Time Flies When You're... a mom

Time flies. I know, we all say it, all the time, but time really is passing by so quickly. I have been super sick this past week, and my little munchkin got his first cold too. We have been spending plenty of mama-baby time (more then usual) in bed trying to recover and I am in awe at how much my little boy has grown. I just got a notice from work asking when I plan on returning (sigh) and I am shocked at how fast this maternity leave is coming to an end. I can't believe my son is almost 8 months old, and is about to start day care this week (tear&sigh). Before I know it my baby won't be a baby anymore and he'll be turning 1. Sigh. Check out this super sweet, touching letter a mom wrote to her baby little boy who just hit that 1 year mark. Obviously it made me cry, lol. Enjoy :)

Are You A Chatterbox Mom?

Every mom has fears when it comes to parenting. Are they developing properly? Am I feeding them the healthiest food? Well I am no different, we all know about this fear of mine and my one of my other big fears is that I don't talk enough to my son. I mean I talk to him, but how do you know when it's enough?

I read this post about talking to your baby, which only heightened my fears about not talking enough to my son. According to this 30 year study, in very poor homes, children heard about 600 words per hour whereas in the home of more financially sound professional parents, they would hear an average of 2,100 words every hour. Now I feel really bad! I really don't think I get 600 words out of my mouth an hour. Seriously, do you? That seems like a lot. For me I don't think it has anything to do with my financial state, it still baffles me as to why I am so quiet. I remember being a teenager and I would be on the phone at all hours of the night and day, talking, talking, talking. For some reason when I got into my twenties that all changed. I became more reserved, less talkative and much more observant. I want the best for my son, and obviously want him to be successful, so I will do my best to talk more to him. Don't get me wrong, we play and interact all day long, dance, sing and go for walks, but to be honest sometimes I feel silly blabbing about non-sense to my son. I guess I need to let go of those weird feelings and start chatting! I am sure this is all paranoia and I am freaking myself out but I just had to vent. Thanks for listening, lol.

Do you talk a lot to your baby? What do you talk about?

Alicia Keys & Baby Egypt Swimming in Miami

Yesterday I mentioned how much I love swimming with my son, and it looks like new mommy Alicia Keys feels the same way. Here she is (looking mighty fabulous in that teeny bikini I might add) taking a dip with her ADORABLE son Egypt. The two splashed around in a pool in Miami and it looks like they had a blast. It's so nice to see a celebrity mama spending quality time (and smooches) with her baby sans a nanny/entourage. And how cute is Egypt in those Burberry swim trunks?? Love it!

Photo: Popsugar

Pool Time

These past few days it's been scorching hot around the country. Yesterday I took my son to a local pool and we splashed around for a couple of hours. He is only 6months and my little booboo loves the water! Ki had a lot of fun in the baby pool, and when I got bored I took him into the big pool. He loves to be dunked (his face is priceless when he comes back up), sprayed in the face and especially loves splashing and I couldn't be happier. I love the water myself, and glad he loves the water as much as I do. I have brought him in the shower with me since he was two weeks old, so I am guessing that's why he doesn't mind his face getting wet. As mentioned on Lilsugar, "Drowning is the second leading cause of death for children under 19 years old. Teaching your tot to swim as early as possible can increase their confidence in the pool and reduce their chances of drowning". I can't wait to get Kion into some swimming lessons, seeing him jump into the pool and propelling himself across the water.

I will definitely be visiting the pool quite often in the next few weeks, it doesn't seem like this heat is gonna cool down any time soon! How early did you bring your baby into the water? Did they love it or hate it? Share your thoughts with us!

6 Months Old

I cannot believe today my son turned 6 months old. I found myself stopping and staring him today, more then I ever have. To see this little being, so full of personality and life is truly overwhelming. I sat and watched him sitting up all by himself playing with his toys and I thought to myself, wow I am lucky... like really really lucky. He is such a special little person, and a huge part of my life and who I am at this very moment. To see him stare intently at certain object and analyze and wonder what they are makes me smile. To see him gather all his toys and pile them up on the right side of his body makes me wonder what is going on in that smart little brain of his. To see him extend his arms when he sees me makes my heart melt. Sleepness nights, exhausted days, poopy messes... it's all worth it. My little boy is growing up in front of my eyes, and today was more emotional then I ever thought it would be. I have been a mom for a short 6 months, but when I look at him, I feel as though I have loved him forever.

What's In A Name?

Usually when a celeb welcomes a new baby into theirs lives you can count on them naming that poor baby something pretty outrageous and weird. A few worth mentioning would be Alicia Silverstone and her baby Bear Blu, Gwenth Paltrow's Apple and Jason Lee's son Pilot Inspektor (yes, really :/). While I am sure each of these parents have a strong meaning behind each name, I just think that poor kid! Well Pink is a new mom, and we really like her choice of baby name. Willow Sage is what she decided and while it's unique it's also really pretty. She recently told Hello! magazine the meaning behind Willow, “I grew up near one. It is the most flexible tree and nothing can break it – no wind, no elements. It can bend and withstand anything. I love that sentiment and I want that for her.” She had this to say about her daughter's middle name, ”Sage is cleansing and sacred and it sounds great with Willow. It doesn’t hurt that her last name is Hart – flexible, cleansed heart.” Love it!!

