Liza Has Something to Tell You!

She is going to be a big sister sometime in late January!

Yes, this is an iphone picture...and she would not sit still! Oh well!

We are so excited that our family is growing!


XOXO Sarah

P.S. Do you like Liza's shirt? My cousin's shop is called Monkey Stitches and she loves to do custom orders. Check her out here !!

Recipe share: Shrimp Scampi

Many of you already know my husband is the cook in our house. Last week we were stumped on what to make with some fresh zucchini and squash we had picked up from our local farm stand. 

He searched recipes on the internet for shrimp scampi. He found a yummy one on the food network. You can find the original recipe here.

 

Picture courtesty of pinterest

Ingredients:

• 1 pound linguini 
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
• 2 shallots, finely diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• Pinch red pepper flakes, optional
• 1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 1/4 cup finely chopped parsley leaves

He made a few changes to the recipe. He used whole wheat spaghetti instead of linguini, and he used frozen shrimp to save a few bucks instead of fresh. As I mentioned  before, he added the zucchini and squash. You could really add any fresh vegetables into this dish. 

Directions: 

For the pasta, put a large pot of water on the stove to boil. When it has come to the boil, add a couple of tablespoons of salt and the linguini. Stir to make sure the pasta separates; cover. When the water returns to a boil, cook for about 6 to 8 minutes or until the pasta is not quite done. Drain the pasta.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter in 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium-high heat. Saute the shallots, garlic, and red pepper flakes (if using) until the shallots are translucent, about 3 to 4 minutes. Season the shrimp with salt and pepper; add them to the pan and cook until they have turned pink, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the shrimp from the pan; set aside and keep warm. Add wine and lemon juice and bring to a boil. Add 2 tablespoons butter and 2 tablespoons oil. When the butter has melted, return the shrimp to the pan along with the parsley and cooked pasta. Stir well and season with salt and pepper. Drizzle over a bit more olive oil and serve immediately.

It is a great light dish perfect for the summer! 

Hugs,

Katey

We've Been Busy

Hello friends! Sorry for the lack of post yesterday, but I'll make up for it today. Things here have been crazy busy. Good things and stressful things. This summer has certainly not been boring! I almost wish it was.

We started May off with the hubs having just about a week stay in the hospital with Cellulitis and a GI bug. It was pretty scary for the first few days because the doctors weren't really sure what was up. We had some gorgeous weather though.

June brought lots of busyness with it. we have a crazy amount of June birthdays in my family. Including me and Liza. I posted about Liza's fun birthday party here, but I don't think I've told you about the hives. Nope, not beehives. These hives:

Crazy, right? Liza was diagnosed with a virus called Erythema Multiforme. This is a virus that is not contagious, but causes red spots that are distributed pretty evenly on the body. It's insane and looks horrible. On day 10 of this virus, we were seen by an allergist. The allergist diagnosed her with a hive virus. So, she just randomly gets res spots/hives for no reason. Since it's been a whole month, we are getting some blood work done to check for allergies, but the allergist is pretty certain this will just be a case of Chronic Hives. Could last a long time. Sigh.

We spent a lot of time at home in June. Even though Liza isn't contagious, I didn't want other families to feel like she was if we were out and about. Thankfully, she doesn't always look this bad. It seems to have gotten better in the way that her breakouts aren't nearly as intense, but it still happens almost daily.

At first, July was settling down. We took a weekend road trip to Maryland to visit family and spent one night in DC so we could take Liza to the zoo. It was amazing!

Pigtails!!!

Driving more than eight hours with a two year old isn't the most fun thing to do, but we made the best of it and enjoyed a little family time!

I love pictures of Liza with her daddy! Melts my heart a little.

This is pretty much the only one of me and my girl all summer. A certain someone needs to start using the camera a little more!!

We were also thrilled to celebrate our best friend's wedding. Liza was the flower girl and my hottie hubby was the best man.

 I could not get a picture of her looking at the camera to save my life, but you can still see how adorable she looked in her dress!

Unfortunately, we discovered lots of fleas on our cats. And fleas in our house. It has been a pretty stressful week with flea bombing and the exterminator coming. We've been staying at my parents' house all week so that we won't be around the chemicals. Fleas are such bastards!! Thankfully, this is the first time that we've had fleas, but really, it's not making me want to keep my kitties around. Animals can be such a pain!

So, that about wraps up my summer so far. I hope your summer has been a little less stressful than mine! here's to a fabulous August!!!

XOXO Sarah

Monday Madness

Well it's Monday..and it has been quite a day! My girls have been fighting since they woke up at 8:00am. My toddler has napped maybe a half hour and my hubs is working a 15 hour day. So how am I going to get through the day? I will have to dig up lots of patience and drink another cup of coffee.

