Eve Baby Community

Toilet Training--Triumphs and Tribulations

2011-08-19T08:05:00.000-07:00

Funny Story

I opened my machine washing machine yesterday to find a load of darks full of strange white stuff. Then I discovered something that looked like part of a pad, and then it dawned on me...I had washed a pull-up! My son (who was responsible) said, "Ohhhhh...my jeans are snowed".

Maybe calling them "nighttime underwear" has its downside! As I facebooked the incident, it was comforting to know others had
experienced the same plight and could give some helpful hints. (like shaking the clothes out, washing again once or twice, and sweeping up the floor after the little gel things have dried up a bit).

Disclaimer

I just want to say that every child and every parent is different, so what I have experienced won't suit everyone. I am not an expert...the more children I have had, the more I realize that. My friend with eight children didn't toilet train any of them differently until #7 and #8. And each of my children has gone through toilet-training in a different way, although I have used the same basic method to teach them. So I am going to share what I have learned. I believe there are valuable components that anyone can apply. And it is my opinion that what one finds in magazines is often very nebulous.

Background

In my parenting, I am typically not a methods person. But when it came to toilet-training, I knew I was not structured enough to do the "put them on the toilet every hour" thing. And I didn't want toilet-training to drag on over a long period of time, because I thought me and my kids would both go crazy (and dealing with a lot of messes was not my idea of fun)! So I couldn't just be really relaxed and go with the flow. And I knew I had the potential to waffle, so if it wasn't going well, I would likely revert to diapers or something, and I didn't want to confuse my kids. So, when I was first introduced to my friend-with-the-eight-kids' book "Toilet-Training in Less Than A Day" (which has been "revised" but is still admittedly archaic), I thought it was a good fit for me. And it has been.

The Method

Basically, you spend four to six hours typically with your child in an intensive training session that involves first teaching a doll the basic steps, and then learning them. The basic steps are: pulling down your pants, sitting down, peeing, standing up, pulling up the pants, and dumping, flushing and returning the pot to the potty. And if you wet your pants, you have to practice: ten (less) times running quickly from different places in the house to the potty, pulling down your pants, sitting down, standing up, pulling pants up.

The atmosphere is full of praise, first for everything as it is being done, then gradually lessened to at the completion of different steps and finally only for keeping pants dry. Treats and drinks of favorite beverages are given to encourage maximum opportunity for learning. A list of "friends who care" is used at different times to say who will be proud of them or who keeps their pants dry or who doesn't wet their pants or like wet pants. Verbal rehearsal is used to talk about where we go potty and what we do. But the biggest thing about this method is the focus on dry pants rather than on going on the potty. We reward dry pants, not using the potty, so there are dry pants checks very often during the initial learning and eventually at different intervals throughout the day until it is ingrained.

The goal of the training time is to move from telling your child to go to the potty, to asking them where they go potty, to making a general statement about the potty (it's getting late, I may have mixed that up), to having your child sit down on the potty and pee of his own accord. Once your child has gone to sit on the potty after the first kind of prompt, you move to the next until they've gone on their own. After that, you do dry pants checks every fifteen minutes, and start moving on with the day, having the potty close, and staying fairly close. If accidents happen, for the first week, you have them clean it up (for pee), get them to take their wet stuff off and move it to a designated place, and practice. After the first week, you skip the practice.

My Experience

With my first, a boy, I waited until he was three. At two, he seemed to just be peeing all the time still, and then I had another baby, and I wasn't ready until quite a bit later. He still seemed to be having accidents constantly on training day and I got quite exasperated and went to hang out with my baby for awhile and his breakthrough came with his dad. But he had maybe three or four accidents total in that first week and then never again until school. Kept him in pullups at night (he didn't nap) for the first year. That's it.

With my second, a girl, I did it at age two. She was ready. She was the opposite and held it for the first four hours and so I was exasperated for different reasons. After filling the whole potty pot, and having a few messes, she got it, although it was the next day. She woke up to go pee in the night right away. She went through a time (particularly after #3 came) where she would hold it too long, make it as far as the bathroom, and then have an accident, but it was easy to clean up. A year later, she went through a long period of bed-wetting...she no longer woke up to go, but we found that her dad's warm socks helped that a lot.

With my third, a boy (who I trained two weeks ago), I did it at just over 2.5 years. He was quickest to catch on, within the first hour. (I think I was able to let go of the exact method and adapt it to him a bit more, and God was gracious as I had very little sleep the night before). The exasperation came when he went through a number of accidents following that (one I was on the phone, one I was downstairs etc.) and then started the next morning with several accidents. Since training, he's had a couple of poopy pants, and several puddles (one outside, one in the basement, one when he was really tired), but then he shows us that he knows what to do the next time. He still likes to say "Go potty" and get me to say "okay" if I'm around, but he's got that long groove of diapers pretty much replaced with using the potty. And today, he used the big toilet at the park and started using it at home. Yippee, I'm always glad when they ditch the potty (mine have used it for about two weeks typically).

The Equipment

The requirement for this method, is a potty with an easily-removable pot. I like the First Years one. Mine is yellow on top, blue on the bottom, with a red pot and handles. Bottom turns into a step stool. I got it for $30 at Zellers (but this was four years ago). I also bought a toilet seat which my eldest used for #2 for a year or two, but my daughter had no use for. We'll see if I bring it out for my youngest. It, too, is a First Years product. I love that company.

Conclusion

The only other thing you need is a day without distractions or other children/adults around and some gumption. It takes courage to embark on the intensity of the training as well as some preparation in learning the method. But once the day is done, your child will have the connection in their head, and after having a few accidents...kind of testing things out (and having to clean up and practice), they will have it down. No months and months of remembering to get them to the bathroom or having accidents, or trying to give enough treats or toys, or keep up with a sticker chart. They have had the time to replace that old way of doing things with a new one. And when accidents happen, there's a very clear consequence that naturally discourages them. That's been my experience anyway.

There are other ways of intensive training as well. I think this is the most comprehensive. If anyone has had success with other methods, feel free to comment. I have no experience with any other method unfortunately and this is the only one I can share.

Summertime

2011-07-25T13:11:00.000-07:00

Nothing like popsicles to say "Summer".

I used some left-over sauce for pancakes (rhubarb/strawberry puree) and some slightly-sweetened and orange juice concentrate with banana chunks for these beauties.

For more summer recipes, visit www.thinkinaboutbeauty.blogspot.com

Keeping Warm

2010-11-20T13:30:00.000-08:00

If you're like me (and I imagine, most moms), now that winter is here, you're looking for ways to make the outdoor experience a little more fun and a little less frustrating for you and your kids. You want them to get some sun and fresh air and to get their pent-up energy out. But they either come in too soon or they are constantly asking you to deal with the snow that is getting in between their cuff and mitt.

Well, one day when my eldest was a toddler, I came up with an idea that seems to help: "wrist guards".

Instructions:

Take a sock one size too small
Cut off the foot at a bit of an angle just before the heel
Cut a small hole at the heel corner (for the thumb).

When these are under the mitts, the kids seems to withstand a lot more snow getting in there and are more content playing. Try it! (email me if you have questions). The only thing I find with this very crude invention is that the thumb hole can rip/stretch and not provide proper coverage after that.

A Father's Legacy

2010-06-16T11:55:00.000-07:00

Fathers are so important. I am thankful my father is still alive. Recently, I received a very encouraging letter from him. He has invested in me a great deal over the years, particularly in my musical education. I was delighted when, after he tuned my piano for me, I could play him a couple of pieces that showed off the skill he enabled me to build. A father's legacy lives on in his children. Here is a story of one father's legacy through the business he inspired his daughter to create.

After experiencing the loss of her Dad to cancer, owner of Green Please, Melanie Derwin wanted to do something to help others prevent a cancer journey of a loved one. At that time, with her 13 month old son in hand, she asked her Dad's oncologist: "Where does all this cancer come from and what can we do now to prevent it?"

The oncologist noted that some cancer is related to age or genetics. He went on to explain that the environment had an impact on his patients who were surrounded by toxic chemicals. This was the start of Melanie's journey towards "greening up my lifestyle", particularly for the sake of the children.

Melanie was again drawn deeper into green living when her 20 month-old son had repeated ear & throat infections with no relief from prescribed antibiotics. He then developed a persistent cough thought to be "Asthma". He was prescribed medications, including a puffer at 2 years old. Melanie had never seen her son short of breath, nor wheezing and was concerned about how a tiny body would metabolize such medications and endure the side effects. So, she embarked on a journey of searching out a wholistic solution instead. With the help of many health practices, including complimentary medicine her son is now 5, healthy and medicine-free.

