Category: Parenting

Posted in Parenting Hacks

Save the Couch Cushions

Posted on by ottawaem

A couple of years ago I wrote about my tips for coping with a sick Tiny Human. One of the tips I found was to place a vinyl tablecloth on your couch for easy clean ups. But what about the everyday mess that comes with Tiny Humans, especially Tiny Humans prone to spitting up (looking at you Tiny Human #3). I realized while folding laundry on the couch one day that the Len Mattress Protectors from IKEA are the same size as our couch cushions. I just slip the mattress protector between the cushion and the foam to place an extra layer of protection between the couch and the Tiny Humans.

Posted in Parenting

How could I forget about Day 3

Posted on by ottawaem

Tiny Human #3 is now just over a month old and the newborn fog is beginning to lift. It’s been 5 and half years since we last did the newborn shuffle. I wish I could say we are older and wiser but most days it feels like we are just older.

I was caught off guard on Day 3 when my hormone levels dropped, my milk started to come and the sleep deprivation reached its peak. The same thing happened with Tiny Humans #1 & # 2 as M reminded me as I fell asleep standing up. Pandemic newborn parenting means more time for cuddles but it also means every doctor visit or trip to the store is extra complicated.

Tiny Humans #1 and #2 have really impressed me, I thought the novelty would wear off but Tiny Human #1 in particular has been a huge help. She loves giving Tiny Human #3 a bottle and changing his diaper. They both love giving him cuddles or entertaining him in his bouncy chair. Even the St. Lucian Lad is stepping up. He is learning to walk alongside the stroller and is quick to alert us to Tiny Human’s cries.

We have gotten smarter about a couple of things:

  • We bought a changing mat that fits in the bassinet and my parents bought us one that can go on the floor to eliminate the chances Tiny Human #3 will take a tumble while being changed.
  • Thanks to a well timed Black Friday sale/early Christmas gift, I invested in a good breast pump giving me a much needed break.
  • I upgraded my nursing pillow, my previous nursing pillow was not only flattened by serving as a lounge cushion for pandemic studying, but it was also HUGE. This pillow is just the right size for me and perfect for propping up Tiny Human #3 for bottles.
Posted in Parenting

Big Paws to Fill….

Posted on by ottawaem

It’s been a little over a week since Bajan Mutt passed away. I still listen for her in the morning and look for her in the playroom at night where she liked to sleep curled up in the girls old toddler bed.

Huey lounging on her dog bed

The loss of our beloved pup wasn’t a huge surprise, she was diagnosed with cancer in early March and we knew the treatment we were pursuing was palliative, but the speed at which she left us has thrown us for a spin.

Months ago we tried to delicately prepare our hearts for her departure, In late March we adopted a delightful little furry chap from St. Lucia and I started to let my mind wander to how I wanted her last days to go. All the French fries she could eat, sleeping on Tiny Human #1’s bed with Tiny Human #1 cuddling her and finally passing away quietly at home with all of us with her. The reality was harshly different. The heaviest load carried by M who took her to the vet for the last time.

What started out as a fairly ordinary Wednesday in COVID lockdown turned into as Tiny Human #1 put it “the worst Wednesday in the history of Wednesdays.” The girls handled everything with such grace and maturity, the tears come when they see her collar sitting on the bookcase in my room but they are also braver than me, digging through old photos to remember happy times with the dog that they will compare every dog to for the rest of their lives.

In many ways the loss of Bajan Mutt also feels like the loss of a chapter in my life. M and I had been married for 9 months when she wormed her way into our hearts. She was with us as we adjusted to life back in Canada, kept us company when one of us was travelling for work and was the back seat driver for many adventures. (Including the time she dropped her toy out the window of a hotel in Vermont or the trip to Boston where she was welcomed with her own “doggy bag” and allowed to hang out with us in the hotel lobby bar.)

She was there when the Tiny Humans were born and was the silent witness to our best and worst parenting moments. She went on her own adventures with the Tiny Humans sharing their joy as we turned off the highway in Port Hope and joining us for Tiny Human #1’s epic western road trip that included a 9 hour detour to drive around the 2013 floods in Calgary.

