birthday

YAY!  It’s February 6… my day!  Naturally, I have to give all of my appreciation to my mom – who lovingly claims that she experiences labour pains each year on our birthdays.  I know that she’s sad that I haven’t been home for my birthday in 11 years.

I share my birthday with Ronald Regan, Rick Astley, Tom Brokaw, Natalie Cole, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Bob Marley, and my cousin Curtis… and I just discovered my friend, Janet!

In Alberta, where I grew up, the cut-off date for going to school was March 1… therefore, I was always one of the youngest kids in my class… only Lynn was younger by a week!

Winter birthdays are a bit tough… I’m not a winter-lover, so winter activities are not exactly on the list of top things I want to do on my birthday… but, it’s a great excuse to head to SBux for a nice latte (which, is apparently gratis on my birthday!) or have friends over for steak and creme brule.

Most memorable birthday – well, most of them are memorable in some way – but, I will never forget my 9th birthday in Grade 4 when my mom brought cupcakes to my class… Mrs. Coreljie’s!  (Darren, Julie, not sure if you remember that?).

Other birthday memories – scuba diving with giant manta rays in Australia on my 30th,  a birthday party with new friends in Halifax on my 25th, many birthday dinners with Kelly & Joan in TO,  skating at the Devonian Gardens in Calgary on my 7th(?), and several birthdays that included Edmonton Oiler hockey games.

This week had wonderful chocolate fondue evening with some of my best girls… we were celebrating the pending arrival of Becky’s second daughter; Paul surprised last nite, having our special friends, Jacquie & Keith over for steak and baked potatoes (and Corey got up for the party); and tomorrow is SuperBowl Sunday… not exactly marked on my calendar, but excited to be gathering with good friends for a party atmosphere.

And today… well, I likely won’t “kick back”… real life continues in spite of this being “my” day – and a Saturday! – both boys have colds, C1 threw up (but, seems fine now), Paul went to an early men’s meeting at the church, there are markers and snippets of paper all over the dining room floor… and very soon there will be a river running through my kitchen because the boys are playing in the sink.  And, I probably won’t be baking a cake… for some reason, I can’t bake or decorate cakes or cupcakes to save my life!  I will defer that to some of my other very talented cake-decorating friends… you know who you are!

Happy Birthday to me and those of you celebrating today!  What joy!  How wonderful! 

personal breastfeeding experiences

I wanted to jot down my breastfeeding experiences – … again, more for my own records than anything… It has been about 7 months since C2 was weaned but, I think it’s always good to share — especially for new moms looking for encouragement, support, and/or advice feeding choices, the perils and the joys of breastfeeding.

Pre-C1

I was certainly on top of the “breast is best” literature… attended a breastfeeding clinic at the hospital where I was going to deliver.  My plan:  see how it goes – try for a week or so; if not good, switch to pumping; if not good switch to the bottle.  You can safely assume that I wasn’t 100% commited to a plan to breastfeed.  And, if all did go well — I figured I’d hang in there for about 6 months.  Frankly, the thought of breastfeeding really freaked me out — I just couldn’t get my head around it!  It was literally a day or so before C1’s arrival (he came 3 weeks early… definitely a testament to his personality!) that I made a firm decision to stick with breastfeeding — seriously, how hard could it be?

Latching C1

C1 took about 30 hours to latch well enough to get some milk… the most frustrating 30 hours of my life!  I had an emergency C-section, so fortunately we were in the hospital for about 3 days and had the support of a wonderful, persistent nursing staff (at St. Joe’s in Toronto if you’re interested) — by the time the Lactation Consultant got to me to check out our technique, C1 was happily nursing.  Yay!  But, was I happily nursing?  On about day 4 when my milk came in…. arrrgh!  The agony began!  Engorged breasts (bigger than my newborn’s head), cracked nipples, pain, pain, pain!!  And he was a hungry little boy (strange — he hardly eats now!) – frequent feedings about every 2 hours…. lasting about 20 minutes.  (Although I will never forget the time he held my mom & I “hostage” in the nursing room at Chapters for almost an hour!).  Lansinoh eased the pain – and it took about 6 weeks for the discomfort to completely subside.  There was definitely one side that was always more painful than the other.   Oh — and I have to mention… I hated wearing breast pads.  Yuck!  From an OT, posture perspective, the breastfeeding pillow (I had a Boppy®) is essential to maintain reasonable posture while breastfeeding (again another OT-related blog!).  I bought Bravado nursing bras… and they were great — nice closures…. variety of styles, colours, and materials… in fact, I wore them through both breastfeeding experiences.