I know for me personally when choosing the name Kion for my son, I wanted something Persian to carry on my family's heritage. It also translates to King of Kings, and for me, that holds a lot of meaning for my first born. What's the special meaning behind your child's name? We'd love to hear about it!

Tickled Pink!

I couldn't pass up the opportunity to share this adorable pic of one of our fave celeb families. In this photo Pink is absolutely glowing! And how cute is little Willow? LOVE! Pink tells People magazine "You hear people say it all the time, how life changes so drastically. But you can't possibly grasp how beautiful that is until you have your child," We couldn't agree more. Precious!

Drama in the PMS Deptartment!

This is probably my hormones taking over, but I am having a seriously tough week and feel the need to share with you all! Maybe it's just me, but my PMS has me all out of whack and is literally turning me upside down. Has your PMS become worse since having a baby? Mine definitely has! Gone are the days when I could spend a few hours vegged out on the couch eating Heavenly Hash ice cream watching Sex & the City re-runs. LOL. Now I am a mom, and you don't get a break from that. These past couple of days I am feeling super duper exhausted, all I want to do is sleep and sleep and sleep, but I can't, obviously. I am still on top of my mom game but I seriously roll my eyes a hundred times a day (I'm surprised they haven't got stuck up there yet, lol), I find myself crying watching episodes of Supernany (really??), everything seems to really get under my skin and boy did that guy from Bell really get an ear full from me yesterday. And don't get me started on my poor boyfriend (sorry boo!!)! Ugh.

Lol, dramatic but it's exactly how I felt these past few days

Moms, I am asking you, do you ever feel this way during PMS or am I highly over dramatic? I need some tips on how to perk myself up, get motivated and not let this week (+ future weeks) and exhaustion keep me down in the dumps. Any advice is welcome! Help me turn my frown upside down.

Necessity Or Just A Pain?

Today I needed to make an emergency run to Wal-Mart as I was on my last package of wipes. I decided to stop by my moms to drop off Ki, because being in Wal-Mart with him stuck in car seat in the cart not only 1. takes up the entire space in the cart 2. he just looks so awkward and uncomfortable in there and 3. it just frazzles me to be in there with no help in case he freaks and I need to carry him with one hand while pushing the cart with the other, ugh not fun. As I was driving I was thinking (so nice to be alone sometimes lol, you can think!) I can't wait until he can sit in the cart all by himself sans car seat. I remember seeing, while I was pregnant, a cover that fits in the shopping cart to keep them germ free and occupied while you shop. I wasn't sure at the time if it was necessary, and now I'm thinking it would be pretty cool to have.

$19.99 at Infantino.com

I came across an article on lilsugar.com that informed me that grocery cart seats are not only full of nasty germs and bacteria, but "according to researchers at the University of Arizona, shopping carts are dirtier than bathrooms, with fecal contamination and E. coli bacteria showing up on more than half of the carts sampled." EW! I will definitely be picking one of these up! Since I have a little boy, I will try and find this cute colorful Infantino one (above) but isn't this chocolate colored one (below) absolutely fab?

Buy on Etsy, $60

Do you think cart covers are necessary or just a hassle?

No Mat Leave?

Both of us, here at Montreal Fashion Moms are currently on maternity leave, and we love it! To be able to spend a whole year with your baby is just the most fabulous and beyond lucky experience we could ever ask for. We know everyone has a different time frame they get off, but we think any time is better then none. Well, celeb mom Victoria Beckham does not feel the same way, at all! She recently spoke with UK Glamour magazine and had this to say, "Maternity leave? What’s that? I’ve been working incredibly hard so I’m prepared for next season," she continues, "Being a working mum is hard. I think women can relate to me when I say it’s like juggling glass balls.” I couldn't imagine skipping mat leave to get back to work, the thought wouldn't even compute in my mind. You only get this time with your baby once, so I want to soak it all in.

It's reported that Posh Spice and hunky David will welcome their 4th child, a daughter, by C-section on the American Independence Day, July 4th. We wish them a safe a happy delivery, and maybe after she sees her precious little daughter, she will re-considered a little time off.  Are you currently on mat leave? Can you wait to get back to work, or are you milking this time off for all it's worth? Let us know your thoughts!

Shopping With Or Without Baby...

Today I went shopping with my family at the Méga-centre Sainte-Dorothée and I brought along my cute, jolly little son Kion. He was in such a good mood all day, up until it was my turn to try on some clothes, of course. We all (moms) know that trying to dress your postpartum body is no fun task, but with the right clothes you can boost your confidence and walk around with some sense of pride. That was my mission today, to find a few pieces that would camouflage my not-so-nice after baby parts, hellooo tummy, and highlight my better areas, hi boobies. :) I want to start feeling really good when I go outside, and since I am not where I want to be body wise, I want to at least fake it til I make it so to speak.

