5 Months of Ellie with 5 Thoughts.

Oh boy, how can I already be writing this post? 

It doesn't feel like 5 months yet, especially when I just took Ellie for her 4 month shots today...little late.   

Anyway, I've been trying to conjure up some thoughts about parenting two and any new things I could add to what I've said before about it. 

But this week I've been ultra drained, more than usual. We've all been sick last week and have either caught a second round of colds or the first ones are just lasting forever. All except Wren who is peppy and full of energy and finding me quite boring as I am like Sid the Sloth this week. 

I tried to get outside with her because it's been beautiful out, so we went to the playground and I wore Ellie in the Ergo carrier. After a good 45 min I thought my torso was going to snap off with the weight of Ellie. She's over 17 lbs as of today. That doesn't sound like a lot, but I was waddling down the sidewalk like I was pregnant again. And then I thought...never again... 

If you want a lot of annoying elementary age kids repeatedly asking you dumb questions, just wear your baby in an Ergo. Honestly. All I heard was, 

"Is there a baby in there?"

"Why is that hood up over her head?"

"Why is she sleeping?"

"When will she wake up?"

"Can you wake her up?"

"Can I see her?"

"Can I see her when she wakes up?"

GAAAHHHHH!!!

This leads me into my first thought on being a mom of two. Pt 3 or something of my "series". 

1) I have a lower patience threshold. Especially for irritating kids at the playground or anywhere in public. I feel like I'm Shrek and they're all Donkey. I barely have patience to spare for my own children some days, so other kids just get what I have left. Basically nothing.

2) TV really is the third parent, only better. I can put Wren in front of it and she won't move. In fact, she will barely talk. She zombie's right out. TV is a tool for a parent's bad day, in my humble opinion. I feel next to no guilt using it when needed, like when I'm trying to sneak in a quick shower, slapping together supper or getting 2 seconds to myself in the bathroom.

3) Despite the work of two, Wren entertains Ellie far longer than she would normally be if Wren wasn't around. Wren went to my parents for the day and then slept over, and I actually found myself wanting her back because Ellie was bored so much more easily without having her Wren running around her. The house also feels strangely quiet and weird without Wren, and I miss her quickly, but we're all better for having a break too. 

4) People say that the second child is so much more easy going because they have to be. However, I find myself still feeling like I don't know what I'm doing with Ellie some days, especially with nap/bed time. She doesn't seem all that "easy" in that department and I don't think that I do things all that differently but like I have said before, my memory is shot so I could be wrong.

I can also say along that note that I eat my words all the time. Ideals are meant to be shattered when it comes to raising kids. And don't say "never" or "always". That's not realistic or true. You will break your own rules and how you wanted to do things. Move on.

5) It's not a bad idea to buy appropriate clothing to the season, before the season hits. Don't you hate when the weather changes suddenly and you don't have what you need for your kids? They grow so fast! We have to buy Wren new shoes, she was hobbling around in her size 8's because they were too small. Longer pants in the cooler weather. How come all the long sleeve shirts are belly shirts now?? I can't keep up. That's why Joe clothing is the smartest thing ever. I pick up kids clothes while I grocery shop. Because I don't have time to set aside for shopping otherwise with them. I loathe taking both of them to the mall with me. What a hassle! Do I sound vent-y yet?  

6) (I know I said only 5 points, so you can stop reading now if you like). Play group at our community hall has surprised me. I didn't feel a huge need to go when it was just Wren and I. Since going, it's become like an AA group to me...uh, not like I have ever needed to go to AA...

I used to think I was above needing a "moms" group kind of thing. Who wants to just sit around with other moms and talk about your kids? Laaammmme. 

Except now it's different. It's supportive, helpful, a good place to go for the girls and for me. I've been watching the other kids slowly grow bigger week after week. I've been seeing mom's pregnant and then coming with their new babies. We talk about our struggles among the happy screeches and noise of the toddlers. We get each other, and it's okay if all we talk about is our kids and sleepless nights and the awful time we are having potty training and so on. When I'm nursing Ellie, another mom is helping Wren get a snack. We all need a little spot for something like that in our lives I think, but if you don't, that's fine too. I am happily surprised by what it's done for me. 

That actually sums it right up there...happily surprised by the last 5 months. Even if myself and the girls were all wailing last night at bed time (while Kenton was running an errand) and we were all sad and I hated my life at that moment. Because now I'm excited for a waffle at the market tomorrow morning and to walk around with the girls and him. 

