Products I love (as a mom)

When you are pregnant you starting compiling a list and purchase things you think you might need for your baby. Everyone has their favourite items that they can't live without and they let you know what they are. I think that there is always basic stuff you need and you learn what works best for you once you actually have your baby. And, your need change as your baby, and family grow! Here are some things that I love.

The Kushies nursing aprons - although I am no longer breastfeeding, I loved these things. So easy to fit in your purse or diaper bag and really inexpensive. There are so many different types and styles of nursing aprons out there, but I think this is the best value for sure.





My Fleurville diaper bag - I LOVE IT! I started off with a Roots diaper bag, which was great, but soon graduated to this one. It is stylish and practical. I am so happy I got it.





The Fisher Price booster seat - why did I buy a high chair again? This thing just straps on your kitchen chair, cleans really easily, takes up less room and is portable.




Baby Magoo blankets - I didn't have these for the Love Bug, but have a couple for the Missus. She loves them. They are so soft.

Kushies bibs with sleeves - once kids are feeding themselves it tends to get messy. These are inexpensive and completely cover them.






Gymboree bubble blower - this thing makes the best bubbles ever!








My Pliko P3 (Peg Perego) stroller. It was great when I had just one child. And works well with two because your old child, who may generally prefer walking when you are out, can just ride on the back when needed.








Squishy balls - my kids love them. You can get them from any toy store or even the dollar store, We have tons of them.






Diapees & Wipees - Since I used to sell them, I have a few that I use. Even my hubby doesn't mind taking it with him. It is so handy to throw in any bag or to separate different diaper sizes when you have more than one child in diapers.

Menu Plan - week of May 26th

Last week I didn't get to make a couple of the items on my plan because we had company one night and had a late lunch the other day, so a couple of those items are being included this week.

Also, I have decided not to plan weekend meals for the summer. We visit a lot and will be going to the cottage, so there isn't much sense.

Monday - from the Canadian Living Make it tonight cookbook: Mushroom pork medallions, potatoes and asparagus

Tuesday - Lazy perogy casserole & salad - New recipe I'm trying

Wednesday - chicken souvlaki, rice pilaf, Greek salad, pitas and tatziki

Thursday - Penne with short rib ragout

Friday - Mediterranean chicken stew with couscous

Menu Plan - week of May 19th

This is one day late due to the long weekend.

Monday - Fettucine Verona (fresh noodles with grilled chicken, artichoke hearts, sundried tomatoes and cheese)

Tuesday - pizza

Wednesday - from the Canadian Living Make it tonight cookbook: Mushroom pork medallions, rice pilaf and broccoli

Thursday - Japanese grilled chicken, steamed rice, sesame asparagus

Friday - Short rib ragout, pasta and salad

Saturday - BBQ sausages and salad

Sunday - meatloaf, mashed potatoes and green beans

The best gift of all

My husband didn't work last week and picked up the Love Bug from nursery school on Wednesday. When they got home, the Love Bug had made a couple of things for Mother's Day. The first one was a card/sign saying "I love my mommy because..." Can you guess why the Love Bug loves me? Some kids said because their mom vacuums or make dinner, etc. My son said "Because mommy takes me to Starbucks." True, true.

He also had a little bag that he decorated saying "to mommy love Love Bug". I put it on the desk in the kitchen figuring that I would open in on Mother's Day. Well, after lunch, my Love Bug said that he wanted Mommy to "open it now!" He went and got it, climbed up on my lap with the biggest smile on his face. He just sat there staring at me and smiling. When I opened the bag, my heart melted. He had made me a necklace. There were beads on it that he had painted. He was so happy and excited to give it to me. I started to cry (thinking my heart might actually burst). He said "Put it on Mommy." So, I did (and wore it the rest of the day and on Mother's Day). He looked at me and said "Mommy, you look beautiful!" I think I will treasure that necklace forever.

Moments like that are what makes being a mom the most important thing in the world to me. It truly makes it all worth while!

By the way, I did get some other nice things from the Love Bug and Missus (that the hubby helped pick out) on Mother's Day too. I am a very lucky Mommy, that is for sure.

Menu Plan - week of May 12th

This is going to be a boring week...in terms of meal planning, that is. We have plans for the long weekend, so not too many meals for me to plan (which is a nice break for me).

