Baby Blues

Bugaboo Bugayay!

This isn't exactly a review, because the Bugaboo Frog has been discontinued anyhow.  I took a floor model because it fit in the trunk of our 4Rider, and while I wasn't in love with it, it was going to do everything I needed it to. (I wrote about my gear junkie tendencies here)  Sure, it was great in the snow - but I don't ski, so who cares?

But... then we had a Very Snowy Day.  And I went completely stir crazy.  I had to get out, but many of our neighbours hadn't cleared the sidewalks, and our car had no snow tires.  I got to thinking.  I bundled Tabetha up in her warmest clothes, buckled her in, swathed her in blankets, and we set out.

I soon discovered that the smaller front wheels were as useless in snow as expected, though the were great on the icy pavement.  When we got bogged down in deeper stuff all I had to do was tip the stroller and the rear wheels were as great as advertised!

I didn't think to bring a camera, but I did get some shots yesterday downtown!

Getting ready to go back to work

Somehow, almost a year has passed since I waddled out of my office carrying the last of my desk decorations and headed home to get ready for Tabetha to be born.  A whole year stretched out in front of me, and it felt like it would be so long!  There were many things I wanted to do.  (some of them even got done!)

Now I'm in the throes of getting ready to go back.  So far, I have:

• arranged a meeting with Tabetha's daycare for next week to discuss her gradual entry the week after
• made a doctor's appointment to get a prescription renewal before I go back, and ask about a couple things
• got my work email password reset, and sorted through my inbox - all 42 pages of it!
• ordered the lightweight stroller for getting her there (hehehe ;o)

I still need to:

• make sure I have extra cloth diapering supplies, since I'll need a stash at home and a stash at work
• buy bras that don't unlatch for easy access
• make sure I have enough clothes to wear, since my old work clothes are three sizes too big (yay me!)
• try to rearrange my dentist appointment for a day that isn't my second day back at work
• fill the deep freeze with homemade meals to ease the transition to working mom
• notify Service Canada I'm going back
• get my bus pass reactivated
• teach Tabetha to use a sippy cup

What am I forgetting?  I'm sure there's something!

Comments! pt. 2

I was informed commenting didn't work; now it does!

Tabetha Wigglepants and the Very Snowy Day

Once upon a time there was a baby named Tabetha, who wondered what happened to her yard.

why is everything white?  Nox didn't know either.

Guess what?  Daddy is coming home early!

Guess what else?

We're going to go outside!

It was a lot of work getting dressed to go out.  Tabby wondered do I have to wear this?

Daddy said she did.

It was time to touch it!  Here we go...

Tabby still wasn't sure.  You want me to walk in that?

This is neat!

Standing in it was one thing.  Hey, this stuff is COLD!

I don't think I like this!

Phew, mommy makes it all better.

Comments!

no longer require registering.  I'll leave'em this way as long as I don't get a ton of spam!

Am I crazy?

I have a lot of other posts planned - Tabby's new desire for playtime in the middle of the night, reviews of my bugaboo and my babyhawk carrier, how to make your own broths for homemade soups if you don't already, more about cloth diapering, all kinds of stuff.

But I really only have one thing on my mind right now.  You see, a couple weeks ago I got it into my head that what we need to do is sell our current house and buy one with a suite we can rent out.  Why not let someone else build equity for us too, right?

So, we got our favourite Victoria realtor (Hi Bobby!) to set up one of those great listing things for us so we could get a sense of what our place might be worth, and what might be available in the price range we're looking at.  And we did some drive bys, went to a couple open houses... and then the other day one came up that I think is perfect.  PERFECT.

Now, we haven't even met with our mortgage person yet so very likely this house won't still be available by the time we're ready to think about buying, but it definitely motivated me to start seriously looking at what this place needs to get it listing-ready.

Because having a highly active 10 month old and getting ready to go back to work isn't enough on my plate, right?

Tabby's Cats

Before Tabetha was born I did a lot of reading about introducing a baby into a house with pets, specifically cats.  We have three, and I wanted to make sure it went as smoothly as possible.  I read all about gradual introductions, and giving the cats things of the baby's to smell, and playing audio recordings of babies crying to get the cats used to it, etc etc etc... but the truth is I didn't do any of those things and the introduction went far more smoothly than I'd even hoped.

