When I was pregnant, I thought a lot about my breasts leaking once I was breastfeeding. I bought a few kinds of reuseable breast pads to try out and honestly, after a few weeks I wasn't using them anymore. It did take me past the 6 week mark for my body to make the right amount of milk (I was an over-producer), and as such, leaky breasts were part of my life. At night the engorgement was so bad that I couldn't use reuseable pads or else I would have sopping wet cloth next to my skin. For a while I had to use disposable pads. Then, as my supply started to regulate itself, I switched to just using a breast pad when I was nursing to account for the let down.
Now I have a bunch of pads, some round, some heart shaped (I don't know why), around my house that I find in weird places. They do make good coasters though.
One thing I learned is that I hate the kind with the really soft fuzzy lining. That shit sticks to my nipples once they get wet! Ouch.
Friday, 13 December 2013
Tuesday, 10 December 2013
Product Review: AppleCheeks Diapers
Update: my daughter is now 3 months and about 17 pounds. We switched to size 2 diapers a few weeks ago after experiencing leaks with size 1 as a rise issue and there have been no leaks since.
I tried a handful of diaper combos out and my favourite for this girl has definitely been AppleCheeks. They don't leak and come clean when I wash them. I use the 2 ply bamboo inserts along with the purple stay-dry bamboo booster. I use Nature Clean All Purpose Cleaning Lotion to wash them in. I do a cold rinse, followed by a hot wash with a tiny bit of soap, followed by another cold rinse.
I actually only have 4 covers right now and probably around 12 inserts. This works out perfectly because I wash every other day (this is just when my small washer happens to have the right amount of diapers in it). So I use only about 2 covers every day and change the inserts. I do not use cloth at night because 7th Generation disposables just work better for us than having the hassle of changing baby in the middle of the night.
My daughter has never had a diaper rash (knock on wood) and we've never used any creams or powders on her. I love using cloth diapers, but as I like to travel light, I don't use them when I'm out and about. I just let her wear the cloth diaper she has on and bring disposables for if she needs a change.
I am absolutely loving the fact that AppleCheeks has been doing all of this work releasing special edition diapers and new colours. It adds an element of fun and fashion, not just butt covers.
As a side note, if you buy these at Baby On The Hip in Leslieville with your Toronto Live Green card, you get 10% off and these diapers don't seem to go on sale. For convenience (but higher prices), well.ca is also carrying them now.
I tried a handful of diaper combos out and my favourite for this girl has definitely been AppleCheeks. They don't leak and come clean when I wash them. I use the 2 ply bamboo inserts along with the purple stay-dry bamboo booster. I use Nature Clean All Purpose Cleaning Lotion to wash them in. I do a cold rinse, followed by a hot wash with a tiny bit of soap, followed by another cold rinse.
I actually only have 4 covers right now and probably around 12 inserts. This works out perfectly because I wash every other day (this is just when my small washer happens to have the right amount of diapers in it). So I use only about 2 covers every day and change the inserts. I do not use cloth at night because 7th Generation disposables just work better for us than having the hassle of changing baby in the middle of the night.
My daughter has never had a diaper rash (knock on wood) and we've never used any creams or powders on her. I love using cloth diapers, but as I like to travel light, I don't use them when I'm out and about. I just let her wear the cloth diaper she has on and bring disposables for if she needs a change.
I am absolutely loving the fact that AppleCheeks has been doing all of this work releasing special edition diapers and new colours. It adds an element of fun and fashion, not just butt covers.
As a side note, if you buy these at Baby On The Hip in Leslieville with your Toronto Live Green card, you get 10% off and these diapers don't seem to go on sale. For convenience (but higher prices), well.ca is also carrying them now.
Wednesday, 4 September 2013
First Impressions: AppleCheeks Size 1 Diaper
Having a 9 day old baby means that just about everything is a first impression! This week we're starting to test out the waters with cloth diapering, now that mommy can move around a lot easier.
