savers, along with the excersauser, jumparoo and fridge magnets.

I wish I could add Farley biscuits to that list as they take about 20 minutes to savour. But unfortunately the cleanup required post-cracker takes away from the quiet quotient.

Hopefully, I'm not creating a cookie monster in the process...

Baby Hues

Pinki Blue just moved to an enormous new location on Cote de Liesse.

Check out my article on Sweetmama for all of the details.