Mommy Mondays: What A Year

On Saturday as I took down

the Christmas tree,

the pile of kids books

and the intricate and breakable decor,

my mind wandered to what 

would be next Christmas.

Next December,

(okay I admit it, November)

what will life hold for us?

What will have changed?

What will remain the same?

Will I look back on 2016

and feel proud of the changes we made?

The goals set be accomplished,

the ways of being I am promising to myself

hold true?

Next year,

as I unpack those boxes

I so carefully put away,

how will our family look?

Jane will be two

and Claire 5.

We will be in a new routine of 

all day Kindergarten

and how knows what else.

There are so many things

about 2015 I am ready to leave behind.

I am ready for the new year,

new change and 

a new way of being for our family.

The new year also brings a new year for me in another way.

It is my birthday today,

which causes me to pause and reflect even more.

A new calendar year, a new birth year

and another chance for a new beginning.

2016,

I am so ready for you! 

Mommy Mondays: Worth Reblogging

This post originally was written for

 A Good Mother Project. 

I had to share it here because it is just so true,

 I think you need to read it too.

---

It takes a village to raise a child. But some days it’s just me. In fact most days it’s just me. In the beginning this was tough – hands down the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do – and I have a couple of degrees under my belt for Pete’s sake. Why was it so damn hard being home alone with my child those first few months? There were mornings I would literally sob the moment my husband left for work.

Well, for starters, she screamed. A lot. When I tell people how hard it was they say, “Oh yeah, but that’s normal.” Trivializing my experience. Making me feel like I was a failure because it being hard is just “normal.” Nothing. Even. Worth. Discussing. “Oh yeah, but that’s normal.” As soon as these words would leave their lips, I instantly had the urge to justify my statement by providing further information.

“Normal?” I’d say, “Well she screamed for five hours straight most days and there was one day where it was eight hours. We couldn’t go anywhere after 3pm because we knew what would happen.” Immediately, I’d hate myself for trying to justify anything. Why should I? Anyone remotely understanding would get it. Because you know what? Even though all the mums in my mothers group had comparatively calm babies, they still had it tough.

They were still getting up through the night to feed their babies multiple times. They were still battling exhaustion. They were still adjusting to their brand new life with an extra person and a lot less patience, sleep, and time. No matter what “type” of baby you have, those first few months are HARD. And no-one, NO-ONE should ever brush you off, or make you feel weak when you admit it.

A few months later, I was organizing my daughter’s christening and a guest rang to RSVP. A fellow mother. She asked me how I was doing and I said “It’s a bit busy, but things are going okay.” Understatement of the year.

She practically whooped with delight. It honestly felt like she had set me up just so she could bring me down. Before I’d even had a chance to finish my sentence she said: “Oh darling, wait ‘till you have three – then you’ll know what busy means!” When I rang off, I was fuming. Why? Why must we do this to each other? Why couldn’t she just say “I hear ‘ya sista! I barely have time for the toilet!” Or something like that?

She had no idea what my new life as a parent was like. Perhaps I’d woken up to a screaming baby twelve times the night before and had had two hours sleep. What if I’d had a really tough pregnancy and was battling PPD? What if my baby had developed an allergy and had been in and out of hospital for the past fortnight? In one fell swoop she dismissed me. Her patronizing, and might I add, dangerous response made me feel like what I’d been through did not matter; like I was not worthy of her sympathy because I only had the one child. And really, it would have been so easy for her to be supportive instead.

Shortly after this incident we were at a 2nd birthday party and a friend of a friend had just finished describing a rough night with her baby daughter. When she finished speaking she went silent for a few moments and then said, “I don’t know why I’m complaining, sorry, I know I have it good compared to you.” I told her to complain away – we all have our problems to deal with – and talking about them helps. The thing is, there’s nothing to gain from comparing our problems and rewarding the most stressed out mother with a gold medal. Apart from a figurative gold medal to the highest cortisol carrier. Each and every parent has the right to say “I’m having a rough time.”