The feline members of the family are:

we gave a copy of this to the vet as proof -
or she'd never have believed it!

Circe.  Our only girl, and the matriarch.  Circe is one of two cats Chris bought me for my birthday in 2003, when he first moved to Canada.  Many of our friends have only gotten to know her in the last year and a half - Circe was the original scaredy-cat for years, and really started coming out of her shell when the delicious pregnancy hormones kicked in.  Circe is a momma cat, though she's never had a litter of her own.  We thought that when we brought Tabetha home from the hospital we wouldn't see her for a few weeks - instead she took to following us around to make sure we treated her baby with the care she deserved.  She is still much more willing to be mauled than anyone thought possible!

Lucius.  He's all white with the palest pink ears, nose, and paws, and he looks positively angelic.  His hobbies, however, include meowing at the top of his lungs in the middle of the night and randomly beating on our other boy cat, so looks are pretty deceiving in this case.  We got Lucius in the summer of 2007 after having to put our cat Ulysses down.   He's the least likely to have anything to do with Tabby, but when she was smaller he liked to crawl into my lap when she was nursing and lie back to back with her.

Now, when Tabetha chases after him he almost always evades, but occasionally he will submit to me taking her hand and running it down his back in my attempts to teach her to be gentle with the kitties.

Lastly, there's Nox. We got Nocturnus, nicknamed Nox, at the same time we got Lucius.  Nox was my baby before Tabby came.  One of his favourite ways to fall asleep at night was flopped on his back wrapped in my arms like a teddy bear, purring like a fiend.  It took me two months to train him out of trying to sleep lying on my face. This is the cat I could take in the shower with me and bathe without getting scratched - not because he likes water, but because he was so completely and utterly mine.  (I'm pretty sure he thinks he's a dog.  He also plays fetch, comes when he's called, and eats scraps off the floor.)

My mother was really concerned that Nox would be jealous when the baby came and that we might have problems with him.  Instead, this is the cat who will literally come and lie down at her feet when she's jumping, and purr while she stomps all over him and giggles.

A lot of people have reservations about babies and pets, especially cats.  Some of it is warranted - babies are warm and soft and don't move much, and I have certainly seen cats try to lie on them - Nox included, with a friend's baby who was visiting.  I certainly didn't give the cats any unsupervised access to the baby at all until she outweighed them substantially and I'd had months of observations, and I still make sure she can't somehow corner them or make them feel threatened.  Any animal can hurt a child under the wrong circumstances, and I think it's my job to keep circumstances from heading that way.

So far, though, watching them interact has been wonderful.  They are incredibly respectful of her space and her things.  I have only had to chase Nox out of her crib once since she started sleeping in it, and none of her toys have cat bite marks.   When she gets too rough with them, they simply leave, but their patience for her enthusiasm is pretty wonderful.  In return, Tabetha is already learning that there are creatures smaller than she is, that she needs to be gentle with them, and that they're fun to be with.

Pretty good lessons, I think!

Selecting the right stroller pt.2 - What do you want to DO with it?

For part one, which covers the number of kids, click here!

Looking around Victoria, there is one stroller you will see more often than any other.  Different years, different models, different colours, the BOB is everywhere.  And it has some good features.  It's a reasonable pricepoint, it's durable, and it can be good for running with.

However... I very rarely anyone running with one.  And if you're not going to run with your stroller, there are better ones out there.  Even if you are, there are other, arguably better ones out there!  Buying the right stroller can make your life a whole lot easier, so before choosing a stroller, ask yourself these questions.

Are you going to run with it?
If you plan on running with your stroller regularly - and I do mean plan, not just have vague intentions you really know you won't fulfill - you need a stroller that's designed for it.  Running strollers have three big wheels.  The front wheel will either be permanently locked or be lockable.  They can only face forward, and they have a distinctive wedge shape.  Popular brands for running include BOB, Bumbleride, Baby Jogger, and Valco.  Which one depends on where you plan on running, how many kids, what your budget is, etc.  Keep in mind that most manufacturers don't recommend running with babies much younger than about 8 months.

