Baby Led Weaning

First off - I am NO expert at baby led weaning...In fact we fell into BLW backwards and by chance, mostly because Carter REFUSED all purees, he would eat NOTHING off a spoon but yogurt. It was incredibly frustrating and tough because Hudson ate anything and everything in sight! We even had the occupational therapist come out and do a feeding screen on him to make sure there wasn't something we were missing. For 3 months we struggled through and tried to get him to eat something, anything. As I became desperate I started googling and I recalled a lady at my cpr course mentioning baby led weaning. So I searched it out and did some homework and joined a few groups about it and decided we would try it.

I was mostly afraid of the choking and gagging aspect of things but from the research I did I learned that a baby's gag reflex is stronger than we think and that letting them learn what they are capable of is important. I wasn't too worried about Hudson because he was a good eater/chewer but Carter worried me because he just wasn't there, or so I thought. We started off giving toast, puffs, banana pieces, mum mums, avocado pieces and pieces of sweet potato. Watching Carter just pick everything up and eat it was AMAZING. It was as if he had been trying to tell us for MONTHS that he wanted REAL food, not purees and wanted to feed himself. The boys now feed themselves for all meals with the exception of yogurt. We let the boys try everything we eat - chinese, mexican, italian - whatever we have if they are interested we let them try it. They LOVE it! We take them out to restaurants and people are AMAZED at what they can eat, the amount they eat and that they feed themselves.

I was completely skeptical of blw and thought I would NEVER do it...But here we are - feeding our boys real food, not purees, since they were 8 months old. They love that they get what we eat and we love it because we know they are experiencing vastly different foods and doing it themselves. If you are at all interested in BLW I urge you to do look into it - it isn't for everyone but it worked for us and we enjoy it!

Here are the things the boys are currently mowing down on:
waffles, pancakes, scrambled egg yolks, raisin toast, peaches, bananas, pears, melon of all sorts, strawberries, blueberries, broccoli, cauliflower, sweet potatoes, corn on the cob, fries (yes, not healthy but yummy for them!), chicken of all sorts, taco meat, hamburgers, pasta, tuna, fish, sausage, cookies, mum mums, cheerios, cheese, crackers.

Yes they love to eat!

So there is my run down on BLW - and here is a pic of the boys enjoying their corn on the cob!

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Pure enjoyment....

I know i post all the time about how much I love being a mom because it truly is the best...Sure there are sleepless nights, bad days and times that aren't so great, but I truly LOVE each moment with the little men...Lately I find myself enjoying the boys more and more, as if that is even possible! They are developing little personalities, they babble constantly, they laugh, they play, they are just so much fun! We have been venturing out more and more with the boys of late...We have always taken them out with us but now we don't just run through the store in a made rush to get out of there...We shop, we look around, heck we even take them to SIT DOWN restaurants!

Sure we get the side eye from some people, but once they see how great the boys are they are quick to stop by the table and tell us...We have taken them out to dinner or lunch at actual sit down restaurants a handful of times now and each time has been so successful! They sit in the highchairs and eat right along with us - yes, we feed the boys REAL food...Cut up in pieces, placed in front of them and let them go to town...And they are CHAMPS at this! If you had told me 2 months ago when we were struggling to get Carter to eat anything that he would be sitting today and mowing down on lasagna, meatballs, corn on the cob, chicken, broccoli, rice, pancakes, waffles, fruit - anything he can get in his mouth, I would NEVER had believed you...But ever since we switched from purees to a more baby led weaning approach he is eating...And eating a TON! And Hudson, always our good eater, is chugging along right beside his big bro eating more than most people can even believe! To watch them is pure enjoyment - they love meal times and eat such a variety of food and enjoy it...It is such a joy to be able to go out with the boys and have them enjoy it as much as we do...

Each day is a day full of joy at our house. We try hard to live in the present moment because we know how fast kiddos grow and they will be heading off to college in no time! We try to enjoy each moment and not think ahead to all the tomorrows - they will come but what is important is to live for the here and now and to celebrate it...I try not to wish away the days, sure some days they just want extra cuddles before bed and I have to remind myself that they won't always want that and it's ok to spoil them just a little...The enjoyment they bring to our lives each and every day is beyond measure...I cannot tell you all how much these boys make our family...They are the light of our lives and their laughter and smiles are infectious! We feel so blessed to have the privilege to be Carter and Hudson's mom and dad...It is the best!

Ok I will stop with all the mushy stuff now - heading to bed!

Please be safe...