More from Melanie:

Green Please Inc. is my “Inspiring Green Living” company. I have spent years questioning, searching and testing greener product options that are natural, more healthful and that work! My intention and hope is to help people create great health and well-being through greening up their life. In the process, I also help save customers money, time and frustration in their greening up journey.

Green Please Inc. coaches customers in making green, healthier choices without compromising their lifestyle. In a “Green It Up” Home Consult we visit a customer’s home, complete a room-by-room review, answer their eco questions/concerns and make suggestions on greening up their health/life-style, home and food. A customized report is provided to assist in implementing changes towards improving their shade of green. Green Please Inc.’s other services include: Green “Tea Parties”, Telephone consults and Daycare/Montessori Fundraising!

Often it is challenging to find greener product options. Green Please Inc. offers an “e-boutique” filled with healthy living items that range from:

- Baby items like bamboo crib sheets, 100% rubber soothers, glass bottles, organic cotton rattles, bamboo outfits, etc.
- Toddler products like natural wood, non-toxic Plan toys, green books, etc.
- Litterless Food containers like stainless steel food containers, bamboo cutlery,etc.
- Healthy Home items like wool & organic cotton comforters & pillows, organic soaps, creams, cleaners, etc.

Please check out the website for complete details at www.greenpleaseforyou.com

Self-care for mothers

2010-05-12T13:55:00.000-07:00

Need a nudge to remember to take of yourself? Here's a good one:

http://www.winnipegparent.com/may10/mom/mom-1.html

An Expression of Motherhood

2010-05-06T08:19:00.000-07:00

I was inspired to write a song for my kids a while back and thought I would share the lyrics with you all (it's not recorded yet or I would share the actual song). Although Mother's Day is meant to honour and give to mothers, I think it is a time for mothers to also reflect on what it means to be a mother.

The Three of You
(by Sonya Braun)

The three of you have changed my life immensely
No one can melt my heart like you
No one can move my heart like you

For the three of you I've lived my life intensely
No one can love you like I do
No one can change my love for you

It's just for the three of you...
As each of you made your entrance into this world
You made a special entrance into my heart
And as I held you, rocked you, fed you,
As I gazed into your eyes,
It was love,
Deep, deep love

As each of you become the person you're meant to be
So special, so unique, and on your way
Just know you can always be yourself
And I'll still look into your eyes
With love,
Deep, deep love.

(Feel free to use this poem and adapt it for the number of kids you have!)

New Use for an Old Toy

2010-03-06T09:00:00.000-08:00

We discovered a new sport in our house a little while ago: ringette!
Baby toy becomes sports equipment...how fun is that?!

Parenting

2010-02-03T12:22:00.000-08:00

There is so much to learn about parenting. My hubby and I have been attending a six-week course and are two-thirds done now. It has been so amazing to find out about how to truly grow strong roots of attachment with our kids as they develop in order for them to be truly themselves and ready to launch as empathetic, creative, and responsible citizens. I love the focus on relationship and the research that backs up what's being taught. I love the practical ways to achieve this...in the down-and-dirty-day-to-day challenges. Our instructor has been Pamela Whyte, a mother of three living here in Winnipeg. She has been working with this material for 17 years and is a dynamic presenter.

Thanksgiving…. a little late

2009-10-28T15:06:00.001-07:00

I love thanksgiving, it’s one time of the year where we are really encouraged to be very thankful and to intentionally stop, look at life and be grateful. This year I have many things to be very grateful for; I have my wife Sonya without whom I don’t know what I would do, I have my three wonderful children who make me smile so often, we have my family and my in-laws all of whom are wonderful people that I am thankful for and God has blessed us with health and strength.

When I think of thanksgiving I’m also overcome with a sense of extreme gratitude for our clients without whom we wouldn’t have our business and without whom we would not be the people we are today. I feel so thankful for each one of you, you make me smile whenever I think of you, it’s an honour to know you as people and to have you as clients and I think the ultimate honour for us is when you refer us to your friends because then we know that we have been able to impact your lives in some way.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

This week I have a special thank you to send out, in the past few weeks I have had the honour of sharing in and capturing forever in print the nuptials of my cousins daughter, capturing the maternity and newborn images of both clients and close friends, creating family heirlooms in some family portrait sessions and of course our specialty capturing the beauty and mystery that is “woman”. This week I also had the opportunity to spend the best part of the day with a group of women that work together, the 4 of them decided to come in to do an Eve Session as a Christmas gift to the men in their lives who had everything, well almost everything. These men will soon find out they didn’t have what they wanted most, some amazing images of the women they love. Girls, thank you for an amazing time, I had so much fun with you as we laughed, texed back and forth to co-workers, talked about them, ate great food, drank good drinks (Pepsi for we, wine coolers for the girls) and created amazing images in one of the most fun sessions I’ve ever had here at the studio.

I’m trying to teach my kids to have an “Attitude of Gratitude” and instead of grumping about things to simply be thankful and as I try to live that out I find myself a happier and more fulfilled person; so thank you all for everything you do to make my life better, I really appreciate you more than you will ever know.

Rodney

What every Mother should know...

2009-10-15T18:13:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I had ten minutes of really really really bad freak-out time. I yelled. I cried. (And eventually found it in my heart to forgive).

What I'd like to know is: "Why doesn't anyone tell you this in parenting books? Or when someone sells you a PC? If I had only known this one thing, I could've just laughed, pressed three keys and been on my merry way."

But no, I was in the middle of accounting and an important email when my 2.5 year-old son came by and with one swipe of his hand on my laptops's keys, turned my entire display upside-down! Do you know how hard it is to use the mouse when that happens, much less just trying to read the screen?

Well, after pain-stakingly closing all the windows and shutting down (all the while, muttering, fuming, griping, and trying to explain to my five-year-old why I am so angry) in hopes of it coming back on normal, I find that is futile. After releasing more pent-up emotion, I finally phone my husband at the studio just to vent. He does a couple internet searches and after one false start, I have the solution: Ctrl-Alt-up arrow. And {blip}, it's all good again. HUGE sigh of relief and a wee bit of sheepishness for flying off the handle right to the moon.

So, now, if this ever happens to you, you know what to do. Say it with me "Control, Alt, Up Arrow". (Maybe a couple of times). 'Cause if you know it, it's know big deal. But if you don't, it's NOT GOOD.

Have fun today!

School Days

2009-09-09T18:33:00.000-07:00

Some of you know what this time of year brings. New school supplies (my favorite), a new routine that involves getting up entirely too early (although today was okay...helps when your young student wakes up on his own and is keen to get ready), and a change in the dynamics at home (less people trying to get along with each other...slightly more relaxed mommy...when she's not busy trying to get everything ready for bus-time). And of course, a learning of how to navigate the emotional issues that come with school, being available so those issues can surface, and learning the art of communication with those that work with your child balancing advocacy with compassion and understanding. Wow, this has just gotten pretty heavy-duty.

We had an excellent first day today. Nothing too stressful approaching launch-time and a day where I had the opportunity to focus on me and my youngest. This was good practice, as my middle child (my only daughter) is starting kindergarten on Monday. It is so hard to believe my second is starting school. I was desperately trying to rack my brain: what was it like to hold her when she was a baby, how did she talk when she was a toddler, how has she changed in the past year? It is amazing how these things slip from consciousness.

So, wherever you're at in your stage of motherhood, I urge you to take a little time to step back, breathe, and take it all in: the feel of your child on your lap or in your arms, the smell of their hair, the feel of their breath, the sound of their cries, laughs, and toddler-isms...write about if at all possible. Because you're going to forget. And the more things going on in your life, the more people you're caring for, the quicker the time seems to go. Everybody says this...and it is easy to ignore...but everyone says it because it's true...so go into your sleeping baby's room and gaze at their round cheeks and soft eyelashes and drink it all in. Feel the weight of your tired eyelids that accompanies the depth of your love for your little one(s). And take a minute to be thankful. The time you're spending with this little person is time you'll never get again. And be kind to yourself and care for your needs, too. What you give to yourself is never wasted either.

Happy 09/09/09!

Service

2009-06-25T14:20:00.001-07:00

I have experienced some amazing service in the last two weeks or so from a couple of businesses. I thought I'd share them with you here, as they all could be very helpful to moms with small children.