Orbit Baby strollers are beloved by the dads

If you aren't going to run with it, and plan on using it with a young baby, consider a different option.  Jogging strollers offer only one direction for baby to face - out.  Studies have shown that facing their caregivers during the first two years is critical to the development of language skills - babies need to see the world through you in order to learn how to make sense of what they see.  Many strollers are reversible, and one, the super-trendy Orbit Baby, can rotate 360 degrees!

What kind of terrain?
The smaller the wheels, the smoother the terrain has to be to keep baby from being bounced around all over, but the more space the stroller takes up, both when collapsed and when in use.  If you plan on taking the stroller on trails, dirt roads, grass and other rough surfaces, you'll want to look for wheels that are about 12 inches in diametre or larger, preferably with a surface that looks like mountain bike tires, so that baby will be comfortable.  If that's not a part of your lifestyle, smaller, more manoeuvrable wheels are wonderful for navigating narrow aisles in stores and crowded sidewalks.

Cameleon ready for beach or snow

If you spend a lot of time at the beach or on the ski hill, take a look at the Bugaboo Frog or Cameleon's dolly ability.  It's virtually impossible to push pretty much any stroller through snow or sand - but these can be pulled quite easily.

If you plan on running on trails, you'll need to look for one that has a combination of the three-wheeled, wedge shape with with big tires that have good tread on them.  Look for excellent suspension, as well, or baby won't be very comfortable!

Planes, trains and automobiles?
Strollers range in weight from a few pounds for the flimsiest umbrella stroller to 25 pounds plus for a sturdy stroller intended for multiple children.  Bear in mind that whichever stroller you choose, you will likely be hauling it in and out of the trunk of your car a lot.  Try not to choose a stroller you need help handling.  Bear in mind also whether you plan on travelling a great deal - lighter strollers are easier in airports when you already have luggage and baby to handle.  Also consider how many pieces it folds down into.  A stroller with a two piece fold isn't as convenient for travelling by public transit as one that goes down into one piece, and one with quick release wheels can make packing everything into the trunk for a road trip much easier.

Coming up next
stroller bassinets, car seat adaptors, and probably some other stuff too!

Looking for Daycare

It's probably not a shock to anyone reading this that we live in Victoria BC.  I can't find a reference for it offhand, but I've heard that there are two children here for every licenced daycare space.  Judging by the response I got trying to find one for Tabetha I'd say that's probably about right.  It's not exactly cheap either - $600-$800 a month for unlicensed, and up to $1400 a month for licensed.

This is something I had a lot of anxiety about.  I'm looking forward to going back to work - I love my job, my boss, my colleagues - but the idea of taking Tabetha somewhere and leaving her there for 8-9 hours a day was really stressful to me.

So, in August I took a deep breath - and a couple more of 'em - and I contacted the Victoria Child Care Referral folks.  I figured that Tabby was only 5 months old, I had a full year off, I should have lots of time to find the best care, right?

My rude awakening came when I called one place that sounded really great - and they told me that they'd love to add me to the waitlist - and my name would probably come up sometime in 2012.  

Eh?

That was a pretty common refrain.  My anxiety about the act of leaving her was quickly replaced with the fear I wouldn't find somewhere to leave her.  And if I did, would I be tempted to settle for somewhere less than ideal?

So I waitlisted for every infant care place I could find.  And then I waitlisted for some that wouldn't take her until 18 months... and then I waitlisted her for some that wouldn't take her until 3 years.  Just in case.  And then.... I waited.  And worried.  And tried not to think about it.  And fantasized about winning the lottery so I could hire a nanny.

And then in January I got a new list of places, and ended up having a choice between two.  I feel really good about the place we picked.  It's a brand-new program, which is why they had space, and there will be daily walks, music, and dance.  And it's 500 metres from our house!

I'm staying on those other waitlists though.  Just in case.

