Urban Family Events: June 1st – 7th

31 May

Welcome to summer! Okay, so it’s not technically summer yet…but check out all of the fun summer activities happening this weekend and coming week:

Family Fun Fair (June 1st from 4:30pm – 8:30pm in Leduc) – Have fun as a family and take part in activities such as jumpy houses, a Velcro wall, sumo wrestling, face painting and even more. While you’re there, be sure to check out the 2012 Black Gold Pro Rodeo that is going on from May 31st – June 3rd.

Legacy Park Family Festival (June 2nd from 10:30am – 3pm in Fort Saskatchewan) – If you’re closer to the north side of the city, take part in Fort Saskatchewan’s Legacy Park Family Festival featuring inflatables, a bicycle rodeo, a petting zoo and other activities. Also keep an eye out for the return of the sheep that graze in the Fort throughout the summer!

Farmer’s Day and Rodeo Exhibition (June 1st – 3rd in Stony Plain) – Take part in a three day exhibition featuring a Kids’ Zone, a midway, carnival games and watch the rodeo and arm wrestling competitions.

International Children’s Festival (May 29th – June 2nd in St. Albert) – Enjoy this festival that caters directly to children. Festivities include Main Stage performances such as a Dinosaur Petting Zoo, Site Activities such as papermaking and the teaching of clowning skills, and many more fabulous and fun things to entertain the entire family.

Heart of the City Festival (June 2nd & 3rd in Giovanni Caboto Park in Edmonton) – Visit this family-friendly and community driven festival featuring a variety of artists and musical talents.

Environment Week Kickoff (June 2nd at Dr. Wilbert McIntyre Gazebo Park in Edmonton) - Kick off Environment Week by taking part in activities such as blending your own smoothie by pedalling, doing fun crafts and enjoying entertainment by Tiny Labs.

Transit of Venus (June 5th at 3:30pm at Telus World of Science) – Watch Venus (safely) as it passes directly between the Sun and the Earth…something that won’t be seen again until the year 2125!

If you’re still looking for things to do, check out some of our regular listings:

See a movie with your newborn/infant in a baby-friendly environment with the Stars & Strollers features (held in Edmonton on Wednesdays & Thursdays). Also be sure to check out Cineplex Family Favourites where you can see favourite family movies (this week is Bee Movie) every Saturday morning for $2.50/ticket at select theatres.

The City of Edmonton attractions offer many drop-in classes over the weekends. Be sure to check out the drop-in classes offered at:
As always, if you have a family-friendly event that should be featured on our Calendar, please send the details to kjristen@urbaninfant.ca

Times, locations and details are subject to change. Please ensure that you confirm details with event organizers/websites prior to attending.
· Filed Under: Urban Family Event Listings

Mommy Myths

28 May

Buying into these common myths is depressing!  We put so much pressure upon ourselves to do everything perfectly, naturally, and always with complete enjoyment.

Here are a few:

  • Bonding with my baby should be immediate – actually sometimes it may take days or even weeks to feel a bond with your newborn.
  • I have to do it myself – it is alright, even encouraged, to ask for help.  Let someone else take over a few little duties and give yourself have a break or a cup of tea.
  • I don’t need breaks – of course you do!  Start off with 5 minutes a day (eventually work up to 1/2hr/day) to take a walk alone; breathe and relax.  Everyone will be ok with Dad or whomever for a few minutes.
  • Breast feeding is natural/easy – for some but not for MOST.  It is a skill, like many, that needs to be learned and mastered; this can take time for you and your baby.  There are many health nurses and lactation consultants that can help with getting the techniques right.
  • Mothering is instinctual – some aspects are, some – not so much.  Give yourself a chance to figure it out, make mistakes, and move on.  Your baby loves you and thinks that everything you do should be that way!
  • Dad is “helping” – he is NOT a helper, he’s a parent too.  He may not do it exactly the way you would like and he too will make mistakes but it’s a wonderful journey you are taking together.
  • Life won’t change much – LOL!
  • Everyone else comes 1st - we put ourselves at the bottom of the ‘to do list’ but we shouldn’t.  I believe the best analogy for this is the oxygen masks on the airplane in an emergency; we can only help others if we are breathing.

