GAIA baby products

Nathan is still having trouble with cradle cap, and I am wondering if it is tied in with the acid reflux. He is very sensitive to soaps and detergents, and even baby oil, which I used on his head on the doctor's advice and his head was red for two days afterwards. So yesterday I made a trip to Planet Organic on Quimpool road and picked up some all natural shampoo and body wash. Used both this morning on Hailey and Nathan, and I used the body wash myself, and it was awesome. Nathan's head looks a little better already.
The products I bought were GAIA baby products. You can find the company website here.

I'll update on these products as we use them. So far, so good! Meanwhile, I am putting feelers out for a Naturopath experienced in dealing with children and/or acid reflux (or GERD). If you know anyone in the Halifax area, or better yet, have dealt personally with someone and you can share your experience, I would be very appreciative. It is not easy to look through the phone book and trust a stranger with the health of your child. But I'm afraid I just don't know enough about foods and products to figure out if Nathan has an allergy or sensitivity to something that is causing his issues.

Ramona Quimby

For Easter, my mom and dad bought Hailey the entire set of Ramona books. Each night, at bedtime, Hailey and I read a chapter of one of the books. I love love love Ramona. She is so misunderstood, and creative, and real. Though when I was younger and I read the books, I don't remember really liking her. I always preferred Beezus. Anyways in tonight's chapter (we are currently reading "Ramona the Brave) Ramona is frustrated because she does not like the first grade, feels like her teacher doesn't like her or understand her, and has just given her parents her progress report. In it her teacher writes some things Ramona thinks are unfair, and Ramona's parents aren't taking Ramona seriously. So she states that she is going to say a bad word. As I am reading this out loud, I am really kind of panicking, because I'm not sure what she is going to say and if it really is a bad word, I am trying to make a decision on how I am going to handle it. After all, Hailey is only 4. I am certainly not going to swear. I should have known I had nothing to worry about, however, as the bad word is "guts". I laughed, I couldn't help it. Here I was expecting this awful word. I should have trusted both Beverly Cleary and the times that the book was written. Anyways I highly recommend reading these books with your kids. Ramona is such an interesting character and the adventures she gets herself into are so funny.

My last twenty-something birthday

I'm reflecting on my last couple of days of "twenty-eight". This weekend I celebrate my last twenty-something birthday. You know how I feel about birthdays! But, there is not much planned. No regular birthday week. Maybe some dinner plans when hubby gets home Monday.
I used to think thirty was so old. Ancient really. I always wondered how it would feel to be old. But I don't really feel old. Sometimes I have to remind myself of my age, that I am not a kid or a teen or even a young adult. Maybe it is because I regularly hang out with people who are older than me, who have already crossed the threshold into "thirty". It seems like I am always the baby of the group, so I see myself as the young one. It's rather odd to think this way, now that I am analyzing it, because I did everything so early; married at 23, kids at 24 and 28. I know it's not that early, but it's certainly early by today's standards. Many people my age are only starting now to settle down and start families, and I have a little girl turning 5 this summer! Where did the time go.
I find the passage of time all the more surreal when I look at my little boy, who reminds me so much of my little girl when she was his age. I can distinctly remember holding her on my chest as she slept. She would lay that way for hours and she was so warm and smelled so sweet. My heart would swell as I held her, knowing I should put her in her crib, but unable to let the tender moment end. The little guy doesn't snuggle the same way; we tend to laugh and play more than Hailey and I did, but our moments are just as tender and his smile is the sweetest I've ever seen.
He's getting two little teeth, and you can see them when he laughs - which he does often. He has the nicest disposition, as long as he is not hungry or wet or sleepy! In many ways, now that his acid reflux is under control with medication, he is an easier baby than Hailey was. He seems to be more content.
I should be watching a lecture right now. I'm a little behind with the lectures, and you and I both know I won't be watching any lectures during birthday weekend! I'll have to double up next week...
Speaking of birthdays, what do get for a child who has everything? I always want to get Hailey something spectacular, but I am out of ideas. The only thing I can think of is a personal DVD player for road trips. Yay? Nay? Ideas? Input is both welcome and encouraged. 

Happy Birthday to the best Mother on the planet

It is a very special day. A few dozen years ago, a wonderful lady was born. My mom.
My mom is the best. She is kind, loving, forgiving, helpful, intelligent and beautiful. There is nothing she wouldn't do for me, my dad, my sister or my kids. Really, she would help anyone in need. She is a definite role model (esp at being a Mom, I mean look at the awesome job she did with me!) and I strive to be as great a mom as she is (but I'll never be able to sew or iron as good as she can!!). Happy Birthday Mom. Thanks for spending the day with me and my brood.

It was a great day for a birthday. So hot today! We went to the public gardens, and it was beautiful. The kids were funny; they asked as we were walking through if I remembered to bring food for the ducks, and I reminded them that we cannot feed the ducks (there is a great book about Gracie the Public Garden duck - it explains the dangers of feeding them in a nice little story), Unfortunately not everyone has read (or heeds) the signs at each entrance to the park, as there were people there feeding the ducks with their kids. I quietly giggled with the girls that those people must not have gotten the memo, and tried to make them feel good about doing the right thing. Not an easy thing when they are watching other kids feed the ducks loaves of bread. (click here to read about Gracie's book) Nonetheless, it was a lovely morning at the garden's followed by lunch at Park Lane, where the girls tossed their pennies in exchange for whispered wishes, and then an ice cream at DQ to cool off. Nathan was really warm, so he cooled off when we got home in a nice bath, and spent the rest of the day in only his diaper. We finished with a BBQ and some trifle - delish. A nice change from regular cake, without losing out on the cake altogether!

I should give a little "shout out" to my new class at the Mount (English 1171) since I mentioned my blog during class today and may have some new visitors (I am a shameless self-promoter!). Going to "class" in your jammies while laying on your bed is another experience altogether!

HOW TO: Make mom's "famous" trifle.
It's all in the layers.
The bottom layer is pound cake. You can make your own, make a box, or buy a pound cake. Easy-peasy!
Next comes the lemon pudding.
On top of that is a layer of fruit - I like to use the very cherry canned fruit, but really you could use whatever you wanted.
Top it with a layer of whipped cream and BAM! you've got yourself a trifle. Mom puts pieces of mandarin oranges on top in a little pattern to dress it up. Easy to make and super delicious. Cheers!