Motherhood: Santa Fail

Have you taken your kids to see Santa yet?

We went last week and it was a complete fail.

Pacman cried the moment he saw Santa and in an attempt to calm him down, Mr jumped in the photo. I passed the baby to Santa and at the last minute thought I'd jump in too (with no makeup and my hair quickly thrown into a bun).

The result?

 

 Disaster photo!

Did you have better luck with your kids Santa photos?
Melinda. X

The Details:

Pacman is wearing this Oobi tee ($29.95), paired with Pumpkin Patch jeans and Target shoes.

Lawson is wearing this Seed jumpsuit ($19.95 sale price - which of course came on sale after I bought it!)

Gift Ideas - Five under $30

Want to know a secret? I still haven't finished my Christmas shopping! So instead of actually finishing my Christmas shopping, I am compiling lists of Christmas present ideas to share on this blog. Enjoy!

Tiger Tribe Paper Moon Clock - $29.95

Wouldn't this clock make the cutest addition to any little boys (or girls) bedroom? We are in the process of redecorating Pacmans room in a 'Space' theme - I've already ordered one for him! They also make a Guitar clock which we bought for a friends baby recently which is equally as cute.

 Sophie The Giraffe - $23.90

 image source

If it's good enough for Harlow, it's good enough for your bambino! Sophie the Giraffe is a teething toy made from renewable, natural rubber and non-toxic paint. There will be one of these is Lawsons stocking this Christmas!

 

Sparkle T Robot Bead Chaser - $25.95

These have to be one of the best toys invented. They last forever, can be enjoyed by all ages and best of all? No mess to pack away afterwards!

 Bobblehead Traffic Pencil Case - $14.95

An adorable pencil case featuring a bright traffic print. What else can I say?

The Very Hungry Caterpillar (Hardback) - $5.95

An absolute classic. I don't know anyone who didn't read this book as a child, what better than to share it with your own child? 

Merry Christmas!

Melinda. X

The Details

Click the link under each image.

Motherhood: Lessons I've Learnt

image source

After reading this post on Beautifully Glossy, it got me thinking; what has motherhood taught me?

1. Motherhood has taught me patience. 

2. It has taught me to savour every drop of a hot coffee

3. Motherhood has taught me to make time for myself. Even if it's just five minutes a day.

4. I have learnt that everyone has an opinion on the way you parent and won't hold back on telling you what you can do better.

 5. Motherhood has taught me the best time management skills and the wonderful art of multitasking

6. I have learnt to use my imagination and tell the odd white lie (like telling my toddler that blueberries are lollies).

7. I have learnt to forget that pile of washing that needs folding and enjoy just one more book with my toddler.

8. I have learnt that after a night of no sleep, a smile from the baby makes it all worthwhile.

9. I have learnt that at the end of the day, when the kids are in bed, there is nothing better than a glass of wine and some quiet time with Mr.

10. Motherhood has taught me that there is such a love, that is so strong, it can't be broken.

What has Motherhood taught you?

Melinda. X

Motherhood: Babys First Christmas

How adorable is that handprint Christmas decoration? If I'm honest, I know I'll never get around to making one for either of the bambinos (bad Mumma!) but, if you're after the tutorial, check out A Sorta Fairytale.

This Christmas, Santa will be bringing Pacman a sand table (like a sand pit but in table form) plus the usual stocking fillers (books, clothes, swimmers, a dvd or two).

Lawson however, will only be three months old. What does a three month old need for Christmas? My initial thought was a Bumbo but we have Pacmans Bumbo which is still in brand new condition. I have settled on cot sheets (probably the DwellStudio ones seen in this post) and a money box - but that's a little boring right?

What do you buy for your little ones first Christmas? Or do you skip the first Christmas presents and celebrate it in some other way?

Happy Monday! 

Melinda. X

Review: ErgoCocoon AIR

The funny thing about babies, is while they look cute and innocent, they can be rather tricky! They wake up the minute you get into the shower, change their routine as soon as you think you have it sorted and no matter how tight you swaddle them, they somehow wriggle out.

Swaddling seems kind of pointless but it honestly will help your baby sleep longer. And not only that, but wrapping babies and putting them to sleep on their back can reduce the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).

I was lucky enough to receive an ErgoCocoon AIR to try out on the little monkey and I must say I am rather impressed!

Despite being a pretty good sleeper, Lawson has some trouble sleeping for long periods of time in his cot. He wouldn't sleep in there for more than a few hours at a time. The first night I put him in the cot wearing the ErgoCocoon, he slept from 7:30pm until 2:30am! He has followed this pattern every night since and the two nights he woke up at 11:30pm instead, was the nights the cocoon was in the wash and he became unswaddled from a muslin wrap.

Not only does it help him sleep better, but it takes the guess work out of dressing him for bed. The ErgoCocoon AIR is made from bamboo meaning that even in the Queensland heat, he can be swaddled yet not get too hot (or too cold). Plus you don't have to take the swaddle off when it comes to nappy changing time, the bottom of the cocoon simply slides up.