There is never a shortage of advice when it comes to parenting and children.  It is up to us to filter that advice and take from it what we need.  The saying, ‘it takes a village to raise a child,’ is interesting, and I believe it to be true – just watch out for the village idiot!  Each piece of advice given has likely worked for that person but your parenting styles, your child’s temperament, and your beliefs may be different.  DON’T to let anyone make you feel like you are doing it ‘wrong’; you are doing it different is all.

I see many exhausted families in my practice.  As every member of the family begins to get more rest, I begin to see the positive changes happening almost immediately.  It is hard to see the forest through the trees (as they say) and it isn’t until we end the cycle of chaos and exhaustion that we realize how much it was effecting every aspect of ourselves and our family.  Many Dads have come to me, concerned about their wives and the affect that the challenges of motherhood are having on her.  Trust your instincts and reach out for help when that little voice inside is telling you that you need a break.

We have more patience, smile more easily, and show our children a more positive role model when we are refreshed and less stressed.   Taking care of ourselves and/or having time away from our children (a few minutes or a weekend retreat) helps reduce stress; and ‘absence truly does make the heart grow fonder’!  Our children see the difference in us when we are drowning in the chaos and when we let troubles roll off our backs.  They are constantly watching, mimicking, and learning from us how to best deal with life.  The floor may not be washed or the laundry may still be in a pile but our children will only remember the smile on our face and the time we spent with them being silly.

 

~ Heather N. Plante – SoothingAngels.ca

Image:  phanlop88 | FreeDigitalPhotos.net

· Filed Under: Motherhood

How Does She Do It?

25 May

We want to hear how you do it, Moms!  Are you a mom in Edmonton, a career mom, a stay-at-home mom, an entrepreneur mom, something somewhere in between?  Contact us (hello@urbaninfant.ca) to be profiled!

 

Tell us about you, your children and where you live

My name is Cristina. We are a common law couple together for going on 4 years. We have a teenage girl aged 15.5 years old who visits on the weekend. We also have a 7.5 year old boy and a 6 month old boy. We live in Edmonton in a subdivision called Wildrose.

What do you do?

I am a fulltime mom / private day home operator. I work Monday to Friday 7-4:30 pm.

Do you have help? (incl childcare, housework, personal assistant)

Since I stay home with the day home, I do the childcare and housework. My other half pitches in from time to time. Personal Assistant I wish, haha!!

Best hobby?

I don’t have much time for a hobby as I fill my time with children but when I can escape, I love to play games offered on Facebook.

Extracurricular activities for you?

I love to go for walks, which is awesome because it’s a 30 min walk to get a Starbucks or Timmy’s coffee, so it is worth that walk!!

Extracurricular activities for your babe/children?

I used to have my son in soccer but we took some time off to focus on school work. I would love to get back into soccer and maybe dance lessons and music lessons. Our daughter loves to dance and play on Facebook (haha).

What does a typical family day look like to you (Saturday/Sunday)?

The weekend is our leisure time. We go to see NHL games, concerts, movies, bowling, or swimming.

Who cooks dinner?

I make supper 80% of the time then my other half cooks or we order in, lol.

How does the grocery shopping get done, by whom, with the kids, and do you use coupons?

My other half does the shopping 80% of the time because he drives and I don’t. Sometimes we go together and sometimes as a family. I will go during the day sometimes with the stroller and pick up a few items with the kids.

How often do you buy something for yourself?

When I take the kids for ice cream or go out for Starbucks or Timmy’s on my walks.

Do you exercise and if so, how/when do you fit the time in to do that?

I wish I drove because I wouldn’t have to rely on transit for transportation and I would get a gym membership. When the weather is nice I love walking and spending time outside. I have a treadmill at home we use in the winter.

