All night? Really?

Two nights ago something magical happened.

unrelated cuteness

At 8pm, I put Tabetha in her crib.  So far so normal.  We headed up for bed at 9pm (the wild life of working parents) just as Tabetha woke up.  I nursed her back to sleep, we brushed our teeth and crawled into bed.  Around 9:30 or so, Chris went in because she was whimpering a bit; he patted her on the back for maybe 15 seconds, and he came to bed.

And we didn’t hear from her again until 6.  In the morning.  As in, eight and a half glorious hours during which she did not cry or whimper or fuss or even start giggling and playing with her feet.  As in, my first uninterrupted night’s sleep since well before she was born.

what, like I was going to take a picture of her sleeping for this?  get real!

It was so unexpected and so wonderful, I forgave her for waking up at 6 when we didn’t need to get up until 6:45.  It was so surprising and discombobulating, I forgot to pack fresh diapers in her bag before sending her and Chris off to daycare, and I had to run quickly home at lunch because she didn’t have enough to get through the whole day.

It didn’t repeat itself last night, but that’s okay.

I know she can do it.  And I’ve had a taste of sleeping without a baby calling for my attention or jabbing feet into my face.  And I liked it.

Gat!

Tabetha has indisputably said her first word, and it is "cat!"  We know that's what she means, despite the lack of clear "c" sound because she then proceeds to squeal and chase the nearest four legged animal.  It's pretty wonderful.

Review: iCandy Pear

I don't actually own the iCandy Pear.  It would be a bit silly, in fact, since we have only one baby and the Pear is a double stroller.  But I did borrow it and take it on vacation, which is always a good way to get a really good sense of a stroller.

We had it for 5 days, during which time we used it in both single and double mode.  This was in November, and apparently I didn't take any pictures!

It's a big stroller.  There's no getting around that.  But because it's an inline, it does manoeuvre around racks and through doors really well, and in fact it steers beautifully.  In fact, the more you weigh it down, the better it steers!  In duo mode we would put the baby in the top seat and then use the bottom seat to hold coats and shopping - it wasn't uncommon for it to be carrying 4 adult winter coats plus a myriad of shopping bags without becoming difficult to push.

The Pear carries up to two kids in a LOT of different combinations - for each kid, you have the option of putting in the seat, a bassinet, or a car seat adaptor.  The top seat is larger than the bottom, and if you have two kids of different sizes, the heavier child goes on top.

At the time, Tabby was 8 months old, and went a fair job to filling the top seat, and that's the biggest downside to this stroller:  despite the fact that it's big and strong and can carry a LOT of weight, it won't carry a larger toddler at all, let alone two.

I loved: the lovely british style, the easy manoeuvring, the strength of the chassis, the easy conversion from single to double.  And the price is a lot less than I'd expected, too!  Plus you can get what they call "flavour packs" that consist of a cozy seat liner and canopy in yummy juicy colours.

I didn't love: the small seats, the slightly tricky fold.

All in all, a great stroller - especially if you make smallish babies!

Review: Pali Pappy high chair

When I first saw the Pali Pappy high chair, I didn't have a strong opinion one way or the other.  It's solid wood, made in Italy, and highly adjustable (I think the max weight is something ridiculous like 300lbs) but it costs over $300cdn, doesn't come with a tray (??) and some of the colours are well... a bit eye searing.  I also think the teddy bear cut out is ugly.

We've got it on loan while we wait for the one we ordered, and we've had it for almost six months.  (long story.)

My opinion?  Overpriced.

All the good points I mentioned above are still true, but here's the thing that's the dealbreaker for me:  over time, the hex bolts holding it together gradually loosen.  In fact, if not tightened regularly, the whole thing WILL just come apart.  And I know it's not just mine because the floor model at the store is doing the same thing.

Bottom line, I'm glad it's a loaner because if I'd paid over $300 for it, I'd be pretty unhappy.  I wonder if that's why they've taken it off their website?

The secret joy of the sick baby

Tabetha has been sick since wednesday.  When I picked her up from daycare that afternoon she was a bit warm, and I was informed she'd been really clingy and cuddly all day, which is not her usual behaviour, so I wasn't surprised that thursday she was feverish and miserable.

Now; of COURSE I would rather she were healthy and bouncy and happy.  However.

There is something about a sick, clingy baby who doesn't want to play or crawl or wiggle, who just wants to be held and sung to and cradled and nursed that's like a return to the first couple months of her life. (only without the blood loss, stitches, hormones or shellshock!) I have to say, it's a pretty good feeling.

Of course, today she is still feeling unwell but has chosen to express that with a sleep strike.  She's been awake for probably around 10 hours, which is NOT normal!  Normally she takes about three hours of naps a day, and today none of the magic tricks have worked.  Not nursing, not going for a walk in the stroller, not going for a drive, not white noise or even listing to "Cecilia" at top volume on endless repeat.

All she wants to do is play and wiggle and crawl - but she's very cranky and annoying.

Clearly this is my payback for luxuriating in my snuggly baby yesterday and thursday!  (though frankly, I thought having her vomit down my shirt was payback enough....)

the first birthday part 3

Wherein I will actually write something!

First birthdays have some established traditions.  There must, for example, be cake for baby to smear on his or her face.  There must be LOTS of pictures taken, some balloons, the rest is up to you.

Because I am crazy, I decided to be a little bit ambitious.  Nothing extravagant, but we know so many other babies around the same age.  So I invited six of them, with their parents of course, plus family and friends.  I planned 2 cakes, one chocolate zucchini one chai, both iced with stabilized whipping cream and joined by an edible rainbow, jars of rainbow candy, a fruit rainbow.  Music by the ever-talented Grampa Don.  A crepe paper rainbow wall, personalized loot bags for each baby, a WHITE dress, if you please, with a rainbow sash, for the birthday girl.

Because I am lucky and have wonderful family and friends, it turned out perfectly.  The babies were happy and well behaved.  The cakes looked wonderful and tasted delicious. The music was fun.  The rainbow wall was everything I envisioned.  And at the end of the day, Tabetha's white dress with the super-gorgeous rainbow sash was STILL white!

I am a very, very happy mama.

The first birthday part 2

I got the pictures from my sister!