Seven Months Old

Currently: 
18lbs 7oz
27 inches long
Blonde hair, blue eyes

Likes: 
Falling off of the couch
Raspberries on his belly
Stealing everything from momma
Chewing on said stolen items
Boobie time
Chicken

Dislikes: 
The pain from falling off the couch
Trying to crawl
Extra long naps



Sleep: 
Never consistent... sometimes he'll sleep for 4-5 hours, other times only 2 hours.

Best Moments: 
Walking with assistance
Drinking from a straw
Eczema is finally starting to heal
Finally starting to like solids

Worst Moments:
First high fever and bad cold

Bumping his head

Favourite Pictures:

This is Just the Beginning

I recently started a new venture in photography that I'm really excited about. I posted ads on two Swap&Shop pages on facebook offering three free sessions (per post) and had an overwhelming response. I'm a little apprehensive, but also very excited to build my business!

My first free session was on Saturday, June 21st. I actually had three back-to-back free sessions that day and it was so much fun! I decided to do the photos at Royal Roads University, which is absolutely gorgeous, and I think it was very successful. My first session was with Kristine and her 3 month old son Jack. He was the cutest little baby with the best chubby cheeks!

His momma also had gorgeous green eyes to go with her red hair! It was any photographers dream, in my opinion. They were both a pleasure to work with. Jack was very relaxed and didn't even get upset! 

After Kristine and Jack was a family of four, including a 2.5 year old and a 6.5 month old. This was my first experience with a toddler and it was definitely an eye opener! Little Alexa has a mind of her own and was not up for having her pretty little face photographed, so we spent a lot of time wandering through the water (where she was happy).

It was a struggle to get her to sit long enough to get a good family photo, but I'm hoping the parents are happy with what they get! She was such a sweetheart, just not feeling the whole photographing thing and I totally get that. She also has the cutest little sister!

The last family of the day were also a blast! They're 20 month old son Rickard was quite entertaining and wasn't the least bit camera shy. He has two awesome, laid-back parents that I really bonded with. We had lots of fun exploring the grounds... Rickard wasn't too fond of the angel statue, though.

I guess the statue is a little creepy... sorry, dude! Of course, no photo session is complete without at least one little melt down... and boy, did he have the best melt down face! I hope his momma is okay with me sharing this one!

That pretty much sums up my first day of shooting! I took over 700 pictures and have 500 left to go through and edit. It's a daunting task, but I'm so excited to share these photos with the families. They will hopefully be great memories for years to come.

Feeling Helpless - Dealing With a Sick Baby

I rolled over to answer the subtle whines of my 6.5 month old baby for his usual 6:00 am feeding. Reaching over, I touched his little body and instantly knew that something was wrong. My heart sunk as I felt the heat radiating off of him. He was now whimpering as I slowly picked him up from beside me. I quickly put him on the boob and sent a text to my mom asking for her to bring the thermometer and Tylenol into my bedroom. It was in this moment that I found out just how much it hurts when your little baby falls ill. Tyrus' fever was 38.6 C (101.5 F).

Now, I've never done this whole "Mom" thing before. I can barely take care of myself when I'm sick, so how am I supposed to know what a little baby needs to feel better? I was clueless. I have no idea what is going on with him. All I know is that he's sick and he needs me more than ever right now. I soaked some clothes in cold water to drape over him, but he hated it. They made him cry even more, which made my heart break further. I had to keep up with it, though. I didn't want to risk him having a febrile seizure. We also had a lukewarm bath with his toys that really helped bring the fever down, it also distracted him for a little while.

This is Tyrus' first big cold and was also a realization for myself... I don't have much for him when he's sick! So, I decided to compile a list of must haves for helping a sick baby.

#1 on my list is a cool air humidifier. They come in a variety of sizes and designs, including a frog! They aren't cheap, but you can find a basic one for $39.99 or the one pictured for $64.99, both at Toys R Us.
"This Crane Cool Mist Humidifier provides additional comfort to cold symptoms, dry itchy skin, and chapped lips. The whisper quiet humidifier won't disturb sleep and operates on a low power consumption providing min. of 11 hours of moisture from a removable 0.9 gallon water tank. It includes an automatic shut off safety feature when water tank is empty."



#2 Thermometer. It's important to check your baby's temperature numerous times throughout the day. I don't know what the "rule" is, however I tend to check Tyrus' temperature every 30 minutes.


#3 Nosefrida. This thing is very helpful when your baby has a runny/stuffy nose. The idea is a little gross and creeps me out, but it works! You are actually able to suck the mucus out of their nose, and no it doesn't go into your mouth.



#4 Syringe. This thing makes giving medicine soooo much easier! I have a few, one came with my Tyenol and my favourite one was given to me by a pharmacist.