GemStar Insurance - Rodney just did some work for them, and so naturally, when our Autopac premium installment was due, he paid it there and dropped of the CD at the same time. Here's what I love about Ken Bull and his team at GemStar. First, he went out of his way to pay us on the spot for our work, even though the person who normally prints out the cheques was gone that day. Then, after we paid our Autopac, he asked us when he could quote on our home insurance. Well, it so happened that we were trying with little luck to shop it around as it was renewing the next day. He got us a quote and saved us $110 while giving us more coverage than we had before. But what is really amazing is that he was willing to do an installment plan for us on our terms and with no administration fee. AND, he was willing to pick up a payment when he was out and about if we needed that, since he couldn't provide online banking through his business. Now, I realize he knows us and trusts us and could offer that kind of service because we have a relationship...but this is the heartbeat of his business. A while back, he saved us because we had forgotten to renew our Autopac and he phoned it in for us while at a business meeting. They do renewals by fax and delivery if you want. They're located at 3034 Portage Ave. (but that's nearly irrelevant) and you can reach them at 889-1880.
Bye Insurance - We have had our life insurance with them for quite awhile now. Recently, we received a call from them to see if we wanted to review our coverage. Well, we had been thinking of increasing coverage, and when we found out that they can do RESP's, we were psyched. We'd been procrastinating on that for too many years. (We had the kids' SIN numbers, but just hadn't finished the job). It turns out that the broker Rodney had seen before had a son who was just starting the business. Bryan, is a soft-spoken 22-year-old who just got married last year. He is great with kids (he read my daughter a book while I filled out paperwork) and is still able to be very flexible with appointments, coming out to our home either in the morning before Rodney went to work, or after the kids were in bed. He's a patient, no-pressure kind of guy. We both ended up increasing our coverage, and now we finally have an RESP in place as well. Good stuff! Bye Insurance is on Provencher and you can call 943-6367.
The Green Cleaning Ladies - this is a brand new business comprised of a mother and daughter who want to use environmentally responsible products. I just had them clean my house and will be keeping them on weekly. It was a big decision to hire someone to clean for me, so I'm very happy to have found this new company. I love their friendliness and warmth. And they're experienced cleaners, too! I'm looking forward to this energy injection every week! Check out their ad and maybe you can enjoy a little peace and beauty, too...(but make sure you tell them who sent you, so I can get a free hour of cleaning, ok?) The number to call is 334-8176.

I know these descriptions were a bit lengthy (sorry), but I know in these busy times, it is SO helpful to use referrals instead of having to do your own research. Let me know your experience with these businesses if you use them.

2009-06-19T12:59:00.001-07:00

My beans are growing. My kids are growing. Our business is growing. I am growing. It is exciting to see things develop.

It seems like when we had that prolonged cool weather, that our lives were reflecting that. I felt dormant. Yes, we were getting a lot of landscaping preparation done. That was a blessing to do minus the heat and mosquitoes. We did the major push for our "Just As I Am" project, which we're actually still accepting people for this week-end, and it was nice to have a quiet period in our business in order to focus on that. But my optimism, my physical energy, and my purpose were all very weak.

Now, it feels like we've regrouped our energies, and we're ready to branch out again. Stretching, expanding, reaching out, going deeper...and we anticipate a surge of growth that will bring our business to the next level. I believe this will happen as we do some inner work, find ways to feed our souls, and as we gather with supportive people.

These last two weeks have been interesting. I've been looking at energy in a number of different ways: learning about the fascinating way the body functions, taking more seriously how different things drain my energy, and looking for ways to boost my energy. One step I'm taking is using money to hire people to do things for me that aren't getting done easily and are dragging me down. It's a scary step, as I need to believe that more money will come when I do this to compensate (even abundantly more). But I am now willing to take the step and see it where it leads me. That, for me, is growth.

How are you growing?

(If anyone has a cleaning person or a bookkeeper they want to recommend, I'd love to hear it).

A Better Day

2009-06-10T20:12:00.001-07:00

Do you ever go through a period of feeling really down, listless, foggy, and rather despairing? And then one day, it all lifts, your energy returns, and you can think clearly? Maybe you dip down again, but for that day you feel as sunny as a bright blue-sky day?

I just had that experience this week. It seems like for one week in particular every month, I still struggle with insomnia. It used to be quite ongoing but then I started taking supplements for my underactive thyroid. Anyways, one night of little sleep seems to be okay...I just function on adrenaline the next day and actually get quite a lot done. But when it starts adding up, I just go downhill really fast. But somehow, my perspective gets all out of whack and it feels like I have no energy, motivation, or focus EVER (which is pretty depressing). And it's not until the "sun comes out from behind the clouds", that I realize how unlike the real me that is.

Isn't it funny (well, not laugh-out-loud funny) that we can so quickly judge ourselves/pigeon-hold ourselves when we're not at our best (be it anxious, irritable, depressed, tired) and label ourselves, when really, our bodies are probably just saying "pay attention, something's not right...take care of me and I'll take care of you"? But instead, we often become more anxious, irritable, depressed and tired because we're down on ourselves for the way we're acting (or not acting).

I've been reading a very interesting book relating to health, that deals particularly with the energy of the body. From what I've learned, it seems that our bodies become undercharged or overcharged in certain areas when we over-do something (whether it's exercise, working, thinking or whatever). When we mix it up a little, our bodies function better.

So, taking 20 minutes in our massage chair is probably one of the best things I can do in the middle of my day. Or going for a short walk, or stopping to make a cup of tea, or spending 15 minutes playing with my kids in the middle of my work time. These days, it's so common for people to push through tiredness, or skip lunch, or be at the computer endlessly (or in stay-at-home terms, keep cleaning, keep making food, keep changing diapers, keep keeping up) without a break. But our bodies can't sustain that.

Well, speaking of bodies, I should get this body ready for bed. One of my friend's doctors said "There's no substitute for sleep". I need to get me some of that. Maybe I can have more days like today!

The Great Outdoors

2009-06-04T08:42:00.000-07:00

What to say...first of all, sorry for letting this blog go untouched for so long. Computer work seems to be the last thing on my "favorite things to do" list with everything outside coming to life. We've been working on our yard a bit and taking pleasure in seeing the kids enjoy just being out there and using their imaginations. (I am so thankful the mosquitoes aren't out yet).

We created some raised beds this year. I'm finally getting some vermiculite today, so I'm anxious to get the seed in. This is the first time I've really direct-seeded anything, so we'll see how it goes. I'm planning for a butterfly mix in one bed, some cosmos, nasturtiums and some kind of grass in another, herbs, carrots, nasturtiums and beans in one, and lettuce, carrots, cucumbers, sugar snap peas, nasturtiums and marigolds in the last one. If we have a chance to make a spot for sunflowers I will plant them. Lots of yellow, orange and green. It makes me happy!

The other thing we're working on is our narrow side yard. It's been a bad weed patch up until now. We are planning a raised bed for the kids, a platform-deck for them to play house/set up a tent etc., and a pea gravel construction zone instead of a sand box. I read some interesting articles on creating outdoor spaces for children a while back and they encourage lots of natural materials to work with and spaces they can call their own. I'll try to include pictures once we're farther underway.

Rainy Day Fun

2009-05-13T08:08:00.000-07:00

With the rain today, feeling a little under the weather myself, and having just put on a big event at our studio last night to unveil the images for our project "Just As I Am", I decided to lay low today. My little guy got up early and my school boy slept in, so I spent some time on the couch this morning and decided we were skipping school today.

At 8:30, I found myself making two batches of playdough. I made it once about three years ago, but hadn't even wanted to since. It was fun to see the colours develop. Kept the kids entertained for quite a while. (And we all know how good that is!)

Here's the recipe (there are many versions apparently, some without cream of tartar):

1 c. flour
1/2 c. salt
2 tsp. cream of tartar
1 c. cold water
1 tbsp. cooking oil
food colouring

Cook all ingredients together over medium heat. It will be lumpy and hard to stir. Stir constantly until it begins to leave sides of pot. Remove from pot, then knead a few minutes. Store in an airtight container.

And here are some thoughts on rain from Sarah Ban Breathnach's "Romancing the Ordinary".

