Hi fellow mommies!!

Life with a baby goes along with technoogy ;)

For news, updates and links find us on Twitter-->http://twitter.com/lifewithababy

Let's tweet!! :)

Hello, Moms
Happy Mother's Day to you all!

Intuition Concierge, our new sponsor, is offering this wonderful gift to each one of our members. Please read the e-mail below for details.

A Note: When you sign up to receive your gift, the form is set up to ask for your invoice format. You may ignore this and leave it as is because you will NOT be charged. There is also no expiry date to this offer.

Enjoy!

Joanna

 Happy Mother's Day!

IntuitionConcierge is giving every member of Working Mama's and LifeWithBaby.com in the GTA a Mother's Day gift that they can really use!

One Hour of Free Concierge Service!

Thats one free hour from our concierge team for you to use any way you please! Want your groceries picked up? Done!  Take the car in for service? Done! Pick up dinner and your dry cleaning? Done and Done!

No catch, no hidden fees, just a gift from us to you!

Our List of services is endless, so no matter what your needs, let Intuition be the only number you need to call ... ever!

Simply fill out the information form below, and our concierge will contact you and you will be on your way!

 

Also, as a bonus for registering with us, you are able to take advantage of our 1 week complimentary HomeSafe service. We will check on your home while you are away on business or vacation, and make sure that everything is safe and sound for when you return!  That's right, more free stuff!

This Mother's Day, get a gift that everyone can really use, free time!

 

Use the link below to register, and your done!
http://intuitionconcierge.wufoo.com/forms/intuition-membership-application/

So Happy Mother's Day! And enjoy your free time!

Intuition Concierge
www.Intuitionconcierge.com
416.619.0207

 
 

Toddler's Day Out
Tips for Summer Playgroups
By Jacqueline Bodnar
An article from iParenting Media

Spring and Summer are filled with all the things we love and cherish each year: the aroma of backyard barbecues, the laughter of children playing outdoors and the slower pace we get to enjoy for a few months. This time of year is perfect for getting children outside for some fresh air and keeping them active. While most people think of getting the older children outside to play, some may overlook the smallest children, those ages 3 and under.

This spring, plan some fun playgroups for your toddlers and get them in on all the fun this season has to offer. With a little bit of planning, you can all take part in and get something out of summer playgroups for the little ones. Playgroups for children this age not only are good fun for the kids – parents benefit as well.

Playgroup Dynamics
While children this age generally engage in parallel play, rather than being interactive with other children, groups can still be beneficial for them. Children need to learn how to get along with other people, and playgroups are a great way to get them on that path. The children get a chance to practice their social skills and have fun at the same time. However, that doesn't mean it will be all fun and games.

"Parents need to have realistic expectations about little ones getting along," says Dr. Eileen Kennedy-Moore, a psychologist and author of the book The Unwritten Rules of Friendship: Simple Strategies to Help Your Child Make Friends.
 "It's normal for very young children to ignore each other, to snatch toys and to cry when they don't get what they want."

Understanding that there may be problems can help you work to prevent them from happening and deal with them if they do. Although children this age may have a hard time sharing, they may be able to understand the concept of taking turns. Groups like this are great for helping children begin to understand the concepts of taking turns and following directions. When toddlers get frustrated, they may resort to hitting, pushing or biting. Preventing such problems before they start is the key. When you see a child getting frustrated, try to step in with a new activity, provide a healthy snack or physically separate the children.

"Parents can definitely benefit from play dates for young children," says Kennedy-Moore. "Besides having the camaraderie of other parents, play dates are also a great opportunity to observe other children. Seeing that everybody else's kid does it, too, can help parents feel more confident in their own parenting abilities and more accepting of their child's developmentally normal behavior."

Playgroup Planning
It's a good idea to plan the playgroups for children this age. Having fewer children wll help keep things calmer. Another good way to avoid meltdowns is to keep the visits short; a good range for this age would be no more than two hours at once. When it comes to deciding what to do during that time, keep in mind that the activities should be something that will involve all the children and should be kept age-appropriate.
"At this age, children in playgroups have the opportunity to explore new areas in their environment," says Suzanne Reszka, the lead teacher at People's Church Preschool in East Lansing, Mich. "As they explore these new areas, they become more independent. Their emotional, social and language skills develop, and their feelings of self-esteem increase."