Feeding C1

C1 maintained the 2-hour frequency, but by the time he was 3 months, reduced the time to about 10 minutes… very efficient little dude!  Breastfeeding was easy… and I quickly got over any modesty issues that I might have had… breastfeeding is so in vogue – everyone does it everywhere.  (That said, I’m happy I don’t have to do it in public anymore!  Lol!)  Somewhere around 5 months, I fed him almost exclusively lying down — and, despite the experts opinion about nursing babies to sleep… I pretty much always nursed him to sleep.

I had a few clogged ducts.  First time it happened, I experienced the chills, fever, achiness, and then unbelievable rock-hard, sore breast – fortunately, my mom was visiting at the time… it was brutal!  I tried the frozen cabbage remedy — ummm, it just left me smelling like cabbages.  Blech!  Hot compresses and advil… firm massage to work out the blockage.  After that, I had a few more, but could anticipate them by the tenderness I would start to feel, so was more pro-active…. never had a full-blown case of mastitis.

Attempted pumping a few times in the first 6 months — but, as many of you have experienced, barely got any milk from pumping — and on top of that, C1 would not take a bottle.  So, we were stuck together… joined at the boob!  Which, of course, on hindsight was not the most horrible thing — he was the most adorable baby boy.

Then the question of how long?  Nursing was really a comfort for C1 and I didn’t find it overly burdensome.  I planned to nurse for a year.  At the year mark, when I had planned to return to work, I thought I would keep nighttime feedings indefinitely.  It turned out that it was just a bad season for stomach bugs… so every time C1 would get a bug, I would boost his nursing schedule to increase his fluids.  (By the way, as far as I’m concerned… and this is just anecdotal… breastfeeding did nothing to boost their immune systems – both boys still got bad colds, stomach bugs in their first years – and they continue to pick up virtually every bug that comes their way when in contact with other children – to be fair, I suppose neither have ever had an infection that needed to be treated with antibiotics – but, I do know of many other breastfed babies who did.)

Finally, at 18 months, it was time to end our breastfeeding relationship!  Afterall… I was 4 months pregnant with C2… I would need a break!

Feeding C2

I thought that breastfeeding the second time around would go much more smoothly – it had only been about 4 or 5 months since I had stopped, so I figured my nipples would still be ready for pain-free latching.  Wrong!!!  Another 6 weeks of the same agony of latching!  C2 did latch within 4 hours of birth (we had an elective C-section this time and again, same amazing nursing support) – but, I was a bit lazy (my friend warned me about this!) – assuming that I knew exactly what I was doing, I wasn’t careful with my technique and allowed him to have a poor latch – resulting in the painful, cracked nipples once again.

Overall, C2 had virtually the same feeding schedule – every 2 hours, 10 minutes at a time.  He was a heavier baby, so holding him was a bit more challenging… tendinitis set into my shoulder and elbow the same way it had set in with C1.  A few more painfully clogged milk ducts along the way.  I never even attempted to introduce a bottle – nursing was all too convenient.  Both boys started their “sippy cup training” at around 5 months — although it would take about 4 months to master.  My intention was to wean at 12 months.  However, with C2, I could tell that he could really take it or leave it.  Although I had a 12-month end date in mind… he didn’t.  His latch deteriorated significantly by 11 months to the point where he was just biting and tugging on me.  *OW*!  I couldn’t go any longer.  Weaning was easy and seemed completely natural.

The net result?   My experiences with breastfeeding were extremely positive, in spite of the pain and tears… I think there needs to be more said to prepare new moms for how uncomfortable it can be in the beginning… it’s not 100% glamorous and persistence is necessary!  But, there are lots of supports in the community to access.  I am not fanatical about breastfeeding — I admit that I really liked it for the convenience more than anything… Did I feel that I bonded with my boys?  Sure… but, I think their individual personalities were strong contributing factors — I would say that I bonded far more with C2 than C1 through our breastfeeding journey, even though he weaned earlier — he’s just that kind of a guy.

Wow… so that’s my essay on breastfeeding!  Let me know if you have any questions!

who am i?