The best thing(s) about cloth diapering

Today I was helping my friends at Cat and Fiddle Kids for a few hours and a couple came in to look at the cloth diaper selection.  They were a really lovely couple from up-island who remembered Tabetha and me from the Vancouver Island Baby Fair in September, where I manned a booth for two solid days talking to expectant and new parents about cloth diapers, strollers and all sorts of other fun things.  Tabetha was with me the whole time, of course, napping in the display bassinet at need, being worn in our Babyhawk, and just generally being adorable.

When it came to the cloth diapers, I often told a story that she is not going to be very appreciative of in a few years.  You see, the couple who came in to the store today asked me "oh, is this the poonami baby?"

Yes, I told hundreds of parents and grandparents that my daughter, strictly breastfed at the time, once went 15 days without pooping.  One day more than two weeks.  And when she finally went, it was a poonami.  But!  Every last smelly drop of it was contained in her cute AMP diaper.  I was even able to dress her back in the same clothes once I changed her.  Disposables, in my experience and that of many folks I've talked to, are much more prone to the dreaded blow out, which can result in poop all the way up to the back of the neck and/or down to the ankles.

(my husband thinks I shouldn't write this here, and maybe he's right.  But I like a compelling story, and this one was obviously interesting enough that this couple remembered it months later!)

And the thing is, I hate touching poo.  A lot.  And there's this misconception out there with a lot of people that cloth diapering means touching more poop.  But when my daughter has a big poo, it's all in her diaper, and I have perfected getting it into the laundry without touching the dirty bits.  When my friend's kid has a big poo?  It's on the diaper, the clothes, sometimes even the car seat and a couple toys...

Sure, it's cheaper in the long run, the diapers are cuter, it's better for the environment, it's better for my daughter, blah blah blah... but for me?  The real benefit of cloth diapering can be summed up in one word.

Poonami.

Gratuitous baby shots - Tabetha 10 months

Baby Insomnia

The last couple of nights Tabetha has woken up in the middle of the night and had trouble getting back to sleep.  We're staying at my Dad's right now, so it's unfamiliar surroundings and maybe that's part of the reason.  At any rate, she's done some tossing and turning in bed with me. This went on for about an hour tonight before I finally gave up and decided to let Daddy sleep and brought her downstairs.  Right now she's crawling around on the floor in the semi-darkness while I wait for her to get good and tired.

Now, adults have learned that some positions are more likely to induce sleep than others.  Tossing and turning for us generally goes something like side. back. side. front. Tabetha hasn't learned that yet.   Here's a representative slice of what I mean.

4:02:37am - Attempts to sleep on her side with her face mashed into my nose.
4:02:40am - Decides that isn't comfortable.  Resumes flailing.
4:02:45am - Settles down kneeling with face planted on pillow.
4:02:50am - Nope, can't breathe face down on pillow.  turns head sideways.
4:03:00am - Flops over onto back, whacking me in the face with her fist.
4:03:03am - Tries to stick a finger up my nose.  Thwarted, resumes flailing.
4:03:08am - Back to kneeling, this time with head resting on her arms which rest on my ribcage.
4:03:12am - Stands up, still with top half resting on my ribs.
4:03:15am - Bounces.  Is swept into my arms to lie on her side with her head resting on my shoulder.
4:03:17am - Rolls over and blows a raspberry in my armpit.
4:03:18am - Put to the breast.  Lies quietly and gives me hope that she'll sleep now.
4:09:29am - Attempts nursing in Downward Dog.

Review: Beco Gemini - Best Soft Structured Carrier

Beco Gemini  - pattern is called Paige

In November I borrowed a Beco Gemini and set off for Seattle with Tabetha, my husband, my mom and my stepdad.  I normally use a Babyhawk meitei, but I was really impressed with the features - and stylish appearance - of this newest entrant in the soft structured carrier category and wanted to give it a really thorough test. 

Best features: ability to face baby forwards or back, fantastic headrest, safety clasps, beautiful organic, made in north america style

Worst features: steeper learning curve than a meitei, not as comfortable to sit in, having to adjust all the straps between different-sized users

I think over the course of the long weekend all of us carried Tabetha in this at one point or another, and while none of us found it as comfortable as the Babyhawk, it's definitely an excellent example of its type.  Tabby really likes facing forward, though with the added stress that places on her back and pelvis I don't let her do it for long.  The fabric is soft and washable, and comes in gorgeous patterns if plain isn't what you're looking for.  It's much more attractive than other carriers in this category.   The Gemini has two-step buckles on the waist and side that ensure a mischievous older child can't easily let baby fall out, which is a really clever idea.  I'm very happy with the quality of the construction and the price is extremely competitive at around $140cdn. 