For children 3 and younger, Reszka recommends planning events around sensory activities such as water play, textured blocks and playing dress-up. Other areas that are good for this age group are activities that involve large motor skills as well as playing with music and finger play.

No matter what type of playgroup you plan, make sure you have fun. If your child sees you getting frustrated at some of the behavior, they will pick up on that and become frustrated, too. Have fun and they will have fun, too.

"Play dates are very exciting for young children," says Kennedy-Moore. "But focus on keeping them short. Shorter play dates work better."

Summer Playgroup Ideas
When it comes to putting together a playgroup that young children will love, you are limited only by your imagination. Here are a few ideas you can use or adapt when creating your own theme:

Field Trips: Summer is a great time to plan field trip playgroups. You can visit the zoo, the beach or even the library for story time and finger play. Other great field trips include going on a nature walk or meeting at the park for a picnic and play date.
Gym Class: Planning a gym class is a great way to keep the kids active – and they should take a great nap afterward! This can be set up outdoors or indoors on rainy days. Just create a gymnasium and have all the kids follow along with the routine. You can set up a small balance beam, create a floor routine and help them do tumbling.
Treasure Hunt: It doesn't have to be Easter for children this age to have a blast running around and gathering up treasures. You can create a treasure hunt in your backyard that will keep them busy looking for summer treasures.
Art: All year long, you've thought about pulling out some finger paints and other messy things for the kids to play with, but you have dreaded the thought of it getting all over the carpeting. Take the paints outside and set them up at the picnic table or on the ground. Well-supervised, the children will create their own little masterpieces.
Sidewalk Chalk: Find a safe area in your driveway or on the sidewalk to give the children colored sidewalk chalk and let them draw. You can also create and introduce them to different games, like hopscotch.
Beach Bash: You don't need to have a big swimming pool for children this age to have a beach bash. Just get a small wading pool for children and help them have some water fun. Throw in a picnic lunch and you have a perfect day at the beach – right in your own backyard.
Themed Play Dates: To make it a little more fun and creative, you can have a theme for each playgroup. You can concentrate on characters that the children like, sports or even animals.
Ice Cream Party: Summer means ice cream for kids of all ages. A simple yet tasty ice cream party can be thrown for the children.

Source: http://www.toddlerstoday.com/articles/your-toddlers/toddler-s-day-out-4115/

We travelled to the Grand Sirenis with Katelyn and the manager there was very gracious and answered some questions that other parents travelling with young children would want to know. 

Overall I loved this resort, the selection of food, the rooms, the staff and the service. Everything was five stars!

What happens in an emergency?

In case of an emergency, how far is the hospital?

There is a hospital in playa del Carmen about 20 minutes away. There is 24hr medical service at the resort with a doctor and two paramedics.  The doctor can prescribe antibiotics and the staff will bring it to your hotel room.

What is the procedure at the hospital?

Hotel guests especially children are given top priority. The ambulance will pick you up at the hotel and take you to the hospital. There is always a pediatrician on site in case there is a need for one. If you have insurance, the hospital will arrange it so that the charges are to your insurance provider so you don’t have to pay anything.

Babysitting on site:

How are baby sitters trained?

If the child is under 4 , the  babysitters have paramedic training and have taken a baby sitting or nanny course.   We used the babysitter one evening and she was very good. We were only gone for 2 hours b/c we were a bit nervous about leaving her, but when we came back the babysitter was holding her and she was asleep on her stomach. The baby sitter we requested is a certified babysitter who was a nanny in France and had a certificate for CPR training.  The rate for babysitting is 10/hr

For children 4 and up, there is the kids club. The sitters at the kids club all have basic paramedic training. The kids club is equipped with books, toys and other activities and the day is structured with sleep time, play time and eating time.  Parents can leave their children at the kids club if the child is over four is your child is younger you can stay with them at the kids club for some of their activities.  Another great thing about the kids club is the kids take part in the show during the evening and there is a separate show for kids during the entertainment portion of the night.  The kids club does not take the children to the beach.

Feeding your infant

Do you have a baby food section for infants?

If you need pureed food, you can ask the chef to make your baby food on the spot. Just pick the foods that you would like and the chef will blend or puree for you.  There is also a selection of yogurt and fresh foods such as bananas and avocados that are excellent for infants as they are easy to puree.

In regards to milk for infants, you can ask room service and they will send a container of milk to the room for your baby. You can ask for the milk to be cold or warm depending on your preference. You can also keep ask for a few days supply of milk and keep it in the in room refrigerator.