Do you know why they say it takes a village to raise a child? Because it’s HARD. And for me and many other women most days there is no village. It’s just mum and bub alllll day lonnnngg.

And dammit, I will not be ashamed to say that some days are a struggle.

Mothers need to talk about how difficult parenting can be. New parents-to-be should not be going into their new life completely blind. I’m not saying we should traumatize every pregnant woman we see, I’m just saying – let’s be a little more real so that new parents don’t get such a shock in those early months. BUT we can only be more real when we’re not being patronized, judged, or made to feel like we’re “complaining over nothing” every time we speak up.

Mothers need to be able to safely say things like, “Shit my house is such a mess a 30 minute clean wouldn’t even scratch the surface, and I just ate a packet of Doritos for breakfast” without someone responding with, “Wow, I have two whole children, still managed to clean my house this morning and make myself Eggs Benedict!” Yep this was a real conversation I read on a mother’s forum (the Eggs Benedict may have been a slight exaggeration).

Mothers need to be given adequate time and space to talk about what they’re experiencing – no matter how big or small.You might receive just one phone call during a really tough time and you have thirty seconds to get something off your chest. The person on the other end of the line should support you, not tear you down.

Mothers need a village, but most days, there might not be a literal village on stand-by to help change nappies, puree broccoli, and say “noooo, don’t put that in your mouth.” But you know what? We can be each other’s village. Whether it be online, over the phone, face-to-face – we can support one another – even if it’s for a few minutes a day. We can only do it if we acknowledge that each other’s parenting journey is different – some may have an “easy” child, others may have a “reflux” baby – it doesn’t matter. We all have it hard some days and we need to respect that. It’s only through this respect a village of mothers supporting one another can be born.

Then, even on the days it’s just me – I’ll know I’m not really alone. I’ll have my darling, sweet girl, yes that’s true. And I’ll have the strength of a thousand mothers to guide and uplift me. Who, through their words, actions, and subtle glances, send me the message:

You are not alone, we are your village.

Marina is a sometimes scientist, sometimes jewelry maker, accidental chef, and an always mum. She has slowly emerged from the trauma of the first four months of her baby daughter’s life to…write about the traumatic first four months of her daughter’s life, and the brighter days that followed.

Mommy Mondays: Traveling With A One Year Old

This Saturday 

the girls and I are flying to Alberta 

to visit friends.

I am SO excited.

But I am also a bit nervous to

fly with a baby who has just learned to walk.

In the past I have traveled with 

a newborn, an 8 month old,

a 2 year old and a 3 year old.

The baby stage was fine because

the flight was a nap.

The older ages

she was able to enjoy the TV.

With an active 1 year old

who has no interest in TV,

what do I do on a flight?

I don't want to be the parent that 

packs all these toys that she will

throw around the plane.

I need some ideas!

Can anyone help?

Leave a comment below 

with any ideas you have,

or your experience in flying with a 13 month old!

Thanks!

Mommy Mondays: Mommy Style

There is a joke that the mother uniform

is a pair of yoga pants and t shirt.

Well yes, it is definitely the most comfortable

and probably most practical outfit 

for chasing toddlers and changing babies.

It certainly isn't the most fashionable.

Believe me,

I definitely have days

where I am at home doing chores

and I don't care one bit how I look.

I am all about comfort.

However,

sometimes I find I get stuck in a rut.

I have little energy to put into how I look

and it loses priority. 

One of my goals

for this year was to learn 

how to take better care of myself,

and this falls under that category.

I certainly don't do it well.

There are many days where I fall into that rut again.

This I can tell you - I am trying.

Each day I try to do at least a bit of make up,

put on clothes that are comfortable and cute

and look presentable.

The hard part for me is make up. 

The balance between wearing make up

because it makes me feel better

and teaching my daughter that I need it to feel better.

I want to show her that I can think I am beautiful without it.

I want to teach her that it isn't needed to feel beautiful.

Right now we talk about make up as being fun.

It is fun to put on fancy dresses,

do our hair and wear make up.