I was easily able to breastfeed with her in the carrier, as long as I was standing up and not sitting, and she was able to sleep in it with her head supported by the flip-up headrest.

The main thing I don't like about the Gemini is something I find with all carriers of this type - the curve of the straps doesn't fit along my back perfectly, so while the straps are padded, only a small section of the strap is actually bearing the weight.

Verdict:  I think I'll always like the meitei style of carrier best, but if I were in the market for a soft structured carrier, or if the ability for Tabetha to face forward was a dealbreaker, this is the one I would get.  

I think my ideal carrier would have the body of the Gemini with meitei style straps.  I wonder how rusty my sewing skills are...

(This post inspired by Kidlets in Campbell River, who I was talking to about the Gemini earlier today!  Thanks for the fun visit, as always. ) 

Who's Here?

I'm considering a contest to find out if anyone's reading this I'm not related to.  ;o)  Maybe a gift certificate?  Any ideas?

Confessions of a Gear Junky

Today I ordered my third stroller.  And... I still have the first two.

My first stroller, which I reviewed here, is the Mutsy 4Rider.  I also have a Bugaboo Frog, which I picked up for bombing around downtown when I sent the 4Rider to live at my dad's for when we go to visit.  And I thought I was done, but...

Tabetha starts daycare next month (too soon! too soon!) and her daycare is on the second floor of the building, and it's a looong flight of stairs.  The daycare is only 500 metres away from our house, so the plan is that when the weather's decent my husband will walk her to daycare and leave the stroller there, so that when I go to pick her up at the end of the day I can walk back with her.

The Frog is a lovely stroller.  I really like it a lot.  But it has a two piece fold and while it's compact, it's not stuff-it-in-her-cubby small.  And so I started to get antsy... and then I started doing some intensive searching... and now a new stroller is coming to join our little family.

The Bumbleride Flite (review to come sometime after it arrives and I get to test the heck out of it) is what is known as a convenience stroller.  It folds like an umbrella stroller, and basically that's what it is, but it has way more features.  Sure, it folds down small and has a carry handle to make climbing up and down those stairs carrying Tabby a breeze, but it also has a generous canopy, a reclining back and a decent storage basket.  And, of course, it comes in all the pretty Bumbleride colours and is compatible with the Bumbleride accessories.  Do I sound a little too excited?

It's a sickness.

Dear Tabetha. On the night you were born...

Dear Tabetha

On the night you were born, I didn't know you were coming yet.  We weren't expecting you for 12 more days, and we had been to the midwife just that morning.  She said that my body was getting ready, and that you were so close she could feel your hair!  She thought you might come any time in the next couple weeks, but she didn't think you were quite ready yet.  But at nine o'clock I was downstairs and your dad was upstairs going to sleep.  I went into the kitchen to make popcorn.  (Did you know that every time I make popcorn now I remember the night you were born?  And I make a lot of popcorn!)  I was wearing pyjama bottoms with lots of flowers on them, and suddenly those flowers were very wet.

I stopped the popcorn maker and went to the bottom of the stairs, and I called up to your dad.

"I don't think you get to go to sleep after all!  I think my water just broke!  can you bring me a towel?  And some dry pants?"

Then I called your grampa Gord in Campbell River, and I asked him to go straight down to the Tidemark Theatre to find your grama and grampa Don, and tell them to get on the road and hurry straight here so they could meet you!  Then I called your Auntie Terri, and asked her to come over and eat popcorn with me while we waited.

We called the midwife - Amy - too, but she didn't think you'd come that night.  She told me to get a good night's sleep, and call her in the morning.

I was too excited to sleep.  I wasn't having contractions yet, but I knew I was going to meet you soon and I couldn't wait.