Even as I write this I had hopes they could play together in the yard with the pool without fighting and they have already opened the door twice to tattle tale on each other. I wish I could hide from them & escape the madness! LOL 

How is your Monday going so far? 

Even though I am having a crazy day, it doesn't compare to the victims of the movie theatre massacre. It makes me sick to stomach to think about it.  We will continue to pray for the families of the victims. The world we live in seems like a scary place and I can't help but wonder how much more scary it can get in the years to come. 

What kind of world will our children live to see? A terrifying thought isn't it? 

Hugs,

Katey

An update on my boy

Happy Friday!

We finally got a little break from the heat here. It is in around 73 degrees, so this morning we took a walk to Starbucks.  I love that place!! 

I just wanted to give a quick update on Baby J. Here is the first post when he was 10 months and

here is an update when he was 14 months. 

14 months in this picture

Baby J isn't really a baby anymore, he is now a full blown toddler. This makes me sad! This past week he had a doctors appointment and now weighs a little over 19 lbs and is 29 inches long. The doctor says he is a peanut and is not too concerned. I just hope he ends up taller than his sisters.

He started hobbling around our house at 14 months and a few weeks ago on vacation he started really getting the hang of walking.  So now at 16 months he is a normal curious toddler into everything. 

This whole experience has taught me to go with your instincts and take what the doctors say with a grain of salt. Remembering it is ok to get a second opinion. I have also learned that breast milk was best for us, and I was not going to let the doctor bully me into giving my son formula. It has proven that my little boy was just fine the whole time. You can't just go based on the growth charts, it is necessary to look at the child as a whole.

My boy loves the beach

I hope you enjoy your weekend!

Hugs,

Katey

Baby Wearing Love

A Note From Sarah:

As I talk to moms around me, it seems like baby wearing can be a little intimidating to some people. For whatever reason our society has gotten away from baby wearing as a norm.

I remember sitting in a professional development workshop while I was still teaching and the keynote speaker addressed the issue of how children of all ages need to be touched to feel loved and safe. As a teacher, it meant that I would pat a students back or shoulder or place my hand on their arm while talking to them. A touch that makes the child feel connected to you. I remember her explaining how sad it made her feel to see babies in their infant seats for good amounts of time without their caregivers touch. I made a vow to myself that I would always be conscious of that and that I would carry my babies whenever possible.
It wasn't always the easiest thing to do, but it meant a lot to me and I don't regret that promise to myself at all. Luckily, I discovered baby wearing soon after Liza was born. Once I started wearing Liza, my life became a little easier. Liza was happy and content to be snuggled up against me which meant that I could relax and take my time at Target or the grocery store. It meant cry-free walks with my husband and even yard work.

A Note from Katey:

I never knew about Baby Wearing until my sister started with her baby. Even then I tried different carriers like the Eddie Bauer sling and the hot sling. I never loved them and they were so uncomfortable. My husband was skeptical when I had my third baby that I wanted to try it again. He knew I had gone through a few carriers already and he thought baby wearing was just not for me. However, I was determined considering I needed to have both hands free when I had my boy, because I also had a two year old to run after. When Baby J was newborn I used the Moby. It was hard at first to wrap until I did it a few times. I was so relieved that this carrier worked for me! I started researching others, and knew I would want something easier to put on, and since the I had success with one carrier maybe my hubs would be on board for another?? Hehe! My sister recommended the Beco and I went with it. I am happy I did! I used it all the time with my little guy and put my toddler in the single stroller. I preferred this method over a double stroller. I was also lucky enough to have a good friend of mine lend me her ring sling. I loved that as well and wished I had it when Baby J was a newborn for nursing. It was so easy to put on and off, and to nurse in.
Remember, it is never too late to start baby wearing, whether its with your 1st or 3rd baby!


Since we both fell in love with baby wearing, we have spent a lot of time researching carriers and will share some basic styles with you today. There are a million brands and types available to you and it can be a little confusing.

Here are some of the more well-known safe and sturdy carriers:
 
The Moby Wrap is easy to find since can be bought at Target and Babies R Us. We both used the Moby with our newborns until about 7 or 8 months old. We love how secure your new baby is to you and how hands free you are while wearing your little one. It almost feels like you are pregnant again.

 

The Baby K'tan is similar to the Moby, but doesn't require as much wrapping. Neither of us have ever used the Baby K'tan, but it's popularity is rising and we won't deny that we'd like to try it!

 The Ellaroo wrap is well-known in the baby wearing community. It is a reasonably priced wrap that is much more durable than the Moby. You can also use this wrap through toddler hood so it's very useful. You can read our friend Nichole's review of it here.

The Ergo can also be found at Babies R Us and is a very popular carrier. Sarah has one and likes it although she finds it a bit bulky on her small frame, but it's been very useful and has been used tons.