AppleCheeks is a pocket diaper (well, they call it "envelope" because their design is slightly different) that comes in two sizes. Size 1 fits 7-20 pounds and size 2 fits 18-40 pounds. I have a size 1 diaper and an approximately 9 pound baby.
I have the colour Lemon Zest, which I chose to match the colour of her poop. Also, it's bright and sunny which is nice to see. I didn't use it with an AppleCheeks bamboo insert, but instead used my Bummis cotton insert, which is bulkier. I think this is why I was pretty much on the largest setting, even though she's not close to 20 pounds. Even so, the fit was really nice because of the way the legs and waist are nice and elasticated. It's always funny to see a huge cloth diaper on a little baby.
I also used a Bummis (I think) bamboo liner which meant that as soon as I put the diaper on and she pooped, I was able to change the liner and keep wearing the rest of the diaper. That is super useful, as she loves to poop in a clean diaper!
This is a Canadian company that designs AND manufactures in Canada, which I really appreciate. They also give some of their proceeds to charity, though I'm not sure how much. Their diapers are on the expensive side at $20 for a cover, $10 for an insert, and $5 for a liner, but if you use liners you can get a few wears out of the same cover (and maybe even insert if you're fast enough) before washing. In their starter kit they give you 3 inserts for every cover, so I'm guessing you could use the cover around 3 times in a row.
I have some other brands to test out (Bummis, Bum Genius, GroVia, and FuzziBunz), but I can see myself buying more of these for sure!
AppleCheeks is a pocket diaper (well, they call it "envelope" because their design is slightly different) that comes in two sizes. Size 1 fits 7-20 pounds and size 2 fits 18-40 pounds. I have a size 1 diaper and an approximately 9 pound baby.
I have the colour Lemon Zest, which I chose to match the colour of her poop. Also, it's bright and sunny which is nice to see. I didn't use it with an AppleCheeks bamboo insert, but instead used my Bummis cotton insert, which is bulkier. I think this is why I was pretty much on the largest setting, even though she's not close to 20 pounds. Even so, the fit was really nice because of the way the legs and waist are nice and elasticated. It's always funny to see a huge cloth diaper on a little baby.
I also used a Bummis (I think) bamboo liner which meant that as soon as I put the diaper on and she pooped, I was able to change the liner and keep wearing the rest of the diaper. That is super useful, as she loves to poop in a clean diaper!
This is a Canadian company that designs AND manufactures in Canada, which I really appreciate. They also give some of their proceeds to charity, though I'm not sure how much. Their diapers are on the expensive side at $20 for a cover, $10 for an insert, and $5 for a liner, but if you use liners you can get a few wears out of the same cover (and maybe even insert if you're fast enough) before washing. In their starter kit they give you 3 inserts for every cover, so I'm guessing you could use the cover around 3 times in a row.
I have some other brands to test out (Bummis, Bum Genius, GroVia, and FuzziBunz), but I can see myself buying more of these for sure!
Tuesday, 20 August 2013
Due Date
Today's my due date! I feel like I should get a cake or something, considering it's pretty clear this baby isn't going to show up.
Friday, 16 August 2013
Book Review: Ina May's Guide to Childbirth
For those of you who don't know, Ina May Gaskin is considered one of the pioneers of midwifery in the United States (and really, North America). In a time when midwifery care was not the standard of practice in North America, she and her friends taught themselves to help women give birth naturally without (for the most part) obstetricians. The start of this movement comes from the fact that OBs are surgeons, and as such are not taught to attend normal births. Fast forward half a century and it was easy for me to find a midwife in Ontario for my pregnancy care. I never even had to speak to an OB, and it's covered by provincial healthcare. I feel very lucky to live with such choice.
Ina May wrote her first book called Spiritual Midwifery decades ago and has long since been an integral book for people learning about natural birth. The book I am reviewing, Ina May's Guide to Childbirth offers a two part book to prepare you for natural birth with the first part being positive birth stories as told by the women who experienced them and the second part being Ina May's overview of the birth process in America. I bought this book from iBooks for $20, which was well worth it in my opinion.