"Rain restores serenity to our daily endeavors because it slows us down, or it should. It's been my observation that when it rains, no one--from the dog to the boss--really expects much to happen or get done. This means we get to indulge in activities that would otherwise make us feel guilty--dawdling,idle conversation with coworkers, naps. "My, isn't the weather dreadful," we mutter as our frazzled bodies and restless spirits downshift with a sigh of relief.

Rediscovering the splendors of rain through your senses is a wonderful way to make an attitude adjustment. Watching a storm from a couch,window seat, or bed, especially as it grows dark, can be thrilling...cracking the window so that you can hear rain's melody--patters on a windowpane, drips through leaves, drizzle down drainpipes--is so soothing...breathe in the fragrance of rain before you shut the door behind you....A spring rain smells fresh and earthy; the fragrance of a summer shower is spicy, like incense....Rainy days are powerful personal prompts sent to remind us that in our desire to accomplish so much each day, we cherish ordinary time-outs too little. "

Then she also talks about developing a Rainy Day Cupboard, the "saving grace of Victorian mothers".

In these treasure troves of inspiration were neat, clearly marked boxes of arts and crafts supplies, games and novelties that were enjoyed only on rainy days.

This idea is great for small children (I would need to work on the neat, clearly marked part), but she also suggests it for us, the women/mothers. She insists you don't have to be crafty. Go beyond the norm, and walk through a crafts shop and find something that catches your interest: beads, leather, pottery, stained glass, ribbon, paper, framing, carpentry...there are lots of kits out there, even. She also has mixing bowls with all the non-perishable ingredients to make yummy treats. (pp. 106-110)

Fascinating.

Well, I should close off here. Maybe get out of these sweats and into the shower.

It's amazing. The whole time I've been typing here, my kids have been busy in the basement, discovering old toys in a box, and creating rooms out of some big boxes. They have not asked for the TV once! Maybe when we start the day with creativity, it catches on for the rest of the day...

Enjoy the rain!

P.S. This post is meant to inspire new ideas, not guilt...I know I've been in a rut...we all have them. I struggle with depression. I struggle with being overwhelmed. But this week, I started using my creativity for new things...and it's been refreshing (and yes, suppers got pushed back and bedtimes suffered, but I feel it was worth it...at least for this time). Okay, I'm done now!

Spilt Smoothie

2009-05-06T13:22:00.000-07:00

"Don't cry over spilt milk" (or in this case, smoothie). Oh, I almost did yesterday. I was so tired and feeling drained. I ended up making this smoothie quite thick, so instead of pouring, it suddenly all came out and "splat", it went everywhere. It took me a few minutes, but I was able to joke with my kids about it (instead of cry).

Mom-Friendly and Earth-Friendly

2009-04-15T07:46:00.000-07:00

Just a little advertisement for an amazing business:

Easy Eco Baby is proud to be a part of Earth Day celebrations throughout Manitoba this year. Kick off Earth Week by attending our next Mom 2 Mom event at Babies in Bloom.

WHEN: Friday April 17th, 2009 Time: 10am to 12pm
WHERE: Babies in Bloom, Corydon Village Mall, 6 - 1700 Corydon Avenue, Phone #: 415-2756

Bring the kids, stay and play. Enjoy tasty snacks, check out our displays and enter to win earth friendly prizes! Space is limited so please RSVP to info@easyecobaby.com by April 15th, 2009.

Waiting

2009-03-25T20:02:00.000-07:00

You've probably been waiting for us to update this blog. We're all waiting for spring to arrive (or stay). If you've been driving in this weather, you've probably done your share of waiting in traffic. And if you're like several in our family, you're waiting for a persistent cough to clear up.

Waiting. Most of us aren't that crazy about waiting. Or good at it. My kids are notoriously impatient. I think they come by it honestly. Where am I going with this? I'm not even sure. That's what I like about the creative process. You never know where it might lead. It's like a great novel or an exciting adventure.

My friend is doing a lot of waiting these days. She broke her ankle in three places. Now she waits for it to heal. And waits for others to do things for her, when normally she is the one making things happen (and a lot of things happen at once, I might add).

I have experienced the waiting that comes with pregnancy three times. With the first came lots of reflection and anticipation...and a little trepidation. The second and third went by much faster, with less time to savour the experience.

With our business, we've done a lot of waiting...waiting for the breakthrough...where everything we've done starts to come together in synergy and our business takes off. Well, I think the waiting is over. It feels a little surreal at times, to see our dream becoming a reality, but I think it's slowly sinking in. It's been a long time coming.

I think the waiting has enlarged us (like being pregnant). I think it has expanded our capacity for hope. I think it has increased our ability to trust. I think it has opened up our hearts to be more grateful. I hope so.

Rodney and I often find it difficult to find the balance between "doing the stuff"and trusting. Sometimes it comes down to receiving the wisdom to do the "right stuff at the right time" and sometimes it is simply receiving a gift we could never have orchestrated ourselves. Those gifts "out of the blue" remind us of the vastness of God, so that we don't over-inflate (or over-work) our limited selves.

What are you waiting for? Have you been feeling desperate? Have you nearly given up hope? Do you wonder if you are foolish to believe it will happen? Are you afraid of disappointment? The one who created us waits for us to turn to him. He knows our hearts. He knows what we need. He is fully capable of meeting those needs. Our part is to wait...in expectation (and with a bit more "stillness" than my children!)

Well, I think I got to where I needed to go. I hope the path was scenic enough.

...I'm waiting to hear from you!

The Kind of Day it's Been

2009-03-04T20:27:00.000-08:00

Oops! It's 10:27 p.m. and I'm trying to cram in a post before bed. It's been a long week so far with my husband busy preparing for and presenting a seminar-type talk at the Winnipeg South camera club. I'm looking forward to a night off from putting the kids to bed.

But tonight was good. Maybe not stellar as far as early bedtimes go, but fairly enjoyable. Supper was ready at 5:30 (yay for crockpots). Managed to scrounge up enough energy to get the kids to help with cleaning up the disastrous-looking kitchen floor. Kids got pajamas on fairly painlessly. After making night snack, I took off for a little "me" time and played piano. My eldest joined me and we sang a duet! Red a fun story from the library...twice! (Minerva Louise and the Red Truck or something). Very cute. Tickled and chased my youngest (I love his laugh!) rather than fighting over who would take his diaper off, his clothes off, etc. Managed to curb the kids' desires to be distracted without too much nagging or time-wasting. Talk/Tuck In time got a little long, but not too bad. Two-year-old went to sleep easily and quickly! He's been fighting sleep so much. He was rubbing his ears last night, so I asked him if they hurt. We started putting in Similasan Homeopathic Ear Drops and he's been sleeping better. Yay! (google to learn more). Just been puttering around on the computer mostly now...my sister sent me flowers on Facebook!

Hope my hubby comes home soon! Anyone been reading any good books lately?

Irony

2009-02-25T20:20:00.001-08:00

Well, after posting about my adorable, lovable two-year-old, he turned over a new leaf and has become fiercely independent, openly defiant, and generally very challenging to deal with. And not napping very easily. Oh, the joys of motherhood! He's still great, but I find myself exhausted by all the emotional skirmishes. And with number three, mommy finds herself yelling right back! Sigh...

On another front, I just posted "How to make Chicken Noodle Soup" on our Eve blog. Feel free to check it out if you're in a space that feels like soup-making might be possible. It can be quite satisfying, especially if Daddy is with the kids and it's more like a little creative "me" time.

Enjoy the snow!

So cute...

2009-02-18T18:43:00.002-08:00

Just have to share a photo of my youngest. I love this age (well, except for when he's growly or throwing things). He's so cuddly and he's learning words all the time. Here's my baby...

What is your favorite age or stage?

Nostalgia

2009-02-11T12:11:00.000-08:00

I ran across these when I was doing a speech on nature. Isn't it wild to look back at old photographs? It's amazing how much kids change in two years...

Stre - tch - ing

2009-02-04T12:45:00.000-08:00

I'm actually NOT going to talk about stretching in the yoga or physical sense of the word. Today, I'm thinking about being stretched intellectually. As mothers in the thick of mothering small ones, life tends to become a series of repetitious acts: lots of feeding, diapering, getting off to sleep, cleaning up etc. There can be lots of joy in that...lots of love...lots of rewards. There can also be a sense of despair that sets in: "I'm never any farther than I was the day before". We become easy candidates for depression, often unaware of it at the time. "Why is everything so hard right now?" When we give and give (night and day), we burn out. We get grouchy. Even start feeling like the victim in it all. (Or am I the only one?!! I don't think so).