Monday - leftovers - from the last few nights and brunch yesterday

Tuesday - One pot chicken dish over cheesey rice

Wednesday - Pecan chicken, sweet potatoes, broccoli and cheese sauce

Thursday - Homemade pizza

Friday, Saturday & Sunday - TBD

Mother's Day Brunch

This Mother's day (and last year as well) I am holding a brunch for my mom. My family will be there as well as my mom, step-dad and my brother's family. Although it is also my day, I really enjoy having family over. And, I especially love having people over for brunch. I love brunch! Is there anyone who doesn't? Here is the menu I am planning for Sunday. I think it covers both the sweet and savory aspect of brunch.

French toast casserole from this month's Today's Parent Magazine - you make it the night before and pop it into the oven in the morning. I think this looks so yummy!

Frittata with asparagus, tomatoes and fontina cheese


Home fries

Peameal bacon

Fresh fruit

Ricotta Lemon Pancakes with a fresh blueberry sauce - I originally wasn't going to make these, but I want to make sure I have enough food and I think my mom would really like them!

Happy Mother's Day everyone!

16 months old

My little girl turned 16 months old last Sunday. It is so weird to think of her as that old...when the Love Bug was that old I was halfway through my pregnancy with the Missus!

The Missus is a very active toddler now- always running and into everything. She still loves to be held though, which I think is just part of her personality. She is in her glory when we have family get-togethers. She just goes to her grandparents and aunts/uncles asking everyone to pick her up.

She has been moving from two naps a day to just one...and I don't think she is always happy about it! She often goes to the stairs and begs to go "night nights" waaaaaay before it is nap time. I have given in to her the odd day and let her sleep for an hour in the morning (so that she will still have an afternoon nap).

I have decided that I love to make her look pretty. I feel very lucky to have both a boy and a girl because there are great things about each. I do love buying clothes and accessories for my baby girl, for sure. And, she loves it too. She is a shoe gal already! Anytime we go into a store, she goes right for the shoes.

Currently, the Missus and I are enrolled in Toddlergym one of the mornings when the Love Bug is in nursery school. She loves it! Her brother liked it when he was her age too. She enjoys both the singing and active play. After the very first class she already knew the actions for the "Sleeping bunny" or "Sleeping monkey" song. It is too cute! Sometimes she will lie down on the floor and look at me with a big smile, waiting for me to sing it to her.

Some other amazing Missus points:
-she already has mini temper tantrums when she gets frustrated..something I think she may have picked up from her brother (when he was going through that phase). Should be interesting when she turns two.
-she can turn the pages of a book and is getting better at sitting still when being read to.
-she is completely attached to her "Bwankie"! She picks it up and rubs one of the corners against her nose as soon as she sees it.
-she is still a climbing machine and you have to watch her at all times (she has fallen down stairs a few times, much to my horror)
-she can take off pieces of clothes by herself and sometimes I find her walking around the house topless.....and always shoeless in the car.
-she surprises me every day with the amount of words she is using and the things she can do!

Food for thought

I was just thinking the other day about how interesting it is to watch your child's food preferences develop. Both my kids have gone through similar stages. When first introduced to solid foods, they started liking cereal right away. They were also pretty good with fruits and veggies. Meat was another story all together. I had a hard time with jarred meat.
Then they went through a stage where they would try and eat almost anything you put on their tray. And, they couldn't seem to get enough food!

Now the Love Bug is very picky and the Missus is starting to become more so, although she is way more open to trying things than her brother.

Here is a list of the Love Bug's top 10 favourite things to eat (in no particular order):
1.Chocolate (a boy after my own heart)
2.Cheese
3. Ginger Molasses cookies from Starbucks (when asked the other day which Starbucks he wanted to go to he replied "the one with the Ginger Lasses cookies mommy!"
4. Strawberries
5. Pancakes - we have them at least once a week, usually weekend breakfast.
6. "baby oranges" (mandarin)
7. Lunch (which consists of bread or crackers, cheese and turkey - sometimes I ask him what he wants for breakfast and he will say "Lunch!"
8. Kraft dinner with Daddy (because I don't eat it)
9. Chicken fingers and fries (I try to make them healthier and make them myself)
10. mustard - I know it isn't a food, but the guy loves it!

Menu Plan - week of May 5th

Monday - dinner with my husband's grandparents

Tuesday - Mac & Cheese from Deceptively Delicious & a spinach salad

Wednesday (FIL will be over for dinner) - Roasted chicken with balsamic vinaigrette, mushroom risotto with peas, asparagus

Thursday - Lighter chicken pot pie

Friday - marinated flank steak on the BBQ, Rosti potatoes (Canadian Living) and salad

Saturday - Chicken and black bean burritos

Sunday - Mother's Day...I'm not doing dinner. I will be having my family over for brunch which I will write about in another post