Ok so I have to get on my soapbox for a minute here because lately I have seen SO many people doing SO many things that are unsafe with their kids...I know we all do what we think is best and we try hard but sometimes people just do things that are so unsafe and I have to tell you I wonder if they even realize the danger...As parents it is our responsibility to educate ourselves as to what the safety regulations are and to ensure that we do our best to keep our kids safe. Here are a few things that drive me absolutely bonkers -

1. Chest clips on car seats - they are called CHEST clips not crotch clips...They should be at armpit/nipple height not down by the belly button - they need to be that height to ensure safety if in a crash so the straps stay secure. Far too many people don't ensure proper placement - either because they aren't educated or just are too lazy to check the straps each and every time your child is in the seat.

2. Harness straps on the car seat - they MUST be tight and fit snug to the chest. The easiest way to check to see if your harness straps are too loose is the pinch test. Secure your child in the car seat and buckle the harness as usual. Using your thumb and index finger, try to pinch one of the harness straps at your child's collarbone level. If you're able to pinch the strap, the harness is not tight enough. You should not be able to pinch any excess, if you can it is not snug enough. They need to be snug but not too tight - you don't want them digging in. If you are in an accident the straps keep your child safely in the seat - if they are fitted properly!

3. Car seats expire! I hate when I hear people say, well as long as we aren't pulled over or in an accident it doesn't really matter...Um, yes it does! Would you feed your child expired food? Likely not, so ensure your child's seat is current and not expired. And if you are ever in ANY accident your seat MUST be replaced - even just a small fender bender can compromise the safety of your seat...

4. Winter Coats and Car Seats are a NO NO! Car seat straps need to fit snugly to the infant and that is IMPOSSIBLE with a bulky winter coat on. Use a blanket over top after the child is in the seat...

5. Car seat handle position. In Canada the handle MUST be in the locked and down position - closest to the front seat. Don't leave the handle up!

6. Forward Facing too early - I know this is a hotly debated item and ultimately people will do what they please and what works for them, but I beg you to be educated when making the decision. In Ontario the law is 22lbs and 1yr some states are 1yr and/or 20lbs. The American Assoc of Peds now recommends to leave them rear facing for a minimum of 2 years...That is DOUBLE what the law calls for. Studies have shown that extended rear facing is FIVE times safer in the majority of auto accidents (that's 500%). When a child is rear facing, the seat absorbs most of the crash forces. The seat distributes the force of the crash over the entire body which helps protect the head, neck, and spine of your child. When a child is forward facing in an accident, the head abruptly moves forward and this puts stress on their neck and spine and in even some minor crashes, the spinal column can stretch too far and snap, causing death. Here are some interesting points borrowed from another carseat safety article:
Common misconceptions about rear facing a toddler:
-"My toddler has really long legs so he will be uncomfortable." or "My child is too big"
These are both untrue in most cases. Young children are flexible and they easily position themselves to be comfortable. They simply bend their legs, prop them up on the back seat, dangle them over the sides or sit cross legged. ALL of these are comfortable for a child. Don't believe me? Call your child over to you and tell them to have a seat. I can guarantee you that the majority of children will not come and sit with their legs straight out in front of them, so why should they sit that way in a car seat. Did you know that forward facing for too long (road trips etc) can actually cut off their circulation, so not only making it uncomfortable, but painful too?
-"If they have long legs couldn't they break in a crash if they are rear faced?"
Yes, although unlikely, their legs could possibly break, but as of now, there are ZERO documented cases of broken legs, hips, feet etc due to rear facing. Studies actually show that forward facing kids are more likely to injure their legs in a crash from being thrown forward into the seat in front of them. Either way, broken legs-cast it...broken neck-casket. Which would you prefer?
-"My child cries too much, she isn't happy if she can't see me"
While I understand it may be frustrating, your main focus should always be on driving and not trying to keep your child happy. She may be upset, but at least you know she is safe. If you turned her forward facing, she may be happy for a little while, but soon the excitement will wear off and she will still be crying every time she gets in the car. It's not rear facing they hate (especially when they don't know anything else), it's being strapped down.

7. Bumper pads in cribs - yes they are cute but they also pose a risk of SIDS. An infant can easily get up against one of these and may not be able to get away and thus suffocate. It is up to each parent but to me the risk just isn't worth it...

8. Pillows, blankets, stuffed animals and other parphenalia in cribs - for the same reason as above. The bed should have a fitted sheet and that is all. If you worry about the child's temperature use a swaddle sack or sleep sack.

9. Children not strapped into the cart - this seems like a no-brainer to me...The straps are there for a reason! USE THEM. I saw a lady at the store the other day who hadn't strapped her toddler in and was beside herself when he almost plunged head first to the floor...Straps are there for a reason!