I attended a ladies’ Bible study last year in my neighbourhood – what a fabulous group of women; we had a great discussion on the book of Romans throughout the year.  At the first meeting, during the obligatory introductions, I was struck by an intense realization.  My identity – at least the one I used to have – had vanished. “Hi, I’m Deirdre.  I’m an Occupational Therapist, and I’m working on my Master in Rehabilitation Science (completed last year before C2’s arrival).  I’m originally from Alberta and have been living in Toronto for almost 10 years.  I love canoe tripping, playing ultimate frisbee, taking adult ballet classes at the National Ballet School, trail racing, and I’ve completed two 1/2 marathons.  I used to weigh over 200 lbs and lost 60 lbs.  I’m a gym rat – you’ll find me lifting weights or on the treadmill at least 4 times a week.  I will always be an Edmonton Oilers fan.  I’m active in the 20-Something group at Rexdale Alliance Church.”  WHOA.  Wait a minute.  That’s not me.  Who am I?

When each of the women in the Bible study group introduced themselves, they listed how many and how old their children were and the names of their spouses.  It was only through getting to know them better over the course of the year that I discovered that among them were a lawyer, an engineer, a Yale graduate and PhD, and a theologian.  Ack!  Those are amazing achievements!!  But, what happens when the achievements and interests of our previous lives, if you will, are consumed by motherhood and buried in the domestic responsibilities of being the homemaker (in particular, those of us who have elected to stay home with our young children)?

Perhaps this isn’t true for everyone – but, for me the impact of losing and subsequently re-inventing my identity have really been at the forefront for the last three years and has represented a perpetual internal struggle, sometimes positive and sometimes not so positive.  It’s part of what makes the shift to motherhood – days that can be filled with mundane tasks, (seemingly) lacking in measurable productivity, loss of personal interests (not because of depression, but re-structured time), and altered and diminished friendships (in some instances, this has been the worst thing) – seem like it’s the toughest place I have ever found myself at in my life.

It began to affect me to the extent that I felt resentful and wistful.  I love my husband and children very much and am so unspeakably proud to be wife and mother in this family.  But, seriously… who am I now?  My identity seems to be wrapped up in who I am in direct relation to three other individuals … and not myself at all.

I believe what has made this shift manageable is the discovery of re-inventing myself.  My creativity is stretched to the maximum — I think that’s just the richest part of all of this.  What a tremendous opportunity and it couldn’t be more timely!

So, today I am 34 (for 6 more days!), a Christ-follower, a stay-at-home mom, super-wife (lol!), OT Reg(Ont.) but not working for pay, MRSc (I have always wanted that title), a huge fan of my oldest son’s artwork, a speech coach, policewoman (in my own home), super-shopper, super-saver, blogger, Wii-er, family photographer, jewelry-maker, librarian, head chef (does that make me a sous?), lead creative director, head janitor, chauffeur, personal assistant to 3 amazing men, treater of booboos, finder of toys, researcher of how to set limits with my strong-willed son (another blog post to stay tuned for)… limitless is who I am… and excited to find out more about who God intends me to be.

To encourage you Moms who may have felt the same way and wrestled with any resentment around your shift in roles… I am right there with you — and we can embrace this re-inventing of ourselves together!

And, speaking of getting creative… check out my shop on Esty: DeirdreSpeak:ArtWorks. It’s cool and I am donating 25% of all sales to relief efforts in Haiti!

new adventure

You will not believe this… I mean, I can hardly believe it myself.  I am setting out on an entrepreneurial adventure.  Where to start?  Well, at the beginning, naturally!

I have started to transform my digital photography into wearable art… I have two themes that I am particularly passionate about: macro photography (which usually consists of flowers) and C1’s pre-school artwork.  It is the latter that I am very excited about.

Just before Christmas, I had photographed the myriad of paintings C1 brought home from pre-school.  When I started editing and cropping these photos… well, they were simply amazing!  P & I both thought — hey!  These are really good (and C1 comes by it naturally since his paternal grandfather was an artist).

I had heard of Scrabble® tile necklaces — in fact, mycafelatte gifted one to me.   When I started google-ing Scrabble® tile necklaces, I realized that I could make them myself… and to make them my own, use my original photography AND C1’s artwork!  In a mad rush, literally in the days before Christmas I created and assembled necklaces and super-strong magnets for the Grammas and aunts – they cherished having their own piece of C1’s creations… and his artwork for their refrigerators.