Day Activities for the whole family

What are some suggested activities for families with small children?

Xcaret is a great place for families with children as it has a small zoo, pool and river activities.

Tullum – has a gorgeous beach with lots of sand area and the ruins

Akumel – Great for snorkeling, a lagoon with different colours and habitat for turtles

Went went to Tullum and Akumel, the beach was amazing at both beaches and much longer and calmer water than at the resort, my husband went snorkeling and saw turtles almost as big as out dining table at Akumel. 

Travelling off the resort

What is the best way to get around?

The safest way for get around is by taxi. When you leave with the taxi, security at the hotel takes your information and the information of the driver, the driver will wait for you wherever you go and if you are not back by the time you specified you would be back, the hotel will then make inquirers as to where the driver is.

We travelled by Collectivo which is by far the cheapest way to travel, about $2 where the taxi would be $20. The collective is also very safe but mostly the local people take the collectivo and I felt safe with Denys, but if I was travelling without Denys I would only take the taxi.  Taxis are good for groups of up to four, for bigger group you can request a van.

Restaurants.

There are seven restaurants included in the price. You are allowed to eat from 4 a la carte restaurants per week. The French restaurant is an extra $40.  Children can go to all the restaurants except for the French.  The French restaurant is a romantic experience and for adults only.  Our favourite restaurants were the Brazillian, the Japanese and the Itallian.

No smoking in public resort areas or rooms.  There is a new government law of no smoking in bars or restaurants. The theatre also have a no smoking section, rooms are all no-smoking.  There is a smoking room for people who want to smoke.

Entertainment:

The evening shows are great and really family friendly. At 9:30 there is a show for kids and 10 the regular show. The kids from the kids club get to take part in the show. One night was the Lion King and all the kids got to dress up in costumes and have their faces painted and play on the stage. This was very fun for the parents whose kids were in the show and made it a more memorable experience for the kids.

You can see more of the resort at www.sirenishotels.com

Here is a cool freebee offered by Toronto Library.

With the Sun Life Financial Museum and Arts Pass (MAP), you and your family can explore the best of Toronto's arts and cultural treasures for free.

With a valid adult Toronto Public Library card, you can borrow a MAP for your family at any Toronto Public Library branch. Quantities are limited and borrowing rules apply.

For deteils check here --> http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/spe_ser_museum_arts_pass.jsp

Hi dear mommies.

Some of us got it by mail, but those who didn't or didn't have time to look into it, here is some info:

The NDDS is currently being offered completely free of charge to residents of Ontario, as part of an initiative with the Ministry of Children & Youth Services.

Screening tool that proactively identifies problem areas in a child's development. Early identification is the first step in early intervention.

The NDDS was compiled by a multi-disciplinary team. This easy to use tool examines thirteen key developmental stages: 1 & 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, 15 months, 18 months, 2 years, 30 months, 3 years, 4 years, 5 years and 6 years.

The Screen explores a child's skills in the following areas: vision, hearing, speech, language, communication, gross motor, fine motor, cognitive, social/emotional and self-help.

When you go to the website click on "Ordering" and then you will get instructions on how to receive Developmental Screen that will be sent to your email address.

I found it pretty interesting.

http://www.ndds.ca/

Good luck!

 

Do you ever see another family and think, oh look at that, “They look like such a nice family, look at how much he helps her with the baby”… then the comparisons begin.

We compare our husbands to others we see at the grocery store, at the parent and tot programs, walking along the sidewalk!  To a first time mom other dads always seem to be more involved… well, things are not always what they seem.   Just last week another mom commented to me that Katelyn, Denys and I are the perfect family.  We always look so great and like we are having so much fun.  The funny thing is I was thinking that she looked so great and her husband must be so happy that she gets herself all dolled up before going out.  I mentioned this to her and we got to talking.  In the end, it was the same story all over again. He (dads who are not at home with the baby) will never get it.   Well the truth is they will not get it. They cannot understand what it is like to get pregnant and give birth so guess what!  They will not get it a 100% and that is OK!!!