Good things to do in those times or to prevent getting that low can include: getting some time alone or with a friend, doing one nice thing for yourself (like taking a long bath instead of doing the dishes when the kids are in bed), asking for help, or....learning something new! Some of us probably find it easier to do some of these things than others, for various reasons. That's okay. But we do all need a certain amount of attention and care ourselves or we self-destruct. Because we have limits. We can't do it all. When a battery's energy is being depleted by long use, it needs to be recharged. So do we.

These days I've often been feeling low. There's always more to do than I can handle, we've all ben struggling with illness since Christmas, not sleeping well at night, and other things I won't go into. But one thing I started in January, in the middle of all of this, was a pubic speaking course. Sound crazy? Maybe. But I'm doing something that's getting me closer to a dream of mine...a dream that had been dormant for quite some time...the dream of speaking to women. Plus, learning is a passion that also has been unpursued in the past six years.

So, I'm taking this course. And I'm learning. And I'm being stretched. And it's giving me energy. Yesterday was my first prepared speech. I went into it, feeling very insecure and under-prepared all day. Then, suddenly, it was show-time. And I did well! Sure, I hand-clasped and rushed at the end, but I did it! And I was happy with it. And I've been on a bit of a high ever since. It hasn't been easy trying to squeeze in the time to prepare and rehearse, but it's given me an outlet for my creativity, a place for me to grow and try things, an opportunity to say, "I did that and I'm proud".

If you're in a place in your mothering where you can take a bit of time away from your kids, I encourage you to go out and try something new. Str-etch a little. It will be so worth it! And if you're right in the newborn phase, try to snatch up the time you can to read something or write something or even take a Mom-and-baby Pilates class or something. You'll gain all the energy back you put into it and more!

Things to be Happy About

2009-01-28T12:35:00.000-08:00

- blowing raspberries on bellies followed by big belly laughs
- my first child losing his first tooth
- it's warmer today than yesterday
- actually playing with my children with nothing more than a row of kitchen chairs, 2 balls, and a 2 duplo boxes
- having leftovers on hand for an easy lunch
- my children sleeping better at night
- my son's lice (yes, it happened here!) is under control and no one else seems to have them

And while I'm thinking about things to be happy about, there are two businesses that come to mind right now. One is EasyEco Baby, which is providing Winnipeg with the first environmentally-friendly disposable diapers available online, as well as other wonderful products. The second is Enamoured Heart, personalized bracelets for Mom & Baby, in addition to many other fine jewellery items. Both are owned and operated by Winnipeg moms, and both graciously donated prizes for our birthday bash two weeks ago. Thanks again. Your generosity makes me smile!

I had wanted to include some fun photos with my "Things to be Happy About", but I just haven't used my camera in a while, so please bear with me as I try to improve this blog. Hope the rest of your week is filled with small happinesses as you love on your little ones!

Ta Da Lists

2009-01-21T11:37:00.000-08:00

(No, that is not a typo). We're all familiar with To Do Lists. They're the things we make when we want to get a lot done and we don't want to forget anything. But how many of us take the time to make a Ta Da List? They're a list of the things we've accomplished (whether in a day, a week, or a year). If we take just a few minutes, we can show ourselves that, yes, we are doing things that are important and valuable. Sometimes those things otherwise go unnoticed, often because we do them almost every day (like making meals). Sometimes, we lose track of some of things we've given our time to because they're spaced so far apart (like planning a birthday party).

My Ta Da List for Today

- got up with my two-year-old at 6:00 a.m.
- had a shower and blow dried my hair
- got dressed and enjoyed how I looked
- made smoothies for everyone at breakfast
- sorted out some of the laundry that was getting wrinkly...folded some of it
- started two more loads
- played piano and sang worship songs
- read to my kids twice (mostly, I admit to try to get them to stop being in my hair, but thoroughly enjoyed it both times)
- made a healthy lunch that I haven't made forever (black beans & rice a la Cuba/Brazil)
- had a good phone conversation with another woman
- followed up my press releases from yesterday with three emails and got a response
- wrote out a computer "to-do list"
- cleared the table completely after lunch (this is quite an accomplishment for me)
- corrected my four-year-old with a decent amount of graciousness and understanding
- laughed out loud
- started this post

So, can see, that quite an ordinary morning can seem almost extraordinary when you stop to realize all you've done. Please note that there are some things I left out of the list like: having a mini panic attack and starting to take it out on the kids when I wasn't getting any business stuff done, dealing with screaming and fighting children and juice messes, and feeling a bit of guilt at not getting my son down for a nap when he probably really needed one.

I encourage you to try it now. Whatever you're in the midst of, just sit down with a piece of paper and a pen and do it (or type it in Word). I'd love to hear it! We all need to celebrate the little things more.

What a Great Night!

2009-01-14T08:23:00.000-08:00

I just want to say how much I enjoyed talking to people last night. Thank you to all the Moms for your helpful feedback. It was neat to connect with you and figure out how we might be able to make this blog community work.

Trina, if you're reading this, you won the gift bag from Tiber River (here's there blog). Why don't you come out to the studio sometime soon, see your beautiful photos and pick up your prize?!

It was surprising to me to hear that I could be thought of as "amazing" for doing all that I do and writing here. We often focus on what we're struggling with as moms juggling so many things, that we forget what we are accomplishing and that we can only expect so much of ourselves, and to just accept where we're at.

That first year of baby's life is so all-consuming, I think we forget the magnitude of what it takes to mother a newborn: the sleep loss, the endless giving of ourselves, the incredible chaos of adhering to someone else's "schedule" on a continual basis, the lack of self-care and personal time and even just the ability to be alone with your thoughts that are apt to occur, the hormones and post-partum depression that are often not even taken into consideration when we're passing judgment on ourselves, the isolation that can happen...it all takes its toll on a woman. We've got to recognize this and be gracious to ourselves. And it's not only the first year. I've heard women say it took three years to really come back to themselves...and when you continue the cycle by having your next child before that, it can be six or more years before that "normalcy" returns. In the meantime, it's important to accept the "new normal" and work within our limitations.

I look forward to your feedback on how to make this a place of support, community, and inspiration. Please feel free to comment. If you don't blog yourself or have a gmail account, just click on "Name/URL" and type your name in the box (don't worry about the optional one). Write your comment and hit "Publish your comment". (You may be asked to type in something you see in a box just to verify you're a real person and not a computer program). Hope this helps.

Looking forward to hearing from you and making this a place you want to come to. Thanks again for coming. It was wonderful.

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-20T20:15:00.000-08:00

Rodney and I wish you all a very merry Christmas! What is a merry Christmas anyways? I think I would wish that inspite of the busyness of preparations and events, the stresses and emotion that often accompany family life, and the possibility that you may even be dealing with loss or loneliness this Christmas, that you can take a few moments and give thanks for what you have, make the effort to really look around you and drink in the beauty that is there (in the countryside as you're driving or in the faces of those around you), and savour good food and hopefully a few good laughs.

More... Sing. Light candles. Watch the snow fall. Lay on the couch and get mesmerized by the Christmas lights. Read a good book. Listen to music. Party. Watch a classic Christmas show. Make soup. Eat chocolate. Hold a warm drink in your hands and let it soothe you. Take a little extra care with one or two presents and make them a work of art. Use a little extra colour or glimmer as you set your table.

For me, I also hope to take a little time to reflect on the experience of Mary, on the wonder of that night, on the unusual ordinary-ness of a King born among animals and adored by sheep herders, and on the love that brought this story to life.

Maybe merry isn't the best word. Perhaps "wonder-filled" is better. The one conjures up red and green, deck the halls, ho ho ho, and let your heart be light (things I still enjoy). The other brings to my mind starry nights, the intricacies of nature, the faces of children, and a depth of feeling in both joy and sorrow. You can choose. May love, joy, peace, and hope fill your heart this Christmas.

The Brauns

Things to be Happy About

2008-11-24T08:58:00.001-08:00

- Chocolate Fondues -

We had our first-ever chocolate fondue in the Braun household during half-time. Lots of fun! (Sorry, honey...I'm sure your shots were much better).

The Last Two Weeks

2008-11-20T11:51:00.000-08:00

I can't believe two weeks has gone by since I last posted. It seems this juggler-mother isn't keeping all the balls up in the air.