After that I thought… hmmmm…. I love these pendants.  Maybe others would love them, too.  ESPECIALLY MOMS who want to preserve their budding Picasso’s artwork in a unique way or gift them to relatives as well.

To organize this little (errr … kind of big) adventure, I have opened up an online shop on Etsy, a community for artisans and crafters of handmade goods.  It’s really an amazing venue with over 170,000 personal shops selling everything from knitted crafts, garments, handbags, jewelry, creative baby crafts, crafting supplies…  you can link to DeirdreSpeak:ArtWorks on Etsy by clicking here.  I’m still filling up my shop and have not completed my Custom section where you will be able to work with me to create pendants and magnets using your child’s artwork or a personal photo… but, leave a comment with me and we can get to work right away!

In light of recent world events, especially the devastating earthquake in Haiti, I also want to engage in the relief efforts… not too easy as a stay-at-home mom.  So, I will be donating 25% of every sale of my necklaces and magnets to support organized relief efforts in Haiti.  I plan to donate through Power to Change - they are currently attempting to meet immediate physical needs for food, water, shelter and basic hygiene supplies.  Donations made up to February 12 will be matched by the Canadian government – so, double the impact!

I’m looking forward to hearing what you think!

stay tuned…

WOW.  The first 17 days of 2010 have been fraught with emotion.  I am trying to tie all of my thoughts together… writing has been a challenge.

In the meantime, I can let you know that I’ve discovered a great facial cleansing cloth — Kirkland (the Costco generic brand) Daily Facial Cleansing Towelettes — they are already moist, so you don’t have to add water.  And the price!  $12.99 for a box of 150 wipes (compare with Olay Daily Facials Express – $8.99 for 30 at London Drugs).  The package claims that they are for “all skin types”… of course, if your skin is more on the sensitive side, these may or may not work for you.  But, I thought they made my skin feel tingly (in a good way), had a mild scent, and worked well for cleaning off makeup.  Another great product for busy moms!

i resolve

We happily celebrated the conclusion of 2009 and the anticipation of 2010 with a houseful of guests… 52 to be exact – adults and children, including our own.  What a blessing to conclude a year in the company of extraordinary friends and family!  Each time the doorbell rang – although we were quite certain who was attending – it was sheer joy to greet each face as though we were completely surprised!  We look forward to continue connecting with all of the special friends who support and encourage us throughout the year!

On a personal note, for 2010 my plans include:

• reading through the Bible chronologically using the One Year Bible Online
• reading each day to the boys from the Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones
• do a few self-studies on biblical topics such as marriage, finances, parenting
• increase involvement in church ministry, writing for RACreporter and hopefully starting a womens’ running group in the spring
• grow my hair out
• play Wii everyday to get some exercise (even if it’s minimal, it’s better than nothing!)
• start photojournalling
• model enthusiasm and a positive attitude for the boys
• continue adventures in cooking!

december baking tally

*yikes*  For someone who was planning on making two Christmas treats only this year… there seemed to be a lot of activity around my kitchen during the past few weeks.  I was honoured and thrilled a few weeks ago when a friend asked me to assist her with baking desserts for a Christmas Banquet for a community which our church supports by hosting weekend breakfasts, sewing classes, family hair day… and numerous other activities and practical giftings – located in a lower income area of the city, consisting of many single-parent families… it was truly a treat, so to speak, to participate and serve this community through the yumminess of goodies.  And, so….. the baking began!  After that — well, I was kind of on a roll and there were a few other Christmas events on deck.  Not all baking successes, mind you — there were a fair number of mishaps, crispy bottoms, and complete failures.  So, for my records, here is a tally of Christmas Baking 2009:

4 batches Cranberry Bliss Bars = ~128 bars

2 batches Pecan Cranberry Squares = ~60 bars

6 Pumpkin Pies

2 Cranberry Cherry Buckle cakes

1 Best Banana Bread loaf

1 dozen Raspberry Bran muffins

2 pans Red & Green Rice Krispie Squares (cut into star and candy cane shapes)