As the founder of Life With A Baby, other moms constantly ask me questions about my marriage.  One of the most common is “Do I like my marriage”?  The answer is yes; in fact I love my marriage! Just not all the time J  is my marriage perfect? Absolutely not!   But marriage takes work; a good marriage is very, very hard work.  All relationships take work, the question is not whether or not I like my marriage – the question is “Is my marriage worth all the hard work”.  So far the hard work seems to be adjusting to the new dynamics of our family.  One of the biggest challenges that marriages face is the birth of a first child, the stress of caring for a newborn is overwhelming, add in sleep deprivation for both mom and dad and that is the recipe for a very difficult situation.   There has been a few times when I’ve said” that’s it – it’ too difficult! Maybe I should get a divorce.  Do I want a divorce? Of course not, it’s just my frustration talking and feeling like things are better for the next family.  I had such romantic notions about what parenting would be like and the reality is very far from my fantasies and extremely different from the perfect images of family on TV.  Being a mom is the best feeling in the world.  I love my daughter more than I could ever imagine.  The shock of my life is just how different it was when there was just the two of us.  It takes some time to adjust to life with a baby.  The fact is all first time parents have a difficult time adjusting to parenting.  So when you look at another family it is definitely OK to admire what a great family they are, or how well daddy and baby are playing, but do not go down the comparison road.   You know the saying love the baby you’ve got! Well we all love our babies unconditionally no matter what – so let’s try to love the husbands we’ve got and appreciate him for who he is - the truth is you do not really know what is happening inside the home of another family, so appreciate your husband for the things he is doing and try not to compare him to the perfect image of so and so next door J

 

Toronto Grocery Deals: March 6 - March 12
At Loblaws:

 

Hi mommy here is a nice freebee,

Free Phyto Berry Food Supplement at Vaughan and Bayview locations. Offer is valid until Sunday, Feb 22.

http://www.planetorganic.ca/sites/all/themes/planetorganic2/goodness/coupons/coupon-febbayview09.pdf

PhytoBerry is a highly concentrated whole food supplement loaded with natural antioxidants
and phytonutrients. It features a comprehensive blend of over 40 highly antioxidant
fruit concentrates, phytonutrients, essential fatty acids and herbal extracts.
PhytoBerry offers whole body antioxidant protection by using a harmonized and synergistic
combination of nutrients that in concert target and protect each organ and key
body system. PhytoBerry has been professionally formulated, energetically tested and
does not contain artificial ingredients.

Enjoy!

Marina

I didn't have any particularly big plans for Family Day. But I did want to take Naomi to the Markham Museum Children's Winter Carnival. It was a simple enough plan, get up early (well, we're always up early anyway because my little one wakes up between 6 and 7), have breakfast, and then leave. Be at the carnival by 10 or 10:30, maybe have some pancakes at the pancake breakfast if we weren't late for it, and then on to activities. Wagon rides, a lounge full of toys, watching older kids ice skate-- sounds fun, right?

We found ourselves still home at 10:50. But at least, we are rushing out the door, with snacks for us and Naomi's lunch packed. Then Isak, my husband says, "Maybe we should eat first". And I'm like, "No, it'll be nap time soon." I give in with much reservation only because I thought maybe it would indeed be better if she ate lunch at home rather than at the carnival.

So I fed Naomi quickly and we scarfed down some sandwiches. And then we rushed out.

The carnival is about 15 minutes away from our home. Directions are really simple. It's a no-brainer. We get to the main intersection where the carnival is located. And then we take a wrong turn.

For crying out loud. I did look at Google maps quickly but didn't retain any information (hey, I'm a mom with other things on my mind). I assumed Isak took note. But I guess not.

We finally get back on track. We get to the carnival, and we suddenly feel so lucky because we get the one remaining parking spot.

Excitedly, I turn to Naomi to say "We're here!". She's asleep.

AAAAARRRGH!

I was so mad at the whole situation. (and at Isak, well, because I had to blame someone for the delays.) We play the blame game for a while on the way home. It's my fault because I took too long to get ready. It's his fault because he decided we should eat first.

By the time I we arrived back home, I was calm, though still a bit disappointed, after my dear husband convinced me that all Naomi really cares about is to be with mommy and she won't miss the carnival. SIGH... I guess it's true. But it was a bit of a let down anyway. On the upside, she slept for more than 2 hours and we got to relax.

Sometime in the afternoon, the three of us went for a walk. It was a beautiful sunny day (for a winter day, it was). We strolled through a park with a pond and watched the ducks. We also discovered a path we didn't know existed. It was perfect. Well, almost. :-)

==============================
joanna
http://theworkingmama.blogspot.com/