 

 Beco is a wonderful brand. They have three variations of their carrier and offer some gorgeous patterns. Katey loved her Beco Butterfly 2. It is pictured below. It was easy to put on and off and you can wear baby on the front or on the back when they are able to sit up.

Sakura Bloom Ring Sling is Sarah's favorite sling. They are beautiful and super simple to use for infants and toddlers. You won't be as hands-free using this type of carrier, but it is still a very worthwhile investment.

Here are some helpful resources:

*** Here is a great article about choosing the carrier that is right for you.***
BabyWearer- Huge baby wearing forum where you can find everything from used carriers to a babywearing community.
Wikepedia- Baby wearing isn't anything new...even Wikepedia knows that.
What is Babywearing?- Dr. Sears
Adventures in Babywearing Blog- A really nice description of different carriers.
Abby's Lane- Used baby carriers
FrogMama- Used Carriers
KellyMom- If you have ever breastfed a baby, then you know this wonderful website! Check out her info on baby wearing.

There are so many carriers to choose from. What is your favorite carrier and why? Please share with us!

On Bedsharing

If you know me then you have probably figured out that my little one sleeps in bed with us for at least part of the night. Some people think I am crazy. Heck, before I had Liza I thought people were nuts for sleeping with their kids. I also had the misconception that it was super unsafe to have your baby in your bed, but that is another post for another day.

Source and a fabulous article to boot.

Today I want to share with you a little about our bedsharing journey.

 But first, the basics.

What is co-sleeping?

Co-sleeping does not mean that you are sleeping with your baby in your bed. It means that your baby is sleeping near you. Maybe in a bassinet or a co-sleeper. They are somewhere in their own space, but they are still close to mom. In the same room so that baby can hear the rhythms of mommy's breathing and so that mom can easily comfort baby.



What is bed-sharing?

Bed-sharing is when your baby sleeps right in your bed with you. In the curve of your arm and snuggled up against your chest. Best feeling ever. Especially as a new mom. Especially if you're breastfeeding. Especially if you are as paranoid as I was. I never thought I'd do it, but it worked for us.

Now, a little about me.

The night we brought Liza home from the hospital was the same night we ended up bringing her back to the children's hospital. I could not get her to eat and I was worried about dehydration. The on call doctor was worried that she might have a virus and sent us to the ER. We spent almost three days there watching our new baby get poked and tested and were thankfully sent home nice and healthy.

The days that followed consisted mostly of me nursing Liza. Like all brand new babies, she nursed a lot. I remember being so tired. And she slept. Unless I put her down. If I put her down, she would wake right up. I thought babies were supposed to be happy sleeping in their bassinets and swings.

Liza wasn't.

She needed me to hold her. When I put her down, she'd wake up. I tried the pack-n-play, the swing, the bassinet, the crib, the bouncy seat, everything we had. Nothing worked.

At night, I would always put her to sleep in the bassinet on the side of my bed and I would sleep with my hand on her chest. She'd wake, I'd feed her. I can remember sitting on my bed with the boppy nursing and then all of a sudden I'd wake up still sitting up holding Liza. It scared me. I was so worried that I would nod off while holding her and she would fall.

It seemed to me like no one believed me when I would talk about Liza not being a good sleeper. People would see me holding her during her naps and would say things like, "Why don't you put her down. You have to just let her cry." That didn't make sense to me and I felt like no one believed me. No one except for my sweet hubby. I thought I was doing something wrong. So, I went online for help and I found Dr. Sears.

Dr. Sears changed my life. He gave me sleep. He gave my baby sleep. He gave me my sanity back.
I will be forever grateful to him for sharing the story of his son, who was not a good sleeper. I read this article and cried.

It made me feel normal. I wasn't doing anything wrong, Liza just needed me a little more than some babies need their moms (when it comes to sleep).

I also learned from his wife about the side-laying nursing position. It seemed much safer for me to lay down and nurse Liza in the middle of the night. I figured that if I fell asleep nursing, we would both be laying down and there was no way I could accidentally drop her in my sleep.

This is how we began bedsharing. It was so much easier to have Liza sleep right up close to me. We all slept better and we developed such a natural rhythm that it was almost like we could sleep through our nursing sessions. It was amazing to feel how in-tuned to my little baby I was. I knew when she flinched or sighed and I could hear her breathing with me. It just seemed so natural. I could rest knowing that even in my sleep I was aware of her breathing.

Check out this article on Co-Sleeping. There are links in this article to some of Dr. Sears' more scientific research on how co-sleeping and/or bedsharing are not as horrible as our society would lead you to believe.Unlike those horrific ads that show babies in danger while in adult beds, it can be and should always, always  be done safely. 

I'll stop now before I go off on a tangent, but let me just say one more thing.

 Please know that this is just my experience. I am not trying to start a debate or tell you that the way you might do things is wrong. We're all just trying to do the best we can.