Her final gift to us was helping pass down some of her wisdom to our little lad from St. Lucia. He knows he has big paws to fill but I think he’s up for the job.

Posted in Parenting Hacks

Playpen Sheets…not just for babies

Posted on by ottawaem

In addition to the two Tiny Humans, we also share our house with Bajan Mutt, our slightly spoiled immigrant pup from Barbados. Being the pampered pooch she is, Bajan Mutt has several dog beds throughout our house. M is slightly allergic to dogs so I try to wash the covers on Bajan Mutt’s dog beds as often as possible. A couple of years ago we bought her new beds from Ikea which are comfy and easy to wash but the beds do still get damp when she comes into the house wet. (Or the Tiny Humans spill on the dog’s bed.) That’s when I realized that waterproof playpen sheets are the perfect size to protect the mattress and extend the life of the dog bed. For smaller beds you could probably wrap both sides or for bigger dogs use a crib mattress cover.

Posted in condo living, Parenting Hacks

Camping in the Bedroom

Posted on by ottawaem

We know it won’t last forever but for the time being the Tiny Humans are very happily sharing a bedroom. Well for the most part happily sharing a room, Tiny Human #2 is a night owl and Tiny Human #1 is exhausted by school and fancies herself a “morning person.” All this to say that light in the room sometimes causes friction. We invested in remote controlled blinds for the bedroom but that does not help with light in the room or Tiny Human #1 waking up Tiny Human #2 when she got up in the morning. On a trip to Ikea to stock up on batteries, waffles and meatballs we noticed these little tents for the head of their beds. The bottom of the tents slips under the mattress providing each Tiny Human with their own personal cocoon for blocking out their sibling. The tents unfortunately don’t stop Tiny Human #1 from waking up her sister to ask if she’s still sleeping, or Tiny Human #2 shining a flashlight in her sister’s eyes to see if they are open.

Posted in Parenting Hacks

Summer Fun

Posted on by ottawaem

One nice plus of our new house is that it is a 5 minute walk from an awesome wading pool and just down the hill from a splash pad. This has not helped us tackle the last of the boxes piled up in the corners of our house but it has helped make it easier to take advantage of our prime location and play outside as much as possible.

Here are some of my favourite tips and products to make the most of fun in the summer.

  1. Cosmetic bag for wet bathing suits-If you buy your cosmetics at a department store, you probably have a few garish cosmetics bags lying around from gift with purchase promotions. While not all bags are created equal, bags with a zipper and thicker lining are great for holding wet bathing suits.
  2. Monkey Mat– Probably one my best summer fun/travel with kids purchases, the Monkey Mat is a nylon mat for the beach, picnics at the park etc., basically anywhere you want a clean dry surface. (We bring it when traveling to create a portable play space on hotel room floors.) The mat is machine washable and super quick drying, with weighted corners so it stays where you put it. We have even used it as an emergency rain shelter for the Tiny Humans riding in their wagon. On more than one occasion, the mat has also proved useful protecting car seats, hotel beds and carpets safe from unwell Tiny Humans when traveling.
  3. Saltwater Sandals– My new FAVOURITE summer sandals. Saltwater sandals are made to go in the water (no need to change into flip-flops when we go to the splash pad), super quick drying, cute and don’t seem to get as stinky as the Tiny Humans’ old sandals. Best of all, they make them in Mommy sizes as well. I found these by chance a few years ago and am hooked. No more soggy Birkstocks when I get caught in a summer rain shower or venture into the splash pad to turn on the water or retrieve a wayward Tiny Human.
  4. Poncho towels- Now that the Tiny Humans are getting a bit older I have discovered  poncho towels make great mini mobile change rooms…. The Tiny Humans can quickly slip off their bathing suits and slip back into their sundresses without the need to flash the neighbours or go into the dirty changeroom.
  5. Mesh bag for sand toys- Another great dollar store purchase, we just toss our sand toys in the bag when we are done and give the bag a good shake to get rid of the sand.
  6. Beach chair for the splash pad-Once upon a time as a desperate Bajan housewife I purchased a folding backpack style beach chair for long afternoons at the beach, fast-forward 10 years (gulp) and the chair now goes to the splash pad and wading pool. The back pack attached the chair is a perfect size to carry our towels and other essentials. The Tiny Humans have also clued into the fact that they get to stay longer at the park when Mommy isn’t sitting on a hard bench or pile of tree roots.
  7. Swim diaper-The Tiny Humans are out of this stage in life but a good swim diaper is a must for enjoying the water. I cannot seem to find the style we have but the one linked above my AppleCheeks is pretty close.
  8. Muslin swaddles– A hold over from the tiny baby days, muslin swaddle blankets are part of our summer kit list. We use them as towels (especially when travelling) or for emergency blankets when the Tiny Humans get chilled.
  9. S’well water bottle- I have written before of my love for my S’well water bottle which keeps hot things well hot and cold things cold. Like the comfy beach chair, having cold water to enjoy is another convenience that makes me more inclined to extend our visits to the park.
  10. Super large ziplock bags- Not fancy but perfect for containing wet towels, bathing suits and sand toys.