Ok I think my rant is over..Again, I know we all do what we feel is best but I think being educated about safety for our kids is our responsibility and we need to make sure we are doing our part!

What a week....

This last week can only be summed up in one word - HELLISH! It was a week full of ups and downs and tons of emotions...It all started last Saturday night when Hudson woke up with a fever. It continued all day Sunday and we couldn't manage to get it to come down with advil or tylenol and he was wheezing and moaning. We decided to take him to the er - because I just had a feeling that something wasn't right. After spending many hours waiting we were admitted to the paedatric floor as an xray showed pneumonia and a partially collapsed right lung that was healing. That was a lot to swallow and take in but we were ready to tackle it. Tuesday afternoon he started to go downhill and had to have oxygen placed on him. Tuesday night it all went downhill - his sats were falling and he was struggling to breathe. The nurses were doing everything they could to stabalize him but it wasn't helping. The dr came in and conceded that the pneumonia was severe and he required more agressive treatment immediately - he had an iv line placed in his head and he was on oxygen and nebeulizer treatments every 2 hrs to help him. It was the most awful day ever - to watch your baby struggle like he was, to sit there and feel so helpless. A thousand different things ran through my head - all I wanted was to have my son healthy...He slowly started to bounce back and after a week in hospital we are all home - safe and sound but not 100% yet. Carter spent the week at my parents and he was down and out with a nasty cold and an equally as nasty ear infection. Poor little man was suffering!

This week taught me a lot - I always knew we had great families and friends, but this week really affirmed that for us. We had a loving and safe place for Carter to stay while we focused on getting Hudson home from the hospital, we had food delivered to us so we didn't have to worry about meals, we had a clean house and clean laundry to come home to, we had visitors come to snuggle with both boys and we had lots of love and support from our families and friends. This week taught me that I should always follow my mommy intuition and continue to be my boys voice and fight for them. This week reminded me how precious life is and how blessed I am to have these 2 beautiful little boys to call my own. This week reminded me of how blessed I am to have a wonderful husband who stands beside me through everything and supports me when I feel like I am about to break. This week was a week from hell but it ended with the most wonderful mother's day gift ever - both my boys home and with me. A week from hell melted away in a couple of smiles and cuddles from the most adorable little boys in the world...

Thank you all so much for your love and support this last week - it was scary and overwhelming but we made it thru with your help and love...We love you all so much!

Who made you the Judge?

Something I have really noticed since becoming a mom is how other mom's tend to judge one another. It is crazy to me! Mom's judge one another for EVERYTHING...Breastfeeding, formula feeding, parenting styles, sleeping arrangements, feeding - homemade vs jarred, working or stay at home, cloth vs disposable diapers...Everything we do as a mom is often judged by other mom's...Why is this? Why can't we support one another even if what we choose is different from someone else? What gives us the right to judge how another mom does things?

I didn't breastfeed, not for a lack or trying, but I was often subjected to the "Well breast is best" and "Breastmilk would be better for them". I know this and I tried but it was not meant to be and I had to move on...I could still seeing the disapproving looks from people when asked - what gave them the right to judge me? I don't judge their choice to breastfeed or for how long...My boys are happy and healthy little men - don't judge me!

We use disposable diapers because it is what works for us...We researched and thought a lot about it and considered our lifestyle and life with twins and decided cloth wasn't what we wanted to do...Don't judge me because I use disposables - kudos to you for using cloth but leave me alone!

We make most of the boys food but do give the occasional jarred food item - but I certainly don't judge any mom who chooses to give jarred food. Everyone gets a choice and for us me making it is easier and cheaper because I have the time. Some people don;t have the time, aren't prepared to make their own or just prefer to buy it in the jar - whatever works!

Some mom's believe in co-sleeping...We couldn't do that here since there is just no room in our bed for 2 little boys and Jay is a heavy sleeper and I fear would roll onto the boys. They slept in their playpen in our room until 4months old then we moved them to their room and I will say we ALL sleep better with them in their room. But that is just what works for us...I don't judge people who choose to co-sleep - do what works!

We are hands on parents but allow the boys to attempt to self soothe and to have independent play time...Some people have given us the side eye for this but I feel it is important for them to learn to entertain themselves and not depend on me to provide stimulation 100% of the time. And trust me - these 2 can certainly entertain themselves and us! They LOVE their exersaucers and jumperoos - there are endless laughs and giggles as they jump, bounce, spin and play with the toys on them...They also love to sit on the floor and play - both with us and on their own. Some people choose to adapt a different parenting style and I say - if it works for yo, go for it...But don't you dare judge my choices - my boys are happy and developing!