Motherhood really has become this extraordinary juggling act, hasn't it? It's always been a multi-tasking job. Before technology, much of it was related to the necessities of life: obtaining food, preparing food, cleaning the home, washing the clothes, taking care of children and so on. Now, there's so many widely-diverse tasks that tug at our time: working outside the home, working at home, working on the home, taking care of children, taking children to daycare, driving here and there, and there's still community and church involvement, social commitments, travelling for work, and the multiple things within each category.

I was talking to Michelle from Tiber River about the many hats we each wear, and how many times we find ourselves changing gears (or hats). It's certainly challenging. My sister-in-law is currently facing the transition I think many mothers dread (and some welcome it): going back to work after maternity leave. There's nine months of anticipation and everything else that comes with pregnancy. Then, there's a period of intense adjustment and sleep loss within the first year of a myriad of changes as you get to know this new person in your life. And then, if you choose to go back to work or need to go back to work, you now are faced with the emotional adjustment of leaving your child with someone else, perhaps some new challenges with feeding and sleep, and the added responsibility of work on top of the existing home/mothering roles.

No wonder we're finding ourselves exhausted and irritable. But we, as mothers and women, often don't tend to look outward and try to change our circumstances (maybe because we feel trapped) and we don't even tend to look inward at our bodies' lack of resources to function. We just tend to blame ourselves for not measuring up. Tell me, when you're depressed and low on energy or easily-angered over every little thing, do you first look at it as a sign of change needed or do you assign guilt to yourself? Although I am learning (and it becomes easier when post-partum eases a bit), my first reaction is usually to get down on myself.

The other Saturday gave me a bit of hope for myself. I woke up after a not-so-great-night and everything felt hard, my chaotic house rangled my nerves, I was short with my kids, and I felt hopeless and alone in my situation. After an hour or so of just feeling crappy, I went upstairs to my bedroom to get some solitude and ended up ranting (and sobbing) to my husband. And then retreated to my closet to write. I expressed my feelings and frustrations and listed what I felt pressured to do and what I really wanted to do that day. Meanwhile, hubby and kids worked on cleaning the livingroom unbeknownst to me. I came down and went for a run with toddler in stroller because I physically still couldn't shake the stress inside me, we picked up some pizza from our local corner store, and finally things inwardly and outwardly felt a little better. This gave me hope because I could see the signs and make some changes rather than just beating myself up. And that's not a natural inclination for me.

Anyways, wherever you're at these days, I wish you peace. Peace in the midst of chaos. And when that peace is hard to find, may you discover new ways to find it again.

Taking the Time

2008-11-06T12:20:00.000-08:00

This week has felt like a blur of activity. I've been feeling a little bit like the trembling leaves outside in the biting wind. Today has been a bit of a slow-down day. Make some soup. Sit in bed reading Chatelaine while the kids play around me. Actually sit and play with my daughter and her new doll-house. Look out the window as the raindrops slide down. Make some art while I'm at it.

Life feels full and good one day, and overwhelming and chaotic the next. I think my soul was telling me to just slow down and rest a while.

Enjoy.

Family/Kids' Week November 3-7

2008-10-30T11:57:00.000-07:00

I don't know if anyone is reading this yet (let me know if you are!!), but as part of our month-long celebration of Rodney's "Photographer of the Year", we are giving 50% off family and kids' sessions the first week of November (not including Saturday). So, in-studio sessions are $100 and on-location are $150.

I have a feeling I'm not giving enough notice for this, and for that I am sorry. We may be able to extend it into the following week. Please call if you're interested, but can't make it in the first week.

It's a good time to create a family photo to send out for Christmas, or kids' portraits for Grandma & Grandpa. We have lots of fun places in the studio to use...even a bed, a trampoline, a swing, and a bright red claw-foot tub (complete with bubble bath!)

Don't miss out! Call Rodney today at 221-8413 and find a time that works for you.

Craziness

2008-10-27T10:50:00.000-07:00

This morning was rough. My youngest (almost two) woke up at 6:40 just screaming, for reasons unknown. He continued to be difficult through breakfast, getting my oldest ready for school, and during my bath (with moments of manageability). It was so draining and stressful. I was ready to give up.

I managed to get in 20 minutes of exercise...a bit of a challenge with a toddler sometimes on my belly, but I felt much more ready to cope. I took three minutes to sit and just be and then I was ready to carry on with my day: able to make an important decision, able to take a little "me time" at the piano, and then early lunch and early to bed for my little guy. Aaahhhh....

We all have these days, don't we? What have you done to cope?

Love 'em!

2008-10-20T12:26:00.000-07:00

Well, we decided to take our own advice and updated our kids' photos. Wasn't long, and wasn't even painful! Aren't they great?!

Family

2008-10-17T09:12:00.000-07:00

Sorry, this photo is a little on the small side. I'm not the technical one in the family. I just wanted to put in a little plug for family portraits today. It's true that it always takes effort and there may even be a little resistance to the idea, but the end result is always worth it. This is my side of the family, taken this summer in my home town where, incidentally, my whole family lives except for me. It took some work making it happen (right from the clothing purchases to just getting everyone there), but it is very special to be able to see everyone together. My youngest is big into pointing to everyone and asking their names. It's quite cute.

If you've been toying with the idea of getting a family portrait done, but just haven't quite gotten around to it, I'd say, "Go for it". Make a plan. Come in for a consultation. Book a time. There may be a few more nice days left. If not, the studio has lots of neat spaces to do family work. The best time to get it done in time for Christmas greeting cards is by the end of this month, or for sure by November 7th, with orders being placed no later than the 14th. But, the sooner the better.

A good family portrait is so valuable. It can capture the heartbeat of your family, conjure up heartwarming feelings, and contribute to happy memories (I hope that doesn't sound corny). Particularly when your kids are changing so quickly, it's special to see "the way you were" at the different stages and freeze-frame your interactions with each other. Then you can flip through your album later or glance up at the wall and be reminded of the most important people in your life. Give Rodney a call at 221-8413 this week. He's at a convention this week-end, but will be in on Tuesday.

Babies Need Books

2008-10-07T12:00:00.000-07:00

First of all, I must apologize for the lack of blogging lately. Has it been a month already?!! That's September for you, once you have someone in school. We've really kicked it up a notch in our business, too. But there's no excuses! I know that if I'm really serious about creating a blog that's worth coming to, I need to be more regular. I'm also hoping to make it a little less bland in appearance. If you have any feedback as to what would make this more interesting to you, please leave a comment or email me.

I've been reading a book from the library called "Babies Need Books" by Dorothy Butler. I'm finding it to be an excellent resource. Although the cover would suggest an outdatedness, the information inside is timeless. Basically, the author talks a little about why books are important for children from early on (if you haven't started yet, don't worry though!) and then she basically goes year by year talking about the different developmental stages and all the best books that are suitable for that stage.

What I love about this book is that I can take one of my kids' ages, look at her list, search for them at the library, and request them. This has a couple of benefits: I can just pick them up when they're in (either by myself or as part of a trip to the library with the kids), we get great books guaranteed, and we get access to books that aren't actually at our library.

I tried some from her 3-4 Book List. We discovered a new favorite author: Shirley Hughes. She's British, so there's some new vocabulary, but she has a fantastic understanding of children and ordinary family life. We enjoyed "Lucy and Tom's 123 and ABC", Alfie Wins a Prize, Annie Rose is my Little Sister, Ruby and the Parcel Bear, and Alfie's World among others. One of the funnest discoveries for my daughter and I was a collection of poems for Children gathered by Jill Bennett, called "A Cup of Starshine". We now have five or six poems we can say from memory together. Here's the craziest one:

No Harm Done

As I went out
the other day
My head fell off
and rolled away.

But when I noticed
it was gone,
I picked it up
and put it on.

Here's another one:

The Elephant

The elephant goes
Like this and that
He's terribly big
And terribly fat.

He has no fingers
He has no toes
But goodness gracious
What a nose!

I think my daughter will be an actress someday!

Some other books that I recommend: "Where the Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak...a classic that seems just perfect for little boys. While I'm talking about boys, mine have loved Byron Barton books as toddlers and now as early readers. Our favorites are "Machines at Work" and "My Car". The pictures are bold and bright and there is one or two phrases per page...perfect for short attention spans. We have read them over and over. He also retells the Three Bears (and Goldilocks), has a book on being an astronaut, and a cute story about the "Wee Little Woman".