The first part helps you prepare mentally for childbirth by normalizing the birth process, especially for first time pregnancies. Birth in our culture is usually talked about in very generalized terms, like "It was a Tuesday and you were born late at night" or "The labour slowed and then the doctor gave me a c-section and you were born". People don't seem to feel comfortable talking to their daughters and friends about the specific processes that influence birth and labour or the interventions that were given with little discussion about the true implications of accepting them. Maybe it's because nearly everyone I've ever talked to in my circle of family and friends has had the standard hospital birth with epidurals and obstetricians and didn't know (at least at the time) that there could be another way. My grandmother recently asked me if I was going to give birth "cold turkey". She had all 4 of her kids with anaesthetic of some kind and doesn't seem to think there's a reason to go through it the way her mother had to. Ina May makes you believe that birth is normal and it's nothing a woman's body can't handle. Knowing that makes me feel empowered and capable. The book is set up with an entire section of these birth stories to make it easy for you to go back and read them when you're feeling overwhelmed.
The second part contains practical information like common medical interventions and what really happens to your body and baby when you use them. There's a good explanation of the chain of events that often lead to Cesarean section in hospitals, starting with medical induction. There are also honest explanations of side effects to interventions that are not scientifically studied and are therefore not mentioned by an anaesthesiologist or obstetrician. For example, babies born to mothers that have received epidurals often have a lot harder time establishing breast feeding. Usually you are just told about the potential problems that could go wrong with the mother from that, such as the possibility of death or paralysis or having a headache that lasts for months. In this part she also talks about how to have a natural birth without a midwife, when you are stuck advocating for yourself. Things like how to let doctors know about your preferences and how to ask them questions about the practices they are suggesting.
This book was overall informative and empowering and I will need to remember to try to relax and think of those who have gone before me when it is time for me to be in labour (which should be any time now, come on baby!).
Ina May wrote her first book called Spiritual Midwifery decades ago and has long since been an integral book for people learning about natural birth. The book I am reviewing, Ina May's Guide to Childbirth offers a two part book to prepare you for natural birth with the first part being positive birth stories as told by the women who experienced them and the second part being Ina May's overview of the birth process in America. I bought this book from iBooks for $20, which was well worth it in my opinion.
The first part helps you prepare mentally for childbirth by normalizing the birth process, especially for first time pregnancies. Birth in our culture is usually talked about in very generalized terms, like "It was a Tuesday and you were born late at night" or "The labour slowed and then the doctor gave me a c-section and you were born". People don't seem to feel comfortable talking to their daughters and friends about the specific processes that influence birth and labour or the interventions that were given with little discussion about the true implications of accepting them. Maybe it's because nearly everyone I've ever talked to in my circle of family and friends has had the standard hospital birth with epidurals and obstetricians and didn't know (at least at the time) that there could be another way. My grandmother recently asked me if I was going to give birth "cold turkey". She had all 4 of her kids with anaesthetic of some kind and doesn't seem to think there's a reason to go through it the way her mother had to. Ina May makes you believe that birth is normal and it's nothing a woman's body can't handle. Knowing that makes me feel empowered and capable. The book is set up with an entire section of these birth stories to make it easy for you to go back and read them when you're feeling overwhelmed.
The second part contains practical information like common medical interventions and what really happens to your body and baby when you use them. There's a good explanation of the chain of events that often lead to Cesarean section in hospitals, starting with medical induction. There are also honest explanations of side effects to interventions that are not scientifically studied and are therefore not mentioned by an anaesthesiologist or obstetrician. For example, babies born to mothers that have received epidurals often have a lot harder time establishing breast feeding. Usually you are just told about the potential problems that could go wrong with the mother from that, such as the possibility of death or paralysis or having a headache that lasts for months. In this part she also talks about how to have a natural birth without a midwife, when you are stuck advocating for yourself. Things like how to let doctors know about your preferences and how to ask them questions about the practices they are suggesting.