We choose to let are boys sleepover weekly at Grandie and Grandpa's house and have since they were 2 months old...To insinuate that I don't love my boys or that you love your children more because you could NEVER be away from them for a night is ridiculous. You choose to stay with your children that is your choice and right. We love our boys very much, we waited a long time to be parents...And that doesn't change because we let them have sleepovers with other family. The boys LOVE their time with the grandparents and we know they are getting lots of love and attention and creating great bonds with their grandparents..Yes we miss them but we know they are well taken care of and it gives us a night to reconnect and enjoy our relationship too...Don't judge me and think I love my boys less - that is preposterous!

No one has the right to judge each other and it saddens me that people judge instead of support...What I need on my journey through life, as a mom, wife, daughter, friend and woman, is support...So before you judge someone try offering support...My mom always said you have no right to judge until you've walked a mile in their shoes...Good advice - why don't we all take it?!

What a wonderful place...

Our boys are part of the preemie program, better known as the Infant and Child Development program. It is the GREAT program run by the regional health department that tracks the boys development and puts us into the system with a development specialist and speech therapist. We have had group and individual home visits with them and cannot say enough great things about the program - we love that we have someone to turn to and answer our questions about the boys development especially because they are preemies and there are delays that exist. Through this great program we were introduced to the Niagara Peninsula Children's Center where the boys take swimming. We are part of the Infant Swim program and we love it - Brenna is the instructor and she is so wonderful with the boys and all the kids...This center is for children with special needs - our boys don't have any special needs but are able to use the swimming facility because of the preemie program.

I am so grateful that our boys are very healthy and don't require the services of NPCC but I also feel so blessed to know that there is this wonderful place in our community for the people who need it. We have seen first hand just how great the facility is and the wonderful people who work there. I can tell you that our community is blessed to have this resource available to those who need it and while I hope that we will never need to use all of it's facilities it is comforting to know it exists.

Today was the Astral Media Have a Heart Radiothon in support of the NPCC. We were there for class while they were broadcasting live and I listened on the radio throughout the day. To hear some of the stories of people who have been helped by NPCC brought me to tears...I cried as I drove today because I am so blessed with healthy little boys, I cried because I can't imagine how hard it must be for those parents, I cried because I felt so sorry for those kids, I cried because I know what a wonderful place NPCC is and I was so glad that people could hear about it and have the opportunity to donate to help this great place out...So I donated...I donated for all those kids that use those facilities, I donated because my boys have been blessed to be healthy, I donated because you never know when you or a loved one might need this great place...I urge you all - donate! NPCC is helping children with special needs achieve every dream they have - what is better than that?!

Family Friendly...

So now that we are a family of 4 I tend to REALLY notice places that are family friendly...And I have to say I am quite disappointed in the majority of places we frequent! I know we are not your "typical" family as we have twins but a lot of places that families tend to frequent are lacking in this department. We like to shop at Walmart, No-Frills, Freshco and Sobeys - none of these places have a shopping cart that will seat 2 children...Again I know we are not typical but many families would like the option to place both their children SAFELY in the seated and strapped area of the cart and that is NOT an option at any of our local retailers. This means I have to push the stroller and drag a cart behind me (which is a PAIN!) or wait til Jay or someone can go with me - not exactly convenient or easy... We have gone out to a few "chain" restaurants and while maybe many of these places think changing diapers is only for women our family DISAGREES! Jay is very hands on and changes lots of diapers and when we are out we tend to lean towards divide and conquer - tough to do when the changing station is only available in the women's washroom (Wendy's, Boston Pizza, Walmart - I'm talking to you!) The divorce rate is 50% - which would make me think there are single dads out there needing to change a diaper every once in awhile and don't have a wife to do it - what happens then? Guess we are lucky I am speedy at changing and we are a married couple... We have also been to a few places that have NO changing facilities either (Tim Horton's and Arby's - I'm calling you out!)...Where am I to change my kids? On the cramped and wet bathroom counter? Or maybe the disgusting floor? Or out in my car in the busy parking lot while it is freezing and pouring rain? Or maybe right on the table in the dining area - ain't my problem you chose not to put the proper facilities in place... Why are these places that are frequented by families, so unfriendly? Why do they make it such a challenge to be patrons of their establishment? I am that person - the one that calls and complains about their lack of facilities...It astounds me, infuriates me and makes me want to start taking my family business elsewhere to establishments that appreciate our family and can provide the necessary facilities... Wake up retailers - it is 2012! People have kids and take them with them wherever they go - help make their lives easier by providing a family friendly experience!