By the way, when you're searching for books, it seems to work best to search by author and sort by Title. If you've never requested books or used the website before, Winnipeg Library can be found here. Go to the first menu called "Find Books & More" and choose "Search Catalogue". Once you've found a book you want, you can "Add to my List" (which you can access later at the top of the page) or you can request it right away. When requesting, make sure you change the library to your branch so that you don't have to go the Millenium Library to pick it up (unless that's your favorite one). You'll need your library card to make any requests.

Happy reading! And if you or your baby just aren't ready to get into reading together, don't worry about it. My third took a lot longer than my others, but he's now hooked, too! If you're the one having trouble wrapping your mind around a visit to the library, maybe requests by computer will be your new favorite way. The only thing to keep in mind is that you will get a couple of phone calls likely, telling you when the books have arrived. You have one week to pick them up or you get charged $1.15 per book. Other than that, it really can simplify life. And that's always a good thing.

Off to School!

2008-09-02T19:50:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is my eldest son's first day of grade one. We went to visit his teacher today and she asked (along with his old kindergarten teacher) how I was feeling about it. The truth was, I haven't even thought of that yet. The biggest thing on my mind was how we were going to give him enough time to keep our relationship strong in just the after-school and week-end hours. I haven't even contemplated missing him! I guess the two others at home and our business will keep me more than busy...but still I wonder how I'll feel in two weeks.

It was six years ago when I was in the throes of early motherhood for the very first time. And our first gave us quite an initiation. This boy was like a bright light that never quite completely turned off. Sleep deprivation was normal for a veerrrrrryyyy long time. Actually, we're just starting to come out of it...I think. He wouldn't accept anything but us for his soothing (and to be honest that's the way we wanted it...most of the time). He's still very good at getting what he needs...and if tonight was any indication, he still doesn't like to shut off easily. But he's a keen student and a bright kid. We love him and will look forward to his return at 3:12 every afternoon.

I'm contemplating starting to bake my own cookies now that I have a child in school full-time. Something about fresh-baked cookies after school that just makes you feel loved. Well, we'll see how often that happens, but it's worth a try, right? It would give me something to do with my little girl when her little brother is sleeping (and I'm not catching up on sleep or working on the computer!)

Happy mothering! The years fly by too quickly.

P.S. If you want to find one way to commemorate that special bond with your kids and support a mompreneurial business, I encourage you to read the Free Press article in today's paper on Enamoured Heart owner, Lori Bettig. She actually came in for a newborn session with her youngest, when we were still a home-based business.

Thankful

2008-08-21T12:27:00.000-07:00

We are extremely thankful to God in the Braun household today. As Rod was headed down Main Street on his way to a meeting this morning, a man accidentally ran a red light at Logan and broad-sided our van on the passenger side with such force that the van was tipped onto its side. Many thoughts raced through Rod's mind as he was skidding along down Main, face inches from the pavement with his window open.

Construction workers came to rescue him immediately. An off-duty police officer quickly assessed the situation and told Rod he was concerned about fluid leaks and getting him out as soon as possible. A bunch of guys got the van back on its wheels and Rod was able to get out. Miraculously, he has the mildest of skin abrasions on his cheek and chin (not even really visible) and a tiny cut on his forehead (from a shard of glass I assume). There were some glass shards in his shoe. Of course, his left shoulder and hip are getting increasingly sore and stiff. But it could easily have been so much worse. The car following him ended up somehow in between both vehicles with minor scratches. Also a miracle. The driver of the other car is also "okay". Rod had a chance to talk to him...a very nice guy who just happened to miss the light change as he was adjusting his sun visor. Traffic was blocked off for a four-block radius for about an hour.

So many phone calls today already. We will be replacing three car seats (as a precaution) and looking for a new vehicle. Rod just went to pick up a rental and will be heading to the chiropractor after that. Lots of decisions and uncertainties ahead, but we are so grateful that Rod's life was preserved and that no major injuries were sustained. The accident will probably be in the news...lots of cameras and reporters. I don't even know if I want to see the aftermath.

Life is precious. It is good to be reminded of the fragility of life. Each day we have with those we love is a gift. So enjoy today. Give your babies and your honey a hug. And be thankful. I sure am.

Amazing family

2008-08-13T14:46:00.000-07:00

I recently had the pleasure of photographing a client who is an acquaintance and his new family. Colin was such a proud daddy and looking at his beautiful wife and amazingly good looking child no wonder he was proud. I don't know that I can ever really express how much of an honour it is to be a part of photographing a child for the very first photoshoot of his/her life, and this session was no different.

Thank you Colin & Jeannette for involving me in your special occasion.

Grocery Shopping Turned Disaster

2008-08-01T20:17:00.000-07:00

It's good to laugh at what could otherwise make us cry. Here is the story of my shopping trip with my youngest today.

Oh my goodness! Grocery shopping over the lunch hour turned into disaster today. Thankfully, I only had J2 with me. Even so, I had my hands full.

It started out with me getting distracted by school supplies and other such sundries. I kicked it up a notch when I remembered that I had a lot of groceries to pick up and another stop after that.

J2 did really well for the most part at Superstore. We had the chips, the canned goods, the cereal, the cookies (in hand and mouth, of course), the milk, the fruits and veggies, and then it started to get interesting.

J2 started standing up in the bulk section. I would temporarily acquiesce him with a hug and some extra attention and ply him to sit down again. After the bread, we backtracked for pizza and chicken. (Oops, never did pick up the bacon!) The standing up was becoming more frequent.

Finally we were at the check-out (not without dropping my list and retracing some steps first), and for the second time in two weeks, had a delightful soul take an interest in J2 and even give me a hand with a couple things. The drinking box had just come out and this early 40's mom discussed the flavor of the juice with J2 and the benefits of using the straw, and then congratulated him on getting the straw back in the hole. She even offered to put the out-of-reach chicken onto the conveyor after I pulled the cart too far in to get at it.

I was throwing things on the counter, checking on J2, trying to start bagging and boxing things, coming back to pay, trying to keep him from pressing the buttons, realizing I'd forgotten to ask for a subtotal after the bar, and having to re-swipe my card and enter my pin and keep little man out of the interac machine yet again in order to pay for the household and kids' items.

By this time it was 1:00. Neither of us had eaten lunch and it was already nap-time. We drove to IGA. The van was sauna-like.

I knew there was no way I could persuade J2 to sit in a cart again--he wouldn't even be carried into the store--so I did the unthinkable. I took a tired, hungry 19-month-old boy into a grocery store and let him run.

At first, he was enamoured with his very own basket. But that didn't last long when tantalizing plums and pears were within reach. There's a real problem when produce shopping with a toddler who is not contained. You need two hands for picking and bagging and you can't hold your baskets much less your escapee's hand. I managed to pick up five pears before we moved on.

Waiting at the deli seemed absurdly impossible at the time, so off we went in search of other meat. "Hmm, what's the price on this roast...come back here big guy...sirloin tip...why not....ah, J--, oh, it's bloody on the bottom---what the hey--we gotta go! This way, J--, over to the farmer sausage. Okay. Ah--wait for me!"

Back to the deli and produce. By this time, he's really getting out-of-sorts: sitting down, throwing himself down and oops, his pants are down! I had already tried to hike up his shorts and super-saturated diaper several time as he was developing severe plumber's butt. But in the chase to the deli, his bottoms had worked themselves to his ankles. I checked to see whether anyone had noticed. No one seemed to be smirking, so I breathed a sigh of relief, undid the diaper and tried to fasten it more securely.

Then I tried to explain how much shaved corned beef I needed to an 18-year-old male while I intermittently chased and scooped up my little protester. I managed to pick up a bag of apples after that--how, I don't know. Then, it was a basket in each hand working as little tugboats trying to steer an unwieldy ship to harbour--the cashier.

Oh, oh...total meltdown. His shrieks had already garnered the disturbed gazes of several, but here was a little 75-year-old woman giving us the evil eye. I grab him off the floor, pull a burnt almond dark chocolate number off the shelf and rip off the wrapper in desperation, all the while explaining he's tired and hungry and hoping I don't look like I make a habit of bribing my children with sugary treats.

The wrapper is off and we split it 50/50. I need this chocolate every bit as much as he does. We each take a big bite and visibly relax as the smooth sweetness soothes and satisfies. We walk down to the express lane, me clutching my purchases and he tightly holding his wrapper in one hand and the melting chocolate in the other. I think mine is already devoured at this point.