Sometimes it makes our already pretty selves even prettier, 

highlighting our best features.

Admittedly, this is a struggle for me.

Jennifer Garner has spoken before

about limiting her make up

for the sake of her daughters.

This intrigued me and always stuck with me,

especially now that I have two girls of my own.

Where is the balance between relying on it

and using it to help us feel beautiful and confident?

What are you thoughts?

I like to simply put on a lotion with SPF,

fill in my brows and apply a couple coast of mascara.

To me, that helps me feel awake and comfortable. 

Sometimes, when I have the extra time (ha!),

I like to play around with make up and try different things. 

Regardless of how much make up I put on,

I always feel a bit better when I take an extra couple of minutes

to choose an outfit and try a little bit harder.

I don't have that feeling when I go out

like I'd be embarrassed to I run into someone I know.

Which in this small town is inevitable. 

Here are a few pieces to help tie together a look

that is simple and comfortable for any mom.

1. A good lotion with SPF.

It really doesn't matter what lotion it is, just make sure it has a high enough SPF.

(image via Mari Claire UK, their recommendations here.) 

2. Basic t-shirts, in a few solid colours. 

These are great for layering, and in basic colours like black and white, they are versatile and go with anything. I like the ones from Old Navy because they are inexpensive. I don't cry when my kids spit up on them, rip them or generally destroy them. They are replaceable and comfortable.

3. Camisoles

Again in basic colours. I like them for layering as well, under a sheer top, or just for some added warmth. I used them especially while breast feeding because I could lift up my top without exposing my midsection. 

4. A pair of comfortable and versatile jeans. 

I am in love with my boyfriend jeans and went through a phase where I wore them way too often. They are definitely casual, however they can be played up a bit with a nicer top and cute shoes. A juxtapose between ultra feminine and very casual. Dark wash skinny jeans are great as well, especially when worn with boots.

(via Google images)

5. A cardigan or wrap sweater

Again, layers. Typically I aim for the three c's -comfy, cozy and cute. There are some adorable styles out there right now, the Aztec print being a big one. 

(image via polyvore.com) 

6. A really good mascara

'Nuff said.

7. A pop of lip colour. 

It is amazing how a touch of lipstick can transform an outfit! My favourite colour is Hot Tahiti by MAC.

(via mylittlemakeup.com)

8. Comfortable footwear.

Yes, comfortable. As a mom I can't explain how hard it is to run after your toddler in heels. Or tread through a sea of tiny pebbles at the playground in wedge sandals. Shoes can definitely be cute, but practical and comfortable has taken top priority in the shoe department. I will still bring out the heels for a special occasion.

For everyday wear I love my Keds. I slip them on and am out the door. I can go for a long walk, ride my bike and stroll through the mall without wearing my running shoes. 

For the fall and winter, I really love my boots and booties. I have two pairs of tall boots in black and brown that are flat. I also have a pair of brown ankle boots in a tan colour, with about a half inch heel. They are really cute and dress up my outfit a bit, but I can still play with my kids in them. 

9. A good bra.

Those babies need support. 

10. A pair of earrings. 

I am rarely seen without a pair of earrings. A tiny drop or studs are my favourite for everyday wear. They just add a touch of femininity to any outfit. These ones by Stella and Dot are my current favourite and can be worn two ways. 

(via Stella & Dot)

There you have it!

My list of simple ways to

go from frumpy mommy

to stylin' mommy.

Which ways do you add a little something

special to your outfit that help make you

feel beautiful? 

Comment below, I'd love to hear! 

Mommy Mondays: Taking Care of Us

As a mother,

rather, as a parent,

we give all day every single day.

We give our bodies, we give our time,

we give our last bite of donut

and our last bit of patience.

We are constantly giving.  

The sacrifice is great, 

but the gain is even greater.

Oh, how I love

when my baby gives me an open mouth kiss,

even if it includes dribbles of her runny nose!

Gross, I know, but it is also a little slice of Heaven.

There is nothing I love more than cooking with my daughter.