#5 Medicine! I'm generally all about homeopathic remedies, but sometimes you just need to use the big stuff. I alternated between Tylenol and Motrin every four hours on day one. However, day two we went with Kids 0-9 Cough and Cold!

Last, but not least, #6 snuggles. I was told by a few people that I shouldn't let my baby sleep on my chest while he has a fever, but that's where he wanted to be and I wasn't going to deny him that. We snuggled all day!

Dealing with a sick baby is no fun. I'm extremely sensitive, so my days have been full of tears from the both of us. I'm slowly losing my sanity, but keep reminding myself that Tyrus will return to his happy, energetic self and it'll all be over soon. I hope I provided tips to help you cope with this difficult time of mommahood.

Single Momma Struggles

I had to make one of the toughest, but bravest decisions I will ever make in my life on April 5th, 2013. I consciously chose to keep my pregnancy knowing full well that I'd be doing it alone. I had no idea what motherhood entailed. I didn't know about baby eczema or sleep regressions. All I knew is that I'd be doing it alone. Every feeding. Every cry. Every restless night. I don't even know how I'm still functioning and friends have also made comments... "I couldn't imagine being a single momma", "I don't know how you do it".

Honestly, I don't know either. Sure, I may not know any differently, but I do fantasise over it. This is not the ideal life and I do wish that I could have my exact son five or even seven years from now. In my picture perfect world. However, this is the path that I'm meant to go down and I'm conquering it one day at a time... one very long, slow day at a time.

My strength was tested today. We had a terrible night of comfort nursing and tears coupled with waking up sick. Yes, sick. I have a sore throat, a wicked headache, hot/cold flashes, and a 6 month old son that just wants to chat away and play with me. I have no idea how other single mommas handle this... but today I had to wave the white flag. A friend of mine sent me a text in the morning asking when she could come grab Tyrus for the day. I hesitated at first, not knowing if he was getting sick, too. In the end, I thawed out 15 ounces of milk and packed his things. It was bitter-sweet. Part of me felt like I had given up... but the better part of me knew that I couldn't take care of him today in my state. I was able to go back to bed and get some much needed rest. I'm still not feeling 100%, but I'm getting there.

In the end, today has helped me to realize that it's okay to call for help when I need it. I can't always be strong and I can't always be at my best. Maybe one day I'll be able to handle mommahood and sickness, but that doesn't have to be today, tomorrow, or even next Tuesday. I have 17 years and 6 months left... minimum. I'll be able to handle it one day, but for now I'll keep trying and that's all that matters.

To all of you single mommas out there, remember to breath. Remember to take time for yourself. But most importantly, remember to ask for help if you need it... or even if you just want to get away for a few hours. We can't always be rock stars. We are allowed to have our weak moments.

Six Months Old

Currently: 
17lbs 1oz
27 inches long
Blonde hair, blue eyes

Likes: 
Jolly Jumper
Pulling Lexi's hair
Sucking on as many fingers as possible
Drooling

Dislikes: 
Being left in a room by himself
Solids
Napping without being held

Sleep: 
I fight him to sleep around 10:30, out by 11:00pm, waking up every 2-3 hours.

Best Moments: 
Saying "mom" and "momma"
Meeting Grandpa Rob
Sitting up unassisted

Worst Moments:
Attempting to put Tyrus to bed on his own so I can have some quiet time...

Favourite Pictures:

My Weight Loss Journey

189 pounds

I've been on this adventure of losing weight for seven years now. It has taken a lot of determination, motivation, and patience, but I knew it wasn't going to be easy and that it would be a huge lifestyle change. I went from weighing 189 pounds to 125 pounds before I got pregnant. Also, just to put it out there, I'm 5 foot 5.

My journey began in 2007 at the age of 16 when my mom decided to sign up for Weight Watchers and asked if I would like to go with her. We went to one meeting every week for six months, and then I stopped going to the meetings but continued doing what they suggested, which was to pay attention to what you stomach is telling you, especially while you are eating. Weight Watchers taught me that it's important to stop as soon as you start to feel full. However, it's equally important to eat a snack if you feel hungry two or three hours later. With me, I found that I was eating smaller meals every four hours or so. I also do my best to stop eating three hours before I go to bed, but sometimes I need some sugar late at night.

The most important part of my lifestyle change is that I don't deprive myself of anything. I still eat junk food, I still drink pop sometimes, I still eat out at restaurants and order whatever I want. It's all about portion control and making healthier choices. If you never treat yourself then you'll lose motivation. I started getting salads instead of fries, however I'd choose fries every now and again simply because I like them. I also started drinking lots more water, which meant I was drinking less pop. Water and I have a love/hate relationship, but I discovered that I drink way more water if I use a bottle with a straw. Also, I do my best to not be hard on myself. I will have days where I binge eat or eat a ton of junk food, but then I own up to it and don't beat myself up over it. In fact, I had a whole month worth of days like this and even gained seven pounds, but I got myself right back on track. My whole pregnancy was also like this, which resulted in gaining 65 lbs.