Here are two other helpful links:
SIDS Research
Infant Sleep Safety

Have you ever let your littles into your bed?

XOXO Sarah

House Hunting Shenanigans

Happy Friday!!  It is another hot day in Southern Ontario. Since moving here from Florida, I LOVE the hot weather! Only thing missing is the beach to go along with it!

When we were in Massachusetts for the past two weeks we did a little house hunting. Our experience thus far has shown us that some sellers are absolutely CRAZY!

We looked at 5 houses total, and we made an offer on one we thought was absolutely perfect for us. The only thing we needed to do was replace the carpet and put a fence outside. It had an above ground salt water pool, and a nice stone patio. The kitchen was redone with granite countertops and it had hardwood floors on the first floor, with a finished basement that had a nice bar. We fell in love. We put in our offer and the seller accepted and signed it. Great, we were all set to close the end of October. Sounds too good to be true right?  A few days passed by and the seller was having second thoughts, he pulled his house off the market, and didn't want to move forward with the signing of the purchase and sales agreement. My hubs and I were heartbroken.  I don't understand why this seller would have listed his house for 80 days and then turnaround and decide that far into it they didn't want to sell? CRAZY!

We had to move on, so we looked at a few more houses. We put in another offer, but the seller didn't want to close in October he wanted to push it closer to September. This doesn't work for us considering we probably won't be moving until early to mid November. Keep in mind this house has been on the market for over 100 days, and we had met the seller and he stated he didn't really know where he was going to move to. CRAZY!


So we are still searching my real estate agent's website, but we are no longer in Massachusetts so we can't look at anything. We will have to travel back there in September to really figure it out.


Do you have any interesting house hunting stories? Please share them with me!

Hugs,

Katey

Cloth Diaper Recap!

Hello Everyone!

Today I decided to re-post some cloth diaper resources and experiences with you. I hope you find some of the links helpful and useful. I will follow up to this post with even more information, but I thought this was a good, but simple post to get us started! You can find the original post here.

So, once I fell in love with the cuteness of cloth diapers, I knew that I had to get my husband on board.

Source

I started by emailing him an article at work similar to this or this. The article breaks down the toxins that are often found in disposable diapers. It's hard to think about!

source

The next seed I planted was about the cost of diapers. If I used disposables full time I could spend up to $2400!! That's an awful lot of money that gets thrown in a dump somewhere and takes forever to decompose. This is a great article that discusses the cost of disposable vs. cloth diapers.

source

It's sorta neat that I am still using the first cloth diaper that I ever bought and Liza is almost 2 years old. I should take a picture of her in it and do a comparison!

Together we decided to give it a try. If we hated using cloth diapers then we would sell them (there is a very big used cloth diaper market!). I felt like since I gave up my job to become a stay at home mama then I should be able to try something that could help save us money and treat my baby's bum better.

Liza is wearing a pocket diaper....Bum Genius 4.0

Liza has never, ever had a diaper rash. I'm not sure if it's her cloth diapers or luck, but I'll take it!

Liza in a Bum Genius AIO 

 When you first start considering cloth, it seems a little overwhelming. There are so many different types of diapers and different brands. Then you have to think about your detergent and wash routine. My favorite resource for this kind of thing is Pinstripes and Polka Dots. You can find the answers to all your questions there!

You might be interested now, but I know you're wondering if it's too hard or gross. Check out my quick post The Scoop on the Poop for a little more on the dirty side of cloth diapering!

Please comment or email or Facebook if there you have any questions and I will be sure to answer them in my next diaper post!!

XO Sarah

Celebrating America's Birthday

Hello faithful readers! Hope you had a great week!



Sarah and I both just got back from vacation yesterday. It was nice to celebrate the 4th of July in the states this year. Last year I was in Canada and it just didn't feel the same, even though they have Canada Day on July 1. This year it was my first time enjoying some of the Bristol Rhode Island 4th of July celebrations. My hubs and I spent the day in Bristol with his Godmother and uncle. We started by taking a ride on the bike path. It is a great path if you are in the area I recommend it. Then we went to have dinner at Leo's, they have some great food. It is mainly Italian but they have other kinds as well.
After dinner we went to enjoy the concert and the fireworks that followed. I thoroughly enjoyed the band, The British Invasion Tribute they played music from the 60's, including The Beatles.

I was far away, don't mind the fuzziness of the pic.

God Bless America!!


How did you celebrate the 4th of July?


Hugs,
Katey

P.S. Trying to get little ones back on schedule after vacation proves to be very difficult!

Happy July!

Can you believe that it's July??? Neither can we!

We have decided to take the week off from blogging so we can spend time with our families. We hope that you're able to enjoy America's birthday with your family and friends!

We'll see you in a few days! God Bless America!