Yes, the kitchen is an absolute disaster

(which would have made me absolutely cringe pre-kid days),

but I am making memories with Claire, and I love that! 

There's nothing quite like making cookies in a party dress.

However,

there are some days where it gets to me;

I would be lying if I said it didn't. 

There are days when I don't want to be touched anymore.

When the kitchen floor needs to be mopped AGAIN,

and I just don't want to.

When I fall asleep during bedtime routine

and Claire gently wakes me up to finish reading a story. 

There are days when Spencer walks in the door,

and I give him the look that screams,

"Thank God you are home, now help me!" 

Throughout my journey with post postpartum anxiety,

I have learned how grounded I can be

when I take some time for myself.

The way I do this is through spending time

reading my Bible, doing my devotions and writing in my journal;

time meditating, praying and being still;

to hear my own thoughts.

Sometimes Claire will ask if she can join me,

and I have to let her know that I need some quiet time on my own.

Afterwards, I will spend some time reading or talking with her.

The guilt of saying no bothers me;

I also know that I need to do this to set myself up for

a great day with my girls. 

Does this make me a bad parent?

No, it makes me human.

What makes us good parents 

is when we see it, acknowledge it and address it.

Taking time for ourselves is not a luxury,

its a necessity.

I know there is no way

I can keep giving all of myself

when there is nothing left to give.

Having a bath and a glass of wine,

or taking a few hours to meet a friend for coffee alone

gives me back my sanity.

It reminds me that I am Michelle first,

that my husband and my kids

have certainly shaped who I am today,

they are not who I am today. 

This also goes for our relationships

with our spouses.

Spencer will be with me long after my kids

are off and on their own.

That days seems so far away,

but if how quickly the last 4 years

have gone is any indicator,, 

I know they will also pass too quickly.

Keeping our relationship alive and healthy

takes work.

Throw in a couple of kids

and it becomes serious effort to 

make time for each other.

Date nights in or out;

a simple conversation uninterrupted.

An incredible amount of patience 

with each other when the demands of family

pull us in opposite directions.

We need to connect on a level

that is more than just our roles as parents.

We need to connect as husband and wife

and as friends.

Double dates, dates alone.
Out or in, 
making time together a priority.

Taking care of ourselves
is often met with raised eyebrows from others,
or an attitude of 'when our kids are gone
then we can make time for ourselves.'
Then what are we teaching our children then?
That self care isn't important?
That taking the time to better ourselves isn't a priority?
For me, I want me girls to see this
and know I am doing it because I love their daddy so much.
That being physically, mentally and emotionally fit
takes effort and it takes time.

Investing in myself,
is ultimately investing in my family.

Mommy Mondays: Bed Time Routine

Bed time can be one 

of my favorite times of day,

or most dreaded.

It all depends on the day of course.

Most of the time I enjoy it.

If I am on my game and

paying attention to the clues 

the girls give me, I can help us

have a successful bed time routine. 

This means having dinner prepared in time

in order for the rest of the evening to go smoothly. 

This can really make or break whether or not

there are melt downs. 

For the most part, 

I never thought I'd get too caught up

in any kind of routine or schedule with my kids.

But if I've learned anything since being a parent,

it's everything I thought it wouldn't be.

Most kids largely depend and thrive on consistency and routine.

My girls thrive on consistency and not being rushed. 

My oldest needs time to transition.

She needs down time and she likes to know what is going to happen. 

She can adapt fairly well if she knows what the plan is going to be. 

The girls will eat their dinner together

 and we chat about the day.

What activities we did, 

what our favorite parts of the day were,

what we could change or do differently,

 and other fun things or highlights. 

Then we start talking about bed time. 

This is as simple as saying, 

"When we are finished dinner, 

we are going to clear our plates and head to my bed room to start the bath." 

There are a couple more reminders about what is to come. 

Then we hop into the tub. 

Often all three of us together. 

Claire's favorite part is to have 

everyone in the bathtub.

We will wash up and then play. 

After the bath there is 

typically a few tears from both girls. 