We called Amy again just after ten to say the contractions had started, but she figured it would be a while still.  By this time grama and grampa Don were on the road, and your dad started getting things into the car.  We had a suitcase of clothes for me, and your dad, and for you!  We had a cooler full of healthy food to keep everyone fed for a long labour.  We had my running shoes, and knee pads in case I knelt, and lots of other things.

We called Amy for a third time!  I felt bad about disturbing her at home, but I was pretty sure things were going faster than she thought.  This time she said she would come over and check.  Suddenly I realized something!  I was sitting on a big rubber ball.

"What am I doing?  This thing speeds up labour!  I don't want to speed it up!  I want to slow it down!"  When Amy came I was lying on the couch.  She took a look and suddenly we were in a big hurry to get to the hospital.  Such a big hurry that when your dad stopped for a yellow light, I snapped at him.  "Why are you stopping!!"

As soon as we got to the hospital I sat down in a wheelchair so your dad could push me up in the elevator while Auntie Terri parked the car.  It was a good thing we hurried though, since the paramedic who showed us the way got lost.  It took us a lot longer to get upstairs than it should have, and by the time we got into the labour and delivery room you were very close.  Amy and two nurses flew around the room getting everything ready.  They helped me into the bed, and it was time to push.

Pushing felt wonderful!  So wonderful that after the first pushing contraction I forgot to stop pushing, and the nurse had to remind me.  Your dad was right there the whole time, putting cold cloths on my forehead, holding me hand, and encouraging me.  So was your Auntie Terri.  Then the second pushing contraction came - and so did you!  It was 12:34 am, just three hours and 15 minutes after my water broke.

Amy held you up for the first time.  You were blue and purple and covered in white waxy stuff.  You had lots of dark hair.  You were absolutely beautiful.  You took your very first breath and I watched you turn pink.  I've never seen anything so lovely in my whole life.

Amy put you up on my chest and I guess your dad realized it was okay to relax, because suddenly everyone was rushing to take care of him, because he turned very pale and had to sit down with his head between his knees.  He was fine in just a minute though, and we went back to admiring you.  You were perfect.

Lots of other things happened after that, but the most important part was you arriving safe and healthy and ours.

Recipe: Squash and Apple Soup

I got this recipe from my mom and made it for the first time this weekend.  You could garnish it and serve it in small portions as a chic appetizer for a dinner party, or in big bowls for a comforting meal on a cold day - and it's fantastic baby food, too!

Ingredients:

1 small butternut squash

1/2 onion chopped

1 apple chopped

1 carrot chopped

2 1/2 cups chicken stock (use veggie stock instead for a vegetarian version)

1 tbsp (or more) fresh ginger, grated

1/2 cinnamon stick

1/2 tsp nutmeg

Method:

Cut the squash in half and remove the seeds, then roast it until soft.  I put it in the oven at 350, but I can't remember how long it took.  45 minutes maybe?  this step could be done in advance and the squash refrigerated.

Sautee onion and carrot in olive oil until soft, then add apple, ginger and spice and cook for one minute.

Add stock and cook to very soft.

Add squash and simmer 5 minutes.

Remove cinnamon and blend to smooth,

Serve over a dollop of yogurt plain or lemon.

I served with fresh bread and homemade biscuits, and it was a big hit.  Next time I'm making a double batch for sure.

Review: Mutsy 4Rider

Type: fullsize european non-jogging stroller


Best features: huge airfilled tires that give a comfy ride and a lovely pushing experience, amazing customizability (different seats, the bassinet, and plenty of accessories),  sleek modern look

Drawbacks: Tricky two piece, not-all-that-compact fold, plastic connections between seats and chassis that sometimes jam, canopy could be more generous

The Mutsy 4Rider Next with single spoke tires was our first stroller.  We chose the more expensive Next for the leather handles and the airfilled tires, and started out with a bassinet.  When Tabetha got a little older we got a seat and the neoprene undercarriage bag. Unfortunately for us, she had zero interest in lying flat on her back and being pushed around, so we really didn't use the stroller much until she was old enough to sit in the seat.  Once that happened, though, we started really using it.