Favourite movie?

My  favourite movie is Riding in Cars With Boys with Drew Barrymoore.

Favourite nookie song?

Nookie song?  lol What’s that? aha!

Favourite beverage special coffee, cocktail?

I love my Caramel Macchiato from Starbucks and love my espresso.  I love red wines and Caramilk has an alcoholic drink that is yummy yummy.

Favourite pair of shoes?

I love my Sketchers Shape-ups.

‘Cannot leave home without it’ item?

I cannot leave home without my iPhone. I am lost with out it.

 

Thank you for sharing with all of us Cristina!  Thanks for being an Urban Infant reader!

· Filed Under: How Does She Do It?

Urban Family Events – May 25th – 31st

24 May

Get ready, because a summer full of activities seems to be beginning. Be sure to check out the following great events going on in and around Edmonton. For full event details, please visit our Calendar.

Devon Days (May 24th – 27th) – Enjoy carnival rides, face painters, balloon animals and all sorts of family-friendly fun taking place in the Town of Devon.

Rainmaker Rodeo (May 25th – 27th at St. Albert Kinsmen Park) – Family-friendly activities include a pancake breakfast, parade, petting zoo, dog shows and more!

Hoofbeats & Heartbeats Festival (May 25th – 27th at Whitemud Equine Learning Centre) – Ride mechanical horses, enjoy a free horse show, listen to live music and more.

Robots: The Interactive Exhibition (opens May 26th at Telus World of Science) – Learn as a family about robotics through more than 15 interactive areas. Check out images of famous movie robots and even remotely control some robots yourself. This exhibit is included in the General Admission price.

Butterfly Day (May 27th at Devonian Botanic Garden) – Dress up as your favourite bug or butterfly and participate in butterfly-themed crafts, cookie decorating and meet the butterflies themselves.

Stephie’s Bike Tour for the Stollery (May 27th in Fort Saskatchewan) – Raise money for the Stollery by participating in either a 30 km bike tour or a 5 km Family Fun tour.

International Children’s Festival (May 29th – June 2nd in St. Albert) – Enjoy this festival that caters directly to children. Festivities include Main Stage performances such as a Dinosaur Petting Zoo, Site Activities such as papermaking and the teaching of clowning skills, and many more fabulous and fun things to entertain the entire family.

 

If you’re still looking for things to do, check out some of our regular listings:

See a movie with your newborn/infant in a baby-friendly environment with the Stars & Strollers features (held in Edmonton on Wednesdays & Thursdays). Also be sure to check out Cineplex Family Favourites where you can see favourite family movies (this week is The Muppets Take Manhattan) every Saturday morning for $2.50/ticket at select theatres.

The City of Edmonton attractions offer many drop-in classes over the weekends. Be sure to check out the drop-in classes offered at:
As always, if you have a family-friendly event that should be featured on our Calendar, please send the details to kjristen@urbaninfant.ca

Times, locations and details are subject to change. Please ensure that you confirm details with event organizers/websites prior to attending.
· Filed Under: Urban Family Event Listings

Urban Finds

23 May
More grand finds from our amazing mom scouts who get the scoop on the good stuff for us!  Are you a savvy mom who knows all the hot products, sites and new local finds before all your friends do?  We’re recruiting more scouts!  We want moms in the know from Edmonton!  Contact us at hello@urbaninfant.ca today and tell us why you’d make an amazing scout!
  • How cute are these Le Toy Van Ice Lollies?! Solid rubber wood, beautifully detailed and comes with it’s own stand. Shipping is only $9.99 from Vancouver. (PS. Modern Mama members get a discount at the all-Canadian Raspberry Kids!)
  • Our scout, Carolyn loves the idea of a stroller liner. You can just pop it in the wash and say goodbye to any stains/crumbs! This memory foam liner from Skip Hop fits most strollers and is available in four cute colours: . They are “coming soon” to West Coast Kids ($39):
  • Launching May 24th, the 124 Street Grand Market will offer vendors, outdoor entertainment and food trucks every Thursday evening. The market runs from 5pm to 9pm and is located on 108 Ave between 123 and 124 Street. The market is a mere block from the always delicious Duchess Bake Shop.
  • Moms of boys rejoice, Hurley for Boys starts tomorrow on Hautelook, the ultimate and first in fashion sample sale sites.
  • Zulily, one of my favourite sample sale sites for baby and kid stuff always has the most fun fashions for your little one (and toys too, and ….) Join Now.
  • Cuter than cute, this summer’s most stylish celebrity tots can be seen here.
· Filed Under: Urban Finds