They both love bath time and are always sad, 

and a bit cold, when its over. 

I have them on my bed with towels

 and we dry off and lotion up. 

I usually sing a very silly song about this an attempt to cheer them up. 

It usually works. 

Next we move to their room downstairs

Where we begin getting ready for bed. 

This seems like it is early,

but each stage takes a while and is drawn out. 

Claire will dress herself while I dress Jane.

Then Jane plays while I

brush and braid Claire's unruly curls. 

Claire will brush her teeth, and then Spencer or I do it again. 

At this point Spencer is typically home 

from work and will read Claire her 3 stories. 

Jane and I say good night to Claire and leave the room. 

Claire gets 3 books before bed.

She is beginning to

Enjoy reading them to us now from memory. 

Sometimes we will

Have a little chat, then we pray.

We lay with her for about 5 minutes, 

often giving her "back scratchies." 

Jane and I will read a couple of books geared more toward her age. 

Her favourites right now are 

"Your Baby's first word will be Dad", by Jimmy Fallon 

and the Duck and Goose books.

We read these books in a dimly lit room,

with her white noise machine on.

Once we are done,

she will drink her warm bottle,

and then nurse.

While she is eating I sing her a song,

and end with her favourite song.

Its simply the "I love you" Barney song,

and I use her name. 

Once she is drowsy and sleepy, 

I lay her in her bed.

Along the way, as she is showing signs that she is tired

(yawning and pulling on her ear),

I say to her,

"It is almost time for bed Jane. Night night Jane."

We also point to her bed and say,

"This is your bed. Night night Jane."

Sometimes she will cry for a minute or two,

but then is able to fall asleep on her own. 

As a kid,

I have fond memories of bed time.

My mom always made it so special.

She had a knack for making

the most ordinary and mundane things

and making them sweet and memorable.

Some of my memories are being wrapped in a towel

and sitting on the heat vent in the floor to get warm. 

I can still remember the feeling of the warm air blowing up into my towel.

I also remember snacks like sliced bananas and milk.

What do you do for your kids' bed time routine?

Mommy Monday: Making New Mommy Friends

I see her over there pushing her baby in the swing. 

She's laughing and tossing her gorgeous hair behind her. 

I admire her boots, her gorgeous rain coat 

and wonder how she fit into those skinny jeans 

when her baby can't be any older than 6 months. 

Suddenly I feel frumpy. 

My hair is in a messy bun 

and I am wearing my husbands old football hoodie as a coat. 

I'm wearing yoga pants, again, and have no make up on. 

I want to crawl into a hole. 

Please don't notice me, I think to myself. 

Moments later my super friendly preschooler 

has approached the mom and baby and is chatting away to them. 

I keep my distance and play with my baby on the teeter totter. 

Though soon enough I feel the need to go over 

and make sure they don't mind the extra company of my daughter. 

Her smile is warm and friendly. 

She doesn't let on that my appearance is anything but put together. 

She inquired about my children and I ask about hers. 

It didn't take long before we were in a deep conversation. 

We both connected over our struggle to conceive. 

Hers with her first and I with my second. 

They are new to town and she hadn't met many friends yet. 

An hour passed before we parted ways. 

Now that I have lived here for a couple of years 

and have met a few other moms, 

I am finding that all it takes is a little courage to say hi first.

I am learning to let go of trivial things like messy buns 

and over-sized sweaters to reach out and say hello. 

We are moms, we don't care about that stuff.

We meet each other in some other universe. 

As moms we can connect on levels as low as boogers and lack of sleep, 

or as load bearing as birth stories and infertility. 

Making new friends at this age is similar to dating. 

It's uncomfortable and fear of rejection. 

How do we move from meeting at a playground to scheduling a play date, 

or even a moms night out? 

Do we switch phone numbers or email addresses? 

What if we get business cards made? 

How do we go that much deeper and grow a friendship? 

The same courage it took to say hello. 

You just do it.

 It might be so incredibly awkward,  

but you may be so incredibly thankful you did. 