I found it very frustrating in those early days because the fold isn't all that easy, and standing in a parking lot trying over and over again to fold it while the baby screamed in her car seat was a bit frustrating.  Eventually I got the hang of it, though even now (after owning it for about 10 months) I find that I don't always get it on the first try.  It's also heavy to lift in and out of the trunk.

On the plus side, putting it back together again is very easy, especially in the mama-facing configuration, and it's a joy to push.  It's very nimble for a full size stroller, and turns easily on trails or in malls.  We took it "offroad" and the ride was still smooth enough for Tabetha to sleep.  With the telescoping handle it's comfortable for even a tall person to push.

Currently in Canada this is strictly a one child stroller, but a double seat for it is available in europe and the US.   I haven't tried it though, so I can't say how functional it is.

Verdict:  This is a great stroller.  It's very sturdy, comfortable to push, and has a small enough footprint to make travelling by bus easy as long as you don't need to fold it down to make room for more people.  The seat is high, so you can push it up to the table as an ersatz high chair if necessary, and it reclines fully for nap time.  I'm not sure how it would do for folks who do a lot of outdoorsy activities, but it's certainly up for the limited amount we subjected it to.  Not a good purchase if you have a very small trunk or anticipate having to haul it up or down stairs very often.

Chocolate Chip Cookies - good for you edition

During my pregnancy I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes.  Suddenly I wasn't allowed to eat much of anything - even fruit was problematic.  I tried a few recipes for cookies and other goodies that were recommended, but they didn't taste that great and they weren't satisfying.  So, I started doing some experimenting of my own.

This is what I came up with.  Not only did it not spike my blood sugar, the slow releasing carbs also helped prevent dips.  And they actually taste yummy!  Give'em a try.

Ingredients

1 cup margarine

1 cup brown sugar

2 tbs vanilla

2 eggs

2 cups whole wheat flour

1 tsp baking soda

½ tsp salt

½ cup ground flax

¾ cup whole flax

2 cups chocolate chips

Method

Cream together margarine and brown sugar until smooth.  Add eggs and vanilla, mix until even.  Add dry ingredients, mix until combined, then add chocolate chips.  Bake at 350-375ish, whatever works for you and your oven. 

It’s a lot of vanilla, but that adds flavour and keeps them from being too dry with all that flax.

They’re best fresh out of the oven (of course), but they keep in an airtight jar really well!

about me

I guess the first thing I want to say is that none of the companies whose products I talk about even know I exist, so no one is influencing what I have to say.

Other than that, I am a 30 year old mother of one almost ten month old little girl.  I'm currently employed as a professional researcher, when I'm not on maternity leave, and I often describe my job this way:  it's my job to know as much as possible, to find useful linkages, and to be able to draw upon that knowledge base both when I'm asked and when I can see it might be useful.  I bring that same obsessive need to know EVERYTHING to my personal interests, which right now include anything related to my daughter.

Friends of mine have a store that carries everything from furniture to strollers to baby and kid clothes and toys, and I'm fortunate enough to be able to borrow things from them to test out.  It's a pretty neat thing to be able to take a couple of new strollers on vacation, use the heck out of them, and really get a sense of how they work!

You get what you pay for: stroller edition

I'm on maternity leave right now, and so I sometimes find myself with spare time.  (read: time when I can no longer stand being at home, no matter how much laundry needs doing!)  Some of that time I spend helping out at a friend's baby store.  (Yay Cat and Fiddle Kids!)  I have fun meeting other moms, sharing my passion for cloth diapering and babywearing, and I get to try out all the gear.

We often see moms come in with the inexpensive travel systems sold at major chains.  They come in at first with newborns tucked cozily into the carseats attached to the strollers (my opinion on THAT for another post) and at first they look all right.  Everything works, they're not stylish but they're fine.

And then we see the moms with babies a few months older.  Now they're crammed into those same carseats, and half the time the strollers have one wheel that seems to want to go in a different direction from the other three like the worst shopping cart at the grocery store.  The plastic frame of the stroller is showing wear and tear, and it looks like it's been through the wars - and the kid it's supposed to grow with can't even sit up without help yet.

And then the stroller goes in the landfill, and another one is purchased - plus a new carseat because the travel system ones don't hold a very big baby.