This book was overall informative and empowering and I will need to remember to try to relax and think of those who have gone before me when it is time for me to be in labour (which should be any time now, come on baby!).
Thursday, 15 August 2013
Neighbourhood Review: Rooster Coffee House
Let me just start by saying how lucky I feel to have such a perfect coffee shop sitting at my streetcar stop. Having just moved from Markham, it feels like heaven. Warden and 7 just doesn't have what I'm looking for.
Rooster Coffee (on King St. E, haven't visited the original yet) is the kind of place I just feel instantly at home in.
They have a variety of seating options, including a couple of couches. The way their seating is set up is in groups so that you can either sit with a bunch of people you know or a bunch of strangers. It's nice because it makes it so easy to say hi to someone new. It's the kind of place where I've seen people I went to school with (in Waterloo) and also my neighbours.
Their music is a collection of interesting tunes from a variety of decades and genres. The thing I like most about it is that it's not overly loud. I also have never heard anything that's currently on every radio station, which is a nice change.
Their snacks and pastries seem to be a collection from bakeries around the city and they are always fresh and so delicious. Sometimes it's important to remember that you don't need a cookie or brownie every day, even if it's the best brownie you've ever had. Ever. As a side note, they are always willing and happy to serve you when you run into the store 5 minutes to closing to get desert.
They make excellent espresso and coffee. Obviously. But their summer drinks are very interesting. Their cold brew is a step above everyone else's. And definitely superior to my overnight fridge brew.
The raspberry iced tea is a magical drink that's distinctly iced tea mixed with raspberry lemonade. It's a perfect balance of sweet and tart. The straight shakeretto is a shot of espresso that's been sweetened and shaken over ice, martini-style. It makes you feel quite fancy as you stand there for your drink to be shaken.
There are other coffee shops in the neighbourhood, but since moving here 6 weeks ago, this just seems to be the place where we always end up.
Rooster Coffee (on King St. E, haven't visited the original yet) is the kind of place I just feel instantly at home in.
They have a variety of seating options, including a couple of couches. The way their seating is set up is in groups so that you can either sit with a bunch of people you know or a bunch of strangers. It's nice because it makes it so easy to say hi to someone new. It's the kind of place where I've seen people I went to school with (in Waterloo) and also my neighbours.
Their music is a collection of interesting tunes from a variety of decades and genres. The thing I like most about it is that it's not overly loud. I also have never heard anything that's currently on every radio station, which is a nice change.
Their snacks and pastries seem to be a collection from bakeries around the city and they are always fresh and so delicious. Sometimes it's important to remember that you don't need a cookie or brownie every day, even if it's the best brownie you've ever had. Ever. As a side note, they are always willing and happy to serve you when you run into the store 5 minutes to closing to get desert.
They make excellent espresso and coffee. Obviously. But their summer drinks are very interesting. Their cold brew is a step above everyone else's. And definitely superior to my overnight fridge brew.
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| Raspberry Iced Tea and the Shakeretto |
There are other coffee shops in the neighbourhood, but since moving here 6 weeks ago, this just seems to be the place where we always end up.
Tuesday, 13 August 2013
39 Weeks Pregnant
Why am I still pregnant? Every day has felt like a lifetime for the last few weeks. It hurts to move, it hurts to not move. I waddle. I really wish the baby would just schedule the arrival and send me an invite. It's not that I need to be in charge of when this happens, it's more that I'd like the security of knowing it will someday happen. I guess regardless, there will be a baby here in no longer than 3 weeks. I don't even want to know how I'll feel at 40 weeks and a day.
I'm as ready as I'll ever be for baby to show up, so please consider doing so shortly!
I'm as ready as I'll ever be for baby to show up, so please consider doing so shortly!
Saturday, 10 August 2013
Neighbourhood Review: Craft Dogs
Best hotdogs ever.
Craft Dogs makes their hotdogs on site in small batches and it shows. They have a pretty small menu, but they do what they do well. That's the way a restaurant should be. The atmosphere is always friendly and the staff are pretty funny. They sing and dance and are happy to tell you about their product.