(via huffingtonpost)

Comment below telling us about a friendship you made meeting at a playgroup or playground 

and you could win a Starbucks card to take that friend for coffee! 

The fine print:

Valid only within Canada and the United States.

Must be 13 years or older to enter.

Must comment on the blog

or the photo on Instagram to enter.

Contest closes Wednesday 10am PST.

Mommy Mondays: Baby Essentials

Welcome to Mommy Mondays,

my newest addition

to the Just An Ordinary Family blog.

Here I am hoping to shed light

on some mommy topics,

give some mommy tips and 

just talk about mommy stuff in general.

Today I am starting with items that

I believe are pretty essential

when it comes to having a baby.

Beside the obvious items

such as a change table, 

crib, etc.

I am talking about the little things

 I couldn't live without.

Not that I am in anyway claiming to be an expert,

but after having two kids I feel I have firm grasp on

what items I would want when/if I do it all again.

Okay here we go!

#1: Sudocream

This diaper rash cream can be found at any drugstore.

I bought one jar after I ran out the Burt's Bees stuff I was gifted 

and only just bought my second jar now when my second is 10 months old.

You read that right! 

I used one jar from the time my now 4 year old was an infant 

until my second at 10 months old.

This stuff is amazing.

I have never been afraid of using too much

diaper cream,

and with Sudocream I have never needed to use it more than a day or two.

It clears up the rash so quickly!

Along with using diaper cream I also aide it with lots 

of bare bum time and also an oatmeal and lavender bath.

#2: Essential Oils

This wasn't something I used much of with my first.

I didn't know much about it then.

You may remember me blogging this past winter

about our never ending colds.

It felt like for months we were just passing it back and forth between us.

A cold, sometimes a flu, but we were always sick it felt like.

Finally after Jane and I had been nursing a cough and runny nose

for almost two months I broke down 

and bought the Essential Collection Kit from doTERRA®.

Now I am totally hooked

and my collection and knowledge of 

essential oils is growing!

It has given me the freedom

to try a variety of home remedies first,

before running to the doctor for a prescription.

I feel like I can take charge of my family's health. 

If you are interested in essential oils,

I became a distributor with doTERRA®

and would love to help you get started on 

your journey with essential oil use.
Click here to visit my doTERRA® website.

#3: a nursing pillow

When I was nursing my oldest I had one of these but rarely used it.

I completely wrecked my upper back and shoulders.

My shoulders curled forward to accommodate the weight of holding

the baby up high enough. 

This made my muscles in my upper back overstretched 

and my pectoral muscles tight.

It has taken me months, even years,

 of trying to correct this posture.

With my second I made sure to always make sure the baby was

high enough up and supported below.

It saved me so much pain this time around!

The pillow also comes in handy for tummy time
and when they are learning to sit up on their own.
I bought mine second hand and made my own cover to go over top
in a fabric that I liked.
You can also purchase covers in different fabrics
that you can take off and wash.

(image from kinderfluence.com) 

#4: a carrier

Whether it is a wrap or a pack, a baby carrier is a must.

Especially if you have other kids.

We had an Ergo that we used with Claire that we loved.

There were a few things about the Ergo that didn't suit me,

so we traded it in and got a Boba.

I am in love with the Boba.

It is so incredibly comfortable and can carry 

a newborn to a toddler 

without having to purchase any extra accessories.
Plus, it is affordable and ergonomic.

Spencer wearing the Boba.

I also enjoy wrapping my babies.

I had a DIYjersey wrap with Claire,

and this time around I used a Moby wrap.

This time I also used a wrap made from a special kind of cotton.

It wasn't stretchy, but allowed me to try some new carries.

Having the baby on me and my hands free

was a huge must this time around. 

It was also very enjoyable for Jane and I.

Claire in my DIY wrap.

Jane in the Moby wrap with a fabric panel.
When she was little, I would put her in the wrap 
and she would fall asleep within minutes.
I don't know how I would have managed without
a baby wearing device.
I had a few!