And if sleeping longer and not worrying about him over heating weren't enough? Well, I have to say he looks as cute as a button in it too!

Sorry for the darkness - didn't want the flash to wake him!

As you can probably tell from the photo, it's also good for when you're out and about with your little one in the pram. 

The only thing I can fault is that getting the cocoon over his head can be a little tricky, but that's a small price to pay! Speaking of price, you can pick one of these babies (err - the swaddle that is, not an actual baby!) for a small $24.95.  Which I consider a bargain if it means I get to cash in a few hours extra sleep!

There are two sizes available and you can find stockists on the ergoPouch website.

Are you a swaddler?

Melinda. X

Want: DwellStudio

I desperately want this DwellStudio photo frame for the nursery!

Apart from being super cute, it also matches the owl print DwellStudio blanket we already have (as seen here).

As for Project Nursey, I am failing. I have done nothing to it since that blog post and we moved the cot into our room - so now it really is empty!

I did find some adorable cot sheets though. Simple but still cute and the blue dots add a nice splash of colour.

Can you tell I'm a sucker for DwellStudio stuff? The patterns and designs are so fun, I'd decorate my whole house with their things if I could!

Happy Hump Day!

Melinda. X

The Details:

DwellStudio Owl Frame and Skyline Traffic Dots Cot Sheet - both $64.95 - Available from The Hip Infant

So Sooki; I Dream of Fish

With the weather warming up and my little monkey growing everyday, it was time to pack away all the teeny, tiny 0000 suits, leaving a large whole in his wardrobe (not really, but I did feel it was a good excuse to buy him new clothes).

Sooki Baby is one of my favourite brands for babies. Their clothes have the cutest prints (especially for girls!) and I have found the quality to be amazing. I ordered these cute little fishy printed nappy pants and singlet for the little monkey and they arrived the very next day. This made me one happy Mumma and I have to say, bubba looks pretty pleased with his new threads too!

Do you have any favourite online stores? Share them with me!
Melinda. X

The Details:

Sooki Baby 'I Dream of Fish' Nappy Pant & Singlet - Prince: $24.95 to $26.95 - Available from Little Styles

Project: Decorate Nursery

Remember that nursery rhyme about Old Mother Hubbard and her bare cupboard? Well, I could write my own about Poor little Lawsy, who had a bare nursery (sorry - no more lame poems, promise!).

When we found out we were expecting our second baby, I was beyond excited to decorate the nursery. But I spent most of my pregnancy staying with my mother and before I knew it, Lawson was here and the nursery was undecorated.

After scaling Pinterest, I have lots of inspiration -

We do rent so there will be no pretty striped painted walls here though, but I have a brief list of what we need:

• A lamp.
• Wall decal.
• New cot sheets
• Canvas or framed picture
• Storage of some kind (drawers or a small cupboard - we have built in wardrobes so nothing too big)
• Possibly a rug or chair.

Do you have any decoration tips or ideas for me? Have photos of your babies or kids room on your blog? Send the link this way!

Enjoy your weekend,

Melinda. X

Review: The Sleepy Wrap

Sometimes as a parent it can feel as though you need to grow an extra set of arms. When Pacman was a newborn it seemed every time I got out the vegies to chop for dinner or wanted to peg out the washing, he would cry. Unfortunately for me, I'm not superwoman and couldn't grow that extra set of hands I needed so I looked to the next best thing - baby wearing.

If you're new to the baby wearing world, there is a whole list of advantages that come with it. For this Mumma the biggest one is being able to get on with my day (housework, study, cooking and playing with Pacman) all while having bubba cuddled up on me. After trying several wraps and slings, my favourite is the Sleepy Wrap.

Similiar to the design of the Hug a Bub, the Sleepy Wrap (which recently changed their name to Boba Wrap) is basically a large piece of material that you wrap around your body. Depending on your bubs age, there are several positions and ways (such as breastfeeding or forward facing positions) that you can carry your baby.

The good bits:

• The wrap can be used from birth until around 18 months.
• It ties over both shoulders which means baby's weight doesn't pull on your back. I can easily have my five week old in there for two hours and not feel any back pain
• It is great for breastfeeding (especially in public if you're a little shy about it).
• Baby settles quickly in the wrap and will happily stay (and sleep) in there for several hours.
• It is a great alternative to a pram when taking baby out for shorter trips.

The bad bits:

• Although the material is 95% cotton, with the weather warming up I have noticed bubba gets hot in there after a short while.
• It takes a minute or so to tie the wrap which can be inconvenient (mostly when out shopping etc) if you need to be taking baby in and out of the wrap often.

Have you tried the Sleepy Wrap or another wrap/carrier? 

Melinda. X

The Details:

Website - Price: $39.95 to $48 - Available from: Nursing Angel