6 1/2 dozen Oatmeal Chocolate Chew cookies from the Nutfree Gourmet cookie dough

2 dozen Oatmeal Raisin cookies

2 dozen Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk cookies

2 batches Christmas Granola

3 batches Parmesan Biscotti

2 batches Honey Spiced Nuts

a LOT of Chocolate-dipped pretzels

Skiers French Toast for Christmas Day breakfast

No wonder I’m exhausted!

give meaning

I wanted to follow up on a guest blog that I posted on Lovable Labels’ blog: Label Me Crazy! Taking a reduce-reuse perspective, I commented on a few tips to minimize the traditional holiday paper pile-up…. from holiday postcards to recycling kids’ art as gift wrap… making fabric gift bags to buying alternative Christmas gifts – gifts that don’t need flashy gift wrap.  I have really settled in to contemplating alternative gift giving.  My boys are still very young and our nuclear family is still in its infancy so it’s a perfect time to start traditions.  At Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and the priceless gift of salvation that he gave us.  Santa Claus (and I’m referring to the iconic jolly man in the red suit) is incidental.  To me, he’s kind of like Mickey Mouse – cartoonish, fun, you can get your picture taken with him and we might pretend that he gave you a present, but he’s just a character in a story that, coincidentally, is told at the same time as when we celebrate the coming of God to earth.  I just don’t want them to grow up anticipating presents, presents, presents under the tree.  I want them to learn early on that at Christmas we give – and we are intentional about being creative and giving to those who have more need than we do.

So, here are a few great ideas for alternative gift giving:

Buy Nothing Christmas – I think this initiative has had the greatest impact on me so far.  “Buy Nothing Christmas is a national initiative started by Canadian Mennonites but open to everyone with a thirst for change and a desire for action.  Buy Nothing Christmas is a stress-reliever, and more people need to hear about it… The point is to get people thinking. It’s an idea whose time has come, so get out there and make a difference!”  These guys have hit the proverbial nail on the head (and I’m not partial because I have a Mennonite heritage!).  If you go to their website and click on “alternatives” you will discover over 50 special gifts you can give that require little or no spending.  I have one of my own which I’m keeping under “wraps” … if you will pardon the pun!

TOMS Shoes – I think this is really cool.  “TOMS Shoes was founded on a simple premise: With every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need. One for One. Using the purchasing power of individuals to benefit the greater good is what we’re all about.”  When Blake Mycoskie, Founder of TOMS shoes was in Argentina in 2006, he realized that he wanted to help children who wore no shoes to protect their feet.  Today, when you purchase a pair of TOMS shoes, another pair will be given to a child who has no shoes.

World Vision – “Canada’s Most Meaningful Gifts.”  For $30 you can give 3 soccer balls to children in an underdeveloped country or for $100 you can gift immunizations to a community.  It costs roughly $15,000 to drill a well that will provide up to 11,000 litres of clean water a day.  You can purchase a share in a well project for $2500.  We have friends who are raising money for this special gift by selling bottled water for $10 a piece… something you could bring to a party as a hostess gift.  How awesome to have a global impact and demonstrate ways our children can connect with children overseas.

My challenge to you: come up with one way this year to simply change your perspective on gift giving and re-orient to the meaning of Christmas.  Engage your creative side!

meet our friends, Phil & Ted

For the past three years I have been stopped at minimum once every time I visit the mall for someone to oggle my red stroller and say, “I have never seen a stroller like that before!”  And when C1 and C2 are riding tandem, for some reason it’s never apparent that there’s a passenger in the backseat.  If I had a nickel for every time I heard, “Oh!  You have TWO!”… well, you know — I could probably buy another stroller — not that I would because we purchased the Phil & Teds (then E3 model) so that we would never have to buy another stroller.  Just the other day, P was stopped by a woman who is evidently a gramma-to-be who wanted the 411 on our revolutionary Phil & Teds stroller to pass along to her expectant daughter.  So, here’s the “skinny” on this ultra-lean, very slender, inline buggy.

Phil & Teds strollers and other products are designed in New Zealand (manufactured in China) by what appears to be a very cool working group – at least, their website is fun to navigate!

In Canada, you can take a Phil & Teds for a test drive at most major baby stores, including Babies R Us.  There appear to be several models now available, which vary by some convenience factors.  (We bought the E3 three years ago, which looks like the “Classic” model they now sell.)  The base model retails for approximately $500 – so this one is kind of middle-of-the-road.  Add-ons, including storm covers, UV sunshades, saddle bags, cocoon, travel kit (to attach an infant carrier), and the doubles kit range from$35-70.