Becoming a Mom of Two – Introduction

22 May

My husband and I arranged to have his brother watch Anaveiya and our dog Hershey for when the new baby decided to make her big arrival into our world. We had the bag packed and in the car, our doula on speed dial, camera battery charged, car seat installed, birth plan and required paperwork in the glove box and the gas tank was never below half full just in case we were across the city and needed to head to the hospital.

It was a chilly afternoon May 24th, 2011 when our second daughter decided to start her journey to join our family. Labor was fairly short and went smoothly and within three hours Gabriela Grace made her arrival at 630 pm. By the time Gabriela was cleaned up and I took a shower, some pictures and she received her first batch of cuddles from her dad, her Zena and me it was too late in the evening to drag Anaveiya out and unfortunately the hospital would not discharge me after only a couple of hours. My husband and I decided it would be best to let Ana have a good night sleep in her bed and she could meet Gabriela first thing in the morning.

Leading up to the birth of Gabriela we had talked about the best way to introduce the girls to one another and we figured we would do it the same way we did when we introduced Anaveiya to Hershey; slowly and allowing Ana to guide us.

I had packed my bag and gotten Gabriela dressed and ready to go while my husband picked up Ana. Gabriela was napping soundly in the bassinet when I heard a little voice call out “mommy” from the hall. I poked my head out into the hall and spotted Ana as she spotted me. With a smile on her face Ana started running down the hall with her arms opened ready to greet me. With a hug and a kiss Anaveiya asked, “Is my sista here?” I replied yes and hand in hand we walked into the room to the bassinet. Ana was so quiet and shushed me and slowly reached her hand out and stretched her fingers out to touch her new little sister and say hi.

After a minute or two of Anaveiya watching Gabriela and the occasional touch and poke she asked if she could hold GG. I said, “of course you can. Climb up on the bed and I will bring her to you and you can hold Gabriela.” I picked Gabriela up out of the bassinet as Anaveiya climbed onto the bed and positioned herself and then I placed her in Ana’s arms providing some reminders from our chats showing her how to hold a baby using her dolls preparing for this very moment. Ana’s face lit right up as Gabriela looked up at her with her newborn eyes and made a little noise. Anaveiya bent down and gave Gabriela the sweetest little kiss, looked up at her dad and me and said, “I kiss my baby!” It was love at first sight for the girls. And then a moment later Gabriela started to wail, Anaveiya looked panicked as if to say I didn’t do it.

After a minute or two of soothing Gabriela, Ana wanted her back. Ana wanted once again to be included in everything Gabriela. I strongly believe that inclusion is the key. Let your toddler give you some guidance of what they are comfortable with, do not force the new baby on them or separate them too much either. You, your toddler and the new baby will find a balance in time.

 

By Amanda Menjivar – A 29 year old Edmonton mom of two who spends her days balancing caring for her family while providing administration support for her husband’s company while it continues to expand. She enjoys being physically active whether it is chasing he kids, attending a session of boot camp, or getting in a run or a round of golf.

Image:  flash.pro | Flickr.com

· Filed Under: Motherhood, Toddler

How Does She Do It? – Staff Edition

18 May

We want to hear how you do it, Moms!  Are you a mom in Edmonton, a career mom, a stay-at-home mom, an entrepreneur mom, something somewhere in between?  Contact us (hello@urbaninfant.ca) to be profiled!