:)

A Review: The Ergo Baby Carrier

As summer comes to a close, I feel this is perfect timing to give a review about the Ergo carrier that I wore mostly outside and probably won't use half as much once we are mostly indoors this winter. Makes perfect sense, I know.

I don't have a ton to say about the carrier, but I like it. I was nervous to buy it (they're not cheap), because I wasn't sure how much I'd use it. 

I wanted one because I predicted I would need my hands free to run after Wren in the spring/summer while we were at parks and outside. I was right, it has been super useful that way.  

Comfort rating: 8.5/10

It's pretty comfy. I read through the instructions about a million times to make sure I was putting it on right and had her positioned correctly, especially when she was very tiny. I used it from when she was about a month old. As you can see in the picture, I bought the infant insert, which was very helpful, otherwise you can't put a baby under 4 months into it really....soo...you kinda have to have that thing. 

After about an hour, my back and shoulders begin to get a tiny bit sore. But usually after an hour, she wants a break from it anyway so I take her out. 

She seems comfy and settles fairly quickly in it once I'm walking or bouncing her a bit. 

Easy to use: 7/10

Sometimes I forgot how to clip/unclip in the heat of the moment- like when she's fussing or crying and I'm trying to get it on or off fast. Using it takes some time to get it right but once you do it's not too bad. It feels clunky and big when I bring it anywhere, like in my diaper bag because it feels huge and awkward. But it's always worth it when I do have it.

Other than that, there isn't much else to "rate" per se. I found my carrier on babysteals.com and paid half the retail price. I bought the infant insert at Bosom Babies. 

I'm not even going to get into the whole topic of "baby wearing", but I have liked "wearing" Ellie when I've used the carrier. I never used one with Wren because she was born in the winter and found I had no use for it with just her. (If we were going out, Wren spent her time in the carsesat and the stroller...like at the mall...)

I do plan on using it into the fall/winter season when we go places where a stroller is annoying and I need to be close by Wren in whatever she is doing. I would say, if you are considering getting one for your baby, go for it! I've read that you kind of have to "train" babies to like it so if you use it from when they're quite small, that probably won't be too hard. 

Because I know this is the post you were all pumped to read on a nice, warm afternoon... :)

"Those" Shows

Do you have one of "those" shows that you like to watch? One that you don't really go around raving about because you know it's lame, it's on Netflix and you like to watch it when you have nothing else to do when you're by yourself?

Mine is Mr. D. I don't know anyone else that likes it and therefore it's my go-to show when I am bored. But the thing is...I actually think it's really funny. 

Do you have a favourite show like that?

(I may or may not be watching it today while I get over a cold...!)

The homemade baby wipes

I read up on home made baby wipes from this blog and decided to try it out. Looked easy enough!

She has nicer pictures on her site, go look at it. And if you don't care about her site, just look at mine :)

You will need:

One roll paper towel

A serrated knife (like a bread knife)

A round jar or container that has a lid large enough to hold half a roll of paper towel

 1 tbsp Baby shampoo

1 tbsp Baby oil

1 cup warm water

I sawed my paper towel  roll in half with some difficulty and Kenton suggested I work out more. Hmph.

My container (a glass jar from Superstore) was a bit too small for my roll. I unrolled some and with great precision (not), I placed the extra paper onto another roll in the kitchen as to not waste it. 

Then I mixed my water, oil and baby shampoo together. I used Burt's Bees for both.

Next I poured the liquid over the paper towel in the jar. I think I only soaked the top half of the roll...
But when I gently pulled out the cardboard roll from the center, the paper seemed to be soaked through at least on the inside. Maybe next time I would get a bigger jar...

I have to say, it was super easy, and the jar on the shelf looks so much better than the ugly Kirkland wipes that we have around (which I will now save for the diaper bag. I'm notorious for forgetting to throw them in and then my kids have six poos at the park. Cest la vie). I have no idea how long it's good for, but I'm guessing the wipes will last until your jar is done. Wipes have a way of disappearing fast anyway....

Ta da!

(In case you are wondering what the point is of making your own...I can only say that I'm not totally sure. I think it's cheaper, and you can control exactly what you're putting on your baby's rear end. This may be gentler than what goes into the wipes in the store? But you know me, I'm all for the aesthetics so I like how it looks on the shelf, ha!)

The Unbaby.me App

I just read something that made my week.
Have you heard of the Unbaby.me App for Facebook that blocks photos of babies from your newsfeed?  Yeah, stupid. But this post from MODG made me laauuugh...

It's a good one :)