I ordered an original hot dog, which is made of local beef and pork and is absolutely huge. You can get any number of delicious toppings on it. I also got the fries and peach ginge rale. They make the fries and even the pop there too! It's amazing. The only thing better would have to be a local beer, but I guess I have to wait for that (due in 10 days!).
It was so good, it didn't even give me heartburn - which at 38 weeks pregnant is a feat for any food. I love this place and I'm lucky it's a few blocks away from our house.
Craft Dogs makes their hotdogs on site in small batches and it shows. They have a pretty small menu, but they do what they do well. That's the way a restaurant should be. The atmosphere is always friendly and the staff are pretty funny. They sing and dance and are happy to tell you about their product.
I ordered an original hot dog, which is made of local beef and pork and is absolutely huge. You can get any number of delicious toppings on it. I also got the fries and peach ginge rale. They make the fries and even the pop there too! It's amazing. The only thing better would have to be a local beer, but I guess I have to wait for that (due in 10 days!).
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| Naked Dog with fancy mustard, smoked tomato ketchup, and a pickle |
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| Chicago Shout-Out |
It was so good, it didn't even give me heartburn - which at 38 weeks pregnant is a feat for any food. I love this place and I'm lucky it's a few blocks away from our house.
Monday, 29 July 2013
Product Review: Olliffe Butcher Shop Leslieville Bone-in Ribeye
While exploring a little bit of Leslieville this Sunday, we made the last minute decision to check out Olliffe Butcher Shop before catching our streetcar back west of the Don Valley. I went in and announced to the butcher that I never cook steak because all I have is a cast iron pan and no grill and stood there, challenging him to sell me on some meat. I told him that the biggest reason I don't even try is because I don't want to spend good money on meat that I can't cook to its full potential.
This guy was very charismatic and told us about a time when he thought that way. Then he said that ribeye was a great steak to cook in a pan and that a chef he once knew in a fancy-pants restaurant actually said a cast iron pan was the preferred method of cooking bone-in ribeye. He walked me through exactly how to cook it:
1. Heat a cast iron pan up for about 20 minutes on medium-high heat. Preheat the oven to 350.
2. Sear the steak on both sides after the pan has heated up.
3. In a separate vessel, place the steak in the oven for 15-20 minutes per pound.
4. Cut the bone off to check how done it is and then let it rest for 10 minutes.
I cooked my 1.8 pound bone-in ribeye for about 32 minutes and then cut the bone off. It was cooked about medium. I wish I had checked it earlier, but my initial fears that I had overcooked it were unfounded. The flavour was phenomenal and the texture was soft and wonderful. Nothing like any steak I've ever cooked at home before.
I paired the steak with seared zucchini and mushrooms and garlic mashed potatoes. What a beautiful Sunday night dinner.
This guy was very charismatic and told us about a time when he thought that way. Then he said that ribeye was a great steak to cook in a pan and that a chef he once knew in a fancy-pants restaurant actually said a cast iron pan was the preferred method of cooking bone-in ribeye. He walked me through exactly how to cook it:
1. Heat a cast iron pan up for about 20 minutes on medium-high heat. Preheat the oven to 350.
2. Sear the steak on both sides after the pan has heated up.
3. In a separate vessel, place the steak in the oven for 15-20 minutes per pound.
4. Cut the bone off to check how done it is and then let it rest for 10 minutes.
I cooked my 1.8 pound bone-in ribeye for about 32 minutes and then cut the bone off. It was cooked about medium. I wish I had checked it earlier, but my initial fears that I had overcooked it were unfounded. The flavour was phenomenal and the texture was soft and wonderful. Nothing like any steak I've ever cooked at home before.
I paired the steak with seared zucchini and mushrooms and garlic mashed potatoes. What a beautiful Sunday night dinner.
Friday, 26 July 2013
36 Weeks Pregnant!
Every day it gets harder to move. All I can think about is getting the baby out safely and finally getting to meet him or her! So I've been reading Ina May's Guide to Childbirth and drinking raspberry leaf tea.