 

Tell us about you, your children and where you live

Wendy Mueller, blended family with DH Jim and 5 kids – Jake 16, Blake 15, Josh 14, Meg 13 and Evan 7

17 year old cat and 3 year old black lab

West end of Edmonton

What do you do?

Owner of Gryphon Publishing – Edmonton’s Child, Red Deer’s Child, Be Fabulous and Urban Infant

Work at home, full time but around our family schedule

Do you have help? (incl childcare, housework, personal assistant)

No, aside from a very supportive husband, we are trying to do it all and the juggle is challenging… which you could tell if you came over to our house.

Best hobby?

Who has time for hobbies?! I am a gamer on my iphone, love to read and watch sports

Extracurricular activities for you?

I used to be an athlete, but now I spend my time watching the kids’ activities

Extracurricular activities for your babe/children?

Martial arts, baseball, hockey, swimming and soccer

What does a typical family day look like to you (Saturday/Sunday)?

I’m up early with the little man and our teenagers sleep in. Up for a big breakfast cooked by DH and usually some scheduled activities for the kids during the day. We love to entertain and have friends over on weekends; the kids fit right in and join the conversations and fun. We are also movie freaks and watch VOD often.

Who cooks dinner?

Depends on the day – we cook for 7 people every night so we take turns preparing meals and do a lot together

How does the grocery shopping get done, by whom, with the kids, and do you use coupons?

We usually shop on Sundays, with a list. This is considered a date and alone time for DH and I and we take advantage of it. If I go shopping alone it’s all about deals and coupons. If DH shops alone, he spends a lot more and gets a lot of things I wouldn’t… but he shops so I’m not going to complain.

How often do you buy something for yourself?

Very rarely

Do you exercise and if so, how/when do you fit the time in to do that?

I was an athlete growing up and still played organized baseball and volleyball until the last 2 years when the kids all got more involved and needed their taxi driver. I do love going to the dog park with our lab though and try to stay active with our home gym or working out while watching the Biggest Loser or American Idol.

Favourite movie?

Gladiator, Napoleon Dynamite, Shakespeare in Love

Favourite nookie song?

LOL… really?!

Favourite beverage special coffee, cocktail?

Morning – French Vanilla Coffee

Evening – Spiced Rum and Dr.Pepper or red wine

Favourite pair of shoes?

Boots… I love high heeled boots!

‘Cannot leave home without it’ item?

My iphone

 

Thank you for sharing with all of us Wendy!  Thanks for being a member of the Urban Infant team!

· Filed Under: How Does She Do It?

Urban Family Events: May 18th-24th

17 May

It’s the May long weekend! If you haven’t already made plans to go camping or to catch up on yard work, be sure to check out what is going on in and around Edmonton this coming week:

Opening Weekend Celebration (May 19th & 20th at Fort Edmonton Park) – Celebrate the season opening of this popular Edmonton attraction by taking in the live music, children’s tea parties and other fun games and family-friendly activities.

Celebration of Dance (May 21st from 10am-5pm at the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village) – Enjoy traditional Ukrainian food, horse-drawn wagon rides, sheep shearing and take in one of Alberta’s largest Ukrainian dance celebrations.

Royal Canadian Circus (May 22nd starting at 7pm at Edmonton Expo Centre Hall D Arena) – Featuring acts such as equestrian demonstrations, aerial acts, elephant performances and more.

Devon Days (May 24th – 27th) – Enjoy carnival rides, face painters, balloon animals and all sorts of family-friendly fun taking place in the Town of Devon.

If you’re still looking for things to do, check out some of our regular listings:

See a movie with your newborn/infant in a baby-friendly environment with the Stars & Strollers features (held in Edmonton on Wednesdays & Thursdays). Also be sure to check out Cineplex Family Favourites where you can see favourite family movies (this week is Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie) every Saturday morning for $2.50/ticket at select theatres.