6 days before delivery

In addition to portion control, cardio is key to weight loss. I didn't start going to the gym until October 2010, which is why it took me longer to lose the weight. I try to go to the gym 3-5 times a week for a minimum of 40 minutes. I find that going to the gym is all about motivating yourself and finding ways to stay motivated. One thing that works really well for me is having a good workout playlist to listen to, but even then it can be hard. I also find that if I tell myself that I'm going to the gym, then I will go. I have to make time for myself because my health is important to me.

I'm always trying my best to crack down on myself and trying my best to stop my bad eating habits. However, it's not the end of the world and I know that I am way better off where I am right now than I was seven years ago, so there's no point in stressing about it. I still have 30 lbs to lose before I'm back to my pre-pregnancy weight, but I'm taking my time and enjoying my baby. It's also a little harder to get up and go to the gym in the morning when you were up every 2 hours throughout the night, but I'll get there!

2 months post partum vs. 4 months post partum

6 weeks post-partum vs 13 months post-partum

Eczema, I Hate You

Eczema is red, dry, itchy patches and is often the result of an allergy, whether it be food or topical irritants (perfumes, dyes, and chemicals in common household products like soaps, laundry detergents, fabric softeners, and bubble baths). It can also flare up due to being overheated, so light layers are extremely important.


My battle with eczema began around the 3 month mark. It started off on his thighs, but I was able to get rid of it by using Tyrus' diaper rash balm because it contains Calendula. I was told by my public health nurse that eczema is common with babies and that anything containing calendula will heal it. It was never explained to me what eczema is and why it can occur. I never thought to google it, but wish that I had so I could have gotten it under control much sooner.

Anyways, the eczema flared back up within days. He had a patch on his belly, one on his right arm, all over his right cheek, and forehead. Both of his calves were covered, as well. I asked a local mom group for tips, but they were all telling me things that I can put on his skin. So, I tried it. I tried coconut oil, baby oil, olive oil, Penaten cream, you name it and I probably tried it. Everything made it worse, so bad that he ended up developing a terrible case of cradle cap, as well.  My poor baby was so uncomfortable and itchy and there wasn't anything that I could do for him. I was feeling absolutely helpless. So, I posted on the mom group again explaining the situation and that I'd tried everyone's recommendation. This time I included a photo of what his face/head looked like and that's when people realized just how serious his case of eczema and cradle cap really were.  A friend of mine, that also belongs to the group, messaged me and said that I should try breast milk for the cradle cap (I wrote a blog about that here). Thankfully it was a success, so now I only have the eczema to deal with.

Day 3 of strict diet

After talking to a nutritionist, it became quite clear that Tyrus is allergic to something that I'm eating. I've had to cut sugar, gluten, dairy, wheat, and fermented foods from my diet and it's helping! The eczema started to clear up within a three days of being on the diet and we were both SO relieved. However, it's a very hard diet for me to stick to. I was exclusively breast feeding, so it was important that I eat lots, but I was struggling to get enough food/calories into my body and my milk supply was beginning to suffer. Breast feeding is the absolute most important part of motherhood, for me, so I refuse to give it up. I have my good days and my bad days with the diet and his skin has definitely suffered, but it's healing slowly. I've been trying to pin-point the exact foods causing a reaction, but it's so hard. I know for sure that ice cream, milk, and peanut butter cause flare ups, but that's it so far. 



The best remedy that I've come across is La Roche-Posay Lipikar Baume. It can be found at Shoppers in the dermatology section. Yes, it's a little pricey, but it's so worth it! I apply it immediately after a bath, while he's still damp. I also apply it numerous times throughout the day. I threw out the baby Vaseline and Aveeno Baby Eczema care after starting the Lipikar Baume, it's far better and not full of crazy chemicals. I also make my own laundry detergent that consists of borax, washing soda, and dove sensitive skin soap. In addition, my son's chiropractor recently told me to start giving him a probiotic. We tried Bio-K, but it tasted and smelled AWFUL! So, we decided to start Flora Super Toddler Probiotic, it's a powder that I mix into his food. It has honestly been the best cure. I stopped using all of the lotions and crap after starting a probiotic. We still lotion up when his skin gets dry, though.

The most important thing to understand about eczema is that you need to heal it from the inside out, so my diet change and the probiotic is going to prevent it from reoccurring. This has been a brutal, long battle for us and it can be very tiring. I'm sick of people making nasty comments and giving me "helpful" advice of what worked for their "not as bad" case of eczema, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel... somewhere. Hopefully I can help a few momma's out with this post. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me! 

3 weeks after initial post :)

8.5 months after initial post :)