Jane nursing in the wrap.
So easy, so soothing, so handy!

#5: Hazel wood/Amber teething necklace

These are necklaces that the babies wear.

Please use common sense with this one.

Don't let the babies sleep with it on!

Don't have it too tight, or too loose.

Buy the appropriate size for your child. 

A good idea is to place the top snap of the sleeper

over the necklace.

This way the necklace is looped through

and will help any kind of choking hazard you fear may happen.

It is advised to use real Baltic amber.

With real Baltic amber you can't get it wet

(or let your baby chew on it).

I have seen in several photos on Facebook and

Instagram of babies in the tub or water with their amber necklaces on.

This will actually ruin the effect the necklace has.

With both types of necklaces,

the hazel wood and amber,

it helps alleviate teething symptoms.

With Claire, the amber necklace worked well.

I would see a noticeable difference in her temperament 

when she wore it, and also she hardly drooled when she wore it.

With Jane, the Amber didn't seem to make a difference for her at all,

but the hazel wood necklace did. 

I even tried a different amber necklace

and it had little to no effect on her.

#6: muslin swaddling blankets

Those big, lighty swaddling blankets come in handy for so many things!

My favourite brands are JJCole and Aden and Anais.

There is another one my girlfriend gave me with a beautiful pattern,

but I can't remember the name and the blanket has since been packed away.

Anyway,

they can be used as a swaddling blanket (shocker!)

They can be used as a nursing cover,

a blanket to play on,

a burp cloth and even a towel at the spray park!

#7 - Dishwasher/Washer/Dryer

It seems kind of obvious
to have this on a list.
But if these things ever failed me
during these early years as a parent
I think I would cry for days.
I have a shameless love affair with each of these.

#8: Nose Frida

This was something we discovered the second time around.

Those bulbs you use to suck snot 

(to those who are grossed out, I'm sorry)

are hard to clean. 

Even when you boil the snot out of them

(ha ha)

they can become moldy and gross inside.

They don't always work well, either.

The Nose Frida is bizarre,

not gonna lie. 

The first time I realized what it was,

I was freaked right out.

But I promise you,

even though you are sucking snot through

a hose using your mouth,

you will not get snot in your mouth.

There is a filter to block all the gunk.

It is extremely effective and the filters are replaceable.

(Image from presidentmommy.com)

#9: A really good stroller

This one my husband added because it is so important.

Strollers range incredibly in price.

You can spend as little or as much as you want.

Let me remind you:

You are not buying a car.

There is no need (in my humble opinion) to 

spend ridiculous amounts of money on it.

However, that being said,

don't cheap out either.

You can buy one stroller that

is okay, and replace it two or three times 

depending how many kids you have.

Or you can spend a bit of money

and get a stroller that will last for all your kids.

There are so many varieties as well,

and it really depends on what your families lifestyle is.

Are you a city family who want style?

Or do you want to be able to run with it?

What about using it on rough terrain?

Some things you will want to consider 

are whether you want three wheels and the front wheel

to swivel and lock?

Or four wheels and have the ability to

switch a bassinet for a seat?

Do you want your stroller

to convert to a double,

or purchase a double stroller separately? 

We decided on the Phil and Teds Classic.

We love it.

We have taken it on some good hikes,

the beach and the city.

I love that it is narrow enough to wheel through shops

and arrow narrow corners on a hiking trail.

We can add a second seat on top or underneath without

adding width to the stroller. 

#10: Amazon Prime

Honestly, this has been a lifesaver for me in so many ways.

Amazon.ca has some amazing prices and

they have everything you can think of.

Best prices for diapers, hands down.

Plus, free two day shipping.

What else is there to say? 

Diapers delivered to my door at great prices?

Yes please!

They even carry the brand of cloth diapers we use now.

Runners up:
 baby swing (we loved the Mamaroo),

a great baby bath (we loved the Puj tub),

and a breast pump (Medela is a common favourite.)

Each individual will have their own must haves.

This list represents the things we couldn't live without!

What are your must-haves for baby?