The City of Edmonton attractions offer many drop-in classes over the weekends. Be sure to check out the drop-in classes offered at:
As always, if you have a family-friendly event that should be featured on our Calendar, please send the details to kjristen@urbaninfant.ca

Times, locations and details are subject to change. Please ensure that you confirm details with event organizers/websites prior to attending.
· Filed Under: Urban Family Event Listings

The Disney Fantasy – Would You Travel With An Infant?

16 May

Vacationing with an infant? Did I just see you shudder? Or was that me? As a single parent with two very active boys, even the thought of attempting a getaway further than my backyard terrified me. Therefore I have waited five long years to begin traveling with my children, so being invited to attend the press trip of the Disney Fantasy was worth the wait. Imagine my surprise then, when I boarded the newest Disney cruise ship and came across moms with little ones! Shaking my head I secretly thought, “You are crazy, but can I please sniff your baby’s hair…” Little did I know at the time that Disney had a nursery onboard. Yep, I didn’t misspell that – it is a FULL SERVICE nursery. And not like my day care (only for those nineteen months and up), but they actually take babies from as young as twelve weeks!! (Okay in all honesty, who wouldn’t want to cuddle twelve week old babies?!)

I would like you now to sit back in your chair, close your eyes and imagine if you could – oh wait, don’t close your eyes, then you can’t read what I want you to do, so let’s try again. Imagine if you would, (with your eyes open), you’ve just had a baby a couple of months ago. You’re exhausted. You’re sore everywhere. You have zero desire to cook, clean, entertain or otherwise make nice at home. (This may not be difficult to imagine for some of us.) Now, imagine, a soft breeze in your hair, sun warming your skin, a full stomach, and a sleeping baby. Doesn’t this sound divine?! It does to me and I WISH I had known that a Disney cruise could have been my answer to the post-partum depression I fought so hard after my childrens’ births.

The ‘It’s a Small World’ nursery is the stuff “dreams” are made of, check this out:

Umm, can I play here? Please?!

With highly trained childcare professionals, infants and toddlers are treated like prince and princesses, what else would you expect from Disney?

But the infant and toddler activities don’t stop with the nursery, how about attending Jack Jack’s Incredible Diaper Dash? (Seriously whoever designed these activities had to have been a child! They are incredible!)

And don’t forget Nemo’s Reef, even my five year old loves it!

Does this convince you that your infant or toddler will LOVE the Disney Fantasy? I know it did for my kidlets!

Aside from all of the family friendly activities and believe me, there are a lot, (check them out here), you are probably still dreading the thought of lugging all the baby equipment you will need – strollers, diapers, high chairs, play pens, the list goes on forever! Well… what if I told you that Disney made even this easier?! Once your tickets are booked, you can access the “Babies Travel Lite” section to pre-order (again, I didn’t misspell this, it is pre-order!) all of your supplies! Diapers, wipes, powder, most anything your little heart desires and they will arrive on board in sizes made for cruising lengths! I love this. This would be the easiest packing job… EVER.

I also noticed that guests were enjoying high chairs and strollers for their little ones that I didn’t see them come on board with. So I had to check it out and turns out that Disney provides all of the following on board:

  • Diaper disposal units, bottle warmers, bottle sterilizers, cribs and playpens are available complimentary upon request from the stateroom host/hostess for use during the cruise.
  • Strollers are available complimentary at Guest Services for use during the cruise.
  • High chairs are available at all of the restaurants onboard.
  • At Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island in the Bahamas, wagons are available to facilitate navigating the island’s sandy beaches.
  • A variety of essential baby supplies are available for purchase on the ships

I am used to finding high chairs at a restaurant and certainly playpens at a hotel as well as strollers at a mall, but the comprehensive list above really blew my mind.