 

Unfortunately for me, my son missed one nap and was in complete meltdown mode. He didn't want to be with anyone else but mommy. Ugh. But on the positive side, I did manage to snag a few items in between screaming/crying fits. I got some great khaki cargo pants, two cute dresses, a white cardigan and black vest. Next time I think I will leave my son with my mom so I can shop in peace and really focus on the task at hand. Do you shop for clothes with your child/children? Or do you take on this mission solo? Let us know, we'd love to hear your thoughts.

Cute dress & cardi I got from Jacob for less then $20

To Splurge or Not To Splurge

To splurge or not to splurge, that is my question. When it comes to our kids we will do anything for them, including buying them new toys when they have enough, purchasing adorable outfits and sometimes picking up items you really don't need, but they are sooo cute, you just have no choice. Today was a good example of that. I was at Winners (for NO reason, just to get out of the house) and I came across a pair of Dr. Seuss Converse with the Grinch on them, for $22.00. SOOO CUTE! I remember seeing them online when I was pregnant and thinking I have to get those for my cool little dude when he's born. Well, I bought them. They aren't even his size (he'll fit in them sooner or later, haha!), I just couldn't refuse. They even glow in the dark (sooo necessary, right?). OMG.

Then I saw two Dr. Seuss onesies that would look so adorable on him. They were $7.00 each. He now has way more clothes then me, and I am running out of space in his drawers. I'll be in real trouble once Target arrives. Sigh.

Moms, do you buy your children nonsensical items? Like cute shoes even though he can't walk. Or more clothes when he clearly has enough? If not, how do you gain the self control to just say no? Or is it ok to splurge on your children once in a while?

Let us know what you think!

Date Night

After having a baby, date nights and carefree adventures with your significant other become somewhat obsolete. Sometimes even the thought of planning and executing a night away from your child is just downright exhausting. Babysitter or family member? Did I pack the bottles? Finding his fave toys to put in the baby bag. Should I bring his bouncy seat over? Opps I forgot his extra set of PJs (because you never know). See what I mean? Ugh so many things to think about.

Tonight I took the initiative and got my friend and my child's future godmother to watch my son, while me and my other half went to see a movie. Cheapy Tuesday, yes that's how we roll, new parents are on a budget, lol. While I sat in my seat munching popcorn I wondered how Ki was doing and if he missed me, oh geez I am such a sap. After obsessively thinking about him for 10 minutes, I found my man's hand, held it tight and let my mind be free of baby thoughts for about 2 hours. It was really, really nice. On the way out we contemplated sneaking into another movie, as we would have done with no hesitation prior to baby. Then we shook our heads and headed back home to get our son.

Our friend let us know he had a meltdown, refused his bottle, screamed bloody murder and overworked himself so much he feel asleep in just a diaper. Her voice drowned out as I stood there staring at my sleeping angel. I thought to myself, date nights are special and definitely necessary for the health of your relationship, but God do I love coming home and seeing my precious boy.

Do you get out for date nights? Monthly, weekly, randomly? Let us know how you unwind with your partner. 

First Night Away

My sons first night away from me isn't at a babysitters house, or even at my moms... it's his first night sleeping in his crib. Many of you I am sure will wonder why I would wait until my son was 4 1/2 months old, but I find when you are nursing a baby, a bedside basinet is best for both mom and baby. The thought of waking up and walking to feed him in his room multiple times a night was daunting. Also at 4 or 5 in the morning, I bring him in my bed and nurse him on my side and we fall back asleep together, so it was just way more convinient for me. Controversial for some, but this works best for us. As he approaches the 5 month mark, I thought to myself this is only going to get harder and harder, not to mention he will get smarter and smarter, so I have no choice but to get this ball rolling. Right now Kion is sleeping like an angel in his crib. I am typing away and watching an old episode of Oprah on my PVR, the monitor is sitting right beside me and I  am wondering how this night will go. It's going to be harder for me then him I am sure, with the sleepy walks to his room during the night and I won't lie, my heart aches a little as I write this because this means my little baby boy is really growing up. What a bittersweet moment this is. Sigh.

Got any advice for me? I'm praying this goes well, or I'll have to pre-order my own copy of Go the F**k to Sleep to get through this stage. Haha!

Kion sleeping in his bassinet at 12 days old. Time flies.

Does your baby sleep in his crib? Your bed? Bassinet? Let us know your story, we'd love to hear from you.

Touchy Subject

Question for all moms out there. When a stranger sees your baby, do you find that they sometimes over step the boundaries and touch your baby without your permission? Touching their hands or face, even a leg?

Yesterday, I was at Canadian Tire with Ki and a woman, with her two kids, stopped for a second and said "you are sooo cute" to my son and rubbed his leg. She then walked away... I am not really sure how I feel about this. Is it over stepping boundaries or just a kind gesture?

Let us know what you think!