This is the tea I've been using - mostly because it seems to be the only brand readily available in stores near me. It sells for $4.99 for a box of 20 at the Bulk Barn at Front and George. This is the lowest price I've seen, with The Big Carrot selling it for around $6 and even one store in the basement of the St. Lawrence Market selling it for $8. This price adds up when you consider the recommended dosage for third trimester is a litre a day (4 bags), so at the lowest price this tea is costing me $1/day.
It's become part of my nightly ritual to make the tea for the next day (because it's summer and there's no way I'm drinking hot tea).
Because the tea is used medicinally to strengthen and stimulate the uterus, it is steeped for at least 15 minutes with 1 bag per cup.
By the morning it's ready to drink. It tastes a lot like green tea. I actually really like the flavour and will likely keep it around after pregnancy for drinking occasionally. It's supposed to help with menstrual cramps as well.
I am so excited for Tuesday - I will be 37 weeks and the baby will be full term! I'm planning to start nightly reflections on the labour process and the birth at that point. I want to be able to visualize a calm and effective labour for the baby and I. Ina May Gaskin believes that a natural labour and birth has a lot to do with attitude and positive thinking and that's what I'm setting myself up for. I don't actually know any women personally who have had a natural childbirth so it's not culturally normal for me, though it is how I hope the labour and delivery will be. The stories of childbirth in Ina May's book have been very helpful to read as they repeat over and over different scenarios in which women are able to let their bodies do what they were built for and give birth. It's very inspiring and I am very much looking forward to my labour.
This is the tea I've been using - mostly because it seems to be the only brand readily available in stores near me. It sells for $4.99 for a box of 20 at the Bulk Barn at Front and George. This is the lowest price I've seen, with The Big Carrot selling it for around $6 and even one store in the basement of the St. Lawrence Market selling it for $8. This price adds up when you consider the recommended dosage for third trimester is a litre a day (4 bags), so at the lowest price this tea is costing me $1/day.
It's become part of my nightly ritual to make the tea for the next day (because it's summer and there's no way I'm drinking hot tea).
Because the tea is used medicinally to strengthen and stimulate the uterus, it is steeped for at least 15 minutes with 1 bag per cup.
By the morning it's ready to drink. It tastes a lot like green tea. I actually really like the flavour and will likely keep it around after pregnancy for drinking occasionally. It's supposed to help with menstrual cramps as well.
I am so excited for Tuesday - I will be 37 weeks and the baby will be full term! I'm planning to start nightly reflections on the labour process and the birth at that point. I want to be able to visualize a calm and effective labour for the baby and I. Ina May Gaskin believes that a natural labour and birth has a lot to do with attitude and positive thinking and that's what I'm setting myself up for. I don't actually know any women personally who have had a natural childbirth so it's not culturally normal for me, though it is how I hope the labour and delivery will be. The stories of childbirth in Ina May's book have been very helpful to read as they repeat over and over different scenarios in which women are able to let their bodies do what they were built for and give birth. It's very inspiring and I am very much looking forward to my labour.
Wednesday, 24 July 2013
Product Review: Ella's Botanicals Lavender Bubblemania
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| Bubblemania |
I was looking for a bubble bath with no SLS and other nasties. Problem is, those nasties are what make soap foam. This bubble bath produces a soft, fine foam when you run it in the bath. I find I can get quite a few uses from this bottle, though I didn't exactly count last time. I'd say at least 10 adult baths, which is good considering it retails for $18 on the Ella's Botanicals website. If you follow the company on facebook or twitter though, you'll find there are regular sales. It is also a little less expensive where I got mine at the Big Carrot for around $15. It's from the baby line, so if you're using it for a baby (and it can be used as a body wash and shampoo as well) then it would probably last even longer. I do intend on using it with my baby, but let's not pretend the adults in this house don't like bubbles.