 

Posted in Parenting Hacks, Travel

The Amazing Folding Placemat and Clever Cleaning Hack

Posted on by ottawaem

I am not a germaphobe but I’ve never been exactly comfortable with the Tiny Humans eating directly off the table as Tiny Humans are prone to do. This is particularly the case at restaurants, especially fast food restaurants lacking plates.  I usually improvised with napkins or food packaging but after purchasing a new changing pad that rolled like a yoga mat, I started to wonder if something similar existed for portable placemats. During my scouting mission I happened upon Skip Hop Zoo’s fold and go placemat. I am a sucker for the cute characters, but there are similar thin silicone or plastic products on the market that roll up tight enough to earn a space in a mommy bag.

Tiny Human #1 has thankfully curtailed her need to spread her meals across the table but Tiny Human #2 quickly embraced her new eating surface.  Depending on the food whims of Tiny Human #2 however, the mat does seem to get a little sticky or greasy and it’s not always convenient to run it under the bathroom sink for a quick rinse.

This is where the clever cleaning hack comes in. (NOTE: I didn’t call it clever, M did) On a recent road trip to visit my family, I realized that a little splash of vinegar is perfect for giving the mat a quick clean before returning it to the mommy bag. Quite a few restaurants have vinegar in packets or bottles, no doubt intended for french fries, and I have taken to stashing a packet or two in my bag.  Vinegar is a natural disinfectant and does a great job of cutting through any greasy or sticky mess created by Tiny Human #2. Unlike using a baby wipe or alcohol wipe, I don’t need to worry about rinsing the mat before Tiny Human eats off of it again.

Posted in Crafts, Parenting Hacks

Toddler Friendly Paint Trays

Posted on by ottawaem

The Tiny Humans are quite the artists and craft time is a regular activity in our house. M and I have also found ourselves buying more and more craft beer in cans. How are these two things related?

I realized one day as I searched for a plastic lid to use as a make-shift paint tray that the little plastic trays many breweries use to hold a four or six pack of beer cans together are the perfect size for a dollop of craft paint. It’s easy to keep each colour contained or add several colours together to make that perfect “turtle green” or muddy brown.

Did I mention the trays are also great for corralling Easter eggs!
Posted in Parenting, Parenting Hacks, Travel Gear

Newborn Must Haves

Posted on by ottawaem


Frankly newborns don’t need much, something to wear, a source of food, some sort of diaper and somewhere to sleep is all they really need. The below list is more to help you get through those first few crazy weeks.

  1. E-reader- there is a lot of downtime/cuddletime with newborns, and you can only binge watch so much TV.  Being able to read a book with one hand is well handy 🙂 another benefit of an e-reader is that you can keep the room dim for night feedings.
  2. Baby carrier you feel comfortable using.
  3. LilyPadz-awesome for preventing those uncomfortable wet spots when out in public as well as protecting your baby’s sensitive new food sources.
  4. Milkies-put this in the other side of your bra when breast feeding and it collects the dribbles. With a bit of squeezing (don’t ask) I could collect a couple ounces per feed that M would use for a night time bottle or freeze for later.
  5. Everything blanket-still a fan favourite, not too thick and not too thin.
  6. Muslin swaddling cloths- so many uses, swaddling wrap, burp cloth, blanket, nursing cover, playmat etc.
  7. Good water bottle you can open with one hand
  8. Healthy snacks (stashed in key locations throughout the house)
  9. Burp cloths- you can buy fancy ones but I am a big fan of soft hand towels or wash cloths
  10. Nursing cover– personal preference but I found my girls would get distracted in public and it made me less anxious about breastfeeding in public
  11. Bag to tote around diapers, extra clothes etc.
  12. Eye mask and earplugs-You need sleep to function. Even if it’s only a 20 minute cat nap, take advantage of trusted adults who want one on one baby time and get some shut eye. 
Posted in Parenting