And I know cost is a huge factor.  But here's the thing - you can buy one good quality stroller and one carseat that will both last from birth right through the toddler years for the same price as buying a couple of the cheap ones - and your child will be safer, the products will be easier to use, you will both be more comfortable, and there will be less garbage in the landfill.  Not to mention, depending on how hard you are on the stroller, you might even be able to sell it or donate it when you're done with it.  Makes sense to  me.

Recipe: Chai Poached Pears

I mash these with a fork, add whole grain baby cereal to thicken and feed them to my daughter, but they're fantastic for the rest of us too. Just add ice cream!

Ingredients

Herbal chai tea (I use the one from Silk Road. You want herbal so there's no caffeine for baby)

Pears, peeled, quartered and cored

Directions

Put the pears in a pot, cover with water, and add the tea ball. Simmer until the water reduces to a light syrup. Enjoy!

Selecting the Right Stroller pt. 1 - How Many Kids?

There are a LOT of strollers available even here in the Canadian market, and choosing the one that will best meet your needs can seem overwhelming. By taking the time to think about how you want to use the stroller, you can make the choice a lot easier.

How is this green? Buying one good quality stroller that will meet your family's needs - and ideally that you will be able to sell when you're done with it, to keep it out of the landfill - is much better for your family and the environment.

How many?

If you are having twins, you need a double stroller, and you probably need one that's rated for use from birth because you won't be able to carry two babies around all the time. It won't matter to you whether it converts back to a single, because your two kids will outgrow it at the same time. There are many companies making double strollers, and which one to go with in that case has more to do with other features. Accommodating children of different ages is trickier.

If you have an older child still in the stroller years, you may want a stroller that can turn back into a single later when your older child isn't riding anymore. The same applies if you know you want a second child - it's a good idea to have a stroller you can turn into a double later.

How this works changes between brands. The hotly anticipated Bugaboo Donkey does it by becoming wider to accommodate a second seat or bassinet. The Valco toddler seat puts the older child in a seat above the main body of the stroller, where the younger child goes. Both Baby Jogger and iCandy do it on certain models by adding a second seat for an inline double that's easy to push in an urban environment. The Baby Jogger set up allows the children to face each other, which isn't possible with iCandy, but the iCandy seats are much more comfortable and the stroller is far more stylish. Baby Jogger hand brakes are also easily triggered by a mischievous child, which results in a jolting stop for everyone.

Many other stroller companies such as Uppababy and Phil&Ted's put the second, older child underneath the first, with their feet in the shopping basket. I know a lot of parents choose to go that route, but I personally don't like it for a few reasons. One, the child can really only see the bum of the child in front, and usually has very, very little space. Two, there have been cases reported where the child in the jump seat at the rear was able to get fingers caught in the spokes of the wheels.  Lastly, where do you put your stuff if the kid's feet are in the basket?

Baby Stew

My daughter, from the beginning, has preferred foods with flavour. Now that she's nine months old, I'm having a lot of fun experimenting. I called this one Baby Stew, and she loves it. So did a friend of ours, who had a lovely bowl of it for lunch one day!

The beauty of this recipe is that you can easily alter the veggies, and the proportions aren't really that important. I tried to provide something of a balance between protein, starch, etc so that it would be a meal in itself, and then I froze it in Baby Cubes so that I can easily serve it to her when I don't have time to make a meal.

Ingredients:

leek (white part only)

ginger (to taste)

garlic (to taste)

olive oil

red lentils

pot barley (pearl has the healthiest parts removed)

yam

sweet potato

carrot

fresh spinach (frozen would probably be fine too)

Method:

chop up all the veg. don't need to be too careful about how small. Panfry the leek until soft, then add the garlic and ginger. Toss in the lentils and barley to absorb the yummy flavours. Add the rest of the veggies, cover with water, and simmer until everything is soft. Add the spinach at the very last minute, so that it just barely wilts and doesn't overcook.

At this point, you could serve it to adults or older children. I used a hand blender to ensure there were no chunks bigger than the barley, but my daughter chews well. You could easily blend it longer for a younger child, or one who doesn't like texture as much.