The scent is a pretty strong lavender smell that comes from using lavender essential oil. The only thing I would change about this product is that I would like to see an unscented version available. It's not going to foam up like the bubbles I had as a kid, but my baby won't know what Johnson and Johnson even is, so it likely won't matter.
Monday, 22 July 2013
Product Review: Dyson Digital Slim Multi Floor Vacuum DC 35
A good vacuum is a must-have for anyone with pets and floors. But vacuums aren't that useful if you'll never use them. This is why I got a cordless vacuum from Dyson. I got it a few months ago and I use it almost every day. I love how easy it is and that when you mount the base on the wall, as soon as you dock the vacuum, you're charging it.
It has about 15 minutes of charge while on normal suction or 6 on max. I've only reached the end of a charge once in my 650 square foot condo. I use it on hardwood floors and it works wonderfully. It is not very good at picking up bigger things like cat kibbles, but it is amazing how well it picks up fur.
I got mine from Futureshop for $349 plus tax. I happened to pick mine up when they were giving away the cordless toolkit for free with purchase (normally $109). The other accessories have come in really handy for vacuuming furniture, but I wouldn't say they're necessary.
Overall I am very impressed with this product. I can't speak to the longevity, but for now I would definitely recommend this to anyone who has a small space to vacuum frequently.
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| My DC 35 mounted in the kitchen |
I got mine from Futureshop for $349 plus tax. I happened to pick mine up when they were giving away the cordless toolkit for free with purchase (normally $109). The other accessories have come in really handy for vacuuming furniture, but I wouldn't say they're necessary.
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| Image from futureshop.ca |
Friday, 19 July 2013
Fitting a baby into a 650 square foot condo
There is no nursery when you live in a small space. People are obsessed with nurseries. Honestly, what is even the point when what it really means is you're creating a space away from the rest of the house where you and your baby have to spend time apart from the family? Of course there is always the option of getting this space ready only to never use it.
We have a den that is currently empty, but it's at the other end of the unit and I can't imagine sending my baby all the way over there where the sunlight doesn't ever make an appearance. I love that the space is there for later so that we can adapt to the growing needs of our family, but I don't intend on using it for a baby space for as long as possible, hopefully even a couple of years. Considering a wall and a door will cost you an extra $600 or so a month in this city, a den is as close as our child will get to a bedroom for the foreseeable future. Talk about a change from where I grew up in a 4 bedroom house!
I try to keep perspective on space though. If you're going to live downtown in a city, you're not going to have a lot of space for stuff. That just means you have to choose your possessions more carefully and make a regular habit of purging. This makes thrift stores all the more inviting. After all, stuff is transitory in our lives. Easy come, easy go. Once our baby stops using something we have bought or were given, it will be passed on to someone else who can use it. And sorry, future child, most of your crafts will probably have pictures taken of them instead of hoarding them in the basement which we do not have.
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| The extent of our nursery aka corner of our bedroom. |
I try to keep perspective on space though. If you're going to live downtown in a city, you're not going to have a lot of space for stuff. That just means you have to choose your possessions more carefully and make a regular habit of purging. This makes thrift stores all the more inviting. After all, stuff is transitory in our lives. Easy come, easy go. Once our baby stops using something we have bought or were given, it will be passed on to someone else who can use it. And sorry, future child, most of your crafts will probably have pictures taken of them instead of hoarding them in the basement which we do not have.
Thursday, 18 July 2013
Green Baby
One of the ideas for this blog is to create inspiration for ways to incorporate low impact solutions without being overwhelmed. I do plan to cloth diaper, but I have a stash of disposables to start. After all, if I expect myself to perfectly be able to use cloth diapers on an infant when I've never even changed a diaper, aren't I a little crazy? No new mom needs that pressure. I try to live as green as possible but I draw the line when it causes me a great amount of stress. I am one person trying to use less, this does not make me perfect.
When we are stressed, we tend to revert to what we know, and I grew up with a typical north american diet and attitude. This makes Kraft Dinner comforting to me, and that will probably never stop. My goal is to make myself get used to more sustainable foods, products, and practices over time so that they go from making a stressful situation worse to calming my mind with routine during stressful times. My ultimate goal is to raise my child with more of these sustainable and healthy habits so that as they grow up, their default behaviours are less destructive to their bodies and the planet.