What’s inside the mommy bag

Posted on by ottawaem

I feel kind of silly that I started a blog called “inside the mommy bag” but have never really talked about what is in my mommy bag.  I am firm believer that just because you are a mom, that doesn’t mean you need to tote a big ugly diaper bag.  There are a few things that are a must, such as an easy to clean interior and zipper closure, but if it makes you happy, USE IT!!!

With Tiny Human #1 my “mommy bag” of choice was one of my folding Longchamps tote bags or my zippered Lug tote bag. Easy to throw on my shoulder when baby wearing or stash in the bottom of the stroller. With the impending arrival of Tiny Human #2 I realized that a shoulder strap would be helpful.  M returned home from a business trip with a purple Longchamps hobo style bag with a wide shoulder strap, handy outside pocket for my water bottle or keys and enough room for all my assorted baby / pre-schooler necessities. It became my go to mommy bag and is always packed by the door waiting for our next adventure.

Now that I am the mom of a 2 and 5 year old the contents have changed slightly but a most items have stood the test of time and earned their spot in the mommy bag. I have also given honourable mention to those items that sadly departed the bag as I shifted out of the tiny baby phase.

  • Wet wipes (in addition to diaper wipes, I like to stash some wet wipes in a little pouch, along with emergency Kleenex, for quick clean ups)
  • Museum membership cards (in a little coin pouch so they are easy to spot)
  • Water bottle-I love my Swell bottle but for the Tiny Humans, these from Tupperware are easy for little hands to open and close. This Camelback water bottle is also a favourite. (now two water bottles because… well sisters)
  • Silicone drink covers– A life, or at least lap saving invention to minimize spills. (Usually stashed in the pouch with the wet wipes)
  • Bendy straws-Stowed safely in a toothbrush holder.
  • Diaper pouch-I made my own diaper pouch while pregnant with Tiny Human #1 and it is still going strong.
  • Folding potty seat-Perfect for independent 2 year olds who don’t want you to hold them over a public toilet.
  • Everything blanket-So many uses blanket, towel, picnic blanket and on more than one occasion emergency clothing.
  • Change of clothes-Stowed in a pouch like this one, along with a plastic bag to contain the evidence. I also tuck in a shirt for myself after a very embarrassing walk through Boston Pizza in a contaminated t-shirt. My choice was that or the above mentioned blanket.
  • Tiny toys-Usually McD’s Happy Meal Barbies or little toys that are easy to replace if they go AWOL.
  • Magnet blocks-Such a huge hit with the Tiny Humans we ended up buying another set.
  • A pad of paper/pack of crayons
  • Snacks-If you can find them, Tupperware makes great little snack containers that are just the right size for a granola bar or baby biscuits. We now use them in lunches.
  • Applesauce pouches-Perfect for emergency hangry attacks.  These little tops help prevent the grabby sticky mess that sometimes comes from passing a hungry grumpy toddler a food pouch.
  • Silicone placemat
  • Tiny books-McDonalds is now giving out little books in place of Happy Meal toys but we have also managed to pick up some mini books at Chapters.

Honourable mention:

  • Nursing pocho
  • Small pouch with baby utensils and food.
  • Snack cup-This one by Skip Hop has a lid that not only attaches to the cup, it also manages to stay closed in the diaper bag.
  • Food pouch spoons– Easy to clean and take up almost no room in your diaper bag.
  • Folding bib
  • Folding high chair
  • Change mat-We are moving out of the change mat phase but this mat still makes its way into the bag if I think the Tiny Humans will need a mat to sit on.