I panic momentarily when I see no one at the checkout. Then, I let out a sigh of relief as one of my favorite cashiers, a forty-something Aboriginal woman takes her place at the till. She recounts an equally harrying story of her daughter and grand-daughter going shopping recently. Ah, someone who understands! There is a moment of concern as J2 resists handing over the wrapper to be scanned, but he complies and is quickly given it back.

Groceries are bagged. Card is swiped. J2 takes off for one more mad dash. I find him half-way down one the aisles and snatch up the gleeful little chocolate monster. Thankfully, IGA isn't very busy and no one is breathing down my neck for holding up the line.

Back to the hot van and off to pick up the other two from the studio. As I strap my little charge in, I try to figure out how to minimize the mess. I end up with some of his chocolate in my mouth, bemoan the fact that the other kids are going to feel ripped off with no chocolate for them, and grab a Kleenex to wipe off the thickest chocolate from his little hands.

As I drive off the parking lot, I marvel at what I have just survived and brace myself for the next challenge: unloading, making a late lunch for over-hungry kids, and making it through the afternoon with no naps. I remind myself that I'll have an extra-long evening to myself, and somehow I make it through.

Another easy crockpot recipe...

2008-07-21T12:24:00.000-07:00

Here's a recipe that calls forth images of summer:

Lemonade Chicken (from flylady.net if I remember right)

9 chicken thighs without skin (half of a club pack I think)
1 Tablespoon Balsamic vinegar
1/3 cup ketchup
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 can or so of frozen concentrate lemonade

Brown chicken in oil (you can dredge in flour and 1 tsp. salt if you like first). Put chicken in crockpot. Mix lemonade, brown sugar, vinegar (use regular vinegar if you prefer) and ketchup and pour over chicken. Cook on high for 3-4 hours (or low 6-8). When ready to serve, remove chicken to (warm) platter and thicken sauce with 2 Tbsp. cornstarch mixed with 1/4 cup water (I skip this part), and serve along with chicken. This is EXCELLENT and quick and easy.

Serves 2 adults and three small children fairly well unless one adult has a larger appetite/does hard labour etc.

Notes:
I make it with brown rice and peas. You can make the rice any time during the day and reheat it for supper.
I've also used bone-in thighs. You can use any chicken pieces really. I used to only buy chicken breasts, but now that I know a few good recipes for thighs, I rarely buy them. Usually quite a bit cheaper.

Quick salad idea:

coleslaw from a bag (Dole colourful is one)
sliced apples (well, diced almost)
creamy poppyseed dressing

Rodney updated the EveBaby.ca site recently...check it out!

Great Stain Remover

2008-07-02T14:38:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post to say we're back in the province and to let you know of a stain remover especially made for the "biological" stains of babyhood. It's OxiClean Baby, in a clear blue spray bottle, available at Superstore and other places I'm sure. Fragrance free, dye free and chlorine free.

Summertime

2008-06-21T12:56:00.000-07:00

Summertime...and the livin' is easy. Ahhhh, that it were so. Actually, we're really looking forward to summer. Our firstborn is done school, we're taking off to Saskatchewan to visit family and do some family sessions in the great outdoors, and then we're planning lots of BBQ's, some beach days and some family outings as well as some work in the yard. And of course, we continue to build Eve Baby into a thriving studio where more and more women can celebrate the beauty and wonder of motherhood and new life with one of Manitoba's best (I can brag about my hubby, right?!!).

In other news, Rodney just spent a busy couple of days preparing for and teaching at the first ever Manitoba Photographic Artist's Exposition at the Forks. His two seminars (Glamour/Art Nude Photography and Child Portraiture) were some of the first to sell out. It's still going on...workshops, galleries and things. It also happens to be National Aboriginal Day with celebrations there and on Selkirk Avenue. We might try to take a little of that in if the kids wake up in time.

Enjoy your summer. Mosquitoes and sun aren't the easiest for life with little ones, but a walk mid-morning or late afternoon can be so life-giving. Plus there are lots of little sun/wind shelters you can get for the beach. Maybe you'll only be there for 1 1/2 hours instead of 3 or 4, but it's still nice to get out. We'll be back soon.

Tasty and Quick

2008-06-10T12:10:00.000-07:00

Part of the challenges of having a baby is figuring out how to care for this oh-so-dependent-and-unpredictable one and still get meals on the table. For many new moms, this can be even more challenging coming from a full-time work background and all that entails for meal preparation (whether it be shared, very quick prep, later meals, take-out or pre-packaged). Going from that to being home all day and having a fussy baby close to supper time changes things drastically. At Eve Baby, we know the many facets of motherhood and seek to help moms in as many ways as possible (besides giving them the most beautiful memories we possibly can!)

Thus I bring you our first meal ideas: French Beef Dip and Easy Spinach Salad

French Beef Dip (Crockpot Recipe) from "Cooking Con Brio" (Sask Music Teachers' Assoc)

3 to 4 lb beef roast (I use Outside Round Roast just because it's a mid-range price)
1/2 cup soya sauce
1 bay leaf
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp rosemary
1 beef bouillon cube (or 1 cup of beef broth)
6 peppercorns

Place all ingredients in slow cooker. Add water to almost cover roast (for large crockpots this makes a lot of au jus!) Turn slow cooker on low for the day. Slice meat (or fork apart) and put onto buns. Serve with juice for dipping.

Easy Spinach Salad (courtesy of my sister after one of my babies was born)

Spinach from a bag
Mandarins from a can
Sliced almonds from a bag
Creamy poppyseed dressing.

Mix. Done. Yum!

Variations for toddlers: cut roast into fry-sized pieces for finger food (dip into ketchup if necessary), put butter on the bun, set aside some mandarins for them...

Diaper Rash Tips

2008-06-06T12:16:00.000-07:00

If you're looking for a simple way to prevent diaper rash and even treat it, use grapeseed oil (sometimes, not always in Superstore) in a little squeeze bottle and apply at every diaper change. It replaces the oils that are stripped away by wipes and protects the skin. Add a few drops of lavendar essential oil and the anti-inflammatory/anti-bacterial properties bring healing to even quite bad rashes. Tiber River Naturals is one place you can find essential oils (I'm quite sure they carry lavendar). Grapeseed oil could probably substituted by other oils, but I've never tried them. You could ask a massage therapist for ideas. Alternately, you could try Tiber River's Bottom's Up cream which can be used all over and contains calendula among other things.

Click on the wikipedia links to learn more properties of grapeseed oil, lavendar and calendula. They each have many uses!

Breastfeeding Help

2008-05-27T12:49:00.001-07:00

Just wanted to do a quick post on help for early (or otherwise) breastfeeding challenges. If you are having trouble with breastfeeding (whether with supply, latch, pain, let-down, thrush, or whatever), the most important thing is to get help as soon as possible. Don't suffer without finding support. And remember that it is very common to have a few obstacles to overcome. It doesn't just happen...but most problems can be resolved with good help. And actually having a person come and see what you're experiencing and assist in finding a different position etc. is extremely helpful.

One place to call in Winnipeg is the 24-hour breastfeeding hotline: 787-1166. It is done through Women's Hospital. Lactation Consultants are available there from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Another resource is your public health nurse. They may not be breastfeeding experts per se, but they have some helpful handouts they can bring you. Doulas (BirthRoots Doulas is one) and La Leche League can also be good resources.

Here are two websites I found: http://lactinv.com/breastfeeding_qna.php?page=index and www.kellymom.com.

As well, if you're looking for cream for sore/cracked nipples, Tiber River Naturals has some (pure lanolin) for $7.95 at their store on Academy.

That's it for now. Again, if you have anything to add or if you'd like to become a regular contributor, please feel free to email (see top). We'd love to have you become an active part of our community!

Bottoms up

2008-05-13T17:03:00.000-07:00

Starting Thursday, our studio will be featuring a line of products for baby from Tiber River Naturals, called "Bottoms Up". If I'm not mistaken, there is a diaper cream, a baby lotion, and a hair/body wash. All very healing and natural.

So when you're in next, ask to see/sample them. They're one-of-a-kind.

Happy Mother's Day!

2008-05-09T08:30:00.000-07:00

As mothers, we give give give. There is always another diaper to change, a meal to make, a child to comfort, schoolwork to help with (and the list goes on). The list changes somewhat as children grow up, but the list never goes away...

Rodney and I want to take a moment to say to all our clients who are mothers: "You're doing a very important job and we honour you for all you do every single day. Don't give up! And take a break today and soak in the attention. Happy Mother's Day!"