So I occasionally will use a lip product that has lead and parabins in it, but most of my makeup collection is free from those kind of chemicals. It's okay to not be perfect, it just means you're human.
When we are stressed, we tend to revert to what we know, and I grew up with a typical north american diet and attitude. This makes Kraft Dinner comforting to me, and that will probably never stop. My goal is to make myself get used to more sustainable foods, products, and practices over time so that they go from making a stressful situation worse to calming my mind with routine during stressful times. My ultimate goal is to raise my child with more of these sustainable and healthy habits so that as they grow up, their default behaviours are less destructive to their bodies and the planet.
So I occasionally will use a lip product that has lead and parabins in it, but most of my makeup collection is free from those kind of chemicals. It's okay to not be perfect, it just means you're human.
Welcome to Old Town
First off, let me start by saying I think the 'Old Town' neighbourhood label seems to be a kind of BIA marketing thing. That being said, it seems to have been needed because where I live doesn't appear to be quite a part of any of the surrounding neighbourhoods like St. Lawrence, Moss Park, or Corktown. Old Town basically encompasses Front to Queen, Parliament to Church. The St. Lawrence BIA has created a community website that outlines the premise of Old Town as a neighbourhood and tourist destination.
If I were to take a guess at the demographics, I would see a lot of young professionals living in the condos that line King Street, Adelaide, and Richmond. But you can't forget the family housing that exists just to the south of Front Street along the Esplanade. A lot of those seem to be co-housing facilities and probably represent the highest concentration of cooperative housing, in the truest sense, in Canada. By this I mean housing that is a mix of incomes, not necessarily subsidized, where people genuinely want to have a sense of community and work with rather than alongside their neighbours. I was surprised to find that the building my husband and I moved in to has a very friendly and community-oriented attitude. What a nice change from living north of Toronto! They even have a facebook group where people communicate with each other daily.
So even though most people don't move into a 650 square foot condo downtown less than 2 months before they have their first child, that is what we did and this is the journey. I feel confident in my neighbourhood and proud to bring a new person into the world here.
If I were to take a guess at the demographics, I would see a lot of young professionals living in the condos that line King Street, Adelaide, and Richmond. But you can't forget the family housing that exists just to the south of Front Street along the Esplanade. A lot of those seem to be co-housing facilities and probably represent the highest concentration of cooperative housing, in the truest sense, in Canada. By this I mean housing that is a mix of incomes, not necessarily subsidized, where people genuinely want to have a sense of community and work with rather than alongside their neighbours. I was surprised to find that the building my husband and I moved in to has a very friendly and community-oriented attitude. What a nice change from living north of Toronto! They even have a facebook group where people communicate with each other daily.
So even though most people don't move into a 650 square foot condo downtown less than 2 months before they have their first child, that is what we did and this is the journey. I feel confident in my neighbourhood and proud to bring a new person into the world here.
Saturday, 9 March 2013
2013
Being pregnant is hard. I'm used to things being pretty easy, but this is the hardest thing I've had to do. You can't even quit when it seems hard. And I'm only at 16 weeks!
Definitely the second trimester is going better for me than the first, but who knows what I'm in for in the next 5 months. It's given me comfort to read pregnancy books, forums, and blogs. It's also been really fun to watch youtube videos of both pregnancy vlogs and birth stories.
I'm really excited for this change in our lives. I can't wait to welcome a cute little sweet baby into the world <3
This will be the best spring/summer ever!
Definitely the second trimester is going better for me than the first, but who knows what I'm in for in the next 5 months. It's given me comfort to read pregnancy books, forums, and blogs. It's also been really fun to watch youtube videos of both pregnancy vlogs and birth stories.
I'm really excited for this change in our lives. I can't wait to welcome a cute little sweet baby into the world <3
This will be the best spring/summer ever!
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