Now I have taken care of the sleeping baby scenario from our imagination exercise from above, so what was I saying about your relaxation and wind blowing through your hair? I would completely recommend that you take advantage of the industry lower rates and long operating hours of the Fantasy cruise and treat you and your significant other to some time at the spa, sunning on the sundeck and a child-free experience at one of their incredible adult only restaurants (unless you want to order in… ;) ). Once you have been wined and dined, perhaps you should take in a show or go dancing – the Disney Fantasy has it all! Only, without the mommy guilt!

In all honesty, I have decided that I waited much too long for a much needed vacation – had someone told me about the Disney Cruise Line I would never have waited so long!

 

Outnumbered in her own home, Felicia Dewar is subject to wrestling ambushes, dating disasters and life juggling events. Whether it’s home renovations, volunteering in her community or peeing standing up (her two boys, not her!), Felicia takes on each single parenting adventure with determination and a healthy dose of humour.

· Filed Under: travel

Becoming a Mom of Two

14 May

I am proud to say that I am a mother of two beautiful daughters; Anaveiya, just over two and Gabriela, just about seven months. When I was pregnant with my first daughter I was given all sorts of helpful advice, words of wisdom and some not so helpful advice, but advice none the less. Even as my daughter approached her first birthday I still occasionally received advice solicited and unsolicited.  I was among the first of my inner circle of friends to have a second child; apart from my cousin who has four, but her youngest is seven and I have relatives and know plenty of other moms who have two or more children and I do not remember hearing any words of wisdom or advice from them. I had to stumble along and find my footing as a mother of two, so I thought I would share some of the lessons that I learned along the journey so far.

The most important thing I can share is inclusion; include not only your husband or partner, but any and all children and your pets too and start right from the beginning. I cannot speak to cats, birds or other animals, but we have a 3 year old chocolate lab and we included her in as much of the process as we could. Once I found out I was pregnant we started talking to our daughter about babies and that mommy was going to have a baby growing in her tummy, she thought this was great! Ana would kiss my tummy and talk to it saying simple things like hi and morning etcetera.

Ana started coming to the doctor appointments right from the beginning and our doctor was amazing and allowed Ana to ‘help’ during the appointments. Ana would try to help the doctor while he used the Doppler to find the heart beat and would try to use the measuring tape on my stomach to measure the growth of the baby. At our ultrasound appointments the technicians were very accommodating showing Ana and communicating to Ana in simple terms what they were doing, where the baby is and the different parts of the baby.

Apart from the doctor visits we also included Ana in the preparation for the arrival of the new baby from helping to pick the car seat (we picked the seat and then we allowed her to have a vote for the color or design pattern) and stroller to helping ready the nursery, picking names and being part of my “baby bump” photo shoot.

We picked a Peg Perrego bucket car seat and it came in too many colors and patterns that every time we asked Anaveiya which one she liked best she would change her mind. Anaveiya and I would look at the pictures on the website and Ana would go “ooohhh mom that one”. I would say a comment like; “oh that’s a nice color” or “are you sure honey? That green looks like squished peas.”  In turn Ana would say something like; “mmmm I love peas!” or “It is so pretty” or “No mommy it like cados!” (As in avocados, her favorite green vegetable) I believe that it is important to talk to our toddlers as people and not that crazy, squeaky baby talk and to have an actual conversation with them; my husband and I would ask Ana after she would pick a color or pattern “why do you think your new sister will like this one?” Occasionally we would get a smart aleck comment back like, “Because I do” or “Why not?” But we would also get some great responses from, “it’s like your eyes mommy my sister love them like me” or “flowers will make her smile when sad or has a owie.”

It is truly amazing what a child will say and what they think, believe and will share with us in our lives. Share with your child and include them in your life and remember what affects you will in one way or another either directly or indirectly trickle down and affect your child too.

 

By Amanda Menjivar – A 29 year old Edmonton mom of two who spends her days balancing caring for her family while providing administration support for her husband’s company while it continues to expand. She enjoys being physically active whether it is chasing he kids, attending a session of boot camp, or getting in a run or a round of golf.

· Filed Under: Motherhood, Pregnancy
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