I have to admit, I can’t accurately comment on the new models, which obviously have been tweaked over the years…. but, I can tell you that, overall, our experience with the E3 over the past 3 years has been quite positive.  Weighing in at 24 lbs (I can’t be sure, but I think this is with the doubles kit attached), the P&T stroller is 24″ wide, rivaling an umbrella stroller for stealth – great for getting through tricky places in stores – especially the check-out at the grocery store.  It’s a three-wheeler with a front wheel that can adjust to be stationary, presumably for jogging or “off-roading,” or swivel for urban strolling.  I prefer the swivel – it is highly maneuverable.  The older model has two positions for the handle-bar; I believe the new models have an infinitely adjustable handle-bar.  Remember, I’ve said before that an adjustable handle-bar height is important when considering stroller selection.

The front seat has four positions, from fully upright to fully reclined (which is recommended position for your newborn).  It’s great – today I was out with C2; he had fallen asleep in the car and I was able to transfer him into the stroller lying down where he slept for an hour while I shopped!

Everyone always expresses concern for the guy riding in the back… “But, he doesn’t get to see!”  Well, C1 loves to ride back there because he thinks it’s the “cave.”  I mean, I honestly don’t know what C2 thinks about getting a back seat, but he can see plenty from back there and at his age, I doubt he’ll have any memory of what he saw or didn’t see from his vantage point… and he hasn’t complained so far.  Afterall, he doesn’t live in the stroller.

Is it a jogging stroller?  Err… well, kind of.  It was originally recommended for occasional jogging.  An authentic jogger has the large wheels.  I have jogged with my P&T a fair bit and have found it to be perfectly fine… although not so much with two kids on board — it becomes too heavy to comfortably jog with (24 lbs of stroller + 60 lbs of children).  Some people have told me that their legs are too long and they connect with the back of the storage space.  I personally haven’t experienced this — I’m around 5′4″.

I have had my P&T in for repairs three times – once for each wheel.  The front tire came away from the rim, which I think was because I neglected to inflate it properly.  Both rear axles needed to be replaced due to rust.  To be fair, my stroller has been through sleet, snow, ice… and the salt – in a Canadian winter, one should expect this type of wear and tear.  Fortunately, we have a great baby shop in our neighbourhood that specializes in stroller repairs – Macklems in Roncesvalles – and they’ve gotten me back out onto the streets in no time.  Anyhow – the tires are great for the trails and Canadian winter weather (and the storm covers keep it unbelievable toasty warm inside!).

There is a tipping factor.  Phil & Teds do address this in their manual about safely operating the stroller.  However, I believe this is a bit of a design flaw that could be remedied by attaching some anti-tippers (like you see on wheelchairs) to the rear.  You always have to remove the back child from the stroller first.  If you don’t, the stroller becomes back-heavy and will tip over.  I always adhere to this – but, it is a bit tricky from a logistics standpoint – C1 often wants to get down – NOW!  And taking the little guy out isn’t always convenient for whatever reason.  Of course, you can overcome this little issue with a bit of pre-planning.

I’m so thankful for the tip I received from a colleague of mine to check out the Phil & Teds.  When we had our first baby, we anticipated having a second (and were blessed!) and selected a stroller that we knew would accommodate a growing family.  Phil & Teds is really the only stroller brand that offers a solution for the toddler-newborn, toddler-toddler combinations in the tandem configuration (of course, you can always go for a bulky doubles stroller).  I’m pleased to say we have only had one stroller and hope that Phil and Ted are with us for a few more years to come.

the danger years

Confession: I have been completely consumed playing Cafe World on Facebook – mostly trying to come up with the most efficient layout to serve my customers and recently with figuring out how to time the cooking and serving of dishes to maximize profits.  Check it out – the “Buzz Rating” (the thumbs up in the top right hand corner) maxes out at 105.0 when everything is flowing perfectly in your cafe!  I admit it — I am a little bit obsessed with Cafe Revolution.  I mean, in many ways, it’s much like managing my household.  Keep high traffic areas free of clutter, make sure there’s enough money in the bank account for groceries (and upgrades!), keep the hungry mouths fed throughout the day, create an inviting and homey atmosphere for friends & guests – add a bit of personal flare – and there you have it!  A home away from home, so to speak!  (And, if you’re not convinced, start playing the game and you’ll understand!  Hey – we all need an outlet.)

In light of my recent online gaming addiction, some of my domestic duties have fallen by the wayside — just a little bit.  But, I DID do ALL of the laundry this weekend, including the linens.  Made amazing carrot muffins for C1’s pre-school class.  And, did a fair bit of reorganization – I had to re-locate a number of items out of a certain pre-schooler’s reach – childproofing is an ongoing task.  Never assume you are completely safe.  Always be on your guard for the new thing your little explorer will Houdini his way into – especially those curious boys!

So, what I have been meaning to share for awhile are simply a few of my favourite childproofing items – I’ve tested and tried many, many different items with varying degrees of success.  You will ultimately need to do the same as you are figuring out what degree of lock-down you need your home to be in through these early years.  I am not a safety expert.  There are many exhaustive lists and materials for you to read on baby- and toddler-proofing (I am a big fan of the Ann Douglas The Mother of All… books – very comprehensive Canadian information).  These are just a few products that are functioning well in our home right now.

Right now, these door stoppers are by far my favourite.  Patrull, from IKEA retails for 4.99 for a pack of 2.  Kidco (available at Babies R Us) are 7.99/pair.  I have three doors leading into my kitchen and I have two boys with an affinity for doors.  If it weren’t for the stoppers I would have pinched fingers and doors slamming every 2 minutes!

These are the Safety 1st door knob covers, 4.99 for a pack of 4.  Note that these ones have the open finger holes that only a bigger hand can manipulate – and have proven challenging for many of our friends!  Other door knob covers with the grey buttons on the sides were ineffective.  I have to reinforce the seams with duct tape, because C1 can pop the covers open with minimal effort.  They even fit over our front door knob – otherwise, he’d be perpetually wandering around our neighbourhood.

Of course, outlet covers are a must. Safety 1st has a 24-pack for approximately 2.99.  I like these “press n’ pull” ones.

The multi-purpose appliance latch (4.99) by Safety 1st (along with other adhesive cupboard latches) have been most effective at keeping the boys out of the fridge – until now, C1 has figured out how to unlatch and now is learning that he must ask permission to open the fridge.  I have had to replace them every so often, but well worth it.

I don’t have a personal recommendation for a good gate – we haven’t had to use one (in a condo for awhile and now we have a locked door to the basement).  But, if possible, the best type is one that bolts to the banister and/or wall.  I wouldn’t cheap-out on a safety gate.  $70 is the ballpark.

Tub stickers – the Safety 1st package contains 10 and is 7.99 at Babies R Us.  I think you need about 15 to adequately cover the tub.  If you install them according the the instructions, they adhere perfectly.

What hasn’t worked – and again, this is just for us – toilet locks (didn’t suction well enough), adhesive corner protectors (not sticky enough), drawer/cupboard latches (the kind that screw inside the drawer – too finicky).  There are some great-looking safety latches for closet doors and windows, but I haven’t found one that seems to work on ours.

The majority of childproofing in our home has simply involved the removal and storage of contra-ban items, which is why, when you come to our home, it looks like we’ve just moved in – it’s pretty sparse.  With boys on the loose in the house, I’ve found it’s pretty much futile to keep anything beautiful or decorative.  No plants, nothing on the mantle, no lamps, and probably no Christmas tree again this year *sigh*.  Home electronics are up high (although they could be climbed to by a determined child).  I have just removed everything from the under the sink in the bathroom… until now, the bathroom has been locked, but since C1 is toilet trained, he spends a lot of time going in there… and tends to linger… *groan*.  It’s just for a “season” of our lives, right?

Naturally, we do a LOT of teaching, re-directing, reinforcing, re-directing, reminding,  But, it’s a lengthy process and until the age of about 4, it’s difficult to rationalize the concepts of danger and safety with a child.  And, as you have probably already guessed at this stage, it’s much easier to teach your child to do something good than to UN-TEACH him to do something that’s not particularly good or safe.  Let’s face it.  Patience is a virtue.

I’m curious to know what others like, dislike, and have used with some degree of success.  There is tons to discuss on this topic which I haven’t even touched on. It could be a good forum for sharing.

We are not by far out of the danger years… just trying to keep them happy, healthy – and alive!